Living LIVE 06.08.09: The 24th Edition - Reviews of Cellfactor: PW, Wolfenstein 3D, Hangman's Revenge, More
Posted by Trace Aber on 06.08.2009
Reviews of Cellfactor: PW, Wolfenstein 3D, Hangman's Revenge, Fittest, and Cube Stacker. Plus, information on the Wolverine DLC along with all of the other updates and going-ons in the world of Xbox LIVE.
Opening Comments
Friday marked the last day of my freshman year at Wright State University, and I must admit - it feels good. No more getting up at 7:30AM (which is nearly impossible as I have troubles going to sleep anytime before 2AM generally) or worrying about exams. Hopefully I can make the Dean's list for a third quarter in a row, but I'll live either way. I'm just glad it's summer and I can catch up on all of the games I have. Seriously, I have far too many games that need to be finished. I have actually prevented myself from buying video games now because I know they will just end up in the pile. I did, however, beat Wolverine this week. It's a good game, despite being buggy at times, though the ending honestly is kind of disappointing. They just make you think you're about to play at the very least the final boss, but then it's game over. Still, I had fun with it, though I'm a fan of beat-em-ups.
E3 has come and gone and I felt Microsoft had a strong showing. Natal looks promising, and Milo, quite frankly, both scares and interests me. I still don't quite understand what we're supposed to do with him, though. Is he just a virtual child? If so, eh, I don't know if I'd really want that. Metal Gear on the 360 is, of course, great news, though I'll hold any actual judgment until I see the new, faster style of gameplay. Still, out of everything presented, Modern Warfare 2 still looks to be the show stealer. Then again, I'm a huge Call of Duty fan.
Last week, as many of you know, I wasn't able to do reviews of the games due to some crazy random happenstances. That being said, reader Guinness was nice enough to post his own reviews for a couple of games, as well as compliment me in the process. Since I'm a sucker for compliments, here's his post (including reviews) in full for those who didn't see it.
First off, I just wanna thank you Trace for having my favorite column in 411 games.
There are lots of places on the web to find XBLA reviews, you're the only one I found bring the community games to light and reviewing them, I went back and read all the Living Live issues and it helped my find some really community games because of it. I see you didn't really have anytime to do reviews this week but that's cool, I'll help out with my thoughts of the games that caught my eye this week.
Angry Barry:
This game from what I can see is pretty cool, and at 400 MP not asking too much.
The trial ended before I finished the first level (it seemed to be timed because it booted me) so I can't say too much about the story, but it's evident it's political satire, so fans of Colbert Report and The Daily Show might wanna check it out. The gameplay is side scrolling action, and it felt very similar to old school Shinobi, which I thought was cool. The enemies got pretty repetitive though, as I was bombarded by the same two enemies throughout out the whole demo. I'm hoping for more variety in them in the full version. The Graphics/Music/SFX are all top notch, look great HD. I was very impressed here.
Next up...
myFishtank:
To think, just two days ago, I purchased Aquarium HD, under your recommendation, and a good one at that, and now this comes along and trumps Aquarium HD in just about every way possible. From what I found playing around with the demo, near everything is customizable, say you wanna add a plant, not only can you chose from different plants, but choose where to place it and the scale/size. The game also has a quick link to your music stored on your had drive for quick access. The game also has the bubble sounds that Aquarium HD was lacking.The paint a fish was pretty neat too. Add all that with dozens and dozens and ways to mix and match the wallpaper, rocks and gravel, and the fact you can send your painted fish and your customized tanks to friends, and you really have a lot here and more than just a "screen saver". The graphics look amazing in HD, though not quite as bright and as real looking as Aquarium HD I thought. However, if you're going to get just one, myFishtank is the far superior Aquarium app, and a must buy if you love some background ambiance in your home.
Keep up the good work Trace, looking forward to the next Living Live.
And, with that...
I'm Trace Aber and this is Living LIVE.
Game Marketplace - A weekly look at the arcade games, demos, and add-ons released this week.
Wolfenstein 3D (400MP)
Ahh yes, Wolfenstein. One of the early FPS games and noted for its violence and Mecha-Hitler. I'm sure many readers here spent a lot of their childhood playing this game and are happy to have it on their Xbox, but how does the game hold up to people who were on the fence about the game when it came out? Well, not nearly as good as Doom, but good enough.
