DMC: Devil May Cry Review

Well this is it. The review to end the Devil May Cry retrospective. Well I've been waiting to do this review for a long time, so let's get straight to it.

Capcom, during the period of time where their ego had grown to Duke Nukem levels, apparently decided that instead of expanding on their critically and financially successful action series, they would instead outsource Devil May Cry to the acclaimed Ninja Theory in order to reboot the franchise and appeal to a wider gaming audience. Or in simpler terms, Capcom was greedy, wanted to cater more to the casual market, and so they dumbed down their product in order to garner mass appeal. And that is what I want to emphasize here, I could care less about something as frivolous as Dante's hair color or the idea of the story being redone.



So first things first. Let's talk about the gameplay, the action segments and platforming segments. On a superficial front, the game is not that much different from the original Devil May Cry games and indeed it can be fun... if its your first hack and slash game and you've never played a Devil May Cry game before. There are about eight weapons, five melee weapons and three guns which seems like a fairly impressive arsenal at first glance until you start playing the game and see just how broken some of the weapons are. Guns are useless, Ebony and Ivory are easily at their weakest in this game and you could say guns are used to extend combos to reach SSS rank but we will get to that in a moment. There are two types of weapons ala Ninja Theory tradition, Angel and Demon weapons. Angel weapons are extremely fast but do very little amounts of damage, whereas Demon weapons are extremely slow and sluggish but inflict tremendous amounts of damage. And this is where the problems come in. Angel weapons for one, are next to useless since the style meter, Devil May Cry's trademark, increases based on damage dealt, not on pulling off combo after combo, meaning that if you want to increase the style meter then you're going to use Demon weapons like Arbiter [the axe] with Rebellion. This won't only increase your style meter to S and even SSS rankings, but unless you're up against certain enemies then you will never have any trouble dealing with enemies or even bosses. Indeed the only time I used Angel weapons was when I was forced to use them against enemies that were only vulnerable to angel weapons. That is the second worst problem with this game in regards to combat. The entire Devil May Cry series, even from the first game seemed to be built on the premise that you were allowed to create any fighting style you wanted and it was up to you and your skill as a player to determine how effective your approach to combat was. In Devil May Cry 3 and 4 this became even more apparent as you were given numerous weapons each one having different strategies, each one being equally effective that again, allowed you to create your own fighting style. But in DMC? You are arbitrarily restricted against certain enemies by being forced to fight certain enemies with certain weapons, and it doesn't matter if you dont want to use said weapon, you HAVE to use it. And its not even a matter of your weapon not being very effective against certain enemies, a red weapon does absolutely NOTHING to a blue enemy. In a game that is supposed to let you experience the thrill of combat and give you equally effective methods in combat, restrictions like this only serve to leave a bad taste in your mouth as even games like God of War don't have these kinds of restrictions. But the worst thing about this game is the lack of a lock on system. In a game with multiple enemy types, with some enemies being airborne, you NEED  lock on system to help you manage the battle and deal with certain enemies first. An auto targeting system doesn't work since most of the time you'll end up attacking an enemy you didn't mean to target and you lose any momentum you built up during combat.

 

The second half of gameplay consists of platforming. Now Devil May Cry fans are well aware of the fact that platforming and Devil May Cry go about as well as ice cream on steak. So is the platforming any better in this game? Well, no it doesn't really work at all. While standard jumping does work better than other Devil May Cry games, the new grapple mechanics and Angel Glide abilities can be unresponsive at times. In addition, platforming just takes away from the game's main focus which should have been on combat and this is a malady every Devil May Cry game has suffered from and indeed something a lot of hack and slash games suffer from. Two radically different types of game play shouldn't exist in the same game period.



