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| Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X |
| Tuesday, August 4, 2009 |
 Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Ubisoft Bucharest
Category: Action
Release Dates
N Amer - 03/10/2009
Official Game Website
Also available on: 360 PS3 WII
Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X Download Link
Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X Cheats Link
Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X Walkthrough Link
After seeing a long lineup of tactical shooters, the Tom Clancy franchise has finally attempted to venture into new fields. This outing takes players into bullet-filled skies, with some of the best aerial combat seen in games of this generation. Hardcore flying gamers should be warned: This is not Microsoft Flight Simulator. Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X. is intended to be a realistic military flight game, but it is certainly no simulation. It feels, like many Clancy games, similar to a great action movie. Of course, that’s not to say the game is a letdown. In fact, anyone who enjoys the genre will likely appreciate the frenetic fun H.A.W.X. has to offer.
While private military corporations were once a great literary source of villainy, H.A.W.X. nearly embraces the fact that most modern countries rely heavily on such corporations. Although the main protagonist is first pleased to find work with the PMC Artemis after losing his job with the US Air Force, his loyalties to his homeland ultimately overwhelm his love of the corporate paycheck. This decision would seem like the sort of heroic quality that would make him likable and sympathetic, but like most of the game’s characters, there is little psychological intrigue to mold him into anything memorable. The story is similarly simplified, despite bearing all the trimmings of political drama that pervade so many other Clancy titles. Aside from the usual machine guns and missiles, one of the greatest assets at your disposal in H.A.W.X. is the assistance system. When activated, the game plays in a traditional third-person view, the camera following tightly behind the thrusters of your fighter craft while you bravely steer your way through the danger zone. Deactivated presents a more distant third-person view, one which is rarely seen in games of this style. Targets are automatically locked for easy tracking and chasing, so the camera focuses on the target regardless of where the craft is pointing. This is initially a very disorienting experience that will take even seasoned flyboys some time to get accustomed to. Once a firm grasp of this mechanic is acquired, the game becomes very interesting. Deactivated assistance mode also allows for the input of breakneck maneuvers in chaotic dogfights, some of which feel almost unbelievably agile in the Tom Clancy battlezone.  Despite all the fancy technological advances of these futuristic flight systems, some elements feel out of place. The Enhanced Reality System can be very helpful in guiding players to their targets, but luckily, it can be deactivated for those who prefer a little more spontaneity in their airborne battles. Dodging missiles is disappointingly simple; the autopilot alerts the player of a missile lock on, providing plenty of time to pull off panicked maneuvers which almost always succeed in shaking the projectile. I think context-sensitive maneuvers that work better from certain angles of attack or particular aircraft would have been more realistic without sacrificing fun, but perhaps the developers were more focused on the accessibility of the gameplay. Despite a few gameplay problems, H.A.W.X. has been built with replayability in mind. Progress unlocks new armaments and fighter jets, each one having its own set of strengths and limitations. The real cream of the crop, like many recent Clancy games, lies in the online modes. There’s an eight-player deathmatch for the competitive gamers, which is a a lot more fun than fighting the AI dullards littered throughout the campaign. Cooperative play is perhaps even more fun, as you and a buddy can take to the skies and blast your way through the entire campaign mode.  H.A.W.X. is also no slouch when comes to pleasing the superficial player. The roar of jets and peppering of gunfire all come together for an excellent aural experience in the skies, while detailed terrain in urban environments and the lustrous shine of aircraft models keep things attractive on a visual level as well. The developers utilized satellite imagery to recreate the terrain, and seeing landmarks in cities like Washington, D.C., certainly adds to the excitement during gameplay. The entire package delivers the goods, for both casual and hardcore lovers of aerial combat. A bit more depth and variety in the missions would have probably allowed Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X. to climb to much higher altitudes, though. Review Scoring DetailsGameplay: 8.0Despite the initial struggle, the game controls very nicely and offers excellent combat scenarios. Graphics: 8.0Great textures, smooth models, and sharp skylines. Sound: 9.5Sounds even better than it looks, crisp and powerful with lots of punch. Difficulty: MediumSome challenges feel a bit contrived, but things are generally balanced. Concept: 8.0A great start for an extension of the Clancy franchise, H.A.W.X. says “I can do this, and I can do it very well.” Multiplayer: 8.0Great deathmatch mode for online dogfights, and some tasty co-op thrown into the mix. Very entertaining. Overall: 8.0Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X. excels at nearly everything it tries to do, and provides great replayability for long-term flyers. An improved campaign will make the sequel a true beauty. Labels: PC
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posted by NiJu Shop @ 8:11 AM  |
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| Battlefield Heroes |
| Monday, July 13, 2009 |
 Publisher: EA Games
Developer: DICE
Category: Action
Release Dates
Online - Summer 2009
Official Game Website
Battlefield Heroes Download Link
From DICE, the developers of the acclaimed Battlefield franchise, Battlefield Heroes is the latest title in the developer’s long-running franchise. Opting for a cartoony look as well as easy to grasp, casual online shooter gameplay, Battlefield Heroes is certainly a different looking and different playing entry to the series. Additionally, the game will differ from its predecessors by being the first title in the series to be completely free to play.
