Friday night is now the official EDGE X-Box live night. Last night they decided they where all going to play Battlefield 1943. Inspired by the EDGE review which made it sound simple enough for me to pick up and play and the fact that I had a spare 200 points knocking about meaning that I could buy just a 1000 points I took the plunge.
It's a very steep learning curve if you jump right in. Although it is fun and fairly simple to see what you should be doing when you get going it's also very annoying. There's basically 5 flags on each level and the game ebbs and flows as they are captured and re-captured.
You can have an awesome spawn where you find an AA gun take out a couple of planes, jump on the back of a jeep, gun you way to a flag, capture it and then rocket an incoming enemy tank and you generally feel like Rambo.
You can also spawn miles from the action, walk all the way there because someone will jump in the jeep you heading for an literally drive off in front you despite the fact you're yelling "wait for me" at the top of your voice (Sometimes even when it's someone you're in party chat with) and just as you get to the action someone rifles you dead that you can't even see.
I ranked up a couple of times and I'm rubbish so it's fairly accessible at the moment.
Granted it was the first friday night since release and so you'd expect it to be popular but it was nigh on impossible to get a game after 10pm..
Saturday, 11 July 2009
Thursday, 9 July 2009
The "Complete" List
Resistance 2
Mirror's Edge - 360
Quantum of Solace - 360
House of the Dead: Overkill - Story & Directors Cut
Fable 2 - Story Mode
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriot - (Liquid Easy)
Wario Ware: Smooth Moves
Saints Row
Race Pro - Career Mode
50 Cent: Blood on the Sand (Easy) - 360
Conan (Easy) - PS3
GTA IV - 360
Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction
Uncharted: Drake's Fortune
Manhunt 2
Prince of Persia
As the game went on there where more and more things I didn't look. The combat is utter bobbins. I don't normally mind QTEs but these seemed particularly harsh. The button flash that allows you to get up from the ground without being saved by the princess is ok.. But the ones during combat I very rarely got. Fortunately it's a very forgiving game. The other problem with combat is that all the bosses in the game need defeating five times each and they're all pretty much the same. Fairly soon into the game the bosses assume the same three states.. It's dull.
The AI on the princess could of done with a bit more polish as well.. She's often stood in the way. She's not always in the right place at puzzles either. If she can fly why does she need to be carried over the vined sections? It slows the prince down and often breaks up the flow of movement.
The camera is generally good and the right stick nearly always let's you see what you want.. But having the A button do pretty much everything means that often you'll be lining up a jump only to find the camera changes angles and thus you leap into space. Or you run vertically when you want to run up and vice a versa. Again very annoying when you want to wall run left and then leap. He'll instead run up the wall and then leap 180 degrees back into nothingness. It's less bad if you go more slowly make sure you've moved the camera and then waited for the prince's animation to see which way he's leaning but once again it slows the progress down.
My other two niggles are there weren't enough puzzles. In fact I can only think of three. All well done but there could've been more of them considering there wasn't much else too break up the action. After you've unlocked the green power plates the next three powers are all pretty much the same too.. The yellow was in particularly rubbish involving zooming from one plate to another but in a very disorientating flying style where you're supposed to dodge stuff but it's not always clear which way you're supposed to dodge.
Having said that, in an EDGE style, having dissed it constantly I absolutely loved the game. The art direction and style is fantastic. You genuinely want to see what else is around the corner. It felt a bit cheap making you do the levels twice too. But I really liked the transformation itself and then it was fun trying to get as many light seeds as you could (Although I was, in no way, compelled to find 'em all).
I also loved the growing interaction between the two leads.. I've read some complain about the end but for me it was perfect. As I already said it's not as good as Sands of Time but being the second best PoP ever made is no disgrace.
Mirror's Edge - 360
Quantum of Solace - 360
House of the Dead: Overkill - Story & Directors Cut
Fable 2 - Story Mode
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriot - (Liquid Easy)
Wario Ware: Smooth Moves
Saints Row
Race Pro - Career Mode
50 Cent: Blood on the Sand (Easy) - 360
Conan (Easy) - PS3
GTA IV - 360
Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction
Uncharted: Drake's Fortune
Manhunt 2
Prince of Persia
As the game went on there where more and more things I didn't look. The combat is utter bobbins. I don't normally mind QTEs but these seemed particularly harsh. The button flash that allows you to get up from the ground without being saved by the princess is ok.. But the ones during combat I very rarely got. Fortunately it's a very forgiving game. The other problem with combat is that all the bosses in the game need defeating five times each and they're all pretty much the same. Fairly soon into the game the bosses assume the same three states.. It's dull.
The AI on the princess could of done with a bit more polish as well.. She's often stood in the way. She's not always in the right place at puzzles either. If she can fly why does she need to be carried over the vined sections? It slows the prince down and often breaks up the flow of movement.
