Brothers in Arms:Hell’s Highway

Welcome To Hell

I never can find a tag line better than this. Welcome to hell. this is hell indeed.

There was a time where the world of gaming filled by clones of generic world war 2 shooter. Even the Medal Of Honor series born in this dark age and turn out to be almost the same with anyone else. Nothing impress me in the tiresome world of war 2 fps except for Call Of Duty. That one blew my mind away.

Then along came Brothers in arms. The first game in the series is actually heart touching story of a group of men(band of brothers you might say because of the resemblance to that miniseries) surviving the farmland of Holland. The Story is not particularly mind blowing, you have to admit that it is clichéd but no one touch this territory story wise. Who ever think that to bring the brutality and emptiness of World War 2 can be as successful as mowing down waves of no #25 Nazis.

Welcome To Hell

Every man has his own weaknesses.

Add a lite “strategic” gameplay into it and you get a simple but engaging shooter that also filled with repetitiveness. you can control a team of few men but the command you can give to them is limited but you can argue that by adding context sensitive to it rather than a myriad of option like rainbow six series do give this series it own charm and accessibility. Unfortunately the AI both your allies and enemies are not that bright. The enemies will tend to shoot you while moving around the corner make it easy target to flank. The only real devil in this part is usually the map layout not the Nazis themselves. And your teammate sometime hide in the WRONG side of the wall make them an easy target. combine with this the strangely cursor to command them make this “commanding your group” part of the gameplay a bit annoying but nevertheless the main attraction of this game.

No one Fights alone

There are a bit of new addition to the gameplay three of them make this installment even more accessible compared to the previous one. First the cover system works marvelously but lately i found sometime you cannot attach to the wall you want. Both the destructible cover and the bazooka team does make this game even more fun than before but you have to note that not all cover can be destroyed..only a miniscule of them but once you hit it right you will be giggling in excitement while accompanied by the brutal action cam showing the massacre you cause while limbs are torn away. No this is not the same visceral amount of gore as God Of War 3 might be. But nevertheless i think this describe the brutality of war beautifully.

Annoying Mission Tanks. But beautiful Scenery indeed

The solo player part of the game is not the best but also not as annoying as some other people told me. It is mediocre at best. And the new tank mission also does the same. it feels empty. I can understands why they create this level but the previous installment does give you the same feeling of power by make tanks as part of your team. Not to mention sometimes that the addition of tanks seems a little bit of forced story wise.

 

Introspective Story

The story continue the same story from previous two games but the serviceable “preciously on” segment does the best it can do. But i argue that people who played the first one(Hill 30) have easier time to respect this installment. The story is heart touching but i found that the minimalistic music element in cut scene segment is disappointing. I see a lot of potential here but alas you don't buy a game for potential you actually want to experience them. The dialogues actually are lively. But it turns down by a ridiculous script that try to be gritty but fails. But still iam a fan of the first game so  can appreciate what they have done here but somehow i cannot feel the brutality and sacrifice in this war as Gearbox promised me.

 

Here Comes The Rain

The Presentation is fantastic but the usual unreal 3 engine bugginess like the texture pop up thing is apparent. Sometime clipping does also happen occasionally. But other than that the vista and the environment effect like Rain,Farm and fire are fantastic.

*note i bought this game only for 12.5 aus dollar so i think that this game worth all the penny.

85/100

The Return of the blind AI

A funny flaw in Brother in arms Hell’s Highway spotted by Me

So i went like this…. i was sort of tried to reorganize thought by killing Nazis in brother in arms Hell’s Highway(which is i bought only for AU$12.5..cheap as hell). Then the most surprising unpleasant nostalgia struck me.

thought that this is 2008…man do we stll have pathfindng trouble?…man… but by no means this is almost unforgivable considering that this is a squad base tactics game… where every single mistakes count….unfortunately this problem is very sparse… 10 minutes later

btw he is almost as stupid as these guys(the bot one)

A journey to Dreamworld’s Gold Coast: A travelogue Part 1-Leaving house-

To quote this is my first time ever write a journey of mine that filled with many excitement. The reason why im writing this is not because this is the most interesting part of my life(duh) but because im too bored now and rather than doing things that decrease my imagination and creative mind by being a slave to video games(ahem Crysis) and rather than being too productive(look far ahead by doing homework and group project), i decide to write down this memories into words.

