Amazing. Just utterly amazing. It’s a totally new, but totally retro, video game that plays fantastically, and is even better than the games it apes.
I won’t spoil it all, but I do need to say how much I enjoyed spotting references to other games in this one – both in the levels, and the items you can buy. I love that sort of stuff.
If you haven’t already, buy it now.
I’ve not read the comics. I’ve not seen the film. But, after seeing just a handful of screenshots a few weeks ago for the game, I knew I’d want it. So confident was I, that I didn’t even bother trying the demo – I stumped up my 800 Microsoft Moon Pounds and bought the full game.
And I was right – I love it. It’s a great mix of River City Ransom, Guardian Heroes, Streets of Rage, and that Puffy AmiYumi DS game I quite enjoyed a few years ago. The retro graphics were always going to appeal to me, and the collect money to buy power-ups and character level progression suit my OCD perfectly.
The fighting is pretty good too, with more moves unlocked as you level up, and attacks becoming faster and stronger as you buy “upgrades” from the various shops. It’s a shame this is all lost on those trying the demo – as on Level 1 with no extra moves, the game is reduced to a painfully slow, difficult, brawler with only a couple of moves to pull off. I wonder how many people tried the demo and were put off?
I’ve just beaten Evil Ex-Boyfriend #3, and am now going to rinse the first couple of levels a few times for more money for stat increases. Again.
I was one of the lucky ones to get a free code for this, since The Times cocked up and allowed their “subscriber only” offer to be accessible to all and sundry. I’d just played the demo too, and was about to buy it anyway when I realised I had enough other games to be getting on with so would wait for a price drop. Ten minutes later – free code!
You’ll be noticing that there’s no “Tomb Raider” in the title. There are, however, tombs (of a sort) to traverse, and indeed “raid”, but the developers have chosen to distance this a bit from those platforming, 3rd person puzzle shooting games, instead turning this into a sort of grown-up Lego Indiana Jones crossed with the likes of Geometry Wars. No, stay with me on this…
You see, it’s a simplified Tomb Raider, in terms of types, quantity and complexity of puzzles. Puzzles much like those in the Lego games. There are also some objects that can only be destroyed or activated with certain weapons – like in the Lego games. And it’s all viewed from a sort of isometric angle, not entirely unlike the Lego games. Then there’s the combat, which is pretty standard twin-stickery, like Geometry Wars (and 446512 other games). See? That wasn’t so hard to imagine, was it?
But is it any good? Let me put it this way – I got it on Friday, completed it on Sunday, and it was the only game I played (or even wanted to play). So yes, it’s good. It’s short (although there are more episodes planned as DLC), at around 4-5 hours, and pretty easy, but it was great fun and it surprised me how well a Tomb Raider game could work when not actually presented like a Tomb Raider game.
The only real disappointments were that the end boss was far too easy, and some of the game is repetitive. It also suffers a bit from a cliché of how to make games harder later on: simply have more baddies.
Over the last week I’ve been chipping away at two things – getting myself up to Level 50 (I’m not there yet, but I’m up to about 49.5) and to 100% the game on Insane Mode. Which I did today! Excellent!
It also puts me at 709th in the world 
It seemed shorter and easier than the previous episode (particularly the walk-over of a final boss), but it was still great. There was less to-ing and fro-ing than last time, which was a big improvement. It seemed to come at the cost of loading times though – it takes TEN MINUTES to load the game, which is utterly ridiculous!
This time on Insane Mode. It was hard, very hard, but the game got much easier towards the end and the final boss was really easy. Now for 100%! Again!
This, aside from a few iPhone games, is pretty much the only thing I’ve played in the last week. Oh, and some Xbox 360 demos. Erm, anyway.
This is mainly due to my Wii being deader than a dead thing, so no Animal Crossing, Super Smash Bros Brawl, or MadWorld for me.
Thankfully, Shadow Complex is still aces. Hard, since I’m still playing it on Insane Mode, but aces. I’m now up to the point just after rescuing Clare and sending her off in the jeep. Now to collect all the suit upgrades!
Bought this earlier in the week. Well, it was rude not to, wasn’t it? I already own it for practically every other format it has ever come out on, so I sort of had to.
It’s actually my least-played 16-bit Sonic game. That’s probably down to it being the last released though, coupled with the fact I usually played it locked-on to Sonic 3. It’s still excellent, however, but does feel a little short without Sonic 3 in there. It’s probably quite a bit shorter than Sonic 3 is too, actually.
