PS3 Fanboy

PS3 Fanboy hands-on: SOCOM Confrontation

Andrew Yoon — 2008-06-27T12:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Videos and Screenshots, e-Distribution Games, Hands-on

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This is SOCOM. On the PS3. That's SOCOM Confrontation, put simply. It's somewhat strange to think that the team that brought us the incredibly innovative SOCOM Tactical Strike (PSP) is bringing us a game that feels so by-the-numbers. But for the hardcore SOCOM community, this is the game they've been waiting for. It's been years since the last major console SOCOM game, and Slant Six must offer a product that delivers all the thrills that fans of the franchise have come to expect. Rest assured, Confrontation delivers everything SOCOM fans have come to expect from the series, and expands upon the formula by adding massive 32-player matches and a fully-fleshed online community component.

Many criticized the game when it made its public debut last year for having dated graphics. But, Slant Six had only worked on the game for 5 months when the initial screens were shown to the public. Since then, the game has made remarkable progress, and looks rather stunning. The lighting, heat blur, and smoke effects are all beautifully rendered -- and the scope of each of the game's seven levels is massive.

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Although SOCOM Confrontation will be available as a downloadable title off the PSN, don't expect this to be a bite-sized SOCOM experience. This is the real deal; this is the sequel everyone has been waiting for. The seven maps include five original maps and two remastered levels from the PS2 games. Each of the maps have both day and night modes, and each of the five new maps can be scaled to support 8, 16 or 32 players (the classic maps only support 16 players). The 32-player maps are absolutely massive, stretching out far into the distance. Take a look at some of our new screens, and you'll be able to appreciate the sheer scope of Confrontation. Take into consideration that almost everything you can see, you can get to. More importantly, note that almost every building in the game can be entered as well, maximizing the playable area within each territory.

All of the maps take place in the African area of operations, but that doesn't mean everything will look the same. Each map has a unique theme that encourages different strategies and approaches. For example, Crossroads is a massive city, which encourages players to use rooftops to their advantage. We were able to take down a few guys by climbing to a rooftop, looking over an alley, where enemies were bound to come from. Quarantine, which takes place in a viral lab, is a smaller map, with a lot of verticality. The symmetrical design of Quarantine, all leading to one central location, gives it a very arcadey-feel, with superior gunplay being key to pushing forward. The level also features a moat, which allows players to swim towards alternate paths. Finally, our favorite level: Kazbah (working title). This connecting series of fortresses looks unlike anything we've seen in SOCOM so far, and it offers snipers a great challenge, with various towers scattered throughout. Being in a 32 player game, it really felt like we were trying to break through an impenetrable stronghold. Wow.

The Kazbah level will undoubtedly offer some spectacular gunfights.

For the most part, the gameplay found in Confrontation never surprises. It's incredibly easy to pick up the controller and start playing, especially if you've played previous games in the franchise. However, there was one new feature that we absolutely adored. We didn't think we'd ever say this, but the SIXAXIS controls really work. By tilting to the left, your in-game character will do the same. Tilt to the right, and your character follows. This will give your player the ability to peek around corners and cover, and get a shot which may have been impossible otherwise. Tilt your controller upwards, and your character will lean up and above cover, giving the player some sniping possibilities. And, if you're spotted by the enemy, thrusting the controller down can make your character duck. It may take some time to get used to, but we found it incredible intuitive, and it adds a subtle layer of depth to the controls that's much appreciated.

The online community features being built into this new SOCOM have us really impressed, even though we couldn't use them quite yet. They are ambitious, to say the least. Players can customize their own characters and create and join their own clans. Each clan can have its own unique emblem, which will appear on the player's outfit. Clans can then try to climb up a ladder, scheduling challenges with other clans. Scheduled battles and tournaments will then appear in the in-game calendar, which shows all upcoming SOCOM events a player is signed up for. Slant Six is trying to make this even more of a lifestyle, and with stats-tracking and achievement progress viewable online at SOCOM.com, we can see dedicated players staying in the SOCOM universe, even when they're not connected to a PS3.

Not only will the game offer detailed stats tracking, but there will also be a number of medals to earn in game ... and yep, there's going to be trophies as well. (Unfortunately, we didn't play on a system that was eqipped with firmware 2.40).

The new engine made by Slant Six for Confrontation has a few key features that we're impressed by. For example, each bullet is an individually rendered object in the world, and it will behave realistically. If it can puncture through a wall, it will. Players will have to think about their cover choices rather carefully. Even more cool: shells will be left behind and can be kicked around by players. In a no-spawn match, players can look for bullets left behind after a busy firefight to see where the action is taking place.

There are a few issues to be found in this early alpha build, though. Throughout the various matches we played, the framerate struggled to hit 30 fps. Oftentimes, the game hovered in the 20s, especially during the larger matches. Developers noted that they're aiming for 30, locked. In addition, there still appeared to be some lag in matches, which created some awkward moments for us, when someone we were firing at magically appeared behind us. Ouch. Finally, a network issued caused every linked PS3 in the room to crash simultaneously .... more than once. Trying to play Crossroads with 32 players was an effort in futility.

So, do we see a beta happening any time soon? Not really. While we had a blast with SOCOM Confrontation in its alpha stage, it's clear that there is still a lot of work to be done before it can be released to the public en mass. Slant Six can work some magic on the PS3 -- there's no doubt about that. In a year's time, since it was shown at last year's E3, Confrontation has improved significantly. Once the team can fix the various hang-up issues and steady the framerate, we're certain that the enthusiastic SOCOM community will get their hands on this much-needed PS3 sequel -- and they will be more than pleased.

