Welcome to one of the PSN’s most simple and relaxing games. Chime Super Deluxe is a revamped title originally released on the Xbox 360 last spring that combines the feeling of mixing and sampling over a pop infused beat with a classic game mechanic twist. Now, a year later, the music synth/block puzzle game comes to the PSN with heightened visuals, twice as many songs, and the most anticipated feature – a multiplayer mode featuring up to 4 local friends. There is plenty to explore, and music lovers will dig the catchy soundtrack, but fair warning: this game wasn’t made for everyone.

Jump into Chime, and you’ll see the gameplay is simple and takes no explanation if you’ve ever played a block-placing game. You’re in view of a large grid with different shaped blocks at your command. Players move individual shapes around, rotating and placing them on the grid in order to create square or rectangular ‘quads’ at least 3×3 in size. Once formed, quads will begin to fill up. By adding an additional side to a quad before it fills completely you can restart the filling process and achieve more points. Let it fill completely, however, and it becomes inactive and waits to be stamped into the grid by the beatline.

The beatline is where the depth and challenge of the game comes from, as it attempts to interweave the music and puzzle aspects into one seamless being. The beatline travels continuously from left to right across the grid in time with the music. As it passes over quads and fragments of blocks left over from creating a quad, music samples are triggered. The shape, size and position of each quad and fragment piece creates a different  sample sound. Typically, when the beatline hits a quad, it triggers a larger sample sound, like a person singing or a musical instrument playing a lick. Fragments, on the other hand, trigger smaller sounds like drum hits, chimes or rhythmical pops and slaps. As the beatline travels over completed quads, they are permanently stamped into the grid, changing the color and adding more time to the clock. The objective then, is to fill the playing grid in color 100% in order to move on to the next stage.

As you can imagine, this is not actually that easy. Quads are not all perfect, and by the time you’re a minute into the match, you’ll find your board covered with leftover, unwanted blocks. Simultaneous to cueing sample sounds, the beatline drains these fragments of their ‘life’ and after enough passes, a fragment will die, rendering the entire grid fragment-less and dropping your score multiplier to 0. You’re caught in a balancing act between keeping the board nice and tidy, while you try to expand and conquer as much as you can, as fast as you can. This gameplay is simple and surprisingly addictive as you’ll find yourself replaying matches continually trying to get further and further, despite the inevitable fate of each level: an empty timebar and an option to try again.

This simplicity, however, is what ultimately hurts Chime. The puzzle gameplay is entertaining and requires fast thinking, yet the interaction with the music within the game is insubstantial and gimmicky. Uniqueness and creativity are irrelevant factors rather than having been tied in with the overall game design. There is no customizable options, and while each song really does come alive when you’ve covered the board with pieces and fragments, you won’t ever really feel in control. The potential is laid out for deeper player control that rewards one for the use of the beatline and sampling, but instead, playing and beating this game with your TV muted not only goes completely unhampered, but also results in zero consequences. Mind you, levels would not be nearly as interesting, but the success of your gameplay is entirely puzzle based.

But what the game lacks in this creative control it attempts to redeem itself with the multiplayer mode. You’ll understand immediately why this was the most clamored for addition in the event of a rerelease; it’s a lot of fun. Get another man on board for co-op, and suddenly creating giant quads, and filling the screen to completion becomes not only feasible, but incredibly challenging and engaging. Moreover, versus matches pin you against your friends as you all compete to obtain the largest percentage of the board. With a few other people playing, the grid can get tight and competitive, especially with the ability to steal quads from each other. The fun is short-lived and good for small sessions, and without an online mode, you’d better have some puzzle loving friends if you want to get the most out of it.

Music for the title ranges from a dance techno pop style by Sabrepulse, to slower ballads like For Silence by Paul Hartnoll to even a full-bodied strings piece, Sympathy by Joe Hogan. With only 10 tracks though, you can quickly play through the entire set list in a little under an hour. While this is certainly disheartening,  maybe the feeling stems from being trained over the past generation that music titles should spoil you with their vast array of music selections. After all, it can be understood that you will never hear the same song in a level of Chime with the level of variation it provides. Nevertheless, we wouldn’t doubt future DLC tracks to give Chime some more life.

Chime Super Deluxe is the type of game where you know what you’re going to get. It’s a puzzle game that had the ability to set itself apart from the genre with the addition of music elements, but fell prey to the ease of taking the traditional route. However, this traditional route is tried and true, and known to deliver. If you have hesitations, give the demo a go; it accurately portrays what to expect of the whole game.

PlayStation LifeStyle’s Final Score + Fun puzzle elements that will consistently challenge you +/- Multiplayer adds new dimension, but not online - Music, while cool, is not incorporated into gameplay

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© joinsideke for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2011. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us

Fitness video games seem to be gaining popularity across video game platforms, and the PlayStation 3 is no exception. While the original EA Sports Active was exclusive to the Nintendo Wii, the sequel came out on all the consoles. How does it hold it up on the PS3?

EA Sports Active 2 is the next title in the fitness game craze. Coming with its own brand new form of motion-sensing technology EA Sports Active 2 aims to be incredibly immersive, and with a heart-rate monitor and its own resistance band, be a complete workout experience. And with several different programs to gauge yourself, over 70 different exercises, and an online community to track your progress, EA Sports Active 2 definitely looks to be an addition to your lifestyle, rather than just a game that will be shelved three weeks after playing.

EA Sports Active 2 starts as most fitness games do. Create an avatar for yourself, enter your height and weight, level of physical fitness, typical fair. Then you can choose to start either a three-week or a nine week exercise program. Then comes, what I believe to be, the second most difficult part in setting up a new workout regimen: the schedule. It’s incredibly simple just assign four out of the seven days of the week to work out and three days to rest, but mentally it’s a large milestone. You don’t have to wrestle with the thought of “yes” or “no” if you are working out, just check the calendar. The most intimidating thing about trying to start getting in shape is just to start. If you decide to go out and buy EA Sports Active 2 you’ve probably made that first step, but it’s a big one.

The actual sessions themselves last about 23 minutes with 24 to 26 exercises per time. Even after playing the game for an entire three-week program, I still encountered new exercises every time I booted up the game. You choose your male or female personal trainer and they teach how to do new exercises and motivate you along the way. Your avatar on-screen does the moving relative to your actions and the trainer tells you if you are doing them well or how you could improve. Whether it is running, cardio boxing, or strength training, there are right ways and wrong ways to do everything. I can say with confidence that, while I know I am out of shape, EA Sports Active 2 did not kick my butt. You will end up sweating at the end of every session, but I never felt like I was unable to finish a round.

Unfortunately, a lot of the exercises require the user to take the initiative. The motion-sensing technology that comes with the game’s arm and leg bands seem to react more on quick gesture-based motions rather than a true one-to-one action, as with the PlayStation Move. There are actually a few exercises that completely run on their own without the player moving at all. In one respect, implementation of the PlayStation Move would be more accurate but it would cut out a significantly large amount of potential buyers. By including everything you need to start playing the game right in the box, it is a lot safer marketing decision and more accessible to people who are less familiar with the gaming platform.

After an entire three-week session with EA Sports Active 2 start to finish, I can’t tell you if I’ve lost any weight. Not because the game isn’t effective – I just don’t have a scale. But I can tell you that the game definitely makes you feel better about yourself and provides an adequate platform to start a workout program. The only thing is, as with starting any new program, motivation is the key. It is the most difficult thing about starting a new workout regimen. Going to the gym, especially without anyone else to go to can be incredibly daunting. I enjoy actually working out to the game by myself because I’d be embarrassed to go to the gym. Plus, while it’s nothing unusual, the inclusion of Trophies in the game (since all PS3 games are required to have them) is a strangely satisfying and compelling reason to play the game. Maybe it’ll help you as it’s helped me, because my addiction to the ethereal accolades has gotten me to play the game. But maybe that’s a good reason as to why EA Sports Active 2 can help you out where nothing has before.

EA Sports Active 2 is a great way to start a new workout program. The game is extremely easy to navigate and provides an excellent platform to bring in people who are nervous about working out. While the motion controls that come with the game aren’t exactly the best, if you really work at the exercises, you could theoretically follow along without even needing them. EA Sports Active 2 isn’t designed to make you change pant sizes overnight or make you into a bodybuilder, but it does make you aware of your own fitness and create a more active lifestyle.

