Monday, August 30, 2010
Back to blogging
I think I'm going to start blogging again as I have really nothing better to do. So I should update the blog with something later tonight ;)
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Uncharted 2 : Among Thieves
And that's just the tutorial.
In my personal opinion, the top 'dogs' at Naughty 'God's' (see what I did there? :P) really outdid themselves with Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, I mean Uncharted: Drake's Fortune was already a huge success in itself but this was like adding chocolate syrup, strawberries and some premium grade icing onto a cake that sits on top of some Chocolate Indulgence and no I'm not exaggerating. I'm not just jumping on the bandwagon here and stating how awesome this game is just because everyone else is doing it, no no no, Uncharted 2 has definitely become a staple example of how games in this gen should be. From the graphics, to the gameplay, to the musical scores and right down to the voice acting, everything is done right.
The graphics in game are jaw dropping, everything was built to detail and the inclusion of Screen Space Ambient Occlusion (SSAO) gives objects and surroundings the ability to stand out which gives a nice little boost in the eye candy department. Lighting and shadows were also done brilliantly as can be seen when the player transitions from a sunlit area to some shade.
Gameplay has been amped up quite a bit since the last game as NG has emphasized a lot on vertical opportunities where the player can effortlessly scale decaying buildings to lay waste to enemies below. This gives the player more choices in how they want to go about completing a chapter. In most of the chapters you'll find yourself with an AI driven partner in the form of some fresh faces and even some old friends, helping you complete puzzles or maneuver the rough terrain. Puzzles in Uncharted 2 are pretty much more straight forward then they were in Uncharted 1, that's not saying much seeing as how they were particularly easy back then too.
Platforming has never been more fun with the compliments of smooth animations and the witty remarks made by Nate and the gang. The animations on the characters are top notch, it gives the player the feeling that Nate is really hurt. Also if he's carrying something, the weight of the object can be conveyed to the player through Nate's reactions/animations. I say platforming in Uncharted 2 is fun mainly because Nate goes wherever you want him to go, no "invisible wall" bullshit here.
The graphics in game are jaw dropping, everything was built to detail and the inclusion of Screen Space Ambient Occlusion (SSAO) gives objects and surroundings the ability to stand out which gives a nice little boost in the eye candy department. Lighting and shadows were also done brilliantly as can be seen when the player transitions from a sunlit area to some shade.
Gameplay has been amped up quite a bit since the last game as NG has emphasized a lot on vertical opportunities where the player can effortlessly scale decaying buildings to lay waste to enemies below. This gives the player more choices in how they want to go about completing a chapter. In most of the chapters you'll find yourself with an AI driven partner in the form of some fresh faces and even some old friends, helping you complete puzzles or maneuver the rough terrain. Puzzles in Uncharted 2 are pretty much more straight forward then they were in Uncharted 1, that's not saying much seeing as how they were particularly easy back then too.
Platforming has never been more fun with the compliments of smooth animations and the witty remarks made by Nate and the gang. The animations on the characters are top notch, it gives the player the feeling that Nate is really hurt. Also if he's carrying something, the weight of the object can be conveyed to the player through Nate's reactions/animations. I say platforming in Uncharted 2 is fun mainly because Nate goes wherever you want him to go, no "invisible wall" bullshit here.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Lost Planet 2 Demo on 24th September
Finally, after months of waiting PS3 owners will get the chance to try out the Lost Planet 2 demo that was previously thought to be a 360 exclusive. However, the video interview from Playstation Blog proved otherwise where the demo was being played on the PS3 behind Chris Kramer and Chris Morell while the interview was going on.
The demo will be available to download from PSN on the 24th of September.
Source: http://blog.us.playstation.com/2009/09/lost-planet-2-co-op-demo-coming-to-psn-september-2/
The demo will be available to download from PSN on the 24th of September.
Source: http://blog.us.playstation.com/2009/09/lost-planet-2-co-op-demo-coming-to-psn-september-2/
Friday, September 11, 2009
Sony at TGS '09
Sony is heading to TGS '09 with a pretty heavy lineup in tow. These are some of the games reported to make an appearance and by the looks of it, that's one heft lineup. However, whether most of these games are playable or not is left to be untold.
I spy with my little eye LOST PLANET 2! Probably a PS3 demo finally?
• PS3
1. FIFA 10
2. Lost Planet 2
3. Shin Sangoku Musou MULTI RAID Special
4. Pro Evo 2010
5. Final Fantasy XIII
6. FRONT MISSION EVOLVED
7. Bayonetta
8. Gran Turismo 5
9. Uncharted 2
10. God of War III
11. Infamous
12. Heavy Rain
13. Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack In Time
14. Quantum Theory
15. Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2
16. Tekken 6
17. Dragon Ball Rising Blast
18. Assassin's Creed II
• PSP
19. Persona 3 Portable
20. Shin Sangoku Musou 5 Special
21. MGS: Peace Walker
22. Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep
23. Valkyria Chronicles 2
24. Phantasy Star Portable 3
25. Gran Turismo
26. Minna no Sukkiri
27. Minna no Tennis Portable
28. Jigen Kairou
29. Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier
30. SOCOM: US Navy Seals Portable
31. BLEACK Soul Carnival 2
32. MotorStorm Raging Ice
33. LittleBigPlanet
34. Undead Knights
35. God Eater
Via: Kotaku
I spy with my little eye LOST PLANET 2! Probably a PS3 demo finally?