Want even more? Stay tuned to this week's PS Nation podcast to hear an extended preview of SOCOM Confrontation. Have any questions? Post them in the comments!

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PS3 Fanboy hands-on: Super Stardust HD Versus mode

Jem Alexander — 2008-05-09T09:00:00+00:00

Filed under: e-Distribution Games, Hands-on

Click for high resolution image.

Super Stardust HD received its first expansion pack last month, to much praise from the Stardust community. The Solo Pack added several different modes, and the upcoming multiplayer add-on promises to do the same. We had an opportunity to try it out during PlayStation Day and we loved what we saw.

The "Team Pack" adds a Co-op split-screen mode, as well as the incredible Versus Mode. Within Versus Mode, you can partake in a number of different challenges, similar to the offering found in many other multiplayer games: there's Deathmatch, King of the Hill, and Grab and Run. This whole mode has been built specifically with party gaming in mind.

Up to four players can play against each other on the same planet, but the "layout" of the planet can be changed before the game commences. This allows you to overlay a maze of rocks onto the planet's surface in various shapes which players will need to navigate through. These rocks can be destroyed and, depending on the options settings, can or cannot harm players who come too close. For people who prefer a less restricted battlefield, there's an option for a clear level layout too.

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After setting up the level and the gameplay options, the game asks you to set your personal handicap. This allows less skilled players to play against people of any skill level. Handicaps rebalances gameplay by offering better weapons or a faster ship. Speaking of balance, the final option you're given before the skirmish begins is the ability to decide your ship's specialty: your craft can be a good all-rounder, built for speed, or it can have more powerful weapons on-board. These options may sound complex, but are no harder to navigate than any other menus found in the game and there is enough on-screen help to prevent any confusion.

Gameplay itself is obviously very similar to the single player missions, except you are fighting against up to three of your friends. Unfortunately, there is no online mode. The gameplay is fast paced and frantic, especially in a tight map, and the various new weapons and features mix it up a bit whilst remaining familiar.

Ships are now able to drop proximity mines and are equipped with homing missiles, which players can outrun with good enough reflexes. The large exploding towers found in the new Endless Solo mode can also be found in Versus mode, but they function differently. When you are nearby you will be hit with a lightning bolt that charges up your weapons, making you move and fire quicker. These towers can still be destroyed, however, obliterating anyone floating nearby. The zoom ability has also been changed to give you more control over your boosting.

With Versus mode Housemarque has given Super Stardust HD fans almost an entirely new game to enjoy. We're always happy to see more multiplayer games with on-the-couch gameplay. SSHD has been one title we've been returning to again and again for the last year and we look forward to doing so even more regularly after the Team Pack drops sometime this Summer.

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PS3 Fanboy hands-on: Haze

Majed Athab — 2008-05-07T15:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Hands-on

PlayStation Day 2008 is over but our coverage continues! We're also enjoying the spoils to be found on the European PlayStation Store. In particular, we're talking about the Haze demo which we fired up and took out for a spin. North Americans without Euro accounts can get their nectar dosage tomorrow. While we've played the demo and have written our thoughts here, reader Chris G. shares his gameplay footage through the Haze trial play. So read our thoughts and check out the vid (or not the vid, if you wish not to spoil the experience before you give it a go).

The demo starts off with a firefight in the middle of the jungle. There's no real explanation as to why you're there but that doesn't matter too much for a demo. The controls are standard as far as shooters go, move with the left analog stick, aim with the right, and fire with a shoulder button. Left-handed players will be glad to see control options for them.

Anyway, the thing that deviates from the typical formula is the inclusion of the nectar drug which heightens one's senses and actually makes killing easier. When you inject yourself will a limited supply of nectar, you can zoom in farther, your melee attack is stronger, and enemies glow a bright orange giving away their position. While this is a strategic enhancement, at times it does tend to feel more like a distraction deviating from the main action. We're sure the story aspect of nectar will be fleshed out through the final game, but it doesn't come through in the demo, which feels a bit like a heavy weight dragging the experience down.

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Another note on nectar input, we noticed that not injecting oneself after awhile caused a "nectar distortion" message to flash and everything going hazy. What exactly happened and the consequences of this are not entirely certain as a real-life panic attack ensued and we quickly injected nectar into our computerized character's system to stabilize. Unfortunately, we couldn't get it to reappear.

The single player campaign was an average experience. It's what you expect from the genre, but there's nothing really more to it. The online four-player co-op is, on the other hand, a much better experience as it conjures up the feeling of really working as a team and being a specialized squad. The four-player co-op campaign took place on the same mission as the single player, if anyone wants to know. The two player split screen is divided vertically. There appears to be no way to change that in the demo.

Overall, the demo was fairly fun, though it does seem like a genre generic title ... and by the merit of this demo alone, shooter fans probably may have felt the experience seemed a little too close to another shooter by a single name of four letters (well at least the very beginning). Can you guess which one?

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PS3 Fanboy hands-on: LittleBigPlanet

Andrew Yoon — 2008-05-06T09:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Hands-on

We recently had a chance to sit down and play an updated build of LittleBigPlanet. The latest build has all the bells and whistles of a complete game, and has us clamoring for the game even more than ever before. At the core of our latest hands-on experience was the game's "Story" mode, an adventure mode with pre-designed levels that challenge players to get to the end with the highest score possible.

