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Dynasty Warriors is a series built on the familiar. This franchise has been running for years, yet has managed to remain a staple in the diet of the average gamer. You may be surprised to find your formula altered a bit in this entry, in pretty significant ways.
Strikeforce is a PSP port and will now be available for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. The setting is similar to other iterations in the series – you play as an officer in one of three warring kingdoms based loosely off history in an effort to unify China. The gameplay however is quite different, and returning fans will notice a game seemingly influenced by multiplayer focused franchises like Monster Hunter.
Offering an assortment of officers with which to advance the story, you begin your quest during the Yellow Turban Rebellion and advance until you defeat all of your foes and unify the country. Rather than being menu-driven, mission planning and character management take place in small hub worlds that house several people that can fine tune your character in various ways, and also allow for selection of quests.
You can equip Chi skills, a sort of accessory that alters your abilities in various ways, from giving you extra jumps to allowing you to fly for longer periods of time. That’s right, fly. Dynasty Warriors has become Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon with characters that float through the air in motionless poses.
Each character is also given two weapons to start, with one of those weapons able to be subbed out for any other kind of weapon in the game. This allows for a character to be more customizable than in other titles, and lets he or she feel more unique. Like in earlier titles, you can upgrade weapons in various ways, though you do have good control of how exactly you would like them to progress.
Upgrading weapons and buying Chi skills isn’t all fun and games though. To do these tasks you need to find materials, which are scattered throughout missions and obtained by felling enemy officers and troops. Some of these materials can feel very grindy to get, but that classic Dynasty Warriors obsession to perfect your character helps to offset that feeling.
Gameplay may seem familiar when you start, but you’ll immediately notice a lack of friendly army units to assist you. You only have three allied officers, which are other human players if you are playing online. If you are going solo, you can at least issue commands to them so they remain useful to you during the battle. This makes the game feel very different, as it seems to lack that epic battle feeling of the other titles and seems be sit more at the generic brawler level. Adding to that feeling are disconnected areas that act as the battlefield, rather than one sprawling open area. This not only breaks up the action in terms of load screens, but also makes it feel like the objectives you complete are not interconnected and related to the mission as a whole.
To offset these negatives is a new mode called “Fury” mode. In Fury mode you turn into a character reminiscent of Dragonball Z and gain enhanced speed, strength, and defense. Seeing brightly glowing characters flying around lightning towers and fire-breathing lion statues seems a little too unreal at times, even for a title in this series.
The biggest disappointment was the lack of a local multiplayer included in the game. The game may have a multiplayer focus, but that’s no reason to take out the local multiplayer. Having friends to play Dynasty Warriors seems the natural way you’d play the game, rather than have to find them through servers and matchmaking.
This is certainly a title unlike any other in the series so far. If you find yourself in need of a Dynasty Warriors fix, this will certainly do the trick, but it may be a bit too different for veterans of the series. If you’re new to the series or enjoy the Monster Hunter series, this may be the title to break you into Dynasty Warriors. Check it out with a rent before you buy, and you probably won’t be disappointed.
Trine is a game that garnered plenty of attention before its release. It was predicted by many to be the game that stood alongside Battlefield 1943 as proof that download-only games were capable of competing with retail games in terms of quality and game design. There is a definite and self-evident boundary between downloadable and retail games that means both types of game should be enjoyed on their own merits. If this boundary becomes unclear, it leads to deluded gamers being disappointed that BF 1943 isn't as good as Killzone 2, or that Trine is no LittleBigPlanet. So let's not lie here, Trine is very much a download-only game, but within that realm it's a huge accomplishment, and an indicator of just how brilliantly designed such games can be.
Trine is a physics-based 2D platformer conceived by indie Finnish developer Frozenbyte who are best known for, well, Trine (unless you've heard of the top-down shooter Shadowgrounds). You control a failing Wizard, a drunkard Knight and a freeloading Thief, whose souls are bound together by the mysterious titular Trine stone. Using these so-called 'heroes', you have the unenviable task of saving the world from an evil Dark Lord, which in turn frees the heroes' souls from each other (or something like that).
The thin plot works in Trine's favour though, as it gives it that old school quality of the gaming for gaming's sake, rather than aiming for some ultimate plot-oriented goal; the levels could go on forever and it'd never get boring. This is not to say that Trine lacks character though, as each of the heroes has a unique and likeable personality that fits with the fairy-tale feel of the game. Also, the down-time between the levels is designed simply but brilliantly; the map charting your progress - accompanied by some delightful background music and a wise-voiced narrator - keeps the game flowing and give you that warm buzz of adventure.
