08-24-2007, 05:50 PM
It's my day off today and I'm bored, so I thought I'd do a quick write-up on two games I've purchased recently. I'm still hungover, so please don't judge these reviews on their eloquence.
Tenchu Z
I played the original Tenchu Stealth Assassins on PS1 (or maybe 2? I can't remember) a long time ago and absolutely loved it. Let's face it, ninjas are cool and ninjas doing ninja things are even cooler. I didn't even read a review on the game, I just picked it up based on how much I liked the older version.
I have severe ADD when it comes to video games, although I typically will see them all the way through to beat them. I'm about 75% of the way through Tenchu Z and it's been fun so far. The game gets more dynamic as you progress, allowing you to purchase new moves and abilities like doing short runs on walls, clinging to ceilings, etc. Dropping down on a guard and putting your sword through his chest, or slicing someone through a shoji are really two things that never get old to me.
The graphics and environments are decent, however they're recycled through many of the missions so it really takes some of the spontaneity out of the game. The enemies you fight really aren't rendered all that well either, but I guess I'm a little jaded from shooters like Prey, Far Cry, etc.
The thing you realize shortly after starting the game is that money is everything. You get money for how many enemies you kill and how you kill them; you're penalized for how many times you're seen and are engaged in swordplay with an enemy. You need money to buy items (which I don't find myself using that much anyway), moves, and new clothes (which you can't see before you buy them which is really gay). You basically have to lay waste to the entire level so that you can progress your character. You'd think you'd get more money for the speed of completion of a mission like a real ninja, but not so much. All in all it's definitely worth the purchase if you like all things ninja!
BioShock
I walked into Best Buy today looking for something to tide me over until Halo 3 and I ran into a display with this game on it. I had seen a pretty wicked looking demo of it months ago, and one of the kids who worked there said it was pretty dope, so I thought I'd give it a shot.
The story is, you get into a plane crash and find your way to an underwater city that was created by a wealthy businessman. You're basically trying to figure out why you're there and how you can get out safely.
I've only played it for a couple of hours, but OH MY GOD! There are so many things I like about this game already. The world is rendered absolutely beautifully. The city is designed in an Art Deco style, which has been an architectural style I've always loved... probably due to my father being an antiques dealer. The environments are dynamic, very engrossing, and the game does require some thought and puzzle-solving. The sounds are creepy; many of the people you fight are all like out of their minds and screaming crazy shit, it's awesome
The way you kill enemies is bad ass. You have conventional methods of destruction like machine guns, shotguns, etc. but you also gain the ability to use genetic enhancements that let you fire shit out of your hands. So far I've gotten the ability to shoot electricity (which you can use combined with water to shock and kill any enemies in it), incinerate which shoots fire and causes your enemies to run around screaming, and telekinesis which lets you pick things up, catch explosives in mid air and throw them back. There are a few more coming I know of like shooting wasps at enemies that sprout from your arm. This is so fun to do, I can't even put it into words.
Supposedly, the routes that you choose in the game alter your destiny, so no two people ever play the game the same way. I haven't experienced this yet, but if its true it will add to the long-term playability of the game tremendously.
You can download a playable demo of BioShock on XBOX Live, so I encourage you to check it out if you like FPS's that require some thought.
Sorry for the book, my hangover is starting to go away! 8)
Tenchu Z
I played the original Tenchu Stealth Assassins on PS1 (or maybe 2? I can't remember) a long time ago and absolutely loved it. Let's face it, ninjas are cool and ninjas doing ninja things are even cooler. I didn't even read a review on the game, I just picked it up based on how much I liked the older version.
I have severe ADD when it comes to video games, although I typically will see them all the way through to beat them. I'm about 75% of the way through Tenchu Z and it's been fun so far. The game gets more dynamic as you progress, allowing you to purchase new moves and abilities like doing short runs on walls, clinging to ceilings, etc. Dropping down on a guard and putting your sword through his chest, or slicing someone through a shoji are really two things that never get old to me.
The graphics and environments are decent, however they're recycled through many of the missions so it really takes some of the spontaneity out of the game. The enemies you fight really aren't rendered all that well either, but I guess I'm a little jaded from shooters like Prey, Far Cry, etc.
The thing you realize shortly after starting the game is that money is everything. You get money for how many enemies you kill and how you kill them; you're penalized for how many times you're seen and are engaged in swordplay with an enemy. You need money to buy items (which I don't find myself using that much anyway), moves, and new clothes (which you can't see before you buy them which is really gay). You basically have to lay waste to the entire level so that you can progress your character. You'd think you'd get more money for the speed of completion of a mission like a real ninja, but not so much. All in all it's definitely worth the purchase if you like all things ninja!
BioShock
I walked into Best Buy today looking for something to tide me over until Halo 3 and I ran into a display with this game on it. I had seen a pretty wicked looking demo of it months ago, and one of the kids who worked there said it was pretty dope, so I thought I'd give it a shot.
The story is, you get into a plane crash and find your way to an underwater city that was created by a wealthy businessman. You're basically trying to figure out why you're there and how you can get out safely.
I've only played it for a couple of hours, but OH MY GOD! There are so many things I like about this game already. The world is rendered absolutely beautifully. The city is designed in an Art Deco style, which has been an architectural style I've always loved... probably due to my father being an antiques dealer. The environments are dynamic, very engrossing, and the game does require some thought and puzzle-solving. The sounds are creepy; many of the people you fight are all like out of their minds and screaming crazy shit, it's awesome
The way you kill enemies is bad ass. You have conventional methods of destruction like machine guns, shotguns, etc. but you also gain the ability to use genetic enhancements that let you fire shit out of your hands. So far I've gotten the ability to shoot electricity (which you can use combined with water to shock and kill any enemies in it), incinerate which shoots fire and causes your enemies to run around screaming, and telekinesis which lets you pick things up, catch explosives in mid air and throw them back. There are a few more coming I know of like shooting wasps at enemies that sprout from your arm. This is so fun to do, I can't even put it into words.
Supposedly, the routes that you choose in the game alter your destiny, so no two people ever play the game the same way. I haven't experienced this yet, but if its true it will add to the long-term playability of the game tremendously.
You can download a playable demo of BioShock on XBOX Live, so I encourage you to check it out if you like FPS's that require some thought.
Sorry for the book, my hangover is starting to go away! 8)
Posting in the banalist of threads since 2004
2017 Mazda CX-5 GT AWD Premium
Past: 2016 GMC Canyon All Terrain Crew Cab / 2010 Jaguar XFR / 2012 Acura RDX AWD Tech / 2008 Cadillac CTS / 2007 Acura TL-S / 1966 5.0 HO Mustang Coupe
2001 Lexus IS300 / 2004 2.8L big turbo WRX STI / 2004 Subaru WRX / A couple of old trucks
2017 Mazda CX-5 GT AWD Premium
Past: 2016 GMC Canyon All Terrain Crew Cab / 2010 Jaguar XFR / 2012 Acura RDX AWD Tech / 2008 Cadillac CTS / 2007 Acura TL-S / 1966 5.0 HO Mustang Coupe
2001 Lexus IS300 / 2004 2.8L big turbo WRX STI / 2004 Subaru WRX / A couple of old trucks
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