Killzone 3 is the latest entry into the series that took Playstation gamers by storm back on the Playstation 2, and once more on the Playstation 3. Set right after the events of Killzone 2′s ending, gamers must continue fighting the Helghast army on their home world. But this time not alone.
Gameplay: Players will take up the role of Sev once more in the games campaign mode, however Sev is not alone as Killzone 3 now features a co-op mode, allowing players to work with a partner (local only) to take on the the Helghast hordes. The campaign itself is about 6 hours long, but the AI this time around isn’t screwing around, and no matter the difficulty setting, they will be out for your head, and will take several rounds to take out. There’s also a a mode for players to practice against bots in a multiplayer mode simulation, which is a nice way to test out every class and prepare for the menace of the online gamer.
Speaking of the online experience, the multiplayer aspect of Killzone 3 hasn’t really evolved too much since Killzone 2. Returning once more for match types are Guerrilla Warefare, an all out team death match, and Warzone a smorgasbord of game types, such as death match, capture the speaker, territory capture, and so on. However, a nice addition to the game types is Operations, a cinematic spin on things. Players will work to complete a series of objectives, much like Warzone, however the modes are far more specific to the maps, and with each failure and success a cut scene will show the top players of each side battling it out, reflecting the events that transpired. It gives a bigger feeling of satisfaction watching you and two team mates actually execute your foes in cinematic style than to just simply get a “Your faction has won” screen.
Now, as for the controls themselves, I have a big problem with them. The sensitivity just feels off. No matter what I have it set to, it always feels as though I’m fighting with the controller to move around and aim. Also, the control layouts bother me. This is merely a personal gripe, and not really a problem with the game per se’, so take it with a grain of salt, but I cannot fathom why my only two options for my button layout are the standard, which basically just spreads out every command to every button in awkward places, and the alternate, which does its best to make it feel like you’re playing Call of Duty. Why is it so difficult for developers to allow for a custom layout option?
Presentation: Killzone 3 is by far one of the sleekest military shooters out there. It’s visual design is top notch and the voice acting is just as well done as the sound track itself. In its gritty, bleak atmosphere Killzone 3 still manages to work in gorgeous and vibrant colors and detail. Guerrilla Games have really outdone themselves this time around. I’ve only found a few graphical glitches here and there, in online play. Every so often when shooting an enemy their arms would go all Mr. Fantastic and rubber band around their body. But other than that I cannot really think of anything wrong with it.
Value: Now, here is where I get a bit iffy about the game. On the surface, the game has a lot going for it; a campaign that can be played with a friend, an offline copy of the online game modes, and a nice multiplayer mode with different ways to play. However, in the grand scheme of things, nothing has really changed since the last iteration, it’s just more of the same. Sure, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, but why are we still playing the same classes? Sure, the skill branching and customization is nice, but why not have some more classes? And even with the new game mode, it’s still essentially a bunch of the same game modes repackaged. If you liked Killzone 2, this shouldn’t be an issue, but if you didn’t, you won’t find any reason to hop onto the Killzone band wagon now.
Final Thoughts: Killzone 3 is an all around fantastic experience if you love FPS games and/or the Killzone series as a whole. Although the story this time around was a bit weak, requiring several deus ex machina to solve the problems of its characters, it was really no different than any other action movie you’d see; just check your brain out at the door and enjoy the ride. The multiplayer aspect is also fun and challenging, requiring a very methodical approach, noobs be ware. But still, as I’ve mentioned before, when you get right down to it, it’s really just more of the same. If that’s fine for you, I’d suggest go pick it up right away. If you weren’t too big a fan of Killzone 2, than you probably wont like Killzone 3 either. I give Killzone 3 a B-.