Before I move on to the other aspects of this game I feel the need to address the ranking system in this game. At the end of every mission you receive a score based on how well you did in said game. Your style meter, time it took to complete, damage taken etc. I'm by no means the best Devil May Cry player in the world, but in most of the games I've managed to beat them all on every difficulty with perfect scores. In this game while barely trying on Normal difficult, dying, taking damage and using items, while only using Arbiter/Rebellion combos to deal with enemies, I was able to get S on every single mission. In short, the game is too easy and gives out rewards too easily.


I've heard it said by many critics that the story in DMC is far superior to every other game in the series due to its more serious tone and underlying political messages about brainwashing, consumerism, and anarchy. I would also say that this statement is correct if you also take every fifth grade perspective on anarchy seriously. This story is still full of trademark stupid moments from the Devil May Cry series, but the difference is that this game takes every single moment of itself deathly serious whereas Devil May Cry was well aware of its own silliness and was able to have fun while at the same time possessing some serious moments here and there. Dante's character is one that is impossible to relate to and even harder to like since he acts like a foul mouthed teeny bopper who only exists to spout cuss words, have lots of sex with women he doesn't know, and act like an asshole to everyone around him including his own brother. He does go through some character development but it doesn't feel natural given his background and his attitude at the start of the game. It seems forced. It almost makes me wish for the silent, angry looking Dante that was shown in the first trailer for this game since he actually seemed like an original spin on Dante's character and not just a pale imitation based on what Ninja Theory themselves seemed to think was cool.



Before I end this review I would like to say this last thing. I have never seen such a shameful display on the parts of both the gaming community, and the developer over a single game in my entire life. The fan's outcry over the thought of a remake, while somewhat justified did not warrant the numerous death threats, overly negative comments filled to the brim with profanity and vile disgusting terms. Likewise, Ninja Theory's reaction and retort to the fanbase was completely unprofessional and childish. Biting at the hand of the fanbase [white wig joke and numerous in game jokes basically making fun of the Devil May Cry fanbase] were completely immature. I don't condone the actions of the fanbase and neither do the other sane members. But if you're going to attack all of us when you're trying to sell this game to us? Screw off and good job reacting like teenagers who got their feelings hurt.

So all in all, I have this to say. I don't like this game. Every single thing about it either falls short, or doesn't work period. Whether its the broken game play, atrocious pretentious story, overdone dull level design, or terrible soundtrack, this game fails as both a hack and slash game, and especially as a Devil May Cry. As a result, this game earns my first ever, 1/5.

1/5.



I'm out.

Child of Light Review

I had no idea what to expect from this game when I downloaded it and I didn't plan on reviewing it when I started, but I had such a great time with it that I want to help get attention to this hidden gem of a game. It is my hope after reading this review, you are encouraged to try this game out especially if you are a fan of turn based RPGs since this game does make innovations to the standard turn based formula.

It should be noted first and foremost that where this game excels is its art design and atmosphere. The game's artwork is reminiscent of a classic story book with environments that seem to have been painted and enemies and character models that look like they were made from paper or cardboard. The main character Aurora is especially striking due to her realistically flowing red hair and bright color which can be quite the contrast to the sometimes dark and dreary environments.The sound design is excellent as well and even though the soundtrack itself is relatively limited to only five actual songs [one for background noise, one for standard battle, one for boss battle, one for special boss battles, and one for the final boss] each piece is striking and instantly memorable. Battle effects sound great and very visceral, adding a bit of satisfaction when you get an attack to hit the enemy, and the attack animations are very smooth and have striking visual effects adding yet another layer of satisfaction.

  

Gameplay is divided into two sections, exploration in a 2D semi open world and turn based battles with enemies encountered on the 2D plane. Battle sections are composed of turn based combat where the enemy and the player take turns, but Child of Light puts a new spin on this feature by showing the player a bar that shows who will go in what order during the battle. Whoever reaches the end of the bar from left to right will use their attack and the player is able to stall the enemy by attacking them right before they attack. In addition you can use one of your companions Igniculus is a small firefly who can blind enemies with his light and slow them down, letting you get in more attacks and stalling them. This adds a new layer of strategy to turn based combat in allowing the player to potentially control the flow of the entire battle in their favor, getting off five attacks in a row or buffing your party before a boss can make a move. In addition you can recruit several companions along your journey to form a party of characters, each one possessing their own unique abilities. You can only have one companion aid you at a time with the option of switching party members in and out depending on the situation. Exploration is basically just flying around the landscape, exploring fantastic environments and looking for treasure. 

