About these reviews...
Ok, lets make sure this is understood. I rate fair, I rate off overall quality, and a few other things as you will see soon enough. Some reviews may seem bias, buy I will try to provide reasoning for why I don't like it. any problems with my reviews, deal with it.
Not all games will have complete reviews. There are a lot that i have played, and typing a full review for each can be tiring. So, some may just be a score or the most complex piece of writing you will reed all day.
Looking for a specific game? Press ctrl+f and search for the name of the game. Alternatively, to get to a specific letter, search for "*(letter)". IE: *F to go to the F section.
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*A
America's Army - americasarmy.com
Overall Score: 10
A free online FPS developed by the US Army. Very realistic. Once your dead, you have to wait for the next round, you can break your legs, and there are no player names hovering over heads that you can see anywhere in the game level. Games are not fast pace, they require slow planning and careful execution to ensure victory.
*B
*C
Combat Arms - combatarms.nexon.net
Overall Score: 8
*D
Descent(1994)
Overall Score: 10
This game is truly a unique game. Ok, there have been a few like it, but those never took off. But for all intents and purposes, this game is unique. This game is able to proudly boast the claim of the first full 3D game ever made, among other awards. What is this game about you as? Lets dive into that.
Story: The story is kind of corny, but then again, this game was made in 1994. Basically, the story involves some alien virus that infects mining robots, causing them to go out of control and start killing off the mining personnel. You are a contracted mercenary for the Post Terrain Mining Corporation(PTMC) and are tasked with going to each of the mines, purging them of any and all infected robots, blowing the core, and getting the hell out of there.
Controls: So, how does one traverse these subterranean mines and hunt these infested robots? In the most awesome ship ever created my anyone, EVER! The ship is called the Pyro GX. (As per image atop this page) The ship is controlled in an environment where there is no up or down. You are in an environment with six degrees of freedom, meaning you can fly up, down, left, right, straight, and backwards. Anywhere you want, be it within the bounds of the walls. Best controlled with a joystick, and a few pills to help with the motion sickness.
Gameplay: Each level is contained within subterranean mines, consisting of tunnels, secret passages, and lots of random things to blast to bits. you can shoot out the lights to make the level really dark and you can lay markers incase you get lost.
Likes:
- Freedom to fly where you want
- Awesome ship design
- Semi-destructible environments (Lights)
- Overall game play
Disklikes: Generally, this whole game follows the same pattern with each level. Find the keys, and destroy the reactor. It can be daunting sometimes, as the overall theme of the game does not change.
Other dislikes...
- A bit to repetitive
Last Remarks: You also need to keep in mind
something. Notice I did not mention graphics other then that it was the
first full 3D game. That is because this game was made in 1994, and made
to run on MS-DOS. Simply, its old. But the concept and "Umph" is all
still there.
Descent II(1995)
Overall Score: 10
This game was originally made as an expansion to the first Descent game. Released just 1 year after Descent, this game sports some new mechanics under the engine hood, some new and improved graphics, and a tad bit more to the original story.
Story: The general story is very much the same from the first Descent. Collect the keys, kill infected robots, and destroy the reactor. What happenes though, is at the end of Descent I, you are not allowed to come home for fear the virus is on your ship, so you are directed to an asteroid for refueling. This is where Descent II picks up. You arrive at the asteroid, and you are informed that your contract is not yet up. The infestation has spread to other star systems, and you are fitted with a warp core to get there and purge those mines as well. Pissed off and wanting your money, you head off to the first of seven systems.
Controls: Same as Descent, you are immersed in the six degreed of freedom yet again. Pills to deal with motion sickness advised once again.
Gameplay: Since this game was first planned as an expansion for Descent, it has the same game play style except it sports some new weapons, new robots, and all new levels.
Likes:
- Same as Descent
Dislikes:
- Same as Descent
Last Remarks: This is a great addition to the Descent series. Defiantly worth breaking out the old dusty joystick for this one.
Descent 3(1998)
Overall Score: 10
Once again, the alien virus is out infecting robots! You, the Material Defender, after escaping being pulled into a star after a failed warp jump, you are recruited to help bring down the PTMC. With your old Pyro GX now destroyed (*cry*) you are given a new ship, the Pyro GL, but instead of flying around subterranean mines like the first 2 games, you spend more time outside along planet surfaces.
Story: Much like the first 2 games, you have to deal with infected robots going crazy and destroying things. However, this game has a thicker story then before. You learn that the failed warp jump at the end of Descent II was actually caused by Dravis, the figurehead and "villain" who has been controlling what the Material Defender did and went. throughout Descent 3's levels, you are working to find a way to take down Dravis and the PTMC. There are no more reactors to destroy and escape, except on a few levels, and you get to fly a new cool ship... what could be better?
