Posts by :
- Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
- TimeShift
- Darkest of Days
- Singularity
- TimeSplitters
Feature: Overdelayed Games
July 25th, 2010Eager PC fans are literally a week away from getting their hands on one of the most anticipated games around, StarCraft 2. But let’s not hide the fact that this futuristic RTS has had it’s fair share of delays and speedbumps on its way to store shelves. So in celebration of this over-halted gaming phenomenon, we take a look at some games that got delayed and went through development hell… again and again and again…
Diablo 3
The infamous third instalment of Blizzard’s dungeon RPG has been a long time coming. Since Diablo 2’s release in 2000, fans have been sharpening their weapons in anticipation, waiting for the fateful day that they get to continue looting chests and hacking skeletons in dark corners. Well, since being announced in 2008, Diablo 3 has been through a bunch of delays, design choices and changes, giving this threequel an unconfirmed 2011 release date. Will it ever happen?
So preetttyyy
Splinter Cell Conviction
Earlier this year, Splinter Cell: Conviction hit our shelves and although it wasn’t the SC experience fans were expecting, it was one of the most action-packed and innovative third-person stealth shooters to come out for ages. But what many don’t know is how drastically the concept and release dates changed for Ubisoft’s title. The original Conviction design saw Sam Fisher as a washed-out hobo-like street brawler. The game was announced in 2007, but after a lot of delays and overhauls with the look and feel of the game, April 2010 saw the new and improved Splinter Cell: Conviction hit the street, and with its streamlined action sequences and interesting mechanics, it was worth the wait.
Originally titled: 'Hobo Beatdown 3' - Ok, that was a lie.
Max Payne 3
Everyone cries and whines when Mario or Sonic are absent for a year or two. Sure they’re iconic characters in the industry, but what about Max Payne!? The guy brought bullet-time into mainstream gaming and has changed the way developers look at third-person shooters for crying out loud. We’ve been missing Mr. Payne for a while now and Max Payne 3 (originally scheduled for a late 2009 release) is taking way too long. The game should be in slow-motion, not the development – just a thought.
Delays are a Payne in the ass (Pun overly intended)
Duke Nukem Forever
And now onto the bad boy of the video game world, who’s latest ironically titled game will probably never be seen or heard of ever again. Duke Nukem: Forever was announced in 1997 and thanks to multiple re-writes and developmental changes, Duke’s first outing in over 10 years still didn’t make it into our PC’s and consoles. After the whole project was recently shutdown, all we have is a few screenshots 3D Realms left behind – enjoy.
It looked cool at the time
Too Human
Too Human was originally announced in 1999 for the original Playstation. Then it was rumoured to release on the GameCube after Nintendo and Silicon Knights partnered up. Then… it kinda disappeared. Too Human was then revealed to be released exclusively to Xbox 360 and in August 2008, over 9 years of development hell finally ended. Unfortunately the game was met with sub-mediocre reviews and faded away faster than vacant memory.
Too Human? More like Too Late! heehee! We crack ourselves up
Medal of Honor Multiplayer Beta Impressions
July 16th, 2010In recent times, The Medal of Honor series has been pushed out of the limelight slightly by the likes of the Call of Duty series and Battlefield’s Bad Company spinoff. Well things are about to change, as EA’s war veteran is making a comeback after being announced late last year. Gamers have been treated to snippets of the gameplay through some trailers, but EA have released their Beta version of the multiplayer component for some lucky gamers to try out… and we got lucky.
The Beta itself features two different maps: Kabul City, an urban middle-eastern setting, and Helmand Valley, which is a large outdoor area scattered with rocky cliffs and small villages. The version also allows players to experience two of the game modes that will be available in the final version, Team Assault and Mission.
Team Assault is just one open-ended squad deathmatch, while Mission gives players objectives throughout the entire match, which constantly change as each objective is completed (or failed).
