MEMBER PROFILE FOR Aceattorney
Average Overall Score Given: 7.36667 / 10
Total Forum Posts: 8
Reviews
Spiderman: Friend or Foe
Marvel Comic?s iconic Spider-Man has recently been given new life with three hit films, re-vitalized comic books, and several amazing (pun intended) sandbox-type console games. It comes to no surprise then, that Activision would introduce a more kid-friendly Spider-Man title to consoles. Spider-Man: Friend or Foe lets players take control of the beloved web-slinger and a sidekick in a simple platformer that taxes neither the brain nor the fingers.The premise of this title plants Spider-Man smack-dab in the middle of a global phenomenon that spawns ?phantom? bad guys in various places around the world. The friendly New York City superhero is recruited by none other than Nick Fury, and is commissioned to travel to the far reaches of the planet to find the fiendish source of the phantoms. Levels are designed as various locations around the globe, with each level having four sub-levels.
Fortunately, Spider-Man does not have to fight alone, as players have up to 13 other familiar faces from the Marvel universe to choose from to be Spidey?s sidekick. Among the character selections are Doctor Octopus, Blade, and the Goblin. One fantastic feature of this game allows you to play though the game with another person, co-operatively, or competitively in a versus-arena setting. Unfortunately, the game does not feature any gameplay over Xbox Live - multiplayer is limited onto the same console.
Your collection of super-partners grows as you progress through each level, and beating each respective boss of the level. After beating a boss, that character then becomes available to select as a sidekick. While it is entertaining to play each of these various characters (holding down the Y button switches control from Spidey to the sidekick), and to see them come to life in a video game with little quips and comments to Spider-Man, all of these sidekicks are ultimately the same in power, strength, and ability; even the special ability each character can deploy has pretty much the same effect on the phantoms.
Being a recruit of Nick Fury?s has its perks, as you have available a laboratory station to upgrade Spider-Man?s web-shooting attacks. In addition, you will be able to purchase power-ups like temporary invincibility, and health regeneration (you can find plenty of these in random crates/jars/boxes in the levels though). Lastly, you?ll be able to upgrade the other characters? health, strength, and special ability as well. All of these upgrades cost money that has to be earned by breaking those random boxes and jars, and by defeating phantoms. Unfortunately, you will have to play through the levels multiple times if you want to upgrade every character in the game.
The levels are all designed rather similarly, requiring Spider-Man to move in a very linear fashion from one area to the next, sometimes requiring him to step on a button on the ground to lower a bridge or two. It does not matter whether you are in Tokyo or Egypt ? the graphical differences are simply superficial. As uninspiring as the level design is, the phantoms in the game are just as unremarkable. Again, there are graphical differences that match the phantoms? look to the level?s theme (robotic, desert, jungle, etc.) but all the phantoms through the game look, act, and fight the same. Sure, there are several different sizes of phantoms (varying from small to very large), but from level to level, you will be fighting the same old bad guy.
Speaking of fighting, while Spider-Man has several web ?powers? at his disposal, you will likely simply resort to one or two of the most effective tools to take out the phantoms. Spidey can punch and kick as well, stacking up combinations of them as he air juggles the phantoms as well, but most of the time, using web techniques that cause group damage will be most efficient.
Even the boss encounters in the game are fairly uniform. The level designs come slightly more varied with the bosses, but the same tactic is employed to defeat each boss: avoid being hit by either the boss or the boss? special attack, and either throw an object at the boss or pummel the boss directly. Some of the bosses get special treatment by the game, requiring a unique approach to defeating the boss, but most of the boss fights are completed the same way.
Interestingly, this game features a Sonic the Hedgehog type of life system. Collecting enough monetary units through the game will allow you to purchase those upgrades, but during the game if you die, Spider-Man (or the sidekick) will simply re-spawn immediately, after subtracting from your cache of dough.
Unfortunately, this title does not bring anything new to the table, and to complicate matters even worse, the camera in Spider-Man: Friend or Foe is fixed. It is understandable to a degree why, since this game is after all, a platformer. But when taking a slight step down onto a bridge turns into a crapshoot as to whether you actually hit the bridge, or fall to your doom, the fixed camera can be more than just annoying.
