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Skewed
Perspective.com Presents |
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Welcome readers! In this special on MacPlay, we will take a look at not only the current lineup of MacPlay's games, but also the sum of their offerings as of February of 2002. Two games that will get reviews later (for reasons described below) will be marked when those reviews do finally materialize, but not before our qualifications are met. Hopefully, you'll find the reviews a helpful reference and the comments pertinent as a unique way to tackle one portion of the Mac gaming industry. All Reviews & Commentary By Dean Browell
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Aliens
vs. Predator ESRB Rating: Mature |
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Aliens vs. Predator could be more appropriately named Aliens vs. Predator vs. Marines. And while choosing between three races may look easy at first, especially since all three begin with the same first-person-shooter perspective, AvP shows that the genre may still have legs. What Giant's does for the concept of size, AvP does in the sheer mobility and adaptability three distinct perspectives can have on common spaces. Based on the popular amalgamation of the Aliens and Predator licensing worlds that have proved their worth and staying power in Dark Horse comics, this game in particular has jumped around several systems (including being widely accepted as the only great game on the defunct Atari Jaguar home game console). As a Marine, you find yourself dashing through the unnerving and familiar shadowy halls of various locations, no doubt panicking between trigger-twitching rifle blasts as your sensors ping at you. Playing the marine give you the closest experience to the movies the properties are based on, while playing an Alien, scurrying up and around corridors is devilish fun and combined with the entirely different tactics you employ, make for a very cool and different FPS experience. The Predator, just like the movies they appear in, can be incredibly deadly if played right (and there is nothing quite like your first belly-laugh induced by scaring the crap out of some unsuspecting lone human when you un-cloak and start attacking out of no-where). It's hard to make a Doom-style game confusing as hell right out of the box, but AvP does succeed to some extent. Trying to throw on a pick-up game without glancing at too many controls will no doubt lead you screaming down a dark corridor for 30 seconds before your mauled, no matter the race you pick. But if you do give this game the attention it deserves (but doesn't necessarily beg for) you'll see how deep and satisfying it really is. Especially for "just another first person variant". AvP's online abilities (which actually exist right out of the box) are slightly disappointing in that I can't link up with my PC using friends who have been telling me for months how much they like this game. And now that I finally have it, not only have they moved onto something else, but I can't link up with them anyway. *Sigh* The anticipated sequel, also on its way thanks to MacPlay, is a deterrent for those interested in the short-sheeted life of AvP Gold. It's a good, if not great game, slightly overshadowed by a weakening genre, a long shelf-life on the PC side before it was ported to the Mac, and the impending sequel right around the corner. Not the greatest odds, but those factors don't tell the whole story. First Impressions: FINAL VERDICT:
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Baldur's
Gate 2 ESRB Rating: Teen |
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If the Gaming Gods smile, they certainly grinned wide to grant us Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows of Amn. The convoluted title may refer to the previous Baldur's Gate game, but aside from the storyline, the experienced gamer will be thankful that there are few similarities. Baldur's Gate 2 is one of the most incredible software RPG's period, and definitely on the Mac. A good opening will get you far with me in a review, because if you can get most gamers through the first 25% of a game, theire likely to hang on until the end. And while the storyline may be foreign to some who didn't play BG 1 (like myself, who read enough to stay away) you can get caught up in due time. A healthy manual (and color fold-out map, which are the kinds of extras we RPG'ers like) explains more than you'd normally want to know about the world around you in the same great style and detail that has made Dungeons & Dragons supplements famous. The meat of the beginning has to do with creating your character, which introduces neophytes to the 2nd Edition Dungeons & Dragons rules (now a year outdated by the totally overhauled 3rd Edition) and faithfully follow the system you're baptized in through the progress of the game. Seeing how the integration of the D&D process begins and rolls on is both interesting and a nice way to understand how the game operates underneath (you can choose to see the "dice" rolls in your attacks, to understand why you hit or missed, for example). Through the eyes of D&D's thorough pen and paper rules, you can see how you can shape your character both in the initial creation and throughout the game (collection of treasure and in increased levels). Once you buy in to the D&D concept, taking the well-handled tutorial will help you acquire a surprisingly healthy grip on how the game is played. And just like the typical pen and paper role playing adventure, your tutorial beginnings are humble compared to the excitement ahead. Baldur's Gate 2 has no shortage on depth of excitement. There is a girth to the game's adventures, graphics, interaction and progress that create an engrossing overall experience. Not only are the backgrounds and settings gorgeously detailed, so are the most common of your actions, from drinking a healing potion (something you're very likely to do often) to reading a powerful spell from a scroll. The gameplay includes so many side quests, you can take your time and truly immerse yourself in this game without feeling too pulled-along. The word "linear" describes very little here, and even your party will fluctuate in size and power based on your actions. Jump online for multi-player fun right out of the box (like so many of BG1's players never did). First Impressions: FINAL VERDICT:
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Giants: Citizen Kabuto & Sacrifice
"Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice..." *NOTES: Let me be clear: These games are not alike except for one major factor. Both advertise multiplayer, and both don't deliver it out of the box. You get a promise in paper, and maybe even some flecks of information on current beta patches from your gaming resources, but nothing yet. As such, I have no intention of outright reviewing these games, which any reasonable reviewer would label incomplete, until these gaping holes are filled. However, I still have buying advice for those looking to purchase these games: If you have the desire or the means to play online with these games, please send a message to these companies by not buying the game until the fully supported patch is out (Giants' newly released patch is here & Sacrifice's is in the works, currently in Beta). Better yet, literally send them the message through an email (click here) stating that you're doing just that. Now, this is not to say I have no impressions or opinions on the games so far, so for what it is worth, here are my "First Impressions" lists for these two potentially great games... GIANTS: CITIZEN KABUTO SACRIFICE
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ESRB Rating: Teen |
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Few game franchises have survived long enough to say they started as a decades-old text game and I'd be hard pressed to name any other than Zork. Thirteen games. Think about that. Name another game franchise that could say they're up to that many (Final Fantasy is only on 10). Granted the stories have become a bit convoluted, but the beauty of the Zork nonsense and irony base is that each game is clearly accessible to newcomers. More... First Impressions: FINAL VERDICT:
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MacPlay has bounced back from the dead with such a strong lineup it's as if they were hardly gone at all. Granted there seemed to be a revolving door on the staff office for awhile there this summer, but lately things have steadied. They started their return a year ago with Majesty (reviewed here at Skewed Perspective based on a Beta demo before general release) and have been relatively prolific so far. Competition is good for gamers and good for the Mac industry in general, and MacPlay is certainly here to play hard. Just take a look at what MacPlay has announced for release in the next two quarters and see how fast the bar is being raised: Fighter Squadron, Icewind Dale, Heretic II, Hexen II, No One Lives Forever, Starfleet Command 2 & Aliens vs. Predator 2. Looking at the existing lineup and the approaching one, they seem to be touching each major game genre with the exception of what some might consider the family or parlor game genre (currently there are no ESRB rated "Everyone" games in or approaching from MacPlay). While I'm not weeping that I don't own the newest gameshow or board game based software, I know there's a market for it (my wife can't even get me to play board games with her unless she dangles Marvel Comics Monopoly or some similarly flavored variety). Plus, all the cool ones I actually do play, Freeverse makes...and so far only Aspyr has smartly caught on to them. Macsoft often seems overloaded with family games, and you'd think it'd be in MacPlay's best interest to have one handy. I suggest MacPlay delay grabbing Giants 2: Electric Boogalo or some such and do the same to finish their obviously bright plan of covering all bases with quality games. Overall, when your least recognizeable title is a Zork game, you're not doing all that bad. Many of MacPlay's games this year have been able to sell themselves, but the lack of multiplayer out of a boldly-printed box claiming such could become a disturbing trend that can backlash on the company's current momentum. Baldur's Gate 2 is hands-down the most impressive of MacPlay's offerings, and in fact one of the best games available for the Mac right now. Similarly, Icewind Dale should build nicely off of BG2's success. Giants has potential, but I'm giving it a wait-and-see until the promised multiplayer is done, which is more than fair to say for a game that did not ship with all its faculties. Hopes are high that No One Lives Forever and AvP2 will have cross-platform multiplayer which will be a tremendous boon for online gamers, and a good sign overall for MacPlay's future as well. FINAL VERDICT: (As of February,
2002) UPDATE: The ".5" was added to recognize the new Customer Loyalty Program MacPlay has begun to offer purchasers of certain games discounts on future games. The first such deal is for the forthcoming Icewind Dale RPG (see MacPlay.com for details). A great practice that I hope they make a habit of. Link: MacPlay
online Look for more Mac game reviews coming soon! |
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*MacPlay logo, game screen shots and box art copyright MacPlay and respective owners and authors