Remember when shooting dogs was ok? Ahh, the good-old days.
As most probably know, you play the role of B.J. Blackowicz in his journey to escape Castle Wolfestein and defeat the Nazis. No doubt a noble cause, the journey last 6 episodes with ten levels in each one (meaning the Nocturnal missions are included in the game). The game plays exactly like it did on the PC, well, as much as a console port can anyways. The sounds, graphics, and overall feel are perfectly emulated here and most players should feel entirely familar with the game. One major concern, however, is that going back to this game after seeing what consoles and PCs are capable of sometimes make traveling the castle more of a chore than a fun experience. The sprites and level layout will have unexperienced players (or even those who haven't played in a while) going back and forth quite often. Still, it is a faithful port of the original, so it's forgivable. The demo also includes a trailer for the new Wolfestein game and when you unlock achievements in 3D you will earn in-game money for the new game to spend on items and whatnot, which is a nice tie-in.
Older gamers will remember this and be the majority of buyers, though younger games should at the very least check out the trial for at least historical reasons. Rating (Out of 10): 7.0
CellFactor: Psychokinetic Wars (800MP)
From one FPS to another, Psychokinetic Wars features the ultimate battle of technology and man - robots versus human - bishops versus blackops. And it does it with 12-person online play!
In CellFactor you choose from one of three classes; Blackops, Bishops, and the Guardian. The Blackops and Bishops have psychic powers allowing them to grab objects from afar and lunge them at their opponents, along with some teleporting action going on. Guardians, on the other hand, feature double jumps and sprints, and, more importantantly - dual wielding weapons. When playing single player, you are tasked with completing a series of challenges, usually requiring you to kill a certain amount of people in certain conditions. Not exactly revoloutionary, but it works. All three characters have their own set of challenges, and things can get hectic fast. The AI is pretty standard and provides enough challenge to get you through the campaign mode, but clearly this game was meant to be played online. Having three separate classes like this provides some great online gameplay, though I did notice some sproadic lagging.
Graphically, the game looks beautiful for an arcade game. While not up there with Gears of War or Halo, the environments are well-detailed and attractive. The spaces are generally open and feature multiple platforms and paths, which, when combined with psychic powers and teleporting, things get awesome every now and then. The audio is just as good and you really get immersed in the whole experience. While I don't see this game breaking into the top ten online games player, people will have fun with this and serves as a nice diversion from the non-stop Halo and Gears games. Nothing, however, will create a worthy diversion to Call of Duty - just laying that out there. Rating (Out of 10): 8.5
Community Games
Hangman's Revenge (200MP)
It seems as though all of those innocent games of Hangman have pissed off stick figures and now we have to stop Lord Double Hockey Sticks in his attack on the United States of America. Unless you're not American and live somewhere else...gues it doesn't really matter then. But, if you're in America this is serious business.
Clearly the greatest picture ever posted on 411
...Revenge is a side-scroller that has you man one of four vehicles - a tank, helicopter, hovercraft, and submarine. You start out with just the tank, but as you progress through the game you get the other vehicles. I only got to two levels in the demo, but in the two I did notice a severe lack of variety in the enemies. That being said, it was still fun. You have to shoot airplanes/helicopters down while watching out for jeeps and tanks on the ground, meaning you're going to be busy with each level. At the end of each level you will be taken to a screen where you can upgrade your vehicle's health, armor, and weapons using achievement points you earn each level. Ammo and health can also be gained by spending your score points (500 for 10 ammo and health), which is a neat feature. There are five ranks to each skill (four for each vehicle), so you'll have to spend wisely, though thus far the tank is my favorite. Every couple of levels you'll be facing a boss, leading up to when you finally meet Lord Double Hockey Sticks. What a badass name.