The levels we played were quite varied. Players will navigate a globe, littered with icons that represent where each level was created. Already, we saw a map that featured dozens of levels -- an overwhelming amount of content has already been crafted during the game's painfully long development. The adventure mode is where the game will teach players the essentials of LittleBigPlanet: each level will demonstrate the possibilities of the game's incredible engine. Massive mechanical beasts, complex physics-based puzzles, and a number of fun playable gizmos can be found within each level. At the completion of these levels, players will unlock more and more things to use in their own creations.

We were surprised by how challenging each level can be. One level had us being chased by a contraption that threatened to steamroll us into oblivion. If the obstacles placed in front of us weren't enough of a hindrance, the creature shot out fiery balls of charcoal at the characters -- a single touch would char them to death. Yes, your critters can die -- and they'll die quite often!

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Thankfully, death isn't too menacing in the game. Scattered through each level are respawn doors, which will burst open with a brand new copy of your fallen friend. The object of the game is to collect as many point orbs as possible, and the punishment for death is simply lost time. There are a number of ways to die in the levels we played: if it wasn't being burned alive, it was being crushed by a giant, rolling boulder. If not that, it was because we trailed behind the others, and the camera had already moved on without us. In these situations, a timer appears around an icon representing your character. If you don't return to the gameplay screen in time, your character will respawn at the next available respawning point.

It was a pleasant surprise to see how challenging, yet still accessible, the designed levels of LittleBigPlanet are. While we all wait patiently for the creation tools to become readily available, it's clear that the team at Media Molecule is trying to create as much original content as possible before shipping the game. Rest assured, it seems like the final retail product will be a rather substantial single and multiplayer offering -- even for those uninterested in creating and sharing their own levels. The limited amount of time we had with LittleBigPlanet has us begging for more. Let's hope a beta or demo comes to satiate us soon.

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PS3 Fanboy hands-on: Battle Fantasia

Majed Athab — 2008-04-30T15:15:00+00:00

Filed under: Hands-on

Battle Fantasia is an upcoming fighting game from Arc System Works -- a name fighting fans will recognize from the Guilty Gear series. The game will be released soon in Japan, hence why there's currently a playable demo up on the Japanese PSN. If you've got a Japanese account go check it out, if not, then read our impressions right here.

On the demo there are two modes you can play: versus CPU and story mode. We headed towards versus CPU first to get a feel for the controls. Sure enough, we engaged in battle, played around with the commands, and ultimately felt that the experience was most akin to Street Fighter Alpha. Everything from combo inputs to that specials bar at the bottom of the screen all mimic the classic set up. The artistic style is unique, though; it's like Guilty Gear meets Disney's version of medieval times.

Going into the story mode, we only got to choose one character: Marco, a little guy with a big sword. As opposed to versus CPU, we had the choice of either Marco or Urs -- a dude who fights with a chainsaw lightsaber. The story mode's plot-continuing conversations are all fully-voiced; however, they play out on static backgrounds with text boxes -- exactly the same as what you would find in old school J-RPGs. That's a bit boring. Well, in fairness we couldn't understand the narrative anyway, so it's possible the dialogue may have been mightily entertaining. Anyway, story mode takes your character of choice from location to location fighting challengers. The demo only had up to three challengers to go through before cutting us short.

The Battle Fantasia demo was an alright experience, but it leaves very little to desire over. There are so many other upcoming fighting games that offer something more than a rehashed combat system. Well, at least they rehash and then add something new. There's nothing noticeably new with Battle Fantasia. So far, we wouldn't recommend this game.

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PS3 Fanboy hands-on: Siren: New Translation

Majed Athab — 2008-04-25T16:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Hands-on

A Siren: New Translation demo hit the Japanese PSN last night. We've had the pleasure of downloading it, and you can too if you've got a Japanese PSN account. We've finished the demo, so if you can't get to playing it, you can read our thoughts on it right here.

First thing you'll notice is that the voice acting is in English for non-Japanese characters, just like in the trailer. The main menu is also in English, but the tutorial is all in Japanese. With the tutorial in a foreign language, it was tough figuring out a few things at first; however, we've gone through the hard parts, and hopefully this preview will provide enough insight to get you through the demo for yourself.

As you can imagine, we died a lot with trial and error. The combat was easy, just use square or R1 to make an attack; however, enemies are too powerful if you don't have a weapon. We tried straight up bare-fisted brawling with the zombies ... the game ended fatally. Now, what's interesting about the combat is that enemies can knock you down, leaving you vulnerable; to get back up you'll have to shake the controller violently (making good use of the SIXAXIS). Also, enemies can climb up on top of you; to get them off, simply shake the controller as done with the "getting up" motion.

Speaking of controller functions, the DualShock 3's vibration is also utilized. Rumble is used to simulate a heartbeat, which signifies close-by enemies. This is good considering that the stages on the demo are dark and make it difficult to see everything around you. The rumble will at least indicate when you should be on guard. Also keep in mind that when you see a hazy film grain effect, this means enemies have spotted you.

To pick up items or interact with the environment, you need to press the x button. Since fighting zombies off with bare fists wasn't enough, we had to find the first weapon, a steel pipe, in order to continue. Once you kill off an enemy, you may notice that sometimes you'll see short cinematic finishers or deaths. You can also take a zombie's weapons after you've taken them out. Always be on the lookout though; previously immobilized enemies can revive, so watch out.

