Rayman Origins: a counterargument – good but ultimately forgettable
Check out my thoughts on Rayman Origins (not a review). Were you satisfied with what the platformer delivered, or were you hoping for more?
Posts Tagged ‘Ubisoft’
Ten Reasons Why Being an Assassin in Real Life Would Be Awesome
Stop by GameZone for ten reasons why being an assassin would be a great way to spend your time.
Disclaimer: It might not be so awesome for everyone else.
Colorful Rayman characters and should-be Lego games
Two of my editorials went live on GameZone today.
First, here are five games that would make excellent additions to the Lego catalog of Rock Band, City Stories, and more.
And another fiver: here are all the details on some of the most prominent characters in Rayman Origins, from their histories in old titles to their latest makeovers.
If you read either of these articles, I would love to hear from you! Drop me a comment on the site or here on my blog.
PS3 Review: Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands
Ubisoft backtracks to a prettier prince with the prequel to Warrior Within. The sands make a comeback, along with a female sidekick, a common move for the Prince of Persia series. As the Prince and his brother Malik break an ancient seal, they release King Solomon’s sacred army, a misnomer. These skeletal and armor-plated fiends operate under an evil spell that threatens to cover the world with a sandstorm. With the help of a magical Djinn named Razia, the Prince wields the elements of water, wind, fire, and ice as his only hope against the power-hungry Ratash.
The Forgotten Sands sits more comfortably among earlier PoP games like Sands of Time than the recent experimental ones, such as the cel-shaded remake that, as gorgeous to view as it was, made a lot of players grumpy (who wouldn’t be after that cakewalk and story ending?). This run-around takes a step down in graphics, but it does construct a stable balance between traversing obstacle courses of spikes and whirly gigs and engaging in combat. Players can rewind time as usual, but what makes this edition unique is how it challenges gamers to mix environmental and water manipulation and aerial boosts on command. Thanks to Razia, the Prince can solidify water and interact with it like he would a wall or beam. Timing is key, camera clues are vital, and specialized aerial jumps and area restoration add an extra edge to the gameplay. A few instances will leave players exasperated with buggy missteps, but for the most part, the Prince follows orders (nudge, nudge).
The game quickly immerses players by introducing various fighting methods and enemy types. The selectable upgrade system, based on experience points gained in battle, enhances combat and allows for a better grip on health and magic (longer water and time control, more powerful elemental attacks, etc.). Over the course of the game, these upgrades feel as unnecessary as opponents are redundant. The Prince swings a mean sword, and it does the job right.
A little more dedication to the adventure could have saved players from occasional boredom. Scattered throughout the palace, the blue sarcophagi that award bonus XP act as the sole incentive for careful exploration. Forgotten Sands falls into fits of uninspired gameplay, only to pick up its pace and then lapse into a creative coma again. While the narrative blows over more like an bothersome breeze than a strong sandstorm, at least the vigorous final boss fight justifies the investment.
The Forgotten Sands isn’t altogether unwelcome, but it does little to earn a valuable place as a member of the Prince of Persia series. 7/10
PS3 Review: Assassin’s Creed II
However innovative Assassin’s Creed was, it ultimately failed to shine. Plagued by flaws and repetitious action, many tossed the box aside before even reaching the supposed grand finale. The sequel promised to remedy those problems, and thankfully the developers built a much steadier foundation this time around.
Assassin’s Creed II still follows the same brittle formula as its predecessor: The player enters the ancestral link of the Animus; assassinates a bunch of targets, each more fallible than the last (more now, so half of Italy); explores cities while avoiding Templar guards. But besides offering countless missions and puzzles, there’s one thing AC2 delivers that the first game dismissed. If you guessed character interaction as rich as Italian nobles, then consider yourself savvy. Regardless of whether or not you favor Desmond or even Ezio Auditore, the oblivious but handsome protagonist of Renaissance Italy, there are dozens of other characters to gush over (or loathe)—including the humorous Leonardo da Vinci. Even voice work impresses alongside the intriguing musical score. Assassin’s Creed II incorporates all its historical research by allowing you to access said information when encountered. The result? A mind-blowing world as interactive and thriving as the 15th-century.
The developers clearly paid attention to the blunders of AC—you don’t travel back and forth between cities nearly as often, for example—but they made a few errors of their own. The game’s “puppet controls” are euphemistic QTAs, and they’re just as annoying and randomly placed. Although an indicator pops up as a signal, you’ll probably be reading those wonderful Italian translations instead.
Thanks to the wealth of missions and weaponry consciously livened by fresh scenarios, gameplay rarely feels dull and readily connects with not only Ezio’s story, but Desmond’s and Altair’s. While scaling buildings for viewpoints remains intact, Ezio can reach higher ledges after learning a certain technique. With vendors scattered about cities, you can beef up Ezio with armor, health supplies, weapons, and even ammunition like smoke bombs. The several factions (NPCs) at your disposal, though sometimes vexatious, are surprisingly efficient and minimally glitch-impaired. Mercenaries, courtesans, and thieves will allow you to advance unscathed and make your pocket delightfully weightier. Money isn’t hard to come by—but equally as easy to spend.
Hunting eagle feathers might be as boring as hording flags, but at least there’s a manageable number and treasure at the finish line. Even simple tasks like blending and stealing are more intelligently designed, as are assassination techniques. Plus, this assassin can swim. Finally.
There are troublesome areas, though. Earning money is good and well until you have to return to a single location to retrieve it; tearing yourself away from your current activity to collect interest just doesn’t appeal. Whereas you always know where your money is and wish it were closer to your Italian destinations, navigating your map can be a clueless experience. Showing which way Ezio faces at any moment could have easily resolved such open-world woe. Not to mention frequent and sluggish load screens add to the headache.
Once child’s play, combat demonstrates a vast improvement from the series’ trial run. Countering won’t always do the trick in battle; some guards are outfitted with superior armor and weapons, making disarming and executing a satisfying feat. Although fights don’t always flow smoothly, with a convenient weapon wheel boasting a versatile selection of items, you can turn combat from a mundane hindrance to an exciting chance to show off your moves.
Bottom line, Assassin’s Creed II is one of the most playable, entertaining, and visually stunning games of the year. Not everything sparkles the way it should, but the incredible historically detailed environments, engaging character stories, and meticulous improvements to the sins of the old provide a sensory overload of quality. As for the ending, you might cringe a little at the overused danger it implies. Let’s just say we might look for Assassin’s Creed III come 2012. 9/10
