Michael Jackson: The Experience for PS Move and Kinect is due middle of this month! Personally, while I am excited about this game, I will probably not get the game immediately when it is released.
First of all, for the PS Move version, I am suspecting that the experience is going to be similar to the Wii version released in November last year. With only the capability to track the movement of an arm, I doubt the PS3 version will be any difference from the Wii where the player can perform the ‘dance’ with just a a controller in their hand. For a dancing game, this is unacceptable. The PS3 version would definitely has a better graphics. Till this stage, it is also not known if the PS3 version will support the karaoke-like feature as seen in the Kinect version. My bet is that the Move version of the game is going to be pale in comparison to its Kinect counterpart
Yes the Kinect version! As a disclaimer, I should point out that I am not a fan of Xbox nor do I play the Halo series. I have both the PS3 and Xbox 360 system. But to be honest, this game may look a lot better for Kinect than for PS Move. After the success of Dance Central (Harmonix is working on the second Dance Central as we are speaking), gamers like me are confident of what Kinect can deliver as a platform for dance game. However, we can’t assume that Ubisoft can deliver the same quality as Harmonix which after all is a veteran in making such games.
The Kinect version includes a karaoke feature whereby you will sing a portion of MJ’s song during the performance. While this maybe a bane to some who don’t like singing, this could probably be an option that can be turned off. For those who are into getting special editions of game, MJ: The Experience has a Collector’s Edition which features MJ T-shirt, poster and a microphone.
Have the gaming population of Singapore surveyed on their Top 5 games and this is the likely outcome:
COD : Black Ops
Halo Reach
FIFA 11
Uncharted 2
Mass Effect 2
As you can see, FIFA is a mainstay in any Top 5 List around. Which is why it’s good to voice my opinion on what I want for FIFA 12 and what EA will do.
What I want: Improved Commentary
With Andy Gray’s contract cancelled due to his shenanigans. It is the perfect time to update the aged commentary. In FIFA 11, the commentary was competant at telling you what is happening but failed to provide proper in-dept analysis and , in manager mode, the general status of the league/cup during the match. They also failed to talk about the biggest transfer news.
What EA will do: Improved Commentary
Delete Andy Gray’s recordings and just play Martin Tylers’
What I want: Improved Overall Presentation
Comparing the presentation of NBA 2K11 and FIFA 11 is like comparing a Simmons Bed to a pigs sty. This has to change.
Year after year they promise improvements for manager mode but all they do is change the layout. They need to include A “Pre-Kick off Show”, A “Half-time Show” and A ” Post-Match Show”. This would make the player feel like he is actually managing a football club.
Also allow a interface like Mass Effect’s conversation system where the player uses this to talk to his Teammates/Footballers, the Press and the Board. Allow Aggressive, Neutral and relaxed options. Also allow for specific options when negotiating contracts or asking for transfer funds.
Allow the player to design his character from the top to the bottom. Allow the players to walk through the training grounds, Stadium and various shops where the player will be able to interact with all the staff of the club and gauge whether he is popular with the fans by talking to the Club Merchandise Shop Owner or talk to the Tea Lady to find out what she has overheard.
Allow the player a sandbox like feel to the game where he can drive around as player /manger to pubs and shops and is greeted according the his status and popularity or what event happened in the previous game(Scored Winning goal, Defeat to local rivals)
Allow customisation of the club buildings. When a player spends money to upgrade the club training grounds for instance, he can visit the area and see the spanking new gym equipment and added training field. He can then talk to his players to gauge their response.
Improve the personality of the footballers, some are brave, flamboyant, shy, hardworking not just in the way they play but their character too. Show this when you talk to the players.
Allow the player at the start of the game to choose his main Mangering style and add 1-3 perks in relation to his style. Allow the player to add more as he levels up. This can be applied to your created player as well.
Include 2-3 newspapers with different views so the player can see his approval rate. Also include a weekly show which reviews the league’s action.
Allowing the players to include their custom chants was a brilliant idea but trying to upload the chants into the Xbox 360 was a pain in the ***.
EA should research chants for the top leagues in Europe and South America, Country National Anthems should be there by default.
The Crowd really needs to be improved, with the power of the consoles nowadays there is no excuse for wooden looking spectators.
Show the crowd standing up as one as the striker bears sown on goal. Let the crowd raise the hands in hope as the shot flies of the striker’s boot, before resting on the heads as the ball hits the post. Their faces showing a brief flash of disappointment before admiration and hope as they applaud the striker’s efforts.
Change the crowds reactions in relation to the margin of victory or lose or the type of game whether it may be A derby, Cup final or celebratory match after both teams have fought off relagation.
Allow for boos to ring out after a visiting team’s flair player does a few tricks, or when he takes a free kick. Allow for us to hear applause when the opposing player goes of in a stretcher after an injury or boos when he takes to long to get off the pitch after being substituted.
Allow for different volumes of crowd noise, Stoke City’s Britannia Stadium is always louder than Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium
Finally, allow for quick throw-ins.
If it happens in real life why not in game? It would speed up gameplay and those players who are smart enough to notice a gap and take a quick throw-in will gain an opportunity which may not occur had they not been able to take the quick throw-in
What EA will do: Improve Overall Presentation
Honestly? None of the above
What I want: Improved Referees
The handing out of Yellow and Red cards is nonsense. You can get a yellow for jockeying as the winger runs past you while the opposition can be the last man and not get a red. Since the offside decisions are never wrong why should the handing out of yellow cards
What EA will do: Improved Referees
I believe that they will improve it this time
What I want: A separate FIFA Street mode
Since The FIFA Street series is dead, why not bring it back in FIFA 12?
Just a simple kick-off mode will do, also you should be able to import your “Be-a-pro” Player into the game.
