E3: Review

Before I begin this article let me tell you a bit about myself.

Who am I?

My names Shaun Kellett, I’m a 21 year old gamer from Solihull, West Midlands. Technically, I’m an ideal target audience. I’m old enough to buy all the games and I’m old enough to be able to afford a lot of the games too.

So what do I play?

Well, I own all 3 seventh generation consoles and the 2 latest handholds, so surely I play everything? Well, not quite. If a game is multiplatform I buy it for the 360. I would buy 360 over the other consoles. Why? Simply because it’s my biggest collection, I like owning all my games on one console, plus all my friends play 360 so it’s likely to have the better online community for me, someone who doesn’t like talking to strangers. Down one from my 360 would be my PS3, played more often than my Wii. I own very few games for the PS3 and what games I do own are exclusives. I plan to own more over summer, titles such as Heavy Rain, God of War 3, Uncharted 2, and so on. Last but not least, my Wii, which I’ve played quite a bit but nowhere near. I can’t help but be disappointed with the Wii when it comes to third party help but they always succeed with their exclusives.

Why tell you all this?

I figure you need to know, you’re going to think “What makes his opinion different?”, “Where do his loyalties lie?” and most importantly, “Why should we listen to him?”. Truth is my loyalties probably do lie a little with Microsoft, but that’s because I use it most. I like to think I am opinionated but can offer an objective opinion, unlike a lot of fan boys out there. If you read my future reviews, you read my future articles, or you just read this E3 coverage you should know, I am always thinking about the game and the hardware; I am always fairly comparing it. There will be no ‘This is better on the 360 because...’ unless there’s a solid reason, there will also be no ‘PS3 is the better console because...’ unless, again, there is some reason that makes it so.

So, with no further a due, I am going to try and summarise my thoughts, my feelings, and my views of the E3 2010 Conferences into one article.

Its every gamers dream to attend E3

E3

E3 is a big, major, event for all gamers. As such its quite hard to cover in one article, there’s a lot I was impressed with and also a lot I was less impressed with. I’m going to try and focus on the individual conferences for each major developer. That means I won’t be mentioned the awful, awful laser tag from the Ubisoft conference, or any games displayed outside of the conference slots. Still, let’s see the highlights. (I've tried to include links to most of the new games and some links to Videos I think you should see, or just generally support my info!)

Microsoft - Xbox 360 and Kinect (Natal)

The biggest news from the Microsoft conference must have been the release of the new Xbox 360 250Gb, or an ‘Xbox 360 Slim’. There were rumours about its development and here it is, a smaller, edgier and apparently quieter console with a bigger hard drive and an in-built WiFi connection. It only took them how long to install this? While a big announcement its hard to be too excited about the new console. If you don’t already own a 360, now is the time to get one, but if you do then the chances are you wont be looking to upgrade too soon.

The second biggest news Microsoft had this year was actually a name change. Natal, Microsofts new motion sensor add-on, has been renamed Kinect. Obviously they’re going for ‘Kinetic’ ‘Connection’ and, whilst a clever name, it makes the system sound far too gimicy and, in my opinion, like a new brand of Lego toys.

While the name isn’t great the adapter actually is. The show went on to show that Kinect actually brings what Natal originally promised. The motion sensing appears solid and the games, while still just pointless mini-games, do appear to be a lot of fun. Ubisofts ‘Your Shape: Fitness Evolved’ looks to be a Wii Fit killer. If the on stage demo is to be believed, which obviously we assume it is, then Your Shape appears to deliver a whole new brand of fun fitness activities designed to keep up the pace and, hopefully, increase your fitness. One of the most impressive features, for me, was in the smaller touches. Kinect was able to determine height and body mass by watching the female presenter. It was truly impressive technology.

Alongside ‘Your Shape’ there were other games displayed. Sadly all appeared to be mini-games but I doubt anyone was expecting otherwise, due to the new software. There will be 15 launch titles all together and some titles with Kinect added features. It seems the games will have us riding rafts, dancing, and looking after virtual pets. The content may not be new, we may have seen it all before, but the way access the content is what is truly unique. Whats more is Kinect doesn’t just get used in game, it can be used to scroll menus by moving your hands, or by using your voice. Kinect hasn’t failed to impress me, despite its reasonably poor gameplay lineup. Kinect is something that is new, unique, and original, so it’ll be awhile before the truly great games are released. 2011, for example, we will see the arrival of a Lucas Arts partnership and ability to weild a Light Saber in almost virtual reality! (Though, in my opinion, this would have worked better with the Playstations: Move) (Video)

Kinectimals was just one of the Kinect exclusive games on show

Exclusives were also on Microsofts agenda, hosted by the gaming communities version of household names. People such as Epic Games’ Cliff Bleszinski and Lionheads Peter Molyneux took the stage to deal out some details on their next titles. While both Gears of War 3 and Fable 3 look to be impressive, nothing was as near anticipated as the release details of Kinect. Fans will have lapped up the Halo: Reach footage also on display, but it looks like just another Halo game but with added flying, to me. Perhaps more shocking in terms of games exclusivity was a Microsoft and Crytek deal, showing a new game ‘Codename: Kingdoms’ to release. While its still unsure what this will be, Crytek hasn’t fallen short yet, so it will be sure to be a big title.

Microsoft didn’t just hit us with exclusives though, in fact they opened up their conference with Call of Duty and followed it with Metal Gear Solid: Rising. While the latter does look literally breath taking, and the former is yet another Call of Duty game, I believe that these conferences should focus on Exclusivity and, stooping to selling Multiplatform games, isn’t exactly the way forward.

