After a year of waiting and a last-moment delay, Rayman Legends will finally be available to all major dedicated gaming platforms (save for the Nintendo 3DS). This trailer is one that pats the game's back with accolades, review scores and comments from the gaming press. Rayman Legends releases in North America this Tuesday for Wii U, PS3, 360, PC, and Vita.
Showing posts with label 360. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 360. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Friday, June 1, 2012
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance (PS3, 360) E3 Trailer
Leave it to something associated to Hideo Kojima to have a stupid subtitle. Thankfully, Platinum Games is behind the game, so it is sure to have more action than waiting for exposition to play out. Watch this extended trailer showing off Raiden's hack and slash capabilities. Not for the squeamish indeed!
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Resident Evil 6 (PS3, 360) New Trailer
This trailer which comes from Capcom's Captivate press event has no qualms about spoiling a lot of the story regarding October's (the release date has been moved up) Resident Evil 6, the next mainline installment of the storied survival horror franchise, so be forewarned. Capcom has also announced that RE6 is not coming to Wii U. Better get used to that, Nintendo fans, as I'm sure the situation with third parties and Nintendo is not going to work out as well as you think it will next gen either.
Friday, April 6, 2012
Ninja Gaiden 3 (PS3, 360) Review
The first review of April and the review to begin the next 300 reviews, Ninja Gaiden 3 was an anticipated title of mine that has finally released. (It is also planned for the Wii U.) How is it? No need to wait for the answer. Let's find out together!
Known for his work on the popular fighting game franchise Dead or Alive and for his revival of Ninja Gaiden, developer Tomonobu Itagaki recently left Tecmo and Team Ninja to work on his own pursuits, most notably a new game called Devil's Third. There was a lot of concern regarding whether Team Ninja could pick up the pieces of Itagaki's departure and still craft a fine experience with installment number three of the Ninja Gaiden HD franchise. Unfortunately, the cause for worry was justified as Ninja Gaiden 3 does little to satisfy the action gamer's thirst for blood, fun gameplay, and fierce action.
In London, England, a terrorist group has taken over a residency, and they desire the presence of Ryu Hayabusa or they will continue to kill off hostages. The nimble ninja agrees and arrives at the residency where he meets a man dressed in a red robe, face obscured by a white mask, and head covered by a hood. During their encounter, the mysterious man, claiming to be a part of the Lords of Alchemy group, infects Ryu's right arm with a curse. The curse penetrates the skin, calling upon all the souls Ryu has slain, and will rot not only his arm but will grow to his body unless Ryu can come up with a cure. So not only does Hayabusa need to fend off the curse, but he must put a stop to the Lords of Alchemy's terror-filled crime spree. The story is much more pronounced than in previous Ninja Gaiden games, and it isn't for the better either. Long cutscenes (though not Metal Gear Solid bad) infect the title like Ryu's arm curse, and the game attempts to turn Ryu into a more human-like character with deeper emotions. These moments in the story are merely cringe-inducing and further verify that video game stories are rubbish.
Ninja Gaiden 3 follows a simple structure for its 8-10 campaign. You follow a linear path with no exploration to speak of, you slay rooms full of foes with various sword slashes and shuriken throws, and you move onto the next room or area. Getting lost is incredibly difficult to accomplish, but if you do somehow, you can always click in the right stick to light your path. In between sections there are opportunities to show off Ryu's platforming prowess through performing wall runs, using his kunai blades to climb off vertical walls, and utilizing poles to swing across gaps. Each checkpoint occurs after a given battle, so losing one's health (health is regenerated after every encounter) and dying isn't too punishing to the player. As you progress in the relatively short campaign, you receive new weapons such as a new sword (Ryu's Dragon Sword gets sucked up by his cursed arm) and a bow for attacking foes long-range.
Fighting is as streamlined as possible, and usually streamlined means dumbed down in video game public relations speak. That is exactly the definition of Ninja Gaiden 3's combat. You battle wave after wave of enemies with one of three different attacks: a weak attack, a strong attack which is good for taking down enemies with shields and/or great defense, and shurikens to trip up foes from afar. When engaging enemies, you really don't have a choice as to which baddie you give priority to. It seems like the game makes you lock onto which ever opponent it wants you to combat with. This can get frustrating when there is a goon blasting you with rockets, and all you want to do is take him out. Yet the game makes you continue to do battle with the people right next to you.
Additionally, most encounters with enemies are efforts in button-mashing and that is all. There were many rooms where my attention was diverted to something else, yet I still managed to clear the room. I imagine that difficulties beyond Normal make for a more interesting challenge which makes the dodging/evading mechanic more useful. That said, enemies take way too many hits to defeat, there is no real reason to experiment with new attack strategies as spamming moves seem to work well, and even though there is plenty of violence and blood to give the game its M ESRB rating, severing limbs and dismembering them has been eliminated. Furthermore, the camera is simply awful. It is persistent in changing angles and direction while in combat, so you are constantly fighting it to look at your desired target. Then there's the moving sections where you're on a monorail or what have you. I have not gotten a headache from a game in a long time, but Ninja Gaiden 3's spastic camera certainly gave me one.
By far for me the highlight of Ninja Gaiden 3 comes from its intense boss battles pitting you against war planes and mechs and screen-filling deities. This is where the God of War influence comes in with all of Ninja Gaiden 3's quick time events. Sure, they are a cheap way of separating the player from the actual action, but I would be lying if I said they didn't look cool. The time limit for each necessary input is very lax, so failing a QTE is almost something that the player needs to try to do. That notwithstanding, launching Ryu from a building, striking his sword into the cockpit of a military airplane, and sending it crashing to the ground while escaping only seconds away from the explosion is just plain bad ass.
Aside from the one and done solo campaign (really, what motivation will there be to play it again?), new to the series are a myriad of multiplayer modes such as Ninja Trials where you and another player try to endure horde after horde of ruthless enemies and Clan Battle which pits you in a Team Deathmatch-esque setting with up to seven other players. Ninja Trials won't take many players long to complete as there are but less than a dozen trials to actually partake in. In the online competitive multiplayer you start out as weak ninja, but as you play games you gain levels giving you new powers and customization options to make your silent warrior of death look unique from the pack. The actual fighting in the competitive multiplayer isn't going to win any awards for innovation or longevity. Most of the battles feel random as you mash on the attack buttons to slay your online opponents.
Even with its lackluster gameplay, Ninja Gaiden 3 is a beaut to look at. Gone are the shiny textures and characters of past titles in the series. For all the hack and slash action with rooms crawling with enemies that happens in the game, there is nary a case of slowdown. Everything appears to run at a steady framerate. From visuals to sound, despite the incredibly cheesy story, the voice work is excellently done. Though in battle you will hear the same taunts from thugs ad nauseum. Their sentences will sometimes cancel one another out just so they can repeat what they were going to utter. Also bad on the sound side is the music which is forgettable at best with loads of butt rock and atrocious at worst.
Team Ninja seems to have lost their way without the humility-lacking Tomonobu Itagaki at the helm. Ninja Gaiden 3 is a mess of boring, repetitive gameplay, an unwelcome emphasis on story, and an unneeded addition of multiplayer. The focus on less complexity and violence makes for a game that is... well, less intriguing of a title to experience. The game is not necessarily broken, but it is not necessarily all that entertaining to plop down and play through either. Unless your desire to resume the role of a ninja is strong, you're better off with one of the previous (see: better) installments in the franchise.
[SuperPhillip Says: 4.0/10]
Itagaki: (laughs)
Known for his work on the popular fighting game franchise Dead or Alive and for his revival of Ninja Gaiden, developer Tomonobu Itagaki recently left Tecmo and Team Ninja to work on his own pursuits, most notably a new game called Devil's Third. There was a lot of concern regarding whether Team Ninja could pick up the pieces of Itagaki's departure and still craft a fine experience with installment number three of the Ninja Gaiden HD franchise. Unfortunately, the cause for worry was justified as Ninja Gaiden 3 does little to satisfy the action gamer's thirst for blood, fun gameplay, and fierce action.
