Why DLC Is a Waste

Alright, it’s been pretty obvious that I thoroughly enjoyed Ultimate Alliance 2. I loved the variety of characters, powers, levels and story. In fact, I enjoyed the game so much I happily played through it a second time to see everything (something I rarely do) and by the end was still craving more levels to explore and characters to try.

Then, I heard about UA2’s DLC and the disappointment set in. Here was a game I was totally up for playing again and again because I liked the formula…and the developer/publisher pretty much killed me wanting to do so within weeks of playing it. I mean, according to this post on Kotaku, the DLC pack for UA2 features 5 new characters and 4 challenge missions…for $10. So, while I’m all for extra characters being added…what’s with the lame challenge maps and $10 price tag???

Seriously, what the hell people?

I mean, I already shelled out $60 for the game. It’s barely ONE month old. The characters can’t be that hard to create (afterall, the game features two dozen of them). And the challenge maps are not even comparable to REAL, ACTUAL LEVELS.

This is what pisses me off about DLC. From what I’ve seen over the years, DLC is a major waste. All developers see it as is an added way of getting money…but beyond the “getting money” point, they seem to not care at all about the GAMER’S experience. When I say that, I mean look at what was done in UA2’s case: The game’s not even two months old, hasn’t dropped even to $50 on store shelves yet and despite some less-than-stellar reviews, most people seemed to enjoy the game. In other words, at this point, if a developer is going to release DLC, it should be either content TRULY WORTH purchasing -or- even if it’s so-so content, it should be completely free.

I don’t really care if free content is so-so because it’s FREE. You don’t have to pay anything for it (Even Arkham Asylum’s short DLC was fine because it was FREE). That being said, if the content you need to “get online” is actually stored on the disc…AND FREE, than I think that content should have been available 100% w/o online activation from the start. (RE5’s Vs. mode comes to mind). That especially rings true with PAID DLC that actually resides in full on the original game disc (again, RE5’s Vs. mode comes to mind). Paying $10 or more to download a 100k “access key” that unlocks data on your game disc is just shady business.

But, like I was saying, FREE content doesn’t make me upset. PAID content, however, does. And it REALLLLY pisses me off. Here’s why:

You have a game that costs you $60. Let’s say it has 24 levels (actual story levels, NOT challenge maps), 12 hours of story-based gameplay and 24 playable characters.

If we were to say $10 was a reasonable price for additional DLC, shouldn’t it also be reasonable to assume the following?:

$10 (which is 1/6 of the original game price) should consist of 4 new, real levels, 2 hours of story-based gameplay and 4 new characters. Period.

But that’s not what we’re getting. Gamers are expected to pay 17% of the game’s original price for 5 new characters and 5 challenge maps (which may only provide an hour or so of gameplay, if you like them). There’s absolutely no new story-based content and there’s no new, real levels to explore with your new characters. It’s complete BS. Essentially what the developer/publisher is saying is that this $10 DLC pack is equivalent to 1/6 of the original game’s appeal.

NOT IT ISN’T.

It’s not worth $10. It’s not worth $5. It’s not even worth $1.99. I don’t see anything of significant importance that required any extra development time. If anything, I suspect the developer (like so many others), made X amount of content for the major release and then purposely subtracted Y amount of content in order to release that as “premium DLC” later on.

I just feel like DLC is a waste. And it’s not like Ultimate Alliance 2 is the only game I have issues with in regards to this topic. Halo, Little Big Planet, Pain, etc. are all games that sell content that is either completely underwhelming, should otherwise be free or both.

