Monday, May 28, 2012
Team Fortress 2 Quick Review
Hi everyone, just a quick review on Team Fortress 2 by all of us here at VG Reviews AJJ!
Saturday, May 5, 2012
StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty
While starting to think what to write about this game, I had many thoughts in my find about how this game is perfect in every single way and that i love it. But as a reviewers point of view i had to calm down and think about it in a mutual manner and really think about this games flaws. Starcraft 2 is a sequel to Starcraft Brood War set after 4 years after the events of Brood War and continues as it left of as Karrigan the Queen of Blades the over-mind of the Zerg bring fear to everyone in the galaxy. The Protoss have gone into hiding after their home world had been decimated by the Zerg and the Terran (humans) in the district is now under the solum command of emperor Minks, while Jim Raynor is made to look like an outlaw, even though he helped Minks in obtaining his command.
Starcraft 2 is a Blizzard is a planned as a three part expansion pack that concentrates on one of the main race story lines, the first one being Wings of Liberty fir the Terran race other none as the humans, release on 27th July 2010 after many months of beta testing (which i had played a lot). The basic story told in this first part expansion is to bring down the Terran dictatorship of imperial Minks and stop the swarm of the Zerg. Starcraft 2: Wings of Liberty is played out similarly to Starcraft Brood war, where it a top face control over units that your create bases and armies to destroy the enemy at that current point. The basic mechanics of playing Starcraft in general is to Macro, which is to continuously keep production of bases and armies, and Micro, which is the control of the units which you are to control to perform tasks. For each Race there is three tech paths that the player may take to conquer the enemy.
The Games has heavily been improves in all fronts, the graphical engine of how units move and operates. The game play has drastically improved as well, with new ways to play the game being developing everyday even after close to 2 years since it has been released. Blizzard Entertainment has created a marvelous game that has also formed a cult following in the form of esports. Since the game is layered with unlimited paths of strategies, the diversification in gameplay in unfathomable similarly to its predecessor Brood war, that still to this day are continuing developing new ways to play even 12 years after its release in 1998. In the past 2 years the competitive scene has gone internationally from its domestication in Korea, developing Starcraft 2 Leagues where players compete for fame and money. Communities on such sites as TeamLiquid and starcraft sub reddits and even Australian Star Society in university. This game has brought many gamers together from around the world in competing internationally in the GSLs or MLGs or on a personal level and discuss there passion of the game with each other while all enjoying it.
Personal rating:
Graphics: 9/10
StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty has stunning graphics that allows the player to even zoom up into individual units in a middle of a battle. This game even supports a very good 3D surround experiences that is no novelty. The large 4v4 battles of Maxed armies are spectacular to just watch let alone play.
Sound: 9/10
The sound and music throughout the whole game in the campaign, multiplayer and even menu/title scenes are a set of reconstructed SC1 themes orchestrated perfectively to creates specific moods at a given time.
Gameplay: 10/10
The gameplay is perfect, some people might argue but this game even at 2 years old is still just in its infancy and players, pro or not have a long way to go to fully understand the game. And with the help of the developed always in the look out to fixed and game changing players its is always different from month to month.
Overall: 10/10
Personally just from personal passion from this game i would rate this game even higher then ten, the dynamic gameplay combined with the graphical and sound ingenuity just all in all had created not just a game but a community that love the game.
A passionate community that lives and breaths Starcraft.
A passionate community that lives and breaths Starcraft.
Crysis 2
Crysis 2 is a first-person shooter video game developed by Crytek,
published by Electronic Arts. It was the first game to showcase the CryEngine 3 game engine.Crysis Lives up to the original in terms of providing amazing graphics and pushing graphics cards to their limits.
The player assumes the role of a Force Recon Marine called Alcatraz. Similar to its predecessor, it provides freedom to customize weaponry and abilities. The game is set in a destroyed New York City which has since been evacuated due to alien infestation. Alcatraz gains ownership of the Nanosuit 2.0 from Army Delta Force officer Laurence "Prophet" Barnes, who returns from the original Crysis. CryNet Systems has been hunting Prophet to retrieve the suit, inadvertently pursuing Alcatraz, believing he is Prophet. The aliens use high-tech humanoid armored war machines that stalk Alcatraz through the ravaged New York City.