In London, England, a terrorist group has taken over a residency, and they desire the presence of Ryu Hayabusa or they will continue to kill off hostages. The nimble ninja agrees and arrives at the residency where he meets a man dressed in a red robe, face obscured by a white mask, and head covered by a hood. During their encounter, the mysterious man, claiming to be a part of the Lords of Alchemy group, infects Ryu's right arm with a curse. The curse penetrates the skin, calling upon all the souls Ryu has slain, and will rot not only his arm but will grow to his body unless Ryu can come up with a cure. So not only does Hayabusa need to fend off the curse, but he must put a stop to the Lords of Alchemy's terror-filled crime spree. The story is much more pronounced than in previous Ninja Gaiden games, and it isn't for the better either. Long cutscenes (though not Metal Gear Solid bad) infect the title like Ryu's arm curse, and the game attempts to turn Ryu into a more human-like character with deeper emotions. These moments in the story are merely cringe-inducing and further verify that video game stories are rubbish.
This hooded man holds the key to Ryu's curse.
Ninja Gaiden 3 follows a simple structure for its 8-10 campaign. You follow a linear path with no exploration to speak of, you slay rooms full of foes with various sword slashes and shuriken throws, and you move onto the next room or area. Getting lost is incredibly difficult to accomplish, but if you do somehow, you can always click in the right stick to light your path. In between sections there are opportunities to show off Ryu's platforming prowess through performing wall runs, using his kunai blades to climb off vertical walls, and utilizing poles to swing across gaps. Each checkpoint occurs after a given battle, so losing one's health (health is regenerated after every encounter) and dying isn't too punishing to the player. As you progress in the relatively short campaign, you receive new weapons such as a new sword (Ryu's Dragon Sword gets sucked up by his cursed arm) and a bow for attacking foes long-range.
Yeah, I'm sure this guy's internal injuries are just fine.
Fighting is as streamlined as possible, and usually streamlined means dumbed down in video game public relations speak. That is exactly the definition of Ninja Gaiden 3's combat. You battle wave after wave of enemies with one of three different attacks: a weak attack, a strong attack which is good for taking down enemies with shields and/or great defense, and shurikens to trip up foes from afar. When engaging enemies, you really don't have a choice as to which baddie you give priority to. It seems like the game makes you lock onto which ever opponent it wants you to combat with. This can get frustrating when there is a goon blasting you with rockets, and all you want to do is take him out. Yet the game makes you continue to do battle with the people right next to you.
Even mechanical foes need some tough love.
Additionally, most encounters with enemies are efforts in button-mashing and that is all. There were many rooms where my attention was diverted to something else, yet I still managed to clear the room. I imagine that difficulties beyond Normal make for a more interesting challenge which makes the dodging/evading mechanic more useful. That said, enemies take way too many hits to defeat, there is no real reason to experiment with new attack strategies as spamming moves seem to work well, and even though there is plenty of violence and blood to give the game its M ESRB rating, severing limbs and dismembering them has been eliminated. Furthermore, the camera is simply awful. It is persistent in changing angles and direction while in combat, so you are constantly fighting it to look at your desired target. Then there's the moving sections where you're on a monorail or what have you. I have not gotten a headache from a game in a long time, but Ninja Gaiden 3's spastic camera certainly gave me one.
By far for me the highlight of Ninja Gaiden 3 comes from its intense boss battles pitting you against war planes and mechs and screen-filling deities. This is where the God of War influence comes in with all of Ninja Gaiden 3's quick time events. Sure, they are a cheap way of separating the player from the actual action, but I would be lying if I said they didn't look cool. The time limit for each necessary input is very lax, so failing a QTE is almost something that the player needs to try to do. That notwithstanding, launching Ryu from a building, striking his sword into the cockpit of a military airplane, and sending it crashing to the ground while escaping only seconds away from the explosion is just plain bad ass.
Red is a popular color to see in Ninja Gaiden 3.
Aside from the one and done solo campaign (really, what motivation will there be to play it again?), new to the series are a myriad of multiplayer modes such as Ninja Trials where you and another player try to endure horde after horde of ruthless enemies and Clan Battle which pits you in a Team Deathmatch-esque setting with up to seven other players. Ninja Trials won't take many players long to complete as there are but less than a dozen trials to actually partake in. In the online competitive multiplayer you start out as weak ninja, but as you play games you gain levels giving you new powers and customization options to make your silent warrior of death look unique from the pack. The actual fighting in the competitive multiplayer isn't going to win any awards for innovation or longevity. Most of the battles feel random as you mash on the attack buttons to slay your online opponents.
Your online escapades will consist of
cooperative and competitive multiplayer action.
cooperative and competitive multiplayer action.
Even with its lackluster gameplay, Ninja Gaiden 3 is a beaut to look at. Gone are the shiny textures and characters of past titles in the series. For all the hack and slash action with rooms crawling with enemies that happens in the game, there is nary a case of slowdown. Everything appears to run at a steady framerate. From visuals to sound, despite the incredibly cheesy story, the voice work is excellently done. Though in battle you will hear the same taunts from thugs ad nauseum. Their sentences will sometimes cancel one another out just so they can repeat what they were going to utter. Also bad on the sound side is the music which is forgettable at best with loads of butt rock and atrocious at worst.
Such is the life of your everyday henchman.
Team Ninja seems to have lost their way without the humility-lacking Tomonobu Itagaki at the helm. Ninja Gaiden 3 is a mess of boring, repetitive gameplay, an unwelcome emphasis on story, and an unneeded addition of multiplayer. The focus on less complexity and violence makes for a game that is... well, less intriguing of a title to experience. The game is not necessarily broken, but it is not necessarily all that entertaining to plop down and play through either. Unless your desire to resume the role of a ninja is strong, you're better off with one of the previous (see: better) installments in the franchise.
[SuperPhillip Says: 4.0/10]
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes (PS3, 360, Wii, DS, 3DS, PSV) First Trailer
Do you like the Lego series of games? I feel they exude a splendid type of charm that most games cannot match. The trend seems to continue with Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes for all major platforms. Nothing gets my bat senses tingling more than Danny Elfman's 1989 score playing with some stirring gameplay! Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes shows us its might this summer.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 2 (PS3, 360) First Trailer
GameSpot has the exclusive first trailer of the Spring 2012 release Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 2. However, I'm not about to link to that garbage site. Instead, how about you take a look at this YouTube mirror of the trailer? Certainly looks like something Dimps would put out...
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 2 (PS3, 360) First Screens
Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 wasn't very good. However, Sega and Sonic Team have created an entirely new graphical and physics engine to ensure that part two doesn't suffer the same kinks and mistakes as part one. The addition of Tails and rumored co-op online play all lead me to believe that even if this game doesn't gel with me it will still be better than Episode 1 (though that task isn't necessarily difficult to achieve). For the time being, see these first screens from Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 2.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
12 in '12: Most Wanted Games
If you hadn't realized it by now, it is a new year. Maybe you were still in your Y2K bunker, or you were still on a New Year's Eve bender. Regardless, with a new year comes new games for the masses to play and enjoy. This list of twelve games is my most anticipated titles (that have been announced thus far) for the year 2012. 12 in '12. Makes enough sense, does it not? Note: The games that follow are really in no particular order.
Resident Evil 6 (PS3, 360)
Announced late last week for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 (I hope it's coming to Wii U as that platform needs all the third-party support it can get), Resident Evil 6 takes it to the player like an axe to a zombie's forehead. Leon S. Kennedy returns as does the boulder-punching Chris Redfield in what looks to be a return to the zombies of old. The action is faster with swifter zombies, the story seems even more convoluted, and the set pieces (at least from the trailer) look to be incredible. Resident Evil 6 appears to conclude the triple does of Resident Evil with Revelations (3DS), Operation Raccoon City (PS3, 360), and this game. If you still haven't had enough RE by the end of this game, perhaps you should see a specialist about your condition...
