SSX Review

Never been snowboarding? Well SSX will bring the snowboarding to you dude! Totally gnarly!
… Oh wait is ‘gnarly’ for surfing?
Anyway, I know SSX has somewhat of a cult following due to its very successful PS2 titles. Despite fading away for a few years the totally rad game is back!
… totally rad? Is that snowboarding talk?
You know what forget it, just read on!

Gameplay
The good thing about SSX is that for beginners the game can be relatively simple. The left analog stick will twist and turn you while the right analog stick will perform ‘grabs’. ‘Grabs’ by the way are tricks with your board while in the air. The more ‘grabs’ you link up the higher score you will get. Enough successful ‘grabs’ will let you reap the rewards of a boost! The gameplay can be this simple if you are just on a beginner’s level.

With the latest edition of the snowboarding series comes the
wingsuit.

   

   However if you are more experienced or have perhaps played SSX games before, the game can challenge you at your level creating a more enjoyable experience. There is a whole load more to do too. As you progress through the events, you earn armour, ice picks, wingsuits and more! And if you’re wondering what I mean by wingsuits… it’s a suit... with wings! All of these factors emphasis the fun qualities of the game. 

   Again for more experienced gamers, tougher challenges are available. A few races require you to finish with your oxygen tank full for example. Boost is required to finish in time and to get a boost you must perform tricks! Madness! These aspects of the game are tough but the sense of achievement when you finally conquer these exhausting bits is fantastic. Get your smack talk ready.

   SSX may annoy some gamers, as it has an assistance mechanic that can’t be switched off. I noticed when jumping over a rail I’d be drawn to it magnetically, like a pedophile to a playground. Was that a bit too much of an image? Apologies. This can become frustrating when the most skilled gamers want to play without that helping hand.

Features

SSX manages to tick the ‘fun’ box, understanding that gamers want to snowboard on the mountain rather than spend too much time worrying about a story. This may seem like a simple factor but similar games such as the Tony Hawk series sometimes fail to feed to the gamers demands. The various different mountains offer diversity and need for adaptation as each will force gamers to change their style. In addition each mountain requires different equipment culminating the variety and change SSX offers.

    SSX incorporates ‘Ridernet’, an in game online account that tracks yours and your friend’s race times, etc. Readers who are familiar with Need for Speed’s Autolog will know the awesomely competitive nature this feature creates amongst you and your friends. Ridernet gives the game replay-ability and makes your money well spent, as you find yourself coming back to beat your time again and again.

   If you haven’t got an online account there is still plenty to do! Explore mode, for example, challenges you to test out tracks picking up scattered ‘geotags’ as you make your descent. Features like Explore mode makes the game fun and competitive even after finishing the main story. You can always get your friends over to race don’t forget.

 

Characters

SSX games in definition always have great characters to play. Many, I’m sure, will be exited to know they can again take some of the SSX veterans to the mountains again. Psymon Stark, Kaori Nishisake, Zoe Payne and my favourite Mac Fraser all return to the 2012 edition. Who’s your favourite? EA Sports deserve applaud, as the characters capture and enhance the life on the mountain. Furthermore the whole cast fit in the game seamlessly.

My favourite boarder, Mac, preforming a grab.

  
   The new characters may be turning a new leaf for the SSX series. The old cast has always been rather bonkers and the returning characters still have these qualities but the new characters are more cold blooded nutters. Just picture Jason Statham snowboarding. The newbies are still fun but they take SSX down a more serious route leaving behind its crazy ancestry. Don’t get me wrong SSX has not turned stiff or boring, only the game seems to be taking a new direction. What will this mean for future games? We’ll have to wait and see.

Verdict
I won’t lie, with the success of the earlier SSX games and a 5 year wait since SSX Blur, I was hesitant about the latest edition. The old problem of revitalising a great is that the history can be tarnished. While I’m not overcome with awe, I breathe a sigh of relief. EA Sports, despite steering the game in a new direction, have managed to capture the same fun game we first got our thumbs on in 2000.

    The series is like a person, the only way I can describe it. At first it was a little baby that didn’t care about anything only concerned on having fun. Then as the game became a young child it developed its own characteristics while still managing to be a bit crazy and spontaneous. Now the game is a young adult. It has calmed down slightly and now knows where it wants to go, however still managing to focus on having fun.


   I could almost shed a tear for the series, as it feels like it’s all grown up. Definitely worth a buy if you want some fun, crazy, competitive gameplay.



Follow on Twitter @GameTheftAuto for updates on news and reviews!

Assassins Creed 3 Trailer!

The Trailer is up now! Awesome or what?
Maximize screen for better watch.

Video courtesy of IGN.com

Assassins Creed 3 Rumor Roundup

Ubisoft, a few days ago, announced that they will be telling us some big news on March 5th. Since then various, supposedly Assassins Creed 3 images have been leaked. So is it, Victorian Britain? Early Paris? Ancient China? No its none other than America, and the American Revolution to be more specific. So what does this mean for the hidden blade wielding game series?

A lot of rumors have been doing the rounds so lets get stuck into them. Firstly the protagonist will be the son of a Native American mother and a British Army father. Born into a Mohawk tribe, the name of the new protagonist has seen much speculation. A native name of Ratohnhake'ton is a popular guess as well as Connor; which the protagonist apparently names himself. As the name is unknown as of yet, I will refer to him as Susan (because its pretty okay). Susan, unlike our good friend Ezio, finds himself motivated by freedom of his people rather than personal revenge. While fighting for his people, Susan will find his way to the Assassins Brotherhood. The new assassin to hit our screens may accompany hugely notable american figures such as Benjamin Franklin and George Washington as he helps fight the British.

