Dead Space is an incredibly scary and frantic horror game for the PS3, Xbox 360, and PC. Dead Space, developed by Electronic Arts, or EA Games, was one of the first games released for the 360, and it still remains one of the best. This, ladies and gents, is survival horror at its finest. Set in the cold reaches of space, you play as Engineer Isaac Clarke, a member of a space vessel sent to investigate the disappearance of the USS Ishimura, a huge mining ship that, just hours after retrieving a mysterious artifact, went completely AWOL, its communications to Earth cut off. Upon arriving on the now derelict Ishimura, you discover a nightmarish scene: the crew of the Ishimura brutally slaughtered like cattle and a horrifically violent alien species known as Necromorphs infecting the entire ship. Prepare for the fight of your life...
In terms of visual effects, Dead Space favors a dark and wholly disturbing atmosphere. As you are on a dead ship, this makes sense. EA did a fantastic job with this. The corridors are dimly lit, the shadows move as though alive, and all throughout the game you are thoroughly convinced that once you get out of the light, something is going to jump out and eat your face. Most disturbing. The character and enemy design is also quite superb, with the models smoothly rendered and the actions well-choreographed. Camera angles in this game are a slight pain, and the entire game is played from a third person point of view. The camera centered on Isaac is almost right at this back, and this can make the gameplay a little awkward at times, as you are having to readjust the camera angles to see what is going on. This is a minor setback however. The crew of the ship Isaac came on are present throughout the entire game, and they are constantly bickering, however, which kinda detracts from the whole creepy feel of the game. Also, you never actually see what Isaac looks like until the very end, as he spends the vast majority of th game encased in a mining suit that allows him to navigate the ship. Nonetheless, Dead Space gets a 9/10 for visual elements.
Sound in Dead Space is amazing. The eerie quiet of the floating carcass of a ship is splendidly represented here, punctuated by screams, cries for help, and Isaac's own labored breathing as he attempts to navigate the delerict vessel. Isaac is strangely silent throughout the game, never saying a thing except for grunts of exertion, pain, and breathing in a Darth Vader-like fashion. Music in this game is almost absent, except for the dramatic music that comes with every scare tactic moment. Despite this, you never feel like you're missing out on something because there is no music. Rather, the seeming lack of music serves to heighten the feelings of helplessness and dread that suffuse the ship. The roars of the Necromorph aliens, the screams of the survivors, Isaac's Vader-esque breathing, it all combines to create an atmosphere of sorrow, dread, and sheer terror that makes the player long for the sun to shine and day to arrive. Alas, there is no light in the cold void of space...Dead Space gets a 9/1o for sound.
Gameplay in Dead Space is also superb. From the moment you enter the Ishimura, the controls are easy to learn and intuitive. One interesting thing EA has done is to do away with a traditional health and ability bar; rather, health and abilities are shown on Isaac's suit, the health bar being represented by a series of green bars on the spine of the suit, and abilities shown as yellow bars along the sides of the spine. In addition to health and abilities, there is an air indicator that shows how much air Isaac has before he asphyxiates, as there are parts in the game where Isaac must navigate the vacuum of space itself and run along the outside of the ship. Another fantastic idea from EA is the use of an objective tracking function. By pushing down on the right thumbstick, you can call up a path that shows exactly how to get to the next objective or item or what have you. An extremely handy little thing, so handy in fact that I wish other games had it too. In terms of weaponry, Isaac can find a number of futuristic weapons, including a plasma cutter, pulse rifle, flamethrower, and contact beam gun, each with a primary and secondary firing mode as well as simply swinging the weapon in a melee attack. These weapons are all needed to face the Necromorph threat, and rather than simply shooting and emptying your weapons into the enemy, EA has devised a simpler option: DISMEMBERMENT. Yes, the easiest way to defeat the enemies in Dead Space is to, quite literally, disarm them. Blowing off limbs and heads and other body parts renders the creatures all but useless in combat. Lots of fun. Of course, when you are surrounded by aliens who all just want to crack your suit open like a nut and devour you from the inside out, you're not really thinking "which limb to blow off first?". The puzzles in Dead Space are simple enough to figure out, yet complex enough to require a bit of thinking outside the box. Just the sort of mix I like. The bosses in Dead Space are also excellent and extremely creepy, which makes the gameplay in Dead Space even more superb. Blasting away a large squid-like creature with a giant minigun mounted on the hull of the ship still remains my fondest memory of Dead Space. For all these reasons, Dead Space gets a 10/10 for gameplay.
