Paul Bishop

MX vs. ATV Untamed

February 8, 2008

PSP / Reviews / by Paul Bishop Make a comment! / Tweet it!

Trying to capitalize on vehicles that you wouldn’t normally play in a racing game, MX vs. ATV: Untamed takes dirt bikes, ATVs, and Monster Trucks and pits them against each other to create an arcade racer that strives to be more.

The game’s biggest perk is the sheer amount of vehicles and play modes available. ATVs handle differently than dune buggies and indoor arena tracks are a world apart from the outdoor rally. Perks end there, though. The game quickly devolves into an average experience as the thrill of taking a jump leads to the inevitable crashing down to earth because you didn’t hit the lip of the ramp correctly. Moreover, the developers attempted to walk a specific line with physics and controls that lands somewhere between technical simulation racing and arcade; what they end up with is an unbalanced feel to the game. They should have chosen physics or arcade only, and stuck with it.

You can tell the developers were trying to get the best of both worlds and they mostly succeed with a lot of quick action and forgiving turns that make the game easy to pick up but occasionally the developers threw in some technical details that may frustrate players on both ends of the spectrums. Jumps are especially tricky and unforgiving; if you have any momentum approaching a ramp you need to steer the analog control before and during the actual jump to land correctly, or suffer the ensuing crash. Add to that the random hazards such as water or snow on the course and winning a race is really a tricky endeavor. Ultimately, the gameplay proves to be too weak for the hardcore racer looking for Motorstorm action and too frustrating for the casual gamer looking for a beefed up Mario Kart.

The PSP version of the game doesn’t fare so well in the graphics department. Overly blocky riders and terrain are missing that crucial level of detail the PSP has always been known for. Not that it looks horrible; it just doesn’t fully utilize the graphic capability of the system. The PSP also has the option of linking up to 4 systems for multiplayer games, and while this is a nice notion, it doesn’t add much to the overall gameplay.

If you are looking for a no-brainer racer that gives you fast action and even faster crashes you have come to the right place. If you are looking for a technical racer and tricks then you might find some of that here, but probably not in the form you are going to enjoy.

MX vs. ATV Untamed

February 8, 2008

PS3 / Reviews / by Paul Bishop Make a comment! / Tweet it!

Trying to capitalize on vehicles that you wouldn’t normally play in a racing game, MX vs. ATV: Untamed takes dirt bikes, ATVs, and Monster Trucks and pits them against each other to create an arcade racer that strives to be more.

The game’s biggest perk is the sheer amount of vehicles and play modes available. ATVs handle differently than dune buggies and indoor arena tracks are a world apart from the outdoor rally. Perks end there, though. The game quickly devolves into an average experience as the thrill of taking a jump leads to the inevitable crashing down to earth because you didn’t hit the lip of the ramp correctly. Moreover, the developers attempted to walk a specific line with physics and controls that lands somewhere between technical simulation racing and arcade; what they end up with is an unbalanced feel to the game. They should have chosen physics or arcade only, and stuck with it.

You can tell the developers were trying to get the best of both worlds and they mostly succeed with a lot of quick action and forgiving turns that make the game easy to pick up but occasionally the developers threw in some technical details that may frustrate players on both ends of the spectrums. Jumps are especially tricky and unforgiving; if you have any momentum approaching a ramp you need to steer the L3 control before and during the actual jump to land correctly, or suffer the ensuing crash. Add to that the random hazards such as water or snow on the course and winning a race is really a tricky endeavor. Ultimately, the gameplay proves to be too weak for the hardcore racer looking for Motorstorm action and too frustrating for the casual gamer looking for a beefed up Mario Kart.

The PS3 version of the game has decent graphics considering it is a multi-platform entry. The riders and terrain are slightly blocky but the frame rate forgives a lot of the lack of detail as you go zooming past. The PS3 also allows for customization to your vehicles as you progress, giving you options for more power and control. Multiplayer handles two players on the game or races of up to 8 players online, but beyond that there isn’t much to online functionality.

If you are looking for a no-brainer racer that gives you fast action and even faster crashes you have come to the right place. If you are looking for a technical racer and tricks then you might find some of that here, but probably not in the form you are going to enjoy.

MX vs. ATV Untamed

February 8, 2008

PlayStation 2 / Reviews / by Paul Bishop Make a comment! / Tweet it!

Trying to capitalize on vehicles that you wouldn’t normally play in a racing game, MX vs. ATV: Untamed takes dirt bikes, ATVs, and Monster Trucks and pits them against each other to create an arcade racer that strives to be more.

The game’s biggest perk is the sheer amount of vehicles and play modes available. ATVs handle differently than dune buggies and indoor arena tracks are a world apart from the outdoor rally. Perks end there, though. The game quickly devolves into an average experience as the thrill of taking a jump leads to the inevitable crashing down to earth because you didn’t hit the lip of the ramp correctly. Moreover, the developers attempted to walk a specific line with physics and controls that lands somewhere between technical simulation racing and arcade; what they end up with is an unbalanced feel to the game. They should have chosen physics or arcade only, and stuck with it.

You can tell the developers were trying to get the best of both worlds and they mostly succeed with a lot of quick action and forgiving turns that make the game easy to pick up but occasionally the developers threw in some technical details that may frustrate players on both ends of the spectrums. Jumps are especially tricky and unforgiving; if you have any momentum approaching a ramp you need to steer the L3 control before and during the actual jump to land correctly, or suffer the ensuing crash. Add to that the random hazards such as water or snow on the course and winning a race is really a tricky endeavor. Ultimately, the gameplay proves to be too weak for the hardcore racer looking for Motorstorm action and too frustrating for the casual gamer looking for a beefed up Mario Kart.

