11
Apr
2009
Rag Doll Kung Fu: Fists of Plastic Review
Overview
Rag Doll Kung Fu is a 2D fast paced combat game developed by Tarsier Studios. The game features single player challenges and 4 player local multiplayer, sadly there is no online available on this game. The game costs $9.99 and it was released on the PlayStation Store on 04/09/09.
Controls
The controls of this game are really simple, you jump with X, punch with Square and kick with Triangle. You can also make special attacks like a lightning ball or a flying kick, these moves are performed with a superb implementation of the motion controls. In addition you can move your character’s arms ala LittleBigPlanet, to do this you need to hold the R2 or L2 buttons and move the analog sticks. Not really necessary, but a lot of fun to do.
Graphics
The visual quality in this game is great and it reminds me quite a lot to LittleBigPlanet. The game features a variety of levels that have lasting visual appeal. The ragdoll physics are always good for a chuckle, and this joke never seems to get old. Considering its a 2d party-fighter in the same vein as the Smash Bros series, the graphics blew all of their competitors out of the water.
Gameplay and Story
In Rag Doll Kung Fu you can play 8 different single player challenges where you need to achieve certain objectives, there are 4 different medals attached to every challenge (Bronze, Silver, Gold and Plastic). The difficulty of these challenges is very well balanced; they aren’t frustrating but they require a certain amount of practice to beat them. On the multiplayer portion of the game we can find 4 different modes (Deathmatch, King of the Hill, Dodgeball and Capture the Fish). The most entertaining multiplayer mode is dodgeball: on this unique mode you throw a ball in flames to the other 3 characters to try to hit them and earn points. The game also features certain unlockables where you can earn clothing to customize your character. You can also find leaderboards for every challenge, here you can compare your score with your friends and with people around the world. But after all of this, there still seems to be a key feature missing with the lack of online multiplayer.
The Bottom Line
8.0/10
Rag Doll Kung Fu is an incredibly fun and entertaining game that you will find yourself coming back to again and again both by yourself and with friends. However, the absence of online multiplayer seems to take away from what could have been an incredible title. But, there’s still room for a future patch!
8
Apr
2009
WipEout HD Review
Overview
WipEout HD developed by the masterminds over at Sony Liverpool is another title of the classic WipEout franchise, which is known for its excellence and quality. The game is a downloadable only title but it has enough content to be a full retail title; with 8 tracks, online modes and a decent lasting campaign, this game offers a great package for just $20.
Controls
The developer gives you two ways of controlling your ship, you can use the Sixaxis or the analog sticks, obviously it is much easier to play with the analog stick, it is far more responsive. You can use your weapons with the square button and use your airbrakes with L2 and R2, this comes very useful when you need to take really tight turns at high speeds. Overall, the control configuration of WipEout HD is really good and the motion controls are one of the best in the PS3.
Graphics
The Wipeout games are known for the quality of their graphics and this does not change in this version, supporting native 1080p resolution and 60FPS, the game features stunning graphics that can be compared and may even surpass most full retail games. This game renders high resolution textures combined with beautiful backgrounds. While you are racing you can see a lot of things happening on the screen, missiles exploding in front of you, ships flying on the background, an impressive quantitiy of lights and a tracks full of colours. All of this makes WipEout HD one of the most visually stunning game not just only on the PSN but on the PS3.
Gameplay and Story
The graphics are not the only good thing in this game, the gameplay is great, with intuitive controls and a decent camera. For many people the difficulty of this game is going to be tough, so it requires a lot of practice to refine your skills and advance in the campaign mode. In the campaign mode there are 8 grids, each with different types of events, like Tournaments, Single Race, Speed Lap and Time Trial. In each grid you need to earn a specified number of points to advance to the next grid, sometimes this becomes tedious because you might not have sufficient skills to earn more points. In “tournament” and “single race” you will face other opponents and you will have a lot of different weapons to take them down, you can also refill your energy lost by absorbing the weapons instead of using them against the enemies. There is also the option to race online with your friends or other people from around the world. (it works really well) It has a lobby system where you can setup your own games with a lot of options to customize.
The Bottom Line
9.0/10
WipEout HD is an awesome experience that every PS3 owner should play, it has enough content to be a 60 dollars game. It comes highly recommended by me.
4
Apr
2009
Flower Review
Flower
ThatGameCompany 2009 for the PS3
Overview
Flower is the sophomore project for ThatGameCompany on the PS3 platform. Continuing with their roots of solely using Sixaxis controls, as established by their first endeavor, fl0w. This was outlined to be an experiment in creating an “emotional” experience for the gamer. fl0wer takes you through 6 very different stages that all play off different emotions from the bright and cheerful levels depicted in all of the trailers. However, while the game takes your through these “high” emotional moments, it contrasts it with lows as well. The 5th stage particularly is spent in an effort to resurrect nature in a dark is dismal “industrial wasteland”. This dark stage is where the “emotional” gaming experience is allowed to truly shine. It creates a unique gaming experience that I have not found playing any other title.
Controls
One word: Sixaxis. To all of the critics that have stated over and over that Sixaxis is a waste of time and money to have present in the PS3 and controller, this game will finally provide much needed opposition to that argument. This game takes what was a stepping stone in fl0w (using Sixaxis in a 2d environment) and takes it to the next level by incorporating it into a full and brilliant 1080p 3d world. The controls are simply intuitive, nothing more needs to be said. Being restricted by joysticks almost seems like a cage that wouldn’t be fitting of holding the “wind” that you’re controlling within. Instead, the freeform motions allowed by the Sixaxis controls allow the gamer to become more fully immersed in the experience and allow them to almost have a “full body” experience with the game. ThatGameCompany seems to have laid the groundwork of how to successfully implement Sixaxis controls in a title, expect more developers to be taking a hint from them in the future and trying to work it into their titles as well.
Graphics
Beautifully rendered 1080p 3d environments. The crispness of each blade of grass can be visually experiences as you soar through the air and nose-dive into the lush landscape. Each individual blade has physics applied to it so that it reacts to how you (as the wind) affect it. As far as I’m concerned, the graphics are simply the icing on the cake of what is a beautifully crafted game and story. The bright colors are vibrant in the “happy” environments, while the dark colors are deep and rich in the worlds that are made for you to experience “sad” emotions. Once again, I couldn’t ask for more from this standpoint.
Story
Essentially, this is a story without words. The gamer can read a lot into what the publisher is trying to say about nature and the destructive tendencies of our cities on the environment, but in the end I don’t believe that any of that really matters or affects the gaming experience as a whole. These 6 different “dreamstates” give the player a chance to experience the full spectrum of playful windmill farms, to the dark industrial underbelly of a city. But in the end, this game was created to relax the user and create an emotional experience for them to talk about and come back to experience again and again.
The Bottom Line
9.1/10
I don’t know much more you could ask for out of a $9.99 downloadable title. My own complain would be that there aren’t more levels and environments to enjoy. I want more fl0wer! As far as replayability goes, particularly the second and final stages I could see myself coming back to again and again, or even relying to those levels to show the game off to a friend. It is a great title by an innovative company. I look forward to seeing what ThatGameCompany and SCEA Santa Monica Studies come up with for future releases.