Just when I thought I was out with my Demo Review of Mafia 2 the world of 2K Czech has pulled me back in.
Yep, I'm a bit of a mafia nerd. Which sounds like an oxymoron, but it isn't. The topic is fascinating to me. In my Michigan history class in college I wrote a paper on the Purple Gang (Detroit's ruthless gang of Jewish gangsters during Prohibition). That was about the ONLY paper in my college career that I finished early; I also wrote over the required pages.
So games about the mafia are extra fun for me, because I can live in that realm without the possibility of going to jail or being shot and stuffed in the trunk of a car.
Mafia 2 is a nice piece of story telling. Games sometimes forget about a compelling story and you just have aimless fun until you are bored, at least that's what I seem to do. Others hold you to a rigid story line that leave little "free will" style play that open world games like Grand Theft Auto brought to the masses.
The first Mafia had no real free roam, there was a mode where you could just drive around, but there wasn't a ton to do.
Mafia 2 lets you wander around mostly whenever, but the world just isn't as interesting as the story.
Empire Bay, the fictional East-coast city, is beautifully crafted. The buildings are nice where they should be and kind of scummy in the bad places. I didn't see many beat up cars in the poor parts of town, which seems like an easy piece of realism.
As I said in my demo review, the realism is quite nice. Rob a place and hang around (hidden!) outside and you'll see the cops come and interview the shop owner. Murder the shop owner and come back you'll see the shop closed with police tape over the door. The cars get dirty after a lot of driving and they will apparently run out of gas.
There are destructible environments in the gun fights, which is very nice. "Oh no, he's hiding behind plywood." Rat-a-tat-tat-tat. Plywood gone, man dead.
The problem is the story seems to stranglehold what you do in this massive town. In my first couple hours of play I drove in between places, watched very nice cut scenes and then did some shooting or fighting, then drove some more.
Yeah, that is the basic formula for missions in sandbox games...and that is sort of the problem. There isn't anything else.
GTA4 actually had TOO much stuff to do, with the missions and all your friends you had to entertain by doing stupid things like bowling or watching a comedy performance, so that was annoying. But at least there was some other substance to the game.
Mafia 2 seems to have gone the other way. The game is the story. With these pieces that spend so much time on creating a living, breathing city the game should be the world. That world should have a good story in it, for sure, but it should also have places for me to go and do things not related to the story.
In one of the first couple Chapters of the story you meet a man at a junkyard and he asks you to steal a car for him. The mission was fun, people mad and shooting because of the stolen car, a good time was had by all; but after that mission I should be able to go back and make more money getting him other cars, but it won't let you until way later in the story.
You can do what I did for the majority of the time I played the demo; rob stores. That will put a little scratch in your pocket and cause some possible gun-play, depending on the neighborhood and police proximity. But that also is later an actual mission. So it isn't just something extra to do. It's something you'll have to do to get money quickly anyway.
But really, there isn't a lot to buy. Food and drink, clothes, car modifications, car washes and gasoline are all you can spend money on. The gas and car washes are the only two of those things you can't steal.
You most expensive thing you spend money on are bribes if you get into trouble, likely after trying to steal something. But I just shoot the cops in the face and then change my clothes.
I understand 2K's drive to make a compelling story that is engaging and beautiful looking. But as a gamer I want more random fun! As a mafia buff I want more criminal activities!
Collecting protection money, hijacking trucks or beating deadbeats could all easily be side quests that you pick up at any time. Obviously there are no cell phones for them to call you on to let you know the truck is coming through town, but I'm sure the 2K guys could come up with some clever way to do it.
HITS! I want to do crazy Valentine's Day Massacre hits on people! There is the one from the demo, but that wasn't all that special, and another one that did make me very happy to pull off. But in a big city with multiple families (kneecapping families, not go to the store for groceries families) you'd think there would be enough hatred to justify a hit list for a side quest.
With DLC already planned before the game even came out I wonder how much time they spent making this game complete. The DLC looks to be different stories, which is fine, but you have to pay for it.
So this game that I was super excited about is around $60 and there isn't much to do.
Stretching it you can prolong the gameplay to about 15 hours or so. But that's really stretching it.
I often calculate how much I'm willing to pay for fun. Mafia 2 breaks down to about $4 an hour for fun. Sure, I have payed more than that for an hour of fun before...that sounded bad.
But the problem is this isn't like paintball or going to the movies. When you buy a game you've essentially told the makers, "I trust your product and I'm not going to be buying any others for awhile...entertain me." But so often they let you down.
Which is why renting is my default. And also why, I suspect, there is a such a debate going on about purchasing used games.
Yes, I want to support 2K for making such a nice game, but I want the rest of it. GTA 4 cost the same amount and had me enthralled for months. I rented Mafia 2 a week ago and have been playing it sparingly and I'm already almost done. A large difference in the purchase is the amount of re-playability. I could pick up GTA 4 and easily be entertained in the single player for awhile, even just driving around. Mafia 2 is also fun just driving around, but not as much.
A linear story line is not enticing after you've beaten it. That's why side quests are important in games like this, they distract and entertain you, stretching the length of your fun per dollar.
Despite all that gibberish, I did like it. It's just not the game I thought it was going to be.
Mafia 2
Rented once, likely not again. Very glad I did not purchase.
4 out of 5 as a sequel. Much better than the original
3 out of 5 as a game. Just not enough there.
About Evon
- Ryan Evon
- I am a photographer, a sometimes writer, a gamer, a driver and more. I graduated from Central Michigan University with a double major in Journalism(Photo) and English(Creative Writing). Any Photos are copyright Ryan Evon, The Facts or the Morning Sun 2010/2011/2012. All words by, representing and claimed by Ryan Evon & only him, unless in quotation marks & specified otherwise.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
GAMES: Goombah Gunplay: Mafia 2 Demo Impressions
I really liked the first Mafia game. Honestly, I pretty much like all games involving a secret society of pasta eating criminals.
The first Godfather game was not good, but the second had a nice appeal that had me right up to the point I returned it...but I didn't re-rent.
But I've been really excited about Mafia 2. The first was a pretty fun game and based on my time with the demo for 2, it looks to be even better.
The demo gives you one mission, really half a mission, at the completion of which the demo ends.
It starts as a pretty simple mission, go here, kill guy, leave. But turns on its head quickly ending with your car stuck on a bridge boxed in by police. Short and sweet, but fun. A good show of the game's new cover system and gun selection.
But you don't have to do the mission. You are allowed to free roam, in a very limited piece of the city, for around 10 minutes. So it's a not very free, free roam. But unlike the first game this one actually seems to have true free roam.
What it usually entails is me driving around robbing stores, fighting people and then being killed in a hail of police gunfire with about a minute left on the timer.
