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Kinect Star Wars Video Review

Craigaleg — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 05:39:50 +0000

When motion control gaming took the world by storm, fans cried out for one thing; motion controlled lightsabers. Star Wars fans have been pretending to swing lightsabers for a long time, so adding a motion control game to reinforce that action was a no-brainer. Microsoft unveiled Kinect Star Wars at E3 to mixed response, promising to address the concerns before release. The result is the potential fun that could be had only managing to occasionally peek out through the technical issues.

That Menacing Phantom…

Kinect Star Wars features various modes with the overarching story of investigating the Jedi records, but the Jedi Destiny mode acts as the most character driven option. You assume the role of a Jedi Padawan on their way to Kashyyk for training, right in the middle of a Trandoshian invasion. You set off to discover the reason for the invasion and assist your master in quelling the threat in your quest to become a Jedi Knight.

Other modes have their own story, whether it’s the rancor that escapes and goes on a rampage or the unlikely janitor that rises to become a podracing professional. While the latter modes need no real explanation, the Jedi Destiny mode has an unexpectedly bland story for a campaign. Situations arise that are plucked straight from the movies and no attempt at producing anything unique is made. Considering this is the Star Wars franchise with a huge universe of lore, the story only manages to scratch the surface of potential.

Visually, Kinect Star Wars feels…lacking. Rough background textures adorn most of the environments and character models fail to impress up close. These distractions can hold back the greater cinematic moments, especially since the animation is the most appealing visual aspect. The Star Wars license is best used in providing a familiar soundtrack and authentic sounds of blaster fire and a lightsaber’s hum. Jennifer Hale even returns to voice her third Jedi Master, breathing a small amount of life into the dead husk that is the story.

This is my Lightsaber, There are Many Like It…

There are five total modes to choose from in Kinect Star Wars, with Jedi Destiny acting as the main campaign;

Jedi Destiny puts you behind a Jedi Padawan, using one hand to swing your lightsaber and the other to use the Force. You can also put one foot forward to close distance between you and your enemy and even jump to flip over them. The combat soon throws droidekas and dueling droids your way, which require more than a simple arm swing to overcome.

There are attempts to mix up these sequences with speeder bike chases and one on one duels. The duels usually involve trading off between blocking and attacking and do little more than that. There is even a Duel of Fates mode to hone your craft in dueling the tougher generals, working your way up to face off against the dark lord himself.

Though the mode has the right idea, the game fails to really capture your attention. The pacing wears thin after the first planet, and hacking through hallway after hallway loses appeal fast. You have no ability to target specific enemies, and the droideka lighting you up in the distance will have to get in line behind the measly battle droid that is a few steps away. The attempt to vary the gameplay with starship sequences and speeder bike chases outstay their welcome, and the faulty tracking oftentimes mistakes movements for dodging or fails to acknowledge your intentions altogether.

Vivacious Variety

The other three modes prove more entertaining than the base Jedi Destiny campaign:

Podracing puts you behind the “wheel” of your favorite vehicle. Pulling back with your right hand turns right, and pulling back with your left hand turns left. Pulling both hands back and pushing forward will boost, and raising your left or right hand will use an item from your loadout. The mode holds up well enough with six different tracks and multiple racers to choose from, but turning on a dime and careful handling are difficult to get the hang of for the tougher tracks.

Galactic Dance has you pitted against the franchises most notorious figures…in a dance off. Akin to Dance Central, you perform the moves listed on the flashcards and chain together combos for a high score. There is no practice mode and you are thrown right into the mix with little explanation. The game has trouble with tracking once again, but works well for the most part with multiple difficulties. The mode alone is worth playing just to see the emperor dancing to Deadmau5.

Rancor Rampage has you assume the role of a rancor by hopping, charging, and stomping your way through one of four planets. A challenge mode will require you to perform specific actions for a boost in points, and fury mode will simply ask for you to survive the waves of enemies attempting to stop your tirade. Oddly enough, this proves to be the most enjoyable mode to play as trampling through buildings and hearing the one-liners of flying civilians never disappoint, and the leveling system will keep you coming back. Controlling the rancor’s movement can prove difficult, as you must either charge or slowly stomp your way to intended targets.

Buddy System

In all of the aforementioned modes, a co-operative option is available at any time. The hop-in, hop-out co-op is a nice touch and going through the game with a friend makes for a much better experience than flying solo. The benefit of having a second lightsaber to hack away at droids or fellow Rancor to assist in completing challenge objectives outshines the lacking AI or lonely experience. If you want to experience Kinect Star Wars at its best, it’s with a friend.

Each mode has a series a of unlocks or rewards for completing certain tasks, and provides incentive for completing everything offered. These usually involve completing each mode on a tougher difficulty or performing a specific task to unlock new characters or different difficulties. Placing first in a race can unlock a new podracer or completing a dance with five stars can unlock a new character. The varying objectives can be a chore to accomplish, and the reward is usually not worth the time invested.

Despite this attempt, Kinect Star Wars is much more of a party game than an actual solo experience. In most cases death is treated too lenient, oftentimes popping you right back into place for another run. It makes the game seem much simpler than it should be, as it rarely forces you to retrace your path from a checkpoint. Each mode will only last you a few hours before it’s all said and done…or if you collapse from exhaustion.

Overall

Kinect Star Wars fails to really capture what was desired. Technical issues with the Kinect and an overall uninspiring campaign drag the game below expectations. Though the less focused modes end up being the most entertaining, they won’t hold your attention long. Frustrating platforming, unresponsive controls, and repetitive battles make Kinect Star Wars one of those titles where glimpses of enjoyment get snuffed out for frustrating moments. It’s not a completely lost experience, but those looking for their pivotal Jedi experience will fall victim to a Jedi Mind trick…

Pros:

Multiple game modes offer different styles of gameplay
Star Wars license grants authentic sound
Hop in, hop out co-operative multiplayer for all features
Plenty of unlocks and varying difficulties

Cons:

Technical issues hold the Jedi mode back from any real greatness
Rough textures and little visual appeal
General control for each mode allows little precision
Jedi Destiny gameplay soon grows stale after the first planet

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Angry Birds Space Review

Phaethon — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 23:05:29 +0000

Yes, we did just review Mass Effect 3 a while back. That was an epic game set in space. And yes, it too was soured by a disappointing ending (more on what that is later in the review). But dammit, Angry Birds Space has reinvigorated my pooping. So much so that I relish seeing that porcelain throne, and put a spring in my step, closing the door with gusto. Alright, enough of all this potty talk.

