Archive for the ‘ XBLA ’ Category

Sam and Max Beyond Time and Space Review

Back in the late 1980s and early 1990s the point and click adventure was king of the game genres. They revolutionised the way in which interactive stories could be told at a time when graphical and processing capabilities were limited by modern day standards. Rather than focusing on physical challenges, the point and click adventure focused on exploration and puzzle solving tasks. While games such as Myst and the Zork series were distinctly sombre affairs, other games like the Monkey Island series and Sam and Max Hit the Road were much more humorous. Sam and Max was my particular favourite, what’s not to love about a detective duo made up of a sensible, stoic dog and a hyperactive, psychotic rabbit? Fans hoped for more from the duo but for various reasons, this wasn’t to be until Telltale Games picked up the license and ran with it ably demonstrated by Sam and Max Season One and now Season Two: Beyond Time and Space.

As the season term suggests, rather than simply being one big adventure, Beyond Time and Space comprises of five episodic segments. With each episode taking a few hours to complete, it’s a nice way of making the game feel like value for money. It also makes the Season feel like a more rounded product than if the games had been sold separately as some episodes are better than others. The stories range from Sam and Max saving Christmas in Ice Station Santa to rescuing Bosco the shopkeeper’s soul in What’s New Beelzebub. Each story is fairly self contained albeit with the odd overlap and many settings and characters being re-used.

samandmax1

Telltale Games have done a great job with each of the episodes being very enjoyable experiences. My particular favourite storyline was Ice Station Santa’s where Santa becomes possessed and it’s down to Sam and Max to save Christmas. Any game where you have to collect up action figures based on the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse has to be given some credit. Throughout the episodes, Sam and Max’s one liners continually made me crack a smile and the barrage of pop culture references were extremely welcome. Max may be a completely insane rabbit who would kill everyone just for the hell of it, but he manages to still be immensely likeable. The same can be said of the ever deadpan but darkly sarcastic Sam. The supporting cast also provides some laughs, such as Sybil the, ever desperate for love, office worker and my favourite: the garage computers. These computers comprise of an abandoned arcade machine, some form of 1980s home computer and a punch hole machine, all with their own, unique (and odd personalities).

samandmax2

The only real let down for the stories was the third instalment Night of the Raving Dead. The story felt much weaker than others and less enjoyable. Some of the puzzles also felt quite illogical at times which was a tad disappointing. Despite these shortcomings the other episodes were very enjoyable with the majority of puzzles making plenty of sense. Be warned though: some puzzles do provoke a feeling of ‘Doh!’ when you finally figure out just how simple it really is after spending 30 minutes or more pondering what to do next!

Besides the puzzles and typical point and click action, a few minigames make an appearance to break things up a bit. I have to admit that I did find some of them a little gimmicky. Brief games that involve driving over bagpipes or shooting zombies just felt a little bit like they were padding out the length of the game. That’s not to say that they weren’t quite fun for a few minutes but they did feel a little pointless when more puzzles could have been added in their place. Purists of the point and click genre may be particularly peeved by their inclusion.

samandmax3

It’s great to see a much loved franchise such as Sam and Max succeed so well on a different system, and a new audience. A lot of gaming feels so serious and glum that to play a game which genuinely made me laugh out loud was a great surprise. At 1600 points it may seem like a slightly expensive choice to make on the Xbox Live Marketplace, especially when bearing in mind it is single player only. However I’d say it’s worth every penny if you enjoy witty dialogue and using the old grey matter from time to time. Personally I’m crossing my fingers tightly for a Season Three!

Hi-Score – Consistently funny dialogue and storylines, Sam and Max exude charm

Lo-Score – Minigames can begin to grate after a while, no replayability

Score – 8 out of 10

2009
10/23
CATEGORY
360
Review
XBLA
TAGS



Leave a comment

Warriors: Street Brawl Review

logo

Warriors, where are you? A question that I sadly had to ask myself multiple times while playing this game.

The Warriors is a cult classic from 1979, a film that was passed down to me by my father, that I now pass down to the younger generations. My experience with this game has left a stain on one of my favourite films, a stain thats going to take some time and possibly therapy to remove.