After opening a public beta last fall, the game closed down as more features were implemented over winter. Now, EA and DICE have reopened the game’s beta, albeit in closed form, and GameZone was given some more hands-on time with the upcoming free shooter. The results are a lot of what we found in earlier preview form, like easy to play combat coupled with simple controls and fun and accessible gameplay.
In order to begin your gameplay experience, Battlefield Heroes requires you to create a new account and a character with which to play in the game. After signing up, you’ll create your own character using a few customization options and then you’ll be able to jump into the fray.
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Gameplaywise, the game capitalizes on the classic features of the Battlefield series. The gameplay is the same variety of spawnpoint capturing that the series has made its own, and performing well will net you specific rewards. You’ll have access to a variety of different weapons and vehicles, on the ground and in the air. There is a mission system that also gives players rewards for completing certain goals, which will also earn them some in-game cash that can be spent on weapons and other items. The action unfolds from a third-person perspective as opposed to a first-person view as in other Battlefield titles, giving you a view of your character at all times.
Battlefield Heroes uses “Battlebucks” as currency for its microtransaction model, which are purchased using real currency from a credit card or a PayPal account. Using Battlebucks, players can purchase items that alter your character’s appearance, as well as widgets, emotes, and various other little items.
Graphically, the cartoony look won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but looks pretty good for the game’s casual and lighthearted atmosphere. The characters look good and sport quite a bit of personality, while the bright and colorful environments are solidly done; not too shabby for a free game.
All in all, Battlefield Heroes is shaping up quite nicely, and should be worth the investment of time for many online shooter fans, if not a great entry point for those looking to take their first steps into the genre.
By Steven Hopper, www.gamezone.comLabels: PC
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| posted by NiJu Shop @ 8:19 AM |
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| SINGLES Flirt Up Your Life |
| Tuesday, June 23, 2009 |
Developer: Rotobee
Category: Simulation
Release Dates
Electronic - 05/24/2004
N Amer - 10/04/2004
Official Game Website
SINGLES Flirt Up Your Life Download Link
SINGLES Flirt Up Your Life
The Sims, as we all know, is a huge hit. Having sold millions of copies, the series appeals to just about everyone. While I am not personally a huge fan of the series, as I believe it becomes fairly repetitive after a few hours, one must give The Sims some respect for being a game that your mom or sister will sit down and enjoy, whereas most games are not that interesting to the general public. The key is that people can relate to the Sims; they do everyday normal things, they have households similar to our own, and they act in a manner that we can, to some degree, relate to.
It is surprising that there really aren’t as many Sims-esque games slapped together for a quick buck as one might think, then (barring the game’s many expansion packs). Singles: Flirt Up Your Life is in fact the only game I can think of that closely resembles The Sims. You pick a family (or, in this case, roommates), move into an empty home, fill it up with goods, keep your characters content, and improve their relationships with each other. You never really have access to anything outside the house, and when your people leave the house for work, you don’t go with them. Their hygiene, energy, hunger and so forth gradually become worse until they shower, eat, and sleep, to name a few things. It’s uncannily – but not surprisingly – extremely like The Sims.
It’s funny, then, that in some respects, Singles actually surpasses the Sims. The game is presented in full 3D, which is a nice departure from the four cramped viewpoints we are used to. The camera can be manipulated exactly as you want it, allowing for swinging and dragging and most certainly zooming. The game also boasts a number of nice little touches. Almost every action you can do, when you are about to select it, will notify you of which attributes that belong to your players will go up or down. Getting a shower will carry a icon indicating your hygiene will improve, while having to fix the toilet will probably ruin your happiness but improve your mechanical skills. It’s much nicer than having to guess what the advantages and repercussions of each action are. On another note, your characters can actually change clothes, instead of being stuck in the same outfit for eternity.
