26. May 2008 by Costas Taliadoros.

Most people’s most anticipated title in the first 6 months of 2008 was propably GTA IV. The rest are waiting for MGS4. Not mine. Ever since it was announced, Civilization: Revolution has been my number one title for the first half of the year.

There was always a worry in my mind that the translation from PC to console could be disastrous. Revolution is not the first Civilization attempt on consoles (Civilization II was ported over to the PS2). However upon hearing that the man himself, Mr Sid Meier, would be taking a very hands on approach on this game i was appeased.

Until, i read Eurogamer’s impressions of the game.

“To this end, the game map is a smaller place you can cross in just a few turns, there are fewer unit types (it tops out at tanks and bomber planes), far fewer technologies (researching Bronze Working enables you to build archers, harvest fish and construct the Colossus of Rhodes. Erm) and diplomacy is a slim, relatively optional affair. Success doesn’t come from trading spice with Russia for wine, but simply from war and peace. In fact, it’s possible to go an entire game without engaging in any diplomacy at all….”

I knew that there would be compromises but the greatness of Civilization arose from the many ways one could rule his country and still have a fighting chance. Be it a cultural victory, an economic or a military victory. And the journey to reach that victory was also left up to the player. Great diplomatic battles to secure that vital supply of oil for your tanks, or to establish an alliance and fend off an invasion. Diplomacy, trade, economies were all equally important aspects in Civilization games. It appears that in Revolution, these elements of gameplay are now gone. Sacrificed in the name of accessibility and reducing sessions from days to just a few hours.

“Civilization is a leaner, brighter-eyed figure, with nice teeth and none of that musty PC smell, but its attention span seems a little diminished. Whenever I approached the part of what would, in an unrevolved Civ, be crunch-time, with a hundred different facets of war and expansion and uprising and construction and research and religious freedom and pollution to worry about at once, I’d suddenly find myself within spitting distance of conclusion. Half the globe was already either wiped out or absorbed into mine or another Civ, making it a straight race between me and those that remained. ”

In all the years i had been playing Civ i never once felt that i was rushing through it. In fact the pace totally suited my tastes. It rewarded patient gamers, taking their time with each turn and i always enjoyed the journey more than the actual ending. From what i am reading here Revolution is indeed just a board game version of the PC game i love.

“….after a dozen or so games I now worry the enormity of what’s been composited and removed may make it an unsatisfying single-player game to old hands. “

I now worry too.

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22. March 2008 by Costas Taliadoros.

Finally a game to buy. A game which is not really offering anything new from its predecessor but that’s not a bad thing for the lovers of the game. I am talking of course about Rainbow Six: Vegas 2, a tactical Squad based shooter.But there are a few other lower profile worthy releases this week like Sega Superstars Tennis which seeks to replace Wii Sports in every Wii onwers library and FF: Crystal Chronicles a DS RPG which shines in multiplayer. Not bad for a quiet week in March.

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas 2 (PS3, X360)
SEGA Superstars Tennis (PS3, X360, Wii and DS)
Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters (PS2)
Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles - Ring of Fates (DS).
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War - The Complete Collection (PC)

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16. March 2008 by Costas Taliadoros.

To be honest i had heard there would be some kind of multiplayer modes but i did not look into it. It seems that Rockstar has paid a lot of attention to the multiplayer aspect of GTAIV. As per PSM there will be 15 multiplayer modes with up to 16 players. WOW!

Read more to find these modes.

“* There are 15 multiplayer game modes in GTA IV. PSM had an opportunity to play 7 of them. The rules of each game are determined by the host.
* Multiplayer supports upto 16 players.
* Your online character is fully customizable. You can alter his race, sex, hair, clothing etc.
* The game modes featured are as follows:
1. Hangman’s NOOSE
2. Car Jack City
3. Bomb da Base
4. Bomb da Base II
5. Mafia Work
6. Team Mafia Work
7. Deathmatch
8. Team Deathmatch
9. Turf War
10. Cops N Crooks
11. Race
12. GTA Race
13. Deal Breaker
14. Free Mode
15. ????
* In Race and GTA Race, the host gets to decide which vehicles are involved, and the number of laps to be played. You can shoot and throw molotovs from the window, and even steal your rivals’ car.
* In Deathmatch and Team Deathmatch, the host gets to decide the number of pedestrians, the amount of traffic, the intervention of police (or not), and the type of weapons.
* In Cops N Crooks, one team play as cops and the other play as criminals. The cops must stop the criminals from escaping. They can monitor the locations of the criminals on their GPS systems, while the criminals don’t know where the cops are.
* In Mafia Work and Team Mafia Work, you play as one of Kenny Petrovic’s mafia henchmen. You must complete hits ordered by the boss (via the cellphone) before your rivals are able to do so.
* The map used in multiplayer is the same map that is used for single player.
* A single-player mission called “Hangman’s NOOSE” features co-op. You and your friends will be able to escort a mobster, while being pursued by a SWAT team.”

