YourGamerCards - Reviews

Unreal Tournament III

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:47:19 +0000

One of the most characteristic moments in Unreal Tournament III could be this; You are linked with a very small beam to a rocket-like vehicle which is being driven by a teammate while riding a hoverboard and holding the enemy flag. A few moments before reaching the target, a huge Tentacle Walker appears and shoots his lethal beam towards you. The teammate activated the Viper’s self-destruct system towards the Walker and we both leave the vehicle. The Viper goes on and explodes, destroying the Walker’s legs and destroying the enemy vehicle. Afterwards with the hoverboard equipped, we continue towards the goal. And the score is 1-0. It would really seem like a science fiction movie scene. Yet scenes like that can be often experienced in the game. When Unreal Tournament III goes on smoothly, it can make you feel really satisfied.

[revleft=http://www.ps3pad.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/ut3-pic6.jpg][/revleft]Its structure is pretty simple. It’s basically an arena shooter game, in which 16 players kill each other with plasma weapons until only one remains. Then it all starts over again. Things become more interesting by adding flags, vehicles and orbs. There are modes like Capture The Flag, which is basically the same as in every other game, but also modes like Warfare, in which each team’s goal is to destroy the energy core in the enemy base. To do that, you must capture the key energy points throughout the map by putting there energy orbs. If you happen to die, you will respawn in the closest position you were near the place you died, which is very useful considering the vast maps the game has. The biggest maps have vehicles that can help you and the enemy as well to travel across the stage. However, you cannot drive a vehicle and carry something like an orb or a flag at the same time. The only available way of fast transport is your hoverboard with which you can attach in a vehicle a teammate may be driving. If you don’t want to do that, the only other choice you have is…. walking.

UTIII looks wonderful. And it is wonderful under certain circumstances. The teams must be well-balanced, the multiplayer map should be vast and the players be friendly, talkative and in a cheery mood. Considering all these it is one of the top experiences, if we add the fact that you can lose yourself with the amazing graphics. Good news is that the game is a visual sensation. But that is certain since behind this game lays the Unreal graphics engine, on which a lot of games over the last years have been structured. For example, during a Warfare mode match you can stop to gaze at the light reflecting on the water. And this would last longer if you weren’t shot by a huge Dark Walker.

Now regarding the gameplay; every level is designed for a quick and violent massacre. So, if anyone is a fan of having a sniper weapon and hiding, it is high time to change tactics. In fact, the weapons are powerful and fun to use. For example: There is a rocket launcher that can shoot three rockets at once, inflicting great damage to your enemies. The Link Gun is a weapon that mainly shoots plasma balls but it also has a short range electric beam of death, which, if it kills the enemy, will leave only a roasted skeleton. The Translocator is a kind of personal teleporter. You throw the disc at any point and then you have the choice to teleport automatically to the place where the disc landed. But my favorite weapon is the Impact Hammer. It’s not anything usual as it looks like kind of a drill. But just charge it, get near an opponent and release the trigger. This shot is enough to pulverize the enemy and turn him to meat. And you will just smile guilty…

[revright=http://www.instablogsimages.com/images/2008/01/02/unreal-tournament-3_7548.jpg][/revright]But there is a huge minus. The Single Player mode is ridiculous. It’s a row of battles in arenas versus AI bots that try to narrate a story. There are some good scenes like when the huge, Goth-type protagonist named Reaper protects a colony from some angry aliens and in the end gets hired from a psychotic as a henchman. As a “perfect” add-on in the mediocre story comes the instant respawn after you die, which happen suddenly before you even notice. The whole procedure shouts chaos and disorder. But there are worse stuff in the same mode. The AI bots seem to not understand their role in the game. For example as mentioned before, in the Warfare Mode you need to transfer carefully the orb towards the next energy place at the right time. The bots though can’t understand this tactic. They often grab the orb and run to the most useless strategically important places ignoring the most important ones. They also bump each other, get stuck in vehicles and run away from battles. I have suffered many defeats because my AI Teammates have gone on a strike. What can somewhat save this mode is the ability to play with at most three other human players online or splitscreen from your home's couch.

The Instant Action mode, in which you can create custom matches against AI bots having special settings, like one hit kills, doesn’t help the situation as the previous mentioned problems appear here as well. There is also the feeling that simple multiplayer games don’t need to repeat. The online First Person Shooters fashion leads to the creation of huge communities that are supported by ranks and unlockable items. When you play a Call of Duty game or an Uncharted game online, you will continue playing as every kill will make you stronger and unlock more weapons and stuff. In Unreal Tournament III all these don’t matter.

Finally the trophies. The trophy list has a nice variation between story related trophies, killing with a specific weapon, racking wins in certain modes and online trophies. It misses some miscellaneous trophies that would make it ideal. For the online part, trophies were put in order to keep the players stuck to the game for a longer period of time. Getting 500 wins in online matches and 200 kills for 50 different days make the platinum time consuming. But players can avoid the online part as these trophies can be achieved by playing even against AI bots. As far as the single player part is concerned it is time consuming as well and challenging. Racking 100 wins for each game mode will take you a good chunk of your free time while beating the campaign on Insane can be a little nerve-racking. Only the last stage of each chapter needs to be defeated on this highest difficulty to get the trophies but still these stages are not for the soft hearted. Especially the final stage requires to be patient and train well to defeat the final enemy. In the end, if you are going for the trophies, you will stay here for quite some time

The final result is technically good, visually impressive game that should take on a step further. At least next time because chance is gone now.

[score1=6]I expected much more. One of the most disappointing stories I have experienced.[/score1]

[score2=9]It is one of the first games in PS3 that have used the Unreal graphic engine and this makes them stunning.[/score2]

[score3=9]Easy to pick up even for those that are not very experienced with FPS games. Excellent in the Multiplayer Section[/score3]

[score4=8]Good tracks but nothing that sent me flying.[/score4]

[score5=7]The platinum is a time consuming one for the online part and a very challenging one at the highest difficulty in Single Player.[/score5]

[score6]8.0[/score6]

Uncharted: Drake's Fortune

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:38:39 +0000

One wouldn’t like Nathan Drake when he first sees him. Having a first meeting with him in the middle of the ocean and looking at his character, his self-confidence and his appearance may not result in having a positive image for him. The same happens with the gameplay. Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune does not make a strong entrance. The first level is a wide, chaotic tutorial that gives away recklessly some pieces of information about the story, before coming suddenly to a pirates’ attack and a quick plane rescue.

The fact that Nathan Drake and Uncharted start from the following situation and end into a complete masterpiece is the result of Naughty Dog’s work. Taking the cartoonist platforming from Jak and Daxter and turning it into a more mature and strict scenery gives us this magnificent game. While the game has a mediocre start, it gradually becomes more fun and attractive.

The big question, from the very first steps of Uncharted, is how much it would resemble to Tomb Raider, which has indeed influenced greatly this game. Drake’s acrobatics are almost the same with the ones of the beautiful Lara Croft. Grabbing a ledge, climbing a wall, using a rope, shooting while handing and doing everything with a simple press of the button can’t help but making us see the resemblance. Even the scenery (tombs, labyrinths and jungles) tells you that these games share a lot. It also has interactive cutscenes where you have to press the button that appears on the screen in time so you avoid death. These scenes are not used much but when they do, they can be really breath-taking.