The only thing where Child of Light flounders a bit is its story and choice of using rhyming as the dialogue. I'll cut right to the chase and say that you'll know all the twists a few moments after the story kicks off. The rhyming can become annoying at times but it possesses its own charm and fits well giving the story book like feel and theme. And while the story is predictable it does have its touching moments and the first big twist in the story was able to make me feel sad for Aurora and her friends. 

With everything I've covered I have to say, this is one game I was taken aback by. I barely knew anything about it, I only learned about it a week before I got it, but when I was finished I was genuinely impressed by this hidden gem of a game. Its definitely a game that every RPG fan should check out, and though it doesn't have much replay value and its a bit on the short side [only about ten to twelve hours long] everything it does, it does well and it puts a new spin on things. And since its only 15 dollars, you will definitely get your money's worth. So with all that being said, Child of Light gets a score of 3/4. Its available on every console and on the PC, and at such a low price you really don't have an excuse not to check it out if you like RPGs and especially turn based ones. Check it out, and give this great game a look whenever you get the chance. 

3/4

The Last of Us Review

The Last of Us..... I have been promising for a while to review this game. Developed by Naughty Dog and considered by many critics to be the best game of 2013, one of the greatest stories told in a video game, and one of the greatest video games released in years. So, what do I think?  Well, before we get this review started let me say one thing. Naughty Dog REALLY likes the Walking Dead.

As far as stories go, the Last of Us has a very emotionally gripping story. Getting to see the start of the infected outbreak through the eyes of the main protagonist Joel and his daughter, and the circumstances that follow is enough to make you feel emotionally connected to the world the Last of Us takes place in. Seeing how humanity would survive in such a bleak future while not particularly original does its job well and you will remember every location and character you come across. Its just a shame that for as well developed as Joel and Ellie are, if you are a Walking Dead fan, nothing will really stand out to you since you've seen everything the Last of Us has to offer already. The only part of the story that truly stands out is the last half hour of game play where you learn something about Ellie and the Fireflies that truly makes your adrenaline start pumping as you will mercilessly slaughter and rush through every obstacle in order to save her. Story wise that is where the plot truly shines, the relationship between Joel and Ellie. How their relationship begins as merely Joel escorting Ellie to her destination, but gradually evolves into that of a father/daughter style relationship where Joel will do anything to keep Ellie safe. But like I said, the character development of Ellie and Joel is really the only original and emotionally compelling moments of the game.




Gameplay.....is where The Last of Us flounders. Now, the game play is not bad by any stretch of the imagination. Its just formulaic and doesn't have much depth. Gameplay consists of three basic types. Stealth, shooting, and block puzzles. In that order, or in variations of that order. Stealth like most modern stealth titles is completely binary with you either being undetected, or every single enemy knowing exactly where you are [in the game's defense, the enemy that detects you does alert every other enemy in the area by shouting so it works here.] You can determine enemy layouts by listening for footsteps [ its just x-ray vision though] and you avoid enemy detection by hiding behind waist high cover or staying out of sight. Relatively shallow stealth, but it is functional and danger is constant so it does convey a sense of tension. The real issue with the stealth in this game is the fact that there are ares where you have no choice but to silently kill every enemy since actions like opening sealed doors, or turning on generators instantly alerts every enemy nearby. Shooting mechanics are average, and there are upgrades you can equip to your weapons as well as better abilities you can equip, but shooting itself is again pretty standard, nothing special. And the block puzzles.... every so often you'll enter an empty area where you have to move an object, usually a dumpster to a specific spot in order to progress to the next area. Its kind of boring, just pushing things into place. As I said previously, there are upgrades, multiple weapons, and abilities you can purchase but nothing really stands out game play wise. Nothing is unique and just about everything in this game has been done tons of time, and in some cases better.



