On the final stat page, I found out my total playing time had been 4.5 hours. The only thing I can think of that had a campaign that short was Kane & Lynch 2.
On the plus side, Revengeance is consistently excellent, gloriously over the too and has wonderful mechanics. It's as pretty as any you could mention and shows Platinum to be one of the most consistently wonderful developers in the world at the moment.
But I do have a couple of nagging doubts; there's that short playing time for a start. Also as great as the controls are, once I mastered them, I didn't really feel any need to change my technique.
Still, whilst there's room for improvement, MGR is probably the first essential play of 2013, and has a freshness and sense of risk that's missing in far too many AAA games.
8.5/10
Saturday, 23 March 2013
The Walking Dead: Season One
I picked this up on the XBLA 12 days of Christmas sale and tended to play each episode inbetween other games. I think that was a good way to play, because otherwise it would have been too intense to play in an uninterrupted session.
The Walking Dead isn't a hard game (although some sequences are tricky) but you do have to make hard decisions, ones that dramatically alter the storyline. I really would like to do a second play through to get to know some of the people I couldn't save.
As good as some of Telltale's other games have been, this is the first time they've done something that's been in GOTY territory and I can't wait for Season Two.
9/10
The Walking Dead isn't a hard game (although some sequences are tricky) but you do have to make hard decisions, ones that dramatically alter the storyline. I really would like to do a second play through to get to know some of the people I couldn't save.
As good as some of Telltale's other games have been, this is the first time they've done something that's been in GOTY territory and I can't wait for Season Two.
9/10
Sunday, 3 March 2013
Assassins Creed 3
The first Assassin's Creed was incredibly pretty and ambitious, but very repetitive. When the second game in the series came out, it was breathtaking; all criticism had been heeded, and it was a game enjoyable as it was good looking. I hoped the third game would be as big a jump, but sadly it seems a small, uncertain step.
AC: Revelations was the first title that felt a little unnecessary: new features such as the tower defence sections or Desmond's Portal style puzzle platformers weren't great, but also seemed optional. And this is a route that the main game has gone further down, so many teams working on so many optional little extras while the main game separately needed more polish.
It seems buggier (I had a couple of times where I had to restart missions because I'd got stuck in objects I shouldn't have been able to walk through), horse riding is horrible and the AI enemies seem either oblivious to you or leaves you wondering how you were spotted.
Two things were great about the game: the naval missions (one in section 11 left me feeling like a boss) and the Peg Leg treasure map sections. These small levels seem to focus on one aspect of the game play and deliver thrilling levels in a way the main game doesn't.
Maybe Ubisoft are spreading there talent too thin, maybe the current generation is holding them back but AC3 should have been better. I can't help but think that the forthcoming Black Flag, wouldn't have been a numbered sequel if 3 would have turned out better, but as it is, they're just trying to put this game behind them.
6.5/10
AC: Revelations was the first title that felt a little unnecessary: new features such as the tower defence sections or Desmond's Portal style puzzle platformers weren't great, but also seemed optional. And this is a route that the main game has gone further down, so many teams working on so many optional little extras while the main game separately needed more polish.
It seems buggier (I had a couple of times where I had to restart missions because I'd got stuck in objects I shouldn't have been able to walk through), horse riding is horrible and the AI enemies seem either oblivious to you or leaves you wondering how you were spotted.
Two things were great about the game: the naval missions (one in section 11 left me feeling like a boss) and the Peg Leg treasure map sections. These small levels seem to focus on one aspect of the game play and deliver thrilling levels in a way the main game doesn't.
Maybe Ubisoft are spreading there talent too thin, maybe the current generation is holding them back but AC3 should have been better. I can't help but think that the forthcoming Black Flag, wouldn't have been a numbered sequel if 3 would have turned out better, but as it is, they're just trying to put this game behind them.
6.5/10
Sunday, 10 February 2013
Resident Evil 6
Skipping on DmC, which I didn't finish, my latest game was RE6. RE4 is one of my favourite games of all time. RE5...less so, but its still a solid game. The sixth instalment continues this downward trajectory, but I didn't find it useless and after a shaky start, enjoyed my time with the game.
