Operation Flashpoint: dragon rising (ps3/360/pc)

I thought about playing this many times but anything i heard about the game made it sound like it was too difficult and punishing to be of any actual fun. given the lack of good shooters lately (most seem to be clones of call of duty) and given my curiosity of the game i went ahead and picked it up. in no way is it the easiest FPS i have ever played in fact its downright crippling, but it is one of the most realistic shooters out there – not because of graphics. the realism comes from how the game plays and how the AI react when drawn into a fire fight.

The story is well written though brief but you will feel like you are really fighting for something on the front lines. you are a marine sent to the island of skira, a 220-square km island off the eastern coast of russia. the island has been invaded by japanese forces who wish to take possession of the oil rich island and you and your team are sent in to prevent total domination. russia has turned to the usa for support and aid, the usa responds by sending in the troops, which means you and your team.

The game play is fast and unrelenting, you can’t just run in and start shooting everything or you will be taken out in an instant. it requires tactical skill and finesse the likes of which will seem alien to a lot of FPS fans. the controls are easy enough to pick up and took me almost no time at all to get used to. there are many different missions available ranging from simple search and destroy to recapturing  a target, all of which require thinking and take time. don’t expect to be charging around destroying all you see, its not that kind of game you do have high powered weapons and guns but you don’t have vast never ending supplies of ammunition. never before have i seen a more perfect example of make every shot count, its easy to run out and enemy weapons picked up are not always that reliable so its best to conserve and use short bursts.

There are a number of weapons available and each one reacts just as you would expect, the recoil in the rifles and handguns especially are some of the best i have seen. the enemy too are well armed and seem to always have the upper hand, using tactics and well planned manoeuvres will most likely result in a win but not always. its a shooter so you will be drawn into situations where you have to engage the enemy, often at a distance and the enemy are far from forgiving. you will find yourself bleeding out from bullet holes more times than you can count, sometimes your team will be close enough to patch you up but not always. this crushing difficulty makes the game unique in terms of other shooters, you are far from bullet proof and even getting around the island can be a task in its own. though you can take control of some vehicles for the most part you will find yourself having to go on foot vast distances to get to where you are going. 

Finishing the main campaign will take countless restarts but thankfully it provides a decent amount of checkpoints so you get back into the action without having to go back too far. there were some ridiculously hard missions that i thought i’d never finish but i found by changing tactics and improvising i finally got through, this game calls for a lot of improvisation because your enemy is not always easy to read. one of the big things the game has going for it is the vast expanse of the battlefield, you are not locked into place in a certain area you can go where you want and that’s where the realism really kicks in, if you want to flank an enemy you will have lots of room to more around – this also helps when you are low on ammo and need to avoid an enemy patrol.

Dragon rising is not the best shooter out there but it may be one of the best tactical shooters on the market (it was until the sequel Red River was released.) it is no doubt one of the hardest games i have ever played but also one of the most rewarding, there is a tremendous sense of accomplishment when you beat a mission – often after shooting your way through platoons of heavily armed enemy forces. the controls are solid and it handles well with a minimal learning curve, the graphics are not ground-breaking but they are not ugly either. the music is there when you need it but doesn't intrude on your concentration. there are some extra fire team missions available by simply inputting codes found easily on the internet, the fire team missions though short are challenging and will provide that extra boom as will the typical enough multiplayer maps and objectives.

Its not all straight forward though, some missions have objectives that must be completed under stringent time restraints so you really have to hustle if you want to get them done, frustrating yes but also it adds to the realism. another point that will put a lot of people off is the almost certain event of you being taken down by a stray bullet, sometimes it can be non fatal so you can get patched up quick enough but a lot of the time the stray bullet can be a deadly headshot planting you firmly in the ground. if you can get around these points and do appreciate a challenge then dragon rising should not be skipped over, just be prepared to have your ass kicked by the AI. i got tons and tons of play from the game and even though it wasn’t a walk  in the park it was highly satisfying and so i’m giving it a 7 out of 10 – all it was missing was slightly more variation to the map, some more vehicles and more responsive AI for your own team. given that its an old game now i’d highly recommend playing the latest instalment “Red River”, it was a first day buy for me/delivered days of action and is currently my favourite shooter on the market.

