Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings

Author: Sergey «TD» Tsilyurik
Source: Country Games № May 2008	01.03.2008

Motomu Toriyama. Lord, remember his name. Just as Yasumi Matsuno must associate all fans of JRPG with genius, Motomu Toriyama should cause exactly the opposite emotion. It was he who stood at the helm of Final Fantasy X-2, which turned tragic heroines in pop FFX giggling nymphets. And he also wrote the screenplay Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings, to the obscene "child" to continue the saga of a brilliant team Yasumi Matsuno.

NHL 07

Author: Denis Gusev
Source: Country Games № 21 2006	08.11.2007

There is a notion that writing about sports simulator from EA Sports from year to year - it's the same thing as the survey monthly updates for video drivers. Or, to put it another shape, each time to put desperately ill man the same diagnosis, as if forgetting that the sentence had already been repeatedly imposed. Like, we, my dear, have already said that you would live long, Well, let's finish, we do not mind: "You will soon die." It turns out some unnecessary and a blatant mockery of the readers, and above the EA. Case, they say, is ignoble and thankless - talk about the game this suit as a novelty, wasting precious space of the log, so even with this and journalism do not forget. Let them talk. Today is a very different case. To write a review of NHL 07, pose as Cicero, and say that we face "a new part of the n-Nogo simulator, it is not needed: EA itself has made it clear that we are dealing with an ordinary patch.

Guitar Hero: Smash Hits

SI
Source: Country Games № 17 2009	10.09.2009

GENERAL APPEARANCE begin with the basic facts: Smash Hits - a compilation of tracks from the first three parts of Guitar Hero, Rock The '80s addon and GH: Aerosmith, modified for the execution of four. In addition, some of the songs was reduced again, now using the master tracks of these artists, rather than cover versions from unknown groups. Because of this hits such as Bark at the Moon Ozzy Osbourne and Free Bird group Lynyrd Skynyrd, sounded noticeably better.

Dead Reefs

Author: VP
Source: Country Games № 17 2007	20.09.2007

Agree, three years - a decent life, and for a game that draws only 6 points, even redundant. At the height of the engine changed, so that the delay is partly excusable. Nevertheless, much water has flowed, and the plot is not finalized, the puzzles are not thought through, the characters dull. If anyone remembers, initially assumed the classic adventure in the spirit of point-n-click, but it turned out otherwise. The guys from Streko-Graphics placed on the keyboard and ... mistaken. As the authors try, easy control scheme, they have not been able to invent. Sadly, if, after playing a couple of hours, you still have to dig through the settings and remember which key does what. To put it mildly, not happy and the main character, clumsy and slow, like a tank. Of course, agility and flexibility here to nothing, after all, do not play in Tomb Raider, but clumsy when characters move as if they had spinal fracture, it is too much. Completes the picture mediocre graphics.

Kabuki Warrior

Dark Wren
	05.12.2001

Platform: Xbox Genre: Publisher: Crave Developer: Lightweight Website: http://www.cravegames.com/games/KaWar/

Klonoa

Author: Darlz Chikkens
Source: Country Games № 18 2009	30.09.2009

Paon and Namco Bandai reveal how wide-screen looks like a game for the console of the fifth generation, hastily disguised as a game for the console of the seventh generation. Nothing good, unfortunately, did not show: Klonoa buy for themselves, but eventually give it to someone younger.

Chrome VS Halo - clash of the season!

Roman Yepishin
	10.11.2003

Title of article: Chrome VS Halo - clash of the season! Game Name: Chrome / Halo: Combat Evolved Platform: PC / PC, Xbox Genre: Action / Action Developer: Techland / Gearbox Software Publisher: 1C / Microsoft Release Date: September 2003 / September 2003 Minimum system requirements: Pentium III 800 MHz, 256 MB RAM, 3D-graphics card with 32 MB RAM, 1.7 GB HDD, DirectX 8.1 Pentium III 933 MHz, 128 MB RAM, 3D-graphics card with 32 MB RAM, 1.2 GB HDD, DirectX 9b Official site: http://www.chromethegame.com/ / http://www.microsoft.com/games/halo/default.asp Rain, covered with fallen leaf yards, chilly wind - calendar Fall is in full swing. But the season of high-profile fall releases is nearing its logical conclusion, at least in the genre of action. Judge for yourself: Half-Life 2 successfully postponed, Tron 2.0 is no less successful was released, followed by Warhammer 40,000: Fire Warrior. Well, of course, took the successful debut of two highly anticipated action-hits - Chrome (perfectly adapted to our market by 1C) and the PC-version of Halo: Combat Evolved. Certainly, each of these projects are original and completely original. Nevertheless, the concept of the game, based on a combination of large open spaces indoors and use of alternative vehicles, is the same for both games. Consequently, Chrome, and Halo: Combat Evolved can be considered as competitors and safely compare. So, the battle has begun! Round 1 - Graphics It is no secret that Halo: Combat Evolved was used by Microsoft as a «launch title» for the Xbox. Accordingly, the game was supposed to involve, first of all, the graphics side. Xbox-version, it really was possible, but there was a pad on the PC. Whether the requirements of us, computer geeks, too high, or when porting games Gearbox has managed somewhere to lose a solid chunk of appeal, but Halo: Combat Evolved for PC, alas, nothing amazing. Moreover, the character models for today's standards seem to be very mediocre, but if we consider exorbitant system requirements, or even ugly. Spectacular reflections on glasses, helmets and interesting designs of combat suits compensate for the lack of polygons is weak. Toy could recoup the expense of truly spectacular scenery with a beautiful sky and lovely trees, though ... her opponent was not Chrome. A breathtakingly beautiful and realistic wood, coupled with detailed down to the zippers on their clothes the characters sends graphics Halo: Combat Evolved in a state close to hopeless knockout.Save nomad with the Xbox only great dynamic lighting and spectacular animation. Round 2 - Design Picturesque open spaces of both games, pleasing to the eye lakes (with realistic pixel-shader water, mind you), breathtaking scenery, gorgeous skies and sunshine, are impressive. However, the combination of space and open areas in Halo in terms of design looks way better. Living outside world gives way to fun and original interiors of different rooms, there is little similar to each other. In Chrome the same interiors - one of the most obvious and brutal blunders. The interior of an ordinary warehouse, high tech communications center and dangling in space station stuff is made of the same elements, and therefore differ only in the location of the corridors. Everywhere we find the same elevators (to honor the founders, is there some of their species), the same doors that look like as two peas placer barrels, bottles, cans, completely identical high-voltage wires. Diversity is not to sleep ... But the Halo design brings people and opponents - the console has its past. The human characters are all as one characterized by short, stocky, and generally once a lab. Aliens in the same - another story altogether. One gets the impression that these "villains" have gone from the pages of Disney comics. Painted bright colors tasteless bastards emit strange sounds rather appropriate anywhere in the world of Mario Brothers, not harsh, ostensibly sci-fi game. Chrome is perfect in this respect - the hard high-tech style shows through in everything. Rivals diverge on the corners, and not beating each other. Round 3 - Transportation "Size matters" - this premise is equally promote both projects. True, open spaces and Chrome Halo: Combat Evolved have one fundamental difference. Chrome long and carefully load level, then to give us enjoy a brisk walk on a giant (more than one square kilometer) area. Halo also offering more extensive space, divides them into fast (less than a second) loadable segments. However, the gameplay it has little: play and interesting in that, and in another case. And interestingly largely due to a variety of vehicles. In their face Chrome gets a clean left hook and barely stay on his feet! If you remember, at the stage of development of the creators of both games is actively promoted realistic model of the technology, and Techland also adds to this eloquent ode rag doll physics. Technology in Halo really no competition, especially attended most of screenshots and in most commercials Jeep Warthog. A car enters and throws up on the potholes in full compliance with its mass, which we have previously seen only in the Racing game, and even then not all. Chrome also in terms of transport has not offered anything new. Moreover, to manage forests in a speeder and buggy is extremely inconvenient, since both the unit manage to cling to trees and bushes by some invisible parts. A walking robot is generally appear spectacular, but ineffective - it is clumsy, like a drunken hippo.Finally, the presence of Halo possible flight on player controlled apparatus finally decides to round in favor of the project Microsoft. Round 4 - Artificial Intelligence A series of powerful and well-aimed blow sends Chrome knocked out immediately after the bell. Despite all the assurances of developers, AI it was zauryaden to spasms in the liver. Enemies are able to shoot straight, crouch, walk slowly sideways, to run fast in a straight, occasionally throwing a grenade. Everything! Halo is welcome at us, above all, savvy colleagues. Soldiers actively hide behind furnishings, rolling from side to side (just like Scargill of Unreal II: The Awakening), throw each other meaningful phrases and move in the manner of these commandos. Invaluable assistance is provided by the guys using transport: no extra reminders, they sit at a machine gun jeep (if it does not make a player), jump on the armor of the tank, etc. The aliens are paying the same coin, actively and competently strafe retreating under the cover of firing. Chrome, how are you? Oklemaeshsya? Round 5 - Gameplay It is clear that "interesting" gameplay in these games depends largely on the intelligence of the AI ​​and the quality of implementation vehicles. Accordingly, Chrome should certainly lose. Nevertheless, he stands firmly on its feet. The game focuses not on the unrestrained drive, and thoughtful attention to the passage. The presence of stealth-operation, role-playing elements in a limited volume of inventory and "puzzling" aspects related to break into computer systems, is proof of that. Halo with his platformers of the past, crowds of intelligent (but foolishly painted) and more enemies than active movement of the transport looks much more dynamic. Stealth'a and puzzles in it unlike the smaller and the rampant shooting at anything that moves - more. Although the number of portable weapons in Halo is also very limited. To award the palm to this criteria is difficult, because the ratio to the gameplay depends on personal preferences of each. I think I will take advantage of the privilege of the author, and give them victory Halo. I personally constant action and chaos of battle bring more pleasure than discreet dashes from tree to tree in the forest Chrome (although they are carried away). The award ceremony Everyone knows that the most interesting battles take place between equal forces on rivals. We witnessed just such a fight. Both games will certainly deserve the title of a hit and are outstanding representatives of their genre. But the abstract "friendship" wins only in the children's cartoons of the Soviet period. Barely stay on his feet, subject to personal preferences, the player Halo: Combat Evolved still pulled out a victory! If time is short and the desire to relax the maximum of two competitors is strongly recommend it. However, as far as possible pass both games. Believe me, they are worth.

