Review: Dead Island

Remember the cinematic video that was released when we first heard about Dead Island? The dark and sad foreboding video that warned of a game that wouldn't focus on the Romero-esque horror of the walking dead but instead instead more of the human cost like, well, 'The Walking Dead'.

 


Sadly that isn't what Dead Island delivers, instead what we get is controversy and a possibly unfinished version. Yet despite all it's “teething problems” Dead Island is a very fun game to play.

The best way to describe Dead Island is to think of a mix between Borderlands and Condemned. There's vehicles for you to drive around the island, a levelling system, and while almost anything you can pick up is a weapon they all have base statistics and rare versions indicated by a blue or orange name. There's also very little in the way of a story, the cinematic pieces are few and far between and sometimes overly shocking. It's just enough to tie the game together but don't expect it to win any rewards. In terms of game play emphasis is on close combat as opposed to weapons, for the first few chapters you would be lucky to even see a simple revolver let alone an assault rifle. Even on the later levels where everyone seems to have a machine gun you will find yourself choosing to use the machete instead just to conserve ammunition.

While you have a choice of 4 different characters, each with their own speciality, the undead themselves come in numerous different flavours. From the shambling undead that like to pretend to be corpses right up until you see them chewing on your ankle to the marathon running zombies you'd see in films like '28 Days Later'. I won't spoil some of the other special zombies as they have all have a cut scene that does a good job of introducing them in a, “Oh crap I have to fight that?” kind of moment.

Thankfully the game has a nice crafting mechanic, by collection some seemingly ordinary objects that litter the island for example a car battery, some wire and some duct tape. You can turn your machete into a high voltage blade of death. It definitely comes in useful.

Visually everything looks stunning though the setting, which is for the most part bright and cheerful seems to be at odds with the undead carnage that litters the beaches of this once tropical resort. Surprisingly though this setting only serves to make the occasions you have to venture into a dark and potentially undead filled beach hut even more unnerving.

All this makes for an interesting single player but what is it that makes Dead Island so interesting? The multiplayer. Taking on a group of the undead with a couple of friends is a great experience, particularly when it all goes wrong and you have to think quickly or just run away very fast.

Getting into a multplayer game is easy to do too, even if you're in single player mode you're still given the option to join another person's game who has reached a similar level of progress.

So if you've got some friends who already have the game or are thinking about getting it, grab a copy yourself and enjoy the undead horror. If you're a fan of the undead genre then give the game a shot, the frantic game play will keep you entertained for some time.

Gonna take you for a ride! : Marvel Vs Capcom 3

Publisher:
Capcom
Developer:
Capcom
Genre:
2d fighter
Release Date:
February 18th 2011

The first Marvel vs Capcom game came out on the Dreamcast in 1999 and while some of the "die hard" fans of 2d fighters were put off my its simplicity, it made the genre a lot more accessible to the more casual player. Truly stunning combinations were no longer exclusive to people who devoted hours to the study of complex move lists. You could quite easily get the same effect from mashing a few buttons and hoping for the best, well, some of the time. So 12 years on Marvel Vs Capcom 3 graces our consoles, how does it fare?

The premise is as always paper thin. Some how Doctor Doom and Albert Wesker have managed to cause the worlds of Capcom and Marvel to merge, allowing the top fighters from both worlds to engage in a massive free for all. Oh and then Galactus shows up. Don't expect a great deal of plot from these games, though the endings for each character are amusing, they are ultimately meaningless.

The game's format is simple, each player picks 3 characters from the vast roster and squares up against another similar squad. There are no "rounds" as such, the game keeps going until the time runs out or all 3 characters are knocked unconscious. You get to switch your characters in and out as and when you wish, allowing your other team members time to rest, so you aren't stuck with just one person until they are knocked out. You can also bring your team mates out temporarily to throw the odd fireball but this leaves them vulnerable to a good kicking. Special moves are fairly easy to pull off and the ability to knock people around in the air makes for some spectacular combinations that are all easy to pull off. If you're new to the genre or just not very good, like me, then the game is generous to provide a "simple" mode. In simple mode a lot of the moves are just simplified to pushing a few buttons, which means they are easier to pull off. Of course this simplicity gets in the way of the really large combinations that require a bit more skill.



Just as an aside, you don't need an arcade stick for this game, you can quite happily play the game with the default controller of choice but an arcade stick does make things better and easier. I still had my "Street Fighter 4: Standard" one knocking around and that does the job adequately.

The multiplayer aspect is definitely this game's forte. The online system is fairly quick to get into, although I've had some difficulty in the past with ranked games. In truth I prefer playing against friends round someone's house as thats where the most fun is to be had, but it's nice that the online aspect has been done well.