[revleft=http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2007/261/932984_20070918_screen028.jpg][/revleft]The one thing though that makes these two series to differ, is Uncharted’s balance between climbing and shooting. Drake has a deeper and more accurate battle system than the one Lara has. First of all there is an excellent covering system. With a simple tap of , Drake will immediately search for the nearest cover and stick on it, he can even crouch to get cover at smaller objects. From the safety of his position, he can shoot blindly by pressing the or aim carefully with . With the use of the button, he can get out of cover and jump above it. During the gameplay, you will have to use this system as the enemies can take nearly as many hits as you can and if you stay in open ground for too long, you will meet your maker. While this could prove to be disappointing at some parts, this system will make you feel a pleasant difficulty in the battles. There are some problems, however, like when you are being shot, instead of having a health meter, the screen goes black and white which makes it hard to see where you are being shot from. But these flaws are easily overpowered by features like the option to change the shoulder, from which you are able to see Drake’s target, by simply pressing the button.

As far as the guns are concerned, they “evolve” as you progress through the game. Starting by a simple pistol and ending in a Grenade Launcher and a Magnum. The grenades are nothing special, except the fact that if you are using a Sixaxis controller, you can lean it back and forward deciding how far you will throw the grenade. Finally there is a simple, yet effective, bare hands fight system which basically consists of the ‘s button mash. You can repetitively press it to have up to a 5-hit combo or you can use a power combo by pressing the buttons. Shooting an enemy near to his death and finally running up to him and press to give him an impressive flying punch or kick is a perfect example of the alternation between the shooting and the hand-to-hand combat.

Regarding the difficulty of the game, there are five different difficulties which are appropriate for every gamer, from the inexperienced (Very Easy) to the most hardcore (Crushing). However the hardest difficulty is not available when you first put the disc in the PS3. You need to complete the game on the next hardest mode to unlock it. Each difficulty is unique and you can easily notice the difference by the enemies’ accuracy and damage. The real experience comes from the Normal difficulty while for those that wish for a tougher challenge, Crushing mode will please them.

Just like Lara Croft, Drake also solves a few riddles. By pressing the button, Drake will use Sir Francis’ diary that gives him hints on how to solve the puzzles. It is basically a mixture of turning statues and following symbols. These riddles can compare only with the easiest puzzles a Tomb Raider game can give you, thing that can bring you both positive and negative thoughts. Personally, these mini-riddles were some of the best moments in the game.

[revright=http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2007/193/932984_20070713_screen011.jpg][/revright]One thing that stays beautiful during the whole game is the graphics/scenery. Even if Uncharted is filled with “common” locations you would find in a game, like jungles, temples and catacombs, the graphics make them look truly fantastic. The game has some amazing moments like climbing on the side of a castle with pieces of the ledges you previously used starting falling to the sea, or the characteristic level with the World War II German submarine near a waterfall in the middle of a jungle. There are many moments where you will probably stop and gaze at the astonishing scenery turning the camera to see every possible corner of it. At some parts though, the camera will be controlled by the game like in the Silent Hill or Resident Evil series and will give a unique feeling while making a jump or going near a ledge.

All the above contribute in making the story one of the best you will experience in a PS3 game. Starting from a medium beginning and continuing to a heavier second part and ending to a revealing ending is what makes you to like Nathan Drake. The story is truly amazing and not many words should be said on that as it is better to uncover it as you play the game. From the middle of the ocean trying to open the 400 years old coffin of Sir Francis Drake, you start a crazy and full of mystery adventure to find the legendary El Dorado in an uncharted island. The whole situation can change into a dark section filled with menacing enemies where you will slip through the corners with your finger ready to shoot and your heart pounding. These story’s elements are those that make Uncharted a great title.

Uncharted was one of the very first PS3 titles that were released and there weren’t trophies back then. When Sony introduced us the Trophy system, Uncharted received a patch with which trophy support was enabled. The trophies were not what most people expected. No story-related trophies can be found and the list is mostly based in killing-related trophies with every gun in the game, with melee combat and with specific killing requirements. The only non-killing related trophies are the treasure trophies. As you play the game, you may notice a twinkle on the ground or on some high ledge. These are treasures and they are only in the game for decorative reasons. They don’t unlock anything in the game apart from the in-game medals which are just for showoff and trophies, they are just a sweet bonus. Thanks to the Chapter Selection feature the game has, there is not the fear of missing a trophy and having to play it again. The only real challenge you will face if you are going to collect all trophies in the game, is the hardest difficulty in the game, the Crushing mode. In this mode the enemies are more accurate and can kill you in fewer hits than lower difficulties. Overall, it is a platinum trophy of medium difficulty, not easily acquired but certainly obtainable through persistence and patience.

[score1=10]One of the best and most fascinating stories you are bound to find in a PS3 game[/score1]

[score2=9]Scenes like the one with the submarine and how the water element is presented is great[/score2]

[score3=9]The covering system is very smooth and the alternation between shooting, stealth and melee combat is very good[/score3]

[score4=9]Guns, water, even when you fall to the ground sound extremely realistic. The soundtrack is one of the best I have heard[/score4]

[score5=8]Not the best trophy list you can find and a platinum trophy that is a little challenging[/score5]

[score6]9.5[/score6]

Mirror's Edge

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 01:46:47 +0000

Mirror's Edge came out in 2009, so It may seem slightly peculiar for me choosing to review it now, in the start of 2012, but there are a couple of good reasons for choosing to do it. Firstly; Mirror's Edge (Like a fine wine) only gets better with age, and secondly; the way it's priced and the content you get (I'll explore this later).

Right, the story. You aren't really given a great deal of information as to... well, anything. The city is an unnamed utopia (or dystopia depending on personal preference), that has pretty much ousted most crime as the Police seem to have nothing better to do than chase 'runners' gallivanting around the rooftops. There is a trade-off for living in this crime-free, pristine city in that there appears to be no real freedom for its citizens. The only truly free method of communication is to get these runners to physically take a message from one point to another. The actual content of the bags the runners are carrying could be anything, could be their packed lunch for all I know. The player takes control of one of these 'runners' called Faith.

[revleft=http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20091115085253/mirrorsedge/images/archive/8/81/20091228161538!Jacknife.jpg']Another Runner who joins Faith - Runner and all around knob-head 'Jacknife'.[/revleft]

Faith works for a burly manager called Mercury or simply 'Merc' depending on what mood he is in, who appears to be a lazy sod as he doesn't do a great deal out of cut-scenes other than boss Faith about like some rooftop dwelling runner-pimp. Faith has a Twin Sister called 'Kate', a Police officer who gets embroiled in a sticky situation when she gets framed for the murder of a politician called 'Pope'. Faith uncovers a plan by the ruling regime to end the runners once and for all, by training their own counter agents and removing Pope who seemed to condone a change for the city.

There is a much deeper underlying story that fills in some of the gaps, but in parts only asks more questions than it answers. There where the 'November Riots' that are frequently mentioned as the turning point for the city becoming the way it is, Faith and her sister being present as children made them the adults they are today. There are many hidden messages around the city that refer to the riots, and graffiti that links certain areas together. One incredibly subtle piece shows how a janitor from the subways appears to be a runner, as he has a pet rat in his office with childish writing and drawings of said rat, then the same style drawings will be found in vents later in the game and high on rooftops. It's beautifully subtle and doesn't point them out to the player, or make the janitor appear in some unnecessary cameo, you never see him and I think it just adds an extra layer of depth.