Then I start back in the characters house with more time. :D
But in my play through I'm not just robbing and beating people for the sheer joy a goon would get out of these things, I'm doing vital game research for you! So stop judging me or I break-a you face!
The AI in Mafia 2 is pretty smart and the realism of the game is quite nice. Police will pull you over for speeding, like in the first game, so you can turn on a speed limiting option to avoid the hassle if you aren't in a hurry.
Also robbing shops has a dash of realism. Don't go into the gun store and try rob that dude, because he has a shotgun and likely you ain't got one. So you hit the burger joints, gas stations and clothing stores.
But be warned, pulling out a gun in stores in certain neighborhoods will get you shot by gun-toting civilians.
But if you wander into a shop with the intent of a simple robbery and end up committing a murder, when you come back later the store will be closed, adorned with police tape. That isn't a necessary gameplay mechanic, but it's a sheer point of realism that makes the game more fun. The lesson I learned, if you want a dram of scotch, don't go shooting up the bar earlier.
The biggest thing for me in most games (even games where it isn't even close to the point) is driving. It's fun.
I like it in real life and I love it in video games. In Halo 3 multiplayer battles on Live with friends, I'm behind the wheel of the Warthog. Yeah, I might only have 3 kills the whole game, but I've likely racked up around 20-30 assists with a competent gunner.
So in a big open game like Mafia 2 cars ARE a big deal. Set in the mid 40s to 50s the cars are a bit more my style than in the first one. I saw a nice collection of cars similar to real cars, including Thunderbirds and Corvettes as well as the lumbering land-yacht style Buicks of the era.
Some gamers might complain about the handling and power of the cars, but you would in real life too. Automotive technology has come a long way. These cars didn't handle that well. So it's all part of the realism.
In the vein of realism it should be noted this game should only be played by adults. Lots of violence and swearing. It also features several Playboy centerfolds as collectible items in-game. Hidden items are a staple of the sandbox style games. It promotes exploration of the huge, beautiful world the developers created. This game just happens to use boobies to make the items more enticing. :D
It wasn't readily apparent to me the first couple play-throughs, but the demo includes gangs on the street.
Driving a car I "borrowed" from a neighbor I was cruising in a downtown area and a fellow on the sidewalk commented on my driving style as I pulled up to a tailor's shop.
I took offense to his unwanted criticism and engaged him in fisticuffs. Upon thrashing the man I started taking gunfire from across the street. Apparently the man I had beaten up was a member of a gang in the area. The matching track suits and firearms cemented the idea in my head and I fled the area with about six of them chasing me.
The hand-to-hand fighting system is very nice in it's simplicity. Two punch buttons and a block/evade. But if you wear your opponent down you can finish them off with a punch combo or stylish, slow motion boot to the face.
There are a few issues with the demo that I hope get fixed up before the game's release on August 24th. There are some graphic load issues. One thing that seemed to pop in late all the time were the gas stations. As you would roll up it looked like it had silver windows and then a few seconds later you can see the interior of the shop.
Also, getting into cars can be a bit clunky. You yank a guy out of his car, most of the time so that you can get in and drive it, but the default move is to yank the guy out and stand there looking at him. The context cue on screen says "Y: Steal car"
But it doesn't. Maybe it should say "Y: Pull dude out Y: again and again to get in car"
Sometimes pushing Y near my own car wouldn't get me inside with the speed that I would hope. People are shooting at me, I don't want my character to dilly-dally around.
Aside from the stupid time limit (something more and more studios are doing with their demos) I am very happy with the Mafia 2 demo and am really looking forward to the release later this month.
I may buy it on release day, unless somewhere in town has it for rent.
Mt. Pleasant used to be a terrible town for video games on release day. They'd get movies the day they came out, but games could sometimes take a week or more.
It made me buy a lot of games it turned out I really didn't want. Yes I know, it didn't "make" me. But it didn't leave me with many options as far as playing the game I wanted to play.
Luckily the rental places seem to be coming around to notice that video game people are rabid about playing their games as soon as they come out. We ignore our actual duties to play these things. I may call in sick. :D
Verdict: Looking forward to release date. May buy without rental.
Very likely there will be a game review after the retail release.
The first Godfather game was not good, but the second had a nice appeal that had me right up to the point I returned it...but I didn't re-rent.
But I've been really excited about Mafia 2. The first was a pretty fun game and based on my time with the demo for 2, it looks to be even better.
The demo gives you one mission, really half a mission, at the completion of which the demo ends.
It starts as a pretty simple mission, go here, kill guy, leave. But turns on its head quickly ending with your car stuck on a bridge boxed in by police. Short and sweet, but fun. A good show of the game's new cover system and gun selection.
But you don't have to do the mission. You are allowed to free roam, in a very limited piece of the city, for around 10 minutes. So it's a not very free, free roam. But unlike the first game this one actually seems to have true free roam.
What it usually entails is me driving around robbing stores, fighting people and then being killed in a hail of police gunfire with about a minute left on the timer.
Then I start back in the characters house with more time. :D
But in my play through I'm not just robbing and beating people for the sheer joy a goon would get out of these things, I'm doing vital game research for you! So stop judging me or I break-a you face!
The AI in Mafia 2 is pretty smart and the realism of the game is quite nice. Police will pull you over for speeding, like in the first game, so you can turn on a speed limiting option to avoid the hassle if you aren't in a hurry.
Also robbing shops has a dash of realism. Don't go into the gun store and try rob that dude, because he has a shotgun and likely you ain't got one. So you hit the burger joints, gas stations and clothing stores.
But be warned, pulling out a gun in stores in certain neighborhoods will get you shot by gun-toting civilians.
But if you wander into a shop with the intent of a simple robbery and end up committing a murder, when you come back later the store will be closed, adorned with police tape. That isn't a necessary gameplay mechanic, but it's a sheer point of realism that makes the game more fun. The lesson I learned, if you want a dram of scotch, don't go shooting up the bar earlier.
The biggest thing for me in most games (even games where it isn't even close to the point) is driving. It's fun.
I like it in real life and I love it in video games. In Halo 3 multiplayer battles on Live with friends, I'm behind the wheel of the Warthog. Yeah, I might only have 3 kills the whole game, but I've likely racked up around 20-30 assists with a competent gunner.
So in a big open game like Mafia 2 cars ARE a big deal. Set in the mid 40s to 50s the cars are a bit more my style than in the first one. I saw a nice collection of cars similar to real cars, including Thunderbirds and Corvettes as well as the lumbering land-yacht style Buicks of the era.
Some gamers might complain about the handling and power of the cars, but you would in real life too. Automotive technology has come a long way. These cars didn't handle that well. So it's all part of the realism.