The side scrolling beat ’em up is one of the oldest genres in the book, made famous by such classics as Streets of Rage and Golden Axe, both of which ate up a hell of a lot of gaming time in my youth. The fundamentals are simple, move your character from left to right smashing up any and every thing in your way but somewhere down the line Warriors Street Brawl got it wrong. The controls are very simple, one button to kick, punch, throw, block, run and jump; combing these will result in different combos and specialist tricks. Using any of these moves will dispatch a foe with relative ease but when your attacked by multiple enemies the cracks begin to show.

gp1

You hold block, waiting for your chance to swing back but it never comes. It’s almost like the enemies have planned their attack pattern; just as the first enemy finishes his 3 hit combo you release block and start your swing then BAM, the enemy behind you starts his attack. I spent more time hiding behind my fists than throwing them. The one sure fire way to get out of this is to use your special attack which sends your enemies spinning away to the floor. Even this has its drawbacks as it depletes your health which is not usually a bad thing but I struggled to find any in this game. You smash-up bins and lamp posts to find roast chickens and the likes (seriously) but more often than not I found money, diamonds or rage.

Rage is something you’re going to need in this game even though it does not work. You build up your meter by stacking up chains of attacks or finding the afore mentioned rage boosters that take the form of a glowing skull. When you activate your rage you glow red and inflict more damage, which is great but you can still be hit and knocked over with ease. So if you find yourself surrounded (again) then it’s not going to help you out. I know I’m complaining about being surrounded a lot but it really does happen that much. At certain crux points of the levels you have a small selection of enemies to defeat in an alloted time. If you dont defeat them then reinforcements come, if you dont defeat the reinforced foes then another wave come. Why? In theory it may be a good idea but in practice it makes you want to quit out and go play a real game like Streets of Rage.

gp2

The one thing the game does right is the graphics, the levels and enemies look splendid in their shiny HD glory. It certainly brought a smile to my face seeing the locations and characters from the film brought to life so well. The one problem that occurred was finding the objects to smash. Everything looked so smooth and sharp unlike the really obvious out-of-place trash can in the old Megadrive games. It’s a strange complaint, I know, but it is valid (honestly!). The cut-scenes look equally nice as an animated comic book. I have no idea why the sexy red lipped DJ was not featured in the game, what a missed opportunity.

Sadly the sound was not up to the scratch of the graphics. Music from the film was kind of there but not really. The game would have benefited from some of the original music just to keep us fan boys happy. My biggest gripe with the sound was the awful noises the enemies made, not just their noises but their animations as well. After slapping you around they shake their fist in the air and make a noise which is akin to Inspector Cyril ‘Blakey’ Blake from On The Buses. I mean come on, this is supposed to be a seedy gangland, I’m supposed to be fearing for my life.

I sadly never got to test the multiplayer aspect out as no one I know had the game or wanted to play it. It does boast 4 player online and offline co-op which may address some of the game play issues but should the single player suffer? I think not.

“Can You Dig it?” Sadly, I cant. A very well presented game spoiled by frustrating gameplay that will leave you with a hoarse throat and a bruised knee.

Hi-Score – Impressive Graphics, Nostalgia, Multiplayer Options, eh…thats about it

Lo-Score – Horribly Frustrating Gameplay, High difficulty, Bad sound

Score – 4 out of 10

2009
10/19
CATEGORY
360
Review
XBLA
TAGS



Leave a comment

My Brother And Me

Outside games journalism itself, the press often gives video games a hard time.  While this is a sweeping statement, you only have to look to figures like Mary Whitehouse, Jack Thompson and even other vocal opponents such as Julia Boseman or Hillary Clinton for proof.

Now, most gamers I know wouldn’t try arguing games are without issues or faults – far from it.  Most would implore very particular treatment of young gamers, for example, and few would dispute the fact that, like all things, games are a hobby best suited for moderate consumption.  However, this is a long and complex discussion that has been raised before, and I am not about to wade into the quagmire today, especially without considerably more research.

The point of this article is simple: to underline my belief that there are very valid and very personal reasons why games can be a good thing.  In my case, it’s my brother.