The game itself plays very similar to Bad Company 2. This should be expected as it’s also being developed by DICE and it’s definitely not a bad thing. The Bad Company 2 similarities are in the movement and feel of the player and shooting, while the levels are more representative of Modern Warfare 2. It’s kinda like a squeaky clean baby between BC2 and MW2, but one that has its own identity.
The layout and HUD is stylized like a digital readout, really signifying that the series has made its way into the present. Colourful messages, scores and XP updates are stylistically strewn across the screen, and with all the destruction and debris, MoH is so far housing all the bells and whistles.
Down to the way the game is played. So far there are three loadouts available for both terrorist and US forces. Rifleman, Special Ops and Sniper loadouts allow the player to try out a small variety of weapons, although one knows DICE have a whole lot they not showing. Players can also call in mortar and air-strikes when a large enough combo is made. Although MoH does borrow a bit from Infinity Ward’s shooter, there are currently no killcams or anything of the sorts.
At the moment, Medal of Honor’s multiplayer is looking to have a ton of potential. It’s got all the tricks up its sleeve to lure in fans of the genre (as well as a lot more features we haven’t seen), and it’s got the playability that’s already made Bad Company 2 a fan favourite. It does need a little more time in the oven, but we cannot wait to put that medal back on.
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11 Review (Wii)
July 16th, 2010We going to just ignore the Tiger Woods’ notorious antics off the course and look at his new game with the utmost objectivity. But can the world’s number 1 get his balls straight and deliver the best golfing experience to date, or is it full of foul play?
The biggest difference between annual releases, such as the Tiger Woods series, is undoubtedly the new features. This time around, the most notable addition is the integration of a first-person camera system. Now this isn’t just an aesthetic touch-up, as it also affects the gameplay. Players are given a top-down perspective over the ball as if you were on the course itself. The responsiveness also has been beefed-up as players can clearly see the tilt and fade of the club as they rotate the Wii-mote. Overall, the new first-person mechanic adds a lot to the game and immerses the player like never before. We’re just wondering why it hasn’t been done sooner.
In terms of game modes, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11 now finally features the Ryder Cup, allowing players to take their patriotism to the virtual course in order to represent the United States or Europe. The Ryder Cup can also be taken online, allowing 24 players to rack up points for their respective countries. It shows that the community element of Tiger Woods has definitely been given some attention, and all competitive players are going to start enjoying the series a whole lot more.
Some smaller tweaks also make a welcomed and appreciated appearance in the game, as the crowds, commentary and atmosphere when playing has been jazzed-up, creating the feel and mood of big golf tournaments for the player. As for the visual elements of the game, not too much has changed, although some new animations, golfers and courses keep the entire experience looking fresh(er).
Tiger Woods PGA tour 11 contains a lot of elements which leave the title feeling awfully familiar and may not warrant a full price purchase for fans still satisfied with PGA 10. However, the new first-person perspective, along with the new golfers and tournaments may just lure in long-time fans.
Lego Harry Potter: Years 1-4 Review (360/PS3)
July 13th, 2010If reading the books, watching the films and playing the movie games were not enough for you, then there’s a new way to experience Harry’s first few years at Hogwarts. Lego Harry Potter Years 1-4 allows players to build up Harry’s repertoire and spells at his new school of wizardry brick-by-brick…literally. But does this redesigned take build a new foundation for the series, or does it leave Harry feeling a little blocky?
So Lego Harry Potter covers the first few escapades that Harry has at school, including the events from The Philosopher’s Stone, Chamber of Secrets, Prisoner of Azkaban and the Goblet of Fire. The main events and ‘boss fights’ are all in there and you’ll encounter all the familiar faces that you’d expect to, except they’ll be made of Lego.
Although Lego Harry Potter is based around the story elements of the books/films, the game is centered on exploration elements and collecting items, and there is a lot to collect. While traversing throughout Hogwarts, players can smash and interact with objects using wands or spells in order to complete objectives, unlock areas and grab collectibles.