Visually the game is stunning, the characters themselves are a mixture of cell shading and 3D that gives them a very comic book feel. The backgrounds while vibrant and detailed are done in a manner that doesn't distract you from the fight at hand, but provides a colourful backdrop for your special moves. My personal favourite level is "Tron Bonne's", with a firework display going off in the background.



I have to admit that while for the most part the voice acting is good, a certain few character's voices get annoying very quickly. Thankfully there is an option to switch specific character's voice acting to Japanese that makes it slightly less painful on the ears. The music is pretty much a standard affair, it's often hard to hear over the special moves and the like but there are a few good songs, the remix of "Gonna take you for a ride" is really good.

The biggest problem that you will find with Marvel Vs Capcom 3, with any game of this genre , is the lack of longevity. After the first few days of initial play you'll slowly find yourself playing less and less. Often the game becomes relegated to the occasional gaming session at a friend's house. It's sad but is often the way with these games, they're lack of any discernable story makes it hard for them to maintain interest. There is a noble effort to address this by providing a gallery of content that is for the most part locked until you accrue a certain level of points, points being awarded for almost anything apart from looking at things in the gallery. While it's enough to make people want to finish the game as each character, it's not enough to add a great deal to the game.

So enjoy this game, even by the high standards of this genre it stands top of the class, just don't expect to be playing it as much in a few months time.

Going to make you an offer you can't refuse: Mafia 2

Publisher:
2K Games
Developer:
2K Czech
Genre:
3rd Person Shooter, Sandbox game
Release Date:
August 24, 2010

It's hard not to find the world of the Mafia appealing. From what we've seen in the films it's a life of glitz, glamour, violence, gun fights and stinking great amounts of money. What's not to like? Well Mafia 2 is going to show you the life of a made man and contrary to the films it's not all it's cracked up to be.

As far as I can tell Mafia 2 has no major connections to the original game apart from a brief cameo from the protagonist of the original game. Instead you are cast in the role of Vito Scaletta who begins by recounting his life story of poverty and strife. Caught whilst stealing with his friend Joe Barbaro, Vito is sent to fight in the second world war, this segment serving as the games tutorial. Sent home with an injury, Joe uses his new connections to save Vito from having to return to the war. Going home to tell his family the good news, Vito soon finds his father has left the family in debt to some sinister Mafia types who are keen to get their money back. At this point Vito's journey into the life of organized crime begins, all set to the backdrop of post World War 2 America.



Mafia 2 is an interesting game. At first it looks like any old sandbox game, you have a large city, a wealth of cars to steal and a number of people to rob from but that's where the similarities end. While there are a number of activities; like upgrading your car of choice, stealing from the various shops, eating at fancy restaurants and buying stylish suits ultimately the only story line is that of the main game. So there's no side missions or activities to keep you entertained. Thankfully however the game never forces you to do some inane tasks to unlock the story, it's always available. There for you to dip into as you wish. It's a good thing then that 2K games have written such an immersive story with well rounded characters, otherwise you'd have little reason to play.

Missions vary, sometimes you'll find yourself shooting anything that looks at you funny, other times you'll be racing around town with the police in close pursuit, the rest of the time missions are a combination of the two. There's nothing particularly ground breaking about this game but in the same respect everything is done well so there's nothing that stands out as poor. The only things worth mentioning are a few interesting ideas that hopefully future games will take into consideration. For example police are no longer magically aware that you are a criminal and they don't suffer from such crippling amnesia that they forget you after losing sight of you for a while. Instead, if your car runs someone over and they see your license plate then they will come after you if they see you driving around town. If you shoot someone but escape then you need to change your clothes before you can safely wander about again, otherwise you will be instantly greeted with a shotgun blast to the nostril. It sounds simple but ultimately it makes you consider your actions quite carefully before committing to a violent crime spree.



The world itself seems small compared to some of the other games in the sandbox genre but it's so beautifully put together you won't seem to mind as much. Driving around in my pristine car of choice, I couldn't help but admire how wonderful everything looked as it was reflected off the bonnet of my car. Not once did the game chug, not even the time when I decided to introduce a number of cop cars to my good friend Mr Hand grenade and a series of explosions began that would put any action film to shame. My computer is fairly new but I wouldn't consider it the top tier of gaming machines, not by a long shot.

