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!
The other area that this game is different from standard FPS is that the paint balls are affected by wind and gravity, making it that much more challenging and exciting to score. Rapid fire is also handled in a different way. You’ll need to hold the R1 button in as well as shoot with R2 to make the markers spit faster. Finally, the game introduces a new mechanic of cheating. Unlike a regular FPS, this game allows you to “cheat death” by wiping a hit off your clothes. If your fast, you won’t get caught and you will live to fight another minute. Get caught though, and your team suffers a penalty.
There are some faults with the game though. For starters, the AI is sketchy, varying from really good to god awful. Several times, I literally ran past the entire opposing team’s faces to score in CTF matches. The graphics are also some of the worst I have seen on this console generation. Dull textures fail to bring the scenery to life and it felt like I was playing in a factory instead of a vibrant world. Unfortunately, the Move controls also fail to bring anything exciting to the table. They work ok at best and I found much better success and accuracy using the controller. The control system was much more complicated using the Move and all in all, the pizazz of using it was not present.
When I was playing, I personally found the online community to be on the sparse side, but your mileage may vary. Local split screen is a great feature to have though, and the bot support was also a nice feature. Hopefully, more peeps will start playing this game online, as it does offer a lot of unique qualities when compared to other games in the genre.
One feature that I really liked was the incorporation of paintball culture. Quite a few pictures of real world teams were able to be viewed, as well a their team history and how they came to be. A lot of interesting facts about paintball were also presented in an appealing manner. Furthermore, there were video reviews of different markers and there were a few videos of famous matches that have been played in recent years.
In conclusion, paintball fanatics will find that this game meets their every need. Gamers who are turned off the recent FPS onslaught may also find some genre redeeming qualities in this game. Younger players who are forbidden from the more adult FPS games of today may also enjoy the less violent nature of this game. I do enjoy playing the actual game more, but at least when playing the video game, there are no welts afterwards. All in all, it is a very quality game and it can only get better in GHP3. Hopefully, they can continue to expand. For example, I would personally love to see a story mode. For now though, this game offers a plethora of value for $20.00.
Lets face it, the E3 demo for Fable: The Journey was most likely the weakest showing of the entire Microsoft press conference. Fable fans were appalled, those in attendance fell asleep and Peter Molyneux has been all over the board trying to explain why Fable: The Journey was such a disappointment. First having to counter the fact that Fable: The Journey isn’t actually on rails (despite it totally being on rails in the demo) and now this.
Talking to OXM he explained that the project itself “really only started … Well in earnest it started about seven months ago and we started coding about four months ago. There’s huge faults with this demo. The quality isn’t quite there, and we haven’t had enough time to fulfill all our ambitions. But come Gamescom, our ambition is to give you something to play with because, rough though it is at the moment, it already feels pretty cool.”
Now whether or not this statement is actually true nobody knows besides Molyneux himself and he won’t come out and admit it if it truly was in development for a longer period of time. Either way, if it’s like Molyneux says then hopefully The Journey won’t be a huge disappointment next time it is shown off in public.
Earlier today we reported that Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D uses a unique method of game saving. So unique in fact it actually raised quite an outcry with gamers. RE: The Mercenaries 3D saves all of it’s information on the 3DS cartridge itself on one save file meaning that it is completely un-deletable. Now this news was met by some with shrug but used game companies aren’t taking this news laying down.
Destructoid has actually managed to talk to a number of different GameStop sources a well as receive a statement from a Capcom representative on the save method. Apparently many GameStop managers in the United States have claimed that they were told to not accept any used trade-ins of The Mercenaries 3D because of the one save slot, but still sell new copies. This method is a bit less severe than EB Games’ decision to simply not stock the game at all.
Capcom’s Brian Keltner told Destructoid the following regarding the used game backlash:
“In Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D, all mission progress is saved directly to the Nintendo 3DS cartridge, where it cannot be reset. The nature of the game invites high levels of replayability in order to improve mission scores. In addition, this feature does not remove any content available for users. Secondhand game sales were not a factor in this development decision, so we hope that all our consumers will be able to enjoy the entirety of the survival-action experiences that the game does offer.”
