Posts Tagged ‘ PS3 ’

Uncharted 2 Review

Uncharted 2 Logo

I honestly really didn’t expect it to be so good. I guess it was my natural cynicism that made me suspicious of the hype bandwagon when it came to Uncharted 2. That’s not to say that I wasn’t intrigued. I loved Uncharted 1, it was one of the reasons why I bought a Playstation 3. But I guess I just couldn’t see why its sequel would be quite as good as it actually is. You see Uncharted 2 is unquestionably the best game I’ve played this year and will almost certainly remain in this position despite the likes of Modern Warfare 2 arriving soon.

From the moment the game starts there are goose bumps aplenty. A proclamation from Marco Polo appears on screen: ‘I did not tell half of what I saw for I knew I would not be believed’ and immediately I was hooked. That one sentence immediately suggests that things are going to be rather unbelievable. Not in the silly sense I hasten to add, more in the sense that you’ll be lucky to predict what’s going to happen next. This is amplified perfectly when you’re thrown into turmoil in the first chapter. Our ever indestructible hero Nathan Drake is badly injured and hanging onto the bottom of a train which is hanging perilously dangerously over a cliff edge. Drake’s obviously not having a good day at all. This first chapter actually cleverly conceals the game’s tutorial, a great way of ensuring the player knows exactly what to do while not feeling as if they are being treated like an idiot by the game. It also sets the tone perfectly for the rest of the game, plenty of adventuring but also a great sense of urgency to it.

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You see as clichéd as it may sound, many stages of Uncharted 2 really do get your adrenaline pumping. It’s an absolutely horrible cliché which I hate to be resigned to using but, well, it is true in this case! Some of the most memorable moments are the sort of things that really do make you hold your breath until you’ve survived. I’m trying to avoid spoiling too much but with certain chapters centred around surviving against a tank or taking down a helicopter while escaping a collapsing building, this really is high octane action at times (noooo not more clichés!)

The best part for me about such action sequences is that Nathan Drake really isn’t as indestructible as he’d like to be, which is so refreshing to see. Sure he does seem to survive some pretty impressive things but it’s a little like watching John McClane in Die Hard. He wins, but boy does it look hard to do! You’ll grimace when Drake goes smack into the side of a building because a zipline has collapsed, and you’ll wince as he’s punched in the stomach by a cruel enemy. Drake manages to get by but not really in the cool collected manner that the likes of Marcus Fenix would achieve, Drake survives through a bit of luck and mostly his quick wit. He is the type of guy who, upon seeing a tank coming towards him, will exclaim ‘Oh crap’. There’s no hint of arrogance, Drake knows this thing can wipe him out very quickly. It’s great to see a more human character, one that knows his weaknesses. He reminded me of George Stobbart from the Broken Sword games, an extremely likeable character as well as a believable one. One that is flawed and sometimes vulnerable but ultimately this is what makes both Stobbart and Drake such great characters. You can identify with them and their plight so much more than an Arnie style muscle head.

Uncharted 2

In between the memorable action set pieces there are also many moments where Drake gets to relax a little more and explore his surroundings a bit. One particularly stunning scene, both graphically and emotionally, was exploring a Tibetan village. Simply being able to take the sights in while wandering around was great and truly showed off the graphical prowess of the game. There were a number of other moments like this where it was simply nice to stand on a cliff top and take in the view. There really is no game quite as beautiful as the likes of Uncharted 2 and I struggled to see any graphical glitches. The various puzzles scattered throughout also tend to require a fair amount of thought. They don’t require MENSA type intelligence but they do take a little bit of thinking about and it’s nice to see them break up the action so well.