In the vein of realism it should be noted this game should only be played by adults. Lots of violence and swearing. It also features several Playboy centerfolds as collectible items in-game. Hidden items are a staple of the sandbox style games. It promotes exploration of the huge, beautiful world the developers created. This game just happens to use boobies to make the items more enticing. :D
It wasn't readily apparent to me the first couple play-throughs, but the demo includes gangs on the street.
Driving a car I "borrowed" from a neighbor I was cruising in a downtown area and a fellow on the sidewalk commented on my driving style as I pulled up to a tailor's shop.
I took offense to his unwanted criticism and engaged him in fisticuffs. Upon thrashing the man I started taking gunfire from across the street. Apparently the man I had beaten up was a member of a gang in the area. The matching track suits and firearms cemented the idea in my head and I fled the area with about six of them chasing me.
The hand-to-hand fighting system is very nice in it's simplicity. Two punch buttons and a block/evade. But if you wear your opponent down you can finish them off with a punch combo or stylish, slow motion boot to the face.
There are a few issues with the demo that I hope get fixed up before the game's release on August 24th. There are some graphic load issues. One thing that seemed to pop in late all the time were the gas stations. As you would roll up it looked like it had silver windows and then a few seconds later you can see the interior of the shop.
Also, getting into cars can be a bit clunky. You yank a guy out of his car, most of the time so that you can get in and drive it, but the default move is to yank the guy out and stand there looking at him. The context cue on screen says "Y: Steal car"
But it doesn't. Maybe it should say "Y: Pull dude out Y: again and again to get in car"
Sometimes pushing Y near my own car wouldn't get me inside with the speed that I would hope. People are shooting at me, I don't want my character to dilly-dally around.
Aside from the stupid time limit (something more and more studios are doing with their demos) I am very happy with the Mafia 2 demo and am really looking forward to the release later this month.
I may buy it on release day, unless somewhere in town has it for rent.
Mt. Pleasant used to be a terrible town for video games on release day. They'd get movies the day they came out, but games could sometimes take a week or more.
It made me buy a lot of games it turned out I really didn't want. Yes I know, it didn't "make" me. But it didn't leave me with many options as far as playing the game I wanted to play.
Luckily the rental places seem to be coming around to notice that video game people are rabid about playing their games as soon as they come out. We ignore our actual duties to play these things. I may call in sick. :D
Verdict: Looking forward to release date. May buy without rental.
Very likely there will be a game review after the retail release.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
GAMES: Jumpy, Jumpy. Punchy, Punchy. Crackdown 2 : Xbox 360
I looked at the first Crackdown without much enthusiasm. It was a golden ticket into the Halo 3 beta, that is the only reason I wanted it.
But it really was a golden ticket, because it was a surprise. I bit into that chocolate, prepared for gawd awful dark chocolate taste but got some sweet, sweet milk chocolate.
The original Crackdown was SO fun to play. The premise wasn't overly intricate, but the delivery was very well done.
I approached Crackdown 2 with a bit of excitement, but I was prepared for it to be crappy as well, because Realtime Worlds was not behind this one.
Well I was not disappointed...in my disappointment. It was disappointing.
Jumping super high and collecting agility orbs was my favorite part of the first one, that carries over. The rest of the game is also similar, but because it is the SECOND one, it should be different.
Sequels are supposed to improve on the brand, not carbon copy and then throw in some annoying zombie things that make movement at night annoying as hell.
But I would play the game, I would suffer the stupid squishy creatures of the night just for the fun of jumping from rooftop to rooftop, but I can't. The voice-over, announcer guy makes me want to yell most of the time. Occasionally, he's funny. Describing the traction of the Agency Supercar by saying it "sticks to the road like shit to a blanket."
But the rest of the time I want to find him and use my agent's super strength to choke that guy til his throat pops. Sorry...that was a bit much.
Anyway, you get to hear this D-bag give you helpful tips like "collect agility orbs while you are on foot around the city" or "complete vehicle stunt challenges for a major boost to your driving skill." But he always says them over and over while you are doing something else, and NEVER while you are actually in a position to do those things.
There are quite a few issues, technically, like aiming and camera placement. As a baddie car rolls up and two guys get out your aim, more often than not, sticks on the car. It also often jumps to a Agency car or a civilian car. SUPER annoying.
But I think I'd fire bomb all the civilians anyway, because they don't respect me! Mr. Announcer Man can yell at me all he wants about not running over civies or agency peace keepers, but SCREW THAT. None of those idiots get out of the way when you are driving down the road, EVER!
Even with lights and sirens on no one moves. WHAT THE HELL? Yeah, I don't want to kill the pedestrian traffic, but I'm chasing a renegade driving orb here. I don't have time to try and miss all these idiots. The orb is the one that chose to cut up on to the sidewalk and down the alley full of people.
The only saving grace this game might have is multiplayer, which I couldn't do because I don't want to play with some random person and I don't know anyone who rented it. But I don't think even that is enough to get me to rent it again.
Crackdown 2
Rented once. Likely never again
1.25 out of 5 as a sequel
2.5 out of 5 if you haven't played previous versions (just go rent the first one)
But it really was a golden ticket, because it was a surprise. I bit into that chocolate, prepared for gawd awful dark chocolate taste but got some sweet, sweet milk chocolate.
The original Crackdown was SO fun to play. The premise wasn't overly intricate, but the delivery was very well done.
I approached Crackdown 2 with a bit of excitement, but I was prepared for it to be crappy as well, because Realtime Worlds was not behind this one.
Well I was not disappointed...in my disappointment. It was disappointing.
Jumping super high and collecting agility orbs was my favorite part of the first one, that carries over. The rest of the game is also similar, but because it is the SECOND one, it should be different.
Sequels are supposed to improve on the brand, not carbon copy and then throw in some annoying zombie things that make movement at night annoying as hell.
But I would play the game, I would suffer the stupid squishy creatures of the night just for the fun of jumping from rooftop to rooftop, but I can't. The voice-over, announcer guy makes me want to yell most of the time. Occasionally, he's funny. Describing the traction of the Agency Supercar by saying it "sticks to the road like shit to a blanket."
But the rest of the time I want to find him and use my agent's super strength to choke that guy til his throat pops. Sorry...that was a bit much.
Anyway, you get to hear this D-bag give you helpful tips like "collect agility orbs while you are on foot around the city" or "complete vehicle stunt challenges for a major boost to your driving skill." But he always says them over and over while you are doing something else, and NEVER while you are actually in a position to do those things.
There are quite a few issues, technically, like aiming and camera placement. As a baddie car rolls up and two guys get out your aim, more often than not, sticks on the car. It also often jumps to a Agency car or a civilian car. SUPER annoying.
But I think I'd fire bomb all the civilians anyway, because they don't respect me! Mr. Announcer Man can yell at me all he wants about not running over civies or agency peace keepers, but SCREW THAT. None of those idiots get out of the way when you are driving down the road, EVER!