Final thoughts: Dead Space is a fantastic game. As it is an older game, its also very affordable, coming in at 20 bucks for a brand new copy. For those who like their games with a little more thrills and chills, I recommend Dead Space. So go out there, pick it up, turn off the lights and turn on the surround sound, and you'll be in for one Hell of a night!
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Darksiders: This means War!
Darksiders is an action-packed, gore-filled thrill ride of a game. Developed by Vigil Games and THQ Entertainment, this game features one of the most badass of all characters: WAR. That's right people, you play as the First Horseman of the Apocalypse in all his kickass splendor. War and his three siblings Death, Strife, and Fury, are all what are called Nephilim, the guardians and enforcers of the Charred Council, the judges, jury, and executioners of the Three Kingdoms, The Kingdom of Heaven, The Kingdom of Hell, and the Kingdom of Man. In this game, War is framed for having brought about the Apocalypse before its time, so you spend the vast majority of the game trying to figure out what went wrong with the Kingdom of Man and why, for some reason, everyone seems to blame you. In terms of originality, I give this an 8/10, merely because there have been other games that have used this concept before, albeit not with the Four Horseman and the Apocalypse and so on.
Visually, Darksiders is stunning. The graphics of the game all come from the artwork of Joe Madureira, a well-known graphic novel artist, and it shows. The art of Darksiders is very crisp and sculpted, with every environment being unique and visually appealing. From crumbling cathedrals to harsh deserts, the environments of Darksiders provide not only a challenge, but also a feast for the eyes. Cracked buildings, overturned cars, fiery explosions, this game has it all. Going along with this crisp art style are the character and enemy models, all of which are very original and rendered beautifully. War, for example, really looks like the First Horseman of the Apocalypse, from his hugely muscled and armored frame down to his absurdly gigantic gauntlet and sword. This guy seriously looks like he could kick some ass. Along this same vein, the enemies are well-rendered and unique and the bosses are splendid as well. The angels look very much like warriors of Heaven, and the demons are grotesque and monstrous, as befits denizens of Hell. For visual and artistic flair, I give Darksiders a 10/10.
The sound of Darksiders is also fantastic. The voice acting is top notch, with War being voiced by Liam O'Brian, also known for his role as Gaara in the Naruto anime series, and The Watcher being voiced by the infamous Mark Hamill of Star Wars and Batman fame. The other characters are also voiced in a very precise manner, with insane attention to detail. Each character possesses their own personality and they feel REAL and not just like digital creations. The music of Darksiders is also superb, lending a doomed ambiance to the ravaged planet where the game takes place. Mark Hamill really makes the game for me though. He does an amazing job as The Watcher, whose main role in the game is to police War and make sure he isn't going against the wishes of the Council. He really is my favorite character, because he is so full of spite and venom and hatred. His dialogue is really one of the best aspects of the game. In terms of sound, Darksiders gets a 9/10 from me.
Gameplay in Darksiders is, sadly, much of the same as is seen in many other games, like God of War and Devil May Cry. Darksiders borrows heavily from other games of the same genre, even going so far as to almost blatantly copy some of the weapons and upgrades available in other games. For example, the Crossblade, a big 4 pronged boomerang which ricochets off nearby objects and returns to you after its path is complete. This is analogous to the Boomerang in the Legend of Zelda series. Also borrowed from LoZ? Ruin, War's steed, analogous to Epona from Legend of Zelda. Darksiders even has a portal gun! Granted, these items fit into the gameplay well enough, but still, a little originality would be nice here. In addition is the idea of collecting souls as currency, just like in Devil May Cry and God of War. This has been done. Weapons leveling up the more you use them? Been there, seen that. A grappling device that allows you to swing from points set in ceilings? Seen it. Climbing up walls and ceilings with your bare hands? Also been done. Button-mashing finishing moves? Ho hum. Insanely challenging puzzles? It's been done. I need more originality!
