'Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor'
Capcom
Microsoft Xbox 360
$59.99 (Kinect required)
ESRB rating: Mature
Review rating: 1.5 stars
Mech fans salivated over the original "Steel Battalion" because it was the first game that attempted a realistic simulation of piloting a gigantic lumbering metal monstrosity. Now a new version is available that requires the Kinect motion-sensing peripheral, but instead of making "Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor" innovative, sloppy Kinect controls send it to the trash bin instead!
I'm sure fans of the series were thrilled that they didn't have to pay hundreds of dollars for a dedicated controller to play the new version. The idea of using motion controls for actions such as operating the scope, shifting gears and lifting the hatch is brilliant. However, these controls simply don't do what they're supposed to most of the time! As a result, the game is so frustrating that I wanted to throw the controller at the screen, but there's no controller to throw.
Or is there? In an equally un-brilliant move, players are required to use the controller to move their Vertical Tank as well as fire the main weapons. This means I have to constantly switch between the controller and using motion controls, which not only forces me to balance the controller on my legs, but also confuses the Kinect sensor and makes it perform unintended functions.
To make matters worse, enemy VTs aren't hampered by the same broken control scheme (they are controlled by A.I. after all), so they have no problem quickly blasting players to kingdom come. Honestly, who wants to play a game where you get killed ten times before finishing the first level?
It's too bad that Kinect ruins this game because it has a cool visual style, great sound effects and likeable characters! Maybe a future patch will dedicate all control functions to the controller, but until then, only masochists will enjoy playing "Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor."
'LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes'
Warner Bros.
Microsoft Xbox 360 (PC, PS3, Wii)
$49.99
ESRB rating: E10
Review rating: 4.5 stars
Traveler's Tales proved that LEGOs aren't just for kids anymore with their highly popular LEGO video game series, and "LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes" is the best one to date! Anyone who thinks this fun-filled title is basically the same as its predecessor will be pleasantly surprised at the bold new direction the developer is taking.
When the diabolical Joker crashes Gotham City's "man of the year" ceremony, only Bruce Wayne's heroic alter ego can save the day! Joined by boy wonder Robin, Batman pursues the clown prince of crime only to find that he plans to destroy Gotham City with the help of the criminal mastermind, Lex Luthor! Eventually, the Justice League enters the story to combat several well-known super-villains, and the result is a super-powered showdown of epic proportions!
For the first time in any LEGO game, the characters actually speak words instead of pantomiming and making sound effects. This welcome addition allows the story to become more robust and also helps to highlight the rivalry between Batman and Superman. Believe it or not, the dialogue is actually funnier than the awkward body language and comical grunting that the series is known for!
My favorite new addition, however, is the open-world game play that includes collecting items, solving puzzles, and hunting down Arkham Asylum escapees. While these activities are optional, they reward players with extra coins, golden bricks, and even additional characters to use in future play-throughs. All of this newfound freedom is in addition to the traditional linear game play that all LEGO games follow. My only complaint about the open-world format is the lack of a mini-map.
Whether you're new to the series or a seasoned fan, "LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes" is money well spent!
'Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor'
Capcom
Microsoft Xbox 360
$59.99 (Kinect required)
ESRB rating: Mature
Review rating: 1.5 stars
Mech fans salivated over the original "Steel Battalion" because it was the first game that attempted a realistic simulation of piloting a gigantic lumbering metal monstrosity. Now a new version is available that requires the Kinect motion-sensing peripheral, but instead of making "Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor" innovative, sloppy Kinect controls send it to the trash bin instead!
I'm sure fans of the series were thrilled that they didn't have to pay hundreds of dollars for a dedicated controller to play the new version. The idea of using motion controls for actions such as operating the scope, shifting gears and lifting the hatch is brilliant. However, these controls simply don't do what they're supposed to most of the time! As a result, the game is so frustrating that I wanted to throw the controller at the screen, but there's no controller to throw.
Or is there? In an equally un-brilliant move, players are required to use the controller to move their Vertical Tank as well as fire the main weapons. This means I have to constantly switch between the controller and using motion controls, which not only forces me to balance the controller on my legs, but also confuses the Kinect sensor and makes it perform unintended functions.
To make matters worse, enemy VTs aren't hampered by the same broken control scheme (they are controlled by A.I. after all), so they have no problem quickly blasting players to kingdom come. Honestly, who wants to play a game where you get killed ten times before finishing the first level?
It's too bad that Kinect ruins this game because it has a cool visual style, great sound effects and likeable characters! Maybe a future patch will dedicate all control functions to the controller, but until then, only masochists will enjoy playing "Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor."
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