Brütal Legend: game review (ps3/360)

Perhaps one of the most under rated games i have played in a long time brutal legend was a pet project of game designer tim schafer, and it quickly turned into a game the likes of something you have never played before. its bizarre quirky and packed full of unique experiences that will have you playing for hours, if not days. for fans of metal it really feels special, not only does it address newer metal but also old or classic metal with well known characters like ozzy and lemmy playing pivotal rolls in the story. sure the main protagonist is voiced by jack black which for some people is reason enough to snap the disc in half but you would be missing out on a fun packed game.

You play eddie riggs a roadie for the latest in nu metal a band called kabbage boy (more like blink 182) during one of their shows riggs puts his life at risk to save one of them from a fatal accident, after being killed he finds himself transported to a brutal world ruled by demons who are bent on extinguishing the torch of metal music. he is not alone in his fight and he soon recruits troops to aid him in his quest, along the way he makes friends and enemies but his real foe are the legions of bondage loving demons who look like something from a clive barker movie (hellraiser much?) wish to rid the world of music and will kill anyone who gets in their way, now riggs who was used to a life behind the spotlight soon takes centre stage.  

The style of game is unique and it advertises itself as a RTS (real time strategy – game) of course it has these elements but not at all like you would expect. you use your powers of rocking out to recruit an army of headbangers that can be used to tear down and destroy demons and those who want to cleanse their mythical world of metal. this is done by selecting what you want to attack, then sending a specific unit over there to get the job done. you can beef up your units by collecting the souls of loyal fans and by playing rocking guitar solo’s that appeal to the metal nature of your recruits. at first i found the RTS parts extremely difficult but once you figure out what unit to send into battle its gets easier – its also helped by the fact that you too can jump in at any time and dish out your own demon pounding powers. the game is about much more than RTS stage battles but you need to perfect the RTS to get ahead.

The world riggs ends up in is unlike anything he ever imagined, as a metal loving guitar playing headbanger it really appeals to his nature and to fans of metal it will too. its open world and its done beautifully, grotesque yes but it feels vivid and alive with uniqueness. the landscape is a mix of forests/frozen valleys/swamplands/jungles and even a sort of  tim burtonesque dead world inhabited by all manner of ghouls and demons that i really liked. getting around the world is easy for riggs as he can summon up a deuce car at any time, the car can then be brought to a motor forge where the guardian of metal (ozzy osborne) resides. ozzy offers upgrades to your car and to your guitar, these upgrade can be used to kit you car out with weaponry and the same goes for your guitar. eddie carries a guitar with him which he uses to fight demons, it has many magical powers that result in devastating ways of destruction.

The game certainly lives up to its name it is extremely brutal and doesn’t shy away from violence or gore (though it gives you the choice at the start) but that’s to be expected. what i didn’t expect was a world full of stunt jumps and collectables all of which build up your experience points in the game unlocking new items and powers. using the guitar can at some times resemble guitar hero because the button pressing is very similar but it usually only takes a few seconds. the game also features a fun and intelligent online multiplayer mode that pits player against player, you get to choose what faction you want to be but if that’s not your cup of tea there is also an offline  battle mode that serves as great practice.

Being a musically inspired game i did expect some good well known tracks but i was completely blown away by how many tracks feature in the game.. and how good they are! if you are a metal fan the music will seem like the best game soundtrack you ever heard and in a way it is. packed into the cars stereo are over 100 tracks by over 70 different bands, these include the following: black sabbath/judas priest/slayer/motorhead/children of bodom/inflames/marilyn manson/ministry/emperor/megadeth/dimmu borgir.. rob zombie! and much much more. the tracks are some of the bands best work and they perfectly blend into the world of brutal legend. some of the characters seem to be inspired by certain tracks as are some of the levels, “ghost in the fog” by cradle of filth plays during a dark and gothic battle with an evil female foe and yes there is fog. its this perfect blend of music mood and gaming that really makes the game shine and its not a once off either, i found that just when i thought the game couldn’t get any better it did. its not all RTS styled, there are so many collectibles to hunt out, tons of side missions that can easily be started and are all fun.

