Pandemic is best known for their actions titles, especially for the Star Wars: Battle Front series as well as the zany humorous game Destroy All Humans! and recently has been the victim of termination by Electronic Arts. To some this comes as a major surprise considering the popularity associated with their games. No matter your views on Pandemic’s catalog it is saddening to see a company that had been with us for over a decade officially close it doors this past year.

With this in mind, the question is whether or not The Saboteur, Pandemic’s last stand, swan song, etc, is worth the purchase(or at the least a rent) seeing as the game is a combination of several games. With elements from the likes of Assassin’s Creed’s stealth and exploration, Grand Theft Auto’s open-world with varied missions, and the over abundance of Nazis seen not only in video games but over in Hollywood as well, it is understandable that many may be weary of yet another time consuming game with similar experiences. Though there are a few interesting and unique creative takes on these “genres” but are they enough to have the game stand on its own?

Developer: Pandemic Studios
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Date of Release: December 8th 2009

Platforms: Playstation 3, Xbox 360, PC

Genre: Open-World-Action-Shooter-with-some-stealth-elements

Rated M for Mature

Graphics

One of the most interesting and daring aspects of the game is the use(or over-use) of putting most of the world in the beginning of the game in Black and White.  This creates amazing sequences of seeing the world change as you put life back into the lovely areas throughout France. It also is amazing to drive through an area that is drenched in the depressing Nazi-controlled black and white areas into the areas where the resistance(with your help of course) have made a stand while seeing things immediately begin to change. This also causes some problems as well  as some areas become too dark and can cause some major accidents when speeding through areas well over the speed limit(sorry French Pedestrians!)

Besides the lenient use of the absence of color is the portrayal of varied areas of France. Personally, I have not visited France…but after playing this game and being able to explore the world I’d love to put the money down for a first class ticket to the lovely country(if I had the money that is). The world is better explored in color though. Especially when driving or running through the country-side, especially the lovely wheat fields drenched in a lovely gold.

The architecture of the cities are also shown well in the game and really adds to the immersion of the game as a whole. Climbing the Eiffel Tower, or any of the several “sight-seeing” areas, are amazing as they give you a great view of much of the cities.

The textures are beautiful as well and I’m not only talking about the textured jubilees seen in the Montmartre clubs. The building’s textures as well as the models and vehicles all seem well made, however some of the lip-syncing is a bit off  and some of the animations could use a bit more tinkering, but overall it is a great pleasure to the eyes.

Story

Personally, I’m not a big fan of the story…or the presentation of said story. You play as a stereotypical drunk Irish men who loves women and cars…and playing pranks on people. Ok. Honestly…I don’t know if he actually loves playing pranks on people, but the reason that Sean Devlin is thrown into the group of French resistance fighters results from loosing a race with a dirty, cheating Nazi and then Sean deciding to play a nasty prank on Mr. Dierker.

There is a tad bit more to it, but I’d hate to spoil what little plot is presented in the game. Let’s just say it’s a bit too predictable and presented with a bit too much cheese. And of course wine(or at least alcohol) since our good ‘ol boy Sean loves him some alcohol…most likely prefers whiskey, but I digress.

Once he finds himself within the resistance you begin to notice the likeness with games similar to Grand Theft Auto. You get a mission, jump in a car(most likely hijacked), follow the way point, shoot some bad guys(or destroy some property), talk for a bit, rinse, and repeat.  Though, I won’t say the story is borderline brain-dead, I will say It doesn’t get too interesting till about half-way through where the predictability begins to subside.

Bottom line : the story is more of a filler till you can get back out on the streets to actually play the game…which brings me to the next section.

Gameplay

I love Grand Theft Auto, I loved Red Faction. The Saboteur is a mix of these two as well as a climbing mechanic from Assassin’s Creed and this is both a good and bad thing. I have yet to play Assassin’s Creed 2, but from what I’ve heard it is an improvement over the first…well the climbing aspect in this game seems to not have improved much over what it was influenced by. And at times…seems to add more issues to the game play. It really causes much frustration when trying to smash the A button to climb over a ledge when the entire Third Reich is trying to shoot your ass to pieces. It is also infuriating when a few glitches pop up every now and again when trying to tell the game WHERE you want to climb.

The shooting aspect of the game really has little fault from what I could tell…though much like games like Red Faction…the game really loves making you feel like a one-man army at some points…and others…like a drunk Irishman. The difficulty seems quite balanced for the most part, but every now and again a sharp drop/curve will appear as if the game is reminding you that you are not invincible. The varied amount of guns is nice, but really acts as a form of an RPG element where you are striving to earning enough money(the game’s form of currency is “contraband”) to buy the next best thing.