PlayStation LifeStyle’s Final Score + Excellent way to start a workout and scheduling is key + Workouts really do make you feel energetic - Motion Control is incredibly fickle

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© Corey Schwanz for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2010. | Permalink | 3 comments | Add to del.icio.us

As the followup to one of the most beautiful and innovative titles on the PSN, echochrome ii takes puzzle solving to a new level with the inclusion of the PlayStation Move. Is Japan Studio’s latest brain-teasing title worth the trouble?

Announced at E3 2010, echochrome ii is the aptly named sequel to the original echochrome, the M.C. Escher-inspired minimalistic title with “the least graphics and the most gameplay.” The player was in control of moving the environment change the view of pathways to remove or create obstacles, and with no set time limits the game had a very relaxing and surreal ambiance. The sequel has a very similar omnipotent feeling to it but puts the player in a much more proactive position. Using the PlayStation Move controller as a flashlight the player casts two-dimensional shadows across three-dimensional objects to create a flowing plane for the Shadow character to walk across.

echochrome ii was designed to demonstrate the fullest capabilities of the PlayStation Move but, while it doesn’t exactly do that, the game still works very well. While the game has been portrayed as shining a flashlight through the television into a virtual room, the reaction time of the game doesn’t feel as true one-to-one as it should be. It actually turns out the the PlayStation Eye camera isn’t used at all for the game, it is merely used to record video (more on that later). The pointer controls as well as the flashlight are controlled solely through the Move’s internal accelerometer. You can be completely out of range of the PS Eye’s range of view, such as across a room, and still control the light. While this may seem like a problem, it actually helps with the game’s aesthetic feeling.

Originally, it seems like something to complain about. But that much control would probably hamper the game’s approachability. Even with the sensitivity turned up high, the light seems to drag across the screen than simultaneously with the movement of the player’s hand. But the majority of echochrome ii doesn’t require such incredible subtlety and in fact, if you try to move fast, you might accidentally bump your “shadow” off its block to his demise. It is designed to slow the player down and play more with strategy and thinking, as opposed to reaction and dependency. With this, echochrome ii creates a new level of immersion within the player’s own mind, rather than stemming from the exploration of the environment. Once you accept this fact, the game becomes much more enjoyable.

The real meat of echochrome ii comes from the level variety. Not only does the title have one hundred developer-created levels, but along with the nearly limitless amount of user-generated levels, each stage can be played in three different ways. “Escort” mode is the mode available on the PlayStation Network or PlayStation Move Starter disc and is what you are more familiar with. By casting the shadows over the environment, you move the character across the room to the exit, possibly one of a few. Exits are created by placing the shadow of a sphere on top of two cube shadows, creating an arching doorway. Depending on the angle of the flashlight, the design of the level, and the player’s own intuition, there can be several different exits in a stage.

“Echo” mode is just like the original echochrome where you must use your shadow to collect various echos across the stage. “Paint” mode is where echochrome ii begins to innovate, rather than merely redesign the former game. In this mode, there is no official “exit” to the stage. Using three new colored characters, you are required to traverse the shadows to color their corresponding blocks. The level is only finished after a certain percentage of the blocks are painted, leaving the path to completion completely up to the player. One of the major attractions to echochrome ii is also moving the light source around and discovering the pieces of Shadow Art within the different stages. I’ve only come across a few of the art pieces so far in the game, sometimes two in each stage, so I don’t know if there is some in every level. Sometimes the game can really get frustrating so it’s definitely suited for small doses. A fresh view a day, or even just a few hours later can really change the perspective on a level.

echochrome ii‘s music is very similar to the first game, mainly the orchestral strings, but it feels fresher and livelier. Bubblier even. While it totally fits the game and adds to its appeal, similar to the original echochrome, the music loops across each level and even fans of the style will eventually get tired of the repetition. Also like the first game, echochrome ii lets you upload the footage of your stage to YouTube. Interestingly though, you can also choose to upload footage of yourself behind the actual stage. It seems like a neat concept, but the PS Eye isn’t that great of a camera and with the level of thinking required for some of these levels, looking good on camera will be the last thing on your mind.

All in all, echochrome ii is definitely a worthy sequel to its predecessor. While most people will initially complain at the exact implementation of the PlayStation Move support, this title definitely deserves the title of “The Thinking Man’s Game.” It puts players in a position not seen in most games, entirely proactive and in control of the environment. Some players may not like the slow pace of the game, but those who do will find nothing better. The levels do get quite unforgiving later in the game, but the sense of satisfaction in entirely unparalleled. While echochrome ii may not make you go out and get a Move controller, is definitely worth playing if you have one.

PlayStation LifeStyle’s Final Score + Despite the initial impressions, the Move support works well for the game. + The level design is static, but can change depending on the player. + Tons of replay value and “collectibles.”

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© Corey Schwanz for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2010. | Permalink | 4 comments | Add to del.icio.us

Dead Nation is the latest title from Housemarque games, the developers of the spectacular Super Stardust HD. Will this zombie apocalypse stand out amongst the hordes or will it sink in the braindead crowd?

It seems that zombie games are all the rage these days, with Call of Duty: Black Ops having a zombie mode, Dead Rising being exclusively zombie-ridden, and even a new Yakuza game in Japan to be festered by the undead. Finnish developer Housemarque however has taken the traditional zombie genre and flipped it on its head. Rather than going the Survivor-Horror route and make players conserve ammo, health, and hide as much as possible, Dead Nation takes a more action-horror approach. Giving players a pleathora of powerful and upgradable weapons, tons of different armor loadouts, and easy-to-pick-up twin-stick shooter controls, the game definitely feels familiar yet fresh. If you’re a fan of Housemarque’s previous PSN title Super Stardust HD, you’ll definitely see and feel the resemblances and be right at home.

Dead Nation centers around one of two main characters, Jack McReady or Scarlett Black. While the game is told through some wonderfully drawn still panels between chapters, the story is identical for both characters. Even in co-op campaign mode, the “I”s are changed to “we.” While the game could have benefited by flushing out the story more between the two protagonists, merely having a story at all in this type of game is definitely a treat. Jack and Scarlett have been fighting for a year after the apocalypse hit and they are finally running low on supplies. Our heroes have the statistical anomaly of being immune to the Zombie Virus. They decide to take a chance and find other survivors or possibly even salvation rather than sit tight and wait to die. Standard fair, but it still gets good as you progress.

One of the best things about Dead Nation has definitely got to be the atmosphere. Not only the graphics, the sound, and the environment, but all of these things and how they meld together. The graphics are some of the best on the PlayStation Network. Even though the game is played from a top-down isometric point of view, there is an unbelievable amount of detail in everything. The garbage littered through the streets clinks and clatters as you walk by. From each individual car, to the clothes that tear off of the zombies, to the zombie parts that lie in the streets that do not disappear, so much attention has been paid to the little things in this game that it’s exciting to just see what will happen next.

The lighting effects in this PSN exclusive are some of the best seen in video games. No one knows why the heroes only travel at night but it greatly adds to the game. Street lamps light the ways through the cities and explosions give you a burst of light but the only light that is omnipresent is the trusty flashlight. But even that isn’t as helpful as it sounds when the sinister fog is coming up and hiding the multitudes of zombies within its cold silent grasp.  And oh boy, there are a lot of zombies in this game.

Dead Nation was said to have the “most on-screen zombies in history.” While Dead Rising 2 is thought to have claimed that award, Housemarque says their game tops it all. While a more scientific study will be done before, it’s undeniable that there are a lot of undead in this game. As the difficulty increases, not only does the strength of the walking dead increase, but more and more appear to take you on. If you are playing through Dead Nation and you don’t feel a sense of despair and anxiety, you aren’t playing right. While I only died a handful of times in the entire game on normal difficulty, I could feel my heart beginning to pound out of my chest several times during a level and I was worried if I’d make it. It delicately balances the magical line of grueling difficulty without getting too frustrating.

While there are tons and tons of zombies all the time, they don’t feel repeated at all, and there are definitely specific classes of zombies; the actually enemy type varies a lot. For example, the standard zombie has a myriad of forms. You find the normal zombies of pink flesh, along with office workers, football players, police men, soldiers, firemen, and soccer moms. All of the zombies, while being considered “neutral,” have unique attributes specific to them. The police officers have handguns that sporadically go off, the football players have helmets that provide extra protection, and so on. There are so many zombies all the time that you have to be conscious of what kind they are, not just if it’s a normal one, a Jumper, a Mouth, a Bombie, or anything else separated by a simple class differentiation.