Although similar in age (we’re just 18 months apart), my brother and I are very different people with very different interests.  Fortunately for us, being brothers and all, we have the same parents.  This means we shared the same upbringing, and have – over time – come to share many values.  Growing up, despite all the tomfoolery, squabbling and enthusiastically destructive play in which we indulged, we remained quite close.  Sure, there were some wobbly moments in the teenage years when I didn’t like my brother (or anyone else) very much, but time has mellowed us both.

However, my brother likes the UFC and MMA, boxing, cars, and Formula 1, none of which hold much interest for me.  I respect what he likes, except when I don’t, or see an opportunity to take the piss, but his interests are not my interests.  The exception is gaming.

Keith Jardine knocks Rampage Jacksons Mouthpiece flying

Keith Jardine knocks Rampage Jacksons Mouthpiece flying

We grew up playing games together – both video and “real” ones.  Everything from Roland in Time on the Amstrad CPC 464 to Goldeneye on the N64, we played it.  Perhaps nostalgia has helped cement the bond (we both remember going to look at the £1.99 Amstrad tapes under the glass counter in our local toy shop), but we still love games now.  It’s a common interest for us, and we will chat for hours about the upcoming releases, the good times on Gears of War or Skate 2, and even what idiots we encountered in the latest round of online gaming.  He knows the same people I do online, we like the same games (shooters, mainly), and he is of a similar standard.

My brother, Tommy, is good company anyway, and we’ve shared many a magical moment online.  I will never forget the time Tommy pulled up next to me in a Warthog and yelled at me to “get in the van.”  You’d never guess he was involved in the building trade at the time…  Okay, so he’s not quite as devoted to gaming as I am – he tends to wander in and out of remembering to pay his broadband bill – but that makes no difference to either of us.

"Get in the van" - Tommy

"Get in the van" - Tommy

In short, gaming has brought us closer – we always got on well, but over the last few years my brother has fast become one of my best friends.   I have faith that many other such stories exist out there – perhaps a couple who met through gaming, or a father and son playing together; maybe a family where video games have provided an outlet for other problems.

This is all a far cry from the thoroughly negative press that gaming often gets, and proves that video games can be a positive influence. As someone else once said, “virtual spaces, real relationships.”

Some come on, what do games mean to you and yours?

2009
09/25
CATEGORY
360
Blog Post
XBLA
TAGS







3 comments

Shadow Complex

At this years E3 Cliffy B took to the stage at the Microsoft keynote speech to announce a new game from EPIC. I was expecting something big and I have to admit to being a bit underwhelmed to what was revealed. Shadow Complex came up on the big screen, sure it looked nice but a side scrolling shooter in this day and age how could that be big enough to show off at E3. Well I can tell you that I was totally wrong to assume this game would amount to nothing. A lot of people on the interweb have been comparing Shadow Complex to the likes of Castlevania and Metroid. I won’t be doing that here however, and at the risk of being shunned from the world of gamers have to admit that I have played neither of the aforementioned games.

ShadowComplex2

Shadow Complex is at it’s heart a side scrolling shooter as I mentioned above, but it goes far beyond just getting to the end of a level in one piece. Starting the game you are thrust into the action straight away with a prelude level allowing you to play briefly with some of the gadgets you’ll be using later in the game. At the start of the game proper you start as Jason Fleming, an ordinary kind of guy out on a hike with his new girlfriend Claire. Things soon go wrong however and when Claire gets captured by some ominous looking soldiers it’s up to you to save her and find out just what is going on. Following in the soldiers footsteps you are lead through a small tutorial until you come to a large underground base, where the fight begins.

Controls are fluid and responsive and over the course of the game a large quantity of moves and gadgets become available to you to take on some of the games challenges. Near the start of game you come across your first weapon which is a pistol, but you will soon be getting bigger and better guns to aid you. The shooting mechanic in Shadow Complex is great and works like a twin stick shooter like Geometry Wars. Take aim with the right stick and your laser sight on your weapon lights up allowing for precise shots. The map in Shadow Complex is vast and holds many secrets for you to find. A lot of these hidden items can only be accessed once you have certain gadgets at your disposal. As you progress through the story you will start collecting items like grenades and parts of a powered exoskeleton that increase your speed and allows for double and eventually triple jumping to get to those hard to reach areas. Collecting the secrets is important as they can increase how many grenades you can carry to giving you a greater amount of health.