For veterans of the previous titles Angry Birds and the post release iterations Seasons and Rio this game will be a departure. Although the Appstore juggernaut has had a meteoric rise across mobile platforms, among a vocal group the series has grown stagnant and prone to boredom. Space attempts to remedy these criticisms by, well — going into space.

I could describe to you in detail why this game is different from the previous versions, but for 99 cents you can form your own opinions. What I will tell you is the biggest difference isn’t the things Birds’ antagonists have been most vocal about. The physics are even more in limbo than they were on Terra Firma. In the vacuum of space, some objects float forever, and some simply stop. This leads to some rage induced shouting, wherein which everyone can hear you scream.

But this time, the game’s most infuriating aspect leads to some of its most fun laden thrills. I’ve never tried hurling a bird. But if I did, I’d want to see it careening through the atmosphere of a small moon, slingshot across the accretion disc of a singularity, and then topple over a mountain of debris and pigs. That’s what I paid for. That’s what I want.

Now I promised a disappointing ending. Not BioWare levels of disappointment, but disappointment nonetheless. For your buck you’re given 60 stellar levels filled with some exciting retro-gaming throwback bonuses hidden in between. However, when that’s over you’re introduced to the “Danger Zone”. You’re given the first level as a teaser to how difficult it will be, and then asked to purchase these levels for an additional dollar.

I don’t know which is more relevant, my cheapness or Rovio’s moneygrubbingness (sp?). But I do know this: that second buck will last me longer than the first. The Danger Zone levels are catered to the top tier. People like me basically. I can three star an entire page of levels in one shitting (pun). I’m in the 99 percentile of all players across iOS devices. I’d like to think if Rovio came to me and told me the fate of the world depended on my beating their newest game and handed me an iPad and toilet bowl I would rise (or sit) to the occasion. These levels will take even me a while.

So there you have it. For what it’s worth, Angry Bird fans will love this game, although the game they came for will be over quickly. Should they stay for the Danger Zone, it will undoubtedly be an experience they’re not used to: a challenge.

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Journey Review (PSN)

Craigaleg — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 10:25:53 +0000

WATCH THE VIDEO REVIEW

It’s hard to put a game like Journey into words. Journey is much more of an experience than an actual game. There are no leaderboards, no kill/death ratio, and no competitive multiplayer. Much like That Game Company’s previous titles of Flower or Flow, its much more about an interactive world that evokes emotion rather than something that is meant to be challenging and adrenaline inducing. Journey continues that trend, by providing a beautiful simplicity in a market strewn with high scores and complexity.

You begin the game plopped into the middle of a desert. There is no spoken dialogue and not a word of text. All you are given is a goal, a mountain in the distance with a beacon of light adorning its peak. Each segment of the game is broken up to reveal a little about the world around you through tapestries depicting events that shaped the realm to its current state. While a basis is established for the backstory, much of Journey is left to self interpretation. Your nameless entity passes by lands filled with graves, living organisms that respond to your pulse, and intimidating robotic monstrosities that attack you on sight; it’s an expansive and mysterious world that pushes you forward to discover what is next.

The overall mystery drives you forward, but the visual appeal of Journey will have you engrossed in the game from start to finish. Every segment of the game is akin to walking through a painting, ranging from vast deserts to a frozen wasteland. In addition to the gorgeous cel-shaded polish, subtle touches like the free-floating scarf and resonating trail your character leaves in the sand help make Journey one of the best looking downloadable titles to grace the PS3. Accenting the amazing look is a thoughtfully crafted soundtrack. Each melody compliments its surroundings, adding to the haunting and beautiful scenery you explore.

Gameplay is stripped down to the basics, with one button to jump and another to send out a pulse that ignites life around you, which expands depending on how long you hold the button down. Your scarf acts as your gauge for how far and long you can sustain a jump, and this gauge is recharged by the lively cloth scattered around the path. The scarf can be further extended by discovering enchanted cloth scattered around the levels. The game boils down to a platformer, with a few stealth segments and environmental hazards mixed between. Despite the limited variety, the simplicity of using cloth to boost jumps and encouragement to string glides together to gracefully soar along the path never loses appeal.

Co-operative play is automatically incorporated as soon as you drop into the world. There is no voice chat, and the most interaction you can have are small song notes that you can send out with the pulse. Staying close together will recharge your scarf, encouraging you to take on Journey with a friend at your side. With no notification of a player joining, it’s as if you stumble upon a fellow traveler along the road and embark together toward your goal. There is even a list of all the players you encountered at the end credits, adding names to the faces you encountered along the way. The anonymity is a nice touch, and with those experienced players on their fifth run through, it can feel like a wary traveler is guiding you to your destination.

While Journey is a wonderfully crafted experience, the simplicity has its drawbacks. For a $15 price tag and game that has been in development since 2009, Journey is a short-lived experience; clocking in at around 2 and a half hours depending on your play style. The camera for the game is tied to the six axis controller in addition to the right thumbstick, and movement of your controller as you scratch your head can distort your camera from its original position.

Though a short-lived experience, Journey is an unforgettable one. It’s one of the few games that can drop the mentality of defeating an enemy and exchange it for a straightforward adventure of pure enjoyment. It’s a title that sticks with you well after the credits roll, and the enticing world will soon draw you back in for another visit. If you are looking for a break from the typical, Journey will not disappoint.

Pros:

Visual masterpiece that melds flawlessly with soundtrack
Different experience and feel in co-op and single player
Every minute is as engrossing as the last

Cons:

Steep price for what is offered
Camera tied to six-axis tends to hurt more than help

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MLB 2K12 Review

Apost — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 05:00:10 +0000

For the past handful of years the team over at 2K Games have amassed mountains of praise for their NBA 2K series, raking in award after award for “sports game of the year” from various websites, publications and media outlets. Despite that overwhelming achievement, their baseball franchise has been, quite frankly, an embarrassment. For the better part of a decade MLB2K has been shamed by the infinitely superior MLB The Show series. Hell previous installments in the 2K baseball series were so terrible that playing them would have been an effective method of torture at Gitmo.

So the good news is, with the bar set so low, things could only get better. Perhaps that should have been the 2K12’s tagline.

“MLB 2K12: It Can’t Get Any Worse… Right?”

THE GOOD

We joke and mock but this years iteration truly is a distinct improvement over the last few years lackluster outings. The real shinning achievement of 2K12 is its presentation. The commentary found in 2K12 may very well be the best of its kind to date. Everything seems fresh and there is an insane amount of depth to it. Each at bat feels unique and the commentary flows freely with the game. I truly cannot say enough to express how great the commentary is.

On screen stat displays and overlays are also handled quite well and are impressively fleshed out. Seeing onscreen stats pop up detailing what a particular batter hits in a certain count for their career is pretty damn awesome. If 2K put this much time and effort into the actual game play the game would be immaculate.