Another sad letdown is the fact that while there is a short web-swing move Spidey can do, there is no real web-crawling, wall-crawling, or web- swinging in this game. Yes, this is a Spider-Man game. Spider-Man hoofs it through the entire game. That goes the same for all the other characters in the game as well. Green Goblin walks around without his jet-sled, and Venom walks around without the ability to stick to walls. Not being able to climb the huge caverns, scale the buildings, or zip around the levels with Spidey?s webs is akin to making a Superman game where Supes doesn?t fly around at all. Yes, you?ll ask yourself, ?What?s the point of making this into a Spider-Man game??
What made this game playable despite the poor graphics, level design, etc., was the simplistic nature of the gameplay, paired with the Spider-Man theme, not to mention some of the easiest achievements you?ll find among the more recent games that have been released for the Xbox 360. Although there are some bonuses that might help keep you entertained through the monotonous levels like character bios and video clips, this additional content is pretty sparse.
Suggestions: This title is just one of those three-button platformers that can keep you entertained in bite-sized sessions, but only if you are a true Spider-Man fan. The repetitive nature of the gameplay elements and simplistic (but cute) graphics will definitely attract younger gamers, but more advanced gamers who do not have a sentimental attachment to the Spider-Man mythos may want to steer clear from this game.
Try out the demo, downloadable for free from the Xbox Live Marketplace to see if this game is right for you!
Overall Score: 5.0 / 10
Project Gotham Racing 4
With racing games a plenty, Bizarre Creations and Microsoft brings us an old dog who actually managed to learn some pretty nifty new tricks. Project Gotham Racing 4 takes its tried and true combination of sublime graphics, ingenious Kudos system, and fun racing, and throws in some amazing new features that make this title one of the best racers released this year.There is no question that PGR4?s gameplay favors the more arcade-style of racing. Forza 2, this ain?t. But the cars (and bikes ? more on this later) feel very solid, with the pivot points of the vehicles feeling quite appropriate. Racing sim purists might complain that all the cars seem to drift far too easily, or that the cars do not handle realistically enough, but PGR4 does not claim to be a sim. By no means should PGR4 be characterized as a simple Kart Racer though ? this game seems to have achieved that healthy balance of arcade and realism.
The variety of cars, while not as diverse as Forza 2?s available selections, provides a wide experience of racing, from sluggish domestic classics to high-end formula one cars. In addition to the numerous cars (and one truck, incidentally) characterized as Classes A through G, PGR4 introduces motorcycles to the series. At first glance, it might not make sense to race motorcycles and cars. Yes, motorcycle riders can get knocked off their bikes, and bikes do have some advantages (i.e., cornering) over most cars. However, the fun factor is simply undeniable when you throw superbikes into a race between exotic cars. It?s almost like pitting a crocodile against a shark (not that Xbox Addict or this reviewer are advocating such activities) ? a grudge match just waiting to become realized.
Motorcycle racing has been recreated brilliantly in the Moto GP series, but like Forza 2, Moto GP was primarily geared for the simhead. In PGR4, motorcycle racing is much more simplified. The barebones controls are one example of the simplification of the bike racing. There is only one button for brakes (versus a separate front and rear brake), and performing endos as simple as braking and pushing the left thumbstick up. Handling bikes are different from handling the cars, but not by a great deal. All this said however, motorcycle racing in this game has been dumbed-down, if you will, in order to preserve the fun factor throughout the variety of races and challenges. Being able to cut tight corners, squeeze in between cars (your rider will make quirky gestures to drivers as he passes them), and doing little stunts while trying to pull off a long wheelie on a stretch of road are just some of the reasons why motorcycle racing can be exhilarating.
But of course what makes PGR4 truly distinguishable from other racing games is its innovative Kudos system. If you?ve played other PGR titles, you?re familiar with the system that rewards you for driving with style. New to the series is a new ?star? bonus system. Not only will performing long drifts and other driving moves reward you with Kudos, the longer the chain of moves you pull off, the more ?stars? you will earn, giving you?yes, even more Kudos. Earning Kudos is relatively easy, and the single player races are so plentiful, saving up for the more exotic car and bike packs never feels like a real grind.
Available gaming modes are the Arcade (where you can attempt a variety of challenges, ranging from cone racing, to Kudos racking), Career, and Multiplayer. Racing for medals in the Arcade mode not only earns you Kudos, but teaches you valuable lessons in racing techniques in PGR4. In the Career mode, as you progress through the rankings, you will gain access to better, more professional-looking garages, where you can display a few of your favorite cars and bikes. There is even an innovative feature where you can view screenshots (displayed as Polaroids taped onto the wall in your garage) taken by people on your Friend?s List and vote on them.
