Game: Painkiller (Black Edition)
Year (s): 2004
Company: dev. People Can Fly
pub. DreamCatcher Interactive
Engine: PAIN Engine with Havok 2.0 physics
Type: First-Person Shooter
What I Paid: 10-12 bucks for the whole franchise
Game Time: 16 hours, first time, on Nightmare difficulty (one more than default)
I did not finish this, but got roughly half-way through.
Obligatory Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAsk2Q5KeDw
Plot
The game starts with you and your wife dying in a car crash. You didn't make it to heaven. You're told to defeat the four generals of Lucifer's army in order to be forgiven and see your wife again.
Cutscenes between episodes add a little more to the plot. More than Doom had, but not as much as Doom 3.
Audio
When there aren't any enemies around, the background sound is what you'd expect in a haunted house (or a Rob Zombie song). When there are enemies around, a power chord, pinch-harmonic riff plays. Amusing.
PAIN Engine
Looks fine graphically. It had, to me, a "console look." No water effects to note; otherwise competitive at the time.
Not a solid engine, though. Will talk more about that in a bit.
Old School
This game, surprisingly out around the same time as Doom 3 and Half-Life 2, sticks to the roots of the genre. Doom and Quake are particularly noted inspirations. Weapons do not reload.
Enemies typically attack en masse, but it's never as hectic (or, by merit, as gratifying) as Serious Sam. I might kill fifty guys in a row, but they're spread out to a more reasonable pace than Sam.
Ouch!
There are only a few health items per level, so I was often close to death. Enemies drop souls that restore one health point, but disappear after a few seconds. Playing the game on Nightmare (like me) or Trauma difficulties does not allow cheats, so if you're in a jam, you might be screwed.
Items
Every level has a challenge. If you complete it, you get a tarot card powerup that you can use on any level for a price. Gold is collected by destroying objects, many of which explode.
Expansions / DLC
Battle Out of Hell expands on Painkiller, adding ten more levels (I did not get to them). Additional Painkiller titles have been released since.
The Good
Bosses are enormous. Like, King Kong. Godzilla. So, that's neat.
Level scenery is diverse. Enemies are also quite varied, as any enemy only occupies a few levels. The nearly constant new monsters keeps one from getting too accustomed to/bored with particular beasties.
The Bad
Menu navigation is a tad cumbersome.
Painkiller has some inherent flaws that have, unfortunately, never been fixed. It was made solely for single-core processors. If you have dual-core or more, you'll have to CTRL-ALT-DELETE every time you launch the game to set the processor affinity to only one core (this usually works, but not always). If you don't do this, the frames-per-second rate makes the game unplayable. It's a pain in the ass to do this every time I want to play the game.
Painkiller also has a known problem of corrupted save files. I got to a point where every time I saved (including auto-saves), loaded, or died, the game would minimize. I'd have to debug once or twice and restore the program to continue.
Loading from an earlier save didn't work, as that had also become corrupt. I didn't want to delete my data and start over, so I just stopped playing.
Final Thoughts
Painkiller was the Cyberathlete Professional League 2005 World Tour game. Unreal Tournament 2004's Epic was changing publishers at the time. Doom 3 was a fan favorite, but didn't get the honors.
This game, from what I played, was fun. Diversity, giant bosses, unique challenges for each level, and old-school gameplay were appealing. Unfortunately, it was glitchy to the point of unplayable.
If this game had ever been patched, I would recommend it for people that enjoyed Doom, Quake, etc. Since it hasn't, I can't recommend it for any price. No point in buying a game that you can't play through.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Monday, August 29, 2011
Frontlines: Fuel of War Review
Game: Frontlines: Fuel of War
Year (s): 2008
Company: dev. Kaos Studios
pub. THQ
Engine: Unreal Engine 3
Type: First-Person Shooter
What I Paid: maybe $5
Game Time: 7-8 hours, first time, default difficulty
Obligatory Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c28AduI09cQ
Plot
"America, fuck yeah!" Set in the near future, Frontlines shows a world nearly out of oil. The Western Coalition is at war with the Red Star Alliance over the last reserves in the middle east. You are part of the Stray Dog squad.
