Archive for ‘video game review’
19 items.
Video Game Review: Fallout 3 (2008)
Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, PC
Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
Official Website
Plot: In an alternate future (that resembles the 1950s, but with sci-fi technology) the world has been plunged into a nuclear war and Washington DC has been all but obliterated. To survive, people have crammed into these underground bunkers called Vaults. You play a nameless character who grew up in Vault 101 – which, unlike the other Vaults, did not reopen after it was deemed safe to go out into the world.
You see yourself grow up briefly inside the Vault. You mother died during child birth, your friend gets picked on by the local bully, and your dad (super scientist) doesn’t get along with the Vault mayor (your best friend’s father).
On your 19th birthday, you best friend comes into your room while you’re sleeping and says that her father is coming to arrest you. Your father has somehow left the Vault, and you have to follow him out into the Wasteland. From there, the decision of how to proceed is yours. Sneak out, shoot everything that moves, give your friend the gun – how do you want to escape?
Upon exiting Vault 101, you’re greeted by the greatest video game character of all time: the environment of the Waste. DC, re-created as a post-nuclear war site, is you playground. You can proceed on missions, or just explore (which I spent most of my time doing). Ultimately, though, your goal is to find your father and what you decide to do from there will affect your game experience.
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I figured this would be an appropriate game to review for the new year (Happy New Year, by the way) because it’s a game about new beginnings – and that’s what every new year is about.
The game can be played from a first or third person perspective (I recommend first), and you make choices – as well as shoot stuff.
The neat thing about combat in this game is the VATS – which is their “VAULT-TEC ASSISTED TARGETING SYSTEM” that allows you to target specific areas on a character and attack there, based on the probability of the attack being a success. If you’re good with a weapon (and you’ll get good if you pump up your character stats), then you can even have slow motion gruesome endings to your enemies. Like slow motion decapitations by AK-47!
It’s gruesome, but also awesome.
The most fun thing about this game is the sheer size of it, and the freedom it provides. I spent hours of gameplay just exploring the Waste and killing raiding parties, stealing their stuff, and bankrupting towns by selling it all. After about 60+ hours in the game, I maxed out my level cap to 20 (if you download Brotherhood of Steel expansion this increases to 30), and and only explored about 3/8 of the whole map.
Mind you, I was taking my time and just enjoying the game. Your play through will be different. And hopefully just as enjoyable.
So Fallout: New Vegas came out as well, which is a sequel to the game. Apparently everything is just about the same, expect for the setting.
I could go on and on about this game, but what’ll really sell it is if you play it for yourself. For your Halo fans out there, please note that this is a slower-paced RPG game that has a lot of conversation and decision-making. If you just want to go killing, you can do that – but that’s not the purpose of the game.
If you don’t already own this game or it’s sequel, it’s certainly worth owning. I recommend it.
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Video Game Review: X-Men Arcade (1992, 2010)
Platforms: Arcade, PS3, Xbox 360
Developer: Konami
Plot: Magneto is at it again, this time attacking with Sentinels…and lizard people, and some funky mutant plant things. You know what, it’s an arcade game – you play as X-Men and you beat up bad guys.
When I was a little kid my friends and I would host our birthday parties at the local arcade / mini-golf place. There was little more we wanted than to just get out on the floor and play these video games. Aliens, Area 51, Terminator, TMNT – there were few games that weren’t awesome and amazing. There was one game that tended to suck up my quarters more than most, though, and that was the X-Men arcade.
Boasting twin screens and 6-players, this game was unlike anything else you could play at the time. You found your favorite (available) X-Men character and you just jumped in.
I can’t even begin to tell you how many quarters were put into this machine, but when it was announced that you could download it on the PSN I jumped all over that immediately. And beat it in a single night.
Was it worth the $10 to download? Absolutely.
Not only for the nostalgia, but also to justify the (I’m going to guess and say) hundreds of dollars worth of quarters I spent playing that thing while I was growing up. Now I can just pop it in and play whenever I want – and with friends online, to boot.
The game is simple: pick your favorite (available) X-Men character. You get to chose from Wolverine, Nighcrawler, Storm, Cyclopes, Dazzler, and Colossus. Next, you fight wave after wave of Sentinels, lizard people, and mutant plant things until you get to the end stage boss. The bosses consisted of Pyro, Blob, Wendigo, Nimrod, White Queen, Juggernaut, Mystique, and Magneto.