Microsoft Breakdown:

The Good:

• Kinect looks more awesome and impressive than ever.
• Details on Reach, Gears of War, Fable 3.
• A new exclusive Crytek game.
• The new Xbox 360 250 gb.

The Bad:

• No ‘real’ games as of yet for Kinect
• Time wasted on Multiplatform Titles

Nintendo

What to say about Nintendo?

Before E3 I had little time for my Wii. I was planning to get Mario Galaxy 2 sometime next week, but other than that I had no plans to touch it, and haven’t done, for almost a year. I thought the Wii was failing. It could no longer hold its own against the other two systems and, with Kinect and Move on the way, there was no place for it. I was wrong.

While Kinect blew me away at the Microsoft conference Nintendo just blew me away with software. Nintendo were the only company to talk purely exclusives. They didn’t have to stoop to games that were on other software, to beg you to buy them instead, but they had many, many first-party titles to wow and impressive. I was giddy with excitement and Reggie Fils-Aimes was ready to deliver the news in his usual, slightly intense, but enjoyable style. The Wii seems to be going back to its routes, doing what it did best, and appeasing the fans left right and center. There’s a new Donkey Kong Country, titled ‘Returns’ and there is a new Kirby game, Kirbys Epic Yarn, both of which look utterly fantastic and simply charming and both of which are, surprisingly, side scrollers. Its what Nintendo do best over and over again. I was also surprisingly impressed by the new Disney game, Epic Mickey, which, not only looked to be taking a new twist but is also being created by Deus Ex’s Warren Spector. The game saw Mickey ‘painting’ the environment to bring it back to life or using ‘thinner’ to delete things and even characters. It looks to be a darker gamer with some choices, just like Warren Spector is known for (Video)

Reggie was on top form like every year.

Perhaps the most impressive announcement for the Wii, by far, was the new details on The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. Miyamoto showed that, finally, Links sword moves 1:1 with the Wii remote, just as it should have done from Twilight Princess (Video). As a Zelda fan boy this is what grabbed my attention and this is where I began to drool. If that wasn’t enough my nostalgia buttons were also pressed by the announcement of a new, completely redone, Goldeneye. Only for the Wii. It was clear that Nintendos conference was designed at fans.

The biggest news for Nintendo were the details on the 3DS. (Video) Capable of delivering games in 3D on the move and without the need for graphics is certainly impressive, in fact I would be tempted to put it up there with Kinect. It was also specified that a slider could control the amount of 3D in a game, another impressive feature! There was little in the conference to show exactly how all this played out, but Twitter has been a-buzz with excitement from those who have had some time with it. I’m guessing it must be played to be believed. It debuted with a Kid Icarus game which, older fans, will probably be pleased to see. Its expected that the 3DS will have a lot of launch titles to support it.

Nintendo breakdown:

The Good:

• A lot of games coming out to appease the fans.
• Some SOLID titles on the Wii for a change
• Some third party games that actually look half decent
• The 3DS is sure to be an amazing piece of hardware with a lot of support.

The Bad:

• Unable to really tell what the 3DS is like

Sony

Last but not least came Sony. This was my least favourite conference. Many people will say I am biased towards Microsoft, but I feel my Nintendo coverage proves that I am willing to see things a tad more objectively.

Obviously Sonys big announcement were the Move details. It looks more responsive then Kinect and it will hit shelves sooner, and cheaper, than the Microsoft product. However, I think Move is a very ‘safe’ option. Kinect, I feel, delivers us something new and exciting whereas Move is merely an improvement on an existing games technology, the Wii-mote. That said, however, I think the Move has a lot of potential too. The game, Sorcery, looked great, but is sadly due a 2011 release. Another exclusive mentioned was ‘Heroes on the Move’, a game involving Jak, Daxter, Ratchett, Clank, Sly and Bentley; All of whom are well known names for the Playstation platform. Though the game looked little else than just slashing the Move around, it still looked quite a bit of fun.

The games people really wanted to see for the Move were also shown. SOCOM is going to have full move support, as is Killzone 3, both of which are pretty much are looking to be aweomse games. Most of all, however, most of them are going to be full games. Not gimicy party games, but full games. In line with this announcement older games will be patched for Move Support, included in which are Little Big Planet, Heavy Rain and, multiplatform game, Resident Evil 5. While I don’t think the Move seems as impressive as the Kinect in terms of Hardware they definitely have a better foundation of games to support the new controller.

Sony spent little time dealing with exclusives and, more so even than Microsoft, talked a lot about multiplatform games. Sony seemed to be trying to one-up the other consoles with ‘unique’ content which was only going to be in their version. It wasn’t impressive when Microsoft paid Rockstar, it’s not impressive now. Personally I’d rather see exclusives at these conferences, it’s the whole reason I watch. However, that being said Gabe Newell, of Valve fame, took the stage and went on the record to say that Portal 2 on the PS3 would be the best version and that the PS3 would be given plenty of Steams features (Video).

When Sony did talk exclusives they talked Little Big Planet 2, a title I think separates the PS3 from the other consoles. Little Big Planet let players create their own levels, Little Big Planet 2 aims to let players create their own games. The footage showed games developed within 24 hour periods, all of which looked unique, fun, and nothing like the original Little Big Planet. It definitely seemed to be taking creativity to a new level. (Video)

Sackboy is back to delight PS3 owners.

