metareview

Metareview: James Cameron’s Avatar

December 2nd, 2009 at 06:00pm Under Xbox 360

Here’s a dreary, uncomfortably true comment about the state of movie-licensed games: When we saw the average that James Cameron’s Avatar currently sports on Metacritic, our first thought was, “Wow, a 65, not bad!” Here’s how it was sized up by a few outlets:

VideoGamer (70/100): “James Cameron’s Avatar: The Game is easily one of the best movie licensed games I’ve ever played, but at the same time it’s not good enough to stand alone as a must-own title. While the presentation is great and the combat generally enjoyable, the missions leave a lot to be desired – and there’s little of the sense of wonder that the movie promises.”
IGN (68/100): “There’s nothing disastrous here, and the RDA shooter side of things performs well enough to be occasionally enjoyable. The quest design, including both the main and side tasks, is about as generic as they come. Go here, collect this, plant these bombs, or kill this and then return to me.”
Game Informer (65/100): “These shortcomings are a shame considering the game’s interesting gameplay twists. Avatar features a solid RPG element that unlocks new armor and upgraded weapons at a steady pace. Players also unlock new skills (i.e. buffs) that help spice up combat a little, but can’t overcome the gameplay imbalances.”
GameSpot (55/100): “It’s not a bad game, and portions of it are competent, if not quite remarkable. But Avatar wears thin quickly, and the story is too fragile to compensate for the deficiencies.

Metareview: James Cameron’s Avatar originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tags: avatar, james-camerons-avatar, metareview, movies

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Metareview: Left 4 Dead 2

November 20th, 2009 at 04:00pm Under Xbox 360

Considering the devilishly heightened difficulty of Left 4 Dead 2, we’re surprised enough outlets managed to complete a single campaign in time to submit a review for the title. We have to imagine GameSharks were somehow involved. Regardless, here’s what other sites are saying about Valve’s follow-up to last year’s Zombocalypse survival sim.

Eurogamer (9/10): “Whereas once we treated Left 4 Dead as a stopgap between Half-Lifes, this is no longer a weird little side project with modest expectations, and Valve is confident enough to play around with it, safe in the knowledge that you can trust your players. Left 4 Dead proved it. And whereas that game had a personality, this one is overflowing with it.”
IGN (9/10): “It remains one of the most distinctive co-operative titles out there, and allows for some of the most nerve-searing team-based multiplayer gaming on the market.”
GameTrailers (8.7/10): “Though not an astounding improvement over the original, Left 4 Dead 2 successfully rekindles that magical zombie-hunting feeling with great new content, and a cool competitive multiplayer mode to boot.”
Giant Bomb (4/5 Stars): “The core of Left 4 Dead may have lost some of its newness in the last 12 months, but the wealth of additions in this sequel ought to keep you blasting zombies and munching on brains for a good long while.”

Metareview: Left 4 Dead 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tags: left-4-dead-2, metareview, valve

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Metareview: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare – Reflex

November 12th, 2009 at 08:00pm Under Wii / Nintendo

When the original Call of Duty: Modern Warfare was announced for the Wii, we kinda had to do a double-take on the whole thing. Would one of the current generation’s most popular games be done justice on the Wii? Well, according to what few reviews have made their way online, yes … and no!

Nintendo Dpad (85/100): “Overall, the game is just what you would expect from an HD game like Call of Duty 4 being ported to Wii. Everything is there, from the great multiplayer and single player modes, to Wii specific controls that really trump those found on other consoles. The only real bad part is that the graphics needed a major step down for the port, and we would have liked WiiSpeak support for those who prefer that, though it is not necessary.”
ONM UK (80/100): “Given the extra two years Treyarch had to squeeze every last drop of polish from the Wii, this is underwhelming visually. It looks okay for a Wii game – that’s the dreaded caveat – but it’s not even up there with Metroid Prime: Corruption. Having said that, Modern Warfare is still an excellent shooter packed with options and it should be a big player online so we can welcome it to the Wii family.”
IGN (70/100): “Unfortunately, Reflex Edition on Wii just doesn’t cut it as a Call of Duty branded game or as a top-tier Wii first-person shooter. The framerate is jumpy, the pointer tracking needs some serious polish, and while most of the elements of COD4 are included, none of them are given enough fine-tuning to truly excel.”