There’s no plot, just pure beat-em-up action and mutant powers that made little sense (Wolverine’s powers shoot across the screen?) – but were sure cool to use.
If you were a fan of the classic arcade, do yourself a favor and download this title. It’s uncanny.
Video Game Review: BioShock (2007)
Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, PC
Developer: Irrational Games
Official Website
Plot: Set an an alternate reality 1960s, you play as a plane-crash survivor named Jack (seriously, the opening scene is in the ocean surrounded by burning plane pieces) who swims to a nearby light house and takes an elevator down “into the rabbit hole” to an underwater facility called Rapture.
Rapture is a place where scientists wanted to be able to experiment without the restrictions of regulations, and have developed abilities with the help of something called “plasmids.” However, these powers have driven most of the people mad and they run around trying to collect ADAM – which is something in everyone’s body that powers plasmids.
There’s also a force that’s sole purpose is to collect ADAM, called “Little Sisters.” These little girls run around collecting ADAM from dead bodies, and they are protected by “Big Brothers” – giant armored protectors who are tough cookies to beat.
Once you arrive in Rapture you’re contacted by a man named Atlas. He directs you through the labyrinth of Rapture as he opposes the leader of the facility, Andrew Ryan. You have some morality choices to make throughout the game – namely whether or not to harvest the ADAM from Little Sisters, thus killing them, or setting them free.
However, upon reaching Andrew Ryan you have a startling discovery: You have more in common with this strange underwater city of Rapture than you realized.
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This game was the highly anticipated “spiritual successor” to one of the greatest first-person games of all time, System Shock 2. Unfortunately due to a legal snafu, we didn’t get System Shock 3…we got this game.
It’s not a bad thing, it’s just more of the same with better graphics. The same character arch-types, the same twists. Again, I’m not complaining about this, but for someone who wanted System Shock 3 I couldn’t help but be a little disappointed that I’ll never see that game. And BioShock just made me want it to come out that much more.
As mentioned, this is a FPS (first-person shooter) game with some minor RPG elements thrown in for good measure, as you can customize your character’s abilities and weapons a bit in the game. There’s also the 50/50 decision you get to make every time you encounter a Little Sister on whether to harvest their ADAM, or let them go.
Overall the game is a fun experience, and has some nice plot twists (again, almost redundant from System Shock 2), and the graphics are pretty sweet to boot.
So why review an almost 4-year old game now? Because I honestly thought I already had, but didn’t find it in the archive.
The game’s already spawned a sequel (which I’m told improves upon the gameplay, allowing you to wield a gun and plasmid powers at the same time), and they’ve announced the third game in the series called BioShock Infinite – which takes place in a floating city.
But I digress. Since the sequel is already out (and both are very affordable), I’d recommend at least renting the title if you haven’t played it already. For people unfamiliar with System Shock 2, this is going to be your System Shock 2. It’ll be a fun experience twisting through the mind of a mad man, and allow the combination of horror, classic sci-fi, and shooting elements all rolled into one.
Video Game Review: Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune (2007)
Platform: PS3
Developer: Naughty Dog
Official Website
Plot: Nathan Drake is a modern-day smart-mouthed treasure hunter (if Lora Croft and Indiana Jones had a baby, it would be Nathan Drake) who is the descendant of legendary explorer Sir Frances Drake. The game starts off with a bang: you’re in the ocean with journalist Elena Fisher who’s chronicling (and funding) your uncovering of Sir Frances Drake’s final resting place. But there’s a trick – the coffin is empty, to no surprise of Nate’s. Turns out Sir Frances Drake faked his death, and inside his coffin is a map that leads the way to El Dorado.
Suddenly you’re attacked by pirates. And not the Pirates of the Caribbean kind, but the modern kind. You enter into a duck-and-cover fire fight until saved at the last possible second by your partner (and good friend), Sully – an older adventurer with a smart mouth.
After analyzing the map, you take off (leaving Elena in the dust) to a mysterious island that the Spanish ransacked in the hopes of funding El Dorado. However, Elena makes it out there anyway, and the three of you embark on an adventure of epic proportions.
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The gameplay in Uncharted is duck-and-cover gunfire, fist fights, and platforming puzzle solving on a grand scale. The game is absolutely awesome, and the developers spared no expense in any aspect of production or development. They used stage actors for the voice capture and motion capture, so everything looks and sounds amazing. The scenes play out like something out of a blockbuster movie, and the score is on an epic Michael Bay film level.