Not being jack blacks biggest fan is a terrible reason to not play this game, even not liking metal that much is another reason. it does grow on you and after a while you start to admire eddie riggs and what he is doing, he is not as i thought he would be a macho loud mouth demon killing death machine – he is just a guy on a quest and at times will surprise you. the voice acting in the game is fantastic with some of the main characters being voiced by the likes of tim curry/rob halford and lita ford but curry steals the show every time with his role of the demon leader doviculus. brutal legend is a solid playing fun packed and utterly unique experience, if you were considering playing it or are just not sure it would be any good then i’d recommend picking it up.

I love metal and i can tolerate jack black so i assumed everything else about it would be mediocre. what i didn’t expect was a great game that had gone under the radar of most open world fans for so long. there is DLC for the game but with the psn being down i have yet to purchase it. i’m giving brutal legend an 8 out of 10, two marks off for being a little frustrating when the RTS kicks in and not having good enough AI. Brutal legend is brutal and a metal lovers mash up of all things heavy and metal, if your head is not almost always banging up and down and your fingers not in the shape of devil horns then you probably won’t respect what its done but if you are.. prepare to have your world rocked!.

Apache Air Assault: (ps3/360/pc)

Apache air assault is a flight simulator that puts you in charge of helicopters not planes. if you are a fan of the hawx series don’t despair as the game gives you one of the deadliest and most efficient gunships of all time - the apache.  it may be too hard for most players as it requires a certain level of skill to play but if you are a fan of flight sims its a must have.

The missions are straight forward enough and offer a briefing at the start so you know what you will be doing, fighting terrorists and modern day pirates seem to be the order of the day and the game serves them up in bucketful's. The training too also helps you get the best out of your helicopter – again its not easy but in time it can be picked up. the levels are fantastic looking and for the most part appeal to the eye, however like a lot of flight sims once you come close enough to the ground it gets a little choppy. the thing is though if you are playing properly you shouldn’t need to be that low in the first place. when the action gets going the explosions and weapons all seem very realistic and look well polished.

The controls are and can be utterly frustrating to the point where you will start to really respect what real pilots must go through. there are a number of difficulty levels, each level changing not only the AI but the way you fly your vehicle – realistic mode is something i tried but gave up almost immediately after crashing into the ground constantly.  the combat really feels fine tuned and helicopter’s are packed full of weapons to use on the enemy. it features everything you would expect from machine guns to rocket pods/hellfire missiles and so on. the thing i really liked about the game is the offline co-op, its fun to fly around with a friend either being a gunner or pilot – not a lot of games feature such in-depth offline co-op anymore and it was a big reason for me getting the game.

The game offers a vast number of boeing’s super beast that is the apache but other helicopters do pop up in the various side missions such as a russian mi-35 hind and the mq-8b fire scout but for the most part you will be flying apaches like the ah-64d logbow and the ah mk1 apache. it uses the same engine as il-2 sturmovik: birds of prey so it is at its core a very satisfying looking game that plays hard but rewards you for it. helicopters can be customized with decals letting you give your helicopter the perfect look, there are a lot of decals on offer so the perfect looking chopper is just a few button presses away.

The online multiplayer adds a little extra life to the game and it can be fun working together with another player but they could have done a lot more with it. its not a bad thing really but the opportunity was there to create a truly engaging multiplayer experience.  in closing i’ll admit i really liked the game, the developers had previously made a game i enjoyed and i wondered if i’d feel the same about this one – trading a squadron of planes for helicopters could it work?. it did and its unique in that way but its uniqueness causes it to only appeal to a certain audience. if you like flight sims like tom clancy’s hawx or the sturmovik series i’d highly recommend giving it a go, it delivers in terms of combat and looks but not controls . i’m giving apache air assault a well deserved 9 out of 10, if it offered a little more in terms of mission types and multiplayer it would be a straight 10 – the controls could do with a little work too. it may just be a combat flight sim but for fans of the genre and of aerial assault vehicles its deliciously decadent eye candy.

