Llamadev
2007
An early gen 7 game with gore placed in New York, playing as an Italian? Yes please!
Okay, this a game that isn’t aging well, to be honest. Which is such a shame because there’s so much love put into the game and made me chuckle occasionally by just interacting with the people in the world or the payphone calls. I love the characters and gameplay a lot, despite the aging is starting to show.
This game is definitely an L for PlayStation players (like me). I’ve occasionally had to go and look at walkthroughs to understand where to go at times and mainly to make sure I’m going to the right area so I don’t have to wait 3 minutes to enter the wrong area, sit at a loading screen, go back, sit at at loading screen, walk slow like I have elephantiasis to the next area and be on my way. The 360 version has some graphic updates and just better frame rate. Kinda feel cheated out, but this is a title I can see myself coming back to. Just not on ps3.
Okay, this a game that isn’t aging well, to be honest. Which is such a shame because there’s so much love put into the game and made me chuckle occasionally by just interacting with the people in the world or the payphone calls. I love the characters and gameplay a lot, despite the aging is starting to show.
This game is definitely an L for PlayStation players (like me). I’ve occasionally had to go and look at walkthroughs to understand where to go at times and mainly to make sure I’m going to the right area so I don’t have to wait 3 minutes to enter the wrong area, sit at a loading screen, go back, sit at at loading screen, walk slow like I have elephantiasis to the next area and be on my way. The 360 version has some graphic updates and just better frame rate. Kinda feel cheated out, but this is a title I can see myself coming back to. Just not on ps3.
Tl;dr, great game, won’t recommend if going in blind to the series.
Hoo boy! What a great budget cutscene at the beginning and prompted to find the Amber Crown and stop a secret project! While I do know this is a prequel game, it’s sure is an upgrade in gameplay, maps, and more pleasant enjoyment game to AC1 on casual play.
I really like a reoccurring AC like Sumika to be there on multiple missions, adds to some drama and grows to care. Even while the sorry goes on, Sumika shows some direct care and worry for the players is (sadly) a rare thing to see in the AC series. Whoever did the voice acting for Sumika in English gets a round of applause.
The opposition is done with the main antagonist, Stinger, a complete clown and honestly made me have no interest in the Amber Crown because it's run by this dude who keeps reappearing, kills him in 5 seconds, says something cheesy, then leaves. The weight of the story lost it all with this guy and honestly it would've worked if they decided to something like Stinger is Amber Crown's contractor, but used to be an elite raven beforehand. It's disappointing to see how well they handled the opposing Ravens in the last game; to have this Team Rocket villain.
The final boss was great, even though it ended short like many others, it was impressive to see and one of a kind. Way better boss to the 1st game and even AC 3
Now the arena is a legendary staple and main reason for the series' appeal. This one that started is flat in personality. Nearly all the AC’s description is something like “lowerweight AC that has a rival with X ''. Also in this game, you don’t interact with any of the Ranked ACs in the missions nor get any messages from fellow ACs pilots; This is the ONLY thing we have to describe them. With that, I never gave a care about climbing more than just the gameplay aspect and how fun it is besides no narrative care for. Also who knows, the Japanese version may be way better, one day I’ll come back and play it in Japanese when it comes down the line.
Gameplay? It’s great.
Overall: Recommended if already an AC fan, it has so much personality to the other titles and one you can remember things fondly. Definitely a must play title if you come back to ps1 era of AC, but you can die peacefully without touching it. Unrecommended because it does a way different take on their fundamentals, long missions, flat arena, and cheesy af story.
(Minor spoilers)
P.S. Here’s active notes I took while playing the game. Thought they’re too good to not be put in : )
-Helicopters are annoying and look like dragonflies
-The map variety is better, but are more complex and longer missions.
-I played this game under the the condition to play with thank or quad legs only to make myself have more of a challenge and be innovative.
-The WA-Finger is one of the best awards after the arenas, it's so fun and love to shoot it anytime I see the opportunity to
-I dislike how much an explosive range rocket weapons have, it's a little absurd that the game felt like "Who gets hit 1st wins” the match on occasion. You can bunny hop away and still get a fraction hit off you from the explosion.