The new Nanosuit supports new and upgraded features. However, suit functionality has been streamlined; multiple modes can easily be used simultaneously whenever the user wishes. This is decidedly different than the first game, in which the suit was generally limited to a single mode at a time and multiple modes cannot be used simultaneously for more than a split-second. The first suit's Strength and Speed Modes have been combined into the new Power Mode, the suit binoculars function has been upgraded with an advanced Tactical mode, the Cloaking Device has been modified to allow increased sensory input and silent melee stealth kills and has been renamed to Stealth Mode, while the Armor Mode has been left with slightly restricted agility and an ever-decreasing energy level.
The game play overall is great and you wont be disappointed with the campaign providing you with hours of fun and stunning visuals. The great thing about this game is you don't need an amazing computer to run it as even if you don't meet the minimum system requirements Crytek have designed the game to still be able to run on lower resolutions and graphic settings. However, playing the game on high settings shows you the incredible time spent into making the game as life like as possible.
Personal Ratings:
Graphics: 10/10
The graphics are incredible and Crytek strives to make them as realistic as possible.
Sound: 10/10
The sound is excellent featuring realistic ambiance and amazing detail in explosions and gun shots.
Gamplay: 9/10
The gameplay is great and I enjoyed the new features of the Nanosuit.
Overall: 9/10
If your looking for a game with amazing graphics and great game play then Crysis 2 is definitely for you.
The player assumes the role of a Force Recon Marine called Alcatraz. Similar to its predecessor, it provides freedom to customize weaponry and abilities. The game is set in a destroyed New York City which has since been evacuated due to alien infestation. Alcatraz gains ownership of the Nanosuit 2.0 from Army Delta Force officer Laurence "Prophet" Barnes, who returns from the original Crysis. CryNet Systems has been hunting Prophet to retrieve the suit, inadvertently pursuing Alcatraz, believing he is Prophet. The aliens use high-tech humanoid armored war machines that stalk Alcatraz through the ravaged New York City.
The new Nanosuit supports new and upgraded features. However, suit functionality has been streamlined; multiple modes can easily be used simultaneously whenever the user wishes. This is decidedly different than the first game, in which the suit was generally limited to a single mode at a time and multiple modes cannot be used simultaneously for more than a split-second. The first suit's Strength and Speed Modes have been combined into the new Power Mode, the suit binoculars function has been upgraded with an advanced Tactical mode, the Cloaking Device has been modified to allow increased sensory input and silent melee stealth kills and has been renamed to Stealth Mode, while the Armor Mode has been left with slightly restricted agility and an ever-decreasing energy level.
The game play overall is great and you wont be disappointed with the campaign providing you with hours of fun and stunning visuals. The great thing about this game is you don't need an amazing computer to run it as even if you don't meet the minimum system requirements Crytek have designed the game to still be able to run on lower resolutions and graphic settings. However, playing the game on high settings shows you the incredible time spent into making the game as life like as possible.
Personal Ratings:
Graphics: 10/10
The graphics are incredible and Crytek strives to make them as realistic as possible.
Sound: 10/10
The sound is excellent featuring realistic ambiance and amazing detail in explosions and gun shots.
Gamplay: 9/10
The gameplay is great and I enjoyed the new features of the Nanosuit.
Overall: 9/10
If your looking for a game with amazing graphics and great game play then Crysis 2 is definitely for you.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Battlefield 3
Battlefield 3 (BF3) is a
first-person shooter video game developed by EA Digital Illusions CE and
published by Electronic Arts. It is a direct sequel to 2005's
Battlefield 2, and the eleventh installment in the Battlefield
franchise. The PC version is exclusive to EA's Originplatform,through which PC users also authenticate when connecting to the game. The PC version of Battlefield 3 does not feature a main menu; instead the game is launched via a web browser from the Battlelog web site.
