Lair is not very good. Most people agree with that. To try and alleviate the reviewing experience and perhaps gain a few points on scores, Lair's handlers released a 'Lair Reviewer's Guide' to the gaming press. Some were insulted by this.
But what's really scary is that even the guide that Sony sent out is not very good either, or at least it was not proofread well. The image above is a clip from page 7 of the 'Lair Reviewer's Guide'. Yes, you read correctly, the Medium Dragon is described as "Dummy text, add new medium dragon txt here" several times over. Perhaps the "dragon-game curse" isn't done wreaking havoc on Factor 5 after all?
[Thanks, Stoo!]














Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
9-09-2007 @ 8:13AM
lucasbbadur said...
Well, I just hope they create a downloadable add-on, allowing Lair to be played with the thumbsticks... That would be an intelligent solution to the so criticized SixAxis controls.
Someone think this could happen?
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9-09-2007 @ 8:36AM
kingofwale said...
I'd say this game suffer the exact fate as "Red Steel", both beautiful to look at (comparative speaking, Red Steel is graphically good in Wii's launch lineups), both have control problems.
Lair will probably sell a million copies worldwide in its lifespan, but it could've done 2 if only they got the whole control scheme correct, what a shame.
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9-09-2007 @ 8:47AM
Egster said...
Jesus Factor 5. This is just stupid. Be happy the title seems to be doing pretty well sales wise and move on.
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9-09-2007 @ 8:48AM
gamesblow said...
Lair doesn't need a patch for analog sticks. You all are just making a bigger issue out of this cause it's cool to hate Sony and it's cool to keep the flames of a mindless console war burning hot.
IF Lair came out of the gate with 8's, 9's and 10's you all wouldn't have anything to complain about. simple as that.
Lair is a good game. It makes perfect sese of the sixaxis controller... Well, to me it does. The reviewsites are just IGN-orant.
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9-09-2007 @ 9:08AM
Bored said...
Oh dear, that is pure, utter incompetence!
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9-09-2007 @ 9:26AM
MCX said...
Don't know if anyone noticed but on the download video from this Thursday "Lair_WorldinChaosVideo-full" the video wasn't compressed properly. It had horizontal lines all though out the video. Its mostly noticable when something on screen is moving fast. I know of this problem cause I edit video. Its like there is a LAIR curse or something.
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9-09-2007 @ 9:36AM
bxbailey said...
Surprisingly enough to me I'm really enjoying the game so far.
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9-09-2007 @ 10:29AM
red996 said...
to gamesblow
Dude, I enjoy using the sixaxis in this game. I have overcome the problem of 180 degrees by rotating forward by 30 degrees before pushing up to assist the dynamics of the motion sensor. With dash I do the oposite rotate towards me 30 degrees before pushing forward. It becomes easier if you picture yourself holding the reigns of a horse. You even have to keep it slightly tilted upwards to give it presure like a horse.
However, I like having choices like playing a videogame in bed before going to sleep. And yesterday I had my 2 weeks old baby in front of me sleeping on the baby bjorn and I couldn't play. Because I kept abruptly shaking my chest while using the sixaxis and I was afraid to do infant shaken syndrome.
Sony should understand that and one of the executives once mentioned people will always have a choice with the sixaxis. I don't know if they are also affecting the civil rights of handicapped people by not including the more standard and accesible analog sticks as an option. I just mention this because it seems companies react to litigation quicker than common sense and consumer needs. Hopefully a Sony lawyer is reading.
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9-09-2007 @ 10:33AM
Disposition said...
Listen.. First off to the one that says the DL vid was bad. Your download was bad.. or maybe ur not watching the HD version or something.. or watching an HD clip on ur SD, because i DLed the clip and play it in 1080i just fine.. its right from the game blu ray. no lines on screen at all.
Secondly this guide had to be made, because there for some reason seems to be tons of people that really dont know what a learning curve is. Does anyone remember going from D-pad to analog. It wasnt that easy the first time. After I gave Lair 15 to 20 minutes. I wouldnt have the controls any other way. Its actually very very simple, but for some reason people are nit picking this game. Its a fantastic epic game. Everything is practicly flawless. And the only complain people have is the controls. I mean seriously whats wrong with them.. THEY ARE NOT UNRESPONSIVE. If you shake the control up and down continuesly YES YOU WONT 180. THIS GOES WITH ANYWAY GAME on wii or motion sensing game. The sad thing is NO ONE ever even gave this game a chance. 2 seconds in you judge the controls and now ur set in ur mind that this stink, and therefor cant enjoy the game. Im right now flying through the last stage and just utterly amazed in every way how intuitive and responsive the controls really are. And dont even get me started on the lock on system. U can lOOK around seperate to ur drgons direction, and stare at ANYTHINng then hit a single button to lick on permannently. I mean what else is missing for you? The dragon will even circle the target automaticly. Hassle free. This guide is sent out because there is no reason to give this game bad reviews just because its trying to revolutionise the way u fly.. I have never botched a 180 attempt EVER after i READ HOW TO DO IT!.. Obviously if u shake once and it doesnt happen u dont just keep chaking the damn thing. Or the dragon will dash forward simply because u shook down as well as shook up. Just whip the damn thing back .. THATS IT!! Reviewerws were sent a guide because they obviously couldnt figure that out. plain and simple.