Another big part of the game is learning, using and gathering spells as they become the main components to solve puzzles, help with objectives and every now and then blast enemies. Players can also create potions to achieve certain objectives. The correct ingredients need to be found and the outcomes (whether good or bad) are often really funny.
Although single Lego pieces appear simplistic and dull, everyone knows that magic can be made when tons are put together, and Lego Harry Potter really is a testament to this. The game looks awesome with great visuals and a whole bunch of creative re-imagining using the Lego universe. A concurrent element of the Lego video game series is the omission of speech, and this is a good thing as it makes the humour and funny gestures really shine throughout the game.
Lego Harry Potter has made the series fun again with an enjoyable story mode and a wealth of side-missions, but the majority of the fun comes in platforming, smashing and collecting stuff, and that fact that there’s co-op makes it all the more appealing. So even though Harry Potter would probably be about 24 years old now, hitting on some young Hogwarts girls in a Wizardry nightclub, the legend still lives on through the world’s favourite plastic blocks.
Games That Changed History
July 9th, 2010They say everyone learns from mistakes, but what if you could correct them before they even happened? That’s exactly what these following 5 games all have in common, as each title has revealed a world of parallel universes, where an accident, mistake or history itself can be re-written. Jumping back (or sometimes forward) in time is something we envy, and to emphasise this, here are the Top5 Games That Changed History.
The Sands of Time introduced a new wise-cracking Prince to the world renowned PoP series and instilled itself as the king of platformers once again. Another innovation the game brought was time manipulation, as Dastan’s Dagger of Time could turn back the clock to give players another chance at leaping for a ledge or dodging an attack. The dagger was so powerful it erased the entire events that took place throughout the game. Players may have felt slightly defeated as all their hard work seemed to have never existed, but it was all for the greater good as gamers were exposed to a mechanic that would be exploited for many years to come. Now that’s rewriting history.
Slow-motion breakdancing FTW!
Creating a time-jumping suit could cause quite a stir. Think about it, you could go back in time and change the course of history. This is exactly what happened in 2007’s TimeShift, as the sadistic Dr Krone uses his invention to go back in time and make himself ruler of the world. The only way to fix this is to go back in time yourself and rectify history by stopping Krone. A lot of time-manipulation puzzles and slow-mo shootouts ensue, and although TimeShift didn’t impress the critics, it was one hell of a ride.
If you’re looking for a little history lesson while you rack up some headshots, look no further than Darkest of Days. The game throws you into some of the most historic battles in history, including The Battle of Little Big Horn alongside General Custer and 79AD Pompeii during the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius, in order to save key personal that are vital for the future. Seeing all the different locales and characters is a real treat, but the real highlight, is being able to put your futuristic assault rifle to the test against muskets in 1876.
This is not Sparta...
Singularity is definitely one of 2010’s surprise hits with its solid shooting, intriguing setting and unique weapons. But it’s the game’s interesting story that roped us in, and it’s all thanks to some awesome time jumping. Set initially in 2010, players are thrown back to the 1950’s where you inadvertently save a Russian scientist who should’ve died. Jump back to 2010 and this man is now a fascist ruler of the World Government – not cool. So you head back in time to correct your actions and set things right with help from the TMD (Time Manipulation Device), which has some really cool tricks up it’s sleeve.
Free Radical’s shooter in 2000 was a smash-hit due to its super-fast gameplay and tongue-in-cheek approach. But more importantly, it offered players the chance to travel to the past and future in order to kill the notorious race known as the ‘TimeSplitters’, who were destined to destroy humanity. If that’s not a good enough reason to head back to 1935 and all the way through to 2035, then we don’t know what is!
Contrary to what many believe, time travel is serious business
Thanks for checking out the Friday Feature everyone, and remember to honour the past, embrace the future and love the present! Have a good weekend.