The most outstanding element of Trine is its presentation. In terms of graphics and soundtrack - combining to great effect - it is near perfection and genuinely no less impressive than a retail game. Each of Trine's 15 levels is wonderfully varied, starting in idyllic forests and vales, then later changing to rocky valleys and rusting iron keeps. The backgrounds are dynamic and deep, giving the game a sense of scale, and the use of lighting immerses everything on-screen in a magical glow. The serenading musical score is perfectly suited to the fairy-tale look of the game and by the time you're halfway through the first level, you'll find yourself wondering why we even bother with three dimensions when two - with the right soundtrack - can be so beautiful.
 Trine's backgrounds are deep and majestic
Once you're done swooning over Trine's mystical beauty, the aim of the game is to utilise your heroes' unique abilities to help you get past the various obstacles and dangers that infest the game. Pontius the knight is your party's bodyguard, and is best at hacking and slashing his way through the skeleton hordes that attack you. The thief Zoya has a bow and a grappling hook with which she can reach places the others can't. The wizard Amadeus is the brains of the bunch, and is able to magically create and move objects around to form bridges, climbable towers, or even just use them to crush enemy minions though this is usually a last resort. The gameplay is, as expected in a platformer, very simple; however, as expected in a physics-based game, it can be frustrating. Moving objects around using the wizard can be particularly painful; jerking the motion-sensitive controller around to place a plank in just the right position while hordes of skeletons are pouring out of hell portals to slaughter you is genuinely stress-inducing.
The characters are all equally fun to control, and you'll need to make creative use of each of their abilities if you want to succeed. Each hero also has unique abilities and weapons that are gained by collecting experience and opening treasure chests throughout the game you acquire new abilities and items that will all come in useful at some point in the game. Although the levelling system is basic, it's satisfying enough to get you excited each time a new ability can be assigned.
Multiplayer is a welcome, if slightly neglected, addition
Trine also offers a local multiplayer mode which allows all three heroes to be used simultaneously. Once you work out how to actually initiate a multi-player session (the game interface doesn't even hint that the option exists – just press start on a spare controller during gameplay), the fun really began - as did the problems. While playing through Trine with companions enhances the fun three-fold, there are some horribly basic flaws that can only be put down to development laziness. Firstly, the camera often forgets that there's more than one player on the screen. If someone storms ahead (usually the grapple-hooking Thief) then the other two players are left off-screen rather than the camera zooming out at least a bit and adapting to the situation. Also, there was more than one occasion where the solution to an obstacle would involve leaving one member of the party behind (this would usually be the self-sacrificing Wizard). While Trine is, like most things, more enjoyable when played with people, you couldn't help but feel that the multi-player was thrown in as a novel side-thought rather than a means of truly enhancing the game. The relentless final level is ultimate evidence that this game was made with little consideration for multiplayer; online play would've been nice as well.
Having a companion with you means there's no frantic character switching mid-combat
Trine is a technically accomplished game that combines mesmerising atmosphere with clever physics-based gameplay. While there is nothing about the game that really spoils it, some multiplayer flaws and lack of incentive to play through it more than once (unless you're after an achievable Platinum trophy) prevent Trine from achieving perfection. Another potential deterrent is the price-tag which is the highest the writer has seen for a download-only game. When you consider that PS3 platinum games such as Uncharted or LBP can be bought for the same price, it's a little shocking. If, however, you don't think money should be an obstacle in experiencing a game that is spearheading the download-only revolution, then you should indulge in the genuine pleasure of playing Trine.
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It's 5am and you're sitting in front of the TV; eyes are bloodshot and tired but your mind is as alert as it was 6 hours ago when you sat down for 'a nightcap' of Dragon Age: Origins. The volume is tuned down to the threshold of my hearing so as not to wake your sleeping girlfriend next door, and you're making love to Leliana in the party camp after a long and gruelling quest.
Games like Dragon Age come few and between; the high fantasy RPG has always been a genre defined partly by the fact that its big titles come out rarely, but when they do they draw you into their game worlds for years. Nothing says escapism like a world full of dragons, dungeons and axe-wielding dwarves. The brilliant Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion fulfilled this role admirably in the past few years, and now >Dragon Age has stepped up as the rightful successor to the RPG throne.
Dragon Age was developed by RPG stalwarts BioWare, who have been pioneering the genre since releasing Baldur's Gate in 1998 right up until Mass Effect in 2007. While Dragon Age does little that Bioware hasn't done before, its brilliant character development, strong story, and deep, twisted game world are typically brilliant. Forget about the idyllic landscapes of Oblivion, the world of Ferelden is dark, smart, and intriguing, and it won't be long before you will get caught up in its shady conspiracies and corrupt politics.