Killzone: Liberation

Author: Eugene Zakirov
Source: Country Games № March 2007	04.05.2007

We saw the invasion of bloodthirsty helgastov bodrenkimi corridor between the shooting and even out of the trenches. Been listening to plenty of chatter and teammates spellbound looking at deals in the dark red eyes. What else can please Killzone? She changed the camera angle, peretryahnula gameplay and generally jumped on a portable platform!

Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters

author: Red Cat
Source: Country Games № November 2007	20.06.2007

Given the opportunity to relax a real hero does not happen very often. And all because of them, the heroes (especially this), can be counted on the fingers of one hand. While the villains - a dime a dozen, and everyone can not wait to publicly declare itself. It would seem eared Ratchet and his mechanical partner Clancy earned a full vacation: on the account for four buddies feat of cosmic scale, not counting the minor achievements. But who cares cares? Once an attacker has already weaving a network of intrigue, and everywhere hostile dart-minded robots, defenseless desperately wants to help. So, once again to take up the correct wrench. And a flamethrower. And for the grenades. And, of course, a mobile rocket launcher, without which the hero - not a hero.

The Punisher

Viktor Tarasov
	12.04.2005

Platform: PC/Xbox/PS2 Genre: Action Developer: Volition Publisher: THQ Publisher in Russia: Russobit M Project website: http://www.russobit-m.ru/rus/games/punisher Requirements: P-March 1000, 128Mb RAM, 32Mb Video, 2Gb free space Exception to the rule Once again, we pochuyut so beloved by overseas developers (or more precisely - their publishers, the rich) dish - "a game based on". It would seem - why, who needs it? Created by "hot pursuit" designs sell well in Hollywood at this time starts on the conveyor next batch of films, and for him again stamped the game. In short, the cycle of licenses in nature. But this time, our keen sense of beauty is not strongly affected, because the film version of this product is, frankly, not so hot. Same film six months ago did not hit the viewer sparkling plot, action and exquisite quality soundtrack. Therefore it is not entirely clear exactly buying the license to develop the same game. It is possible that Volition has already existed as studies for the creation of "bloody" action, could only tie the game mechanics to any plot? So the plot was released at a time on the screens of The Punisher (we are talking about the film in 2004, and not smelling of mothballs version of the glorious era of the 80's. - Ed.). Volition seriously came to the creation of his brainchild. This time it's not a one-time hack "based on" similar to the single going to the movies, and more ... Mediocre movie, good game - like the picture we saw in the case of the Chronicles Of Riddick: Escape From The Butcher Bay. Can it be a trend? The film The Punisher, in turn, is based on the popular comic strip Americans of the infamous Marvel Comics Group. Comic is pretty old and not gained special popularity (compared to the "pillars of the genre, like Spider-Man-ca, ed.). In it, and accordingly in the game, tells about Frank Castle (Frank Castle) - an exemplary American, obzavedshegosya extraordinary weapon skills even in times of war Vetnaskoy. One day, Frank went with his family to the park, which was in the thick of a gunshot clashes between gang factions. Glavgeroy overnight lost a child and wife, then, chose a resounding nickname "The Punisher" has become a sort of illegal crime fighters. His methods of justice and deprivation of life villains are rather far from the concepts of "humanism" and "humanity." Bespredelschik humanist The plot is simple and unpretentious, as narrated in the form of memories of Frank, in the end, Caught in the clutches of tenacious cops. On interrogation, he says, and step by step, how to send to the light almost half of the criminal world of New York. Each new episode of the case - is another chapter to his personal feud with the mountains of dead bodies, firing, and particularly sadistic executions, which we'll talk. Kill not only give civilians, but the criminals, even kneeling and praying for mercy - as much as necessary and in any quantity. An experienced gamer will find something here of Dead to Rights, something of the ancient KingPin, a newcomer uglyadite comparison with Max Payne. Spirit "Maksizma" is simply impossible not to notice. The first thing catches the eye of purely superficial similarities.Long black cloak, a love of heavy firearms, facial expression, which is never a smile, a personal tragedy caused by the loss of the family - all these elements were created by Marvel has for many years before the birth itself Remedy Entertainment. So, quite possibly, it was the Finns took the image of the Punisher as a basis for the plot. (Controversial statement, although not devoid of logic. - Ed.) Despite the originality of the plot, the game looks like a low budget and nestilny clone of Max Payne. Gameplay is trying to stand out only the possibility of torture and lots of blood. Punisher just runs with several types of firearms and generally kills the enemy, sometimes firing, as if in some kind of Soldier of Fortune, foes of the body (here only this element is much more primitive and clumsy). Weapons of the hero can carry only three: the first slot, he can put a pistol or pistols, in the second - a heavy weapon such as a shotgun or M16, and the last - a grenade. Allowed to take weapons in both hands simultaneously (Akimbo!). But the problem is that you can never predict what kind of weapons can be used in the next battle - the exact rifle or shotgun killer. Good features Advantages and at the same time a kind of innovations in the gameplay somewhat. One of them - the ability to capture the enemy and its use as human shields. At this point, the hero becomes virtually invulnerable. The second novelty - a "quick kill" with one button. At such moments, the Punisher in one sitting virtuously crushes the enemy. For example, the protector of all offended and outraged loves to shove the victims of a grenade in his mouth and he can cut his throat with a knife and stick it in your eyes or on top - in temechko. A third new product name is already mentioned by us torture and massacres, which may play a crucial role in a number of plausible reasons for buying Punisher. Grasped vrazhin can be brought to a special mark in the form of a white skull and start trying. The choice of executions is enormous. Here and in the cage with a rhinoceros, and the electric chair, and a set of chef's knives, and piranhas. The process itself is made in the form of mini-games. Actively crawl the mouse, you need to hold a special LED strips in the Orange area for three seconds. After a successful interrogation filled health and other "kits" in the game there. The game has three standard levels of complexity. Crucially they are from each other are no different, and the pass game is not difficult. Randomness and incoherence of the enemy, developers have tried to compensate for their large number. As a result, opponents only know how that jump forward, but hiding behind various objects, while sticking his head. Pleases only variety of enemies. In the course of the game to face with the Russian military, and with the yakuza, and with the Green Beret, and the lower ranks of the underworld. The fact that discourages Finally, we broke away from the biography of Frank and got to strongly delayed the moment talking about the schedule. If you do not raise this issue, Punisher stands solidly crafts with a claim for a couple of evenings, but the game graphics to the claim dramatically chop. Angular objects, pale, fuzzy, blurry and ugly textures does not contribute to a pleasant pastime.Natural result of multiplatform. Sound in the game, too, does not touch, do not save even the fact that the voice of the Punisher for the role thereof character in the movie - Thomas Jane. For the physics of the game meets the special engine Havok 2.0, is well proven in Psi-Ops and Half-Life 2, but it is not implemented in the Punisher. You can move the chairs, bottles can be broken, the enemies of beautiful fall, but all this can be achieved without eminent engine. To summarize, we note that fans of "blood and flesh" will be satisfied in any case, but referred the game to the category of "best" is impossible. What else can you expect from platformers of the port, "plus" which is nothing but racket bloody atrocities and the comic-movie-license? It is also worth mentioning that the Punisher is passed very quickly, easily and unobtrusively. All about everything is unlikely to go away for more than two days. The result - another third-person shooter, encouraging grassroots sadism and sparkling graphics. Fans of the Manhunt and Postal recommended. Gameplay: 7.0 Graphics: 5.0 Sound and music: 6.0 Design: 6.0 Estimation of the author: 6.5 Rating: 61%