Despite the familiar aspects of Darksiders, the gameplay is still very enjoyable. The amount of gore and violence in the game goes a long way to make up for these lackluster details. The finishing moves and the characters in Darksiders also make it a very enjoyable game, and they cover up the flaws very nicely. As the Charred Council does not trust War, they send the Watcher to look after him, and if he goes out of line, The Watcher has the power to kill War. The dynamic between War and The Watcher is amusing, and Mark Hamill does an excellent job voicing the malevolent spirit. One of my favorite lines in the entire game is when The Watcher hisses, "As far as you're concerned, you're a dog on a leash. I tell you to bark, you bark. And if I have to kick you, you'd better not bare your teeth. Understand?" As such, you really hate the Watcher, but you almost can't help liking him too, because he is so mean and angry. Darksiders is also a great stress reliever, as you can go around and kill stuff to relieve your stress. Even though some of the puzzles in the game are frustrating at times, eventually they can be figured out. So, despite the flaws of the gameplay, Darksiders still gets an 8/10 from me. It may not be wholly original, but it works.
In summary, if you loved God of War, Devil May Cry, or Bayonetta, you'll love Darksiders. I know I've ragged on it a bit, but it really is a good game. Once you sit down and play it, you'll understand why. And come on, let's all face it, it doesn't get any meatier than playing a Horseman of the Apocalypse. So I urge you, go out and rent the game at least, and bring about the Apocalypse!
Visually, Darksiders is stunning. The graphics of the game all come from the artwork of Joe Madureira, a well-known graphic novel artist, and it shows. The art of Darksiders is very crisp and sculpted, with every environment being unique and visually appealing. From crumbling cathedrals to harsh deserts, the environments of Darksiders provide not only a challenge, but also a feast for the eyes. Cracked buildings, overturned cars, fiery explosions, this game has it all. Going along with this crisp art style are the character and enemy models, all of which are very original and rendered beautifully. War, for example, really looks like the First Horseman of the Apocalypse, from his hugely muscled and armored frame down to his absurdly gigantic gauntlet and sword. This guy seriously looks like he could kick some ass. Along this same vein, the enemies are well-rendered and unique and the bosses are splendid as well. The angels look very much like warriors of Heaven, and the demons are grotesque and monstrous, as befits denizens of Hell. For visual and artistic flair, I give Darksiders a 10/10.
The sound of Darksiders is also fantastic. The voice acting is top notch, with War being voiced by Liam O'Brian, also known for his role as Gaara in the Naruto anime series, and The Watcher being voiced by the infamous Mark Hamill of Star Wars and Batman fame. The other characters are also voiced in a very precise manner, with insane attention to detail. Each character possesses their own personality and they feel REAL and not just like digital creations. The music of Darksiders is also superb, lending a doomed ambiance to the ravaged planet where the game takes place. Mark Hamill really makes the game for me though. He does an amazing job as The Watcher, whose main role in the game is to police War and make sure he isn't going against the wishes of the Council. He really is my favorite character, because he is so full of spite and venom and hatred. His dialogue is really one of the best aspects of the game. In terms of sound, Darksiders gets a 9/10 from me.
Gameplay in Darksiders is, sadly, much of the same as is seen in many other games, like God of War and Devil May Cry. Darksiders borrows heavily from other games of the same genre, even going so far as to almost blatantly copy some of the weapons and upgrades available in other games. For example, the Crossblade, a big 4 pronged boomerang which ricochets off nearby objects and returns to you after its path is complete. This is analogous to the Boomerang in the Legend of Zelda series. Also borrowed from LoZ? Ruin, War's steed, analogous to Epona from Legend of Zelda. Darksiders even has a portal gun! Granted, these items fit into the gameplay well enough, but still, a little originality would be nice here. In addition is the idea of collecting souls as currency, just like in Devil May Cry and God of War. This has been done. Weapons leveling up the more you use them? Been there, seen that. A grappling device that allows you to swing from points set in ceilings? Seen it. Climbing up walls and ceilings with your bare hands? Also been done. Button-mashing finishing moves? Ho hum. Insanely challenging puzzles? It's been done. I need more originality!
Despite the familiar aspects of Darksiders, the gameplay is still very enjoyable. The amount of gore and violence in the game goes a long way to make up for these lackluster details. The finishing moves and the characters in Darksiders also make it a very enjoyable game, and they cover up the flaws very nicely. As the Charred Council does not trust War, they send the Watcher to look after him, and if he goes out of line, The Watcher has the power to kill War. The dynamic between War and The Watcher is amusing, and Mark Hamill does an excellent job voicing the malevolent spirit. One of my favorite lines in the entire game is when The Watcher hisses, "As far as you're concerned, you're a dog on a leash. I tell you to bark, you bark. And if I have to kick you, you'd better not bare your teeth. Understand?" As such, you really hate the Watcher, but you almost can't help liking him too, because he is so mean and angry. Darksiders is also a great stress reliever, as you can go around and kill stuff to relieve your stress. Even though some of the puzzles in the game are frustrating at times, eventually they can be figured out. So, despite the flaws of the gameplay, Darksiders still gets an 8/10 from me. It may not be wholly original, but it works.