There are cutscenes before and after each mission which don't add much to the above. It would have been better to just copy and paste clips from war movies.
Who is Kaos Studios?
Initially known as Trauma Studios, this team created a popular mod for Battlefield 1942, released in 2004. After that they were bought by Digital Illusion CE (the developers of Battlefield 1942). After working there briefly, Trauma Studios was shut down in 2005.
In 2006, the team, now under the name of Kaos Studios, was bought by THQ. They developed two games: Frontlines and Homefront. A few months after the release of Homefront, Kaos Studios was shut down.
Graphics
Perhaps because they went from making a game mod to developing an entire game, the graphics aren't great. The Unreal Engine 3 is definitely underutilized here.
Crysis
While playing this game, two small things kept making me think of Crysis. Small buildings, like sheds, can be knocked down. Second, half of the enemies are Asian. There is no resemblance other than that.
Combat
Combat is easy. If you get shot, find cover for a few seconds and you're good as new. You can't save, but you have several lives ("redeployments") for each mission. Enemy AI is pretty basic, and the only trouble you'll have is finding out where the damn snipers are in some of the later missions.
Weapons are pretty standard. Crouching increases accuracy, a prone position increases it even more. Nice idea. Makes sense.
You have a squad that follows you around. Unfortunately, they are just like the GI Joe cartoon. They fire a lot of bullets and catch a lot of bullets, all without killing or dying. For practical purposes, your squad is animated scenery.
Vehicles, Drones, etc.
Vehicles are standard, except that nobody can figure out how to pilot the helicopter without crashing. Drones are the most interesting thing this game has to offer. Drones are remote controlled miniature vehicles. Some of these are just mobile explosives. Others are weaponized engines of miniature death.
Airstrikes are also occasionally available. There are a few different kinds but they all do pretty much the same thing.
Final Thoughts
This game is easy. "America, fuck yeah!" These cutscenes are cheesy. I should go play Crysis.
This game is fast paced, so it'll keep your attention. Unfortunately, it's easy and incredibly short, so it won't keep your attention for long. I wouldn't recommend this one, even if you get it for just a few bucks like I did. There's just not enough content.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Soldier Deck
I have played this twice in two-player games. Both times I had good opening hands and kicked ass. After tomorrow I will know how it does in three-player free-for-all. So far it seems pretty solid.
Three posts in one day for "the other blog." Hm.
Soldier Deck
60 Card Format
White
4 Enlistment Officer
4 Ballyrush Banneret
4 Daru Warchief
4 Field Marshal
3 Veteran Armorer
4 Veteran Swordsmith
4 Soltari Champion
4 Elite Vanguard
3 Aven Cloudchaser
4 Adaptive Automaton
4 Pearl Medallion
LANDS
16 Plains
2 Emeria, the Sky Ruin
2 Windbrisk Heights
1 Kjeldoran Outpost
Three posts in one day for "the other blog." Hm.
Soldier Deck
60 Card Format
White
4 Enlistment Officer
4 Ballyrush Banneret
4 Daru Warchief
4 Field Marshal
3 Veteran Armorer
4 Veteran Swordsmith
4 Soltari Champion
4 Elite Vanguard
3 Aven Cloudchaser
4 Adaptive Automaton
4 Pearl Medallion
LANDS
16 Plains
2 Emeria, the Sky Ruin
2 Windbrisk Heights
1 Kjeldoran Outpost
New Vegas DLC
To preface, every DLC ups the level cap by five, and adds new perks to the core game.
Dead Money
Influenced by Dead Space, this is a survival horror variant, and enemies only die if dismembered. As far as survival horror, they nailed it. You take nothing with you to this area, so no ammo, armor, or your favorite weapons. You're constantly low/out of ammo, health points, and items. They also tried (inevitably failing) to make a creepy area.
This would have satisfied me. I mean, not pissed me off as much as New Vegas. But then they added a toxic cloud to areas, and decided that radios are proximity mines. Yay!
Fifth-ass (much less than half-ass) programming kept me from finishing this tedious, hard, pointless DLC. Not that I should be surprised; alternate game-breaking glitches are also included.