Basically, everything about this game works and works well. The sequel (which I reviewed already) just improves upon what came before. Plus, they’ve already launched the trailer for the third game.
So why am I reviewing a game that’s almost 4 years old, you’re asking yourself? Because I just dusted it off and started playing it again. And even after enjoying the game that followed, as well as the games that have tried to follow in it’s footsteps, I’m still blown away by the thing.
I could sit here and talk about Uncharted all day, but honestly the best way to experience it is to play the thing yourself. With the game being a Best Seller ($20 at most stores), and available to rent at most video stores and Gamefly, it’s very easy to get your hands on this thing. However, it’s not a cross-platform game – sorry PC and Xbox gamers.
My recommendation: buy it.
Video Game Review: Heavy Rain (2010)
Platform: PS3
Developer: Quantic Dream
Official Website: www.heavyrainps3.com
Plot: Ethan Mars is an architect with two sons, a pretty wife, and the perfect life. But when taking his family shopping at the mall a horrible accident happens: one of Ethan’s sons is hit by a car. Ethan had jumped out to try to save the boy, but wasn’t able to do so.
Two years later, Ethan is divorced, lives with his other kid, suffers from depression, and experiences blackouts. During one such blackout, Ethan’s other son disappears – kidnapped by the Origami Killer. This serial killer kidnaps children and their bodies are found drowned 6 days later. The clock is ticking, and the hunt is on to find the killer and save the boy!
Enter your cast of characters:
1) Ethan Mars has been contacted by the Origami Killer and has to undergo a series of trials to test his resolve and motivation to save his son. At the same time, he believes that he may be the Origami Killer.
2) Madison Paige is a photo journalist who suffers from insomnia (and terrible dreams when she does sleep). The only time she can really find peace is when she stays at a hotel – which is where she encounters Ethan, while he’s on the run.
3) Norman Jayden is an FBI agent with special sunglasses (and a glove) that allows him to instantly analyze and document crime scene evidence. However, there’s a special drug associated with it that cause hallucinations and pretty serious withdrawal symptoms.
4) Scott Shelby is a former police officer and current private investigator hired by the families of the victims of the Origami Killer. Because he was on the beat for so long, he knows a lot of good contacts and people on the force.
The gameplay is quite different from what you would find in a typical video game. The game is really more of an interactive movie where scenes play out, and you interact with the world by performing contextual actions – but your success (or failure) in performing the actions in time can determine the success of the action, and / or the scene that’s playing out.
For example, there’s a fight scene early in the game between Scott and a hooker’s John. The John is beating on her pretty badly, and if you decide to intervene (you can just walk away), you enter contextual combat. If you miss actions during the fight, Scott receives more noticeable damage (broken nose, bloody lip, etc). If he receives too much damage, the fight is over and Scott walks away limping…and you’ve potentially lost out on a story point of the game. If Scott kicks the snot out of the other guy, then another storyline pops up.
Some of the sequences can even result in a character’s death, but that doesn’t necessarily mean “Game Over.” It means that they’re just not in the rest of the game. Which, as the stories start to converge, would be interesting to see how they play out differently with or without certain characters. It also adds to the replay value of the game, since you get very invested in these characters and their journey – and if that journey could change due to the death of another character or a decision that drastically changes the outcome (like a character not tagging along with you), then that’s something worth checking out.
However, this kind of gameplay can be a little frustrating. My friends came over with a Move Controller (PS3′s version of the Wii controller), which you don’t have to play the game with. However, I had a lot of difficulty using the controller and doing the various movements and motions to successfully complete sections of the game. Eventually towards the end of the game when things pick up and the actions become more complex (and quicker), I had to switch to the controller. Suddenly I was doing much better. Not perfect, mind you, but at least I stopped killing the characters and having to restart chapters.
The story suffers from a few noticeable plot holes, which is disappointing. You’ve so engaged with these characters, their world, and their personal stories that anything that takes away from it sticks out like a sore thumb. Also the characters are very much like digital actors – but sometimes there’s some graphical errors or no facial animations that make the characters look like lifeless models. It’s rare, but when it happens you’ll notice and it’ll take you out of the gaming experience.
