VIDEO GAME: DEUS EX: HUMAN REVOLUTION

Deus Ex: Human Revolution (2011)

A challenging vision of the near-future

By Peter Shafer

Publisher: Square Enix

Developer: Eidos Montreal

Genre: First-Person Shooter

Release Date: August 23rd, 2011

Our Rating: 9/10

The idea, on its face, isn’t original. A man is gunned down by organized criminals, only to be rebuilt with super-powered prosthetic limbs and mechanized innards, who now must find those responsible for the attack and exact revenge. However, Deus Ex: Human Revolution uses this as a starting point, and builds on top of it a game that’s easily a contender for game of the year.

Adam Jensen, chief of security for Sarif Industries, has been outfitted with “augmentations” which grant him superior sense and strength. This isn’t uncommon in the near-future world of Human Revolution though. Many who have the means will use augmentations to overcome physical handicaps, or to replace parts of their bodies altogether. Though these augmentations are not guaranteed to be compatible with the host’s body, and more likely than not the user must take a drug for the rest of their life in order to prevent their body from rejecting augmentations. Therein lies the overarching conflict of Human Revolution: augmentations can do great things, but they are also a source of misery and puts pressure on those who can’t afford to become augmented.

Adam Jensen had his augmentations installed as he was on the brink of death. Upon recovering he is thrust into defending Sarif Industries from violent pro-human purists while attempting to unravel the conspiracy surrounding an earlier attack on his employer. The player’s job is to decide how Jensen should manage and develop his augmentations as he confronts each scenario in the game. There are a wide array abilities that can be unlocked, ranging from combat, to stealth, sensory, hacking, and even Jensen’s social ability. Each type of augmentation enables Jensen to resolve conflicts in a different manner according to the player’s preference. Enemy targets can be killed, incapacitated, bypassed entirely, and at times even reasoned with in order for Jensen to accomplish his objective.

Human Revolution is a challenging game, not simply from the standpoint of difficulty to complete, but in the decisions that Jensen needs to make throughout the course of the game. While there’s the obvious ethical contention between the use of lethal and non-lethal force, the player will also become entangled in face-to-face debates with other characters that Jensen attempts persuade to cooperate with him. The player is not only forced to evaluate the concept of human augmentation and it’s impact but to at times decide whether or not to engage in cognitive dissonance: essentially saying what you think the other character wants to hear rather than what the player would want Jensen to say. Where other games have approached this mechanic in a fairly static sense (good versus bad; aggressive or passive) Human Revolution is more organic in presenting the user with responses.

Part of what makes the experience engaging is the breadth and detail given to the game’s world. There are some incredible scenes and locations, and the near future presentation is believable. It takes its cues from current science, technology, and ethical debates and extends them into a dramatic plot that has the potential to color your view of the present. The game is not without its flaws though. For instance, boss fights dispose of the concept of finding more than one way to resolve a conflict. I can understand that sometimes there just aren’t other options, but it is a stark contrast from the rest the of game. There are also points when conversations surrounding the plot’s conspiracy get to be a little much. That being said, its flaws are minor in comparison to everything else that the game manages to do.

Human Revolution is easily one of my favorite games this year and I would recommend it to those who even somewhat interested. I’ve never played any of the other games in the Deus Ex series and only became interested in Human Revolution several days before its release. It’s got a lot to offer, even without any online multiplayer functionality. Having played through it once already I am definitely interested in playing again using new strategies.

Related Links:
Official Website

ESRB Rating: Mature for Blood, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol

ERIECON 2011

Looking for something to do August 26th through the 28th? Look no further. Eriecon is coming to town!

Eriecon is a game convention featuring board games, card games, video games, and all around fun in the style of fantasy and science fiction! Whether you’re trying to find people to share your favorite table top game with, or you’re interested in low budget film discussion, Eriecon is the place to be.

Eriecon will cater to those new to the game industry, as well as those who have a passion for it. If you’ve never learned to play a tabletop game like Dungeons and Dragons, Eriecon will be the ideal place to try it out. If you’re a veteran, you can look forward to unique and new table top experiences, as well. Eriecon will feature games such as Call of Cthulhu, Swords and Wizardry, Munchkin games, Palladium, and many more!

For those of you who have an interest in science fiction or fantasy writing, Eriecon will be holding panels with special guest authors Michael Martinek and Carol Weakland. Martinek will be signing books as well as holding a panel discussion on the creation of low budget films. Weakland will be holding a writing workshop, as well as also signing books.

Eriecon will be holding it’s own “Kniziathon” or, an open tournament featuring a collection of games from award winning game design Reiner Knizia. The prizes for this tournament are copies of Knizia’s games, signed by the man himself!

If you’re into collectable card games, Eriecon will be featuring a YuGiOh tournament with fantastic prizes, as well as the nation qualifier for Vampire: The Eternal Struggle.

And of course, Eriecon will not be forgetting about you video game fans. Eriecon will be holding video game tournaments with valuable prizes as well.