The players and stadiums all look better, though they still look a bit off. The players also all still have a tendency to stare vacantly off into space in a creepy serial killer-esque fashion but both are far less noticeable distractions than in 2K11.

The well received gesture pitching returns as well (in full disclosure, being left-handed, I myself still find it incredibly frustrating) along with timed hitting and composure influenced pitching. If you abuse an effective pitch the AI will adapt and begin pummeling it. This adds a nice touch to the game that makes it feel a little less arcade-ish.

THE BAD

Unfortunately, pretty much everything else falls under this category as MLB 2K12 underperforms worse than the 2011 Mets.

The most glaring an annoying problem is the rampant frame rate issues. Nearly every foul ball and some far ones result in abrupt and jarring frame rate chaos. It is unacceptable in this day and age for any title to suffer such stutters, let alone a game made by a AAA studio that produces a nearly flawless NBA game year in and year out.

Frame rate issues are just the tip of the iceberg because like usual, MLB 2K is plagued with glitches. Base stealers often stop sprinting half way to the bag and begin a nice leisurely jog, leading to an epidemic of runners being thrown out.

Users will find themselves constantly getting screwed out of runs due to the tag-up system not working properly with a runner on third. On the flip side on defense that same cut off man system is also broken, as often you will have a runner hosed at the plate only to find your throw sailing weakly toward first base, as your cut off man is playing ridiculously out of position.

Advancing runners is also an exercise in frustration. Many times you will find yourself preloading a runner on first to head from first to home on a shot to the gap, only to find him stopping at third base, despite the facts that he would have easily scored and his icon clearly displayed an H for home.

Plan on doing a fantasy draft? Well I have some bad news for you. Say you are a big Red Sox fan like myself; so you pick the Sox as the team for your franchise and you decide you still would like to draft Big Papi as your DH. No problem right? Wrong! Low and behold as you go to set your lineups you notice something quite odd. Big Papi for some reason already has 29 homeruns despite the fact that you have yet to play a single game. Yep, that’s right, if you draft a player who already was a member of that team, his stats from last year carry over and anything you do gets added to them. That is a pretty damn big oversight.

Fielding transitions and animations are also extremely glitchy. Some look amazing while others look downright absurd. Reaction time is also an issue as often grounders that should be routine outs roll past uninterested fielders who make no attempt whatsoever to field the play.

The AI is also a problem as often you will find the computer, trailing late in a close game with runners in scoring position, allow their pitcher to bat, only to pull him before throwing a single pitch when they take the filed the following inning.

The AI issue also leaves the MY PLAYER feature a hot mess. As a pitcher the skipper will leave you out on the mound to get pummeled one game then pull you early in an outing when you’re pitching a gem.

One funny glitch appears during a double switch and has been dubbed “The Zombie Glitch”. I won’t spoil that one for you, so please do yourself a favor and youtube it.

The menu system is also still the same clunky mess as last year. I for the life of me do not understand why 2K still insists on using something so unnecessarily annoying and frustrating.

OVERALL

While better than previous entries in the franchise 2K12 is still a broken, arcade-ish, mixed bag. Perhaps it is time for 2K Games to take a page out of EA’s playbook and next year, instead of getting their teeth kicked in once again by MLB The Show, they should just take an extra year to fix all the glitches and build an acceptable baseball sim. Casual baseball fans might find some enjoyment here but die hard baseball fanatics will be less then pleased. 2K12 finally got called up to the show but it struck out watching and got sent back down to the minors.

Mass Effect 3 Review

Craigaleg — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 10:13:58 +0000

WATCH VIDEO REVIEW

Mass Effect 3 marks a close to a series that has been going strong since November of 2007. Bioware has crafted a space epic that has been shaping choices through two major titles, and is looking to close the trilogy out in style. It’s hard to say goodbye to this expansive lore, but Bioware manages to deliver a compelling narrative that starts off strong and rarely slows down.

It All Comes Down to This

The third installment picks up with Commander Shepard’s recent disbarment from the military landing him/her on Earth and right at the start of the Reaper invasion. Shepard escapes and must now assemble every asset possible to retake Earth, while hatching a plan to stop the Reaper’s endless cycle of wiping out human life. The burden of becoming a glimmer of hope falls heavy on your character, and the sense of dread intensifies as each world falls to the Reapers. The feeling of despair in seeing buildings toppled and hearing the cries of fallen troopers over the radio as you progress never lessens, and drives you to push onward. Between a memorial of the lost on the wall of the Citadel to the growing number of Reapers on the galaxy map; you get the feeling that time is running out before the last stand.

The emphasis on loss is heavy in this game, as showcased in the opening somber melody that accompanies the invasion of Earth and Shepard’s haunting visions. It’s an emotion filled powerhouse, as characters you have come to know and love over the span of two titles stand at your side with each one having the potential to fall. Those captivating scenes of sharing a last moment with a companion can melt even the hardest of hearts, and devoted fans of the series that have been with their Shepard since the beginning will find themselves fully invested in every line of dialogue.

Empowering this space epic is top notch production value. Even in war, Mass Effect 3 showcases its beauty with some of the most incredible backdrops to grace a game. The lively backdrops make it feel as if you are simply a small part of a much bigger conflict as battles are waged in the distance. Sharp textures, vivid lighting, and cinematic action sequences make ME3 one of the best looking games out there. Complimenting the look is an original soundtrack, mixing electronic melodies with movie-quality symphonic overtures. Coupled with a perfect voice cast and satisfying sounds in everything from firing a weapon to the bass-inducing Reaper warcry; and this game is downright marvelous to behold.

Assemble the Fleet

In the end, Mass Effect 3 is shaped by your own choice. The sheer possibility of variables that is now three games in is impressive, and most players will have a unique experience depending on the outcomes they obtained in previous titles. Major decisions from the past will come to fruition, and you begin to wonder “what if” as their events resonate to the current situation. It’s enough to warrant a few additional play throughs, just to see how some situations play out differently.

The crux of the Mass Effect gameplay is conversational choice and cover based combat. You travel from planet to planet looking to recruit every alien race you can to your cause, each with varying outcomes depending on your Paragon or Renegade choices. Each recruitment nets you a war asset, and you soon find that even the slightest actions can boost your armada. Decisions from the previous titles can even impact your assembled army, with such simplicities as choosing to save Zhu’s Hope adding resources to your regime. With each new addition you begin to see your army grow, and with it, your anticipation to see everything come together for the final assault.