In summary, if you loved God of War, Devil May Cry, or Bayonetta, you'll love Darksiders. I know I've ragged on it a bit, but it really is a good game. Once you sit down and play it, you'll understand why. And come on, let's all face it, it doesn't get any meatier than playing a Horseman of the Apocalypse. So I urge you, go out and rent the game at least, and bring about the Apocalypse!
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Bioshock: A Descent Into the Depths of Madness
First, we have Bioshock. This is a video game for the Xbox 360, PS3, and/or PC, developed by 2K games. I just recently finished this game, and I'll have to admit, I was impressed. First, the story: Big points for originality here. You play the only survivor of a plane crash in the Atlantic Ocean, washed up on a lighthouse leading down to the undersea "utopia" of Rapture, brainchild of the deranged and twisted Andrew Ryan. But all is not well in Rapture... Evil stalks the corridors of this undersea kingdom, and it's up to you to figure out the secrets of Rapture.
This game is creepy. Downright CREEPY. The graphics take full advantage of this, disturbing elements and all. You walk around with very limited lighting and things jumping out at you from every which way. Quite scary. The first person perspective makes you feel like you're right there in the corridors of Rapture. As the entire game takes place in an underwater city, the pressure of the deep really gets to you, and has an effect on the game itself, as the ocean occasionally bursts into the city and you have to escape from the oncoming seawater! The crazy inhabitants of Rapture are rendered in a creepy splendor, and 2K games really paints a picture of a whole society gone completely insane. The introduction of genetic splicing has turned a utopia into Hell, and turned all the inhabitants into raving lunatics out to kill. The general locale of Rapture is splendid as well, from the Neptune Cafe to the Kashmir Restaurant, each location rendered in painstaking detail, even down to the party hats stewn about the floor! As the entire game takes place underwater, the water effects are also very impressive, and it makes you almost feel like you're actually getting wet. Taking into account all the creepy elements and the superlative quality of the graphics, I give the graphics of Bioshock a 10/10.
Next, the soundtrack. The sounds of Rapture are executed perfectly, unholy screams and old 50's music somehow meshing together into a singular and entirely disturbing whole. The songs chosen for the game make a lot of sense, from Frank Sinatra's "Somewhere Beyond the Sea" to Perry Como's "Papa Loves Mambo", all the old songs that we all love. I found myself jumping at every little noise in the game, convinced that something was going to jump out from around the corner and eat my face. Mixed in with a healthy dose of screams, roars, and other noises designed to make you utterly paranoid, the sounds of Rapture get a 9/10 from me.
Gameplay in Bioshock is nothing to scoff at either. The mechanic of Plasmids, injectable "super-powers" found throughout the game, combined with more conventional weapons like shotguns and pistols, is nothing new, but it is nonetheless fun. My favorite part is shooting an enemy with the Electro-Bolt then smashing them in the face with a wrench while they jerk around in agony. Even better, just zap the lot of them while they are standing in a pool of water. Shocking! Ah, good times, good times. The hacking system in Bioshock was a little tedious, as it made you feel like some sort of plumber laying down pipes in order to get the proper flow of water. While entirely possible to skip this, it can come in handy at times, especially when you really need some extra firepower to deal with all the cracked-out weirdos in Rapture. In that case, find all the robots you can and hack away! Another fantastic part of Bioshock is the variety of things out to kill you. The enemies in Rapture, called Splicers, come in all shapes, sizes, and flavors, from the generic Leadhead Splicer all the way to the drill-wielding, dive-suit wearing Big Daddy. The Big Daddys are scary, armed with a giant drill and overwhelming strength, and can easily slay you if you aren't careful. These hulking monstrosities are often accompanied by Little Sisters, creepy little girls with glowing eyes who harvest the genetic material, called Adam, from the dead and who are in high demand down in Rapture. Once you kill a Big Daddy, you have a choice: Kill the Little Sister, or save her. Killing them yields more Adam, but let's face it, you'd have to be pretty twisted to kill a little girl, no matter how creepy she is. Saving them has its own rewards later on, and it just feels more right to do so. At least, in my own mind it does. Because of the originality and secondary mechanics prevalent in this game, I give the gameplay of Bioshock a 10/10.
