I remember back before Area 51 was released. People were saying that it was revolutionary and that it was going to change the gaming world. And, of course, people always tag on that classic line: "Better than Halo!!!!"
Let me just tell you that this game is not revolutionary, it won't change the gaming world, and it really isn't better than Halo 1 or 2. But that doesn't mean that its a terrible game.
Area 51 is actually a very good FPS. The game is basically your typical shooter. You run around with about 10 or so weapons, killing mutants and other grotesque looking creatures, trying to escape from this base before the mutants turn you into one of them. Well....I guess its not very original, but hell, its a lot of fun.
The multiplayer is probably the best part of the game. You can choose to anything from 2-player split-screen to 16 player online.
The game does have some big problems though. The main flaw keeping it from being a great game is the movement of your character. The movement is rough and very touchy and you'll find yourself dying a lot because you couldn't aim and kill an enemy in time. Maybe if they spent a little more money on the gameplay instead of the Hollywood Voice Over Acting(which kinda sucks), we would have an amazing shooter.
Overall, the game may not be the next Halo or anything, and it may have some slight problems, but its still a good, fun shooter that should please a lot of FPS gamers.
7/10
THARP
From the makers Omikron: The Nomad Soul, one of my favorite games ever, come this truly unique and actually quite breathtaking game. With a unique gameplay design, strong music and sound, and one of the most memorable storylines I've ever seen in a game, The Indigo Prophecy is a game you must experience.
You control three main characters: Lucas Kane, a man who struggles with strange premonitions and trances that eventually force him to murder a complete stranger. Carla Valenti, the police detective assigned to the murder case Kane commited. And Tyler Miles, Carla's goofy and obnoxious partner, who dosen't really help out too much with the case. Controlling both sides of the crime is a very interesting twist to the game, as when your Lucas, your mostly trying to hide from the cops and cover up evidence of the murder, but when your Carla or Tyler, your trying to find the evidence, and discover who commited the crime.
The entire gameplay is based around choice. Your able to make most of your own decisions throughout the game and they can have a good or bad impact, depending on how well you make decisions. Something as simple as forgetting to wash the blood off of your hands can have a huge impact on the storyline and gameplay, and can even result in a game over. The choices you make thoughtout the game can also result in four different endings. Another key element to the gameplay is a Mental Status Meter, which can dramaticly change based on decisions you make. If the meter drops too low, its game over.
Another notable gameplay aspect is the action sequences, in which your character moves on his own and you assist him by moving your analog sticks in the direction it tells you to. It may not sound very interesting, but it is actually very challenging and a lot of fun. Its another unique part of the gameplay that makes Indigo Prophecy such a rewarding game.
With the graphics, sound, and voice acting top-notch, the only real issue of the game is the 3rd Person Camera, which can make it very difficult moving your character in a straight line sometimes, but its overshadowed by all the other strong elements in the game.
The Indigo Prophecy is a very unique game experience and few games are like it. Although its not for everyone, every gamer should at least give it a try. Even if they don't enjoy the gameplay, the storyline alone should stick with them long after the game has ended.
9/10
THARP
Now, this is a game. A few months after being released on the PC and the X-Box, Max Payne has finally been released for the PS2 and, for the most part, it's just as strong of a game as it was on the PC.
Max Payne is a great action game that is strong in almost every area: gameplay, graphics, sound, storyline, and replay value. The gameplay may be very simple, but it's probably the highlight of the game. The gameplay basically consists of you running around with a shotgun(or 15 other weapons), shooting your way through city streets, buildings, warehouses, etc. One thing that unique about the action in Max Payne is that you have the ability to turn on bullet time, which slows the game down, allowing you to kill more enemies a lot easier. It's a really cool effect and you'll be using it a lot during the action sequences in the game.
The storyline is almost equally as engaging as the gameplay. As you go through the game, more of the storyline unfolds and the plot constantly twists and turns, which keep you on the edge of your seat throughout the game. One really awesome thing about the storyline is that it is told through graphic-novel style cutscenes that really add to the theme of the game.
Unfortunetly, the game does have a few issues. While the graphics are really good, they have been cut down a little for the PS2 and, because of that, some textures are really rough and choppy looking. The frame rate is also a little slower on the PS2 and the game doesn't run as smooth as it does on the PC or X-Box version. But it doesn't get in the way of the gameplay at all.
Max Payne is an amazing game and, while the PS2 version might have a few minor problems, the game is still as rewarding as it was on the PC and X-Box.
8/10
Tharp
Out of all the Tomb Raider games, Angel of Darkness is the one that almost all gamers and critics alike have considered the weakest. Is it really that bad? No, it really isn't that bad. It honestly is unfortunate, because only a few issues keep AOD from being the best Tomb Raider since the first. There is definitely way more good than bad this game.
I'll start with the good first. AOD is not certainly not lacking in graphics. All the locations, weapons, characters, and especially Lara look really good. The games textures are perfect and the locations look very realistic. The only issue with the graphics is that sometimes at random, the frame-rate will suddenly slow to a crawl, but the frame-rate issues are few and don't really effect the gameplay.
The sound is flawless. Every sound effect in this game is placed very well and the voice acting is performed perfectly with each character. The soundtrack is also really good and really add a lot to the game.
The storyline is probably the highlight of the game. As you play through the game, the plot twists more and more. The cutscenes are put together really well and have a movie-like quality to them, which only make you more entranced in the amazing story.
Unfortunetly, the main issue of the game affects the gameplay quite a bit, and that main issue is the control and movement of Lara. The movement is the worst. Lara moves as smooth as a piece of sandpaper. You'll find yourself falling off of cliffs a lot. The button placement on the controller does not help in the least bit and it probably would of helped if you could customize your controls.
After you get used to the control problems AOD has, the game is actually a lot of fun. The puzzles are very well done(but very hard sometimes)and the storyline is so good that its worth any trouble with the game. If you are a Tomb Raider fan that never checked this game out because of what you heard about it, check it out for yourself. AOD is a great game and Tomb Raider fans should not miss out. Even normal gamers should give it a chance.
7/10
THARP