Bizarre Creations even brought in a sequel to one of the most beloved titles on Xbox Live Arcade, titled Geometry Wars Waves. You can access Geo Wars Waves in your garage, displayed as a cabinet-style Arcade game. Geo Wars Waves takes the core game, strips away extra lives and bombs, and adds spawning waves of enemies to avoid and destroy. It really does feel like an improvement to the classic ? but only time will tell as to whether gamers-at-large will embrace Waves like they did the original Geo Wars.
The graphics in PGR4 at first glance, may appear to be no different than those found in PGR3. But switch to the cockpit/dashboard view, and the upgraded graphics become readily apparent ? racing a motorcycle in this viewpoint is even more immersive and impressive. The camera angle, lighting effects, reflections, textures, and shading all serve to make PGR4 look amazingly realistic. Even the crowds are graphically improved ? gone are the cardboard standups ? spectators are now fleshed out. And don?t worry, PGR4 has also captured the exceedingly important sense of speed for the vehicles. Interestingly, and perhaps ironically, PGR4 does not overuse the ?blur? effect in order to achieve the sense of speed, but instead manages to be more realistic (and more honest) in that sense.
A new graphical feature introduced in this game is the collision effect that disrupts the screen whenever you crash or hit a wall. This feature is only present in the cockpit/dashboard view, and serves not only to act as a deterrent from driving recklessly, but serves to once again bring the player into the game in a fun way.
One of the bigger features introduced by PGR4 is the new weather system. Now, you are not limited to simply driving during the day or at night ? you can choose to race in the rain, and even in the snow! Graphically, the weather effects are nothing short of amazing. Puddles will collect and splash and the snow will come sweeping in through the air. In the cockpit/dashboard view, the water will bead up on the windshield as the wipers move to clear your view. But in addition to being eye candy, the rain and snow will definitely affect driving conditions on the road. Slick roads may spell disaster for some, but for you, it just means racking up Kudos on those turns!
The sounds of the engines, exhausts, squealing tires, and crashing metal are all accounted for ? just as they might be expected. The music selection is surprisingly wide and diverse (there are even classical and jazz soundtracks), and you can tailor your selection by genre or by song to deliver the perfect audio companion during your races.
Suggestions: Unfortunately, PGR4 is not perfect. The damage models are very limited, detracting from the realistic graphics. And there is no paint customizer comparable to the amazingly robust paint editor found in Forza 2. Finally, there will be many who simply prefer simulation racers than the more arcade-experience found in this title. However, PGR4 is a step forward in the series, and fans of this series will definitely not be disappointed. Download the demo today from the Xbox Live Marketplace!
Overall Score: 8.6 / 10
NHL 2K8
Ice hockey is a sport largely misunderstood, unwatched, and garners little interest compared to other sports. It is understanding therefore, to a degree that developers have taken some time to get ice hockey right on console gaming. 2K Sports and its direct and sole competitor, Electronic Arts, both have made strides in the past two years in this genre not only graphically, but also by creating a more accurate and immersive experience for gamers.This year, 2K Sports delivers a brand of ice hockey that shines in its presentation and attempts to bring a more direct level of control for gamers. Taking EA?s lead from NHL 07, 2K Sports implements a control scheme that is intended to bring players directly onto the ice through the use of the right analog stick to control the hockey stick. However, instead of being innovative, NHL 2K8?s new control scheme comes with a steep learning curve that borders on being counter-intuitive. The training modes, while designed with the best intentions, include very sparse instructions, leaving one to guess how to perform certain moves required to complete some of the training sessions.
So while many signature moves (and other moves, like kicking the puck back to the stick) look really cool, attempting these moves during a game, while trying to focus on scoring, largely results in a button-mashing fest due to the clunky interface, requiring multiple button presses. In a game as fast-paced as ice hockey, flying down the wings towards your opponent?s net requires on-the-fly decisions. Worrying about how to get by a defender by using one of several available moves and how to follow-up by executing a hard wrist-shot unfortunately detracts from what the game offers. On the defensive end, the controls are much more simple, but highly effective. Poking a puck out of the zone or checking a man against the boards are done with single-button modifiers, coupled with the right thumbstick. Even hooking and laying a player?s stick across the ice to block a pass is done rather easily. It really is unfortunate that the offensive controls lack this simplicity. There is no question that spending a lot of time in the training modes will help with your muscle memory in grasping the controls, but the high level of patience and tolerance required may turn away many ice hockey fans.