Earlier on I mentioned how price is actually a pretty important factor with this game. I never bought the game new, but would have probably felt a little ripped off paying the new full-price amount, as the actual story feels more like a film in the way it's presented, and crucially, it only lasts about 4 hours. I for one would like to see more shorter games, at cheaper prices, as a sort of 'bridge' between film and games. Mirrors Edge seems to be a good 'bridge' model to look at; it's got great interactivity, but doesn't drag it out longer than necessary, there is no extra weight at all. You can pick this game up very cheaply now, competitively priced with many DVDs. You get an interactive story for 4-6 hours, then a host of time trials to further explore the game areas.

Gameplay

Gameplay is as simple as it gets, and rather refreshingly for an F.P.S, you can complete the game without shooting anyone, technically making this an 'F.P.S.I.W.F.A.N.A.I.M.O.S.A.L.P' (First Person Shooter In Which Firearms Are Not An Integral Means Of Story And Level Progression). It's quite refreshing and makes you feel like a badass being able to just walk in to a room and kick the shit out of everyone one by one ignoring their weapons as you go. There are weapons available, but the game seems to actively make them almost 'boring' as they have limited ammo and are all painted in the same dull black that Batman seems to use for everything he owns. The hand to hand combat is pretty fluid once you've gotten to grips with it and feels well weighted and satisfying to hit someone so hard they travel back in time by about three weeks.

[revright='http://images1.fanpop.com/images/photos/2000000/Combat-1-mirrors-edge-2064457-1280-720.jpg']Faith in her natural environment: Kicking the living shit out of a hard working police officer, probably working overtime to pay for his kids to go to college. [/revright]

The movement is really well realised. To begin with the first person view makes judging distances a little hit and miss, but eventually it comes pretty naturally, the game giving colourful hints at where to go in the levels. The main puzzle is getting about, with a clear goal point quite subtly pointed out and the player is left to follow the route. The movement is really split between 'high' (Jumping, vaulting etc.) and Low (sliding) movements, and for the most part you can choose the gracefully arc over a fence or slide underneath it.

Aesthetics

The aesthetics is where this game comes into its own. I apologise for my language in advance, but put simply, it looks fucking gorgeous. A pristine white environment may sound boring, but it looks beautiful against the deep blue skies. What colour is used, such as orange and pink in subways, contrasts beautifully against the white. The police force for the regime, wear pure black outfits, and stand out against the white, the police runners wear black gimp outfits and also stand out. For a game that is so visually rich, it makes it very easy to see a route and pick out threats.

[revleft='http://zombiegamer.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/mirrors_edge_10.jpg']The morning commute has never looked so beautiful.[/revleft]

Another nice feature is how each of the characters has their own distinct look. Take the previously mentioned 'Merc' for example; he looks like a moody nightclub bouncer. Another character; an ex-wrestler reassuringly called 'Ropeburn' stands about 8 feet tall and looks like a building with a face drawn on, and Kate's boss, detective Miller looks like a cross between Hugo Weaving and 'Thin White Duke' era David Bowie. As a result everyone has a tremendous sense of character about them.

There is however, something really horrible about one aspect; the cutscenes. It's like they gave a couple of sheets of paper and some crayons to a group of toddlers and asked them to 'Fill in the bits between the levels'. The game makes a tremendous effort of maintaining the 'flow', but the cut-scenes just draw each level to a halt, they don't really fit. You have the beautiful 3D game environment, then the horrible cartoons between the levels; I can't really see the point.

The audio is provided by Swedish musician 'Solar Fields' who put simply is a genius. The audio perfectly matches the visuals and is some of the most emotional music I have ever heard. There are sections where I felt really touched by the music, especially when Faith is desperately trying to reach her twin sister towards the end of the game.

Trophy Round Up

1 - 3 - 8 - 33 -

The trophies for this game are a right royal pain in the backside. Story related/difficulty/combat trophies are not overly difficult. The pain comes with all the time trial related trophies. There are time trials for each level in the story, and it can be very frustrating getting 11 minutes in a level with a time of 11:06 to beat, only to miss a jump and need to do the entire level again.

There are then smaller speed runs that last a couple of minutes, and award the player one to three stars depending on their performance, getting the required amount for trophies can be extremely time consuming. This is a prime example of trial and error. You will need to be extremely patient with this one. A guide will also be needed for 30 collectible bags hidden around the levels.

Overall

I said in the introduction how this game gets better with age, and with more and more gritty and realistic games appearing on the shelves, true gems like this only shine brighter as time goes by.

[score1='6']Story is good, but leaves you wanting more and doesn't really satisfy as much as it could. The cutscenes look naff and don't work as the main method for getting the story across.[/score1]
[score2='10']Beautiful...[/score2]
[score3='7']Can be hard to get to grips with, may leave some feeling as though there weren't enough 'proper' action sequences.[/score3]
[score4='10']Soundtrack beautifully matches the visual and makes some of the most compelling emotional music I've ever heard in a game[/score4]
[score5='5']Story and combat trophies come thick and fast, but time trials will take an incredible amount of trial and error.[/score5]
[score6]8[/score6]

DiRT 3

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 14:27:38 +0000

Game Reviewed: DiRT 3 (This game was reviewed for the PlayStation 3 Console)

Developed By: Codemasters

Published By: Codemasters

Genre: Racing

Release Date (US): May 24, 2011

ESRB Rating: Teen (T)

Story: DiRT 3, how do I love thee, let me count the ways. Codemasters has done it yet again. They took everything that was amazing about DiRT 2, raised it about 10 notches, brought the focus back to true rally racing, and shined a new light on the phenomenally entertaining gymkhana. Mud, sweat and gears the world over: from the intense weather-beaten rally stages of Europe, Africa and the US, to executing performance driving showcases and career challenges where car control is key. DiRT 3 boasts more cars, more locations, more routes and more events than any other game in the series, including over 50 rally cars representing the very best from five decades of the sport. Sit back and fasten your seatbelt, because DiRT 3 will take you for the ride of your life. As I read this, I realize it is more a rant of my love for DiRT, than an overview of the story mode. Plain and simple, DiRT 3 brings your typical racing "story" mode: new racer on the scene needs to make a name for thyself and work your way to being the best of the best, ultimate champion, gymkhana overlord.

I give the story a 10/10

Gameplay: DiRT 3's main tour mode encompasses four seasons of competition, with each season broken down into three sponsored series, followed by a championship series. Each race will award you with points towards unlocking other races and series, along with new teams that wish to back you with their cars. With the addition of gymkhana, I see this game as flawless. Codemasters took everything that we loved about DiRT 2, added in another amazing race event (gymkhana), and stepped up the visuals even more. The controls are easy to pick up and get the hang of, so in no time you'll be zipping in and out of the trees by the seat of your pants.

I give the gameplay a 10/10

[revleft=http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa425/xX_shoemaker_Xx/PS3T%20Review%20Images/dirt_3_2011_game-HD.jpg'][/revleft]Multiplayer Experience/Online: DiRT 3 made vast improvements over its little brother. However, when it comes to the online it is severely lacking. The things that made DiRT 2 (specifically the rally racing) were left behind. While there is still rally racing in DiRT 3, the races just did not have that excitement to them. On the flip side, the new Gymkhana mode brought a whole new feel to the online aspect. Gymkhana is an amazing race mode, and with the competitive multiplayer, it provided many reasons to keep coming back. With the great addition of the Gymkhana mode, it was just a shame that they sacrificed the rally aspect to bring the new mode.