I may be a curmudgeon for saying this but back in the day before all these internet-connected consoles developers couldn’t pull this crap on gamers/consumers. If you wanted to put certain content in a game, you made sure it was included from the start. If that meant delaying a game’s release or cutting back on other features to make it happen, so be it. In the end, it was the gamer who ultimately won because when they bought a game, they got everything they were expected to have from the start. There was no going back later and saying, “Hey, I realize you like Character X or Stage Y…but in order to play those, you gotta fork over another $5 or $10.” Even up until the last generation, this crap was a non-issue

No New Games For Awhile… :(

I don’t like to admit it…but I’m gonna have to put a hold on my gaming budget for awhile. Despite my desire to play Dragon Age, Cities XL, Dawn of Discovery and others I simply can’t afford to keep spending $30-60 a pop for a game that may only keep my interest for 1-2 weeks.

Now don’t get me wrong — I don’t regret getting Ultimate Alliance 2. Still my favorite game I’ve played this year so far (Well, not counting Persona 4…technically). But what I’m saying is that even though I may want Gran Turismo, the Persona remake or even Marvel Superhero Squad for the PSP, I **know** deep down I probably won’t be playing them anytime soon.

I mean, a little over a week ago I bought Half-Life 2 and Episodes 1 & 2 off Steam because they were so cheap ($15!) but realistically, I knew before I hit “Buy” that I wouldn’t play these games for a long time…maybe not even until a year or so from now.

One perfect example of my gaming problem is Crysis. I originally got that game around this time in 2007. Since then I have tried to play it twice and have given up to play something else. That is NOT a mark against Crysis, but rather a perfect indicator of my issues with staying focused on games for a length of time that is reasonable. If I had finished Crysis, that’d be one thing…but the fact that I haven’t bugs me to no end.

And it didn’t help that this summer I walked into a Gamestop and then walked out 45 minutes later with about 12 PS2 games under my arm (like Ico, Sly Cooper, Dragon Quest VIII, Twisted Metal Black, etc.). A month or two ago I picked up a Guitar Hero World Tour 2-pack guitar controller and GHWT game for the 360 for a mere $23…and I **STILL** haven’t even opened it.

So it’s not that I don’t want to play games or that the new games coming out don’t make me drool…but it really bothers me that I have this backlog of 20+ games (probably, if I counted them all up) and I want to ADD more games to the list instead of wittle it down to a more reasonable amount. I mean, if I had 2 or 3 unfinished games around, it wouldn’t bother me so much…but when I have a $12 copy of Metal Gear Solid 4 and a $7 copy of Grand Theft Auto IV (in addition to tons more) just collecting on my shelf, I have to start seriously considering WHAT THE HECK is going on in my noggin’…

Plus, not buying those expensive games for awhile will help me on the real things I need to pay for…like BILLS.

Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 [PS3] Review

Superhero games have always been a strange thing to me. Sometimes, you get to play a game starring your favorite superhero and the execution is very well done and appropriate (like Capcom’s Marvel Super Heroes fighter, Data East’s amazing Captain America and the Avengers or Konami’s fantastic 2-screen X-Men arcade game)…most times though, you have to force yourself through a generic action game with comic book characters thrown in and the experience is average at best.

Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 however is probably the best console superhero game I have ever played…In fact, I’m still playing through the game (to unlock as much as possible) and not only is it a fantastic game, it’s probably my favorite PS3 game to date.

The game’s story revolves around a “Super Hero Civil War” in which S.H.I.E.L.D. and the U.S. Government want super heroes to register with the government and be monitored at all times…otherwise they face imprisonment…or worse. Eventually the player comes to a point where they must decide which side they believe in more and from the there on the game splits apart to provide two different storylines. If you’re not a fan of Marvel, there’s no reason you should even be checking this game out…so making non-comic fans happy isn’t what this game is about. If you’re a fan of ANY marvel character in the slightest though, you’ll enjoy the intricate story and gameplay options that allow you to play as your favorite character(s) while you team up with some of Marvel Universe’s most iconic heroes and villians.

At its core, Ultimate Alliance 2 is a beat-em-up game. And why shouldn’t it be? Super heroes are all about physically affecting the world around them and trouble usually only goes away when they push back. What makes UA2 stand apart from other generic brawlers though is that the excellent story, pacing, visuals, enemy variety and character choices provide every player with a unique gaming experience.

