In exactly 5 days*, Gearbox Software's Borderlands 2 will be released, and masses of gamers will flock game shops and websites to get their hands on a copy. In a way, I'll be one of them, since I've pre-ordered it back in June, when Canadian electronic store Future Shop had a E3 sale (4 E3-showcased games for the price of 3). However, as much hype as I have for Borderlands 2 - and I have a lot, since I love Borderlands so much it has a spot deeper in my gamer heart than any game this generation, even better ones - I couldn't help but think about the other over-hyped sequels of the past few years and get worried a bit.
Why? Because developers know sequels usually have a lot to live up to, and often try very hard (too hard?) to live up to their expectations and, even worse, gamers' expectations. And even when the critics applaud the sequel, giving it the same grade - or better - than the prequel, I usually find the original better.
The usual route for a sequel is "Bigger is better" where more explosions/guns/missions/treachery/quests/bigger boss fights/maps/powers/monsters/characters/fights/etc. means the game will likely be better. It is clearly not that simple.
Take, for example, inFamous, the 2009 PS3-exclusive open-world title where you play Cole McGrath, riddled with electric superpowers and has to choose whether he'll be good or evil towards citizens of Empire City while completing his missions. When inFamous 2 hit in 2011, with huge bosses, more powers, allies with other types of power (Ice & Fire), more varied enemies and less repetitive missions, most people thought it was a LOT better than the original. I didn't. Of course it had objectively more to offer, but more isn't necessarily better. I felt somewhat connected to the dark, unenthusiastic Cole of the first game, clearly not happy with the situation he was stuck in. The enemy, Kesler, was also a lot more interesting than "The Beast".
The same thing could be said of a lot of sequels. Only this generation, I thought Modern Warfare was vastly superior to both its sequels and Assassin's Creed II a lot better than Brotherhood (haven't tried Revelations). I also liked Arkham Asylum more than Arkham City (although City is objectively a superior game that I loved), enjoyed LittleBigPlanet more than LBP2 (still excellent though), Bioshock more than Bioshock 2 (superb as well), etc. And in some cases the sequel impossibly proved equal to the original, as we have seen with Portal 2 or Super Mario Galaxy 2. But in most cases, the original retains the new-IP "naïve" and "true" feeling of the game.
Why? I think it's because the first game usually has a LOT less expectations, and developers work almost without pressure (from the publisher, from the fans, from the critics and journalists, etc.) and put together a product closer to what they actually wanted to make. It will sound clichéd, but the original game seemingly comes from the heart and not the brain. Whereas there's too much "brain" in the sequels, and the final product often looks like an uneven mix of players' expectations and media pressure.
And I'm pretty sure that, in some cases, the sequel wasn't planned when the first game hit the shelves. And it shows. A lot more than what the developers were probably hoping. It seems like many of them decided to make a second game just because the first one worked, and not because the story or universe was meant to be continued or otherwise exploited.
*NOTE : This was actually written - almost all of it - 5 days before BL2 came out. It has been out for a week, I've played it for a few hours and really enjoyed it. More on that soon!
Affichage des articles dont le libellé est Call of Duty : Modern Warfare. Afficher tous les articles
Affichage des articles dont le libellé est Call of Duty : Modern Warfare. Afficher tous les articles
lundi 24 septembre 2012
lundi 26 mars 2012
Bara_Chat's 2011 Games of the Year Awards!
Here are the Awards for a fantastic 2011 in gaming!
Most impressive graphics
Being a car nut, I have to admit I may have been biased when choosing who would win this award. But anyone who played the game has to admit it looks absolutely fantastic, especially the Autovista mode, which is rather enjoyable on top of being very pretty.
And do keep in mind that I have only played console games this year. Maybe having a über-PC would have changed things, as user Youtube videos of Battlefield 3 and The Witcher 2 have thoroughly impressed me.
Best Action/Adventure Game
A pretty loaded category this year (as it is every year) with Zelda taking the honors. It's everything you expect from a Zelda game. Interesting characters, huge world, sheer diversity in places to explore and gameplay to exploit. A true Zelda game.
