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Saturday, May 29, 2010
Alan Wake Review:
First things first, the delay. Clocking up six years of development time, if Alan Wake is to win any awards this year, it’ll certainly snatch the “Longest development for a game that isn’t shovelware and actually turned out pretty good” gong, (Duke Nukem Forever? Forget it. It isn’t coming). So after years of being thrown tidbits, I believe I speak on behalf of everyone when I say it was a relief to finally see the fruits of Remedy’s hard work at E3 last year (perhaps not PC gamers). With the curtains shut and the lights turned off, I jumped into the world of Bright Falls. Alan Wake has arrived... fashionably late.
If you didn’t know already, Alan Wake is 50% story and 50% actual game. That’s not an over-exaggeration either. Much has been invested into making this not only a unique tale, but one told in an original, fresh, never-before-seen-in-a-video-game way.
Successful novelist Alan Wake is deceived into taking a vacation to the sleepy town of Bright Falls, Washington, by his wife Alice. Ok that’s probably a more cynical twist. She has his best interests at heart. Alice believes the beautiful setting Bright Falls exhibits may be able to cure a nasty case of writer’s block Alan has unfortunately developed, since she knows he’s capable of some truly great novels. He knows it, and it seems the town’s folk of Bright Falls do too. Naturally, being a psychological thriller, it’s not long before things turn sour. During a dispute between husband and wife, an eerie presence creeps in. Alice is then seemingly kidnapped, thus Alan begins his journey to find his wife, all the while figuring out why exactly the townsfolk have transformed into obscure shadow-like spirits known as the Taken.
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Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Star Ocean: The Last Hope International Review:
Star Ocean: The Last Hope International Review:
After a painfully long wait for many, the PS3’s version of Star Ocean: The Last Hope is finally here with Star Ocean: The Last Hope International. The new edition of the game boasts Japanese voice tracks and anime menus that were cut out of the English version. Even with the late port and high price, this action RPG is worth a look.
In the year 2064 the Earth almost destroys itself in a massive nuclear world war, forcing humans to begin searching for a new home in space. Enter Edge Maverick, a seemingly average young pilot in the SRF (Space Reconnaissance Force) with an inferiority complex. Together with his childhood "friend" Reimi Saionji, Edge travels space exploring new planets for potential human colonization. Along the way Edge and Reimi meet the expected anime clichés (the cat girl, the android, the annoying child, the disgruntled badass, etc.) and continue their travels with their ragtag crew. Eventually the inevitable great evil threatening the whole universe pops up, and Edge and crew set out to stop it.
There is nothing extraordinary in the plot, and character development is poor at best. Often characters will actually regress in maturity. Edge spends a few hours halfway through the game being an incredibly annoying and depressed prick, and right as he manages to come out of it another crew member decides to make himself the most annoying character in the game. Some of the character interaction is good, although there are more cringe-worthy moments than genuinely good ones. The plot itself isn't particularly bad, just very predictable. That said, the game clearly tries to find a deeper message than it really has to give at the end, and ends up being wordy without really saying much at all. There is enough between the character interaction and the plot to keep the player going, but thankfully The Last Hope has a lot more going for it than its narrative.
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Friday, May 21, 2010
Dante's Inferno Review:
Dante's Inferno Review:
By now, it is common knowledge that just about anything is susceptible to being made into a videogame. Therefore it was only a matter of time until we were playing games based on epic poetry such as the Inferno. Developed by Visceral Games, Dante’s Inferno is the re-imagining of Dante Alighieri’s influential work as a violent hack and slash. The game bears a strong resemblance to a certain other mythological action adventure, but does that mean it lives up to the acclaim of its source material?
Dante is a soldier during the Crusades, and after executing many terrible crimes, he is confronted by Death. He survives, and after experiencing the horrors of war, returns home to find both his father and his fiancée Beatrice slain. The innocent Beatrice is taken to the underworld, so Dante plummets to Hell in order to save his betrothed. His journey is not an easy one and will require him to survive the nine diabolical circles of Hell. Listed in order they are: Limbo, Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Wrath, Heresy, Violence, Fraud, and Treachery.
The combat system fueling Dante’s descent seems well thought, but that does not mean that it is perfect. Dante’s weapon of choice is the scythe which he wins from the Grim Reaper. Melee attacks are relegated to the same two-button scheme found in many other action games: square for swift-light attacks and triangle for stronger but slower hits. L2 blocks, the right analog stick evades, L1 utilizes magic and X is used for jumping and double jumping. Circle fires projectile holy crosses, your supply of which is infinite. By defeating foes, you build up the Redemption meter. Once it is filled, Dante can receive a boost in attack power if you press R1 and L1 together. Overall, the controls are easy enough to grasp, though it took me a while to get the hang of countering some enemy attacks.
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Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks Review:
Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks Review:
Spirit Tracks may be one of the least ‘hyped’ Zelda games in the series, but like another under-the-radar Zelda game, Minish Cap, Spirit Tracks happens to be a truly unique side story. This is the third game in Zelda universe established by Wind Waker, and Spirit Tracks radically redefines the word of Hyrule much the same way its progenitor did. Legend of Zelda: The Spirit Tracks is one of the better side stories in the series, and is an adventure you will not soon forget.
Apparently, Spirit Tracks is set at least hundreds of years into the future, perhaps thousands. This notion stems from the fact that the Kingdom of Hyrule is no longer a flooded landscape peppered with many islands, but instead has been transformed into a kingdom with four different realms. The four realms are pretty generic and uninspired: Forest, Snow, Fire and Water. Across the land of Hyrule are the mysterious Spirit Tracks, the origins and purpose of which are unknown. These tracks are your only means of conveyance across Hyrule. They are not as restrictive as it would seem, but the train system does limit overworld exploration, which is unfortunate in a Zelda game.
The Hero, of course, is Link, or at least a descendant with the same name. This Link is no warrior or small wooden village orphan, instead he is a train engineer who is embarking to Hyrule to seek his Engineer License directly from the Princess herself, Zelda. Once that task is complete the real adventure begins. I’ll sum it up without too many spoilers. Corruption within Zelda’s administration is found and a plot to unleash an ancient evil is executed. This results in the Spirit Tracks disappearing and Zelda’s body being taken as a vessel for the ancient evil lord, Maladus (even his name emanates evil). Link teams up with the astral form of Zelda that only a few can see and sets off to restore the Spirit Tracks and defeat Maladus.
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Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction
After what seems like an age since those original screenshots were first unveiled, Splinter Cell: Conviction is finally here and it looks almost unrecognisable. Indeed, if the path taken in Conviction is anything to go by, the series itself has now undergone a complete overhaul. It has evolved for the modern era of gaming. Sam is now a changed character and the rigid pure stealth of old has gone, no doubt to the chagrin of many long standing fans, but the Splinter Cell series is certainly not immune to the necessity of change.