Overall the game is gorgeous, however. The graphics and music perfectly set the Hitchockian-esque thriller tone, and the sequences are down right tense – especially if you’re swinging that Move controller, fighting off an assailant…and losing! The voice acting is a low point for the game, unfortunately, as most of the voice actors have a noticeable accent that doesn’t quite fit. The developer is located in France, and many of the actors sound like they have a French accent. Plus, some of the lines sound less natural and more translated. You’ll notice a few dry bits of dialogue where you’ll think to yourself, “No one talks that way.” Again, these only stick out because the rest of the game is so perfect.
Madison and Scott have, by far, the best voice acting in the game. Which is sad, because I feel like I didn’t get to spend enough time with them. Especially Madison, who’s story kind of takes a back drop to Ethan’s in his search for his son. One of my endings implied that she could play a larger role in a sequel, but who knows if they’ll make another one. I hear there was downloadable content scheduled for this game, but they only released one chapter of it. Which, of course, is a Madison prequel chapter.
If you like a game with a great engaging story, unique gameplay elements (especially with the Move controller, which you may be better at using than I am), and some great replay value, then I highly recommend Heavy Rain.
Video Game Review: Assassins Creed 2 (2009)
Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360
Developer: Ubisoft
Plot: Assassin’s Creed takes place in a near future where you play a character named Desmond Miles, who’s the long decedent in a long line of assassins. In the first game, you are taken by a corporation and put into a machine called The Animus, which can read history through your genes. In the first game we learned about the war between the assassins and the Templars, and their quest to find the missing pieces of Eden.
In Assassin’s Creed 2, you break out of the corporation and are whisked away by the assassins to a hidden location where there is another Animus. With it, they hope to train you to become an assassin in the modern day. You mostly play as your ancestor, Ezio, and as he learns how to be an assassin so do you. With Ezio, you discover a conspiracy throughout Italy of the Templars trying to find the missing pieces of Eden, and the power that these mystical objects holds.
It’s difficult to get into the plot of Assassin’s Creed because there’s a lot going on in the game – certainly more than the first game. A lot more missions and more variety to the quests, and some fantastic revelations that lead to another cliffhanger of an ending. But a much more satisfying one than from the previous game.
With better game mechanics and more variety, there’s no reason not to play this game. It’s fun, it’s full of stealth and action, and the two-handed hidden blades are absolutely AWESOME!
It may take a while to play through, especially if you’re trying to collect everything and get the hidden videos, so renting may be difficult (unless you have nothing else to do). But it’s certainly worth the price tag for owning.
Either way, be sure to check it out. The third one is rumored to finish off the story of Desmond, and I can’t wait to play him in some modern settings doing assassin missions!
Video Game Review: Batman Arkham Asylum (
Platform: PS3, Xbox 360
Developer: Rocksteady, Eidos
Official Website
Plot: Batman (Kevin Conroy) has captured the Joker (Mark Hamill) and upon returning him to Arkham Asylum, witnesses him break out of his restraints and escape deep into the compound. However, Joker’s plan isn’t to break out – it’s to get something inside the island.
I know the game’s been out for a while, but I just finished my play through. Took forever because of work, and other obligations. The game’s tons of fun – the first time I’ve ever felt like a superhero that the source was based on. You feel like Batman – in combat, in sneaking around, and in the handful of opportunities you get to be a detective.
The game was so popular, in fact, that it has a Game of the Year edition coming out, and a sequel in the works.
The fact that they got some of the voice actors from the Animated Series was a great touch as well. Mark Hamill is my Joker. Any time that he isn’t heard is time wasted in the game. Thankfully, since Joker has access to the PA system of the facility, you have the chance to hear him a lot. He easily steals the show.
This game is worth playing and worth owning.
Video Game Review: InFamous
Platform: PS3
Developer: Sucker Punch!
Official Website
Plot: You play as Cole, a delivery guy in Empire City. When a package that you’re delivering (The Ray Sphere) explodes and destroys most of the city and all of the power, you begin to develop electrical powers. Your girlfriend leaves your side, and your best friend Zeke wants to capitalize on your newfound abilities. Meanwhile, the city is under quarantine by the United States government because a plague has broken out among the populace. Able to chose your path (redemption or revenge), you go on various missions around the city either liberating or conquering all in an effort to find the criminal mastermind behind it all, the mysterious figure known only as Kessler.
The gameplay is free-form, not unlike a Grand Theft Auto (only instead of driving cars, you can climb buildings and ride along electrical wires and train rails), with an upgrade system similar to most modern action games. As you progress through the game, you unlock new abilities that will help you reach new areas or defeat new enemies. You gain experience points by completing missions (good, evil, or neutral) and savings / killing enemies or citizens.