Shadow-Complex-001

Graphically Shadow Complex is gorgeous and rivals some full priced games in terms of the visuals. The cut scenes are to a high standard, with well animated characters and believable expressions. All of the voice work is also top notch, Jason is voiced by Nolan North who has a huge list of voice work for games including Nathan Drake from Uncharted. Although the game is played in a 2D aspect it is presented in a full 3D world. The game world is an interesting mix of cramped ventilation ducts to crawl through, large factory areas with huge machines working away and big forest areas with lakes to explore. The enemies come in all shapes and sizes from basic foot soldiers to massive spider like mechs. They can also appear in the background or foreground which can be fiddly at times to get a bead on them from your laser sight.

Shadow Complex is a highly enjoyable romp, harking back to days gone by but with all the knowledge and know how of modern day developers. The main story with all 100% of the collectables took me roughly 12 hours and is highly replayable. There are leaderboards to climb, a large collection of challenge rooms to get through and of course the ever present Achievements to keep you coming back for more. Really I cannot recommend Shadow Complex enough, I enjoyed every minute of it and can honestly say it is worth every Microsoft point.

Hi-Score – Fantastic gameplay, very replayable, amazing graphics for a XBLA game

Lo-Score – Some fiddly shooting

Final Score 10 out of 10

Written by Andy Marsh

Written by Andy Marsh

2009
09/03
CATEGORY
360
Review
XBLA
Leave a comment

A life in games

Who am I?

 

No, I’m not referring to a Jackie Chan film, nor am I suffering an existential crisis.  My name is Sam, and I’m a games addict.  I’m also a new writer here on the wonderful site you know and love as Hi Score – so you can expect to see plenty more from me over the coming months, you lucky people.  So, without further ado, let me explain a little bit more to you about my experiences in gaming.

 

Halcyon days

 

I have often thought of myself as a casually obsessive gamer – games are something I come back to after spending years away from them.  While this might be true-ish, I recently looked back down the years and found surprising evidence to the contrary: I am probably not a casual gamer at all.  As young as four years old, I remember being transfixed by the very idea that machines could transport me to another world, create entire fictions for me to explore and inhabit.  When I got my first home computer – an Amstrad CPC 464 – on Christmas Day, I was left shocked, amazed, ecstatic and goggle-eyed.  Roland in Time was, quite frankly, a masterpiece, as was the amazing Jet Set Willy.  Computers seemed to open up a world of endless possibilities, doorways to fantastical realms.   A bit like interactive books, perhaps.  Many were like books, in a way – playing Granny’s Garden on the BBC Micro was even part of school lessons.

 
Granny's Garden: every scoolboy's dream

During my life, computers and consoles have always been there in the background: I’ve owned an Amiga 500 (I was convinced graphics would never get any better!), a Megadrive, a Playstation, a Nintendo 64, a Playstation 2, and now an Xbox 360.  I have played even more than that, and owned several PCs.  Despite this, there is still something even now that makes me smile like a schoolboy when I fire up a disc and enter an entirely new world for the very first time.

 

Perhaps one of the reasons I like gaming because it is truly nostalgic, a direct link straight into my past.  I also like it for many other reasons now – unlocking a difficult achievement or trophy, chatting to my friends online, besting my virtual opponents in an FPS; the list goes on.

 

The long and winding road

 

I have loved so many games for so many reasons over the years, that perhaps it is unwise to list them all here – each such game is like a classic album to me, transporting me back to a simpler, happier time, where rose-tinted glasses aren’t optional.  It conjures up associative memories and makes me think of other things, not just the game itself.  An example of one such game is Super Metroid.  Perhaps it is as much down to the heady nostalgia of the warm summer I spent dedicated to it with my friend Tony, but it will always have a special place in my heart.  It’s also why I’ve been so excited about the prospect of Shadow Complex this week on XBLA.  And without further ado, I shall take my leave of you to go and get stuck into Shadow Complex.

 
The grand old days of yore

Auf Weidersehen, Monty

 

That’s all from me for now, but I’ll catch you guys and gals around.

 

Billy Goodgun

AKA Sam.

2009
08/20
CATEGORY
360
Blog Post
Feature
Hi-Score News
Opinion
Retro
XBLA
TAGS





2 comments