Could this have simply been happenstance and is being taken way out of proportion by used-game retailers everywhere? Or was this actually planned by Capcom and they simply won’t admit to a rather back handed way of punishing consumers with only one save slot with absolutely no chance to adjust? What do you think?
Not many people can claim that they have never touched World of Warcraft. The MMORPG has been around for so many years and can be argued to be the most successful franchise of all time, claiming many peoples free times and in some extreme cases even their lives. Now entering the World of Warcraft is going to be easier then ever because Blizzard has just released a new plane in the latest game update.
The latest update is called Rage of the Firelands, but what is important here is that it also makes it so that players will be able to play the game past the usual 14-day trial. Namely they will be able to play until their levels hit the number 20 and they will be capped there unless they buy the full version of the game. This means that the largest and most successful MMO is now easier than ever to at least try out for potential players who wish to have all of their time stolen from them.
Sniper Elite Wii
Developer(s) Raylight Studios
Publisher(s) Reef Entertainment
Platform(s) PlayStation 2, Xbox, Wii (Reviewed), PC
Release date(s) September 2010 (North America)
Genre(s) Tactical Shooter
Mode(s) Single Player
Rating(s) M
Difficulty: Medium Rare/Well Done
Story
This game is essentially a port from 2005, lacking advancements from it’s counterpart, so it felt like I was going back in time. So it was only fitting that the game goes back in time itself and is set in 1945. The Second World War is drawing to a close and the Russians and Germans fight for Berlin. Zing-ha! The Cold War has begun, and you assume the role of an elite U.S. sniper was sent by the OSS in this region struggle. Their mission is: “Prevent the fall Stalin V2 technology and the information about the atomic bomb research from falling into the wrong hands”
It’s not the greatest story by any means, but it’s not supposed to be and that’s fine with me. The bundle from Bluemouth Interactive is a white sniper rifle, but the Wii Zapper gun is also compatible with the title. The rifle is assembled with the instructions in no time and looks great too. In this gun, the Wii Remote (also available with Wii MotionPlus accessory) and the Nunchuck controller fits nicely and you’re ready for the occasion. The peripheral is a nice addition to the setting of the game, if the developers had this idea when the Wii launched, I think alot of hype would have come with it. But it’s been quite awhile now, so they’re abit late to the party.
Gameplay
Although the controls are well explained and detailed during the first mission, as you start combat, it can be confusing. To top it all off you have to always press A instead of B, because the finger is constantly on the trigger anyway. Why not have the confirmation button as B? Instead you’re always pressing A, which is found at the front end of the rifle and it’s strange. Also zoom works by using the A button, a long press of the telescopic sight would have been a healthy alternative; the strange setup takes awhile to get used to.
Now we come to the gameplay. Basically, you can expect a third-person shooter in which you assume, as already mentioned, the role of a sniper. You can expect a typical urban sniper battle, which isn’t exactly the norm on consoles, so it’s a good thing. You hold the rifle at the ready constantly and the game is sort of stop and start, as you can imagine, trying to build tension. You are moving from one cover to another, switching back into the scope mode and investigating the situation. But you can also use a pair of binoculars, however the sniper rifle makes it much more fun because you can pull the trigger if you see an enemy. There are 28 missions, each proceeded by a very good mission briefing to fulfill the main and secondary objectives. These are displayed on a compass on screen, while an orientation is provided on the battlefield. This actually works quite well and is fun. As might be expected, however, you must proceed very cautiously, because the goals require much time. Running in like rambo only worked on a few occasions, it can be quite an unforgiving game. It’s also interesting how much depth there is to the game, it’s not something I expected. You can, for example, control the way you breathe and it’s actually really important to think about if you want to progress. Even though it is unforgiving sometimes, you can save anytime, anywhere. This point is very important because you can die really quickly, especially if you aren’t looking around the corner.
