Gyromancer

Author: Alex Kosozhihin
Source: Country Games № January 2010	26.01.2010

Player accumulates points almost simultaneously with the enemy - so that the ability of both activated equally often Crossing experiments Square Enix and PopCap can be considered successful: Gyromancervpitala best traits of both parents. She is born a game unusual, but quite healthy, confident combines relevant to the puzzle RPG-elements, a beautiful character design and exciting battles. While battles over a PopCap especially careful not to come - Mech long run-on Bejeweled Twist. Classic "cup" filled with colorful crystals that can be interchanged by turning clockwise a 2x2 square. If there is a line of three or more identical stones are disappearing, adding the player a little bit of energy, and take their place new ones. Energy is spent on special abilities of monsters, which often change the situation on the field (blown up or change color of some stones) and cause damage to the enemy. He fights back, how can - he can not turn the crystals, we can only throw up from time to time blocks of traps that are fired after a few moves.

Steel Battalion

Mac Fank
	14.01.2003

Steel Battalion Platform: Xbox Genre: Simulation Publisher / Developer: Capcom The reason why I called you here today, ladies and gentlemen, lies in my intention to tell you about one of the most unique platformers games. So, what is the purpose of pursuing Capcom, creating the Steel Battalion? Whether she wanted to shock the audience or to replenish the treasury of the industry? I think something, and another took place, because the project is characterized as an attempt to make an extremely realistic simulation of a fantastic subject. However, I started from a distance, adding a bit of specificity. The game simulates the control of walking robot combat, but does it in an unusual manner for us. SB sold only in conjunction with special controllers and three pedals as usual joystick game is not supported in principle. Next to the general panel, from which protrude menacingly two joystick itself Xbox looks baby! Before I explain the purpose of the many buttons and levers, I will say the main thing: is this pandora with three pedals (and with the game, of course) $ 199! Drive as a media is cheap, so it is obvious that the customer pays extra fifteen hundred just for the controller. But even laying out hard-earned money and dragged dragged set in his den, you can not relax. SB - not your Armored Core, with its arcade rules, a serious simulator, which is needed to develop more than one day. The first problem arises even before the inclusion of hookups and is formulated as follows: where the hell stick control panel? Keep it on the weight of impossible in principle, but on my knees, it will jump, because quite often have to press on the pedal. But let's say you moved the table, hoisted him on design and stared at the screen. Reviewing the succession of static pictures and text messages, you will realize that from now on you - the tractor ... sorry, tank of the future. In 2080, the year the map of the Far East ignited an entire scattering hot spots. Region Hai Shi Dao, declaring its independence, waged war with all its neighbors. Pacify the aggressor only by community Pacific Rim Forces, at whose side you are fighting. Climbed into the cockpit Vertical Tank (the official name of the giant robots), anyone, even the worldly-wise gamer surprised abundance of sensors, dials and lights. Devices, occupying a good half of the screen does not add to the beauty and not to save resources consoles. All their statements are no less important than the modest-sized monitor that displays the battlefield. This monitor - not only link with the outside world, then there is the radio, which allows to communicate with brothers in arms and ammunition to order. Typically, developers are trying to supply their games more convenient administration, but the authors of SB chose a diametrically opposite way. They did everything to bring your game to combat conditions. This driver of this tank will not knock a combination of buttons or select commands from the menu in the pause mode. That's why you have before your eyes, 40 buttons, and even the wheel to select a radio frequency.I almost forgot to mention that the robot is controlled manual gearbox. Lever for the gear shifting to the left of the joystick, and two of the three pedals are responsible for the acceleration and deceleration. The third - a breakthrough that allows you dodge enemy projectiles. However, in this mode, the motor quickly overheats and, if time does not release the pedal, the car briefly stops. Right joystick to select direction and the left controls the gun. The developers have provided a lot of weapons, and six of them you can take with you on the job. The choice is diverse: missiles, artillery, rifles and machine guns of various calibers. Your robot manipulators are available, and you therefore have the opportunity to zvezdanut anyone on the dome. Hands can also pick up small objects such as trucks. All of the above and many other features are presented as individual buttons. There's even a button activation janitors, cleaning the viewing window from adhering dirt! A set of twenty-odd missions - it is the only mode available in the SB. Walking tank with a height of ten-house is ill-suited for spyware attacks, and, nevertheless, they are there! But no matter how long and boring may be introductory briefings, the majority of assignments is reduced to the destruction of those or other purposes. And start all levels of the same: you have to warm up the engine combat vehicle, lifted hatches unmoor etc. Entertainment value of this procedure decreases each time. But here you are in the thick of things from all sides comes the enemy infantry and equipment, including similar robots! What should I do? First you need to understand that the wait for help from allies useless. These "pots" always get underfoot and sometimes get stuck in the scenery. Luckily, on board a radar warning about approaching danger. The reward for successfully completed missions are experience points (command points, increase the military rank) and money (supply points, go for the purchase of new equipment and robots). High-ranking officials have the right to drive at a more advanced technique. When the resources of your erect locomotive rattletrap almost exhausted, and devices are trumpeting the impending explosion, there are two possible scenarios. First: The pilot catapulted (this is a separate button, covered with a protective cap), and survives. Thank God, if you can find money to buy a new tank. If not, we will have to pass the game again! The second option: the pilot dies, and the only save-file permanently erased. Cheat the system easy enough to copy the save to another memory card. But tell me, is this not a mockery? Developer passion for realism is manifested in everything, including the schedule. The War Zone - is dirt, grim building, illuminated by the explosions, and the sky, covered with soot. In general, the picture is not inspiring, but in its own way beautiful. The most frank lack of graphics that objects loaded too late, as if popping out of nothing. In addition, to discern small but important details, it is desirable to have a large screen TV with. Sitting in the tight cabin of the walking tanks, we have to rely heavily on hearing. The game supports Dolby Digital 5.1, therefore, spreading through the room dynamics, you together with your neighbors immerse yourself in the center of battles. Any weapon can be recognized by the sound, but as pleasing to the ears of the clank of metal steps of the Colossus! Interestingly, the music will sound inside the cabin after the acquisition of conventional receiver. Whether you love giant robots like loves them Capcom? Far not everyone finds the courage to answer in the affirmative. From this we conclude that SB is not intended for mass audiences. The developers wanted to make a realistic simulator, and they made it. In recent years the craze for video games has become a fashion and status gamers began to lose its identity. Therefore, sometimes it's very nice to stumble on a product addressed exclusively to the hardcore players.After all, only he agrees to buy doroguschy controller, a table for him to back the memory card, a large TV and sound system DD 5.1. On the other hand, all this can be a long-term value for money, since Steel Battalion could turn into drama. Rumor has it that Capcom plans to release the online version of the game, but this will tell some other time ...