Sam has gone rogue in a quest to discover who killed his daughter – that means he’s finally off his leash, free to do things his way in his search for vengeance and, crucially, free to jettison stealth and engage in combat when the need arises. The mystery surrounding the death of his daughter Sarah is only a small part of the story, and it’s really only in the second half of the game - when this particular storyline takes a back seat - that the game becomes particularly engaging.
Mission structure is varied. There’s really no let up in the action and definitely no filler. Most of the time this works wonders. One level you’re sneaking quietly into a high security building in a throwback to the series’ roots, in another you’re chasing an assassin through the crowded backstage of a political rally. There’s one occasion where Ubisoft make a huge error of judgment in an underwhelming flashback sequence that not only ultimately feels pointless, but also turns this excellent stealth action game into a mediocre third person shooter for its brief duration. That one level aside, the single player campaign is a lot of fun.
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Monday, May 10, 2010
Dirt Cheap Video Games is the new cure for boredom!
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Monday, February 15, 2010
BioShock 2 Review
BioShock 2 Review
The first BioShock was a critically acclaimed hit, and was highly regarded as the game of 2007. It introduced you to the underwater world of Rapture, put you up against Big Daddies, and delivered a unique and engaging story. 2K Games hopes to perfect the world of Rapture with the sequel, BioShock 2. Your second trip to Rapture will hand you a Bid Daddy suit and a drill and will also throw you in a ring of Splicers for some multiplayer fun. BioShock 2 has the heavy task of reintroducing us to the world of Rapture, and establishing Bioshock as a series and not just a one hit wonder. Now, “would you kindly” read on.
The story of BioShock 2 takes place ten years after the original game. You take on the role of a prototype Big Daddy, commonly referred to as, Subject Delta; you are also the first Big Daddy to be bonded with a Little Sister. It just so happens that the Little Sister is Elanor Lamb, the daughter of Sofia Lamb who is the antagonist of BioShock 2. Your Little Sister is taken from you while you’re left for dead, and after waking up your only task is to get her back. That is the story of BioShock 2 in simple terms, but there is way more to it as you progress and find audio diaries. You will learn the origins behind some of the things that make up Rapture, and although Sofia Lamb is no Andrew Ryan, BioShock 2 still has some good characters to follow the story. You’ll get the most out of the story if you played the first game, but first timers could get through it with a few minor confusions. BioShock 2 delivers a good story that is easier to digest but it doesn’t top the first.
Playing as a Big Daddy in BioShock 2 has its advantages on the gameplay. For starters, you can now duel-wield a plasmid and a gun, which eliminates having to switch back and forward between plasmids and guns. Not many new plasmids are introduced in BioShock 2, you pretty much only need and use the basic ones like the electric, fire, and freeze plasmids. Luckily you can upgrade the plasmids, making every plasmid much better to use; turn a simple fireball into a flamethrower out of the palm of your hand. The same goes for the weapons in the game. You get a shotgun, machine gun, rocket launcher, and a new gun called the Rivet Gun, and a couple more. If you’re lucky enough to find the hidden weapon upgrade stations in the levels, then you can turn do more damage and eventually add lightning striking shots and other special things. Being a Bid Daddy also comes with the infamous Drill. You can drill your enemies and leap towards them with a melee hit so long as you have fuel for it. I didn’t find myself using the drill after the initial try in the earlier stages of the game, mainly because it’s not as great as you would expect.
The game does take place in stage like form, so there is no going back to explore, once you leave the main area you can never go back. There are also segments of the game which have you out in the water life of Rapture, but they feel too linear and there is no sense of real exploration to them. Gathering ADAM, to buy plasmids, comes in a form of adopting a Little Sister by killing her Big Daddy. Once you become her Big Daddy, you can take her to certain dead enemy bodies in which she begins to suck the ADAM out via a needle. While the gathering, you must protect yourself and the Little Sister from Splicers which show up to take the ADAM. these gatherings are optional so you’re not forced into taking part in this, but it’ll help if you want to make progress. Once a gathering is complete you can choose whether you want to rescue the Little Sister or harvest her. These choices and a few other moral choices in the game will determine the ending of the game.
BioShock 2 introduces a first for Bioshock with the addition of multiplayer. You can choose between several different Splicers as who you want to play as, although it makes no difference. You have an apartment in which you can make minor customizations to your character, check the leaderboards, switch between weapons, and listen to audio diaries from the Splicers in the multiplayer; which give some added info on the history of your character. you can find the common game types online like deathmatch, team deathmatch, and team survival. but you can also find Capture the Flag and Oddball but with both having a BioShock 2 twist to them. I found all the game types enjoyable and the overall multiplayer was great, definitely not something that was just slapped on for the added value. There are a bunch of unlockables in the multiplayer so there is incentive to keep playing but I question the long lasting appeal of the multiplayer compared to other shooters out now.
In terms of sound and graphics, BioShock 2 is great. The game looks way better than the original, but that’s expected. you can choose to make the game run at 60fps in the options menu, but if you do then you’re open to screen tearing issues and frame rate problems.The sound in BioShock is one I particularly enjoy due to the sounds of the 1960’s type of music. It’s appropriate when it needs to be and when the lights are out and you’re roaming in the dark, the score kicks in for that part. The voice acting is pretty good, I have nothing more to say or anything negative on it. Just know that no one delivers like Armin Shimerman did for Andrew Ryan.
2K Games made the improvements it needed to make in the first game with BioShock 2, but it lacks the depth the story had in the first game. The return to Rapture might of lost some of its nostalgia for some but you must return. Not doing so will only make you miss out on a great sequel. BioShock 2 solidifies that the name BioShock isn’t just a one hit wonder, it is now a great series of games that I hope continues on.
Tags: Game Reviews, PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Labels: Game Reviews, PC, PlayStation 3, xbox 360
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Mass Effect 2 Review
Mass Effect 2 Review
Without giving away spoilers, Mass Effect 2’s story holds a quality that we rarely see in gaming. Few games have put you into a world where the storyline and dialog are even more engaging than the actual action itself. Mass Effect 2 is one of those games. You are not just playing the game to shoot shit up, or to race to the end as quick as you can. Mass Effect 2 is an experience that you wish was never ending, because it makes you really feel apart of the world, It makes you really think that you are Commander Shepard. Because of the fact you want to be on such good terms with the other characters in the game, you will put off rushing through the main missions, to complete side quests for your crew, just because you’ve grown to care about these characters so much. In short, Bioware has made the universe of Mass Effect 2 so alive, that you really feel like your putting a part of yourself into the experience.
I don’t need to touch on the storyline of Mass Effect 2, because I am sure you do not wish to know spoilers. The most I will say is that the game has certified it’s position as one of the most engrossing video games ever. There have been a number of PC games to do what Mass Effect has done already, so to those gamers this is nothing new. However, Bioware bringing this caliber of game to a console, and pulling it off so well, means that they should be hailed as one of the elite developers. So let me give you the short run through of the games story.