Amassing a great army proves addicting, but the finale to the game fails to really showcase all your hard work. While the impressive fleet number will have you smiling with pride as they allow you to punch through the Reaper forces, you have no real control over your assets or even your additional squad mates. It’s disappointing, considering the second installment had you issuing orders to your team to utilize their strengths and made you feel like a commander. The final missions for this game simply feels like another mission with an influx of baddies.

When not on missions you will be touring around your ship or the Citadel to engage in the popular conversational dialogue. Your crew mates will wander about the ship and even the Citadel itself, warranting a few visit to see what they have to say in different surroundings. They still default to the robotic “Shepard” reply when they run out of issues to talk about, and some conversations have been completely cut out in lieu of gaining quests or picking choices by eavesdropping. There aren’t many new faces, with the only new party members being James Vega or the DLC character of Javik; but the previous cast holds up well and their interactions and emotional heart to hearts are worth a break in the action.

While the game sets you on a distinct path, side missions can be acquired that vary from well thought out operations to tacked on fetch quests. The bigger side missions will usually involve you helping out a previous squadmate from your suicide objective in the second game, and these prove the most enjoyable way to gain additional war assets. The majority of side missions acquired will involve planet scanning, which has been reworked to scan a remote area instead of individual planets. Scanning an area too much calls in the Reapers, and if they catch you it’s an immediate game over…which can just easily be reloaded and doesn’t act as much of a penalty.

Future Fighter

Combat has seen little change, but it carries over well. Mass Effect’s combat utilizes cover based shooting combined with an ability wheel. Calling up the wheel stops the combat, allowing you to use class powers and plan your next move. Your most common abilities can be mapped to specific buttons for immediate response. Bioware has even utilized the Kinect, which despite its occasional misread, can help keep you in the combat and out of the menus.

New enemies help to add to the variety the game offers. A developer at Bioware clearly thought what Mass Effect was missing were dragons and ninjas…so they threw those in this time around. Cerberus Phantom troops close in for deadly melee strikes, smoke grenades shroud the field of view, and Reaper indoctrinated Rachni pummel you from afar with a barrage of missiles. Topping it all off are the Banshees, which apart from their piercing shriek, can teleport around and devastate you at close range. The new enemies essentially drive you out of cover and force you to stay on the move, something the friendly AI is incapable of performing without assistance. There are occasional times that you will run from a Brute, while Garrus attempts to stay and shake hands.

The melee combat has received a slight rework, but still proves mundane compared to the shooting mechanic. Oftentimes you will end up overshooting a charged hit or coming up short, in addition to completely missing an opponent if they are stunned on the ground in front of you. While there is an overall satisfaction in landing a hit or pulling an enemy over cover for a one hit kill, it doesn’t have the natural finesse that really makes it work.

Your enemies may be bigger, but your arsenal is sure to match up with some minor tweaks. A slew of weaponry will be at your disposal, and each weapon is upgradeable with various attachments to personalize them to your preference. Weapons now have weight, and the more weapons you carry the more time it takes to recharge your powers. This offset works well in freeing up the gun type you prefer, no matter the class. Armor can also be customized like before, with new pieces boosting certain stats or complete suits for a full package. There is enough customization offered and variety available to outfit your squad into your ideal deadly force.

Galactic Readiness

New to the Mass Effect franchise is the co-operative multiplayer. Players choose from the same classes offered in single player and work to survive ten waves of either Cerberus, Geth, or Reaper enemy types with a final evac wave to close it all out. Wave objectives will vary, with some demanding pure survival and others more objective based that require eliminating specific targets or hacking various devices. There are also different levels of difficulty, ranging from Bronze to Gold level challenges with bigger and better rewards from each mission accomplished.

At the end of each game you will procure experience and credits to spend on upgrades. The leveling system is akin to the single player and allows you to customize each class to strengthen your favorite abilities. The credits can be spent on one of three packs, each more expensive than the last. The packs almost act like trading cards, providing random in-game bonuses. unlocks, and weaponry to give you an edge in your next battle.

While the item procurement adds an addictive element to the game, the multiplayer remains a decent experience. Increasing the difficulty can make for an enjoyable challenge, but the waves of enemies soon grows stale. The same limited enemy types make their reappearance, and the base weaponry you start out with will makes you feel like a kid shooting robots with a BB Gun. There is incentive to play for a boost to your military effectiveness in the single player game, but once that is achieved the lack of variety may have you jumping back into campaign. It’s fun if you give it a chance, just don’t expect anything that will revolutionize the co-operative experience.

Overall

Mass Effect 3 has a few technical issues here and there, but provides an impressive close to the trilogy. It has been quite some time since a game has carried such an emotional impact, and the experience is tripled if you’ve stuck with your commander from the beginning. This lore-enriched world is hard to say goodbye to, but Bioware makes sure that the last goodbye is one filled with joy, tears, and utter bliss.

I’m Commander Shepard, and this is my favorite game on the Citadel.

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Final Fantasy XIII-2 Review

Craigaleg — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:14:20 +0000

WATCH THE VIDEO REVIEW

Final Fantasy XIII was one of those love it or hate it games. Open worlds were traded for linear corridors and combat was altered to become more fast paced with control over only one character. Some fans embraced the change and others revolted. The announcement that the next installment would be a direct sequel kept people on edge, since the story and overall interest in the characters was not nearly as huge as previous sequels. XIII-2 does address many issues with the previous installment, but takes one step forward and two steps back.

Journey Through Time

Final Fantasy XIII-2 picks up three years after the previous game’s ending; Cocoon’s collision with Grand Pulse was prevented by Vanille and Fang, the heroes are freed from being l’Cie, and Orphan has been defeated. Everything seems normal, except for the absence of Lightning. Only her sister Serah seems to notice her disappearance, while others claimed that she died in preventing Cocoon’s collision. It is only with the appearance of Noel, that it is revealed that Lightning is alive and he can take her to where she is doing battle with a mysterious new enemy. The two set off through time and space to set things right.

There is an option to view a quick summary of the previous events of FFXIII, but the sheer scope of characters and terms is a lot to absorb in a limited time. Mixing in elements associated with time travel further complicates things, and you have to learn to accept things and move on to enjoy the basic story. Most of the time it seems as if the game asks a genuine question, only to get a response of “it just is” before moving on. The characters of Serah and Noel bring little to the table, but the antagonist Caius proves to be the most intriguing addition as the bad guy with sound reason for being a bad guy. There is also the addition of the new companion “Mog” whose constant cries of “Kupo” make for one annoying sidekick.

