9/4/2007 - Lair (PS3)

[Morfiend]

So, I had considered getting a PS3 for a little while, and this game was one of my driving reasons. IGN just slammed the hell out of it.

http://ps3.ign.com/articles/817/817117p1.html

You might think I'm being too hard on Lair, but if you do, you clearly haven't played this game. Although there are levels where wide-open environments and spread-out objectives trick you into thinking the Sixaxis stuff isn't that bad, whenever a handful of enemies are on screen, your flight space becomes limited or you need to be precise, this game falls apart.

At one point, Lair looked like one of the most promising titles coming to the PS3, but the final version -- even with its interesting story, occasionally impressive graphics and amazing score -- falls well short of anything you should be playing.

8.0    Presentation
From the opening movie to the dragon-flying-over-a-map chapter select screen, Lair has you engrossed in its medieval feel, which an interesting story and quality VO perpetuates.

7.5    Graphics
It's the definition of a mixed bag. The FMVs look awesome; the in-game stuff looks great but chugs; and the custscenes using in-game assets look framey.

8.0    Sound
There's a sweeping score that really captures the moment and some quality voice work, but there are moments when you'll be attacking a catapult and it seems like a sound effect is missing.

4.5    Gameplay
A bus-like feel and Sixaxis controls kill this game. In wide-open areas, it's okay, but the moment you need precision, you realize you’re screwed -- you can't corner, target or fight well.

5.5    Lasting Appeal
There are leaderboards to track, medals to earn and movies to unlock, but the frustrating control scheme will probably stop you from coming back for more.

4.9     OVERALL
(out of 10 / not an average)

[schild]

 Canceled my preorder a month ago after seeing some gameplay footage. In turn, both the manager and assistant manager canceled their preorders as well. They sort of base what they get off I get when it falls in a genre they like.

[Khaldun]

The abuse coming in for this title is way above the ordinary.

[schild]

The abuse coming in for this title is way above the ordinary.

It's not on the Wii.

[bhodi]

A friend of mine who's a manager at gamestop said that the company reps called the head office with encouragement to sell, sell, sell now! today!

Now we know why. Get as many copies out the door before someone reads a review.

[schild]

It's a goddamn shame really.

I really, terribly, badly wanted that game to be good.

Fucking Factor 5, MAN!

Ugh.

:(

[Margalis]

The 6-axis control stuff sounds awful. A lot of people were looking forward to this, I didn't realize that until recently. Too bad, the videos I saw looked cool but apparently it just isn't any fun.

[Morfiend]

From what I can tell the major point of badness is the controller + the targeting. It seems everything would have been fine if they let people control with the thumbsticks. But NOOOO, they had to try for that Wii market.

[Velorath]

It's a goddamn shame really.

I really, terribly, badly wanted that game to be good.

Fucking Factor 5, MAN!

Ugh.

:(

It should have been expected.  Really the Rogue Squadron games are only ok, and even then that's only if you like Star Wars.  With reviewers saying that Heavenly Sword is only a 6-7 hour game, Uncharted still lacking any sort of firm release date, and Eye of Judgement likely only capturing a niche market, the PS3 Fall-Christmas exclusives lineup is looking a little shaky, with Folklore and R&C being it's best hope right now.

[schild]

Unreal. Tournament. 3.

It won't spank Halo because kids are drooling retards, but damnit, it should.

[Big Gulp]

Unreal. Tournament. 3.

It won't spank Halo because kids are drooling retards, but damnit, it should.

Why would you buy UT3 for a console in the first place?  That'd be like picking up Orange Box for the 360.

Not going to happen

[schild]

Unreal. Tournament. 3.

It won't spank Halo because kids are drooling retards, but damnit, it should.

Why would you buy UT3 for a console in the first place?  That'd be like picking up Orange Box for the 360.

Not going to happen

Many many gamers will not be able to run UT3 like their PS3 will. It has native Keyboard/Mouse support, and you can transfer any mod from the PC over to the PS3 version.

It's the exact same experience. HL2: Orange is not. It does not treat your PS3 like a PC that way.

[stray]

The Sony fanboi is back y'all. Word up!

Schild's been fightin' the good fight all alone for several months, I see. 

Seriously though... I have to agree. The 'puter I bought back in April (I think?) will probably carry some headaches with it as far UT3 goes. It isn't a bad machine or anything. It's just that all these years of PC gaming tell me that such things are fucking inevitable. And right now, console tech isn't too shabby to notice many drawbacks. 3 years down the line, of course, will be another story.

[Murgos]

Ya know?  That's a pretty interesting thought.  Whose to say that Sony and MS keep with the mostly cosmetic changes to consoles in between generations?  MS and Sony have both introduced hardware changes into their current systems.  What's to stopping them from doing an XBOX 360+ with a better processor and upgraded video card and other improvements in a year or so?  Same system, same compatibility, just the new runs the game with a little more shine a little more smoothly?

It [or the ps3] is pretty much just a PC in a custom chassis anyway.

[HaemishM]

To be fair, though, the Unreal Engines have downgraded to non-optimal systems pretty well for a while. UT2k4 was playable on the 800 mhz machines I had when the game came out. UT3 might actually run on the system I have now, just with degraded visuals.