Metareview: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare – Reflex originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tags: call-of-duty, call-of-duty-modern-warfare, Call-of-Duty-Modern-Warfare-Reflex, infinity-ward, metareview, modern-warfare, modern-warfare-reflex, Wii / Nintendo

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Metareview: The Ballad of Gay Tony

October 28th, 2009 at 11:50pm Under Xbox 360

The second and final “Episode from Liberty City,” The Ballad of Gay Tony, has arrived. As the tale of Liberty City comes to a close, does The Ballad of Gay Tony present an exciting final act or an anti-climactic letdown? We’ll let the critics at large weigh in on this one:

Game Informer (93/100): “While I preferred the tight-knit story of brotherhood and betrayal in The Lost and Damned, The Ballad of Gay Tony delivers more explosive weapons, death-defying missions, and off-the-wall characters. Don’t miss your chance to close out the GTA IV experience in style.”
IGN (92/100): “The Ballad of Gay Tony is the perfect way to close out the GTA IV saga. Finally, we know what happened to the diamonds stolen in the main story a year-and-a-half ago. Though Luis Lopez doesn’t have much of a story at all (this is the ballad of his boss, after all), the supporting cast is phenomenal. There are a lot of hilarious moments and ludicrous missions that will please GTA fans. Sure, a few of the missions fall flat compared to the wild nature of others, but all-in-all this is a fine package and worth 20 bucks. “
1UP (A-): “This has been one hell of a ride. I’m going to miss seeing something new in Liberty City, as I’ve probably been to every available nook and cranny. I suppose I could still go hunting for those damn pigeons, but with so many other games coming out in the coming months, I don’t know where I’ll find the time… at least until Rockstar gives me a ticket to their next world of crime, violence, and vice.”
Eurogamer (80/100): “Perhaps Tony Prince does nothing to drag the series forward — somewhat fittingly for a man with his head stuck in the eighties — but the episode Rockstar has named in his honour is a colourful and pleasingly unpredictable adventure that gets better throughout and ends on a high.”

Metareview: The Ballad of Gay Tony originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tags: episodes-from-liberty-city, gta-iv, metareview, rockstar, the-ballad-of-gay-tony

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Metareview: Borderlands

October 20th, 2009 at 10:00pm Under Xbox 360

Initial reviews of Gearbox’s Borderlands (out this week) have been fairly positive. There’s some crosstalk about how to define Borderlands’ genre, but it might be most simply described as a Diablo-esque shooter. While you can take the game on alone, the online and couch co-op modes seem to be universally praised for their ability to melt away the bland elements of Borderlands. It’s much better with friends, apparently.

Game Informer (93/100): “Borderlands attempts many things, which in this medium can often end with a laundry list of features but no fully-developed ones. This is one of the rare occasions where all of the new experiences a game brings to the table work out splendidly, especially when viewed as an entire package. Co-op is a blast, the variety of weaponry lends an addictive quality to the game that’s rarely seen, and it maintains a distinct sense of humor and personality.”
IGN (88/100): “Gearbox’s Borderlands is without a doubt a slick, satisfying hybrid title for those who know what to expect. If you’re a shooter fan curious what the world of Pandora is all about, then you should know that this is a product built on a foundation of statistical progression, character customization, and one that holds item acquisition high above interesting quest structure and narrative. At the same time, it plays like a shooter, requiring twitch skills to dominate the droves of enemies that stand in between you and your search for a mysterious vault.”
GameTrailers (84/100): “Borderlands is a bit of a grind-fest, but that’s part of the fun, as you take on tougher enemies and hunt for bigger and badder gear. The co-op play is integrated seamlessly, and there’s a huge world to explore with friends or on your own.”
Giant Bomb (4/5): “The structure of Borderlands makes it feel like an MMO game that doesn’t require you to rely on groups of other players to enjoy. Though it’s probably better when you’re playing online with friends, playing alone is still perfectly fine. It’s also one of those games that’s so strong in parts that its shortcomings become almost glaring by comparison. As such, the game’s barebones story, lackluster AI, and insufficient player trading options are real disappointments that prevent the game from reaching its full potential.”

Metareview: Borderlands originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tags: 2k-games, borderlands, gearbox, metareview, metareviews

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Metareview: Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2

September 16th, 2009 at 11:00pm Under Xbox 360

While Marvel’s Ultimate Alliance of heroes doesn’t appear to BIFF POW much new ground in Activision’s new sequel, reviews describe the game as a solid effort that’s likely to appeal to fans of the original outing. Even better, it features the return of any comic book lover’s greatest nemesis: the Marvel trivia minigame.