• PS3
1. FIFA 10
2. Lost Planet 2
3. Shin Sangoku Musou MULTI RAID Special
4. Pro Evo 2010
5. Final Fantasy XIII
6. FRONT MISSION EVOLVED
7. Bayonetta
8. Gran Turismo 5
9. Uncharted 2
10. God of War III
11. Infamous
12. Heavy Rain
13. Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack In Time
14. Quantum Theory
15. Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2
16. Tekken 6
17. Dragon Ball Rising Blast
18. Assassin's Creed II
• PSP
19. Persona 3 Portable
20. Shin Sangoku Musou 5 Special
21. MGS: Peace Walker
22. Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep
23. Valkyria Chronicles 2
24. Phantasy Star Portable 3
25. Gran Turismo
26. Minna no Sukkiri
27. Minna no Tennis Portable
28. Jigen Kairou
29. Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier
30. SOCOM: US Navy Seals Portable
31. BLEACK Soul Carnival 2
32. MotorStorm Raging Ice
33. LittleBigPlanet
34. Undead Knights
35. God Eater
Via: Kotaku
Batman : Arkham Asylum
I can't remember the last time I've played a batman game. In fact, I think I never did. I was always too busy preoccupied swinging from building to building or clawing the guts out of some poor soul. Or maybe it was on a platform I didn't own. Yea that might be it. Anyway, having played the game the whole way through, I found it to be simply amazing. Now I'm not the type of gamer who goes back to collect stuff after finishing the game but every time you collect a hidden item be it a Riddler Trophy or Patient Interview, new information pertaining to the existence of Batman's foes becomes available. Character bios start to unlock along with the twisted stories and interviews that has taken place in Arkham Asylum.
I was really impressed with the graphics the game had to offer. I was also interested in the moody atmosphere it was giving off. For one, the buildings looked decrepit which gave the humble abode a rather grunged outlook which worked really well despite the fact that the size of Arkham Asylum was on par with Singapore. Perhaps I'm exaggerating, but I was impressed with the size of the place. I supposed they had to make it as big as it is if the whole game were to take place in only that area(I would have liked to drive up the side of Wayne Tower though)but hey, I'm not complaining.
The game starts out with Batman on his way to Arkham Asylum with Joker apprehended. As soon as they arrive, Batman feels uneasy as the Joker gave himself without a fight, almost willingly, which would obviously arouse suspicion in anyone. I mean come on, it's the Joker we're talking about. Moving on, Batman accompanies the guards who are transferring Joker to his cell. On the way, you meet a very familiar face and a set of teeth you wouldn't want to be within 10 feet of. The transfer goes smoothly until one of the guards decides that it isn't wise to allow Batman to go any further as it will "agitate the other inmates" at that moment Joker decides its time to stop his little charade and claims to have control of the entire asylum. Apparently, Joker's goons were transferred to Arkham Asylum when a fire "mysteriously" broke out in BlackGate Prison. Harley Quinn had also played apart in the Jokers takeover. The actual game starts out here, which is pretty linear.
A nice little addition to the game are the riddles that the Riddler has left scattered all over Arkham Asylum. Most of the riddles, if not all of them have references to Batman's other adversaries. Some of them include the likes of Two-Face, The Penguin and Clayface, there was also a nice little cameo of Ras' Al Ghul where you can find his corpse in Dr. Young's office. However, If you re-visit the office later in the game, Ras Al Ghul's body bag has been unzipped and his body is missing, showing that he once again resurrected and escaped, such a shame, and you thought he was gone for good this time. I haven't even heard of The Great White and Black Mask right up till I discovered their bios in game and looked them up on the Internet. Solving each and every riddle gave me a sense of satisfaction after I realized I actually accomplished a collection challenge without any "online" help. Not to say they were easy, but because I was actually interested in solving them. There are other things to collect however, such as Patient Interview Recordings which reveal more of a patients personality and Riddler Trophies. There is also the case of The Spirit of Arkham which needs to be solved. It chronicles the stories of Amadeus Arkham up till his death and it's the world's greatest detective's job to find out what happened to him.
"Where would you find my home sweet home?"
The Scarecrow also makes an appearance and puts a nice little twist in gameplay which I found rather interesting. Croc's Lair was also a nice little thrill ride for me. The FreeFlow combat system was excellent and didn't get old no matter how many times I mashed that punch button. There was something about hearing the bones crunch every time the final blow was dealt. The gadgets were also fun to play around with, especially during parts where taking down goons stealthily was the only option if I didn't want to be filled with more holes than swiss cheese. Setting up the scene for a triple takedown while zip lining through the window at an unsuspecting henchmen right in the kisser with those killer boots is something you can only experience in this game. A number of ways could be used to dispatch unsuspecting foes. For example, throwing them of a ledge if its high enough just to knock them out, if not dangle them off the ledge by their ankles. Apparently Batman's code of "never to kill" applies here too but its good all the same.