+ By far one of the best looking games on the PS3
+ Multiplayer that values skill over run and gun tactics
- Honestly just more of the same game we’ve already seen.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
{Review} Fallout New Vegas: Dead Money DLC -PS3-
Fallout: New Vegas may have been a huge game to explore as it was already, but I will never say no to having it further expanded on. Dead Money brings players to a town frozen in time, where the heist of the century is in the making; providing they can survive that is.
Dead Money is accessible from an abandoned Brotherhood of Steel Bunker at any point PRIOR to the final mission of the game; so right away those hoping that this would allow players to continue even after the game is done, ala Operation Anchorage, will be disappointed. However, what players find will be far worth the $10 price of entry.
Once inside the bunker, players will be knocked out; their companions will be gone and they’ll awake to find them stripped of their possessions, and a bomb color strapped to their neck. Welcome to Sierra Madre, town of the dead. Father Elijah, yes, THAT Father Elijah, greets you to this death trap of a ghost town ands explains that you’re here for the long haul; its play by his rules or die. You must assemble a team to break into the towns Vault and obtain its bountiful treasure. Which wouldn’t be too hard, if everything in the town wasn’t out to kill you. Players will traverse through poisonous fog, contend with traps rigged around nearly every corner, and fight a ghastly horde of fiends that require dismemberment to actually kill.
But wait, there’s more! Along side the new story and quests, the level cap is increased to level 35, and 10 new perks are obtainable, giving players far more options to fine tune their characters, and to jack them up to godly stats.
All in all, Dead Money is a must have for Fallout players. The interesting storyline, hostile new atmosphere, and added levels and perks are all good reasons as it is to get the DLC, however, there is one, MAJOR part of this DLC that can easily make the DLC worth a purchase for those who may have given up on New Vegas. No bugs. None. I played through the DLC twice, just to be sure, and it was amazing, the freezing was gone. And not only that but many of the problems that reportedly affected the 360 version of the DLC held no weight in the PS3 version. So go out there and buy this! Solid A!
+Extended Level Cap/New Perks
+Challenging new area to explore
+Well written story
+No bugs that I could find
-360 users had first dibs on it
Dead Money is accessible from an abandoned Brotherhood of Steel Bunker at any point PRIOR to the final mission of the game; so right away those hoping that this would allow players to continue even after the game is done, ala Operation Anchorage, will be disappointed. However, what players find will be far worth the $10 price of entry.
Once inside the bunker, players will be knocked out; their companions will be gone and they’ll awake to find them stripped of their possessions, and a bomb color strapped to their neck. Welcome to Sierra Madre, town of the dead. Father Elijah, yes, THAT Father Elijah, greets you to this death trap of a ghost town ands explains that you’re here for the long haul; its play by his rules or die. You must assemble a team to break into the towns Vault and obtain its bountiful treasure. Which wouldn’t be too hard, if everything in the town wasn’t out to kill you. Players will traverse through poisonous fog, contend with traps rigged around nearly every corner, and fight a ghastly horde of fiends that require dismemberment to actually kill.
But wait, there’s more! Along side the new story and quests, the level cap is increased to level 35, and 10 new perks are obtainable, giving players far more options to fine tune their characters, and to jack them up to godly stats.
All in all, Dead Money is a must have for Fallout players. The interesting storyline, hostile new atmosphere, and added levels and perks are all good reasons as it is to get the DLC, however, there is one, MAJOR part of this DLC that can easily make the DLC worth a purchase for those who may have given up on New Vegas. No bugs. None. I played through the DLC twice, just to be sure, and it was amazing, the freezing was gone. And not only that but many of the problems that reportedly affected the 360 version of the DLC held no weight in the PS3 version. So go out there and buy this! Solid A!
+Extended Level Cap/New Perks
+Challenging new area to explore
+Well written story
+No bugs that I could find
-360 users had first dibs on it
{Review} Explodemon -PS3-
A five year labor of love, Explodemon is here, despite the odds placed against it. But does the hard work and dedication show through in the game? Continue on to find out!
