Mafias, dirty rallying and storms of bullets!

Well, hello there, readers! E3 has recently come and gone, and there are many cool announcements! SSX, Bioshock Infinite, Forza Motorsport 4, Halo 4, Gears of War 3, Far Cry 3, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Battlefield 3 etc. Looking forward to playing a lot of these titles over the next year!

I've also been playing a few games lately, such as LA Noire, which I'm still playing through, so a review for that in a later post.

Let's get cracking on some reviews!


Review

Played on: Xbox 360
Released: 2011

I’ll begin with Dirt 3. I got to begin by saying that I've always loved Codemasters racers. They may not always be the best at what they do, but they always give you an action-packed and "at-the-edge-of-your-seat" racing experience. Dirt 3 is no exception.

As usual, the driving in Dirt feels great and even more so with a racing wheel. You feel like a pro rally driver, as you try to cut around each bend at alarming speeds through woodlands and snow. New for Dirt 3, are varied weather conditions, night races, rain and snowy tracks. There's also a huge focus on the Gymkhana events, which have become very popular through rally driver Ken Block on YouTube. 

Personally, I’m mostly interested in the classic rally stages. Herein, lays my concern with Dirt 3.



You see, with Dirt 2 the game became Americanised to suit a wider audience. The focus on long rally tracks in Dirt 1 were ditched for more truck, buggy and rallycross events. Although the rallycross events in Dirt 2 were more spectacular than in Dirt 3’s more gritty look, the focus on classic rally was abandoned. There were only four rally stages, and I hoped for more in Dirt 3, but here we are with only four rally locations once again.

Dirt 3 has gone for a more realistic and gritty look, which really suits the rally stages, but not so much the rallycross, truck and buggy events. They've returned from the 3D interactive menus in Dirt 2, going in and out of your racing team camper van, to a more typical minimalist menu style in Dirt 3. However, they're trying to keep the feeling of you being in that team, but only with these really annoying voices you can’t skip in the background when navigating the menus. Why?!

At least Dirt 2 made you feel like you had a life in camper van, racing for a team and had pictures of real life competitors. You felt like you were part of something. Either go for stylish menus like Dirt 1, without the human element, or go full team style in Dirt 2. Don’t end up in a strange middle ground!



Technically, Dirt 3 is amazing, just like the previous Dirt titles. They're probably some of the best looking racers this generation. The nature in Dirt 3 looks spectacular and the lighting is great. The car handling is spot on and may not be the most realistic, but at least it's really fun to drive!

Overall, one of this years strongest racers, but I would like more classic rally next time.




Review

Played on: Xbox 360
Released: 2010

Next up, is Mafia 2. I bought this off the "Games on Demand" feature on my Xbox 360, at a very reasonable price. I didn't have much hype prior to playing it, as I have no previous experience with the series, but it turned out to be a very enjoyable playthrough!

Set at the end of WW2, your character, which is of Italian descent, is sent to fight in Sicily as a US soldier. This level introduces how the shooting mechanics work and the surprise, for me, is how well they worked! The gun feeling is heavy and cover mechanics are actually decent. The last weapon you get your hands on in this level, is the mighty German MG42, which gives a very entertaining shootout!



The story continues on to a snowy New York at Christmas, following our main character as he returns home from the end of the war. From here, you're introduced to an old friend, who again introduces you to a mafia. Your entry into the games main theme.

Mafia 2 takes you through the 40’s and takes a time jump to the 50’s to continue in a summer-filled New York too. This leap in time is a clever way to change the cars, style and music in the city. Giving the city a whole new life to it's atmosphere, halfway through.

Mafia 2 seems like a traditional free-roam city and crime title, much like the GTA titles, but actually only allows this in the driving parts. Mainly, you're following a story and doing various chapters with a preset motive. I appreciated this angle, because it gave the game a nice flow. The story is excellently presented through great voice acting and well made cutscenes. It’s like watching a typical mafia movie!



The chapters in the game are varied and with solid shooting mechanics for the action, it really is entertaining to play. There's nothing more fun than ending a chapter in a classic Tommy gun shootout, while shouting out Italian American remarks and taking down gang rivals!

The lifespan is about right, gameplay mechanics are solid, including the driving parts and the graphics look great for a free roaming city. I would maybe have liked the city to have more shops and such, to make it more believable. Possibly even more shoot outs, but without doubt, I really recommend this title if you like a mafia movie and enjoy the GTA games.





Review


Played on: Xbox 360
Released: 2011

My last review, this time, is Bulletstorm from Epic, the makers behind Gears of War. It's a first person shooter, but based around an innovative idea. Unlike other FPS releases, Bulletstorm is all about killing your enemies in spectacular ways. To help you do this, you have the ability to kick and pull your enemies around with a gravity whip.

The levels are designed so that they contain loads of spikes, sharp edges and explosive items to throw helpless enemies into. The more spectacular way you kill them, the more points you are awarded. Points can in turn be used to upgrade weapons.

My first experience of Bulletstom was a rather confusing demo and I was left kind of unimpressed. However, the main game eases you much better into the mechanics. The learning curve is well done and you're introduced to new elements at a pace that never feels like it’s loading to much new information on you.



At first, it plays like an ordinary shooter, then it introduces you to the physical elements like throwing and kicking enemies. Then, it adds the skill point system and from here you start getting creative with your kills to earn maximum points.

Bulletstorm's story is simple, over-the-top and constantly action filled, yet it works very well for it's setting. The dialogue is rough, crude and funny, so is the main character's attitude. It opens up for some hilarious comments and fits the crazy style of the gameplay.

The characters you meet along the way are colourful personalities too, with hilarious arguments between them, suit the them of the game well. You won’t be blown away by any major plot twists, but then again, a story like this doesn’t demand it.

Technically, Bulletstorm is spectacular. The graphics are some of the most amazing I’ve seen this generation for a shooter. Running on the newest Unreal technology, Unreal Engine 3.5! The environments have a large scale to them, with amazing lighting, and while actual playing field isn't so large, the backdrops make them look massive. The actual playing space is rather linear, but a fairly wide A to B path.

I love how the planet environment has some really spectacular design. Sporing a Mediterranean look, with a pink sky, yellow beaches, light blue water, palms and a modern design on buildings. I guarantee that you'll need to stop up more than once just to look at how beautiful it is!



Overall, I really enjoyed Bulletstorm in a lighthearted way. The story and dialogue is witty, looks incredible and the gameplay is very entertaining. Making you play the game in a very different way from ordinary FPS titles, with it's skill points system.

It hardly shakes the gaming world with it's innovations, could have lasted longer and actually made you appreciate the environment more, but it does what it says it will very well.



Until next time, have a nice summer!