For example, early on I found myself wanting to use Iron Man exclusively (because I always liked him). When the story changed and I was forced to pick another character to take his place (when Iron Man went off on another part of the plot) I found myself using Gambit mostly. Then, when I got the chance I started using Captain America. Finally, on my first play through, after trying out many characters I decided on DeadPool as my main character because frankly, he kicks butt. Not only is he a wise-cracking, borderline-crazy masked-hero, he’s also incredibly fast, can teleport (JUST like you see in X-Men Origins: Wolverine), do ranged-attacks with guns and is deadly with his dual katanas. On my second play-through, my characters were different and I often found myself using Thor and Hulk most of the time (Thor is super powerful).

In short, Ultimate Alliance 2 allows gamers to play through the game using a customizable cast of characters that would make any Marvel Universe fan happy. It also doesn’t hurt that the game features elements of role-playing games like experience points, stat customization and party line-up choices. Now, don’t expect the depth of Final Fantasy, but do expect an action game experience where you feel like the developers made an effort to let the players do more than just the linear, predictable point-A to point-B gameplay. It’s not quite perfect in execution or incredibly complex, but the RPG elements are welcomed for sure.

Let me say again how well done all of the characters were handled…every time you try a new character like Storm, Thor, Spiderman or Thing you actually feel like you are playing as them. The way they take damage, the speed at which they move and dodge attacks and even the ways you inflict damage all feel accurate and unique to each character. If that weren’t enough, you have the ability with each character to join powers with another character to create super powerful “fusion” attacks that can affect all enemies on screen, a certain section of the screen or can be directed at will for a short duration. Each character has their own unique special attack and with two dozen characters to pick from the possible fusion attacks number well over 250 (even though the animations/presentations for them often are repeated). Fighting hordes of enemies is also not as bad as you might think because the variety and presentation is so well done. Every level and area seems to feature a new enemy type or dangerous obstacle to overcome, breathing life into what could have been a mind-numbingly repetitive action title.

The graphics in the game are extremely well done and look extremely faithful to the comic book characters you grew up with. There are slight framerate and screen tearing issues here and there but overall the game looks wonderful. Seeing your team of four characters take on 30 enemies at once in high definition is amazing to say the least. Even the menus, art style and cutscenes look great (they use in-game characters…something I’m always a supporter of…though the pre-rendered video encoding quality could have been better). Plus, I’m glad the game featured such a large variety of different levels to explore…no one stage looked like any other and it made exploring them much more interesting.

The sound is excellent as well and large cast of voice actors in the game is a huge plus (it really feels like a big alliance of different people working with or fighting you). The story is helped immensely by the fanastic voice-overs for Captain America, Iron Man, DeadPool and Nick Fury specifically. The music is also great and features a highly appropriate and catchy superhero theme through many parts of the game, making those climactic battle/key cut scenes even that much more spectacular. In short the game sounds amazing and is exactly what you need to hear in a superhero title this. The *only* thing I wished for was the dialogue in all aspects of the game to be spoken (not just be text), but that’s really nitpicking.

The control in the game is great overall and very fun to try and master. Like I said, all of the characters control differently and their individual powers and attack styles can greatly affect the way you approach certain enemies, obstacles and stages in general. It’ll take you a lot of time to discover the strengths and weaknesses of them all and don’t be shocked if you find yourself picking a select group of characters and playing with them through the entire game (you’ll grow that attached to them, their controls and their wisecracks). Every day I’ve played Ultimate Alliance I have been excited to play as whatever character is on screen because of how polished and accurately they are presented. If I had to mention any faults for the controls, it would be that sometimes the action gets so chaotic on screen you lose your focus on the character you control and that sometimes your CPU-controlled allies just stand there and do less than they could while you attack enemies (like bosses).

