reviewer: Will Kirschner
Title: Stars Wars Battlefront II
Platform: Playstation 2, Playstation Portable (PSP), Xbox, Xbox 360, PC
Price: $19.99
ESRB Rating: T for Teen (13+)
Developer: Pandemic
Publisher: LucasArts
Age Range: 8+
Buy? Three questions you need to ask yourself before you answer this all-important question: Do you like Star Wars? Do you enjoy shooting games? Do you have friends? If you answered yes to more than one of these, this game is a must have. However, if you do not have anyone to play it with you might just want to rent it.
Summary: The storyline follows a veteran clone/stormtrooper through the events of Star Wars: Episode III to Episode VI. You will experience familiar things to Star Wars fans like the battle of Endor and also deal with side-plots like putting down a revolt on Naboo. You serve as part of the 501th legion, known to the most serious of Star Wars fans as Vader's personal legion, things are guaranteed to get hot and heavy.
Difficulty: This game's major flaw lies in the difficulty of the the two modes. Easy is a joke after 15 minutes of gameplay and hard gives even the most experienced players trouble. Since the prime joy of the game lies in the multi-player realm it isn't such a deal but it makes this game less of a classic.
Learning Curve: There is a very slight learning curve to this game. Basically, you just need to learn the controls to get the game down.
Total Hours of Play: 6 to finish the campaign on easy, 10 to finish the campaign on hard. Limitless hours of play in the multi-player mode.
Family Factor: This is a game that the whole family can play. Disregard the T-rating this game has simulated violence, that begins and ends with guys getting shot and crumpling(no blood, no gross noise, very clean violence). The plot themes are not adult either.
Review:
This game is, in my mind is the pinnacle of first-person shooter (FPS) for the PlayStation 2. It combines a winning format of Star Wars and action gaming. The system battlefront uses is unique for combat games. The teams start out with an equal number of troops and then they fight until one team destroys all of their troops. Now, there won't be hundreds of soldiers on the field but about forty soldiers give the game the feel of a giant battle. The battles are amazing in their simplicity. The controls are intuitive and make playing this game an even more enjoyable experience. The varying modes of play are nice. For example, Galactic Conquest brings the option of buying all your units and their upgrades and choosing your attacks with the same gameplay. You use credits you earn for victories to buy troop types and bonuses for units, starting with the most basic unit of stormtroopers and buying more advanced units as you progress. This can take six hours for you and your friends to finish, providing a night of fierce competition. There is an all-heroes mode, capture the flag, assault and a new mode which allows you to hunt some memorable beasts like the sand people or the giant spider like beasts from the Geonosian arena in Episode II.
Problems with this game are few but are big. The single-player experience would be best experienced in a single rent. The campaign is not exactly riveting and there is no character development to speak of. Playing this game with a friend, however, makes up for this because there is nothing better than the teamwork of taking the wheel of an AT-AT while a friend blows the rebel generator. The experience system is good but could use more bonuses. Most of the weapons have their own challenge, and make you want to try every class. The rank system is cool just because it gives you bragging rights.
Two things that are new from the old system are heroes and space combat. There is nothing cooler than blasting a TIE-Fighter while dodging turbolaser blasts from a Star Destroyer. There is a slight problem with the ships all being basically cookie-cutter clones in ability. If an X-Wing and a TIE could take the same damage the Rebellion would have ended in a week. I know that this presented a problem for the developers but I wish they would have gone a different way with it. For example, three TIES equal one X-Wing in point value. Making the ships all uniform is goofy,because to the hardcore Star Wars fan, TIE's should be falling faster than villains in a Rambo movie. The heroes are classic Star Wars canon stars like Vader,Yoda and my personal favorite Boba Fett. This game did a great thing with their huge amount of heroes and varying weapons. Getting to fry Luke Skywalker with a flamethrower solved years of issues I had with the original Star Wars. The enemy heroes can drive you insane with their ridiculous AI on the tougher mode.
This is another game that is a most have for the FPS lover. It is currently in my top ten list and I still play it weekly. A must have for any fan of Star Wars and a good pick for anyone else.
Related Games: Battlefront I, The Battlefield series, most FPS(first person shooters
Showing posts with label PS2. Show all posts
Showing posts with label PS2. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Monday, March 17, 2008
SOCOM 2: Combined Assault (PS2)
Reviewer Christa Puccio
Title: SOCOM: U.S. NAVY SEALs Combined Assault
System: PlayStation 2
Price: $17.99 USED
Rating: T for Teens
Developer: Zipper Interactive, Inc.
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios
Age Range: 12+
Summary: Lead a squad of four Navy soldiers into battle, using weapons and strategy to complete various missions.
Total hours of play: This game has unlimited game play due to the online gaming capability. Through story mode, the game has over 50 hours of play.
Learning Curve: Training is available in the main menu. Each action is described in the training and after each description the player must pass the training course to continue to the next action to learn. After the training is completed, the player is able to learn the techniques and strategy as they go along in regular game play.
Family Factor: Becuase the player is apart of the US Military as a Navy Seal fighting for their country, the game is filled with violence and weapons of destruction. However, it focuses a lot more on strategy and action rather than violence and gore. It is not too gory but is based on the idea of killing and assassinating, while also capturing and saving innocent civilians. There is not much blood present when killing an opposing player, however, when your character or a team member is shot, they stay lying on the ground and blood is visible on their face, but then the game cuts out to say that the mission was failed.