Honest Hearts
After Dead Money, Obsidian made another forgettable expansion. A previous general of The Bad Guys is helping savages fight other savages. This is less glitchy, but again, rather unsatisfying. This DLC was better than the original game because they had those plants (used to make things with the Survival skill) all over the place. It was cool to be able to really get some use out of the Survival skill.
Old World Blues
This was surprisingly awesome, and if it was a standalone game I'd tell you to play it right now. We still have problems with the engine, but... I have no idea how this was made by the same development team. Instead of a world of psychos and assholes, you're in a world of ridiculous, hilarious machines. This is not only the best DLC, but far more fun than the core game itself. Unlike the other DLCs, you get some useful perks and powerful weapons from playing. So, there's a reason to play this one, AND it's a lot of fun.
Additionally, you'll get the best house in the game. A house with a reloading bench, storage, a bed, and a workbench to start. With upgrades, your home includes a free doctor, a store that can repair your gear, a garden area for every plant available, and multiple ways to convert things into other things (useful for making items). Your house's appliances have personalities, further giving the game humor and character that was completely lacking before. My only wish was that this DLC had as much to do (or more) than the rest of the game. If you have New Vegas, get this one and forget the others.
Lonesome Road
...is not out yet! But when it comes out, if I play it, I'll edit this post.
Dead Money
Influenced by Dead Space, this is a survival horror variant, and enemies only die if dismembered. As far as survival horror, they nailed it. You take nothing with you to this area, so no ammo, armor, or your favorite weapons. You're constantly low/out of ammo, health points, and items. They also tried (inevitably failing) to make a creepy area.
This would have satisfied me. I mean, not pissed me off as much as New Vegas. But then they added a toxic cloud to areas, and decided that radios are proximity mines. Yay!
Fifth-ass (much less than half-ass) programming kept me from finishing this tedious, hard, pointless DLC. Not that I should be surprised; alternate game-breaking glitches are also included.
Honest Hearts
After Dead Money, Obsidian made another forgettable expansion. A previous general of The Bad Guys is helping savages fight other savages. This is less glitchy, but again, rather unsatisfying. This DLC was better than the original game because they had those plants (used to make things with the Survival skill) all over the place. It was cool to be able to really get some use out of the Survival skill.
Old World Blues
This was surprisingly awesome, and if it was a standalone game I'd tell you to play it right now. We still have problems with the engine, but... I have no idea how this was made by the same development team. Instead of a world of psychos and assholes, you're in a world of ridiculous, hilarious machines. This is not only the best DLC, but far more fun than the core game itself. Unlike the other DLCs, you get some useful perks and powerful weapons from playing. So, there's a reason to play this one, AND it's a lot of fun.
Additionally, you'll get the best house in the game. A house with a reloading bench, storage, a bed, and a workbench to start. With upgrades, your home includes a free doctor, a store that can repair your gear, a garden area for every plant available, and multiple ways to convert things into other things (useful for making items). Your house's appliances have personalities, further giving the game humor and character that was completely lacking before. My only wish was that this DLC had as much to do (or more) than the rest of the game. If you have New Vegas, get this one and forget the others.
Lonesome Road
...is not out yet! But when it comes out, if I play it, I'll edit this post.
Star Wars: Battlefront 2 Review
Game: Star Wars Battlefront 2
Year (s): 2005
Company: dev. Pandemic Studios
pub. LucasArts
Engine: Zero
Type: Firts/Third Person Shooter
Game Time: 12 hours first time, default difficulty (single-player campaign)
Obligatory Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilwPny3tvOE
This post compares this game to the first Star Wars Battlefront (the post right before this one). I recommend reading them both if you are unfamiliar with the games.
Plot
Unlike its predecessor, Battlefront 2 has a loose plot to tie the missions together: you are a clone trooper reminiscing over various battles throughout your career. Some of these were taken from the movies, but many were not. Thus, you are always on the side of the Republic/Empire, fighting robots; later, you're fighting rebels. As a welcome departure to the first, every map in the campaign is an assault-style map, with progressive objectives to complete. This was a welcome change to the same ol' same ol' of the first game. A few maps return, but most are new.