One aspect that remains unscathed with Final Fantasy is a stunning presentation. Visuals are as sharp as ever, with character animations syncing seamlessly with returning performances of the previous voice cast. Cinematic scenes are always entertaining, complete with over the top action sequences the series is known for. While the look and feel is great, there are some aspects that seem out of whack. Square Enix brought on three separate composers for the soundtrack, resulting in what sounds like a child changing the radio station; there are a few gems off the soundtrack, but the rest feels so out of place it actually detracts from the game.

Doctor Who?

XIII-2 ditches the linear, closed off corridors to a certain extent, giving the game a more open feel. While you still are not in an airship flying over the world, you jump between time gates and gather artifacts in each world to jump further; think Mario’s overworld with branching pathways. The trouble with this is you have no idea if you are going in the right direction, resulting in occasional backtracking upon stumbling into a situation out of your league. The general story progression has a few snags along the way, including an attempt at platforming near the close of the game and one world where every two steps you enter into a fight, but beyond that the game is set at a standard difficulty with little issue.

Encounters in the game have changed, with a new “Mog Clock” encounter system. Monsters now randomly appear, and a clock counts down for you to engage in combat. If you strike first, you gain a boost in combat and attack right off the bat. If the enemy runs into you, it’s even ground. If you do not escape the combat zone after a set time, you will engage in a fight or die situation in which death takes you back to the last save point. This makes latter fights much more intense. Though an interesting system, the random encounters feel like a step back in the series; as seeing the giant beasts in XIII roaming the corridors were much more intimidating and gave life to the worlds, rather than simply having them pop out of thin air.

While there are “villages” in the game these amount to nothing more than a few people walking around, uttering terrible and unimportant lines of dialogue. NPCs are available to issue sidequests, but these evolve into nothing more than simple fetch quests or battles. Shops are limited to one soul source, a traveler named Chocolina. She sells the standard amenities of potions, weaponry, and accessories which can be purchased much more easily thanks to the fact that you actually gain money from battles again.

I Choose You!

The fast-paced combat of XIII was a redeeming factor for the game, and it carries over well in the sequel. Limited to a party of three, you assign each member a role to follow. These range from support, to attack, to buffers and dispellers. These “paradigms” can be shifted mid-battle to adapt to the situation as it occurs; such as switching to a defensive roster when a boss is counting down a big move or attacking roster when he opens himself up.

It’s the constant switch and adaptation to each situation that makes the battle system so great. One second you are boosting a boss’s Stagger gauge to make him more susceptible to attacks, and the next you can be on the defensive trying to stack a few heals before resuming your assault. Each area is different, and each encounter warrants diverse tactics. This will constantly have you switching roles and paradigms to overcome a challenge, and makes brute force useless in most situations.

Following the popular trend, FFXIII-2 has also added a few typical features to mix things up a bit further. Cinematic Action sequences will occur during bigger battles that can give you an upper hand in battle if performed correctly. There is also the inclusion of dialogue trees in conversation, that add a small sense of choice in a predestined game. The ideas are nice, but nothing that hasn’t been done better in other titles.

Unlike previous games, your party only consists of two main characters. The third slot is filled with monsters that you tame in the wild. Practically all monsters are up for grabs as you progress through the game, each coming equipped with a set role like a healer or magic user. You then use items found in the wild or purchased to level these monsters up. The addictive feel of getting, training, and using these monsters in battle is reminiscent of Pokemon; adding another addictive collecting task.You can even customize your monster with an accessory, because putting a backpack on a Chocobo…it’s just awesome. The monster taming helps establish the game as a sequel and not just an expansion, and ends up being the highlight of the game.

To Be Continued

Though the primary quest is relatively short (about 20 hours), but there is plenty of side content offered to keep you busy well after the game’s abrupt end. The side content is very collector based, and will have you straying from the established path to collect every last item in a world.

One particular portal takes you to ‘Serendipity’, which is basically a time traveler’s casino….can’t make this up. Once there you can tackle the slot machine in an attempt to rake cash in quickly for exclusive items not found or dropped by enemies. There is even the return of Chocobo races in which you can race your own tamed Chocobo or bet on existing ones.

Though you do not need to collect every fragment in the game to complete it, there are 160 total fragments scattered throughout the worlds that can offer ultimate rewards once a set is collected. These range from jumping farther when platforming to instantly killing weak enemies upon their encounter. Fragments are sometimes hidden throughout the world, obtained from completing sidequests, or rewards from various mini games.

Overall

While Final Fantasy XIII-2 addresses many of the issues of its predecessor, it brings up its fair share of new ones. Odd pacing, an odder soundtrack, and a dumbed down leveling system are just a few issues that hold the game back from redeeming XIII’s downfalls. It’s not a terrible RPG, and if you are a fan of Final Fantasy XIII then the game is exactly what you would expect. For those who missed the train that was XIII and are looking for a new RPG, XIII-2 may not be your ideal experience…but, you can put a hat on a Cactuar….so…so there’s that.

Pros:

Visuals and voicework remain as polished as ever
Monster collecting is an addictive addition
Combat remains fast paced, and easy to pick up
Plenty of side content to add to the life of the game

Cons:

Crystarium leveling system has been dulled down
Mog Clock random encounters feels like a step back
Sense of direction is skewed with multiple paths and odd pacing
Ending is an abrupt stop

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Trine 2 Review

Craigaleg — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 05:03:43 +0000

WATCH THE VIDEO REVIEW

Trine was one of those hidden games of the 2009 PC gaming world. Though it was a small Steam download, it soon became a hit due to its accessible gameplay and beautiful art direction. With the slew of big name titles currently hogging most of my time, the sequel was something worth checking out.

Trine and True

Much like the previous installment, the most obvious thing Trine has going for it is stunning art direction. For a 2D platformer, the look is unmatched. Like a journey through the color wheel, vivid tapestries adorn each and every level. A bright purple contrasts a deeper blue in the forests, and orange rays peek through openings on a sunset village. Impressive plays on lighting help make Trine 2 just as enjoyable to watch as it is to play.

The story continues the adventures of the same group of heroes as the previous installment; the wizard Amadeus, the thief Zoya, and knight Pontious. Joined together by the mystical Trine artifact from the previous game, the heroes are bound together to help stop an unknown evil. While the actual plot will do little for the lore enthusiasts, the basic tale of three unlikely heroes on a quest is enough to satisfy for a 2D platformer.

The voice actors for each character chime in on occasion to help bring the characters to life, but it is the narrator that truly captures the feel of the game. Much like the previous installment, the narrator will recant the tale at each load screen and give his quips while you progress regarding the characters. You get the feeling of playing out a story from a children’s book rather than it happening in real time. Backed by a fantasy-inspired original soundtrack, you can’t help but feel like a kid hearing a fable for the first time.

Power of Three

The basic gameplay has not changed much since the last installment and still consists of platforming, combat, and puzzle segments.