Now to some negative points, Sniper Elite on Wii is a very good sniper simulation, plagued only by some lousy porting. I happen to also own an original PS2 version and I was very disappointed that the Wii version was actually a step backwards in some ways. The biggest issue are the controls, which are great for sniping, but not really anything else. The wii motion controls feel very gimmicky and clunky at times. Although aiming is easier with the WiiMote, moving your character, especially in tight spaces, is quite difficult. Most of the gesture controls are average at best. You’ll know what I mean if you try planting any bombs, frustration can quickly set in. Having an option to use a classic controller would have been helpful, in my opinion.
All in all, the gameplay stacks up against the older versions well, mostly when it comes to the sniping though. It works well to a certain degree, but simply moving around can be a pain in tight situations. Realistic ballistics are the best feature of the game, involving factors such as bullet drop, wind strength and breathing. The games staple is bullet time when you pull off an awesome shot, which has 2005 written all over it (Matrix anyone?) and it’s obvious the game was a victim of it’s time. In the year 2011, six years later, the same theory applies as a typical Wii port.
Graphics and sound
Graphically, I’m not really convinced. It gives an authentic war setting, houses with bombs and grenade impacts, craters and collapsed. Also the animations, for example, when a grenade strikes may be excellent in some cases. Briefly, the screen will shake from the shock of your character. The bullet-time feature is okay, it may have been awesome for it’s time, but now it’s nothing special. The game is technically sound, there is not too much to complain about. The mission briefings are in particular, the most impressive.
In saying that, this is no technical upgrade for the Wii, which is pretty disappointing. It’s pretty clear that the game couldn’t be optimized for Wii’s limited hardware, unfortunately alot of games coming from the PS2 to the Wii have suffered the same fate. Whether it’s some standard technical issue between the two systems or laziness by developers is unknown, but it’s happened alot this generation, more than likely for money. Serious graphical inconsistencies like disappearing textures and geometry are way too common in this version. This is pretty bad considering that this game ran just fine on the PS2, but the art direction does make up for the graphical failures.
The Verdict
Sniper Elite requires patience, skill, cunning and an appreciation for the sight of a bullet moving towards a man’s head in slow-motion. It’s tougher than the rest and, often a great deal more satisfying in the solo campaign. The game does suffer from lazy porting in some cases and don’t be fooled by the mention of “extra content and features” in this version. The extra content boils down to a single mission, which was abit surprising. Also the Wii version only allows two save slots per profile, so you need to ration what you’re saving when the game becomes punishing. I enjoyed Sniper Elite for the most part, but it’s a standard port with the best feature being the controls for sniping, if it was ported with alot more care it would have been an A grade title. For example there’s no multiplayer in the Wii version… strange. This was a multiplayer shooter with the multiplayer part completely removed – what a curious development choice. Nevertheless if you didn’t play the game back in 2005 and feel like some enjoyable tactical shooter action (which has been rare this generation), this last generation game has some appeal with updated Wii controls.
Consoles ready? Fight! In all seriousness though, the NPD Group has released new data pertaining to the preferences of many gamers. The data released by the NPD says that the Xbox 360 is apparently the main choice for gamers who want to play online according to the data collected in 2010. The 360 sold twice as many online capable games than the PS3 did back in 2010 and many times more than the Wii.
The number of Wii titles actually capable of online play is of course rather substandard compared to the other two consoles so it is understandable however. The figures themselves don’t actually state how much time these games were played online, but this is a good sign for those who like to advocate 360 use over that of the PS3. Gamasutra came out with additional information about the points cards for the consoles, showing that the Xbox 360 has sold four times the amount of points card than the PlayStation 3 has in 2010. Interesting figures…
Media Blasters has today announced that they have acquired the license to produce an English dub of the popular Bakuman anime as well as to distribute it through-out the US.
The Bakuman series (created by the infamous Death Note co-creators Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata) follows the trials and tribulations of Mashiro and Takagi as they follow their dreams to become Mangaka (Manga artists).
Media Blasters have also announced that the first Bakuman dub DVD featuring 7 episodes will be hitting shelves in the US this November. It is still unknown whether it will be licensed by Australian or UK distributors. However with a series this popular it wouldn’t be too far a stretch to guess that Madman or Manga UK may announce this soon.
