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Lost Odyssey and Army of Two DLC arrives
What're 200 points worth to you? Wait, don't answer yet, because a new DLC pack for Lost Odyssey released today may just change your whole perception of the value of a point. The "Triple Bonus Pack" adds "'Memory Lamp,' which allows you to watch the past event scenes all over again, 'Shattered Bond,' an antique that will bring back the memory of a forgotten dream, and a special ring, 'Killer Machine,'" all for 200 points ($2.50). Now, we don't know what any of those words meant, but they sounded awesome. Also, just as a reminder, the "SSC Challenge" pack for Army of Two also arrived today for 600 points on XBL or $7.50 on PSN. If you sample any of today's DLC, make sure you let us know if they're worth the digi-dollars in the comments.
New competitive Army of Two maps due out next week
You know you've wanted them, so we're going to tell you about the new Army of Two maps. You and your colleague have mastered the game, you say? Well, time to team up again and conquer the SSC challenge mode -- that's Security and Strategy Corporation for the acronymically-challenged. This new mode offers four brand-new co-op maps to play on that involve two teams rushing to complete a rigorous obstacle course in order to join the SSC. Alan Tascain, VP and General Manager of EA Montreal noted that "We want to support our fans with new content that delivers on the two-man gameplay but with a unique twist." Hopefully it delivers on the unique twist promise. This new pack will be available in the US on April 24th for $7.99 and sometime in May for Europe at GPB 3.80. Sorry again, Europe, for the arbitrary delay on your end.
Army of Two gets SSC Challenge pack April 24
We were a little lukewarm on Army of Two as a complete package, but the best part of the game was easily playing through with a friend. (And at-will fist pounding.) Now, EA's building on that strength with the "SSC Challenge Pack," four co-op maps that pit a pair of two-man teams against each other as they try to earn the most cash and join the SSC, AoT's private military group. We should mention, in the interest of full disclosure, that the maps (to our knowledge) include no new fists pounds or air guitar solos. Sorry. The SSC Challenge Pack, which will hit Xbox Live Marketplace and PSN on April 24, will run you $7.50 or 600 MS points, if you prefer imaginary currency.
Zero Punctuation is an army of one in Army of Two
The normally solitary Yahtzee (he is a PC snob after all) takes on Army of Two this week, a game designed to be played co-op -- so we already know this is going to end badly. After becoming frustrated with his computer partner's AI, he decides to invite a friend over and proceeds to become frustrated with his human companion's abilities as well. Like any listener of the Joystiq Podcast already knows, Army of Two has a lot of issues, the least of which is forgetting that for a co-op action shooter it sort of missed the boat on creating an enjoyable co-op experience. This week's NSFW review of Army of Two can be found after the break. Watch it with a friend, or if you're a PC gamer your favorite plant.* *Oh, calm down ... this is coming from the blogger who can spend days playing Civilization IV and Sins of a Solar Empire.
EA explains Army of Two's regional lockout
Though reviews haven't been consistently kind, most critics seem to label Army of Two's cooperative, fist-pounding gameplay as the best reason to start shooting. The promise of leaving a bloody terrorist trail with a buddy-in-arms does come with one caveat though: The members of your army can't have an ocean between them. Army of Two's online modes are restricted according to region, with the US, European and Asian versions unable to exchange so much as a salutation, let alone a barrage of bullets. Consequently, we spoke to EA Montreal's Reid Schneider, senior producer on Army of Two, in the hopes of learning more about the decision to introduce a territorial lockout across Xbox Live and PSN. While the explanation is unlikely to dissolve your disappointment (not to mention that of Claus, your Swedish best friend), it does spring from EA's belief to do what was best for its game. We don't believe it was the best decision for modern, borderless gamers, but Schneider assured us that the developer is "actively looking into" retooling the game in the future. "We are looking to find a way where we can do it," said Schneider," and not expose users to super slow connections..."
