Khvostik
2018
Quite a shallow experience to say the least. All interesting bits for engaging open world are here - story, freedom of travel, side quests, items, however everything feels so empty and forgettable. Game have quite a big detailed map, but travel across it mostly feels like travel on foot in TES2 Daggerfall.
Encounters and enemies are repeative, same as tasks for the player. On top of that, cooperative expeirience is broken, with 2nd player attached like some bot for the host. Feels like half-baked mod, however playing solo in FarCry 5 is quite boring.
Encounters and enemies are repeative, same as tasks for the player. On top of that, cooperative expeirience is broken, with 2nd player attached like some bot for the host. Feels like half-baked mod, however playing solo in FarCry 5 is quite boring.
One of these very underrated games which at the time set a new staple in the genre. Being released prior to Quake II, this game features environmental storytelling, hours of quality FMV story, and full support of first and third-person modes which you can change at any time and abilities.
Being made on a new advanced 3D sector-based engine it was a huge milestone for Lucas Arts. Production of the game was quite a high budget for the time - with tie-in books and concept art made the way Lucasfilm did it with the original trilogy of Star Wars movies and in the end lots of its parts have this "Ralph McQuarrie" aesthetic.
This game is also interesting being made with atmosphere of the 1990s Expanded Universe and its perception of post-endor and old republic before Lucas did his prequels. The game also features no movie locations or characters and does not even mention them, having its own atmosphere and its own story - the story of Kyle Katarn.
Sadly, physics, gunplay, and AI in this game are very janky, the same as force abilities. These were early steps for LucasArts in full 3D FPS and it shows that, don't expect smooth gameplay like from Quake 2 or Unreal. The game also doesn't work well on modern systems because of its old graphics API support and other issues, thankfully there is a modern open-source engine replacement for it which works smoothly.
Being made on a new advanced 3D sector-based engine it was a huge milestone for Lucas Arts. Production of the game was quite a high budget for the time - with tie-in books and concept art made the way Lucasfilm did it with the original trilogy of Star Wars movies and in the end lots of its parts have this "Ralph McQuarrie" aesthetic.
This game is also interesting being made with atmosphere of the 1990s Expanded Universe and its perception of post-endor and old republic before Lucas did his prequels. The game also features no movie locations or characters and does not even mention them, having its own atmosphere and its own story - the story of Kyle Katarn.
Sadly, physics, gunplay, and AI in this game are very janky, the same as force abilities. These were early steps for LucasArts in full 3D FPS and it shows that, don't expect smooth gameplay like from Quake 2 or Unreal. The game also doesn't work well on modern systems because of its old graphics API support and other issues, thankfully there is a modern open-source engine replacement for it which works smoothly.
Now this is the best Star Wars RTS of all time. This game did anything to build up and expand on awesome basic mechanics of the original EaW: new faction, new asymmetric balance system, both on conquest and combat maps, so many new units it is impossible to count.
This game allows everything you can imagine: corrupting planets, fighting with neutral pirates, and building Death Star II and Super Star Destroyer. And this is a great "Expanded Universe" rollercoaster - where else can you construct an Ark Hammer and produce all phases of dark troopers, or can you obtain TIE Phantoms and TIE Defenders as playable units? Or have a Hypori ground map with all those destroyed Acclamator cruisers as depicted in 2003 Clone Wars.
EaW FoC is not a fully proper Paradox-level game, and sadly, the vanilla release does not have all the features promised and had a good number of bugs (building Isalamiri cages.. sounds familiar?) this is the only reason I will not give it a 5-star rating. But there are mods, and projects like Thrawn's revenge enhance it to the full potential of being "Total War Star Wars on steroids".
This game allows everything you can imagine: corrupting planets, fighting with neutral pirates, and building Death Star II and Super Star Destroyer. And this is a great "Expanded Universe" rollercoaster - where else can you construct an Ark Hammer and produce all phases of dark troopers, or can you obtain TIE Phantoms and TIE Defenders as playable units? Or have a Hypori ground map with all those destroyed Acclamator cruisers as depicted in 2003 Clone Wars.
EaW FoC is not a fully proper Paradox-level game, and sadly, the vanilla release does not have all the features promised and had a good number of bugs (building Isalamiri cages.. sounds familiar?) this is the only reason I will not give it a 5-star rating. But there are mods, and projects like Thrawn's revenge enhance it to the full potential of being "Total War Star Wars on steroids".
This game was on the edge between old more arcady shooters and more modern Call of Duty type things, this why experience of playing it for the first time in 2022 was a bit weird one. Like, on one hand, for me personally, it did felt late later, more new WW2 fps game, being using idtech3 engine and all that advanced stuff with comrades and attempts at grounded designs and realistic approach. However, other mechanics more arcady, some elements and scripts which we expecting as given from Call of Duty 1-2 here are more raw and primitive.
I can only imagine how memorable this game was back in the day, being, sort of the first of its kind with this Normandy landing, street fighting in northen french towns and so on. However, nowadays, it may be a bit bleak and simple compared to games which followed it, same as some of its raw mechanics, like forever mentioned sniper mission, may feel dated.
