Friday, February 3, 2012

Twisted Metal/Starhawk Demo Quick Hits



: Previews : Eric H. :


One of my favorite game series is back, Twisted Metal, and while it's only the demo and I've only been able to play several games because of the matchmaking issues I've encountered, here's a few of my thoughts.  Also in this preview my thoughts on the spiritual sequel to Warhawk.




For us Twisted Metal fans the wait has been a long one, we've wanted this classic series on the PlayStation 3 since it's launch and now on February 14th that wait is over!!  I've only been able to play a handful or two of matches due to the server issues, but from what I've played, the 14th can't get here soon enough.


In Team Deathmatch I've been pitted up against up to 5 other drivers to take everybody out, it's pretty much every man for himself here trying to dodge all sorts of different weapons.  Homing, Fire, Power, Swarmer missiles are constantly flying through the air along with napalm, remote bombs and now even helicopters as a playable vehicle.  The controls are nice, tight and responsive as I turbo myself through the one multiplayer map they give you, most buildings and trees and other obstacles don't slow you down as you can just crash right through them which is a good thing seeing as they are packed into the map and combined with the high speeds you achieve.


In Nuke you and your teammates try to either destroy the other teams statue or protect your own.  On offense the goal is to grab the other teams "leader" and bring him to a missile launching platform to prepare and fire off a controllable rocket you guide to the statue... but beware, the rocket can be shot down so you'll have to perform some evasive maneuvers to hit the target.


People have been complaining about the control scheme with the button layout, I agree it is a bit cumbersome as every button and stick has a use, but you can setup other layouts to suit your killing style.


Twisted Metal is a PlayStation 3 exclusive and will be released on February 14th.  Also, expect a Day 1 patch when you fire this baby up for the first time.







Another game I've been looking forward to is the "sequel" to Warhawk.  I spent many a hour playing the multiplayer only game 4 years ago and it looks like I'll be doing the same thing with Starhawk.


If I remember correctly it was Incognito who developed Warhawk, they had decided to scrap the single player campaign because apparently... it sucked.... though it didn't harm the game in anyway in this gamers eyes.  Lightbox has taken over the reigns(or did Incognito change their name?)and the feel of Warhawk is still there.  The controls, the weapon wheel and animations are still there so it only took me about 2 or 3 games to settle back in for the fight.


The biggest difference from Warhawk to Starhawk is the ability to construct buildings such as, weapon depots, jetpack deployments, sniper towers, "Hawk" pads, garages, gun turrets and more.  You "pay" for these with a mineral that you gather while near your base or by killing the opposition.  When you click build, pods come falling out of space and land with gusto and you can watch the chosen item build itself right in front of you, watch out though these can be destroyed by the other team for XP points and and can leave you hurting.


Familiar weapons like rocket launchers, shotguns, assault rifles and grenades all make the rounds here but the big draw are the "Hawks".  These ships can dominate and control not only the skies, but the ground as well thanks to the ability to transform ala Optimus Prime style.  It can be a pretty scary moment when you have a Hawk walking around chasing you down but as long as you can find a little bit of cover and hopefully a rocket launcher in your inventory, you could pick up some nice XP points and mineral goodness to help your cause and save your ass.


Only the multiplayer aspect of this game is available for the demo so I have no info on the single player campaign.  For that, I will have to wait like everyone else for Starhawk to drop on May 8th, 2012.


Starhawk is also a PlayStation 3 exclusive.


Thoughts?  Questions?  Let us know.  Click and speak!!





13 comments:

  1. Loving the Twisted Metal demo.

    I don't know if it is just the games I'm getting in to, but I can't seem to get into Starhawk.

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    1. I love starhawk but i feel like the framerate is too choppy for some of the action.

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    2. There's definitely some lag and stuff, I hear you.

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  2. Words cant desribe my frustration when i learned Twisted Metal releases on the 14th and Amalur releases on teh 7th

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  3. @reptar

    Yes, the TM demo is awesome, I found myself in love with this after only a game or two. I guess I've missed this game more than I thought:) Did you ever play Warhawk?


    @Jim773

    I think I know what your saying. SSX originally had a February 14th release date.... I'm glad they moved it back two weeks... still don't know if that's going to help me.


    Thanks for reading guys!! I appreciate it!!

    Peace,
    Eric

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  4. Sweet, so everyone can chill the fuck out. You can customize your button layout!

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  5. Anyone who owns a PS3 really has to be happy with Sony's fervor with obtaining exclusives for the console.

    I was really upset this generation to see Microsoft just basically not give a shit anymore about exclusives, and that was one of the factors that drove me into purchasing a PS3.

    Twisted Metal, Starhawk, and The Last of Us, are all great examples of how awesome Sony has done of a job this generation to appealing to its hardcore audience, which they know drive software sales.

    Sure, we don't drive the big CoD numbers, but we're the people who push sales of smaller(ish) games like Darksiders. A console can't survive on just the biggest megaton hits, and nothing else.

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    1. @Izick

      I couldn't agree more. Your statement rings true with me if not for one reason, when I'm shopping for games, I find myself staring at the PS3 wall a lot more.

      Everyone in the industry, the gamers, they keep saying, "next year will be the year of the Playstation." Why are they so concerned with that? The PS3 has game series like Resistance, Uncharted, Little Big Planet, Warhawk, MLB: The Show and more. Twisted Metal and Starhawk are on just around the bend. Just because the PS3 doesn't have Halo doesn't mean they have nothing. Another thing Sony does well, is give opportunity to small development teams like thatgamecompany(Flower)and individuals like Jonathan Mak(Everyday Shooter).

      It's a shame to see Microsoft shunning smaller devs and turning major focus to the Kinect. Sure, they still have the Halo's and Gears of Wars's(?) but we would like to see something else as well.

      Peace,
      Eric

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  6. Does anyone know if these games have that online pass crap? I have been a fan of both for years now but have a sufficient backlog of games that I can wait for the goty edition. New game dopamine affect be damned!

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    Replies
    1. Twisted Metal DOES have that shitty Online Pass. Jaffe didn't want it, but as he said, it's not my call.. it's Sony's game.

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  7. Just got access to the Starhawk beta. Hated every minute of it.

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