I give the multiplayer a score 8/10

Controls: The controls of DiRT 3 are as basic as any other racer out there. for gas, for braking/drifting, and for the e-brake. However, if this is your first racer, then DiRT 3 is the perfect game to get you going. The newest feature to an already great series is casual mode with assists. We're not just talking tweaks to the cars either; this game will practically race itself if you let it! Some of the assists that you can enable are: ABS, Dynamic Racing Line, Stability Control, Auto Steer, Corner Breaking, and Throttle Management. Yes, you read it correctly, auto steer, corner breaking, and throttle management. Codemasters has done a great job in allowing the newest newbie to racing to pick this game up and start racing. Before each race, you will have the chance to adjust these settings, so you will be able to turn off assists as you become more familiar and at ease with the cars and tracks. All in all, the handling of DiRT 3 is simply superb.

I give the controls a 10/10

Graphics: Calling the graphics in DiRT 3 "beautiful" would be an insult. Better words would be mesmerizing, elegant, magnificent, or even marvelous! Codemasters paid attention to the details. From the dirt/snow cloud behind the car when you are tearing through the tracks, to the ruts your car leaves on a turn (that will still be there, or changed from other drivers come lap two), to the ability to count leaves on the trees. They paid close attention to the backdrops of the tracks, ensuring that there was no blank canvas within the game. They brought it designs such as spectators running across the track to get out of the way, to the windshield wipers that clear away the mud when you hit a puddle, down to the bird that lands on the fence post in turn three. This game is simply stunning, and has definitely raised the bar for future racers to follow.

I give the graphics a 10/10

Sound: Again, Codemasters did an excellent job in giving each car a distinct engine sound. They even paid attention to the bird chirping on the fence (listen closely, it's there). The music is definitely a step up from DiRT 2, but I am glad that the music does not play during a race, when you are trying to pay attention to your co-driver. My only real complaint to DiRT 3 is that they still haven't brought custom soundtracks to the game. For that, they still get docked a point in my book.

I give the sound a 9/10

[revright=http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa425/xX_shoemaker_Xx/PS3T%20Review%20Images/dirt3_3.jpg'][/revright]Trophies: This set of trophies brings you the full aspect of the game. There is at least one trophy for every aspect, giving you the opportunity to at least experience everything that the game has to offer. There are a few trophies that you will have to work for, spending time perfecting your style and memorizing tracks, but with a game this amazing, you won't find yourself complaining.

I give the trophies a 10/10

Wow Factor: DiRT 3 is the first game in a very, VERY long time to truly leave me speechless. The only real response I could mutter during my gameplay was wow. And there was nothing in the game that left me saying anything other than wow!

I give the wow factor a 10/10

Replay Value: If you are an avid racing fan, DiRT 3 will keep you coming back for more. With online play and local split screen, you have plenty of options to keep the racing fresh. And with the addition of gymkhana, you will find yourself eagerly pushing the limits of the cars to try and see how close you can drift around objects.

I give the replay value a 10/10

Overall Enjoyability: This game ranks among the top in my opinion. I would even venture out on a limb to say that it is better than Gran Turismo 5. Having been a fan of the Gran Turismo series since the beginning, that is a hard statement to swallow. This game has done everything right, and added some new features that you will not perfect overnight. It will keep you coming back, and loving every minute of it.

I give the overall enjoyability a 10/10

Rent Or Buy This Game? For every racing fan out there, this will be an instant buy. For the more casual gamers out there, this game is at least a must rent. Even if you are not a fan of racing games, DiRT 3 will have you hooked.

[score1='10'][/score1]

[score2='10'][/score2]

[score3='10'][/score3]

[score4='9'][/score4]

[score5='10'][/score5]

[score6]9.8[/score6]

DiRT 2

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 13:51:46 +0000

Game Reviewed: DiRT 2 (This game was reviewed for the PlayStation 3 Console)

Developed By: Codemasters

Published By: Codemasters

Genre: Racing

Release Date (US): September 8, 2009

ESRB Rating: Everyone 10+ (E10+)

Story: DiRT 2 is the sequel to the racing blockbuster Colin McRae: DiRT. The story, as with most racing games, is very simple: you are a newbie to the rally racing circuit that must compete against the likes of Travis Pastrana, Dave Mirra, and Ken Block, to get your name known. To kick start your career, you are presented with a Subaru Impreza that belonged to the late, great Colin McRae. In typical racing style, as you progress through the career you earn money and unlock new cars and tracks, ultimately working your way towards becoming the best of the best. With the option to change the difficulty before every race, this game will make the veterans and the rookies to racing games feel at home.

I give the story a 10/10.

Gameplay: Dirt 2 features five racing disciplines, all of which are playable offline and online. Those disciplines are: Rally, Rallycross, Trailblazer, Raid, and Landrush. There are also three special disciplines, which are: Gatecrasher, Domination, and Last Man Standing. Let me give a quick breakdown of each discipline:

Rally - racing occurs on non-circuit roads and are technically challenging courses. Usually involving staggered starts and a co-drive (who is constantly reading pacenotes to guide the driver), each driver competes against the clock.
Rallycross - involves up to eight racers competing in multiple lap events on circuit tracks of mixed surface type.
Trailblazer - features staggered starts and heavily modified cars to help keep traction on all surface types; point to point style.
Raid - races are multi-car events involving heavyweight vehicles, such as buggies and trophy trucks.
Landrush - events are similar to raid races, but take place on a circuit.
Gatecrasher - which uses Rally courses and cars, involves smashing yellow barriers. Each smashed gate adds +2 seconds to your time remaining to finish the race.
Domination - involves multiple drivers competing to set the lowest time in any given track sector.
Last Man Standing - is an elimination-style race, during which the driver in last place is eliminated in a 20-second interval.

With this many modes available, both offline and online, you never get bored of the same race. With 35 cars and 41 tracks, there are more than enough combinations to keep you engaged and driving for more.

I give the gameplay a 10/10.

[revleft=http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa425/xX_shoemaker_Xx/PS3T%20Review%20Images/dirt-2-04a30c3704f6c8.jpg][/revleft]Multiplayer Experience/Online: Dirt 2 features a set of multiplayer modes which the user can partake in over the PlayStation Network as well as local multiplayer. Up to eight players can compete in ranked (Pro Tour) or unranked (Jam Session) matches. Within the "Jam Session" category, any class of cars may be used on any track. Ranked matches are, by comparison, much more restrained; only the prescribed cars may be used on a track. In Pro Mode, you also earn Fame Points (FP) to help you level up and prove that you are the best of the best online as well.

I give multiplayer/online a 9/10.

Controls: The controls in DiRT 2 are just a copy over from the original DiRT, and that is not a bad thing. The controls are very fluid and easy to adjust to. It is your simple for gas, for drifting, and for the e-brake. Just like the original DiRT, wrecking will have adverse effects to your car, ranging from the car slowing down from too much damage, to pulling left or right from too much damage on one side of the car. Whether you are a seasoned driver, or just took your first racing game out of the shrink wrap, you will find this game very easy and enjoyable to learn to drive with.