Graphically the PS2 wins on this multiplatform entry; riders and terrain are slightly blocky but are better than a lot of the newer same-system titles. The PS2 also allows for customization to your vehicles as you progress, giving you options for new designs and sponsor logos. Multiplayer handles two players on the game or races of up to 6 players online, but beyond that there isn’t much to online functionality.

If you are looking for a no-brainer racer that gives you fast action and even faster crashes you have come to the right place. If you are looking for a technical racer and tricks then you might find some of that here, but probably not in the form you are going to enjoy.

Assassin’s Creed

February 8, 2008

PS3 / Reviews / by Paul Bishop Make a comment! / Tweet it!

Disgraced for failing to live up to the assassin’s creed, Altair must climb his way back to the top, sticking to the shadows and taking out his targets. Using brute strength, reflexes and stealth, you must navigate the streets of Damascus, Acre, and Jerusalem, gathering information and help as you take out nine historical figures during the Crusades.

Essentially Assassin’s Creed is a glorified open world map game such as Grand Theft Auto, just placed in the middle ages. Where it doesn’t match the variety in the GTA series it more than makes up for with gameplay, ambiance and story. You will totally immerse yourself in three cities, packed with citizens going about their daily business. Beggars harangue you, people in trouble call for help and preachers proselytize as you navigate the streets in this richly detailed game. Beautifully intricate, the cities breathe with life to the point where you can almost smell the dirt and filth in the gutters. The story only solidifies this world as you overhear conversations and gather information about your intended targets, driving the point home that this is more than just a simple game.

The only thing better than walking around in this world, is fighting in it. As a demoted assassin, your tools of the trade are stripped from you in the beginning, but as you complete more and more missions, you regain access to these weapons and abilities. In the beginning this may be daunting to the casual player, as a single enemy proves to be a difficult fight. But with more of your arsenal at hand, you will take out groups with ease. The fluidity of the controls and combat only enhance the immersion, making this more than a passive movie-like experience. Two buttons let you attack and block, but combine these two with good timing and you can do so much more. Simple controls prove to be anything but in the hands of a master, and though that may sound daunting, it won’t take long for you to get comfortable. Once you do, you will be actively looking to take on more and more just to welcome the challenging odds.

You must scout out the city and report information to your local contact before actually attempting the assassination. By climbing towers to fill out your map you gain locations of informants and save-the-citizen type side-quests. Completing these will increase your health bar, and also encourage the occasional vigilante group to back you up; they help slow down pursuing guards and can mean the difference between life and death. Beyond that, you can gather flags strewn around each area. This doesn’t give you any more than bragging rights, but adds something else to do. A little more effort in side-quests might have greatly enhanced the game experience past its basically linear story progression.

Graphically the game is stunning on both systems. Some 360 users’ claim the PS3 version is washed out, but with a few changes of the display settings they appear indistinguishable. The animations are also extremely impressive, such as Altair’s gentle pushes while navigating through crowds, or his seamless climbing. Overall, the graphics and sound help further the cinematic quality of the game, with only minor nits on an otherwise perfect mesh of form and function.

In the end, Assassin’s Creed will be remembered as a high-quality endeavor that beautifully blended action, control and intrigue into a completely immersive gameplay experience.

Ratatouille

January 16, 2008

PS3 / Reviews / by Paul Bishop Make a comment! / Tweet it!

What’s a young culinary rat to do when he is forced from his country home into the streets of Paris? Go invade a famous kitchen to learn how to cook of course! Based off of the Pixar movie of the same name, you take control of Remy the rat in his conquest to create the perfect meal while dodging the occasional cat and health inspector.

Compared to the fact the story was pulled from a decent movie, it lacks that storytelling feel as you are just randomly thrown into different areas where missions must be accomplished to move on to the next area. Really, the plot is just secondary to having you use the mechanics to navigate the area; many times little to no explanation is even given to you as to why you are even there. If it weren’t for the smell cheat, which guides you in the right direction at the push of a shoulder button, you’d be lost.

Each open map is essentially a puzzle to navigate with climbs and timed jumps as you gather tokens to proceed. As Remy, your controls are limited to a few available options which include whipping your tail for an attack, running, jumping and picking up the occasional item to move elsewhere. The game makes use of these mechanics nicely using a jump platform mechanic to land on a series of hooks or a broomstick handle to get to your objective. In addition, the PS3 game features motion sensing SIXAXIS control by allowing you to balance across a tight wire; this feature feels like it was put in at the last minute just to exploit SIXAXIS, but at least it succeeds in breaking up the gaming monotony.

The difficulty is a matter of debate; for a game aimed at kids it is truly unforgiving. It is very easy to die in this game. If the fire doesn’t get you then the fall will, and many times that means repeating a long section just to get back to same place you fell. On top of that, many jumps require a certain amount of precision that I had a difficult time landing, so for kids I could see this being particularly frustrating. Particularly brutal are occasional chase sequences which have you running towards the screen; you don’t have any time to avoid the hidden obstacles just out of view until you are on top of them. A lot of fun sections become the opposite due to slightly flawed execution choices.

Graphics are pretty good on the PS3 as the game does a good job emulating the cartoon nature of the movie. If anything this is the selling point for the movie fans out there looking to get more Remy action. The game also features mini-games which extend the shelf life of the title as you gather the necessary tokens to unlock them.

Historically, movie games tend to be the bane of the average gamer, never living up to the potential the movie set forth, and Ratatouille is no different. While it isn’t a horrible game, it just isn’t as fun as it could be.

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