Hoo boy! What a great budget cutscene at the beginning and prompted to find the Amber Crown and stop a secret project! While I do know this is a prequel game, it’s sure is an upgrade in gameplay, maps, and more pleasant enjoyment game to AC1 on casual play.
I really like a reoccurring AC like Sumika to be there on multiple missions, adds to some drama and grows to care. Even while the sorry goes on, Sumika shows some direct care and worry for the players is (sadly) a rare thing to see in the AC series. Whoever did the voice acting for Sumika in English gets a round of applause.
The opposition is done with the main antagonist, Stinger, a complete clown and honestly made me have no interest in the Amber Crown because it's run by this dude who keeps reappearing, kills him in 5 seconds, says something cheesy, then leaves. The weight of the story lost it all with this guy and honestly it would've worked if they decided to something like Stinger is Amber Crown's contractor, but used to be an elite raven beforehand. It's disappointing to see how well they handled the opposing Ravens in the last game; to have this Team Rocket villain.
The final boss was great, even though it ended short like many others, it was impressive to see and one of a kind. Way better boss to the 1st game and even AC 3
Now the arena is a legendary staple and main reason for the series' appeal. This one that started is flat in personality. Nearly all the AC’s description is something like “lowerweight AC that has a rival with X ''. Also in this game, you don’t interact with any of the Ranked ACs in the missions nor get any messages from fellow ACs pilots; This is the ONLY thing we have to describe them. With that, I never gave a care about climbing more than just the gameplay aspect and how fun it is besides no narrative care for. Also who knows, the Japanese version may be way better, one day I’ll come back and play it in Japanese when it comes down the line.
Gameplay? It’s great.
Overall: Recommended if already an AC fan, it has so much personality to the other titles and one you can remember things fondly. Definitely a must play title if you come back to ps1 era of AC, but you can die peacefully without touching it. Unrecommended because it does a way different take on their fundamentals, long missions, flat arena, and cheesy af story.
(Minor spoilers)
P.S. Here’s active notes I took while playing the game. Thought they’re too good to not be put in : )
-Helicopters are annoying and look like dragonflies
-The map variety is better, but are more complex and longer missions.
-I played this game under the the condition to play with thank or quad legs only to make myself have more of a challenge and be innovative.
-The WA-Finger is one of the best awards after the arenas, it's so fun and love to shoot it anytime I see the opportunity to
-I dislike how much an explosive range rocket weapons have, it's a little absurd that the game felt like "Who gets hit 1st wins” the match on occasion. You can bunny hop away and still get a fraction hit off you from the explosion.
1997
While this isn’t my 1st AC game and never felt that confusion like noob me did for AC2, I quite enjoyed this title.
I found myself spending more time customizing to playing the missions. It’s uncomfortable going back and forth to mid max your build and rather can discourage to experiment by how tedious it can get. Luckily this issue gets resolve down the line and we’re blessed for that.
The narrative is meh, it’s there. Really no enjoyment to come out of it except seeing the blunt irony of working for both sides like missions “go attack XY base” while the next mission to do is “someone attacked XY base, regain control of the situation.” This I found to be brilliant and wish you felt your actions more in the only title I finished, AC3.
The missions are outstanding and liked how divested the missions were, another you’re on a blimp, one in underground lab, and so on. They very much make up the missing arena. I loved the 2nd half of this title as it felt the game and world itself we’re starting to recognize your abilities and must put an end to you before you get out of hand. This being seen with getting 1v2, trapped in rooms, and given long length missions. I never felt a difficulty spike, it felt just right.
I found myself spending more time customizing to playing the missions. It’s uncomfortable going back and forth to mid max your build and rather can discourage to experiment by how tedious it can get. Luckily this issue gets resolve down the line and we’re blessed for that.
The narrative is meh, it’s there. Really no enjoyment to come out of it except seeing the blunt irony of working for both sides like missions “go attack XY base” while the next mission to do is “someone attacked XY base, regain control of the situation.” This I found to be brilliant and wish you felt your actions more in the only title I finished, AC3.
The missions are outstanding and liked how divested the missions were, another you’re on a blimp, one in underground lab, and so on. They very much make up the missing arena. I loved the 2nd half of this title as it felt the game and world itself we’re starting to recognize your abilities and must put an end to you before you get out of hand. This being seen with getting 1v2, trapped in rooms, and given long length missions. I never felt a difficulty spike, it felt just right.