I give the controls a 9/10.

Graphics: DiRT 2 picked up right where DiRT left off: stunning, brilliant, and gorgeous come to mind. Given how superb both the cars and the various environments they race through look, it is impressive that the frame rate never drops below 30 frames per second. You could actually stop and count all the leaves, on every single plant throughout the race environment, if you so desired. The collision detection is another great aspect to the game. You will receive everything from terminal damage, to a dented door that may fall of and force you to finish the race without it, to a simple scratch from a tree branch. Codemasters has done another amazing job with the environments and vehicle details, and we cannot help but look forward to DiRT 3 and what the new environments and cars will bring us.

I give the graphics a 10/10.

Sound: DiRT 2 did a better job with the soundtrack than the original DiRT, but I am still deducting a point for them not bringing custom soundtracks to the game. As for the cars, we still get to hear that distinct engine rev for each car, or crying engine at top speeds, to the crunching of car parts when you hit a tree at 130+ mph.

I give the sound a 9/10.

[revright=http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa425/xX_shoemaker_Xx/PS3T%20Review%20Images/dirt-24172179.jpg][/revright] Trophies: This is the first game in the DiRT series that features trophies, and Codemasters did a great job of throwing a little bit of everything at us. Most of the trophies will come from natural gameplay, but there are a few that require other aspects than just racing (such as causing terminal damage to your car at over 140+ mph). None of the trophies are a grind, or will make you pull your hair out because you can't find that perfect race line to complete a lap. All in all, the trophies were enjoyable to obtain for me.

I give the trophies a 10/10.

Wow Factor: DiRT 2 is a big ol' bucket of wow! From the incredibly detailed environments and cars, down to the fluid racing and progression of the career mode, to the enjoyment you find from racing online and trying to put up your best possible lap time, this game is fun and will keep you coming back for more.

I give the wow factor a 10/10.

Replay Value: It never feels old or repetitive, and you will find your three minute races have erased hours of your day in the blink of an eye.

I give the replay value a 10/10.

Overall Enjoyability: Overall, this is a great game to play. There were no real low points to the game. The game feels complete, and is not swayed towards singleplayer or multiplayer.

I give the overall enjoyability a 9/10.

Rent Or Buy This Game? For any avid racing fan out there, is game is definitely a buy. Those that own DiRT are guaranteed to pick up DiRT 2 (and more than likely DiRT 3 when it releases). However, don't be worried away if you are new to racing, this game is great to pick up and easy to learn to control. You will not regret adding this to your collection.

[score1='10'][/score1]
[score2='10'][/score2]
[score3='10'][/score3]
[score4='9'][/score4]
[score5='10'][/score5]
[score6]9.8[/score6]

Plants vs Zombies

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 13:50:08 +0000

Game Reviewed: Plants vs Zombies (This game was reviewed for the PlayStation 3 Console)

Developed By: PopCap Games

Published By: PopCap Games

Genre: Action

Release Date (US): February 8, 2011

ESRB Rating: Everyone 10+ (E10+)

Story: You wouldn't guess it from gazing out your window, but those innocent looking plants in your yard may be the very thing that saves you, and your brains, from the zombie apocalypse! Zombies want to eat your brains out, you don't want them to! Simple, right? The purpose of Plants vs. Zombies is very basic; plant various plants to keep the zombies from reaching your house. You have everything from the threepeater (that shoots peas at the zombies on the rows), to the tall-nut (which cannot be jumped over and prevents zombies from passing through until they have eaten it), on to the jalapeno (which will burn everything in its path), ending with the pumpkin (which adds an extra layer of your plants that must be destroyed before the plant can be destroyed). They start simple, attacking during the day. However, these aren't your typical mindless zombies. When they don't succeed during the day, they'll try attacking at night when the sun doesn't shine. When that doesn't work, they'll try the backyard and pool. And don't expect them to remain slow. As time goes on, they become smarter, beginning to use pogo sticks, football attire, and even Zamboni's to try and get to your brains. Like I said, they're relentless, not dumb.

I give the story an 8/10.

Gameplay: As you set out on your quest to defend your house, and your brains, from the zombies, you will need the help of some not-so-cuddly plants. You will collect falling sunlight, and sunlight produced by sunflowers in order to purchase other plants to help defend against the waves of zombies. The gameplay is very simple: zombies move across lanes towards your house, you build a variety of plants in their path to stop them. Whenever you clear a level of zombies, you are normally awarded with a new plant to help in your quest. However, when the plants just seem like they aren't going to be enough, we have Crazy Dave! Crazy Dave will bring inspirational thoughts, words of wisdom, and upgraded plants and weapons (at a price of course). And just in case you thought the onslaught of zombies at your front door wasn't enough to keep you busy, PopCap was nice enough to throw in various challenges, ranging from puzzles, co-op or versus, endless survival and even a Zen garden to grow and sell plants. This is an amazing "tower defense" style game that will keep you coming back for more!

I give the gameplay a 9/10.

[revleft=http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5018/5428348595_e6aefa1c7c.jpg'][/revleft]Multiplayer Experience/Online: There is no online multiplayer experience for this game, however there is local multiplayer, featuring co-op and versus modes. The co-op modes allow you to compete in various challenges while working together to defend your brains. In the versus modes, you and a friend battle it out to decide who is the superior species, plants or zombies.

I give the multiplayer/online a 8/10.

Controls: You use your basic , , , to move between the empty spots; and to move between your available plant slots; and to collect available sun on the screen; and to place plants onto empty spaces. While the controls are simple, they are fluid and very easy to work with, making the game enjoyable and not a chore.

I give the controls a 9/10.

Graphics: The graphics are crisp and clean, nothing outrageous, nothing too overbearing, just plain and simple graphics. My biggest complaint about this game however, comes during endless survival mode. As you work your way through survival mode, more and more zombies will be on the screen at one time during the waves. Many, MANY, users have reported lag and/or game freezing in the endless survival levels (somewhere around level 25 and beyond).

I give the graphics an 8/10.

Sound: While the music is simple and catchy, it gets repetitive and drove me nuts after a few rounds. As for the sound effects, they were fine; nothing overwhelming, but nothing to leave an everlasting impression in your mind. The only I thing I found funny was when the zombies gagged from biting an onion, or constantly saying "Brains!"

I give the sound a 8/10.

[revright=http://images7.gry-online.pl/Galeria/Galeria_duze3/1109838046.jpg'][/revright]Trophies: In my opinion, the trophies for this game were not hard to obtain. Most revolved around simple tasks that you would perform during normal game play anyways. However, I do not view this section as trophy difficulty, but more as trophy enjoyability. With that being said, these trophies were very enjoyable to obtain and nothing that made me want to eat my own brains when it was over.

I give the trophies a 9/10.

Wow Factor: Nothing about this game really screams wow to me. Yes, it is enjoyable and very addicting, but there was nothing that made me sit back and just say "Wow!" while playing the game.

I give the wow factor a 3/10.

Replay Value: I find the replay value of this game to be very high. While it is a simple game, there are plenty of game modes to keep you occupied for a very long time. In the end, there will only be brains!

I give the replay value a 10/10.