Robin Hood: Defender of the Crown

Sergei Hunters
	26.11.2003

Robin Hood: Defender of the Crown. Platform: PC, PS2, Xbox. Genre: Turn-based strategy Developer: Cinemaware. Publisher: Capcom. System requirements: PIII-500, 128MB RAM 500MB HDD 16MB 3D accelerator, And the best: PIV-1400, 256MB RAM 1GB HDD 64MB 3D accelerator www.cinemaware.com Once in the cold winter season He came out of the woods ... As my teacher used to say on the subject, whose name scare unimpaired higher technical education the reader has not ventured, "we add and multiply, and divide the police take away." So, as the name suggests, this game is just about the one who takes and shares, Robin Hood Loxley bin. However, history «Robin Hood: Defender of the Crown» start a long time. No, not at the time of the Crusades and the War of the Roses, but no less historic 1982nd. Someone from readers Gameland Online at that time only planned, others went on foot under the table or in a school like yours truly, and «Defender of the Crown» is already gathering of gamers have convex coarse chetyrnadtsatidyuymovikov. Fifteen years, successfully passed since that time, Cinemaware has ported their hit on consoles, to rivet the various add-ony, and continue. Then came Capcom - publisher, whose record includes an arcade, fighters, and the race for the PS2, Gamecube and Xbox. As a result of their collaboration was released «Robin Hood: Defender of the Crown», a turn-based game can be computed PC strategy (also released on PS2 and XBox). Feel a great temptation to finish the remaining articles to the position of ranking three kilobytes curves viper emoticons. Overcame the temptation to go back to the review. To begin with, that derived from the original game, the gameplay is an unimaginable mix of arcade, simulation and economic turn-based strategy. Do not be biased - we will not mention the deliberate neusvoyaemost like a cocktail, just go ahead and analyze all components of the game together and separately. Actually, a complete set of pleasures Our man in tights is allowed only when away with the pernicious Nottingham sheriff. Getting out of Sherwood Forest, the hero enters the fight with rebel lords, tearing apart the good old England in the absence of its rightful king, Richard the Lionheart. He is not alone, and shared all the work to save the feudal homeland with a group of friends. Robin himself can, like a real cuckoo shot merchant caravans with high pine. It's all in a dash: donkeys, carts and horses pass by, how many nastrelyal - so much candy and got the gold. But its main purpose-poking at enemy castles, demonstrating the art of fencers. Pretty stupid senseless clatter, especially for delicate fingers strategists, sending a wave of your mouse a few hundred Marines to certain death. Not idle, and companions.The gallant Sir Wilfred defends the honor fraternity for jousting tournaments, a good bonus, of course. Too fun not for intellectuals. Reverend Tuck finally sat down at the el and can only negotiate with the terrorists who seized the King Crusader. Virtuous Lady Marion easily penetrates into enemy territory, and solves the problems of military espionage. But the main man in the game - Little John, general and just good people. He spends the money earned by his comrades on the valiant British soldiers. You can roam as much as five kinds of troops: the peasants, the infantry, knights, archers and catapults. Of course, the main and indispensable in «Robin Hood: Defender of the Crown» - Voroshilov, sorry, Sherwood Arrow. These guys and a horse at full gallop and protein in the eye. Battles take place on a flat, divided by the cell board. When dull AI and the dominance of the archers of little interest. On the strategic map of this unnatural intelligence and the furtive. For a while, kept afloat only thanks to artificial constraints such as "more than one army not to attack." In general, for the player, ruptured a couple of military strategies, "Protecting the Crown 2003" - self-indulgence and sophomoric. And the good. Obviously, considering the gameplay of 17-year-old perfect, the developers have invested in the schedule. Not that it affects, but the picture is quite decent. Plus - all Sherwood scripted brethren in the scene looks like a living thing. Speaks beautifully and naturally. The story weaves smoothly, offering several options for completion. Diagnosis. Long gone are the days when gamers begin kolbasit pohrustyvanii the first hard drive - in the modern game industry has its own laws. And the boys from Cinemaware - simple advice: to somehow represent the future of the consumer of your product. Who is he: Uncle, still found the old «Defender of the Crown», or a boy of ten years, never once who got into the hands of a virtual sword, spear and a bow?

Rayman Raving Rabbids

Author: Artem «cg» Shorokhov
Source: Country Games № January 2007	07.03.2007

"Hare - Animal ear long, mind, short-tempered and violent Shocking what musical ..." - scratch out for sure on the Birch rollout, some young naturalist of antiquity. Would add: "Body of strong and prone to conquer the world." It is known for and that Zaitsev well, very bad reaction (this is even a whole mini-game is), but because a lot of water has flowed since then, as the cute rodents, and fox, wolf, and resentful, mysteriously disappeared from the planet. And quite a bit before the Great Long-eared Civilization suddenly zaykopodobnyh built near the giant robot and moved troops to the border of the reservation. Long or a short is, the army got to the edge ...

