2009
Halo 3…uhm, 2? Second Opinion?
By: Lissa Category: Halo, Halo 3, xBox360
The third game in the Halo trilogy (main trilogy that is). Not having played the first two games I decided to see what all the fuss was about so here is my review of Halo 3.
At first glance the main menu is fairly easy to use if you haven’t played the previous games. You have the usual campaign option which is your solo play through as well as split screen on the same console. Next you have an option called Matchmaking which is your online multiplayer stuff where you can play against 16 other people online. Now most people who claim that they love Halo only play the online section of the games and sometimes the tutorial in the campaign mode.
The levels are well set out for the fast-action game play that Halo has been sold as. You play as Master chief a cyborg trying to stop aliens from getting all the Halo rings otherwise they will wipe out all the universe. The graphics in the game are ok. The colours are a bit plain but go well with the setting. The only let down on as far as graphics goes is the water (what little of it there is)
My personal opinion and overview of this game is its good if you like multiplayer first person shooters but other wise its not got a good game play. The game play is slow and repetitive where you HAVE to kill all of the opposition (namely the aliens) which I personally hate.
So all in all I think its a bad game with good graphics.
Enjoy.
2009
NOW, MY DISTASTE for the Halo franchise is well known, but I think from my two previous reviews (Halo 2 being fairly positive) that I have proven my objectivity. Reviews are based on opinion however, and I feel no compunction to be diplomatic about my views on any matter. I mean, the whole purpose behind this website is to avoid the usual, finance based bias we have become so familiar with. But at the same time, I strive to balance out my personal fondness or distaste for the games I review to offer a more informed and structured dissection of whichever piece of digital goodness/foulness my brain is munching upon at the time.
And this brings us to the latest installment in the core Halo storyline. There are now, of course, at least two derivatives which have been produced to expand upon the setting (Halo ODST actually takes place between chapters 2 and 3 and, I believe covers the search for the Chief whilst he does whatever it is he did aboard that Covenant warship we see burning through the sky in Halo 3’s opening cinematic. Or was that the chief…or both of them, I think it was the ship and he came shooting off from it partway down, but I’ve been to sleep since then, and this parenthesis rant is growing stupidly large so, y’know, it takes place between them and leave it at that) with a third, Halo Reach, which we don’t know a great deal about as yet.
My initial impression of Halo 3 is that it was a highly polished, slick and extremely stylised game. A feeling that stuck with me the entire time. Unfortunately, I found almost nothing in the way of real substance to expand on this feeling as I progressed through the nine, decidedly short and, even on Legendary, primarily extremely unchallenging, levels. I know some people are pleased by a game that you can run through in only a few hours (about ten in total for the whole game on Legendary, no more than six on Normal), I, on the other hand, decidedly do not. There’s a line between a short and intense experience, and too short which Halo 3 leaped over at intense velocity.
The various cinematics and scripting events that unfolded offered little but an annoyance that they were dragging on so long. And the so-called plot twists just seemed pointless and rather daft. It seems to me that either they had a new writing department for this game considering how much they ran roughshod over the plot developments from Halo 2, or they were all on crack and thought that having a turtle eat beans for half an hour was a good idea. Either way, those things which actually made the second game work for me in a way I hadn’t anticipated, just vanished and were replaced with some random crap that left me with a serious…
..feeling.
Whilst I felt that the first game was generic and borrowed, or even out and out stole, from other games and films that had come before. And the second, whilst still pretty standard in gameplay, had some decent scripting. The third was pretty much just a bunch of fan appeasement as far as I could tell. Massive, intense battles, hoardes of enemies that you have to murder to a man to progress. I suppose I can see the appeal in some senses, driving through a cannon with a small fleet of Scorpions and Warthogs was fun, but a few well aimed shots and there was no opposition to speak of. And taking down to Scarab at a time single handed was kind of cool. But, dude, I did it single-handed. On Legendary! If the rest of the Human armed forces really is that sodding useless, and really couldn’t do anything at all without the Chief there, then they should have been wiped out in a matter of days.