There is a campaign mode and an online mode. In campaign mode, players take on the personas of several military roles; a USMC recon Marine, an F-18systems officer, an M1A2 Abrams tank operator, and a SPETSNAZ operative. The game's campaign takes place in the year 2014. The initial sections of the campaign are set near the Iraq-Iran border, where the US Marine Corps are fighting the People's Liberation and Resistance (PLR).The game later moves into northern Iran, continuing the fight against the PLR. There is a mission set in the streets of Paris, and another set in the sewers and subways of New York.
The campaign overall was a bit disappointing in terms of its short length which is understandable as BF3 is focused on online gaming. The AI in the game tend to get in your way on certain missions sometimes even pushing you out of cover which was quite annoying as you would end up being demolished by the enemy AI. However, the F-18 mission was a definite plus in the game as it brought the fight to the air instead of constantly traveling for long distances on foot. The campaign levels were very detailed and large which is always good to see as it brings a variety of scenarios into play.
Battlefield 3's multiplayer matches see players take on one of four roles: Assault, Support, Engineer and Recon. The Assault class focuses on assault rifles and healing teammates. The Support class focuses on LMGs and supplying ammunition. The Engineer class focuses on supporting and destroying vehicles. The Recon class focuses on sniping and spotting enemies. The mechanics of the weapons have been changed to utilize the new engine: compatible weapons may have bipods attached which can then be deployed when in the prone position or near suitable scenery, and provide a significant boost to accuracy and recoil reduction. Suppressive fire from weapons blurs the vision and reduces the accuracy of those under fire, as well as health regeneration.The Recon class can put a radio beacon anywhere on the map and all squad members will be able to spawn on the location of the beacon.
Several game modes are present, including Conquest, Rush, Squad Deathmatch, Squad Rush and for the first time since Battlefield 1942, Team Deathmatch.
Personal Ratings:
Graphics: 10/10
The graphics are very realistic which is vital in making this game a success.
Sound: 10/10
The sound is excellent featuring realistic ambiance.
Gamplay: 9/10
The gameplay is great however i feel the campaing has let the game down.
Overall: 9/10
By far the online play for BF3 is easily one of the best modern day shooters. The maps are large and you can fly F-18's and helicopters online as well as traveling by tanks or jeeps. The environments are not as destructible as in previous titles were you could blow holes in walls and collapse buildings, however the game is perfect in representing a war game.
There is a campaign mode and an online mode. In campaign mode, players take on the personas of several military roles; a USMC recon Marine, an F-18systems officer, an M1A2 Abrams tank operator, and a SPETSNAZ operative. The game's campaign takes place in the year 2014. The initial sections of the campaign are set near the Iraq-Iran border, where the US Marine Corps are fighting the People's Liberation and Resistance (PLR).The game later moves into northern Iran, continuing the fight against the PLR. There is a mission set in the streets of Paris, and another set in the sewers and subways of New York.
The campaign overall was a bit disappointing in terms of its short length which is understandable as BF3 is focused on online gaming. The AI in the game tend to get in your way on certain missions sometimes even pushing you out of cover which was quite annoying as you would end up being demolished by the enemy AI. However, the F-18 mission was a definite plus in the game as it brought the fight to the air instead of constantly traveling for long distances on foot. The campaign levels were very detailed and large which is always good to see as it brings a variety of scenarios into play.
Battlefield 3's multiplayer matches see players take on one of four roles: Assault, Support, Engineer and Recon. The Assault class focuses on assault rifles and healing teammates. The Support class focuses on LMGs and supplying ammunition. The Engineer class focuses on supporting and destroying vehicles. The Recon class focuses on sniping and spotting enemies. The mechanics of the weapons have been changed to utilize the new engine: compatible weapons may have bipods attached which can then be deployed when in the prone position or near suitable scenery, and provide a significant boost to accuracy and recoil reduction. Suppressive fire from weapons blurs the vision and reduces the accuracy of those under fire, as well as health regeneration.The Recon class can put a radio beacon anywhere on the map and all squad members will be able to spawn on the location of the beacon.