That said, there are several redeeming qualities found in NHL 2K8. The improved AI makes playing ice hockey as a team (instead of as a solo star on the ice), much easier. On the offense, teammates will put themselves into the corners, and in front of the net to be open for one-timer opportunities, or for taking advantage of rebounds. It is refreshing to see AI teammates on the wings pushing towards the other side of the ice to create a breakaway. Defensively, AI players will box opposing players out to the boards, relaxing pressure on the goaltender. They will place themselves in front of a flying puck ? just as real hockey players would. In other words, it is as if the AI?s understanding of the game came straight from the NHL?s playbooks.
One of the gameplay?s more interesting (and perhaps controversial) features is not the turbo button, which it has, but 2K8 goes a stride further and offers, with the touch of a button, the ability to skate harder and faster than turbo. Holding down the sprint button makes the player skate at top speed, but one does have to wonder what the point of the turbo button is with the sprint button available.
In terms of presentation, NHL 2K8 has never looked better. Not only are the graphics bumped up by a slight degree, but the dramatic camera angles and shots truly make this title wonderful to look at. Player animations are again outstanding, and the faces of all the big names are actually recognizable this year. One of this title?s best features is the unique isometric camera angle that is close enough to feel the chill of the ice, but wide enough to see all of the action. Unfortunately, the good looks do not translate to an intuitive menu system. Navigating through the main menu screen lacks fluidity, much akin to the game?s control scheme.
Not only are the game?s graphics solid, but all the sounds of an NHL game have been dutifully captured for 2K8. From the sounds of the puck impacting various objects in the rink, to the dramatic orchestrated music, there is no doubt that the 2K team prioritized immersion and drama for gamers. The music selection, filled with a variety of rock though probably designed to pump you up may ultimately send you to the options menu where you can thankfully import your own custom music (or deselect particular songs).
Unfortunately, gone are the realistic training drills and challenges from NHL 2K7. However, 2K8?s offline mini-games can provide a challenging and enjoyable departure (for up to four players ? offline) from a long season. In addition to the mini-games, progression through the season can reward you with items to fill your skybox. From trophies to an air hockey table, you can make your skybox your own.
A deep franchise mode is included in 2K8, allowing you to get knee-deep in the world of franchise finances, dealing with trades, and managing your team?s growth throughout the years. Fortunately for those of us who are management-challenged, there is the option of letting the CPU manage all of the nitty gritty details in running a hockey club.
Suggestions: Despite 2K8?s many highlights, the frustrating control scheme forces gamers to abandon many of the available moves, and leaves them with a basic style of gameplay, but one that at least looks and feels amazing. It is certainly difficult to envision an improvement to the control scheme without blatantly copying EA?s controls, but only the most patient gamers will take the time to learn to master these controls. As a game with much to offer, some may be able to overlook the more complex control options in the game, or may even take the time to master the controls. However, with EA?s NHL 08 as an immediate alternative option, gamers may ultimately choose a game that will not be frustrating to play.
Be sure to check out Xbox Live Marketplace and download the free demos for both NHL 2K8 and NHL 08 and compare them for yourself!
Overall Score: 6.0 / 10
Shadowrun
Shadowrun is the latest first-person shooter to make its way to the 360 platform. Blending elements from the role-playing games of the same name, Counter-Strike, and Halo, this title, developed by FASA Studios is one of the most engaging games you will ever play.From its inception, Shadowrun was surrounded by controversy. With its roots stemming from its days as a pen and paper role-playing game and eventually as a Super Nintendo RPG, no one expected the franchise to be reborn as a first person shooter.
And since the time it was unveiled and a playable demo was showcased at E3 in 2006, FASA and Shadowrun have been the targets of a sea of criticism and spectacle. Even the announcement of this game being the first PC to Xbox 360 cross-platform title received skepticism and spurred widespread discussion. And now, with the pricepoint of the game being the subject of tremendous amount of discourse, professional reviewers have had to take into account these various issues in determining the value and quality of the game.