Explodemon takes you through a interstellar journey as a fighting robot known as Explodemon. Deemed a failure and a hazard to all around him, he was originally locked up and hidden away in a cryogenic prison. However, when the planet is invaded and the guardians refuse to take up arms, Explodemon is able to break free, and decides to fight against the Void in order to save the universe, and redeem himself.
The game itself is a 2.5D platformer, featuring 12 levels of pure destruction. You’ll be constantly blowing up hordes of alien robots and dashing through a vast array of puzzles, all the while engaging in a boss fight every 2 levels. Explodemon can obtain upgrades, such as faster explosion regeneration, bigger blast radius, and even more armor. The game’s difficulty scales quite well, although the last boss fight is an extreme pain in the back side. And although the controls for the most part are well thought out, the lack of the ability to use the D-Pad for movement, is an extreme let down, as it makes some of the more precision dependent challenges a chore to do with the analog stick.
In terms of a sound track, there almost isn’t one in this game. There’s a few different tunes here and there, nicely done tunes mind you, but after listening to them loop a few times, they start to grow old quickly. The sound effects are rather well done as well, though again, not a whole lot of variation.
The art direction and over all design of this game are fantastic. The colors are vibrant and defined, the creatures, though lacking any real variation, are well rendered and thought out. Explodemon himself feels like an homage to Megaman, or perhaps Protoman would be the better example, due to the red color scheme. All in all, this is a rather enjoyable game to look at.
For the price tag of $10, it’s hard to argue against checking this game out. Sure, it’s a bit on the short side, lasting only about 2-3 hours, but in that same regard, so were the Sonic games of old; and we had to pay full retail price for those. Plus, there’s a lot of hidden items to collect and discover for completionists out there, which will easily tack on another few hours. And if you’re a trophy hunter, the challenge of getting 100% of the trophies will certainly keep you busy for some time to come.
I give Explodemon on the PS3, a 6/10. It’s not a bad game by any means, it just could have used a lot more variation, and the ability to customize your controls would have been a much welcomed feature. Plus, unless you really loved the game, or are a completionist, you probably wont play through the game a second time. Still, any platforming fan, especially those of the 16-bit era, should definitely give this game a buy, as there is still a lot of fun to be had.
+ Balanced scale in difficulty
+ Fun, easy going story
+ Tight game play
- Extremely short
- Not a lot of content
Explodemon takes you through a interstellar journey as a fighting robot known as Explodemon. Deemed a failure and a hazard to all around him, he was originally locked up and hidden away in a cryogenic prison. However, when the planet is invaded and the guardians refuse to take up arms, Explodemon is able to break free, and decides to fight against the Void in order to save the universe, and redeem himself.
The game itself is a 2.5D platformer, featuring 12 levels of pure destruction. You’ll be constantly blowing up hordes of alien robots and dashing through a vast array of puzzles, all the while engaging in a boss fight every 2 levels. Explodemon can obtain upgrades, such as faster explosion regeneration, bigger blast radius, and even more armor. The game’s difficulty scales quite well, although the last boss fight is an extreme pain in the back side. And although the controls for the most part are well thought out, the lack of the ability to use the D-Pad for movement, is an extreme let down, as it makes some of the more precision dependent challenges a chore to do with the analog stick.
In terms of a sound track, there almost isn’t one in this game. There’s a few different tunes here and there, nicely done tunes mind you, but after listening to them loop a few times, they start to grow old quickly. The sound effects are rather well done as well, though again, not a whole lot of variation.
The art direction and over all design of this game are fantastic. The colors are vibrant and defined, the creatures, though lacking any real variation, are well rendered and thought out. Explodemon himself feels like an homage to Megaman, or perhaps Protoman would be the better example, due to the red color scheme. All in all, this is a rather enjoyable game to look at.