You start off back in the Normandy (whether you import your Mass Effect character or not), but you quickly run into trouble. Your ship then needs to be evacuated. Long story short, Shepard looses his team, then hooks up with a new organization to take on a new threat (the collecters), whom you find out have ties to the Reapers. You must then build up your squad, to ensure you are fully equipped to take on the new problem head on. I know everyone was eager to see how their decisions in the first game would effect Mass Effect 2, but they hardly make up too much in the games storyline. You may feel disappointed with the lack of things relating to the first games decisions, as there aren’t a significant amount. However there is enough references to your choices there to make you think “Oh yeah, I made this happen”, or “Oh yes I remember this character from the first game”. The amount of new faces you will bring on your squad may also make you a little skeptical. At the moment I have only come across two people from the first game that I was able to bring back on my squad to fight, but this is forgivable seeing as how the new squad members are all very interesting people.
Visually the game is stunning, with only a few minor hiccups. Compared to the first game, Mass Effect 2 takes a huge leap forward, even if they had to sacrifice the convenience of having the game on one disc. Yes the game is on two discs, but it is highly forgivable and just looking at the amount of detail in the game, it becomes reasonable to see why. The game is definitely one of the most beautiful things to look at in the Xbox 360’s library all together, and the facial detail on the characters makes everyone seem unique. Even the aliens that are meant to all look the same, have differences in their facial appearance which can be picked out, and the fact that there are thousands of NPC’s in the game makes that even more amazing.
When it comes to combat, a lot has changed since the first game. Mass Effect 2 is definitely more action packed, and less like an rpg (as far as the combat). There is no more choosing your equipment from the start menu, that has been scrapped, and perhaps for the best. Now you just choose your guns and spray away. Of course your equipment can still be upgraded, but this is done back on the ship before you head off for combat. Meaning there’s less messing about in the start menu once you venture out on a mission. When it comes to armor, you only have one standard costume. Don’t panic though, the costume is fully customizable and supports add ons to help you perform better in combat. You can change the color of your armor, and attach add ons such as medi gel attachments. If you feel like mixing things up, then Bioware will provide us with different set’s of armor, via DLC. So far I have the Dragon Age blood armor, which looks amazing. The only upset is not being able to remove the helmet.
As for the action itself, it is more head on this time around. There is less messing around with menus, and more attacking. You still have your special attacks related to your class, and you can even map your favorite one to either the Y button or the left and right bumpers on the controller (Xbox 360). Overall though, the fun is in gunning down the enemy, and aiming for the head. The soldier class in the last game was kind of boring to play with, but this time around I can see how it would be the most enjoyable class to use. The team AI has improved a great deal also, you can send them into a covered position and they will do their job. Of course you can also order them to use one of their own special powers, to help break down enemy forces. Cover is a must in this game, and Bioware did a great job of implementing useful cover positions in the level designs. I must say though, the cover system can get annoying. When you press the A button to get into cover, sometimes it takes a while to respond, causing you press it again, which makes you snap out of cover instantly. This can be a factor that leads to your death, very often. Another fact which may annoy some, is the fact that you now have to use ammo for your weapons. This change isn’t much explained in the game, but it works in the favor of making a more action packed experience. Ammo is not hard to come by, so it shouldn’t cause a problem for anyone.
The sound in Mass Effect 2 is very authentic. In usual Bioware fashion, there is tons of dialog. Which means theres a whole lot of voice acting (with no Nolan North in sight). Fortunately the voice acting is superb, there are even celebrities lending their voice to the game. I’m not sure how much Bioware spent on the voice acting, but it must have been a huge part of the budget. There are so many different characters, and the ones you speak to have tons of dialog. The best part is, everyone sounds different.
There is not much more I can say about Mass Effect 2, besides telling you how much of a fool you are for not buying the game. The game is a near flawless experience, full of engrossing drama, and non stop gun blasting action. In my opinion, this is the best the Xbox 360 has to offer to date, therefore there should not be an Xbox 360 owner without this game (including the first one). Even if you didn’t play the first game, there is no reason for you not to play this one. Bioware has designed the game to be friendly to new people, but to also reward the people who played the first game. The game is also very lengthy this time, if you choose it to be. Currently I am 18 hours in, and I still have a lot of side quests to do. If I wanted to I could of course pursue the main missions and race to the end, but with this game you want to soak in the experience as much as you can on the first play through. Though be prepared to play the game through a couple times, just so you can see how different decisions pan out in the story.
To summarize, Mass Effect 2 represents what next generation gaming is about. Mass Effect 2 defines video gaming, and it is evidence enough of why the industry has surpassed Hollywood. Mass Effect 2 is one of the most engaging experiences in video game entertainment, one that should not be missed out on.
Tags: Game Reviews, PC, Reviews, Xbox 360
Labels: Game Reviews, PC, Reviews, xbox 360
Friday, February 5, 2010
Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars Review
Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars Review
The fact that Tatsunoko vs. Capcom is being released in North America is almost mind-blowing. Considering that Tatsunoko is a relatively unknown brand in the western world it was universally assumed that Capcom wouldn’t be bringing the game stateside which forced avid fight fans like me to import the Japanese game and hunt down a Freeloader in order to bask in it’s awesomeness. Now just over a year after it’s homeland release, TvC is available in stores all across America and furthermore Capcom has added some sweet additions to make up for its late arrival.
Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars is the latest installment in the “Capcom Vs” series. Only this time instead of squaring off against Marvel or SNK, Ryu and Co. are in conflict with a bunch of Japanese characters you’ve probably never seen or heard of before. Tatsunoko is a very popular anime company in Japan but in the west you’d be hard pressed to find a person who‘s even heard of the brand, let alone recognize anyone from it. However all the Otaku’s and old school anime fans out there will be pleased to know the Tatsunoko line-up includes characters from the likes of Gatchaman, Tekkaman Blade and Karas. The Capcom line up will likely be far more appealing to the domestic audience as it features well known names such as Ryu & Chun-Li of Street Fighter fame, Megaman, Viewtiful Joe and Dead Rising’s very own Frank West who appears as an unlockable character. Unfortunately no characters from key franchises like Resident Evil, Devil May Cry or Ace Attorney are present in the game but hey that what sequels are for, right?
Keeping in tone with the “vs.” series Capcom opted to use a 2 on 2 fighting mechanic for TvC. You can select any two characters from both the Capcom or Tatsunoko universe or if you’d like to be an asshole and completely grief your opponent you can substitute your choice of two characters for one huge robot (from either Lost Planet or Golden Warrior Gold Lightan) who completely breaks all the rules of the game and instantly makes you a moral loser no matter what the outcome of the fight may be. If you decide to play fair and chose two normal characters each of them will have their own independent life bars and you can change between them at any time during a match. Like in Marvel vs. Capcom you can also have your partner jump on screen, deliver a blow, and then jump back out which can lead to some impressive looking tag team combos.
