Free Download de Blob

Nintendo third party games have had an interesting, and rather pathetic history. But it could be on the rebound.de Blob is a Wii game from developer Blue Tongue that is making quite a splash. The idea was conceived by some game development students in the Netherlands and spotted by THQ. Now the fully fleshed out platformer is making its gooey debut on both Wii and DS consoles.

The evil I.N.K.T Corporation has sucked the color out of the once vibrant city of Chroma. Now its population is being captured and, dare I say, some former musicians are being made accountants! Well of course, enter the (de) Blob. He’s slow, overweight, and likes to eat paint, but he’s the man to save this city from a cruel, monochromatic death.

The gameplay is simple. Players use the analog on the nunchuck to roll the Blob around the city, painting the white and gray buildings full of color. While you may wonder why you don’t use the tilt functionality to roll, the analog provides a much tighter and more responsive feel to the game. To jump requires a fling downwards with the Wii remote, and similarly to attack, players swing down.

I found the controls to leave me wanting more. The downwards motion is not sensitive enough and somewhat unresponsive. But I also wanted more unique Wii features for this game, like IR functionality in-game or some tilt or motion functionality. I also expected there to be some drawing games using the IR in the game (it is a game about coloring and paint mixing). There were a lot of missed opportunities there.

But for the system it’s on, de Blob is a star. The visuals look fantastic and are rendered nearly on the same quality as Nintendo 1^st party titles, like Super Mario Galaxy. The style is also magnificent, oozing cool on every level. I only wish there was a tad more variety in the levels, and less of the same urban blocks. Most importantly, however, is the music, and it makes this game. As you roll around, painting buildings, the music layers itself based on the paint your using. Maybe one level starts out with a dull beat. As soon as you grab some paint and splash it on a building, a keyboard or saxophone will riff in time. When you have a whole block or city painted, there will be a jazz or funk rhythm driving in the background. Between audio and visuals, you will have a great feeling playing the de Blob.

The levels consist of you racing against a fairly lenient time limit to cover a good partition of the city in color. Other challenges appear on the way, like to race to a building top in 30 seconds or mix colors on a certain block, but those are optional. Other than that, and some bosses along the way, de Blob rarely challenges you or provides enough engaging gameplay for my tastes. I loved painting the city and jumping across buildings (and watching the world come to life is beautiful) but that mechanic alone wasn’t enough to get me for the long-term. I wanted more creative outlets for this game, like the ability to customize paint styles, or more challenging paint-mixing puzzles.

De Blob is a fantastic, and surprisingly polished, 3^rd party Wii game. The game has a great sense of humor and the cut scenes are often hilarious, nearly on par with any recent movie animation. But what keeps this game from true greatness is the lack of depth and challenge in the gameplay. I had fun playing it and enjoyed the visuals and music, but when I put it down I really didn’t feel strongly compelled to pick it back up again. I also think that the developers, in an effort to shoehorn in Wii motion controllers, mishandled the Wii’s basic functionality. They could have made better puzzles with reliable IR and tilt motion. Similarly, I think the time limits imposed on each level give the game an artificial challenge. It’s the start of a great franchise, however, and one that I hope will continue in other iterations.

Review Scoring Details for de Blob

Gameplay: 7.0
The platforming mechanics are solid and coloring buildings is extremely relaxing and enjoyable. But the weakest part of de Blob is the lack of variety and challenge in the levels. It’s just not engaging enough.

Graphics: 9.5
A beautiful style and amazing (for the Wii) physics and particle effects. The game has a clean, polished look that is rarely beaten by Nintendo 1^st party games these days.

Sound: 10
As you color buildings, music gradually layers into the score. And the instrument that comes in depends on the color you’re using. It’s truly a reason to play the game.

Difficulty: Easy
The game is perfect for younger players.

Concept: 9
de Blob started as a great idea and really came out as a highly polished platformer.

Multiplayer: 7.5
Lack of online play is a downside for replay value. The local multiplayer games are fun, however.

Overall: 7.8
de Blob is a fantastic experience, but one that I wish had more depth and challenge. I think this is the start of a great franchise (game, toys, or TV show) and one that will surely improve in its next iteration.

Free Download ode of Honor 2: Conspiracy Island

The last game that had anything to do with the French Foreign Legion was a nasty little game I reviewed a couple of years ago called Boiling Point where the hero is a former Legionnaire. So now, three years later, it's time to revisit those tough as nails legionnaires and see what sort of disservice has been wrought upon them this time.