The camera is generally good and the right stick nearly always let's you see what you want.. But having the A button do pretty much everything means that often you'll be lining up a jump only to find the camera changes angles and thus you leap into space. Or you run vertically when you want to run up and vice a versa. Again very annoying when you want to wall run left and then leap. He'll instead run up the wall and then leap 180 degrees back into nothingness. It's less bad if you go more slowly make sure you've moved the camera and then waited for the prince's animation to see which way he's leaning but once again it slows the progress down.
My other two niggles are there weren't enough puzzles. In fact I can only think of three. All well done but there could've been more of them considering there wasn't much else too break up the action. After you've unlocked the green power plates the next three powers are all pretty much the same too.. The yellow was in particularly rubbish involving zooming from one plate to another but in a very disorientating flying style where you're supposed to dodge stuff but it's not always clear which way you're supposed to dodge.
Having said that, in an EDGE style, having dissed it constantly I absolutely loved the game. The art direction and style is fantastic. You genuinely want to see what else is around the corner. It felt a bit cheap making you do the levels twice too. But I really liked the transformation itself and then it was fun trying to get as many light seeds as you could (Although I was, in no way, compelled to find 'em all).
I also loved the growing interaction between the two leads.. I've read some complain about the end but for me it was perfect. As I already said it's not as good as Sands of Time but being the second best PoP ever made is no disgrace.
Wednesday, 8 July 2009
Summer drought?
There was an article on Eurogamer yesterday that seemed to suggest that traditional summer drought was going to end..
Not this year it seems. We've seen some big name games released in the Spring of 2009 and EA may be releasing some of it's games a little earlier this year.. But having just checked the release schedule on Play from now until September, what I'd class as the traditional Summer months, seems as blank as ever.
I do have a couple of titles on the back burner (Mass Effect and Silent Hill 2 spring to mind) and I've got a lot of stuff to catch up on so it's not a huge deal but it seems that once again it's going to be an expensive Q4.
Not this year it seems. We've seen some big name games released in the Spring of 2009 and EA may be releasing some of it's games a little earlier this year.. But having just checked the release schedule on Play from now until September, what I'd class as the traditional Summer months, seems as blank as ever.
I do have a couple of titles on the back burner (Mass Effect and Silent Hill 2 spring to mind) and I've got a lot of stuff to catch up on so it's not a huge deal but it seems that once again it's going to be an expensive Q4.
Friday, 3 July 2009
Purchase Power
Just time to update you on a couple more eBay bargains. Some guy was listing multiple new sealed (allegedly) copies of both Zak and Wiki Quest for Barbaros Treasure and Grand Theft Auto:Chinatown Wars all starting at 99p and all ending within a minute of each other. At first I smelled some kind of rat but he's got over 600 transactions and a 100% rating so I guess it should be ok.
One would of thought he'd of maximised his profits by selling them one at a time. For sure when I got out bid I just moved down the list. Anyway I ended up paying £12 for the pair including free 1st class postage.
I just need a DS now.
One would of thought he'd of maximised his profits by selling them one at a time. For sure when I got out bid I just moved down the list. Anyway I ended up paying £12 for the pair including free 1st class postage.
I just need a DS now.
Thursday, 2 July 2009
First Look: Prince of Persia
Minus £2.50 of Reward credit I got this for £10.50 second hand in GAME yesterday. Intial impressions are that it's an improvement on The Two Thrones and Emo Within but nowhere near as good as Sands of Time which, it sadly seems, we'll never see the like of again from Ubisoft.
These are the things I like:
It's pretty
It's very forgiving for Mr Easy writing this Blog
The Prince himself (much has been made of his annoying accent and personality.. Perhaps too much. He seemed quite funny to me)
Things I don't like:
The over simplified controls.. All the flair of covering the levels in Sands of Time has been lost. It's like they've taken a leaf out of Altairs book. No surprise what with it being the same engine I believe. But when I'm bemoaning the lack of challenge it's a bad thing.
The combat.
The Princess.
The annoying bits where you have too run between green nodes with no checkpoints..
Overall though I enjoyed my first session last night.
These are the things I like:
It's pretty
It's very forgiving for Mr Easy writing this Blog
The Prince himself (much has been made of his annoying accent and personality.. Perhaps too much. He seemed quite funny to me)
Things I don't like:
The over simplified controls.. All the flair of covering the levels in Sands of Time has been lost. It's like they've taken a leaf out of Altairs book. No surprise what with it being the same engine I believe. But when I'm bemoaning the lack of challenge it's a bad thing.
The combat.
The Princess.
The annoying bits where you have too run between green nodes with no checkpoints..
Overall though I enjoyed my first session last night.
Tuesday, 30 June 2009
Purchase Power.
Sorry for the lack of posts through June. Especially after the effort I put in during May.
Time to update you on some purchasing action.
I was recently away in London where I picked up a new copy of Army of Two for a tenner. I still feel robbed having gotten back and had a go. I tried to purchase a copy of FUEL from ASDA for the bargain price of £25 only to have to wait holding up the checkout getting evil stares while I waited for them to get it from the stock room. Sadly it was such a good price they didn't have any stock left.. I slunk out with a consolation box of cheap beer.
