Yakuza 2

Author: Alexey Golubev
Source: Country Games № 19 2008	06.10.2008

HoMM4 eyes consolers

Wren
	23.04.2002

Heroes of Might & Magic 4: The view inveterate consolers. As I have long had noticed the whole PC-gaming is totally dependent on the viability of several series to be released next part which is an event that sales and so panting competitors are permanently paralyzed. This situation makes it possible to finance these and most sequels well enough, as a result of what we see though not perfect, but consistently high-quality games, where no aspect is left underdeveloped. It is clear that there will always be disgruntled for years excitedly discussing the "blasphemy" developers "spoil" the atmosphere of past hits, but really, it's much better than obscurity, which falls to losers-clones. Although they, like the official add-on, feeding from the same source - past my favorite game fans usually do not hesitate to buy and something alternative, even to once again be disappointed in him. Someone, of course, omnivorous ... especially if the game is peppered with nice graphics and quite complex. But even big ambitions, being multiplied by a small budget and limited development time, resulting in yield, at best, just a good game, which will not remember a week or a month, and ... year or two. In the case of HoMM situation is even more interesting - because the game actually pulls on itself an entire genre, and it has also created and cultivated. You say: "And here I am recently bought Disciples II ..."? Then re-read my words about the alternative. And HoMM4, as the game needing to pass a huge stock of spare time, is unlikely too soon let go had the misfortune to buy it. The second feature - the fact that the genre HoMM, a hybrid of turn-based strategy and RPG, has a potential audience of almost all the owners of PC, except perhaps that "narrow specialists" in FPS. After all, even as Heroes RPG (and try to argue!) Is stronger than fraternal series Might & Magic, unless, of course, do not take any standard rolevuh hotly many Diablo - yet another "self-itself a genre." And those who twist the nose of the role-playing games of the new school, and those who do not know about the existence of something else, equally well relate to the Heroes. But already in the field of turn-based strategy only Civilization (again, completely controlling the territory of its own genre) can boast a similar popular love. After this introduction seems to be remains to advise all rush to the store. And even if I do not do, then it is unlikely someone will stop. But remember also that I talked about the sacrilege of developers ... and yes even think about how often megahit criticized for lack of novelty. To what extent this can be attributed to the Heroes 4? Now a look. Firstly, we have a sacrilege? After the release of the third part of almost everyone who played in the second, were unpleasantly surprised by the change in style. And the heroes and creatures were seemingly the same, but looked too much ... realistically. With love story turned into a drawn picture of this most fairy tales, which gave a glossy sleek look. Think you're all well aware. Actually this was the main and almost the only major change - does not assume, as do the addition of new units! But to develop in the same direction is nowhere, so in full compliance with the laws of dialectics, Heroes 4 was ... again another, but it subtly like both Heroes 3 and Heroes at 2. Secondly, we have a novelty? Yes, everyone remembers that the developers have promised almost a revolution. Yes, it's great that they do not mean by this translation of the game in 3D.And, although the revolution did not happen (and it is someone we all?), It is still changing very serious, at least compared to the original Heroes 3. Now I'll talk about them. For starters, gone "rule of