Even with lights and sirens on no one moves. WHAT THE HELL? Yeah, I don't want to kill the pedestrian traffic, but I'm chasing a renegade driving orb here. I don't have time to try and miss all these idiots. The orb is the one that chose to cut up on to the sidewalk and down the alley full of people.
The only saving grace this game might have is multiplayer, which I couldn't do because I don't want to play with some random person and I don't know anyone who rented it. But I don't think even that is enough to get me to rent it again.
Crackdown 2
Rented once. Likely never again
1.25 out of 5 as a sequel
2.5 out of 5 if you haven't played previous versions (just go rent the first one)
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
GAMES: POW! Right in the Kisser: Red Dead Redemption: (X360)
This one will be short, cause it's my day off, I'm busy as heck and I want to free up some more time to play Red Dead Redemption.
Played the original, liked it a lot. Seems like such a long time ago, so I'm treating this as it's own game.
SINGLE PLAYER:
I'm a good bit through the single player, excellent.
Some of the cut scenes can drag on and on it seems, but you can skip past any of them, even ones you haven't seen.
The Campfire mechanic is kind of cool, being able to save anywhere, but still have to "do" something. Outfits is also an idea I thought was neat. Apparently you when you unlock one of the "gangs" outfits you can camouflage yourself as them; don't know how that works, but sounds cool. Just haven't tried it.
There is a fair amount of story and side missions to keep one person entertained for quite awhile. Plus the option to go back and do the game differently; I'm being good now, but next time I'm trying to be a Wild West Satan.
Showdowns are back, of course, but the bullet time slow down now has an appearance outside of dudes standing in a street. Dead Eye can be used in the middle of a gun fight or hunting or whatever by clicking down the right analog. In single player it slows stuff down and lets you pick where to shoot someone. In multiplayer you don't slow down, but get the shoot choosing and then super quick shot succession. Worth its weight in gold in multiplayer.
MULTIPLAYER:
Been playing quite a bit more multiplayer, super excellent.
The Free Roam mode is the lobby of sorts, select multiplayer, that's where you go to posse up and choose what you actually want to do.
The only thing that sucks is when your connection "fails," as it seems to do randomly in this game, you are bounced from Free Roam and stuck in a limbo loading screen. If you don't want to back out to the dashboard and reload the game, just unplug your network cable from the Box of X and it will kick you into single player.
Level progression in multiplayer is fun, killing "real" people is always more entertaining, because they think. Or they don't. I've come across some really dumb people in this game, but it's XboxLive so I wasn't surprised.
All the gametypes are fun, Free Roam is entertaining because you can do the gang hideouts and work on your Challenges (explained below). But there is always the looming threat of a posse riding you down and interrupting your progress. Some may find that frustrating, and it is, but I think it's also exciting. Any old school MMO player knows the terror of being ganked by roaming packs of PKs in Ultima Online.
It's the same sort of feeling.
In both play options you have Challenges, which range from shooting a different number of animals, to picking flowers (seriously), traveling different distances by different means and shooting skill challenges. All different and doable while you are doing other stuff, so it is a nice distraction among all the killing. :D
Controls can cause a little frustration in Red Dead, not moving the way you want it to, but only for a moment. Which is usually enough to get you killed.
Horses can also be frustrating, especially in multiplayer. I've whistled for my horse and the damn thing just runs right by me and stops. So I go to get on, but he keeps walking away. Maybe he was scared by the line of 5 dead horses, but he should realize I am not a man to be trifled with and if you keep walking away you will get a slug in the side of your head and then be sold to Elmers.
Red Dead Redemption
4.75 out of 5
Bought it after one rent
Played the original, liked it a lot. Seems like such a long time ago, so I'm treating this as it's own game.
SINGLE PLAYER:
I'm a good bit through the single player, excellent.
Some of the cut scenes can drag on and on it seems, but you can skip past any of them, even ones you haven't seen.
The Campfire mechanic is kind of cool, being able to save anywhere, but still have to "do" something. Outfits is also an idea I thought was neat. Apparently you when you unlock one of the "gangs" outfits you can camouflage yourself as them; don't know how that works, but sounds cool. Just haven't tried it.
There is a fair amount of story and side missions to keep one person entertained for quite awhile. Plus the option to go back and do the game differently; I'm being good now, but next time I'm trying to be a Wild West Satan.
Showdowns are back, of course, but the bullet time slow down now has an appearance outside of dudes standing in a street. Dead Eye can be used in the middle of a gun fight or hunting or whatever by clicking down the right analog. In single player it slows stuff down and lets you pick where to shoot someone. In multiplayer you don't slow down, but get the shoot choosing and then super quick shot succession. Worth its weight in gold in multiplayer.
MULTIPLAYER:
Been playing quite a bit more multiplayer, super excellent.
The Free Roam mode is the lobby of sorts, select multiplayer, that's where you go to posse up and choose what you actually want to do.
The only thing that sucks is when your connection "fails," as it seems to do randomly in this game, you are bounced from Free Roam and stuck in a limbo loading screen. If you don't want to back out to the dashboard and reload the game, just unplug your network cable from the Box of X and it will kick you into single player.
Level progression in multiplayer is fun, killing "real" people is always more entertaining, because they think. Or they don't. I've come across some really dumb people in this game, but it's XboxLive so I wasn't surprised.
All the gametypes are fun, Free Roam is entertaining because you can do the gang hideouts and work on your Challenges (explained below). But there is always the looming threat of a posse riding you down and interrupting your progress. Some may find that frustrating, and it is, but I think it's also exciting. Any old school MMO player knows the terror of being ganked by roaming packs of PKs in Ultima Online.
It's the same sort of feeling.
In both play options you have Challenges, which range from shooting a different number of animals, to picking flowers (seriously), traveling different distances by different means and shooting skill challenges. All different and doable while you are doing other stuff, so it is a nice distraction among all the killing. :D
Controls can cause a little frustration in Red Dead, not moving the way you want it to, but only for a moment. Which is usually enough to get you killed.
Horses can also be frustrating, especially in multiplayer. I've whistled for my horse and the damn thing just runs right by me and stops. So I go to get on, but he keeps walking away. Maybe he was scared by the line of 5 dead horses, but he should realize I am not a man to be trifled with and if you keep walking away you will get a slug in the side of your head and then be sold to Elmers.
Red Dead Redemption
4.75 out of 5
Bought it after one rent
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Bask in TV's warm glowing, warming glow. Until it fades and leaves you frozen out in a hedge maze.
All the good shows on TV seem to get canceled. I know why, of course. It's not a whiskey induced sense of grandeur. It's your fault. Well, not you specifically, because if you are reading this your IQ is probably above room temperature. But "you," as the general TV viewing public, are morons. It's a sad state, for sure, but I think it's getting better.
