By Ian Bonds
June 15th, 2006
Well, here I am, back again with more reviews and such for another fun-filled week in Game On! This week, IÂ’ve actually got a couple of RPGs to cover, as well as a few of the more violent titles that have been recently released. IÂ’m not much for intros as it is, so letÂ’s just jump right in here, shall we?
TESTING YOUR METAL
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What is it about desolate, post-apocalyptic worlds that make folks act a little crazy? Sure, the world you know is in ruin, but is that any reason to walk around hunting bio-creatures for cash? ShouldnÂ’t cash me an out-modded commodity anyway? Well, apparently not in the world of METAL SAGA, out now for PS2. Here, money is a big deal, as is the acquisition, and most importantly, spending of it.
As a new hunter, it’s your job to travel from crumbling town to town, seeking out the remnants of a world gone wrong and adding them to your bounty. There’s not much plot to speak of in this RPG – well, there is, but the game only dolls out tidbits every so often. The main idea here is to establish your own path. To do so, you’re given ample opportunities to cash in on bounties, upgrade your armor (or rides…you can acquire tanks and buggies and such to travel in and do battle with) or even sell weapons on the black market made from scrap pieces you’ve found on your travels.
At first glance, the game could be regarded as having no focus, but on closer examination itÂ’s revealed that the freedom the game allows the players is used for them to forage their own path to completion. Everything is connected (in an abstract kind of way) and will eventually lead to the boss battles, addition of party members and acquisition of new tanks. The characters here are the draw, with colorful, almost crazy designs. Want a sidekick thatÂ’s a dog with a bazooka on his back? How about a load-ass cowgirl? Sure, why not? Even the enemy designs are outrageous, including junkyard zombies, a water heater with legs, and a bubble bee with a machine gun stinger. This game thankfully just wonÂ’t take itself seriously.
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The combat is your normal turn-based affair, with one major difference; some options change depending on whether or not you are in or out of your ride. While your tanks and cars will have heavier armor, you sacrifice being able to use your special skills (depending on your character). Still, your movement remains the same inside or outside of a vehicle (thankfully…so it’s not like piloting a warthog at ALL). Beyond that, it’s the typical “you attack, they attack” standard of RPG combat.
The graphics are a bit dated here, however. While the game opens with a flashy anime intro, thatÂ’s just about all you see of its kind for a while. The in game graphics are all on par with early Playstation (One!) titles, with plenty of jaggies and pixilation, but not so much that it becomes annoying or hard to decipher whatÂ’s happening on screen. And thereÂ’s such a wealth of stuff to do (and humorÂ…this game is crazy, seriously) you wonÂ’t really notice much. It may not be perfect, but itÂ’s fun, if not a little disjointed at first, until you learn how the game allows you to lead your character through the worlds.
One GamerÂ’s Opinion:
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MONEY FOR NOTHING, HITS FOR FREE
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For Agent 47, his notoriety is on the rise. Not just because his new game hit stores last week (on PS2, Xbox, PC and Xbox 360), but there’s a former FBI agent out there spilling the beans to a newspaper reporter about many of the “covert” hits that he’s done over the years. In HITMAN: BLOOD MONEY, out now for PS2, Xbox, PC & Xbox 360, you experience these hits via playable flashbacks, chronicling the life (and deaths) and times of the world’s most notorious killer.
As before, you are free to figure out any means necessary to eliminate your targets. You can either go in all stealthy, SPLINTER CELL style, or maybe just waltz in guns blazing and taking out all and any in your way. While both will work, the latter will tend to get you noticed, and thatÂ’s exactly what youÂ’re trying to avoidÂ…that is, unless you kill all the witnesses. Short of that, you can also bribe them, as 47Â’s notoriety comes into play throughout the game. Do hits in clear view and people will start to recognize you, making events later in the game hard to complete and even harder to lose the notoriety of, unless you grease the right palms.
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To make things easier, there’s a new “accident” system in the way you carry out your hits. For example, if a guy just happens to fall off a balcony rather than being shot in the back of his head or being bludgeoned by a baseball bat, they’re less likely to look for a suspect. In a later mission, you can even kill an opera singer by replacing a prop gun with a real one and having one of the actor’s take out the target, completely unaware of what they’re doing! It’s these particular moments where the game’s ingenuity really shines.
There’s really no wrong way to complete a mission, which is nice, and many players will spend hours trying to figure out each levels intricate details and how to best get a “silent assassin” rating without stirring up so much as a grumble from the surrounding authority figures. Control has been tightened from previous games, though the fiber wire garroting still needs a bit of work. The graphics have also been improved, but you’d be hard pressed to notice much of a difference on the Xbox 360 version beyond a few smoother textures.
For what it does, HITMAN: BLOOD MONEY does most of it well. DonÂ’t go in expecting a huge epic story, plan to take your time through missions (and maybe even a good bit of trial and error with planning out your hits) and youÂ’ll end up having a fun time in the long run. ItÂ’s unique, itÂ’s inventive, and there are plenty of diverse ways to go about your dirty business. Just keep it in the game, folks.
