|
|
(and Space Channel 5 Part 2) For Playstation 2 |
|
Plot. The basic concept of DW3 is that you have a cadre of initially about 10 elite warriors. These warriors are semi-immortal, and they participate in different sides of actual historical Chinese battles across the span of a few hundred years around the time of 22 A.D. Each warrior has a different weapon and style, and as you win battles, you can level them up some, unlock new characters, and find better weapons and items to equip them with. The game is set up so that you take part in several battles of a campaign by a Chinese faction. The game also has stand-alone, independent battles that you can play. Both the campaign, and the free mode can have 2-player co-op. Now for Space Channel 5 (part 2). Let me explain a bit about the game first. The game is by Sega, and is a Japanese game. By that I mean that the menus and instructions are in Japanese, with a small scattering of English, as the Japanese are wont to do. (and yes, I did use "wont*quot; correctly). When we put the game in, and the intro started, our jaws dropped, and we started cracking up. (Its a very . . . special . . . game) On the main menu, "1 Player" and "2 Player" are the only options in English. The game starts off, and your name is Lola, and you are a Reporter for Space Channel 5 News. Some alien guy in a black vinyl suit is kidnapping people for nefarious purposes, and you are there to report about it and save them. The whole game is like a sci-fi swinging 60s a la Austin Powers Dance Dance Revolution type game. You have to use the controller and out dance the badguys to rescue the people. Your success rate depends on how well you match their moves, and how many people you rescue. One would think this would be really easy. Just do the commands (in thickly accented English) you are given and hit them in the right cadence. Anyway, an hour later, and we still couldnt get past the first level, and 2/3s of us were in band in high school, so we have rhythm. Graphics. PS2 standard graphics. DW3 has decent graphics. They werent really stunning, but the programmers made up for it in sheer numbers. The battles you take place in are massive. It takes upwards of five minutes to run across the entire map, and people are fighting all over, very similar to a MMORPG like Dark Age of Camelot or Ever Quest. There is so much going on, that Ive actually experience lag more than once running around in these battles. But aside from that, the scenery is rather uninspired. Space Channel is a bit above average looking. While perhaps not uber-realistic looking, there is a lot of eye candy, and playing the game in general is very visually stimulating. Sound. Decent sound on DW3. The options say there is Japanese dialogue, but when you select it, it turns off almost all the talking except for various Japanese battle cries, etc. The English voice acting isnt the worse Ive ever heard, but its not that great either. Space Channel has above average sound in that it too, is very stimulating. And catchy. Darn them to hell. The game is too bloody addicting, and I dont even know what they are saying half the time. Gameplay. Each game has simple controls. In DW3, you run around and can jump, and have two basic attacks, and a super attack. You can also use a bow. Very simple. Most of the game is just running around killing guys, which can get a bit old, except that sometimes you have to be different places at the same time, and so the strategy can get a bit complex. Later on, you can have a whole squad of men you can issue commands to during the battle. Space Channel is also very easy. D-pad and the 4 main buttons are all you need. Figuring out exactly which one they want you to hit can be more than confusing at times though. The game has a nasty effect of driving one nuts because it *should* be really easy. I can't figure out why it's not. Difficulty. DW3 gets good point here because the game, as long as it doesnt get boring, offers a good challenge for completing each level without getting routed. And thats on easy. The game also has harder difficulty levels. In short, it's challenging, without being impossibly hard. Space Channel is hard. And it shouldnt be. Gives me this awful suspicion that some 5 year old could blow me away at. I think the perception that it should be easy is what keeps me hacking away at it. This fits more under replay than difficulty. Oh well, deal with it. Replay Value. DW3 has good replay value because of the sheer number of things to do in it. You can beat all the campaigns, on both sides, unlock all the characters, find all 3 of their weapons (each) etc. It would take a long, long time to do all of that. Space Channel, see above in Difficulty. Spiffy Factor. (yes, new name just to vary things up a little). Best thing about DW3 is all the stuff you can unlock, and getting a squad of guys to assist you, and making them all archers, then watching them steal the kills for mini bosses right before you deliver the killing blow. Oh yes, and getting on top of a War Elephant, and running over troops, yours and theirs. :) Space Channel gets points for being an annoyingly catchy, swingin 60s game that is mind-bogglingly addictive. And the Jem rock concert in level two is cool too. Overall. Short overalls, cause Im tired of writing now. DW3 is a good game, but is starting to get a bit boring, as the fighting is very repetitive. Most definitely worth renting for a week or two, then you decide. As for Space Channel 5 Part 2, if you like DDR, lie, cheat, or steal a copy of this game, and either a mod-chip, or a Japanese Playstation to play it on. If not, stay away, lest ye become addicted too. Final Ratings
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| [Back to Collector Times] |
| [Prev.] | [Return to Reviews] | [Return to Gaming] | [Disclaimer] | [Next] |
|
|
|