Kotaku link

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14. March 2008 by Costas Taliadoros.

Another week and a few more releases. The only major release for the 360s and PS3s of this world is Codemasters’ Turning Point which according to most reviewers has a big label on it which says “AVOID!”. I think this week belongs to the Wii with No More Heroes, Fire Emblem and Harvest Moon (remake of the Gamecube title) “stealing” the headlines. An honourable mention also to the PS2 title of Odin Sphere with its fantastic presentation.

Turning Point: Fall of Liberty (PS3, 360, PC)
No More Heroes (Wii)
Harvest Moon: Magical Melody (Wii)
Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn (Wii)
Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker (DS)
FlatOut: Head On (PSP)
Odin Sphere (PS2)

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12. March 2008 by Costas Taliadoros.

There are two hands-on impressions on Civilization: Revolution from Eurogamer (link) and Kotaku (link) and their comments are extremely encouraging. In both articles the controls and interface of the game are being praised as is the streamlining of the game which makes it more accessible with shorter length sessions.

The most notable issues discussed are the stripping down of some technologies and the lessening of micromanagement available for example in cities. There are free-for-all, head to head and team multiplayer modes. Crucial to the success of the multiplayer is the fact that if a player leaves the game AI takes over and thus not ending the game halfway through a session.

As the game is now much faster paced, a multiplayer session will last you for around 1 hour. If you are asking me as a die-hard Civ fan teenager/student I once was, then this move of the franchise to a more mass appeal game is not what I wanted. But if you are asking the 30 year old with a job and already overwhelmed with the amount of games out there then yes Civilization: Revolution is the game I can realistic play.

I can’t wait.

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4. March 2008 by Costas Taliadoros.

Just one major release this week and it could potentially be a really good one. After all almost everything is better in co-op. I have not seen any reviews on the game yet so keep your ears and eyes open.

7/3/2008
Army of Two (PS3 and 360)

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6. February 2008 by Costas Taliadoros.

It seems that i have missed a very important PS3 title coming out this month. Sorry about that people.

22/2/2008

Unreal Tournament III

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6. February 2008 by Costas Taliadoros.

We are already on the 6th day of February and the release schedule is starting to get really busy.

Easily my personal favourite release is Patapon on the PSP. I have written in earlier posts about Patapon which can give you an idea of what the game is about. Here are the links in case you missed them.

Link 1
Link 2

Of the remaining games i list below I have only played the demos of The Club and DMC4. The Club really feels like a third person shooter based on Project Gotham Racing’s gameplay principles. It is an original idea but having to replay levels over and over again in order to get higher scores is not my cup of tea. For Bizarre Creations’ sake i hope it does relatively well in terms of sales as they are at least trying to do something new.

DMC4 on the other hand looks like a solid addition to the franchise but from what i have played of the game and from what i have been reading it’s not the next gen leap everyone was hoping for. That is one of the issues franchises have when the developers run out of ideas.

8/2/2008
The Club - (360 and PS3)
Devil May Cry 4 - (360 and PS3)
Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords (Wii)

15/2/2008
Battalion Wars 2 - (Wii)
Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles (PSP)

22/2/2008
Patapon - (PSP)

Not bad for February right? Not bad at all.

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22. January 2008 by Costas Taliadoros.

Burnout: Paradise (X360 and PS3)

For PS3 and/or X360 owners the biggest and worthiest January release is of course Burnout: Paradise. The new game in the series features an open world with a great emphasis given to the online aspect but also making the offline more interesting as well. If you want to have a look just download the demo on Xbox Live or Playstation Network which is already available. The game’s release date is 25 January.

Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros’ Treasure (Wii)

Wii owners should not be disheartened from Burnout not being released on their console. Instead they have Zack & Wiki, a puzzle based adventure which received critical acclaim in the US at the end of last year. Now this sleeper game is receiving good reviews in the UK too. It’s fun, making great use of the wiimote’s motion sensors and it is challenging, very challenging. The game was released on the 18th of January.

Gametrailers Video Review

Advance Wars: Dark Conflict (DS)

The best turn based strategy title, and arguably one of the best titles in general, on the DS is back with a sequel. The idea is the same but apart from the addition of new units the game also has a more darker look to it compared with the bright cartoony look the previous games in the series had. The new game will have a darker but still cartoony look…..Being released on the 25th of January.

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20. January 2008 by Costas Taliadoros.

One of the best games you’ve never played. Fortunately for all you sinners out there is a chance for redemption. PS2’s Okami is being ported to the Wii and will be released on the 25th of March 2008 in the US. The PAL version for Europe is expected soon after.

Even if you are remotely interested in videogames this is one which should not be ignored a second time.

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