First Impressions: Mass Effect 2

While not the prettiest game on the block, and not without hassles (invisible, invulnerable enemies that force you to reload, anyone?), it still feels like a genuine "Mass Effect" experience.

I could nitpick all day, but in the end it's still going to the top of my list of games I'll have to finish "now!". ;)

Qnd Review: Race Pro (Xbox 360)

Currently you can get Race Pro for 10.49 eur at Play.com.

Simbin; makers of such racing games as GT-R and GT Legends (not to be confused with the legendary GP Legends). So what does the Swedish developer's second-newest console racer (newest being Race On) taste like now that it's in the bargain bins?

Bland, I'm afraid.

I like the occasional arcade racer just fine; Forza 1 and 2 were very good, Gran Turismo series on the Playstation is amazing (since the first PSX installment - I think GT 2 is still my favourite). Even Grid on the consoles is nice (though nowhere near the Codemasters' masterpiece that Colin McRae 2 was in it's time).

But Race Pro? It cannot decide between "semi-serious" or "arcadey" racer and tries to walk the line between them, failing most of the time. The rate of failure changes from point to point, but the sum is around "pretty average".

Physics are really arcade, with grip being too unrealistic most of the time, and when you actually lose traction, it feels like you're playing the first TOCA game where the spins were "canned" - most of the time there's just no righting your car. Also, there's little warning when your rear end is starting to lose traction, and as said, when you do it's nearly always too late.

The AI's driving style ranges from "OK" to "horrible". They pay little heed to your position, sometimes plowing through you if you're returning to the track from a minor driving error, or paying you no heed at the corners.

As for the graphics and sound - the former are nothing to write home about. Not ugly by any means, but nothing your average racer didn't have a couple of years ago.

The sound is mostly passable, but at times it gets on your nerves - especially the revving sounds. One moment you might have a glorious roar and the next second you're hearing something awfully average (or even bad) - with little or no transition between the samples. It sounds like the game just cuts from "engine sample A at high revs" to "engine sample B at low revs" without any transition (if they're the same samples, there's even less reason not to transition more smoothly from high to low revs).

All in all, Race Pro is very average. Bringing nothing but a dumbed down racer to the consoles. At less than 11 euros it's not that bad - but honestly, I'd rather play Grid (more on that later, perhaps) or Ferrari Challenge if I'm looking for a cheap racer.


Score 6.5/10

QnD Review: The Saboteur (Xbox 360)

You know, I'm tired of everyone saying this is "Pandmic's Swan Song". It might very well be true, but I'd rather remember the bunch from a couple of nice games like the Mercenaries 2 and The Saboteur.

Both are sandbox games that offer you great freedom - the other taking place in a tropical South American island and the latter, in WW2 era Paris (and environs).

While not a masterpiece, or even a contender for the game of the year, The Saboteur is a very nice game in itself.

Like I said, the game gives you great freedom; Paris is at your fingertips, you can roam around, do side quests, climb tall buildings (the Eiffel tower, anyone?), visit raunchy stripclubs, etc.

The areas of Paris that are still nazi-occupied (ie. the ones you haven't had chance to blow up yet) are artistically colored gray. When you free an area, the color comes back in. While a great idea, most people probably prefer the nice black and white artistic style with dabs of color like red blood, a blue necklace, etc.

Movement and fighting controls are a bit restless, but the vehicle controls are even more so. Most cars handle like they had too little weight, especially if you try the handbrake, and none of the vehicles handle like period cars.

While lacking character advancement, you do get "perks" you unlock by doing specific things like beating five nazis, blowing X number of things up, etc. Perks are essentially new attacks, bonuses to things like shooting, bomb setting timers, etc. All handy stuff that'll make you so much more effective at liberating Paris.

The story is nothing to write home about; there's the main villain, revenge, the nice girl and the naughty one, etc.

What sets The Saboteur apart a little, is the use of very adult themes throughout the game. You have topless dancers, lots of blood and violence, drinking, bar fights, etc. In short; good fun all around. ;)


So should you get The Saboteur? Yeah, I think so. Especially if you're a friend of open world sandbox games like GTA, Mercenaries 2 or Saint's Row. The WW2 might be a genre that has been game-developed to death, but as you can see from the list I just mentioned - no great WW2 era "GTA" games are around. It's a different experience from modern cars, planes and helicopters or heat seeking missiles and "ho-beating, drug trafficing".


Score 8/10


You can get Xbox 360 version of The Saboteur from Play-Asia for $49,90.

Also, the PS3 and PC versions are available.

On the Cheap: Risen (Xbox 360)

Play-Asia has Risen, the latest RPG from the developers of the Gothic series, on sale for $19,90.

Version is the region free NTSC-J.