All feature on the latest Official Xbox mag, along with Area52, Rupublic Commando and Constantine. I thought I'd make a topic, as the disk has some big Xbox games.
Some thoughts:
UC2 is the main demo, featuring a handle of maps, three game modes (DM, Team DM and CTF) and optional Live play. It's decent, surprisingly so. The action is easily the fastest it's been in a Unreal title and the two attack modes compliment each other well. The game switches from first to third person quickly without becoming disorientating (much like Oddworld Stranger), however the actual melee combat feels too random and unsatisfying - the biggest fault is that you simply do not know if you area dealing damage or not, and often you'll die suddenly without warning even though it feels like you should have killed the other person. With a bit of practice this does become easier, and after you learn to take control of the pace - using the nicely implimented defence system - it does become easier. Pulling both triggers activates a forward shield, which is quite effective but means you cannot attack and are still open from attack from other sides, while left trigger initiates a rapid burst shield, which can be used for repelling (effectively batting) the enemy shots away. If you get it right you can bat a sniper shot right back for a headshot, which is wickedly satisfying.
The maps are fairly small and suited to the limit of 4 players, though on Team DM games I found that often you can't find anything to shoot, which is very annoying when you pick up a powerup or activate a special (such as Nimble, which allows you to wallrun and jump around like crazy, or Vampire which gives you back energy from the enemy).
Live play is decent, standard stuff from the demo. Lag is fine with 3 but gets dreadful with 4, so bad that it must be a bug or something. Usual Live options included.
The game is really enjoyable when everything clicks - getting multikills, rebound kills and special kills (Mortal Kombat style) all at a breakneck pace, while flipping, bouncing and flying all around the level. It's pretty darned good, to be honest...but its only as enjoyable as you are lucky. Perhaps a bit too random for its own good.
TimeSplitters 3 - awful, utterly awful. The demo is a small section from the first level in the game - a walk through a futuristic valley, being attacked by generic sci-fi soldiers and a few alien-like monkeys. The action is so dull it almost sent me to sleep, and the fact at one point you have to walk around a 2inch high block because you cannot leave the ground just smacks of FreeRadical not even trying to take things further. I loved TS2 to bits, but all signs are pointing towards this being a dud. That said, the story mode has never been the strength of TS, so there may be hope.
SplinterCell3 - I've played the PC demo of the same level (lighthouse), running at the maximum possible detail, and this Xbox version does actually stand up to it technically. What Ubisoft are pushing out of the system is very impressive. I found the controls easier on the pad, too. The game is exactly the same as before from where I'm sitting - it's still too complicated and there are still too many buttons and combinations to remember, but fans are going to love it. Excellent touches and ideas throughout, as you would expect from game like this.
Area52 - pretty rubbish demo of what is an ok game (from experience). The demo is only to show off a few weapons, which isn't a great idea seeing as the weapons are that special to begin with. Could be a good game in the end, but the demo doesn't show anything at all really.
Constantine - ugh. No.
Republic Commando - same demo as from Kotor2. Not bad, but the limitations of where you can send your troops is a bit daft. Enjoyable though, I guess.
Oh, and don't buy the mag, I had forgotten just how bad it was.
Some thoughts:
UC2 is the main demo, featuring a handle of maps, three game modes (DM, Team DM and CTF) and optional Live play. It's decent, surprisingly so. The action is easily the fastest it's been in a Unreal title and the two attack modes compliment each other well. The game switches from first to third person quickly without becoming disorientating (much like Oddworld Stranger), however the actual melee combat feels too random and unsatisfying - the biggest fault is that you simply do not know if you area dealing damage or not, and often you'll die suddenly without warning even though it feels like you should have killed the other person. With a bit of practice this does become easier, and after you learn to take control of the pace - using the nicely implimented defence system - it does become easier. Pulling both triggers activates a forward shield, which is quite effective but means you cannot attack and are still open from attack from other sides, while left trigger initiates a rapid burst shield, which can be used for repelling (effectively batting) the enemy shots away. If you get it right you can bat a sniper shot right back for a headshot, which is wickedly satisfying.
The maps are fairly small and suited to the limit of 4 players, though on Team DM games I found that often you can't find anything to shoot, which is very annoying when you pick up a powerup or activate a special (such as Nimble, which allows you to wallrun and jump around like crazy, or Vampire which gives you back energy from the enemy).
Live play is decent, standard stuff from the demo. Lag is fine with 3 but gets dreadful with 4, so bad that it must be a bug or something. Usual Live options included.
The game is really enjoyable when everything clicks - getting multikills, rebound kills and special kills (Mortal Kombat style) all at a breakneck pace, while flipping, bouncing and flying all around the level. It's pretty darned good, to be honest...but its only as enjoyable as you are lucky. Perhaps a bit too random for its own good.
TimeSplitters 3 - awful, utterly awful. The demo is a small section from the first level in the game - a walk through a futuristic valley, being attacked by generic sci-fi soldiers and a few alien-like monkeys. The action is so dull it almost sent me to sleep, and the fact at one point you have to walk around a 2inch high block because you cannot leave the ground just smacks of FreeRadical not even trying to take things further. I loved TS2 to bits, but all signs are pointing towards this being a dud. That said, the story mode has never been the strength of TS, so there may be hope.
SplinterCell3 - I've played the PC demo of the same level (lighthouse), running at the maximum possible detail, and this Xbox version does actually stand up to it technically. What Ubisoft are pushing out of the system is very impressive. I found the controls easier on the pad, too. The game is exactly the same as before from where I'm sitting - it's still too complicated and there are still too many buttons and combinations to remember, but fans are going to love it. Excellent touches and ideas throughout, as you would expect from game like this.
Area52 - pretty rubbish demo of what is an ok game (from experience). The demo is only to show off a few weapons, which isn't a great idea seeing as the weapons are that special to begin with. Could be a good game in the end, but the demo doesn't show anything at all really.
Constantine - ugh. No.
Republic Commando - same demo as from Kotor2. Not bad, but the limitations of where you can send your troops is a bit daft. Enjoyable though, I guess.
Oh, and don't buy the mag, I had forgotten just how bad it was.
this game is gonna kick so much ass!!
Hostile down... he has a 4 inch gap in his neck and body fuel is leaking out!!
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