Best Sports Game
Another potentially biased award, since I'm a basketball nut, so it would be logical for me to select NBA 2K12 as the winner of this category. In fact, the fact that I know basketball so well makes me extremely severe when judging a basketball game, especially one who is widely considered "realistic". 2K12 is not bad by any means, but there are too many flaws for such a "great" (according to reviews) game. NHL 12 on the other hand, is a fantastic game, as it has been since its '09 iteration. It might be a bit too hard to score on some occasions, but gaming sports experience doesn't get better.
Best FPS campaign
A few surprises this year in this category, most notably the presence of MW3, whose predecessor's campaign was a big pile of poop. But MW3's campaign was a lot better. I also thought, at the start of 2011, that Battlefield 3's campaign would be epic. It was not. At all. And finally Resistance 3, with its finely paced campaign with interesting characters and set pieces, stole the show. It was probably the most pleasant surprise of the year, and it deserves this award.
Best RPG
I'm usually not a huge RPG fan, but there's something about Bethesda's work that just ticks with me. I absolutely loved Fallout 3, which was probably the game I played the most this generation (about 200 hours). New Vegas was in some ways better than #3, but overall a bit less satisfying. Oblivion is widely considered a masterpiece, and even if I haven't finished it yet, I find it pretty good as well. But Skyrim is something else. The way it plays, the variety of characters and quests, the sheer size of it, everything is amazing. It might even challenge Fallout 3 as the best RPG (in my opinion) of this generation.
Best Competitive Multiplayer
In this year of high quality no. 3s (honetly shooter fans were blessed in 2011 and I haven't even tried Gears 3 yet...), one stood above the rest with its multiplayer. Battlefield 3, with its gigantic maps, tons of guns, aircrafts, tanks, jeeps, IFVs, to name a few features, absolutely ruled the year. And after seeing a few PC gameplay videos, I'm positive that the complete BF3 experience is even bigger and better that I ever thought.
Best Story
Most immersive game
A bit like Fallout 3, Skyrim captures the feeling of the world it's depicting. Fallout 3's Capital Wasteland really felt like a cruel, dangerous and desolate place with a plethora of intriguing places, interesting characters and many, many quests to keep you connected to the world. Skyrim goes the same way, with a world so alive and breathing, you feel like a part of something special.
Best voice acting
That's a very, very tough one. All of these games had extremely convincing voice acting that helped propel the story to another level. If I had to choose a complete cast, I'd go with Uncharted 3 or Batman, but one character simply dominated the scene in 2011, and that's Wheatley from Portal 2. Of course GlaDos and Cave Johnson were fantastic, as well as the "personality spheres" in the final battle, but man, that metal ball certainly made me laugh and wonder throughout the whole game. A remarkable job by Valve and its voice actors.
Best sound design
I've never realized how much sound design can affect the realism of game until I've played Battlefield : Bad Company 2 in early 2010. Of course I've known about the impact of well composed music and jingles in some games, especially in the long run (All of us know the opening-a-treasure-chest jingle in Zelda games or the 1-up in Mario games), but this was something else. The sound made by dropping bullets indoors vs outdoors, the whizzing sound of a distant sniper missing you by inches, the explosion of a rocket on a nearby tank. And Battlefield 3 took that formula and expanded it even further. It's just amazing to hear.
Best music
Video game music is nearly on par with the best Hollywood has to offer. Just play a bit of Uncharted and Gears of War and you'll feel like you're watching a $200M blockbuster. However, Skyrim's music was simply mind-blowing, starting with an absolutely superb trailer that sent shivers through your body. That's the definition of Epic.