    Adaptations to Susan's arsenal has also been a hot talking point. Dual wield daggers and tomahawks becoming popular amongst the forums. The Bow and Arrow however might become more useful and important in the third of the assassin series, as Susan will be killing from up in the trees.

   A new Economic System may be introduced, as the game may see players able to collect and sell various items such as animal fur.

18th century New York, Boston and a large countryside landscape could provide the setting for the new game. The map is rumored to be nearly 2 times the size of the Rome that featured in Brotherhood. I don't know about you guys but that gets me excited! The guilds we have come to familiarise ourselves with could be replace with new factions. Filling the landscape will be Native Americans, Settled Americans and the British.

   Desmond will find himself going back through his hidden memories in the Animus and relive significant events in Susan's life. With Desmond being American and the setting of the third game in America, one can get the feeling this will round of Desmond's story.

Please remember guys this is pure rumor that I've collected from sites and forums. Follow me on Twitter @GameTheftAuto for updates on reviews and articles.

Twitter Feedback: 'What do you want from Assassins Creed 3?'

James Harris - @GameTheftAuto I want assassins creed 2 with different weapons and locations. That's I all.

Jack Carlton - @GameTheftAuto Ben Franklin as the new leanardo... tomahawks, and a bunch of conspiracies with presidents.

Syndicate Review

The original Syndicate in 1993 with its unique look.

For younger readers, Syndicate became a very highly regarded game after its 1933 release. It played amazingly, sounded brilliant and looked really unique with an appearance unlike any other game of that time. The game that got itself a place as a great of the early nineties has been dormant for more than ten years until now with the newly released first person shooter adaptation.



Plot
The plot in Syndicate is set up well and has the potential for a great story. Three mega-corporations, known as Syndicates, battle for power by any means necessary. The year is 2069 and politicians are no more. Now the world is controlled by the mega-corporations, who control and manipulate populations via neural chip implants.

   The chips were intended to revolutionise the ways in which consumers interact with corporations throughout their daily lives. However the neural chips became just a way of linking everyone in the world together in a gigantic network.

   You play Miles Kilo, an agent of a mega-corporation Eurocorp. Kilo is kitted with bio-engineered and chip-augmented abilities to carry out missions.

Gameplay
Syndicate feels more like an old-school shooter than one from 2012. It does have modern aspects such as rechargeable health but it still has that early nineties feel. Some might say there is nothing wrong with an older vibe going on but with all the next-gen buzz and next-gen games, Syndicate ends up feeling like it should be on the PS2 rather than the Xbox 360 or PS3.

Syndicate's DART Overlay.

   If gamers like to adapt their playing style then Syndicate may please you as each weapon will force you to play in different ways. One weapon, for example, is best utilised when shooting round corners so gamers are ushered to get into cover more.
   The enemies, that are not at all kind hearted, have seemingly impossible accuracy and wont be afraid to hurdle monstrously towards you. Expect a lot of controller smashing as the enemy gets that vital shot just as your staggering to cover.
   On top of your basic shooting gameplay is the DART overlay. Enemies can be breached, resulting in forced suicide or a weapon backfire. Turrets throughout game history have always been weak targets for hacking and in Syndicate it is no different. DART powered vision lets you see through walls and can even slow down time, creating really cool kills to watch right before you. When you get to the boss rounds you'd think all the abilities would make it easy. This sadly is not the case. Too many buttons and things to remember may give you a mental meltdown. Oh and I forgot to mention the bosses can do EVERYTHING YOU CAN! The boss battles become very frustrating, very quickly.

Verdict
Syndicate at the end of the day is an okay game. Its got a unique look with incredible graphics and sets up a good visual experience. The futuristic deadmouse-esk dupstep soundtrack running alongside significant moments in the gameplay really does make you feel like a right badass! However when the regular AI kill you over and over again the game gets tediously frustrating.

In-game HUD of Syndicate

   The story is not as strong as it could have been especially with some big name writers involved. A good story really could have propelled the game and lightened some of the shadows.
   If you have spare money around then Syndicate will provide something to do however if you want a 'top-notch' first person shooter, you should perhaps wait a little while.

Games to watch out for in 2012: Max Payne 3

Another one from Rockstar here as Max Payne gets a makeover. The game despite being pushed back a few months is one of the big releases to come this year. Sao Paulo, Brazil, provides the populated streets where gamers will take control as Max finds himself there after leaving the city life of New York. The developers have promised to deliver a cinematic, high tension, intense gameplay for the rebooted release.

Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360 & PC

Release Date: 18/05/12

Games to look out for in 2012: Last Of Us

Naughty Dog but not quite Naughty Dog, in fact a brand new branch of Naughty Dog announced the new post apocalyptic game at Spike TV Awards. A PS3 exclusive, the game will focus on the aftermath of virus outbreak. A Nathan Drake look-a-like (most probably voiced by Nolan North) and his daughter will provide gamers with characters to play. Thats all we have folks but check back soon as this release looks to be juicy!

Platforms: PS3

Release Date: 2012

Games to look out for in 2012: Ghost Recon: Future Soldier

The latest Ghost Recon game will integrate Xbox's Kinect, with body tracking and voice recognition becoming a part of gamers controls. Another addition sees gamers able to customise their weapons from the muzzle to the gas system, in the newly added 'Gunsmith' mode. You need to watch out for this game if you fancy a challenge that Ghost Recon games often provide. Any gunsmiths out there? 

Platforms: PS3, PSP, Nintendo 3DS, WII, XBOX 360 & PC
Release Date: 24/05/12