So those who did go should know how it was already but if you were just wondering how others felt or maybe if you didn’t go and are wondering what is there and if it’s worth going to next year you should really read below.
I totally enjoyed myself at Supanova and I loved the stalls and people there but don’t take only my word for it. I interviewed some friendly people at the convention and here are the results:
1. What did you come to Supanova for?
To check it out – Anon
To hang with friends – Daniel
To cosplay, hang with friends and participate in pop culture appreciation – Simon
To cosplay and hang out with friends – Aura
2. How have you liked this convention?
Heaps Interesting- Anon
It’s like a busier Armaggedon, busy but fun! – Daniel
It has more variety, bigger and more crowded than most others, all of which make it fun – Simon
Awesome because of the x-women 😀 – Flem
Bit overly crowded but I have loved it – Aura
3. What was the best thing about this convention?
Seeing the creativity – costumes. Also being tempted to buy stuff! – Anon
Cosplay girls :D- Daniel
Girls cosplaying. Meeting my favorite actors/ voice actors – Simon
Risque Cosplay – Flem
Hanging out with my friends – Aura
4. What was the worst thing about this convention?
Sooo many people – too busy – Anon
Badly dressed Cosplay Girls and VERY LONG Lines – Daniel
Try hard cosplayers. The lines for everything. Losing your way – Simon
Fat dudes in revealing cosplays – Flem
Too many people and too big lines – Aura
5. What do you think of the price of the ticket?
Reasonable – Anon
Reasonably priced – Daniel
OK – Simon
Fair – Flem
Allright – Aura
6. What do you think about the venue?
Adequate – Anon
Very Pleasent – Daniel
Best chosen for an event this size – Simon
Needs to be larger, considering the volume of people – Flem
It’s good – Aura
7. How was this convention compared to other conventions?
I am a convention virgin – Anon
Very good, but far more packed – Daniel
Bigger, more then just anime, covering every part of popular culture than just one – Simon
The Herp! Revealed a lot of anime appreciators- Flem
Good but a bit too packed – Aura
8. What was your favorite stall?
Madman caught my interest – Anon
GAME! $1 Stuff – Daniel
The GAME stall, where there was merchandise for bargain prices – Simon
Nekochii-Flem
Bargain Basement – Aura
9. What was yout favorite moment of the convention?
Dunno, though it was cool to bump into an anime friend I haven’t seen for ages – Anon
Getting in…. Finally! – Daniel
Seeing Tiffany Grant and Yuk Miyamura and getting to talk to them- Simon
Gundam Trailer! – Flem
Probably getting people recognizing me as Chrona on saturday – Aura
So I advice that you check out Supanova yourself out next year!!! 😀
The Monte Carlo Track Pack for DiRT 3 will launch today in North America, accesed from the Xbox Live Marketplace and Games For Windows Marketplace for the price of 800 Mircosoft Points, and on the PlayStation Network for $9.99. This will be closely followed by the European release on Wednesday June 29th for PSN (£6.29 / €7.99), and the same price in Microsoft Points..
The new Monte Carlo Track Pack includes 8 Rally stages featuring dramatic climbs, descents and hairpins set amongst snowy mountain roads. Players can race through the Alps and conquer the renowned Col de Turini pass in single-player, split-screen and online multiplayer. Stages include day and night, as well as new foggy conditions, all brought on by the altitude that the Monte Carlo Track Pack takes place at.
Dark Energy Digital announced today that Hydrophobia Prophecy for Steam will be on sale for a limited time for this week’s Midweek Madness promotion. The game will be discounted by a massive 75% between 10am PDT on Tuesday 28th June and 4pm PDT on Thursday 30th June.
The Hydrophobia Prophecy version of the game had a lot of work put into it to differentiate it from the original Hydrophobia and improve on its wrong-doings. It launched on the 9th May for PSN and PC, with a host of upgrades and enhancements specifically for PC gamers.
According to Pete Jones, Creative Director at Dark Energy Digital, “this is outstanding value for players, for the next couple of days players can pick up a great, original and unique third person action adventure for the price of a beer”. So there we have it: would you prefer a greatly improved gaming experience or a nice cold one?
