#kees reviews

[cold-kees]

AC: Unity and... well, that’s about it.

After having played this wreck of a game, after the overall feeling of disappointment it left me with, it took me a while to figure out what was wrong.  It wasn’t the “innovative” mechanics which just made everything more confusing (and that was if they worked in the first place).  It wasn’t quite the poorly written narrative with two dimensional characters and minimal plot progression.  The wide, sweeping, bustling, populace was nice. It added a feel of life to the city, even though that didn’t really do much more than push up the specs.  

It was the fact that everything about this game felt half done. It was like someone had jotted down a few ideas, the barest thoughts about what could be an interesting idea to look at, then someone else strung it all together and turned it into this half-done nonsense.  Ties to both sides, fantastic!  Fractured animus eras, great!  Customization, beautiful!  Conflict of nobles and masses, thrilling!  Individual choice in completing assassinations, exciting!  ...and yet, none of it worked to it’s fullest.

Don’t get me wrong, it did have it’s moments.  The co-op missions had a good feel and needed planning and team work, the equipment was a nice change with customization the other games never had.

But they missed some amazing opportunity for exploring complex issues.  I mean the main guy had two dads, one a templar and one an assassin fOR PETE’S SAKE!  Some conflict of interest, some emotional dilemma, some collaboration between these ancient rivals, even some Romeo and Juliet fluff would have had more gravity than anything that was in this.  Not to mention that the actual Revolution doesn’t happen until around sequence 10 of 12, and again doesn’t really do anything but add more crowds and make your tech work for it’s life.

And at the end of it all, I still have no idea what was the point of the assassins or templars in this game. Neither faction had any apparent development or motivation, aside from getting snarky comments from our dear, thick, protagonist or occasionally interrupting from the present day.

A game of amazing, lovely, beautiful potential... and sad, hollow, disappointment.

[Amendment] It has occurred to me that one way they can redeem this mess of a game, is to create a sequel around the rise of Arno and the reforming of the Templars, possibly linked to the fact he has a SWORD OF EDEN.  Because this whole game feels like it’s just one part of something bigger, like it’s a tutorial or just another mission (like the Pazzi Conspiracy sequence from ACII)

[cold-kees]

If you haven't played Saints Row now is always a good time to start.  It's beginning as another GTA clone are nothing to talk about, but the development *whew* that's something else. No. 3 and IV are a couple of the most fun games I've played in a long while.  There's no moral dilemmas no complicated plots, just a couple of gangsters, ridiculous weapons, and a city to call you own. Oh! and zombies, aliens, furries and sentient soda can.

I can't emphasie enough how refreshing it is to play a game where you begin with a bunch of crazy weapons (dubstep gun) and proceed to get given more AND super powers.  To be spoilt for choice and to play through some ridiculous scenarios (becoming the prez of the US by averting a nuclear crisis, only to be invaded by aliens and trapped inside a matrix-like simulation) with absolute nothing serious about it.  Just pure unadulterated mayhem and fun, or rather "murder time fun time".

[cold-kees]

Let me tell you about one of better written characters, the White Wolf, the Butcher of Blaviken, the Witcher, Geralt of Rivia.

Not only are the games one of the few where the consquences of your actions are only revealed much later, when it's far too late to change them. But the written character is such a jaded and practical person.  He isn't a knight in shining armour to swoop down and heroically save the damsel in distress.  He's a paid monster slayer, and will stick to his neutrality.  If a damsel is saved, that's a pleasant reward to add on top of the gold, but that isn't what he's about.  If the attractive woman is trapped in the magical tower there may be a reason for it, and you shouldn't go sticking your nose in where it doesn't belong.  And that is why he is so good, his neutrality and sense.

[cold-kees]

One of the worst, but best films I've seen lately is (finally) The Fifth Element. With Bruce Willis and Milla Jovovovovovoich as a couple of people in a great sci-fi scenario. This begins almost with some level of seriousness, but quickly degrades into a some fun tongue-in-cheek humour. Shape shifting aliens, gunfights and a giant death ball about to destroy the earth. This is one of the definitions of popcorn movies, no great work of art but a thoroughly enjoyable film, best accompanied with snacks.

[cold-kees]

Hey, so let me tell you about the most surprising game I've picked up this year.  It looked to be the unholy thought-child of William Gibson and J.R.R. Tolkien and, man, was I wrong.  Let me tell you about Shadowrun: Dragonfall (Director's Cut).

Based on a tabletop RPG, Shadowrun takes you into an anarchistic cyber Berlin inhabited by humans and a range of mythical creatures (Elves, Orcs, Dwarfs, and more) and in an age of futuristic technology but also magic.  As if that doesn't sound good already.  But wait, it gets better.

Your character joins up with a team of Shadowrunners (people paid to do the stuff corporations don't want tied to them) for a milk-run, and soon enough all hell breaks loose.  You've got mystery, murder, the matrix and a goddamn dragon at the centre of it.

Even though it's a small game, I've found the character development to be extraordinary. Never before have I felt so connected with my character, that I could understand them more than just in the small window of the game.  It sucks you right in, then spits you out gasping for air and crying out for more.

Sure, the graphics and interface feel a little old school (think Diablo II meets tactics) but once you get used to it, there's no other way it could be.  The story is short and leaves a bit to the imagination, but that only makes me so more eager for whatever is next install.

A definite must play for all fans of cyber-punk, fantasy or just cool ideas.

[cold-kees]

So, been playing Devil May Cry, and let me tell you it's crazy. Story aside, the game is truly a great hack and slash. With a small arsenal at your disposal, and each enemy with their own best method of destruction. It makes for a quick thinking, yet complicated play. But the world, the mythos, and those freaking monster are so cool. Giant baby face mannequin tanks, screeching teleporting ninja mummies, everything is so satisfying to smash an axe into its face. The plot is nothing too complicated, with little to surprise, but the places it takes you in the bizarre and twisted Limbo certainly make for it.

[cold-kees]

My lastest game was Child of Light It looks to be for kids, but do not take fright. A new media fairy tale of a princess in a dream, With magical creatures and an evil step-queen. Seems easy enough, until you run out of luck, and you’re left to fight a monster and start screaming “fuck”. It all looks like watercolours that are beautiful, and a lovely adventure that is fruitful. But its all written in a rhyming pattern, And soon you start to think in the same way and try to find the right word so the verse… doesn’t look too fatten? Overall the game is simply ‘charming’ and fun that is not demanding.

[cold-kees]

Not going to go into the large of it, yet, but to skim the surface I'll talk about the Mass Effect Novels.

Revelation, Ascension and Retribution are three entertaining and well written stories. They give you the story and even more reason to love the galaxy's favourite BAMF Admiral Anderson, and of course more to his relation with Kahlee Sanders (of Grissom Academy fame).  

As an avid fan of the games, these three stories, though not needed, are an immense addition to the Mass Effect universe.  Also making the appearance of Kai 'sudden-evil-cyber-ninja' Leng, not so much out of the blue and instead an actual character with actual back-story and connection to past events.

For any who like the games, these are a well likable supplement to the world, expanding on things only mentioned in the game and telling a story that isn't all about the illustrious Shepard.  Of a similar vein I would recommend most of the Mass Effect comics as well.

But for the sake of your sanity and taste, do not, I repeat DO NOT, read the fourth book "Deception" as it is full of so many errors and fuck-ups that it's a far stretch to believe it has anything to with Mass Effect, other than the name. I mean for gods sake, sexuality changes, lore is all but forgotten and Leng is reduced from a cold calculating killer to a camper pissing in a vase. But hey, it made them money so why bother with something as ridiculous as fact checking.