But, of course, it’s not the single player that sold the game to seventeen million people. It’s the online experience which has brought people in their droves. And, for once, I actually spent some time trying this out. Mostly at the request of a very good friend of mine who spent several hours trouncing me repeatedly. Again, though, there is little for me to recommend with the online either. The ability to customise your avatar, either a Spartan or an Elite (the Arbiter) with extra items unlockable as you progress adds a little to raise it above a generic online shooter. But not by much. And certainly nothing that hasn’t been done before, and better. Rainbow Six Vegas had a great customisation to it. Halo 3 doesn’t.
Basically, Halo 3 is an enigma to me. I can’t understand how something that screwed up in so many ways can be so damned popular. I suspect it may have a great deal to do with the billion pound advertising campaign and the populace at large being so easily lead.
Graphics: 8.5/10
Gameplay: 6/10
Audio/Music: 6/10
Plot/Scripting: 5/10
Overall: 5/10
Halo 3 also earns a Special Award for being such a successful bluff.
WTF?!?ness : 9.5/10
2009
360 degrees of Dead Space
By: The Almighty Bobomorphish Category: Dead Space, xBox360
HAVING ALREADY PLAYED through Dead Space on the PC, and thoroughly enjoyed it (see my previous review for a more in depth opinion) I was curious how well it would stand up as a console title. I won’t deny that I was extremely sceptical, which is why I wasn’t in any particular rush to pick it up. In fact, it was only because my beautiful wife (Lissa, also now writing reviews here) wanted to try it out that we bought it at all. Hence it being X-Box rather than Playstation 3, since the X-Box is hers. First impressions did little to appease my misgivings and, after only about thirty minutes I saved the game and didn’t play it again for three months.
Not exactly an inspiring start to a review.
However, a couple of days ago (well, four actually) I found myself at a bit of a loose end (I was playing Project Origin, but wasn’t in the mood for it after spending so much time on the first game for my previous reviews) and plugged it back in. The control scheme didn’t leave me with an overly positive impression once again, especially the sensitivity. After so much time on the PC, analogue sticks feel like wading through treacle toffee when you’ve gotten used to a mouse turned all the way up to ELEVEN! Seriously, it takes about three seconds just to turn one-eighty, and when a bunch of necromorphs are swarming all over you a HELL of a lot can happen in those three seconds. And don’t forget that both sticks have a bloody massive dead zone (appropriate eh?)
Still, I persevered, and made a few purchases on X-Box Live to throw a little variety into the mix. Plus, y’know, the new skins look really cool. Though I didn’t realise at first just how nails the Tank suit really is. Believe me, 60% damage resistance has a massive impact on the difficulty of the game. Especially since downloaded weapons and armour are available for free (in game) once you reach your first store at the end of Chapter 1. So, for those like myself, who have qualms about what should effectively be classed as cheating, probably better to avoid the download section all together until you’ve finished the game once. Which I did on the PC, but I still felt a little guilty after I realised how much difference it all made. Silly I know, but that’s how I am.
Anyway, enough waffling. Fourth paragraph already and I’ve said bugger all about the game apart from how dubious I was. So, well, were my misgivings well place? The question of hour. And, I’m very happy to say, they were not at all. The sensitivity of the analogue sticks still bugs me a fair bit, but not so much so that it spoiled my enjoyment of the game. Caused me several incidences of extreme frustration when I was shooting past a necromorphs waist instead of cutting him off at the thigh, but I think it actually made me better at the game. I thought more about how to approach each enemy and shifted my weapons around a lot more. Initially I only really made use of the Plasma Cutter and the Pulse Rifle, this time I gave them all a whirl and give a major, major recommendation for the Line Gun. That thing is a beast. Especially with the Scorpion pack which more than doubles it’s rate of fire. Though the yellow scorpion motif is a little silly. It would have looked much better in black or a deep red.
Long story short, the differences between the PC and console release of the game are simple cosmetics. The layout of the controls is a little odd, but works well, though it would have been nice to have a customisation option. The turning speed, whilst a point I keep coming back to, isn’t really a major concern after you’ve had a little time to adjust to it. And the downloadable weapons and armour packs add some really cool new skins to what is already an extremely solid and very atmospheric game. I still can’t over how good it actually is after the sheer amount of crap Electronic Arts have shoved down our throats in the past.