These are further augmented by the three available characters and their abilities. The wizard, Amadeus, can spawn boxes and platforms by drawing them out with the mouse, but cannot attack as efficiently as the others. The thief, Zoya, has a grappling hook and bow to get to vantage points and fight from afar. The knight, Pontious, is combat ready with sword and shield, but is not as agile in platforming. The balance makes for constant switching between characters to adapt to each situation as it presents itself. You could technically get through the game with one sole character, but their usefulness in each dilemma warrants a shuffle of their roles.

The platforming is made even more interesting by the in-depth physics engine. You will stumble across many puzzles that consist of transporting water from one source to its destination, a Portal inspired platforming section, and many other puzzles that will could leave you scratching your head for a while. These well thought out puzzles are enjoyable, but by the sixth stage you tend to grow tired of fitting pipes to blow air to a platform.

Between these platforming sequences are combat encounters. Hordes of goblins, spiders, and other monstrosities will relentlessly throw themselves at you at certain areas. While you may rely on the knight for these sequences, the thief and wizard can both hold their own with enough practice.

Customization

Scattered throughout the game are small blue orbs and flasks. These gradually level your character as you collect them. Some are dropped from enemies, others are strewn across the path, and most are dangled just out of reach. They act much like Riddler Trophies in Arkham City, daring you to stop your progression to dedicate time in figuring out how to obtain them. Even after spending five minutes attempting to time a jump perfect, they are well worth the investment.

Each time you level up you earn an additional skill point. These can be invested into one of the three characters to upgrade their current weaponry or add new abilities. The wizard can be upgraded to spawn multiple platforms at once, the knight can add a flame sword to his arsenal, and the thief can fire two arrows at once. These upgrades become plentiful as the game wears on, but it’s important to spread the wealth and not invest too much into a single character.

The last installment featured accessories that you could equip to further power your characters, but those have been replaced with collectible paintings and poems. These more hidden secrets are usually off the beaten path, but do little more than add concept art and poetry to your menu unlocks.

Team Trine

Acting as a totally different experience all together, the multiplayer of the game really stands out. With two other players, you must now traverse each stage with all three characters. It adds a bit more challenge and thinking to the mix, as you must now move multiple players past each puzzle. Teamwork and cooperation is key in progressing past the challenges.

Unique actions can be performed with the heroes split in three. The wizard can levitate a box across a gap with the other player on top, the knight’s shield can acts as an additional platform boost, and the thief can tail behind the knight’s shield to fire arrows from cover. It’s this unique feeling of camaraderie that the single player does not contain, and makes the multiplayer a mode worth investing time into. The game features a Standard mode and Unlimited mode, in which multiple players can be the same role. You can have three wizards all stacking boxes or three knights all battling goblins.

Despite the stunning presentation, the overall experience is short lived. Clocking in at a mere six hours, it won’t be long before your adventure will be at an end. Checkpoints are plentiful, and perhaps…too plentiful. Combat is easily thwarted by camping near a checkpoint to instantly restore health or lost characters. Enemy types tend to stick toward the goblin side, with only a few variations in between.

Overall

Trine 2 stays true to the formula, and risks little in expanding beyond. There is little issue with that, as the infinitely satisfying gameplay will keep you entertained from beginning to end. It is an adventure game that is more fun with friends, and is one of the more enjoyable downloadable titles to close out the year.

Pros:

Visual backdrops like no other
Online and offline co-op
Intricate physics puzzles
Fun and challenging multiplayer

Cons:

Leniency with checkpoints leave little challenge
Character customization is limited
Except for an overall polish, not much has changed.
Short campaign

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The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword Review

Craigaleg — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 02:23:57 +0000

The Legend of Zelda has been going strong for over 25 years now. The classic tale of an adventurer rising up to save Princess Zelda and defeat the evil Ganon never disappoints. Such a long run also puts the franchise at risk of becoming stale, though as of yet that has been avoided with top notch presentation and variation to gameplay. Acting as a swan song for the Wii, Skyward Sword attempts to prove the franchise still has something going for it.

One Triangle to Rule Them All

Each new Zelda game likes to put its own spin on the tale, and for this game it involves taking to the open skies. You once again assume the role of Link, whose relationship with Zelda unfolds at the game’s beginning through investigation into Link’s missing bird. Things go well after they rescue it, until a mysterious force kidnaps Zelda. Link gives chase with the help of Fi, an entity claiming it is his destiny to set out as the hero from the skies. It evolves into the typical narrative; Link is the destined hero, Zelda is in trouble, and Girahim is looking to use Zelda to awaken an ancient evil. Acting a prequel to Ocarina of Time, the game has some typical elements that fans of the series are accustomed to at this point, but real emotional investment stems from growing up with the series and not stellar writing or dialogue. Though it is a treat to see the origins of many elements from OoT.

Ditching the land and seas of previous games, Skyward Sword is centered around the skies. Skyloft acts as the central city with the overworld below. Taking a page from Wind Waker, you can fly to several small islands and dive down to the world below the clouds for bigger areas of exploration; ranging from deserts to forests to volcanic lands. Much like previous Zelda games, you will revisit these areas as you progress, unlocking them further with each new item. The feeling of flying through the clouds to new destinations proves enjoyable at first, but tiresome as the game wears on and forces you to travel back and forth between destinations.

Visually, the game is what you make of it. The game uses an artistic style similar to impressionism. The blotchy overtones and shading can look impressive for the Wii one minute, and horribly textured the next. Though the animations during the game’s cutscenes are spot on, you can’t help but feel as if this is a game being held back by the hardware. Areas are revisited time and time again, enemies are recycled with new colors, and you even fight a couple of bosses a few too many times. Despite the dated look, the visuals have little impact on the overall experience.

Each Zelda game of late has featured a companion, and Fi ranks among the most annoying. She will constantly talk to you, reiterating what a person just said or stating the obvious like, “I am 90% sure we are in a volcano”, while I am running around lava. The constant reminders from her couple with the fact that if you turn your console back on to continue your game it assumes you forgot what every component does and feels the need to halt the combat and show its placement in your inventory. Without these reminders and pop ups, the game would have been at least 5 hours shorter.

Motion Maniac

The biggest change in gameplay lies with the Motion Plus. Swinging the Wiimote vertically or diagonally registers as such on the screen, and are used in a number of situations. This makes combat akin to a puzzle game, in striking a direction your enemy is not currently blocking. This is used not only in combat, but to unlock various doors, rotate and solve puzzle keys, and aim from a first person perspective to use the bow and other items.

