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Resident Evil 5 (PS3 game review)
2009-08-05 19:55:42
When Resident Evil 4 came out, it was a big change from the previous entries in the series. Its use of a non-fixed, third person camera, and a focus more on action than puzzle solving helped to breathe new life into the series. Resident Evil 5 is not as big a leap as 4 was, but it still makes an attempt to innovate the series, and is a lot of fun to play.
The main new addition in Resident Evil 5 is a new partner, Sheva Alomar, who will be your backup throughout the game. The AI that controls your partner is not too bad, but could definitely use some improvements. For example, your total inventory in game is allocated between Chris Redfield (i.e. you), and Sheva, and unfortunately you’ll have to manage inventory space (such as by combining items), since the partner AI is not smart enough to do so. However, Sheva can come through in a pinch by healing you when you’re close to death, and her aiming is generally pretty accurate (although she doesn’t know how to conserve ammo). Now, I haven’t tried it myself, but it should be noted that Sheva can be controlled by another person (either on-line or locally) and I’ve seen some reviews saying that this is much more preferable to having the computer control her.
Resident Evil 5 is definitely the most “action-y” of all the games in the series. The flow of the game consists of one great action sequence after another, and at no time did I feel bored while playing this game. The boss battles are a perfect example of this, with each one of them being an epic action event. In between levels you can manage your inventory, as well as buy and/or upgrade existing weapons to deal more damage, or hold more ammo, which I found very useful.
My only criticism regarding the gameplay is with how you control your shooting. After playing games such as Gears of War, or even Metal Gear Solid 4, I am accustomed to moving and shooting at the same time. In Resident Evil 5, when you shoot you have to stand still. Personally, I didn’t mind this too much, but if the series is going to continue down an action focused route, shooting while moving is a mechanic that the game’s creators should seriously consider.
One thing I think pretty much everybody who’s played game can agree on is that the game looks freaking fantastic! From the design of the both the human characters, and the many creatures you encounter, to the rundown African towns you traverse, and even the fight choreography during some of the cutscenes, you can tell a lot of love was put into the game’s graphics. In fact, I’d have to say it’s one of the best looking games I’ve seen in recent memory. Also, while dialogue in the game can be corny at times, it still fits with the overall feel of the series, and while no particular voice actor/actress stands out, I thought that everyone involved did an overall decent job.
Resident Evil 5 is a great entry into the franchise. It may not push the series into new directions like Resident Evil 4 did, but it was still a really enjoyable experience. I look forward to seeing what the series holds for the future.
I give Resident Evil 5 4.5/5 stars. -
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PS3 game review)
2009-08-03 20:29:00
So, I purchased what many critics say is the best PS3 game out there, Metal Gear Solid 4. It entered Sony’s “Greatest Hits” collection, and at $29.99 how could I resist. The Metal Gear Solid series is one of the greatest gaming franchises in recent memory, and MGS4 is definitely the best of them.
Many reviewers have said that MGS4 is a great game to show off the PS3’s hardware capabilities, and I wholeheartedly agree. The graphics are incredibly well done, from the design of the environments, to the character modelling. In particular, the design of the character’s faces is very well done, and pretty realistic looking. The voice acting is also great, with David Hayter being (of course) the stand out as Solid Snake. Frankly, I can’t imagine anyone else but him doing Snake’s voice.
The gameplay has also received an upgrade from the previous titles in the series. The implementation of a full 3D camera, and the ability to shoot enemies while moving using an over-the-shoulder camera system, makes gun combat feel much more natural. I also found the ability to buy weapons and ammo from Drebin’s store (which are paid by collecting extra weapons which are immediately sold to Drebin for points/currency) to be quite helpful, as I don’t have to worry as much about running out of bullets. The addition of a Psyche Meter is an interesting gameplay element, as a low Psyche level can affect your ability to aim your gun, and make fighting more difficult.
But, despite the advancements that MGS4 has made for the series, there are a few areas that I still thought could have still used some improvements. For example, the maps are still fairly restrictive in where you can go. You may see an obstacle that you instinctively think you can jump over, but unless the game specifically allows you to jump over that obstacle, it may as well be a huge brick wall. Also, I know that the Metal Gear Solid series loves long cutscenes to convey its story, but the length of the cutscenes in this game have seriously tried my patience. I estimate that I’ve spent more than a third of my total playing time just sitting and watching these cutscenes. I should note as well that much of the plot draws on plot points and characters from previous games in the Metal Gear saga, and so if your knowledge of the Metal Gear storyline is a bit lacking, than the impact of some plot revelations won’t be as effective.
Metal Gear Solid 4 is one of the best reviewed games I’ve seen, with many reviewers giving it perfect scores. While I agree that MGS4 is a great game and I had an awesome time playing it, the issues mentioned above prevent me from giving it a 5 star rating. I should also note that this review is primarily on the single player aspect of the game, as I have not yet tried out the Metal Gear Online feature. I look forward to playing the next game in this fantastic series.
I give Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots 4.5/5 stars. -
Playstation 3 game reviews
2009-08-02 21:47:00
So, I've had my Playstation 3 for a couple of months now, and have been playing quite a few games for it. I wrote reviews for these games, but due to a combination of forgetfulness and laziness, and haven’t posted them in my journal. Well, I’ve got a few reviews lined up, and I thought that over the next several days I’d finally post them.
Killzone 2 (PS3 game review)
So, this is my first review for a Playstation 3 game, and it’s for one of the best console shooters that I’ve played, which is Killzone 2. Admittedly, I’ve played very few shooters on the consoles, mainly because I just prefer the keyboard and mouse controls of the PC. However, I heard so many good reviews about this game that I had to get it. Again, I haven’t played many console shooters, but Killzone 2 is definitely one of the best ones out there.
