MEMBER PROFILE FOR ALC
Average Overall Score Given: 8.68421 / 10
Total Forum Posts: 242
Reviews
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Overall: The most addictive GTA title to date. Absolutely ENORMOUS game with respect to the map, story and sheer volume of stuff to do! A (very) long awaited port from the PS2 version doesn't offer anything new beyond tuned graphics, but it's still a superb game.Gameplay: The new targetting system is quick to pick up, and works beautifully in conjunction with the brand-new experience system. Once you reach Hitman level with your wide range of weapons, the gameplay hits new heights.
The vast explorable map offers a huge variety of vehicles as you might expect, the biggest new difference since vice city is the new catalogue of aircraft. There's much more of an emphasis on flight in this game which I LOVE.
Graphics: While the graphics are way better than the PS2 version, (especially noticeable is the draw distance), the game still doesn't look fantastic. There are some cool reflections and the sunsets look pretty just like they did in vice city, but the game still could use some polishing graphically.
The leap from ps2 to xbox isn't nearly as noticeable as it was for Vice City. I feel like Rockstar Vienna handled it a little bit better.. Maybe you could blame it on the sheer amount of stuff in the game! It kills me that these games don't come out on the xbox first.. I bet they'd look great
Audio: The guns sound more realistic, explosions and stuff seem virtually unchanged from the days of gtaIII. Full voiceovers and lots of ambient noises are what we'd come to expect from the busy streets in these games. Custom soundtrack support is ESSENTIAL in driving games, I was a bit disappointed and confused to see that you can no longer skip tracks like in vice city. I mean, if you could do it in the 80s.. why not in the 90s?
Suggestions: Beef up those graphics, and for the love of GOD implement an online mode.
There's nothing quite like the multi-theft-auto mod for the PC version.
Overall Score: 10.0 / 10
Fable
Overall: Fable was a multi-directional adventure game that was nearly killed by hype that no game could live up to. It was a decent game, but even with the whole good/bad fates aspect It didn't offer enough replay value for me.Gameplay: A whole bunch of different spells and the experience-multiplier thing kept this game from being another one of those "enter an area, kill everyone, enter new area and repeat" kinda games. Some pretty neat magical stuff made it more than just a sword-swinging exercise.
Lots of cool stuff to buy, but not as much as games like dungeon siege.
Graphics: Graphics were quite swell, I haven't played the game in a while and I don't remember them being particularly awesome or bad. The environments were good, the forest had some nice detail.
Audio: Full voice and cool sound effects. I wouldn't have settled for any less on an xbox game :)
Good atmospheric music and different dialogue for nearly every character. Pretty sweet
Suggestions: Make it longer! I had this game beaten in a matter of days and sadly didn't touch it again. That sword at the end wasn't enough to make me want to play it through multiple times.
I'd check out a sequel if one gets made
Overall Score: 8.0 / 10
Dead or Alive Ultimate
Overall: Team Ninja hits the mark again with a stunning rerelease of DOA1 and 2. While it isn't perfect, DOA2U is the best fighter I've played on the xbox to date. Both games were packaged together like the GTA collection that was released a while back, and it suffered the same problems.. Hardly anybody plays the older game! Only the really hardcore fans can be found playing DOA1 online, while many haven't even touched it.Gameplay: The gameplay in DOA2U is enough to appease any fan of the DOA franchise. It has most of the winning elements that xbox gamers grew to love in DOA3. The gameplay is quick and engaging, as well as ridiculously addictive.
One thing that I felt was missing from DOA2U was a set of more in-depth instructions in the sparring mode for beginners. While it still is a good place to start and learn the moves, it left out a few core gameplay elements and left this newbie a bit confused. "Danger reach" is hard to figure out the first time.
DOA1U (obviously) seems a lot slower and clunkier than DOA2U, and as a result it hardly gets any attention. Why would anyone but the most die-hard fans bother to play a legacy game when there's a faster, deeper, and better-looking version right in front of them?
Graphics: Every game that Team Ninja has produced for the xbox looks simply stunning. The environments are the best yet, I never get tired of seeing the simulated sunshine on the meticulously detailed water and grass. Not to mention the character detail! Scores of different outfits make every match interesting.
DOA1u had sharper graphics than ever before, but they didn't refurbish it in the same way they did with DOA2u.