To make it clear once and for all, Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 is an excellent game that you need to go out and buy immediately — especially if you are a comic book fan. The sheer amount of characters to play as, the variety of levels and enemies to encounter and depth of the storyline to absorb (the game is well over 15 hours long…even longer if you play through both sides and collect everything) make this game have a replayability and entertainment value level few games can match.

Graphics: 9 | Sound: 9 | Play Control: 9 | Fun Factor: 9 | Final Score: 90%

Halo 3: ODST [XBox 360] Review

It doesn’t seem like Halo 3 came out too long ago, but it was actually back in 2007, over 2 years ago. In gaming time, that’s a very long period in which lots of innovative titles, features and concepts can spring up and make even the most polished titles of yesteryear seem not as stunning rather quickly.

In the time since Halo 3 came out, the gaming world — specifically in terms of first-person shooters — has improved dramatically. Bioshock, although it came out a month before Halo 3, showed gamers how important setting, story and art direction was to gameplay. Gears of War II and Left 4 Dead showed gamers that co-op can make all the difference in the world. Valve’s Portal demonstrated how one clever concept done well can turn a typical game into a must-have gem. Resistance 2 and Killzone 2 proved to players that the 360 wasn’t the only console where FPSs could be found. Basically, even though only 2 years have passed since Halo 3 came out, gamers need very different things than they did years ago.

Halo 3: ODST was originally supposed to be a low-priced, DLC expansion pack of sorts meant to fill the void between Halo 3 and whatever Bungie/Microsoft were planning next. Over the next year or two though the expansion pack ballooned into a full-fledged title complete with a $60 price tag (originally it was supposed to be around $40). It also was being touted as a “new gameplay experience” in the Halo universe that would breathe life into series’ standard FPS-style. Early videos showed footage of players moving through rainy, poorly lit city streets using special night vision goggles or something to see enemies. Based on early videos and PR speak from the company, Halo 3: ODST certainly appeared to be something new for fans.

But is that what the final result turned out to be?

No. And let’s be clear about this: I’m a huge Halo fan… Now, I’m not the biggest Halo fan in the world but even after the stinker that was Halo Wars I was excited to play this. I even went to a midnight launch event for it – something I had never done for a game up to that point. So with that out of the way, let me say what needs to be said once again: Halo 3: ODST is nothing like what Bungie or Microsoft promised.

At its best, Halo 3: ODST is a moody-sounding, strange entry to the Halo-verse that will keep your interest long enough to finish the campaign and a few of the stages again on Legendary difficulty. At its worst, ODST comes across like a quick n’ dirty cash-in of Halo settings, enemies, weapons and levels, most of which seem surprisingly dull this time around.

There’s no beating around the bush – Halo 3: ODST is an expansion pack, nothing more. I find a comparison to Half-Life: Blue Shift to be the most fitting because the new campaign is ridiculously short, the elements seem tired and overused and the overall package screams “been there, done that.” The night-vision look along with the moody, dark city setting are the highpoints of ODST and it’s a real shame Bungie didn’t focus more on those aspects. Instead, the player alternates between that and standard Halo stages filled with enemies we’ve all seen and beat before many, many times.

If that weren’t bad enough Nathan Fillion plays a big role in ODST as “Buck” (please, please someone tell Firefly and Fillion fans he just sucks. He looks more like a vacuum salesman than a hero of any kind) and the cutscenes look absolutely terrible. I’m convinced Bungie didn’t do one thing to improve graphics at all in ODST because it looks just like a game from 2007 or earlier. Even though the stages’ environment visuals look nice, the negatives are too much to ignore this time around (and gamers deserve more visually in 2009).

As I mentioned earlier, there are no new weapons or enemies to discover. The game takes place between Halo 2 and 3…so I guess Bungie is using the excuse of “If something new showed up in ODST, it would mess up continuity in Halo 3″… In my opinion, it seems more like Bungie just wanted to be lazy and not develop any new content but instead recycle stuff to get the most bang for their buck.