At its core, the single player campaign of Killzone 2 boils down to shooting everything with glowing red eyes. But for me, what really sets this shooter apart is its presentation. Killzone 2 does a spectacular job of making you feel you’re right in the middle of a war. From the design of the war-torn Helghast cities, to the awesome pyrotechnics and explosions, the game can put a lot of big budget movies to shame. Also, the voice acting is (on the whole) well done and helps to add to the whole atmosphere of the game.
At the same time as I was going through the single player campaign, I also tried my hand at Killzone 2’s online multiplayer mode. Suffice it to say, I love it! I’ve never been this engrossed in a game’s multiplayer mode since Battlefield 2. Killzone 2 comes with the following multiplayer game types: Assassination, Search & Retrieve, Search & Destroy, Bodycount and Capture & Hold, with Assassination being my favourite. You can play as different classes (e.g. engineer, medic, assault, etc.) which you’ll unlock as you rank up by winning matches, killing the enemy, and completing objectives. I have to say that in online multiplayer, nothing feels more satisfying than sneaking up on someone and beating them with the back of your gun.
As great as this game is, I do have some minor complaints. First, I kind of wish there were more different types of guns. For example, you get your standard pistol, rifle, shotgun, and rocket launcher, but not much else. In the single player campaign, you’ll eventually encounter a lightning gun which is really cool, but I wish there were more interesting weapons like it throughout the game. Also, while playing online, I’ve had the game freeze up on me a couple of times. As someone who has experienced games crashing and freezing many times on my PC, this experience is nothing new to me. However, one of the reasons I got a console is to avoid having games crash on me.
While I still firmly believe that an FPS is still best played on the PC, Killzone 2 has really opened up my eyes to how great shooters can be on consoles. It is a fantastic game, and one that no PS3 action fan should be without.
I give Killzone 2 5/5 stars.
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Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (movie review)
2009-06-26 19:31:15
I wanted to like this movie. I really wanted to like it. After seeing the first Transformers movie a couple of years ago, I was absolutely stoked for the sequel. I never thought that a movie based on my favourite childhood cartoon about giant talking robots, and was directed by Michael Bay would have been as enjoyable to me as it was. Sadly the sequel, Revenge of the Fallen, did not live up to all the hype, and it seemed to forget what made the first Transformers movie work.
First, let me state the good points (or should I say point) of this movie. The special effects are amazing! The movie’s budget is reportedly $200 million, and by the sheer number of explosions, and giant robot battles on screen, you can tell they spent every cent of it. There are even more robots this time around for both the Autobots and Decepticons, each with different, complex, and intricate designs. The transformation of Devastator is an excellent example of this. Also, the number of stuff blowing up exceeds anything that I have seen in any previous Michael Bay movie, and frankly that’s saying something. The fact is you will not be “bored” while watching Revenge of the Fallen.
However, all the effects in the world can’t cover up the shortcomings of this movie. What I enjoyed about the first Transformers is the fact that it at least made an attempt to flesh out the personalities of the human characters in the movie, and the relationship between them and the robots. In Revenge, this is all sidelined to make room for the movie’s many fight sequences. And that leads me to my next problem: I love watching effects-heavy action movies, but there can be too much of a good thing. There’s a battle pretty much every five minutes, and there are never any real breaks, making the movie’s 150 minute length feel even longer.
I should also note that sometimes I had trouble hearing what the characters are saying due to everything going in the fights. Not that I really needed to know what they were talking about to understand the Revenge’s plot (which, in a nutshell, is just the Autbots trying to save the world from the Decepticons...again). Oh, and a note to the film’s creators: regarding the “rapper robot” duo of Mudflap and Skids, and seeing Devastator’s gigantic balls, this is not funny to anyone above the age of 10. I have no idea what the hell the filmmakers were on when they thought these were good ideas.
When I went to see this Revenge of the Fallen, I didn’t expect anything Oscar worthy. All I really wanted to see were some really cool robot fights, which the movie delivers (or in this case, over delivers). But a lot of what I liked from the first Transformers movie is missing. As IGN’s Jim Vejvoda puts it, “The first Transformers may not have been bigger, but it was certainly better.” In the end, Revenge of the Fallen is not as bad as some the critics say it is, but it’s nowhere near as good as it could have been. But, I’ll be the first to admit that when the sequel to this does come out, I’ll still go see it in theatres.
I give Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen 3/5 stars. -
Playstation 3
2009-06-08 19:54:44
After many years of waiting for a good deal on a Playstation 3, I finally got one. Recently, I was able to get a hold of a new 40GB Playstation 3 for $199 Canadian (before taxes) from a Rogers Plus store. A friend of mine sent me this link, and it was a deal I simply couldn’t resist:
http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=226339
I should note that I don’t know if this promo is for all of Canada, or if it will work at every Rogers Plus store. Also, I had to sign up for Rogers’ Star Rewards program (which cost me a little over $10) to get the points to go towards the Playstation, and I think the promo (to get 10 points for every $25 gift card) is only for the month of June. As such if you’re Canadian, and you want in on this deal, you should do it soon.
Although RPG’s are one of my main motives to get a PS3, the first game I got was Killzone 2. The reason being is that I haven’t played a good console shooter in a while, and all the reviews say it’s great. So far I’m really enjoying it, particularly the multiplayer aspect of the game. A full review of Killzone 2 shall be forthcoming in the future. Next, I’ll probably pick up Metal Gear Solid 4, since I read that it will be re-released as a “Greatest Hits” game on June 16th for $29.99:
http://ps3.gamespy.com/articles/987/987461p1.html
I’m really looking forward to playing it, though I hear the cutscenes are ridiculously long.
JOURNAL: Fizziks
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