On the surface TvC may seem like super simplistic, especially if playing with the Wii remote held sideways which allows you to pull of special moves with a single button press. However hook up a classic controller or fight stick (which is being released by MadCatz alongside the game for $80) and it won’t be long before you discoverer hidden depth in the fighting system. Within a matter of hours you’ll find yourself chaining together Super Moves, dishing out lethal combos and performing well timed dashes to get the upper hand on your opponent. Trying out new characters for the first time can admittedly feel a little daunting but finding the right combination of fighters to suit your play style is vital if you wish completely dominate.
In terms of game modes Capcom has everything you’d expect, and then some. There’s an Arcade mode, a Versus mode, Time Trail, Survival, Practice and new to the western version of the game is the inclusion of an Online Versus mode. Online play works exceeding well with very little (if any) lag, while the Wii’s Friend Code system makes it difficult to arrange match-up’s with your real life buddies, finding a match against a random internet stranger is seamless. Hopefully TvC will be able to retain a strong online community because as far as online fighters go, this is currently the best the Wii has on offer.
Graphically TvC isn’t anything groundbreaking but the over the top Japanese quirkiness is truly appreciated. The characters are well drawn with a heavy anime influence and some of the fighting arenas are pretty creative while others feels a little empty. My biggest gripe with the graphics aren’t technically the game’s fault but more to do with the fact that the game is on the Wii. After growing accustomed to the sharpness of Street Fighter II HD Remix and the sheer gorgeousness of Street Fighter IV on the PS3/360, TvC looks particularly blurry and low-res. The Super Moves look visually impressive as the screen goes dark and the camera zooms in (similar to the Ultra Moves in SF IV), however the Super Moves gauge fills up so quickly and Super Moves are so easy to pull off that you’ll soon become tired of seeing them.
If you’ve been waiting for a Wii-based experience on par with some of Capcom’s classic fighting games then TvC is definitely the game for you. Residing somewhere between the methodical nature of Street Fighter IV and the bat-shit craziness of Marvel Vs. Capcom 2, TvC is a fun fighting game which should satisfy anyone who knows how to pull off a drag-on punch. While the character selection leaves plenty to be desired and the graphics aren’t too impressive, none of that really matters once you’ve found the perfect pair of fighters and proceed to kick ass both on and offline. This is by far the best fighting game on the Wii (not including the Virtual Console releases) so do yourself a favor and pick up a copy today, I’d hate to see another awesome Wii title fail miserably at retail.
Tags: Game Reviews, Nintendo Wii
Labels: Game Reviews, nintendo wii
Monday, February 1, 2010
Divinity II: Ego Draconis Review
Divinity II: Ego Draconis Review
Since the release of the acclaimed World Of Warcraft franchise, the fantasy RPG genre has been redefined for it’s addictive gameplay and customizable character elements. Other notable titles such as Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and Fable would go on to further immerse fans in the realm and open up a world full of possibilities. Now with the start of the New Year comes a dull and diluted RPG titled Divinity II: Ego Draconis. Here are a few reasons why you should pass on this game and wait for Fable III instead.
Concept:
Divinity II: Ego Draconis is billed as being the sequel to Divine Divinity, a computer role-playing game that was created back in 2002 by Belgian developer Larian Studios. The story takes place in Rivellon, a world populated by both humans and creatures unaware of the impending war that is before them. You assume the role of a nameless Dragon Slayer who is focused on taking down dragons to preserve society’s order. However throughout your journey, you also have the ability to become a Dragon, which instantly puts your foes at a disadvantage. After taking part in the dragon slayer ritual, you’ll have the option of choosing from 1 of 3 significant disciplines that will aid you in combat. They are as follows:
Ranger- Path Of Archery
Warrior- Path Of Sword
Alberic- Path Of Magic
It’s worth noting that there will be instances where some of these skills can be combined but it requires that you practice strategy to get the most impact from your attacks. The one good aspect of combat is that you can switch weapons virtually on the fly by pressing any of the corresponding buttons on the controller For example, if you choose the path of the warrior you’ll be able to use your sword by pressing X then switch to using your arrows by pressing A. You also have the option of Leveling Up your character by adding points to their specified abilities as stated below:
Vitality- General Health and Fitness
Spirit- Mental Power and Aptness
Strength- Physical Prowess and Athleticism
Dexterity- Agility and Reflexes
Intelligence- Cognitive Competence and Resistance to Attacks
Among the strongest skillsets you can acquire is the ability to mindread. This is significant because it allows you to have the upperhand in conversations, rewarding you with both cheaper prices from vendors and unveiling passwords to acquire more riches or unlockables. The same could be said about lockpicking techniques, which are also gained by properly allocating your Experience points to the right abilities only earned through combat. The campaign of the game clocks at about 60 hrs total should you decide to participate in the many sidequests that are offered. While these tasks are extremely repetitive in nature, any fan who truly wants to attain any or all of the insanely deep skillsets available will more then likely progress through the game for that very reason.
Execution:
Since Divinity II: Ego Draconis was a game created primarily for the PC gamer, its seems like the decision to release an Xbox 360 version came as a complete and underwhelming afterthought. The graphics remain choppy and washed out easily putting it on par with launch titles from the previous generation of consoles. There are noticeable lag times, which occur all too often while your character is moving throughout the world. Even more frustrating is the game’s high tendency to crash, which usually happens at pivotal points in the campaign. This also exposes a flawed save system which forces the player to start from the beginning of a task rather then picking up from where they left off. For example, after your epic first encounter with the main antagonist of the game, Damien, you are then sent forth on a mission to gain enough power to beat him. Common sense would dictate that if this is a crucial point in the game and Autosave is automatically enabled then you should be able to start over from this point on. However, once your character dies you are forced with the task of playing from the previous savepoint to reach that sequence again. Equally annoying is the fact that you can’t skip over cutscenes, which pretty much becomes the equivalent of pulling teeth.
Divinity II also claims to have an intuitive morality system that rewards players with new experiences. This fact isn’t clearly displayed though because most of the conversations you engage in lead to the same result 9 times out of 10. The lack of range creates boredom and therefore isn’t enough to keep a gamer interested for very long. Customizing your character is extremely limited in scope meaning you can only choose hairstyles, facial appearance, voice, demeanor, and gender. The fact that you can’t change the race of your character is pretty insulting given that it’s suggested that in this setting there is diversity but it only applies to the differences between the humans and the creatures.
As I mentioned before the enemy A.I. is extremely unforgiving and warrants that you take the necessary precautions to win battles. There are jumping evasive maneuvers to avoid hits instead of dedicated cover system. The only problem is that your character is extremely weak throughout most of game and isn’t given quite as much incentives to gain power. For Example, after defeating the Arben Ghost inhibiting your soul you are given his sword to add to your arsenal of weapons. Immediately after receiving it, your lead commander takes it leaving you with the same lackluster weapons that you began the game with. This is a harsh slap in the face later once you face off against an array of enemies that are far more powerful and advanced then you.