GameDaily (80/100): “Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 may seem like more of the same, dig a little deeper and you’ll reap its rewards. A great storyline, satisfying beat-em-up action, nifty Fusion attacks and a cornucopia of familiar and new characters make this a very friendly Alliance.”
IGN (77/100): “I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that the trivia game and mission simulator are back and welcome distractions, but they’re presented in the same way as the original game. It eventually gets to the point where you have to scratch your head and wonder why this game took three years to produce when it’s so similar to the last one.”
Gamespot (75/100): “Not only will the campaign last you around 15 hours or so, but the branching story gives you a good reason to return. … While Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 may not take the series in a big and bold new direction, or benefit from the kind of refinement you would look for in a sequel, it does deliver the button-mashing, power-flinging, over-the-top action fans of the original would expect. And it’s just good fun, even if you don’t know Iron Man from Iron Fist.”
1UP (B-): “It’s still satisfying to have some buddies hop into a game and take out robots together. And I still smile when I answer a bunch of dorky Marvel Universe trivia questions in a row. I just hope that for the next Marvel Ultimate Alliance (or whatever they call it, maybe Ultimate Marvel Amalgamation or something), either Raven returns as the developer, or Vicarious Visions learns from its missteps and crafts a better game.”

Metareview: Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 16 Sep 2009 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tags: activision, marvel, marvel-ultimate-alliance-2, metareview, metareviews

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Metareview: Batman: Arkham Asylum (PS3, 360, PC)

August 24th, 2009 at 09:00pm Under Xbox 360

We had hoped that, at this point, this kind of glowing criticism would be enough to make your buying decisions for you. But, sadly, it seems you still want to hear what others have to say about Batman: Arkham Asylum. Very well. Though it pains us, we oblige:

Game Informer (95/100): “Batman: Arkham Asylum is this year’s BioShock, not just from the connection established with the world, but from its ability to innovate where new ideas are needed, and moreover, deliver an adventure unlike any other.
Strategy Informer (95/100): “A full repertoire of moves makes playing as Batman an experience that’s not only uniquely satisfying, but also incredibly empowering – exactly as it should be. The Dark Knight is a superhero, and in Arkham Asylum, he actually feels like one, stalking enemies with a predatory prowess befitting of the iconic character.”
Play.tm (94/100): “So, is Arkham Asylum finally the game that Batman deserves then? Yes. Yes it is. And a whole lot more besides. … It is to games what Batman Begins and The Dark Knight are to movies – Batman: Arkham Asylum is without doubt the most definitive videogame realisation of the character yet. It’s also unreservedly brilliant to boot.”
Eurogamer (90/100): “Most of the gameplay concerns are minor when taken in the context of how much Arkham Asylum gets so gloriously right. Rarely does a game do a character justice in such a satisfying way. Arkham Asylum finds room for every major aspect of Batman’s enduring appeal, and it does so in a game compelling enough to work even without its masked star.”

Metareview: Batman: Arkham Asylum (PS3, 360, PC) originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 24 Aug 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Metareview: The Conduit (Wii)

June 24th, 2009 at 02:31pm Under Wii / Nintendo

While you’re patiently waiting for the end of the week so you can cash that paycheck and pick up High Voltage Software’s The Conduit for your Nintendo Wii, why not take a gander at what the rest of the interweb had to say about the game? Considering the lack of correlation between Metacritic scores and the sales numbers of Wii games, though — at least according to Peter Moore — you probably shouldn’t let these numbers get to you too much.

GamePro (70): “The Conduit is the closest you will get to recapturing the magic of Goldeneye … To be blunt, The Conduit is a by the numbers shooter that offers a couple of thrills but ultimately doesn’t make much of an impact … anyone who loved Goldeneye will want to give a look as well if only to get a nice dose of nostalgia, but the rest of you shouldn’t feel a need to abandon your favorite next-gen shooter for this one.”
GamesRadar (80): “The Conduit is fun, controls well, and is, at times, quite beautiful … Both humans and alien drones are animated with competent physics and personality that puts High Voltage Software’s Quantum3 engine outside the realm of the “GameCube 1.5″ criticisms … The truth is you probably wouldn’t bat an eye at The Conduit had it appeared on PC, PS3 or Xbox 360 … The solid, yet unremarkable single-player won’t win any awards, but The Conduit still features the most finely honed online outings available on Wii.”
IGN (86): “The Conduit is not a revolutionary first-person shooter, but it’s a damned good one … the title features the tightest, most comfortable control scheme of any console-based first-person shooter to date … The Conduit features a robust list of modes and maps to play online and nearly 20 weapons to use as you rip through arenas blasting foes … it’s not revolutionary, but The Conduit is a great first-person shooter designed just for Wii owners.”