OK, here is the problem, the first person shooter is arguably the most popular genre in all of video games. Sorry fans of sims and strategy, the numbers don't lie, the FPS is it. And as it is the most popular genre, it behooves most publishing houses to try and pump out a top notch shooter and then hopefully make a franchise out of it. Well, since this is the second in the Code of Honor series, one may think that there is some semblance of style and gameplay, one would be wrong, very wrong. Not only are there a gazillion better FPS's out there, but there are better cooking simulation games out there, seriously. And here is why.

"Cause walking through the gate isn't manly enough for a Legionnaire."

CoH2 starts out with a whimper, and then folds up very quickly, the game can be beaten in about two hours and that is not a good thing. As you adventure with the Legionnaires, you are being sent to an island to avenge the deaths of a scientific team that was doing research there and were subsequently murdered by a team of mercenaries. OK, not bad so far, and with a title like "Conspiracy Island" you would think the scientists were working on something dangerous or some sort of new weapon that can't fall into the hands of Kim jong il or Osama or Donald Trump or whoever scares you most. The fact is, that the scientists were the Mcguffin for the game, it wasn't what they were working on, its just the fact they were killed and now you get to go in and make some fools pay. And now you know the conspiracy, the conspiracy to relieve you of your money for this game.

The visuals are a poor man's example of what not to do. Textures are spotty throughout and level design will frustrate and bewilder you. Areas that seem accessible aren't and small holes in the wall are. No rhyme or reason applies to the physics and weapons seem to work as if you were firing them with no recoil. Unloading clip after clip into enemy's chests only to have them still shoot at you. And then, some guns work so well, you won't use anything but them. Just a really lopsided display of firearms and realism. Of course you really have nothing to fear from the mercenaries you face. They all seem to have attended the lemming institute for self preservation, running directly at you as you pump them full of lead, or run back and forth giving you ample amount of time to pull out the sniper rifle, read a book, reshingle the roof, glaze a ham and then pop him in the head, never once being in any sort of danger. Oh, and they are all clones of the same four dudes.

"It never fails, the kids always leave their stuff on the table right before dinner."

The most glaring aspect of the game is the fact that everyone is speaking with an American accent. This is the French Foreign Legion, and I understand that they do take men from all parts of the world, but shouldn't somebody speak with a French accent? Sound effects are woefully underwhelming and make no real use of your speakers.

CoH2 is a sequel as I earlier stated and maybe you deduced since there is a "2" in the title. And although there is a cliffhanger style ending, I just don't see there being a third in the series, this is a pretty bland and unexciting game. I know, I hate to be tough on any game, because I know its a booger to even make a game, let alone get it published, but this is one that underperforms on so many levels. Even the multiplayer mode is disappointing with the same standard multiplayer modes adding literally nothing to the genre in terms of gameplay or innovation.

Lastly, the game controls are pretty much standard fare, if you have played a FPS then you know the drill, but when you actually begin mixing it up with the enemy and the running and gunning begins, you truly understand that this is something you want nothing part of, the feel of the game feels very wrong and the A.I. is an absolute joke. I can usually find a "but" somewhere, even in the worst of games, but I see no real redeeming quality in this title, anywhere.

Review Scoring Details for Code of Honor 2: Conspiracy Island

Gameplay: 3.2

You fight the morons of the mercenary set and don't feel right about doing it.

Graphics: 3.0

Very dated graphics, poor level design, improper physics, over cloned enemies.

Sound: 3.0

No French accents in a game featuring the rough and tumble French Foreign Legion?

Difficulty: Easy

You can burn through this title very quickly and easily.

Concept: 2.0

The lowest score in the rack because the game is called conspiracy island, and there is no conspiracy.

Multiplayer: 3.5

Nothing new, and all of the sloppy effects the single player game features.

Overall: 3.1

Easily one of the worst FPS I have ever played, and the fact that the game is so short is a second slap in the face. The first is making you feel like you were getting a game that would put hair on your chest.

Free Download Fracture PS3

Whereas futuristic shooters set in real-world locations are a dime a dozen these days, it’s quite heartening to see one that truly shakes the foundations of what the genre has become. Fracture is one such game, allowing the player to manipulate the terrain in real-time as they play, effectively creating cover, displacing foes, and deforming the environment in awesome ways.

While the game does some great things with its Terrain Deformation engine, there are still some areas where it falls just short, namely some glaring aiming and control issues and AI problems. Still, if you’re shooter fan that’s looking for something that’s a little different, Fracture may be worth your time this crowded holiday season.

Fracture takes place 150 years in the future, where the continental US has been divided both physically and ideologically. The Atlantic Alliance (East Coast) believes that cybernetic enhancements are the future of mankind, while the Pacificans (West Coast) believe that genetic manipulation is the way of the future.