By the same token, when you take on the form of the Dragon you are virtually unstoppable. The only problem is that this privilege is only gained through certain parts of the story and therefore most of your time is spent in human form. Beyond the surface, the main gimmick of this title is the ability to play as a Dragon.
Therefore, it would only make sense to emphasize and push those boundaries further. Given that there is no multiplayer support in this game, there could have easily been a versus mode for Dragon fights between players over Xbox live or PC. It might not have been much but it definitely could have been a better alternative to playing a cliché story mode corrupted only by its own limitations.
Final Verdict:
Divinity II: Ego Draconis is a forgettable RPG that lacks dimensionality and only exists to capitalize on the genre. While the RPG elements of leveling up and the ability to play as a dragon may be fun for gamers, the limit you have to go through to achieve these goals hardly seems worth it at all. If you enjoy playing fantasy RPG’s I would strongly urge that you play Dragon Age: Origins instead. In the issue of fairness, I’m sure the PC version performs better given that it was originally manufactured to be played on a top tier computer. However as it stands now, playing this game is divinely atrocious so much so that I’m sure somewhere in the world Peter Jackson is shaking his head in disappointment.
Tags: Game Reviews, PC, Xbox 360
Labels: Game Reviews, PC, xbox 360
Monday, January 25, 2010
Bayonetta Review
Hideki Kamiya, creator of Devil May Cry, has moved on from the days of demon slaying with Dante and the crew. He now works at Platinum Games and has been harboring a new vision for what the action game genre needs. That new vision has come to us in the form of Bayonetta, a slick fast paced action game with heaps of the unique Japanese flair and madness we have come to know and love. The big question is, has Hideki managed to surpass what he created seven years ago with Devil May Cry? or should we go back to playing Devil May Cry?.
The story in Bayonetta could only have come from the mind of a person like Hideki Kamiya. You are Bayonetta, an Umbra Witch who has spent about 500 years sitting trapped at the bottom of a lake after a battle on a cliff face sends her plummeting to the depths. Being out of action for so long has, as you would expect, brought on about of amnesia. All she can remember is that her enemies are the Lumen Sages aka Angels and, for an unknown reason, must die at all costs. As she travels through the 16 or so chapters trying to find the truth about herself she battles tons of enemies and bosses in various areas including dream worlds, old made up European cites, and a busy highway. The action is broken up with several cutscenes and conversations with a host of characters, some of these characters include Jeanne, another Umbra Witch, who knows the real identity of Bayonetta and what happened to her. Rodin, the owner of a club called Gates of Hell and your local neighborhood gun dealer. Enzo, a highly annoying informant who has more than a brief similarity to everybody’s favorite mini made man Joe Pesci and then there’s the journalist Luka, I began to find this guy really annoying. His entire role in the game is to pester Bayonetta about things she had done in the past including, supposedly killing his parents.
My experience with the story of Bayonetta was, how can I say it, confusing at best. I don’t know if it was the translation from Japanese to English, but I never seemed to get involved in the story as much as I though I would. The only thing that I remember from the main story was the reference Sonic at the start of the game. Everything else was just all over the place and the still motion/film reel cut-scenes really never helped. But like, other games of this genre the story is not the end of the world, the action and combat can make the difference up.
The gameplay in Bayonetta is what really stands out. Think too yourself, what if Devil May Cry went to a club, got drunk, and took tons of drugs. That’s where the action in Bayonetta begins. Everything is so fast paced and frantic, I sometimes found it difficult to keep track of where my character was on screen. Combine that with a combo list as long as both of your arms and you have a game that will test even the most skilled gamer. Platinum Games have also added something unique to the game that helps it stand out from the crowd, that thing is the ability to strap weapons to your legs. I know it doesn’t sound like a big deal but take it from me it is. This addition totally changes the way you play the game by adding more ways to attack or even defend. You also have the ability to customize the weapon slots on your arms and legs, individually, with any weapons you collect through the game. But I found this area lacking a feature I thought would have been obvious to the developer. That feature is that you can only have one set of weapons on both of your arms and one set on both of your legs. I would have liked to have had the ability to map weapons to each individual limb but I guess we can’t have everything.
Another feature I would like to mention is Bayonetta’s “Witch Time”. It sounds similar to the good old bullet time and infact it is pretty similar in someways but the way you enable it is totally different. Gone, are the options to turn it on willy nilly ,instead you have to use a little piece of skill to get it going. The way you do this is to hit the right trigger at the very last moment of an enemy attack. I know this sounds pretty easy to do in theory but with the fast paced, frantic action going on at times, I found it difficult to even see the perfect moment to evade. However once you get into Witch Time everything slows down (yes i know you already knew that) but this becomes really useful when fighting some of the quicker bosses and at times where there are tons of enemies attacking you at once. Later in the game the skill of getting into Witch Time becomes really important, as you often get faced off with two or three really quick enemies.
Later on in the game you unlock the ability to transform into animals. The animal forms range from a super quick panther with a crazy jump distance, to a crow that lets you fly for a short time. These animals become a big part of the gameplay later in the chapters because they are required for certain puzzles and help you get to areas that you could not get to before. I also found the Panther to be a big help while in battles because it allows you to evade attacks quickly and move to a better position on the battlefield for using health or doing a special attack.
Speaking of special attacks, those come in the form of Weave Attacks and as the name suggests, they use Bayonetta’s hair to form giant fists or heels. The way you enable the Weave Attack is pretty simple, all you have to do is hit a combination of punch and kick, for example if you hit punch, kick, punch you will notice Bayonetta’s hair begin to sparkle with purple. This lets you know that she is ready to perform a Weave Attack then all you have to do is hit punch and you will unleash a giant fist into the face of your enemy. There are a vast amount of Weave Attacks and they change depending on which weapon setup you have equipped. The best and easiest combo of weapons and Weave Attacks has to be the Katana on your hands with the pistols on your legs, this combo lets you perform a sweeping Katana swipe with the button combination I used in my example.
If all that stuff still isn’t enough moves for you, Platinum Games have also included two additional move sets. These sets are called Torture Attacks and Climax Attacks which as you can guess either involve torturing your enemies or finishing them off once and for all aka taking them to Climax. All you have to do to enable these attacks is build up your magic meter by attacking enemies and evading enemy attacks, if you get hit by an enemy your meter will go back down so try not to get hit much. Once you have your meter full you will see an on screen prompt telling you to press two buttons to unleash the attack. These attacks are like the finishers in Mortal Kombat, once you perform one there’s more than a good chance that the enemy will be no more. However, that’s not always the case as some of the larger enemies have so much health it sometimes takes a couple of these to finish them off. The Climax attacks are much the same as the Torture Attacks but are on a much bigger scale and only seem to be enabled for the larger enemies and bosses in the game.
Graphically Bayonetta is a real looker, the character detail is really top class even the way Bayonetta’s hair moves and transforms is really something to marvel at. The environments are also really well detailed and have a certain historical value to them that makes you believe that the places you visit could exist in the real world, that’s excluding the crazy dream worlds and stuff. I also found the lighting and other visual effects added an extra layer to the game that you may not see in other titles. Things like flowers blowing around in the wind to the details in animations and particle effects really add to the visual fidelity.