Several game modes are present, including Conquest, Rush, Squad Deathmatch, Squad Rush and for the first time since Battlefield 1942, Team Deathmatch.
Personal Ratings:
Graphics: 10/10
The graphics are very realistic which is vital in making this game a success.
Sound: 10/10
The sound is excellent featuring realistic ambiance.
Gamplay: 9/10
The gameplay is great however i feel the campaing has let the game down.
Overall: 9/10
By far the online play for BF3 is easily one of the best modern day shooters. The maps are large and you can fly F-18's and helicopters online as well as traveling by tanks or jeeps. The environments are not as destructible as in previous titles were you could blow holes in walls and collapse buildings, however the game is perfect in representing a war game.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
The eight title in the Call of Duty (CoD) series, Modern Warfare 3
builds upon the popular multi-player mode of the series, with new maps
similar character upgrades available. However, CoD is not just for
multi-player play, and Modern Warfare does not disappoint with a 6 hour
campaign picking up where CoD: Modern Warfare 2 (The 6th installment in
the CoD series) left off. Additionally, adding into the Special Ops mode
of the game is the new Survival mode, to accompany the Special Ops
Missions as the alternative multi-player mode to the traditional
multi-player open maps.
As an FPS with a large fanbase, CoD: MW3 attracted a large amount of media and press on release and since then has gained popularity with FPS players. Continuing the franchise rivalry with Counter Strike (original game, Source, 1.6, Global Offensive, Condition Zero) and Battlefield (Battlefield 1942, Battlefield 2, Battlefield Vietnam , Battlefield 2142 and Battlefield 3 to name a few), MW3 goes up against the to be released CS: Global Offensive and the recently released Battlefield 3. As with the CoD series, MW3's advantages over the other games include the unique level, rewards & perks system, a large variety of multi-player game types such as the traditional Team Deathmatch and Capture the Flag types and the more unique Kill Confirmed and Domination game types, and the comprehensive player tags & call-sign system.
As an FPS, the controls work well and are intuitive. With a minimal lag connection, playing the game feels like its rarely ever your own fault if you die (more than likely you just blame the person who killed you). However, the main movement which players are controversial over is the prone movement. While going prone, players can still aim and shoot, even being able to shoot down the scope. While this can be beneficial for advancing a frontline position, players often use this tactic to avoid being shot when walking the map alone, going prone to make it harder for other players who have just spotted them to shoot them before using a (more often than not) machine gun to gun the startled player down.
The main disadvantage to the game is the lack of a quick and responsive ban system for hacking players. The main type of hacking players are those who use 'aimbots', computer aided shooting scripts which enable players to track and shoot an enemies head behind and through walls or across large maps without fail. This does a few things; it increases the average accuracy of the player to otherwise unreasonable levels, it makes the player extremely hard to kill due to how effective he/she is at killing opponents, and it infuriates other players on the map.
Overall though, Modern Warfare 3 is an excellent addition to the CoD franchise, with excellent multi-player and an engaging single player campaign.
Overall: 8/10
Graphics: 8/10
The graphics engine of the game is quite good, rendering lighting and particle effects such as smoke and flashes very effectively. However, there is the occasional glitch where parts of the character models (mostly the shoulders) clipping through other graphics models such as guns and crates during killing animations or when character models are in unique positions such as leaning up against walls.
Sound: 8/10
The in-game sounds, as well as voice acting and menu sounds, are well thought out and work well for the game. The only thing I dislike about them is the repetitive nature and small selection of menu music. A little bit of in-game rock music wouldn't go astray either I think.
Gameplay: 8/10
Intuitive, easy to learn and highly customizable, the gameplay is well developed. The main issue I have with the gameplay is the prone issue and the lack of a quick, responsive anti-hacking system.