So..... Story wise the Last of Us is a very good character story, with Joel and Ellie being worthy of a place in gaming history and arguably the best characters Naughty Dog has ever made. Gameplay wise though, while none of its mechanics are bad, nothing really stands out either. Its definitely a game you should play at least once, but after that I don't see much reason to replay it either. So from me at least, the game earns a 2/4. Play it for the story.



Why is this pic here? I am Bart, and the fanbase is Homer. That and I think its pretty funny.

2/4

Red Vulture out.

Dishonored Review

 

Dishonored. A game that received nothing but praise when it first hit stores in 2012. A brand new IP that seems to want to be a spiritual successor to the legendary THIEF series. So how is this game as a stealth game? How does it measure up as a spiritual successor? Well....if you like this game you may not like what I have to say.

 

 

First and foremost, is Dishonored a good stealth game? No. It is not. Every good stealth game relies on its player feedback system. The ability for the player to know the layout of enemies in a level, understand their patterns and adapt accordingly. Ex. Metal Gear Solid has a radar, Splinter Cell has infrared, THIEF has audio [you can hear enemies footsteps.]. Dishonored has no such system. The audio engine isn't powerful enough to let you hear your enemies footsteps, and the only way of reliably knowing your enemies location is one of two choices. A.) Being in a large open area and looking down on your enemies, or B.) Using the Dark Vision ability which is essentially x-ray vision, allowing you to see through walls, the level of noise your actions do [ironically enough you can't hear these noises]. The Dark Vision upgrade is the only actual way to know the layout of enemies though, but its so over-powered that with it, there is no reason you should ever be detected. Without the x-ray vision you'll never know where enemies are and since there is no alternative to detecting enemies, you'll get caught. A lot. Also, stealth is completely binary in this game. Either enemies have no idea you exist, or every single guard in the level knows where you are. And the way enemies detect you isn't very well done either. Light and dark have no impact on stealth whatsoever, there is no point in snuffing out candles since enemies can see you just as well as in dark as in light.

 

Gameplay wise, not counting stealth there are some fun aspects to it but those fun aspects come from utilizing the supernatural abilities you have in the game like teleporting, summoning ravenous hordes of rats, and launching tornadoes from your hands. There are two play styles for this game that results in different endings, playing non lethal, and playing lethal. Non lethal involves knocking people out, trying not to be detected whatsoever, and instead of killing your targets performing more creative ways of dispatching them. But the thing is, the lethal play through is much more fun since you have many fun methods of dispatching enemies. What sounds more fun to you? Teleporting behind cover more convenient than the waist high walls of debris in Gears of War to evade enemies, moving through large hollow areas to get to your target, or sneaking through an enemy, killing enemies, when detected summoning rats to devour those who saw you, and when the odds are overbearing possessing one of the summoned rats to escape the scene? I pick the second one.

 

Aside from gameplay though..... Dishonored for me holds the dubious distinction of having the most yawn inducing lore and story I've seen in a video game. There was not a single point where I was interested in what was going on in the story aside from two stand out locations in the entire game. And this is not helped by the fact that Dishonored's art style and graphics are downright ugly to look at. I'm not one to rate graphics in a game unless they're either extremely good or ugly as sin, so believe me when I say that Dishonored has the worst PS3-Xbox 360 era graphics you could ever see....even on a high end PC. In addition the brown grey blue, gloomy color scheme only adds to the feeling of boredom, again aside from two standout locations.

 

Overall, Dishonored to me seems like a game that deserves some praise as it can be fun at times, but that's when its more like an RPG action hybrid with some stealth elements rather than a fullblown stealth game. But aside from its fun gameplay, its story and lore is completely forgettable. A solid 2/4, a good rental and a good buy since its gone down in price, but if you're looking for a memorable stealth experience, look elsewhere.