The camera in this particular genre of game has always comes in for some criticism and in Bayonetta its much the same story, overall Platinum Games have done a good job. The camera manages to keep up with all the action but every so ofter you find it gets stuck in position and sometimes it becomes hard to see who you are fighting. But fear not there is an option to reset the camera with a click of the right analogue stick which should fix any camera related problems you encounter. Now I know frame rate plays a big part in this particular genre of game and I am happy to report that during my gaming sessions with Bayonetta I never encountered any significant problems with slowdown or anything of that nature, the frame rate stayed pretty solid throughout the entire game but I did however notice some slight screen tearing during fast paced scenes but its really nothing to get in a big fuss over, its nowhere near as bad as Darksiders on Xbox 360.
As for the sound, its as you would expect it to be. The backing score is full of the typical Japanese pop music found in these type of games, which Im not a big fans of but it seems to fit into the mood of the game very well. The Vocal work was also really good, I think the decision to make Bayonetta speak the Queens English was a smart move, I don’t know if it would have worked as well if she spoke with an American accent but Iam glad they went for the English accent . There is one thing I would like to point out about the sound effects in Bayonetta particulary the vocals, that point is be careful where you play this game because at times it can sound like you are watching some sort of Lesbian porn movie, yes I know everyone loves a lesbian but I felt the amount of moans and groans got a little over the top at times, I even had a small incident while watching a cut-scene where someone walked into my room thinking I was actually watching a porn movie, which i never do. Honest.
Overall Bayonetta is a fantastic action game that takes what Hideki Kamiya created with Devil May Cry to a faster, sexier and more action packed level. The combat system is probably one of the best in any action game to date, its deep enough for the pro players to get exited about and simple enough for noobs to pick up and play. Replayability is also quite high as there are tons of things to collect and buy. The only downsides I can see with the game are the story and the amount of cut-scenes in the game but don’t let that put you off as you can always skip those and head right back into the action.
Tags: Game Reviews, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Labels: Game Reviews, PlayStation 3, xbox 360
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Matt Hazard: Blood Bath And Beyond Review
Labels: Game Reviews, PlayStation 3, xbox 360
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Dark Void Review: Into The Void
Dark Void Review: Into The Void
After more than two years since it was announced, Capcom and Airtight Games are ready to take gamers into the void, Dark Void. The game caught the eyes of several due to its impressive aerial combat gameplay and the use of a jet pack. It’s now time to strap on that jet pack and blast off. To infinite and beyond, right? Wrong! Now I can’t go to Wal-Mart and buy a jet pack but I can imagine using a jet pack for the first time and thinking, “wow this is cool.” But after the first 30 minutes or so I’m sure most will say, “ok get me off this thing.” That theory can be applied to this game.
The story of Dark Void, ironically, takes place in the year 1938. I was not aware jet packs and robots were around in the 30’s but I digress. As World War II is on the verge of starting, aliens and their robot minions (The Watchers) are planning their own takeover. Not over a country but over humanity. Consequently, our hero, Will A. Grey and his former main squeeze, Ava, have crash landed their plane somewhere in The Bermuda Triangle, which eventually leads them into this place known as The Void. Equipped with the great Nikola Tesla’s jet-pack, you must now stop The Watchers, help survivors in the Void, and find Ava. Dark Void juggles a couple of plots, and the main one suffers because of it. The on and off romance subplot seems straight out of Uncharted 2, but this game has been in development for quite sometime, so maybe it’s just a mere coincidence. Plus, the characters aren’t intriguing enough for you to care about them nor even like them. The main campaign will take about seven hours to complete, and there’s absolutely no incentive to replay it again. If you need a story that moves you, then this won’t due.
G is for gameplay but in Dark Void, G is for generic. That’s only during the third-person shooter portions, which oddly enough I enjoyed more than anything. The first episode of Dark Void focuses mainly on the third-person shooter aspects of the game, which includes all the typical moves like melee and a cover system. All works the same and works good but why play this when you can play a more engaging third-person shooter. Once you finally obtain the jet pack, you can enter vertical cover which allows you to shoot enemies below or above certain platforms and comes in handy a few times. The Watchers can be killed with six of the different weapons available ranging from an assault rifle to a variation of The Watchers weaponry. Each gun can be upgraded twice but none are better or worse than the other. No gun, no problem. Melee attacks in Dark Void are cheap; the toughest enemy takes three melee attacks to die and the puny enemies take only one hit.
With that being said, lets get to the crème de la crème of Dark Void’s gameplay. The jet pack is what made you skeptical about this game and it’s the main highlight of this game. At any time during gameplay, you can choose to hoover or take off and fly. Hoovering in the air and shooting down on the enemy proves to be a great technique and fun at times. It comes to good use for tactical reasons like getting a better shot or flanking a turret gunner but there are very few moments in which tactics come into play. Dark Void also has a Star Wars vibe with aerial combat aspects of the game. During these aerial moments the controls change, from a third-person shooter to a flying game like Crimson Skies, which was developed by the core team at Airtight Games. The controls can be confusing for quite sometime but eventually you’ll get the hang of it. While up in the air you can also jump into ally ships or choose to hijack enemy UFO’s. None are proven to be stronger than the other but I found myself really tired of the jet pack so I would jump in a ship just because.
There are two key elements to the sound in Dark Void that make the game bearable. The first is you have Nolan North providing the voice of the lead character, Will. If you’re not familiar with Nolan North, he’s the voice of Drake in Uncharted. His delivery in this game is great but it might be a better idea if you don’t use the voice of Drake to voice a character so similar to Drake. Nolan North pretty much plays the same character here, although Drake’s lines are way better than Will’s. The second key element is the great score by Battlestar Galactica composer, Bear McCreary. I’ve never watched the show before but hs work in this game is pretty good for his first score in a videogame. The music compliments and fits the mood. I probably wouldn’t of noticed it much but due to a glitch that turned all the audio down with the exception of the score, I did.
In terms of graphics, Dark Void gets by with neither bad nor impressive graphics. Cutscenes are pretty well animated; Dark Void doesn’t try to go for the photo realistic look. You can also find blurry textures and the occasional texture pop-ins. The main gripe comes from a technical standpoint in which the frame rate drops during big battles, its not significant but it’s there and you’ll notice.
The wait for Dark Void was long and now that it’s here, it truly is a disappointment. There is very little fun to be had in this game. There’s this nostalgia in videogames for jet packs and chainsaws and honestly they hardly ever fulfill anything. Jet packs are the new chainsaws. Dark Void does not merit a $60 dollar purchase, although I’m certain it won’t stay at that price for long.