Game of The Year 2011
Celebrating its 25th birthday in 2011, The Legend of Zelda clearly isn't showing signs of slowing down. It's simply amazing how a video game series can last that long with so many iterations without ever feeling old or déjà-vu. New items/weapons stand next to the traditional ones without feeling out of place, dungeons are as creative as ever, the music is fantastic, the gameplay - while taking some time to get used to - manages to keep you involved like never before, even without HD technology, it's a beautiful game, etc. It really has it all. Nintendo has mastered the art (as we've seen with Super Mario Galaxy and #2) of sticking true to its roots while always improving and innovating.
Most impressive graphics
- Crysis 2
- Uncharted 3 : Drake's Deception
- Forza Motorsports 4
- Rage
- L.A. Noire
Being a car nut, I have to admit I may have been biased when choosing who would win this award. But anyone who played the game has to admit it looks absolutely fantastic, especially the Autovista mode, which is rather enjoyable on top of being very pretty.
And do keep in mind that I have only played console games this year. Maybe having a über-PC would have changed things, as user Youtube videos of Battlefield 3 and The Witcher 2 have thoroughly impressed me.
Best Action/Adventure Game
- The Legend of Zelda : Skyward Sword
- InFamous 2
- L.A. Noire
- Uncharted 3 : Drake's Deception
- Batman : Arkham Asylum
A pretty loaded category this year (as it is every year) with Zelda taking the honors. It's everything you expect from a Zelda game. Interesting characters, huge world, sheer diversity in places to explore and gameplay to exploit. A true Zelda game.
Best Sports Game
- NBA 2K12
- NHL 12
- Top Spin 4
Another potentially biased award, since I'm a basketball nut, so it would be logical for me to select NBA 2K12 as the winner of this category. In fact, the fact that I know basketball so well makes me extremely severe when judging a basketball game, especially one who is widely considered "realistic". 2K12 is not bad by any means, but there are too many flaws for such a "great" (according to reviews) game. NHL 12 on the other hand, is a fantastic game, as it has been since its '09 iteration. It might be a bit too hard to score on some occasions, but gaming sports experience doesn't get better.
Best FPS campaign
- Modern Warfare 3
- Resistance 3
- Crysis 2
- Rage
A few surprises this year in this category, most notably the presence of MW3, whose predecessor's campaign was a big pile of poop. But MW3's campaign was a lot better. I also thought, at the start of 2011, that Battlefield 3's campaign would be epic. It was not. At all. And finally Resistance 3, with its finely paced campaign with interesting characters and set pieces, stole the show. It was probably the most pleasant surprise of the year, and it deserves this award.
Best RPG
- The Elder Scrolls V : Skyrim
- Deus Ex : Human Revolution
- The Lord of the Rings : War in the North
- Two Worlds II
I'm usually not a huge RPG fan, but there's something about Bethesda's work that just ticks with me. I absolutely loved Fallout 3, which was probably the game I played the most this generation (about 200 hours). New Vegas was in some ways better than #3, but overall a bit less satisfying. Oblivion is widely considered a masterpiece, and even if I haven't finished it yet, I find it pretty good as well. But Skyrim is something else. The way it plays, the variety of characters and quests, the sheer size of it, everything is amazing. It might even challenge Fallout 3 as the best RPG (in my opinion) of this generation.
Best Competitive Multiplayer
- Battlefield 3
- Uncharted 3 : Drake's Deception
- Modern Warfare 3
- Killzone 3
- Resistance 3
In this year of high quality no. 3s (honetly shooter fans were blessed in 2011 and I haven't even tried Gears 3 yet...), one stood above the rest with its multiplayer. Battlefield 3, with its gigantic maps, tons of guns, aircrafts, tanks, jeeps, IFVs, to name a few features, absolutely ruled the year. And after seeing a few PC gameplay videos, I'm positive that the complete BF3 experience is even bigger and better that I ever thought.
Best Story
- Batman : Arkham City
- Portal 2
- Deus Ex : Human Revolution
- The Legend of Zelda : Skyward Sword
- The Elder Scrolls V : Skyrim
Most immersive game
- Rage
- Batman : Arkham City
- The Legend of Zelda : Skyward Sword
- The Lord of the Rings : War in the North
- The Elder Scrolls V : Skyrim
A bit like Fallout 3, Skyrim captures the feeling of the world it's depicting. Fallout 3's Capital Wasteland really felt like a cruel, dangerous and desolate place with a plethora of intriguing places, interesting characters and many, many quests to keep you connected to the world. Skyrim goes the same way, with a world so alive and breathing, you feel like a part of something special.