Buy it? Yes! This tactically challenging game contains hours upon hours of fun. This game engages the player with the diversity of the types of missions and the various difficulty levels available. If the missions ever become dull, the option of playing friends online is available. (requires Internet connection)
Review:
As commander of squad of four Navy soldiers, SOCOM is action packed with missions and battles for hours of game play. A quick briefing is given before each mission explaining the goals and any restrictions to abide by. There are hidden assignments throughout the storyline that can be picked up on while in battle as well. During game play, the only noises are sound effects including shooting, talking, footsteps, explosions and other battle field. Music is only played as an indicator of success or failure. After a goal is accomplished, the game plays rewarding orchestra music as an indicator appears at the top of the screen revealing what assignment was completed. As soon as a mission is completed or failed, music cuts in as well with either cheerful or depressing music accordingly. Besides those exceptions, the game is based on the sounds are according to the battle field.
Each mission varies in what weapons must be used, how they are used and what form of travel is necessary. Navy Seals are capable of battle in all types of conditions, as mission sites vary in climate, weather and/or location. Depending on the mission, the player will travel by foot, boat, or military truck. Both vehicles are equipped with built in weapons to use. Commanding the troops and looking out for the team is essential to the team’s success. The game is online compatible, through broadband only, allowing you to work live with others and not just with computerized characters. Combined Assault demands strategy, stealth and technique to conquer each mission.
The game does take some time getting used to with not only looking out for yourself, but having to take command of an entire team. It is challenging, but consequently addicting. The online side of the game is very exciting to be able to work with live others to compete. It has tons of hours of play and different levels of difficulty to push the player to their utmost limit. The requirement of stealth requires the player to get into character and tests their ability to strategize and problem solve. Some of the computerized characters do sometimes get stuck during game play in various glitches, which does become frustrating if the gamer is required to reset the game or restart the mission because a computerized teammate is stuck and cannot function properly. This rarely happens, but definitely is a noticeable issue.
SOCOM is unique in that it allows for the player to quickly switch views from third party perspective, to over the shoulder, to first person perspective by simply using the up and back buttons. Medal of Honor does not have this capability, only allowing the player to view the game through the first person perspective. SOCOM also allows the player to stand, crouch, and lay down by using the triangle button. While mobile, the player can sprint, jog, or skulk with the analog stick. These different capabilities enhance the player’s accuracy, battle field vision and allow the player to become more agile during game play.
Related games: Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction, Call of Duty 3, Medal of Honor.
Title: SOCOM: U.S. NAVY SEALs Combined Assault
System: PlayStation 2
Price: $17.99 USED
Rating: T for Teens
Developer: Zipper Interactive, Inc.
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios
Age Range: 12+
Summary: Lead a squad of four Navy soldiers into battle, using weapons and strategy to complete various missions.
Total hours of play: This game has unlimited game play due to the online gaming capability. Through story mode, the game has over 50 hours of play.
Learning Curve: Training is available in the main menu. Each action is described in the training and after each description the player must pass the training course to continue to the next action to learn. After the training is completed, the player is able to learn the techniques and strategy as they go along in regular game play.
Family Factor: Becuase the player is apart of the US Military as a Navy Seal fighting for their country, the game is filled with violence and weapons of destruction. However, it focuses a lot more on strategy and action rather than violence and gore. It is not too gory but is based on the idea of killing and assassinating, while also capturing and saving innocent civilians. There is not much blood present when killing an opposing player, however, when your character or a team member is shot, they stay lying on the ground and blood is visible on their face, but then the game cuts out to say that the mission was failed.
Buy it? Yes! This tactically challenging game contains hours upon hours of fun. This game engages the player with the diversity of the types of missions and the various difficulty levels available. If the missions ever become dull, the option of playing friends online is available. (requires Internet connection)
Review:
As commander of squad of four Navy soldiers, SOCOM is action packed with missions and battles for hours of game play. A quick briefing is given before each mission explaining the goals and any restrictions to abide by. There are hidden assignments throughout the storyline that can be picked up on while in battle as well. During game play, the only noises are sound effects including shooting, talking, footsteps, explosions and other battle field. Music is only played as an indicator of success or failure. After a goal is accomplished, the game plays rewarding orchestra music as an indicator appears at the top of the screen revealing what assignment was completed. As soon as a mission is completed or failed, music cuts in as well with either cheerful or depressing music accordingly. Besides those exceptions, the game is based on the sounds are according to the battle field.
Each mission varies in what weapons must be used, how they are used and what form of travel is necessary. Navy Seals are capable of battle in all types of conditions, as mission sites vary in climate, weather and/or location. Depending on the mission, the player will travel by foot, boat, or military truck. Both vehicles are equipped with built in weapons to use. Commanding the troops and looking out for the team is essential to the team’s success. The game is online compatible, through broadband only, allowing you to work live with others and not just with computerized characters. Combined Assault demands strategy, stealth and technique to conquer each mission.
The game does take some time getting used to with not only looking out for yourself, but having to take command of an entire team. It is challenging, but consequently addicting. The online side of the game is very exciting to be able to work with live others to compete. It has tons of hours of play and different levels of difficulty to push the player to their utmost limit. The requirement of stealth requires the player to get into character and tests their ability to strategize and problem solve. Some of the computerized characters do sometimes get stuck during game play in various glitches, which does become frustrating if the gamer is required to reset the game or restart the mission because a computerized teammate is stuck and cannot function properly. This rarely happens, but definitely is a noticeable issue.
SOCOM is unique in that it allows for the player to quickly switch views from third party perspective, to over the shoulder, to first person perspective by simply using the up and back buttons. Medal of Honor does not have this capability, only allowing the player to view the game through the first person perspective. SOCOM also allows the player to stand, crouch, and lay down by using the triangle button. While mobile, the player can sprint, jog, or skulk with the analog stick. These different capabilities enhance the player’s accuracy, battle field vision and allow the player to become more agile during game play.
Related games: Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction, Call of Duty 3, Medal of Honor.
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