To accompany the brilliant aesthetics of the game you get your usual in car radio stations, playing the likes of the sultry voiced Dean Martin initially, but later adding a few rock tracks to its repartee, things like 'Buddy Holly and the Crickets'. The voice acting isn't bad, I never flinched when a character opened their mouth which makes the game fairly easy on the ears and while there is a fair bit of foul language its never excessive, which is good because it often detracts from the dialogue. Unless its Deadwood, then it makes for a good drinking game.

Simply put, if you have ever seen a film about the Mafia that you enjoyed, go buy this game. It's gripping story will draw you in and the amazing graphics will keep you hooked. If you want your modern day gangster game with a truly free setting then perhaps this game isn't for you.

Right said Fred Dead Redemption.

Genre = 3rd Person Shooter/Horse Simulator
Developer = Rockstar San Diego, Rockstar North
Publisher = Rockstar games
Players = 1 Player
Online = 2-16 players
Age = 18

Wandering through the desolate plain atop my horse, I scanned the horizon for signs of life. My dusty coat blowing in the wind behind me. Just on the horizon I could make out the vague outline of my target. The murderer, the man with the bounty on his head, the team killer. He was a good distance away but I drew my rifle, slipping into focus I lined up 20 shots at his head. I was determined he wasn't going to walk away from this one. In an instance I let loose a salvo of shots that would put even the most trigger happy lunatic to shame. The target dropped instantly. Drawing my revolver and walking closer I went to confirm the kill. It would take time for his friends to find me and by then I would be long gone. I waited at the site of the kill planning my next move when a stray mountain cat pounced, killing me instantly. That pretty much explains Red Dead Redemption, really amazing moments tempered by frustration and annoyance.

The story is set in the at the end of the wild west era, where technology is starting to appear and the days of gunslingers are coming to the end. You play John Marston, a man desperately trying to turn his back on his lawless past. I presume the lawless aspect was occasionally failing to tip his hat to ladies because for a bad ass outlaw he's a bit of a softy. Unfortunately for him and his flower picking ways the US government has plans for him and they don't include spending days on the ranch rustling cattle. or whatever cowboys do when they aren't robbing banks. Instead you're sent to track down your old buddies and bring them to justice so that you can free your family and return to your former life. Queue gun fights, bar room brawls and more horse riding than you could rattlesnake at.

Sadly the rather flakey story is stretched so far it needs to be nailed down at the edges. You will find yourself begging for an ending that never seems to come. To get near to the aforementioned buddies you have to help every low life in the old west. Which means you are reduced to moving from town to town either killing x, capturing x, protecting x or rustling x like the handy man from hell. All the time bound to what is essentially a cover based shooter with relatively well thought out horse physics. No serious there are horse physics, you can trot around town like you own the place or you can race around like a lunatic, just don't push your four legged friend too far else you'll be thrown from the saddle and end up looking like a right idiot. Get used to the horses though as you'll be using them at every opportunity. Rockstar seem quite proud of their little mechanic which means you get to spend every opportunity on horseback accompanied by people who refuse to shut up. This could have been bearable but horse riding itself isn't always easy to do. You're supposed to press A to keep up with your companion but whenever they changed speed my horse refused to. Like it had suddenly succumbed to a bout of depression brought on by the repetitive scenery. I don't blame it though, the scenery, while expansive and different, is often quiet and uneventful. The quiet occasionally being punctuated by someone challenging you to a skinning competition or the sound of your shins being eaten by a pack of wolves. It's nice to be away from the crowded and claustrophobic cities of the GTA series but would it hurt to make the towns a bit bigger? I found myself wondering where half these people lived because there simply weren't enough houses for them. Was the old west known for being the biggest collection of homeless people?

That being said while the storyline goes on for far too long and sometimes feels like a broken record, at least it has one. You start to feel John's frustration as he's made to pick flowers for the 15th time and the characters while not particularly helpful are for the most part interesting and relatable. The game itself can be enjoyable, being forced to six shooters and lever action rifles slows down the combat to a more suspenseful and strategic pace and despite the emptiness of the setting the scenery is often stunning and atmospheric. If you can look past the faults and uselessness of the mini games you've got a decent game here. Of course you can always disregard the single player and its faults and go straight into the multiplayer.
The multiplayer has the usual death match settings which are quite enjoyable but the real beauty lies in the free roaming mode. You get to roam the entire world of Red Dead Redemption and form posses with your friends. From there you can go around taking down gangs or laying siege to the innocents of a town. Everything you do giving you experience which unlocks, new horses, characters and weapons!

If you have friends get yourselves online and enjoy some good old fashioned cowboy shenanigans. If not, you're going to find yourself in a decent cover based shooter with problems that can be for the most part overlooked. At least until the story gets boring.