In order to earn the most contraband(besides playing missions) the game has several locations meant for you to blow the hell out of. Sadly, this fills like a half-baked version of what we saw in the recent Red Factiondestructible environments.  While it is IMMENSELY entertaining to rush in stealth to the nearest Nazi Tower/Building/Tank/etc. and wait till the c4 detonates and watch as all the Nazi become alert like little bees ready to sting a little Irishman…it still leaves room for the player wanting more destruction.

There is also the racing aspect of the game which brings in some breathing room when you have your fill of blowing and shooting the Nazi’s up you can do a few races with the sports cars you can earn in the game.  Of course the driving can’t really be compared to the likes of Gran Turismo or Project Gotham Racing, but it is at least fun and slightly rewarding.

Overall

I’d have to say this is a great last game to showcase the best Pandemic had to offer. Sadly, we won’t be able to see what else the studio had to offer. While there is much to improve on the game, it does a great job at blurring the lines in mixing up the several elements found in the many games I listed. I’d love to see a sequel that adresses these issues, perhaps set in a different time period though…

I’d love to see other games play with the idea of using black and white for an interesting atmosphere.  I feel this was a great and unique mechanic in The Saboteur, yet can’t help to complain that it could have used much improvement as far as gameplay and usage goes.

Pros and Cons

Pros

-Great Enviorment

-Great Gameplay – Use of different gaming elements

-Unique use of Black and White

- An open-world worth exploring

Cons

-Weak…weak story.

-The use of the different elements sometimes ends up in half-baked situations

-The Black and White mechanic also leads to some problems

The Save Factor

The game is still being sold for around  $50-60 depending on where you buy and what version you intend to purchase. After playing through the game I’d have to say the save factor is a bit below this asking price.

$40 seems a bit more reasonable, though  $45-50 seems reasonable for those who are major fans of the open-world genre.

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The trailer was part of the IGN Ultimate Video Game Gift Guide and it is quite lovely to watch! The trailer ends with a date for the FULL trailer to appear on XBox LIVE on December 22nd. I know I’ll be there…will you?

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This past Friday, G4 showed an exclusive video showcasing the combat of Mass Effect 2.

Video Description: Get a look a the explosive combat in Mass Effect 2 in this exclusive video from BioWare and Electronic Arts. Shepard fights Husks, Scions, and Abominations with advanced weaponry.

Looks pretty interesting and quite different from the first game. Just hope the role-playing elements and dialog is still as great or better than the first game. Suppose, like Dragon Age, that EA will want to appeal to the casual-FPS-Audience and the loyal Bioware fans will just have to wait to hear more about the improvements from the first game, other than the combat.

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Kotaku is hosting a Live Chat with lead designer Mike Laidlaw. I’ll be moderating the chat along with asking a few of my own questions!

It will be taking place Monday Nov. 2 at 3pm EST! Since it will be the day before Dragon Age : Origins releases, now is a great time to ask the questions that have been bothering you since its announcement.

If you have any suggestions on the type of questions you’d like me to ask Mike about the game be sure to leave and comment and hopefully I’ll see you guys there.

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I have around one month and a few days left until my fifth semester of college ends. There is only one thing that stands in the way between me and my rightfully deserved A’s : Borderlands. Ok…well maybe that and my poor study habits. Nevertheless, Borderlands is making sure that this last month full of finals, 12 page papers, and study sessions will be filled of thoughts of what quests I’ve just finished and how soon will that lovely new ‘LEVEL UP!’ icon will flash across the screen.

Before I get started I want to get something out of the way, I would not classify this as a review per se. A preview would fit better or a Hey-Look-This-Is-How-Awesome-The-Game-Is! So far, I have only reached level 24 and have only accomplished to open the third area and have completed numerous quests.

Developer: Gearbox Software
Publisher: 2K GAMES
Date of Release: October 20, 2009
Platforms: PS3/360/PC (played on 360)

Genre: RPS/RPG/FPS
Players: 1 (2 splitscreen. 4 Online Co-op)

Plot

Does this game have a Plot? Yes. Is the plot good? Well…I’d have to ask you to define what a ‘good’ plot. Let’s put it this way, if you only buy games for the plot, well…you might as well move on right now.

The plot, from my experience thus far, is just filling to give an excuse for why you are moving from point A to Point B.  There are, however, some great background information on the planet Pandora, which I wish would be expanded on a tad bit more. There are a few specific quests, that I won’t give too much information about, which gives the player some background on this desolate red-neck-filled planet.

Graphics

When the developers first decided to change the direction of the artwork and graphics they claimed that it was not cell-shaded. Many people may disagree and claim that it is indeed still cell-shaded. The developer’s, on the other hand, are specific in that it is “hand-drawn.”

Whatever the case may be, I enjoy the scenery and graphic-style that the game displays.  I do have a few issues however, at least on the 360 version that I’m playing. There seems to be incessant loading screens whenever I start the game or enter a new area. While this may be an exaggeration, they do seem to last forever.

On the bright side, news from Gearbox has come that a patch will be released for the consoles that will address this along with several other issues and Bugs.