Controls: Same as Descent and Descent II, you are immersed in the six degreed of freedom yet again. Pills to deal with motion sickness advised once again.
Gameplay: The levels in this game are much more open. Allowing more freedom in the 6DoF world yet again set before you. This game features remakes of old weapons as well as a host of new weapons. My personal favorite being the Black Shark, which, upon impact, will begin sucking thing in then explode. The level objectives are more complex then the classic reactor run and escape from the first Descent 1 and 2, and the graphics, for its time, were outstanding. Making computers of the day cry tears of thermal paste. This game also features some nice outdoors environments, giving you the feel that your actually going somewhere.
Descent 3 also offered (more) an online game play feature. Hundreds oh thousands of players would play and compete, clans would form, and you could pit your 6D0F skills against other live players across the world.
Likes:
- Open environments
- New ships and weapons to play with
- Awesome graphics
- Multiplayer online compatibility
Dislikes:
- Crappy ending
- Took out some of my favorite weapons from Descent II
- No Pyro GX
Last Remarks: Despite being 10 years old and having the multiplayer servers shut down, this game still has a strong community who has set up their own servers for play. The style of this game is still unique, and very fun even if you only have a few minutes to play. That is assuming you don't get hooked and forget about having to go somewhere due to all the awesomeness.
*E
*F
Fallout 3 - fallout.bethsoft.com
Overall Score: 9
So, here we are, about 10 years after the fall of Interplay. Control of the Fallout IP has been sold to Bethesda, and they have come out with their first installment into the old name that is Fallout. So, where does this take us? Can this old name withstand the modern day pressures of the gaming community's demands? Lets dig into the game and see what makes it tick.
Story: Set in the year 2277, in the Washington DC region, you grow up in Vault 101, a nuclear fallout shelter. At the age of 19, you've grown up so much, and your father escapes from the vault. No mention of where he has gone and what he plans to do. You are then forced to leave the vault as well in search of your father, and at the same time, find out a bit about your past.
Controls: The controls of the game are set up just like any shooter, since the game is a FPSRPG. What's that? Some sort of clusterfuck? Fallout 3 is essentially an RPG with a lot of FPS elements. The overall setup of the game is designed like an FPS but your skills govern how well you actually perform tasks, such as hacking computers, picking locks, oh yeah, and aiming your gun. Fear not though, your combat skills still have a lot of uses, such as hiding behind rocks, etc.
The game also uses this system called V.A.T.S.. And what this is, is its a special mode you can go into, and based off your skills, you can target enemy body parts and with a but of luck, you will hit them, adding a bit of a tactical element to the game. Upon executing the actions on the targeted locations, you will get this special "kill cam" view and you can watch your character cinematically execute the actions in an often bloody way. More on that later.
Gameplay: So, as stated above, this game has a lot of RPG elements, FPS elements, and a bit of some tactical elements with the awe inspiring VATS system that lets you watch your character blow peoples body parts off in ways you wouldn't thing. Really. Blowing someone's legs off by shooting them in the head... classic.
So, the game world. Its huge. 16 square miles of almost entirely open wasteland, with a host of raiders, and deathclaws just waiting to sink their teeth into your flesh. And yes, that does include the raiders. The open world also has a host of locations to visit, including the Downtown DC region, however only really traversable by the subway tunnels, which on their own are filled by nasty ghouls wanting to eat your brains...
One disappointment is not being able to continue playing the game after beating the main quest, like you were able to in the Elder Scrolls games also made by Bethesda. Boohoo, oh well, enough sulking.
So really, what to say about this game's gameplay. The world is vast, there are 57 different weapons, some of which you can make from scrap you find out in the world, and some cool little skill boosting bobble heads scattered around the game. The gameplay is just fantastic, I hardly know how to express it. Go watch videos. Really, get moving.
Likes:
- Vast world
- Lots of guns
- Lots of locations to visit
- Really cool architecture
- Awesome 50s retro theme, even though its all destroyed
- Children
Dislikes:
- Game ends after main quest
- Some minor conflicts in the story that were missed
- No Construction Set (Yet... hopefully)
Last Remarks: Obviously this game is nothing like the originals, aside from the theme. But games must move on. Was the direction Bethesda drove the game for the better? Only time will tell.