Tales of Graces f (PS3)
Originally appearing on the Wii in the form of simply Tales of Graces, Namco Bandai couldn't resist getting the game into more people's hands with the upgraded Tales of Graces f. Unlike the Wii iteration, however, f is actually coming stateside in mid-March. I've been craving a colorful action RPG, so Tales of Graces f seems to fit that mold just perfectly. Sure, I might have to sit through a trope-ridden game full of anime cliches and preteen characters, but as long as the gameplay is up to snuff, I will persevere through. It helps that the art style is immensely captivating.
Tales of the Abyss (3DS)
I have been craving for a 3DS RPG since I received the system in late August of last year. Soon my wait will soon be over when Namco Bandai releases Tales of the Abyss 3D to North America. Most PAL players have already been able to snag a copy and encompass themselves into the world the game presents. Tales of the Abyss originally came out for the PlayStation 2 in 2006. Many were knee-deep in the 360, PS3, and Wii by then, so the game was forgotten by most, yours truly included. Now I will rectify my error through playing this game in full 3D with little in the way of framerate problems and poor loading times that plagued the PS2 original.
Resident Evil: Revelations (3DS)
Some critics of recent Resident Evil titles such as Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 5 have complained about the larger focus on action than suspense. RE4 managed to walk a fine line between the two, but RE5 pretty much featured action front and center. Capcom aims to put the horror back into survival horror with Resident Evil: Revelations, a game currently exclusive to the 3DS. However, we all know how port-happy Capcom can be. Just look at RE4 which has appeared on everything from the current gen consoles to iOS. Putting a greater emphasis on frights, close quarters combat, and claustrophobia-inducing corridors, Revelations seems to hark back to the olden days of the franchise where horror didn't take a backseat to the action.
Kid Icarus: Uprising (3DS)
After twenty-five years or so, Pit is back in a starring role! Sakurai-san (I find it to be better than Mr. Sakurai) and his team at Project Sora have developed one half an on-rails shooter a la Star Fox 64 and one half a ground combat game in Kid Icarus: Uprising. The game offers the ability for Pit to earn new weapons like claws, daggers, and bows in his quest to oust the evil Medusa and her many minions. Thankfully, Pit isn't alone as he has the guidance of Palutena to assist him in his journey. Personally, I'm concerned about the controls of the game as any game that comes packed with a stand can't have optimal controls. Regardless, I am still excited for this game even more so than I was when it was first announced alongside the 3DS.
Mario Party 9 (Wii)
Since Hudson is being killed off by those jerks at Konami, ND Cube, the team behind the stellar and fun Wii Party, are taking their shot at developing the newest Mario Party. Unlike 8, this one is built exclusively for Wii and not just putting GameCube assets and transferring them over to the Wii. New to the series is Party Adventure mode where four opponents travel together, competing against bosses and taking on one another in mini-games to earn Mini Stars. The player with the most Mini Stars at the conclusion of the board wins. While there is no online play to speak of, I am really looking forward to Mario Party 9. It's always a hot series to play with friends or family, and nine looks to be no different.
Xenoblade Chronicles (Wii)
Fans were crying (maybe even literally) for Nintendo of America to localize this game for North American audiences. Somehow they got their wish albeit with a caveat. The game will only be available on Nintendo's online shop or through GameStop. Since I cannot stand GameStop, I'll be going with the lesser of two evils and ordering the game through Nintendo directly. Many have been stating that this isn't just a tremendous RPG because it's on Wii, but it's a tremendous RPG because it blurs the line between JRPGs and WRPGs. Add in some intense combat and a plethora of quests to partake in, and you have a highly anticipated title on your hands.
Final Fantasy XIII-2 (PS3, 360)
Set three years after a game I haven't even played yet, Final Fantasy XIII-2 tells the tale of Serah and Noel who go searching for Lightning, the heroine of the original game who has gone missing. Gone are the corridor dungeons and areas of XIII that limited exploration severely. The world is much more open and nonlinear. It just begs for players to invest hours upon hours combing every corner, every inch, every plateau in search of adventure. I'm hoping that I don't need much knowledge on the plot of Final Fantasy XIII to fully enjoy its direct sequel. Regardless, as long as the fun is there, so will I!
Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational (PSV)
Fooooooore! Chip, drive, and putt all in the palm of your hand with Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational which is essentially Hot Shots Golf 6. You know, Sony gets flak for not investing their A teams to develop games on their hand-helds, but what do you call this? Clap Hanz is definitely a first-tier developer for Sony, and I have no doubt it will show with World Invitational. Yes, I probably am not getting a Vita anytime soon (at least not in the year 2012), but I can still anticipate its titles. I love arcade golf games, and even though Out of Bounds was depressingly disappointing, I have faith in the team behind this game.
Uncharted: Golden Abyss (PSV)
Sony Bend might not be as well as the caliber of Naughty Dog, but they are doing their best to emulate the source material. Uncharted: Golden Abyss takes the dashing charm of Nathan Drake to the small screen in one big adventure. Chuck grenades, put the accelerometer to ample use, and take down baddies both large and small in this journey into the Golden Abyss. I heard that Sony Bend was wanting to perhaps patch online play into the game post-launch. That would add even more of an incentive to plop down the cash and pick up what will probably be one of the Vita's first excellent games.
LittleBigPlanet (PSV)
I must have spent around 100 hours tinkering with own levels and playing other people's creations in both LittleBigPlanet and LittleBigPlanet 2. LittleBigPlanet 2 won runner-up at the SPC Best of 2011 Awards this past month, so it is only natural that I look forward to the all-new Vita iteration. Nearly all of the Vita's functions are put to good use. Need to get a platform over to Sackboy? Tilt the device towards Sackboy. Need to get some platforms to protrude forward for Sackboy to jump on them? Use the back touch screen to push them forward. If online play is a feature, then this installment of LittleBigPlanet seems like a no-brainer.
Wipeout 2048 (PSV)
The earliest edition of Wipeout offers wider tracks and 30 fps for some fast and frenetic racing action. While I am in the camp that Wipeout doesn't hold a candle to the F-Zero series (Who can beat Captain Falcon after all?), the series is still an outstanding one definitely. I might not be a pro at the franchise (Wipeout HD kicked my butt all over the place), I still have a lot of fun playing the games. Pure and Pulse on the PSP were great in this regard. If the track design of the demo is anything to note, then there are going to be some insane and devious designs to the courses indeed. Top it all off with online play, and you have a must buy for me.
So, now you have my list of twelve games for 2012, and we haven't even seen what E3 holds for the industry! Do you have a list of your own of twelve games that interest you for the year? If so, hit me up with it in the comments section.
Resident Evil 6 (PS3, 360)
Announced late last week for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 (I hope it's coming to Wii U as that platform needs all the third-party support it can get), Resident Evil 6 takes it to the player like an axe to a zombie's forehead. Leon S. Kennedy returns as does the boulder-punching Chris Redfield in what looks to be a return to the zombies of old. The action is faster with swifter zombies, the story seems even more convoluted, and the set pieces (at least from the trailer) look to be incredible. Resident Evil 6 appears to conclude the triple does of Resident Evil with Revelations (3DS), Operation Raccoon City (PS3, 360), and this game. If you still haven't had enough RE by the end of this game, perhaps you should see a specialist about your condition...
Tales of Graces f (PS3)
Originally appearing on the Wii in the form of simply Tales of Graces, Namco Bandai couldn't resist getting the game into more people's hands with the upgraded Tales of Graces f. Unlike the Wii iteration, however, f is actually coming stateside in mid-March. I've been craving a colorful action RPG, so Tales of Graces f seems to fit that mold just perfectly. Sure, I might have to sit through a trope-ridden game full of anime cliches and preteen characters, but as long as the gameplay is up to snuff, I will persevere through. It helps that the art style is immensely captivating.
