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2009-11-25 20:34:11
Borderlands (PS3 game review):
Games with lots of loot are awesome! And by loot I mean things like cool weapons, armour, and other kinds of power-ups to make your character stronger. One of the main reasons I play RPG’s in general is so I can deck out my characters with lots of awesome loot. As such, if you really enjoy gathering loot, then you’re going to absolutely love Borderlands.
The game takes place in the future on a barren world called Pandora. At the beginning of the game, you are told about the “Vault” which is said to contain a wealth of alien technology. The premise itself is pretty interesting, but unfortunately if you were looking for a deep story (like in, let’s say, Fallout 3), you’ll be disappointed. The search for the Vault really just acts an excuse to kill a lot of bad guys and take their loot, which to me is okay, but a stronger story would have been nice.
At the start of the game, you get to pick one of four playable characters, each of whom have their own distinct attributes and skills. Borderlands is a hybrid FPS/RPG, with more emphasis on the FPS part (as opposed to Fallout 3, which emphasized the RPG aspect). As you take on missions, and kill enemies you’ll gain experience to level up your characters and enhance their skills. Also, when you kill an enemy, they will usually drop loot which you can equip or sell. The game contains a huge variety of weapons and other items (in fact, the game box says there are “bazillions of guns”), and they are colour coded to indicate its rarity, so you know when you get something especially good.
Admittedly, most of the missions in the game take the form of kill this guy, or collect these objects. Normally, this lack of variety would be something I would rail against, but this time around I didn’t mind it, because the chance to get better loot would drive me to complete as many of these missions as I can. I should also note you can go online with other players to tackle missions, but admittedly I haven’t tried this feature out yet since I prefer completing missions on my own.
One of the most interesting aspects of the game, and one you will notice right off the bat, is the game’s art style. When Borderlands was first announced, the screenshots I saw tried to emulate a more realistic, gritty feel. Later in the game’s development, the graphics were changed to a cell-shaded style. Some people may not like this style, but personally I think it looks great. It definitely gives a unique feel to the game, which is in a genre already filled with realistic looking shooters. Also, I must say that the whole “space western” motif is awesome, and reminiscent of the Firefly TV series (a good thing mind you).
The only really bad things I have to say about the game are a few technical issues, such as the fact that load times between areas are a little too long for my taste, and once you arrive in a new area, the textures still need a bit more time before they are fully loaded. Also, the framerate tends to take a hit when there is a lot of action on screen.
Overall, Borderlands is a really good game. I probably would have rated it higher if it weren’t for the technical issues, and if it had a deeper story. Still, if you love action games and collecting loot as much as I do, then Borderlands is definitely worth a look.
I give Borderlands 4/5 stars.
Brutal Legend (PS3 game review):
Tim Schafer’s Brutal Legend is one weird game, but weird in a good way. It combines gory action, heavy metal music, and humour into one solid game. Brutal Legend may not appeal to everyone, but it’s a game that I really enjoyed playing.
In Brutal Legend, you take the role of Eddie Riggs (voiced by Jack Black) who gets transported to a world that is literally based around heavy metal, and has to free its human population from enslavement. The gameplay of Brutal Legend is a mixture of different genres. On the one hand, it’s an “open world” game similar to Grand Theft Auto. There are main quests that you can play to advance the story, as well as a bunch of side quests which include hunting various animals, ambushing enemy troops, and racing opponents in your car, which is called The Deuce (a.k.a. The Druid Plow).
When you complete quests, or perform other tasks such as freeing bound statues, you gain “Fire Tribute” points which you can spend to upgrade your weapons (i.e. your guitar and axe) and/or your vehicle. Scattered throughout the world are powerful guitar riffs that Eddie can use to summon magical attacks. My favourite riffs include one that literally melts the faces of your enemies, and another that summons a flaming zeppelin to crash into your opponents. The combat in the game is fairly simple, with Eddie using his axe and guitar to inflict gory death upon his enemies. You can spend “Fire Tribute” points to learn new combo attacks, but I didn’t find most of them to be particularly useful. Also, I should note that I found controlling the Deuce to be a bit troublesome, as its loose handling can easily crash you into an object, or over a cliff.
Aside from the open world aspects, the other genre that Brutal Legend incorporates is real-time strategy. The missions which incorporate the RTS elements are called “Stage Battles”. These battles consist of you building your army by collecting “fans” as resources, and using your army to hold out against enemy attacks and making sure your stage survives, or going forth and taking down your opponent’s stage. During these modes you can still control Eddie, and use his guitar riffs to summon spells that can very well change the tide of battle. It’s a very interesting and fun take on real-time strategy. I should mention that the multiplayer component of this game is comprised of these stage battles, which can be played against other people.