As Jet Brody, a member of the Atlantic Alliance, you get sent in to take on a military General who is hell bent on starting up a civil war between the two factions. While Jet often falls into the generic gruff n’ tumble action hero mold and the dialogue is pretty shallow, the background story of the game involving the ethics behind genetic versus cybernetic manipulation as well as the damage done to the planet doing a number on the continental U.S. is pretty intriguing.

The key element to Fracture’s gameplay is Terrain Deformation. Using your assorted weaponry and your Entrencher ability you can reshape the ground in real-time. You’ll be able to raise and lower sections of the ground by shooting your Entrencher at them, creating cover by raising up a hill and ducking behind it, or use the other shoulder button to lower the terrain. The game uses Terrain Deformation for limited puzzles as well, as you’ll often have to use it to destroy certain objects or to gain access to otherwise unreachable areas.

Aside from your Entrencher, your weapons will be able to affect the terrain in key ways. You’ll have grenades that can raise huge spikes out of the ground, some that will perform the same functions as your Entrencher as well as serve as frag grenades, and even a vortex grenade, an explosive that traps surrounding enemies and objects in a spinning gravity well and blows them to kingdom come, which is an awesome looking effect.

You’ll also get a hold of a nice array of firearms. Aside from the familiar stand-bys like SMGs, shotguns, and rifles, you’ll get some awesome new additions that use the game’s Terrain Deformation capabilities. Among the weapons you get are torpedoes capable of going under an enemy’s cover, a gun that creates a quick gravity burst that sucks in enemies and debris where it lands, a ricochet gun, and several more. Also, as you go, Jet will unlock new augmentation abilities, allowing you to double jump, hit harder, take more attacks from enemies, and so on.

Unfortunately, for all of the innovation and impressive engineering feats behind the game, there are some major issues that plague the core gameplay. For example, the aiming system is very problematic. When attempting to fire near some cover, your shots will hit your cover instead of their intended target far too often. This is especially a problem with the Entrencher, as you’ll often find yourself using it to create a hill for cover, only for it to hit the ground at your feet, raising you into the air and more in harm’s way.

Grenades are another sore spot for the game, as you aren’t given any control over throwing them aside from pressing the shoulder button. You won’t be able to control the power of the throw, nor its arc, which can be frustrating in the middle of a firefight.

The AI is also a mixed bag in the game. While they’ll sometimes impress you by reacting realistically when you put up a mound, often either shooting it down or sidestepping it to take you out, they can still be caught doing some pretty buggy moves, like standing around in the heat of the action waiting to be shot or running up against walls.

Graphically, the game looks pretty good. The character models are good, if a bit repetitious, and the deformable environments are fun to watch when they’re getting blown to smithereens. While the framerates hiccup when the action gets heavy, they generally stay pretty solid.

Soundwise, the voice acting is a bit of a mixed bag, with much of the dialogue feeling a bit workhorse and not adding much to the overall story, and some of the performances feeling phoned in. The score is nicely done and does a good job of accentuating the action. There are a few technical issues with sound effects and music cutting out at times in the PS3 version.

Aside from some frustrating gameplay issues, Fracture definitely gets kudos for adding new elements to the standard run-and-gun shooter genre. While it’s far from perfect, it’s worth a look from gamers looking for something different.

Review Scoring Details for Fracture

Gameplay: 7.5
Fracture’s Terrain Deformation features are a lot of fun and do a lot to give the game some legs, giving control to the player in an innovative way. The weaponry is also very impressive, but the aiming issues are very frustrating, and the AI is a bit buggy at times.

Graphics: 8.0
The character models look good, if a bit repetitious, and the deformable terrain is great. The framerates can hiccup, but generally stay solid.

Sound: 7.5
Some of the voice work feels phoned in, but the music adds a nice mood to the gameplay. There are some unfortunate technical glitches in the sound, however.

Difficulty: Medium

Concept: 8.0
Fracture bites off a big chunk, trying to balance the run-and-gun shooting mechanic with the new Terrain Deformation ability, and does very well with it, except for some annoying issues with the core gameplay.

Multiplayer: 8.0
Fracture has a bevy of gameplay modes for online gamers, from classic modes to new ones that take advantage of the game’s environment shifting capabilities.

Overall: 7.5
Fracture is a solid effort that offers a new mechanic to the shooter formula and allows for some exciting new ways to play. Unfortunately, for what it does right in Terrain Deformation, its issues fall with the basics of the genre due to spotty AI and frustrating aiming issues.