I’m tempted to go for the hat trick of clichés and say that Uncharted 2 is like a blockbuster movie, it’s very tempting in fact. Certainly when playing it in the same room as my mother (a fairly decent gamer herself) she mentioned on a number of occasions that not only did the music sound very cinematic and mood appropriate, but that she enjoyed just sitting and watching what I was doing. But it’s not really like a movie because in movies, Harrison Ford doesn’t try to make a jump, miss and die then return to a previous checkpoint. Which is a very good thing as the film would quickly become boring. However that’s not to say that Uncharted 2 isn’t very close to being like a film. I felt as emotionally connected to the likes of Drake and Chloe (and some unnamed people for fear of spoiling) as I would some ‘real’ actors in a film, but it would be wrong to say that the game is just like a film. The best way of describing it really is that Uncharted 2 is an extremely entertaining linear experience. Again this sounds like a disservice but that’s down to most people’s interpretation of linear. Linearity in games really isn’t a bad thing at all sometimes. It means, in the case of Uncharted 2, that it can tell a compelling story and focus on its storytelling rather than offering the player a range of options and moral decisions which inevitably dilutes the story in many games. It’s a true credit to the game’s storytelling that when the ending sequence finally finished and the trophy notification popped up to indicate the game was complete, I actually felt like the notification had detracted from the experience of simply sitting there and taking in what had occurred!

Uncharted 2

Besides the single player mode which must be described with so many superlatives there is a multiplayer segment to Uncharted 2. Something that wasn’t seen before in Uncharted 1 and which I can’t help but feel doesn’t really add a huge deal to the package. I guess it can extend longevity to a certain extent but I found it rather uninspiring and the sort of multiplayer that I might play frequently now, but within a month won’t go near ever again. The nearest comparison to it is Gears of War, albeit sometimes more stealthy providing you’re playing with the right group of people. I have to admit I wasn’t too enamoured and preferred sticking to the single player story. It was nice to see a co-operative mode available however and this is sure to encourage replayability as well as the many unlockables that can be acquired and of course good old trophy hunting. With 100 treasures to collect this will also appeal to those who want to search every nook and cranny, although I would recommend this on a second playthrough so as not to distract from the storyline in the first attempt.

Perhaps strangely considering how much I loved my time with Uncharted 2, I wouldn’t call it revolutionary or the ‘most important game EVAR’ because it’s not. Nor is it the great messiah of video games. It won’t convert non-gamers to the hobby or change anyone’s views on the action adventure genre. I’m certainly not complaining because Uncharted 2 is brilliant but original? Well no frankly. A game made up of strong storytelling and great action sequences have been done before, quite a lot (not that I’m complaining). Uncharted 2 does heavily borrow from some of the greats. The fight scenes are very reminiscent of Gears of War (although less gung ho), the stealth scenes have been done before many times, and the platforming has Tomb Raider written all over it. The thing is Uncharted 2 has taken parts of some of the best games of recent years and combined it into a truly fantastic experience. It may have its minor flaws and niggles but to point them out is simply nitpicking and serves no purpose.

Nothing is perfect in this world but that doesn’t stop games such as Uncharted 2 being brilliant. Currently it really is the best game of the year, bar none.

Hi-Score: Once you start playing, you will be hooked. Fantastic plot and perfectly balanced gameplay.

Lo-Score: Multiplayer feels tacked on

Score – 9.5 out of 10

[Note from Editor – Usually we wouldn’t use .5 on Hi-Score. However in this instance after reading Jennifer’s review, it seems justified to use it. With Uncharted 2 pulling in such huge scores, it’s almost expected to get a 9 or 10. So Jennifer has been as critical as she can to bring you, the reader, an honest and factual review. In this instance Uncharted 2 is so close to “perfection” that it hurts. I myself decided on a different score elsewhere, but I think that using a .5 has given Jenn a freedom in saying that there are still things she would change in order to get that perfect score.]

2009
10/27
CATEGORY
PS3
Review
TAGS


2 comments

Batman: Arkham Asylum Review

Wholly brilliant, Batman!

First, let me say that I am not a comic book fan. I have not read the great entries into the literary canon of works about the caped crusader. To my chagrin, I have not even read Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns. But I still know about Batman – he’s everywhere. Adam West, Tim Burton, Christian Bale – these are all reasons why everyone knows the Bat.

But none of that matters. Why? Batman is a cracking good game. That’s why.