In all, Bioshock is a fantastic game for those of you looking for something to play. It's fun, it's creepy, it's new, and it's a good time all around. For those of you already done with Bioshock, Bioshock 2 was just recently released. That's another post though. So in closing, I urge you to try Bioshock. You won't be disappointed.
This game is creepy. Downright CREEPY. The graphics take full advantage of this, disturbing elements and all. You walk around with very limited lighting and things jumping out at you from every which way. Quite scary. The first person perspective makes you feel like you're right there in the corridors of Rapture. As the entire game takes place in an underwater city, the pressure of the deep really gets to you, and has an effect on the game itself, as the ocean occasionally bursts into the city and you have to escape from the oncoming seawater! The crazy inhabitants of Rapture are rendered in a creepy splendor, and 2K games really paints a picture of a whole society gone completely insane. The introduction of genetic splicing has turned a utopia into Hell, and turned all the inhabitants into raving lunatics out to kill. The general locale of Rapture is splendid as well, from the Neptune Cafe to the Kashmir Restaurant, each location rendered in painstaking detail, even down to the party hats stewn about the floor! As the entire game takes place underwater, the water effects are also very impressive, and it makes you almost feel like you're actually getting wet. Taking into account all the creepy elements and the superlative quality of the graphics, I give the graphics of Bioshock a 10/10.
Next, the soundtrack. The sounds of Rapture are executed perfectly, unholy screams and old 50's music somehow meshing together into a singular and entirely disturbing whole. The songs chosen for the game make a lot of sense, from Frank Sinatra's "Somewhere Beyond the Sea" to Perry Como's "Papa Loves Mambo", all the old songs that we all love. I found myself jumping at every little noise in the game, convinced that something was going to jump out from around the corner and eat my face. Mixed in with a healthy dose of screams, roars, and other noises designed to make you utterly paranoid, the sounds of Rapture get a 9/10 from me.
Gameplay in Bioshock is nothing to scoff at either. The mechanic of Plasmids, injectable "super-powers" found throughout the game, combined with more conventional weapons like shotguns and pistols, is nothing new, but it is nonetheless fun. My favorite part is shooting an enemy with the Electro-Bolt then smashing them in the face with a wrench while they jerk around in agony. Even better, just zap the lot of them while they are standing in a pool of water. Shocking! Ah, good times, good times. The hacking system in Bioshock was a little tedious, as it made you feel like some sort of plumber laying down pipes in order to get the proper flow of water. While entirely possible to skip this, it can come in handy at times, especially when you really need some extra firepower to deal with all the cracked-out weirdos in Rapture. In that case, find all the robots you can and hack away! Another fantastic part of Bioshock is the variety of things out to kill you. The enemies in Rapture, called Splicers, come in all shapes, sizes, and flavors, from the generic Leadhead Splicer all the way to the drill-wielding, dive-suit wearing Big Daddy. The Big Daddys are scary, armed with a giant drill and overwhelming strength, and can easily slay you if you aren't careful. These hulking monstrosities are often accompanied by Little Sisters, creepy little girls with glowing eyes who harvest the genetic material, called Adam, from the dead and who are in high demand down in Rapture. Once you kill a Big Daddy, you have a choice: Kill the Little Sister, or save her. Killing them yields more Adam, but let's face it, you'd have to be pretty twisted to kill a little girl, no matter how creepy she is. Saving them has its own rewards later on, and it just feels more right to do so. At least, in my own mind it does. Because of the originality and secondary mechanics prevalent in this game, I give the gameplay of Bioshock a 10/10.
In all, Bioshock is a fantastic game for those of you looking for something to play. It's fun, it's creepy, it's new, and it's a good time all around. For those of you already done with Bioshock, Bioshock 2 was just recently released. That's another post though. So in closing, I urge you to try Bioshock. You won't be disappointed.
Introductions Please!
Greetings to you all! I am Jay, also known as The Hollow Geek! As my nickname might imply, I am an avid gamer and all-around nerd. If you've heard about things such as Dungeons & Dragons, Warhammer, or any sort of video game, that's my territory and my domain. I play it all, from DND to Xbox 360, and I'd like to think I'm a good source for gaming knowledge and advice. So here I am, talking about what I love to do most: GAME! Yes, here you'll find everything from video game reviews, movie critiques, strategies for the games in your life, and everything in between. So lets get started, shall we?
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