The only complain thats legit.. if any. Is possibly the length of the game. Flight game masters could prolly beat it in less then 10 hours. But thtas no reason for a score below 5.
If you people really cant figure out what to lock,or fly in this game. You people SERIOSULY DO NEED A GUIDE on how to play a video game. it wasnt hard aT ALL!! 2 minutes inthe stables and i learned everything i need to know to easily go through the game.
Its funny because when i play BIOSHOCK on PC. WHiCH is BOGGED WITH control issues, sound glitches, enemies clipping, me clipping, and gameplay mechanaics going haywire .. the game gets a perfect 10. WOW just wow. its a great game, but everything is overlooked because its just another shooter. NOt a game that redefines flight sims. Justifys blu ray, sixaxis, 1080p, and all the other feartures of the ps3 that havent been justified yet.
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9-09-2007 @ 10:34AM
Disposition said...
Oh yea nothing is printed under medium dragon, because there are no enemy medium dragons in the game. I believe they took those out. Cause when i play through i only notice the weak and strong.
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9-09-2007 @ 11:05AM
JL said...
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9-09-2007 @ 11:18AM
Supino said...
lets face it. tilt isn't fun in general.
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9-09-2007 @ 11:50AM
red996 said...
to disposition
The medium dragons look exactly like yours color red and all. They attack the your floating giant animals in the stage before the giant water snakes. If you lock onto them and fight them then you can appreciate them. They are in ratio to the ice dragons about 12 to one but they will inflict lots of damages since they spit fire.
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9-09-2007 @ 12:36PM
never$$hort said...
This sucks... I really dont know who to believe about Lair... I've seen plenty of people on here that love the game, but then all the reviews including this site, trash the hell outta this game... So who should I trust??? I guess this is a rental 1st, just to be safe...
PS: Super Rub a Dub got terrible reviews because of sixaxis, but I thought it controlled fine with the motion after getting used to it... Is Lair kind of the same this way??
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9-09-2007 @ 12:54PM
Popfrogs said...
Super Rub-a-dub, as cute as it was, was just like those old wooden maze games that you tilted to get a marble through the maze. Actually I wonder how many coders have one of those old games sitting around for reference when they're making Sixaxis controls.
Anyway I think the Lair guide was intended as a joke. Either that or Factor5 is just falling apart at the seams. Start polishing up those resumes, guys, and you might wanna leave "Lair" off of it.
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9-09-2007 @ 1:40PM
Trev said...
More and more insulting. The include pictures of the picnic they had instead of working on the game and waste time making a Hot Coffee spoof instead of fixing some of the games glaring flaws. Then they bitch about it. Then they're too lazy to proof read their "you're all doing it wrong" booklet.
I managed to enjoy the game despite its flaws, but these guys need to shut the hell up.
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9-09-2007 @ 2:03PM
Mr Khan said...
@ Kingofwale. Lair seems rather to be suffering the same fate as Sonic and the Secret Rings, some people "get it" and some "don't," and both games are graphically strong for their platform
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9-09-2007 @ 2:58PM
ryano said...
@Those that defend Lair:
I think Factor 5 screwed up in not giving people the option whether to use waggle or not.
Red996 made a good point when he described playing Lair with a sleeping infant.
They def should have shipped the game with 2 play options like how a bunch of titles ship with the option to turn Rumble vibration off.
Giving people options is a very good thing. The next smash bros for the Wii gives you motion and classic controls to play the game with.
If Smash Bros. Brawl shipped with strictly motion based controls do you think it would go over as smoothly with the public? Hell no.
My point is no matter how well motion controls may work in Lair, not everyone wants to play like that.
That is mostly why it was ill recieved. Lack of a Demo hurts it as well since those on the fence may never get to see why so many cream their pants over how great the controls are when there's so many Industry reviews that say otherwise. End of discussion.
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9-09-2007 @ 6:00PM
Jonah Falcon said...
The Reviewer's Guide is just as pretty and slapdash and incomplete as the game! It fits!
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9-09-2007 @ 6:34PM
Ian said...
I have a comment which, as far as I can see, no one has made so far in this thread...
OK, there may or may not be an issue with reviewers not understanding the control system, though it should be properly documented in the docs accompanying the review copy of the game. Or, the control system may just be a big pile of pants. Either way, there is much discussion about the control system and Factor 5 have sought to rectify the situation with a manual for reviewers outlining the the control system.
Now, as a buyer of the game, would I get a 20 page control manual in addition to the normal booklet accompanying the game? If the answer is 'no' then am I at risk of agreeing with a large number of reviewers in rating this game as devoid of a decent control system?
When games cost nearly £50 a time in England, I'd rather not take the chance and instead wait for a game which gets consistently high review scores.
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