Forget what you know or don’t know – this game does all the hard work for you. One of the many masterstrokes is in creating a series of collectibles in the form of a challenge laid down by The Riddler. Exploring the crevices, crevasses, crenellations and craggy peaks of Arkham Island will reveal a well-organised mixture of puzzles to be solved. I don’t normally care too much for collectibles in games, but here they add another layer to an already fantastic game. Firstly, solving them earns you experience, which goes towards getting Waynetech upgrades for your batsuit and gadgets. Secondly, it is a mechanic to unlock information about both the game you’re playing, and about the Batman world in general. Imagine knocking on a stranger’s front door and staring in amazement as a kindly old man invites you in for a cup of tea and a slice of cake, and imparts his incredible life story – it’s the same with the collectibles in Batman. You didn’t know you wanted to know, until you knew. So now you know.

Okay, so how does it play? “Well,” is the short answer.

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I have read reviews comparing this game to Bioshock. Yes, it’s that good. Now, I’m not saying it’s like Bioshock – The Dark Knight and Big Daddies are completely separate beasts. However, what does resonate from that comparison is the sense of atmosphere. Both worlds are completely immersive, drawing you in like… well… a decent simile, which this is not. In the same way as Rapture did almost exactly two years ago, Arkham Island has a sense of authenticity, of weight, and of reality. Sure, they’re both comic book realities, but that’s the point – you’re Batman, and this is his world. Welcome to the shadows.

That segues not-so-nicely into my next point: graphics. They’re stunning. Gothic, sweeping, majestic and claustrophobic all at the same time, this is more Tim Burton’s Batman than Christopher Nolan’s, and the better for it. This perhaps demonstrates yet again why it feels so much like Bruce Wayne’s world made flesh – the story is engaging, but almost secondary to the visual impact the game has. Which is a bit like a comic. The plot is intriguing – why is The Joker loose in the asylum, and what does he want? – But it’s never the main attraction. There are some fantastic set-pieces and cut-scenes, too, but I won’t ruin the surprise for anyone uninitiated.

I am hardly the first to mention this, but the voice-work is sublime, too. I certainly can’t think of a game with any better. Kevin Conroy is suitably gravel-throated as Batman himself, and there are some other superb efforts from the likes of Arleen Sorkin. The highest plaudits, however, must go to Mark Hamill as The Joker, who is just perfectly pitched as the hyperactive, murderous, maniacal clown.

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So what else does Batman offer?

Exploration is near-faultless. Areas are limited in a similar fashion to the much-vaunted Shadow Complex (and its direct predecessors, Castlevania and Metroid), so Arkham Island has the feel of an open-world game without allowing you to ignore or overlook your main journey. It beckons you down the correct path like an alluring siren, rather than holding your hand like a patronising child-minder.

Batman also has gadgets. Lots of gadgets. A quick tap of a button will fire your grappling hook upwards, allowing you to swoop around rooftops or glide between gargoyles and fight crime from the shadows. Not only does this make you feel suitably bat-like, it also supports a key function of the combat: planning your attacks. The Joker is not a mug, unlike the authorities of Gotham City, who have seen fit to transfer his legions of henchmen to Arkham Asylum to get in your way. Some of The Joker’s henchmen have guns. Unlike his DC counterpart, Superman, Batman is nimble and a bit mental, rather than in possession of superpowers – bullets hurt. So you need to stay out of their way. Hiding in grates in the floor, using explosive gel to blow up walls, throwing special batarangs, dangling henchmen from gargoyles – these are all options in your arsenal when trying to take down a room full of bad guys without being detected. And watching them become ever more frantic as “detective mode” shows their escalating heart rates and rising panic levels is schadenfreude of the best kind. Taking out an entire room of henchmen without them ever knowing where you are is one of the most satisfying gaming experiences I’ve had in quite a while.

There are also more run-of-the-mill henchmen, who haven’t graduated from Henchman University yet, and so are only trusted with pipes, bats, knives, stun batons and, for the exceptionally retarded, fists. You can tackle these hapless victims in a more direct fashion, using hand-to-hand combat. If you use what I call the “House of Pain” tactic and jump around a lot while furiously mashing buttons, you shouldn’t have too much difficulty beating down the swarms of part-time henchmen. However, that does the combat a huge disservice, and once you’ve unlocked a couple of special moves through the Waynetech upgrades, you can really get down to business in the combat challenges.