A unique aspect of Dead Nation that isn’t strictly “gameplay” oriented is the social metagame that exists across the PlayStation Network. As more and more people play the game, more zombies are killed. Every zombie is tracked and noted in a database and are all logged by country. Every country that has access to the PSN has their own statistics and it shows the world’s progress across each infestation. There are leaderboards that track your personal progress in your country as well as with your friends and it’s definitely a satisfying feeling to work with everyone in your entire “dead nation” to fight the hordes. Across every campaign and individual mission you complete your zombie kills dynamically add up so you can watch your kill count get higher and higher. It’s a good thing too, because it’d be nearly impossible to kill 53,596 zombies for the Gold Trophy if the kills didn’t stack.

Especially after titles like Scott Pilgrim and Shank, if there is one thing that gamers have been pandering for, it’s online and offline co-op. Sometimes it’s great to sit down with a buddy and go after a mission or two, but as the PlayStation Network connects so many gamers across the world, sometimes you want to get with a friend across the country to play games. While gamers are quick to complain, I don’t think they really understand the amount of time and effort that go into creating this kind of capability. But don’t worry, Dead Nation delivers. While I must say that I did have voice-chat issues with the game, the online co-op works without a hitch. It’s a good thing too, since there is a trophy for completing a co-op campaign. The strategy element when playing with another person increases the tension ten-fold as you divvy responsibilities for the coming waves of zombies.

Dead Nation is more than just your average run-of-the-mill zombie shooter. With endless replay value, a Platinum trophy, and offline and online co-op, it puts together everything that gamers, not just shooter, zombie, or horror fans, will love. But even as a hardcore gamer, be prepared for a game that is hard. Nowhere near impossible (except maybe on the highest difficulty), but the game definitely makes you sweat. While you are one of the few survivors still left in the world, the gamespace feels alive as you are only one part of a worldwide resistance against the undead. Dead Nation has the full retail quality for a digital price. While the game never made it in time for Halloween, everyone should still pick up this title and experience a beautifully crafted zombie-infested world.

PlayStation LifeStyle’s Final Score +This game’s $15 price has more value than some retail packages. +Finally, online co-op that works and works well. +The difficulty is high, but never frustrating.

© Corey Schwanz for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2010. | Permalink | 29 comments | Add to del.icio.us

The title “Call of Duty” is no stranger to anyone familiar with the next-gen gaming industry. After seven years and six iterations of the most popular FPS franchise, we now have the seventh version – Call of Duty: Black Ops. Treyarch’s shooter takes you back during the Cold War era, and plunges you into a story woven with secrecy and conspiracy on a global scale. The question that we must now answer is whether the secrets of Black Ops are really worth disclosing, or if it should remain under wraps.

A common problem that some developers face is to not rehash or repeat an idea. Working on a first-person-shooter probably doesn’t make that challenge any easier to overcome. Already, we know that most (if not all) FPS’s follow a standard system of fighting from point A to point B. However, it is how the developers script the journey from beginning to end that make the ride either a nail-biting experience, or a sleepy car ride to grandma’s house.

With that point in mind, Treyarch really pulled out all the stops to make Black Ops its biggest and grandest game to date. The overall production values are through the roof.  Set-pieces for each level are massive and full of detail. The characters are full of life with the emotional expressions and life-like animations. Put the two together, and levels seem like a living and breathing environment, littered with chaos at each turn. Ambient sounds of the battlefield rumble in the distance, and the camera reacts violently to the explosive shells that burst within an uncomfortable proximity. All of these things combined create such an over-the-top immersive experience that it can create a sensory overload, challenging your ability to maintain focus at the goal ahead.

In the single player campaign, the story focuses around the character of Alex Mason, who is mysteriously undergoing an interrogation throughout most of the story. The missions are comprised of his flashbacks as he recalls his past operations and divulges them to a mysterious interrogator, a shadowy figure who stares down at Mason from the viewing room. The game does a decent job being able to keep you in the dark as you try to figure out how and why you are being subjected to interrogation. Playing through the most of the missions really don’t give much of a hint either, but it is told through the narrative cut-scenes. Once all secrets were revealed, I was expecting the climax to climb with a mind-blowing ending, but sadly Black Ops didn’t deliver the conclusion with anything grand or memorable to walk away with.

Few short straws can be found with Black Ops when it comes to its level infrastructure. Graphically, Black Ops shines as well as the previous Call of Duty’s that we’ve played through before. Each level is packed with amazing amount of detail, from the dense foliage of the Vietnam jungles, to the breath-taking panoramic views of snow capped mountains. I noticed that the lighting in the game has also been improved, giving objects a bit more organic feel to the natural environment around them. Even though the levels are large and full of commotion, Black Ops still manages to keep the frame-rates running at a smooth 60fps most of the time, which is definitely an impressive feat to me. However, during our playthroughs there was one instance where the frame-rate dipped so low to that of a slide-show for a few seconds. Once it cleared up, it never showed again, so we can’t penalize it too much from that one occurrence.

In most of the levels of Black Ops, you’ll be engaged in large open battles and shooting your way through one objective to the next. Occasionally, there will be a few missions that change up the style of gameplay and allow you to infiltrate enemy facilities without detection, but every level will eventually end with an all out open battle with guns blazing. One of the coolest features to make its way to Black Ops was the ability to command a special operations unit from an SR-71. Strangely, that feature was cut way too short, just when you started to figure out the controls and wanted more of the same action. In fact, quite a few times you’ll encounter some unique and exciting gameplay features that felt as though they weren’t implemented enough. Considering the Black Ops title, we were expecting more stealth and infiltration missions to, but almost all of the engagements were done in the open air.

The gun play and shooting mechanics are tight and responsive to handle any situation that needs be tackled for long range targets, and versatile enough for close quarters battle (CQB). You’ll come across a huge arsenal of weaponry from shotguns and submachine guns, to dual wielding and crossbows. Each weapon also carries its own responsiveness depending on the size of the weapon, which adds a sense of weight. As always, firing in short bursts down your sites is your best friend and will make your shots more accurate. At times, you will also be asked to call in support with attack choppers or a distant mortar team. Seeing any form of support in action is always visually gratifying as they lay waste to structures and help even the odds for your chance of survival on the battlefield. Continue reading…

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© Razor for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2010. | Permalink | 25 comments | Add to del.icio.us

Ben 10 is one of the staple Cartoon Network franchises out today. But games based on licenses generally don’t end up being the best of titles, or will Ben 10 Ultimate Alien: Cosmic Destruction finally break the mold of mediocre cash-ins?

For those not familiar with the Ben 10 franchise, young hero Ben Tennyson is in possession of an alien watch called the Ultimatrix. This mysterious item enables Ben to transform into one of ten different aliens (see what they did there?) to combat the forces of evil. Together with his cousin Gwen and his friend Kevin, the teen trio rush off to battle various aliens that try to come to Earth. While the story of the Ben 10 Ultimate Alien: Cosmic Destruction technically isn’t canon to the television series, the writers of the show were brought on to create an authentic experience.

The only problem is… the story isn’t that engaging to begin with. Like most licensed titles, the major flaw of the game is that it relies too heavily on the player’s familiarity with the series, rather than expanding on characterization to emotionally attach the player. This leaves the player uninterested in the characters if they aren’t already fans. There are even big powerful enemies that Ben obviously has a history with, but after exchanging a few quips the two fight or part ways. Nothing more. The relationship between the two is left for the television series, leaving players of the game feeling like afterthoughts.

The gameplay in Ben 10 is boring and uninspired. For having ten different aliens, there is surprisingly little variety, with the combat generally the same for each alien. While the different forms have different moves, they are all the same. The combo move, the jumping move, the projectile move, etc. There is actually no difference in strength between the giant dinosaur and the SpiderMonkey. For that matter, you can actually play in Ben’s human form and have no advantage or disadvantage than any of his alien counterparts. The enemies are just as dull. Occasionally there is a gimmick to defeat one, but most of them are easily defeated by spamming the Square button.

There is only one type of collectable in the entire game, the rest is just currency to level up your forms. The levels are boring and while the platforming works, it feels dull. Each alien has a different elemental function that works on one type of environmental gimmick and one only. One thing that definitely stands out in the game is that every one of Ben’s aliens has an Ultimate form. These forms usually activate during boss fights and make Ben everything short of invincible. But even in this giant forms, you don’t feel any more powerful than even being human. It’s so incredibly odd that these forms even exist, as they are only story activated. The game is called Ultimate Alien and you can’t even choose your Ultimate form when you want to.

