So I have finally set up my new PC and gotten used to it. Might publish my worklog on how I built it at some point if I get around to it. Anyhow, I built it as a gaming system, so I thought I will do some game reviews as play them. Can't promise timely reviews, but I will do what I can.
One of the top games on my Steam library that I was eager to play was Metro 2033. It promised S.T.A.L.K.E.R. like atmosphere and much more story driven gameplay. Overall I was not dissapointed as got what I was expecting.
I will start of with graphics. Can't say they were bad, but I was expecting something more. Maybe it just me, not being able to play on full graphics at high resolution for so long I was expecting bigger leap. Especially seeing all the videos on small Flash player windows makes it look so much better. I suppose the biggest gripe was with the look of NPCs and how they interacted with level design. Sceneary was quite nice though, especially surfice level ones.
That said, you have very limited options to explore it all. The game is packed with invisble walls and small fences or other structures that restrict your path. While at times it is nice and needed in a story driven game to provide the expected narrative, there were times that it was limiting. Most notably I felt limited around (currently or once) populated areas. For example, there was a second floor to which you could not get to in couple of stations. If you are an explorer then enduringing restrictions in already restriced and enclosed space is not something you would expect.
I did not experience any of the AI glitches I heave read about, and for the most part combat was great. I played on Ranger mode - easy, but that is by far not an easy difficulty. In every combat I had to make every shot count as had no spare bullets. Especially towards the end of the game when enemies took more then one to take down. I did like how it added more tension to the game.
Weapon management for me was a bust as well. I really wanted to use one of the pump action guns, but they took the slot of shotgun of which I had the most ammo. In addition it was the best close combat weapon. This is something they should think about for the sequel.
Turns out the game had an alternative ending as well, but it was not something I was going for. I really enjojed the game and would recomend it to anyone, especially if you like FPS games. While the ending was interesting it left me with a huge question burning at the beck of my head... how is he going to get back? (you will know what I am talking about if you finish the game!)
Showing posts with label Games. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Games. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Is PhsiX going open market (proper CPU support)?
Nvidia have announced that they will enable CUDA on CPU. Even though the reasoning behind this move is more aimed at data centers, I cannot wonder what it will do to the PhysX market. Reviews have shown that running PhysX of CPU at the moment results in a significant frame rate drop. But that has a lot to do on the the bad implementation of the PhysX on CPU. As it uses CUDA, which is coming to CPU I would expect the CUDA implementation to improve where as the implementation of PhysX should therefore be better implemented for use on CPU. If the load could be balanced on all cores, then it should result in lower frame rate hit for no Nvidia gamers which is good news for gaming market in general as PhysX might make its way to more games. :)
Sources:
TC magazine
TomsHardware
Sources:
TC magazine
TomsHardware
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Valve's three secrets
According to various Gaming news portals Valve's Gabe have said that we can expect three big surprises from them within next 12 months.
It has brought up lot of speculation and so on, but in the end the big question is - does this include HL2 - ep3?
One one had everyone expects them to release it in near future anyway so when they announce it it more likely be a sigh of relieve then surprise.
On other hand the fact that they announce the game will be surprise, as I am starting to give up hope that it will get released.
Personally I would like to see them update the engine. It has served well over the years and is a scalable engine, but it is still DX9 and DX11 looks like something that might stick or at least have brought enough to the table to warrant an update.
On some sick level I have a feeling that one of the surprises will be HL3. Essentially that the EP3 has taken so long because it have actually turned into HL3.
I would really like to see them announce another big new IP. Portal was great, L4D is good, but I still want more.. :D But we should not forget that adding another IP to the mix will mean that it will take even longer till next HL. It is a tough world we live in!
It has brought up lot of speculation and so on, but in the end the big question is - does this include HL2 - ep3?
One one had everyone expects them to release it in near future anyway so when they announce it it more likely be a sigh of relieve then surprise.
On other hand the fact that they announce the game will be surprise, as I am starting to give up hope that it will get released.