the seventh day." Now we do not have to follow so that by week's end the enemy did not accept the raid to take away all the population growth in the unprotected city. The addition of beings is still considered by piece in a week, but they reproduce at regular intervals. It is strange that many commentators are simply not paid attention to such a serious innovation. The second change that radically changes the strategy - the introduction of caravans. You can automatically move the troops from town to town, do not order for this special hero of the truck and not fearing that they will intercept the enemy. And the fact that the troops can thus be collected from settlements in nature, can not build, and "hero-traversing-all-buildings-in-early-week. And besides, why build unnecessary characters, if creatures can walk on the card itself ... well, except that they can not take mine! Need to build heroes useful - in fact include the detachment can be several! And just now they are engaged in combat "really", then there is no risk to die simply because ran out of the ordinary units. As you can see, the changes will last the whole paragraph of text ... And I have not even told about a coherent system of classes and primary / secondary skills tied to that and study magic. How does this affect the tactics? Ironically, the changes only encourage the scheme "has trained tough hero who gave him nemerenoe army and sent to fight." If previously it was necessary someone to defend the rear of the city, now more convenient to just send a caravan of all new units closer to the area of ​​hostilities. Money the city brings as much as a conventional mine, and no stock of ready-to-set exists little value represents. With regard to tough hero, then it's best to have one army of two to three, and versatile. And do not be shy to add a batch of newcomers - usually late in the game there is a lot of unnecessary artifacts that you just need someone to pull on the battlefield. It turns out quite Role "party", which other units are needed for the most part as a cover from the arrows and magic - are now so many attacks require line of sight of the enemy. Furthermore, if the characters a lot, then no problem with the inability to escape. So many innovations made for reasons of logic. For example, why would you allow before giving up, and the enemy - no? And if the money to build the army is not enough, you can earn a little, giving the enemy army to retreat. If before the hero died in battle with an army of monsters, all of its artifacts are simply disappearing (and do not talk about the Save / Load - it's unsportsmanlike! "), Now they can be returned. Finally, we now need not worry about what your character would be killed with a sharp ends. All the losers are sent ... in prison, where they can then be rescue. Finally, I can not mention one important detail, the forgotten everything columnists - the plot. Of course, PC owners rarely pay attention to the useless unsubscribe screenwriters strategies, but the real hits - for example, the same StarCraft - just and deserved their popularity study of all aspects of the game, including the atmosphere to the scene. And, passing one of the campaigns HoMM4 and accidentally skipping mouse click next screen with the text, I booted from the last saves ... although to get the same before the text, I had to replay the difficult battle. And I made that has not even regret it. There will always be critics, but poobvyknuv and accept the fact that the old leaves to return, they adjust to new and after the release HoMM5 will continue to criticize the game either for the lack of innovation, whether for blasphemy over the old hits ... Scold really too helpful - suddenly become lazy developers! But this - do not have a reason to deprive yourself of pleasure, which, of course, you bring ordinary heroes!