The graphics of Ben 10 definitely feel subpar to traditional current-gen console games. It feels like it’s a PlayStation 2 game, which it actually is. The game was released across all platforms, with the common denominator seemingly the PS2, or even the PSP. That being said, the cinematic modes actually look worse than game itself. The visual style is like the new Star Wars: The Clone Wars television series, except done on a much lower budget. This leads to small things the lips not even syncing up to the voices. You never thought that these would be a big deal, but the current generation of games has spoiled us with phenomenal production quality.

Ben 10 Ultimate Alien ultimately fails to become anything outside of  just another licensed property. Papaya Studios worked hand-in-hand with the Cartoon Network to create a game that would only work for people who are already fans of the franchise. Ben 10 will hardly keep your interest, but it may do well for your children. Or if you really like Cartoon Network.

PlayStation LifeStyle’s Final Score - Looks and plays like a last generation game - Only appeals to existing fans - Boring through and through

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© Corey Schwanz for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2010. | Permalink | 6 comments | Add to del.icio.us

When Fallout 3 ushered in Bethesda’s apocalyptic world, gamers dove into a unique experience. Even though a war-torn world setting is familiar and somewhat cliché, the RPG developer managed to create a visceral experience with their RPG. The concept, the gameplay, down to the storyline, felt fresh and gave endless hours of a timeless experience.  Two years later, Fallout: New Vegas is here, and we are filled with anticipation from the new location and mysteries that surround this city and story. Can New Vegas carry over the thrills of its predecessor and embed our imaginations?

With New Vegas, it wouldn’t be far-fetched to say that we expected this title to deliver the same greatness as Fallout 3. But after putting many hours into character development and pushing the story forward, it was definitely hard to shake that feeling of déjà vu. It seems that Bethesda allowed the developers at Obsidian to follow the “if it’s not broke, don’t fix” approach, and it shows in every aspect of the game. Everything about New Vegas, from the graphics, presentation, and gameplay is exactly the same as experienced in Fallout 3, which can deliver mixed emotions to the overall feel.

In New Vegas, the story starts you off on a much different tone than Fallout 3. Naturally, we already know about the world’s devastation from nuclear fallout, but you’ll get a quick recap about it from the starting cut scene. Instead of beginning your journey from the vault, you’re immediately thrown into the story somewhere in the Mojave Desert with a pre-emptive role as a courier, but will find yourself at the bad end of a gun barrel without much of an explanation. You survive the almost fatal gunshot, and then get recovered by a village that nourishes you back to health. From here, your journey launches in search for the people who attempted your murder.

Strangely, the main story doesn’t seem to be as titillating as the first one. Fallout 3 successfully tied the landscape and the main quest together, where both felt organically woven together to deliver a story. In New Vegas the scenario and main story really don’t feel as connected, leaving little encouragement or wonder to explore a world that already feels familiar. However, the campaign that we are given does feel pretty solid on its own though, and you’ll find that Obsidian Entertainment really put a lot of time towards streamlining the main quest. The main story is paced really well, and you can easily find yourself moving along its trail fairly easily and may forget to branch out to pick up on the plethora of side missions.

You will never be short of tasks or side-quests in New Vegas. Even though the overall world map is noticeably smaller than Fallout 3, there are much more compelling side missions to do that can keep you off the beaten path for hours. Occasionally, you may run into an area where the enemies can slay you within one hit, but this only encourages you to come back later on to finish the fight once you’ve leveled up enough to handle it.

The fighting is relatively unchanged for those of you familiar with VATS system. A quick push of the R2 button will freeze the gameplay, allowing you to strategically target specific appendages on your opponent. To help increase your weapon’s efficiency, you are also able to add various attachments to your weapon of choice to alter its statistics. Weapons can also be fed different forms of ammo, from hollow points to armor-piercing rounds. In spite of this feature, most of the special ammo seems to always be in short supply, and finding the ingredients to put it together never seem to yield enough for it to be fully effective. But if you are really adamant about having that special ammo, be prepared to do quite a bit farming and digging into the darkest nook and cranny for items.

Graphically, New Vegas doesn’t really seem to put in much of an effort to “wow” its audience.  Every texture and polygon from its predecessor makes an encore appearance. The stiff robot-like animations are back as well, which doesn’t really help the game in its general presentation. It feels like Obsidian Entertainment used a copy-and-paste method for the game engine and spent no effort to actually fix the shortcomings from Fallout 3. The game is fraught with graphic glitches. Enemies will sometimes get stuck in the ground or wall (which actually can be an quirky advantage), and sometimes you’ll see the screen flash with strange warped artifacts. The most common “bug” is that the screen will occasionally freeze at random intervals as you’re high-hoofing it across the open world. These frequent pauses can last anywhere from 2 seconds and onward towards infinity – also known as a “crash” which will require you to perform a hard reboot on your PS3. Such occurrences really take away from the experience of the game, as you’ll find yourself constantly saving every five minutes out of paranoia or holding your breath when it performs that brief pause, which is simply unacceptable.

On a brighter note, the sound within New Vegas is quite stellar. Granted, all the sound bytes are exactly the same from the previous Fallout, but it gets the job done and does it well. The sounds of the weapons are punchy and the characters or creatures that you encounter deliver their distinguishable tones. The old scratchy classics of the jukebox are back with new tunes added to the playlist, adding to that charming feel. The music that you can tune in over the radio from your Pip-Boy 3000 does a pretty decent task of making you fall back in time. There were few instances though that sometimes a sound wouldn’t register or the sound effect had a noticeable delay. This didn’t happen too often, so it doesn’t really jar your fun as much as the visual glitches.

There are some newer features for this run of Fallout that perhaps help distinguish New Vegas. As you make your way across the Mojave, you’ll have to be extra careful with how you treat the various towns and factions. Every good and bad deed will be remembered by the people within those factions, so it is wise to decide who your enemies will be. Depending who you chose to team up with will definitely have an impact on the political landscape and how the overall environment responds to you.

Obsidian has also allowed a “Hardcore” mode for those daunting players needing the extra challenge. You’ll have to eat and sleep regularly if you wish to survive, and also count your ammo as each round you carry will add weight. So if you find the regular difficulties too simple and boring, then Hardcore mode will definitely give you a run for your money.

Speaking of money, you’ll also get a chance to take a stab at your luck at the tables. Even before you reach New Vegas, you will get the chance to play various forms of poker to your hearts content or until your wallet is dry. One of the newer forms of poker is Fallout’s very own Caravan. A game of Caravan can be initiated with any NPCs that have dialog available while you chit-chat with them. This can be a great departure from the main game if you are in need for a break to dust off your boots.

In spite of Fallout: New Vegas being plagued with bugs, it still manages to take what is familiar and make it work. Sadly, I’m still not sure if putting in the hours is worth the effort just yet because of the random crashing that occurs, and that can really break your patience if you forgot to make that last important save file. The critical side of me feels that this game could have used more polish, especially since the game engine has already been out long enough for the developers to work out the kinks, which they clearly didn’t do. The quality of other open world games really make New Vegas seem mildly archaic in its presentation, however the long list of missions, additional features and technical aspects may entice the hardcore RPG fans to come back for more if they are willing to forgive the rampant glitches. If you’re a fan of the franchise, play the hand you’re given here with Fallout: New Vegas. For others, it might not be worth the gamble.

PlayStation LifeStyle’s Final Score + Loads of missions and replay value. -/+ Little improvements over Fallout 3. - Graphic glitches and sporadic bugs.

© Razor for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2010. | Permalink | 27 comments | Add to del.icio.us

When most people hear about a post-apocalyptic setting, images of vast gray wastelands are probably the first of many things that come to mind.  These bleak backdrops would have been created due to some world war among humans where nuclear weapons played a role in their extinction, leaving nothing but desolation.  In Enslaved: Odyssey to the West, developer Ninja Theory throws out most of those common conventions, and ushers in a much more vibrant take on the world after its destruction, told through a classic and old Chinese tale.  This is one story that is sure to captivate you from beginning to end.

Enslaved’s story starts us off in the future, where only a remnant of mankind has survived from what seems to be an atrocious attack by their own design: attack mechs. While the history of this future isn’t exactly told in detail, we do catch clues of what may have happened during some of the exchanged dialogue as the game progresses.  Our place in the story begins with Monkey and Trip, who are both captive on board a slave trading vessel. After they make their escape, Trip wires a slave band onto Monkey’s noggin after he was knocked unconscious during their flee.  The head band has now “enslaved” Monkey to Trip, who now needs his help to get home. If Monkey disobeys Trip’s commands or lets her die, then Monkey will likewise perish.  From here, an unlikely adventure begins.