What EA will do: A separate FIFA Street mode
Include it in a costly DLC
What I want: Removal of the Online Pass code
Yes. I can understand the reasoning behind this venture (pay for employees).
But the reason I buy second hand games most of the time is because buying them new ($70) is too much when the resale value of the game drops to $40 and below so quickly, and considering I am already paying $88 a year to play online, it is madness.Furthermore, how much are they getting paid if they have to earn money from second-hand buyers? Its time they tune down the pressure and just include the code for added features like Mass Effect 2.
What EA will do: Removal of the Online Pass code
Nothing, as usual.
What I want: Inclusion of Classic teams (Ten of them?)
Its about time they did this, nothing like match-ups like : Manu 1999 against Arsenal 2004 or Brazil 1970 against Holland 1974
What EA will do: Inclusion of Classic teams
Well that brings us to the end of my Preview/Rant on FIFA games.
To those who are interested my Xbox 360 Gamertag is Rad1oAct1ve9145
Editor’s note: Check out what others want to see in Fifa 12.
Test Drive Unlimited 2 Promises so much yet delivers so little (Much like Arsenal FC)
It Has been 4 years since the last Test Drive which was an interesting step towards a new genre, the MMO Driving simulator. It was certainly a breath of fresh air into an over saturated driving genre. The big question from fans and interested buyers alike was whether they could provide a better experience and not fall into the category of a bad sequel.
And in some ways it does. A car list ranging from old Lotuses to THE Bugatti Veyron and even Range Rovers Provides great diversity in terms of cars to drive around the huge island of Ibiza. And boy is it huge. The satisfaction of getting the money to buy one of the many premium car brands (Audi, Lexus, Mercedes, Ferrari) is increased when you cruise along Ibiza’s wide highways with the sun shining off your gleaming car.
The developers, Lyon’s Eden Games have realized that driving for miles to reach a clothing shop may not appeal to all (especially those who drive to work during rush hour in real life, MORE DRIVING??!! NOOOOOOO!!!!). Thus they have introduced a scoring system where you get cash for close-shaves, jumps and speed. Sadly you soon come to realize that earning money this way is not the most efficient way as rarely do you get more than a 1000 dollars at a time.
Therefore it is good that the game never leaves you alone, NPCs call you frequently to inform you of various events that you can and should participate in the advance your level. The GPS in the game is better than some in real life and this makes for a pleasant gaming experience.
As with any MMO, 2 things matter; Leveling up, and Cash. Thankfully TDU 2 makes both easy to start with and harder as the game goes on.
You can level up in 4 categories:
Competition (racing, completing challenges)
Social (making friends in the game, race against other people, joining clubs)
Discovery (discover all roads, take photographs of specific locations, find all car wrecks)
Cash can be obtained through the earlier mentioned method or through races. Cash is used for buying funky and cool clothes (Admittedly i did not change from my Valet Driver uniform which you start with), Houses ranging from your dingy 1-rooms to sprawling mansions LKY would live in and of course cars which cost like real life too meaning the MMO grind is well and truly alive in this game.
The multiplayer aspect of the game has a couple of good ideas, Players are able to create their own challenges for other players to attempt to win the prize. You can also rate the challenge afterward which prevents cheaters who create impossible challenges. You may also challenge any player you see on the roads with a flash of your headlights, an idea Apple themselves would be proud of. Voice chat is also available for trash talking.
The sound in this game is good but not amazing, the roars from the more expensive cars feel somewhat hollow.
Now at this point, you may be already opening up another tab on your browser to look for TDU 2 on Gametrader.SG, but hold on to your horses or horsepowers (bad joke) as with anything in this world its not perfect, not even near perfect.
The graphics appear to not have changed from the first TDU and the setting of the Tropical Island of Ibiza seems to be an effort to .
What is, is the poorly done cut-scenes which pale in comparison to efforts by Rockstar, and even Quantic Dream( Heavy Rain). Where these companies have cut-scenes which are realistic and emotional, TDU2 is cut-off and aloof. And this is bad because the point of the game is to dump the player into a realistic moving world where you can live out your real life car fantasies. sadly the Bad voice acting jarred the experience.
This also applies to the main story where you are in a racing competition. There was huge potential for something like F1 2010 where the were press conferences and commentary. All you get from this game is “So and So are fighting again” or “What an important race this is” over and over again. Of course its important! I don’t think the viewers, whoever they may be, need to be told this.
While the multiplayer in theory sounds like a great idea, it is limited due to server issues much like a car would be limited if the engine keeps breaking down. Issues with connection to servers, entering the casino, and redeeming DLCs make the bulk of the problem. Thankfully most of the bugs and glitches have been sorted out.
The handling also suffers with no clear difference between the Guided and Sport options, with a controller the handling is jerky and not accurate, this game is best played with a wheel.
What is worse is the lousy radio which plays Top 100 Worst hits EVER on every station you choose
In total this game should last you from 5 mins to 60 hours depending on whether you Rage-quit due to:
Lousy Starting Scene
Only 1 Asian Character option
Poor Voice acting
Poor Graphics
Jerky Handling
The Grind to get better cars
Getting thrashed by the Buggati Veyron Super Sport (a pre-order DLC)
Trouble connecting to Online Servers
Corrupted save due to bug
Smashing of Speaker system due to terrible soundtrack
Final Verdict:
Graphics : 6.5/10
Sound : 7/10
Gameplay : 8/10
Multiplayer : 7.8/10
Longevity : 4-8/10
Test Drive Unlimited 2 is close to gaming perfection just based on its gameplay, and large amount of great ideas but it doesn’t have ruins it. ( Much like Arsenal and their lack of a good back 4 😉 )