Hardware news, besides Move, Sony were heavy on the ‘3D’ capabilities of future games. There are already films out and a few games, James Camerons Avatar the game springs to mind, but Sony seem to be pushing to make it a norm. It does make you wonder though just how many people have, or in fact care, about stereoscopic televisions and, again, they used Multiplatform games, to show this off.

Other news from Sony involved a partnership with Coka-Cola, and a new PSP advertising campaign with ‘Marcus’ off of Rolemodels which, while funny, really wasn’t all that exciting (Video). Sony seemed to be fighting to change their ‘business’ look and become quirky and funny. I must admit, I enjoyed the presentation at their conference. Kevin Butler was a little cheesy but also enjoyable to watch in, what I think, might go down in E3 history. (Video) I am still left with the feeling that Sony try that little bit too hard though. It wasn’t as bad as the Ubisoft conference though but, obviously, I’m not mentioned just how cringe worthy that was.

Sony breakdown:

The Good:

• Move Support for Older titles.
• Move support for future titles.
• Valve are behind the PS3. That must stand for something. Actually that must stand for A LOT.
• 3D for many future games.

The Bad:

• Way, WAY too much time spent on Multiplatform Games.
• Move still hasn’t ‘wowed’ me.
• Almost Petty ‘one-up-ery’ on behalf of Sony against Microsoft.
• 3D is still very new. Not many people like the idea of A: Upgrading their TV’s to a stereoscopic one and B: playing games with 3D glasses on.

Break it down!

So there you have it. That’s my coverage and that’s my feedback. Its the longest game article I’ve written and there was a lot to say. I’ve missed out a lot of it because, well, I simply could waffle on for ages. I tried to restrict it to just the conferences, but my memory has become a little blurry so a few extra details might have slipped in and out. You’re probably going to think I’m bias and you’re probably going to disagree with me, but I don’t really mind. Personally I think every company really shone this year, everyone had something to show. I think the coming few years are going to be really strong for gaming companies.

Red Dead Redemption

N.B.: This review was written using a 360 version of the game and therefore cannot necessarily be applied to all other versions. As always reviews are subjective and the thoughts and feelings of the reviewer.

Red Dead Redemption is Rockstar Games’ spiritual successor to Red Dead Revolver in 2004. Over the course of its production the game has received a lot of a hype and a lot of backing from prospective fans, all hoping to see, what they thought was to be an amazing sandbox experience. Rockstar not only deliver on this promise but they take it ten steps further making Red Dead Redemption not only the best game you will have played this year but one of the best Sandbox games you will have ever played. Period.

The story of Red Dead Redemption is not your traditional quest for revenge. You fill the spurred boots of John Marston a man who is hunting down his old friends and comrades who, years previous, left him for dead. While initially this all sounds straight forward the game quickly reveals that he only does so due to his orders from the corrupt government who are currently holding his family members as prisoners. From the opening few cutscenes and the first few missions it is clear that Red Dead Redemption is going to keep you hooked in and it’s a trail well worth following. No story mission in Red Dead feels out of place, there’s the right amount of action missions, the right amount of escort missions, and the right amount of cattle ranching, to keep you playing on and on. While the story missions progress the main narrative you will run into 18 Stranger missions which present other stories within the world. These stories are much shorter but break up the game nicely, with the only criticism being they sometimes end a little unsatisfactorily.

The characters in Red Dead are befitting of the time and the story and they are all welcome guests in your tale. John Marston is one of the best new characters to grace our screens. He is the archetypal outlaw cowboy, morally ambiguous and mysterious, but above all else, he feels real. This is something shared with all the characters throughout the game. While still keeping with Rockstars usual style, of being slightly over the top and characterized, all the characters you meet feel like real people, they act and talk how you would expect and never break character. Red Dead Redemption deserves top marks for its story and characters alone before even beginning to mention the gameplay.

Keeping in sync with the story and its motley posse the sound and the graphics also befit the time and place of Red Dead. The characters are all voiced superbly and believably and each weapon sounds exactly as it should. Each explosion and each animal call also blend in seamlessly. The graphics of Red Dead are not the most attractive up close, but when surveying the land from the back of your horse you are still sure to be amazed. Where Red Dead really shines is, again, with its characters. Their interesting scripts and superb voice acting would be hampered if it wasn’t their superb graphical design. Each character you meet looks unique and distinguishable but they all fit nicely into the western scenario. No characters you meet through a sandbox game really stick out in memory as much as the gang from Red Dead Redemption. Along with the characters all the animals, from the horses to the birds, look and act just as you would expect.

Enter John Marston, Rock Stars best character to date.

The gameplay in Red Dead is as you would expect from a Rockstar game. There’s an assortment of action, freeroaming and mini games to entertain yourself with. There is plenty going on to keep you busy. You can progress with the story at your own pace, either quickly trekking through the narrative or meandering through stranger missions or jobs. Among the jobs are bounty hunter missions and horsebreaking tasks, to earn extra income.

Red Dead handles superbly. The gunplay provides the right amount of difficulty, making it occasionally too easy but always enjoyable. There is also the ‘Dead Eye’ mode, allowing you to slow down time and select your targets, adding to your cool gunslinger look. Controlling the horses is well designed and for the first time you will actually feel an emotional bond to your mode of transport.

