April Video Game Preview Thread

rocks_fan · Apr 17, 2006

April is "Everyone's still playing Oblivion" month. Good thing too since I can't spend a dime on games this month. Or next month. Probably not the month after that either.

*grumble*

Changing jobs sucks.

Coach AI · Apr 17, 2006

I have to say...I'm really pretty impressed with Tomb Raider. Graphics on the 360 are gorgeous, control is much, much improved. The overall atmosphere really works well.

It is a somewhat short game - I'm renting it for a few nights, and just with about five hours of play time I'm like three stages away from the end. But there's still some replay value; rewards, achievements, even costumes. There's actually a "Croft Manor" play mode that lets you roam around the mansion...and there's actually stuff to do in it.

Maybe not quite a 60 dollar game...but a solid game nonetheless.

macalu · Apr 17, 2006

wow, i never knew GTA:LCS was coming to the PS2. hadn't heard any hype about it. what am i saying, i've still got GTA:SA to finish.

RC Cola · Apr 17, 2006

macalu said:

wow, i never knew GTA:LCS was coming to the PS2. hadn't heard any hype about it. what am i saying, i've still got GTA:SA to finish.
Click to expand...

It is a budget title (like $20-$30 IIRC), so they may not be trying to hype it that much.That said, I think the game won't be out this month; sounds like more of late May release at the earliest.

BTW, here's one game I forgot to preview (not sure how I missed it since it sounds interesting):

PC and Xbox
Dreamfall: The Longest Journey (Adventure) 4/17

http://www.gamespot.com/pc/adventure/longestjourney2wt/news.html?sid=6146566

Dreamfall will have you play as three different characters on three different worlds, ranging from a futuristic utopia to a more medieval setting. While Funcom originally struggled with how to classify the game, calling it, among other things, an action adventure, Tornquist said that they've since become calling it what it is--a "modern adventure game." Dreamfall is all about overcoming obstacles and challenges, as well as giving you the tools to do so in a variety of ways. There are classic adventure-style puzzles where you have to figure out how to solve problems, and also tons of minigames that are designed to be simple and fun, not excruciatingly difficult, which is a problem with some adventure games. Meanwhile, there's also a light action element to the game, as you can choose to fight it out with your characters if you'd like. The combat controls are inspired by those found in games such as Jade Empire, so it's designed to be accessible to those with slower reflexes. "The combat is not Dead or Alive," he said.

There's approximately 20 to 30 hours of gameplay in Dreamfall, he explained, depending on how much time you spend talking with all the characters. Tornquist said that he didn't want players doing the same things over and over again, so you'll be constantly traveling to new areas, such as foreboding dungeons or beautiful futuristic cities. The game is flexible enough to let you solve many problems in a multitude of ways. If you're being chased in the dungeon by an angry troll, you can try ducking and hiding in the shadows or facing it down, if you feel lucky enough. Then there are also other ways you can solve puzzles, such as the conversational relationship games that you can have with characters to try and make them see your side.
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There might be some reviews for it soon.

SamFisher · Apr 17, 2006

On an unrelated note, I started playing Kameo the other day reluctantly (it's for fairies!) since it came with the xbox bundle and I got bored/frustrated with Perfect Dark Zero and PGR3 - and instead it turned out to be one of the better games I've played in a while. Effeminate but fun.

RC Cola · Apr 23, 2006

Dreamfall: The Longest Journey (PC, XBX)
http://www.gamespot.com/pc/adventure/longestjourney2wt/review.html?sid=6147844

Anchored by a wonderful cast of characters, the very well-crafted sci-fi story in Dreamfall will leave you anxiously wanting more.
The Good: An incredibly provocative sci-fi story filled with many memorable characters; beautiful presentation, featuring fantastic voice acting and musical score; dialogue prompts you to make some tough, interesting decisions.
The Bad: As rich as it is, the story leaves you wanting much more; simplistic combat, not much challenge.
Click to expand...

Gameplay
7
Graphics
8
Sound
10
Value
7
Tilt
9
Overall
8.1
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8.1 at Gamespot, ~79% at Gamerankings (for both XBX and PC).