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Character creation is well-detailed; worth spending time on considering you'll spending at least 60 hours with him/her.
True to RPG tradition, you begin by creating a character, customising his appearance, and choosing his 'Origin'. There are several choices here and each will affect how and where you begin your adventure and how various characters interact with you throughout the game. After spending an hour obsessively tampering with facial intricacies such as mouth shape and nose sellion depth, the writer entered the fray with a Dwarven warrior. The first thing that's striking upon starting the game is the brilliant character interaction; talking with my Dwarf's sister lets me accuse her of sleeping around and state that my in-game mother is a hopeless alcoholic. While early interactions don't have much long-term effect, it's worth being choosy with your words in the later game as what you say affects how your allies, enemies and how the plot line will evolve.
Something that doesn't instantly impress in Dragon Age is the macro-based combat system in which combat is automated and specific abilities need to 'cool down' before they can be used again; this was especially dreary as a warrior, whose slow weapon and single combat ability made for painfully linear combat. However, once you gain more skills, spells and party members the tactical nature of the combat becomes extremely satisfying. The intuitive radial menu allows you to pause the action at any time, giving you easy access to the various abilities and items available to your party. This allows you to have all your party members using specified actions simultaneously, and then enjoy the moment as your synchronised party wreaks havoc on the enemy. Adding to the depth is the Tactics screen which allows you to play around with your party AI and specify what actions they should take based on a substantial list of pre-set situations. However, this combat system is clearly better adapted to the PC version - which uses the irreplaceable mouse and allows for an isometric camera angle. When there are more enemies on-screen, targeting becomes a nightmare as you pretty much need an uninterrupted line of sight to your chosen enemy to select him.
Another problem in bigger combat situations is that your AI party members develop some major pathfinding issues. While these issues slightly mar Dragon Age's deep combat system, it is otherwise a good combat system that, with some patience and dedication, will ultimately feel very rewarding.
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Dragon Age is dark, charming and, ahem, seductive...
Where Dragon Age really shines is in its storytelling. All the characters you meet have an individual story to tell that fills out the game with a sense of scale and history. This is reinforced by the seemingly endless wealth of the codex scattered throughout Ferelden; while reading through all of it is something only for the hardcore gamer (with too much time on his hands), the fact that it's there should you get curious about a certain place or creature is novel. Good contact with your party is also essential, as you receive stats boosts, important information and even the chance to bed your companions .
The quests also have a dark edge to them that helps justify the game's 18-rating; children possessed by demons, human sacrifices and cannibalism are just some of the things you'll encounter and the way in which you decide to deal with them will have a lasting effect on your game.
Dragon Age's main weakness is its graphics, which looks dated by a good couple of years. While the character models look decent enough and have a good variety of facial expressions, the environments are generally ugly due to their unvaried colour palette and relatively low-res textures; yet for some reason, Dragon Age can get away with it. It is a dark and corrupt world with so much intrigue and depth, that you never feel the need to go for a walk in the wilderness at dawn and watch the sun rise over the capital city. Instead, you talk to random people (quest-givers are handily labelled), find out about the history of Ferelden, or do one of countless side-quests – which can shed light on storyline and characters. So, in an abstract way, the average graphics highlight the brilliance of the game's other aspects. Fan-boys will however be pleased to hear that Dragon Age on the PS3 looks better than the 360 due to higher texture resolution and bump mapping; there's a first time for everything.
The graphics are passable, but the storytelling is brilliant
Dragon Age: Origins is a rare breed of game that definitely isn't for everyone. It's not the kind of socially acceptable game that you can chat about with casual-gamer acquaintances, but rather the kind of game you can excitedly ramble about with your like-minded friends. If the word 'RPG' evokes images of rocket launchers rather than swords, sorcery and goblins then Dragon Age is definitely not a game you'll 'get'.
Unlike Oblivion, it doesn't offer the novelty of being able to rob and kill whoever you want, wherever you want; things that for some reason always appealed to the casual gamer. It's a plot-heavy game in which you'll probably spend an equal amount of time chatting to people and making game-altering moral decisions as you will fighting. For true high-fantasy RPG fans, Dragon Age is a game that should keep them busy for a good couple of years (especially with its huge mass of upcoming DLC). For those of you unfamiliar with such games, or if you were fooled by the misleading advertising into thinking that this is some brutal, grungy hack-n-slash, think again. Dragon Age is a hardcore RPG experience that is rewarding only to those who are willing to be seduced by its dark fantasy charm.
Vigil Games make their debut into the gaming world with Darksiders, a Zelda-esque action game that puts players into the role of War, the first Horseman of the Apocalypse. It's a rather entertaining journey that's complete with solid action and an intriguing story. Vigil Games have a good start on their hands with Darksiders, as well as a game that has the potential to kick start a pretty interesting series.