Red Dead also houses a multiplayer mode, similar to that of Grand Theft Auto previous, however this time it’s a little different and a lot improved. You now have the option to free-roam, forming a posse with your friends and doing different side quests. If this wasn’t enough you’re also able to enter different death match and team based games, which separate a part of the map for you to shoot your way through. The multiplayer also has some challenges for you to meet to increase your level which in turn allow you to change your character and your mode of transport. Whether you’re into roaming around with friends, or slaughtering strangers online, the multiplayer will have you hooked.

While not the biggest Game Map, definitely one of the most epic

Red Dead Redemption does have a few nameable flaws, an obvious one being its hefty supply of glitches. Though Rockstar are said to be releasing a patch in the coming weeks at the time of writing Red Dead Redemption has almost as many glitches as it does people. None of these glitches are truly game altering though. On a few rare occasions missions may be failed because of them but overall they serve to be humorous rather than annoying.

There’s also an issue with the money. As with many freeroaming games the use of money in Red Dead can feel slightly redundant. If you balance your jobs, your missions, and your looting you are rarely out of cash. You can hunt and skin animals, providing additional income, and there are hidden chests across the world. At times it would be nice to have something extra to buy besides stock up on ammo you don’t often need or buying a new horse simply for a change.

There’s also a problem when it comes to Jobs you’ll do for the mission. While at first they seem unique and open a lot of tasks begin to repeat themselves. After about the third guy in an hour asks for a lift back to town, you begin to know that these guys are just going to take your horse. It would be better, and not too unrealistic, for Rockstar have made a few different interactions whilst you’re out and about, and a maybe a few extra jobs to while away your free time.

With all this being said, however, Red Dead Redemption really is an incredible game experience. Whether its the near perfect story and characters, the multiplayer and free roam, or just its sheer epicness that draws you in. Quite often it will be too easy to a seasoned gamer, and if you plow through the story it will be gone all too soon. However if you treat it right, and juggle the sidequests, the free roam, and the missions you’re bound to have an unforgettable experience.

Authors Comment:
At the time of writing this Red Dead Redemption has been my most played 360 game. I have racked up over 50 hours worth of gameplay time and I have thoroughly enjoyed it. I can’t sell this game enough. While I don’t think its flawless, and there’s some bits I really think Rockstar missed out on, it is still my favourite game of 2010.

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction

Conviction, the latest in the Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell series, once again follows the story of Sam Fisher. With a completely new reimaging of both the style and the gameplay it is easy to be sceptical of Ubisofts latest release. Fans of the original may be a little put off but Conviction is quite clearly one the best in the series.

Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Conviction makes it known from the start of the game that you are going to be a completely different Sam Fisher to the previous games. Sam is now retired and off the radar but is found and contacted once again by his old ally Anna Grimsdóttír who quickly informs Sam of the hitmen on his trail and walks him through a route out of the market place. By the end you learn, through a brutal interrogation, that Sam’s daughter, Sarah, is still alive and so begins Sam’s involvement in the plot. Gone are the stories that place Sam with the backing of the secret government agency Third Echelon, this story is about Sam’s quest for revenge. The rest of Sam’s vendetta plays out smoothly, narrated in past tense by a hitherto unseen character being interrogated by ominous figures. This Splinter Cell story, while short, is easily the most emotional and involving. While the other Splinter Cell stories left you almost unmoved this one has you questioning and even caring about Sam Fisher and his daughter. There are a few flashbacks, which normally keep the pace and also keep you guessing and intrigued. That said, the game deserves to be a little longer. The best missions are near the end and there a few missions purely there to progress the plot, which, while fun, will have fans wanting to swap for more stealthier missions.

The Story is often progressed by Interogation scenes, where Sam utilising the environment to get information out his foes

The graphics of Splinter Cell are top notch. They may be running on an old engine, and in some places it may be noticeable, but you never feel like the graphics are really suffering because of it. There’s occasional screen tear and a few bad textures, particularly with on the characters hair, but the game itself is so immersive it is hardly noticeable.

The new style seen in this Splinter Cell is a gritty one, trying to focus on a far more realistic and brutal theme. When in shadow Sam’s opponents are lit up in full colour while the environment fades to powerful monochrome. While a gameplay feature, useful for the player to highlight their opposition, it is a stylish choice to implement into the game without it feeling too tacked on. The style is also seen in the cutscenes, the interrogations, and anytime the camera moves. The new visual direction does a good job of placing you in a fast paced action thriller without feeling like style over substance.

Style and graphics would be let down if the sound did not also live up but thankfully it does. Though the sound track can sometimes get a bit repetitive the rest of the sounds in Splinter Cell really highlight the movie feel. From the gun sounds and explosions to the dialogue, you are fully immersed in the Splinter Cell universe. Michael Ironside reprises the role of Sam Fisher and is joined by old cast members giving the dialogue an emotive and movie like feel, even if some of the lip syncing isn’t up to scratch.

Another style choice is the use of the projected objectives, where Sams missions or flashbacks are lit up on the sides of walls and buildings. Though not a startling new feature it does blend seamlessly into the rest of the game. There is one scene, however, where Sams emotions are flickered across the walls, which is a little too cheesy and really doesn't fit with the rest of the game.