Not a gundam fan, but found it at my local retro store and I can tell how much passion was put into this title. Had fun in the arcade, may take it off the shelf here and there.
2002
First Armored Core game I’ve beaten. I’ve played 2 a few years ago, but never could’ve beaten it since I just didn’t understand some of the full mechanics and found it way harder compared to this title. I found this game to be balanced all around and was a blast from my climb to Rank 1 in arenas as the story unfolded.
2000
Been playing it as of late and man o man the strategy in this game is real. Definitely play this one so you see the chaos of the reverse mushroom.
Love me the Miku songs!
Just beaten this with a friend and I have to say that I’m impressed with some of the visuals. Like the final boss’s character design is one I almost never see in games and wish for it more.
2007
This is an odd ball game to say the least. While the title suffers like most gen 7 games, this has the added effect of 1st year ps3 being about “YOOO look at this these new features! There’s motions now”. This title has been made with flaws and boy did I enjoy this game despite it.
The motion feature I found entertaining in aspects, one great reason is picking up a corpse with one arm and slow mo smack another person with it. Besides this aspects, I found it good in some ways, while others being awful, more specifically being awful when it comes to puzzles. It works well in combat scenarios.
The story in this title is decent, it’s a basic set up that you have seen a dozen times already. The characters is what makes the game memorable in my book. The main antagonist is great, so great that I genuinely couldn’t wait to see this hypocritical pervert have their inevitable downfall. The side antagonist are power ranger villains with wacky mannerisms, some could find it annoying, I find them entertaining by showing you’re up against clowns that are better than your side simply by having more access to tech and strength in numbers. My word of advice is to go into the game and pretend logic doesn’t exist.
My only disappointment being how they handled the villain Flying Fox, he was hyped up the entire game and given as equally amount of screen time as the main antagonist. Feels like they wanted to do more, but were running out of time or budget. I enjoy the game’s plot and ending anyhow, not great by any means, but not bad either.
(Minor spoilers for gameplay)
There’s two characters you play throughout the game, one named Nariko and the other named Kai. Nariko is the main one you’ll be playing through the game as and she revolves around her sword(s) changing shape. The swordplay here is satisfying and kept the game fresh throughout as the many switching of your blade with various basic combos to pull. Basic as in things like square, square, triangle, etc. Near the end however, I found that it’s best to play the game like it’s assassin’s creed to wait till someone attacks you, counter it for a isntakill, and repeat. You get plenty of points this way too, helpful if wanting to 100%.
As for Kai, her entire gameplay revolves around a bow gun and you get what you would expect from an early ps3 title, motion controls! While yes, you don’t “need” to use the motion controls, but you will make certain segments really really really difficult for yourself. Hell, there’s a point where you’re forced to kill these enemies with headshots only. So yeah, motions controls this whole time when playing Kai, is it good despite this mechanic set back? Yes and no. Yes because it gives the perspective like the Sniper Ellite games where you see the arrow hit the target, but this time you control the arrow right when you shoot it in a direction with the motion controls. This can be a bane of existence for some, but to me, landing a shot feels oh so satisfying each time. I only found the motions control’s annoying like puzzles like I stated earlier. Worth mentioning, Kai’s sections are often short and only get to use her a handful of times. Her stay doesn’t feel overdue.
The world and art direction is outstanding, some areas being so beautiful, I would have them as a background for my pc! Well done for this aspect.
The music in title is unique by going a more Middle-East cultural approach. While there wasn’t a specific track that I felt impacted a scene for better or for worse, it would catch me off guard as to not being used to this style of music in a video game.
Overall, I would say this is the best early gen 7 out there and recommend to try out if want to see what ps3-exclusives have to offer. The motion controls aren’t sufferable either. If you wanna bang out a game in a day or two, this could be an option for ya.
The motion feature I found entertaining in aspects, one great reason is picking up a corpse with one arm and slow mo smack another person with it. Besides this aspects, I found it good in some ways, while others being awful, more specifically being awful when it comes to puzzles. It works well in combat scenarios.