Eriecon will also be holding a charity auction for the Lupus Foundation. You can bring your old video games, and donate them to the auction.

Eriecon will be held from August 26th through the 28th, 24 hours a day, at the Avalon Hotel in downtown Erie. Eriecon starts at 7pm on Friday, with the doors closing at 6pm on Sunday.

Tickets for Eriecon will be $20, and that includes all events for every day of the convention.

You can order tickets for Eriecon, and view and their website HERE

VIDEO GAME: SHADOWS OF THE DAMNED

Shadows of the Damned (2011)

Grasshopper Manufacture brings you one of the year’s most bizarre adventures.

By Peter Shafer

Publisher: Electronic Arts

Developer: Grasshopper Manufacture

Genre: Action Adventure

Release Date: June 21st, 2011

Our Rating: 8/10

Shadows of the Damned puts you in the shoes of Garcia Hotspur: a Mexican demon hunter who manages to tick off the lord of the underworld, Fleming. Fleming has kidnapped Garcia’s girlfriend and returned to hell where he has laid out a series of treacherous levels that Garcia must traverse. Together with his talking skull/torch/handgun/motorcycle sidekick, Johnson, you begin the game outside the gates of the underworld.

If you are familiar with Resident Evil 4’s over-the-shoulder, third-person shooting style, then you’ve got a good idea of what to expect from SotD’s game play. You must quickly dispatch demons with your choice of weapon: a handgun, shotgun, machine gun, or your torch. Each one allows you to target different areas of the target’s body: slowing them down by blowing off a leg; weakening them by removing their arms; or just shooting straight for the head. While difficult to pull off, the game rewards you for head-shots by not only killing the demon instantly, but also giving you a slow-motion fast cut of their skull being blown to bits. My chief complaint with the gun play is that your default aiming speed is far too quick and leads to you aiming past your targets more often than not. This can be adjusted in the game’s options though.  Otherwise, the game play is fun and well composed.

It may not come to be a surprise that SotD carries a distinct grindhouse flavor to it and pays homage to a number of films. The game likes to frequently shift tone between the horrific, lurid, and humorous. There is no doubt that the game has earned it’s M rating, as just about every character has the tendancy to make sex jokes and spout profanities (both in English and Spanish) at the drop of a hat. It might become a bit grating for some, but it manages to add to the overall unique (and bizarre) qualities of the game. As over-the-top as it is, SotD’s characters are memorable and entertaining. The story, by no means mind-blowing, still keeps you guessing and engaged as you progress through each level.

Your kept on your toes with another game play mechanic: puzzles requiring you to manipulate light and darkness. In the darkness, Demons are stronger and Garcia will be drained of his life. This can be averted by lighting up goat head lamps around each stage or by setting off fireworks. This does not impede the action of the game in most cases, and the act of lighting up a room is as natural as shooting any other demon. But you still need to consider your strategies carefully.  Lights can be turned back off again and it’s easy to find yourself struggling to split your attention between the light and demons.  SotD provides the player with an upgrade system to aid in this task. Each weapon can be given improved power, ammo capacity, and reload speeds. You can continuously tinker with how you are playing the game, and if so inclined, you can replay the game using entirely different strategies.  The player is consistently and frequently rewarded, and I found it difficult to put the game down after getting started.

If you’re looking for something different then Shadows of the Damned is worth checking out. It offers solid game play and entertaining characters, but it can require a bit of patience at times. Designed by Goichi Suda (No More Heroes), Shinji Mikami (Resident Evil 4), and Akira Yamaoka (Silent Hill), this trio manages to put together an experience unlike any other in this year. There’s a lot more that could be done with this concept, and I hope that we’ll eventually see Garcia Hotspur return a sequel (and maybe even a Travis Touchdown cameo? (I can hope.))

Related Links:
Official Website

ESRB Rating: Rated Mature for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language.

VIDEO GAME: SANCTUM

Sanctum (2011)

Cooperatively create mazes of death.

By: Eric Fink

Developer: Coffee Stain Studios

Platform: PC

Genre: Action, Indie, Strategy

Release Date: April 15th, 2011

Our Rating: 7/10

Sanctum is an action packed indie game that mashes a first person shooter and a tower defense game together.  You build towers during a building phase and when you think you’re ready, a wave of enemies will try to run past them to your power core.  The tower defense genre is one spawned in recent years thanks to games like Warcraft 3 and it’s powerful custom map generator.  Sanctum doesn’t just stop at tower defending however, you also get to shoot your enemies as they try to pass you.

You might think that building towers and mazes for enemies to crawl through would be a difficult task in the first person, but with Sanctum’s overhead view that can be turned on or off at any time, this is a relatively painless feat.  You can plan out your entire maze before you even build one tower.