UFO: Aftermath

Roman Yepishin
	20.12.2003

Game Name: UFO: Aftermath Platform: PC Genre: Strategy Developer: ALTAR Interactive Publisher: Cenega Publishing Release Date: October 15, 2003 Minimum system requirements: Pentium III 500 MHz, 128 MB RAM, 3D-graphics card with 32 MB RAM, 1250 MB HDD Official site: http://www.ufo-aftermath.com You wonder why a sequel is so often an order of magnitude worse than the original? Especially if they are separated by a wide chasm of time. Why Unreal II: The Awakening was not able to convey the atmosphere of the good old Unreal? Why Diablo II was unable to catch, carry away as fascinated Diablo? Why "Corsairs 2", now "Pirates of the Caribbean", and do not stand close in spirit to the original Corsair? Many examples, and in each case, you can find unique, objective reasons. However, there is something in common. Issue hit game imposes on the creators of great responsibility in developing further, for incredibly hard to beat themselves. Especially in situations when the original is reaping the fruits of fame and success is almost complete absence of serious competitors, and the sequel comes out in an era of more active development, and where a more dense configuration of the market of computer games. In an era of no example of a more critical attitude toward them, as the field for comparison is huge. Would have been worthy opponents in Unreal? How could we find an alternative to the first "Corsair", perfect in its openness, nonlinearity, and romance? And how could anyone even compare to the depth and well thought out, attractive and liveliness of the legendary X-Com: UFO Defense (hereafter simply UFO)? In the meantime, and it is the turn to get a sequel. To revive the glory of the show claims UFO: Aftermath. Again groaning old-earth under the heel of alien invaders, and again the valiant fighters for the liberation of the planet are ready to fulfill your every command. Significant changes compared with the parent already manifested in the plot strings, rather, the style of its execution. If the original game in many respects resembled a funny comic in a series of popular booklets then unserious about the invasion of aliens, the UFO: Aftermath gives us a stern and merciless sci-fi story with tragic histories. Surprise attack destroyed the alien population of the planet. Within days, scattered over the earth spores were killed or turned into mutants, most of humanity. In the group survived only a "lucky" that were present during the attack underground bunkers and basements. They (or rather, you) to the detachment resistance and cruel revenge on the invaders. The process of vengeance, that is, the game itself, at first sight revives in memory the images of old UFO. Before us is the same projection of the world marked with a central database on it. True, at first glance, the similarities and conclude. In the original UFO base has been the focal point of your work, research laboratory and an engineering workshop, in a word, a stronghold of resistance. Now these "strongholds" - tens. Mission to capture the new databases are found in the game very often, and the loss of one of them, respectively, facing you a maximum of disappointment. Mechanism for research and development has also changed. Base in UFO: Aftermath can be divided into research and engineering. More than the first - the faster moving exploration of new technologies.The more recent - the operative is the production of new equipment. It's very simple and easy. Warhead also undergone simplification. Let's start with the fact that the sequel has lost every step. She came to replace the usual pause, as in Baldur's Gate, during which you can give orders to the men of the group. Perhaps these things increased the dynamics of innovation some events, but me as a person with the first UFO are familiar, and the first UFO respects, such a flagrant violation of the traditions of upset. And opponents also are not pleased. Much time you have to spend in the battle is not with strangers, and with the mutants. And these gentlemen of high intelligence, alas, is no different. Even remotely equipped with guns, they will soon cease to represent any danger. Aliens - is another matter. I advise you to still have the courage to reach the clashes directly with the conquerors of mankind. Here, then, at last, and begins a tactical riot, but the course is a real danger to the health and lives of your soldiers weapons. UFO: Aftermath was able to maintain the atmosphere of cohesion platoons that were so happy in the original game. Life and health of men - not just words. For members of the squad is really worried. On the one hand, of course, because of the reluctance to lose already garnered the experience and "pumped" several characteristics of a warrior. On the other - because of the abstract feelings of affection for each fighter, which I confess I have not been fully tested since the UFO, although it echoes made to feel "Soldiers of Anarchy." Mechanism of equipment and completion of the platoon, fortunately, has not undergone major changes and is still carried on the base. From the same committed brazen attacks on combat missions, the same fighters are based. Mission presented a standard set of rescue operations, sweeps the area, already mentioned seizure databases, search for equipment, etc. In their "standard" blame the system itself is random generation, providing a decent standard of «replay ability», but unable to create as some original and unusual tasks. Only a few missions are distinguished from the others, shedding light on the events and helping to better understand the reasons for the alien and brutal attack. Another nod in the direction of the seriousness of the plot execution. To perform the tasks necessary fairly shook the planet. Entourage different geographical areas is made very, very good, both in terms of vegetation, and architecture dilapidated, infested with mutants cities. In general, the game with three-dimensional environment looks very nice, and it's not taking into account the fact that in such projects the visual part - not the most important. It would be better gentlemen of ALTAR paid more attention to sound design and interface, UFO: Aftermath. If other aspects of reprimands only by virtue of differences from the original (no difference for the better, I think), it controls and the sounds of fall "by hand" because of his abominable performance. Replica soldiers with silly accents seem a mockery against the overall grim atmosphere, the music is just proud of the fact that it can tolerate. Interface - a single song. Enumerate all the bottomless pit of small gaps in the framework of one article does not seem possible. I will mention only the most nerve-racking: the inability to replace the gun in his hand without placing thereof in the inventory.In other words, to take the rifle instead of the machine, you need to remove the machine's inventory, and then took out a rifle. There is no place in the inventory? Throw the gun at the ground, get a rifle, pick up the gun and put in your inventory to place the rifle. Zhutchayshy hemorrhoids, sorry for being rude! That's so ambiguous was continued X-Com: UFO Defense. Playing with a precision worthy of the politeness of kings, repeats the fate of Unreal II: The Awakening and the second part of the Corsair. If we consider it outside of the series and completely forget about the predecessor, then we get a very attractive, dynamic game with nice graphics. Not perfect, it still deserves attention and interest of the players. But take a look at UFO: Aftermath through the prism of X-Com: UFO Defense, and we get a pretty mediocre sequel, trampled the holy tradition of the original and multiply it simpler. Conclusion: unfamiliar with the series of UFO-fans of tactical and strategic game is dedicated. A veterans ... veterans better not to see.

Advance Wars: Dark Conflict

Author: Sergey «TD» Tsilyurik
Source: Country Games № July 2008	01.04.2008

Strategic Advance Wars series was accompanied by portable Nintendo console from the very start the GBA in 2001. In Japan he is known and the longest - he was born in 1988 with the release of Famicom Wars. And for now twenty years in the series remained the same two recognizable features. The first - serious, comic, cartoon-like map of hostilities. Though the war - a phenomenon that put it mildly, no laughing, in Advance Wars, it is always presented as a game and no more a game of two commanders, where the soldiers - consumables, and think about where you should not, and defeat - just an excuse to pull the plug so lightly turn to the next battlefield. The second feature of Advance Wars has been a noticeable emphasis on those very commanders (in the game, they were called SB). Often it is the choice of CO so sensitive use of its advantages and capabilities to the battle. New as part of the series, Advance Wars: Dark Conflict, easily rejects both traditions, carefully stored for over two decades.