Good TV is better than any movie could ever be, but bad TV is worse than Ben Affleck in...well, anything.
I fancy myself a man of decent intelligence, even though I misspelled that word (whiskey's fault, I swear) and spell-check saved my ass, and I appreciate a good TV show.
I think The Sopranos changed a good deal of viewer perception of television serieseses. It was a drama, a serious character piece that showed multiple flawed characters in their true states and then moved them forward, into different shapes of themselves or the bottom of a body of water.
Unfortunately, The Sopranos didn't come out soon enough to save one of my favorite shows; Sports Night. They overlapped but I don't think HBO had enough influence in series programming at the time to save my show.
Sports Night was a comedramy, comedy-drama, or what-have-you. It was clever and that, I believe, was it's main downfall. That and ABC didn't promote the award winning series at all. But I can't say I don't understand the problem. How do you promote a show that is serious and funny to people that watch Jerry Springer? You can't because those people are worthless sacks that sit on their couches and lower the overall rating of human beings in the eyes of the aliens that watch us for entertainment.
Arrested Development is another show cut down because dumb people didn't watch it and the dumb network didn't advertise it. In all honesty, I didn't watch the show while it was on the air, because I didn't know about it. It's a show that requires memory and intelligence; two things most viewers do not possess. Shows like Life According to Jim and Friends don't have much for continuity that fans most pay attention to. Plus it is one of the most quotable shows of all time. But quoting it usually only makes a few people laugh. Arrested Development had so many long running jokes that almost every episode either referenced a previous or set up a future one, often both.
I think that required devotion is what kills some of these shows, if I like a show if I miss an episode I don't want to watch a new one, until I'm caught up. But until recently there were no options for this. Now the internet and On Demand make it possible for me to watch a show, usually before the next episodes comes on. Some channels are TERRIBLE at posting their shows though. FX is pretty slow. I'm get so interested in the worlds and characters of these shows that I will scour the internets to find somewhere to catch up. So FYI networks, put your crap up on the internet and you will likely get more viewers hook if they can actually watch your show.
But what also happens is just as bad is a show that runs WAY too long, like The Simpsons. The first ten seasons of The Simpsons are some of the best works of comedy in television history. The problem is it has run 10 years long than it should have. Originality left that show quite a long time ago, I gave up watching it several years ago when every show had a celebrity guest that played themselves and the family went somewhere like China or New York.
Good television shows should end when the story arch naturally runs itself out. FX is a good channel to watch, because they take chances but they also trust the creativity of their shows. The Shield ran for seven seasons and ended when Shawn Ryan wanted it to end. FX supported the show when most would have canceled it and allowed it to finish when most would have made it drag out until people just stopped watching.
Okay, now that my post is running over in length I will cut it with a proper ending, like good shows do.
Here's a list of others shows I like that aren't on TV anymore...I like cop shows, so there are a few of them, but I didn't mention most of them previously.
Touching Evil - A noir-ish detective show starring Jeffrey Donovan (Burn Notice). Very gritty and original...for a rip-off of a British show. The cinematography was very nice and the stories were good. NOT ON DVD, which is lame.
Firefly - a space-western that, despite being by the creator of Buffy was really good. On DVD with a movie that prequels and sequels the show.
Life - A cop show staring Damien Lewis (Band of Brothers) that was one of the more interesting cop shows. 2 seasons on DVD.
Life on Mars - Also a cop show that was a rip-off of a British show but it had a very unique premise that was done very well. On DVD
Ed - Was a pretty clever show. It starred Tom Cavanagh, who is a clever actor, that was not viewed by clever people. Not on DVD.
Dead Like Me - Funny/serious/gruesome show about a girl who becomes a grim reaper. Very well done. 2 seasons on DVD and a movie that isn't nearly as good as the show.
Jekyll - A BBC drama about a modern day Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Don't actually know if it was canceled or just wrapped up (as the Brits like to do) but it was damn clever and I wanted more of it. PLUS, you get to see Zach from Saved by the Bell get decapitated! Worth the price of admission.On DVD.
Over There - An Iraq war drama on FX that ran one season as was capital "A" Awesome. Good characters and serious drama that contained multiple story arcs at the same time. On DVD
Briscoe County Jr. - A western starring Bruce Fucking Campbell. Nuff said! On DVD.
The Critic - A cartoon starring Jon Lovitz. Clever...thus canceled. On DVD.
Good TV is better than any movie could ever be, but bad TV is worse than Ben Affleck in...well, anything.
I fancy myself a man of decent intelligence, even though I misspelled that word (whiskey's fault, I swear) and spell-check saved my ass, and I appreciate a good TV show.
I think The Sopranos changed a good deal of viewer perception of television serieseses. It was a drama, a serious character piece that showed multiple flawed characters in their true states and then moved them forward, into different shapes of themselves or the bottom of a body of water.
Unfortunately, The Sopranos didn't come out soon enough to save one of my favorite shows; Sports Night. They overlapped but I don't think HBO had enough influence in series programming at the time to save my show.
Sports Night was a comedramy, comedy-drama, or what-have-you. It was clever and that, I believe, was it's main downfall. That and ABC didn't promote the award winning series at all. But I can't say I don't understand the problem. How do you promote a show that is serious and funny to people that watch Jerry Springer? You can't because those people are worthless sacks that sit on their couches and lower the overall rating of human beings in the eyes of the aliens that watch us for entertainment.
Arrested Development is another show cut down because dumb people didn't watch it and the dumb network didn't advertise it. In all honesty, I didn't watch the show while it was on the air, because I didn't know about it. It's a show that requires memory and intelligence; two things most viewers do not possess. Shows like Life According to Jim and Friends don't have much for continuity that fans most pay attention to. Plus it is one of the most quotable shows of all time. But quoting it usually only makes a few people laugh. Arrested Development had so many long running jokes that almost every episode either referenced a previous or set up a future one, often both.
I think that required devotion is what kills some of these shows, if I like a show if I miss an episode I don't want to watch a new one, until I'm caught up. But until recently there were no options for this. Now the internet and On Demand make it possible for me to watch a show, usually before the next episodes comes on. Some channels are TERRIBLE at posting their shows though. FX is pretty slow. I'm get so interested in the worlds and characters of these shows that I will scour the internets to find somewhere to catch up. So FYI networks, put your crap up on the internet and you will likely get more viewers hook if they can actually watch your show.
But what also happens is just as bad is a show that runs WAY too long, like The Simpsons. The first ten seasons of The Simpsons are some of the best works of comedy in television history. The problem is it has run 10 years long than it should have. Originality left that show quite a long time ago, I gave up watching it several years ago when every show had a celebrity guest that played themselves and the family went somewhere like China or New York.