In terms of Gameplay the Splinter Cell formula has been redesigned. Conviction still has its use of stealth, though rather than simply waiting in the shadows you are now stalking your prey. Gone are the use of non-fatal attacks, Sam is all about revenge and quickly kills all in his path. There is emphasis on speed with the new gameplay direction. In his old age Sam appears more agile, climbing walls and pipes quicker than before, and with some, often brutal, quick takedowns at the press of the button. With this concept of speed there is the new and innovative feature of ‘Mark and Execute’ which is likely to split the fans. By performing a hand to hand takedown Sam gains the ability to ‘Execute’ where he can ‘Mark’ up to 4 targets and kill them swiftly with the press of the Y button. While some fans of the original slower paced games might see this as a mere ‘kill’ button, where the last of the guards can be taken down in a matter of a second, there is really nothing like setting up a couple of kills and pouncing on a guard, providing a fulfilling and cinematic way to dispatch your opponents. This experience is sometimes ruined, however, when the execute has Sam shooting through walls at Guards clearly not in his line of site, these small glitches though are allowable and hardly frequently.

Conviction also boasts some of the fastest and most efficient cover seen in a game to date. While holding the L trigger a player can stick themselves to a wall to use as cover. From here they can hide, blindfire, or peek round corners. Its easy to get a hang of and mistakes are rarely made allowing you to conduct your stealth missions with smooth efficiency.

The Mark/Execute feature is a welcome and cinematic new gameplay feature

Despite Convictions short single player there is a co-op campaign designed to be played with a friend. The game easily boosts the story by a good set of hours and its almost as though the developers simply chose to focus their attention here, what with the current move of co-op and multiplayer gaming.

The co-op is where the game really deserves high marks as the fun experienced here is not quite comparable to other co-op games currently on the market. All the single player features are here and while lining up a few kills in single player is a fulfilling experience there is nothing like a co-op plan coming together with the two of you working fully in sync.

There are also a few extra game modes in the co-ops repertoire, with the Hunter, Last Stand, and Face Off challenges. Hunter has you playing through the campaigns levels, taking out a set amount of enemies while the Last Stand feature has you holding out against wave after wave of opponents. Within the Face Off feature a small area is designated for you and your friend to take out the opposition. In this scenario, however here friendly fire is enabled, and in fact promoted, as you battle to see who can take out the most enemy guards. Original fans may be dismayed to see the removal of Spy VS Merc and it is the only thing that really lets this co-op package down.

At the end of the day Splinter Cell: Conviction is a fantastic reboot of the series that’s only real flaw is that it leaves you wanting more. The story is more emotional and less forgettable than the previous titles and for once has you caring about the characters. From a gameplay standpoint fans will either love or hate the new direction, with less emphasis on stealth and more on action. There’s actually no real Punishment and reward for playing through the game as stealthily or aggressively as possible, which may not be what fans are truly after. However the new blend of action and stealth together keeps a good balance which is likely to appease all but the most steadfast of fans.

Shaun Kellett

Clockwork Musings

Authors note: I’m a fan of the original splinter cells and I thoroughly enjoyed Splinter Cell: Conviction. Though its really not as stealthy as before I think the new direction is a positive one, with a really good balance. I had a lot of fun playing through the campaign, though I really felt it lacked a few extra levels. I’ve also had a lot of fun playing it with my housemate but still haven’t fully completed the co-op (one of the reasons I put off doing this review so long).

Just Cause 2: Review

N.B.: This review was written using a 360 version of the game and therefore cannot necessarily be applied to all other versions. As always reviews are subjective and the thoughts and feelings of the reviewer.

Just Cause 2 is the 2010 sequel to the 2006 Just Cause. With a whole new island to liberate there are literally thousands of explosions, enemies, and vehicles which will certainly keep you entertained and addicted for hours. Just Cause 2 blows its predecessor out the water.

Just Cause 2 see’s the return of Rico Rodriguez who works for the originally titled ‘Agency’. He, and his comrades, arrive to the South-east Asian islands of Panau, which has recently been taken over by the vicious dictator ‘Baby Panay’. The main story of Just Cause 2 is all you would expect from a game that boasts over the top action, it’s not something that will immerse you or keep you interested, it’s just an underlying reason behind the destruction and chaos you cause. The characters are of a similar standard, they are shallow enablers of destruction who can be summed up with a few personality traits each. The game takes no effort in hiding this and in fact describes them as such. While it doesn’t flaunt its story either, keeping cut-scenes short and to the point.

What really hinders the characters of Just Cause 2 is the voice acting. On top of an awful script lies the awful voice acting. Designers may have been going for cheese but have just succeeded in being annoying and painful to listen to. Other then voices, the music and sound effects of Just Cause 2 are actually good. Explosions sound as impressive as they look and the island sports a soundtrack fitting with its locale.

The graphics of Just Cause 2 are impressive. Being a sandbox game the detail is all in the environment and the Island of Panau can be a breath taking sight; whether base-jumping from one of the highest mountains or flying a plane low over the cities and villages. The Island of Panau shows off four majorly different environments for you to play around with, each with their own military instalments, bases, and villages. There’s the snow topped mountains which you start in, the jungle which players of the original game will feel familiar with, a desert which was the focus of the pre-release demo and a large metropolis similar to something from a more traditional sandbox game. The variety here is certainly impressive and exploration is part of the whole fun.

Whether hijacking vehicles, or seeing the sites, Just Cause 2 is visually stunning

While the variety might be impressive in terms of areas the variety in missions is lacking. That said, however, the activities that are there are fun, if a little easy at times. Missions are your way of making money and chaos. Chaos acts as its own currency, opening access to new missions, new weapons, and new vehicles, and you get chaos for practically everything, from blowing up a car to liberating a settlement. Money and Chaos are never a real issue and you wont often be struggling to make more, in fact they can sometimes go unnoticed in the background.