Tales of the Abyss (3DS)
I have been craving for a 3DS RPG since I received the system in late August of last year. Soon my wait will soon be over when Namco Bandai releases Tales of the Abyss 3D to North America. Most PAL players have already been able to snag a copy and encompass themselves into the world the game presents. Tales of the Abyss originally came out for the PlayStation 2 in 2006. Many were knee-deep in the 360, PS3, and Wii by then, so the game was forgotten by most, yours truly included. Now I will rectify my error through playing this game in full 3D with little in the way of framerate problems and poor loading times that plagued the PS2 original.
Resident Evil: Revelations (3DS)
Some critics of recent Resident Evil titles such as Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 5 have complained about the larger focus on action than suspense. RE4 managed to walk a fine line between the two, but RE5 pretty much featured action front and center. Capcom aims to put the horror back into survival horror with Resident Evil: Revelations, a game currently exclusive to the 3DS. However, we all know how port-happy Capcom can be. Just look at RE4 which has appeared on everything from the current gen consoles to iOS. Putting a greater emphasis on frights, close quarters combat, and claustrophobia-inducing corridors, Revelations seems to hark back to the olden days of the franchise where horror didn't take a backseat to the action.
Kid Icarus: Uprising (3DS)
After twenty-five years or so, Pit is back in a starring role! Sakurai-san (I find it to be better than Mr. Sakurai) and his team at Project Sora have developed one half an on-rails shooter a la Star Fox 64 and one half a ground combat game in Kid Icarus: Uprising. The game offers the ability for Pit to earn new weapons like claws, daggers, and bows in his quest to oust the evil Medusa and her many minions. Thankfully, Pit isn't alone as he has the guidance of Palutena to assist him in his journey. Personally, I'm concerned about the controls of the game as any game that comes packed with a stand can't have optimal controls. Regardless, I am still excited for this game even more so than I was when it was first announced alongside the 3DS.
Mario Party 9 (Wii)
Since Hudson is being killed off by those jerks at Konami, ND Cube, the team behind the stellar and fun Wii Party, are taking their shot at developing the newest Mario Party. Unlike 8, this one is built exclusively for Wii and not just putting GameCube assets and transferring them over to the Wii. New to the series is Party Adventure mode where four opponents travel together, competing against bosses and taking on one another in mini-games to earn Mini Stars. The player with the most Mini Stars at the conclusion of the board wins. While there is no online play to speak of, I am really looking forward to Mario Party 9. It's always a hot series to play with friends or family, and nine looks to be no different.
Xenoblade Chronicles (Wii)
Fans were crying (maybe even literally) for Nintendo of America to localize this game for North American audiences. Somehow they got their wish albeit with a caveat. The game will only be available on Nintendo's online shop or through GameStop. Since I cannot stand GameStop, I'll be going with the lesser of two evils and ordering the game through Nintendo directly. Many have been stating that this isn't just a tremendous RPG because it's on Wii, but it's a tremendous RPG because it blurs the line between JRPGs and WRPGs. Add in some intense combat and a plethora of quests to partake in, and you have a highly anticipated title on your hands.
Final Fantasy XIII-2 (PS3, 360)
Set three years after a game I haven't even played yet, Final Fantasy XIII-2 tells the tale of Serah and Noel who go searching for Lightning, the heroine of the original game who has gone missing. Gone are the corridor dungeons and areas of XIII that limited exploration severely. The world is much more open and nonlinear. It just begs for players to invest hours upon hours combing every corner, every inch, every plateau in search of adventure. I'm hoping that I don't need much knowledge on the plot of Final Fantasy XIII to fully enjoy its direct sequel. Regardless, as long as the fun is there, so will I!
Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational (PSV)
Fooooooore! Chip, drive, and putt all in the palm of your hand with Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational which is essentially Hot Shots Golf 6. You know, Sony gets flak for not investing their A teams to develop games on their hand-helds, but what do you call this? Clap Hanz is definitely a first-tier developer for Sony, and I have no doubt it will show with World Invitational. Yes, I probably am not getting a Vita anytime soon (at least not in the year 2012), but I can still anticipate its titles. I love arcade golf games, and even though Out of Bounds was depressingly disappointing, I have faith in the team behind this game.
Uncharted: Golden Abyss (PSV)
Sony Bend might not be as well as the caliber of Naughty Dog, but they are doing their best to emulate the source material. Uncharted: Golden Abyss takes the dashing charm of Nathan Drake to the small screen in one big adventure. Chuck grenades, put the accelerometer to ample use, and take down baddies both large and small in this journey into the Golden Abyss. I heard that Sony Bend was wanting to perhaps patch online play into the game post-launch. That would add even more of an incentive to plop down the cash and pick up what will probably be one of the Vita's first excellent games.
LittleBigPlanet (PSV)
I must have spent around 100 hours tinkering with own levels and playing other people's creations in both LittleBigPlanet and LittleBigPlanet 2. LittleBigPlanet 2 won runner-up at the SPC Best of 2011 Awards this past month, so it is only natural that I look forward to the all-new Vita iteration. Nearly all of the Vita's functions are put to good use. Need to get a platform over to Sackboy? Tilt the device towards Sackboy. Need to get some platforms to protrude forward for Sackboy to jump on them? Use the back touch screen to push them forward. If online play is a feature, then this installment of LittleBigPlanet seems like a no-brainer.
Wipeout 2048 (PSV)
The earliest edition of Wipeout offers wider tracks and 30 fps for some fast and frenetic racing action. While I am in the camp that Wipeout doesn't hold a candle to the F-Zero series (Who can beat Captain Falcon after all?), the series is still an outstanding one definitely. I might not be a pro at the franchise (Wipeout HD kicked my butt all over the place), I still have a lot of fun playing the games. Pure and Pulse on the PSP were great in this regard. If the track design of the demo is anything to note, then there are going to be some insane and devious designs to the courses indeed. Top it all off with online play, and you have a must buy for me.
===
So, now you have my list of twelve games for 2012, and we haven't even seen what E3 holds for the industry! Do you have a list of your own of twelve games that interest you for the year? If so, hit me up with it in the comments section.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Resident Evil 6 (PS3, 360) First Trailer
After rumors of a big reveal, Capcom has pulled up the curtain on Resident Evil 6, the next chapter to their popular survival horror series. Not only is Leon back in action, but so is Chris Redfield. Will these two titans partner up somewhere along the line? The game is set to launch on November 20th this year, and we're bound to see more at E3 this year for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC (I don't cover PC, so it isn't listed in the story heading). Hopefully a Wii U release is also on the way. Goodness knows that platform needs all the third-party support it can get. As it stands, though, scope out this intense trailer full of speedy zombies, bright cities, and debonair special agents delivering axes to foreheads.
SSX (PS3, 360) Online Features Trailer
It seems this gen is prime for revivals. We've seen Turok, Mortal Kombat, Donkey Kong Country Returns, New Super Mario Bros., and a slew of others. Next on the list is SSX, a series that made its debut as a launch title for the PlayStation 2. This video shows off an online mode called Explore. I'd explain it, but that would be redundant, would it not? The fine fellow in this trailer does an excellent job discussing the ins and outs of Explore mode and the ability to play against user-created ghosts.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Rayman Origins (PS3, 360, Wii) Review
The next game I'll be reviewing won runner-up for Best Multiplatform Game at the SPC Best of 2011 Awards, so you know it's of quality. If you have any hesitations in picking this game up, stop it and run to your local game retailer of choice. Toys 'R Us had been selling the game at the drastic price of $19.99. My pleas aside, here's my review of Rayman Origins which is also coming to Nintendo 3DS and the PlayStation Vita.
The 2D platforming genre has seen a bit of a resurgence as of late with everyone from Nintendo to Capcom to indie studios producing and developing games cut from the same 2D cloth. After an extended hiatus and a profusion of games starring the precocious Rabbids, Rayman is finally returning to the spotlight and starring in his own game, Rayman Origins. Coming from Ubisoft of all places who are not known for their high quality games of late other than Assassin's Creed, Rayman Origins is certainly one pleasant surprise worthy of your gaming time.