One of the first things you’ll recognize about Enslaved is that it is very green and lush with vegetation – quite pretty for a post-apocalyptic setting.  Nature has reclaimed what man has built, and the level designs really pull off that earthy and semi-organic feel. Each level feels as if it’s been completely abandoned by mankind, only to be ruled by nature and the mechanized life that patrol the territories. Since Monkey and Trip seem to be the only living humans in the dangerous lands, you may quickly feel a sense of dependency on each other to survive, even though they may have started off on the wrong foot from the beginning.

Filling the role of Monkey, you’ll slowly begin to learn how he and Trip work together in a semi-symbiotic relationship.  As Trip’s “slave”, you’ll protect her from the mechs and help her access places out of reach when she commands you.  Even though Monkey is made of brawn and grit, you’ll frequently call upon Trip’s help too, such as her ability to distract enemies while you maneuver yourself into an advantageous position for take downs. She will also be essential to Monkey for doling out health vials and providing much needed upgrades to his gear.

Thanks to the great script penned by Alex Garland and the voice-overs by Andy Serkis and Lindsay Shaw, the dialogue builds such an incredible dynamic between the two characters that is life-like and believable. Even the facial animations provide such strong emotional feedback during the silent pauses in the cut scenes. Watching the scenes play out has an uncanny realism, closely bridging the gap between big-budget films and motion-captured game sequences.  The level of care put towards those scenes makes the adventure all the more captivating, drawing upon your curiosity to push the experience forward, something that isn’t easily achievable by most games.

Another element that will draw you into the game is the music.  The orchestral pieces composed by Nitin Sawhney captures the emotion on the screen, whether during a cutscene or during the gameplay. During the particularly intense action sequences, the music picks up a powerful pace, then rolls off into soft ambient tones after the combat is completed, and continues during the platforming elements.  The sound effects are also superbly implemented throughout the game, giving each moving object a sense of weight and purpose. However, there were a few rare instances of sound glitches when an action or voice dialogue didn’t register.  The glitch wasn’t big enough of a deal to remove me from being immersed in the rich atmosphere.

Though the cutscenes really shine visually, the graphics during gameplay are impressive as well.  Many times, you’ll be caught off guard with amazing panoramic views of vast landscapes that are gorgeously adorned with green life and foliage.  As you progress through the game, you’ll be visiting many unique locations – from abandoned cities full of nature to desolate landscapes littered with scrap metal.   However, as eye-catching the levels may seem to be, there doesn’t seem to be a consistency with the amount of amazing detail.  Sometimes, you’ll notice objects that were given sharp textures, and in that same setting there will be another item sporting a muddy coat of paint, as if someone forgot to give it attention. The frame rate will also stutter from time-to-time during some of the larger set-pieces, but the visuals will typically run smooth during most of your journey.  Such nuances are small and infrequent, but anyone with critical eye may find it distracting.

Animations are fluid and add to the believability of both the humans and the mechs.  Performing actions whether in battle or scaling a wall seem to have a sense of natural movement.  There are some instances though, where you’ll need to perform contextual actions with Trip, which involve hoisting her up to an out-of-reach ledge or flinging her across a wide gap.  Here, the animations look like they could have used some work, as the action you’ll see is exactly the same every time and doesn’t carry the same fluidity of other animations.  It definitely would have been nice to see some more animated variety in that area, but even that small issue isn’t enough to completely break the overall experience.

Enslaved also utilizes platforming elements that are very reminiscent from the likes of Uncharted.  However, the difficulty involved to climb and jump from ledge-to-ledge is quite forgiving and simplistic.  Rarely (if ever) will Monkey fall to his death from a jumping sequence.  Each leap while scaling a wall, or lunging out to a frail beam will connect every time.  Even if you were to try to force Monkey off a cliff, it would prove to be impossible.  If a jump action isn’t possible in a certain direction, Monkey would simply hesitate or shake his head, indicating that the move isn’t able to be performed.  However, as you progress through the game, the challenge involved with the platforming elements is slightly increased.  Yes, you still won’t fall, but you will now have to correctly time your jumps to avoid receiving damage or death, depending on the environment that you’re traversing.

The combat sequences are extremely fun and brutal. The control layout for fighting against the mechs are similar (if not the same) to Ninja Theory’s debut title, Heavenly Sword. Your main combat buttons rely solely on the ‘square’ and ‘triangle’ buttons, and then ‘circle’ for a counterattack while in a guard using ‘R2.’  With Monkey’s staff, you’ll also be able to perform ranged attacks on the mechs. At first, the mechanics for fighting are simple, requiring not much skill to reduce your adversaries into a metal paper weight.  Further down the campaign, you’ll encounter a few more variety of mechs where your beginner tactics won’t aide your survival.  You’ll be required to employ newer strategies when defending against a group of 3 or more if you intend to keep Monkey and Trip alive.

In some areas, you’ll have to find cover from gunfire behind small stacks of brick that will collapse one piece at a time if it absorbs too much heat.  Situations like that will require you to constantly think on your feet while you devise a strategy before losing all of your means for cover.  Once you’ve figured out the timing of each different melee attack of the mechs, it will become much easier to dispatch them and move on to the next group.

Occasionally, during a brawl you’ll be prompted with an option to perform a take down with the push of a button.  Performing these ruthless actions can be quite satisfying to watch, but strangely doesn’t require a button mini-game after enacting the sequence. Rather, you just watch Monkey tear apart the mech in glorious fashion, which isn’t a bad thing either.  I just think it would’ve been more immersive to include a sequence of button prompts to make the player feel like they are in control while ripping the mech into oblivion.  Regardless of that missing element, the take down sequences feel great to execute, especially when unleashing the deadly moves during some of the memorable boss battles.

With Enslaved, you will find it really easy to lose track of time, since the pacing of the story has been choreographed extremely well. The game seldom keeps you yawning as you’ll always find yourself wanting to progress the story to unlock its mysteries. New surprises seem to be waiting around each corner, which help keep the game fresh during the entire twelve-hour experience.

In spite of the few glitches and minor graphic issues, Enslaved is one of those games that is hard to put down once you get captivated by its compelling story and memorable characters. The depth of gameplay is satisfying for any level of gamer – it’s not too deep nor is it overly complicated to chase away the curiosity of those new to the genre.  The story, although not new, is definitely unique and is fresh to the industry.  Even with its flaws, anyone brave enough to take on this journey will not find this adventure disappointing.

PlayStation LifeStyle’s Final Score + Captivating Story and Top-notch voice acting + Solid pacing and Immersive experience – Few sound glitches and visual inconsistencies

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© Razor for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2010. | Permalink | 34 comments | Add to del.icio.us

Tom Clancy’s HAWX 2 brings back a sense of familiarity from its predecessor, but not without bringing a few additional tricks to enhance the aerial experience.  In HAWX 2, you’ll find a variety of missions that will engage you with full-out aerial dog-fights and pulling the occasional recon missions, all the while trying to uncover terrorist plots woven with conspiracy.

In HAWX 2, it quickly becomes apparent that terrorism is on the rise, and the solution needed to solve the world’s crisis is burdened on the shoulders of a few pilots from the United States, Britain, and Russia.  The storyline attempts to borrow mechanics that were successfully used in the memorable Modern Warfare series. You’ll be jumping into different flight suits from three different characters from each of the aforementioned countries as you unwind the plot.  However, the presentation seems to trip on itself as the storyline comes apart about halfway through the campaign.  In spite of not fully understanding the background information behind each mission, one thing however, was clearly apparent.  My job was to blow stuff up, and I guess in the end, that’s what it was really all about.

Gameplay in Ubisoft Romania’s fighter-sim, was overall manageable.  You get to select from three different point-of-views to control your fighter – first person, third person, and cockpit.  The controls were quite intuitive as well, allowing newcomers to comfortably ease themselves into controlling the fighter.  If you’ve got the hardware, you can also attach flight sticks that are compatible with the game to allow for added realism and control. HAWX 2 starts you off easy with missions that will allow you to adapt to the control schemes before tossing you into the fray.  Don’t worry.  There is plenty of time and missions to get in some practice, which are a cake walk in the beginning.  However, be prepared when the game suddenly picks up the difficulty about halfway through the campaign.

In HAWX 2, each mission will pit you against multiple objectives, many which can be time sensitive.  Most missions will require you destroy a target.  Sounds pretty simple, right?  As you progress through the campaign, you’ll notice your HUD and radar will quickly litter your screen with yellow target indicators, leaving it somewhat confusing to discern which one is your main objective.  However, a closer inspection on the HUD will reveal that your main targets are identified with small asterisk within their target box.  Focusing on taking out those will bring you closer to victory and speed you on to the next objective.  If you’re still finding yourself lost, the safest bet is to destroy everything if you’ve got the ammo capacity.

