Tales from the console.
After such a prolonged reprieve from posting there are only two options… explain why or pretend that no-one noticed.
I am going to give a quick rundown on three most recent gaming endeavors I have err… endeavored on.
Splinter Cell: Double Agent
This is very much a sheep of a game, it doesn’t stand out and it doesn’t improve the series in any noteworthy manner. Instead it merely offers more or less (mostly less) of the same. What’s worse is that most of the changes made in this rendition of the franchise are handled with the deft precision of a blind man playing darts. Removing the ambient noise meter and seemingly with it all semblance of ambient noise and removing the HUD are both prime examples of changes that didn’t reinforce the enjoyment derived from the game. I would call Double Agent a big step backwards for the series.
Marvel Ultimate Alliance
So this is again a game that didn’t really strive to push itself forward as original or groundbreaking, instead it follows the well tread path set by its predecessors. Unlike SC:DA, however, Marvel Ultimate Alliance has offered up some extremely enjoyable gameplay. Sure it might be the equivalent of an all grown up and “prettied up” Golden Axe but at least it manages to entertain consistently throughout. This is the gaming equivalent of an action movie, not really a lot to think about but enjoyable all the same.
And finally…
Gears of War
This game is single handedly responsible for devouring my time like a hippo devours plastic spheres. The story is nothing remarkable and even has some annoying moments that feel tacked on or forced in order to leave room for a sequel – and yet that seems completely irrelevant in light of the rest of the game. Gears of War combines the high energy and thrilling excitement that classic “run-n-gun” FPS games offer with the strategic elements that the slower, more realistic games have. Apparently the secret ingredient to making this work was divined by Epic, no doubt only through the use of arcane majiks, perhaps a Ouija board was involved. Regardless of what diabolical powers were used to achieve this unholy union the result is wholly amazing and very “next-gen”.
I am going to give a quick rundown on three most recent gaming endeavors I have err… endeavored on.
Splinter Cell: Double Agent
This is very much a sheep of a game, it doesn’t stand out and it doesn’t improve the series in any noteworthy manner. Instead it merely offers more or less (mostly less) of the same. What’s worse is that most of the changes made in this rendition of the franchise are handled with the deft precision of a blind man playing darts. Removing the ambient noise meter and seemingly with it all semblance of ambient noise and removing the HUD are both prime examples of changes that didn’t reinforce the enjoyment derived from the game. I would call Double Agent a big step backwards for the series.
Marvel Ultimate Alliance
So this is again a game that didn’t really strive to push itself forward as original or groundbreaking, instead it follows the well tread path set by its predecessors. Unlike SC:DA, however, Marvel Ultimate Alliance has offered up some extremely enjoyable gameplay. Sure it might be the equivalent of an all grown up and “prettied up” Golden Axe but at least it manages to entertain consistently throughout. This is the gaming equivalent of an action movie, not really a lot to think about but enjoyable all the same.
And finally…
Gears of War
This game is single handedly responsible for devouring my time like a hippo devours plastic spheres. The story is nothing remarkable and even has some annoying moments that feel tacked on or forced in order to leave room for a sequel – and yet that seems completely irrelevant in light of the rest of the game. Gears of War combines the high energy and thrilling excitement that classic “run-n-gun” FPS games offer with the strategic elements that the slower, more realistic games have. Apparently the secret ingredient to making this work was divined by Epic, no doubt only through the use of arcane majiks, perhaps a Ouija board was involved. Regardless of what diabolical powers were used to achieve this unholy union the result is wholly amazing and very “next-gen”.
posted by inexhist at 4:27 PM
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