Best voice acting
- Uncharted 3 : Drake's Deception
- Portal 2
- Batman : Arkham City
- Deus Ex : Human Revolution
- L.A. Noire
That's a very, very tough one. All of these games had extremely convincing voice acting that helped propel the story to another level. If I had to choose a complete cast, I'd go with Uncharted 3 or Batman, but one character simply dominated the scene in 2011, and that's Wheatley from Portal 2. Of course GlaDos and Cave Johnson were fantastic, as well as the "personality spheres" in the final battle, but man, that metal ball certainly made me laugh and wonder throughout the whole game. A remarkable job by Valve and its voice actors.
Best sound design
- Battlefield 3
- Uncharted 3 : Drake's Deception
- Portal 2
- Crysis 2
I've never realized how much sound design can affect the realism of game until I've played Battlefield : Bad Company 2 in early 2010. Of course I've known about the impact of well composed music and jingles in some games, especially in the long run (All of us know the opening-a-treasure-chest jingle in Zelda games or the 1-up in Mario games), but this was something else. The sound made by dropping bullets indoors vs outdoors, the whizzing sound of a distant sniper missing you by inches, the explosion of a rocket on a nearby tank. And Battlefield 3 took that formula and expanded it even further. It's just amazing to hear.
Best music
- The Legend of Zelda : Skyward Sword
- The Lord of the Rings : War in the North
- The Elder Scrolls V : Skyrim
- Batman : Arkham City
- Gears of War 3
Video game music is nearly on par with the best Hollywood has to offer. Just play a bit of Uncharted and Gears of War and you'll feel like you're watching a $200M blockbuster. However, Skyrim's music was simply mind-blowing, starting with an absolutely superb trailer that sent shivers through your body. That's the definition of Epic.
Game of The Year 2011
- The Legend of Zelda : Skyward Sword
- Portal 2
- Batman : Arkham City
- Deus Ex : Human Revolution
- Forza Motorsports 4
- Uncharted 3 : Drake's Deception
- The Elder Scrolls V : Skyrim
- Rayman Origins
- Gears of War 3
Celebrating its 25th birthday in 2011, The Legend of Zelda clearly isn't showing signs of slowing down. It's simply amazing how a video game series can last that long with so many iterations without ever feeling old or déjà-vu. New items/weapons stand next to the traditional ones without feeling out of place, dungeons are as creative as ever, the music is fantastic, the gameplay - while taking some time to get used to - manages to keep you involved like never before, even without HD technology, it's a beautiful game, etc. It really has it all. Nintendo has mastered the art (as we've seen with Super Mario Galaxy and #2) of sticking true to its roots while always improving and innovating.
samedi 10 décembre 2011
Modern Warfare 3 vs Battlefield 3
You knew it was coming, every single gaming website/blog/vlog/youtube channel already did compare the two games, for better or worse. So I figured I had to do it as well.
First, I have to admit something regarding the predecessors (both spiritual - BFBC2 - and official - MW2) of those games. I hated MW2's campaign, I thought it didn't make any sense and that it was just ridiculous. The multiplayer was actually very good, some maps were just fantastic, but still think much of this as it simply built upon what CoD4 gave 2 years earlier. As for Bad Company 2, the campaign was better, if only for the fact it didn't take itself too seriously like CoD does, and the characters were very likable. And the multiplayer was just fantastic all-around. Before playing that game I didn't think it was possible for me to be addicted to a FPS multiplayer. How wrong I was...