Part of what makes HAWX 2 challenging is the new and improved AI of your enemies.  They will evade and dodge as you take potshots at them.  Firing missiles will be rendered ineffective as they also love to dispense flares, which they never seem to be in short supply.  This can make takedowns tedious and challenging.   As you make it halfway through the campaign, the AI difficulty will suddenly spike, increasing the frustration of completing each objective. You do have teammates at your disposal, but unfortunately, it feels like they never graduated from flight school.  While your wingmen are always around for a conversation, they always seem to abandon you to fend off wave after wave of enemy fighters.  Sometimes, I wonder if your teammates ARE the conspiracy.

One of the best things about HAWX 2 is the visual presentation.  The rendering of each fighter is done to perfection, leaving the player with the feeling of flying a sports car than a ragtag fighter.  Thanks to the use of satellite imagery from GeoEye, the vistas of the land from above are simply breath-taking combined with scattered clouds that stretch over the beautiful scenery.  Just don’t fly too close to the ground, as the illusion will be somewhat marred if you pay attention to the textures.  You’ll find that during the UAV missions, you will get the opportunity to really appreciate the amount of detail that was incorporated to bring about realism to the environment, which does a fine job in spades. The environment simply has to be seen while in motion to really appreciate the level of effort put into the detail. The explosions of your take-downs are done exceptionally well, and scoring hits will leave your target trailing smoke until you force it into a ball of flame.  Taking out ground targets can be just as exhilarating, especially if you utilize the missile cam by holding down “X.”

Strangely that level of tender love and care was not given towards the pre-rendered cut-scenes.  The clips shown between each mission are puzzling as they don’t seem to show the same quality of detail seen in the missions during the gameplay.  The character models are simple and the animations are stiff.  It’s a very shocking contrast to see the gameplay renderings and the cut-scenes trying to work together, but it comes across more as a distraction when trying to pay attention to the storyline.  I found myself wanting to skip the videos all together, just to end the eye-sore.

The sound is decently incorporated in HAWX 2.  The sound effects have been implemented well, from the sound of the afterburner to the dull hum of the cannon firing at a steady stream.  Sometimes a sound cue won’t register, but this rarely happens enough for it to be a major concern.  The voice acting is actually performed quite well, but can be inconsistent at times.  During the missions, your teammates will chime in with chatter that give the missions an authentic feel and pace, while some of the cut-scenes, again, fail to keep that same vocal atmosphere consistent. The music composed by Tom Salta, however, is utilized extremely well.  All the epic musical cues come in at the right moment, and succeed at giving each mission a touch of “Hollywood” nostalgia.  During one Russian mission, I caught myself grinning as a Russian vocal overture filled my cockpit, instilling me with a sense of purpose, pride and anticipation of the fight ahead.  I now understand how effective propaganda music can be.  Overall, the music successfully accomplishes what it was set out to do and convincingly embeds the player fearlessly into the dangerous skies.

Some of the newer features that were added into the game include recon missions with a UAV and unloading tons of munitions from an AC-130 Gunship, something that might seem reminiscent if you’ve played the gunship level in Modern Warfare.  These missions are nice break from the hectic action of the dogfights and allow the player to act on the intel side of the operations, while occasionally taking out a few targets with drone missiles when the order is given.  Another fun feature is the ability to perform takeoffs and landings.  Some missions will have you begin taxiing from the hangar, or launching from an aircraft carrier.  On the carrier, you’ll notice the flight crew giving you hand signals for takeoff – even the little things make a world of difference towards an authentic feel.  Landing is the tedious of the two, as you’ll also be performing some of them at night with night-vision goggles (NVGs).  You’ll also get to test your accuracy behind the stick as you line yourself up for a midair refuel.  For landing and refueling, you’ll have option to turn on flight assistance with your HUD to help guide your movements for easier control.

If you feel the need to have some real company during a mission, you can host or join a four player co-op session to bring the fight.  Engaging the opponent with live help makes the difficult missions much more manageable and less tedious.  But if you’re itching to raise the stakes, you can also dive into a multiplayer session with up to eight players if you can find the people willing to play.  As you progress through the ranks, upgrades can be made to your fighters with perks, which can help give you an edge over your opponents.  Overall, this mode will probably be the one that you keep coming back to, as it keeps the dogfights somewhat fresh and challenging.

Ubisoft Romania didn’t seem to push too hard to reinvent the HAWX series.  Much of it will be familiar if you’ve played the first one.  In no way does HAWX 2 really redefine the genre either; rather it is a finely tuned arcade flight-sim, which fires off stunning visuals and an impressive soundtrack, but the uneven presentation and finicky AI keeps HAWX 2 from reaching a full adrenaline ride.

Fans of the first game will definitely find this arcade title very likable with the upgraded tweaks and enhancements to the gameplay.  If you’re a newcomer to this genre, you won’t feel alienated by the controls as they are quite easy to pick up without a steep learning curve.  There is definite fun to be had your first time around and there is always multiplayer to engage in the online experiences.  For what it’s worth, if you’re looking to try something new apart from your typical first-person shooters, HAWX 2 is a great place to start.

PlayStation LifeStyle’s Final Score Top notch visuals and epic soundtrack Intense dogfights Uneven AI and presentation

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© Razor for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2010. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us

Kung Fu Rider is the first effort using the PlayStation Move from Sony Japan Studios. Is this PlayStation Move launch title a smooth ride, or is it a wreck waiting to happen?

Kung Fu Rider is an odd title. All of the gameplay revolves around one of two characters riding downhill through overly crowed Hong Kong streets on the strangest of means; such as office chairs, baby strollers, even vacuum cleaners. The goofy premise gives the inclination that the title is going to be good fun. Don’t let it fool you.

From the very moment you start Kung Fu Rider, it’s a disaster. The game’s tutorial modes immediately shed light on controller issues. And it’s not the PlayStation Move at fault. In other games, the PlayStation Move reacts with 1:1 precision. However, in Kung Fu Rider, the most basic of movement, such as power dashing forward, or jumping is not responsive about a quarter of the time. Since, you’re zooming downhill on your office chair at a fairly fast pace all while dodging various obstacles, having your movements not react on-screen kills any fun to be had.

Though, the game itself isn’t really all that fun to begin with. The game is very reminiscent of PAIN, likely because it uses the very same Havok physics engine and features plenty of humorously painful situations. The most enjoyable aspect of Kung Fu Rider, is when you get hit: the gameplay slows down considerably and will actually show your cheeks shake from the impact. It’s good for a snicker or two, then it get’s old. Fast.

As you’re swooping down the twisting turns of the hills, there are obsticals everywhere. Never have I seen a street littered with so many cones, and obstructions. Then there is the Mafia. The Mafia is really just there to add some sort moving, attacking obstacle for you to encounter. I’d hope that the real Mafia weren’t such morons in real life, as the ones in the game pretty much stand there until you are right upon them. Most of the time, you can just jump right over them. Alternatively, you can actually put some of your very limited Kung Fu skills to use. For a game with the word Kung Fu in the title, you’d expect at least a semi-decent move set, but here, you’ll do very little more than some weak kicking.

Your goal is to make it past the Mafia and obstacles and get to your mobile reporting van at the end of each stage. You’ll cheer when you reach it, but not because you won, but because it’s over.

Kung Fu Rider is an incredibly poor game. It’s a rain cloud hovering over a bright sunny PlayStation Move launch. The game is much more frustrating than fun, lacks any depth, and at times doesn’t even work. Kung Fu Rider should have been a $9.99 PlayStation Network game, and even then I’d have a difficult time recommending it.

PlayStation LifeStyle’s Final Score Controls aren’t responsive Gameplay is lacking any depth Missing the mark in terms of fun

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© Anthony Severino for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2010. | Permalink | 7 comments | Add to del.icio.us

Klei Entertainment’s Shank has been described in the past year building up to release as the lovechild of Quentin Tarantino’s films and 2D beat’em ups. Guess what? Klei wasn’t lying! Shank combines all the elements of Q.T.’s Kill Bill films with some of the most beautifully violent 2D graphics to date. But how does the gameplay hold up? Find out if Shank will hold your thirst for violence or if the gameplay will make you turn your violence acts to your controller and ultimately, your living room wall.