Most of your time with Just Cause 2 will probably be spent liberating the few hundred cities, villages, and military bases taking up most of the island. Liberating a city consists of destroying everything that needs to be destroyed and finding everything that needs to be found till its percentage is at the full 100. Some of the smaller villages can have you finding up to as little as just one item, while the largest city could take you a long time to actually complete.

The variety comes into play when a faction, or agency, mission is selected. Most missions will have making your way into a base only to make your way explosively out. Stronghold missions force you to escort a technician into a military base, protecting him at all costs. These missions wouldn’t be as bad if it wasn’t for the use of the, again, awful voice acting which mean you’d rather leave the technician and his band of men behind. Other missions have you stealing a car from military escorts and driving to a safe house which can feel a bit more fun but can be hampered by some dodgy car physics. The agency missions, which progress the actual story of the game, tend to be over the top and dramatic but this is not a negative point, they tend to be fun twists on the other missions and leave you feeling like the cast of a Hollywood blockbuster.

Apart from some previously mentioned dodgy car physics the rest of the gameplay stands up great. Vehicles generally do handle well, but off road can be a pain and some of the planes can be a bit too powerful. The interesting stunt position can place you on top of your vehicle only to swing around it, shooting enemies, or jumping over onto their vehicles. The focus here is on over the top action gameplay and that’s delivered by the ton. This is also seen in the gunplay which would rather you used its extremely accurate auto-aim over anything manual adding to the quick pace and arcade gameplay. Part of what helps deliver this is Just Causes’ iconic grapple. A complete overhaul from the awkward grapple in the first game this games hand-mounted version fits seamlessly into the gameplay and works to perfection; you’ll be manoeuvring fast between vehicles, buildings, land, air and sea only to cause more chaos in the islands.

Just Cause 2 is over-the-top, action packed fun right from the start

Just Cause 2 only has a few technical flaws. Quite often the dialogue can jerk, causing a stutter in the speech, and sometimes it can skip completely. Sometimes cars and people can pop in a bit too late, or can disappear completely, and large amounts of chaos can cause a few frame rate issues. These kind of flaws are unsurprising and generally pass in a matter of milliseconds. All break up the overall experience though so it’s a blessing none happen too often.

On the plus side, however, Just Cause 2 features practically no noticeable load time. Once you’re in the massive sprawling landscape you will only load when going in and out of a mission, or getting extracted, making for maximum emersion. The game also gives you the occasional statistic, telling you how many people you’ve killed, how long you’ve played, how far you’ve travelled, etc . This will be appreciated by some as an interesting feature.

At the end of the day what Just Cause 2 lacks in depth it makes up for in playability. It aims to be a fun, action packed and explosive sandbox game and it really hits this mark, but if you’re interested in characters, story, and dialogue, then Just Cause 2 really isn’t the place to look. Just Cause 2 is just pure fun right from the start and you’ll have a hard time putting it down once you’ve started it.

Shaun Kellett

Clockwork Musings

Authors Comments: My girlfriend bought me Just Cause 2 a week or so back and I think its some of the most fun I've had with a game for awhile. It's certainly clear that the game doesn't take itself seriously and I really like that. Its something I could pick up and play whenever I've got an hour to spare or I could sit and play it all night. Definitely worth picking up.

Bioshock 2: Review

N.B.: This review was written using a 360 version of the game and therefore cannot necessarily be applied to all other versions. As always reviews are subjective and the thoughts and feelings of the reviewer.

Bioshock, spiritual successor to System Shock 2, was released in 2007 to much acclaim. Now, a few years later, Bioshock sees itself a sequel and gamers picking themselves up a copy see a return to the underwater city of rapture ten years later. Whether or not this is a welcome return will depend mainly on what you’re looking to get out of the game.

Bioshock 2 is the return to Rapture, the underwater city created by Andrew Ryan, a man who clearly believed that it was every man for himself. Since his death the city has been taken over by Dr Lamb, a psychologist who’s philosophy is very much the opposite, believing that we are stronger in unity than we are apart.

The story sets you in opposition to the female Doctor by placing you in the large, heavy shoes of a prototype Big Daddy who’s Little Sister has been taken from him. This is depicted in a dramatic and well done introductory cut scene, which will have you ready to take revenge.

Those returning to the series will know that the Big Daddy’s were a force to be reckoned with, ominous enemies only out to protect the terrifying, mysterious little girls who wandered beside them. As one of these lumbering entities the story progresses as you search for your Little Sister and a way out of the underwater nightmare. If you’re a nitpicker when it comes to storyline you might have some issues as, while holding some interesting themes and concepts, such as the creation of the Big Daddys, there is an underlying feeling that, not only have we seen it all before, but some of the original has been changed just for the purpose of this story. For example, Raptures current leader, the mysterious Dr Lamb, is never mentioned in the original Bioshock yet according to the story she has always been a vital component in Rapture.

The atmosphere of Bioshock 2 is created in much the same way as the first, with the same eerie scenery and sounds. If you have visited Rapture before, however, then that experience will seem that bit too familiar and you may not be as taken with it the second time around. While the first game’s introduction built up tension and scares there are not as many frights to be had in the second instalment.

The atmosphere is supported by up-to-date graphics and sound. While neither are anything that that will be heralded as too impressive the game clearly stands with other games of this generation and is, as with the first game, more about what is achieved with them then simply how they look and sound.