Splitting the game into four shorter campaigns is responsible for some of the better and weaker points. It's cool to see how the different threads weave together and get different perspectives, but at the same time, it loses focus and feels repetitive, especially when replaying the same boss fights.
Other disappointing aspects: the increased focus on action (can't help but feel this is from listening to Internet crybabies who chastised RE5 for not letting you "run and gun"), an overuse of Quick Time Events, sprinting sections and occasionally awkward controls.
But on the plus side, you get a lot of generally solid gaming for your money, Leon's campaign is generally superb and just that huge polish that comes with a Resi game.
Hopefully slightly disappointing sales and harsh reviews will prompt a spectacular RE7, but this is still an enjoyable action game and worth a look at.
7.0/10
Splitting the game into four shorter campaigns is responsible for some of the better and weaker points. It's cool to see how the different threads weave together and get different perspectives, but at the same time, it loses focus and feels repetitive, especially when replaying the same boss fights.
Other disappointing aspects: the increased focus on action (can't help but feel this is from listening to Internet crybabies who chastised RE5 for not letting you "run and gun"), an overuse of Quick Time Events, sprinting sections and occasionally awkward controls.
But on the plus side, you get a lot of generally solid gaming for your money, Leon's campaign is generally superb and just that huge polish that comes with a Resi game.
Hopefully slightly disappointing sales and harsh reviews will prompt a spectacular RE7, but this is still an enjoyable action game and worth a look at.
7.0/10
Tuesday, 15 January 2013
Dishonored
My original opening gambit for Dishonored was "Marmite: some people love it and some people admire it on a technical level, but find it hard to connect with it and never able to display the grace with it that others seem to achieve. Dishonored is a Marmite game".
In the middle of Dishonored, it clicked to a certain degree and even though I was bad at the game, I still enjoyed it. But I certainly had issues with it; some were down to me as a player, others down to some odd design choices.
If you're good at the game, you probably wouldn't pick up on this, but for all the freedom Dishonored supposedly offers, it seems very disapproving if you don't play the way it likes. Combat is cumbersome and achievements favour the stealthy option. But if you're not good at the game, you will probably draw attention to yourself and have to fight your way out. By the time you reach the second level, the game will warn you that to continue to do this, you will attract more rats, more weepers (zombie like plague victims) and face a darker ending. In short, if you're not good at the game, it'll make it harder for you. Similarly items that can make you more stealthful are hidden in areas you need to be very stealthful already to explore.
However, I seem to be in the minority here and people seem to go through the game undetected. Even though I was bad at this, it would be crazy to deny the quality of the game and I am intrigued by the prospects of a sequel.
8.0/10
In the middle of Dishonored, it clicked to a certain degree and even though I was bad at the game, I still enjoyed it. But I certainly had issues with it; some were down to me as a player, others down to some odd design choices.
If you're good at the game, you probably wouldn't pick up on this, but for all the freedom Dishonored supposedly offers, it seems very disapproving if you don't play the way it likes. Combat is cumbersome and achievements favour the stealthy option. But if you're not good at the game, you will probably draw attention to yourself and have to fight your way out. By the time you reach the second level, the game will warn you that to continue to do this, you will attract more rats, more weepers (zombie like plague victims) and face a darker ending. In short, if you're not good at the game, it'll make it harder for you. Similarly items that can make you more stealthful are hidden in areas you need to be very stealthful already to explore.
However, I seem to be in the minority here and people seem to go through the game undetected. Even though I was bad at this, it would be crazy to deny the quality of the game and I am intrigued by the prospects of a sequel.
8.0/10
Wednesday, 26 December 2012
Borderlands 2
Next year, I'm not going to follow such a strict format on this blog. I don't feel happy reviewing games I haven't completed, even if I've put more hours into them than many games I actually finished. I guess this is stating the obvious, but I didn't finish Borderlands 2.
You know what I did finish? Borderlands 1. Every single mission in the main campaign, all of Zombie Island, all of General Knoxx bar Crawmerax and all of Robot Revolution bar the end boss. I didn't finish that end boss as a load of mid-bosses regenerated on my way to it, and I didn't play any of Mad Moxxi as it seemed more focused on multiplayer. And those two things haunted me throughout the sequel.