Overall Enjoyability: Overall, this game left a bit to be desired. I found myself bored before the end of my first adventure mode, yet still addicted and unable to turn it off. Great game if you have an hour or two to pass, but going beyond that gets repetitive and just drains interest.

I give the overall enjoyability a 7/10.

Rent Or Buy This Game? Since this game is only available on the PlayStation Network (for people wanting this solely on the PS3), this is a buy no matter what.

[score1='8'][/score1]

[score2='8'][/score2]

[score3='9'][/score3]

[score4='8'][/score4]

[score5='9'][/score5]

[score6]8.4[/score6]

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Sat, 26 Nov 2011 22:24:18 +0000

My review of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
By bigboy989

Welcome to the land of Skyrim, home of the mighty Nord warriors and some of the deadliest beasts ever seen in a video game.

The game itself follows on 200 years after the events of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. Those of you that had the pleasure of playing Oblivion will have a good idea on how Skyrim will work, while those of you that haven't, well, you're in for a real treat.

The game features some of the most in-depth gameplay the video gamer has ever witnessed; you can join various different clans to get back up in a scrap if you so require or try and claw your way to be the head of the guild. The clans and guilds of Skyrim are as different as the land itself. You have the College of Winterhold which is a College to train the basic mages, wizards and witches amongst you into the most powerful sorcerers Skyrim has ever seen. You then have the Thieves Guild located in Riften; a group of highly skilled sneaks and pickpockets dedicated to filling their holds with as much gold as they will take, whilst having a very strict code of honour amongst themselves to keep all in line with trust and respect for their fellow thief.

One of the more notable points to make are of course, the Dragons. They are new to the Elder Scrolls, and as such not a lot is known of them, save for the fact they were thought extinct centuries ago, but something has awoken them. It is your calling and birthright as a Dovahkiin, the one and only Dragonborn warrior, to find out what has caused this and put a stop to it - if you so choose.

[revleft='http://www.gamefreakzblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Skyrim-Dragons.jpg'][/revleft]Being a Dovahkiin, you have several abilities you can learn throughout your adventure. One of the most important to know about is the slaying of the aforementioned dragons. Now be ready for a tough fight, there is a good reason these hulking beasts used to rule the land and the skies; they know how to fight and are incredibly tough to boot. Upon slaying a dragon you absorb their very soul, which just so happens to be the only way to truly kill them. Upon absorbing a dragon's soul, you can use it to unlock Shouts. These are very specific and ancient words of the dragon language itself.

The shouts found in Skyrim are going to be your greatest allies. They range from turning yourself invisible by moving to a different plane in the same dimension to firing infernos from your mouth to lightning fast bursts of speed to traveling great distances in a split second. After having unlocked them all myself I can honestly say there is not one you will want to be without. Bethesda have done such a great job with this ability and they look freaking awesome to boot.

The weapons and armour found in the game range from a simple iron dagger to an enchanted Daedric Warhammer, armour and boots made out of simple leather to wearing the very bones and scales of the dragons themselves. The equipment in Skyrim is all tailored around how you want to play the game. If you favour sneaking around in the shadows, then you'll go for light armour of fur/leather or glass, using a bow or dagger to make your kills as silent as possible. If, however, you fancy going all out like a one man army, feel free. You'll be more favouring the 2 handed axes, hammers or swords, or a combination of one handed weapons and a shield.

A new addition to the Elder Scrolls Skyrim is the ability to dual wield, meaning you can have something equipped in your left and something different equipped on the right. This can be a combination of anything you have, though obviously 2 handed weapons require 2 hands - strange world isn't it. You can have a spell in one hand and a weapon in the other, dual wield swords/axes/maces for double the damage and some very powerful dual wielding attacks or equip a healing spell to both hands for double the effect if you find yourself about to catch a bad case of death.

Onto the magic in the game, this is used by spending your Magicka which regenerates over time of not being used, as does your health and stamina. You learn spells by reading tome books, either found laying around the vast amount of dungeons, caves, forts and towns, looted from dead mages/conjurers or simply bought from various shopkeepers or the head mages at the College of Winterhold. You can dual wield pretty much any spell you choose, bearing in mind though these do use double the magicka. So if fighting a Frost Troll, you can choose to have a fire spell in one hand and an illusion spell in the other, therefore you can burn him until he gets too close then use 'fear' to basically send him running. Any illusion/alteration spell will only help you out for a short amount of time. It might be just what you need in a tight spot to do the offs, heal up and come back fighting or just put your tail between your legs and keep running.

[revright='http://gamrfeed.vgchartz.com/galleries/2011-01-10/game-informer-skyrim-shots/game-informer-skyrim-shots_1294673248.jpg'][/revright]Those of you that did have the pleasure of playing Oblivion will be very pleased to know that the Daedric Princes are back, including everyone's favorite nutjob Sheogorath. The princes give you a quest to complete. These are not your ordinary fare, you could be trapped inside someone's debilitating and scared subconscious, trying to convince him he does have the confidence to wake up, only to find out he's been dead for a hundred years or tracking a talking dog who's trying to return to his master. The artifacts you receive upon completion of these wacky quests are incredibly powerful, some having the power to kill a dragon in one hit, while others will completely negate a mage's offensive spells. So well worth the time and effort to get them.

However you choose to play there is no doubt you will find Skyrim a very enjoyable and immersive experience, there is always something to do. Whether you want to take up trade as a smith or go off hunting the rarest and most powerful dragons ever known to the land of Skyrim, you will find hours upon hours of adventure and danger. The main quest just makes you want to come back for more until the excellent finale with Alduin - a dragon so powerful, he's nicknamed the 'World Eater'.

Skyrim is a must for any gaming fan. It pretty much covers all the bases, you have Action and Adventure, Puzzles to solve, one of the best RPG's to come out in a long long time. Plenty of strategy and savvy is needed for the quests as well. One wrong choice on equipment can have you taking an early dirt nap whereas the right weapons can see you conquering all of Skyrim and her beasts to become the most powerful warrior the world has ever seen.

My Rating:

[score1='9']The story itself is seemingly never ending. There's so much more than just the main quest and the way it's presented is top notch.[/score1]

[score2='9']The sheer attention to detail from a sabre cat to a leaf has had so much care and attention. The graphics speak for themselves in Skyrim. [/score2]

[score3='10']The gameplay is sharp and precise and always keeps you on edge, just what you want from a game like this.[/score3]

[score4='9']The music changes with a gracious fluidity switching from the tranquil music as you trek across a plain of the Rift then snaps to the barbarian choir as a dragon attacks, faultless.[/score4]

[score5='9']The trophy list is fairly simple to a point. If you manage to get the platinum you will have done around 80-90% of the total game, dependent on your skill and the way you play, you should have the platinum within a month or 2 at most. I hear people are averaging around 80-100 hours for it.[/score5]

[score6]9.5[/score6]

RISK: Factions (PSN)

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 11:19:53 +0000

How do you best describe RISK factions? Take a standard game of risk, jazz it up with the latest (well, 2008) rules and features, then throw in a cast of completely loveable and mad characters, before adding brilliant cartoon animations. That is the recipe that RISK: Factions follows. And it more than works.