For the price tag of $10, it’s hard to argue against checking this game out. Sure, it’s a bit on the short side, lasting only about 2-3 hours, but in that same regard, so were the Sonic games of old; and we had to pay full retail price for those. Plus, there’s a lot of hidden items to collect and discover for completionists out there, which will easily tack on another few hours. And if you’re a trophy hunter, the challenge of getting 100% of the trophies will certainly keep you busy for some time to come.
I give Explodemon on the PS3, a 6/10. It’s not a bad game by any means, it just could have used a lot more variation, and the ability to customize your controls would have been a much welcomed feature. Plus, unless you really loved the game, or are a completionist, you probably wont play through the game a second time. Still, any platforming fan, especially those of the 16-bit era, should definitely give this game a buy, as there is still a lot of fun to be had.
+ Balanced scale in difficulty
+ Fun, easy going story
+ Tight game play
- Extremely short
- Not a lot of content
{Review} Bad Company 2: Vietnam DLC -PS3-
Vietnam isn’t exactly new territory for the Battlefield franchise. Originally released in 2004, Battlefield: Vietnam was the second entry into the series, and was well received among gamers and critics alike, so much so that it warranted a ‘redux’ bundle in 2005 with all its patches and EA sanctioned mods. Now, the ‘Nam campaign comes to us as DLC. But does it still deliver the same excitement as before? Or is this just a quick cash in?
Price: $15
Content: Bad Company 2: Vietnam brings to us a whole new game setting for online only play. Gamers will find themselves in, of course, Vietnam, however, they’ll come to find a drastic difference in game play from the first few moments. The immediate difference being the weapon load outs. Gone are the fancy guns, attachments, and scopes, and in are classic guns such as the AK-47 and M10. Combat is fought out in much tighter spaces, bringing a new strategy focus into the game, as well as a demand for more team like actions, as you can’t just run off on your own that easily. There’s also a tweak to the sensitivity in Nam; myself and several others I’ve played with noticed that the game plays smoother, and is far more responsive.
In total, there’s 5 main maps to play, with variations for each game mode. These maps are mostly divided into heavy jungle territories and desolated landscapes. However, what’s sad to see for long term Battlefield fans is the lack of vehicles in the maps, as only 2 of them really seem to have them readily available, and even then they are easier to take down than in vanilla Bad Company 2.
+ A new experience from the ground up
+ Tightened controls
- Vehicles are almost non-existent
- Not a lot of people like the idea of not having their scopes.
Ultimately, I give Bad Company 2: Vietnam a C. Although EA delivers a solid game experience with this DLC, it can feel a bit barren, due to the lack of vehicles, as well as the decrease in usable guns and attachments. Because of this, I can’t really recommend it to everyone. However, if you don’t mind the $15 price tag and giving up your scopes, you’ll easily find a wonderful new experience to be had.
Price: $15
Content: Bad Company 2: Vietnam brings to us a whole new game setting for online only play. Gamers will find themselves in, of course, Vietnam, however, they’ll come to find a drastic difference in game play from the first few moments. The immediate difference being the weapon load outs. Gone are the fancy guns, attachments, and scopes, and in are classic guns such as the AK-47 and M10. Combat is fought out in much tighter spaces, bringing a new strategy focus into the game, as well as a demand for more team like actions, as you can’t just run off on your own that easily. There’s also a tweak to the sensitivity in Nam; myself and several others I’ve played with noticed that the game plays smoother, and is far more responsive.
In total, there’s 5 main maps to play, with variations for each game mode. These maps are mostly divided into heavy jungle territories and desolated landscapes. However, what’s sad to see for long term Battlefield fans is the lack of vehicles in the maps, as only 2 of them really seem to have them readily available, and even then they are easier to take down than in vanilla Bad Company 2.
+ A new experience from the ground up
+ Tightened controls
- Vehicles are almost non-existent
- Not a lot of people like the idea of not having their scopes.