Audio: Cool music and full japanese voiceovers are what I'd come to expect from my experience with DOA3, but I was hoping we'd be able to use custom soundtracks in this one! Especially since the last DOA Game (Xtreme beach volleyball) allowed us to use custom tracks. I was a bit disappointed by that, it would have been sweet.. but it's no that big a deal I guess.
Suggestions: More in-depth sparring or training mode for beginners! Not everyone picking up the game is a seasoned pro!
Custom soundtracks please!!
Downloadable content perhaps?
Overall Score: 9.0 / 10
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow
Overall: Easilly one of the best Xbox games I've played to date. Totally fun from start to finish, with addictive online play.Gameplay: Even after finishing the first game, I'm still amazed at Sam Fisher's ability to do crazy stuff. Offline; The game gets 5/5, and Online, it gets 5/5.
There could have been more single player levels, but with xbox live, there WILL be
Graphics: Outstanding graphics, ubisoft ups the ante with every game they release. I'm in awe every time I pick up a new game.
Audio: Full voice and everything, just like the last game. My only gripe is that The AI-speech just wasn't believeable. They'd say things like "what was that" over and over, It didn't bother me too much anyway. otherwise the game was great.
Suggestions: Keep up the good work, possibly more online modes, more levels (for on/offline modes)
Overall Score: 10.0 / 10
Robotech: Battlecry
Overall: A great concept that didn't turn out exactly the way I'd hoped. 3 Different control schemes make the game a bit frustrating.Gameplay: Overall not a very bad game, but some of the missions have tedious objectives that simply aren't very fun.
Graphics: Cool cel-shaded graphics reflect the style of the Macross series. They pulled this off pretty well.
Audio: Full voice and a decent soundtrack, the rest of the sounds are fine too, but nothing special really.
Suggestions: Take more time with your next title, this game could have been awesome
Overall Score: 6.0 / 10
MechAssault
Overall: Tremendously fun multiplayer. This game is awesome with very few areas in which it is lacking. The single player is pretty cool too.I gave it 5/5 because it has downloadable content :)
I think like counterstrike, it will always be fun to pull out MechAssault and have a game now and then, even a long time from now.
Gameplay: This game is cool as it is, with good controls and fun gameplay. But I think the next mechassault game (you know there will be another) should be more jetpack oriented with taller buildings and falling damage.
It also needs more multiplayer modes such as Godzilla. It would be helpful if they showed who was speaking in an xbl match, similar to motoGP.
Other than that, this game is really fun.
Graphics: Mech Assault has great graphics. Nothing too exciting, but maybe I've just been desensitized to great graphics by splinter cell :)
Audio: The sounds again are good but nothing too awesome. You don't notice them being particularly good or bad when you're focused on the gameplay.
Suggestions: Classes of Mech: Lightweight, Heavyweight etc
more jetpack oriented gameplay w/ falling damage & taller buildings
customizeable mechs?
Otherwise this game is killer. Thumbs up
Overall Score: 10.0 / 10
Hunter: The Reckoning
Overall: Coooool! This game has it all. Magic, A huge axe, shotguns, zombies, .. something that appears to be ninja zomies... and an emphasis on multiplayer!Gameplay: The controls are good enough once you get used to it. There are some minor little problems you may encounter but nothing that anyone should really notice :p
Graphics: The cutscenes aren't anything to write home about, but the graphics in-game are where it's at. The whole game's got an awesome arcadish feel to it.
Audio: Every enemy makes more or less the same sound, but the soundtrack is alright and the cutscenes have full voice.
Suggestions: keep up the good work! Make a sequel that expands more on the nifty story you've got goin here. More hunters, at least six so every player gets at least a little choice, and nobody gets 'stuck' with a certain character.
Overall Score: 10.0 / 10
Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter
Overall: I played a demo of Starwars Jedi Starfigher on an OXM disc once upon a time, and it seemed awesome so I went ahead and got it. I'm gonna try not to call buying this game a "big mistake", but rather a misjudgement.The engine is good, controls are fine, and overall it's neat. A good game to play indeed with some minor control issues (such as hitting the ground rapidly and exploding when all you wanted to do was skim it.)