Tags: Game Reviews, PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Labels: Game Reviews, PC, PlayStation 3, xbox 360
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Army of Two: The 40th Day Review
Army of Two: The 40th Day Review
Electronic Arts is kicking off the new year with, in my opinion, the best spring lineup for any publisher. With titles such as Mass Effect 2, Battlefield Bad Company 2, and Dante’s Inferno, EA is the company to lookout for. The first EA title in 2010 is the sequel to the co-op third person shooter Army of Two: The 40th Day. The two mercenary amigos, Salem and Rios, are back after nearly two years since the first installment. The first game wasn’t the best shooter nor the best co-op experience we’ve ever had, it was simply an average game that needed a few more improvements to make it a good game. Army of Two promises to deliver a better game with the sequel by making some much needed improvements and expanding on the multiplayer elements of the first game.
Salem and Rios are your typical duo of mercenaries. They’re cocky, wise-cracking douche bags who care about finishing their mission and getting paid. Some might not like these protagonist, but I did. The reason being is they’re like a couple of buddies or brothers who just crack jokes on each other. Their relationship seems real to me. Sadly, the story in the 40th Day does nothing to bring out much of this great duo’s chemistry nor does it make the campaign story the least bit interesting. The game begins with Salem and Rios in Shanghai for a mission to do something and then all of a sudden, Shanghai goes to hell with skyscrapers tumbling down and civilians being killed or held prisoner. As I write this now, I’m not too sure what the hell happened in the story, but the first four out of six chapters don’t have any sort of story telling. The story starts and ends in the last two chapters of the game, making The 40th Day less about story and more about big action sequences.
The main focus of Army of Two is the co-op. No matter what way you choose to play this game, you’ll always have your right hand man there for backup. Play with a buddy online, next to you, or play with the AI controlled partner (which isn’t as bad as one would expect.) Sure, playing with a friend would be better, but I played it with the AI and it would do what I wanted. Sometimes though it wouldn’t go where I would want it to. The 40th Day improves some of the co-op features by making them available at any time, but doesn’t add much besides a mock surrender, which allows your partner to flank the enemy. A new HUD GPS system is also available and it allows you to mark enemies and serves as a road map, but this option means nothing when it has a time limit. Another problem I found that doesn’t necessarily belong to the gameplay but holds you from the gameplay is the positioning of some of the checkpoints. Some of the checkpoints are saved before a cutscene, so if you die or a civilian is killed or anything, you’ll have to watch the cutscene every time since the game does not allow you to skip over them. I found this very frustrating at times seeing as how all I want to do is get back to the action.
When it comes to action sequences, The 40th Day delivers. The action in each chapter is very well paced and each chapter has a great action set piece like map taking place in a Zoo, which allows you to take cover over an elephant. Seriously. The shooting mechanics are easy to learn and the wide range of weaponry is there to buy and unlock. The weapon you use is much more satisfying knowing that you customized it to your liking. With numerous additions to each gun, your weapon will be unique. Making money in the game is simple. Either kill enemies, take it from their supply crates, rescue civilians. By becoming a Shanghai civilians savior, you will gain good morality or you can gain bad morality by killing them or not rescuing them. A morality set piece is also a part of each chapter asking you if you should kill this person or let them live, things of that nature.
The cover system in The 40th Day is a little over complicated than it should be. Pushing ‘A’ while running towards something will get you into cover, but if you’re right in front of what you want to take cover on you must duck and push up on the left stick. If you want to turn from side to side while taking cover the camera will pan over your left or right shoulder, then you must click in and out of that, which like I said over complicates things. I hate to compare games in my reviews, but The 40th Day would of been great if it would of just copied the cover system of a certain game that features locust.
As for graphics, the 40th Day was built using the Unreal Engine 3. Like the majority of games using that engine, the game looks good. The levels are polished, the characters are detailed, and the in-game visuals are overall pretty good. The only time the game doesn’t look that good is during the brief cutscenes of a skyscraper being destroyed and collapsing, but not many of those happen for too long. I have to give it to the level designers though. They did a great job in designing each chapter based on the location and the madness that surrounds that area. I was a little disappointed that the Unreal Engine physics weren’t used to their full capabilities. The game allows you to shoot enemies through a table via bullet penetration, yet the table doesn’t break or chip. All that is left is a black bullet hole.
I’m not too keen on sound, but a game that features no audio options is ridiculous. There is no way to lower the music volume and no way to turn up the voice acting volume. Even worse the game has no subtitles. Not everyone plays with subtitles, but in this game they’re needed since there are no audio settings are available. Maybe with subs I can have a better understanding of the story or actually be able to hear some of Salem and Rios’ jokes. With that being said, the sound itself is OK, but audio options would of been great.
Pick a friend and take the partnership online against other teams with The 40th Day. Compete in four modes which are, Co-Op Deathmatch, Warzone, Control, and the pre-order exclusive, Extraction. The multiplayer in 40th Day might be something you try just to see what it’s like, but you won’t stay for long. That might be due to some of the lag issues I found during my stay online, although I’m sure a patch might be on the way.
Army of Two: The 40th Day made some of the improvements it needed to, but it remains just an average game. However, that doesn’t mean its bad because believe me, I found myself having fun even though I was playing alone. Simply put, if you’re looking for an action game with lots of shooting that offers co-op and nothing more, then this is your game. If you have a good friend who you constantly play with, then Army of Two: The 40th Day would be a great, fun game for the both of you.
Tags: Game Reviews, PlayStation 3, Sony PSP, Xbox 360
Labels: Game Reviews, PlayStation 3, Sony PSP, xbox 360
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Contra Rebirth Micro Review
Remember Contra III anybody? of course you do, it was only one of the best games of the 16-bit generation! How about Contra 4 or all the Contra’s in-between, not so much huh? That’s because they have all (with the exception of maybe Hard Corp on the Genesis) failed to live up to the magic of the 1992 Super Nintendo classic. Now 17 years later Konami are once again conducting witchcraft in an attempt to bring Contra back to its former glory with Contra Rebirth. Rebirth sees the Contra series return home to a Nintendo console after almost 2 decades and it terms of greatness it picks up right where Contra III left off. As with any Contra co-op is the way to go so if you’re fortunate enough to have a buddy beside you who’s willing to play more than just Madden and/or Gears Of War you’re in for a real treat. The game features 5 stages, 3 difficulty levels and (praise the lord) unlimited continues, successfully conquering each difficulty grants you access to 1 of 3 unlockables. During your first play-through you’re bound to crack a few smiles as memories of your childhood come rushing back to you as you once again traverse through areas seen in previous games. Unfortunately though the graphics are way below what the Wii can handle and game runs in 4:3 without so much as a fancy boarder, just plain old black bars.