There’s a moral barometer (called “Karma”) in the game that allows you to be the hero or the villain. Unfortunately this mechanic isn’t very sophisticated like you would expect to find in an RPG game, usually something similar and more blatant. You’re usually faced with a moral dilemma (“Do I save this guy, or do I kill him and take his stuff) which usually results in the same outcome either way. There are some powers and trophies for Karma Good or Karma Evil, so there’s some replay value in there to try the game again playing the polar opposite.
Exploring the city is fun, especially since you can’t take any damage from falling. You can climb to the highest point in the town and just jump straight down (or you will later unlock a glide ability). Going through the city and liberating or conquering the various sections from the gangs that have taken over is a great mechanics, and gives you a very realistic feeling of accomplishment when you control an island (of which there are three in the game). The landscape even changes as you make a difference.
The cutscenes are an exciting motion comic with some terrific voice acting (although I question why a delivery guy sounds like Solid Snake from Metal Gear), and you’re generally interested to know what’s going to happen next and how you fit into this vast conspiracy surrounding the Ray Sphere. With a (predictable) cliffhanger twist ending, it wouldn’t surprise me if we see a few more games with Cole coming in the near future.
The game is totally worth buying, but don’t take my word for it: there’s a free downloadable demo that allows you to explore some parts of the city, as well as undertake three missions.
Video Game Review: Uncharted 2 – Among Thieves
Platform: PS3
Developer: Naughty Dog
Official Website
Plot: The game opens with fortune hunter Nathan Drake (a descendant of Sir Francis Drake, a great explorer) sitting in the chair of a train, blood pouring out of a gunshot wound in his stomach. Looking out the window, he appears to be in the mountains. Upon trying to sit up, he realizes that gravity is playing tricks on him – and that the train car is actually dangling from the side of a mountain cliff. Falls and breaking out of the bottom of the train, Drake watches in horror as the door falls far down into the valley below. Losing blood and moving slowly, Drake begins to climb the train cars to reach a safe area….
…and that’s where Uncharted 2 starts you off.
After the events of the first game, Drake is looking for his next score that is going to make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. Apparently separated from Elena (the journalist that followed his adventures to find El Dorado in the first game), Drake teams up with new love interest Chloe and her partner to follow the clues left by Marco Polo and find the Cintamani Stone from the lost city of Shambhala. Based on some historical truth but with a measure of fantasy and fiction (think Indiana Jones meets Tomb Raider…but a little less fantastic), Uncharted 2 is like the biggest action movie (but with a plot that actually makes sense) where you play the movie hero. Drake is a fun protagonist with a heart of gold and quick with the witty banter, and some sweet moves to get him through the levels against armed soldiers and a madman trying to gain ancient power for himself.
The gameplay is mostly duck and cover mechanics, with very fluid animation and intuitive controls. You also do some platforming and puzzle solving, but if you get stuck the game does give you hints throughout. I will admit to getting stuck in a few rooms because your path doesn’t stick out as obviously as in other games of this type. The path you’re supposed to take blends into the lush backgrounds like it was actually part of the world. This is not a flaw, but something that I’ve been looking forward to in gaming for a long time. A level of emersion that completely brings the world to life, instead of pointing out the path you should take. Thankfully, there’s not much penalty for dying if you make a wrong jump.
The game is very forgiving in it’s platforming, though. Jumps that appear to be impossible are very probable with Drake being one of the most athletic characters in a game (even with a bullet in the gut).
The action sequences are what stick out to me the most in this game. While the first game focused more on the duck-and-cover mechanics, this game enjoys marrying more the gun play with fist-a-cuffs. The ability for Drake to duck behind cover, shoot some guys, grab a dude that’s running him to him and pull him over cover and punch him in the face, then run out shooting and get into a fist fight with another enemy is jaw-dropping to watch, and even more fun to play.
I’ve already reviewed the multiplayer beta for the game, but I’ll add here that they have added additional content, play modes, maps, and even extended the maps that were available in the beta! I’m not much of an online game player, but with some friends this game is rather fun – mostly because I can actually hold my own.
If you own a PS3, you need to get this game and the first one. They are fantastic, hours of fun, and with a great story and great play mechanics. If you don’t own a PS3, then you should be jealous of me like I’m jealous of you (ie: I want to play Mass Effect). This is the game to own on this system, and probably the best game of the year!