Devil May Cry 2

Tomba
	17.02.2003

Game Title: Devil May Cry 2 Platform: Playstation 2 Genre: Action Developer: Capcom Publisher: Capcom Release Date: 28/01/2003 United States, Europe, 03/28/2003 Official site: http://www.capcom.com Capcom firm has long been famous for their special passion for producing the light of all of its sequels just a little bit serious projects. Game series this company fatter with a terrible speed, and a couple - three years, grown to an impressive size. If we remember those "fat" game series, as Megamen and Street Fighter, then Square with its eleven (not including branches from the main line of games), "fantasies" just resting. Recently, however, Sapcom some slow down, focus, apparently, the mental effort on the lookout for new ideas. The result so deep reflections became hits Onimusha and Devil May Cry. Both of these games 2001 issue - the real gems in the collection of games for the PS2. But if Onimusha turned out kind of a samurai version of RE, then the DMC proposed quite an innovative approach to gameplay. Giving the hero game Dante superhuman (or rather, demonic) powers, arming him with a sword and a pair of pistols, Capcom has created one of the most stylish and charismatic characters of the modern action genre. Dante put on a par with some Kastelvanskim Alucard, and the latter is unlikely to be claimed. Gameplay DMC ingeniously simple: latch on the stages, going from one room to another, and make a horde of different monsters, dared to stand in the way of Dante. Chopped down all and everything, meet with terribly strong boss, renting it for scrap - and turn to the next level, where it all over again. All this would be very boring if it were not for the mass of tricks and combo attacks, which allow to arrange dismantling such a chic and bang that the Matrix would not even dream. The only serious flaw DMC was weak and the unintelligible plot. However, the action - it will not RPG, the more so because, despite so-so syuzhetets, developers, however, managed to create an attractive image of Dante, a kind of a tough guy who is afraid of except himself, and anyone will beat the demon at once dur from the head. Frazochki type of "let's rock, baby" immediately made it clear who's the coolest. So, the toy came out terribly interesting, dynamic and atmospheric. Gamers have expressed their Respect for developers and waited for continuation. What is it happened just the other day, and we hasten to tell you what is a sequel. Would normally want from a sequel to the hit? I guess that everything is bigger, better and entertaining. And developers to fill holes of the first part. All this waiting and the Devil May Cry 2. What actually happened? In fact, it turned out that Capcom, in general, failed to meet expectations of gamers. First and foremost, I must note that the game was released not anyhow, but on two DVD-ROM, which is caused arising during this time opportunity to manage not only to Dante, but his volunteer assistant Lucia (Lucia): located on the first drive of Dante, and on the second - respectively Lucia. You can play for any of the characters at will, ie, the ability to have Lucia (sounds ambiguous;) - approx. Ed.) is not associated with the passing game with Dante. It pleases. Not happy about something else: the plot.Developers from Sapcom clearly pored over them day and night, since so crazy and vaguely described the history I have not seen for a long time. I will say more: to understand the intrigue is a difficult task, unless you catch someone from the developers and not extort from him the whole truth. Screensavers instead to expound some coherent story, suffer confusion and obscurity, leaving behind only a feature story about what to do next. However, and this is obtained as a bad thing. Worst of all, because of this whole mess masters Capcom managed to completely demolish the style and image of Dante! No more than a tough guy, who with the words "Don't speak, just die" created a hell on earth. Red cape, sword and pistols survived, but the charisma and style have leaked into the funnel of talentless savers, which for completeness terror backed by the loss of any logic levels. We are in an unknown castle, then suddenly transported into a skyscraper, then just as suddenly find ourselves at a factory ... What we have forgotten it - is unclear. Remembering the first DMC and crying. In addition, steps have lost a unique gothic atmosphere of the first part. Now we are basically waiting for the skyscrapers and all sorts of streets which are not very much to face DMC2. Of course, there are a couple impressive steps, so to speak, the echoes of past glory, but in general - not impressive. It is not saved and solid growth in housing - that is, the size of the levels. Remember the small room full of enemies of the eyeballs, narrow corridors, where already waiting for an ambush, and a contact battle with swords and fists, dressed in ifritovye gloves in the first part? Firearms are used mostly for combo attacks, and