Shinobido: Tales of the Ninja

Author: Eugene Zakirov
Source: Country Games № November 2007	25.06.2007

Quiet, unobtrusive, true to his cause killers of feudal Japan had lost its former glory in the world of video games. Now, their image is supported solely through the efforts of Ryu Hayabusa. Attempts to revive the legendary TV series Tenchu ​​has not led to success: new ideas a little, and those that have no way uzhivutsya old. Built by the same Shinobido: Tales of the Ninja did not think to take on the salvation of the genre, just the opposite - have decided to take it out on what is left and can still make money.

Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 review "Land of Games&quot

Darlz Chikkens
Source: Country Games № 21 2008	20.11.2008

Condemned: Criminal Origins

author: Alexander Krasnov
Source: Country Games № November 2006	06.06.2006

After the release of FEAR - the previous game from Monolith - it was not long. And now, Condemned: Criminal Origins: a project with exactly the same graphics engine and a similar plot complication. The protagonist, a man is not the last in the International same day of the Interior, overtaking big trouble mystical, of course, nature. Only instead of unforgettable S.T.R.A.SH.N.O.Y girl on the way he caught the elusive maniac and adolescents mutants of sewage. Think, we once again expect chatter semiautomatic weapons and full immersion in the "delayed action" in the style of The Matrix? Certainly not.

Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII

author: Red Cat
Source: Country Games № September 2006	08.05.2006

Clyshite the sirens? Again the German bombers fly over London. Now spikiruyut at the Parliament building, then probably head to the Tower ... Stop while you around here for? Do not justify the confidence of the President of the United States and let the enemy get ahead of the British allies? No way, this will not work!

Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles

Author: Sergey «TD» Tsilyurik
Source: Country Games № April 2008	15.02.2008

Series Resident Evil - one of the favorite not only players but also the most Capcom: Sales of its form than ten million copies. Six games the main line, two remakes, three mobile and two-line branches, as well as three "as if FPS» under the label Gun Survivor (the last of them, incidentally, also for the authorship of Cavia, outside of Japan denied the roots, calling himself Dead Aim) part of it. The Umbrella Chronicles does not belong to any of these groups: despite the fact that the scenario logically fits into the storyline of the series, gameplay is the usual "resident" went too far. But we should not confuse it with a failure Gun Survivor - the good, we have a genuine rail shooter.

Age of Booty

Author: Alex Kosozhihin
Source: Country Games № 22 2008	20.11.2008

Upon completion of the level of prey show - or rather, how many cities who departed Whistling all up, thousands of sea devils! Any pirate captain in the form of Age of Booty with such force would be issued this cry that all his men dropped their instant to its bombardment bramselya and ran to the wardroom to the console. In general, the captains on these diamonds are a trained eye - the other, looking to the naked eye at the screenshots would have thought that this is some kind of step by step nudyatina like Settlers of Catan. But do not give a treacherous hexa lead us astray! Action in the Age of Booty has more than enough, because we directly manage just one business unit - our ship. Of course, sometimes we give in aid and other vessel, but rely on a computer running mate do not recommend. Another main object on the map - the city. Initially under the control of only one settlement - fortified base, hidden inside a volcano - the rest will have to seize power. Surrendered to the mercy of the winner of the settlement offer various bonuses, such as: repair stand in the port of allied ships and regularly supplying resources, of which there are exactly three in the game: gold, wood and ... rum. Spend it all can (and should!) On ship upgrades and cities, and if the ship at a time allowed to pump only one parameter (speed, defense and power of guns), the city is improving in all at once. An additional source of resources - the battle (they, incidentally, are implemented very simply: the ship automatically fires at all enemy targets on the adjacent hexes). Also, from time to time appear on the map "disposable" villages and crafts vendors. The merchants of these remarkable that give special cards, which offer not only resources but also other amenities - such as the right to call the specified hex devastating maelstrom.

Neverwinter Nights

Mihanic
	10.07.2002

Neverwinter Nights Platform: PC Genre: RPG Developer: BioWare Publisher: Infogrames System Requirements: PII 450, 128 MB RAM, 8X CD-ROM, 3D Accelerator, 16MB VRAM, 1300 MB disk space, mouse, sound card, DirectX v8.1. Website: http://nwn.bioware.com/ I confess I did not expect her appearance. I was disgusted even to imagine that another descendant of Baldur's Gate again highlighted its irreplaceable presence. That cavalier, with whom BioWare copied the entire history of the world AD & D, deserve at least the public flogging. But, alas, the game's high society, scratching everyone's favorite soft, without any special permission to create hard feelings with them is something obscene. This process lasted for years, occasionally punctuated by momentary ecstasy of the next screenshot. And the firstborn was born. The one-armed, ill negro sobbed pitifully and write straight to bed. His pity and adopted. And while many moms buy colorful veshchichki like gift boxes, the pope's giant already thought about posterity. Without waiting for nine months, the market appears first miscarriage Icewind. Oh no, it was not even a nigger. The little creature was continually angry growl and demanded meat, recalling the habits of horned neighbor. But we took him too. Next, the players threw a few more of these mutants, then this whole hospital was covered. Dad saved from castration excessively wealthy in recent Infogrames. As expected, after a lull in the market appears Neverwinter Nights, a kind and affectionate daughter, a public BioWare. Skills & Feats Who knows, finding refuge in the valley of icy winds, perhaps, Drizzt would get up and Neverwinter. Although there was no elf would rest, too noisy this town ... Mid-spring to Fayerunskomu calendar, but the city was too sore unknown medical ailment, devouring the soul of beings. Search for a vaccine according to the tradition begins with character creation. However, the thirst of blood may choose to have gotovenkogo Fellow and immediately plunge into the fray. The rest as compensation for their time will receive a full list of features and "perks" the third edition of D & D. In her virginal integrity of the system of classes and races fairly compensate for changes in the subclasses, of which in Neverwinter Nights was not at all. Now they are replaced by capacious pair of skills and feats. New options added to the basic abilities of the hero are a few additional. For example, Point-blank shot eliminates the archer from the critical penalty for shooting into the melee. The hero has the ability to Knockdown, can knock an enemy down a giant blow. However, something like we've seen - Fallout'vskie "perks" as the time from the same opera. Further, the omnipresent wind of change fell upon the security features of the character. Thing of the past negative Armor Class and numerous indicators of resistance to different type of weapon. AC from now on only positive, but the strength of the skins fighter determine Fortitude, Reflex and Will. Some changes were made and the multiclass system. I recall that in Baldur's Gate an opportunity to study the character to two professions has been implemented very badly, and the latter-day warriors, mages were good except to feed the goblins. The third edition of the rules made their adjustments, limiting growth multiclassed only bar at level 20.That is, to swing on health, but remember that the maximum amount of levels and a warrior and a mage should not exceed twenty. Kicking ASS! What I most had no respect for Baldur's Gate, so this is for graphics. Prematurely released from the intensive care unit due to the frustration of treatment, heartbroken people with disabilities marched back and forth, waving their shrunken limbs and even occasionally tried to joke, cut into sections of another spider. Dismiss, not funny. Exhausted Infinity Engine was deserved kick and no special claims ceded the throne of Aurora. Fans of Dungeon Siege can safely blindfold, alas, their hero fell without a fight. Where there is an angular Pinocchio compete with 64-megabyte set of textures NWN! Yes, and whether it makes sense these things compare when it comes, perhaps the most graphically advanced CRPG. You saw how obbegat torch dodgy shadow like a drowning man in the green grass defeated Emperor, as expenses hail bright sparks fell in the air fireball? Perhaps, to experience these moments, you realize that such a complete immersion, the rejection of all reality and unfed for days dog. Deserves special praise fighting technique. Character makes a dive, avoids the injection, and immediately be smashing attack. Bleeding the enemy exposes istykannuyu arrows back and slowly lowered to the ground. Everything looks very realistic as opposed to those same fights IceWind, gorged itself where heroes are made of batteries up to a hundred beats per minute, with virtually no moving. Proved to be surprisingly clever, and Cam. Species of fly have been reported, but shaped freaks in order to capture the best kind, of course, occurred to my taste. Lucky zumming just did not pass by and gladly took part in the next disassembly. Putting the game on a familiar yet at BG pause, I will gladly make out simple uzorchik on robe mage and almost completely drowned in a huge dragon's mouth. BioWare again disrupts the applause! Blood Brothers Several strange transformations undergone management system mercenaries. As such, teams in NWN did not exist, and with it disappeared and half fights with liches, and a thin selection of required professions, and even a multi-volume tactical tricks. The party now controls the AI, the player is allowed only to raise a soldier, to discuss the current quest and give a couple of effective orders. However, the computer characters are often saved my life, sometimes even helping with opening especially strong trunks. And what about donkeys? Alas, but to postpone the ten sets of Adamantine armor have to forget. Mercenaries no longer care about your economic intentions, and the transfer of high-value items lies with the mighty shoulders of the protagonist. Order to save a player from hours of searching the desired scroll, BioWare has created a huge shestisektsionny inventory, which will fit all - from a two-handed sword to the flask with health, if only the weight allowed. Finally, a full-fledged member of the team and became a Familiar (familiar). Caused by the magician zverushka acquired own portrait, name, stats and won the right to vote at the time of tumultuous partisan debate. Death of pet no longer punishable by a decrease in constitution and the magician deals from 1 to 6 units of damage. The next day, the player may again appeal to a familiar service. Time progress Produce such a number of changes in the physics of the game and leave without changing the gameplay would be for BioWare existent crime. The developers did not sin, and now the whole chain of latter-day gains on duty doorstep. Right at the very beginning of the game gives to us the remarkable Stone of Recall.This subject is able to snatch a hero right from the thick of battle and sent to a safe location where it is possible to treat wounds and a mere pittance back. Quite often, such teleportation becomes the only way to fight against the tough monsters. Out of the past eight preventive-treatment sleep. In NWN it is replaced by a two-hour meditation in a yoga posture, which can produce at any point in the game, if not nearby enemies. At once, returned to us winning back the role. I still remember BG 2, where the second chapter had to buy out some key thief quest for two hundred thousand gold coins. I tried to kill a speculator, trying to steal, but even scrounge unforgettable subject I failed, although intelligence was in the area of ​​sixteen. This act of vandalism on the desktop RPG, where the correct roleplaying is everything in NWN was removed. Now with the right approach to the NPC can be arranged to increase the payment for completing the quest, to feed to the other party a brazen lie, and the gifted can even poumnichat by selecting additional phrases marked with a tag "Insight". Desktop fans cheer, of course, will please the possibility of collective play, with the participation of a living person in the role of Dungeon Master'a, and particularly gifted person can design their own levels, quests and artifacts with the help of the almighty editor of NWN. BioWare - a vivid example of the cunning and cold-blooded genius. Replaced wrung concept Baldur's Gate came fresh and juicy Neverwinter Nights. Believe me, less than a year, as we will fall on the mountain range and Add-on'ov Expansion Pack'ov, and that's not counting the numerous DIY! BioWare loves making money, well, we love how she does it.

