General gaming

General gaming

Review: Console Battlefield 3 is a Flawed Gem

Posted: 25 Oct 2011 12:01 AM PDT

Battlefield 3 on consoles is a very different game than the PC version. It doesn't look as good, and it supports fewer players online. By the sheer nature of control scheme, it requires a very different skill set. It's slower paced and requires a far more conservative style of play. This isn't better or worse than the PC version -- just different. For this review of the console version, I'm going to take a look at console specific features and exactly how the game plays differently. The issues outlined in the PC review still stand unless directly contradicted here, and you should read both to get the complete picture.

BF3 on consoles is limited to 24-player matches as opposed to the PC's 64, but thankfully most of the massive maps have been modified to suit the smaller player count. DICE has struck a nice balance that allows the levels to feel massive, but still manages to ensure that players come into contact regularly enough for there to be a decent amount of action. It's not a perfect solution to be sure. Whereas in the PC version your team won't be under too much strain if a rouge player decides to steal a plane and fly it around shooting at nothing when he really should be concentrating on capturing points on the ground; you'll feel the absence of every missing teammate while playing on the consoles.

Halo CE Anniversary Enhances Your Nostalgia With Modern Visuals

Posted: 24 Oct 2011 04:15 PM PDT

You'd be forgiven if the announcement video for Halo Combat Evolved Anniversary left you worried that Microsoft would muck up Halo's good name. The trailer at E3 sported a character model that few would mistake for the series' signature hero Master Chief. To be fair, the reveal was well received, but it raised an interesting question: How could developer 343 Industries and Microsoft be trusted to steward the Halo brand if a big detail like this was overlooked?

A lot has changed since that trailer at E3: The Master Chief has been tweaked to look more like the original model. And the game's signature feature, the ability to switch between 2001's visuals and new remastered HD graphics, has been polished as well. Originally, the lauded feature would switch visuals on the fly, delivering a slightly strange visual lag as textures swapped places. Now, the screen fades like a long blink -- and presto! New visuals, or old visuals (depending on where you started) have filled the screen.

See What Battlefield 3 Looks Like on 360 When it's Not Installed

Posted: 24 Oct 2011 10:49 AM PDT

DICE warned us last week about what Battlefield 3 would look like on Xbox 360 without its high-resolution texture pack installed -- executive producer Patrick Bach referred to it as a "standard-def version." Not that you'd expect a developer to overstate how bad his or her own game is going to look, but judging by the video above, boy was he ever telling the truth.

The video was put together by WikiGameGuides and features comparison shots from various points throughout the game. It's remarkable how much a difference the installation makes. When he was asked if it was actually noticeable, Bach had explained, "It does make a difference, yes, absolutely. The whole engine is based around streaming textures, streaming terrain and a lot of other content."

Minecraft for Xbox 360 to be Playable at MineCon

Posted: 24 Oct 2011 10:11 AM PDT

Those attending the Minecraft fan convention MineCon in November will have the opportunity to try out the new Xbox 360 version of the game for themselves.

Besides an unofficial DS port and a timed exclusive on Xperia Play, Microsoft announced during its E3 press conference this year that Xbox 360 would be getting Minecraft as a console exclusive. It'll be made available through Xbox Live Arcade next spring and features Kinect support for those who don't wish to use a controller.

Review: Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception is One of the Best Action-Adventures This Year

Posted: 24 Oct 2011 09:00 AM PDT

In 2009, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves was developer Naughty Dog at the top of their craft. The studio that brought us Jak and Daxter successfully delivered a fantastic treasure hunting adventure that pushed the limits of player-driven action sequences and in-game cut-scenes. But it helps to remember that Uncharted 2's campaign wasn't a huge deviation from the first game. Instead, Uncharted 2 showed that the developer learned from their mistakes, and could implement better level designs, pacing, and technology -- and the results were spectacular.

But it's hard to be the third chapter of any mega-popular franchise, and that statement holds true across all mediums. If you can't recall a beloved series that fell below the mark on its third entry, allow me to quickly refresh your memory: Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, Spider-man 3, X-Men: The Last Stand, Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, Terminator 3, Superman 3, Rocky 3, and Godfather III were all disappointing third chapters that started a downward spiral for some of our favorite characters and worlds.

Posted by Shri Krishna

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