Darksiders kicks things off with the Apocalypse. Demons fall from the sky, angels and demons duke it out in the streets and the first Horseman shows up to his duty. There is just one tiny little problem: it wasn't time for the Apocalypse begin. None of the Seven Seals were ever broken, meaning someone got things started prematurely. After being stripped of his powers and falling in battle, the Charred Council – in short, the Horsemen work for them, and Heaven and Hell must abide by their rules – save War from what would have been certain death. The Charred Council puts the blame on War, taking everything he tells them as a lie. War decides to set things right by killing the Destroyer – the ruler of Hell – and to try and discover who falsely started the Apocalypse. Upon War's return to Earth he discovers that a hundred years have passed, the human race is extinct, Hell is in full control, and both angels and demons want him dead.
War's main weapon of choice is his sword, Chaoseater. Not the best name in the world, but it is one wicked blade. As you progress in the game, though, more weaponry and gear becomes available. No matter what other weapon you equip, though, Chaoseater will always be available for use via the square button. There is a total of six different pieces of gear, and three weapons. Any equipped gear is assigned to the R2 button and any equipped weaponry – other than the Chaoseater – is assigned to the triangle button. The two weapons and the gear can be assigned to the D-pad for easy swapping.
With each hit the weapon used gains experience towards becoming stronger. Each of the three weapons have four levels to be attained, and with each new level comes a boost in attack power. Enhancements that boost a variety of things, from weapon experience gained to a boost in attack power, can be equipped to War's weaponry. Each weapon also has its own set of combos and abilities to be purchased with souls, and a good bit of the abilities can be upgraded.
Good possibility that the scrawny zombie guy is about to die.
Combat in Darksiders is solid. None of the combos are extremely hard to learn, you won't need to practice for hours and hours to master them. You could go through every battle with just using the sword, or you could mix things up a bit and throw in some scythe or gauntlet attacks, or both. Once an enemy has received enough damage a quick kill can be executed. Quick kills are ridiculously simple to perform, as all you have to do is press the circle button and watch War dispose of the enemy in an awesomely brutal fashion. War can also block or dodge enemy attacks, though some enemies will break right through your block, and sometimes War's dodge will simply not get you out of harm's way. The ability to perform a block counter is also available; block near the end of enemy's attack and War will counter with a rather powerful strike. Aside from dodging not always avoiding an attack, combat in Darksiders is a blast. Experimenting with weapons and gear combinations is entertaining and helps keep things feeling fresh throughout the game.
Later in the game you can even lay waste to enemies from horseback. Darksiders just wouldn't be complete if you couldn't ride around on War's horse - he is a Horseman after all. When riding around on War's fiery steed you receive a nice boost in attack power, and , of course, you can cover a lot more ground at a faster pace. When on horseback, though, you can only use Chaoseater and Mercy - which is a gun.
The world in Darksiders is a pretty decent size and seamless, so you aren't going to have to sit through a load screen every time you run into a new area. While the entire world has been ravaged by the minions of Hell, it has a bit of a charm to it. Not a 'nice place to visit' kind of a charm, but a 'great place to throw down with demons and angels' kind of charm. Everything is pretty much in ruins, save for places that demons have claimed for themselves. You can look around at the environment and tell that humans used to inhabit the place. Vigil Games did a great job at combining fantasy with a post apocalyptic Earth.
War is quite the burly one.
What really helps pull everything together is the game's art style. Seeing as comic artist Joe Madureira – one of the founding members of Vigil Games – was the creative director, the game's style has a nice comic book feel to it that works really well. War looks big and bulky without being cartoony. Demons look fierce and monstrous. Angels are decked out in armor and wield futuristic guns and swords – apparently Heaven has some advanced technology. There are plenty of cool things to be seen in the game. It's also nice seeing a female character wearing actual armor and not a metal bikini.
Not everything, though, is perfect in the impressive world of Darksiders. While the bosses are gigantic, and are fun to fight, they really aren't that difficult. Once you figure out what to do, they go down without a problem, even on the game's hardest difficulty, Apocalyptic. The frame rate does drop on occasion, but it's usually when approaching a different location.
Darksiders is a great start for Vigil Games, there is no doubt about it. They have finely crafted an adventure-action game that is enjoyable from start to finish, thanks to its fun gameplay and interesting story. The fact that you play as a Horseman of the Apocalypse doesn't hurt either. There is a lot to like about the title, and it is one that fans of action games should try out.
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Playstation 3
Tuesday, 02 March 2010 00:00 | 
Written by Benoit Lelievre |
