Game: Greg Hastings’ Paintball 2
Genre: FPS
Consoles: PS3 (Reviewed), Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii
Price: $19.99 on PSN. Buy here (USA: $19.99/PAL: $44.90) for retail versions
Developer/Publisher: Super X Studios /Majesco
Greg Hastings’ Paintball 2 has already released on on other console systems. However, Majesco promised that the game would come to the Playstation 3 and now, finally, it has. Furthermore, the developers have expanded the game with Playstation Move controls and new game types. Is the game improved by such additions? It it able to accurately convey the and simulate the adrenaline that is present when playing paintball on the actual field? Which version of the game is the best?
Most of the game revolves around the campaign mode. Here, you will be able to participate in a franchise like experience and build your team while unlocking new stuff and playing against progressively harder AI in different challenges. For starters, you’ll play in a standard death match game type. During gameplay, you can order your team to attack from the left, right and middle areas, depending on where you think the enemy AI is the weakest. Eventually, the game types become more diverse, transitioning between a variety of different scoring goals and the like. For example, nearly every type of game mode, from Speedball to Woodsball is represented.
After you play a while, the customization opportunities are expanded. You can customize each team mate that you have recruited from the different leagues in paintball. Once your done customizing your squads to the finest details, then you can focus on yourself. Grab new markers, weapons and accessories to truly create a one of a kind, paint splattering machine.
The customization has also expanded to the fields. In this game, you can create your own bizarre courses, much like Forge in Halo: Reach. There are plenty of options to try out and the interface has been simplified greatly from the previous game in the series. From zany to standard and strategic to off the wall, there is plenty to do in this game play space.
What it really all comes down to though is the gun play. If your tired of the same old shooting guys in the face to watch their head’s explode, but you still want some gun toting action, then this game may be for you. The paintball mechanics shift the first person shooter formula enough to make the experience very enjoyable. For example, when behind cover, you can slide out, or you can switch your marker holding hand to get the strategic advantage. Aiming was not quite as tight as I would have liked, but all in all, that is representative of actual paintball, so I can’t fault it too much. New weather effects like rain and fog make the game a lot more fun to play and new weapons like rocket launchers are also a blast!