Yes, Shadowrun is a multiplayer only title; there is no single-player campaign. It is also priced at $60. And no, Shadowrun does not track your personal statistics, nor does it feature a leaderboard. Indeed, there are only nine maps, and only three game modes. But keep reading to find out why Shadowrun is worth every penny, and why reader reviews all across the internet rate this game overwhelmingly higher than the average "professional" reviewer.
There are more than a handful of great shooters available on the 360. Some are done very well, and incorporate some incredible elements of team-based play. But in the end, generally speaking, they are all played the same way: Run, spot the enemy, shoot, die, and re-spawn. Shadowrun can be played exactly the same way?or you can run, teleport, look through walls, turn into a puff of smoke (letting the bullets shoot right through you), resurrect a fallen ally, heal yourself, create chokepoints, teleport behind an unsuspecting enemy and slash him with a katana. Of course, this is just one variation of what one can do in Shadowrun.
Each round starts out in Counter-Strike fashion, with a buy menu. You can purchase weapons (the standard fare, except for the Katana, which puts the player in third-person mode when equipped), magic (which are defensive in nature), and technological upgrades (such as a glider, or enhanced vision, which allows you to see enemies through walls).
The seven magic spells and five tech items available in the game allows a player to experience a level of freedom and creativity that is unmatched in any other shooter on the market. Here are the different magic and tech featured in the game:
Magic: teleport, resurrection, tree of life, smoke, summon, and gust.
Tech: glider, enhanced vision, wired reflexes, smartlink, and anti-magic generators.
In addition, here are four different types of races you can play as: human, elf, troll, or dwarf. Each race has different characteristics with respect to their magic and health, such as the level of magic ability, rate of healing, and toughness (i.e., the troll is tougher to kill than an elf).
The variety of magic, tech, and races creates a game that frees a gamer to be extraordinarily creative in the way he or she plays the game. Even the maps, having been designed meticulously to take advantage of the magic and tech are not what you?re used to ? they are vertical as much as they are horizontal! Now, being a life-support player, a tank, or an assassin isn?t so much as being locked by a traditional class-based system, but rather, it?s determined by the way a gamer chooses to play.
The graphics have been overhauled since its infamous debut at E3 2006, but don't expect Gears of War type of graphics. The graphics in Shadowrun look great, but aren't the best we've seen on the 360. One thing you will notice is a great frames per second rate.
Being able to hear things in this game is tremendously important to the gameplay, just as it was important during the days when Quake multiplayer reigned supreme on the PC.
In time, you will learn to identify sounds such as a tree of life springing nearby, letting you know that you can seek it out to be healed.
You will also soon recognize the crack of a teleporter, warning you that someone might be trying to get the drop on you, or the sound of a minion being cast nearby, waiting to tear apart anything that comes near it.
Your character also has a voice, and with the press of the d-pad, will call out locations of spotted enemies, or call for backup.
In sum, don?t let the pricepoint keep you away from this game. This is one of those rare games you encounter where the gameplay is addicting, refreshing, refined, and innovative - making this highly recommended as a purchase. It really is worth the cost.
But don?t take our word for it ? download the demo from Xbox Live Marketplace and check it out for yourself! Before you do, here are a few tips:
? Communicating with your teammates is critical to not just winning, but to having fun!
? During the race selection screen, check out what the other team has chosen, and choose accordingly to counter or match their selections.
? Be sure to ?clear? the bodies of the enemy, otherwise they can be resurrected, turning the tide against your team.
? Do your best to get to know the maps inside and out. Get used to traveling vertically throughout the maps.
Suggestions: FASA knocked it out of the park with Shadowrun, and it is clear that gamers all over the internet agree. It would be great to see some free downloadable content in the future to help justify the pricepoint of the game, and additional tweaking of the party and matchmaking systems would definitely be appreciated.
Overall Score: 9.4 / 10
Guitar Hero II
I play mostly rhythm guitar, but I am also trained in classical guitar, and a little of lead guitar playing. Anyway, I was really excited about this game because I had played a little bit of it back at CES earlier this year. To finally be able to spend time with the game was really a prospect I was looking forward to.
The box comes with the game, guitar controller, stickers for your guitar, guitar strap, and manual.
