von agent otaku@gaf
....I was busy last night getting OS on my comp back up as I did some recent upgrades...hence I didn't get any real time to play and post about it...
anyways... here goes...
So as I said before I'm playing this on the PS3
Presentation:
So here is an interesting observation about the overall presentation. I just recently got done playing Call of Duty 4. Quite honestly its a bit jarring to play anything that has a deliberate focus on presentation, as CoD4 really.....I mean, REALLY had a phenemonal one....from the Sound design, flow of scripted events, visual, etc....it was a tremedously consistant package.
So when I started Kane and Lynch, I was initially put off by...well honestly, just how jank the opening level is. Jank in the sense that its trying to place you into a heavily cinematic scenario the evokes being in a "crime spectacle," but the bits and pieces putting it together are just sorta there...
This whole sequence doesn't really gel and get off the ground as it should because of some little things. Like how the NPC AI is seemingly non-existant and their little scripted events don't quite play out like I'd imagine they should. Sound syncing is off as well so alotta times you'll see things transpire but the sound associated with them doesn't always accompany the actions your watching....one event in particular where Lynch kills a cop at the get go. Couple these things with having to become familiar with the controls (which are a bit different when compared to recent 3rd person shooters...more on that later) and a fluctuating framerate....you just have something that doesn't grab you like it should.....it just kinda happens and you move through it along your merry way...not really connecting with it...
...That was the initial level. Everything since then has been getting progressively more interesting and drawing you in as it should....though yes, the "van chase" is still lame
I'm at the nightclub (...already I know =/ ) and i'm trying to make my way out of it as right now so I'll throw up some more commentary on the presentation when I actually finish the game probably.
....and on a final note, back to Call of Duty 4...while I applaud it's overall flash, I was completely not connected at all to the world, settings or its characters....this is the complete opposite with Kane and Lynch as I'm already drawn into it so much more....
Visuals:
Okay back to the first level. Another thing thats initially quite striking is just how....well "plain" everything looks. This game IS NOT pushing the graphical envelope by any means (then again IO games never do...), but once you get over that you'll be quite alright....even the developers themselves have gone on record saying their game doesn't push shitons of shaders and such....the visuals are there to merely service the story.....and you know what, it succeeds
At first though, I was concerned that the PS3 version might have once again received the least amount of attention in regards to polish, as the framerate dips a few times during the first level....fortunately this is the only case as the latter levels have been pretty consistant with the framerate staying locked at 30fps for 95 percent of the time.
Judging from the extensive amount of footage i've watched of the 360 version, the PS3 sku is seemingly identical.....textures appear the same as do effects and such.
I love the character models of both Kane and Lynch and really feel the little touches add quite alot of personality to them...such as Kane's balding and nose bandage....or Lynch's "redneck in a suit" appearance...They're one of the highlights of the visuals and thats a good thing as your gonna be looking at them alot.
The levels I really am taking a liking too as well. You can tell the devs really put a good deal of emphasis on making the areas evoke the a very specific mood.... They feel genuine and real....even if they're plain....because well thats the point you see...
Sound:
Voice work is splendid as expected
Only real complaint here is that the music is actually WAAAY too fucking loud....but it is also ridicously fantastic!
I just had to dial it back to it match the levels of the dialog, sound, etc...so no biggy really
...and there where some sound sync issues as mentioned before, but its all good
....Jesper Kyd is just amazing though
Gameplay and controls:
....now onto those controls. Yes the cover system automatically kicks in when your next to a corner, but you know what, just like Gametrailers said, once you get it's kinks, you'll really start to like it I think....Its certainly not perfect, but when it works, you appreciate that its there and it one less button your thinking about pushing when you engaged in combat....besides when your not in cover mode, your still behind something anyway and you can see whats around you, whether your body is snapping to something or not....
Control response overall is good. Extras kudos to IO for really allowing you to tweak the analog settings like Starbreeze did with The Darkness...
You can calibrate acceleration and sensitivity for both the camera AND aim mode independently!
One large criticism I have to state is how I hate that they opted to use L2 and R2 "triggers" for shooting....I borderline despise when the devs do this as the buttons ...well just suck for shooting!....I think everyone who has a SIXAXIS knows this, so its unfortunate that its there, though I'm getting used to it....its just NOT responsive like it should be.
The actual shooting is solid. Though its not visceral in the Gears sense (weighty, meaty, etc). Its still satisfying and anyone who actually played Freedom Fighters....well it feels a quite similar, so thats okay!
Big question....YES squad control is there. I haven't progressed alot so far but you are manipulating your team. I'm glad its there (EGM = morons) and its seems streamlined enough, with having the options of telling your team to either "cover (move-to/hold an area), attack, or follow"
...also cool that one of your mates usually is the one carrying the extra ammo.
and the mechanic is in there for keeping them alive so thats good times as well...
So far the actual gameplay has been there, but there just hasn't been enough of it really yet as your moving to from story beat to story beat....So i'm hoping this changes later on as well as the difficulty ratcheting up, because its relatively tame right now.
Haven't played the MP at all so I don't have any impressions yet
so far though, I'm with Gametrailers review as the title definetly "feels" like its between a 7 and 8
The game is very charming in that it doesn't feel like it had a huge budget to begin with....just alotta passion from a small dedicated team who wanted to make something compelling