Curse: The Eye of Isis

Afex Tween
	29.03.2004

Curse: The Eye of Isis Game Title: Curse: The Eye of Isis Platform: PC, PlayStation 2, Xbox Genre: survival horror Developer: Asylum Entertainment Publisher: Wanadoo Edition Russian publisher: New CD / Media Service 2000 The official system requirements: Pentium III 600 MHz, 128 MB Ram, 3D-graphics card, 500 MB HDD Link to the official website: www.cursegame.com It is unlikely that there are still people have not heard about the games in the style of survival horror. Such hit series as Alone in the Dark, Resident Evil, Silent Hill have done a lot of noise among fans of computer and console entertainment, suddenly dispersed millions. Despite the fact that in essence this subgenre was a typical variation of the theme action / adventure, intriguing stories and chilling atmosphere have been able to instill players entirely new experience, revealing the unique and absolutely unknown direction - "games of survival." However, as always happens in such cases, over time, the genre began to experience significant decline in the creative plan. In total then, and business - to come up with some sleek story with a dark slant, to supply all this is a good picture and a bunch of useless, crooked levels, forcing the player to run to and fro in search of another key - and the game is ready. The main thing that the game was on everyone's lips, as, undoubtedly, will take care of eminent publishers. Apparently, these thoughts have visited Asylum Entertainment in the writing of his "masterpiece." Mark up to this bunch a cheap toy for a license for the PlayStation, the firm decided not to stand in place and set about development of the undisputed super-mega-hit, once for three platforms, as it is now accepted. Immediately and publishers look for: a well-known Wanadoo in Europe and a very well known Dreamcatcher in America. Even in Russia, the game found its distributors, is also the most prominent market participants. But back to the game. The whole plot is centered on a small statuettes, called The Eye of Isis (Eye of Isis, respectively), which was discovered by archaeologists Stanley Dane in the middle of the nineteenth century, and then deposited in the British Museum. Figurine of this fame that brought enormous calamity to any person who possesses it. For example, Stanley Dane himself, shortly after the discovery of a mysterious artifact has gone coils and was imprisoned in the house for the insane, where he died several years later. Much water has flowed since then, and now Darien Dane, son of the late archaeologist who comes to the building of the British Museum in order to visit his old girlfriend, Victoria Sutton, worked there and preparing the above-mentioned Eye of Isis to the general public. However, not all is quiet: met at the entrance to the museum constable for unknown reasons did not wish to let the eminent son inside the building. Do not be silly, Darien quietly seeping into the museum and decides to explore all of its own.Here we are, in fact, take it over. It would seem to us quite intriguing, although it does not aspire to originality, and tie. However, all that it is followed, described as "fun" or just "interesting" by no means be obtained. In fact, the whole plot is reduced to finding a mysterious missing artifact, which is released outside of the disappearance of a strange yellow haze that has spread around the museum and turning people into zombies. True, at first we have yet to find our friend, companion and Victoria. Next - just stupid battle with hordes of identical zombies and walk through dark corridors and tunnels. We will visit four different locations - a museum, sewage, ship and an Egyptian pyramid, but no emotion, except for boredom, these walks are not aroused. Say, a museum - is a series of identical gray corridors, with a thousand doors, most of which are closed. We are forced to wander along these corridors in fact with the sole aim - finding the next key to the next door, sometimes complemented perfectly flat and basic puzzles like search technique points to an elderly security guard. This is not a mystery, my friends, is simply far-fetched an increase in playing time, which in any case, it will take to the game is not so much. It is true, what is the "Curse" really succeeded, because it is in terms of graphics. Of course, it is far from perfect, but the productive features of the engine is truly noteworthy. Recurring spectacular panoramic pictures as clearly traced the character models and detail always pleasing to the eye. Also very nice look rollers made in the same game engine. All this would move away toys in one big, fat, plus, if only artists were able to properly dispose of all that beauty. However, as is often the case, instead of open locations, preference was given a dark, enclosed spaces with narrow corridors vetvyaschimesya; instead of richly furnished rooms - here and there recurring items of interior, and instead of heaps of variety and clever vrazhin and just minor characters - several kinds of totally identical models of monsters with razor weak AI. Of course, it is difficult to demand from the bleary-eyed zombies, which represented a good half of all opposing monsters, some inhuman tactics, but when brainless creature is just asking ahead, while not even being able to open closed doors, it becomes boring and uninteresting to play. Also, a few words on camera. It simply will not do. Constantly taking the most inconvenient foreshortening it at the same time, absolutely not allow yourself to adjust. That is, in "The Eye of Isis" simply does not control the camera functions. Therefore, sitting down for a game, I advise you in advance to get a plentiful supply of abusive words, that had something to say when the next collision with an invisible wall. But still the first thing on which you pay attention when the game starts, in addition to graphics, is the interface. And even then developers have managed screwed up. Start with at least the fact that walking has always done the up and down. At the same time turn comes only with a mouse, because the arrows left and right as always are responsible for movement of the hero in their respective areas, but only sideways. In general, there is a typical case of a wretched adaptation of the console management pisishnuyu Wednesday. Action the player is small enough, with the weapon has to do with one button, to interact with objects - and in one motion. Inventory consists of three main sections - for weapons, for documents, and just for the basic things that can be used in some places, and sometimes combined. However, we are able to do if and only if it pleases the game: if, say, the key - not from the door, then the appropriate menu to "use" just will not be highlighted.To some this may seem like a good idea, but any attempts at the intellectual puzzles solutions, this feature completely kills. Incidentally, the authors seem very proud that we manage in the game will have two characters, respectively Darienom and Victoria. Of course, the course of a fairly standard, but still really able to bring diversity to the game. Just not in this one. The fact that the management of a girl actually does not differ from management's son archaeologist. If, say, "Alone in the Dark" in such cases, combat and mozgolomnaya part is fairly well distributed between the characters, there is a change from the terms of the amount of seats remains unchanged, that is, played, played for the guy, gave us in the management of his aunt - again play for the man, only in the female exposed. Misfire, sir. So in summary - an ode to preservation. "Oh, Abdul, save and protect me!" - You have to always cry when you try to survive elsewhere. The fact is that for such procedures to us everywhere will be vitally important ... our attendant, Abdul Wahid, whom we met on his head in a museum. If you have not yet understood, in order to simply be remembered in the game, we should first find of this uncle, and have talks with him, noting in the appropriate menu of conservation. In this case, instead of everywhere to follow us and help us in countless battles, Abdul will be lifeless stagnate, only occasionally moving closer to the hero as it moves along the level. What? Well, summing up, I want to say that the game came to be extremely unfortunate. Endless, monotonous mochilovo in a very tasteless form, flavored transparent film logic puzzles, rarely go beyond the search for keys to open doors, can hardly be called "thoughtful and enticing gameplay. And on the same schedule, no matter how raschudesnoy it may be, does not go far. So, my advice to you: if you have a sharp desire to play in the next survival horror, better wait for the fourth part of the "Silent Hill", the benefit is not far off. Or replay of old toys this direction, even if only in the very first "Alone in the Dark". In any case, your time will be spent to how to better advantage than a game of "Curse: The Eye of Isis".