Talking about sound, the game definitely sounds different than other Halo games and is probably the best part of ODST overall. Players are treated to moody, jazz music that make the game feel more like a film-noir detective/mystery game than first person shooter. It’s nice to see risks were taken with changing up the soundtrack…but I’m not convinced it worked 100% overall since the game constantly flip-flopped from dark/moody to day-time/action-packed gameplay (and music). I mean, even the iconic Halo theme isn’t even featured in the game…what was going on at Bungie?

To round out the rest of the single-player campaign portion of this review I just want to mention how I wish the game focused more on exploration than being inside a handful of buildings (most doors you come across in New Mombasa can’t be opened and all the buildings around seem to be for show…very few things in the environment feature interactivity) and how I wish stealth was pushed more (ODST soldiers aren’t supposed to be Spartans…so if that’s the case, why are they getting in nearly as many gun fights?). The story itself wasn’t all that bad but it really didn’t bring anything new to the table except for a new species, Engineers. In the end, for a game that focuses solely on ODST soldiers, as a player you won’t feel much for many of them at the end. At least with Halo you had a strong lead character (Master Chief)…with ODST, there’s no one character to root for or against.

Finally, let’s talk about the new modes and multiplayer. The new Firefight mode has tons of enemies coming after you player in wave after wave, and your goal is to defeat as many as possible before you run out of lives. In one game of this setting I played for 267 minutes straight and killed almost 1,000 enemies before I gave up out of boredom. For all that effort I didn’t receive an Achievement or anything special. Firefight, while a neat concept I guess, is utterly pointless unless you have nothing better to do. The other part of the extras is the additional game disc filled with every Halo 3 multiplayer map made. Now, initially I was excited about this since it had been about 6 months since I played Halo 3 online. However, after about 4 or 5 matches (with new maps I had never played before) I knew why I hadn’t played Halo 3 multiplayer in so long: It’s not aging well and Bungie refuses to fix the simplest of things like letting players pick what stage they want or updating it’s awkwardly complex pre- & post-game UI screens/menus.

Overall, Halo 3: ODST is not for everyone. Even the most die-hard of Halo fans will be somewhat let down by it…either because of the short and overly-familiar campaign or by the underwhelming multiplayer modes that should have been free along. The game would have been just right if it only cost $40. It’s hard to justify the game’s $60 price tag however, especially if you already have Halo 3 and any of its additional maps. I would suggest that unless you are a Halo fan, don’t pick up this game. There are far better stand-alone shooters available elsewhere and  this is simply an easy way for Bungie/Microsoft to cash-in on the Halo franchise by making the cheapest expansion pack available. One could argue that it’s a decent game with a fair number of high points here and there…but it’s a far cry from the Halo games that came before it.

One Final Note: I believe Halo 3: ODST is a buggy game that wasn’t properly playtested. When I first started playing it I had it lock up my 360 no less than a dozen times at different points (sometimes on a loading screen, other times in the middle of a fight — never the same place twice). I don’t think it was my system because I haven’t had issues with it freezing thus far and I tried setting the system flat, on its side, playing the game by reading off the game disc and even installing it for play off my harddrive to avoid using the disc during gameplay. Basically, I’m just giving you a heads up that you may encounter bugs with the game (mostly early on, from my experience). Obviously, this didn’t help my opinion of the game…

Graphics: 7 | Sound: 8 | Play Control: 8 | Fun Factor: 6 | Final Score: 68%

Halo 3 ODST Gamestop Midnight Launch!

Last night I decided to go down to the nearby Gamestop where I had reserved [and paid for upfront] Halo 3 ODST and check out their midnight launch. I had never been to one before and after going, I must say I’m excited to attend one again. The most surprising thing was that I honestly did not expect any one but a handful of people to show up, since where I live the average gamer seems to care more about Madden/NCAA football/Wii-related games than actual hardcore games. Because I wanted to show my experience off in a cool way, I put together a collection of video clips and photos taken at the event for all to enjoy.