Archive for category XCL Review Bite
XCL Review Bite: LOTR: Battle For Middle Earth 2
Posted by Jaken Bear in XCL Review Bite on July 19th, 2006
The latest installment of the ever-popular LOTR series was released to the masses a few weeks ago in Lord Of The Rings: Battle For Middle Earth II. How does it fare with the blockbuster trilogy from whence it came? Is it an epic gameplay experience or should it be cast into the depths of Mordor? See what XCLers have to say.
XCL Says
NinjaRay : I’ve never been into the RTS genre before but this one seems well done to me, especially for doing on a console what would have been thought only to be done properly on a PC. The gameplay is fun and sweeps you right into the action. If this genre expects to make it on the console AND attract new RTS’ers, having a good tutorial is an absolute must, and this game does - even taking over the orc strongholds in the tutorial is gratifying.
The first few battles really do a good job of helping you slowly get the hang of the controls and get you comfortable with what to do and what’s going on. I think I had a pretty good grasp of everything by my 2nd battle. It really helps to play Live against someone who knows what they’re doing too; Thanks Havoc and 1nSano! Thumbs up! my only complaint are fickle EA server that seem to like you one day and other days, not so much.
Night Chicken : Love the game. Great unit and building interface that allows easy navigation.
Good strategy and tactics also included. The battle animations are fantastic. My only beef is the framerate drop if you have more then a couple hundred untis battling at one time.
Lx Xtreme : On first run through I had a dickens of a time figuring things out. How to create things, etc. The hint kept popping up that I had to select a power and I kept yelling at the screen “I don’t know how!” Anyway, it was suggested I go through the tutorials first. WOW what a difference. If you haven’t done the tutorials, that is definately the first place to start.
Over all I don’t mind the controls too much. My biggest complaint is jumping back to your base, ala Starcraft or Warcraft where you could click on a spot on the mini map and the main map would jump to that point. Other then that, the game feels comfortable if you are a Starcraft or Warcraft fan. ED: Lx found out after that pressing in the thumbstick works wonders
Silk : : After about an hour and a half, as soon as Chicken and I took Scorpion (and his Ents) to the woodshed, we were about lock horns, and we got kicked. Kinda disappointing, but I thought the game was very fun and I can’t wait to give it a shot again.
Especially when Chicken’s trebuchets were kicking my attack troll’s ass. Suddenly my Fellbeast (big dragon) comes flying over to roast them and I hear Chicken say, “What the heck is that?!” Priceless.
I’ve never been a fan of RTS but I like this.
ScorpionWarrior : : AWESOME battles. I though that I was playing it good - build up my farmland get those resources up, get one more builder going, build up a nice Wall hub, while my other builders buil barracks etc… but damm LX starts building a wall right next to mine, I said “screw this! I’m KILLING HIS MEN! Good battle as I continue to build up my Empire I hear the enemy is here and then a big boom, damm Chicken has this huge mother of a weapon that launches rockets made of trees of metal dont know but man one shot and it takes down one section of my nice wall, awesome weapon. I’m liking this game I just need to find out what each army can produce cause that Basilta or whatever it’s called is kickass
This game is great but I’m not too trill with the minimap. But once you get a feel for what youare doing the gameplay really gets better.
Eletodd : : Love it. I’ve been a fan of RTS games since Command & Conquer 2 a way back when. Give the fact that no publisher has managed to produce a playable one on a console I haven’t played many recently. LOTR:BFMEII seeming does the impossible and makes an RTS on a console that isn’t only fun to use, but after an initial learning curve (like all strategy games) its easy to use. The only fall back to using this controller verse the mouse is to be expected: the camera can be a bit hard to control sometimes and the strategy is often replaced by larger battles and more direct attacks. ie: in this version you’ll find yourself playing the numbers game…and sending waves of warriors over and over….BUT, after you reach your comfort level, you will find your knowledge will help you work strategically because the game forces you to.
When you take a fortress that is filled with walls, catapults and towers (all of which will rip your army apart)…you are forced to build up your own defences against the enemy as well as build your own destructive tool and warriors like catapults, tree Ents and Trolls to take down their defenses. It’s this dynamic that keeps you interested and working; always testing your enemy’s strength while building up your own defenses and resources to make your army bigger and better. Although the finese of a PC is missing (you won’t find you are as able to set up your army in that perfect crushing flank), it helps the average player enjoy what hardcore RTS fans have loved for years and even better; get good at it.
Upon launching the game your first step is learning. This isn’t a first person shooter or and RPG…you don’t learn as you go. Luckily EA has managed to implement a pair of useful tutorials to help you get down the basics and the advanced. Learning grouping methods like bookmarks and selection methods cut your time in half and soon become second nature. With a health depth of things you can do, armys you can manager and grow, maps and online play.
LOTR:BFMEII is a breath of fresh air that ALL xbox gammers should support and enjoy. Its games like this that help break up the wall of FPS games and expand xbox’s future.
