Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (Xbox 360) Review
Posted by David Redkey on 08.12.2007
A fantastic movie based game. It's a rarity.
I LIED
The arrival of a new movie brings with it the dread that a movie-based game will follow that release. History has proven on multiple occasions that the game developers view their patrons as nothing more than an avenue for a quick buck (Quality be Damned!). They don’t really strive to create a masterpiece. All they need to do is complete one so it can coincide with release of the movie.
The same thing can be said for X-box 360’s release of Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. This game really has cop-out written all over it. Take-Two Interactive and Visual Concepts have released some entertaining Football games (2K8 for the 360 comes to mind); but, it seems that they can’t design a fun nor faithful representation of the Fantastic Four.
This game promises the control of the members of the Fantastic Four; but, it never strives to be anything more than a general waste of time. Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Ben Grimm, Johnny Storm all have the power to amaze and translate their talents to a very enjoyable game. It was heartbreaking to have to sit through this game just to review.
It tells you something when the Developer doesn’t want to send a copy of the game to review. You are forced to pick one up at the store like the average customer. When they don’t want to show off their “work-of-art,” it is a warning sign that it will not be very enjoyable at all. They want to cash-in on the movie buzz and make a quick buck before people realize how bad it is.
Graphics
Well, it’s a third-person action game. The graphics are “tailored” for that type of game. That is the only positive thing to say about the graphics.
The characters you control look absolutely atrocious. I’ve seen some bad representations of comic book characters before; but, this is “supposed” to be a 360 game. It looks like a game that was made by amateurs at home.
The characters compromise the vague idea of what the actors should look like. Sue’s hair looks absolutely terrible. I felt like it was a recreation of The Wizard of Oz and Sue was the scarecrow. Seriously, if you can’t really capture the idea of what the game looks like, don’t release a game that fails on the must fundamental of levels.
After seeing this game, I felt like I was controlling the “Fantastic Farce.” I was waiting for Alfred E. Neuman to show up a few hours into it. He would tell me that it’s a Mad Magazine game and the Spy vs. Spy would come out.
When Wolverine’s Revenge is a graphically superior title, which tells you how horribly ugly this game turned out to be. I even thought about removing my own eyes to enjoy the respite that darkness could provide.
On a side note, when another game shows a much superior version of the universe you are basing your game on, that’s a sure sign to gather up your things and go home. I hate the fact that I kept thinking of better games that contained the same characters. Its really quiet depressing to own a game that easily beats this game in the graphics department (among other things). I would recommend buying a Raven Soft game before one made by Visual Concepts or Take Two.
Gameplay
You want an idea of what a good comic book videogame should be? I would just save my money and pick up Marvel: Ultimate Alliance for the X-box 360. That version allows you to use the Fantastic Four without any of the restrictions that are levied by Visual Concepts (you have access to almost 30 characters in total. The Fantastic Four, Magneto, Venom, Wolverine, and company, some of these characters you may have to download. Without the downloaded content, that game easily surpasses this game.).
For starters, the player is forced to use powers to actually fly. That’s laughable when compared to the other games. Seriously, when Johnny Storm flew there wasn’t a drain on his energy. It seems like some of the most fundamentally easy aspects of the characters to implement into the game.
The only area that Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer truly excels in is the ability to feel like you are a part of a team. The majority of the time, you can use the whole Fantastic Four Team. You can select your favorite character and use them if the need arises. At the very least, the developers didn’t force you to use Ben Grimm throughout the whole game. I guess I can take that as a victory.
Sound
It’s an action game. Does further clarification need to be established to know that this isn’t the strong point of the game.
Fun Factor
Its fun if you rented the game. The fun quickly slips away when it’s the 360 version. The game was fun for all of two minutes. Things headed downward very quickly and never let up. Much like an Angel that is thrown out of Heaven, the game gives you a glimmer of hope and quickly dashes any preconceived notions of excellence.
I guess the designers decided upon the path of least resistance. Is it just human nature to release garbage with hopes that the uneducated and uninformed. I guess they were hoping to get money out of the rank and file consumer before they caught onto their money making scheme. I wonder if this considered thievery or just an honest business decision. It pays
That is just too bad. The Fantastic Four is here and it could have been a realization of how a comic book videogame should be.
Lasting Appeal
The time between starting in up and throwing it your 360 and your game out the window? Would that constitute lasting appeal? It pays no matter. This will not be the last bit of software that is trying to get Parents and Grandparents to pick up. I feel pain for every individual that I share my misery with.
This is the video game equivalent to a popcorn flick. What I mean by this is the game is nothing memorable and you’ll forget about it only a little while after you are finished with the game and put the controller down. This isn’t Final Fantasy 6, Final Fantasy 7, God of War, or even Gears of War. Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer is a movie based game. If you don’t pick it up with this in mind, you’ll be severely disappointed by the game.
The 411
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer tries to be a good game. It really does; but, it does coalesce into something that will be remembered for what it does right. The game is a comedy of errors. I’m still waiting for an apology from the developers in response to the atrocity that they set free onto an unsuspecting populace.
Graphics
5.1
Wait! Wait one minute! This is supposed to be a 360 game?!?!???
Gameplay
4.8
I'm using energy just to fly? I didn't know Johnny Storm would tire out from saying
Sound
6.2
At its worst, the sound is far below serviceable. At its best, euphonious does not describe the sound.
Lasting Appeal
5.0
Well, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel
Fun Factor
4.8
The entertainment level is equal to a root canal. Nuff said.
