I had said I’d review bad company 2 but I realised there are far better game journalists out there, instead I’m going to do 2 micro-reviews and post some of my thoughts on these games from an aspiring designers point of view.
Battlefield: Bad Company 2(PS3)
I’ve had a few weeks to get to grips with Bad Company 2 and I have to say I love it! I’ve only ever played previous Battlefield titles a handful of times but the experience has always been good. Bad Company 2 is no different, however it is a game divided between the single player and multiplayer modes.
Single Player -
In the single player mode the story plays out as a very generic shooter, that’s not to say it isn’t entertaining but it lacks some of the tension and excitement found in games like Uncharted 2 and Modern Warfare 2. Destructible environments are a nice addition but the lack of intelligence by your AI teammates and the laser like accuracy of the enemy can lead to frustration. There’s actually not all that much to say on the single player campaign without going into excessive detail, if you’re only going to play single player and you’re not a big FPS fan then it’s probably not worth parting with your hard-earned cash.
Multiplayer -
Bad Company 2 really comes into its own when being played online, the game modes offer variety and hinge upon teamwork. Rush, Conquest and Squad Deathmatch all rely on players working together and a good team is often the difference between success and failure. I found myself massively engaged in battles and wanting to prove my worth within a squad, dragging your squad down almost feels like failure. In ways I think it makes for a highly social FPS game, made even more so by the use of headsets and a few friends.
Meanwhile the array of vehicles and player classes allows for varied play styles, although getting to grips with piloting some of the helicopters seems to be a skill in itself! With all this armour and firepower the destructible scenery interacts with players to an amazing degree and allows for tactics that are out-of-bounds for almost every other FPS on the market.
For complete FPS newbies I can see this being a tough game to get into but for players looking for something more that run and gun tactics it’s an ideal purchase.
Score: 8/10
Transformers G1: Awakening(iPhone)
When I was growing up all I wanted was Transformers and Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles toys, back then this game was the stuff of dreams. Nowadays of course this game is pretty low tech compared to the AAA franchises on PS3 and X-Box 360. Technically there are a few areas that could be improved but the style works and as a game its rewarding and enjoyable.
This is the first game I’ve ever paid money for and thought “With enough time and dedication I could make something like this!“. I feel that this game showcases how simple mechanics, tied together with pleasing visuals and a decent story can give great results. The game itself has given me a lot of game ideas and with a programming challenge on gamecareerguide.com at the moment I might actually implement a design prototype.
The game focuses on turn based action and generally pits 2 transformers against each other with support from their respective Autobots/Decepticons. Levels range from puzzle types to battles and resource acquisition, at times the game feels a bit like giant robot chess. Cool!
The game is fun but replayability is low for anyone but transformers fans, if you can pick it up at a good price I’d recommend it.