Gameplay: game's seriously lacking in the levels department! I had this game beaten, as well as everything unlocked in a matter of days. If I'd have known that I'd have whipped Jedi Starfighter over the course of a weekend, I would have rented it instead.
Jedi Starfighter is the perfect renter, but I dont think anybody would get their money's worth by buying it.
The game does offer a multiplayer mode with both cooperative and head-to-head options, but it gets boring quick and isnt enough to save the game.
Graphics: The graphics are good in-game but the CG Cutscenes are a little unsettling. I wasnt expecting FMV sequences with the real Samuel Jackson, but what I got seemed a little poor.. Why couldnt lucas arts go nuts with the cgi like in the movies?
Audio: The sounds were nice enough. The game includes full voice narratives and other such things i've come to expect in starwars combat sim games.
Suggestions: More levels fool!!!
Overall Score: 6.0 / 10
Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee
Overall: Much and Abe deliver a fun adventure title that makes the perfect rental. The killer price gets it an additional half a point for overall appeal.However; like most adventure games, after it's beaten, you sort of forget it and don't play it much after that..
Gameplay: Good controls, no major bugs, a great concept, strong game engine. No bad points worth mentioning, but it just wasnt what i'd call "like whoah". 4.5/5
Graphics: Very nicely detailed environments and characters. If this game had worse graphics, I don't think it would have scored like it did, because the shading and textures and what-not really help to set the mood.
Audio: Yet another game with full voice dialogues. I like to see it characters talking to eachother, without me having to hit the A button after reading each scentence.
"If I wanted to read, I wouldn't have rented a game.. I would have bought a book!"
Suggestions: keep up the good work! :p
Overall Score: 9.0 / 10
Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath Of Cortex
Overall: A good clean adventure game. Though I may never know what drove Mr. Crash Bandicoot to forefeit his position as the unofficial mascot for the sony playstaion, but i'm glad he did. I doubt it would have much replay value once beaten though.
Gameplay: Decent controls and fun gameplay. The camera angles can be a bit descieving at times, and it gets a little frustrating. Nonetheless, I had fun playing it.
Graphics: The graphics were what they needed to be. It didnt set it apart from previous crash games in terms of textures or realism. It had some neat effects when crash died, but graphical detail was not what they were going for when they designed this game. The environments were well done though, It's not as bad as I make it sound :-).
Audio: Wacky cartoon sounds were right were they should be in this game. Full speech dialogues and decent music tracks make this game an even 4/5 in the music department.
Suggestions: Some neat multiplayer modes would have been beneficial to the replayability.
Overall Score: 9.0 / 10
Amped: Freestyle Snowboarding
Overall: A truly awesome snowboarding game that does justice to the xbox. Soundtrack support, great graphics and Multiplayer modes make this a wicked game to rent or buy.Gameplay: The controls are brilliantly layed out in Amped. The tricks are cool, and not too hard to pull off. Hardly any control problems with this game. Some of it is rather difficult, but in a good way. Lots of levels and runs give Amped good replay value.
Graphics: Amped has truly spectacular graphics. The lighting and textures are beautiful. It's the best looking snowboarding game I've seen to date.
Audio: The sound is where Amped really stands out from other snowboard titles. It includes like 200 indie music tracks, and supports custom xbox soundtracks. This makes gameplay wicked cool! The built-in tracks are separated into categories, so you can say, disable the hip-hop, and enable your own custom soundtracks, as well as all the punk and ska tunes. Again, truly kickass.
Suggestions: Keep up the good work!
Overall Score: 9.0 / 10
Max Payne
Overall: A true beauty with only one problem. If Max Payne had multiplayer, it would just plain rock. It's still one of my favs.Gameplay: It rocked on the PC and it rocks on the xbox. The controller makes it simple to maneuver and it has no control issues, unlike alot of games i've played. It took virtually no time to master movement and the bullettime.
Graphics: Killer graphics. This is how Max Payne was MENT to look. The xbox really does it justice with it's hardware power.
Audio: Great sounds and music. I liked the voices, and the abundance thereof. The weapons and explosions were perfect. The music was good, it really helped to set the mood.