What you will notice immediately is how light the guitar is. Well, at least that's what my wife remarked. Once you attach the strap to the guitar, I recommend you go through the training levels to find out what strap length is most comfortable for you. Speaking of the training levels, definitely go through them to get some valuable tips in playing this game, and to score an achievement!
The gameplay is exactly like you've read in all the previews/reviews out there: it rocks. At first, you might have a tough time timing the pressing of the buttons with your left hand and strumming the "string," which is a toggle switch with your left, but after going through a couple of songs in the easy mode in the career mode, you'll start to get the hang of it.
So is playing the game like playing the guitar? Yes and no. Yes, the finger movement is similar, but since there are only buttons and no strings, your finger placement does not need to be precise (as opposed to pressing down on 1 string out of 6 on a real guitar). Also, there are only 5 frets on the controller, but that doesn't keep the game from requiring some flexibility and stretching of your fingers, not to mention quick finger movment.
The strumming/picking requires nearly perfect timing, so even on easy mode, it can take a few tries to get the timing right. One thing to note is that I've actually been playing with a real guitar pick. I know it sounds a little silly, but now my rhythm is totally dependent on using a pick ? without a pick, I miss notes left and right. And on the subject of picking, my wife simply presses the toggle down with her thumb instead of "flicking" the toggle with her thumb and index finger (like I do with my pick).
I love some of the tricks implemented in the game, like hammer-ons and pull-offs. It's a shame that sliding can't work with the controller though, but for some of the quicker note sequences, you might find that sliding your fingers to other buttons can help a bit.
There's also a special power-up of sorts that you can use in the game ? the Star Power mode rescues you from failing a song, but more importantly, acts as a 2X multiplier to boost your score temporarily.
Going through the game earns you money, which allows you to buy unlockables, such as guitar player characters, guitars, guitar finishes, costumes, and songs.
Oh, and co-op is available offline only, but if you have two guitars (sadly, as of yet, guitars are not sold without the bundle), you and your partner can play different instruments (lead, rhythm, or bass guitar) and in different difficulties. My wife and I have had some awesome sessions in GHII, it gets really hectic when you play on the more difficult modes. (Playing on easy mode does not earn you money, BTW). It certainly helps to actually be familiar with the song you are playing, but it's not necessary to know the song to "beat" it.
I'm currently playing through the "Hard" career mode, and practicing in the practice mode really helps a ton since the game has options to play different sections in any given song, and play them at slower tempos.
The graphics aren't stunning, but I did find myself impressed with the Psychonaut-stylings in the game. And yeah, you leave your eyes off the notes for one split second, and you'll find yourself struggling to recover. And on the subject of eyes, blink, and you will likely miss a note. This means that your eyes will be super dry at the end of each song. ;)
Finally, the songs are spot on. There's a Rage Against the Machine song ("Killing in the Name") among the selections to which I really have a great time rocking to.
I'm really glad that some of my favorite songs are in there, and it's neat learning songs that are new to me as well. Note that all the songs are performed by a cover band, not the original artist. I just wish there was a way to request songs for downloadable content that were not included in the game (Halo 2 rock-theme, anyone?)
Suggestions: Conclusion: Gameplay that will make you play till your fingers bleed. Promise of Downloadable Content is mind-bottling, but so far the song packs have been kind of meh. Too bad the guitar isn't wireless, and too bad about the price. - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Overall Score: 9.2 / 10
Star Trek: Legacy
"Star Trek." These words seem to have only two effects on people, either revulsion, or elation. If you just threw up a little bit in your mouth, don?t close the browser just yet. Read on to discover why or why not you should actually give this game a shot! To those who aren?t immediately turned off by the prospect of commanding ships in the Star Trek universe, you?ll know that this is the first time you get to control the Enterprise, from the eras of Archer through Picard. In ?Star Trek: Legacy,? you have the chance to kick some alien butt with a fleet of up to four ships. The idea of it sounds terrific. There was one episode (episode 277, to be precise) in Star Trek: The Next Generation, where a future Enterprise-D comes and tears up a Klingon ship. There was nothing more awesome than seeing the Federation finally whoop some booty without getting punked around by some two-bit alien battle cruiser. I was filled with anticipation as I popped this disc into my 360.
The game treks (sorry, my thesaurus is broke) chronologically through the various eras of the Star Trek television universe, placing the player at the helm of the most famous ships in the history of the Federation. You start the game off controlling just one ship, but surprisingly sooner than one would expect, you?ll be managing up to four ships at once.