The game has simple graphic and audio, but what else can you expect at 200MP? While the game does have some depth and the four vehicles act differently, I started to tire of it by the end of the demo, clearly not a good sign. Still, there is some fun to be had and I think most gamers will be pleased with this game as long as it is played in short spurts - otherwise you'll grow bored quickly. Rating (Out of 10): 6.5
Cube Stacker (200MP)
This game has a very simple description - "Relax and unwind with this scenic cube stacking game." And that's pretty much what you do - you stack cubes together and when you make a straight line across, they get removed and you keep doing it. It's Tetris, and, well, we've all played Tetris. The backgrounds are nice, so there's that. But, yeah, that's about it to this game. Rating (Out of 10): 7.0
Fittest (400MP)
Fittest is a Geometry Wars-style game (which the developers proudly admit) that features a few new elements that really set it apart from the crowd and perhaps even rivals Geometry Wars. Yes, I, a huge Geometry Wars fan, enjoy the game that much.
Ok, sometimes this game gets really weird.
Gameplay is simple, the left stick moves and the right stick shoots. Unlike GW, Fittest allows you to have a wide variety of weapons. You can choose between your gun, a flamethrower, missiles, and mines. You'll face different enemies as well, ranging from one-shot kills to tougher characters who explode upon death. You'll also encounted various bosses, and you can fight them all in the "boss rush" mode. Throughout your game you'll run into small ring-like objects that offer different challenges such as not shooting for five seconds or only shooting a specific type of enemy. Completing these challenges will grant you things such as an extra life or another mine. These add a nice element of variety and replayability. The game has multiple backgrounds and music choices, all of which are excellent. Honestly, this is one of my most favorite community games in quite some time. If you like Geometry Wars-syle games, this is defintely one you want to check out. Rating (Out of 10): 9.0
Demos
Overlord
Overlord II, sequel to the critically acclaimed cult hit, sees the return of the chaotic Minions and their new Dark Master. Bigger, badder and more beautifully destructive, Overlord II has a Glorious Empire to smash, a massive Netherworld to revive, Minion mounts to mobilise, a trio of mistresses to woo, War Machines to crush opposition and lots of cute creatures to, err... murder (and a mini-map)
Game Add-Ons
Lips
"Joey" by Concrete Blonde (160MP)
"I Alone" by Live (160MP)
"Somewhere Only We Know" by Keane (160MP)
X-Men Origins: Wolverine - Weapon X Arena (800MP)
Download the "Weapon X Arena" - 1 complete level, 4 intense simulators, limitless user-created scenarios – a combat utopia. In the Dismemberment Room, select body parts on a holographic soldier and watch them get severed with spectacular results. In the Environmental Kill Room, creatively skewer enemies on objects found in jungles, labs and a ruined temple. In the Ladder Challenge Room, beam in stages of increasingly difficult enemies to test Wolverine's strength. In the Custom Combat Arena, face off against any combo of enemies from the story. Endless permutations of exciting gameplay await.
Rock Band
Bonnaroo Pack 01 (800MP)
"Wolf Like Me" by TV on the Radio (160MP)
"Steady at the Wheel" by Shooter Jennings (160MP)
"The Running Free" by Coheed and Cambria (160MP)
"A Favor House Atlantic" by Coheed and Camrbai (160MP)
"Wilson [Live]" by Phish (160MP)
"Shimmer and Shine" by Ben Harper and Relentless7 (160MP)
Race Pro - Race Pro Pack 1 (800MP)
Get 8 cars (40 skins)/3 tracks
Avatar (Free)
Male
Work Shirt
70's Plaid Flares
Jam Jar Glasses
Female
Knitted Vest
Gingham Shirt
Thread Skirt
There's no LIVE activity ratings this week, most likely due to E3.
Video Marketplace
21 Grams (360MP, 240MP) The emotionally and physically charged lives of three people - a college professor (Sean Penn), an ex-con (Benicio Del Toro) and a young mother with a reckless past (Naomi Watts) - collide unexpectedly in this gripping suspense thriller. Fate brought them together. Now vengeance will take them to the heights of love, the depths of revenge and the promise of redemption. Sean Penn, Benicio Del Toro, and Naomi Watts give the finest performances of their careers in the film that is "tantalizingly alive!" (Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly)
Let's Go to Prison (360MP, 240MP) Welcome to the slammer in this no-holds-barred, outrageous comedy! When white-collar Nelson Biederman IV (Will Arnett) winds up in the state pen with mischievous cellmate John Lyshitski (Dax Shepard), all hell breaks loose. From toilet wine to big-house beatdowns, it's a side-splitting comedy that could only happen in the clink!
