October 19, 2009 - In space no one can hear you scream. Why is that? Because it's a vacuum. I once played a game in a vacuum… I guess you could say I got sucked in. Writing previews is like writing in a vacuum. There is no immediate response. I'm all alone and faced with the knowledge that in a vacuum no one can hear me type. So am I about to get sucked in to getting all excited about the upcoming Aliens vs. Predator game? Yes, there was a game by that same title a decade-and-a-half ago. An undeniable classic, but unfortunately it spawned a series of less-than-inspired sequels. I must say that my investigation into this new offering has indeed got me excited. And with the addition of an online component that will accommodate up to 18 players, you won't feel like you're in a vacuum. So go ahead and start screaming because everyone can hear you.
Aliens vs. Predators has several months before it's released, so some features of the game that I report may change. This is the most recently updated info I've got, so don't shoot the messenger if the developers decide to leave something out. However, the game is loaded with action and features, so it's doubtful you'll miss anything, although I'm really rooting for the multiplayer modes.
In Aliens vs. Predators you will actually be able to play as the Aliens, the Predators, and humans (in the form of Colonial Marines). So right off the bat you're getting more than the title suggests. Each of the factions will have an entirely different feel. While the objective for all is to kill the enemy, the methods and scenarios will vary significantly for each faction.
Aliens are powerful and primal. They are fast, furious, and merciless. Aliens are the perfect killing machine. With orders from the Queen, they must seek prey and return it to their hive where it will be harvested. Aliens have the ability to climb a variety of surfaces, suspending themselves upside down. Their attacks are quick and unexpected. Masters at close range combat, they have retractable teeth that can extend to grasp their prey. Tails are used to poke eyes out. Aliens are also very resilient, as they will continue fighting with severed limbs, crawling after their attackers if rendered legless. Fighting in packs, they will attempt to flank their enemy, distracting them while other Aliens attack from different sides. They also have acidic blood that will burn through steel. So if you're faced with the prospect of blasting one's head open, you're going to get burned, possibly to death. It's quite a deterrent. The Aliens do not use weapons, so they are ineffective at ranged combat. The further away you are from the Aliens, the safer you are.
The Marines actually started this whole mess. They desecrated one of the Predators' temples, and accidentally stirred the Alien Queen who was living beneath it. The Marines are equipped with an incredible array of cutting edge technology and weapons. And they need it, as they are no match for either the Aliens or Predators without their toys. In a unique twist, when playing as the Marines the perspective of the game will slightly shift genres to a survival-horror scenario. This perspective is similar to that of the original Alien movies. Encountering these dangerous species during your regular patrol, you will find yourself in typical survival-horror situations and locations. Long, winding corridors may contain a shock at any time. Lights will suddenly go out, plunging you into total darkness where the only illumination will be from the muzzle of your gun. A radar system will help detect the presence of Aliens, but as the beeping intensifies, so does your heart rate. Turrets are capable of detecting Predators that are cloaked in invisibility. But regardless of the Marine's technologies, they will always be the hunted and not the hunter. That's the title bestowed upon the Predator.
You might say the Predator is calm, cool, and collected. He's the ultimate hunter, making stealth his favored method. The Predator has many unique tools at his disposal including numerous blades and blasters. Employing a cloaking device at the push of a button renders the Predator invisible. He is not silent, however, so it must be careful not to alert enemies in close proximity. The Predator can also make use of infrared vision to see enemies in the dark. Using the unique and incredibly useful Focus Mode, the Predator is able to glean all kinds of information on the surroundings including the location of enemies. As a hunter
, the Predator attempts to divide his prey into smaller groups as he is unlikely to survive a melee. All of these weapons, tools, and systems come at a price for the Predator. Everything he activates will cost him energy. Although he will receive boosts for trophy kills, he will also have to find other sources of energy renewal on the planet.
Cross-species play is being developed for the online multiplayer component. Up to 18 players can take part in all three platforms. The developers are busy attempting to balance things. Playing as the Marines, a four-player co-op mode will have you and three other friends defending yourselves from hordes of enemies. Each wave of attack will increase in difficulty as you progress.
The storyline it tight, with the gameplay following a linear path to maintain a fast pace and keep things in order. The developers are mindful to keep the missions and locations varied to avoid any sense of loss of freedom that could be caused by such linear gameplay. The graphics are looking fantastic, getting closer to movie-production standards, and for a game this ambitious, it would be disappointing if it didn't set new standards.
source: http://www.cheatcc.com
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Alien vs. Predator Preview
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction Hands-On Preview
January 19, 2010 - Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction has seen its fair share of turbulence during its development cycle. In fact, the current game we got hands-on time with at this year's Consumer Electronics Show doesn't look very much at all like the game that was first announced several years ago. On the heels of a lukewarm fan reception to Double Agent, Ubisoft was once poised to take Splinter Cell in a radical new direction.
However, despite its changes in direction, Conviction feels great and has some exciting new modes that have us eagerly awaiting the game's release. In some ways, this installment seems to be a return to roots for Splinter Cell, at least in terms of the gameplay's core values. Outside of that, they've added some awesome new features that we can't wait to get our hands on again.
Our sneak peek at one of the new modes included in Conviction, Deniable Ops, showed us yet another aspect of this game that strays from the old Splinter Cell archetype. This mode essentially plays like a "challenge room" of sorts, although this phrase carries a negative connotation of simplicity that is perhaps unfair to Conviction. Rather, these levels boil down the Splinter Cell formula to the core values, and what is left is a mode that condenses all that is fun about Splinter Cell into action-heavy sequences.
Deniable Ops is divided into four different gameplay styles: Hunter
, Infiltration, Last Stand, and Face Off. The latter of which is a multiplayer mode between two spies in a level filled with enemies trying to kill them both. This emerges as a tricky new gameplay mechanic, as crafty players will be able to use the enemy soldiers to their own advantage, drawing their attention towards the enemy, etc. Last Stand, on the other hand, sees the agent defending a specific point on the map as enemies swarm to get there to activate something (an EMP bomb, for example.) Infiltration is pure stealth. You've got to get through a series of rooms without ever being seen. This emphasis on absolute silence helps balance out some of the other more action-oriented modes.
Hunter is the gameplay mode that we were able to try, and it plays out very similarly to Infiltration. You're placed into a level and it's your job to hunt down every poor soul in the room before advancing to the next one. This takes what is arguably Splinter Cell's defining feature - controlling an awesome super-assassin - to the forefront. Stealth is not just an option in this mode but an absolute necessity. If you're spotted even once, a huge wave of reinforcements will come searching for you. You can still win, but it makes your odds of survival that much more unlikely.
Alone and outnumbered, the player is at a huge disadvantage here, but Ubisoft has included an all-new tool to level the odds. The sonar goggles are a new addition to the traditional Sam Fisher tools. When equipped, they send out a wave that pulses through the walls and all of the surroundings. For a few seconds, they'll show the location of every enemy in the level before the vision becomes blurred. However, those few seconds will be all you need to locate and begin your attack on a set of targets.
On the single-player side, Conviction begins with Sam Fisher investigating the death of his daughter, trying to figure out who it was that killed Sarah. Then, early in the game, Sam gets wrapped up in a big conspiracy that brings him back to the United States capitol. Details are obviously pretty scarce surrounding the storyline for Conviction, but we do know that this version of Sam Fisher has been drastically changed from his previous self.
Source: http://www.cheatcc.com