Good television shows should end when the story arch naturally runs itself out. FX is a good channel to watch, because they take chances but they also trust the creativity of their shows. The Shield ran for seven seasons and ended when Shawn Ryan wanted it to end. FX supported the show when most would have canceled it and allowed it to finish when most would have made it drag out until people just stopped watching.
Okay, now that my post is running over in length I will cut it with a proper ending, like good shows do.
Here's a list of others shows I like that aren't on TV anymore...I like cop shows, so there are a few of them, but I didn't mention most of them previously.
Touching Evil - A noir-ish detective show starring Jeffrey Donovan (Burn Notice). Very gritty and original...for a rip-off of a British show. The cinematography was very nice and the stories were good. NOT ON DVD, which is lame.
Firefly - a space-western that, despite being by the creator of Buffy was really good. On DVD with a movie that prequels and sequels the show.
Life - A cop show staring Damien Lewis (Band of Brothers) that was one of the more interesting cop shows. 2 seasons on DVD.
Life on Mars - Also a cop show that was a rip-off of a British show but it had a very unique premise that was done very well. On DVD
Ed - Was a pretty clever show. It starred Tom Cavanagh, who is a clever actor, that was not viewed by clever people. Not on DVD.
Dead Like Me - Funny/serious/gruesome show about a girl who becomes a grim reaper. Very well done. 2 seasons on DVD and a movie that isn't nearly as good as the show.
Jekyll - A BBC drama about a modern day Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Don't actually know if it was canceled or just wrapped up (as the Brits like to do) but it was damn clever and I wanted more of it. PLUS, you get to see Zach from Saved by the Bell get decapitated! Worth the price of admission.On DVD.
Over There - An Iraq war drama on FX that ran one season as was capital "A" Awesome. Good characters and serious drama that contained multiple story arcs at the same time. On DVD
Briscoe County Jr. - A western starring Bruce Fucking Campbell. Nuff said! On DVD.
The Critic - A cartoon starring Jon Lovitz. Clever...thus canceled. On DVD.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Baseball fun
Shooting Chippewa Hills baseball today I was wandering around the field, after being told to leave the field by the softball ump (for no other reason than he doesn't know what he's doing) I left (Sorry Chip Hills girls, no photos of you for Wednesday) and focused on baseball.
Got this shot in a moment of comeback for the team. The color went really wonky, but I like it because of that, otherwise, normal high five.
Got this shot in a moment of comeback for the team. The color went really wonky, but I like it because of that, otherwise, normal high five.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
GAMES: I Spy with my little eye, a bunch of dead guards. Splinter Cell: Conviction
The Splinter Cell games have always gripped me. Then used their elbows to cave in the soft spot at the back of my skull, rendering me a sack of worthless flesh laying on the ground.
Honestly, I didn't spend much time with Double Agent because when it came out I couldn't rent it and when I finally got it my situation just didn't allow for a lot of free time, so I had to abandon the game like a poor war buddy who was blown in half during a fire fight. I love you Billy, but I gotta get this freaking homework done!
When I played the demo for Conviction my inner Sam Fisher woke up, in a frenzied blood-lust; wanting vengeance against pitiless henchmen and innocent light bulbs. Damn you, light bulbs!
Conviction is different but the same, better but worse than other Splinter Cell games.
The text on the walls is a clever tutorial mechanic that rolls into the higher gameplay, telling you what to do. Tim Buckley of CtrlAltDelete poked fun at it here. The memory videos projected onto walls are also interesting, but easily overlooked, which isn't always a bad thing.
Weapon and gadget upgrades in Conviction is a nice addition. Sam doesn't start with the biggest and best anymore, being outside of Third Echelon, he has to earn scopes and higher damage grenades by getting achievements, mainly from killing henchmen in various, creative ways.
They fine tuned the story and presentation in this release and I'm itching to snap some more necks, like right now if I didn't have to work and even that is barely enough to restrain my urge.
My want is always much more important than my need.
Fisher as a super-badass, super spy was fun but pushing it through several games without any real evolution would have led to continual stale rehashing.
Conviction shows Sam out of the spy game, for about 3 seconds, until he is pulled back in with information about his daughter.
As always the missions leave you to decided how to approach and deal with various guards and bosses. One new trick Fisher has this time is an "Execution" mode. Cued up by taking someone out in hand to hand combat you can mark multiple baddies in Fisher's vision and then "Execute." Sam pulls his pistol and plants a head shot on all the marked targets, hopefully clearing a bottleneck situation.
This is emphasized in co-op play. Teammates can tag baddies and use each others Execute or position themselves and perform a synchronized Dual Execute.
One complaint I have, as apparently most other reviewers do, is you no longer have the ability to move bodies. Now, I've never been an actual spy or hitman. But I've played enough games to know that when you are stealthily dropping goombahs you don't want to leave a trail of them for someone to find. In old Splinter Cell the elbow to the head and the carry were part of the same swift stealth Splinter Sam smotion. Sorry, wanted to keep the alliteration going.
It seems like a simple game mechanic, why leave it out?
Multiplayer is quite entertaining, if only for the missions where it is better to NOT knock out every guard because it turns into a "who is going to cave and punch one of them" contest. But in this contest everyone loses, because you have to start the mission again. Yeah, Shawn! Leave him alone!
Strategizing and communication are key aspects of multiplayer gameplay for me. You take the two up top, I'll grab this guy down here then we'll tea bag everyone else. Communication is essential in tea bagging scenarios people!
Sometimes your duo has no choice but to forcefully take a door and it leaves the super spies completely exposed. But only a silly spy breaks a door down without peaking under or using a sonic detector or the Force to figure out how many henchmen are standing on the other side. Silly spies, they never learn.
Chaos Theory had some fun multiplayer actions where one spy would launch the other over a wall to access something. That doesn't seem to be in Conviction, which is a bummer. Double Agent might have had it, don't know. I should go back to that one.
Anyway, so far so good. May amend this upon further play time, but I'm under a similar time constrained situation as with Double Agent. So I might leave you with this.
Splinter Cell: Conviction
Still in possession. Very likely to re-rent.
3.75 out of 5 as a sequel
4 out of 5 if you haven't played previous versions
Honestly, I didn't spend much time with Double Agent because when it came out I couldn't rent it and when I finally got it my situation just didn't allow for a lot of free time, so I had to abandon the game like a poor war buddy who was blown in half during a fire fight. I love you Billy, but I gotta get this freaking homework done!
When I played the demo for Conviction my inner Sam Fisher woke up, in a frenzied blood-lust; wanting vengeance against pitiless henchmen and innocent light bulbs. Damn you, light bulbs!
Conviction is different but the same, better but worse than other Splinter Cell games.