Ultimately, I give Bad Company 2: Vietnam a C. Although EA delivers a solid game experience with this DLC, it can feel a bit barren, due to the lack of vehicles, as well as the decrease in usable guns and attachments. Because of this, I can’t really recommend it to everyone. However, if you don’t mind the $15 price tag and giving up your scopes, you’ll easily find a wonderful new experience to be had.
Monday, January 3, 2011
{Review} Half-Minute Hero -PSP-
Ah, the many genres that have come to grace the gaming world. If only we could combine them all into a single game. But still, if only we had the time to play them all. Well, Half-Minute Hero is here to answer those pleas. You must save the world in several game styles, ranging from RPG to RTS, but the catch is you only have thirty seconds to do it. Can you rise to the challenge?
Gameplay: As mentioned, Half-Minute Hero is an interesting and unique spin on gaming. Gamers will take up arms to save the world, in several different, yet intersecting, time lines (ala Chrono Trigger) with each time era possessing a new form of game play mechanics to conquer. You'll be fighting your way through enemy hordes RPG style in Goddess Era 100, unleashing your own armies RTS style in the Goddess Era 200, shooting everything you see in a top-down Shoot-Em-Up in Goddess Era 300, and working to protect a wise Sage in a defense style game in Goddess Era 400. There's two other Goddess Era's in the game that I could mention, however I don't want to spoil them. But the main thing to keep in mind is that they all follow the same principle: you have thirty seconds to complete your objective.
+ Fast, fun, varying game play keeps the game fresh and never once do you feel like you're just doing mundane tasks.
- Time constraints can be bothersome to the more hardcore gamer who wants to really explore the game.
Audio: The orchestral score in Half-Minute Hero is both familiar and new. Each song is both fitting of setting as well as reminiscent of songs of old; in fact I believe I heard a few cords from the Zelda and Final Fantasy series used. I'd definitely pay for the sound track to this game.
+ A sound track worth purchasing.
Visual: Instead of going for a more realistic style, or even an anime style, it's all about the 2D sprites of the bit art variety with this game. It's charming, though admittedly acquired taste style is a welcome sight to the eyes for older gamers and those that appreciate the retro feel, however more graphic eccentric gamers won't find this game very appealing to the eyes.
+ Great for the older/retro crowd
- Not for those that want stunning, realistic visuals.
Value: Although you'd think that game designed around lasting only thirty seconds a round would be a rather short play through, the main story is actually about ten to fifteen hours long, with so much item collecting and photo album unlocking to do in the meta-game that you'll be sure to spend at least another twenty hours going back and getting everything. And because this game can be played in short bursts, it's one of the most perfect travel games.
+ Perfect game for both on the go and to grind the time away with.
I cannot praise this game enough. Its simple, yet engaging story and lovable cast of characters keep you coming back for more, while its varied game style keeps the action from getting stale. The game is extremely easy to pick up and play, while still offering a challenge. I have to force myself to come up with negative points to this game, and the ones I can come up with are simply a matter of trivial tastes. With that said, I give Half-Minute Hero for the PSP a perfect A.
Gameplay: As mentioned, Half-Minute Hero is an interesting and unique spin on gaming. Gamers will take up arms to save the world, in several different, yet intersecting, time lines (ala Chrono Trigger) with each time era possessing a new form of game play mechanics to conquer. You'll be fighting your way through enemy hordes RPG style in Goddess Era 100, unleashing your own armies RTS style in the Goddess Era 200, shooting everything you see in a top-down Shoot-Em-Up in Goddess Era 300, and working to protect a wise Sage in a defense style game in Goddess Era 400. There's two other Goddess Era's in the game that I could mention, however I don't want to spoil them. But the main thing to keep in mind is that they all follow the same principle: you have thirty seconds to complete your objective.
+ Fast, fun, varying game play keeps the game fresh and never once do you feel like you're just doing mundane tasks.
- Time constraints can be bothersome to the more hardcore gamer who wants to really explore the game.