I give it: 9 out of 10. Not as tight as the PC…but the best RTS on a console ever and a game who’s model will open the flood gates to better console RTS’s in the future.
The Outcast : : I have this game but I have never been good at these types of games…..that is why it stays in the wrapper for now. ED: Hey at least you bought it, which is the first step, Outtie.
The XCL Effect says
Sounds like this one is a hit. Check it out and join other XCLers on the battlefield. Maybe you will even be lucky enough to find Golem and unlease the power of the ring on your enemies!
XCL Review Bite : Rockstar Games : Table Tennis
Posted by admin in XCL Review Bite on July 14th, 2006
When you think of a “Rockstar Games” title, you might have the pre-conceived notion of guns, violence and various ways to steal automobiles from un-suspecting citizens. Such is not the case with the Company’s latest title to hit store shelves. The only hint of violence from this game is that of a mean scowl from a disgruntled Swede as you steal the match point from a long rally.
XCL Says
Three Fifty Z : I picked it up on a total impulse buy and I’m impressed. At first I was a little suspect but as you come to grips with the controls and learn more about the game you start to see the amount of depth there is in gameplay. She’s a good’un!
I was rocking through single player and thougth I was good until I hooked up with JMac, Peach and Silk for some online games and didn’t even win a match, let alone a single game. Good fun though. I had a 102 hit rally with JMac. Awesome! And when both players are “in the zone” is brilliant. The lights go into that spotlight effect and you really start hitting it. I can see why several review sites made mention of the fact its an amazing replication of the sport.
Another thing I love is that you don’t have to be an expert to compete. Even though I had my butt handed to me, I was able to be in longer rallies which are especially gratifying and tense. I loved it! I also really like how the game has implemented the controls, especially how it handles the pre-loading swings and also holding back on balls that are going out. Great fun. Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it!
NinjaRay : I think it’s very well done and the easy-to-pick-up-and-play factor is awesome. My one MAJOR complaint though is how the slow-motion always kicks in when the computer player performs a focus shot. I find that it takes you out of the game and destroys any rhythm you have. When YOU perform a focus shot you can see that the computer player is still moving and in-play. But when the computer performs a focus shot you seem to be “frozen” in place - you have no ability to move your character to get into position while the game is “focusing” on the computer’s shot. Pretty irritating on those long rallies and critical points. Fun game though, if not a little repetitive.
Jaken Bear : In multi-player, I find it very easy to play with 2 players on the same screen. Whoever is serving gets the lower half of the screen (which a lot of people find easier to play from and is where you always play in single player). The good thing is every two points you switch sides.
poptart77 : : When I got home with my wife, I quickly popped it in and had her go through the first 3 parts of the tutorial (serving, serving accuracy and returning) so that she could get the basics of the game. She really seemed to enjoy it since it wasn’t overly complicated but had enough to want her to play again. I might finally have found a game to play with my wife (and possibly open the door to other games in the future!)
So, to all of you who gave the thumbs up, thanks! I’ve been playing this game on and off for a couple of weeks and I have to admit that I’m quite impressed with it. It’s one of those games you can pickup and play with your buddies who don’t own a 360 but it also has enough strategy to be played competitively. I’m definitely going to keep this one in my library for those nights that the guys come over to play a game and/or have some drinks.
TheHeistMonkey : : I love table tennis. That is all.
The XCL Effect says
See what all the fuss is about. Take a break from your car-jacking to go pick yourself up a copy and join in on the action.
XCL Review Bite : OVER-G Fighters.
Posted by admin in XCL Review Bite on July 14th, 2006
Over G Fighters crept its way onto store shelves with not much XCL recognition. There’s probably a good reason why. Take a look at what XCLers have to say about their experience with the title. With a very low owner count this one looks to be only for the hardcore flight sim fans only.
XCL Says
Hitman Inc : “I thought it was garbage and would not pay the money for it, but I would ask blizz since hes the one who bought it.”
Blizz20 : STAY AS FAR AS FRICKING AWAY FROM THIS GAME AS POSSIBLE!!!! I traded it in soon as I got home. It’s beautiful but gameplay is extremely easy and the turning and controls are nasty. Even online play was mediocre cause the controls were too aggravating. If you have to play it, rent it.
Moghlear : I played it a bit myself…repetitive and dull is my answer…the only good thing is the replays of the crappy missions look awesome.
crazycanuck76 : I’d have to agree with all of them. I rented the game expecting it to be pretty decent but it’s not! The planes handle very poorly and the missions are very repetitive and short. I really hate having to taxi before taking off because it wastes soooo much time! Argh!!
The XCL Effect says
Well there you have it. Looks like Over G is already over as far as these few experiences indicate. A bargain bin title perhaps? Time will tell. However, the XCL effect is strong and you can count on this one being in very few XCL gamer libraries.
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