And, yes, if you so desire, your characters don’t have to wear any clothes. Singles’ Adults-Only rating is gathering no small amount of hype for the game. It’s only available in downloadable form, which may be a good choice from the publisher in order to avoid problems with little Jimmy buying this “naughty” game at Electronics Boutique while mom was trying on a dress. Truth be told, though, the game isn’t really all that “naughty” – true, there is full nudity, but unless you really have a thing for computer models that look slightly more fleshed out than mannequins, you truly aren’t missing much. While you can undress your characters at any time, you can’t do the “wild thing” until you’ve spent several hours building up your roomies’ relationships via flirting and kisses and such. And, sorry guys, while you can have lesbian relationships (though oddly, not gay relationships) all of the sex is purely under-the-covers – and only in one position, at that.
The game has some decent AI, which makes it a less frustrating than The Sims. Your people will patiently wait outside the bathroom instead of making a mess all over the carpet, and they obey your commands a little more strictly overall, rather than just “taking them into consideration.” This means you can focus on actually playing the game and improving the character’s relationships – ultimately, the goal of the game.
The only problem is that the actual relationship building consists of clicking a few commands and watching the same things happen over and over and over. There are no interesting conversations to listen to; your people speak in gibberish (guess where that came from). All of the animations for flirting, gossiping, and the like are unimpressive and quite boring after the fifth time. As you do all of this more, other commands will become available to you, from making out to getting it on in the bedroom. Again, though, after trying any of the commands a few times, you’ve basically seen it all. The game becomes extremely tedious.
The graphics in the game aren’t bad. It’s in full 3D, and this definitely helps considering the game’s rather mature going-ons. Everything looks decent and runs at a decent clip. There are a fair number of objects for you to purchase, and while most aren’t that exciting, you can do some neat things with interior decorating. There are a lot of floor and wall options, and getting just the right lighting along with nice furniture will not only look nice, but make your little guys happier. As for the character models – they don’t look bad, but with their clothes off, there’s nothing really special to see here. Everything is quite stationary, and not nearly as “adult” as the “Adults-Only” rating would have you believe.
The sound is bearable. Sound effects aren’t much to speak of, aside from your generic clanging and banging, shower nozzles and toilet flushing, and noise emitting from the television. Voice acting is – well – I can’t say for sure whether it’s good or bad, as it’s simply a bunch of gibberish. As a whole, it works, although I think the game would have been much more fun if it carried some conversations with good dialogue. The music is reminiscent of some elevator muzak, not being really fun or boring – just kind of there. It didn’t bother me, but I wouldn’t think of looking for the soundtrack.
Overall, Singles: Flirt Up Your Life is tough to recommend. It’s not a bad game. It borrows a lot from The Sims – and I mean a lot – and actually does it one better in many respects. On the other hand, though, what you’re left with is a relationship building game with some mature elements. The relationship building part is quite boring after some time, and the mature part isn’t going to blow your socks off. If you’re into these sort of simulations, you’ll enjoy it. If you aren’t, this game isn’t going to change your mind. If it sounds intriguing, I would advise downloading the free demo. It won’t appeal to many, I’m sure, but fans of The Sims may be inclined to enjoy it as a nice alternative to the behemoth that is Will Wright’s franchise.
Review Scoring Detail
Gameplay: 6.0
The overall balance of the game feels nice thanks to some decent AI. While this makes the large unique relationship aspect of the game stand out, you’ll find that the relationship system is actually quite tedious and dull after a few hours.
Graphics: 7.5
While these graphics aren’t stunning by any means, they do a more than adequate job here, and the game looks a lot fresher than The Sims. But if you’re looking for hardcore pornography, as the ESRB rating suggests, you aren’t going to find it here.
Sound: 7.0
The game’s sound effects, background music, and “gibberish” voice acting are not really bad nor good. It’s all appropriate and adequate, but nothing I felt I needed to turn up my speakers for.
Difficulty: Medium
The game isn’t particularly hard, but it is time-consuming.
Concept: 6.5
This game borrows a LOT from The Sims, as if it weren’t evident in the review. However, it’s not all bad since the game does a better job with much of the material. It’s own innovations, however – like the relationship system – are rather poorly implemented.
Multiplayer: N/A
Overall: 6.8
Singles: Flirt Up Your Life is an interesting product, as it is one of the few AO-rated games to come along in recent times, and also one of the surprisingly few Sims rivals in the gaming world. The game isn’t half bad, but it really becomes quite tedious after a certain amount of time. Sims fans might eat it up, but those indifferent to games like this won’t find too much to like that will change their mind.
By Justin Raymond, www.gamezone.com Labels: PC
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| posted by NiJu Shop @ 7:42 AM |
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