Posted by Shawn M. on May 3rd, 2008
Gears of War
Story: In the future, on the planet Sera, humanity is waging war against the evil Locust Horde. The good guys’ ranks are thinning, and they need all the help they can get. You take control of Marcus Fenix, an imprisoned soldier who is freed so that he can pick up his guns and fight once more. You and your team have to complete a few missions that will (hopefully) take care of the Locust for good.
Graphics: Considering this is made by the folks that created the Unreal Engine, Gears is gorgeous. The levels are highly detailed and expertly lighted. There’s not much color, though, as most of the game takes place in the dark night or underground. But despite the limited palette, there are few games that look this good.
Gameplay: Gears is an over-the-shoulder third person shooter. Controls are very responsive and tight, and take very little time to get used to. The cover system, where you press a button to hide behind objects, is a great mechanic — often imitated in other games, but none do it as good here. There is one lone driving section that’s a bit out of place. There’s multiple difficulties, though even the hardest, while still a challenge, doesn’t really compare to the Call of Duty series’ hardest modes.
Sound: Stirring and atmospheric. Gears is one of the first games I’ve ever played that truly conveyed the feeling of actually shooting, as the guns are LOUD. Voiceovers are well done, dripping with angsty manliness.
Multiplayer: Still one of the most-played games on XBox Live. Offers your standard team deathmatches and such. At this point, it may be very tough to get into because of all of the skilled players — Gears doesn’t match you with like-skilled players very well. You can also go through the campaign with another player, online or off.
Achievements: A bit more than half can be gained in single player by completing game chapters in each difficulty and finding collectibles. Unfortunately, there’s quite a bit on multiplayer achievements, but at least they’re based on total kills and wins (unlike the goofy Halo multiplayer ‘chievements). You can check out the full list at XBox360Achievements.org.
Bottom Line: One of the ‘Box’s premiere titles. Definitely check it out — some savvy Ebaying should net you a copy for less than thirty bucks. If you can wait, the game will more than likely be given Microsoft’s Platinum Hits treatment, meaning that it will retail for a cool $29.99.
Tomb Raider: Legend
Story: While excavating ruins, Lara Croft stumbles across a piece of the legendary sword Excalibur. You must travel across the world to find the rest of the pieces, as Lara believes that this sword holds the secret to her mother’s disappearance. You must also contend with a presumed-dead childhood friend turned enemy who is also after the power the sword contains.
Graphics: Lara looks great as always, but other character models haven’t been shown the same level of attention. Environments look nice and are very different from stage to stage. Aside from the high definition shine, the graphics are nearly the same as the PS2’s version.
Gameplay: Lara handles much better in this version than previous games. Controls aren’t that hard to get used to. Gunplay isn’t anything groundbreaking, and targeting can get iffy at points. The camera is decent, but will spaz out sometimes in tight areas. Some sections feature scripted events where you must match the on-screen button prompts to continue — thankfully, they’re not overdone or overlong.
Sound: The music does a good job of matching the setting. Lara’s sultry British voice is very nice and well acted, and easily stands above the rest of the cast.
Multiplayer: Not a lick.
Achievements: Gamer Points are earned by completing levels, finding collectibles in each stage, and completing the time trials. Getting a full score isn’t too difficult, as the game isn’t very hard even on the hardest difficulty, but it is time consuming. For a full list, visit XBox360Achievements.org.
Bottom Line: Tomb Raider: Legend is a fun game, and a much welcome new direction in the franchise. The puzzles are unique and fun, and the platforming is solid. Best of all, you can get this game for cheap — less than $20 used at GameStop, and more than likely less online. If you’re a fan of solid action/adventure/puzzle games, there aren’t many that do it better than Lara Croft.
Posted in games, reviews
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If you liked that, try...
- Review Round-Up: Avatar, Beautiful Katamari, & Blacksite
- Gears of War 2, Ninja Gaiden 2 dated
- The Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Review
- The Battlefield: Bad Company Review
- The Soul Calibur IV Review
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