When I played the original, I hadn't played much in the way of RPG's and Borderlands was the game where a lot of RPGS stuff suddenly clicked with me. Grinding, levelling, skill trees- a whole new world opened to me, and I don't know what appealed more to me, the game or a previously inaccessible genre opening up to me.
People said that playing solo was a slog, but I didn't notice that at the time, but it leaps out at me this time. I've seen so many reviews compliment the multiplayer, and I can't help but feel that was the problem. If I had someone helping me, I wouldn't have been dying every few minutes or so concerned about regenerating mid-bosses.
If I'd have stuck to my original class of Soldier rather than Gunzerker, I might have enjoyed it. If the recent patch would have toned down the regenerating enemies, I might have enjoyed it. But I didn't enjoy it, and the original- that game I spent 70 hours levelling up to 45- no longer seems my favourite game of this generation.
You know what I did finish? Borderlands 1. Every single mission in the main campaign, all of Zombie Island, all of General Knoxx bar Crawmerax and all of Robot Revolution bar the end boss. I didn't finish that end boss as a load of mid-bosses regenerated on my way to it, and I didn't play any of Mad Moxxi as it seemed more focused on multiplayer. And those two things haunted me throughout the sequel.
When I played the original, I hadn't played much in the way of RPG's and Borderlands was the game where a lot of RPGS stuff suddenly clicked with me. Grinding, levelling, skill trees- a whole new world opened to me, and I don't know what appealed more to me, the game or a previously inaccessible genre opening up to me.
People said that playing solo was a slog, but I didn't notice that at the time, but it leaps out at me this time. I've seen so many reviews compliment the multiplayer, and I can't help but feel that was the problem. If I had someone helping me, I wouldn't have been dying every few minutes or so concerned about regenerating mid-bosses.
If I'd have stuck to my original class of Soldier rather than Gunzerker, I might have enjoyed it. If the recent patch would have toned down the regenerating enemies, I might have enjoyed it. But I didn't enjoy it, and the original- that game I spent 70 hours levelling up to 45- no longer seems my favourite game of this generation.
Sunday, 23 December 2012
Lollipop Chainsaw
I really enjoyed everything I played by Japanese developer Suda 51, but his last game, Shadow Of The Damned seemed a real unexpected treat.
Unsurprisingly Lollipop Chainsaw feels like a similar game, just without the contributions from (Resident Evil creator) Shinji Mikami, because that's what it is. And while Chainsaw feels a shallower game without Mikami's contributions, you do appreciate Suda's wild imagination & flair.
This game's equivalent of Johnston is Rick, your boyfriend's head, decapitated to prevent spread of zombification. Personally, I thought James Gunn's dialogue between Rick & Juliet was a game highlight.
I can't deny it feels a little short, the combat is a little basic & some of the arcade mini games were frustrating. But it's got charm & replay value- I was determined to try and save all the students and get the unlockables. Oh and a kick ass soundtrack- the most frustrating of those mini games was aost enjoyable set to Human League's "Empire State Human".
Suda 51 still works better as a collaborative designer, but is still capable of shining when solo.
7.0/10
Unsurprisingly Lollipop Chainsaw feels like a similar game, just without the contributions from (Resident Evil creator) Shinji Mikami, because that's what it is. And while Chainsaw feels a shallower game without Mikami's contributions, you do appreciate Suda's wild imagination & flair.
This game's equivalent of Johnston is Rick, your boyfriend's head, decapitated to prevent spread of zombification. Personally, I thought James Gunn's dialogue between Rick & Juliet was a game highlight.
I can't deny it feels a little short, the combat is a little basic & some of the arcade mini games were frustrating. But it's got charm & replay value- I was determined to try and save all the students and get the unlockables. Oh and a kick ass soundtrack- the most frustrating of those mini games was aost enjoyable set to Human League's "Empire State Human".
Suda 51 still works better as a collaborative designer, but is still capable of shining when solo.
7.0/10
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