Suggestions: Multiplayer mode! and possibly some wacky cheats? ;-)
Overall Score: 9.0 / 10
Wreckless: The Yakuza Mission
Overall: Killer graphics don't exactly cut the mustard in a game with many control issues and numerous apparant bugs.Gameplay: The learning curve is somewhat steep. It takes a little while to get a hang of the steering. Once you've got that down; even so; it's pretty tough and frustrating at times. NO MULTIPLAYER. 2.5 for lack of multiplayer and stupid glitches.
Graphics: The graphics are; for the most part KILLER. but then again, it occasionally looks jagged and lame. but most often, it's a great lookin game. 4.5 for graphics. Plus the cutscenes (with the people) are a little weak, but at the same time have a kind-of cartooney feel.
Audio: The sounds are pretty good, but It could use soundtrack support. The motor sounds and crashes are nice, but nothing special.. Though it's difficult to have something special in the sound dept. nowadays.
Suggestions: More depth.
Fix the many control bugs.
Take more time on your next release, dont' rush!!!
Soundtrack support
Multiplayer
More cars/levels
Overall Score: 8.0 / 10
Dead or Alive 3
Overall: Amazing graphics and gameplay. A bunch of gameplay modes and a spiffy multiplayer are some of DOA3's strong points. I appreciate the 4 difficulty settings, because the "easy" mode is far TOO easy. The game is alot shorter than i'd expected. I'm still waiting for the addon disc, hopefully this will make the game a little more challenging. The replay value is the only place where this game is lacking.Gameplay: Controls are fine, and abundance of moves and a .. sufficient number of characters. The game could still do with more characters though. The story mode is far too short, It needs more to it.
Graphics: Stunning graphics and unsurpassed "realism" :p. The visuals are virtually flawless with a few minor problems that aren't even worth mentioning here :-)
Audio: DOA3 has fine sound for a fighting game. From Jann Lee's high pitches shreiks to the explosions and crashes. My only gripe was that there was no soundtrack support. Granted this would be a little tricky in a fighting game, you would hardly get to hear alot of your songs.. But i think if you were to be able to play to your own soundtrack, it would rock. Imagine fighting to a rave/techno tune!
Suggestions: More depth please!
I'm awaiting the booster disc.
Overall Score: 9.0 / 10
Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2
Overall: Good clean fun! I was most pleased with this game for a variety of reasons. The multiplayer modes and the "proquest" modes can keep one playing for hours. With only minor flaws, which i'll get into under 'gameplay'.. this game gets a 4.5 overall. Good competition for Matt hoffman.Gameplay: Awesome tricks, and satisfactory steering.. It's an acquired skill I guess.. But even after playing for like 3 days when I was supposed to 'knock over ladders', I had some trouble righting myself, and heading straight at them without falling into a bowl, or off a platform of some sort :-). But it's great for jumping etc.
Graphics: Nice graphics. nothing special, but they get the job done in a game that emphasizes gameplay and control.
I'd now like to draw attention to what appears to be a bug in the game, that I just love. When you wipe out, you can grab onto a rail or nearby ledge to keep your rider from falling by using the Y button. But more often than not, it'll make your rider flop around like a rag-doll, trying to breakdance. I call it dave mirra's 'seizuring'.
Audio: It gets a 4.0 alone for soundtrack support. This is an ESSENTIAL feature in a biking or sports game, It just sets the mood ;D . But I bumped it up to 4.5 because of the realism. Be it a nasty face-plant, or a grind along the hood of a car, this games's got the sound effect for it.
Suggestions: Include a mini game for best seizuring!
Best crash multiplayer mode was brilliant! Keep it up.
Overall Score: 9.0 / 10
UFC: Tapout
Overall: Utter garbage. I cant think of a reason for anyone to buy this title. The gameplay modes and graphical detail, as well as gameplay itself is severely lacking. I didn't much care for this game at all.If the game was more fun, I'd say it was "challenging" but after about an hour of play, it's just no fun, and too frustrating.
UFC got some pretty good ratings at this site, which lead me to think "am i playing the same game? This really isnt' what i'd expected!"
Gameplay: The gameplay has some good aspects, but the graphics, sound and controls are sup-standard for an xbox game. The limited number of moves is disappointing too.
Graphics: The graphics, though well textured at some points, for the most part are just awful. They've got a guy standing with a microphone, who's mouth isn't moving.. but you hear a bunch of dialogue..