I’m eagerly looking forward to both Dead Space 2, and Extinction on the Wii. If you take the time to watch the six animated comics which cover the events of the mining operation leading up to the demise of the USG Ishimura’s crew, and the Downfall Anime which covers events aboard the Ishimura herself, you can see that there’s a lot more to the story. And they are telling it very, very well. If EA keep this up again, they could well become the respected gaming powerhouse they were back in the days of Desert Strike and Buck Rogers : Countdown to Doomsday.
Graphics: 9/10
Gameplay: 8.5/10
Audio/Music: 9/10
Plot/Scripting: 9/10
Overall: 8.5/10
P.S : If my sources are correct, Isaac will return for Dead Space 2.
Altman be praised
2009
…or have you?
By: The Almighty Bobfish Category: F.E.A.R, First Encounter Assault Recon, xBox360
SADLY, THE CONSOLE version of F.E.A.R doesn’t have quite the same panache as it’s PC counterpart. Speaking, in this case (but with external Playstation 3 input from Jedireaper) of the X-Box 360 specifically of course. All of the same elements are there. The aggressive physics system, the same sense of satisfaction when you fire a gun, and even the adaptive enemy AI. Unfortunately it just doesn’t deliver as effectively.
Yes, the enemy AI does show many of the same characteristics which made the PC game so intense, but rather than making the game more challenging and engaging, they just come across as a bit stupid. One occasion in particular I can remember, I opened a door to a courtyard in, I think, Interval 4, and fired a few shots at the first guy I saw, then closed it up again and ran back to take up a better position, waiting for the Replicant soldiers to come and find me. After a couple of minutes of waiting I was wondering what had happened and went back to investigate.
Far from trying to hunt me down and kill me, or even setting a counter trap of their own, I found no less than five of them gathered together in the middle of the yard just waiting for me. In fact, as I was watching, clearly visible through the double windows, I could see the two outer men ever so slowly walking sideways to pull in even closer to their compatriots. It was, admittedly very funny, but also disappointing after slogging through the whole game on the PC. And, sadly, this kind of behaviour is the norm. I can’t count the number of times I’ve been able to pick off the enemy one at a time because they just completely fail to notice either my gun firing, or the guy standing next to them being torn to pieces and crumpling to the ground with a half dozen bullets in his brain.
Another major concern is the checkpoints in the game. They’re horrendously far apart and, far from making the game more challenging, add exponentially to the frustration factor. Especially that section in the Armacham building when you have to fight your way through FOUR heavy armours before triggering the next one. It’s an unfortunate note to end the review on, because I’m a rather well known fan of the whole F.E.A.R series. But the console version of the game just let’s the side down. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a massive disparity between the PC and console gaming before. Thankfully, F.E.A.R 2 seems to have improved massively. But that’s a review for another time.
Graphics: 8.5/10
Gameplay: 8/10
Audio/Music: 8/10
Plot/Scripting: 9/10
Overall: 7/10
2009
Faaaaaaabulous!
By: The Inimitable Lissa Category: Fable 2, xBox360
Fable 2 is the sequel to the ever-popular Fable on the original X-Box. After a 3year wait and with guns as a new major feature you can either choose a male or a female character. Again with the same points as the first game you start the game as a young child doing a few quests to get you used to the control system. You grow up after certain events/quests are complete. You character will get will lines which glow a neon blue the more you use will (spells) and you can customise their appearance such as hair style, hair colour, beards, moustaches as well as make up and tattoos.
The main story plot is set a five hundred years after the original Fable and yet again Albion needs your help to set everything right. Lucien Plans to be the ruler of Albion and you have to go on quests to find three Heroes to help you stop him, The Hero of Skill, The Hero of Strength and The Hero of Will.
The achievement scheme is not very hard but at the same time not easy. And if you chose to buy both expansion packs they will not only add more quests and open up more areas but they will add 100 gamer points from the first expansion which will set you back 800 microsoft points and the second will add 150 gamer points which will set you back only 560 microsoft points which really shocked me as out of the two expansions adds more areas and more content than the first.
The first expansion is Knothole Island which you will have to help the villagers there fix the weather by digging up various keys to towers. There is also a tomb where if you sacrificed your dog then you can lead a villager in and get your dog back as you will need him to do the quests on this map.
In the second Murgo will comeback and give you cursed items which transport you to several different places to help lift the curse off the item. I like this expansion more as you can go back as many times as you like and the areas are really well thought out.
All in all I love the game and I cant wait to see if they will release any more expansions.
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