After a while, our character Sam Monroe will reunite with a friend named Melissa Gale. Their story is shortly alluded to, and it's not clear exactly what's happening yet. We know their story has some connection with a little girl you'll meet later in the demo. Anyway, the two will join forces and will have to find an escape route together. After this, the only other mentionable thing is that we got a taste of the shooting combat. It's over the shoulder. You use L1 to aim, and to attack use R1 or square.

Overall, the Siren demo was not too scary. It was more action-oriented rather than suspenseful horror. But don't just take our word for it; go have a crack at it for yourself. Again, the demo is up on the Japanese PlayStation Store. Go play it and tell us what you think.

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PS3 Fanboy hands-on: Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit

Majed Athab — 2008-04-23T20:35:00+00:00

Filed under: Hands-on

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There was more gaming to be had over at last weekend's New York Comic Con and PS3 Fanboy got to play the upcoming Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit. We unfortunately did not get the chance to play the PlayStation 3 version, but did give the Xbox 360 one a go. Obviously, we won't talk about console specific details such as visuals, control interface, etc. We will, however, be talking about the highlighted features found in both versions.

On the demo we played, we got a taste of two different battles from the beginning of the DBZ story. Once in the fray, we noticed right away that fights were fast-paced and intense. The ki meter, which controls the use of ki attacks and special abilities, fills up automatically. This allows more powerful moves to be used quicker and more frequently, also giving the gameplay more variety when developing your own unique fighting style.

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A big addition to the game is the use of something called "Drama Pieces." These are events where a secondary character will swing by to aid you in battle. These characters will appear as certain conditions are met; for example, when health is low or when you sustain or deal a specific amount of damage. It appears that enemies can use this against you as well. They'll have their own allies to help them out, as witnessed when we used Yamcha to fight off the Saibamen.

Overall, battles were quick and exciting skirmishes. There are lots of things to do and lots of ways to mix up your fighting style. The faster ki and the drama pieces are good examples, but there's also an aura mode where you can boost your strength and speed. The options are all there to ensure you're playing a unique battle every time you go one-on-one. So far, our playtime with the game had been fun. We'll hopefully get to play more of the game when it comes out this June. We'll definitely be playing the PS3 version of course!

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PS3 Fanboy hands-on: Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution

Majed Athab — 2008-04-21T15:45:00+00:00

Filed under: Hands-on

Also at New York Comic Con this weekend, we headed over to 2K Games booth and tested out Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution. We went straight ahead into a single player game. Out of the 16 civilizations in the game, two were playable on the demo: Romans and Egyptians. We decided to take on the role of the powerful Roman Empire.

When we first kicked things off we noticed right away that the streamlined interface was an intuitive system; we easily shot straight into the natural flow of the game. Things go much faster in Civilization Revolution as compared to the traditional PC games as a lot of commands have been simplified. For example, workers are not controlled individually and automatically carry out preset commands. This is good as it cuts out tedious and repetitious actions within turns and lets you focus more on moving military units and defending your empire.

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In most games, the select button is usually ignored, but in Civilization Revolution it is very important. The select button toggles a command window where you can execute most of the familiar features from previous Civilization games. It's here where you can view city reports, micromanage your city works, take a look at the encyclopedia, seek audience with your advisors, look at graphs and statistics, and also set the command for your workers. As mentioned earlier, workers will work automatically to preset commands. You can choose what they will focus on gathering; you can set a specific product to focus solely on, or you can set workers to collect all products evenly.

All in all, the PS3 version played very well. PC gamers who love the Civilization series will definitely want to give this console iteration a try. It is quite a different game in a traditional sense, but that just points out the series is growing, and the game is a new and innovative experience. Also, we've been told that a demo for the PSN should hit before the game's release, so there's no reason not to give it a go.

Stay tuned. We'll have a brand new interview with Civilization series creator, Sid Meier, for you later this week.

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PS3 Fanboy hands-on: Metal Gear Online

Majed Athab — 2008-04-20T22:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Hands-on

PS3 Fanboy attended New York Comic Con this weekend and got the chance to play several upcoming games, including Metal Gear Online. Konami's booth hosted the game with four-on-four action on the "Blood Bath" map. Andrew, two friends, and myself took on four other gamers excited to play MGO.

The first thing we saw before hitting the battle map was the weapons screen. Here, you need to choose one riffle type weapon, a sidearm, and grenades. There's a good selection of weapons within each category; however, it's still unclear whether all 70 plus weapons promised in MGS4 will make their way into MGO. Once we finally hit the battleground, we proceeded out in a unified team formation. Playing around with the controls, we noticed that MGO was pretty much a standard shooter experience -- which is a good thing as it felt very natural.

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Close-Quarters Combat was a bit tough to pull off. The difficulty stemmed mostly from trying to sneak up on crafty human enemies as opposed to static AI; however, it's this thought-stimulating interaction that makes MGO a unique experience. Now, one thing that we noticed that was sorely needed was the lack of a run button. This slowed things down considerably, and does become noticeably annoying if you want to get back into the battle quickly after the usual death-respawn.

We also got a brief look at the leveling system where you hone skills in specific areas such as sniping or CQC. It's quite a long list of abilities which ultimately means that players can create and customize a unique character and focus primarily on a specific fighting style. So far, we enjoyed our time with MGO and we do believe it'll be a title most MGS and multi-player fans will agree to like. Since the MGO beta officially starts tomorrow, April 21, we hope you'll be able to give the game a go and experience the fun for yourself.