not as a primary means of destroying the enemy. In the sequel, everything is somehow boring. Due to the vast territory, the enemy can easily mop up shots at a distance, without even thinking about the near fight - sometimes they do not have time to run up. But in principle, with opponents generally can not communicate, heroically running away from them. Catch up with you they can not - it is checked. Plus, the level was even lower than in the first DMC. At this time Dante got 17 stages, and his friend battle - only 12. As a result, in order to have finished firing the two characters, only takes 6-7 hours. The combat system has not undergone significant changes. As before, the characters are armed with the means ranged and melee. Dante always uses a sword and pistols, though this remained true to himself and Lucia are operating a pair of short swords, and an infinite number of throwing knives that perform the same function as the guns of Dante. Unfortunately, a variety of weapons is very, very meager: Dante - all three swords (including the original) with some suspiciously named Rebellion, Vendetta, and Merciless. Personally, I want to ask, Where are the Alastor, Found a hero in the last game? Where ifritovye gloves? Sold at a flea market? And why could not save the arms of the first part, adding a new one? Strangely it all ... Firearms are presented only four species: Ebony and Ivory - two pistols with which Dante begins his path, then you can get hold of shotganom, a pair of small machine guns and rocket launcher. Alas, no exotics like the Nightmare Beta in the first part, we do not find here. In Lucia's similar number of murder, that of Dante, the only other species and names. In short, sadly, but Arsenal do not inspire. Can not be said about the diversity of techniques and combo series: here the second part passes its predecessor on all counts. Now Dante can perform almost the fusion triple jumps, run on walls, pull back and fabricate other tricks that are inaccessible to ordinary mortals. A dogfight was generally a constant element of gameplay. Of course, remained a possibility of turning into a demon (Devil Trigger): After completing the relevant scales can take non-human face and show everyone gruel. It looks very impressive. Much steeper than in DMS.Although the system "dzhaglingov" suffered badly: juggle apostates are now much more difficult. Preserved and the system upgrade weapons and purchase of new techniques and different useful objects. To currency - the same red Orbs in abundance scattered throughout the stages and gangster, extorting money from the enemies. In addition to them there were the so-called Heart (Hearts), giving the possibility of using the special charms to get hold of very very cool abilities. Total number of hearts in the game hidden away in September, and if you collect them all, the hero becomes a truly unbeatable. All the more so compared to the first part of the difficulty of the game has fallen sharply. Either Capcom pushed this way angry gamers, or something else is not specified, but facts are facts - the usual enemies die meekly packs, bosses are dying the same way. As the curtain to tell a little about the plot. Which sometimes became worse than before. Dramatically increasing the size of the stages, the developers of powerful save on texture quality and detail that has led to poverty and lifelessness of the environment. Enemies, parting with a number of grounds, gained a hefty clumsiness (although the diversity of species is impressive). Fortunately, the animation of the main characters at the height of: admire the soft, smooth step Dante punches, jumping, waving in the wind hair and cape. But the camera has remained just as nightmarish as the first part. Angles change dramatically and unexpectedly, the survey, designed to create a cinematic effect, only confuses. Sometimes the camera behaves so hideously that he did not see where enemies are and who to beat. Well, at least there avtonavodka. As for the music, the heavy metal during the battle, turning into an elegant orchestral music gothic style to accompany a calm, rather complements the gameplay. Sounds as ringing of swords, pistols and whistles Babakhanov missiles to some extent surpass Ryki, squeaks and howls of enemies, but, in general, if we exclude such a trifle as several unnatural voice voice actor, the scale of the game quite harmonious and artistic. So what we have in the end? Very good exciting game in itself, while very weak sequel, not lived up to his expectations. If it was not a great Devil May Cry, then DMC2 hardly would have been under fire. In essence, Capcom could not even repeat what was in the first part, let alone an improvement. Unlike Onimusha and Onimusha 2, where progress is so strong that simply amazed, DMC 2 does not become worthy of the original. I'm afraid those who have played in the first part will be pretty disappointed, but who began his acquaintance with Dante in DMC2, receive unforgettable impressions.