HomeFront: game review (ps3/360/pc)

Homefront is a first person shooter set in the year 2027, a world which has been attacked and ravaged by a nuclear armed korean republic. if this sounds like the film red dawn then there is a valid reason for that, john milius the writer of the movie also did the game. so you would think that having such a powerful story and setting would guarantee an almost perfect gaming experience – sadly its not.

The game starts with the USA being taken over by the greater korean republic, armed to the teeth and determined to destroy all that oppose them. you play robert jacobs a former marine helicopter pilot and all around hero type. jabobs is on his way to a re-education camp when he is busted out and promptly recruited into the resistance. put simply the resistance plan to take back their country using whatever means is available to them – they of course need jacobs for the plan to succeed.

What struck me first about the game was the gritty realism and often controversial story elements playing out in front of the gamer. war of course is not pretty and the game developers obviously wanted to push the limits of what to show in a game, this won’t appeal to everyone but its realistic and is an integral part of the story.

The game is like i said a third person shooter so a lot of the time it just feels a lot like another call of duty game. not always though, there are missions where you get to control tech like a robot or to fly a helicopter through a hillside valley in pursuit of an armed convoy. the problem with the game is simple, it does get epic and it does pack in the action.. but not enough. for me the game came to a halt once the action really got going, and then it literally was over. sure the action it did feature was fast fun and quite realistic but its unforgivable to not address the games length. its just too short, there are some good missions but they cannot overshadow the fact that once you really feel a part of something special the game punishes you by ending. when i was playing it my boyfriend joked that “oh that’s the end now” i laughed thinking there would be hours of more game play but we were both shocked when the credits rolled. given the hype that surrounded the game i made sure to buy it the morning it was released but i finished it in under 3hrs, i play games fast but not that fast.

The graphics are great in places and the realism can be amazing but there doesn’t seem to be a lot on offer in terms of lifespan. the music fits the game perfectly and is composed with the story in mind, the sound effects and lighting too are top notch. homefront is steeped in an undeniably horrific atmosphere where the vast majority of people have given up hope and you really feel it through the graphics. the campaign can be and for the most part is thrilling, even the AI feels highly polished. its a fast-paced in your face shooter that will deliver for fans of recent shooter games but at the same time you have to accept the short lifespan.

When you do finish the main game, and you will very quickly – there is the multiplayer. a lot of the time the online multiplayer feels a lot like call of duty but it does at times set itself apart from other shooters. as with most shooters you choose a class and build on that class through experience points. battle points are earned by completing set objectives and killing enemy team members but they can only be used in the one match, when the match ends your points are gone. weapons/vehicles and air strikes can be bought and used to a satisfyingly crippling affect on your enemy. there are a few different modes like deathmatch and ground control, most modes are fun and play well.

Story wise and graphically the game scores high, which you would expect from most modern games now but not always  from shooters. character designs on screen can sometimes look a little ropey but most of the time its not noticeable. i wanted to like homefront and i was truly excited when i bought it but it just didn’t meet the hype it was getting before its release. perhaps if the game had been longer than 7 missions i would have been more impressed but by expelling the gamer from the action just as its getting really good feels like too much of a rip-off. in looks and atmosphere the game doesn’t feel rushed but in length it certainly feels unfinished and rushed. in past shooters i was used to short campaigns but homefront promised more and just didn’t deliver and so i’m giving it a 7 out of 10 – homefront is fast paced and brutally realistic but too short, i’d recommend it as a rental - and only a purchase if you want if for the multiplayer. 

DLC is soon to be released consisting of extra missions both as robert jacobs and an unknown SAS soldier tasked with regaining control of hawaii. a sequel is supposed to be underway with london as a possible location for the next invasion, no doubt there will be hype but whether or not they address the life span  of the original game remains to be seen. 

Alpha Protocol: game review (ps3/360/pc)

I had originally avoided this game and stayed far away from purchasing it when it was first released, why? because it  received poor reviews from almost every gaming site and magazine out there. recently i picked it up just to see how bad it actually was, i was quite surprised to see it was actually the opposite – a very good game. why it got such bad reviews is simple, it starts off slow and the training can be enough to make you eject the disc but once you get out in the field its a different story – i’m assuming most reviewers didn’t play far enough into the game to see it.