The main thing that really struck me about Brutal Legend, and what helps it stand apart from other games, is its presentation. The artistic style of the game feels like it’s ripped from the covers of heavy metal albums. From the huge foreboding mountains, to the wild untamed landscapes, and the towering structures and relics, I wouldn’t be surprised if this game got an award for artistic achievement. The game also features a large selection of music which you can unlock and play from bands such as Black Sabbath, Motorhead, Judas Priest, and Dragonforce. Honestly, killing enemies while having Motley Crew’s “Dr. Feelgood” playing in the background is an awesome experience. The game’s story is also very well done, thanks to a great script by Tim Schafer, and fantastic voice acting by Jack Black, Tim Curry, and Ozzy Osbourne. This is one of the few comedy-oriented games that I found to be genuinely funny.
In the end, Brutal Legend is a very creative and original game. Admittedly it is a little on the short side (you can finish the main game in a few hours if you don’t do all the side quests), and there are some control issues as mentioned above. However, the folks at Double Fine Productions have done a great job with Brutal Legend, and I can’t wait to play their next game.
I give Brutal Legend 4/5 stars. -
Prototype (PC game review)
2009-11-03 20:05:10
It’s been a while since I reviewed anything for the PC. Protoype is a game that I was very interested in trying, ever since the first gameplay movies of it appeared showing off its bloody battles with enemy soldiers, using a plethora of cool shape-shifting powers. After finishing the game, I can definitely say that Prototype is a good action game, but is held back from greatness by a few flaws.
Prototype takes place in New York City, and puts you in control of Alex Mercer, who has lost his memory and is trying to discover who he is, and how he acquired his shape-shifting abilities. At the same time that Alex is trying to solve this mystery, Manhattan is slowly becoming infested with a virus that can turn people into killer zombies (similar to the movie 28 Days Later). Throughout New York, Alex will encounter people that he can “consume” to take their memories. These memories form part of the “Web of Intrigue” which help the player get a big picture sense as to what’s going on, and in my opinion, it’s a pretty creative way of telling the game’s story.
The combat in Prototype is definitely the highlight of the game. It is fast, brutal, and bloody fun. As you advance in the game, you’ll gain experience points which you can spend to gain access to new abilities, and to upgrade your powers. My favourite power is the Whipfist ability, which (when upgraded) allowed me to literally slice through a group of enemies in one stroke. Later you’ll also be to gain access to vehicles such as APCs, tanks, and helicopters which can allow you to shower your enemies with rocket fire. But, as much as I love the combat, the controls can be quite cumbersome at times. When facing a large group of enemies, it is often difficult to quickly single out a particular person you want to take out. Also, when moving around at high speeds trying to fight off opponents, the controls can become somewhat imprecise, and you may end up jumping to a place you did not intend to.
To get more experience points, you can take on side missions scattered throughout the city. These missions include having to consume specific people in a limited timeframe, destroying buildings infested with the virus, and even events that have you running from building to building and seeing how quickly you can do it. However, just like my complaints with Infamous (which itself is similar to Prototype), the side missions lack variety, and towards the end of the game I just decided to skip them.
Generally, in games that take place in an open world (e.g. Infamous, the Grand Theft Auto series, etc.), the graphics of individual items (be they people, vehicles, or buildings) tend to be less detailed since it would take too much graphics processing power to generate so many detailed models. In the case of Prototype, the design of Manhattan itself looks pretty bland and boring. However, this is made up by character models which are pretty detailed and nicely designed, as well as plenty of cool pyrotechnics and blood when battles ensue. One other thing I wanted to note is that the voice acting in Prototype is also fairly well done, with all the actors in the game helping to maintain its serious tone.
Prototype is a great action game, with some of the most visceral, fast-paced combat I’ve ever experienced. It’s not a perfect game, but one that I definitely had a fun time playing. If you’re into games like Infamous or Grand Theft Auto, then be sure to give Prototype a shot.
I give Prototype 4/5 stars.
Prototype vs. Infamous:
Prototype came out around the same time as Infamous, and many have made comparisons between the two because of their similar gameplay. I’ve played both games now, and I would have to say that I prefer the graphics and overall story of Infamous, but I prefer the gameplay (particularly the combat system) in Prototype. If I had to say which one was “better”, I would have to give a slight edge to Prototype, because the combat in that game is just plain awesome. -
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (PS3 game review)
2009-10-26 20:23:14
(Note: There are some plot spoilers ahead)
Quite possibly the most talked about and hyped up Playstation 3 game this year, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is quite simply one of the best action games I’ve played. From the graphics, to the controls, it takes everything great about the first Uncharted, and improves upon it in almost every way. If you need a reason to own a PS3, then look no further than this game.