My favorite mission was in night winter french town stealth section, there it worked really well, sad, that there are not that much of memorable places like that.
Liked nods to the original PS1 games, however, despite having similar mission structure, over dramatic animations of enemies etc. for me that game not felt quite like the PS1 ones. Still, if you enjoy FPS games from the era, like RTCW, give it a shot.
I can only imagine how memorable this game was back in the day, being, sort of the first of its kind with this Normandy landing, street fighting in northen french towns and so on. However, nowadays, it may be a bit bleak and simple compared to games which followed it, same as some of its raw mechanics, like forever mentioned sniper mission, may feel dated.
My favorite mission was in night winter french town stealth section, there it worked really well, sad, that there are not that much of memorable places like that.
Liked nods to the original PS1 games, however, despite having similar mission structure, over dramatic animations of enemies etc. for me that game not felt quite like the PS1 ones. Still, if you enjoy FPS games from the era, like RTCW, give it a shot.
2011
Not the game which you will count ever as your favotite, but memorable enough modern consol-ish FPS title. While being not a "classic" shooter, or, for example, Serious Sam clone, like Painkiller, it still speedy and action driven.
The game also have pretty visuals for UE3 engine. If you love visual style and apperance of Starcraft 2, this game is right in the same valley.
Narrative is not deep or too serious, characters are comical, but I would've not described it as "random". It just don't go deep into universe, giving lots of stuff to your imagination. But what there is there. While being full of dity jokes, I not find it cringe or offensive, unlike some other titles.
My only complains would be about only 3 weapon slots (4th one for heavier stuff would've been a nice addition), sometimes repeative enemies, maybe too much limits on character movement. However, game defenetly has its moments. In general, I had fun and maybe will replay one day edition ported to UE4. Or sequel, if it will be made in future.
The game also have pretty visuals for UE3 engine. If you love visual style and apperance of Starcraft 2, this game is right in the same valley.
Narrative is not deep or too serious, characters are comical, but I would've not described it as "random". It just don't go deep into universe, giving lots of stuff to your imagination. But what there is there. While being full of dity jokes, I not find it cringe or offensive, unlike some other titles.
My only complains would be about only 3 weapon slots (4th one for heavier stuff would've been a nice addition), sometimes repeative enemies, maybe too much limits on character movement. However, game defenetly has its moments. In general, I had fun and maybe will replay one day edition ported to UE4. Or sequel, if it will be made in future.
2008
So I played Sonic Unleashed and decided to start with the PS2 version. And I am pleased to say that I enjoyed what I saw. Despite being "inferior" to the Wii version in terms of visuals, I enjoyed how it looks - it is one of those very late backward-ported PS2 titles from the time when people already knew hardware well enough to make pleasant environments and a nice overall picture. If you start to look very closely into actual game assets, you will see very low poly and low-resolution horrors, but from afar, as a whole, it transforms into more than its parts.
Regarding gameplay, it was the first major step towards the sonic we know today, with more forced events and more narrow levels, boosts, and other moves. However, this title in particular works for me much better than for example Forces or Generations gameplay-wise. PS2/Wii "Day" levels while strict and linear feel more open and free just because of their size and appearance. I find the segmented boost mechanic to be more interesting and complex than just regular "boost", I liked some new moves, some of which, I believe, are Unleashed-exclusive, like the animation of Sonic slowly crawling on its 4 legs, etc. Most Werehog levels are decent too, the downside is that actual combat in them is "press square to win" and it never gets complicated enough to be a problem just smashing everything. Burning wizards and electric flying things are rare exceptions. And since Werehog levels are long, you don't want to replay them. Especially ones with some boring platforming.
Regarding plot - yes, it's more cartoony, and I prefer the world from things like Sonic 06, Sonic Adventure 2, Shadow the Hedgehog (2005), or Sonic X, than Western-style cartoon presentation. But unlike the mentioned above games, this plot, even in this "cut down" version with 2D towns and characters delivered much better, and it is much longer and competently made. Compared to this, again, Forces or Generations feel so empty and shallow in this regard.
One day I will play the PS3/Xbox360 version and the J2ME version, but for now, I'd say that the PS2/Wii version is worth your time.
Regarding gameplay, it was the first major step towards the sonic we know today, with more forced events and more narrow levels, boosts, and other moves. However, this title in particular works for me much better than for example Forces or Generations gameplay-wise. PS2/Wii "Day" levels while strict and linear feel more open and free just because of their size and appearance. I find the segmented boost mechanic to be more interesting and complex than just regular "boost", I liked some new moves, some of which, I believe, are Unleashed-exclusive, like the animation of Sonic slowly crawling on its 4 legs, etc. Most Werehog levels are decent too, the downside is that actual combat in them is "press square to win" and it never gets complicated enough to be a problem just smashing everything. Burning wizards and electric flying things are rare exceptions. And since Werehog levels are long, you don't want to replay them. Especially ones with some boring platforming.
Regarding plot - yes, it's more cartoony, and I prefer the world from things like Sonic 06, Sonic Adventure 2, Shadow the Hedgehog (2005), or Sonic X, than Western-style cartoon presentation. But unlike the mentioned above games, this plot, even in this "cut down" version with 2D towns and characters delivered much better, and it is much longer and competently made. Compared to this, again, Forces or Generations feel so empty and shallow in this regard.