Saints Row 2

Author: Eugene Zakirov
Source: Country Games № March 2009	02.03.2009

Rise of the Argonauts

Author: Stepan Chechulin
Source: Country Games № March 2009	01.03.2009

X3: Reunion

Authors: Matthew «hate008» Bulohov
Source: Country Games № 24 2005	10.12.2005

If you had asked, for what the game is to get a new video card, I would not hesitate to call X3: Reunion. In many other modern games use graphics engine as the main argument for selling - a common occurrence. And to see such beauty in a space simulator doubly pleased, because the eye-candy it is not an end in itself.

Fantastic Four

author: tick_the
	22.08.2005

Platform: PC; PS2; Xbox; GC; GBA Genre: Action Developer: Beenox Publisher: Activision Project website: http://www.f4thegame.com/home.html Requirements: P-3 800MHz; 256 Mb RAM; 32 Mb Video Mr. Fantastic hit another alien spider its incredibly stretched arm and with sadness in his eyes mumbled (he obviously wanted something to dilute the repetitive destruction of arthropods): "Damn, how much leaner these supervillains imagination. In the jungle, I am of the tarantula-age threw stones at SHIELD'e mechanized hurled against the wall, now on a spaceship appeared. I understand that it must have been a subtle irony of the Spider-man'om, but give in the end, I dichlorvos. Tsirkachestvo Dichlorvos nobody will give. As well as any other weapon. The only means to fight the bad guys (in other words to call the enemy does not work - so they are defenseless) - own limbs and superpowers. Break up the hordes of evil breeze: just in time to press all rock-solid combination of Street Fighter ABAA, and the protagonist, as if parodying techniques wrestlers will perform a spectacular somersault, effectively hitting the opponent with both feet simultaneously. Rejoice, meanwhile, is nothing. Who needs a circus "inflated" athletes - let off for the WWF RAW. Dynamic action in Beenox not come out. Only learns the sequence of keys. Superudary turned out to be extremely sluggish: we press the button, which is responsible for the use, sorry, force and some "kick". But each character has its own mini-game. Depending on the situation at the right place appears cylinders, painted in the colors required for its execution of the character. I think to say that the "puzzles" very very primitive and worn, it is not necessary, the main thing - to understand the management and set it up individually. In this respect, we can greatly envy the owners of platformers versions or the owners of gamepads. Accustomed to the unfriendly interface and wildly camera, you begin to understand what to do absolutely nothing here. The gameplay boils down to a simple cycle of action: we are running on their own (as an option - with one or more friends), and give the healthy cuffs around trying to move every hour disregard the "puzzle", again distributing healthy cuffs ... So be repeated five times, until (depending on the mission) you do not pass from two to six stages and did not visit the boss. Methods of destruction of Chairmen levels depressingly monotonous and can not, as often happens, to get a new look at the project. In them there is no raisins, no trick, all too easy - in a similar way, we sought the annihilation of another head clerk "Dandy". Puppet Show All things happening on your screen for 9 episodes, mainly based on the eponymous film, released later games. From time to time we come across is NOT the villains of the film, but encountered in comics Marvel. Thus, the storyline is closely connected with the work of the creator of the heroic quartet, Stan Lee, interviews with whom you can "open" in the "bonus" section of the menu. Events begin with a host of heroes to the space station, where, after some time, there is leakage of radioactive substances.Our foursome was out of place as the epicenter of the explosion, which, fairly irradiate acquires typical superhero abilities. So Reed has turned into Mr. Fantastic, and the flexibility of his body is now envied by every gymnast; Sue (his future wife) - in the Invisible Woman, which, besides the name suggests the ability to disappear, has the rudiments of telekinesis. Johnny - in the Human Torch and is capable of setting fire to everything that can be set on fire, and finally, Ben - a Thing of stone (in the truest sense of the word) muscles. This company and to restore order in New York, which has become the most low places in the universe of Marvel. Yes, do not forget about the "chip", borrowed from the extremely prefixal X-men Legends: at one level can be the whole F4, poupravlyat can each character separately. Here we should pay tribute to the balance of the game: the priority of, say, Invisible Woman, without which it is impossible to do in the first mission, will go to the Thing in the second. Mostly bad person declared Dr. Doom (in domutatsionnoy life - Victor Von Doom), managing a tiny unknown state Latveria. The poor fellow was an outstanding scientist but also as a result of a failed experiment (yes, almost all the heroes Stan Lee - the victim of failed experiments) disfigured, but gained a lot of great abilities, and even almost conquered the world. It is a pity that his career will stop a fire hydrant (but this is spoilers ...) Maskaradik In general, the team Beenox - people are interesting. Impermissible for a short time they were commissioned by Activision give very good and cute projects (Shrek 2: Team Action; Pitfall: the Lost Expedition; Madagascar). Fantastic Four knocked out of the list. In addition to the outrages in the gameplay of the case with audio-visual part of a lot worse. Impossible without the tears of regret to observe the incredibly lame graphics, made through the stump-deck design, ugly destructible (break-it can be almost anything, but * how * it is broken - it is better not to see). Special effects and other graphical "delights" have no right to appear in mid-2005. The final nail in the coffin of design execution F4 are neperematyvaemye videos ... All this is explained on shoestring budgets and a minimum of time, but we can not make allowances for these factors. Take The Punisher and Constantine: perhaps they were allocated more funds, but in quality they are superior to F4 or exceed seriously. *** No, the role of the shareware add-on to the ticket for 150 rubles a game is quite good. However, in our age of hard for her demanding money, no matter what. You can play, but unnecessary. It is not necessary to maintain a frank ticky-tacky design. If you really really have nothing to do - travel all over again all Highway San Andreas. Only in the case of an infinite love for the heroes of Marvel are allowed to take the product to two teaspoons a day. And no more milligram. Gameplay: 5.5 Graphics: 5.0 Sound and music: 6.0 Design: 5.0 Estimation of the author: 5.5 Outcome: 54%

