Checked out some demos this weekend - short reviews inside!

Malladine

Diamond Member
Mar 31, 2003
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Again, these are demos but you'd think they'd only release a demo that was relatively indicative of the actual game.

Project Snowblind
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Futuristic FPS, fairly halo-esque. More serious graphics, worse animations.
All weapons have alt fire. The usual gamut, including machine gun (carbine), sniper, shotgun, rocket launcher, emp gun. It's overall quite samey albeit somewhat polished - there's a neat objective beacon feature so you're never wondering what to do/where to go next. Nothing special based on this 1 short single player experience.

Bard's Tale
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I had some hope for this game...party based fantasy rpg
Viewing angle is annoying - top down, severely limiting the amount of action you see. Control system is frustrating and obscure - wierd menu system where you right click to bring a menu up then use wasd to select one of 4 options. Graphics are bland, with weapon glows being little more than a layer of solid colour pasted over the weapon. Voice acting is average with the main character below average.

Brothers in Arms
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WW2 squad based FPS. The main aspect that impressed me was the squad control system. You're a squad leader with 3 guys under you. You can order them to follow, go to a certain spot, lay down supressing fire or assault a position. The ai is awesome, the soldiers will automatically take up defensive positions behind whatever cover is available.

The means of controlling all this is all through mouse clicks. Right click and hold on enemy positions to suppress, right click then left click to assault, plain right click to move. Very intuitive. For example, i'd send my squad to take up position behind some storage crates, order them to open fire on an enemy position then flank them while they're ducking behind cover. If I mess up and don't get em right away they'll retreat to a safer position.

Graphics nothing special, but they definately do the job - gore aplenty too, with legs blown off by nades and blood spraying against walls after headshots. Highly realistic physics on "authentic" mode, no crosshairs, iron sights only. Hip and shoulder aiming. It's near impossible to kill enemies when they are behind cover.

Rising Kingdoms
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RTS. Reminiscent of Kohan with the independant colonies to capture. Benefits from much of what made warcraft 3 and kohan great.

Two major resources - gold and gems. 3 primary races 5 minor races. Minor colonies are captured to provide glory pts (read on), additional special units to hire and 1 of 2 unique abilities bestowed on the owner of a colony. For example controlling a troll colony allows you to choose either a 50% gold injection every 5 mins or a troll cannon which fires 3 trolls (stone beings) like cannonballs, in addition to 2 unique units. If they survive you can use them for 1 minute before they expire.

It is closer to war 3 than kohan, with the standard unit hiring (not formation/squad based) and champion (hero) selection. Champions and their individual abilities and certain building/upgrades require "glory" points to acquire. Glory is gained various ways, usually by conquering minor colonies, turning that act into a third kind of resource acquisition.

Polished look to the whole game and a nice approach graphically.

No publisher for the US as of yet, but I'd bet on one taking it up.
 

CPA

Elite Member
Nov 19, 2001
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Thanks for the reviews. BIA is something I have been eyeballing. Still not sure if I want to get it, but I do like the squad component.
 

NeoV

Diamond Member
Apr 18, 2000
9,504
2
81
well written alliance scum...

jk


I think they did a nice job with BIA, one of these days I'm going to play through the whole thing....as soon as I kick that crack....err..I mean WoW addiction...of course starting an alternate character isn't going to help that!
 

Malladine

Diamond Member
Mar 31, 2003
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Originally posted by: CPA
Thanks for the reviews. BIA is something I have been eyeballing. Still not sure if I want to get it, but I do like the squad component.
Ya i'm not sure how the multiplayer aspect works regarding the squad component. Multiplayer is most important imo.

You're welcome :)

I think if you enjoy the ww2 theme and fps in general you'll dig the game. I'm seriously considering it, just need to find more info on multiplay.

NeoV: heh heh. You 60 yet?
 

Gooberlx2

Lifer
May 4, 2001
15,381
6
91
Gamespot has a preview (or is it a review?) of BIA. They said that multiplayer is nice, but games are limited to only like 4 people (since 1 person = 4 players). That in itslef makes it annoying 'cause if one person leaves then you've lost 1/4 of the action.
 

Malladine

Diamond Member
Mar 31, 2003
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That doesn't sound like much fun. I'm leery of using AI as part of an intelligent game between humans
 

BlueWeasel

Lifer
Jun 2, 2000
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I gave BIA a try a few weeks ago and I quickly lost interest in it. The concept is nice, but it felt too scripted and the strategy just seemed to repeat at least for the first few levels.

1) Engage enemies
2) Provide covering fire
3) Flank them and shoot
4) Repeat

Granted, I only played the first few levels, though. I gave the game to my brother to try and haven't played it since.
 

Malladine

Diamond Member
Mar 31, 2003
4,618
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Originally posted by: BlueWeasel
I gave BIA a try a few weeks ago and I quickly lost interest in it. The concept is nice, but it felt too scripted and the strategy just seemed to repeat at least for the first few levels.

1) Engage enemies
2) Provide covering fire
3) Flank them and shoot
4) Repeat

Granted, I only played the first few levels, though. I gave the game to my brother to try and haven't played it since.
I can see that happening unfortunately :(

It was a good attempt though! :thumbsup:

Almost tempted to buy their game to help keep em in business and see what else they come up with :)
 

NeoV

Diamond Member
Apr 18, 2000
9,504
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Tauren Druid is a 60....Troll Rogue is only an 11 though...just started him on Saturday


I like the BIA interface, very simple, and the squad portion of it is better than Republic Commando's squad functions...
 

Malladine

Diamond Member
Mar 31, 2003
4,618
0
71
Originally posted by: NeoV
Tauren Druid is a 60....Troll Rogue is only an 11 though...just started him on Saturday


I like the BIA interface, very simple, and the squad portion of it is better than Republic Commando's squad functions...
Ya i quit with my priest, a 29 human rogue and a 15 tauren warrior. Never played Rep Commando