It began like last Sunday…11 April 2009. The day when… well i dont remember it crystal clear but i do remember both me and Falah like laying down while waiting for Fadhil and Fanov. Then Fadhil knocked on our room and said.

Fadhil:“Tomorrow we will go to Gold Coast. Anyone want to come?”

Danar:”?Since when we will go there on monday?”

Fadhil:”Well Jingga want to go with her sister there with or without us so i think why not?”

okay that is vague…..

but i still haven't had my share of fun because i decline every chances to have fun with my friend in Brisbane for a while because of my Assignments or even Exam. Time For Revenge.(ost:Generic _evil_laugh.mp3)

Okay i said in my heart.

I slept.

I woke up like 7 or 8 in the morning while Fadhil knocking desperately on Fanov’s room and my(oh yeah and falah) room tried to wake us (falah already woke up and i believe at that time he is cooking something)up.

unfortunately his obvious good intention turned out blue and he gave up and slept again. While fanov try to call our house to wake me up. Unfortunately Falah answered it.

Desperately he tried to call me again now directly to my cell phone. What kind of a weirdo want to call a man that sleep like 5 steps from his own room. Weird. Anyway after deciding if no one want to took a bath and i rather take  a bath than to be trapped in an endless cycle of waiting and be in a deadlocked state. I heroically take my own towell and enter the great bathroom. Handsomely went out of there in style!!!

okay enough of it.

After all of us take a bath –falah is in the bathroom at that time-

Fadhil scream like a banshee(well not perse…. but what the hell this is funny) while he still sleeping in his bed.

Fadhil:“M****y, take a bath wont you?”

Fanov:”Now why dont you take one?”

well in bahasa it went like this

Fadhil:”Nyet  ga mandi?”

Fanov:”Nyet u ga mandi?”

 

ironically speaking considering he is the one who havent took a bath that morning. after all things cleared up we went to Guyatt Park city cat stop joining the others.

to be continued…

Is it really that many temptation in this country

i know.. i know….

im in Brisbane for studying.

but come on…

is it really my fantasy or is it that many temptation in here?

1. Original Games

2. faster internet than Indonesia-although they do have some limits

3. Cute girls everywhere

4. Beautiful river

5. many extra activities

 

but dude better whack that idea of studying into my head or else…. 

Alan Wake Where Are You?

What is Alan Wake?

How Good Is Alan Wake Graphics?

Looks Real Time To me. Notice all the details in the Bookstore/ This is Remedy Stuff boys. High Quality…

Dead Eye Effect Is Not Impressive

How Does it Play?

I Dunno but what i know is…

Creepy but without Zombie. Will Include Moody Surrealistic thriller story and heavy emphasize on light.

When It Will Be Released?

all of the picture is trademark of Remedy Entertainment

And it is taken from Alan Wake Official Website

http://www.alanwake.com/

Kejadian Bodoh: Kelaparan

23 March 2009

Jam 12 Siang waktu gw Sedang Tutorial Machine Learning mengenai Bayesian Network n kita lagi  ngomongin faktor2 yang menyebabkan n disebabkan oleh jenis2 ikan tangkapan.

Sewaktu ngomongin Seabass terus suara perut gw yang keroncongan terdengar. Maklum belum sarapan n bangun telat.