Audio: The orchestral score in Half-Minute Hero is both familiar and new. Each song is both fitting of setting as well as reminiscent of songs of old; in fact I believe I heard a few cords from the Zelda and Final Fantasy series used. I'd definitely pay for the sound track to this game.
+ A sound track worth purchasing.
Visual: Instead of going for a more realistic style, or even an anime style, it's all about the 2D sprites of the bit art variety with this game. It's charming, though admittedly acquired taste style is a welcome sight to the eyes for older gamers and those that appreciate the retro feel, however more graphic eccentric gamers won't find this game very appealing to the eyes.
+ Great for the older/retro crowd
- Not for those that want stunning, realistic visuals.
Value: Although you'd think that game designed around lasting only thirty seconds a round would be a rather short play through, the main story is actually about ten to fifteen hours long, with so much item collecting and photo album unlocking to do in the meta-game that you'll be sure to spend at least another twenty hours going back and getting everything. And because this game can be played in short bursts, it's one of the most perfect travel games.
+ Perfect game for both on the go and to grind the time away with.
I cannot praise this game enough. Its simple, yet engaging story and lovable cast of characters keep you coming back for more, while its varied game style keeps the action from getting stale. The game is extremely easy to pick up and play, while still offering a challenge. I have to force myself to come up with negative points to this game, and the ones I can come up with are simply a matter of trivial tastes. With that said, I give Half-Minute Hero for the PSP a perfect A.
{Review} Fallout: New Vegas -PS3-
Fallout New Vegas is a stand-alone story in the Fallout universe set four years after the events that took place in Fallout: 3. Although it runs on the same engine, don't think for a second that this game is just glorified DLC, for there is a lot to conquer in New Vegas, when you're able to play it that is.
Gameplay: Fallout New Vegas takes the established game play elements of the Fallout franchise, as well as those brought about in Fallout 3 and kicks it up a notch with a slew of new mechanics and concepts. Gamers will play through the eyes of the Courier, a glorified package boy/girl that gets caught up in a crazy storm of events that will lead to the possible salvation or devastation of the Mojave Desert and all that inhabit it. The game can be played in either a first or third person perspective as players will shoot, slash, punch, and explode their way through the desert wastes as they carve their own path through the games ever-branching story.
But you wont have to go it alone, as the companion system returns and is better than ever, allowing for two companions to fight along side you, as well as companion specific quests that allow the player to truly get to know and help those that watch their back. Plus, there's also the new Faction Reputation system. It works much like the karma system, however it is directly related to how you treat the several factions within the game, which will prove to have an even greater importance than your karma itself. Really, there's so much to do in this game that it's hard to just point out any one thing about it. However, the game does have one major gameplay issue: it freezes, constantly. It freezes when fast traveling, it freezes when you enter buildings, it freezes when walking around, it freezes when saving, and it even freezes while loading. Trying to play this game for any stretch of time can be a war of attrition at times because of this.
+ So much content and gameplay elements it's hard to list them all.
- Constant freezing!
Audio: The sound track in New Vegas keeps to that classic 50's feel, which fits the over-arching theme of the game perfectly, however is indeed an acquired taste amongst younger gamers. (And even those that are a bit older) The voice acting however is a bit hit and miss. There's a wide array of personalities, which all shine through in the voice acting cast, however due to the bizarre mix of characters, the game feels almost disjointed and almost too goofy to really invest any interest in. When you're listening to a group of Elvis impersonators while a drunken cowgirl and a group of soldiers are also talking, it just feels so out of place, ya know? Especially when you leave that area and immediately run into people promoting laser weapons, prostitutes, and cheap booze.
+ The music, as always, is spot on.
- The voice acting is just awkward and mood killing.