Audio: The game does have some satisfying smack and punch sounds, but the crowd is hardly convincing, and the voices of the announcers are just plain lame.
Suggestions: I feel so mean and nasty now, I really tore into this game.. but It had to be said. It is one of the top rated games at xboxaddict, and after playing it, I cant understand why.
UFC Tapout lacks in some very key areas. I think that had they worked a little harder, and a little longer on this game, it could've turned out half decent.
Overall Score: 5.0 / 10
Project Gotham Racing
Overall: Project Gotham Racing is an excellent game for the fan of the racing genre. After I mastered the steering, it immediately became one of my favorite racing games of all time. It's various play modes make for a long-lasting and enjoyable racing experience.Gameplay: Project Gotham offers many modes of play, Kudos Challenge, Arcade Race etc.. This is a good feature in a game.. The medals/Kudos wagers make for a high replay value. The only problem I had with this game was it's limited multiplayer games.. There's only head-to-head mode, No street races with AI players, or Kudos challenges or whatever... That would be pretty cool, having a friend over and playing PGR isn't what it could/should be with the one mode of play.
Graphics: PGR has great graphics and visuals. The scenery pop-up is so distant, I can only recall about 3 occasions when I saw something in the distance popup before me.. This does wonders for the realism. The only problem I had with it was, I found some of the levels were a little dark, and I felt the headlights were'nt really doing their job on levels that take place at sunset.. In night tracks, you can see a beam of light cast fromt he headlights, but It was missing in these levels, which lead to many a nasty crash :-. But it's not that big of a problem..
Audio: The game has great sounds, from the engines humming to the screeching tires, It's got it where it counts with a racing game. I also love the soundtrack support, and the large selection of tunes that came included. When you drive through a tunnel, you can actually lose the radio signal for a bit, which also brings the realism up a notch. Not to mention the radio VJs, and different stations.
Suggestions: More multiplayer modes!!!
More cars? (you can never have too many!)
Cheat cars? (the wierder the better!)
Overall Score: 10.0 / 10
Halo: Combat Evolved
Overall: When I first tried this game out at EB in the mall, I knew I was in love. I was born to have this game. My dream came true on christmas when I recieved both the system and the game. The game was like a dream, instantly one of my favorites. The Co-op mode only sweetened the deal.Gameplay: The gameplay was virtually flawless, the controls were noteably sexy. The concept was much more than a simple FPS, it takes to the sky, and lets you pilot vehicles and such. Not since Shadow Warrior ((and now that I think of it, Tribes 2)) have I enjoyed such features. I didnt at all find the game repetitive through the whole first time I played. The four greatly differing difficulty levels provide great replay value.
I've given the gameplay a 4.5/5, as opposed to a perfect 5 for one simple reason: NO BOT SUPPORT IN SPLIT-SCREEN/DEATHMATCH MODES. I would thuroughly enjoy being able to have a deathmatch/multiplayer game with AI-Computer players, like in Unreal Tournament.. But I suppose the Online play (which I have yet to play) hopefully will redeem this one flaw.
Graphics: Being one of the Xbox's "pilot games", I thought it was sort of.. required that It had breathtaking graphics, This it certainly had. Reflective surfaces, Explosions, Sprite and vehicle movements, They were all perfect! My firend, who owns a Gamecube says he doesnt care for the graphics, and says they aren't comperable to that of Super Smash Brothers because it doesnt have as many smooth, rounded surfaces. On the contrary, this game doesnt NEED as many rounded surfaces, because the main character is not a Cartoon character. They were going for realism in the graphics and they hit the nail on the head!
Audio: The sound department isn't really an essential to an FPS game's success, but HALO has no worries. The AI (both friendly and enemy) both speak to you and eachother, which I think is amazing. The gunshots and explosions sound incredible. The sounds emitted from the vehicles is equally breathtaking. I rated it a 4.5 instead of a 5 because it does NOT support Xbox soundtracks, which I think would be awesome.. Though I like the existing music in the game, I'd sooner be blasting banshees out of the sky whilst listening to rob zombie than the music they give you.. There are also parts of the game that have no music at all, which isn't really a problem, I just think it would be cool if you could stick your own music in..
Suggestions: Bot support in multiplayer!!
Overall Score: 10.0 / 10