Get the game now!
http://store.steampowered.com/app/115300/
As an FPS with a large fanbase, CoD: MW3 attracted a large amount of media and press on release and since then has gained popularity with FPS players. Continuing the franchise rivalry with Counter Strike (original game, Source, 1.6, Global Offensive, Condition Zero) and Battlefield (Battlefield 1942, Battlefield 2, Battlefield Vietnam , Battlefield 2142 and Battlefield 3 to name a few), MW3 goes up against the to be released CS: Global Offensive and the recently released Battlefield 3. As with the CoD series, MW3's advantages over the other games include the unique level, rewards & perks system, a large variety of multi-player game types such as the traditional Team Deathmatch and Capture the Flag types and the more unique Kill Confirmed and Domination game types, and the comprehensive player tags & call-sign system.
As an FPS, the controls work well and are intuitive. With a minimal lag connection, playing the game feels like its rarely ever your own fault if you die (more than likely you just blame the person who killed you). However, the main movement which players are controversial over is the prone movement. While going prone, players can still aim and shoot, even being able to shoot down the scope. While this can be beneficial for advancing a frontline position, players often use this tactic to avoid being shot when walking the map alone, going prone to make it harder for other players who have just spotted them to shoot them before using a (more often than not) machine gun to gun the startled player down.
The main disadvantage to the game is the lack of a quick and responsive ban system for hacking players. The main type of hacking players are those who use 'aimbots', computer aided shooting scripts which enable players to track and shoot an enemies head behind and through walls or across large maps without fail. This does a few things; it increases the average accuracy of the player to otherwise unreasonable levels, it makes the player extremely hard to kill due to how effective he/she is at killing opponents, and it infuriates other players on the map.
Overall though, Modern Warfare 3 is an excellent addition to the CoD franchise, with excellent multi-player and an engaging single player campaign.
Overall: 8/10
Graphics: 8/10
The graphics engine of the game is quite good, rendering lighting and particle effects such as smoke and flashes very effectively. However, there is the occasional glitch where parts of the character models (mostly the shoulders) clipping through other graphics models such as guns and crates during killing animations or when character models are in unique positions such as leaning up against walls.
Sound: 8/10
The in-game sounds, as well as voice acting and menu sounds, are well thought out and work well for the game. The only thing I dislike about them is the repetitive nature and small selection of menu music. A little bit of in-game rock music wouldn't go astray either I think.
Gameplay: 8/10
Intuitive, easy to learn and highly customizable, the gameplay is well developed. The main issue I have with the gameplay is the prone issue and the lack of a quick, responsive anti-hacking system.
Get the game now!
http://store.steampowered.com/app/115300/
Total Annihilation
Total Annihilation was one of the first ever RTS games that I'd played when i was young. Total Annihilation was developed by Cavedog Entertainment and released on the 30th September 1997 for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS. Total Annihilation is a top view RTS that is based in galactic and futurists times where all organic life has pasted away and only two Robot fractions fighting over resources of "Metal" for millions of years. The game's campaign story is told mostly out with small battles and a couple of slides of before them, but apart from these small amounts of text, the online, skirmish and campaign is all the same. Which is to build up a force of robots and to annihilate the other fraction, the types of armies are divided into navy, vehicles, mechs and air-force. Resources which are collected is "Metal" and "Energy". A player starts of with a set of resources and/or forces and a Commander. The Commander is the primary unit used to make building to collect resources and
creating other building units and armies.
Once a player has made them selfs a force the battles begin to the last robot standing. This is where the fun really begins, units being queued and rally into a battlefield that raged on for long amounts of time for the fight over "Metal" scraps so that the player can make more units. Ultimately the end goal is to destroy the other fractions or players with the most advanced units technology path, which will demolish and player with nuclear launches, long range devastating cannons and massive amounts of high tech units. Many hours can be played into these battles, which might result in a player to turtle up ( build up their ultimate force) and have a final large attack to finish the enemies.
Personal rating:
Graphics: 7/10
For its times Total Annihilation had sophisticated graphics for a 15 year old game compared to where we are now, but nonetheless removes from the enjoyment of destroying armies with your own superior one.