Rebirth is essentially Contra turned all the way up to 11, from start to end you can expect to see swarms of enemies, bullets flying everywhere and tons of explosions yet compared to previous games in the series Rebirth can feel a little shallow. Most of the game is spent running to the right whilst gunning down every enemy in sight, gone are the vehicle, top down and tunnel stages which would have helped to break up the games frantic flow. Also the weapon selection in Rebirth is very barebones with an Automatic Rifle, Homing Missiles, Laser and Spreadshot being the only artillery at your despoil. Another bummer is that the game story is laughably bad, Contra has never been known for having a good story (or a story at all even) but all the talk about “Elite Contra Space Warriors” and “Neo-Salamander Army’s” in Rebirth is enough to make you go on a real life killing-spree. None of this really matters though because once your running though areas shooting bad guys in the face until they explode you’ll be having the time of your life. Hopefully Komani will one day re-release this title on the PSN/XBLA with a HD coating, online co-op with more guns! Until then this is what you get, classic Contra.
Tags: Game Reviews, Nintendo Wii
Labels: Game Reviews, nintendo wii
Monday, January 4, 2010
A Boy and His Blob Review
A Boy and His Blob Review
When it was released on the NES in 1989 David Crane’s A Boy And His Blob already felt dated, especially with brilliant titles like Super Mario Bros already available on the system. Rather than follow Mario’s lead A Boy And His Blob took a more vintage route and was a non-scrolling platformer that looked and controlled similarly to David Crane’s previous creation Pitfall. It really is astonishing that 20 years later another A Boy And His Blob title is being released, this time around it is being developed WayForward the studio behind Contra IV. Although the original title never exactly set the world on fire it is clear that WayForward have put a lot of love and passion in to this re-imagining and it has clearly paid off because the result is one the best 2D platformers in years.
At first glance it’s hard not to be amazed by the Wii version of A Boy And His Blob, the hand-drawn art style looks absolutely gorgeous and the game retains a charming and colorful European aesthetic through-out. Wii owners already saw just how graphically competent the Wii really is with the release of Muramasa: The Demon Blade last month and now A Boy And His Blob has added further confirmation that the Wii is capable of producing truly stunning visuals. This is easily one of the best looking games ever to appear on a Nintendo Platform so if you’re one of those multi-console owners who neglects their Wii because its an embarrassment to their huge HD TV’s this might be the game for you.
Story is not relevant here and the game does little to conjure one up but the basic premise is; Blob crash lands outside of Boy’s house, Boy instantly takes a liking to Blob and enlists Blobs help to overthrow the evil emperor who has taken over his home planet of Blobonia. The game takes place across 4 unique areas and 40 levels overall all of which look stunning. Despite having the cutest voice in a video game ever! Boy is pretty much useless by himself. Falling too far off of a ledge or bumping into an enemy results in instant death which can be frustrating as Boy can just barely jump over small gaps and/or enemies. Thankfully Blob has more tools than a Swiss Army Knife and feeding him different colored Jelly Beans allows him to shape shift and become handy objects such as a Ladder, Umbrella and a Giant Bubble. As the game progresses so does Blob’s abilities and eventually he’ll be able to transform into more robust objects such as a Cannon and miniature Space Ship which Boy can sit atop of and ride.
Unlike a typical platformer A Boy His Blob is much more puzzle orientated and you’ll definitely have to keep your brain turned on when traversing through each level. Despite starring a little boy and looking extremely cartoony, this game may be too difficult for most kids to get handle especially if they’re use to more simplistic platformers like the New Super Mario Bros. On the other hand, gamers who enjoy hardcore platformers like Braid will probably find taking down the emperor a tad too easy so WayForward has cleverly added 40 challenge room which become available as you complete story missions and collect hidden treasure chests. Completing these challanges room also unlocks bonus pieces of content as a nice incentive.
Despite all its accomplishments A Boy And His Blob is not a game without flaws, the most prevalent of which is the games control scheme. For whatever reason WayForward choose to make the game require the use of the Wii’s nun-chuk resulting in imprecise analog movement and to make matters worse they then thew in some baffling control decisions. I would have preferred to play using the Wii Remote held sideways or with the Classic Controller using the D-Pad rather than the analog stick and I’m disappointed that WayForward didn’t even allow the option. Even a simple task such as getting your Blob to eat Jelly Beans is far more complicated than it needs to be and involves a handful of steps. Another annoyance is the fact that the placement of the Jelly Beans in your item scroll wheel changes depending on what level you are currently playing, meaning on each new level you’ll waste time searching for your desired Bean because its no longer in the same position that it was in on the previous level. Eventually you’ll get the hang of the controls but it never becomes ideal and you’ll spend the entire game wishing that things were better.
Control issues aside A Boy And His Blob is a fantastic game that will both satisfy and challenge even hardcore Wii owners. If you’re little white console is currently gathering dust under you TV this is definitely a game you should at least consider picking up. However with New Super Mario Wii hot in its heels there is a huge possibility that this intelligent, beautiful and charming title may get underlooked by the masses.
Tags: Featured, Game Reviews, Nintendo Wii
Labels: Featured, Game Reviews, nintendo wii
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
King of Fighters XII Review
King of Fighters is a popular fighting series with many dedicated followers; the game has always focused on using stunning 2D visual sprites, until now. Although they have tried a new art style, and for the most part created something good looking, I have to say that the King of Fighters Xii visuals looked a whole lot more beautiful in the screen shots leading up to the games North American release.
For me the stripped down rosters and player modes that everyone has been complaining about in the game are not an issue. Way back when King of Fighters Xii had a jam packed roster and a decent amount of different play modes, not many people bought or embraced the game. There for you cannot fault them for leaving a lot out of this game, especially seeing as it took SNK a long time to build the sprites.
My main gripes with the game are that the art style does not look as good as it did on the screen shots of the game. Along with that the game also runs way slower than expected, and trying to run through the arcade mode could leave you bored very quickly. The arcade mode lets you choose a team of three fighters, and you will face off against other teams of three to pound them in the quickest time you can. If you are not happy with your timing you can re play each fight over again. Players have expressed their dislike for the lack of a story mode in this game, because aside from the arcade mode all there is; is the verses mode, practice and online.
The move set and the variety of attacks in the game are very satisfactory, however when you compare the fighting mechanics in this game to other leading fighting games it just cannot compare. Despite this; the game does actually have some nice additions that make the game interesting to play if you stick with it long enough, such as knock down attacks which can set up a more offensive chain of attacks. There is also the counter system which stuns your opponents if you are quick enough, which then allows you to take advantage with style. However this would probably cause people who take these brawling games seriously to oppose each other with caution, which may bring the pace of a fight down even more.
As far as online goes, I had no problems finding and participating in a game. There were minor lag issues, but apart from that I didn’t see what all the bashing the game got in its online portion was about.
Overall I would say that although King of Fighters XII is a solid fighter, fans of the series can’t help but be a little disappointed at the lack of content. We cannot fault the SNK team for this however; instead we should just take the game for what it is and enjoy it to the max. It is hard to see why the game would appeal to those who aren’t essentially King of Fighters fans given the amount of other fighters out there such as; but for SNK fans you will no doubt be able to put in a good amount of hours into this addition into the King of Fighters series.
Tags: Featured, Game Reviews, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Labels: Featured, Game Reviews, PlayStation 3, xbox 360
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