Shank’s storyline is a classic tale of revenge that Kratos and Quentin Tarantino would appreciate. Shank’s boss demands that he kill the love of his life, Ava, to show him where your true loyalty lies. When you ultimately refuse, he sends over a hit-squad to take you out Kill Bill style. After somehow surviving an epic butt-kicking, Shank is out for revenge. One by one you find the lowlives who did this to you. Shank is about as ruthless as our favorite Spartan, considering the fact that the co-creator of the God of War series, Marianne Krawczyk, wrote the script, it is only fitting that Shank and Kratos would be best friends forever if they ever ran across one-another. While the storyline isn’t exactly original, the game’s dialogue certainly rocked and delivers laughs from time to time. Wait until you hear what Angalo says to Shank later on in the game and hear Shank’s response. Pure gold.

Shank boasts some of the best production values around for a 2D game on the PSN. While the game’s graphics are reminiscent of flash games on the web, the team at Klei Entertainment hired some of the best animators around to bring life to characters in the game. Instead of poorly animated characters fighting about, Shank is full of 2D HD characters with animation pulled straight from a high-budget cartoon or better yet, an anime done by the masters at Gainax. There’s even some fantastic ‘ode to movie effects’ throughout the game. While fighting underneath a neon sign for the local ‘Gentleman’s establishment’, Shank and his enemies quickly turn into shadows as he disburse his revenge with black blood a flyin’. It’s a sweet effect that isn’t overused and adds to game’s overall film feel.

Gameplay consist of some classic beat’em up action with a dash of ‘Prince of Persia’ wall running and jumping thrown in for good measure. Thankfully the game gives you more than just your hands to beat your enemies senseless, as the first major heavy weapon the game gives you is a giant chainsaw. Your melee attack consist of a couple shanks and your guns are great for distant attacks. Thankfully, you acquire new weapons every couple of stages so they aren’t too rare. However, I still found the chainsaw and shotgun to be the best combo around. Gameplay is fun and addictive until you get closer to the end of the game. Beside the new weapons, no other type of gameplay mechanics are introduced and gameplay becomes a bit repetitive due to that fact that the gameplay offers very little variety, so don’t be surprised if you get bored eventually.

Another gameplay problem is that the game can be incredibly difficult. One mistake against a group of minor bad guys and a couple of ‘big daddy’ baddies could spell the end for Shank’s quest. Not to worry though, as the game offers unlimited lives, so that’s never a problem. The game could have really benefited from a level-up system, so that later in the game Shank could just destroy his enemies as the ultimate badass. On the flip side, the difficulty does make it more exciting when you manage to beat up a pack of enemies, but even with that said it still could have used a little tweaking.

Even though the gameplay can be difficult, the ‘pounce’ mechanic, which enables Shank to soar through the sky in slow motion with some speed blur for added effect and inflict a huge chunk of damage on whoever isn’t lucky enough to move out of the way is certainly a powerful addition. While this move is cool to see in action, it cheapens the gameplay because you can use it however many times you want, so abuse of the ability is often considered the ‘oh crud’ button. The ability definitely softens the game a bit, but you can choose to avoid using the ability at your leisure.

Co-op offers gamers a new story to play through which is the origin story of why Shank wants revenge. Instead of making players play the main story with a friend, Klei decided to give players an all-new arena to slaughter about and give various characters more depth and story. The pace of the action during co-op picks up a considerable amount but at times it was way too easy to lose sight of my character among the stampede of on-screen brutality. Often my partner in-crime would ask me often as to where his character disappeared to. Co-op introduces some tag-team moves which helps spice up the gameplay. Unfortunately, just like Scott Pilgrim Vs the World, Shank offers no type of online co-op mode. You would think that for $15 it would be in there somewhere but it’s not, so if you were planning on playing online with your buds, make sure you invite them over to your house, because there’s no online mode whatsoever, yet again.

Shank is a good but not great PSN title that features some fun, yet repetitive gameplay. The top notch 2D visuals help bring the game to life with movie-inspired characters and storyline. The lack of an online co-op mode holds Shank back from being a real enjoyable co-op title, and it really should have been included in the package. If you’re looking for a good time killer that you’ll ultimately forget, Shank is right up your alley.

PlayStation LifeStyle’s Final Score Beautifully violent visuals Exciting but repetitive combat Fun co-op, but no online option

© The Great Thomasio for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2010. | Permalink | 9 comments | Add to del.icio.us

The original Mafia released on PC back in mid-2002, and although the game had some technical issues, it was considered a big success. Eight years later, we are now set for the sequel is finally hitting store shelves and the coveted PS3. Did Mafia II improve on what its predecessor offered, or simply get lost in the sea of mediocre open world games?

Mafia II follows the life of Vito Scaletta, an Italian immigrant who came to Empire Bay with his family at a young age. Growing up in a rough part of town with an alcoholic dad, Vito strayed and ended up hanging out with the wrong crowd. During a robbery, Vito gets arrested and instead of doing jail-time like most other Italians in the neighborhoods Vito enlists in the army and is sent to Sicily. After a three-year stay Vito is sent home after sustaining a bad but non-fatal gunshot wound. After getting back Vito hooks up with an old friend, Joe Barbaro, and gets right back into his old habits, but this time around he is working with the Mafia. Now Vito must work his way through the underbelly of Empire City in order to become a ‘made man’.

The story in Mafia 2 is very entertaining and well-presented from the characters you encounter throughout the length of the storyline to the missions you are sent out on. In fact, the story is so good at times that it gets to the point that you may be merely rushing through the other parts of the game to see the next cut scene. Now this may make it sound like the missions aren’t that entertaining, but the missions are actually mildly entertaining and sufficiently varied. You may be asked to bury a body, crack a safe, stealth through a building, or even engage in turf wars. The mission structure is quite refreshing since a lot of other games like this are usually built around simple fetch quests.

The issues some gamers may find with Mafia II is that it’s an open-world game. Now you might be thinking, why would that be a bad thing? Well, although Mafia II is set in an open-world environment, the overall mission structure is quite linear. In addition, there are virtually no side missions at all, and the only missions you will be given are the main story missions. There are still some open world aspects you can engage in from stealing cars and driving anywhere you want to buying clothes. However, the open-world environment definitely leaves a lot to be desired. The game could have very easily been made into any other action third-person shooter with simple linear chapter to chapter structure, and at many times it feels this way.

In terms of controls, the shooting mechanics may take time to get used to. It isn’t anything in particular that is poorly executed, but other third-person shooters have done it much better. The weapons on the other hand do feel unique when shooting them partially due to their inherent classic nature as with the Tommy Gun and Colt M1911, but unfortunately there is not a wide variety to choose from. This isn’t a huge issue since this is taking place in the 40′s and 50′s, but get used to using only a small handful of weapons. This once again ties back into the issue with the open-world environment. The lack of options in gameplay leaves the world feeling like an empty shell that could have been so much more.

Thankfully, there are some missions that require the standard hand-to-hand combat. Whenever you get into a fist-fight, the game changes more into a standard fighting game. This portion of the game does a good job at changing the pace, but they do get quite repetitive eventually bringing the game’s flow to a complete halt. On the other hand, the driving portions of the game are very well done. The physics of the automobiles were done very well, and each car is also wonderfully detailed. The cars have a good sense of weight to them and aren’t too difficult to maneuver. Driving around Empire Bay is relatively easy, and unlike some other games crashing is a bit easier to avoid.

Voice acting is one of the strong points of Mafia II, and really help’s to increase the appeal of the story. Each character fits his/her role extremely well, and some of the more intense scenes really do get the blood going. Also, the guns all sound authentic, and there is a complete 40′s and 50′s soundtrack to listen to as your cruising Empire Bay. Both of these elements encompassed together provide a great audio experience that helps boost the immersion level considerably.

On top of that, the graphics are also extremely well-done. Each character model for the male characters are wonderfully animated and provide a great deal of realism to the environment. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for the female characters. It’s hard to imagine how this was looked-over, and it’s definitely the first, but the females look quite disturbing at times to say the least.

There are only a few things that detract from Mafia II. Some people may have an issue with extremely linear presentation within the open-world environment. The story is good enough that fans of solid stories shouldn’t find it much of a problem, but with it being presented as an open world game it can be looked at as quite a disappointment for some customers. The gameplay is also varied in missions but limited in gameplay. While it is manageable, there are plenty of third-person shooters that gameplay in a much better fashion. However, the graphics and audio are both fantastic and together with the story really create a solid experience when it comes to the ten or so hours you’ll spend playing through the campaign.