In Sanctum, towers are based off of blocks that you build.  A block will prevent an enemy from passing and force them to move around it.  Blocks are how Sanctum allows for the creation of mazes.  Once a block is built,  you may construct a tower on top of it.  From this point, the tower may be sold or upgraded.  There are a variety of towers to choose from, with effects ranging from the slowing of enemies, to the bombarding and mortaring of groups.  Each tower costs money, and upgrading ramps in cost for each level a tower is upgraded to.  You must choose the right tower for the right enemies.

Enemies are even more varied than the towers are.  We have creatures that can fly, creatures that can only be hit in the head, and creatures that gain speed when not faced with turning a corner, just to name a few.  This wide variety of enemies leads to a game that is both challenging and rewarding.  If you mess up your tower building in just one turn, you will pay for it for the entire remainder of the game.  Sanctum does not hold your hand.  This game can be hard.  Luckily for you, Sanctum allows you to bring a buddy with you.

In coop, two players can build on the same map together.  During a wave, each player gets credit for each kill, so stealing kills from your partner is irrelevant.  With the added player comes added difficulty.  Coop mode is hard, and it will take some time just to get past a few levels.  Due to only having half of the money from single player, you cannot upgrade some towers as early as you would like, and rather are faces with quantity over quality.

The maps in Sanctum are wonderful.  Each of these maps is filled with easter eggs and small treasures to discover.  Each map also creates a unique way to defend your power core.  This added variety in levels is what will keep you coming back, as every game you play will act and feel different.

For the cost, and the continued support of the game, Sanctum is worth checking out.  The at times absurd difficulty can turn you off from the game, but with dedication you will obtain satisfaction from this title.  For those who enjoy strategy and also don’t mind cracking some skulls in first person, this is a game built for you.

Related Links:
Official Website

ESRB Rating: N/A

A new Indie game review every week!
Like this review? Check out my review of Frozen Synapse

VIDEO GAME: FROZEN SYNAPSE

Frozen Synapse (2011)

If at first you don’t succeed, you have failed.

By: Eric Fink

Developer: Mode 7

Platform: PC, Mac

Genre: Strategy, Indie

Release Date: May 26th, 2011

Our Rating: 8/10

Frozen Synapse is every tactical game lover’s dream. Think of a mixture between Tron and a tabletop miniatures game.  Players start each game with a set amount of units they can control.  Each player takes turns moving and selecting orders for their units, but the orders and movements are not executed until both players have made their decisions.  After decisions are submitted, the outcome of each player’s actions is shown.

For an example of what a completed game could look like, check out this video:

In the above video the turns are sped up and linked together, but an actual game could take weeks to complete if you so wish.  Seeing as you submit your turns to a server, and the server creates an outcome, you can stretch games out almost infinitely.  This can be frustrating if you’re looking for a quick match, but it also allows you to make a turn while you do other things.  As stated, this is a double edged sword.  Games can get drawn out very long, and at first when you’re learning to play this can be frustrating.  On the other hand, I’m currently playing five games at once.  This is only possible due to the ability to take turns slowly and wait.

Luckily for new players, Frozen Synapse includes an extensive single player mode, including a tutorial.  The single player mode will prepare you for the challenges that lie ahead against other humans.  This is not an easy campaign and will test your wits, forcing you into becoming a good player.  Through over 50 levels you will break into banks, escort hostages, or just murder the enemy team.

There are five unit classes in Frozen Synapse.  Machine gunners will provide general support, suppressive fire and are a good unit all around.  Shotgun units move very quickly, and devastate close range, but do not provide anything at a long range.  Rocket Launcher units can destroy walls and barriers with their attacks, but are vulnerable while shooting.  Grenade units can lob grades around corners by ricocheting their throws, and are useful for clearing rooms.  Finally we have a sniper unit that excels at long range combat and support.

Controlling these units effectively is essential to victory.  You must utilize cover and give your units safe travel from one point to another.  Without considering the best way to use your team as a whole, you will lose.  Losing in Frozen Synapse is very common.  This game is hard, very hard.  You will be beaten over and over online  and offline until you begin to formulate effective strategies.  This is not a game for those looking for head shots, kill streaks and instant gratification.

The stat tracking and integration of other services in this game is fantastic.  Your match history, wins and losses, and entire replays of your games are stored.  Replaying an old match and watching how an opponent moves and reacts can be extremely helpful.  You may “follow” other players, and view their stats in depth as well.  Additionally Frozen Synapse allows you to “like” matches after they are finished, add comments to them, and even upload them directly to YouTube.  Frozen Synapse also features Twitter and Facebook integration to allow you further sharing of your matches.

Frozen Synapse is not only a difficult game, but also one that is difficult to sell to gamers used to action packed first person shooters.  The steep difficulty curve can be very challenging to cross.  This game celebrates the intricacies of tactical combat, rather than the satisfaction of the actual killing.  If you’re a fan of strategy, tabletop games, or even Tron, I would suggest giving this game a try.   Frozen Synapse retails for $19.99 (Includes TWO copies!) on Steam.

Related Links:
Official Website

ESRB Rating: N/A

A new Indie game review every week!
Like this review? Check out my review of Inside a Star-filled Sky