Sound: 6/10
Sound in this game not one of its strong point while experiencing the game, the sounds are just rehashed explosions and gun fire repeated over and over again. This resulted me to mute the sound while playing. The sound and music was only in good use in the campaign will in the cinematic scenes.
Gameplay / Overall: 8/10
Any RTS lover will lose themselves in this game for the sheer enjoyment of creating a large base and army and annihilating the other forces. All the main mechanics of a true RTS is in this game and will make any new comer or veteran to fall for this game.
A great community that is very active http://www.tauniverse.com/
Monday, April 23, 2012
Counter Strike: Global Offensive Beta Review
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS: GO) is an online first-person shooter based game currently in development by Valve Corporation and Hidden Path Entertainment, who also co-developed Counter-Strike: Source. It is the fourth game in the Counter-Strike franchise. The game is currently in beta and the only way to play it is to obtain a beta key.
CS: GO features new maps, characters, and weapons and delivers updated versions of the classic Counter Strike content. In addition, CS: GO introduces new game play modes Demolition and Arsenal(gun game), as well as matchmaking, leader boards and stunning new visuals.
Like previous titles in the Counter Strike series, the game consists of two teams, Counter Terrorists and Terrorists. The objective for each team is to eliminate the opposition and achieve the objective of the map by either planting/defusing the bomb, rescuing the hostages in a set amount of time or progress through each gun in arsenal mode. There is a buy menu to purchase your weapons and equipment.
CS: GO features new maps, characters, and weapons and delivers updated versions of the classic Counter Strike content. In addition, CS: GO introduces new game play modes Demolition and Arsenal(gun game), as well as matchmaking, leader boards and stunning new visuals.
Like previous titles in the Counter Strike series, the game consists of two teams, Counter Terrorists and Terrorists. The objective for each team is to eliminate the opposition and achieve the objective of the map by either planting/defusing the bomb, rescuing the hostages in a set amount of time or progress through each gun in arsenal mode. There is a buy menu to purchase your weapons and equipment.
There
is no regeneration of health and when you die you must wait till the
round is over. By completing achievements you earn different titles
which currently only you can see. There is no sprinting in this game and
no ability to go prone. Global Offensive adds new weapons and equipment
not seen in previous installments, most notably the molotov
cocktail/incendiary grenade which temporarily covers a small area in
fire, making it impossible to pass through without taking significant
damage. The game also features a couple of new sub-machine guns and
heavy machine guns as well as a taser gun.
There
are two modes to play the classic counter strike maps on Casual mode
which earns you more money per kill and automatically buys you body
armour and a defuse kit if on Counter Terrorist and on a demolition map.
Players can talk to each other on opposite teams and when dead you can
spectate any enemy as well as your own team. Finally, there is
competitive mode which is focused on professional gaming and involves
less money per kill, players must purchase body armour and defuse kits.
When you die you can not spectate enemy players as you could tell your
team where they are and you can only talk to your team even when dead.
10/10 The graphics are a great improvement from the previous titles and live up to current gaming standards.
Sound:
10/10 The sound is great and easy to hear enemy positions.
Gamplay:
9/10 The gameplay is good for being in beta stage, however there are issues with recoil as it is currently too strong and a few bugs which is understandable and these should be improved as the game continues development.
Overall: 9/10
Overall i give this game a 9/10 as it plays great with only a few bugs and is still in beta stage. With the help of current professionals in the franchise titles and player feedback in the beta forums this game should bring Counter Strike back as the ultimate fps game provided the developers listen to the community.
Personal Ratings:
Graphics:10/10 The graphics are a great improvement from the previous titles and live up to current gaming standards.
Sound:
10/10 The sound is great and easy to hear enemy positions.
Gamplay:
9/10 The gameplay is good for being in beta stage, however there are issues with recoil as it is currently too strong and a few bugs which is understandable and these should be improved as the game continues development.
Overall: 9/10
Overall i give this game a 9/10 as it plays great with only a few bugs and is still in beta stage. With the help of current professionals in the franchise titles and player feedback in the beta forums this game should bring Counter Strike back as the ultimate fps game provided the developers listen to the community.
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