This time around, Nathan Drake starts off on a quest to find treasure from Marco Polo’s journey home from China, which then becomes a race to find the lost city of Shamballah and its precious treasures before a warlord named Zoran Lazarevic gets there. Just like the first game, the story in Uncharted 2 feels like a typical B-movie plot, but is incredibly well delivered thanks to the voice acting of Nolan North (who reprises his role as Drake), and in particular Claudia Black (who voices Chloe) of Farscape and Stargate fame. The banter between these characters (and all the other characters in the game) really helps to make you feel like you’re in an interactive movie.
The gameplay itself hasn’t changed too much. It is still a mixture of third-person shooting, traversing exotic locations, and solving some simple puzzles. Also, just like the first game, Uncharted 2 is very linear. But while I would have liked to further explore the game’s beautifully designed levels, the linearity helps to keep things going at a brisk pace. There are also a few enhancements to the controls that make the gameplay better. For example, the grenade throwing in the first game required you to actually move around your Sixaxis controller, which made aiming where you wanted to throw extremely cumbersome. In Uncharted 2, you can use your thumbstick to aim your throw, which makes using grenades much easier.
There are also several “set piece” sequences throughout the game that normally would be included as a cutscene or quick-time event, but instead are fully interactive. One sequence that comes to mind is having to fight off enemies inside of a collapsing building in Nepal. Words cannot describe how cool it was, and it has to be played to fully appreciate it.
That leads me to what is arguably the biggest improvement from the first Uncharted, the graphics. Don’t get me wrong, the first Uncharted was a great looking game, but Uncharted 2 is absolutely gorgeous. Travelling through an ice cave, standing on the roof of a building and seeing a fantastically designed city, the developers made every effort to squeeze as much graphical power from the PS3 as they can. Uncharted 2 will definitely be remembered as one of the best looking games of this console generation.
Of course, lastly, we should discuss the main new addition to Uncharted 2, the multiplayer component. The multiplayer modes in Uncharted 2 include many shooter staples such as team deathmatch, and capture the flag. In addition to these modes there are a couple of co-op options. My favourite co-op mode is Survival, where you and two other players fend off waves of enemies, seeing how long you can last. It’s definitely fun times...as long as your team sticks together, otherwise you’ll die pretty easily. Also, as you play online, you’ll earn money which you can use to buy items such as power-ups for online matches (e.g. being able to hold more ammo, or dropping a live grenade when you die). All in all, Naughty Dog has done a great job with the multiplayer component.
If you own a Playstation 3, then picking up this game should be a top priority. It’s a huge improvement over the first game, and with the addition of multiplayer, this is one game that you’ll be playing for some time to come. Quite simply this is one of the best, if not the best action game to come out this year, and I am definitely looking forward to the inevitable sequel.
I give Uncharted 2: Among Thieves 5/5 stars.
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Valkyria Chronicles (PS3 game review)
2009-10-22 23:24:26
I like anime, JRPG’s, and strategy games. Combine those three things together, and the result is Valkyria Chronicles, one of the most distinctive games I’ve played in a while. It has received many awards and reviews lauding everything from its art style, to its deep strategic gameplay, and I have to say that all this praise is completely justified.
The story itself is essentially a reimagining of World War II. The East Europan Imperial Alliance is at war with the Atlantic Federation in west Europa, with the neutral nation of Gallia caught in the middle. You take the role of Welkin Gunther, a lieutenant and tank commander in the Gallian militia, fighting an Alliance invasion into Gallia.
Valkyria Chronicles’ story is told in a storybook fashion, with each chapter of the story containing one or two missions to fight. The gameplay of the battles are primarily turn-based strategy with a couple of real-time strategy elements mixed in. Prior to each battle you choose which soldiers you want to bring in (based on their specific class and skill sets). In the battles themselves, each side takes turns moving their soldiers and launching attacks. The real time strategy elements come from the fact that you directly control your characters when you move them (similar to a third-person shooter), and when you’re within range of an enemy, you can enter “target mode” to take a shot. How far you can move is dependent on how many “action points” you have left. Also, if you cross an enemy’s line of sight while moving, they can take a shot at you (and conversely, if an enemy crosses your line of sight while moving, you can take a shot at them). When you complete a mission, you’ll gain experience points which you can use to upgrade your soldiers and their equipment. It is a great strategy system, and it can make for some really intense battles.