Overall, Mafia II is a very fun game to play with a fantastic story, presentation, and graphics. There are a few issues that hold the game back from being a real contender such as the lack of gameplay variety and the linear story. When all is said and done, Mafia II is a memorable gangster title that entertains for a short while but comes just short of offering a true next-generation open-world experience.

PlayStation LifeStyle’s Final Score Engaging story from beginning to end Linear and limited gameplay Premium graphics and audio presentation

© Adam Wolfe for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2010. | Permalink | 7 comments | Add to del.icio.us

Rockstar Games took everyone’s wild imagination by surprise when they brought the Wild West to life through the boots of gunslinger John Marston.  Spectacular vistas and heart-pounding gun battles ravaged the desert wilderness in Red Dead Redemption, and the free-roam multiplayer brought many new possibilities to the fore-front of online gaming.  After Rockstar’s first successful launch of their free DLC, Outlaws To The End, another downloadable package came shortly on its heels – Legends and Killers.  Will this first payable download add to Red Dead’s legend or will we want to kill this one off and feed it to the coyotes?

We’ve been able to get a good amount of play time into Red Dead Redemption’s first pay-to-play DLC, Legends and Killers which costs $9.99 on the PlayStation Store.  With this new add-on, you’ll have access to 9 more additional competitive multiplayer maps, 8 new multiplayer skins, the tomahawk weapon, and some new trophies to boot. It may sound like a hefty list of extras that could potentially add more playtime in your saddle, however this DLC pack really feels like a “been there, done that” situation.

When playing within the “new” multiplayer maps, you may suddenly notice a sense of déjà vu.  All the new competitive maps essentially make places that are accessible in free roam into a shoot-out arena by implementing Free-For-All, Gang Matches, and some Grab-the-Bag game modes.  You’ll be revisiting familiar locations such as Sidewinder Gulch, Escalera, Fort Mercer, and Thieves’ Landing just to name a few.  Each map will force you to implement different strategies depending on the game mode that is in play.  For example, in Thieves’ Landing, you’ll find yourself cautiously strafing the sides of buildings rather than running out in the dark, muddy road.  Since the sunlight is apparently prohibited in this swampy city, you’ll constantly find yourself straining to catch some sort of movement in the dense fog, hoping to snag your target on the draw before they do. In Sidewinder Gulch, a game of Grab-the-Bag proves to be extremely tedious and very drawn out, mostly ending up with both teams not scoring anything when the ticker runs out.  A tussle around Redemption Rock can prove to be fast-paced and fun – and if the players find themselves cooperative, you may find yourself throwing the coveted tomahawk more than tossing bullets, which can lead to quite the frenzy.  Regardless of the different varieties present within each map, it’s hard not to feel somewhat shortchanged on the map locations, as a round of clearing Gang Hideouts in Free Roam seems to be much more rewarding and better paced in some of the locations, like Fort Mercer – and you don’t have to pay for that either.

For the new multiplayer skins, you’ll be able to don the guise of Mr. Kelly, Red Harlow, Pig Josh, Jack Swift and a few others that are all from Red Dead Revolver.  Putting on your new suits won’t add any special advantages to your play style, but may give you the morale boost you need if wearing shiny new clothes is your thing.

The new tomahawk weapon didn’t come across to me as anything special either.  If you look underneath the textures and coat of paint, you’ll find that it handles and throws just like a throwing knife.  In fact, I’m pretty certain it is a throwing knife with a makeover.  However, there is still a sense of satisfaction when you can savagely plant your axe into your target over large distances, something that never seems to get old.  Also, some of the added trophies will encourage you to really explore the tomahawk with newer challenges.

If you’re a trophy hunter, then you may find some extended enjoyment with Rockstar’s addition of 10 new trophies.  Some trophies will require you to make a certain number of kills while playing a certain character obtained from the DLC, while others will have you pushing your throwing skills to the limits.

After everything is said and done, I can’t help but feel that this DLC isn’t Rockstar’s finest.  Since all the competitive multiplayer maps aren’t really “new” and is already easily accessed during Free Roam, you’ll wonder why Rockstar couldn’t include these areas with the original release of Red Dead Redemption.  The multiplayer skins really don’t add much more playtime or value to the online experience either, but if you’re a die-hard fan of the previous Red Dead titles, then you may enjoy the new look of the wardrobe.  The tomahawk coupled with the new trophies is probably the only thing that shines from this DLC.  However, those things alone wouldn’t be able to justify the price you need to pay to play. All that said, don’t let this DLC pack dishearten you… Red Dead Redemption is still the best game released this year, and plenty more DLC is on the way aiming to keep things fresh.

© Razor for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2010. | Permalink | 6 comments | Add to del.icio.us

For those that have not experienced the Carnivores series from Beatshapers, the best summary would be a cross between Turok and Cabela’s Big Game Hunter. It is your task to hunt down a specific dinosaur on the map to add them to your trophy room. The real question is does the mini hold up well enough to warrant a purchase?

Carnivores puts you in the shoes of a lone hunter as you trek across fairly large maps, especially considering it’s a PlayStation miniS. Throughout these maps there will be various dinosaurs roaming around. In total there are 5 different maps to explore through, only 2 are unlocked initially. Two unlock the others you must earn credits by hunting, which will eventually net you enough to purchase the new areas.

Now to hunt dinosaurs you are definitely going to need some weapons along the way, there are definitely a handful here, ranging from a pistol to double barrel shotguns. These are another thing that must be unlocked, seeing as how you only start out with the pistol, and that is definitely not enough to bring down some of the larger dinosaurs. So choosing the correct weapon to bring along for a particular dinosaur definitely needs to be taken into account.

Speaking of dinosaurs, there a handful to choose from when going out on your hunt. There are a total of 9 dinosaurs to choose from when beginning your hunting expedition, ranging from a stegosaurus to the king of dinosaurs, the tyrannosaurus rex. Each one reacts differently, meaning some may be violent while others are not. Upon successfully completing a hunt the trophy will be added to your trophy room that can be fully walked through by your character. Should you fail a hunt it is most likely stemming from the fact that your hunter got eaten by the dinosaur that you were hunting.

While out hunting there will be many other dinosaurs that will also be traveling around the maps as well. The only problem being, is that none of these truly count when hunting them as well. They are not added to your trophy room, nor do they add to your score.

The controls do take some getting used to, since movement is mapped to the face buttons and camera control is controlled via the left analog stick. Overall they work well with the way they are implemented, especially given that many people will be playing it on the go while on their PSP or PSPgo.

Graphically the game looks fairly good on the PSPgo for a PSP miniS, considering the game was initially released  on the App Store. Though just like other miniS, when playing on PS3 it really shows how bad some of the things like the textures look. It is nothing game breaking by any means though, especially considering most people will play this on their PSP’s.

Carnivores: Dinosaur Hunter is a good game for those looking to pick up a hunting game that takes a different route, given that you are hunting dinosaurs. If you are a fan of hunting games like the Cabela’s Big Game Hunter then this is definitely a game you should give a look. While it does make some wonder why there aren’t more dinosaurs to hunt, and take some time to get used to the controls, the game is a lot of fun for an on the go hunting experience.

PlayStation LifeStyle’s Final Score Offers a fresh hunting experience on the go Maps are gigantic and allow for you to roam while hunting Many weapons and options to take out the many dinosaurs you will be hunting

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© Joseph Peterson for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2010. | Permalink | No comments | Add to del.icio.us

Media Molecule’s exemplary platformer, LittleBigPlanet, has remained one of the most creative console titles ever seen since it debuted nearly two years ago in 2008. LittleBigPlanet 2 is looking to further improve on the highly-customizable landscaping of the original with dozens of new options available to create nearly anything the mind can dream of. But what about the games within the game? Do they merit their own critique as well?

Creative director at Media Molecule Mark Healey recently reflected on how the development team is looking to define capabilities so powerful in the level creator of LittleBigPlanet 2 that some levels can be reviewed for their own merit. During his talk with NowGamer, Healey stated:

“A little secret dream we’ve got is that someone will make something in LittleBigPlanet 2 that’s so good that it actually gets reviewed on a website like yours.”

The debut trailer for LittleBigPlanet 2 is still one of the most radically great presentations of gaming seen so far this year. Possibilities truly do seem endless with classics like Galaga being created with the series’ all-new vehicle creator. Even the base gameplay and storytelling capabilities have been enhanced with user-made cutscenes, a grappling system and more. This is one game where you may feel like you’ve experienced an endless adventure at the end of the day when the game is turned off.

[Source]

© jleack for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2010. | Permalink | 3 comments | Add to del.icio.us