Shrek Forever After Review (360/PS3)
July 7th, 2010As popular as the Shrek movies have been, the games on the other hand have always been a bit of a disappointment. To put it simply, they’re aimed towards the casual audience, and more specifically, the Shrek fans. But with the momentum of the films slowly coming to an end, can Shrek Forever After make your friends green with envy or rage at the site of it?
Shrek Forever After follows the timeline and story of the film, whereby Shrek has become a little disenchanted with his comfortable family life and longs for the days where he felt like a ‘true orge’. In order to try and re-instil this lost passion, Shrek signs a contract with Rumpelstiltskin, who tricks Shrek into going into a parallel dimension, where Rumpelstiltskin rules Far Away and everything’s basically gone to hell. The premise of the film and game are not that bad, but the game doesn’t manage to convey the narrative well, as slightly unpolished in-game cut scenes and one-liners can’t really carry a story.
Gameplay wise, Shrek Forever After is a combination of different genres. Although each genre isn’t captivatingly deep, the game manages to combine beat-em-up mechanics with puzzle/platforming elements to create a well-rounded experience. Players have the ability to switch between Shrek, Fiona, Donkey and Puss in Boots on the fly. Each character has his/her own strengths, such as Shrek being able to pick up heavy objects and Puss being able to climb. Each of the characters’ abilities must be effectively used to solve puzzles, as well as their fighting strengths used to take out enemies. Overall, it feels like a complete adventure experience, however each part of the game could have used a little bit more time in the oven.
Although Shrek is seen as a ‘big ugly ogre’ (Mike Myers voice), the films have always brought some gorgeous visuals and animations, but the game seems a little lacklustre in this department. While the character models are nicely presented, the levels and environments seem a little bland. We’re not expecting Uncharted 2 here, but the games deserve a little more given the movie’s sparkle.
Shrek Forever After isn’t a bad game, it’s just not a good game for gamers. Younger audiences and Shrek fanatics will get their fix however, as the elementary control system, fun puzzles and variety of characters will please them throughout the story.
Singularity Review (360/PS3)
July 5th, 2010Time manipulation has been a jumpy subject in games, giving players the opportunity to change the course of history or completely rewrite it themselves. Singularity steps in and turns back the clock on everything you know about chronology in games, but can this time-bending phenomenon change our gaming futures? Let’s find out.
Singularity kicks off sometime during the 1950’s, where Russian experiments with a mysterious element known as E-99 were taking place on Katorga-12, an island which technically doesn’t exist. After a disaster known as the “Singularity” occurs, the island is covered up and omitted from history. Jump to 2010 – This is where things get interesting, as you take control of Nate Renko, Black Ops specialist whose helicopter goes down on the supposedly non-existent island. Renko learns the island is constantly shifting between the 50’s and 2010. While a brief stint in the 50’s Renko saves a man who should’ve died. Jump back to 2010 and this man has now become a fascist world leader bent on destruction. Now Renko, along with the TMD (Time Manipulation Device), must travel through times and fix the course of history which he himself changed. It may sound awfully confusing, but the time-travelling antics and action vs. consequence theme of the game are its high-points with the entire experience delivering a compelling and intriguing narrative.
Singularity mixes up the traditional FPS formula by incorperating the TMD or Time Manipulation Device. With the TMD, players are able to rapidly age or regenerate objects and enemies within the environment, in order to give you an advntage in combat and to solve puzzles. The TMD also has a ability whereby you can literally freeze time in a spherical orb for brief periods. With a combination of all these functions players can cause some serious damage, like freezing enemies, filling them with bullets and quickly aging them into nothing but bones and dust within a few seconds. The puzzles are also pretty unique, and while they aren’t extremely challenging, they make great use of the time manipulating features of the game.
Although the TMD is a core feature of the game, there are a lot of other ways to dispose of enemies, such as an assault rifle, sniper-rifle, pistol and chain-gun which, always do the trick. Along-side these traditional FPS weapons are also a few new ones. The Seeker is a gun which bullets can be controlled and directed after they are shot; while the Grenade Launcher allows you to drop a grenade and roll it into holes and rooms via the remote controlled weapon. Weapons and abilities can also be upgraded at certain inventory points which adds some nice progression, and this being said, Singularity definitely brings a varied aresenal for players to enjoy throughout the campaign.
