Decktoplasm Reviews

Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies (2001 Video Game)

A fantastic experience

[28 December 2005]

Your first mission in this game involves simply shooting down some bombers. Done? Woohoo, first mission complete. That was exciting. However, do not let this spur you into thinking this is not a worthwhile game, soon enough you'll be performing late-night raids on massive oil production facilities, attacks on solar-power plants and massive dogfights over Pacific-looking islands. This game rates as more of an experience than just a game, as you swoop and glide over some amazingly real looking environments, dogfighting some incredibly modelled planes(the Gran Turismo of the plane world).

The gameplay itself is also great, Flying your chosen craft is quite simple to master yet very elegant. If you can't get the hang of it then there is also an Easy mode that can be used to ease you into controlling your plane. Attacking opponents is as easy as gaining a lock-on and firing your missiles away. And attempting to dodge an enemy missile, as it streaks towards your blip on the radar, and you enter all sorts of evasive manoeuvres is thrilling.

The atmosphere generated is also quite remarkable. There are thousands of lines of dialogue that are used only once each battle, so the impression of being in an actual battle, with ground and air forces being constantly coordinated and redirected. There is also an actual in-cockpit view which shows you all the actual instruments inside the plane. Throughout the atmosphere is kept up, especially in later levels when ground forces start referring to you as the Grim Reaper. It's a fantastic touch and makes you realise how much you have contributed to the outcome of this war.

The story is simple, with you cast as a pilot for the ISAF. You have been pushed off your territory on the continent Erusea after a war over the superweapon Stonehenge. From your position on a island off the coast, you begin top press the advantage on the enemy, and eventually establish a beachhead on the continent, fighting your way towards the capital. This is interspersed with the story of a young boy in the midst of the fighting, who loses his parents. Through a series of incidents he starts to live with the people responsible for the death of his family. It's a simple yet touching tale, told through the use of fantastic Japanese cartoon animation. By the end you might even feel sorry for the boy and his situation.

The only real problem with the game is it's length. There are 18 missions and while most are a complete thrill ride, the game can be completed rather quickly. But if you can't find the sequel Squadron Leader, then don't be afraid to settle for this as it is still a fantastic title in it's own right.

Looks: 9 Sounds: 9 Plays: 8 Lasts: 7 Overall 9/10

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (I) (2003 Video Game)

Wow- a revolution

[28 December 2005]

If I made one bad choice in my life it's that I didn't buy this game sooner. Indeed, in the end I didn't buy it at all, instead I just borrowed it off my sis about a year ago. She never got it back.

The game is absolutely flawless in it's design. The story follows the Prince of err... you know, who has invaded the grand palace of his rival in search of the ultimate treasure: the Dagger of Time, locked away inside the treasure vault of the city. The Prince retrieves it for his father, and the story leads on from there.

This opening scene serves as the 'turorial' level, and teaches you all the basics you'll need to advance. And it also succeeds in drawing you completely into the Prince's tale. Controlling him as he dangles from precarious ledges manoeuvring his way around the massive architecture is a sight in itself away from the amazing graphics. HDR lighting is used to great effect, shining through the windows of dusty corridors or illuminating the sky in a burning sunrise. Animation is amazing throughout, the Prince diving off ledges and running along walls with grace.

Yes, I said running along walls. While the idea of using the environment to your advantage has been around for a while, POP does it completely differently. The game is split into two different gameplay elements, as the areas you face become more like logic puzzles as you try to figure out'How would I reach that distant ledge?' or 'How do I get to that switch while avoiding the traps?' Seeing your plan fall into action is immensely satisfying. And an early mishap by the Prince sees the Maharajah's defence system come alive, adding a new twist to puzzles.

Combat is the other main gameplay element, and while it can be quite repetitive, it is just as acrobatic as the environment puzzles. Fights in this aren't just a case of tearing your way through enemy after enemy. Battles also have to have some thought put into them, as some enemies use different weapons and can move faster, and can block different attacks and that. The dagger can be used in fights to give you the advantage, like freezing the enemy to the spot or to slow time down giving aiding you to see oncoming attacks. You can also reverse time, so if you suffered an incapacitating attack or fell into the pit of spikes accidentally you can simply reverse time and try again. It is a fantastic gameplay mechanic as it cannot be used that often so you'll find yourself conserving your Sand Tanks for tougher puzzles. This game really does play like a breath of fresh air.

Overall it suffers in the same area that so many games fall down upon today, and that is that it just doesn't last long enough, although that is acceptable considering the emotional depth of the story, and that fights can be quite irritating when you are ganged up upon by several enemies. There's also not much potential for replay value, apart from to live the experience over again. But the main thing is that this still stands today as an amazing experience against it's two sequels. And you can have forgotten everything about it when you go to play it again(and trust me, you will). Overall this game should be played by everyone, no matter whether they play games or not.

Looks: 9 Sounds: 9 Plays: 10 Lasts:8 Overall 10/10

Medal of Honor: European Assault (2005 Video Game)

Still a disappointment, for stranger reasons

[19 October 2005]

I first seen this game while on the last day of school. We brought it in for some 4-way multi-player and I was blown away. The next day I bought for £37.99 from my local Woolworths.

The single-player experience I took home with me that day was a major disappointment. Now not a lot of people will agree, as it is obvious that this is a major step up from Rising Sun.

First of all, the graphics have received an overhaul. Gone are the standard, muddy levels that filled the MOH games of before, replaced by some fantastic textures and backdrops, with the Bloom effects complimenting the environments the player finds himself in, from sandy North African deserts (note to EA: this is not Europe), to the gritty smoke filled wastelands of Stalingrad. You also have a lot more say in what your character can do in a certain situation. It's obvious that that EA has spent a lot of time in trying to make the player, as US Army captain William Holt hunting down a devious German army colonel developing atomic weapons( SNAP! Oh there's goes the wafer thin plot) feel immersed in your environments, and this it does with a measure of success. The sound also contributes to this immersion, gunshots and explosions rattling everywhere, and there are some decent if not standout vocal performances. In other words production values are up to the usual EA standard, though this was to be expected.

Gameplay is divided up into 11 levels set around the European front of the err... assault, and its here that the game shows up its first flaw. Despite claims that battlefields are much larger than before, the levels are still rather short. Well, maybe not too short, just unsubstantiated. You'll rocket through these levels like no other, and the lack of bonus content makes for a poor £37.99 spent.

Controls also suffer. While they are alright, they feel foreign and it will take a while before you get familiar with them, They can also feel rather sluggish, especially when you want to crouch. The team aspect of the game is completely unnecessary and all you'll ever need them for is to draw away enemy fire, as they lack either the dynamicness of the guys in Brothers in Arms or the simple command system of Freedom Fighters.

Someparts of the game can be downright unfair, with the enemy pouring on a soul destroying amount of fire eating away at your Revive credits(another poorly implemented mechanic).

Add to this some rather jittery AI, which just refuses to stop moving for 2 seconds and makes suicidal runs a lot more common than you may believe possible, lots of invisible barriers interrupting the flow of gameplay, some dull level design and you have a game which does not stand up to Call of Duty: Finest Hour, which though simpler, is far easier to master yet is undeniably more engrossing. Too little, too late is the saying that rings true to almost all of MOH, as Call of Duty sticks to what it does best and does it well, while MOH: EA is a series of concepts tacked together with little care but for profit, and given the overall look of EA sheen which garners them so much money these days.

Looks: 8 Sounds: 7 Plays: 6 Lasts: 5 Overall: 6/10