MLB 2K6 (PSP)
http://www.gamespot.com/psp/sports/majorleaguebaseball2k6/review.html?sid=6147789

Major League Baseball 2K6 is a deep and feature-rich baseball simulation, but its portrayal of the sport is apathetic.
The Good: Deep and satisfying gameplay; plenty of play modes; complete franchise mode; good commentary from jon miller and joe morgan.
The Bad: Lifeless atmosphere; same plays and replays happen all the time; no batter walk-ups; precious little audio other than the commentary.
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Gameplay
8
Graphics
6
Sound
5
Value
8
Tilt
8
Overall
7.4
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7.4 at Gamespot, ~76% at Gamerankings.

Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War (PS2)
http://ps2.ign.com/articles/702/702736p1.html

Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War doesn’t change the formula established by its predecessors. It does, however, add yet another layer of polish and refinement to a series that’s near perfect at what it sets out to do. Plus, the addition of a rewarding multiplayer mode, not to mention improvements in AI and mission variety, make it a worthy successor. So while it doesn’t feel revolutionary, fans and non- fans will have a hard time caring.
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8.5 Presentation
Namco presents another believable world of modern warfare. Very slick package, overall.
9.0 Graphics
Sharp textures, fluid animation and believable effects. Nothing at all to complain about.
8.5 Sound
Inspiring, high-quality tunes lend a hand in battle.
8.5 Gameplay
Enhanced, but altogether identical flight mechanics and gameplay to previous titles in the series.
9.0 Lasting Appeal
Awesome multiplayer options, unlockables and a lengthy campaign will keep things going for a while.
8.8
Great OVERALL
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8.8 at IGN, ~79% at Gamerankings.

2006 FIFA World Cup (360 and more)
http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/702/702277p1.html

2006 FIFA World Cup is a delightful celebration of the Super Bowl of soccer with the official German stadiums, all the teams you could want and a variety of game modes. It's chalk-full of World Cup atmosphere, from the roar of the crowd to a rainstorm of confetti to actual video-tours of each German stadium to 127 national anthems. Of course, the lack of a true manager mode hurts the longevity of a title that should hold value until 2008, or even beyond. But EA put together its most solid soccer gameplay experience yet and the deepest World Cup title of all time. Still, it's hard to argue that the gameplay, an obvious imitation of Winning Eleven, is better, but with star players and a nifty new shooting mechanism, it would be hard to argue it's worse. While the game is priced at a frugal $29.99 elsewhere, it's hard to justify the $59.99 price-point on the Xbox 360. But, and it might not be saying much, World Cup is still the best soccer title on the 360.
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9.0 Presentation
Every national anthem, facts about each country, every World Cup stadium -- EA nailed the international spectacle that is the World Cup.
7.0 Graphics
The cutscenes and replays look terrific, as do player animations, but regular gameplay is only decent, visually. That's videogame soccer for you.
8.0 Sound
Excellent work in the audio booth and with a responsive, riotous crowd. We're not sure which country will appreciate the song list, but it's probably not this one.
8.5 Gameplay
Yes it's a good imitation of Winning Eleven, but FIFA does manage to innovate with star players, shooting and PKs. Imitator or not, this is a fun soccer game to play.
6.0 Lasting Appeal
World Cup games are traditionally shallow and, while this is the deepest World Cup game yet, there should be more bang for your buck with some kind of manager mode.
8.4
Impressive
OVERALL
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8.4 for 360 (and PC, XBX, PS2; GC got 8.0 and PSP got 7.8) at IGN. All the Gamerankings scores are based solely on the IGN scores, so they're all the same at the moment.

peleincubus · Apr 23, 2006

SamFisher said:

On an unrelated note, I started playing Kameo the other day reluctantly (it's for fairies!) since it came with the xbox bundle and I got bored/frustrated with Perfect Dark Zero and PGR3 - and instead it turned out to be one of the better games I've played in a while. Effeminate but fun.
Click to expand...

haha so i guess your more into the macho video games...