Sonic the Hedgehog

Author: Red Cat
Source: Country Games № May 2007	15.03.2007

New Sonic the Hedgehog for next generation platforms? Who can refuse such a gift! Especially that last game from Sega about the blue hedgehog is not always pleasing loyal fans. But that was before, but now ... and that, indeed, now? Yes, in general, nothing special. Cruelly deceived us, shove under the guise of classical hideous monster, know where the good old Sonic sometimes simply impossible.

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

Author: Ilia Chentsov
Source: Country Games № 13 2008	01.07.2008

The very beginning suddenly recalled Legacy of Kain - the same kind of top-side, the same character with a sword sticking out briskly, the same mini-prologue, in which all until well after dark and the city with unfriendly guards. Of course, no bloodsucking and yelling «Vae victus!». The fighting here, so to speak, polupohodovye. At a meeting with the enemy act, as in earlier Final Fantasy, is transferred to a separate "clearing" where the left are enemies to the right - we (well, our, until the Caspian, has not yet gathered the army). Dealing a blow, each character spends some time to "recharge", but the time necessary to catch - a game in readiness of the hero does not stop. Select the character, purpose - and run a mini-game "attack". Depending on the type of weapon, you can either streak through the stylus, or "pull" swords in the center, either with force to break the stone slabs for massive damage, etc. With enemies killed showered bonuses like "Tears Dryad" and "siren song" - especially touches set of "eyes of Aslan," Aslan's roar "and" breath of Aslan. " There is an automatic "role" pumping. The best DS-tradition, when returning to the location of all its inhabitants come to life - and to run back and forth would have done, and fight with the same trolls, werewolves and minotaurs get bored very quickly.