Rayman Origins starts out with the limbless hero and his trusty friend Globox resting heavily in their home in the Glade of Dreams. However, when their loud, obnoxious snoring bothers their downstairs neighbors in the Land of the Livid Dead, all-out war begins! The villains then capture the small creatures known as Electoons in small cages and imprison the ability-giving Nymphs as well. Rayman, Globox, and two Teensies all join up to explore worlds big and small to right the wrongs of the patrons of the Land of the Livid Dead so they can get back to what they love doing-- resting and snacking back at the Glade of Dreams! The story of Rayman Origins is unobtrusive for the most part with small portions of dialogue scattered throughout the game. Most of the time, though, actions speak louder than words, and that is the case with Rayman's latest adventure.
No matter which character you choose, they all have the same amount of moves at their disposal. As you progress through the game and rescue Nymphs from their cages, they teach you new moves such as the ability to hover for a limited amount of time, the ability to swim, to run up walls, and to shrink at specially marked locations. There are four characters to select from: Rayman, his overweight buddy Globox, and two Teensies. There might be some small differences between characters, but it's nothing major. You can sprint, slap enemies or other players even, wall jump, and of course since this is a platformer, leap into the air onto platforms and enemy heads.
Like New Super Mario Bros. Wii and LittleBigPlanet, Rayman Origins allows you to team up with up to three other players and venture through the 9+ unique worlds and 60+ levels the game has to offer. Players can interact with one another by slapping each other. This can actually help by giving you extra height during a jump to reach otherwise-inaccessible items and areas. When someone perishes (you can only get hit once before you die unless you are carrying a heart), they turn into a bubble a la New Super Mario Bros. Wii. Unlike that game, however, you can control the bubble 100% completely and have your alive friends rescue you. If all players end up inside bubbles, you begin from a checkpoint, and as there are an ample amount to be found, retrying areas of the game is never a chore. Playing with friends is much easier than playing alone as there's a much wider margin for error when teaming up. Unfortunately there is no online play to speak of which is a huge oversight. A game like this begs to have online play. Regardless, get a roomful of buddies, and you're bound to have a slap-happy good time.
The first five worlds are played in a linear fashion, but once you clear that fifth world, you gain the choice of going to any of four worlds. You get to clear them in any order you wish. The levels are highly creative, ranging from deserts full of instruments like drums, oboes, and guitar strings to frozen glaciers infested with deadly fruit. Each level introduces a new gameplay element to spice things up. One level you'll be cautiously avoiding being squished by gears, mashers, and pistons while another you'll be running from a incredibly hungry creature or flying on top of mosquitoes (these on-rails shooter segments occur in every world). In this regard Rayman Origins reminds me very much of Donkey Kong Country and its three sequels.
The comparisons to Donkey Kong Country don't end there, either. In each level there are Electoon cages hidden away in bonus rooms. These are hidden in fiendish locations usually just off the screen in a secret area of a level, but the faint cry of "help me" usually assists in knowing the coordinates of a bonus room. In these bonus rooms the goal is to clear out every enemy and then bust open the cage to free the Electoons. There are three cages in every platforming level with two being in hidden rooms and the third being the conclusion of the level.
Apart from Electoons, there are Skull Coins found in hard-to-reach, dangerous, or hidden locations in the game's levels. If you can manage to hold onto them for a few seconds, you'll earn twenty-five Lums (pronounced "looms"). Lums are yellow specs of light that are like the coins of the Super Mario Bros. series. The point of Lums is to gather as many as possible so at the end of a level you earn Lum Medallions for reaching a certain total (100, 150, 200, 250, 300, etc.). Collecting enough of said medallions opens the way to the most challenging levels in Rayman Origins.
These levels have you chasing after a rogue treasure chest who flees from Rayman and friends when it gets the thought in its head that our heroes want to clobber it open. The trick to these levels is to constantly be at top speed as you navigate falling platforms, deadly obstacles, and try to keep up with the treasure chest until the conclusion of the level. Catching up with the treasure chest nets you one of ten Skull Teeth. When all ten have been collected, the way to the most difficult world in the game, the Land of the Livid Dead, is opened. These treasure chest levels are mostly about trial and error as well as high precision platforming. One small mistake can be the difference between victory and defeat, but the levels are built around the idea of "just one more try" and "almost have it" that repeated tries are never too annoying. The skills you get from completing these levels assist you in the main game. Not all is well with these levels, however, as one early level has a glitch near the tail-end which can instantly kill all players if the jump isn't exactly right. This caused a lot of frustration, and there's no excuse for it. How could the developers not find this?
Moving on, the first half of the game does not feature many bosses at all, if any. Instead the game slowly introduces you to new gameplay concepts and trials. It's a steady challenge and a fun adventure. When you reach the second half, however, that is when each world concludes with a traditional three-hit-and-they're-dead boss battle. Each one has you dodging the boss's attack, and then hitting the giant sore that stands as its weak point. One battle has you hovering in the air while avoiding being sucked up by a colossal cuckoo bird while another has you fighting inside the belly of a beast with a severe and hazardous case of heartburn! The encounters are enjoyable enough and divides up the game quite nicely.
After a level has been finished, you can opt to try out a Time Attack challenge. These have you racing against the clock and competing to best a set time. You earn a medal for each time you successfully beat. Between trying to finish the Land of the Livid Dead and gathering every Electoon Medallion, there is no shortage of things to do in Rayman Origins.
There is no question that Rayman Origins is one gorgeous game. Using a new graphics engine, the UbiArt Framework, has allowed Michel Ancel and his team to create lush worlds teeming with beautiful backgrounds and crisp and colorful characters. The fact that it is all hand-drawn is astounding as well. If you needed a pick for the "are games art?" debate, you should definitely choose Rayman Origins as your evidence. The game's soundtrack is as crazy and insane as the visuals of the game, featuring vocals (Chipmunks, anyone?), percussion, brass, and a myriad of memorable melodies that you cannot help but bop your head to. Case in point, Rayman Origins delivers and delivers big time.
Rayman Origins is a nice cross between New Super Mario Bros. Wii and the Donkey Kong Country series in that it has awesome local multiplayer play, it constantly introduces new gameplay mechanics into the fray, and the presentation is without a doubt one of the best-- if not the best-- of 2011. From the "just there" story to the ingenious level design, Rayman Origins is sadly an overlooked gem that should without question be in every serious platforming fan's library. Rayman might not have limbs, but he undoubtedly has heart.
[SuperPhillip Says: 9.25/10]
No Limbs? No Problem!
The 2D platforming genre has seen a bit of a resurgence as of late with everyone from Nintendo to Capcom to indie studios producing and developing games cut from the same 2D cloth. After an extended hiatus and a profusion of games starring the precocious Rabbids, Rayman is finally returning to the spotlight and starring in his own game, Rayman Origins. Coming from Ubisoft of all places who are not known for their high quality games of late other than Assassin's Creed, Rayman Origins is certainly one pleasant surprise worthy of your gaming time.
Rayman Origins starts out with the limbless hero and his trusty friend Globox resting heavily in their home in the Glade of Dreams. However, when their loud, obnoxious snoring bothers their downstairs neighbors in the Land of the Livid Dead, all-out war begins! The villains then capture the small creatures known as Electoons in small cages and imprison the ability-giving Nymphs as well. Rayman, Globox, and two Teensies all join up to explore worlds big and small to right the wrongs of the patrons of the Land of the Livid Dead so they can get back to what they love doing-- resting and snacking back at the Glade of Dreams! The story of Rayman Origins is unobtrusive for the most part with small portions of dialogue scattered throughout the game. Most of the time, though, actions speak louder than words, and that is the case with Rayman's latest adventure.
Rayman marches to the beat of a different drum.
No matter which character you choose, they all have the same amount of moves at their disposal. As you progress through the game and rescue Nymphs from their cages, they teach you new moves such as the ability to hover for a limited amount of time, the ability to swim, to run up walls, and to shrink at specially marked locations. There are four characters to select from: Rayman, his overweight buddy Globox, and two Teensies. There might be some small differences between characters, but it's nothing major. You can sprint, slap enemies or other players even, wall jump, and of course since this is a platformer, leap into the air onto platforms and enemy heads.