Hollywoodland (360MP, 240MP) Based on the true story of Hollywood's most notorious unsolved mystery, Hollywoodland is a tale of glamour, scandal, and corruption in 1950's Los Angeles. When George Reeves (Ben Affleck), star of TV's Adventures of Superman, is found dead in his home, millions of fans are shocked by the circumstances of his death. The police and the studio bosses want the case closed as a suicide, but rumors linger. Louis Simo (Adrien Brody), a private investigator, picks up the trail and begins to piece together the actor's last, tension-filled days. Who pulled the trigger? Was it the seductive yet scheming fiancee, the spurned lover (Diane Lane), the enraged husband (Bob Hoskins), or was it Reeves himself?
He's Just Not That Into You (480MP, 320MP) Remember that really cute guy who said he'd call...and didn't? Maybe He's Just Not That into You. An all-star cast looks for love and finds laughs in this savvy, sexy, right-now romcom. Based on the runaway (like some guys you know) bestseller by Sex and the City series writers Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo, He's Just Not That into You sparkles with zingy aha moments any survivor of the dating wars will recognize. See it with someone you'd like to love.
Stir of Echoes (360MP, 240MP) Ever since Tom Witzy (Kevin Bacon) was hypnotized by his kooky sister-in-law (Illeana Douglas), he's had terrifying visions of a horrible crime. But the hallucinations give him more than the creeps when he discovers physical remnants of the nightmares in his waking hours. When Tom learns his son can also see ghosts, he must find a way out of the spell and solve the mystery that haunts him and his family.
Razortooth (480MP, 240MP) Deep in the Florida Everglades, something is alive that should have died eons ago. Something is feeding when it should be full. Something is moving, in ways that seem all but impossible to pursuers. Its moving in the dark... under the surface of the waters... with an appetite that makes no distinction between man or beast. Now its up to an unlikely band of locals, an animal control officer, a small town sheriff and a scientist's team of college youth to stop the threat... before its too late.
Hot Fuzz (360MP, 160MP) Get ready for a gut-busting, outrageous comedy from the guys that created Shaun of the Dead. Nicholas Angel (Simon Pegg) is a big-city cop who can't be stopped - but he's making everyone else on the force look bad. When he is reassigned to a small, quiet town, he struggles with this new, seemingly idyllic world and his bumbling partner (Nick Frost). But their dull existence is interrupted by several grisly and suspicious accidents, and the crime-fighting duo turn up the heat and hand out high-octane, car-chasing, gun-fighting, big-city justice in this hilarious hit critics are calling "Outrageous! Uproariously Funny!" (Thelma Adams, US Weekly).
Spring Breakdown (480MP, 320MP) Three geeky, thirty-something women -- all lifelong friends -- decide to break the monotony of their boring lives and take a vacation to South Padre, a popular Spring Break destination. Before they leave, however, Becky, who works for a senator, is asked to keep an eye on her boss' daughter, Lindsay, to make sure that the supposedly wild child does not get too out of control on Spring Break. But when Becky and her friends discover that Lindsay is not the party animal she seems, and is in fact even geekier than themselves, they realize that this is the perfect time to act like the wild girls they always wanted to be.
Events
Monday: Music Monday - Karaoke Revolution Presents American Idol Encore
Tuesday: Family Game Night - Bolt
Wednesday: GamerchiX Ladies Night - Rock Band 2
Thursday: Co-Op Night - H.A.W.X.
Friday: Game With Developers - Red Faction: Guerrilla
Saturday: Xbox All-Nighter - Call of Duty: World at War
Saturday: Game With Fame (Taking Back Sunday - Call of Duty: World at War
Saturday: Game With Developers - Call of Duty: World at War
Sunday: Community Playdate (Konsole Kingz) - NBA 2k9
So, in short, play Call of Duty: World at War this weekend. Nonstop.
Closing
Join us next Monday for more of the latest news, reviews, and downloads on Xbox Live! Any questions or comments can be posted below! Also, don't forget to bookmark 411 as your homepage, because, I mean, you come here everyday anyways. Just save yourself the trouble.
If there are any community game developers who are looking to promote a game, give me an e-mail at traceaber@gmail.com and we'll set up an interview.