Stay tuned. We'll have a brand new interview about Metal Gear Online for you later this week.

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PS3 Fanboy hands-on: Nyko's Front Man guitar

Andrew Yoon — 2008-04-13T18:15:00+00:00

Filed under: Peripherals, Hands-on

The popularity of games like Rock Band and Guitar Hero has created an extraordinary demand for guitar peripherals. However, many PS3 fans are left cold knowing that their Guitar Hero controllers won't work in Rock Band, and vice versa. It seems ridiculous to have a small army of guitar controllers lying around to play these two games. Thankfully, Nyko has an excellent solution.

The Front Man guitar is an excellent option for those looking for an extra guitar. Unlike the official options from Activision and Harmonix, this third-party solution allows for playback on both games, with a simple flip of a switch. For those looking for one guitar that works with both music games, this is obviously an ideal choice.

However, we found that the Front Man guitar is simply the best guitar available on the PS3. Like other guitars on the platform, you will need to connect a dongle to the system for it to work wirelessly. The dongle is rather cute, looking like a guitar foot pedal. There are lights on the front of the pedal, each corresponding to the five buttons you can press on the guitar. They light up according to what you're pressing down. Neat!

The guitar feels terrific as well. The buttons feel smoother than the Guitar Hero ones, and the strum bar doesn't have the same "mushy" feel that the Rock Band controllers do. The guitar takes three AA batteries (included!), and the life on it seems fantastic. For those that don't mind a corded option when jamming, the unit also includes a fantastically long USB cable for a direct connection. We use the USB cable on our DualShock 3 controllers as well -- it's great to finally be able to play a game and charge PS3 controllers with this super-long USB cable.

Considering how Nyko's Front Man guitar retails for the same price as competing guitars and works on both Guitar Hero and Rock Band, this is obviously the guitar of choice for those looking for one. With its solid construction and thoughtful design features, Nyko has developed a winner.

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Hands-on with Warhawk: Operation Broken Mirror

Andrew Yoon — 2008-04-09T19:45:00+00:00

Filed under: PlayStation Network, e-Distribution Games, Hands-on

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Although the Broken Mirror expansion won't be ready until April 17th (day of the PLAYSTATION Store relaunch), we had a chance to play it with fellow online journalists. Majed and myself took to the skies in split-screen action as we played a round of Capture the Flag and Zones on the brand new map: Vaporfield Glacier.

Ten variations are planned for the largest Warhawk map to date, and the two that we played today were both intelligently laid out, with multiple routes possible by foot, car and sky. Unlike in Omega Dawn, these variations never feel overwhelming large. The level was just the right size for our group of about a dozen players: it wasn't too small to feel barren (a problem in Omega Dawn), and wasn't too small to create a too-chaotic feel. Although the weather is supposed to change, we experienced clear skies in our play session. It might be an ice level, but don't expect to slip 'n slide.

The additions of the recent 1.3 patch were put to good use in our play time. The new weapons and shields certainly add a new level of depth to the game, without drastically changing the pace of the experience. It's clear that the Vaporfiled Glacier level is an excellent addition to the Warhawk universe, and we're certain the passionate Warhawk community will embrace the moderately priced ($8) download when it releases in two weeks.

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PS3 Fanboy hands-on: NovaStrike

Majed Athab — 2008-04-07T15:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Hands-on

We've recently had a go with NovaStrike, an upcoming arcade shooter from Tiki Games for the PlayStation Network. We tested out several early builds of the new IP and each build got progressively better. Despite this, there were quite a few glaring flaws that need to be addressed. Here's our impression on the game thus far.

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First up, our biggest complaint was the controls. There are two schemes: Absolute and Relative. The Relative controls are incredibly inane; this set up makes the spacecraft turn on its axis which consequently makes the ultimate goal of maneuvering, dodging, and aiming (or basically any function) very difficult. While this scheme makes the spacecraft more agile for sharp turns, every other aspect of control is sacrificed. Absolute mode is the opposite: less agility but more control. It plays more intuitively as it's less sensitive than the Relative scheme.

After we got past the controls, there was the gameplay. Each level had a set number of multiple defensive and offensive objectives; you fly from one area of the map to fulfill one objective at a time. Now, fulfilling these missions can be a tad difficult due to overly powerful enemies and the lack of extra lives. This was a major problem from earlier builds; however, Tiki already tried addressing these issues by tweaking the combat slightly and adding in the extra lives to the latest build. We say 'slightly' because the game is still quite unbalanced, even with additions like automatic slow-regenerating shields.

We had many more minor complaints, but they all came back around to the issue of difficulty. However, as we take a look back at the first build we played, and gauge our thought from that against those from the latest build, we can't help but notice a huge leap forward. Our opinions were way harsher then than what you're reading now. That's a difference within a week's time. If that's an indication of anything, we might see these problem spots completely erased by the time NovaStrike is ready to hit the PSN.

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Hands-on with Eye of Judgment Set 2 expansion

Majed Athab — 2008-03-24T22:10:00+00:00

Filed under: Hands-on

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We've recently had the pleasure of trying out the new Eye of Judgment: Biolith Rebellion 2 expansion -- that very same expansion set to hit the US PSN this Thursday, March 27. Right away, we were excited to test out our new holo-cards and so we immediately began installing the new expansion.