Like New Super Mario Bros. Wii and LittleBigPlanet, Rayman Origins allows you to team up with up to three other players and venture through the 9+ unique worlds and 60+ levels the game has to offer. Players can interact with one another by slapping each other. This can actually help by giving you extra height during a jump to reach otherwise-inaccessible items and areas. When someone perishes (you can only get hit once before you die unless you are carrying a heart), they turn into a bubble a la New Super Mario Bros. Wii. Unlike that game, however, you can control the bubble 100% completely and have your alive friends rescue you. If all players end up inside bubbles, you begin from a checkpoint, and as there are an ample amount to be found, retrying areas of the game is never a chore. Playing with friends is much easier than playing alone as there's a much wider margin for error when teaming up. Unfortunately there is no online play to speak of which is a huge oversight. A game like this begs to have online play. Regardless, get a roomful of buddies, and you're bound to have a slap-happy good time.
The first five worlds are played in a linear fashion, but once you clear that fifth world, you gain the choice of going to any of four worlds. You get to clear them in any order you wish. The levels are highly creative, ranging from deserts full of instruments like drums, oboes, and guitar strings to frozen glaciers infested with deadly fruit. Each level introduces a new gameplay element to spice things up. One level you'll be cautiously avoiding being squished by gears, mashers, and pistons while another you'll be running from a incredibly hungry creature or flying on top of mosquitoes (these on-rails shooter segments occur in every world). In this regard Rayman Origins reminds me very much of Donkey Kong Country and its three sequels.
These shooter segments break up the platforming gameplay.
The comparisons to Donkey Kong Country don't end there, either. In each level there are Electoon cages hidden away in bonus rooms. These are hidden in fiendish locations usually just off the screen in a secret area of a level, but the faint cry of "help me" usually assists in knowing the coordinates of a bonus room. In these bonus rooms the goal is to clear out every enemy and then bust open the cage to free the Electoons. There are three cages in every platforming level with two being in hidden rooms and the third being the conclusion of the level.
Apart from Electoons, there are Skull Coins found in hard-to-reach, dangerous, or hidden locations in the game's levels. If you can manage to hold onto them for a few seconds, you'll earn twenty-five Lums (pronounced "looms"). Lums are yellow specs of light that are like the coins of the Super Mario Bros. series. The point of Lums is to gather as many as possible so at the end of a level you earn Lum Medallions for reaching a certain total (100, 150, 200, 250, 300, etc.). Collecting enough of said medallions opens the way to the most challenging levels in Rayman Origins.
Now I know what a tin can feels like!
These levels have you chasing after a rogue treasure chest who flees from Rayman and friends when it gets the thought in its head that our heroes want to clobber it open. The trick to these levels is to constantly be at top speed as you navigate falling platforms, deadly obstacles, and try to keep up with the treasure chest until the conclusion of the level. Catching up with the treasure chest nets you one of ten Skull Teeth. When all ten have been collected, the way to the most difficult world in the game, the Land of the Livid Dead, is opened. These treasure chest levels are mostly about trial and error as well as high precision platforming. One small mistake can be the difference between victory and defeat, but the levels are built around the idea of "just one more try" and "almost have it" that repeated tries are never too annoying. The skills you get from completing these levels assist you in the main game. Not all is well with these levels, however, as one early level has a glitch near the tail-end which can instantly kill all players if the jump isn't exactly right. This caused a lot of frustration, and there's no excuse for it. How could the developers not find this?
Moving on, the first half of the game does not feature many bosses at all, if any. Instead the game slowly introduces you to new gameplay concepts and trials. It's a steady challenge and a fun adventure. When you reach the second half, however, that is when each world concludes with a traditional three-hit-and-they're-dead boss battle. Each one has you dodging the boss's attack, and then hitting the giant sore that stands as its weak point. One battle has you hovering in the air while avoiding being sucked up by a colossal cuckoo bird while another has you fighting inside the belly of a beast with a severe and hazardous case of heartburn! The encounters are enjoyable enough and divides up the game quite nicely.
The boss fights are your typical three hit affairs.
After a level has been finished, you can opt to try out a Time Attack challenge. These have you racing against the clock and competing to best a set time. You earn a medal for each time you successfully beat. Between trying to finish the Land of the Livid Dead and gathering every Electoon Medallion, there is no shortage of things to do in Rayman Origins.
There is no question that Rayman Origins is one gorgeous game. Using a new graphics engine, the UbiArt Framework, has allowed Michel Ancel and his team to create lush worlds teeming with beautiful backgrounds and crisp and colorful characters. The fact that it is all hand-drawn is astounding as well. If you needed a pick for the "are games art?" debate, you should definitely choose Rayman Origins as your evidence. The game's soundtrack is as crazy and insane as the visuals of the game, featuring vocals (Chipmunks, anyone?), percussion, brass, and a myriad of memorable melodies that you cannot help but bop your head to. Case in point, Rayman Origins delivers and delivers big time.
Leave it to Rayman to slap some sense into his enemies!
Rayman Origins is a nice cross between New Super Mario Bros. Wii and the Donkey Kong Country series in that it has awesome local multiplayer play, it constantly introduces new gameplay mechanics into the fray, and the presentation is without a doubt one of the best-- if not the best-- of 2011. From the "just there" story to the ingenious level design, Rayman Origins is sadly an overlooked gem that should without question be in every serious platforming fan's library. Rayman might not have limbs, but he undoubtedly has heart.
[SuperPhillip Says: 9.25/10]
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Saints Row: The Third (PS3, 360) Review
Saints Row was a new IP from this generation that has done well for itself. Volition, too, has done well for itself even with past rumors of THQ perhaps cancelling off its (THQ's, that is) 2014 lineup. THQ has commented and stated that these rumors are false, thankfully. There's been enough closures of studios thanks to the HD twins and the Wii (mostly the HD twins and the broken publisher/developer system). That said, this all-new review is based on nearly thirty hours of playtime, so I've explored the ins and outs of Steelport to the very best of my abilities. Let's see if it was worth it with my review of Saints Row: The Third.
The sandbox genre was immensely popular last generation thanks to the help of Grand Theft Auto III. Since its release there have been plenty of imitators, some good, some bad, but they failed to capture the spirit of the original source. This generation we've seen Just Cause and Saints Row try their hand at the open-world formula to varying degrees of success. This time around Volition is at it again with the third installment to the popular Saints Row series. The Saints go marching in with their third outing, but should you go marching in with them?
The Saints have moved from the cramped city streets of Stilwater and have traveled to the expansive metropolis of Steelport. However, they have completely sold out. Members of the Saints appear in TV commercials, they have their names plastered on clothing stores, energy drinks-- you name it, and the Saints probably have their collective hands dabbling in it. When a bank heist goes wrong, a rival group of gangs known as The Syndicate move in while the Saints are at their most vulnerable. They kill off Johnny Gat, the face of the Saints, and proceed to make life miserable for the gang, cutting off their access to funds and much more. The goal is clear for the Saints: it is to get revenge for the death of Johnny, cause hell for The Syndicate, and take over Steelport in the name of the Saints. The story itself is completely off-the-wall and bonkers. It never takes itself seriously which is somewhat refreshing. Nonetheless, there are places in the story that I wish the developers didn't go. Without spoiling anything, most sections with Zemos, a pimp who always speaks with autotune, I found to be completely distasteful and almost embarrassing to sit through. Thankfully no one was around me when I was playing.
At first you create your character, choosing a sex, altering everything from the skin color to the shape of your avatar's nose. You can also select one of seven voices for your gang member of choice. One is your typical Anglo-Saxon male, another is a chick with a 'tude, another is Hispanic, while one just growls and moans for brains as the voice is called "Zombie." Several stores throughout the game allow you to purchase new clothing for the upper body and lower body (or you can forgo clothes altogether and go streaking), obtain new tattoos, or get some plastic surgery for a low cost. Character customization is paramount in Saints Row, and the tradition continues with this third installment.