The heavy reliance on Wii Motion Plus is a double edged sword. On the one hand, when the sensor reads you correctly it works great. First person aiming is simple and responsive and every swipe is accounted for without a hitch. Then you have the situations where the game does not cooperate. There was an instance where a boss required a certain diagonal slice to register a hit, but my flails and feeble attempts would perform a horizontal slice instead. This happened more than once, and became so much of an annoyance, that much of my combat evolved into deflecting attacks with a shield to gain an opening in lieu of slicing correctly.

With every item in your disposal making use of the Wii motion controls, there were times that I yearned for a classic controller. Direction and position are everything, and the occasional misread occurs a bit more than I would care for. To be fair my horizontal slices would read horizontal, but took effort to read which direction the slice originated. You become accustomed to the control scheme after a time and are able to compensate for any issues. The same cannot be said for its use in swimming and flying, as the motion control just can’t beat the feel of analog stick in platforming.

That being said, the combat in the game is more challenging than previous titles, and it’s a welcome change. Baddies will block and wait for your mistakes to cease an opening, or strike quickly. Simply waving the Wiimote like a madman will get results eventually, but is not the most efficient method to dispatching enemies this time around.

Dungeon Masta

It was hard to keep track of how many official dungeons were in this game, as much of the world below the clouds acts as one giant dungeon. You will constantly be tasked with solving various situations for each area to progress. It is as if getting to an actual dungeon in this game requires you to solve a dungeon.

The Legend of Zelda is infamous for dungeons that stick with you after completion. Though the initial batch are a bit lacking, some of the later dungeons are very well designed. There is a healthy mix of simple solutions and complex head scratchers. The satisfaction of solving a room and obtaining a needed item motivates you to press forward. You have the standard water, fire, sand temples but much have that needed twist to keep them unique. In the Lanayru Mining Facility you have crystals that open up bubbles in which time is altered to the past, and their use in puzzles and platforming is very intriguing.

As mentioned above, the enemies are much more challenging, but the bosses are much less so. Despite the enjoyable first boss, the rest ended up being quite simple. Many evolved into using complete pushovers, with a simple “stun them with the item you got” and “slash their face off while they are down” approach. To go from the superb boss battles of Twilight Princess to this feels like a bit of a downgrade. There are still some exceptions to this like Koloktos, in which you literally take off his arm and beat him to death with it. But of course, the final boss of the game proves a hefty challenge and was another big highlight of the combat.

Sky Hero Swag

Items in Zelda are always a treat, as each game in the franchise provide a unique arsenal to assist in combat and platforming. The most used in the early half of the game was the Beetle, a small projectile that you could fire and then steer around to cut down enemies or scout an area. With a few upgrades it became an efficient item for not only seeing what was ahead but assisting in solving puzzles as well. The Whip is another new addition, capable of producing a vine to swing on, pulling a far off switch, and even snagging an item from a guard. There are a few other interesting additions, with the return of the classic bombs, bows, and slingshot.

Zelda has always been much more action platformer than RPG, but a new upgrade system shifts the spectrum. Link can now upgrade his equipment using components that are found throughout the game. This became an addicting element, as components are plentiful in their discovery, whether found in a chest or dropped from an enemy. The lingering feeling of just needed a few more components to make your bow stronger is ever present, and you will find yourself going out of your way to gather what is needed.

If the main quest is getting you down, there is plenty of side content to pursue. The local townsfolk (all 12 of them?) have mishaps and troubles they could use assistance with and at varying times will signal for aid with a thought bubble above their heads. Most of it evolves into fetch quests, but the rewards are worth the effort. Aside from simple tasks are plenty of min-games, pieces of heart to track down, and Goddess Cubes in the world beneath the clouds that open up locked treasures above. It’s a healthy mix of activities, and can be a welcome distraction from the main quest line. Just be prepared to do some traveling, as a warp system in this game is absent.

Overall

Skyward Sword was not the incredible thrill ride I expected, but one that keeps the formula interesting. Fetch quests and repeated visits to the same place over and over again will wear you down, but the intricate dungeon design and fresh take on combat will more than make up for it. It’s not the holy grail of the franchise, but clocking in at around 40+ hours with a Master Quest replay, it is more than enough to hold you over until the next title.

Pros:

Stellar soundtrack
Motionplus makes fights more interesting
The later dungeons are well designed and diverse
Ability to upgrade equipment is a nice touch
Hours of content to explore

Cons:

Slow start to a stellar later game
Motion controls not fit for every aspect
Constant fetch quests are cause to revisit areas multiple times
Fi is one useless companion

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Modnation Racers Review

Axel — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 07:18:43 +0000

Early 2010 has become known as the Kart Racer quarter. With titles like Blur, Split/Second, Sonic & Sega All Star Racing, and others available to us simple folk, can any new comer take the championship trophy away from Mario Kart? Sony’s Modnation Racers gives the Kart Racing genre a well deserved bitch slap. Sony knows that gamers are a creative bunch; they showed the world with LittleBigPlanet. With [blippr]Modnation Racers[/blippr] our inner artist can come out and play yet again, but I’ll get more into that later.

Gameplay wise Modnation Racers is….well a Kart Racer, and a good one to boot. It gives us everything we expect from a Kart Racer and more. It’s all about timing with Modnation, when to use your boost, shield, items, is all determined with a meter that you must fill up during the race by; doing stunts, drifting, and drafting. Just like other Kart Racers, there are power ups scattered around the track. This is where timing is at its finest, you can either launch your power up right away to only effect the car in front of you, or you can collect 3 of the same type and destroy every car other car on the track. Career mode is brutal. Of course your first 4 races are as easy as an Atlantic city street walker, after that the AI will give you a run for your money. The other racers will waste no time when it comes to making your life hell. The actual career however isn’t the longest out there, nor is it the shortest. It’ll take you roughly 10-15 hours to finish.

Modnation Racers boasts an amazing online feature that’s built right into the single player experience. What I mean by that is, everything you do in the game is updated in real time. The game even alerts other players in the hub area when a track record has been broken. (I had a track record for an entire 15 minutes before it got shattered) In the online HUB players can communicate with each other, check out the hottest lap times, check out each other’s creations, and of course challenge each other to races. So far I have experienced no lag when racing online. It’s very impressive how quickly it is to download, Cars, events, tracks, and drivers while in game. The longest amount of time I had to wait for an item to get from the market place to my console was about 10 seconds. Modnation Racers online feature has raised the bar for its genre.

Now for the real reason you’ll be playing this game. The user created content. Modnation Racers brings along one of the most robust creation systems this side of Little Big Planet. Anything you could possibly think of can be created here. Do you want Mr. T driving the A-Team van? You got it foo! From day 1 there were already hundreds if not thousands of custom racers, cars, and tracks available. The best thing about everything is, IT’S ALL FREE!! The game gives you the opportunity to create what has been haunting your fragile psyche since childhood. I myself decided to create 2-D from the Gorillaz and have him roll in the Stylo car.

