modeps
03-29-2009, 08:06 AM
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For those of you who do not buy games on their release date and are still trying to see where your money should go, here is a collection of some of the more popular releases for the past weeks in the order of their overall scores. The scores and quotes are provided by Metacritic (http://www.metacritic.com/games/).
Battleforge (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001AVTY0U?ie=UTF8&tag=evilavatarcom-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001AVTY0U) (PC) - 80%
A seamlessly realised and original hybrid that breathes life into the RTS genre.
The gameplay provides easy accessibility and still manages to be tactically challenging. Too bad that the MMO-RTS-concept of BattleForge is countered by the lack of a story.
BattleForge runs smoothly and is pretty enough, with a wide selection of large units to choose from. However, battles see you going up against the same units - the ones players have identified as being the best. So the only real variety BattleForge provides is on paper.
Legends of Wrestlemania (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001QCWSLU?ie=UTF8&tag=evilavatarcom-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001QCWSLU) (PS3, 360) - 75%
Beyond the licensing, WWE Legends of WrestleMania is a smartly-designed game that enables studio antics to be more approachable to the common gamer. The gameplay isn’t dumbed down to the point where hardcore wrestling fans will scoff at Legends either.
This is a fun game, and for wrestling fans of old, it will surely unearth some long forgotten memories. There is some lasting appeal in terms of different gameplay modes and multiplayer options, but I do expect the appeal to fade as the nostalgia wears off.
The historic videos are great, Road to WrestleMania is an interesting idea and who doesn't love seeing the Ultimate Warrior back in the ring? Still, the actual gameplay falls short in this one. The matches aren't that exciting, the controls are lacking, little nuances (such as proper titles) are missing and this just doesn't feel like a solid WWE offering.
Wanted: Weapons of Fate (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001G7PRK4?ie=UTF8&tag=evilavatarcom-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001G7PRK4) (PS3, 360, PC) - 67%
Like the movie, Wanted: Weapons of Fate is more style than substance. The game is at its best when Wesley is quick chaining cover with his ability to slow down time and curve bullets in the midst of overwhelming odds.
I have nothing against short games, so long as there is proper incentive to play multiple times. Wanted lacks any such incentives. Something as simple as an arcade scoring system or in-depth stats might have been enough to make a second playthrough interesting.
All in all, Wanted: Weapons of Fate isn't so much a game for fans of the shooter genre, but it's a game for fans of Wanted.
Wheelman (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001G7PRIQ?ie=UTF8&tag=evilavatarcom-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001G7PRIQ) (PS3, 360, PC) - 66%
Its arcadey addictiveness and cinematic style successfully lands it in a sweet spot right between those two genres, taking players for a ride that's totally on par with the summer movie excitement it emulates.
Wheelman is best described as a B-movie. Bad production values and a lousy script. However, the funny one-liners, bad dialog and over-the-top action make up for lost ground. Wheelman is by far a good game, but still a very enjoyable one.
I wanted Wheelman to be a guilty pleasure, like 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand, but it's just guilty of being a poor game.
Stormrise (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001QCWSHY?ie=UTF8&tag=evilavatarcom-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001QCWSHY) (PS3, 360, PC) - 59%
Stormrise produces an odd sensation: the ideas it proposes are very good for the most part, and its approach could have caused a new milestone in the genre, and set the way for the others to follow, taking advantage of its control. But the execution hasn't resulted so convincing.
Some truly neat ideas made ugly and fiddly.
Certainly, releasing it so close to Halo Wars suggests deliberate commercial suicide - that it’s genuinely progressive ideas will be ignored and lost as a result is a minor tragedy.
For those of you who do not buy games on their release date and are still trying to see where your money should go, here is a collection of some of the more popular releases for the past weeks in the order of their overall scores. The scores and quotes are provided by Metacritic (http://www.metacritic.com/games/).
Battleforge (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001AVTY0U?ie=UTF8&tag=evilavatarcom-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001AVTY0U) (PC) - 80%
A seamlessly realised and original hybrid that breathes life into the RTS genre.
The gameplay provides easy accessibility and still manages to be tactically challenging. Too bad that the MMO-RTS-concept of BattleForge is countered by the lack of a story.
BattleForge runs smoothly and is pretty enough, with a wide selection of large units to choose from. However, battles see you going up against the same units - the ones players have identified as being the best. So the only real variety BattleForge provides is on paper.
Legends of Wrestlemania (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001QCWSLU?ie=UTF8&tag=evilavatarcom-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001QCWSLU) (PS3, 360) - 75%
Beyond the licensing, WWE Legends of WrestleMania is a smartly-designed game that enables studio antics to be more approachable to the common gamer. The gameplay isn’t dumbed down to the point where hardcore wrestling fans will scoff at Legends either.
This is a fun game, and for wrestling fans of old, it will surely unearth some long forgotten memories. There is some lasting appeal in terms of different gameplay modes and multiplayer options, but I do expect the appeal to fade as the nostalgia wears off.
The historic videos are great, Road to WrestleMania is an interesting idea and who doesn't love seeing the Ultimate Warrior back in the ring? Still, the actual gameplay falls short in this one. The matches aren't that exciting, the controls are lacking, little nuances (such as proper titles) are missing and this just doesn't feel like a solid WWE offering.
Wanted: Weapons of Fate (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001G7PRK4?ie=UTF8&tag=evilavatarcom-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001G7PRK4) (PS3, 360, PC) - 67%
Like the movie, Wanted: Weapons of Fate is more style than substance. The game is at its best when Wesley is quick chaining cover with his ability to slow down time and curve bullets in the midst of overwhelming odds.
I have nothing against short games, so long as there is proper incentive to play multiple times. Wanted lacks any such incentives. Something as simple as an arcade scoring system or in-depth stats might have been enough to make a second playthrough interesting.
All in all, Wanted: Weapons of Fate isn't so much a game for fans of the shooter genre, but it's a game for fans of Wanted.
Wheelman (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001G7PRIQ?ie=UTF8&tag=evilavatarcom-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001G7PRIQ) (PS3, 360, PC) - 66%
Its arcadey addictiveness and cinematic style successfully lands it in a sweet spot right between those two genres, taking players for a ride that's totally on par with the summer movie excitement it emulates.
Wheelman is best described as a B-movie. Bad production values and a lousy script. However, the funny one-liners, bad dialog and over-the-top action make up for lost ground. Wheelman is by far a good game, but still a very enjoyable one.
I wanted Wheelman to be a guilty pleasure, like 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand, but it's just guilty of being a poor game.
Stormrise (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001QCWSHY?ie=UTF8&tag=evilavatarcom-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001QCWSHY) (PS3, 360, PC) - 59%
Stormrise produces an odd sensation: the ideas it proposes are very good for the most part, and its approach could have caused a new milestone in the genre, and set the way for the others to follow, taking advantage of its control. But the execution hasn't resulted so convincing.
Some truly neat ideas made ugly and fiddly.
Certainly, releasing it so close to Halo Wars suggests deliberate commercial suicide - that it’s genuinely progressive ideas will be ignored and lost as a result is a minor tragedy.