Jedi
Now you can play as Jedi (or Sith) in all game modes. Jedi are powerful, so this feature has limits on how often (and for how long) you can spawn as a badass.
Space Battles
Also new are the ship-to-ship fights. Engage in dogfights, blast strategic points on the enemy command ship(s), and if you want, board their command ship to wreck havoc. I found the flying vehicles to be clumsy, and every space fight is about the same. This addition, while good in concept, became somewhat tedious in execution.
AI and Gameplay
In the campaign, bots *CAN NOT* complete objectives, so you're going to have to pull the team. Instant Action, multiplayer, and Galactic Conquest (the Risk wannabe) all return, virtually the same as before. Kill enemies, take command posts, and you win. You'll be mowing down computer-controlled bots pretty easily, but even if you're amazing your team can still suck (my most frustrating loss occurred after I had acquired 103 kills).
Maps are more balanced in this one, so you don't have to know the one trick that lets you have a fighting chance on particular maps.
Weapon loadouts (except for the above-mentioned Jedi) are identical to the first. Same classes, same weapons. If there was anything new, I didn't notice. Vehicles (except in space battles) have all been seen before.
Final Thoughts
The campaign mode is frustrating at times, so this franchise continues to be multiplayer-focused. Having drastically better map balance and a few new things thrown in, Battlefront 2 is the better of the two for multiplayer. Both support tons of bots. Really, the games have more in common then apart, so if you like playing one you'll like playing the other. For single-player gamers, neither is impressive.
There have been rumors about Star Wars Battlefront 3 since 2006. These assert that Free Radical Design (now known as Crytek) worked on the game for two years before losing the rights. Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron was a 2009 spin-off released for the Nintendo DS and PSP. Further rumors, art, and allegedly leaked footage of Battlefront 3 continue, but nobody has made a confirmation or announcement.
Friday, August 12, 2011
Star Wars: Battlefront Review
Game: Star Wars: Battlefront
Year (s): 2004
Company: dev. Pandemic Studios
pub. LucasArts
Engine: Zero
Type: first/third person shooter
What I Paid: $4 on eBay
Obligatory Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2KCjFATtBw
Plot and General Gameplay
Levels in this game take place on various battlefronts from the Star Wars universe. Some are straight from the movies and feature video clip accompaniment. The single-player campaign mode has no plot, and you aren't always on the same side from one battle to another. For every game type you can choose your loadout on spawning (sniper, rocket-launcher guy, engineer, etc.). At the beginning of each map, each side has a set number of spawns. Wipe out the other side, take strategic command posts (spawn points) along the way, and you win.
Campaign Difficulty
Maps are not balanced. Maps often have definite positioning and/or vehicle advantages given to one side. Additionally, the campaign mode may start you off outnumbered. Lastly, your bot helpers (but not the enemy bots) are incompetent. I once led my team with seventy kills and two deaths, only to lose. Enemy AI is such that you'll be mowing them down most of the time. If you're playing the campaign you'll play many of the levels many frustrating times before winning.
Galactic Conquest
This is another single-player mode that is basically Risk. You move, attack, and can use bonuses. Instead of rolling dice, you attack planets with the usual take-command-posts-and-wipe-'em-out agenda. I didn't feel this added much to the choice of Instant Action.
Vehicles
Some vehicles are quite powerful (particularly against infantry) but I largely found vehicles to be slow and clumsy.
Zero Engine
I have no complaints about the engine. It only crashed on me once, and is visually at least as good as the Unreal Engine of the time.
Final Thoughts
I picked up Battlefront because it was cheap and I like Star Wars. I got some enjoyment out of it, but I wouldn't recommend it just for the single player. If you know someone that wants to do muliplayer, it could be a lot of fun though. The game supports a crazy number (estimate: 50 total) of bots running around at a time.
Star Wars Battlefront 2 came out a year later with a couple new tricks thrown in. There will be a review of that in a week at the latest.