If you’re a fan of the original you may find that the atmosphere is also lost by your new character. Whilst in the first game you were an everyday man, straight from a plane crash and lost in a bizarre and frightening world, you are now a Big Daddy, a force to be reckoned with, who in the first game you found yourself afraid to cross paths with. This is a character who belongs to Rapture in the first place, losing that sense of somewhere new and frightening to explore, and also means enemies will feel as though they shouldn’t really challenge you. This is seen in the Multiplayer, where becoming a Big Daddy is a temporary bonus where you have a high amount of health and give out a high amount damage.

Being a Big Daddy doesn't add as much as you might expect

The game is well designed and the environments are believable. From a haunted carousel to a dark, metallic laboratory, each new level provides you with an interesting place to travel through and search around. While some areas do seem familiar to others, you never really feel like you’ve seen it all before and you’ll be drawn into the underwater metropolis.

Outside the levels you occasional walk through a much unseen area of Rapture, that is the outside. Here you can look up at the city which gives you a real feel for where you are trapped. These areas do, however, feel a little too linear and it would have been nice to be able explore the outside of the city, if only for a little while.

The gameplay of Bioshock 2 remains unchanged from the first with the exception that you can now dual wield both weapons and plasmids. Plasmids serve you as an elemental attack, such as electricity or fire, and these work very well within the concept of the game. Those looking for a run and gun style gameplay will be disappointed as Bioshock 2 lends itself better to slower pace of play trying to show off more story and atmosphere then actual gunplay.

Unchanged from the original is the difficulty setting. Bioshock 2 is, like the first, an easy game to play. Even on hard you will not have much difficulty fighting your way to the end. The inclusion of Vita-Chambers, in game respawn points which don’t penalise you for dying, means that death doesn’t feel very final and the actual challenge in the game is almost completely removed. On the easier settings enemies will take off practically no health and you’ll feel unopposed working your way through the underwater city.

Like the first game you will be seen to gather Adam, a type of genetic material that acts as a currency for you buying new powers and upgrades to wield. This hunt for Adam will see you either befriending or harvesting the Little Sisters you were sworn to protect. The players here are faced by a moral dilemma, save the Little Sisters and receive less Adam, or harvest them which, whilst killing them, will provide more Adam to spend. One option never really feels like its outweighing the other though as both options provide relatively similar amounts of Adam by the end of the game.

If the player chooses to befriend a Little Sister they will temporarily become their Big Daddy, and the gameplay fundamentally changes. From here you will faced with a survivor type affair where you face off against hordes of enemies in an attempt to protect your Adam gathering Little Sister. For these you can set traps, hack turrets, or just gun your way through and, whilst breaking up the pace and offering a different style of gameplay, by the end of the game they prove to be tedious and you’ll probably be doing them more as a means to an end.

It would be unfair to mention Bioshock 2’s gameplay without mentioning the multiplayer which is surprisingly good. Learning from the Modern Warfare 2 style advancement system, in which the ranks and experience of the player unlock more weapons and challenges, Bioshock provides quite a fast and arcade style shooter which contrasts the single player’s slower, more methodical approach.

The multiplayer serves to be an addicting and fun experience, if not relatively deep, and many hours could easily fly by playing the few game modes that it gives you. However, at the bottom of it the multiplayer does feel a little tacked on, as though to monetize the current market of online games and this will be disagreeable of many original fans who felt the game didn’t need this added experience. Still, nothing beats becoming the slow moving Big Daddy and killing off your opponents with a few shots as they team up against you.

Become a Big Daddy online to show them who's boss!

As a sequel you would be expecting the game to make some improvements but the game seems to make relatively few. Though a slight graphics and sound boost is to be expected the game play is unchanged and the story can feel a little tacked on. It feels fair to compare Bioshock 2 to its predecessor, in which it would could well score lower marks, but when judged on its own the game is an enjoyable play through.

If you’re approaching the game as a fan of the original then you will either welcome this return or wish you hadn’t set foot there a second time. The story can either provide you with more detail of a place you truly connected with or it can demean the image it first created. The game play will either be that which you loved from the first game or needless repetition of the same old mechanics. If you haven’t played the first, however, and are not inclined to pick it up before the sequel, then you are probably due to have more fun than those playing in constant comparison.

In conclusion there is an enjoyable experience to be had with Bioshock 2. The main story doesn’t last long and aside from the multiplayer and achievement points there is little real replay value, but you’re sure to have fun whilst your there. All in all it depends how you go into the game and what you’re expecting to earn from the experience.

Authors comments: Bioshock 2 is about as sequel-ly as a game will probably get. It makes no real improvements to the first game and, in some light, appears to be a tad unnecessary. I did, however, find it enjoyable to play and it wasn’t really until I replayed the first game that I noticed just how unatmospheric and unimproved it was. Needless to say, I would recommend Bioshock over Bioshock 2 and would suggest going into the sequel with uncritical eyes.

Mass Effect 2: Review

When the name Bioware is behind a game title gamers come to expect a solid, well written, and epic RPG but with the company’s 2007 absorption into the EA monolith, some fans were worried about the effect of this on their favourite titles. The original Mass Effect was released to critical and commercial acclaim as it defined next gen Science Fiction RPGs and provided an epic experience unlike any other. If the question is whether Bioware have still got what it takes to produce an action RPG, then the answer is yes, if the question is whether Mass Effect 2 lives up to its predecessor, then the answer is that it surpasses it in nearly every way.