The story in this title is decent, it’s a basic set up that you have seen a dozen times already. The characters is what makes the game memorable in my book. The main antagonist is great, so great that I genuinely couldn’t wait to see this hypocritical pervert have their inevitable downfall. The side antagonist are power ranger villains with wacky mannerisms, some could find it annoying, I find them entertaining by showing you’re up against clowns that are better than your side simply by having more access to tech and strength in numbers. My word of advice is to go into the game and pretend logic doesn’t exist.
My only disappointment being how they handled the villain Flying Fox, he was hyped up the entire game and given as equally amount of screen time as the main antagonist. Feels like they wanted to do more, but were running out of time or budget. I enjoy the game’s plot and ending anyhow, not great by any means, but not bad either.
(Minor spoilers for gameplay)
There’s two characters you play throughout the game, one named Nariko and the other named Kai. Nariko is the main one you’ll be playing through the game as and she revolves around her sword(s) changing shape. The swordplay here is satisfying and kept the game fresh throughout as the many switching of your blade with various basic combos to pull. Basic as in things like square, square, triangle, etc. Near the end however, I found that it’s best to play the game like it’s assassin’s creed to wait till someone attacks you, counter it for a isntakill, and repeat. You get plenty of points this way too, helpful if wanting to 100%.
As for Kai, her entire gameplay revolves around a bow gun and you get what you would expect from an early ps3 title, motion controls! While yes, you don’t “need” to use the motion controls, but you will make certain segments really really really difficult for yourself. Hell, there’s a point where you’re forced to kill these enemies with headshots only. So yeah, motions controls this whole time when playing Kai, is it good despite this mechanic set back? Yes and no. Yes because it gives the perspective like the Sniper Ellite games where you see the arrow hit the target, but this time you control the arrow right when you shoot it in a direction with the motion controls. This can be a bane of existence for some, but to me, landing a shot feels oh so satisfying each time. I only found the motions control’s annoying like puzzles like I stated earlier. Worth mentioning, Kai’s sections are often short and only get to use her a handful of times. Her stay doesn’t feel overdue.
The world and art direction is outstanding, some areas being so beautiful, I would have them as a background for my pc! Well done for this aspect.
The music in title is unique by going a more Middle-East cultural approach. While there wasn’t a specific track that I felt impacted a scene for better or for worse, it would catch me off guard as to not being used to this style of music in a video game.
Overall, I would say this is the best early gen 7 out there and recommend to try out if want to see what ps3-exclusives have to offer. The motion controls aren’t sufferable either. If you wanna bang out a game in a day or two, this could be an option for ya.
After a whole decade later and a season 1 expansion about to end soon. I felt to revisit this game and get good again!
From me marathoning almost all the Assassins Creed titles (except the new rpg trilogy) earlier last year; I never felt so in the moment and intrigued to the gameplay. It feels like I got pulled out by the roots and experience a real stealth game as each action has stakes and a sense of mortality to kill, to not to kill, and who try to interrogate. I’m gonna change up my review style for this as if you’re reading this, you’ve almost likely played it before. I’ll discuss my personal playthrough
My start was rough, me getting spotted multiple times, setting alarms, and not fully grasping the controls. I ended the game with a 50%! You don’t how many times I would miss objectives and just tried my best to get out of the missions in one piece. To give an idea, the 1st mission where you’re in a bath house, your target is in a small room with 2 other armed men. There’s a vent to go into where you can crawl to the other end, eavesdrop on the conversation and interrogate your target as they enter another room alone. In my playthrough, I saw the vent that has an opening to the room, threw a flash grenade in it, opened the door and went guns blazing. I went down the bloody path too much than I should’ve at the beginning………..
Near the 2nd half of the game, I started to find my shine within the game with going non lethal as possible and get many interrogations as possible. I started to look around the environment more as the darkness and noise is can be your friend. Avoiding confrontation as a whole, except when I see an interrogation can be done, I can’t miss that!
Speaking of interrogations, this I would say is a main appeal to Chaos Theory or maybe Splinter Cell as a whole, I only played this title as I was recommended it on my list. Every time Sam Fisher speaks, it’s voiced out perfectly and makes landing a interrogation ever so satisfying. There’s some straight hilarious interrogations as well that give no real input except humor, which is greatly appreciated from this rather morbid plot.