Saints Row: The Third begins with a bang. After the heist at the beginning of the game goes awry, you're blasting SWAT team members raining in through the windows with your firepower, using civilians as human shields, and aiming for head shots to take foes down in one bullet. Then comes a scene where a helicopter grabs the bank's vault while you're standing on it, it rises up, and suddenly you're doing battle while suspended in the air, hanging for your life from the edge of the vault. Other missions have you free-falling through an airplane's wreckage, stealing parachutes from unsuspecting baddies as you attempt to catch up with a fallen comrade. Some missions give you a choice of two options to decide upon. The rewards given differ for whichever choice you do, and sometimes they have dire consequences. You can choose to blow up a rival gang's building to garner Respect from your fellow gang members, or opt to keep it standing for yourself to earn a permanent cash percentage bonus for every mission you complete from then on out. The choice is yours and yours alone.
Unfortunately, throughout the story there are a number of missions that are simply there to introduce you to the many activities Saints Row: The Third offers. There are a myriad of activities to take part in in this game. There's Snatch, Escort, Mayhem, Tank Mayhem, Insurance Fraud, Heli Assault, Trafficking, and Professor Genki's Super Ethical Reality Climax. Snatch has you picking up hos from their abusive pimps and bringing them back to a specific location. Escort either has you driving around with a tiger riding shotgun-- yes, a tiger-- or has you driving two people exchanging pleasantries while dodging news fans who attempt to capture footage. Other activities like Mayhem and Tank Mayhem have you doing as much damage to vehicles, buildings, and civilians as possible before time runs out, while fan favorite Insurance Fraud gets you going limp in front of a car and being ran over by as many cars as possible. One of the newest activities in the form of Professor Genki's S.E.R.C. is a deadly obstacle course where killing mascots, hitting certain signs, and avoiding traps like flames and pulsating electricity awards cash. The goal is to get to the finish of the course without dying, with enough cash, and before the clock reaches zero. There are six instances of each activity, and they are spread out all over Steelport. For each activity finished, the Saints take over and occupy a small percentage of gang territory.
Completing activities is just one way to take over gang territory in Saints Row 3. Hidden throughout Steelport on the various islands that make up the metropolis are gang operations. When found, the objective is to eliminate all gang members with a red icon over their head to gain that section of Steelport. Additionally, there are a plethora of properties that can be purchased for a set price. New cribs can be accessed where you can park vehicles, change clothes, and escape police and/or gang notoriety. Establishments such as clothing stores, plastic surgeon offices, car customization garages, tattoo parlors, and gun shops give discounts for stores you own. As more sections of Steelport are owned by the Saints, less rival gang members hang out and more Saints arrive, mingling on the streets.
While we're on the subject of upgrades, these are dealt out differently than in past Saints Row games. No longer do you obtain them from completing activities. Instead, you gain them from purchasing them via your phone. You just need the right amount of Respect (received from completing missions, activities, and doing odd tasks like power-sliding, nearly hitting other cars, popping a wheelie across a long distance, vehicle surfing, killing cops and rival gang members, etc.) to buy them. Your character can obtain higher stamina, more health, and when you reach level 45 Respect or higher, unlimited ammo. You'll be able to feel free to pop a cap in someone's hind parts as often as you like!
Aside from the 47 missions and 60-something instances of activities, there's still a lot to complete in Steelport. The city might not be as ambitious as say, a San Andreas, but it has a fair amount of stuff to offer. There's assassination missions where you follow instructions to lure out the target and then kill him or her, vehicle theft missions that have you going to a certain part of town to steal a vehicle and bringing back to a marked location, survival missions that happen randomly as you play, and challenges (reaching a set amount of streaking time, big air time, travel distance, boats/cars/aircraft/tanks destroyed, and so forth). You'll be spending plenty of time in Steelport-- over thirty hours if you plan on achieving everything there is to accomplish.
The gameplay mechanics of Saints Row 3 are relatively top-notch. The driving controls are some of the genre's best. Of course, a truck doesn't have the agility and swiftness of a sports car, and that is to be expected. One thing that did bug me was how slow rising and lowering in a helicopter felt. It took far too long for it to rise and sink in the sky. Meanwhile, being on-foot had its ups and downs. The game utilizes a stamina meter and a regenerating health system. Occasionally I'd get caught up on the geometry of a fence or building and be a sitting duck to fire or explosions. Thankfully, if my character got caught under an insurmountable object or obstacle, the game would instantly refresh and put my character out of harm's way. If this wasn't done, I'd have lots of frustration and anger, for sure. Gunplay in Saints Row: The Third feels tight enough. Pulling off head shots (and the sporadic nut shot) is a breeze, and close encounters never were irritating either. Holding a button popped up the weapon wheel which made exchanging weapons beyond simple. There would be nothing worse than trying to shift weapons in the middle of a firefight and being unable to do so.
Saints Row: The Third is an above average-looking open-world action game. As you would expect with a game of this magnitude and scale, there is a large amount of graphical bugs and glitches such as pop up, pop in, and every type of pop except soda pop and popcorn. Characters can glitch through walls, sometimes making completing missions an impossibility. I've had it where I had to restart a mission because the game glitched and wouldn't allow me to progress. Other times the game froze and I had to hard reset my system. These problems aside, Steelport is a living, breathing city, and while not as memorable as Vice City or Liberty City, it invites players to explore every nook and cranny. The level of detail in Steelport is phenomenal even with all of the graphical bugs. Characters animate well as evident by the various taunts your character can do. Shifting to sound, the voice acting is incredible. Each line is delivered convincingly, and the soundtrack was something I came into hesitantly. I'm a classic rock kind of guy, but some of my favorite tracks on Saints Row 3's many radio stations came from The Mix, Gen-X, and the classical music station. Also, after each "big" event in the game, a news broadcast would chime in chronicling what had just occurred making for a greater sense of realism in an otherwise totally surreal game.
Saints Row: The Third might just be a title that-- at least for this gen-- out GTAs GTA. It harks back to a less realistic open world experience that focuses more on fun than "how serious can we make our game be." Although there are plenty of distasteful moments and sophomoric humor (the kind you see on an average message board) and there are a grand amount of glitches to be had, the good far outweighs the bad in this third outing of the Saints. While the main campaign may be short, Saints Row: The Third manages to somehow be entertaining for the majority of the wild, wacky, and whimsical ride. Suit up and strap it on. The Saints are back and they mean business.
[SuperPhillip Says: 9.0/10]
The Secret to the Saints' Success
The sandbox genre was immensely popular last generation thanks to the help of Grand Theft Auto III. Since its release there have been plenty of imitators, some good, some bad, but they failed to capture the spirit of the original source. This generation we've seen Just Cause and Saints Row try their hand at the open-world formula to varying degrees of success. This time around Volition is at it again with the third installment to the popular Saints Row series. The Saints go marching in with their third outing, but should you go marching in with them?
The Saints have moved from the cramped city streets of Stilwater and have traveled to the expansive metropolis of Steelport. However, they have completely sold out. Members of the Saints appear in TV commercials, they have their names plastered on clothing stores, energy drinks-- you name it, and the Saints probably have their collective hands dabbling in it. When a bank heist goes wrong, a rival group of gangs known as The Syndicate move in while the Saints are at their most vulnerable. They kill off Johnny Gat, the face of the Saints, and proceed to make life miserable for the gang, cutting off their access to funds and much more. The goal is clear for the Saints: it is to get revenge for the death of Johnny, cause hell for The Syndicate, and take over Steelport in the name of the Saints. The story itself is completely off-the-wall and bonkers. It never takes itself seriously which is somewhat refreshing. Nonetheless, there are places in the story that I wish the developers didn't go. Without spoiling anything, most sections with Zemos, a pimp who always speaks with autotune, I found to be completely distasteful and almost embarrassing to sit through. Thankfully no one was around me when I was playing.