Woody Woodpecker

Anton Peregruzkin
	27.02.2002

Woody Woodpecker: Escape From Buzz Buzzard Park. Platform: PC; PS2; GBC Genre: Action / Platform Developer: Ekosystem Publisher: DreamCatcher Localization: Nival Interactive (http://www.nival.ru/rus/woody_info.html) System requirements: Win 95/98/ME/XP; Pentium (r) II 300 MHz; 8X CD-ROM Drive; 64 MB RAM; 8 MB DirectX (R) Compatible Video Card; DirectX (R) Compatible Sound Card http://www.dreamcatchergames.com/games/woody/woody_pc.html Good day, dear woodpeckers! Oh, sorry, ladies and gentlemen! Today you again Anton Peregruzkin who just wants to tell about the life of red-feathered forest dwellers. As you may have guessed, these mysterious creatures - just those woodpeckers that I so carelessly had called you in the beginning of this story. It has long been known that these vicious predators attack anything that moves, and try to zadolbat victim to a complete loss of consciousness. On the problems of one of these birds we are to talk today. And to represent it, I hope, do not, because it is none other than himself Woody Vudpekker! Today I came across a great game - "Woody Woodpecker. Escape from Buzz Buzzard Park" which was published already in three platforms: PC, PS2, and you do not believe it - an old man GameBoy Color. We'll talk about how woodpeckers hammering personalki. It was like this: There once was a Woody Woodpecker at the top of the tree in the house, situated on the thick of his branch. Walked regularly for food, but once returned, the poor fellow caught a terrible picture ... His nieces and Knothead Splinter stole villain-Buzz Buzzard, and the dogs-minions thereof prohindeya pulled even owned by babes-sisters pocket top box. Of course, all this we must now pay the ransom! But remember, I told you, what can be ruthless woodpeckers? And Woody was no exception. Instead of paying ingenuously villain, he threw himself into his crusade! So, a little-known developer Ekosystem conjunction with publisher DreamCatcher done, as said Carlson, a miracle - bespristavochnym children of programmers, designers and other computer creatures finally perepal normal platformer in the style of children under sixteen. " In general, the game is, of course, suitable for any age, but the genre, characters, and gameplay is definitely showing that the game is this - children, so late matured gamers I would not recommend it highly. Throughout the action, and it is - 21 levels (not too much nor too little), we have to manage the popular multgeroya and his nephews in order to reunite the family and to punish the evil crow. Attend as we are in the house Woody, garden, woods, a Mexican village, town and, of course, Buzz Buzzard Park where, in fact, committed the same flight. All of these locations delight in diversity, abundance of secrets and new things to help woodpecker on the road.The very same God Ptah must be worn at these levels, collect emblem "W", lives or dollars, for which he can win anything if it finds a slot machine, fight chicks, dodging lightning, fires, fly on rockets and peck his nose various obstacles. However, his niece, too, will not stand idly by and through their presence, we get a unique opportunity to ride a jet dzhetbordah, just like in the movie "Back to the Future." Something like this is even chasing Chaos Emerald in Sonike2, moreover, that for the successful passage of these racing levels, we need to collect a certain amount, no, no rings - the finish flags. Now let the layout, and I'll start, perhaps, with voice acting, especially since it is very original. Despite the fact that a family of woodpeckers, living in our television has always been English-speaking, here they all suddenly lost his voice! Discussions in the form of a similarity or syusyukanya bubukanya (depending on the character). Despite this, only one tone is enough to understand what is at stake, and yet our services more and subtitles. Music is in the game are also very cute, fun and children to the bone. Sound effects are not too plentiful, and are satisfied, of course, not perfect, but they fit well into the overall sonic picture of the game. But the graphics are not all that smooth. Despite the fact that the following figures and animated characters very well, and the surrounding scenery and just do what they please the eye defects still a lot. Immediately striking inept use of the effect that turns the volume figures in the cartoon. Line stroke is sometimes appear out of place or missing, and sometimes even cripple our favorite woodpecker. The second major problem in the game - the camera. At various stages, we see a woodpecker from behind, side or front, almost like Crash Bandicoot, but at the sight from behind is sometimes nose to nose with his character, and since you have to just go ahead, do not know where Woody will step the next step and not fall down there in the pit. Annoying behavior, and the camera in places where it should behave created by the programmer specified, not always it gives the opportunity to see the panorama in all its glory. A view of the woodpecker, finish the level, and at all makes him look like a blue klyuvastuyu pig under the umbrella. However, if you forget about all this, the game turns out very nice - of fire and electrical special effects shots, funny fall simply adorable. I think the developers of Ekosystem did exactly what expect from their computers, millions of children. Of course, this stuff is fully complete on consoles, but believe me, many do not because to them, and so want to play.