Round 1 : Campaign
I must say I wasn't expecting much from either games, both of which usually thrive on their respective multiplayer features. But I found myself finishing MW3's campaign in only two sittings, which is quite unusual for me. Granted, the story still doesn't make that much sense when you think about it for more than a few minutes, but the action is pretty good overall, and even if some levels are a bit boring or not well scripted, others were simply a joy to play. On those levels, you just didn't give a flying poop about level design or the unoriginal plotline.
As far as Battlefield 3 is concerned, I had the impression all along that it took itself a bit too seriously, and that made the game a bit boring to go through. The story just wasn't very interesting, the missions weren't interesting, I died a LOT even if it was on medium/normal difficulty, which is usually a breeze on FPSs. It frankly wasn't bad, just not very good.
Round 1 winner : MW3
Round 2 : Multiplayer
Before I start writing here, I'll admit something : I've played a LOT more BF3 than MW3 online. To be honest, I bought MW3 because I wanted to know the end of the story, of course, but mainly because it has a feature that makes it very attractive : Split-screen online and in Spec Ops. That's just a superb idea by Sledgehammer Games/Infinity Ward. But when it comes down to basic multiplayer online, BF3 is just so damn amazing. Superb maps, both huge and small, many vehicles, a lot of weapons and a point attribution system that tries to encourage team play, especially in conquest mode. The main drawback is the lack of modes, only Conquest, Rush and Team Deathmatch.
On the other hand, MW3 has definitely more modes and offers extreme customization, even if it's a bit ridiculous sometimes. However, the maps I've tried are not that exciting, and the main gameplay is so strikingly similar to MW2 and Black Ops, it makes you wonder where the "3" in the game's name comes from. It simply built on MW2, which itself built on CoD4. The lack of innovation is disappointing, but why change a best-selling formula? Even then, I think the Killstreak/Deathstreak rewards should be gone and that the small maps don't offer much in the way of strategy. I do love the new Kill Confirmed mode, which is very, very entertaining. MW3's multiplayer isn't bad by any stretch of the imagination, it simply looks and feels too much like MW2, and that's abit annoying if you've bought the game full price (which I didn't, I got it for 30$ used a week after its release!).
Round 2 winner : BF3
Final round : Overall presentation
EA/Dice hyped BF3's graphics like I've rarely seen before in a video game. The final product is definitely good looking, especially on PC, but it's not OMGWTF MY HEAD WILL EXPLODE out-of-this-world beautiful. It is genuinely amazing in the campaign, but not as much online, obviously. Where BF3 offers a LOT, it's in the sound design, which makes the game SO immersive. You can FEEL the pressure when a building/wall collapses close to you, the effects of a grenade exploding next to you, the sound of the bullet dropping when you snipe from a window. It's just fantastic. If there's one thing I'd like to change into BF3's presentation, it's the games menus, which aren't particularly attractive or helpful. I would rather have BC2's menus, especially in-game, as they were MUCH better.
Sadly, Call of Duty's engine is starting to show its age. Of course the game doesn't look bad, but you feel like you're playing a 2009, if not 2007 game. Characters animations seemingly never evolved, neither have explosions effects or sound design. You get the same sensory feelings you might have had 4 years ago when popping CoD4 into your console. That's another blow to Infinity Ward's franchise, it has never evolved from a presentation point of view. Even the menus are the same! I understand that you don't want to lose/frighten seasoned CoD players, but this is getting ridiculous. Now that the trilogy is over, I hope they take the opportunity to develop a new engine.
Final round winner : BF3
That makes it 2-1 BF3, which is the better game overall (but not by far), even with that lackluster campaign. I still think that every military shooter fan should get and play Battlefield 3 AND Modern Warfare. They offer different experiences, and one might suit your style more than the other, but you just have to try both.
First, I have to admit something regarding the predecessors (both spiritual - BFBC2 - and official - MW2) of those games. I hated MW2's campaign, I thought it didn't make any sense and that it was just ridiculous. The multiplayer was actually very good, some maps were just fantastic, but still think much of this as it simply built upon what CoD4 gave 2 years earlier. As for Bad Company 2, the campaign was better, if only for the fact it didn't take itself too seriously like CoD does, and the characters were very likable. And the multiplayer was just fantastic all-around. Before playing that game I didn't think it was possible for me to be addicted to a FPS multiplayer. How wrong I was...