Year (s): 2004
Company: dev. Pandemic Studios
pub. LucasArts
Engine: Zero
Type: first/third person shooter
What I Paid: $4 on eBay
Obligatory Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2KCjFATtBw
Plot and General Gameplay
Levels in this game take place on various battlefronts from the Star Wars universe. Some are straight from the movies and feature video clip accompaniment. The single-player campaign mode has no plot, and you aren't always on the same side from one battle to another. For every game type you can choose your loadout on spawning (sniper, rocket-launcher guy, engineer, etc.). At the beginning of each map, each side has a set number of spawns. Wipe out the other side, take strategic command posts (spawn points) along the way, and you win.
Campaign Difficulty
Maps are not balanced. Maps often have definite positioning and/or vehicle advantages given to one side. Additionally, the campaign mode may start you off outnumbered. Lastly, your bot helpers (but not the enemy bots) are incompetent. I once led my team with seventy kills and two deaths, only to lose. Enemy AI is such that you'll be mowing them down most of the time. If you're playing the campaign you'll play many of the levels many frustrating times before winning.
Galactic Conquest
This is another single-player mode that is basically Risk. You move, attack, and can use bonuses. Instead of rolling dice, you attack planets with the usual take-command-posts-and-wipe-'em-out agenda. I didn't feel this added much to the choice of Instant Action.
Vehicles
Some vehicles are quite powerful (particularly against infantry) but I largely found vehicles to be slow and clumsy.
Zero Engine
I have no complaints about the engine. It only crashed on me once, and is visually at least as good as the Unreal Engine of the time.
Final Thoughts
I picked up Battlefront because it was cheap and I like Star Wars. I got some enjoyment out of it, but I wouldn't recommend it just for the single player. If you know someone that wants to do muliplayer, it could be a lot of fun though. The game supports a crazy number (estimate: 50 total) of bots running around at a time.
Star Wars Battlefront 2 came out a year later with a couple new tricks thrown in. There will be a review of that in a week at the latest.
Friday, August 5, 2011
E3 and QuakeCon 2011
E3 2011 and QuakeCon 2011 Highlights
E3 Announcement: BioShock Infinite
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSCswCg-9gk
That particular trailer is silly, but it references the original game, and shows some of the floating city of Columbia.
Developed by the same team as the original, BioShcok Infinte returns to steam punk with a 1930's city that floats on balloons, connected by a roller coaster style transit system. Combat does take place on said transit. Like previous games, there are plasmid powers in addition to standard weapons.
I'm excited about this game (even though the modified Unreal Engine 2.5 is dated) because of a particular announcement by the developers. Paraphrased, they're not focused on a multilayer game format. They'll include one if it's really good. The fans of BioShock want to play by themselves. My hat to you on that, 2K Games. Relase date of 2012.
E3 Announcement: Prey 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5h2TkpFEsn8http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5h2TkpFEsn8
The trailer looks like a cut-scene, backed by a Johnny Cash rendition of Soundgarden's "Rusty Cage." As far as plot, did you play Prey? You know the plane that crashed? You're a lawman from that plane, with amnesia, working as a bounty hunter on an alien planet.
This game will not feature gravity and/or portal puzzles, because, paraphrased, "Human
Head Studios already made that game." Respect. Due in March 2012.
Quakecon Announcement: RAGE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hm1FOnSbHXA
This is the new id Tech 5 graphics engine. I think it's looks fucking awesome. I'm excited abuot this game too (due out this fall).
As far as plot, do you remember the Near Earth Asteroid named Apophis? It once had a small chance to destroy Earth, and later was refined to be a non-issue. In RAGE, it hit. Some survived in Arks. Everyone else died, struggled to survive, or mutated in to something else.
This game looks amazing, they have voice talent including John Candy, and id Software has never let me down. I want to marry this game.
Quakecon Announcement: Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Elder Scrolls IV wasn't great, but then Bethesda made Fallout 3. Skyrim simplifies some things, adds perks, runs on the new Creation Engine (hopefully less buggy than Gamebryo), features more distinct environments/landscape, and has dragons. Due date of 11-11-11. I won't buy it then, but I'd certainly consider it when it goes down in price.