*G
Guild Wars - guildwars.com
Overall Score: 8
*H
Hellgate London - hellgatelondon.com
Overall Score: 8
*I
*J
*K
*L
*M
Mass Effect
Overall Score: 9
this is a very nice, over-the-shoulder, third person shooter/RPG. Very well done graphics, and a great storyline that you get to decide some of the events. Set in the distant future, this game is about the struggle of the human race to gain acceptance among the galaxy's other races.
Story: You take the role of Commander Sheppard. Be you female or male, it makes little difference since you are never referred to by your first name. Only "he", "she", "commander", or "Sheppard". Anyhoo, from the start of the game, you get to select your class, and your background history. whatever you choose however, you are still the savior of man kind from a threat of total annihilation from an all powerful race of machines more then 50,000 years old. You are sent on various missions, slowly uncovering a plot to destroy the galaxy, or so you think. Slowly but surly, you help improve the standings of humans among the other super powers of the galaxy, and you aren't very subtle about it. Ill stop there because I don't want to spoil the whole story.
Controls: The game was first released for the XBox 360, and later released for the PC. however for this, I will refer to the PC version. The controls are a simple keyboard and mouse, and for the most part, is point and shoot. There are some other finer controls but I will get into that in the next section.
Gameplay: This is gunna be a long section...
The game has 2 ways to play. Either you can be nice and understanding, or a total asshole. Or in between if you want, but that is boring. Based off responses you pick in conversations, you gain points to either being a Paragon or a Renegade. They don't get you much, but if you focus on one, they can unlock some more powerful conversation responses in some conversations later in the game.
Next, there are 2 combat methods you can use. One being the berserker and just run in and shoot anything that shoots back, or you can play a more reserved tactical way using the tactical HUD where you can control your squad members (2 NPCs) in terms of what weapons they use, what skills to use, and where they should stand. Also, a fairly new feature in this game is the ability to take cover behind things. Adding to the feel when in intense combat situations* or just a general combat or even a role playing style.
Another interesting feature they have, is the (limited) ability to travel to other regions of space and explore some planets. While on them you might run into some bandit groups, uncover some ore which you can mark and make some money, or just random things who's purpose are unclear. While on the planets, you are given a vehicle to drive around with a gun atop it. Its called the Mako, a 6 wheeled light tank. you can get out of it, but you wont get far on foot.
This game has a nice RPG element in it. As you kill things and complete side quests, you will gain experience, and eventually levels, and you can put points into skills to help improve your effectiveness in combat. Depending on the mode you chose, you can even set the stats for your NPC squad members.
As it is, it is impossible to reach the max level (of about 60( in one play-through of the game. How Mass Effect compensates for this is by allowing you to replay the game with the character you completed the game with before. You get to keep all items, money and looks as before. Also, a benefit of playing through again, and again, the higher level you are the better items and upgrades you will find.
*There are few "intense" combat situations.
Likes:
- Graphics
- Over-the-Shoulder gameplay
- RPG elements
- Driving around in the Mako
- Diverse classes
- Squad members
- Control events within the story
Dislikes:
- NPC voices are very repetitive
- Your limited to where you can travel to based off where you are in the
story
- Not too many intense combat situations
Final Remarks: Overall a good game, but a bad ending. There is supposed to be a Mass Effect 2 which will play off the decisions you made within Mass Effect 1, so that should be interesting.
*N
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*R
RuneScape - Runescape.com
Overall Score: 7
Ok, so we have all played this game. And we all know what it can and can not do. Now before you flam me, let me defend its score, then I will rip it apart.
Likes: The game concept is great. Having many different skills to be able to work on is a big plus for time killers. It always gives you something to do. There are a lot of quests to do, some with entertaining stories, and the game world is rather vast.
- Game concept: Its a really great design, and I love all games that
have the same concept, but this game just has it a little more developed
then any other, though the graphics are lacking, and yes, even the "HD"
graphics.
- Lots of skills: There is always something to do,
- Cool looking armor: Considering graphics, they are still cool in
design.
- Lots of quests
- Lots to do
Dislikes: This is going to require a list...
- Community: The community is filled with little kids. If they are not
begging, they are complaining, if not that, then they are bragging, and
if not that, they are poorly trying to bully.
- Developers:
1. They do not listen to player suggestions. The "polls" they
have are bias towards what they want to eventually do, they are just
having the players pick the order they do them in.
2. Their support is a disgrace to all man kind. They give you
a 255 character text box to explain your problem. They say "send another
if one isn't enough", yeah but what about the 50 people that sent one in
between my first and second?
*S
Spore - spore.com
Overall Score: 8
*T
*U
*V
*W
World of Warcraft - worldofwarcraft.com
Overall Score: 8