Metareview: Army of Two
It's been a while since we did an actual Metareview, hasn't it? If memory serves, our last time was with Mortal Kombat II way back when the site was still blossoming. Well, we've all been fairly swamped and couldn't dish out a proper review for a few games that still deserve attention, so we're bringing the Metareview back for games we want to review, but couldn't get around to playing enough to be confident in our opinions. Today we're covering Army of Two. So how did the game stack up? Take the jump and find out. %Gallery-12566%
Army of Two experiencing server issues [Update]
Update: Some readers are letting us know that Army of Two servers are rolling back online now, but some are still experiencing connection drops and laggy gameplay experiences. Email is flying in and message boards are lit like the eternal flame about Army of Two. Gamers are livid because EA servers are having multiple issues including the standard lag found in most online games all the way to not functioning at all. In some cases gamers are reporting that the only multiplayer modes currently working are local games, so no online co-op for you. Message board posters are seem to be having different experiences with the newly released EA third-person shooter, but most agree the overall online experience is not functioning properly. PlayStation users aren't out of the wood either as messages confirm these issues are across the board, not surprising since EA uses their own server farm and does not subscribe to Xbox Live's peer-to-peer method of hosting. At the time of this story three of our own soldiers of the X3F Army have expressed experiences with all available online multiplayer modes within the game. EA has yet to comment on the issues.
Metareview -- Army of Two (Xbox 360, PS3)
Despite a suspicious silence accompanying its (delayed) arrival, EA's smack-talkin' shooter seems to have mostly delivered on its promise of consistently cooperative violence. Unsurprisingly, most reviewers seem to agree that a one-macho-man army is at a disadvantage in Army of Two, with the lone experience highlighting some of the game's flaws and unremarkable design. It might be worth a look if you and your BFF have already blasted everything in Halo 3, Crackdown and Gears of War. IGN (79/100): "As a single player experience, Army of Two is a fine game -– one that manages to provide a fun, engaging time despite its length, AI issues and elements that don't seem fully implemented. However, it's really co-op play and multiplayer where the game stands out, and these two modes will most likely keep you playing for a long time." Game Informer (75/100): "Like dysfunctional characters in a buddy flick, Army of Two has some annoying problems, but if you just want a fun cooperative experience, it gets the job done and delivers sizeable thrills you won't find anywhere else." Eurogamer (70/100): "Any level of the current co-op king, Halo 3, has more spectacle and incident packed into it than the entirety of Army of Two; more that you'll want to relive in company over and over again. Bearing the strong Vs. mode in mind, it would be wrong not to warmly recommend this as a smart twist on a stupid shooter, but perhaps it should have taken itself a little more seriously after all."
Five Army of Two videos to get your blood pumping
So Army of Two is already out in stores. Haven't picked it up yet? Perhaps these five videos can persuade you otherwise, and get you into the mood for blowing stuff up. Just remember though, make sure you play with a buddy. Why? As if "Army of Two" wasn't enough of a hint. In the videos, you'll get to see the skull-masked duo tear it up merc-stlye on a train, on the highway, in the jungle, or just about anywhere these vagrants are getting paid to go to. The co-op gameplay is a welcomed spin on the usual shooter experience, and we can't say we don't love all the funny remarks shared between these two characters. Check out the rest of the clips right after the break.
Xbox World condemns Army of Two as an 'Army of Sh*t'
EA's newest IP -- Army of Two -- apparently isn't all it's cracked up to be. So says GamesRadar sister-magazine Xbox World, who were set to review a near-final build of the game, until EA Montreal decided the game wasn't quite ready for release. The resulting preview is downright nasty in its condemnation of the cooperative FPS, which it fancifully re-titles "Army of Sh*t." The criticism lies mostly with the game's storyline and main characters, the latter of which Xbox World decries as the least likable in video game history. The plot of the game is apparently incredibly xenophobic, with generic terrorist enemies who refer to the main characters as "f*cking infidels." The gameplay, meanwhile, is described as bland and repetitive, with numerous cut-scenes and clumsy controls. Is there any hope for Army of Two? Not according to Xbox World, who describe the game's delay as nothing more than "a stay of execution." Considering their qualms lie largely with the game's intrinsic plot, writing, and characters, they could very well be right. We'll have to see come first-quarter 2008 whether the game is truly as sh*tty as they make it out to be. [Via X3F]