The text on the walls is a clever tutorial mechanic that rolls into the higher gameplay, telling you what to do. Tim Buckley of CtrlAltDelete poked fun at it here. The memory videos projected onto walls are also interesting, but easily overlooked, which isn't always a bad thing.
Weapon and gadget upgrades in Conviction is a nice addition. Sam doesn't start with the biggest and best anymore, being outside of Third Echelon, he has to earn scopes and higher damage grenades by getting achievements, mainly from killing henchmen in various, creative ways.
They fine tuned the story and presentation in this release and I'm itching to snap some more necks, like right now if I didn't have to work and even that is barely enough to restrain my urge.
My want is always much more important than my need.
Fisher as a super-badass, super spy was fun but pushing it through several games without any real evolution would have led to continual stale rehashing.
Conviction shows Sam out of the spy game, for about 3 seconds, until he is pulled back in with information about his daughter.
As always the missions leave you to decided how to approach and deal with various guards and bosses. One new trick Fisher has this time is an "Execution" mode. Cued up by taking someone out in hand to hand combat you can mark multiple baddies in Fisher's vision and then "Execute." Sam pulls his pistol and plants a head shot on all the marked targets, hopefully clearing a bottleneck situation.
This is emphasized in co-op play. Teammates can tag baddies and use each others Execute or position themselves and perform a synchronized Dual Execute.
One complaint I have, as apparently most other reviewers do, is you no longer have the ability to move bodies. Now, I've never been an actual spy or hitman. But I've played enough games to know that when you are stealthily dropping goombahs you don't want to leave a trail of them for someone to find. In old Splinter Cell the elbow to the head and the carry were part of the same swift stealth Splinter Sam smotion. Sorry, wanted to keep the alliteration going.
It seems like a simple game mechanic, why leave it out?
Multiplayer is quite entertaining, if only for the missions where it is better to NOT knock out every guard because it turns into a "who is going to cave and punch one of them" contest. But in this contest everyone loses, because you have to start the mission again. Yeah, Shawn! Leave him alone!
Strategizing and communication are key aspects of multiplayer gameplay for me. You take the two up top, I'll grab this guy down here then we'll tea bag everyone else. Communication is essential in tea bagging scenarios people!
Sometimes your duo has no choice but to forcefully take a door and it leaves the super spies completely exposed. But only a silly spy breaks a door down without peaking under or using a sonic detector or the Force to figure out how many henchmen are standing on the other side. Silly spies, they never learn.
Chaos Theory had some fun multiplayer actions where one spy would launch the other over a wall to access something. That doesn't seem to be in Conviction, which is a bummer. Double Agent might have had it, don't know. I should go back to that one.
Anyway, so far so good. May amend this upon further play time, but I'm under a similar time constrained situation as with Double Agent. So I might leave you with this.
Splinter Cell: Conviction
Still in possession. Very likely to re-rent.
3.75 out of 5 as a sequel
4 out of 5 if you haven't played previous versions
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Don't Dew Me
For some reason at times I like to practice self deprivation. Being American, most of the time I enjoy over indulgence to a sickening extent and I don't really feel guilty about that, but I like to try to "go without," as it were.
A few months ago I decided, in a dual attempt to see if my random upset stomach attacks were dietary, I gave up alcohol. It took me 24 years to even get into alcohol, so I wasn't too attached to it.
Though I do love scotch. mmmmmmm
So a few weeks of that, there was no real progress either in depriving myself or with the stomach. So I stared down the big bear. The one thing I have ever been addicted to; caffeine.
That's a tough one to give up, my dad drinks more Mountain Dew in a day than the whole of the Mid Michigan area and on certain days I have put quite a few down myself.
It's ingrained in Evon DNA, I'm sure, to imbibe carbonated, caffeinated liquid goodness until there is nothing left at the bottom of that green bottle and then look longingly into said bottle like it just shot your puppy.
"How could you do it Dew? We had such a good time together and now you are gone! Oh, here's another bottle. I love you, Dew."
I wasn't a take-anything-I-could-get, sell-myself-on-the-street kind of addict. I was more of a cocaine connoisseur who only takes blow made from the best coca the Upper Huallaga Valley in Peru has to offer. (HonestyCheck: I Wiki'd that. I don't know jack crap about real drugs, now back to my fun)
I only dabbled in the off brands in my youth, when cares were free and money was scarce; Kick, Faygo's Moon Mist and Mountain Lightning were cheaper choices than the almighty Dew.
In my teens however my taste buds matured and grew to quite large size and couldn't even drink Dew that was a few days over it's expiration or had been shaken too much. (Which has also hindered me in my scotch enjoyment. Blended scotch? What is this, the Great Depression?)
Single malt is Dew. Blended scotch is Coke's random attempts to copy Dew. Mellow Yellow had not only a unappealing name, but tasted like a Dew left open in the basement for 12 years. Surge...terrible. Vault, meh. Entertaining commercials don't a good product make.
But now I have stopped. I had a Dew yesterday, actually, and it was quite the sad addict moment. In the office, things were stressed and I needed one. I could just feel it in my bones that everything would be better if I could have one; I just gotta get my fix and none of this will matter.
So about once a week now, I'll have something with caffeine, more often some carbonated, decaf trickery to fool myself. Squirt, Root beer, Sprit. Decaf Coke. I saw a 12 pack of Caffeine free Mountain Dew, once. That was several years ago. It did taste different, doesn't seem like it should; Coke does but only a tiny bit.
But I'm recovering. Don't know if it was the caffeine or just all the sugar, but I feel...lighter, in mind and body. Minus the crippling head aches the first couple days, it has gone smoothly.
How long I keep clean, we'll see. One day at a time.
A few months ago I decided, in a dual attempt to see if my random upset stomach attacks were dietary, I gave up alcohol. It took me 24 years to even get into alcohol, so I wasn't too attached to it.
Though I do love scotch. mmmmmmm
So a few weeks of that, there was no real progress either in depriving myself or with the stomach. So I stared down the big bear. The one thing I have ever been addicted to; caffeine.
That's a tough one to give up, my dad drinks more Mountain Dew in a day than the whole of the Mid Michigan area and on certain days I have put quite a few down myself.
It's ingrained in Evon DNA, I'm sure, to imbibe carbonated, caffeinated liquid goodness until there is nothing left at the bottom of that green bottle and then look longingly into said bottle like it just shot your puppy.
"How could you do it Dew? We had such a good time together and now you are gone! Oh, here's another bottle. I love you, Dew."
I wasn't a take-anything-I-could-get, sell-myself-on-the-street kind of addict. I was more of a cocaine connoisseur who only takes blow made from the best coca the Upper Huallaga Valley in Peru has to offer. (HonestyCheck: I Wiki'd that. I don't know jack crap about real drugs, now back to my fun)
I only dabbled in the off brands in my youth, when cares were free and money was scarce; Kick, Faygo's Moon Mist and Mountain Lightning were cheaper choices than the almighty Dew.