Orang Sebelah Gw : “Seems like someone is a bit Hungry”

Dosen:”Not if you are in Antartica”

Yakuza 2 Review

Yakuza 2

Well that question burnet into my head as i further immersed myself in the beautiful city of Kamurocho and Osaka of Yakuza 2 game. Strolling down the street listening to people conversations as i pass them by. Licking Neopolitan Ice cream. After that beat down thugs who has been shaking the place for months and earn some money and discount. And Spend my blood money on Casino,Girls,Toys and my favorite Japanese cuisine “Sushi”. While once a while thwarting the Osaka Yakuza invading Kanto for some strange and laughable motives.

Life never seem grander. I love Yakuza 2. It captivates me more than Yakuza 1 ever was(partially because the whole setting seemed more Japanese because of the voice acting are now in Japanese and the story vs gameplay Pacing are IMHO better than the slow burning prologue of Yakuza 2). And in my opinion even more engaging than the overhype Shenmue 2.

One of the greatest Strength of Yakuza 2 that its utilize is the attention of detail to its City. Both Kamurocho and Kanto are rendered beautifully and stunning detail to both its world and its interaction.

Ive known few liquor(never drink one but i watched enough movie and read enough books) and Japanese Cuisine to appreciate it name,description and representation in Yakuza 2 world.

Its totally believable and if you are the type of people who love one of the above(like strolling around, test your luck in casino,play some quirky mini games and tasting beverages,liquor, and exotic-unique cuisine) i really suggest you to play Yakuza 2.

The representation is not the best around but the voice acting,animation,the script(i have to warn you that some of its part are utterly riddiculously too cartoonish even for a game, although it acted like it make sense) and once again THE SENSE OF DETAIL.

But to be honest the biggest driving force in this game is the insane amount of detail and its story.

its an interesting mix of Violent Crime Movie(80%) and comic like Fantasy(20%).

The story is Beautiful from the beginning till the end.-i even hold myself from taking a piss just because i want to see what would happen next-

I sincerely became more acquainted and do care a lot with the characters in this game. The so badass its so fucking cool Kazuma Kiryu,Majima,Kazuma Kiryu,Daigo Dojima and Sayama Kaoru.

The music is also great but if you played it for 30 hours like me it sure gets on your nerve. But the music in the cinematic is so great and fit its Yakuza japanese gangster theme perfectly.

The main gameplay beside its mini games(playing Shogi or Mahjong)…

Is so so.

If your talking about the interactivity and extreme complicated gameplay. Then you’ll be disappointed with this one. The interaction is pretty much basic, the resident evil limited inventory is aggravating because youll be shuffle back and forth in search for magical item box that is sparse in this game. The city is seem too small if we compare it to any Grand Theft Auto installment.

The battle is too simple. Its like Street of Rage in 3D. Simple. At first bashing people with Rage moves are insanely fun, but after 20th time you'll be bored. The developer try to spice it up with RPG like level up. But its so basic that you wont even bother with it.

The quest is also to be put simply. Bewildering. It is not a rare moment where you’ll left in the city with no idea where you should go. But this is like a double edge sword. In other hand it forces gamer/user to explore every inch of detail in the environment more. Thus make it more Immersive.

 

For me this game is almost too good to be true. Because i am one of those gamer who put Story in the first priority ahead of Gameplay and Presentation. And i do think that this game story fare better against the like of Bioshock and Half life 2. It just this game hasn't receive the attention it deserved.

Play this game. Or at least rent it. Let yourself play your friend copy or rent it for 3 hours. If until then you dont like it then return it. If until that point you interested on the world even just a little bit, i have to warn you. You wont put down that controller for a while

Pro’s

• Great Presentation
• Great Music
• Superb Story
• Insanely High attention to presentation detail
• Great Voice acting(Because Its Japanese and its also great)
• Violent animation when rumbling against opponents
• Satisfying Climax(a big plus. Most game nowadays still have those To be continued written in its after credits)

Con’s

• Several –only a small portion of the story- Laughable plot points
• The gameplay pacing can be tedious and frustating
• Its graphic cant compare against the Current Gen Console Standard(like Duh?)

SCORE:85