"That has GOT to hurt"
Till next time, I leave you with a very disturbing interview tape with the Riddler, enjoy(if you can).
I was really impressed with the graphics the game had to offer. I was also interested in the moody atmosphere it was giving off. For one, the buildings looked decrepit which gave the humble abode a rather grunged outlook which worked really well despite the fact that the size of Arkham Asylum was on par with Singapore. Perhaps I'm exaggerating, but I was impressed with the size of the place. I supposed they had to make it as big as it is if the whole game were to take place in only that area(I would have liked to drive up the side of Wayne Tower though)but hey, I'm not complaining.
The game starts out with Batman on his way to Arkham Asylum with Joker apprehended. As soon as they arrive, Batman feels uneasy as the Joker gave himself without a fight, almost willingly, which would obviously arouse suspicion in anyone. I mean come on, it's the Joker we're talking about. Moving on, Batman accompanies the guards who are transferring Joker to his cell. On the way, you meet a very familiar face and a set of teeth you wouldn't want to be within 10 feet of. The transfer goes smoothly until one of the guards decides that it isn't wise to allow Batman to go any further as it will "agitate the other inmates" at that moment Joker decides its time to stop his little charade and claims to have control of the entire asylum. Apparently, Joker's goons were transferred to Arkham Asylum when a fire "mysteriously" broke out in BlackGate Prison. Harley Quinn had also played apart in the Jokers takeover. The actual game starts out here, which is pretty linear.
"I have your scent Batman"
A nice little addition to the game are the riddles that the Riddler has left scattered all over Arkham Asylum. Most of the riddles, if not all of them have references to Batman's other adversaries. Some of them include the likes of Two-Face, The Penguin and Clayface, there was also a nice little cameo of Ras' Al Ghul where you can find his corpse in Dr. Young's office. However, If you re-visit the office later in the game, Ras Al Ghul's body bag has been unzipped and his body is missing, showing that he once again resurrected and escaped, such a shame, and you thought he was gone for good this time. I haven't even heard of The Great White and Black Mask right up till I discovered their bios in game and looked them up on the Internet. Solving each and every riddle gave me a sense of satisfaction after I realized I actually accomplished a collection challenge without any "online" help. Not to say they were easy, but because I was actually interested in solving them. There are other things to collect however, such as Patient Interview Recordings which reveal more of a patients personality and Riddler Trophies. There is also the case of The Spirit of Arkham which needs to be solved. It chronicles the stories of Amadeus Arkham up till his death and it's the world's greatest detective's job to find out what happened to him.
The Scarecrow also makes an appearance and puts a nice little twist in gameplay which I found rather interesting. Croc's Lair was also a nice little thrill ride for me. The FreeFlow combat system was excellent and didn't get old no matter how many times I mashed that punch button. There was something about hearing the bones crunch every time the final blow was dealt. The gadgets were also fun to play around with, especially during parts where taking down goons stealthily was the only option if I didn't want to be filled with more holes than swiss cheese. Setting up the scene for a triple takedown while zip lining through the window at an unsuspecting henchmen right in the kisser with those killer boots is something you can only experience in this game. A number of ways could be used to dispatch unsuspecting foes. For example, throwing them of a ledge if its high enough just to knock them out, if not dangle them off the ledge by their ankles. Apparently Batman's code of "never to kill" applies here too but its good all the same.
Till next time, I leave you with a very disturbing interview tape with the Riddler, enjoy(if you can).
"Easily doctor. It's not my baby" - The Riddler
Sunday, August 30, 2009
WET all over
Misleading as the title may seem, I am referring to Wetwork or wet work which is a euphemism for murder or assassination, alluding to hands literally wet with blood, so there. Just tried the demo, animations seem abit clunky at times but gameplay was fun accompanied with the old film style filter. Definitely worth looking into this one. Guess I'll get ready for another R1 mashing title.
Another racing title which was announced at E3 that I'm looking forward to ever since I was shown this trailer by my cousin is none other than Split Second,a racer fueled by Disney Studios. One would immediately think of a Disney character when it comes to Disney Studios, however they seem to be branching out with Pure as a stepping stone. This game seems to be coming along pretty well although there are elements which are still WIP when it was shown at E3. Nonetheless, almost everything seems to be done and it looks worthy of a nextgen console.
Just finished Shakugan no Shana (Y)
And the Shanatan extras were full of laughs.
Another racing title which was announced at E3 that I'm looking forward to ever since I was shown this trailer by my cousin is none other than Split Second,a racer fueled by Disney Studios. One would immediately think of a Disney character when it comes to Disney Studios, however they seem to be branching out with Pure as a stepping stone. This game seems to be coming along pretty well although there are elements which are still WIP when it was shown at E3. Nonetheless, almost everything seems to be done and it looks worthy of a nextgen console.
Just finished Shakugan no Shana (Y)
And the Shanatan extras were full of laughs.
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