The Graphics are pretty to look at. It has high resolution visuals that are complimented by vibrant colors and spectacular lighting. Each track feels alive personality and atmosphere. That being said, I wish the studio would have added a crowd, sure the tracks feel alive, but it seems like the only people in the world are the racers.

Sound wise Modnation Racers doesn’t give us memorable music to race along with. The Trumpet harmonies sound like they were pulled from famous movies, but at the last minute they altered the pitch so as to not get sued. That’s not to say the voice acting is bad, far from it. The characters actually make laugh. Some of the stuff they say is tongue in cheek but it’s delivered with believability and personality. Not once did it feel like the actors were phoning it in. Although the vocal tracks tend to get repetitive after a while but they are still a joy to hear.

Controls are tight, every button is used on the PS3 controller. Modnation uses the R2 L2 acceleration and breaking system standard to most racing games. It really feels natural when you’re driving around. There is a small learning curve but once you get passed it there is fun to be had here.

Unfortunately the game isn’t perfect. A big annoyance are the load times, (not downloads) it takes a good 30-45 seconds to get from the hub to a race via load screen. With the addition of unforgiving AI later in the game holds this title back from being a perfect 10.

A couple of negatives will never prevent this game from being a must play though. The plethora of customizable vehicles, tracks, and characters gives this game longevity. A Lag free online feature complimented with an expanding community shows developers that user created is a good thing. Modnation Racers comes highly recommended in the sense that you’re not put off by cartoony racers.

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Pure Football Review

Paul — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 22:40:28 +0000

With football fever hitting its highest degree with the World Cup just around the corner, Ubisoft has offered it’s first ever input in the football game arena with Pure Football. Pure Football is a five-a-side game – with some twists, with a host of famous faces gracing the field. This is a brave entry by Ubisoft in a field where FIFA and PES rule the roost, and working away from the constraints of FIFA.

Pure Football set’s itself aside from the likes of FIFA and PES by relying on the fast paced nature of five-a-side football, with most of the games emphasis going into the shooting system, and what is the most successful way to score. You can change your tactics real-time by using the d-pad directions, but being perfectly honest this does not really alter the game much, and is very unlikely to affect the matches in anyway. As expected each players stats are different and each player has its best areas of play.

With the main emphasis going into the shooting each player is capable of scoring goals. With it being five-a-side you can shoot from nearly anywhere on the pitch, but the closer the more likely the outcome will result in a goal. As you got to take a shot a power bar will appear underneath your player, this is very similar the power bars you see on the likes of golf games, using the same idea of enough power, perfect power and too much power. If you stop holding the shoot within the green area of the shooting bar the shot will go on target, and have the chance of scoring. If you stop it in the white area this activates a ‘Power Shot’ which has a higher change of successfully finding the back of the net. If you release it whilst in the red area your shot will automatically be off target. The game also rewards you for registering shots that need to be saved, after you have a number of efforts saved by the goal keeper this fills the ‘Pure Shot’ meter – once this is full your next shot it guaranteed to be a Power Shot. This system Ubisoft is the biggest part of the gameplay on Pure Football, with the rest of the games elements like passing and skill moves being some what underwhelming due to the amount the game is focusing on the shooting, and it does slightly affect the games over all appeal.

Even with this as the case the action in the game is still furious, and could attract some audience. Pure Footballs biggest downfall is the fact the game does lack depth when playing. Although you can score a few goals within seconds of each other, the games enjoyment factor still suffers greatly. This is due to the game all but eliminating the challenge and thrill of pulling of a great or set piece leading up to the goal. The crossing system uses a similar style to the shooting, but makes the player have to time a few button presses to win the ball in the air, if this is successful it is 90% of the time likely to result in a goal. The passing system is one of the most annoying parts of the gameplay with it requiring the player point to the player they want to pass to with the left stick, this is also used for the direction on the player on the ball, and on a small sized pitch this can become tricky at times. When passing the rest of the players are represented by small arrows around your players feet, where this becomes an issue is the arrows can take a few seconds to become active for the player you want to pass to; and online this can become a major irritation. The slide tackle is pretty much forbidden due to the fact it is hard to get right. This is countered with the fact there is no free kicks, but badly timed tackles will start to fill up the Foul meter the game uses, and once this is full the opposition gets a penalty never mind where on the pitch the foul was committed. This does affect the tackling system, but it is still possible to put a foot in and take the ball with a well timed step in tackle.

Pure Football boasts a roster of 230 professionals and 17 football legends, from the nations the game includes. Each player is recognisable from their real-life counterpart, although the game visually seems to use some sort of chiselled communistic look for the player design. This choice of design seems to match the strange approach to football the game uses. Pure Football tries to shake up the idea of mainstream football by removing such football necessities like big stadia, commentary, crowds and even the match officials. Replacing the big stadia are locations that are influenced by their location; with the London pitch being located in a power plant setting, and the Madrid pitch being located in a bull ring setting to give a few examples. The stylized environments work well, but the choice of the environment makes the games audio a huge negative. With the removal of the crowd, referee and commentary, the game has removed what is essentially the sound track to a football game. The only thing you will hear during the match is some music, and the sound of the players on the pitch; which for some reason never mind what team you are the players speak in the same British accent.

The game includes your standard exhibition, quick match and online modes expected, but with the game odd style they introduce a campaign mode. The campaign mode begins with the creation of your own player and team. To start with you are given a standard set of unknown players. The aim is to achieve a position within the top 8 rankings, and earn a place in the final tournament. You are given a set time to achieve a placing in the rankings. During this time each location gives you a set of four challenges set by the opposition; these include a number of objectives to win from the simple win a 5 minute match to target based objectives like take a two goal lead. What keeps the campaign mode entertaining is the fact you unlock players from the nations by competing set objectives during the matches from scoring with 2 different players to passing accuracy. Once these players are unlocked you can transfer these to your squad, and build a squad you think will be best for competing in the events. Completing the matches also rewards you with Pure Points; these points are used between the challenges to upgrade your create-a-player, making him become better along with your team.

Never mind how well a football game is presented, it also needs to get the gameplay right in order to be successful. The first hour of the game will not grip you at all, but if you persevere with the flaws in the gameplay you may find the game can match your thirst for something different in a football game. The initial refusals to take of the grip full eleven side football games have on you may result in you missing out on an experience that can be healed in some cases by giving Pure Football some time. This is certainly an interesting take on a football game, and one that could be a one off chance to sample.

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