Missions start out with familiar sights and sounds and begin with either a dialogue or monologue featuring the voices of the famous Star Trek captains, and ?episode? titles. Visually, mission intros are simply filled with seemingly random flybys of ships, space stations, planets, and other objects that fill the void of space. Objectives are clearly indicated for you, along with a hint or two to help you complete the missions.
Since Legacy is a real-time space combat game, and not a real-time strategy game per se (although there ARE some management required here?more on this later), there are no resources to collect, no structures to build, and basically no variety in units. You?ve got different types of ships, to be sure ? from scouts to battleships, the entire fleet is at your disposal, if you?ve got the money. Ah yes, each mission completed rewards you with money to buy different ships (no Grand Theft Auto-type garage here, you can have only up to four ships at any time).
But that said, you will have to manage your ships and your ships? system resources during missions to best accomplish the mission objectives without getting your ships blown up. Part of this management includes allocating system energy to either shielding, engines, or weapons. Dedicating energy to shields obviously boosts shield strength. Allocating energy to engines gives you a boost in impulse speed, and directing energy to weapons allows a faster rate of firing phasers. That said, if you focus your ships? energy on any single system, the remaining systems will weaken.
You can also control each ship as separate units, commanding each ship to attack certain targets, or you can control all of the ships as a group, focusing your ships on a single target. Most of the time however, your best option is to not divide your ships, but to pick off the enemy fleet one at a time.
Meanwhile, you will have to select each of your ships individually to queue up repairs of the subsystems (such as hull, engines, weapons, scanners) as they become damaged during battles. It?s important to not neglect repairing your ships during battles, or else you will find yourself losing ships faster than you can say, ?Make it so.?
Targeting enemies is pretty simple, but maneuvering your ships can be a little taxing. Although there is an auto-follow when targeting an enemy, some of the ships need to be in certain positions in order to be able to properly target with either the phasers or torpedoes. The game certainly cannot predict what kind of weapons you want to unload on the enemy ships, so some of the maneuvering will have to be done manually. Just be prepared to battle the camera a little while you dogfight.
Besides the battles, there are a couple of few small varieties in missions, such as recon and escort, but rest assured, the game is primarily about destroying alien ships.
Graphically speaking, this game can look terrific. Some of the lighting and shading effects on the ships make them wish I could grab some screenies for my dashboard wallpaper. Unfortunately, there isn?t much more to the graphics. Yes, the ships are authentically recreated on screen. From Borg to Romulan, the ships look just like they do on the shows and movies. However, the textures could use some work, and personally, I?d love some camera angles that are closer up to the ships, but only if the textures were nicer.
The planets look a little small compared to the ships (planets are supposed to be huge, right?), and in fact, look a little flat. Nebulas look decent, providing a lot of the lighting sources, but the over abundance of the star-like dots on the screen makes the game look a little cheap.
One of my biggest beefs with the graphics has to be the explosions. The ships simply don't explode. They merely break apart like your mother's porcelain vase. Yes, there are some flashes of light, but ships should rip and tear apart, not?shatter into four clumps.
What I do love about the graphics are the damage models. Ships do take graphical damage, just like they did in the shows, and it is great seeing ships spark and spew smoke. The damage does not correspond to or affect the actual gameplay, but they are nice touches.
Like the voices of the captains, the sounds of the ships, weapons, and everything in between are also faithfully reproduced. However, don?t expect to hear any of the crews from the famous ships; they?re strangely silent in this game.
On that note, the game?s presentation overall lacks that human touch. You won?t see any faces or any people through the game. The Star Trek television series and films, despite the awesome special effects, were about humankind. Without the element of people, this game feels stale and only like part of a Star Trek game. Even a fuzzy picture of a captain in the HUD could have served to bring the humanness into the game.
Suggestions: Also, with all of the voiceover going on in the mission briefings and debriefings, some subtitles would certainly be appreciated, especially since some of the images on the screen are nice enough to be distracting.
And so while it is certainly exciting getting to control a fleet of ships in the Star Trek universe, not seeing any of the characters we know and love and not being able to rip through ships like the way the future Enterprise-D did in episode 277 of Star Trek: The Next Generation makes this game tough to recommend as a purchase, even to Trekkers.
Overall Score: 6.0 / 10