While the game jumps back in time, the visuals definitely do not. Running on the Unreal Engine, Singularity looks great, but thanks to interesting creature designs, awesome particle effects during regenerating/degenerating and objected littered hallways, the game creates a compelling and unique atmosphere that pulls you in from the get-go.
Singularity is definitely one of the most interesting and entertaining shooters of the year. It may initially appear familiar to those who’ve played Bioshock and Half-Life, but Singularity creates a unique personality for itself with a phenomenal story, intriguing level design and time-manipulating mechanics. Your time will not be wasted with Singularity.
Vanquish Gameplay Footage
July 5th, 2010Vanquish has been dubbed the ‘Japanese Gears of War’ by many, but Shinji Mikami’s (Devil May Cry, Viewtiful Joe) new title is showing it’s true colours and revealing that it has a lot more to offer. Check out the gameplay footage yourself. P.S. Slow-mo cover hopping FTW!
Starcraft 2 Wings of Division
June 30th, 2010
Transformers: War for Cybertron Review (360/PS3)
June 30th, 2010Transformers went from an 80’s toyline, to a 90’s television phenomenon, and finally to a household name in recent times with Michael Bay’s adaption of the beloved toy franchise into two motion pictures (along with a coming third). Fans of Transformers are now in their element, with the world taking notice of the Cybertronian fiction that exists, and with that comes High Moon Studio’s Transformers: War for Cybertron. But does this robotic war hero contain more than meets the eye?
High Moon have had carte blanche in creating a fully fledged Transformers experience, as War for Cybertron’s story doesn’t take from the movies or even the television show. The story takes place prior to the Transformers contact with Earth and explores the origins of the war that erupts between the Autobots and Decepticons, and delves deeper into the introduction of Starscream and how Optimus became a Prime (for us Transformer fans). The story is excellently told and although made of nuts and bolts, the voice acting and performances are far from robotic, keeping the narration interesting and which also fits into the Transformer universe excellently.
Players can select an Autobot and Decepticon campaign from the get-go, and that said, War for Cybertron isn’t just a good Transformers game, it’s a really good third-person shooter. The gameplay is solid and everything from the transformations right down to the way characters interact with turrets and objects is spot-on.
There is a strong variety of weapons available, and while each character has their specific weapon, there are shotguns, sniper rifles, plasma cannons and other useful tools of destruction that can be picked up and equipped easily.
While it is a Transformers game, vehicular combat plays a pivotal role in the game, and thankfully it’s just as awesome as the running and gunning. As mentioned, the transformations themselves are super-slick with a casual click of the analog your character will shift seamlessly into a tank, car or jet. The tanks handle as a tank should, but packs a powerful punch, cars are quick and help players get into (or away from) action quickly, while the flying mechanics are responsive and effective.
As cliché as it is to say, there is more than meets the eye with Transformers visuals. Everything looks great, as the Unreal Engine does wonders for the metallic character models and diverse world of Cybertron; but it’s the small touches that make the game shine. The cut-scenes are surprisingly engaging and the detail in the levels is impressive to say the least. The vintage Transformers ‘feel’ is definitely there, and that’s what we’ve all been waiting for.
War for Cybertron boasts and extensive multiplayer segment as players can jump into a variety of modes, including Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Conquest, as well as Escalation, where players battle increasingly difficult waves similar to Gears of War 2’s Horde Mode. The multiplayer as a whole is suprisingly deep and enjoyable, as players can even create their own Transformers and assign them a class, vehicle, weapons and team.
Transformers: War for Cybertron is definitely fan-fare, but it offers more than just an homage to a great universe, as it presents a very well scripted story, along with fun and exciting third-person mechanics. The Transformers are definitely not hiding anymore.