One day I will play the PS3/Xbox360 version and the J2ME version, but for now, I'd say that the PS2/Wii version is worth your time.
It is very difficult to actually give this a score, it is a mixed bag of things. This addon was made by Xatrix. Already not "Redneck Rampage" Xatrix, but not yet RTCW Xatrix. Not too long, it is a decent size for expansion, and in general in terms of level design and gameplay it only a little bit below Quake 2. On one hand, it was made after, there a number of places where I liked detail and ideas a bit more than in original, on other hand, it rawer and less professional than id did it. The same goes with new enemy types, which are "same dudes but with new texture and more powerful". They are more powerful indeed, add-on is noticeably harder than the original game. Also, new weapons look a bit off with their much more high res textures. Overall, will be pretty decent experience for Quake II fans, just be prepared for some S-E-W-E-R level experience!
Much better than the PC version. While it feels more janky to control and move than the PC version, which used (I presume) the Requiem Avenging Angel engine, this feels much more pleasing to look at, much more finished and doesn't have too much annoying backtracking. I adore its dark-ish atmosphere and overall mood. It could've been one of those "hidden action adventure gems from the late90s-early00s" but it is not really because the gameplay is still tedious and unfair, rather than challenging. It also isn't connected to the NWC Might and Magic universe and feels like a generic fantasy. Only things like the opening made by the same CGI team who did cutscenes for Heroes3/Might and Magic 7 etc. somehow connect it... a little bit
1996
A pioneer in 3d platforming, this game is surprisingly nice for what it is, given the time it was released. Naughty Dog decided to go with a safer approach of more "forced" and "linear" platformers with lots of 2d sections and 3d sections like some older mode-7 style platformers from the past generation.
Still, I think that the 3d nature of it adds depth, and the low poly/art in it is truly pleasant to look at in my opinion. Naughty Dog and Insomniac back in the PS1-2 era were masters of low poly design and fluid animations. Character controls are nice and solid for the most part, it is not a slippery-sloppery hell of some other, especially early 3d platformers. Gameplay for the most part is simple in concepts, but often it is challenging enough to call this game a "heart attack simulator". The brutal difficulty is not something I miss from earlier arcade 2 platformers and run-n-gun games personally.
Still a nice title worth a try even today if you are enjoying this type of genre.
Still, I think that the 3d nature of it adds depth, and the low poly/art in it is truly pleasant to look at in my opinion. Naughty Dog and Insomniac back in the PS1-2 era were masters of low poly design and fluid animations. Character controls are nice and solid for the most part, it is not a slippery-sloppery hell of some other, especially early 3d platformers. Gameplay for the most part is simple in concepts, but often it is challenging enough to call this game a "heart attack simulator". The brutal difficulty is not something I miss from earlier arcade 2 platformers and run-n-gun games personally.
Still a nice title worth a try even today if you are enjoying this type of genre.
It is hard to really give this game an objective review and the reason is simple: it has not aged this well.
This game was made by a different company, than AA, thus it ignores its existence: by gameplay and general game design this game is a direct sequel to PS1 titles. However, said gameplay is more streamlined and simplified, in a way, making it mostly a regular corridor shooter with side objectives that often just "press on something you find along the way".
This is one of those "early PS2/GC" titles that feel more like PS1/N64 games with better resolution and assets, rather than true experience made conceptually for the new generation. Another "early" factor is that, at least on the GC version, stick controls don't feel very good. Movement and aim have this "wooden log" quality, typically more for PS1 games where they usually just mapped D-pad controls onto an analog pad.
I understand why it had such high scores and why it is loved by people who played it: the game still has neat scenes and scripted moments, came out still before Call of Duty and when MoH: AA was still very new and on PC only. So at the time of the release, it was the most interesting and advanced WWII FPS on consoles.
Still, playing it in 2024, after MoH: AA, after dozens of CoD titles, after Brothers in Arms, etc., makes you feel like you see before you only raw beta versions of things to come in the subgenre.
This game was made by a different company, than AA, thus it ignores its existence: by gameplay and general game design this game is a direct sequel to PS1 titles. However, said gameplay is more streamlined and simplified, in a way, making it mostly a regular corridor shooter with side objectives that often just "press on something you find along the way".
This is one of those "early PS2/GC" titles that feel more like PS1/N64 games with better resolution and assets, rather than true experience made conceptually for the new generation. Another "early" factor is that, at least on the GC version, stick controls don't feel very good. Movement and aim have this "wooden log" quality, typically more for PS1 games where they usually just mapped D-pad controls onto an analog pad.
I understand why it had such high scores and why it is loved by people who played it: the game still has neat scenes and scripted moments, came out still before Call of Duty and when MoH: AA was still very new and on PC only. So at the time of the release, it was the most interesting and advanced WWII FPS on consoles.
Still, playing it in 2024, after MoH: AA, after dozens of CoD titles, after Brothers in Arms, etc., makes you feel like you see before you only raw beta versions of things to come in the subgenre.