In my teens however my taste buds matured and grew to quite large size and couldn't even drink Dew that was a few days over it's expiration or had been shaken too much. (Which has also hindered me in my scotch enjoyment. Blended scotch? What is this, the Great Depression?)
Single malt is Dew. Blended scotch is Coke's random attempts to copy Dew. Mellow Yellow had not only a unappealing name, but tasted like a Dew left open in the basement for 12 years. Surge...terrible. Vault, meh. Entertaining commercials don't a good product make.
But now I have stopped. I had a Dew yesterday, actually, and it was quite the sad addict moment. In the office, things were stressed and I needed one. I could just feel it in my bones that everything would be better if I could have one; I just gotta get my fix and none of this will matter.
So about once a week now, I'll have something with caffeine, more often some carbonated, decaf trickery to fool myself. Squirt, Root beer, Sprit. Decaf Coke. I saw a 12 pack of Caffeine free Mountain Dew, once. That was several years ago. It did taste different, doesn't seem like it should; Coke does but only a tiny bit.
But I'm recovering. Don't know if it was the caffeine or just all the sugar, but I feel...lighter, in mind and body. Minus the crippling head aches the first couple days, it has gone smoothly.
How long I keep clean, we'll see. One day at a time.
Monday, March 29, 2010
That's a moron in your mirror
Yesterday on my way home I saw something that I have seen before, but every time I do I feel like it is the first time. It is something so stupid that my brain puts on a coat on and leaves for a week.
A woman driving in front of me had her rear view mirror turned so she could look at herself. Plus she was on her damn phone!
That's unsafe and stupid as hell. That mirror is there so you can see other motorists or a crazed axe murderer in your backseat, NOT YOURSELF!
If you are doing your makeup that is worse. It's one thing if you are a vain harpy and can't stand not seeing yourself every five minutes, but looking in the mirror long enough to do your makeup is completely careless.
If I were the king of the world people like that would have their license taken away and likely be sterilized. That way their overwhelming stupidity could never spread.
A woman driving in front of me had her rear view mirror turned so she could look at herself. Plus she was on her damn phone!
That's unsafe and stupid as hell. That mirror is there so you can see other motorists or a crazed axe murderer in your backseat, NOT YOURSELF!
If you are doing your makeup that is worse. It's one thing if you are a vain harpy and can't stand not seeing yourself every five minutes, but looking in the mirror long enough to do your makeup is completely careless.
If I were the king of the world people like that would have their license taken away and likely be sterilized. That way their overwhelming stupidity could never spread.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
GAMES: Viva Revolucion, or the Asian equivalent - JUST CAUSE 2 for XBox360
The original Just Cause is one of my favorite open world games. The sheer fun of the game cannot be explained by the simple words of man, but I'll give it a shot.
Excitaxplosion parasailgrappletastic.
Had to make that crap up. I rented it when it came out and played it for several skipped classes and wasted homework hours. Now, I'm an adult and I can play video games whenever I want! Except I have dishes to do, a load in the dryer and bills to pay. But video games are fun and I like fun more than real life. HA! Take that stupid responsibilities!
The problem is that Just Cause 2 doesn't demand my attention as much as the first one. It is essentially the same game. Yes it is newer, has better graphics, new features and a beautiful large map. The key difference is the Chaos factor. In order to progress through the main story line you have to blow stuff up!
But JC2, the game...not Jesus Jr., is like Just Cause's little brother, yeah it's newer and can do some different stuff, but it's just not as cool. Sure it has a varsity jacket and a red mustang, but they are hand-me-downs.
In fact, there are some uncool parts. Taking over towns is a bit harder now, you have to blow up all the little pieces of government equipment. Some times that is kind of tough, flying over a facility in a helicopter cursing the pixels of the world below because you are 15% away from clearing the town.
The first game had compounds to storm and bosses to take out. Not the most story oriented, but simple fun.
The strongholds now are towns or military and everyone you must escort a team of dudes so one can hack some terminal. After the fifth time it gets a little old.
The voice acting is god awful. "I'm Bolo Santosi and I'm the leader of the some southeast Asian gang but I sound Jamacian. Mista."
It does something new with the grapple, being able to hook two things together. When you have the chance there is nothing like hooking one end to an enemy and the other to a propane tank that rockets into the sky. Good fun.
I want to like JC2 and I'm trying, but for some reason it doesn't have the drawing power the first one. Maybe I've evolved. But that is unlikely, I don't have much room for growth and most of it is currently taken by giving up caffeine.
Still, it's fun. Definitely worth a rent.
Just Cause 2
Returned after 1 rent, possibly re-rent later.
3 out of 5 as a sequel
4 out of 5 if you haven't played the original
Excitaxplosion parasailgrappletastic.
Had to make that crap up. I rented it when it came out and played it for several skipped classes and wasted homework hours. Now, I'm an adult and I can play video games whenever I want! Except I have dishes to do, a load in the dryer and bills to pay. But video games are fun and I like fun more than real life. HA! Take that stupid responsibilities!
The problem is that Just Cause 2 doesn't demand my attention as much as the first one. It is essentially the same game. Yes it is newer, has better graphics, new features and a beautiful large map. The key difference is the Chaos factor. In order to progress through the main story line you have to blow stuff up!
But JC2, the game...not Jesus Jr., is like Just Cause's little brother, yeah it's newer and can do some different stuff, but it's just not as cool. Sure it has a varsity jacket and a red mustang, but they are hand-me-downs.
In fact, there are some uncool parts. Taking over towns is a bit harder now, you have to blow up all the little pieces of government equipment. Some times that is kind of tough, flying over a facility in a helicopter cursing the pixels of the world below because you are 15% away from clearing the town.
The first game had compounds to storm and bosses to take out. Not the most story oriented, but simple fun.
The strongholds now are towns or military and everyone you must escort a team of dudes so one can hack some terminal. After the fifth time it gets a little old.
The voice acting is god awful. "I'm Bolo Santosi and I'm the leader of the some southeast Asian gang but I sound Jamacian. Mista."
It does something new with the grapple, being able to hook two things together. When you have the chance there is nothing like hooking one end to an enemy and the other to a propane tank that rockets into the sky. Good fun.
I want to like JC2 and I'm trying, but for some reason it doesn't have the drawing power the first one. Maybe I've evolved. But that is unlikely, I don't have much room for growth and most of it is currently taken by giving up caffeine.
Still, it's fun. Definitely worth a rent.
Just Cause 2
Returned after 1 rent, possibly re-rent later.
3 out of 5 as a sequel
4 out of 5 if you haven't played the original
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