Next stop eBay. I had a hankering to play.. erm.. Rumble Roses XX having downloaded the demo recently. Astonishingly it's extremely rare.. There wasn't a copy to be had on 360 on eBay first time I looked. However some diligent searching (what can I say.. it's a good demo) eventually saw a solitary copy turn up. I was expecting to have to pay silly money. However my first, and as it turned out the only, bid secured it at £9.99. Job done.
I also decided that I wanted to play Okami again but this time on Wii. Either that or Legend of Zelda:Twilight Princess. I really enjoyed Okami, and made a fair amount of progress, but I think it's paintbrush and combat would really suit the Wii-mote. Sadly I couldn't find a copy in town. I was shocked to find that even used, after all this time, LoZ:TP was still making £30.. Needless to say I came home empty handed.
Time to update you on some purchasing action.
I was recently away in London where I picked up a new copy of Army of Two for a tenner. I still feel robbed having gotten back and had a go. I tried to purchase a copy of FUEL from ASDA for the bargain price of £25 only to have to wait holding up the checkout getting evil stares while I waited for them to get it from the stock room. Sadly it was such a good price they didn't have any stock left.. I slunk out with a consolation box of cheap beer.
Next stop eBay. I had a hankering to play.. erm.. Rumble Roses XX having downloaded the demo recently. Astonishingly it's extremely rare.. There wasn't a copy to be had on 360 on eBay first time I looked. However some diligent searching (what can I say.. it's a good demo) eventually saw a solitary copy turn up. I was expecting to have to pay silly money. However my first, and as it turned out the only, bid secured it at £9.99. Job done.
I also decided that I wanted to play Okami again but this time on Wii. Either that or Legend of Zelda:Twilight Princess. I really enjoyed Okami, and made a fair amount of progress, but I think it's paintbrush and combat would really suit the Wii-mote. Sadly I couldn't find a copy in town. I was shocked to find that even used, after all this time, LoZ:TP was still making £30.. Needless to say I came home empty handed.
Monday, 15 June 2009
The "Complete" List
Resistance 2
Mirror's Edge - 360
Quantum of Solace - 360
House of the Dead: Overkill - Story & Directors Cut
Fable 2 - Story Mode
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriot - (Liquid Easy)
Wario Ware: Smooth Moves
Saints Row
Race Pro - Career Mode
50 Cent: Blood on the Sand (Easy) - 360
Conan (Easy) - PS3
GTA IV - 360
Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction
Uncharted: Drake's Fortune
Manhunt 2
First off nice to see no stupid subtitle on a sequel.
Overall I enjoyed it. It wasn't as innovative as the first one. I suppose fairly obviously. There's a new story but it tries to retread most of the sick elements of the first one without doing it all quite as well. That's not to say it's not fun to play cos it is. It took me a while to get to grips with the mechanics but when it all comes together the Wii controls add a bit of fun in the slaying.. until halfway through when it switches to a lot more gun based combat. It's an ok shooter when you've got time but it's can be hard to pull of headshots cos the slightest twitch of the Wii-mote before pulling the trigger will mean you miss the crucial one hit kill and cranium explosion. It can get hard to take on multiple enemies too. There's some fun missions and it does mix it up between stalking in the dark silently killing too all out shooting and there's a nice mixture of weapons too play with. The story does enough to keep you interested. There where a couple of difficulty spikes and it's very annoying when you have to restart and watch an un-skippable cutscene before you can get back into it. It's a solid game.
Mirror's Edge - 360
Quantum of Solace - 360
House of the Dead: Overkill - Story & Directors Cut
Fable 2 - Story Mode
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriot - (Liquid Easy)
Wario Ware: Smooth Moves
Saints Row
Race Pro - Career Mode
50 Cent: Blood on the Sand (Easy) - 360
Conan (Easy) - PS3
GTA IV - 360
Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction
Uncharted: Drake's Fortune
Manhunt 2
First off nice to see no stupid subtitle on a sequel.
Overall I enjoyed it. It wasn't as innovative as the first one. I suppose fairly obviously. There's a new story but it tries to retread most of the sick elements of the first one without doing it all quite as well. That's not to say it's not fun to play cos it is. It took me a while to get to grips with the mechanics but when it all comes together the Wii controls add a bit of fun in the slaying.. until halfway through when it switches to a lot more gun based combat. It's an ok shooter when you've got time but it's can be hard to pull of headshots cos the slightest twitch of the Wii-mote before pulling the trigger will mean you miss the crucial one hit kill and cranium explosion. It can get hard to take on multiple enemies too. There's some fun missions and it does mix it up between stalking in the dark silently killing too all out shooting and there's a nice mixture of weapons too play with. The story does enough to keep you interested. There where a couple of difficulty spikes and it's very annoying when you have to restart and watch an un-skippable cutscene before you can get back into it. It's a solid game.
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