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Combat challenges, like the predator challenges, are unlocked by collecting special Riddler trophies. These can then be accessed from the main menu before you jump in to continue your story. The challenges are actually great practice for refining your skills at either combat or stealth attacks – it’s a shame I didn’t unlock more of them before finishing the game, as it was here (rather than in the course of the campaign) that I really got to grips with the mechanics of beating people up and nabbing goons from the shadows. Seeing as they’re also tied in to both World and Friend leaderboards, they’re also highly addictive, and I would say that I’ve almost certainly spent as much time playing the challenges as I have playing through the story. And I’m yet to beat them all.

Sadly, the story does end. Eventually, you will best all Jokers’ minions, thwart his plans, and cross swords with other nefarious inmates put into Arkham Asylum by Batman. But although it is sad that such a brilliant adventure must draw to a close, it is fitting that it plays out as merely another battle won in the endless war against crime, waged by one man and his quest for justice. Just stay tuned after the end credits for the near-inevitable sequel set-up. Roll on Batman: Gotham City.

Hi-Score – Forget Spartacus; I’m Batman. On Arkham Island. Battling the Joker. Come get some.

Lo-Score – some uninspired boss fights. The game ends.

Final Score – 9 out of 10

2009
09/10
CATEGORY
360
PC
PS3
Review
TAGS




3 comments

Guitar Hero 5 coming September 11th

Well, here it comes, closer each day. Guitar Hero 5 will be with us September 11th.

I for one am looking forward to this one, it’s been a while since I’ve played a great rhythm game and it’s looking like GH5 may give us this greatness. I look forward to seeing my avatar rock out to any of the songs on the setlist;

* 3 Doors Down – “Kryptonite”
* A Perfect Circle – “Judith”
* AFI – “Medicate”
* Arctic Monkeys – “Brianstorm”
* Attack! Attack! UK – “You And Me”
* Band Of Horses – “Cigarettes, Wedding Bands”
* Beastie Boys – “Gratitude”
* Beck – “Gamma Ray”
* Billy Idol – “Dancing With Myself”
* Billy Squier – “Lonely Is The Night”
* Blink-182 – “The Rock Show”
* Blur – “Song 2”
* Bob Dylan – “All Along The Watchtower”
* Bon Jovi – “You Give Love A Bad Name”
* Brand New – “Sowing Season (Yeah)”
* The Bronx – “Six Days A Week”
* Bush – “Comedown”
* Children Of Bodom – “Done With Everything, Die For Nothing”
* Coldplay – “In My Place”
* Darker My Love – “Blue Day”
* Darkest Hour – “Demon(s)”
* David Bowie – “Fame”
* Deep Purple – “Woman From Tokyo (’99 Remix)”
* The Derek Trucks Band – “Younk Funk”
* Dire Straits – “Sultans Of Swing”
* The Duke Spirit – “Send A Little Love Token”
* Duran Duran – “Hungry Like The Wolf”
* Eagles Of Death Metal – “Wannabe In L.A.”
* Elliott Smith – “L.A.”
* Elton John – “Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting)”
* Face To Face – “Disconnected”
* Garbage – “Only Happy When It Rains”
* Gorillaz – “Feel Good Inc.”
* Gov’t Mule – “Streamline Woman”
* Grand Funk Railroad – “We’re An American Band”
* Iggy Pop – “Lust For Life (Live)”
* Iron Maiden – “2 Minutes To Midnight”
* Jeff Beck – “Scatterbrain (Live)”
* Jimmy Eat World – “Bleed American”
* John Mellencamp – “Hurts So Good”
* Johnny Cash – “Ring Of Fire”
* Kaiser Chiefs – “Never Miss A Beat”
* The Killers – “All The Pretty Faces”
* King Crimson – “21st Century Schizoid Man”
* Kings Of Leon – “Sex On Fire”
* Kiss – “Shout It Out Loud”
* Love and Rockets – “Mirror People”
* Megadeth – “Sweating Bullets”
* Mötley Crüe – “Looks That Kill”
* Muse – “Plug In Baby”
* My Morning Jacket – “One Big Holiday”
* Nirvana – “Lithium (Live)”
* Nirvana – “Smells Like Teen Spirit”
* No Doubt – “Ex-Girlfriend”
* Peter Frampton – “Do You Feel Like We Do? (Live)”
* The Police – “So Lonely”
* Public Enemy Featuring Zakk Wylde – “Bring the Noise 20XX”
* Queen & David Bowie – “Under Pressure”
* Queens Of The Stone Age – “Make It Wit Chu”
* The Raconteurs – “Steady As She Goes”
* Rammstein – “Du Hast”
* The Rolling Stones – “Sympathy For The Devil”
* Rose Hill Drive – “Sneak Out”
* Rush – “The Spirit Of Radio (Live)”
* Santana – “No One To Depend On (Live)”
* Scars On Broadway – “They Say”
* Screaming Trees – “Nearly Lost You”
* Smashing Pumpkins – “Bullet With Butterfly Wings”
* Sonic Youth – “Incinerate”
* Spacehog – “In The Meantime”
* Stevie Wonder – “Superstition”
* Sublime – “What I Got”
* Sunny Day Real Estate – “Seven”
* T. Rex – “20th Century Boy”
* The Sword – “Maiden, Mother & Crone”
* Thin Lizzy – “Jailbreak”
* Thrice – “Deadbolt”
* Tom Petty – “Runnin’ Down A Dream”
* Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – “American Girl”
* TV On The Radio – “Wolf Like Me”
* Vampire Weekend – “A-Punk”
* Weezer – “Why Bother?”
* The White Stripes – “Blue Orchid”
* Wild Cherry – “Play That Funky Music”
* Wolfmother – “Back Round”