Personally I would like to see them update the engine. It has served well over the years and is a scalable engine, but it is still DX9 and DX11 looks like something that might stick or at least have brought enough to the table to warrant an update.
On some sick level I have a feeling that one of the surprises will be HL3. Essentially that the EP3 has taken so long because it have actually turned into HL3.
I would really like to see them announce another big new IP. Portal was great, L4D is good, but I still want more.. :D But we should not forget that adding another IP to the mix will mean that it will take even longer till next HL. It is a tough world we live in!
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
DLC vs episodic gaming
It has been a long long time.. Even too long.
Either way, I was thinking about the DLC as that seems the fad of the year or even the last couple of years. All the big games need to have one. At some point people were talking that episodic gaming might be it and only Valve really ended up doing it and burning bad doing so. I am not going to repeat the old news, but 4 years on and we are still waiting for just ep3. Sure Valve puts in the effort and delivers great experience at the end, but this is time frame I would like to wait for a full retail game.
Now looking at DLC I see all the unfulfilled expectations from episodic content realized in these DLC packs. Or at times just lazy developing (or eager publisher). Borderlands seams to be a good example to the former, as the game was one would expect out of a retail game and some of the first DLC packs improved and extended it to some lengths, while the best is that we see a pack year after the game launched. And let's not forget that all the newcomers to the game will have to buy the full retail game which should be cheaper by now so this is a great way to stimulate the second sales wave of the game.
On the other hand something that really gets in my pants are modern multiplayer FPS games. While the games are great and so forth, they come with choice of 3 weapons, and 3 maps. A week or month later, whenever you get tired of the choices, you get a DLC that gives you that little extra to keep you playing and paying. I miss the day when games came with multitude of options. Also, I do not want to say that the mod community has died down, but the developers really should embrace this by offering more community maps in these updates.
Either way, I was thinking about the DLC as that seems the fad of the year or even the last couple of years. All the big games need to have one. At some point people were talking that episodic gaming might be it and only Valve really ended up doing it and burning bad doing so. I am not going to repeat the old news, but 4 years on and we are still waiting for just ep3. Sure Valve puts in the effort and delivers great experience at the end, but this is time frame I would like to wait for a full retail game.
Now looking at DLC I see all the unfulfilled expectations from episodic content realized in these DLC packs. Or at times just lazy developing (or eager publisher). Borderlands seams to be a good example to the former, as the game was one would expect out of a retail game and some of the first DLC packs improved and extended it to some lengths, while the best is that we see a pack year after the game launched. And let's not forget that all the newcomers to the game will have to buy the full retail game which should be cheaper by now so this is a great way to stimulate the second sales wave of the game.
On the other hand something that really gets in my pants are modern multiplayer FPS games. While the games are great and so forth, they come with choice of 3 weapons, and 3 maps. A week or month later, whenever you get tired of the choices, you get a DLC that gives you that little extra to keep you playing and paying. I miss the day when games came with multitude of options. Also, I do not want to say that the mod community has died down, but the developers really should embrace this by offering more community maps in these updates.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Releases to note
Shacknews have some stories about few game releases to note for 2009.
3 most notable ones Mafia 2 and Bioshock 2 and Borderlands.... should be a good year for gaming.. For PC at least.. ;)
3 most notable ones Mafia 2 and Bioshock 2 and Borderlands.... should be a good year for gaming.. For PC at least.. ;)
Friday, January 18, 2008
Monday, December 3, 2007
UT3
Just got try out UT3... not really in time of release but still... Keeping at mind that I do not have a high end rig to run this on, for that matter it is actually quite low end... Anyhow, I played some good old decks level.. and my first impression is.. if you have low end rig.. stick to the previous ones, as you will be able to enjoy better graphics and you are not loosing out on much... in essence it is same game with prettier graphics if you have good enough rig to handle it!
That asside... if you do have a good enough rig... man, it is fun..
That asside... if you do have a good enough rig... man, it is fun..