So I completed it with Sonic, and all the Chaos Emeralds, then started again as Knuckles and am up to the end of Flying Fortress Act 2.
I’ve not posted a lot here in a while. It’s mainly because I’ve been glued to Shadow Complex. Having completed 100% a few days ago, I started again on Hardcore mode, and today completed it 100% again. And I’m going to go straight back in and start it on Insane next.
Yes, it really is that good.
Here’s me at the top of my friends leaderboard:
Yes, I am best.
Going for the big 100%, but have run into a few rooms I can’t reach, and some now can’t be reached unless I restart. There’s a room that seems to need to foam gun to blast open too, but the gun doesn’t do anything so I think it’s bugged. Bah.
What a great game! It’s just like Metroid or Castlevania in structure, only in a near-future setting and in 2.5D.
It took me just over 6 hours to complete, and I enjoyed every minute of it. Part of the appeal of these sorts of game comes from starting off weak and useless but building your powers and stats up to become unstoppable – defeating with ease the baddies that previously seemed indestructible. Another thing I like is the OCDness of it – collect everything, visit everywhere. Get 100% on your skills and stats. I’ve completed the game, but I’m not there yet so there’s still plenty to be done!
Two of my most favourite games serieseses ever: Castlevania and Metroid. Why do I mention them? Because Shadow Complex is just like them!
OK, so it’s more modern day, and there are no aliens or vampires (yet, at least), but it’s the same mazey, upgradey, shooty platformy aceness! Hurrah!!
It’s Kikstart II! Only new! And shiny!
Absolutely loved this tonight. Managed all Golds so far, and I’m one level from finishing Easy Mode. Addicted already.
I powered up my 360 for the first time in what seems like forever just to download and play this yesterday. I didn’t play for very long, but then today I completed it.
Already.
Not that I really expected any less, though. I mean, it’s a pretty short game. I just didn’t expect it to be quite so easy, that’s all. Inly the final boss was any sort of challenge, and even he wasn’t too difficult.
But it looks amazing, and it plays great too. Like a slicker, quicker, prettier version of the arcade game. Which, of course, is what it is. Well worth the 800 points, I thought.
Yes, I know I already own this seventygillion times. And yes – Megadrive Ultimate Collection, which contains this game, was even in my 360′s drive at the time. But still I bought it from XBLA, and of course – I completed it.
With all the emeralds (got the last one in Marble Garden 1, if you care) too. And no Tails. He’s rubbish and needs hot metal things rammed through his face.
I’ve not had time to update this week, but, unusually, I’ve managed to play a fair amount.
Apollo Justice (DS)
Still plowing through the second case. I’ve started cross-examining the accused’s girlfriend. I think I know what the story is, and who did it, and why. Hurrah!
Animal Crossing (Wii)
Same as it ever is, really. Played for about 20 minutes each day, just pottering round Cheese; a bit of fishing, some fossil collecting, weeding, chatting to the other residents, and that sort of thing. Also had a visit from The Rev on Friday night, and he left me some fruit. Thanks much!
Swords and Soldiers (Wii)
Stuck. On the third (I think?) mission of the Chinese campaign. Bah.
Bionic Commando: Rearmed (360)
With my 360 back, I bought this as it was on offer this week at 400 points instead of the usual 800. It’s pretty good, actually, although I have started several levels I’ve been unable to progress in as I keep hitting dead ends. And it’s hard.
Assorted Xbox Live Arcade Games (360)
On the ugvm group, there’s a competition running to find who is the bestest of the best at a range of 360 games. I had a go at getting up the leaderboards on Frogger, Geometry Wars 2, Marble Blast Ultra, Pac-Man CE and Track and Field. I didn’t do well. Boo!
I actually bought this when it came out a couple of weeks ago, but haven’t mentioned it here for some reason. So far, I’ve got most of the jiggies in the first world, and two in the second. And opened the third.
Not really enjoying it as much as the original. There’s too much back-tracking and jumping in and out of worlds. I know there was a bit of this in the first one, but, like the collecting, it’s taken to new depths of rubbishness in the sequel. It isn’t rubbish – just not as good.
It turned out I didn’t have a lot left to do in the game. I wiped out the last of the evil mimes with invisible items, then killed the last of the, uh, robots, fully upgraded my weapons, and then set off after the end of game boss.
Who was actually pretty easy to beat. He took a fair while to take down, but I had so many items that even when he got a few full unblocked attacks in I didn’t suffer much.