Disgaea: Hour of Darkness

Alexey Petrovsky
	29.03.2004

Disgaea: Hour of Darkness Developer: Nippon Ichi Publisher: Atlus (U.S.), Koei (Europe) Genre: Tactical JRPG Released: May 2004 (Europe), the U.S. game is already available Works such as Disgaea: Hour of Darkness - a huge rarity in the Western market, where Japanese design style mass audience simply do not understand. For this reason, the appearance of perpetrator of this article in English was a real treat for the few fans of these creatures. However, Nippon Ichi, developer of Disgaea: Hour of Darkness, to create not just the original tactical JRPG (TJRPG), but something quite unusual both in terms of fun, parodies the style and design and in terms of innovative gameplay that expands the boundaries of the genre. Before us is a rare case when the mechanical elements fade into the background, giving way to pure pleasure of playing. The same one that was in the players during the NES and SNES and is almost completely lost with the advent of mnogopoligonalnoy three-dimensional graphics and the CG-movies, less and less different from reality. Prince of the Netherworld The Story of the character in the game begins where life usually ends up a mere mortal: in the coffin. Our hero, the demon of royal blood named Laharl, trying to awaken from a two-year sleep Etna, his vassal. Waking up, Laharl discovers that his father, the ruler of Netherworld (the world of demons), had died, and there's going real chaos: each of its residents tried to seize the throne. Our protege, without hesitation, decides to regain his rightful place a ruler, destroying the competition. Along the way he met the demons, men and angels, forming at the end of these creatures are a kind of coalition, which, of course, have to save the world. If you're expecting an intricate plot and complex intrigues, then immediately warned - you will not here. Disgaea literally riddled with numerous jokes related to the well-known games and Japanese cartoons. What are incredibly funny announcements of the next episode, parodied analogues of anime series! True, at the end of the story takes a more serious look, but somehow the product of Nippon Ichi is a real gift for people who are tired of overly serious and dramatic stories of modern role-playing games. At the same time, gamers are waiting for something like Final Fantasy, will be disappointed: the stage, revealing the game's history, serving in Disgaea is just a kind of "rest" from the gameplay, which is now and will be discussed. Of Being an Overlord As befits a TJRPG, on the battle field, conventionally divided into multiple cells, you can specify each character to move around the map and what to do: attack (if there are opponents of the affected area), using a variety of spells and items, or just defend. All this you're probably familiar with, and nothing new is not represented.But it is worth a little deeper into the combat system, as become apparent at first glance small details. Battles often take place on the maps, divided into segments (green, red, blue, etc.), and the whole area, identical in color to that on which the special pyramid (geosimvol "), acquires the property of geosimvola - for example, invulnerability of the characters, a sixfold increase in the enemy forces, the inability to use magic, and others. With geosimvolov can get a distinct advantage, and put him in enemy hands. But even if such items are already placed on the field at the beginning of the battle, you can either destroy them or just throw in another, colorless place. If the first option all clear, then lifting and throwing things, characters and creatures in need of a more detailed explanation. When you are close to any object, angel, demon or man can take it and throw in a few cells in any direction. What's interesting, you are given the ability to make a whole column of my heroes, holding each other and can thus reach in one move (or rather, dokidat certain character) to the opposite end of the map. Why do it? A simple example: Sometimes in the beginning of the Battle of the whole area can be dangerous for you to increase the effect of the characteristics of opponents, which is created geosimvolom placed in the far corner of the field, and to survive, you will need to deal with malicious pyramid in the first turn. Here podymanie subservient characters you can quickly reach the desired point of the map. But this use of geosimvolov not end there. In every battle there is a special scale of bonuses, after filling out a victory in the event you will receive various prizes: weapons, gold and experience points. But usually this line increases very slowly, so that to speed up the process you can apply multiple techniques. The first is to destroy colored geosimvola on dissimilar to it in the color cell. But you can also use other means, perform group attack. This is a very effective form of attack on the enemies can be executed only when finding your characters next to each other. If done correctly, instead of one hero's attack will make several, and a ruler, responsible for the prizes increase. This type of battle command is useful by the fact that experience points after the destruction of the opponent are given to each party to attack, regardless of the damage to the enemy damage. Here, incidentally, lies one of the main problems of the game: your players gain experience, only by killing the enemy. Therefore, the development of magicians who specialize in healing spells, seriously hindered, and the only way out of this situation is to use group attacks. A bit of corruption And where do without it in the world of demons? We told you about the battles, but how to fight without the support of the government? That's it you'll have to enlist at the meetings of the Assembly of the Dark (Dark Assembly), to carry out new laws: the expansion of the assortment of goods in the shop, the increase and the weakening strength of monsters, granting access to new territories, and others. In addition, you are allowed to create characters by the desired class: magicians, warriors, archers, monsters - more than 120 species. At your disposal are over a hundred characters, but in the battle allowed the use of only ten. The convening of the Dark Assembly and for the accession of new characters to your team you have to pay mana, you can get in battles. Dark Assembly, as mentioned above, is a kind of parliament Netherworld. Any important decisions can be taken only with the consent of the authority. Senators treat you differently: some you hate, others love you, others do not care for your person. In addition, the higher the level of civil servants, the more influence it has. Accordingly, your main task is to get votes, "senior" officials, whereas senators low level of special attention do not need.Improve the image of you members of the Dark Assembly is only one way: giving them gifts. Yes, yes, gifts, not money, as you've probably already thought of. And as a gift to the senators do not have to present some kind of expensive weapons and armor, for the happiness they have enough and cheap candy, bought far in just a few "hells" (Hell - game currency). The main thing to like a present to the recipient, otherwise the official attitude to you will only get worse. But, however, even if the new law was approved by the Dark Assembly, you can always join battle with disgruntled senators. Inner space It's time to talk about the world of objects (Item World) - a place designed to increase the performance of things. Made all the simple and ingenious: you select an object (weapon, armor, etc.) into which you want to go, while you show the approximate level found in its enemies. Then you have to go ten fights in a row, and for victory in each of them you can either destroy all enemies on the map, and send any of your character in a special teleporter automatically transporting you to a new level. Withdraw from the world of objects is allowed only after the passage of ten battles. So that each such trip is very dangerous, and, in case of bad training, you risk to see the familiar sign "Game Over". But at the same time, after a dozen battles characteristics pumped object will increase significantly. As you've probably noticed, the game is quite clearly divided into two parts: fighting and training to them. The latter includes all activities in your castle: journey into the world of objects, the convening of the Dark Assembly and the buying / selling things. To battle, you can get by selecting from a menu the desired location of combat. In general, people are hoping for a long journey over a vast territory, will be disappointed as much as the fans will be pleased meter, knowing that the game offers a heroes' development up to 9999 levels. World of objects and the Dark Assembly is a truly ingenious design Nippon Ichi. And people who are accustomed to pass the game a hundred percent hold a Disgaea several hundred hours, while everyone else will spend on the creation of Nippon Ichi somewhere in 50-60 hours, without delving into the study of its many features. On the graphics and music Say a Word After seeing the picture, you've probably already realized that the graphics in Disgaea, not only does not meet modern requirements, but generally not much different from the representatives of the genre TJRPG on PSOne. Just as in Final Fantasy Tactics for the first Playstation, two-dimensional figures of the characters, and all the surroundings - a three-dimensional. Naturally, about any plot rolls here and speech can not be, and the whole story is revealed through the painted portraits of the characters made ​​in the spirit of Japanese animation. What is interesting, such a combination of primitive graphics and nice pictures, not only is adequate to the plot and style of Disgaea, but perfectly conveys the atmosphere works Nippon Ichi. In using two-dimensional models of characters and a three-dimensional area also lies one of the main disadvantages of Disgaea: a small number of camera angles. As a result, sometimes there is no clear location of your characters and enemies. However, such situations are rare. But the music in Disgaea is good. Of course, its soundtrack you do not want to buy, but in the game sounding melodies and songs cause positive emotions. In addition, developers gave you a choice between Japanese and American voice acting, each of which is gorgeous. Tastes Differ Despite all its advantages, Disgaea: Hour of Darkness - a game for amateurs. Some it will upset his style, simple plot and primitive graphics, while others, conversely, a product of Nippon Ichi will result in a complete delight precisely because it did not like the first group: the Japanese view, funny story, "warm" atmosphere, and ridiculous dialogue. Some will be happy to go fight the battle, while many of this process quickly tired of the lack of an exciting story line. Anyway, fans of the genre TJRPG Disgaea exactly like it. All others are also encouraged to buy it if you do not brezguete outdated graphics and gameplay prefer a twisted narrative in the spirit of Final Fantasy.

Prey

author: Alexander Krasnov
Source: Country Games № 16 2006	20.08.2006

So far, the adage "better late than never" justified. Legendary long-term construction with a heavy fate, which still appeared on the shelves, once awarded the highest ratings of players. It is, of course, about Max Payne and our guest today Prey. But let's not forget that in the far-distant future to visit us zaskochat comrades, more overgrown with myths and tales: Duke Nukem Forever and STALKER

Guitar Hero: On Tour

SI
Source: Country Games № 19 2008	03.10.2008

OVERALL IMPRESSION: "surrogate surrogate" - so in two words would describe Guitar Hero: On Tourlyuboy skeptic. And the saddest thing is that this offensive sentence agreed to 10 of the 12 jurors. The remaining two will certainly be appealed to an excellent collection of songs, which almost never intersects with Legends of Rock, as well as to the general concept of courage (the first one to refuse the idea of ​​transfer of GH on the DS in originality, let him cast a stone at me). The trouble is that figured out, four Pribluda for DS at Vicarious Visions guessed, but that's to test it on the double-handed pyatipaltsevyh humanoids somehow did not manage. Keep the console with keypad attachment terribly uncomfortable - left arm numb and immediately starts to whine after two or three games played tracks, just right to rename On Tour in the «Guitar Hero: Towards tunnel syndrome" - no wonder when you start the game strongly recommends that often give the hand rest. The second major problem, which is typical in general for all DS-games - poor sound quality, even headphones are not particularly helpful. On Tour quickly remind you why the world refused to MP3 low bitrate, and a reminder is you do not like it. But this is almost a mediator for the game, on the contrary - so good that I did not hesitate to be traded on it click and springy strum bar «adult» Guitar Hero.