 

2/4

 

 

Red Vulture Out

 

 

 

South Park The Stick of Truth Review

 

The Stick of Truth was a hard game to review. On the one hand, its a relatively shallow turn based RPG akin to Paper Mario with timed hits, on the other hand its probably the best television licensed game ever made, and the best South Park game to date.

 

Like in most RPGs, you start off by creating a character with a creation system that doesn't really have many options, and are then thrown into the world of South Park as the new kid. Making friends with the boys, you join them in a massive LARP session where the boys are split into two factions, the humans and the elves fighting over the Stick of Truth. While I said the character creation system is somewhat shallow, there are more customization items later on in the game like dyes to make your equipment whatever color you want, as well as make up and facial hair. Its just a shame that your character never talks [aside from the closing scene at the end of the game] and that you cant pick between a boy or a girl.

 

Gameplay wise, the game is very much like Paper Mario. Its turn based combat where you have to press a specific button or mash a button at a certain time to inflict bonus or massive damage against a enemy. There are status ailments like burn, gross out [poison basically] slow, and bleeding, but these ailments are a bit broken in that I never encountered a boss that was immune to these effects, meaning I could just inflict gross out and bleed [which are very easy to inflict if you're a warrior, which I was] and the fight would be pretty much over. That being said, combat is fun since you're always involved in it, trying to get damage bonuses and performing certain attacks [Roshambo]. In addition you can have a buddy fight with you, like Cartman, Butters [my personal favorite] Stan, and even Jimmy. They each have their own unique attacks and special abilities, Butters can heal you, Stan can debuff enemies, and Cartman can gross out enemies. Classes consist of warrior, mage, thief, and Jew. And it is just as offensive, yet oddly entertaining as it sounds. Aside from combat, gameplay also consists of exploring the town of South Park [a very well done recreation I might add], finding collectibles like Chinpokemon, exploring the houses of the characters [Cartman's mom's room.....ugh]. While the open world aspect is rather small when compared to other open world RPGs like the Elder Scrolls though, it works because the town of South Park is small in the show. Everything important from the show is in the game. Even some places that I would rather not have visited. [Anyone else remember Lemiwinks? And where he went? Its a level. Just absorb that for a moment. ]

 

But what about the most important thing aspect of South Park? The humor? Is that in the game? Is it authentic South Park humor? Well allow me to answer this question with another question, does Cartman hate hippies? This game is like playing an interactive episode of South Park, every single thing is geared towards making it feel like the TV show as much as possible and on that note, it succeeds easily. If you are a South Park fan, you will be laughing out loud the entire time you play this game and especially when you see all the hidden easter eggs and references to specific episodes [Let's Fighting Love] And on that note I must mention, this is the most shocking and disgusting game I've ever played. And while I may have outgrown South Park and found myself yelling "what the fuck" most of the time while playing [especially during one quick time event involving your character's parents] I did find myself laughing or at the very least chuckling during certain moments [The Al Gore fight specifically.]

 

Also, I must say this, THIS IS THE MOST COMPLETE OBSIDIAN GAME EVER MADE. I encountered no game bugs, no crashes, and no incomplete quests or dialogue between characters. Although the game is on the short side, it only took me 12 or 15 hours and I did everything in the game.

 

Overall this game is difficult for me to judge. On the one hand, its a very shallow RPG with somewhat entertaining content but no real reason to play more than once, on the other hand its every South Park fan's dream come true, and something that every South Park needs to play at least once. With that said, I will give this game two scores. As a game meant for South Park fans, it earns a perfect 4/4. As a game for people who like RPGs but don't like South Park, its a 2/4.

 

South Park game: 4/4

 

RPG for non South Park fans: 2/4

 

 

So screw you guys, I'm going home. Red Vulture out.