And then the achievements just rolled in. It’s odd, that you get two achievements in the first 10 minutes of the game, then 6 or 7 in the last 10 minutes of the game. And none in the middle (well, unless you’d read them first and realised you had to defeat baddies in certain ways).
Overall, a funny but actually quite clever and original game with an unusual battle system. It’s a bit repetitive, but it wasn’t too long a game so it was over before that grated. Well recommended, and with hindsight, 1600 points probably wouldn’t have been too much to pay for it. I’m happy to pay that much for Episode 2 now, at least.
Look, I didn’t buy this, OK? I got a free copy of Connect 4 with something I ordered from SoftUK, and then today I won a competition to win Yahtzee, Battleship and another (great!) copy of Connect 4. Joy!
What do I think? I think it’s… alright? Stupidly expensive if you fork out 800 points each for the games, and the real-life versions of the games are more, well, usable (and don’t have Mr Potato Head prancing around all the time slowing the game down), but there’s online play and a few extra game modes to make up for that. A bit.
Thrashed the pants off someone online on Connect 4. That was pretty good. I played the other two games offline, and they were, well, exactly what I expected them to be.
Oh, and a bizarre thing happened. I created a game lobby, then someone joined. I chose to play Connect 4, but the other player didn’t have it, so the game awarded me an achievement for Yahtzee. What?
I bought this a couple of weeks ago when it was on offer, but it’s only at the weekend that I had a chance to play it. I had enjoyed the demo previously, but 1600 points was a bit too much to pay for one episode of a game when I had loads of other games to play. 800 points, though, is a bargain.
The story so far: is nuts. I didn’t really expect anything else, though. I’ve already cleared out Desperation Road, killed all the hobos in Hobo Alley, and killed the golden-haired boss of the robot factory. Next I need to sort out Pelican Bay…
Well, I did say that online was the main bit of Outrun, didn’t I?
“Completed”, in case you’re wondering, entailed this: completing every Goal from A-E, and the 15 Stage mode, all on Normal difficulty. Yeah, a bit short, but never mind.
I did try some time trials, but there’s no way on earth I’ll ever manage to get the achievements for them. 4:30 to reach a goal? My fastest time, with no mess-ups, crashes, and very little off-roading, was done in 4:56. Rubbish.
It’s Outrun 2006 Coast 2 Coast! Only not quite! For 800 points on Xbox Live Arcade!
What is ace: It’s FUN. Like the older versions. It’s also SHINY. What is not ace: There’s less there in the previous games. It has Arcade mode and Heat Attack mode, but no mission mode or anything.
What is a real killer: online mode, the main point of the game, is broken. It’s all too easy to get the BSOD – where the track vanishes and you can’t see the road, essentially making you lose. Not only that, but the leaderboards are arranged so as to be pointless – you can’t use the leaderboard of friends, as the friends leaderboard is arranged alphabetically rather than by time. Rubbish!
But… it’s Outrun and fantastic. So all is well.
The last 5 levels were far, far harder than I recall them being on the iPod version, you know. I ended up fluking two of them!
Anyway, completed now. Yay!
Even though I already have this for the iPod, and I’ve completed it, and this is the same game, and it’s more expensive, and it’s less portable, and it’s the same game, and I said I wasn’t going to buy it…
I bought Peggle on XBLA.
And? It’s the same game as the iPod one. It even has the same level layouts. But that doesn’t matter, because it’s Peggle and Peggle is aces. So far I’ve only completed the first three “worlds”, though. Not because it’s hard, just because I didn’t get much time to play.
Played this a lot yesterday and today, culminating in a 100% completion this afternoon. Although I’ve played it a few times before (on the N64), I never, ever, managed to defeat the final boss. Today, however, I did – and after only 4 or 5 attempts!
She was still hard, but for some reason I found it very easy on my successful attempt, losing hardly any life at all (and none until the final Jinjonator bit). So, complete!
I still have two jiggys left that I don’t know what to do with, and also need to finish Bottles’ puzzles. I eventually found the jigsaw puzzles – but have only done two, since the hand moves by itself making picking up and dropping pieces difficult.
I also went hunting for items – the ice key for one – but can’t get to them yet. In the original game, it was a planned “Stop and Swop” feature for linking the game with the sequel, but that didn’t happen. No idea what you’re supposed to do here, but the end sequence mentions Nuts & Bolts, which is crap and I probably won’t be buying, so the Stop and Swop won’t be happening.