With all the songs unlocked from the very start you can rock out to your favourites in no time. There has been mention of disappointment of this tracklist, but it’s always a very personal opinion of the player. I personally am looking forward to strumming through Deep Purple, Dire Straits, Gorillaz and more.

If of course you can’t wait to hear these tracks in the game, you can head onto spotify and play the tracklist there instead by clicking HERE

Here’s a few screenshots to keep you going until the 11th.

GH5 Revival Meter!!

Guitar Hero 5 non-HUD Shot

shred up to 4 guitars

2009
08/21
CATEGORY
360
Blog Post
Game News
PS3
Wii
TAGS




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Just Cause 2

Ok, I’m going back on my word from earlier – but only slightly, I thought I’d bring you some game news. I hated the original Just Cause, I don’t know why, it just never clicked. It all felt a bit stale and rushed, trying to capitalise on the fact that there was no GTA at that time. However this sequel has me intrigued and also, a little excited.

The island this time around looks more detailed, buildings and environments look like they have character. The graphics still look slightly stilted tech wise but otherwise it’s a lovely looking game. But what REALLY intrigues me is the destruction. For all of it’s issues I really enjoyed Mercenaries 2, it was great to just run around blowing everything you saw to pieces. There’s a moment in this trailer where Rico attaches a jeep to the bottom of a helicopter and drops it into a petrol station blowing it to kingdom come. This opens a lot of possibilities and if it can all be pulled off, then this could be a winner.

2009
08/19
CATEGORY
360
Blog Post
Game News
PC
PS3
TAGS




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Dead Nation – PSN

We tend to steer clear of any announcements on new games or ‘slim’ consoles. Just let the others get one with it and we’ll pick out the best from the rest to talk about. So while I watched the SONY press conference, I say watched – read read a live blog, I was waiting for information on new games. I don’t need a slim PS3, I already have a phat one. I was watching, Reading, for news on PSN titles.

I’ve always thought that the original games on PSN wipe the floor with XBLA (until this summer when XBLA knocked out some great games) So I was eager to see what we might be getting. Then I read the words Dead Nation and that it looked like a twin stick shooter with Zombies. Big deal, I said, we already have Burn Zombie Burn, but I still waited until the conference ended and searched for any videos I could find. I love me some Zeds.

How Effin’ amazing does that look?! Superb graphics, Left4Dead style visuals right down to a “boomer like” character, atmospheric lighting and shooting from twin sticks? Yes please!

When I first bought Burn Zombie Burn I was hoping for a twin stick shooter, but it was a mix between twin sticks and button controls. While still a great game the controls were lacklustre, Dead Nation looks to fix that whilst bringing with a more mature art style and theme. I for one seriously can’t wait for this game!

2009
08/19
CATEGORY
Blog Post
Game News
PS3
PSN
TAGS





1 comment