DEVELOPER: Spider
PUBLISHER: Focus Home Interactive
SYSTEM: Microsoft Xbox 360 (PC, PS3)
PRICE: $15 Download
ESRB RATING: Mature
REVIEW RATING: 3.0 stars (out of 5)
Download-only console games have come a long way in the last few years. Simple games like 2D space shooters have now been replaced with full-blown 3D adventures such as the action RPG title, "Mars War Logs." Despite the advanced potential, however, this particular game still misses the mark.
The story begins on Mars as a new prisoner of war is taken to an internment camp, and there it shifts to focus on a hardened POW named Roy. Both the new prisoner and Roy team up to escape the prison through a convoluted plan to steal a train, and additional intrigue is provided by an evil dictatorship as well as a deadly bounty hunter.
Most of the combat is melee-based, with projectile weapons like a nail gun thrown in for variety. Explosive traps, grenades, and magic are also at the player's disposal to help dispatch groups of enemies. Unfortunately, the combat still remains rather simplistic. In addition, it's too easy to "train" enemies around columns and other obstacles to confuse their A.I. and take them out one-by-one.
On the other hand, I really enjoy acquiring new weapons and armor and customizing them to suit my play style. Gathering various items throughout the adventure is required to craft useful attachments such as bone spikes and armor plating. Not only are these attachments highly beneficial, but they also change the appearance of the items on which they're applied.
Even more customization is offered through skill trees and a feats system. Three paths are available to enhance Roy's abilities in combat, survivability, and technomancy (magic). Players can choose to focus most of their skills in one path or dabble in all three. In addition, separate points can be spent to increase the experience earned by defeating enemies, enhance Roy's crafting skills, increase loot drops and more!
"Mars War Logs" is fun to play, but it could have been much better.
'Skulls of the Shogun'
DEVELOPER: 17-Bit
PUBLISHER: 17-Bit
SYSTEM: Windows PC (Xbox Live)
PRICE: $15 Download
ESRB RATING: Teen
REVIEW RATING: 4.0 stars (out of 5)
Similar to the way most wine-drinkers tastes evolve from white to red, my gaming tastes have evolved to appreciate turn-based strategy games. While I still enjoy action games, the ability to slow down and think about my strategy is something to be savored. However, "Skulls of the Shogun" is the first fast-paced, turn-based game that I've encountered, and I hope to see more in the future!
Players take on the role of a mighty shogun named General Akamoto, who is betrayed and killed by his backstabbing lieutenant, Kurokawa. Fortunately, death is merely another plane of existence, so Akamoto now seeks revenge as a skeletal warrior. Only by recruiting a mighty army of the undead will he be able to regain the fame and glory he deserves.
Instead of controlling multitudes of units in battle, budding generals gain access to individual units. This makes them more valuable than the usual disposable units, which ... err ... in turn makes sacrificing them a less likely option. Standard grid-based maps have been replaced with free-flowing maps where players can move anywhere but are limited to each troop's movement range.
Unit variety is limited to three types of troops, three monks and a general; and they all have distinct differences that make them useful in certain situations. For example, cavalry can move long distances but have weak attacks, and fox monks can heal friendly units. Nearly all units can be replaced in battle, but if the general is killed, the level immediately ends.
Additional strategy is provided by the ability to eat the skulls of fallen enemies. While this takes up a turn for a unit, it provides bonuses like regaining health and even adding a turn to each round. Other fun things to do include knocking enemies off of ledges to their doom or erecting spirit walls to block attacks.
Simply put, "Skulls of the Shogun" is bone-a-fide fun!
REVIEW SCORING SYSTEM
5 stars = Must Have
4 stars = Very Good
3 stars = Above Average
2 stars = Bargain Bin
1 star = Don't Bother
RATINGS KEY
Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB)
E: Everyone
E10-plus: (Everyone 10 and older)
T: Teen (13 and older)
M: Mature (17 and older)
To find out more about Jeb Haught and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.
View Comments