The gang's all here.
At first you create your character, choosing a sex, altering everything from the skin color to the shape of your avatar's nose. You can also select one of seven voices for your gang member of choice. One is your typical Anglo-Saxon male, another is a chick with a 'tude, another is Hispanic, while one just growls and moans for brains as the voice is called "Zombie." Several stores throughout the game allow you to purchase new clothing for the upper body and lower body (or you can forgo clothes altogether and go streaking), obtain new tattoos, or get some plastic surgery for a low cost. Character customization is paramount in Saints Row, and the tradition continues with this third installment.
From freaky to fly, outfit your character your way.
Saints Row: The Third begins with a bang. After the heist at the beginning of the game goes awry, you're blasting SWAT team members raining in through the windows with your firepower, using civilians as human shields, and aiming for head shots to take foes down in one bullet. Then comes a scene where a helicopter grabs the bank's vault while you're standing on it, it rises up, and suddenly you're doing battle while suspended in the air, hanging for your life from the edge of the vault. Other missions have you free-falling through an airplane's wreckage, stealing parachutes from unsuspecting baddies as you attempt to catch up with a fallen comrade. Some missions give you a choice of two options to decide upon. The rewards given differ for whichever choice you do, and sometimes they have dire consequences. You can choose to blow up a rival gang's building to garner Respect from your fellow gang members, or opt to keep it standing for yourself to earn a permanent cash percentage bonus for every mission you complete from then on out. The choice is yours and yours alone.
Who needs a parachute when I already look this good?
Unfortunately, throughout the story there are a number of missions that are simply there to introduce you to the many activities Saints Row: The Third offers. There are a myriad of activities to take part in in this game. There's Snatch, Escort, Mayhem, Tank Mayhem, Insurance Fraud, Heli Assault, Trafficking, and Professor Genki's Super Ethical Reality Climax. Snatch has you picking up hos from their abusive pimps and bringing them back to a specific location. Escort either has you driving around with a tiger riding shotgun-- yes, a tiger-- or has you driving two people exchanging pleasantries while dodging news fans who attempt to capture footage. Other activities like Mayhem and Tank Mayhem have you doing as much damage to vehicles, buildings, and civilians as possible before time runs out, while fan favorite Insurance Fraud gets you going limp in front of a car and being ran over by as many cars as possible. One of the newest activities in the form of Professor Genki's S.E.R.C. is a deadly obstacle course where killing mascots, hitting certain signs, and avoiding traps like flames and pulsating electricity awards cash. The goal is to get to the finish of the course without dying, with enough cash, and before the clock reaches zero. There are six instances of each activity, and they are spread out all over Steelport. For each activity finished, the Saints take over and occupy a small percentage of gang territory.
Completing activities is just one way to take over gang territory in Saints Row 3. Hidden throughout Steelport on the various islands that make up the metropolis are gang operations. When found, the objective is to eliminate all gang members with a red icon over their head to gain that section of Steelport. Additionally, there are a plethora of properties that can be purchased for a set price. New cribs can be accessed where you can park vehicles, change clothes, and escape police and/or gang notoriety. Establishments such as clothing stores, plastic surgeon offices, car customization garages, tattoo parlors, and gun shops give discounts for stores you own. As more sections of Steelport are owned by the Saints, less rival gang members hang out and more Saints arrive, mingling on the streets.
Grab a civilian and use them as a shield.
This is a turf war we're talking about!
Speaking of guns and vehicles, there are a vast variety of weaponry and rides at your fingertips. As you complete missions you earn new goodies such as tanks, VTOLs, and bizarre weapons like a Mega Man-styled hand cannon, a giant fist that punches people across long distances, a shock hammer that sends ripples wherever it is slammed on, a fart-in-a-jar which causes opponents to gag, throw up, and become dazed as you off them, and yes, even sex toys. Stay classy, Volition. Weapons can be upgraded at any Friendly Fire location. For instance, a normal everyday wooden baseball bat can be upgraded to have barbwire encircling it.This is a turf war we're talking about!
Decidedly, Saints Row: The Third is not grounded in reality.
While we're on the subject of upgrades, these are dealt out differently than in past Saints Row games. No longer do you obtain them from completing activities. Instead, you gain them from purchasing them via your phone. You just need the right amount of Respect (received from completing missions, activities, and doing odd tasks like power-sliding, nearly hitting other cars, popping a wheelie across a long distance, vehicle surfing, killing cops and rival gang members, etc.) to buy them. Your character can obtain higher stamina, more health, and when you reach level 45 Respect or higher, unlimited ammo. You'll be able to feel free to pop a cap in someone's hind parts as often as you like!
Take it to the fuzz with an attack chopper.
Aside from the 47 missions and 60-something instances of activities, there's still a lot to complete in Steelport. The city might not be as ambitious as say, a San Andreas, but it has a fair amount of stuff to offer. There's assassination missions where you follow instructions to lure out the target and then kill him or her, vehicle theft missions that have you going to a certain part of town to steal a vehicle and bringing back to a marked location, survival missions that happen randomly as you play, and challenges (reaching a set amount of streaking time, big air time, travel distance, boats/cars/aircraft/tanks destroyed, and so forth). You'll be spending plenty of time in Steelport-- over thirty hours if you plan on achieving everything there is to accomplish.
The gameplay mechanics of Saints Row 3 are relatively top-notch. The driving controls are some of the genre's best. Of course, a truck doesn't have the agility and swiftness of a sports car, and that is to be expected. One thing that did bug me was how slow rising and lowering in a helicopter felt. It took far too long for it to rise and sink in the sky. Meanwhile, being on-foot had its ups and downs. The game utilizes a stamina meter and a regenerating health system. Occasionally I'd get caught up on the geometry of a fence or building and be a sitting duck to fire or explosions. Thankfully, if my character got caught under an insurmountable object or obstacle, the game would instantly refresh and put my character out of harm's way. If this wasn't done, I'd have lots of frustration and anger, for sure. Gunplay in Saints Row: The Third feels tight enough. Pulling off head shots (and the sporadic nut shot) is a breeze, and close encounters never were irritating either. Holding a button popped up the weapon wheel which made exchanging weapons beyond simple. There would be nothing worse than trying to shift weapons in the middle of a firefight and being unable to do so.
Saints Row: The Third is an above average-looking open-world action game. As you would expect with a game of this magnitude and scale, there is a large amount of graphical bugs and glitches such as pop up, pop in, and every type of pop except soda pop and popcorn. Characters can glitch through walls, sometimes making completing missions an impossibility. I've had it where I had to restart a mission because the game glitched and wouldn't allow me to progress. Other times the game froze and I had to hard reset my system. These problems aside, Steelport is a living, breathing city, and while not as memorable as Vice City or Liberty City, it invites players to explore every nook and cranny. The level of detail in Steelport is phenomenal even with all of the graphical bugs. Characters animate well as evident by the various taunts your character can do. Shifting to sound, the voice acting is incredible. Each line is delivered convincingly, and the soundtrack was something I came into hesitantly. I'm a classic rock kind of guy, but some of my favorite tracks on Saints Row 3's many radio stations came from The Mix, Gen-X, and the classical music station. Also, after each "big" event in the game, a news broadcast would chime in chronicling what had just occurred making for a greater sense of realism in an otherwise totally surreal game.
Obviously not dressing for the occasion, is she?
Saints Row: The Third might just be a title that-- at least for this gen-- out GTAs GTA. It harks back to a less realistic open world experience that focuses more on fun than "how serious can we make our game be." Although there are plenty of distasteful moments and sophomoric humor (the kind you see on an average message board) and there are a grand amount of glitches to be had, the good far outweighs the bad in this third outing of the Saints. While the main campaign may be short, Saints Row: The Third manages to somehow be entertaining for the majority of the wild, wacky, and whimsical ride. Suit up and strap it on. The Saints are back and they mean business.
[SuperPhillip Says: 9.0/10]
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