Monday, November 12, 2007
Far shit is Crying
GamesRadar reports that developers of Far Cry 2 will put lot of shit in the game as that was the first thing they noticed about African savanna when they went to Africa looking for inspirations... should be fun stuff, and would be even cooler if it had some purpose in game as well other than esthetics's!!
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Game Mashup
I would not say that I am a fan of any of these two games - Halo and Meteroid... but this is nice none the less...
Love the ending...
Love the ending...
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Are we really that LOST?
To be completely honest I must say that this sort of blindsided me...
It seems that all so popular TV show Lost is changing or maybe adding a direction to it by entering the gaming scene.
I am sure they will make loads of money considering the huge fan base of the show! One thing that leaves me wondering is that since there are 3 more seasons of Lost coming, is this not too soon? Or does that only mean that there will be more Lost games?
Source
It seems that all so popular TV show Lost is changing or maybe adding a direction to it by entering the gaming scene.
I am sure they will make loads of money considering the huge fan base of the show! One thing that leaves me wondering is that since there are 3 more seasons of Lost coming, is this not too soon? Or does that only mean that there will be more Lost games?
Source
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Monday, October 1, 2007
Jolly good fun....
I have been catching up and watching some game vids... most notably FarCry 2 which I found out got award of best new game in Leipzig Games Convention... and form what I have seen so far... it looks amazing. I like the idea that they are getting rid of percent health bar in favour of 3 level health... good - damaged - terrible... should be good with all the healing animation
Also the vegetation should be very nice.....
Although Crysis is receiving most of the hype at the moment as next big thing... I really think that this should not be neglected because it can well turn out to be even better game... well might not beat Crysis is all the spectacular graphics but gameplay... who knows... who knows...
Just on a sidenote.. Unreal Tournament 3 looks bloody awesome as well.. I really like that they are going for a darker and grimmer look and feel compared to 2004 one... imo it was too colorful and bright for my taste... at least the outside vegetative levels...
Also the vegetation should be very nice.....
Although Crysis is receiving most of the hype at the moment as next big thing... I really think that this should not be neglected because it can well turn out to be even better game... well might not beat Crysis is all the spectacular graphics but gameplay... who knows... who knows...
Just on a sidenote.. Unreal Tournament 3 looks bloody awesome as well.. I really like that they are going for a darker and grimmer look and feel compared to 2004 one... imo it was too colorful and bright for my taste... at least the outside vegetative levels...
Sunday, September 30, 2007
US vs Japan gaming
Gametrailers.com in their Bonus Round segment look at differences of two largest gaming markets in the world at the moment - US and Japan. It is very interesting to see how Japan tends to reject western games for their lack of good and compelling story and FPS games in general. Yet western world takes so much from the Japanese gaming market and so many top tier games today are Japanese. Follow the link here to take a look and let me know what you think, but I believe that many games today really should do better on the storyline...
Saturday, September 29, 2007
The Crossing
The Crossing is a game that expects to merge multiplayer skirmishes with single player missions...
What I have understood the idea is called CrossPlay and it features single player which is connected to many multplayer skirmish games. so when user ventures in one of those maps he is no longer playing against AI but real players...
I must say that this sound very interesting and I really hope they can deliver. Although I hope that multiplayer as such will also be very engaging, this will make the game to be a fresh new thing... This should eliminate 'there is a enemy around the corner' and many other stupid AI things...
more here and here
What I have understood the idea is called CrossPlay and it features single player which is connected to many multplayer skirmish games. so when user ventures in one of those maps he is no longer playing against AI but real players...
I must say that this sound very interesting and I really hope they can deliver. Although I hope that multiplayer as such will also be very engaging, this will make the game to be a fresh new thing... This should eliminate 'there is a enemy around the corner' and many other stupid AI things...
more here and here
Pointing the flash..
one of the best sim games ever - Operation Flashpoint is expecting a sequel some time in 2008.