RC Cola · Apr 30, 2006

Atelier Iris 2 (PS2)
http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/rpg/atelieriris2/review.html?sid=6148225

Atelier Iris 2 carries the same great style and humor of its predecessor, but the tedious quest design spoils some of the fun.
The Good: Simplified item-creation system; straightforward battle system is easy to learn and moves quickly; interesting and funny cast of characters.
The Bad: Tiresome, unrewarding quest design; battles are often too easy.
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Gameplay
6
Graphics
7
Sound
7
Value
7
Tilt
8
Overall
7.0
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7.0 from Gamespot, ~72% at Gamerankings.

OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast (PSP, PS2, XBX)
http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/driving/outrun2006coast2coast/review.html

Outrun 2006 Coast 2 Coast offers a fun, accessible experience to racing fans who just want to jam on the accelerator and go.
The Good: Fun, accessible, arcade-style racing; lots of unlockable content; drifting ridiculous distances; online play; dude, it's got ferraris.
The Bad: Very similar to the last game in the series; online population is sparse; psp controls not quite as precise as we'd like.
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Gameplay
8
Graphics
8
Sound
8
Value
8
Tilt
8
Overall
8.0
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8.0 for PSP/PS2 at Gamespot (no score for XBX, but I assume it is similar), 84% for PSP/PS2 at Gamerankings, while the XBX version has ~77%.

Rampage: Total Destruction (PS2, GC)
http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/action/rampagetotaldestruction/review.html

Total Destruction is a glossy coat of paint on an ancient gameplay formula that simply doesn't hold water in 2006.
The Good: Lots of creatively designed monsters; plenty of cities to play through in both single- and multiplayer; only $20.
The Bad: Core action is relentlessly button-mashy and devoid of depth; very little variety to the environments; overly repetitive sound effects; monster-on-monster combat is almost nonexistent.
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Gameplay
5
Graphics
7
Sound
6
Value
7
Tilt
5
Overall
5.7
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5.7 at Gamespot, ~54% for PS2 and ~58% for GC at Gamerankings.

Some extra games that I didn't preview:
Lost Magic (DS)
http://www.gamespot.com/ds/action/lostmagic/review.html?sid=6148582

LostMagic is a role-playing game that starts well and gets deeper and better as you spend more time with it.
The Good: Excellent controls; clean, colorful visuals; enjoyable offline multiplayer duels; varied level design.
The Bad: Micromanaging monster movement; laggy online play; rollercoaster difficulty.
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Gameplay
8
Graphics
8
Sound
7
Value
8
Tilt
8
Overall
7.9
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7.9 at Gamespot, ~72% at Gamerankings.

WRC: FIA World Rally Championship (PSP)
http://www.gamespot.com/psp/driving/wrc/review.html?sid=6148597

As the first rally racer to hit the PSP in North America, WRC is a good bit of fun, despite its flaws.
The Good: Six rally car types, along with multiple unlockable upgraded versions of each; plenty of rallies to race through; excellent visual presentation.
The Bad: Analog control is near broken in its oversensitivity; even on novice difficulty, the game is pretty hard, and it just gets more frustrating from there; painfully limited soundtrack options.
Click to expand...

Gameplay
7
Graphics
9
Sound
7
Value
8
Tilt
7
Overall
7.5
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7.5 at Gamespot, ~70% at Gamerankings.

Final Fantasy XI Online (360)
http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/rpg/finalfantasy11/review.html?sid=6148572

While this online role-playing game may have been a hit for the PC and PlayStation 2, it feels very awkward and entirely out of place on the Xbox 360.
The Good: Features some unmistakable Final Fantasy characters and music; deep, time-tested gameplay has kept players glued for months or years; an absolutely huge gameworld, thanks partly to three included expansion packs.
The Bad: Preposterously long installation period, plus layers of unnecessary inconvenience; virtually nothing done to enhance the experience for the xbox 360; slowly paced action and exploration caters almost exclusively to the hardcore; tough-to-swallow monthly fees required; not a single unlockable achievement, unlike every other 360 game.
Click to expand...

Gameplay
7
Graphics
5
Sound
7
Value
6
Tilt
5
Overall
6.0
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6.0 at Gamespot, ~71% at Gamerankings.

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April Video Game Preview Thread

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