RISK factions takes everything everyone knew about the traditional RISK, and makes it far more epic than any video game version I have ever seen. You'll play as one of 5 Factions, each led by a completely barmy and loveable general. The Human's are led by General William P. "Fatty" McGutterpants, the Cat's are led by Generalissimo Meow, the Robots are led by Commandant SixFour, the Zombies are led by Colonel Claus Von Stiffenberg, and the Yeti's are led by His Excellency, Gary.

So, lets start with the thing that matters most - gameplay. The game itself is simple, and stays true to the very core of RISK. Your aim to conquer the maps on offer and crush your enemies, area by area. I'll cover more on the maps in a second, but first, the new features definitely deserve a good mention. Traditional RISK, or Classic, as it's otherwise called, was won by players controlling X% of the world. RISK Factions has two types of victory. World Domination, which requires you to eliminate every other player in the game and rule the map, and Objective Victory, in which the player must complete any 3 objectives before their opponents do. Objectives can range from anything to capturing an enemy’s capital to taking 8 different territories in a single turn. With every objective you complete, you are given a reward to help you in your campaign. However, this is also the case for your enemies, so beware. Added to the fact that any objective can only be completed by one player and you'll find yourself in a race against every other faction that can make or break your game.

Battle is simple; the player will march an army into a territory and roll 1, 2 or 3 die (or 4 die if an objective is met). The defender can at most, only roll 3 dice, assuming a bonus die is available. If the attacker rolls 3 dice, and the defender only 2, then only the 2 highest dice are counted. The attacker must get a higher roll on his dice to reduce the number of defenders to 0. The defender must roll dice equal to or higher than the attackers dice. For instance, if an attacker rolls a 6, 4 and a 2, and the defender rolls two 5's, then each player will lose 1 unit. Battle ends when all the attackers or defenders are killed.

[revright]http://1.bp.blogspot...5BFINAL%5D1.jpg[/revright]
Another feature in battle is the Overkill. There are two types of these and both can really help attacking or defending, but require a lot of luck. A standard Overkill is earned by a player rolling two 6's - this will kill twice the number of enemy troops than a battle turn would - at most, this can be 4. A Super Overkill is earned by a player rolling three 6's, and will instantly grant the player victory and kill all of the enemy’s troops. Note that both a standard and super overkill can be prevented if the enemy rolls a 6.

A new feature in the game is the new abilities that can be unlocked during a game. These can help turn a battle completely on it's head. A missile, for instance, when controlled, will give the player an extra bonus die when attacking of defending any territory within its range, and a Temple, when controlled, can convert any territory on the map, and all the troops stationed there, to the temple's owners faction. Not everything can be beneficial though. A volcano, for instance, may erupt at any time and will kill all but one of the troops stationed around it.

The campaign in the game is reasonably short, and it's main purpose is to introduce the story behind the war, as well as teach the player about the new abilities and features I just outlined above. As the player progresses through the campaign, you'll also unlock a wide range of 2 to 5 player maps to battle on.

Graphic's wise, the game is brilliant. The cartoon animations make the game enjoyable and the cut scenes between the campaign missions can't help but bring a smile to your face. The maps are simply designed, and each region is as valuable to the player as the next. Some region's have small "connection" points that link two territories which are separated by a stretch of water, meaning that zooming in with a click of the L3 button is a must, unless you want someone hitting you from behind and completely catching you off guard.

The music is great, it manages to capture the huge sense of tension that the player feels when making choices. You can easily go from taking one territory and being the best placed faction, to being forced back and losing four or five in during your opponents turn.

The trophies in the game are a mixed bag. Some based on luck, others on skill. There are 3 trophies that require online gameplay, and sadly, due to the lack of finding an opponent who will stick around when he/she is losing, you may need to invest in a boosting partner. They do, however, feel like a bit of an afterthought.

All in all, I'd have to say that this game is brilliant, and definitely worth the £7 on PSN. You'll have hours and hours of fun - and stress - but for anyone who loves a challenge, with equal parts strategy and luck, this is a must for the PS3. DL the demo, and I can say with 99% certainty, you won't regret getting the full game.

[score1='8']While RISK faction's may not have the worlds great... or any kind of... plot, it doesn't suffer from it. Rather, it actually makes the game better.[/score1]
[score2='9']The graphics are brilliant, and the cartoon style never fails to bring a chuckle.[/score2]
[score3='8']Controls are simple, with almost everything being taken care of by single buttons. This helps keeps the game running smooth, and means you don't have to worry about a complex interface in the middle of an online game.[/score3]
[score4='7.5']The music could be better with a greater range of tracks, but again, it fits for the game, ensuring that there is the tension while playing.[/score4]
[score5='7.5']More trophies could, and probably should have been added, as I do kind of feel like they've been put in as an afterthought when the game was ported from PC to PSN.[/score5]
[score6]8.3[/score6]

Brink

Sat, 10 Sep 2011 19:26:32 +0000

It's been said many times that there are no original ideas left in this world. Every idea just keeps rolling over into different things whether it be a movie, book or, in this case, a game. I'd like to think we still have original thought that exists, but Brink sure doesn't help to give me confidence in the statement. That means if Brink isn't original, then it has to be good, because it has also been said that it's better to be good than original. And Brink is good.... kind of.

Brink has gotten some mediocre reviews, and to be honest it's deserved those scores. The game has flaws that are very obvious, but I still had a lot of fun with it. The objective based gameplay, class system, online system and the game's style all have a lot of stuff to like. Where the game falls apart is in its repetitive nature and terrible, terrible AI. The game also poorly implements the free running aspect which it borrowed (to put it politely) from Mirror's Edge.

[revleft="http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i462/BobbbyLight/Brink3.jpg"][/revleft]The most obvious thing you will notice when starting up Brink is its unusual style. The game features human characters but they are hyper-stylized to the point of almost being comical. Bodies and faces are extremely long and features like a change in body type from normal to skinny are over-exaggerated. It might sound like I am negative on the character models, but overall they actually work pretty well and help to let Brink at least look different than the games which it is copying from. The world you play in is set in the future. If you can imagine taking Mirror's Edge's nice, clean lines and turning them into curves, you'd have an idea of what to expect. The main difference in Brink's world is it uses a lot more of a color palette than Mirror's Edge did, which helps it to feel like not too much of a copycat. I was honestly impressed with some of the level design from a futuristic mall, to an office building and then onto a grimy dock location.

The parkour, or free-running, aspect of the game is its other big copy from Mirror's Edge. It was touted and promoted by the game's devs as something that would have a big impact on the game, but it just doesn't. To free-run you press down on the left stick and you can use X to jump over things or on to platforms. The game will automatically slide you under tight spaces. I found myself rarely even using it unless I just wanted to jump over something to have a bit of a short-cut. Watching the AI use it is kind of funny, because they do it in wide open areas and tend to just slide into walls or right into enemy fire. I am sure people who get really good at this game will find a way to make this do something for them, but I just didn't see the point through most of my time with the game.

The other game Brink takes inspiration from is Killzone. Instead of just standard death matches or capture points, Brink focuses on objectives. The objectives will switch from protecting a point, hacking a safe, escorting a tank (or person) or picking something off to drop it somewhere else. None of this is ground breaking, but it works for what it is. The only problem is that once you are done with the missions, you are going to find it hard to find a reason to go back. The game's online is, unfortunately, already pretty dead, so most of the time you are just going to be playing with the game's AI bots, which, are dumb.... to put it lightly. Also similar to Killzone, and hundreds of other shooters, is the game's class system. You can be your standard engineer, solider, medic, or operative (spy). The classes work hand-in-hand to complete the different objectives with certain classes only being able to finish certain tasks.