You play michael thortan the newest member of the secret program known as alpha protocol. sent into the field on your first mission you are tasked to track down stolen missiles that are being used in terrorist attacks around the globe. starting in saudi arabia thortan sets out to bring the terrorists to justice but he soon learns that trust is far and few in his line of work. after the operation collapses thortan is forced to become a rogue agent using his skills in a desperate attempt to find the missiles and find whoever put them in the hands of the terrorists. what follows is a smartly written ever changing ballet of bombs and bullets played out whatever way you choose to play the game.

The game is original in that its an espionage/spy type RPG, a great idea if you ask me but its not easy to pull off. the RPG element works i think because it allows you to build the perfect character for the mission at hand, not only that it brings you deeper into the story and world by making you a integral part of the process. dialogue is used on enemies and friends alike, depending on the choices you make and the words you throw around you will either impress or annoy people – often to the point of them becoming your enemy and a threat to you on missions. however this can be used to your advantage, turn people to your side and they will help you by sending you intel or even offering help on missions by providing fire support or helping you get into secret areas.

That said it can be hard at first to figure out what makes certain characters tick but by doing your homework on dossiers or just getting lucky you can find out quicker and get them on your side. the characters range from fellow alpha protocol members to private contractors/mercenaries/gangsters such as the russian mafia/chinese triads and plain and simple psychopaths – all can be interacted with and all bring something different to the story.  one of the most bondesque features seems to be the ability to romance female characters you meet along the way, in the world of espionage however not all is as it seems so you have to be careful not to get on their bad sides or they too can become a dangerous enemy.  

For a third person RPG action adventure game it certainly delivers everything you would expect and tons more. as for guns and tech thortan is kitted out with safe houses and online contacts that can deliver black market weapons and gadgets. silenced pistols/assault rilfes/smgs/shotguns and all kinds of gadgets are available for use, and as you would expect the weapons can easily be customized to your liking. though it technically is a spying game you are not stuck with using stealth alone, if you want to go in silently taking down enemies with quick blows to the back of the head you can – if you want to blast your way through the game with high powered weapons you can – even if you want to use tech and computer skills you can. each different class allows you to do different things in the field, they also determine how effective you will be in your chosen field. not surprisingly all three of my play trough's so far have been under the guise of a spy, silent and effective kills/computers and gadgets used to break into systems and safes/using evasive techniques on the enemy and much more.

The graphics in the game are a little dated looking in some of the video clips but in the game itself/levels they look pretty good. each country or setting seems to be very authentic in details and looks like the work really was put in. it plays a little sluggish and confused at the very start but it soon turns into a solid almost epic in places experience that is easily missed by most gamers.

There definitely is a serious learning curve involved with how you play and how you go about using your gadgets and tech but once you get a grasp of it all the game opens up providing fun and tense action.  originally i heard from people that the voice acting was appalling but i can say without a doubt that there is nothing wrong with the voice acting in any part of the game. the music is subtle for the most part but picks up when the action itself picks up – often adding a genuine feel to the environment. the sound effects and lighting are more or less what you would expect, its not heavily polished but it does the job.

I really find it hard to brand this game as of poor quality and unfinished, because it really isn’t. its a shame that so many reviewers chose to rate it so low when really its a top notch gaming experience. many sites stated it was full of glitches, however having played through the whole game three times i counted few glitches and any i did spot were extremely minimal and didn’t really affect the game. i wouldn’t recommend the game to just about anyone, as i said it has a learning curve but if you can stick with it you will soon see how rewarding it actually is. trophy hunters among us will find a wealth of trophies that can be picked up through fun and exciting missions. if you are a fan of the metal gear solid series or liked the recent james bond games you will no doubt find something positive in alpha protocol. in most places the game now retails for a cheap enough price so if you are curious like i was its worth trying it out, you never know it just might surprise you too. i really liked the game so i’m giving it an 8 out of 10 – lots of high explosive and intense evasive action all wrapped up in a unique package.