Speaking of plot, it has mystery, suspense, and a thrill ride throughout. The story itself has no real takeaway on a personal level. It’s a story that is entertaining and stereotypical characters to go along with it. The ending was cheesy af though.
Overall, great experience and will be recommending this to others in the future. This game seems to have excellent replayability value too. Some consoles having differences except just graphics for added reason to replay! This review is way too long than I expected it to be so I’m going to end it here. I’m happy I was recommended this! Thanks Lead!
My start was rough, me getting spotted multiple times, setting alarms, and not fully grasping the controls. I ended the game with a 50%! You don’t how many times I would miss objectives and just tried my best to get out of the missions in one piece. To give an idea, the 1st mission where you’re in a bath house, your target is in a small room with 2 other armed men. There’s a vent to go into where you can crawl to the other end, eavesdrop on the conversation and interrogate your target as they enter another room alone. In my playthrough, I saw the vent that has an opening to the room, threw a flash grenade in it, opened the door and went guns blazing. I went down the bloody path too much than I should’ve at the beginning………..
Near the 2nd half of the game, I started to find my shine within the game with going non lethal as possible and get many interrogations as possible. I started to look around the environment more as the darkness and noise is can be your friend. Avoiding confrontation as a whole, except when I see an interrogation can be done, I can’t miss that!
Speaking of interrogations, this I would say is a main appeal to Chaos Theory or maybe Splinter Cell as a whole, I only played this title as I was recommended it on my list. Every time Sam Fisher speaks, it’s voiced out perfectly and makes landing a interrogation ever so satisfying. There’s some straight hilarious interrogations as well that give no real input except humor, which is greatly appreciated from this rather morbid plot.
Speaking of plot, it has mystery, suspense, and a thrill ride throughout. The story itself has no real takeaway on a personal level. It’s a story that is entertaining and stereotypical characters to go along with it. The ending was cheesy af though.
Overall, great experience and will be recommending this to others in the future. This game seems to have excellent replayability value too. Some consoles having differences except just graphics for added reason to replay! This review is way too long than I expected it to be so I’m going to end it here. I’m happy I was recommended this! Thanks Lead!
2017
While there’s a push of micro transactions in the game, you can play the game completely free and be a top player.
Free to play players vs. the whales only comes to play if you care about pvp, arena not so much and recommend to not put a lot of time for it.
Speaking of battles, I love how NASTY you can get with some characters like Ms.Fortune with combos with her head. Each variation of characters aren’t made equal, some have absolutely more usefully skills to others. Like one character may revive all your teammates once they go down while another gets a ton of critical hits. While sadly, you just have to deal with what you got at the beginning and only get to see the fun of skills after getting some silver and gold characters.
The story mode is fun and a charm to interactions with side characters in the series. You aren’t gonna get much about the playable characters though, the main game has that covered if you want that.
Free to play players vs. the whales only comes to play if you care about pvp, arena not so much and recommend to not put a lot of time for it.
Speaking of battles, I love how NASTY you can get with some characters like Ms.Fortune with combos with her head. Each variation of characters aren’t made equal, some have absolutely more usefully skills to others. Like one character may revive all your teammates once they go down while another gets a ton of critical hits. While sadly, you just have to deal with what you got at the beginning and only get to see the fun of skills after getting some silver and gold characters.
The story mode is fun and a charm to interactions with side characters in the series. You aren’t gonna get much about the playable characters though, the main game has that covered if you want that.
You’re gonna have bad games, gonna have good games, gonna get bricked. It’s the nature of it all.
Difficult game to play as a beginner since lack of cards so I HIGHLY advise doing some solo duels to get diamonds so you can get some cards, understand specific card mechanics, instant playback against an AI, and see if you like the game in the 1st place.
Difficult game to play as a beginner since lack of cards so I HIGHLY advise doing some solo duels to get diamonds so you can get some cards, understand specific card mechanics, instant playback against an AI, and see if you like the game in the 1st place.
It feels like every 2 years I rediscover this game. Outstanding artstyle, everything else is meh. Would be really good if there was more mystery to it.
2002
I got it because of the box art at my local retro store.