Visual: When compared to Fallout 3, this game really doesn't seem to have that much of an upgrade, and it can be easy to see why people would call it just a glorified expansion pack. But on its own, it's still a rather nice looking game, with tons of landscapes to explore and architecture to examine. Running around and just exploring the different areas is really one of the best parts about this game, as you never really know what you'll run into. I really can't think of anything bad to say about the visual aspects, other than what I've already stated above.
+ Game looks fantastic, if a bit recycled.
Value: Like I've mentioned a few times in this review, this game is just packed with things to do and places to go. Like in older games, the players actions will play a great roll in shaping the world around them, and not only create multiple ending paths, but also cause a direct impact on the game experience. Not only that, but even after you've gone through the four major story paths, there's two other game modes that can alter player experiences known as Hardcore Mode and the Wild Wasteland trait. Hardcore makes the game far more realistic, to the point where you need to sleep, eat, and keep hydrated to survive. The Wild Wasteland trait will send New Vegas into bizzaro world, giving the gamer access to places, events, and weaponry that are both goofy and power, such as the Alien Blaster and the Holy Hand Grenades. Really, unless you just simply don't like the game from the get go, there is no reason why you wont return to it several times over.
+ More content than you can beat with a stick
Fallout: New Vegas is a fantastic game. It's host to so many unique and lovable characters, familiar yet unnerving landscapes, and a world that is yours to shape as you see fit. It's easy for both veterans of the series and new comers alike to pick up and get into the action. Really, the few minor flaws this game does have almost feel like nit picking. Too bad there's more than just those few minor flaws. The constant freezing is guaranteed to annoy and even enrage gamers. It's pretty bad when you can't even play the game for a half hour without it locking up on you. And this is a shame, as I can't in my heart give as big as a recommendation to a game that's borderline broken. Don't get me wrong, I love this game; freezing issues aside I've put well over one-hundred hours into it. But let's face it, until this issue is addressed I don't see far too many people who aren't already die hard fans of the series putting up with the freezing for long. Which is a shame, because there is an amazing game to be played.
I give Fallout: New Vegas on the Playstation 3 a C.
Gameplay: Fallout New Vegas takes the established game play elements of the Fallout franchise, as well as those brought about in Fallout 3 and kicks it up a notch with a slew of new mechanics and concepts. Gamers will play through the eyes of the Courier, a glorified package boy/girl that gets caught up in a crazy storm of events that will lead to the possible salvation or devastation of the Mojave Desert and all that inhabit it. The game can be played in either a first or third person perspective as players will shoot, slash, punch, and explode their way through the desert wastes as they carve their own path through the games ever-branching story.
But you wont have to go it alone, as the companion system returns and is better than ever, allowing for two companions to fight along side you, as well as companion specific quests that allow the player to truly get to know and help those that watch their back. Plus, there's also the new Faction Reputation system. It works much like the karma system, however it is directly related to how you treat the several factions within the game, which will prove to have an even greater importance than your karma itself. Really, there's so much to do in this game that it's hard to just point out any one thing about it. However, the game does have one major gameplay issue: it freezes, constantly. It freezes when fast traveling, it freezes when you enter buildings, it freezes when walking around, it freezes when saving, and it even freezes while loading. Trying to play this game for any stretch of time can be a war of attrition at times because of this.
+ So much content and gameplay elements it's hard to list them all.
- Constant freezing!
Audio: The sound track in New Vegas keeps to that classic 50's feel, which fits the over-arching theme of the game perfectly, however is indeed an acquired taste amongst younger gamers. (And even those that are a bit older) The voice acting however is a bit hit and miss. There's a wide array of personalities, which all shine through in the voice acting cast, however due to the bizarre mix of characters, the game feels almost disjointed and almost too goofy to really invest any interest in. When you're listening to a group of Elvis impersonators while a drunken cowgirl and a group of soldiers are also talking, it just feels so out of place, ya know? Especially when you leave that area and immediately run into people promoting laser weapons, prostitutes, and cheap booze.
+ The music, as always, is spot on.
- The voice acting is just awkward and mood killing.