We eagerly waited for the install to go through, though we soon realized it was taking longer than we expected. It was roughly about a fifteen-minute waiting period for a near two gig install. Keep in mind, however, we were told that the final update hitting the PSN should only be one gigabyte, so we assume gamers won't be experiencing the same sort of downtime we went through.

Once the install was finished, we immediately noticed some new changes. For one, the start up screen now displays "Set 2" in the lower right corner. Soon after, we began a battle with the sample cards we were given. Out of the 100 new spells and creatures promised in Set 2, we've tested out about 26 new creature and spell cards. The new character models and their animations look wonderful. We're sure fans of the game will like the new units like the Biolith War Chariot -- a tank-like summoned creature that can attack two adjacent enemy squares simultaneously.

There's a lot more to see in the game, yet we've only scratched the surface. From what we've seen thus far, we can deduce that Set 2 is something fans will be pleased with. We do have one indirect gripe though; to use your new Set 2 cards you'll need to purchase the expansion software on the PSN for $14.99. Now, why still charge gamers for functionality when they'll already be spending a fortune on cards? Oh well, c'est la vie. In any case, have a look at some shots of new cards and in-game battle animations in the gallery, then let your eyes be the judge of things.

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Hands on with GT5 Prologue's split screen mode

Andrew Yoon — 2008-03-21T10:37:00+00:00

Filed under: e-Distribution Games, Hands-on

We've been driving around with a near-final version of Gran Turismo 5 Prologue and we have to admit, we're impressed. One of the new features not found in the Japanese version of Prologue is split-screen multiplayer. We had to give it a spin.

The multiplayer mode lets you race on any of the game's six tracks, backwards or forwards. The cars you can race with are the ones you've unlocked in the campaign mode. Just like previous GT titles, earning new cars can take quite some time, so both of us were forced to race with the same car. Each player can adjust his or her settings, such as Automatic/Manual transmission, amount of steering assist, and type of physics (Standard versus Professional).

We were shocked to see that there was no apparent loss of detail in the split screen mode. The framerate was incredibly smooth, even with such incredibly detailed visuals being rendered. Unfortunately, there are no AI opponents in this two player mode: it's just you and your opponent. There's no rubberbanding, so the better racer can gain a significant lead.

After a few races, we easily concluded that split-screen multiplayer is a fantastic addition for the English language versions of Prologue. Not only does it capture the same visual fidelity of the single player mode, it does so with a silky smooth framerate that fans will appreciate. We can't wait to race PS Fanboy readers on the online circuit when the game releases in the next few weeks.

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Ubisoft says Haze to remain PS3 exclusive

Andrew Yoon — 2008-03-17T19:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Hands-on

Ubisoft representatives reaffirmed that Haze will remain a PS3 exclusive at the recent Play.com Live event. According to Ripten, "they said in a resolute fashion that the game is not just a PS3 timed exclusive, but will never make its way onto any other platform."

Good news? Perhaps. But our very own Jem Alexander attended the Live event, where he was able to play the hotly anticipated FPS. Apparently, "the company presented an underwhelming single-player demo which never managed to really amaze." Unfortunately, the demo lacked the visual flair expected of a PS3 exclusive: "the environments didn't seem particularly inspired and boasted only a minimal level of destructibility." And the gameplay? Well, you can read more.

We know that there are many that are seriously anticipating this release, touting it as a strong reason to pick up the PS3. However, this initial hands-on doesn't have our expectations high. Perhaps it was simply a bad demonstration. However, unless things shape up in the final build, this is one "exclusive" that we wouldn't mind losing to a multiplatform release.

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Hands-on with Nyko's Zero controller

Andrew Yoon — 2008-03-11T18:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Peripherals, Hands-on

Click for high-resolution image.

Nyko's Zero controller beats Sony's DualShock 3 to the US market. Unlike any other third party controller out there, Nyko's Zero features both tilt and rumble functionality. We received our test unit today, and found it satisfactory. For the impatient that need rumble now (and don't want to bother importing a DualShock), the Zero will undeniably satisfy. However, there are a number of flaws in its design that make it hard to recommend whole-heartedly.

Firstly, we commend Nyko for creating such easy-to-open packaging. With a simple cut of a sticker, we were able to get the controller out -- no plastic wrap packages that threaten to cut your fingers off. Another thing we were pleasantly surprised by: the use of a detachable battery pack. Two are included in the package: the standard rechargable pack, and one that accepts AA batteries. We appreciate the flexibility.

Continuing the unboxing, we were disappointed to see that the Zero uses a dongle, just like Guitar Hero III. You will need to sacrifice one of the USB ports on your PS3 in order to use this controller. For owners of the 40GB system, this simply won't do. Sony's Bluetooth solution is obviously much more elegant, as it allows the USB ports to be free, and it makes it possible to turn on the system by pressing the PS button. The Zero cannot do that.

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Once the controller syncs up to the dongle, it's pretty smooth sailing. We tested four games: Super Stardust HD, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, Super Rub a Dub and flOw. The analog sticks were responsive, and the shoulder buttons felt good. We especially love the deep analog triggers, similar to the ones found on the Xbox 360 controller. The D-Pad, however, feels a bit too sticky, and will make noticeable clicking noises when used.

