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by Funkula 03/19/2006, 1:05pm PST |
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This game is a sequel to the PC game of several years ago. In both, you play Nathan Zachary, an air pirate in an alternate-history 1930s. Funky retro-futuristic plane designs abound, and all commerce is conducted with zeppelins.
GAMEPLAY:
The game has been simplified somewhat from its PC incarnation. No longer can you build planes to your custom specs, nor are there ammo types. However, the lack of custom construction means none of the cheese of the first (i.e. removing the 2-3 excess guns and maxing out armor) and the ammo types have been replaced with a variety of different types of secondary weapons varying by plane, including standard homing missiles, chainguns, shotguns, napalm rockets, and even a nifty Tesla cannon. Furthermore, the already arcade-like physics have been simplified even further. If realistic flight models fuel your boner, you may want to look elsewhere.
SINGLE PLAYER:
The campaign is a good bit shorter than it should have been. However, the story is pretty cool and conveys the flavor of the setting. Still, it should have lasted more than 9 hours. The main area this game improves on the single player of the previous is its inclusion of boss battles. These are mostly a bit of a challenge and require a few tries to complete. Additionally, the designs for bosses are quite cool. These include a tank on spider legs, a flame-spouting mechanical caterpillar, a zeppelin that immobilizes other zeppelins with tesla weaponry and then mulches them in a huge grinder, and the titanic final boss, a three-hulled zep with two of the mulchers and a weather machine spawning tornados from its underside. Overall, the single player is very fun but should have been longer.
MULTIPLAYER:
This game comes with a two-month free demo of Live. In short, this is the game that will finally convince me to purchase Live. Multiplayer includes straight and team DM, CTF (excellent and definitely different with planes), King of the Hill, and a mode similar to UT2003's Bombing Run. I haven't played it extensively, but it is great so far. I've tried every game mode, and so far CTF seems the most interesting since the different planes give it a class-based feel. Predictably, the online community has formed a consensus as to which planes pwn and which are gay, but they're too worked up about it. Balance seems to be pretty solid.
GRAPHICS AND SOUND:
Both are executed beautifully. The graphics are par for Xbox-only games, and the smoke and fire effects are downright pretty. The Sea Haven level has great water, particularly when flying into the sunrise. Furthermore, the frame-rate is solid throughout. Sound effects are competent, though unremarkable, but the music is well orchestrated and contributes to the swashbuckling atmosphere nicely.
STYLE:
This is the stand-out area of the game. Everything about it oozes pulp-hero superscience cool. Given that it features:
1. Tesla weaponry
2. Zeppelins
it scores automatic cool points. Music, voice acting, visual design, and story are all executed with attention to style.
PROS:
-fun single player
-fun multiplayer
-great voice acting
-stylish visual design
-good music
CONS:
-single player is too short
-Nathan Zachary's voice actor changes from the original
-lack of plane customization
CONCLUSION:
If you like arcade flight games with lots of style, this is a great game. If you like zeppelins, this is a great game. If you like well-proportioned men in leather flightsuits trading vaguely homosexual banter, this could be the wank material you've been looking for.
8.5/10 |
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The closest you'll get to an easy way to browse the deleted posts. by Creexul :( 03/13/2006, 6:02am PST 
So Jsoh and I both finished Sacrifice finally. by Creexul :( 03/13/2006, 6:51am PST
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Re: SSX3 (PS2) by Ivan Dork It 03/20/2006, 3:23am PST
It's an in-joke for that time period. by Fussbett 03/20/2006, 8:57am PST
no no no by Ivan Dork It 03/20/2006, 10:57pm PST
Re: no no no by Fussbett 03/20/2006, 11:14pm PST
Re: no no no by Ivan Dork It 03/21/2006, 3:40am PST
Solved by Fussbett 03/21/2006, 9:50am PST
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Where did you get your Vectrex flashcart? Review plz. NT by Fussbett 03/20/2006, 9:00am PST
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this really isn't a good review of this game :( by Weyoun Voidbringer 05/24/2009, 4:44pm PDT
ok I should do a real and honest review so the correct opinion is here by Weyoun Voidbringer 05/24/2009, 5:46pm PDT
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I enjoyed this clip too much to say anything funny about it. by Zsenitanuki 06/30/2009, 2:28pm PDT
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Re: Ratchet And Clank -- Going Commando NT by Quentin Beck 12/13/2007, 5:01am PST
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Along those lines by Mischief Maker 03/20/2006, 1:53pm PST
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That one didn't get deleted. But I approve of the effort. NT by Fussbett 03/20/2006, 10:09pm PST
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Front page this, please NT by Souffle of Pain 03/21/2006, 8:34pm PST
It's old though. NT by Fussbett 03/22/2006, 11:24am PST
I know it goes without saying, but Fussbett and INC make the best logs. by Jerry Whorebach 05/24/2009, 5:12pm PDT
jhoh NT by Weyoun Voidbringer 05/24/2009, 5:48pm PDT
I'm relieved Jhoh is publishing the book, because it sounds like a lot of work. NT by Fussbett 05/24/2009, 8:26pm PDT
Then when it comes out it's all switched with Mranduh logs. 8( NT by Creexuls, a monster >:3 05/25/2009, 1:41am PDT
JUNK II by Fussbett 03/21/2006, 6:10pm PST
Dvorak saying there were great 3D0 games is still as good now as it was then NT by Ice Cream Jonsey 05/24/2009, 5:18pm PDT
Junk by Fussbett 03/21/2006, 11:00pm PST
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