Other Games This Year
Crysis 2 is out, so is Alice: Madness Returns and FEAR 3. As the first Alice was dated, and FEAR 3 has a different developer than other FEAR games, I'm only looking forward to Crysis 2 (no longer available on Steam; EA is trying their own download-distribution application). Serious Sam 3 is due out "this summer," but with rather poor graphics I don't think the *likely* difficult/old-school gameplay will make a success.
Valve Software made no announcements about a new Half-Life game this year. The last instllament, Half Life 2: Episode 2, came out five years ago. Valve has abandoned it's half-ass episodic release concept.
But it's ok. They continue their constant dicking around with Team Fortress 2 (endless dicking). Portal 2 is only half-playable alone. Further titles may not be solely playable alone. FUCK YOU VALVE. FUCK YOU IN THE NUTS WITH A PITCHFORK ON FIRE.
I waited for you, Valve. For years. You came back to me just to punch me in the face.
I will never buy another Valve Software title.
Nonetheless, it's an exciting time for fans of shooters. We've got games out and games upcoming.
Rejoice.
E3 Announcement: BioShock Infinite
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSCswCg-9gk
That particular trailer is silly, but it references the original game, and shows some of the floating city of Columbia.
Developed by the same team as the original, BioShcok Infinte returns to steam punk with a 1930's city that floats on balloons, connected by a roller coaster style transit system. Combat does take place on said transit. Like previous games, there are plasmid powers in addition to standard weapons.
I'm excited about this game (even though the modified Unreal Engine 2.5 is dated) because of a particular announcement by the developers. Paraphrased, they're not focused on a multilayer game format. They'll include one if it's really good. The fans of BioShock want to play by themselves. My hat to you on that, 2K Games. Relase date of 2012.
E3 Announcement: Prey 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5h2TkpFEsn8http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5h2TkpFEsn8
The trailer looks like a cut-scene, backed by a Johnny Cash rendition of Soundgarden's "Rusty Cage." As far as plot, did you play Prey? You know the plane that crashed? You're a lawman from that plane, with amnesia, working as a bounty hunter on an alien planet.
This game will not feature gravity and/or portal puzzles, because, paraphrased, "Human
Head Studios already made that game." Respect. Due in March 2012.
Quakecon Announcement: RAGE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hm1FOnSbHXA
This is the new id Tech 5 graphics engine. I think it's looks fucking awesome. I'm excited abuot this game too (due out this fall).
As far as plot, do you remember the Near Earth Asteroid named Apophis? It once had a small chance to destroy Earth, and later was refined to be a non-issue. In RAGE, it hit. Some survived in Arks. Everyone else died, struggled to survive, or mutated in to something else.
This game looks amazing, they have voice talent including John Candy, and id Software has never let me down. I want to marry this game.
Quakecon Announcement: Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Elder Scrolls IV wasn't great, but then Bethesda made Fallout 3. Skyrim simplifies some things, adds perks, runs on the new Creation Engine (hopefully less buggy than Gamebryo), features more distinct environments/landscape, and has dragons. Due date of 11-11-11. I won't buy it then, but I'd certainly consider it when it goes down in price.
Other Games This Year
Crysis 2 is out, so is Alice: Madness Returns and FEAR 3. As the first Alice was dated, and FEAR 3 has a different developer than other FEAR games, I'm only looking forward to Crysis 2 (no longer available on Steam; EA is trying their own download-distribution application). Serious Sam 3 is due out "this summer," but with rather poor graphics I don't think the *likely* difficult/old-school gameplay will make a success.
Valve Software made no announcements about a new Half-Life game this year. The last instllament, Half Life 2: Episode 2, came out five years ago. Valve has abandoned it's half-ass episodic release concept.
But it's ok. They continue their constant dicking around with Team Fortress 2 (endless dicking). Portal 2 is only half-playable alone. Further titles may not be solely playable alone. FUCK YOU VALVE. FUCK YOU IN THE NUTS WITH A PITCHFORK ON FIRE.
I waited for you, Valve. For years. You came back to me just to punch me in the face.
I will never buy another Valve Software title.
Nonetheless, it's an exciting time for fans of shooters. We've got games out and games upcoming.
Rejoice.
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