Mass Effect 2 starts as it means to go on, with a dark, yet epic, opening sequence that will leave you just waiting to make it past the first few customisation screens. The Normandy takes damage and Commander Sheppard is left missing in action only to be found by the mysterious, and morally ambiguous, Cerberus. Headed by a character known only as the Illusive Man, but excellently portrayed by Martin Sheen, Cerberus is a pro-human group with a questionable agenda. It’s not long before you are thrust into the action once more when you are sent on your first mission, to find out what happened to human colonies that have gone completely missing.
Anyone coming into Mass Effect 2 not expecting a great and dramatic space opera will be surprised by the story weaving at work here. Though the main plot can feel a little cliché at times, with the usual large ominous threat risking the safety of the galaxy, and the urgency isn’t always portrayed to its best, it’s the characters you’ll meet along the way and their individual stories they tell which really add that shine to Mass Effect 2. While the main story will have a lot of its plot out in the open quite early on it takes a longer time for your relationships with other characters to build which will give you a sense of rich character development and back story.

The game play of Mass Effect 2 has changed from the original Mass Effect and is now heavily focused on its action element. It’s obvious from the first few missions that you will be shooting your way through most of the game so it’s pleasing to know that the gunplay has been completely overhauled. The cover mechanic now works well and the gun battles now feel much smoother. You can still pause the action and select a biotic attack or change the weapons of your team but buttons are now easily assigned to make this much faster.
The RPG element of the game, such as the levelling up and the armour and weapon selection, is vastly reduced then in the original game, suggesting a move to a more streamlined and action orientated game play. While some fans may dislike the new approach, it is easily missed when caught up in the deeply involving story. Mass Effect 2 also see’s you spending a majority of your time talking to NPC’s, something Bioware do incredibly well, and all conversations give you the opportunity to be a Commander Sheppard of either Paragon or Renegade character. Some conversations even give you the option to change the course of the conversation with an action, of both moral characteristics, which sees you defenestrating a character or taking a weapon from a youth, depending on your moral standing, and while interesting and welcomed the choices are not hard to make and many gamers will end up choosing the good or the bad options simply for the sake of it.
Each character in your team, whether new or old, comes with their own ‘Loyalty’ side mission for you to complete in order to gain their trust. Each of these are interesting and well designed. Mass Effect 2 removes the planet exploration, something that could have been enhanced rather than completely removed, and now you will spend a lot of time with tedious planet probing. This probing can be skipped but at the cost of not finding enough materials to afford the best weapons and upgrades. It seems Bioware haven’t quite got it right yet with their planet orientated side missions but this is something to look out for in future Downloadable Content. The vehicle segments from the first game are also removed; something which will either please or upset original fans. This also means the game play is less varied then the previous instalment however future Vehicle orientated DLC has been named.

A much more Action Orientated Commander Sheppard

When it comes to design Mass Effect 2 receives top marks. Each location is perfectly conceived, and almost perfectly portrayed, with beautiful graphics and textures. Character models are mostly well designed though a few of the human NPCs can look a bit too plain at times. The locations are everything you could want from a Science Fiction game, from large futuristic metropolises to the war torn home planet of the Krogan. Sometimes, however, an area can feel a little too limiting and the sprawling feel of the city is lost. Gone is the large citadel of the first game replaced with a shadow of its former self.
Everyone you meet in Mass Effect has brilliant script writing matched only by its voice acting. With some famous names lending their voices you are sure to be enthralled by the dialogue, a good thing since the game consists of so much, however in some cases, such as with non-interactive NPC’s, you’ll find yourself hearing the same snippets of dialogue again and again. The sound effects are also on par. Everything in the game sounds exactly how you’d imagine with futuristic space craft and high tech weaponry.

One flaw, still not improved from the first game, however is the loading times. Though the elevator scenes of the first game are thankfully removed we are now faced with meaningless wire animations which, at first viewing, are interesting enough but after seeing them many times over you'll quickly become tired of watching them on repeat.

Lastly, a review of Mass Effect 2 could not go without mentioning the ability to bring back your previous character. Fans of the first game will rejoice in bringing back their own loved Commander Sheppard from the previous game, bringing with him bonus’ and changes to the storyline. How you played the first game will impact a surprising amount of dialogue and story in this game and Mass Effect 3 is expected to carry on this trend giving you a soul character spanning the trilogy.

In truth it is hard to find reason to fault Mass Effect 2. The game sticks to telling an epic and engrossing space opera and manages this with little effort. From the moment the game loads you’re taken into a fantastic story, which only Bioware seem capable of, with characters that you will actually feel for by the end. The game play is different from the first but it fits better with the new action orientated direction. While the game has arguably little replay value, with few achievements you can’t get through one play through, and the only real reason for a second being the choice of different moral options, Mass Effect 2 focuses on delivering a long and engaging first experience and it easy to say that it’s simply one of the best experiences you’ll have had with a recent video game.

Shaun Kellett

Clockwork Musings

What's this?

This blog is going to be a collection of articles I write about Video Games. This may include Reviews or just general opinions on where the industry is heading. Please remember all this will be in my own opinion, I'll quote anything I use from elsewhere.

I'll try to get up something by Sunday every week, but, as University work is building above me just waiting to drop I might run over a little late. Anyone who reads anything I've written before will know that I'm pretty rubbish with deadlines and/or keeping track of things. I hope to put more effort into this though!

Lets hope this isn't just a novelty.

Shaun Kellett

Clockwork Musings