One GamerÂ’s Opinion:
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CHRONICLES OF RIDICULOUS
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If your tastes in RPGs tend to lean more towards the bizarre, and you enjoy an open-ended, choose-your-own-adventure style of gameplay, than have I got the game for you. STEAMBOT CHRONICLES for the PS2 may be just what youÂ’re looking for, as it has some unique gameplay elements that separate it from the RPG normsÂ…
Sure, you have the typical hero out to save the land, and you have the stereotypical amnesia victim, but usually, they’re not the same character (and usually, they don’t often have a name as ridiculous as Vanilla Beans). Washed up on a beach, poor Vanilla can’t remember a thing, but is soon set off on a quest to…well, do just about whatever the hell he wants. STEAMBOT gives the players ample opportunity to either follow the storyline of stopping (or joining, if that be your preference) a rogue gang of miscreants who are causing trouble, or just trot around town in your custom battle suit, conveniently enough called a “Trotmobile”, engaging in fights for money. You can even practice music and become a street performer, earning pocket change and the respect of other musicians.
One of the best aspects of the game is the ability to choose your path through the storyÂ’s main plot. You can either fight the main gang by starting your own, or join the hooligans and wreck the town. The game offers several different choices such as these all throughout itÂ’s 25+ hours, and itÂ’s multiple endings ensure several play-throughs for those that dig on VanillaÂ’s crazy antics.
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Sadly, the same cannot be said for the Trotmobiles. While customizing these CadillacÂ’s of mechs, the control leaves a good bit to be desired, both in combat and in movement. Clunky in form and function, youÂ’ll end up fighting with the controller more than your opponents either in normal fights or within the arena to make a little extra scratch. Still, itÂ’s an aspect to at least check out, though itÂ’s not wholly necessary. There are plenty of side quests too to flesh out the already diverse tasks at hand, such as the aforementioned musicianÂ’s route. Here, you can start small (with a harmonica) then continue on through various degrees of instruments, from trombones to guitars, each with their own unique control scheme.
Again, as a change from the norm, STEAMBOT is a welcome breath of fresh air. It helps that it doesnÂ’t take itself too seriously (even playing to the fact that it participates in some common RPG trappings). The control may not be perfect, but for those out for a little free-roaming mischief and fun in their otherwise dull RPG worlds should give this one a look.
One GamerÂ’s Opinion:
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EVERY CITY HAS A STORY
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PS2 fans who havenÂ’t shelled out the bucks can rejoice now that the PSP exclusive is no longerÂ…well, exclusive. GRAND THEFT AUTO: LIBERTY CITY STORIES has finally made itÂ’s way back home to the big papa of itÂ’s console family, and itÂ’s doing so at a budget price.
The main reason behind this, IÂ’m assuming, is that most folks who wanted it badly enough, bought it when it was out for PSP. And rightly so, too, as the missions are built around the idea of gaming on the go, quick in and out jobs, then pack it away for a while. The port is a decent one, though the graphics look a tad touched up, but not so much that youÂ’ll notice, as itÂ’s all GTA as it is: gritty, and about as smooth as the stubble on Tony CiprianiÂ’s chin.
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Control, as youÂ’d expect is the same as well, as is the audio presentation. So, really, why the dip in price? Well, much to my chagrin, the multiplayer portion of the game that was in the PSP version is sadly missing from this iteration. ItÂ’s a shame too, because that really would have been fun to play online, jacking limos and cruising around in tank battles. Maybe for the next gen.
Still, for twenty bucks you get a lot of story. And while the adventure pales in comparison to SAN ANDREAS (or even VICE CITY) itÂ’s nice to have another character story fleshed out beyond what weÂ’ve seen in the other games. Plus, itÂ’s yet another GTA game to add to their already increasing library.
One GamerÂ’s Opinion:
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QUICKSHOT OF THE WEEK
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IÂ’m doing JAWS UNLEASHED as a quickshot this week mainly because I really havenÂ’t played it much. When I did delve into this shark story, unfortunately I found the control and camera to be a bitch to contend with. As you maneuver through the water, around coves and shorelines, Jaws often gets trapped between the camera and invisible polygons at the edge of objects.
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Also, for some story missions, character AI donÂ’t behave in a manner that makes missions easy to complete (such as the initial level where you have to grab a scientist and pass him along the card reader to escape). When they all run away or stand JUST enough out of reach and you have to reload, youÂ’ll say there seem to be elements of the game that could use some tweaking. And youÂ’d be right. I hope to give the game another go, and hopefully my feelings for it will improve, but thereÂ’s no guarantee. So, for now, itÂ’s gets this.
One GamerÂ’s Opinion:
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And thus, we end another game filled week at Game On! In the coming weeks, months, etc we have a few changes coming here in the column, including more commentary, some interviews, and of course, more reviews a plenty as the site changes over to the new format. Keep your eyes peeled for a new introductory column, where I re-introduce my “ratings” system as well. Until then, gamers…
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