However, there are a couple of issues I have with the gameplay. There were many occasions where an enemy soldier could have taken me out and won, but did not. For example, I’ve had a few missions where the enemy was just one rocket away from destroying Welkin’s tank (which would have cost me the mission), but for some reason they never finished me off. To put it simply, the AI is not as aggressive as it could have been. Also, as mentioned above, if I cross an enemy’s line of sight they can shoot me, but if I enter target mode, they won’t shoot me, even if I’m right in front of them. I guess it’s supposed give the player more time to line up their shots correctly with little penalty, but I still find it to be a strange game design choice.
The graphics and art style in this game are very nice. When you play through the game, you can see the heavy anime influence on the character designs, but the textures and colour scheme used make the overall game look like a cool watercolour painting. Also, just like the PC version of The Last Remnant, this game includes the option to use the Japanese voiceovers, which as an anime fan, is something I really appreciated. And lastly, the music in this game is very well done, with a great orchestral theme.
Valkyria Chronicles has been out for almost a year now, but in the event that you have a Playstation 3 and haven’t tried it out yet, I really urge you to give it a chance. It is one of the most unique games that I have played in quite some time.
I give Valkyria Chronicles 4.5/5 stars. -
2009-09-16 20:08:19
Heavenly Sword (PS3 game review)
Heavenly Sword is decent action game that will tide you over until God of War III finally gets released. However, some of its presentation choices keep me from giving it a particularly high mark.
Graphically, the game looks pretty good. The environments look great, the level design is well done, and the character modelling is pretty good as well. The combat system is also works fine, with different fighting styles you can switch between on the fly, and tons of different combos to choose from, although admittedly you probably won’t be using most of them. Also, the swordplay is broken up by sequences such as using cannons to destroy enemy catapults, and shooting people with arrows that can be motioned controlled (which, in my opinion, is the most fun sequence in the game).
So what is it that brings down my score for this game? Well, the story itself feels a little cliché, but it’s still okay. However, the voice acting in this game is just too over the top for my taste, especially the main character and, well, all the bosses you’ll fight. It just really made it hard for me to care about any of the characters in the game, and I kind of cringe when I have to sit through a cutscene.
In the end, Heavenly Sword is a decent action game, and if you can find it for a good price, then I recommend you get it.
I give Heavenly Sword a 3.5/5 stars.
Batman: Arkham Asylum (PS3 game review)
There has been a lot of hype surrounding Batman: Arkham Asylum prior to its release, and after it was released, pretty much every review I’ve seen has been heaping tons of praise upon it. Well, I am here to tell you that all the great things being said about this game are completely justified. Batman: Arkham Asylum is one of the best games I’ve played all year.
The game takes place in (of course) Arkham Asylum, where the Joker has taken over the facility, and Batman has to fight his way through a legion of henchmen, and super villains such as Bane, Killer Croc, and Poison Ivy in order to get to him. The story is a bit more nuanced than that, but I really don’t want to spoil it for anyone who has yet to play the game.
The combat system in Batman: Arkham Asylum consists of two different types of gameplay. The first type is essentially a brawler, where you beat up a bunch of henchmen, but this is enhanced by the game’s “Freeflow” combat, which allows you to easily go from enemy to enemy while stringing increasingly large combos, which helps to keep fighting fresh. The other type of gameplay is more like Splinter Cell, where you have to stealthily take down a room full of enemies one by one. This is easily my favourite part of the game, and it’s fun to see henchmen freak out when they know you’re in the room, but have no idea where.
Aside from fighting, the game is filled with many puzzles to solve (courtesy of the Riddler) and secrets for you to find, such as audio tape interviews of several of the game’s villains. Also, solving puzzles will allow you to unlock challenge modes (e.g. seeing how fast you can take down a room of enemies, and how high of a score you can get from beating up waves of henchmen), and the scores you get from these modes can be compared against other players of the game. I should also note that if you have the PS3 version of the game, you can play as the Joker in the challenge modes in addition to Batman.
As for the graphics, what can I say, Batman: Arkham Asylum is simply gorgeous. The design of Arkham Asylum itself is amazing. From the gothic architecture of the buildings, to the design of the individual holding cells of each super villain, the art direction is superb. The character modelling is also incredible, with little details such as Batman’s costume becoming ripped as you progress through the game letting you know the amount of love the graphic artists put into this game.
One of the biggest highlights for me personally was that the voice cast of this game includes actors from Batman: The Animated Series. Most notably Kevin Conroy reprises his role as Batman, and Mark Hamill reprises his role as the Joker. As expected, the voice acting is excellent, and the game is made all the more fantastic because of it.
Batman: Arkham Asylum is an awesome game, and even if you’re not a fan of Batman you still should check it out. The combination of great story, graphics, voice acting, and gameplay make it one of the must play titles of the year.
I give Batman: Arkham Asylum 5/5 stars.
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