The rumble is very powerful, and made Prologue a much more engrossing experience. However, it is noticeably noisier than the DualShock controllers. The tilt works just as a SIXAXIS would: we were able to play Super Rub a Dub and flOw as we would normally. Unfortunately, we noticed that there is a problem with the syncing at times: the Triangle button seemed to activate at random intervals, even when the controller is left idle.

Nyko's Zero controller gets the job done, even if it isn't the most attractive design on the market. However, without Bluetooth connectivity and a significant price difference between it and the upcoming DualShock 3, it's hard to enthusiastically recommend. Perhaps if the DualShock 3 were coming out much later, or if it were much cheaper. If you really need a rumbling PS3 controller, consider the Zero -- but we recommend you wait until Sony's DualShock comes out.

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GDC08: Hands-on with the Logitech Driving Force GT

Andrew Yoon — 2008-02-20T15:45:00+00:00

Filed under: Peripherals, Hands-on

Just moments after Logitech officially announced the new Driving Force GT for PS3, we rushed over to Sony and gave it a spin. An observer casually noted, "isn't it nice to have rumble on the PS3?" We'd have to agree with this sentiment -- but the Driving Force GT offers much more than just rumble.

The wheel feels incredibly sturdy, and offers a surprising amount of resistance when making turns, crashing into walls, and more. The force offered by the wheel rivals those found in arcade cabinets. The wheel makes Gran Turismo 5 feel like a completely different game. Playing in cockpit mode with the controller is incredibly immersive. With wheel in hand, this does feel like the "real driving simulator" that GT promises to be.

While the wheel is impressive, we were a bit underwhelmed by the pedals, which lack the heft that makes the wheel so impressive. The pedals need a bit more resistance to feel a bit more realistic, and need to be heavier, so they don't move forward so much. Regardless, we're impressed by this incredible effort of bringing home an arcade experience. Considering the asking price ($150), Logitech needed to make a high quality peripheral. We think they succeeded.

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PS3 Fanboy hands-on: Hot Shots Golf Out of Bounds

Andrew Yoon — 2008-02-07T12:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Hands-on

Click for high-resolution image.

With a little over a month left until Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds comes stateside, we decided to take a near-complete version of the game for a spin.

We don't know if this'll be in the final retail version of the game, but we were annoyed to see that Hot Shots Golf, just like Devil May Cry 4, features a required installation at game launch. In fact, with about 5GB of data being installed onto the PS3 drive, it's just as lengthy as Capcom's action game. We were surprised by this -- we didn't have our sandwiches ready for the long-haul.

Once in the game, we saw a few stray items left over from the Japanese build of the game. We can't wait to see if these features get localized. One option allowed players to access the Minna no Golf website from the game, while another option was a video tutorial on how to navigate the game. Certainly, that'll be helpful for the casual gamers that'll flock to this surprisingly deep offering.

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Jumping into a new golf career is pretty simple. At first, there are only two characters available, but the menu hints at a much more diverse cast of characters. There are only two costume choices for each, and two clubs to choose from the beginning -- it's clear that collectors are going to have a lot of choices when it comes to customization later on in the game.

There are two swing options, one which Hot Shots regulars should be more than familiar with. However, the new Advanced mode offers an interesting new take on the genre. In this mode, you'll have to rely less on an HUD, and more on your character's animation. Press X to initiate the swing, and you'll see the club being swung upwards. Press X again, and you'll determine the character's swing power. At first, it may be hard to gauge power in this mode. It was a little frustrating at first, as we were unable to get the maximum power out of our swings. Worse still, precision was hard to come by, and we often missed those tricky approach shots.

However, there are a few things to make note of. The club will give a hint as to when it's at 50% strength, and it will briefly flash yellow. At maximum strength, it will flash red. These two points must be used to help players gauge their swing power. It essentially recreates the same percentage meter as the original swing mode, but in a more natural way. It's a novel concept, but we're still undecided on whether or not it's an "upgrade" from the original. Perhaps we're too traditional?

We haven't been able to try the game's online offerings yet, but they're in the main menu, tempting us all the time. Considering how solid the gameplay experience is offline we're confident that going online will be quite a blast.

Hot Shots Golf was one of Japan's earlier titles, and as such, it's already starting to show off its age. It's still quite an attractive game, but having seen so many other PS3 titles really push the envelope, the visuals of Out of Bounds may seem a bit dated for some. Also, we're a little disappointed that the Japanese voice acting hasn't survived the transition to the US version (at least, not in this build!). We loved it when our golfers said "nice shotto!" Please Sony? Can you restore the original voice acting for the final release? We're more than certain you can fit it on the Blu-ray disc.

Stay tuned next month as we offer our final review of the game.

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PS3 Fanboy hands-on: MLB 08 The Show

Andrew Yoon — 2008-02-06T12:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Hands-on

MLB 08 The Show is a thing of incredible beauty. Yes, although the build we recently played was still early, we saw some truly impressive technical feats on display. This game easily has the best character models we've seen in any sports game. They capture the not only the look of each player, but the feel. We were surprised to see the players come to so much life on the screen, with unique animations for a wide variety of situations. For example, when the Braves were in the lead, 3-1, we saw their defense start taking a fancier, more relaxed stance. Their catches had a bit more flair to them, as if to emphasize "we're better than you." Ouch.