Army of Two gets served with delay papers
Delayed, delayed, delayed! That's the only adjective we can come up with to describe EA's Army of Two, because it has officially been pushed back into 2008. Yesterday, EA had the unfortunate task of releasing a press release notifying everyone that Army of Two would not make its November 13th release, instead being pushed back to a yet to be revealed 2008 date. The reason for the delay is quite simple, they need more time to polish and buff the game to make it sparkle. And we have no qualms with that, because we're willing to take a delay if the end result is a better end product. Something EA hasn't done too much of in the past (zing!). [Thanks, Bravo6]
Joystiq hands-on: Army of Two (360/PS3)
I recently played an almost-complete version of Army of Two, days before the decision to delay it until Q1, 2008. Originally planned to be released November 13, EA told me that the delay related most to them wanting to make sure this new intellectual property can be all it can be. (Did somebody say "franchise?") Of course, the company will easily benefit by spacing the game out from the current flood of mega hits. Army of Two casts players as mercenaries, responsible for blowing up the local scenery while following your employer's missions. Often, those objectives are the same. The Army of Two I played was a risky game that stood out in its story tone and gameplay mechanics. Some of those gambles clearly paid off -- the co-op style is the best part of the game. But EA may take this extra time to re-tune repetitive elements, like the revive-your-teammate mini-game. %Gallery-3678%
Army of Two delayed until Q1 2008
Which, if we're reading 1UP's interview with executive producer Alan Tuscan correctly, is to "add the polish." They must be having a devil of a time finding a translator, eh? But seriously, folks, Army of Two has been delayed until the first quarter of 2008. While those looking forward to the co-op macho men antics of the high-profile shooter will restrain their bitter tears until they're alone, EA's November bail-out is probably for the best. "This is an important new IP for us and we don't want to spoil it," says Tuscan, displaying full awareness of the competition found in Halo 3 and even Gears of War. "Are they setting the bar at a certain level? Sure. But that's the bar we're hitting anyway -- it's the bar we were aiming for even before seeing these games." Though it sounds like a slight against the game, it's clear that nobody is going to miss Army of Two in a holiday brimming with a ludicrous number of $60 epics, least of all an unpolished version of it. Let's hope a few more publishers realize the calendar goes on after you page past the holiday months. [Thanks, Corey] %Gallery-3678%
New Army of Two screens celebrate militaristic dualism
The meaning of the clichéd phrase, "Two heads are better than one," has always been pretty obvious to most (ask a second head to explain it to you if it's not). Two people working together stand a much better chance of surmounting problems -- that much we know. What the phrase fails to highlight, however, is how effective those two people can be when they're both equipped with unnecessarily large guns. If that's the case, problems have a habit of becoming entirely surmountable, awkwardly posed corpses. Though devoid of any such defeated problems, the latest batch of screens for EA's Army of Two (taken from the Xbox 360 version) serves as a reminder of not only the game's sharp visuals, but its emphasis on cooperative combat from behind cover. We've seen jump-in-anytime online play before in Gears of War and Crackdown, but it's not something we've yet seen enough of. If anything, our gallery should get you excited for the inevitable sequel, Army of Two 2, set to feature a deranged Anglican bishop clone out to conquer the world with his deadly robot ballerinas. Probably. %Gallery-3678%
EA producer responds to SSX Blur's icy reception [update 1]
SSX Blur didn't exactly receive unanimous approval. Many thought that the Wii controller was going to be a perfect fit for the trick-heavy snowboard series, and while some continued to think that after playing it, other reviewers were nonplussed. EA Montreal's Eric Chartrand, who recently revealed Nintendo's Mii stinginess, responded to the cumulative critical "meh" his last game received, saying "The reaction to the game was very... how can I say that... interesting." He goes on to talk about wildly varying feelings about the effectiveness of the control scheme. He also suggested that the gaming press were disproportionately negative about the controls, and that the public enjoyed the game more than reviews would indicate. What did you think about Blur? Did you find it "serviceable and enjoyable at times" or do you agree with Chartrand that it was a "damn fine game"? [Update: fixed a broken link.]
