The game graphics often distract from the fantastic physics that this game was built upon. Being able to interact with any object in the game in a natural manner adds a depth to the game that might otherwise be absent. The storyline of the game has a few moments where you feel that you might have picked up the wrong game because you know you’ve played through this portion of the story line before at least twice. In a curious twist, I do believe that they made the correct decision to use tried and tested storylines to hang their outstanding graphics on. The storyline is polished enough to flow smoothly and easily, allowing you to focus your brain power to keep up with all the amazing graphics around you. 

Ribbit?

A direct quote about the game play from a fellow gamer was, “Fast, furious and awesome.” While I might think it’s a slight exaggeration, it isn’t too far from the truth. There are many advantages that are handed to you with the nanosuit you enter the game in, which interestingly enough is standard throughout the game rather than allowing you to upgrade over the course of the game. This forces you to become more tactical when making use of the suit in later stages. Using the suit in different ways will allow you to pull off maneuvers that would otherwise be impossible. You can really see the difference between using different aspects of the suits and what you would otherwise be able to accomplish. Using the strength augmentation allows you to punch far harder and throw items (and incidentally people too) far further than you would otherwise be able to do. This obvious difference does change how you approach some enemies and objects, since the suits effects have a very finite life span. This prevents you from being able to rely solely on the suit to get you through the game.  

Since there are two distinctively different multiplayer options available to you I think the replay value of the game is high. There is the standard multiplayer has a very similar feel to Counterstrike games, which actually favors those gamers who use good tactics rather than only those gamers with the best guns. Although, if someone gets hold of a VTOL, then unfortunately all of your tactics are likely to go down the toilet in pretty short order. In addition to the straight player vs player deathmatch, there is a multiplayer option that is called Power Struggle. This allows you to form groups up to 32 gamers in total and allows you to play group vs. group and takes the form of a Capture the Base game rather than a straight PvP. The maps are large enough to accommodate teams 16 large without feeling cramped. These two options in addition to the large amount of freedom you find within the game means you’re likely to be enjoying this game until well past Christmas.  

Didn’t see that one comin’ ... did ya?

Overall this game was an interesting problem for me. At first I didn’t really want to like it because it seemed to be far too over hyped and too fixated on how good it looked. It was like looking at the game version of Paris Hilton, good looking, but too self involved to give anyone else enjoyment. Thankfully as I played it I discovered that it was more of an Elle Macpherson, beautiful, but with the substance underneath it that will see it become a perennial favorite. Although I believe that it will become more of a favorite once machines that can run it as it should be run are more accessible to the average gamer.  

Chaos, anarchy, disorder… My work here is done.