Resonance of Fate

Author: Natalia Odintsova
Source: Country Games № May 2010	20.03.2010

Wandering through the levels of the underground city, heroes Breath of Fire V sought up to endless space and clean air. Characters Resonance of Fate, by contrast, are trying to come down from heaven to earth - to break out of the giant towers under the name of Basel, the upper floors which are so high that the clouds base and did not see it.

Call of Juarez: Ties of Blood

Cyril Carriers
Source: PC GAMES number in August 2009	07-08-2009

Enemies have burnt native hut ... That is, of course, the family home. Ernest Hemingway, A Farewell to Arms! ", An illustration of page 34. Summary of the previous series: Call of Juarez, 2007. Polish studio Techland proves to the world that she can do not only arcade rally simulators (Xpand Rally, Xpand Rally Xtreme) and failure-ambitious shooters on alien negnidogadoidah (Chrome, Chrome: SpecForce). The story of the priest reads passages from the Bible in a cursory firing six-shooter, had become, it seems more fans than all the American igrovesterny put together (most recent noteworthy except that Gun). The world is not mad, and Americans have forgotten how to make games about his cowboy past - just in Techland got a little better.

Eternal Sonata

Author: Natalia Odintsova
Source: Country Games № February 2008	15.01.2008

Once the Chinese philosopher Zhuang Zhou dreamed he was a butterfly fluttering gaily among the flowers. Waking up, the sage could not decide whether he Chuang Chou, dreamed that he was a butterfly or a butterfly dreaming that she - Chuang Chou?

Saw: The Video Game

Yuri Lewandowski
Source: Country Games № March 2010	12.02.2010

In that based on kinotsikla "Saw" will someday video game, no doubt almost anyone. The question, rather, was in fact what it proves the genre and how general it is possible to retain the atmosphere of psychological thriller in interactive entertainment.