Here is a small preview of the game.
must say that it looks amazing and even better is that it is set in today, rather in past of future. Also looking forward to trying out the driving part as it will feature engine developed for DiRT racing game...
Here is a small preview of the game.
must say that it looks amazing and even better is that it is set in today, rather in past of future. Also looking forward to trying out the driving part as it will feature engine developed for DiRT racing game...
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Gold Orange Box
Shacknews report that long awaited Orange box from Valve has gone gold.
This is great news and I am looking forward to trying out the Portal game... I must admit that I thought it looked a bit childish and simple but now it seems like very compelling game... As for new Team Fortress 2.. I really dig the cartoony look... think they have done an amazing work on that.. :D
And of course HL2:EP2... no comments there...
This is great news and I am looking forward to trying out the Portal game... I must admit that I thought it looked a bit childish and simple but now it seems like very compelling game... As for new Team Fortress 2.. I really dig the cartoony look... think they have done an amazing work on that.. :D
And of course HL2:EP2... no comments there...
Kane & Lynch
As it starts off...:
From creators of Hitman... which I find to be brilliant game comes this:
As the story goes... if you owe someone lot of money... you better have no family and a damn good place to hide... So obviously this guy didn't and now he and his 'stalker' are on a mission to pay back money...
So it brings the question.. Why this senseless violence? Is that the only way they can make games nowadays? And please do not think that I have an issue with fps as such. It just that is seems like most of the big name games are about run and gun all that moves theme. What gets me is that it seems that it is not much different from so many games out there already... take away many things such as cars and it is like GTA and for that matter... how much different it is form reservoir dogs game? Take STALKER for example. It has a nice theme where you are looking for yourself and you become to understand different factions and their reasons for fight to control the area. That game has a meaning... but what this one has ???
As you can see in the trailer, which I am sure is for console.. gameplay does not seems so brilliant either... you seem to be only one to know how to aim.. and physics are shit as well.. look at the point where car crashes through the door...
I do not know... it probabbly is very nice and engaging game but it seems that it will not be the one that will impress me to bather trying out...
From creators of Hitman... which I find to be brilliant game comes this:
As the story goes... if you owe someone lot of money... you better have no family and a damn good place to hide... So obviously this guy didn't and now he and his 'stalker' are on a mission to pay back money...
So it brings the question.. Why this senseless violence? Is that the only way they can make games nowadays? And please do not think that I have an issue with fps as such. It just that is seems like most of the big name games are about run and gun all that moves theme. What gets me is that it seems that it is not much different from so many games out there already... take away many things such as cars and it is like GTA and for that matter... how much different it is form reservoir dogs game? Take STALKER for example. It has a nice theme where you are looking for yourself and you become to understand different factions and their reasons for fight to control the area. That game has a meaning... but what this one has ???
As you can see in the trailer, which I am sure is for console.. gameplay does not seems so brilliant either... you seem to be only one to know how to aim.. and physics are shit as well.. look at the point where car crashes through the door...
I do not know... it probabbly is very nice and engaging game but it seems that it will not be the one that will impress me to bather trying out...
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Silence Kills....
Assassins Creed is one of the games I am intensely looking forward to. As most of the new games I expect stunning visuals but most of all I look forward to the gameplay.
As can be seen in this trailer it will incorporate lot of nice gameplay feature... nice action, sneeking and stalking... using the environment to the fullest... what else one could want!!
As can be seen in this trailer it will incorporate lot of nice gameplay feature... nice action, sneeking and stalking... using the environment to the fullest... what else one could want!!
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Reality check...
So here comes another Crysis video preview...
As I have said before I am looking forward to this game... and the promised graphical goodies... so just keep up with our expectations Crytek have released another preview and it seems that it is one from multilayer again...
As you can see it looks pretty promising as always...
But there are things to work on for the next release...