Round 1 : Campaign
I must say I wasn't expecting much from either games, both of which usually thrive on their respective multiplayer features. But I found myself finishing MW3's campaign in only two sittings, which is quite unusual for me. Granted, the story still doesn't make that much sense when you think about it for more than a few minutes, but the action is pretty good overall, and even if some levels are a bit boring or not well scripted, others were simply a joy to play. On those levels, you just didn't give a flying poop about level design or the unoriginal plotline.
As far as Battlefield 3 is concerned, I had the impression all along that it took itself a bit too seriously, and that made the game a bit boring to go through. The story just wasn't very interesting, the missions weren't interesting, I died a LOT even if it was on medium/normal difficulty, which is usually a breeze on FPSs. It frankly wasn't bad, just not very good.
Round 1 winner : MW3
Round 2 : Multiplayer
Before I start writing here, I'll admit something : I've played a LOT more BF3 than MW3 online. To be honest, I bought MW3 because I wanted to know the end of the story, of course, but mainly because it has a feature that makes it very attractive : Split-screen online and in Spec Ops. That's just a superb idea by Sledgehammer Games/Infinity Ward. But when it comes down to basic multiplayer online, BF3 is just so damn amazing. Superb maps, both huge and small, many vehicles, a lot of weapons and a point attribution system that tries to encourage team play, especially in conquest mode. The main drawback is the lack of modes, only Conquest, Rush and Team Deathmatch.
On the other hand, MW3 has definitely more modes and offers extreme customization, even if it's a bit ridiculous sometimes. However, the maps I've tried are not that exciting, and the main gameplay is so strikingly similar to MW2 and Black Ops, it makes you wonder where the "3" in the game's name comes from. It simply built on MW2, which itself built on CoD4. The lack of innovation is disappointing, but why change a best-selling formula? Even then, I think the Killstreak/Deathstreak rewards should be gone and that the small maps don't offer much in the way of strategy. I do love the new Kill Confirmed mode, which is very, very entertaining. MW3's multiplayer isn't bad by any stretch of the imagination, it simply looks and feels too much like MW2, and that's abit annoying if you've bought the game full price (which I didn't, I got it for 30$ used a week after its release!).
Round 2 winner : BF3
Final round : Overall presentation
EA/Dice hyped BF3's graphics like I've rarely seen before in a video game. The final product is definitely good looking, especially on PC, but it's not OMGWTF MY HEAD WILL EXPLODE out-of-this-world beautiful. It is genuinely amazing in the campaign, but not as much online, obviously. Where BF3 offers a LOT, it's in the sound design, which makes the game SO immersive. You can FEEL the pressure when a building/wall collapses close to you, the effects of a grenade exploding next to you, the sound of the bullet dropping when you snipe from a window. It's just fantastic. If there's one thing I'd like to change into BF3's presentation, it's the games menus, which aren't particularly attractive or helpful. I would rather have BC2's menus, especially in-game, as they were MUCH better.
Sadly, Call of Duty's engine is starting to show its age. Of course the game doesn't look bad, but you feel like you're playing a 2009, if not 2007 game. Characters animations seemingly never evolved, neither have explosions effects or sound design. You get the same sensory feelings you might have had 4 years ago when popping CoD4 into your console. That's another blow to Infinity Ward's franchise, it has never evolved from a presentation point of view. Even the menus are the same! I understand that you don't want to lose/frighten seasoned CoD players, but this is getting ridiculous. Now that the trilogy is over, I hope they take the opportunity to develop a new engine.
Final round winner : BF3
That makes it 2-1 BF3, which is the better game overall (but not by far), even with that lackluster campaign. I still think that every military shooter fan should get and play Battlefield 3 AND Modern Warfare. They offer different experiences, and one might suit your style more than the other, but you just have to try both.
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