I've mentioned online quite a bit and Splash Damage attempted to do something unique in that it can be a 100% online or 100% offline experience. You can play missions online in a co-operative format or competitive mode. You can decide to just skip online and have fun with the game on your own. The system seemed to work well while I played the game, it was just not very active as people have probably moved on to better games. While playing offline, or even online with bots, it is here you will find the game's biggest flaw. It's stupid. The enemy AI is a pack of geniuses and the guys on your side run into walls and just keep chugging forward like nothing is in their way. I can't say the AI is all bad, but it certainly can be very dumb when you need it to help. When playing with bots I found that, for a lot of objectives, I'd have to switch to the class that required them, because my AI teammates were not interested in doing them. It was particularly frustrating on one mission which I had to do over and over again because my AI team would just give up or be too dumb to do anything objective based.

[revright="http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i462/BobbbyLight/8395orig.jpg"][/revright]The game has a decent selection of weapons, but they all felt pretty generic. They were all similar to any other assault rifle, SMG or shotgun you've used plenty of times before. For the most part the abilities you can unlock under each class aren't much different then you have seen in other shooters as well. You can get turrets, different mines or grenades and boost stats like the ability to heal better or run faster. Even though there isn't anything new about the class system, I thought the abilities and unlocks were great things worth working towards.

Brink has the base of what could be a very good game but I don't think it did well enough to warrant a sequel. You can just see that if you were able to get two well organized teams of humans together, it could be quite a bit of fun. But since you are stuck with bots most of the time, that never really happens. Instead, the enemy AI will almost always magically organize into a super group with a minute left on the timer for an objective. And when that happens, you need to be ready or they will take you down, which takes you out of the game. Your team isn't going to help you when you aren't there.

Despite its flaws, I had fun in Brink's world. I didn't mention the story, because honestly it doesn't even matter. Post-apocalyptic world, you need to save the arc and blah, blah, blah. The game is an objectives based shooter, what did you expect? The story is paper thin but it won't add or detract to your experience. If you are willing to forgive the bad AI you could probably get a good 10 hours out of the game, but there isn't much of a reason to go back for more unless trying for platinum. It's some dumb fun, but there are worse things than dumb fun. If you love the genre and you really like objective based shooters it's worth buying as it's under $20 now.

[score1='7.0']Bare-bones story of two factions fighting for what is "right". The presentation and menus are pretty high quality.[/score1]
[score2='7.0']The game has some nicely designed maps. Character models are unique and a little goofy, but work.[/score2]
[score3='8.5']There are AI issues but I enjoyed the objective based matches and the class system has cool things to unlock.[/score3]
[score4='7.0']Nothing awesome about it, the audio portion of the game is adequate.[/score4]
[score5='9.0']Really an easy list especially with help from friends. The trophies are heavily focused on in game activities which I enjoy.[/score5]
[score6]7.5[/score6]

Limbo

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 00:17:37 +0000

It's rare than I am jealous of the X-Box 360 library. And I don't say that in hopes to start a fanboy war or make anyone mad, the 360 has its audience and is a great system in its own right. But hearing about Limbo and seeing it in videos, I was jealous. I wanted that game on my system. Apparently someone heard me (or the sound of money, one or the other) and Limbo finally did get its release on the PS3. The game came with a lot of hype and, being cynical, I assumed it couldn't be as good as everyone said. And I was right. It was better.

Limbo doesn't really have a narrative, or voice acting or names to characters. It doesn't bother with a real tutorial. It just throws you into its side-scrolling, black and white world and lets you figure it out. There is a certain level of brilliance in that, because the game is simple, things do not need to be over-explained. All you really need is to walk back and forth, jump and grab. People might look at this lack of a story or simple game mechanics and be turned off. All I can say is that everything this game sets out to do, it does well. It's not a game to take a pass at just because it's simple.

[revleft="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2010/05/limbo-no-pc.jpg"][/revleft]The gameplay here is a mix of platforming and puzzle solving. You will be running and jumping over machine gun fire, saw blades and pools of water. You never fight an enemy head-on; you need to use your environment to take out whatever it is that is chasing you. The puzzle solving is devilishly clever, especially near the end of the game. You will be using your brain quite a bit more than brawn, at least if you hope to beat it.

The first thing that you notice when entering the world of Limbo is its visual style. The boy you control is a superimposed shadow on top of a layer of other superimposed shadows of trees or rocks. You never really see any detail of anything in the foreground and the background is pretty plain as well, with a mist that is ever present until the scene shifts. The majority of the game takes place in a wooded area but in the later stages ends up putting you into something you won't be expecting. The last quarter of the game puts you in a spot that makes you understand where the game got its name from. It was a surprise to me where the game ended up vs. where it started.

While the visuals are certainly simple, they are executed to perfection. All you ever see on your character, or any of the enemies, are their eyes. The use of shading and lighting is excellent and plays a role in the puzzle solving. Everything ties together to form a very unique visual style that helps to set the game apart from the rest of the pack. Another excellent part of the visual style is the absolutely brutal deaths the little boy will be put through. You will be cut up by saws, impaled by giant spider limbs and fried via electrocution. The deaths are so brutal I found myself laughing at them when they occurred because they were just so over the top.

One of the game's most excellent qualities is its sound. Similar to the graphical presentation, the audio is very simplistic, but it's amazing the effect it has on the game. There is no real musical score to speak of but just a collection of ambient noises that set a bleak tone to help make the game's dark presentation so eerie. The sound effects for whirring saws, crackling neon lights and the sound of your feet on the ground are all very well done. The overall sound profile of the game helps to give a real dark feel to the experience and I found that it really helped to draw me in.

[revright="http://techtashan.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/limbo-3.jpg"][/revright]The only bad thing I can say about the game is that there isn't a ton of replay value in it. Of course there will be multiple runs for trophy hunters, but I'd say the average gamer will be one and done with the game, and it's not much longer than a few hours. On one hand I am always OK with saying a game is short, as long as that other hand allows me to talk about what a great experience the game is overall.

While my feeling on the game overall is glowing, I know that this isn't for everyone. If all you want to do is put a bullet in someone's brain, this one is going to be a bit boring to you. It moves slowly and it takes thought, there isn't anything here to do with running and gunning. But if you are OK with some puzzle solving you will be treated to one of the best games of the year, and that includes retail releases. Yeah, it's short. Yeah, it's not something you are going to play over and over. The bottom line is that the time spent with this game is some of the best time spent on gaming this year. It's a game that comes in a very small package, but makes a very big difference.

[score1='8.0']There is no story or presentation, yet what's there works so well I can't give this a bad score.[/score1]
[score2='8.0']The game is so simple I can't give it a high grade, but the style is unique enough to carry the game.[/score2]
[score3='10']The game is rewarding in a way that doesn't happen often. It gives you pride when you complete a puzzle and then makes you excited to get to the next.[/score3]
[score4='10']The sound here is fantastic, some of the best I have ever heard in a game. The audio matches the dark feel of the visuals.[/score4]
[score5='7.0']Beating the game with less than 5 deaths is a true trophy earned. Not an easy 100%.[/score5]
[score6]9.5[/score6]