Demos

Might as well start a new post to discuss those game demos:

Serious Sam 2: There is no mistaking that this is a Serious Sam game. Same simple, challenging gameplay loaded with humor and violence. All the classic weapons are back, as well as some new ones. However, Sam 2 seems to benefit from the lessons developer Croteam have learned in making the original game. The demo showed a lot of variety in terms of the areas it forces you to fight through. It starts off in a wide open plaza, then pushes you into a cramped series of hallways. and then gives you a vehicle for engaging in some aerial combat. Each area played a little differently. The plaza allows you better vantage points and gives you the chance to distance yourself from enemies, while the hallways are only passable if you quickly take out the most threatening foes first. This is often easier said than done due to much better enemy placement; more powerful forces are often placed farther away and are guarded by lesser minions.

Overall, the variety and instensity of Sam 2's gameplay is impressive. Gone is the repetitive process of constantly backpeddling and firing that pervaded the original game. It may cost an extra ten dollars at retail, but I think the increase will be more than worth it.

Oh, and the Serious Engine 2 looks amazing. Tons of detailed enemies onscreen at once, all the while a huge cityscape, complete with traffic surrounds the level. All with hardly any major slowdown.


Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood. Didn't the original BIA come out this year as well? Yes it did. And this "sequel" plays exactly like it, and even features most of the same characters. If you like this kind of realistic, strategic gameplay, you'll have more to like here. Personally I couldn't finish this demo. Having a squad that can't shoot for shit and being sniped to death as I turn a corner is not fun, its frustrating.

Also, this game is proof positive of what is wrong with the industry. Here we have another WWII shooter, that also happens to be a sequel, being released in the same year as the original game. And of course, it details the journey of the 101st airborne, which if we were to believe the gaming world were the only people to fight during the war. This game seems to define cookie cutter. No thank you.

Indigo Prophecy: This is a new adventure game that puts an entirely new spin on the genre. I won't go into details about it, mostly because it is too hard to describe. Just go to a game site and download it. You'll thank me later.

P.S. - If you are a designer who makes RPGs, you should definitely be playing Indigo Prophecy. You would do well to learn that games can be loaded with cutscenes and story and still be incredibly interesting. Maybe you can figure out what you are doing wrong.