SSX Blur: Analyzing the controls
With the Wii's focus on controls, how does a franchise like SSX handle the transition? Snowboarding -- and Wii-only SSX Blur -- lacks a direct relation to the Wii's motion sensitivity, but the game still translates to hand movements. The steering mechanic, which relies on Nunchuk twists, fits well; it even seems like it had always been a part of SSX. The tricks, however, are mixed; simple remote flicks feel like a gimmick, while drawing shapes for Ubertricks only works some of the time. Overall, the controls work well enough to keep me playing, but I sometimes stop in frustration after consecutive, unrecognized moves. As far as graphics, sound, and other review standards, those all hold up in Blur, but aren't my focus in this analysis. (Look up scored reviews for other opinions.) Instead, I'll further explain how Blur translates a thumbstick-and-button game into a tilt-and-flail experience. %Gallery-2374%
Army of Two = 1 part innovation + 1 part bad dialogue
"I'm driving."' "F--k you, I'm driving." And with that terse exchange, Army of Two reminds us of how it simultaneously advocates a new kind of cooperative gameplay while settling for the same rehashed action movie dialogue we've been hearing for years. N'Gai Croal spoke with EA Montreal's general manager, Alain Tascan, about the buddy cop sensibilities of Army of Two and what we can expect from the final product. Perhaps most interestingly was Croal's suggestion that the dialog was refined in response to the slightly homoerotic undertones of a game about two guys doing lots of "crotch level hoisting." In other words, if Tyson and Elliot talk tough (while they just so happen to be holding each other's crotchular region), there's no way they could be gay, right? Tascan said, "The trailer, for us, is a way to gather feedback. It's like a mini-demo." So, readers, after "demoing" the game via the trailer above, whaddya think?
Metareview - SSX Blur
Should there be reason for concern with another hodgepodge of reviews? IGN gives SSX Blur a thumbs-up, but warns it's for "hardcore" gamers only; 1UP disses, claiming SSX vets will be turned off. So which is it? Why have we been sifting through so many mixed reviews for Wii games? It's sorta like DS's first year, no? Everyone -- publishers, developers, and gamers -- are trying to figure out how it works; and what works. So then, aren't we a little concerned? Fearful that Wii is just a gimmick. The gems will come, but might we also be faced with a lotta "meh." SSX has been a reliable franchise, but Blur has so far scored the lowest average of any of the series' console iterations -- it's hard not to see a message in that.
Metareview: SSX: Blur [update 1]
Update: Finally, the reviews are rolling in. We've updated the post with plenty of more scores. With SSX: Blur being available at retailers today, the reviews are rolling in kind of late. As of right now, only two online outlets have reviewed the game, giving it very decent scores. Looks like many of you who were hoping for a game from a third-party with the same attention to detail that many of Nintendo's first-party titles receive may just be getting their wish. Many of the popular online outlets have yet to review the game, so keep in mind we'll be updating the post when their reviews go live. Without further delay, let's check out what some of the critics had to say: Game Informer (85/100) says the controls aren't as precise as they would've liked them to be: "The one real problem I have with this game is that the ubertrick system doesn't work nearly as well as it should. The new controls do add something new to the series, but almost the entire time I pined for something more traditional." GameTrailers (84/100) finds the experience to be authentic: "It replicates the feeling of sliding down a mountain side with eerie precision and manages to make other control schemes feel dated. There's certainly plenty of opportunity for improvement with the sequel, but with a ton of content and even more fun, it's hard to go wrong with SSX Blur." GameDaily (80/100) says that eventhough the game lacks online play, it's still quite fun: "No online play hurts, and the two-player split screen mode offers limited enjoyment, but overall, EA successfully "blurs" the line between realism and fantasy, creating a great video game for all ages." 1UP (55/100) finds the game prevents you from really getting into the flow: "No matter how badly you want to get into the game, to find the flow...the game doesn't let you. And that's too bad, because it really does look great, the multiplayer mode is basic yet competent, and there are flashes of true SSX brilliance." GamePro (50/100) says it takes too long to figure out the game's controls: "Dedicated (read: sadistic) gamers willing to invest the time necessary to figure out the controls might get a kick out of this one, but the convoluted controls will turn off most players. The lesson here is clear: Wii developers need to start with a blank slate rather than graft old-school control schemes onto the Wii Remote because, as SSX Blur demonstrates, it just doesn't work."
SSX: Blur brings on the crystal clear screens
With the game's release a mere few days away (2/27 in case you didn't know), those of you dying to get out on the digital mountain and get some huge air are probably sitting at your computer, Googling away furious for some more news on the title, or perhaps some reviews. You've also probably got your snow boots on. It's OK, we understand (we rarely leave the house without our Wiimote in our pocket), and we humbly offer you some screens of the game. As usual, we've embedded some of our favorites past the post break for your viewing convenience.
