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ENTERTAINMENT
Justin McElroy: 'Space Siege' and 'Too Human' both surprising in different ways
"Too Human" is an action game for Xbox 360. Columnist Justin McElroy believes the game is worth playing, but left him somewhat disappointed.
Purchase this photoWe've got two reviews for some big titles this week, in the middle of the summer, no less. Let's get to it.
"TOO HUMAN" (360): -- You have no idea how much I wanted to like RPG-actioner "Too Human." I love the games of developer Denis Dyack and his Silicon Knights. I've been desperate for a deep, rich action game that I could play on a console. I love the premise, a retelling of Norse mythology with cybernetically-enhanced humans standing in for gods. I really, really wanted to be blown away.
At first, I was encouraged. The combat is simple but deep, just point the right analog stick at baddies to perform a melee attack, or pull the triggers to fire guns, both of which can be used on the fly. The levels and characters are attractive too, an aesthetic clash between fantasy and sci-fi. I even thought the plot, which adds an undercurrent of mystery to its classical roots, was really intriguing.
But the more I played, the more I couldn't get past the simple fact that I wasn't enjoying myself very much. When I play games, I'm always looking for the carrot; that next goal just a few inches away that keeps me playing, but it's as if in "Too Human" they've all been crippled.
There's the carrot of new weapons and armor, but those are dropped so frequently that you never get too comfortable (or too excited) with any one piece of gear, and you spend far too much time in menus. You could be enticed by the addition of new powers and abilities, but they rarely mix up the combat, just alter your respective strengths. Finally, there's the carrot of new enemies to try your skills on, but each of them (with few exceptions) acts just like the one before.
I still think it's worth playing. I'm just a little heartbroken it wasn't all I'd hoped for.
"SPACE SIEGE" (PC): This, on the other hand, was surprisingly enjoyable. "Space Siege" (a sequel of sorts to "Dungeon Siege") could sort of be described as a dungeon crawler in space. I know, I know, that doesn't make any sense, but it's the best I've got.
Basically, you wander around a really gorgeous space ship battling the evil alien entity that's taken over. Like "Too Human" you build your stats, upgrade new weapons, even alternate between projectile and melee combat. But unlike "Too Human," upgrades really mean something, as do the new powers, all of them flowing into one really complete, hard-to-put down package.
While "Too Human" really reinvents the wheel (with mixed results) combat-wise, "Space Siege" sticks to conventions of it's genre. In my opinion, by not trying to bite off more than it can chew, it's actually more impressive and accessible than our other topic.
So, a week of surprises, one bad, one good. Here's hoping for a better average next week.
Justin McElroy is a freelance writer living in Huntington. His writing appears on video game sites like Gamezebo.com and Joystiq.com.
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