As the video starts of with scene in beach.... I can't help but think - Ok on right there is a sandy beach.. on the left it is clear it is nice looking water... but what it lack terribly is that very shallow bit... in which you can clearly see where is the water and where is the sand.... it all sort blends in there in the game... but does it really do that in real life? I mean maybe I haven't traveled to tropicals but every place I have been so far... you can tell where the water starts by looking at it rather then drowning first!!! Don't get me wrong... it can be seen and the effect looks good from distance... but I think it is something that can be worked on.... and while we are at it.. later in the video the boats... well they make waves!!
And what about the physics sorta things here....????
When that dude get frozen and falls down.. what happens to half of his body? I mean once he shatters there should be a bit more ice... and maybe some red one... just to say that he was human... just maybe.... was expecting a bit more from that!!! and what is up with the sand bags?? you can see near the end of the video a dude being killed and he falls on the sand bags which just fly way like they were some fucking pillows... what is up with that... those fucking things are heavy and would not be moved that easily by dead body... enough said
All that is left to say is that this seems to be some nice team play experience ....
As I have said before I am looking forward to this game... and the promised graphical goodies... so just keep up with our expectations Crytek have released another preview and it seems that it is one from multilayer again...
As you can see it looks pretty promising as always...
But there are things to work on for the next release...
As the video starts of with scene in beach.... I can't help but think - Ok on right there is a sandy beach.. on the left it is clear it is nice looking water... but what it lack terribly is that very shallow bit... in which you can clearly see where is the water and where is the sand.... it all sort blends in there in the game... but does it really do that in real life? I mean maybe I haven't traveled to tropicals but every place I have been so far... you can tell where the water starts by looking at it rather then drowning first!!! Don't get me wrong... it can be seen and the effect looks good from distance... but I think it is something that can be worked on.... and while we are at it.. later in the video the boats... well they make waves!!
And what about the physics sorta things here....????
When that dude get frozen and falls down.. what happens to half of his body? I mean once he shatters there should be a bit more ice... and maybe some red one... just to say that he was human... just maybe.... was expecting a bit more from that!!! and what is up with the sand bags?? you can see near the end of the video a dude being killed and he falls on the sand bags which just fly way like they were some fucking pillows... what is up with that... those fucking things are heavy and would not be moved that easily by dead body... enough said
All that is left to say is that this seems to be some nice team play experience ....
Friday, September 14, 2007
Boiling Point 2...
Boiling point - or those of you out there that are familiar with this game and have played it on patched up version know how awesome it is!!!
Of course it had some issues and letdowns but the game generally rocked with the nice micro climate and and relation building with different factions... Totally non linear game play although it had only one possible ending, but the the whole experience was just great...!!!
Anyhow... everyone will be pleased to know that sequel will be released in not so distant future. Deep Shadows (Official Site) is planing a release date for late 2007/early 2008... I will be patiently waiting for that!!!
They have decided to give the game a different name - White Gold: War in Paradise (Official Site, Wikipedia) I really hope they will have polished this one out much better than the original and that gameplay will be just improved.... One of the worries is that it will also be released on xbox 360 ... so let us hope that it is not turned into console game and lacks the complexity and appeal of PC game!!
I still remember Deus Ex... and how much did the sequel sucked... It just shows how easy it is to go from brilliant to rubbish!!
And here is a trailer for those who are interested:
Of course it had some issues and letdowns but the game generally rocked with the nice micro climate and and relation building with different factions... Totally non linear game play although it had only one possible ending, but the the whole experience was just great...!!!
Anyhow... everyone will be pleased to know that sequel will be released in not so distant future. Deep Shadows (Official Site) is planing a release date for late 2007/early 2008... I will be patiently waiting for that!!!
They have decided to give the game a different name - White Gold: War in Paradise (Official Site, Wikipedia) I really hope they will have polished this one out much better than the original and that gameplay will be just improved.... One of the worries is that it will also be released on xbox 360 ... so let us hope that it is not turned into console game and lacks the complexity and appeal of PC game!!
I still remember Deus Ex... and how much did the sequel sucked... It just shows how easy it is to go from brilliant to rubbish!!
And here is a trailer for those who are interested:
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