Visual: When compared to Fallout 3, this game really doesn't seem to have that much of an upgrade, and it can be easy to see why people would call it just a glorified expansion pack. But on its own, it's still a rather nice looking game, with tons of landscapes to explore and architecture to examine. Running around and just exploring the different areas is really one of the best parts about this game, as you never really know what you'll run into. I really can't think of anything bad to say about the visual aspects, other than what I've already stated above.
+ Game looks fantastic, if a bit recycled.
Value: Like I've mentioned a few times in this review, this game is just packed with things to do and places to go. Like in older games, the players actions will play a great roll in shaping the world around them, and not only create multiple ending paths, but also cause a direct impact on the game experience. Not only that, but even after you've gone through the four major story paths, there's two other game modes that can alter player experiences known as Hardcore Mode and the Wild Wasteland trait. Hardcore makes the game far more realistic, to the point where you need to sleep, eat, and keep hydrated to survive. The Wild Wasteland trait will send New Vegas into bizzaro world, giving the gamer access to places, events, and weaponry that are both goofy and power, such as the Alien Blaster and the Holy Hand Grenades. Really, unless you just simply don't like the game from the get go, there is no reason why you wont return to it several times over.
+ More content than you can beat with a stick
Fallout: New Vegas is a fantastic game. It's host to so many unique and lovable characters, familiar yet unnerving landscapes, and a world that is yours to shape as you see fit. It's easy for both veterans of the series and new comers alike to pick up and get into the action. Really, the few minor flaws this game does have almost feel like nit picking. Too bad there's more than just those few minor flaws. The constant freezing is guaranteed to annoy and even enrage gamers. It's pretty bad when you can't even play the game for a half hour without it locking up on you. And this is a shame, as I can't in my heart give as big as a recommendation to a game that's borderline broken. Don't get me wrong, I love this game; freezing issues aside I've put well over one-hundred hours into it. But let's face it, until this issue is addressed I don't see far too many people who aren't already die hard fans of the series putting up with the freezing for long. Which is a shame, because there is an amazing game to be played.
I give Fallout: New Vegas on the Playstation 3 a C.
{Review} Splatterhouse: Killing Floor DLC -PS3-
The survival arena is an intense feature in the new Splatterhouse title. Fighting constant hordes of enemies to test your mettle is always nice. But what happens when you've completed all the stages available? Simple, you buy more challenges! Welcome, to the Killing Floor!
Price: $2
Content: The Killing Floor is hopefully the first of many DLC levels to experience in Splatterhouse. Gamers will be placed in a pure white room. Well, it won't be white for long as you decimate wave after wave of monsters and bosses. This level is by far the best show of just how hardcore the gore in this game is, as you'll be able to actually see every once of blood that you spill and splatter across the stage. However, there sadly isn't anything else to this DLC. Not even another photo collectible, which would have been nice to have.
+Great price point
+Excellent challenge level
-Lack of bonus content
I have to give The Killing Floor DLC for Splatterhouse a B. Having a new survival level is always a welcome addition to the game, especially for its generous price point. However, it would have been nice to maybe have a bit more with it, as not everyone enjoys this type of game mode.
Price: $2
Content: The Killing Floor is hopefully the first of many DLC levels to experience in Splatterhouse. Gamers will be placed in a pure white room. Well, it won't be white for long as you decimate wave after wave of monsters and bosses. This level is by far the best show of just how hardcore the gore in this game is, as you'll be able to actually see every once of blood that you spill and splatter across the stage. However, there sadly isn't anything else to this DLC. Not even another photo collectible, which would have been nice to have.
+Great price point
+Excellent challenge level
-Lack of bonus content
I have to give The Killing Floor DLC for Splatterhouse a B. Having a new survival level is always a welcome addition to the game, especially for its generous price point. However, it would have been nice to maybe have a bit more with it, as not everyone enjoys this type of game mode.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)