Each batter has unique mannerisms when at bat, and it's those subtleties that baseball fans are going to love. Notice how the bat is held, and how it's swung. Each player feels as different as they should. Perhaps we shouldn't be so fixated, but the clothes in the game are remarkable: they actually fall atop of the characters, fold when players move. The clothes pick up subtle amounts of dirt as the game progresses, and is location specific. If a player lands on his knee, expect to see dirt there for the rest of the game. Attention to such minute details shows the San Diego studio's commitment into making this a real "next gen" baseball game.

The crowd is also much more alive than ever before. It's all fully realized in 3D -- no more sprites here, folks. But, even better than that, you'll notice that the crowd intelligently responds to what's happening in the game. If a fly ball goes their way, you'll see a small mob fight for the ball. You'll see people throwing around a beach ball in the stands. You'll be surprised at how much the crowd will do. Yes, there are some canned animations and repeating character models -- but, we were that much more engrossed by this feature.

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The visuals aren't the only impressive feature about MLB 08 The Show. The audio package is stellar, featuring really spot-on (and specific) analysis of the game. The commentators are smart enough to remember what happened in every inning, and they will make all the references you expect them to. We haven't heard a single repeated line yet -- truly impressive! We loved the pre-game briefing, which highlights the history of each stadium, team and starting line-up. It's really well-executed. (On another note, we loved how the game's recreation of Shea Stadium showed the new stadium being constructed in the background -- and the announcers made some pretty insightful remarks about its progress so far.)

As is expected from any sports game, the presentation of the menus are sleek and very television-esque. However, MLB 08 The Show really takes it to another level. We joked earlier that The Show may be the most features-packed baseball game ever. Having played it for a while, we'd have to say that it's no joke. Every aspect of the game has a bevy of assist options. For example, batters can attempt to predict where the pitch is thrown. After each swing, a quick help options can tell exactly what was wrong about the last swing. Pitchers get a number of support options, with suggestions from the catcher really making a big difference to our game.

The enhanced Road to the Show is seemingly very comprehensive -- we haven't even begun to scratch the surface. The online functionality promised in the final version has a lot of potential, and there's even more we haven't talked about. All in all, we think it's a safe bet to say that baseball fans are going to be very happy when MLB 08 The Show launches exclusively on PS3 later in March.

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PS3 Fanboy voices-on: Singstar

Jem Alexander — 2008-01-16T09:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Hands-on

Singstar is touted as a party experience - alcohol not required. Every part of the game has been designed around the party environment, meaning that you're never more than a few button presses from another section of the game. Pressing the Start button at any time whilst navigating the menus allows you to move directly to any of the online sections of the game, including the SingStore, Media Gallery, and even your PS3 friends list. Access to the friends list in game allows you to read or send messages to your PS3 owning pals.

the gameplay is identical to previous iterations of the franchise. While it's possible to play Singstar on your own, there's no way to escape the slightly sad feeling it brings. The multiplayer modes allow you to mix up the gameplay with co-operative play, competitive play or team based play. Again, the emphasis is put on in-the-same-room multiplayer, as there is no online play available.

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Out of the box the game comes with an eclectic selection of 30 songs across a variety of genres. You'll be hard pressed not to be able to find at least a few songs that grab your attention. Pop artists such as Britney Spears and Pussycat Dolls are found rubbing shoulders with Radiohead and The Killers. If you do somehow find the original tracklist lacking, then you will probably find yourself visiting the in-game SingStore quite often.

The SingStore allows you to buy new tracks from an ever-growing range, with each song competitively priced at £0.99 [Editor's note: US pricing has not been announced.]. Currently only the European SingStore is open (the game reads your region from your PSN account, not from the disc or console region, so it is possible to visit the Store of every country just by switching to a different username) and payment is processed through your PSN Store wallet. In order to prevent the game (and the party) from coming to a standstill when buying content off of the SingStore, downloads occur behind the scenes, allowing you to continue playing while you wait for you new song to arrive.

The main draw of My SingStar Online, however, is the YouTube style user videos. Obviously these vary from good to awful to intriguingly imaginative. From viewing a video you can rate it or go straight to that person's profile to see what other content they've uploaded. Sony seem to be very interested in developing a community for this game and so far it seems to be working. We would've hoped that they could have gone a step further, however, and brought the My SingStar Online experience to the web. There's always the possibility of it arriving at a later date, however. Not only would it be an excellent extension to Singstar's community features, but it would be a wonderful bit of viral marketing at the same time.

With 62 tracks already available, and more promised soon, Singstar is the best supported rhythm game with regards to downloadable content. Though, once Rock Band starts getting those promised album downloads, that could soon change.

The second big new feature found in Singstar PS3 is the myspace-esque "My Singstar Online". This allows you to upload photos and videos that the PlayStation Eye takes during the game to your very own profile page. This includes various information about you, including your best score and a profile image. Profile images must be selected from a collection of 20 on the disc, or from one that the PlayStation Eye has taken in-game. We're a bit disappointed that you cannot use any image found on the hard drive of the PS3.

So far our experience with the online services have been hit and miss. While the SingStore and My SingStar Online are great fun and intuitive to use, we often find our connection timing out or waiting for 20 seconds for it to load the next page of videos. This is obviously something which will be improved on in the future, but in the meantime, it's a bit of a turnoff.

Overall, Singstar PS3 does everything that is necessary for a "next gen" version of the franchise with the SingStore, My Singstar Online as well as high-def music videos. The gameplay is as intuitive and fun as ever (or, rather, it hasn't changed).

Expect more on Singstar in the coming months.

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