Another point of the graphics, that can be considered in the positive light of things, are the many creative models of the NPC opponents, which include bandits and other terrestrial life, along with the many ‘friendly’ NPC quest givers. This also ties in with a negative with the plot, as I would love for the many characters of Borderlands to be expanded upon.

Gameplay

This is where the game shines and the reason behind the game consuming so much of my time. Many have described this game as the bay of the FPS genre and the RPG genre. The developers claim this game is a Role-playing-Shooter. Others have said it’s as if Diablo and DOOM(or any other or FPS) have been collided and stuffed into this tight little package.

While it is an understatement to say, “This game has much loot to gather,” comparing it to Diablo does not feel quite right. I feel it stands on its own two feet as a game that has taken the most addicting (not necessarily the best) of these two genres and created a game that would be best described as the Crack-Cocaine of gaming.

The game has four character classes: Mordecai (The hunter or sniper), Brick (the Tank), Roland (the soldier and the most well-rounded character), and Lilith (The rouge or Spy).  These characters each have their own specialization along with specific talents. This is where the RPG elements come out as each kill or completion of a quest nets you experience points which can be placed into a set of  three different fields under the character, each having seven different skills that boost your character into the ultimate killing machine.

The most addicting part of this game, I’ve found, is the way the game litters tons of guns around the world for you to pick up, which is the reason behind the Diablo comparisons. One part that I really enjoy the most is how, while shooting an array of bullets at an assortment of villains, the damage points rise up from the enemies telling me the amount of damage I am casting down on them. After a few have fallen to the ground the tantalizing LEVEL UP!  icon pops up in it’s lovely yellow font.

Another satisfying part of the game is the Co-Op. Though, I have only experience Co-Op with close friends and have not journeyed to play Online with others. The problem I have with this is having to share the loot with strangers online. I have heard of some people having issues with people grabbing whatever loot they can without the considerations of others. Though, if you have a few good friends on LIVE/PSN or on the PC then I HIGHLY recommend playing the game with friends instead of by yourself.

Conclusion

I still have much time to dedicate to this game before I believe I can have a complete opinion on the game; however, from what I’ve played of Borderlands I believe this game has more than warranted my purchase. The only true fault I can give it is the time it has consumed and how I fear that it may not only interfere with my studies but also with the other games releasing this Holiday season. Especially since there is a second play through that make the game not only harder but incorporates more loot.

But have no fear!….I’ll be sure to get through it eventually..

Pros/Cons

Pros

-Graphics are fantastic and make the landscape of Pandora utterly fascinating

-Gameplay is what makes this game. Addictive. Fun.

-Great combination of FPS elements along with RPG elements

-Great multiplayer

Cons

-While the multiplayer is fun, it could use some tweaking. (trading and loot needs some work).

-Plot could be stronger but really isn’t a complete let down.

-Graphics may be a turn off for some people

The Save Factor

With a starting price of $60 bucks I’d have to say it’s well worth the price.  It has been quite a while since a game that was this hyped met and excelled my expectations! If you wait for a price drop I guarantee it will only increase the already great value that you will get from this game.

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Just watched a new video over at gamespot, which focuses on the new character, which hints at a total of 10 new characters(we’ve met Grunt and Thane), in the upcoming Mass Effect 2.

Have to say, it is a bit surprising to see this character in the mass effect universe. Reminds me of some grunt from the Aliens movies.
Te video also has another sneak peak at the Dragon armor that will be available to those of us who preorder Dragon Age: Origins come this November.

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Just received an email from SOE requesting that I take part in a survey to help them churn ideas around the next Planetside game!

For years, I have hoped(and prayed) that SOE get on the ball and make a new Planetside, or at the least begin a new project with the ides behind Planetside.

If you are unfamilar with the game, Planetside is a MMOFPS with RPG elements. As far as I know, it was the first of its kind or, at the very least, the first popular one. It was amazing when I first played it. Love the huge battles, Loved teaming up with over 30 people in one outfit as hundreds of us when at each other. Sadly, in my opinion, the game fell short and became repetitive after about a year of playing.

Since then, I’ll pick it up every once and again to try it out again and still I get the same feeling of rapture, but after a few months get bored with the game, and annoyed with having to fork over the 15 bucks a month for the game. Along with these mixed feelings was the desire for a sequal.

And here is finally news of a forthcoming sequel!

Anyways, here is the detail from the email:

CALL TO ARMS! WE NEED YOUR HELP!

That’s right, you heard what we said! We plan to expand the PlanetSide^® universe with another game and we need your help with the design. After all, who knows the game better than you, our customers, the people who actually play it! Don’t worry about the original PlanetSide, it isn’t going anywhere.

We want to hear your opinion and to do so we have put together a short survey. The information you provide will play a critical role into helping guide the development and direction of the next hit Massively Multiplayer Online First Person Shooter. As a loyal player and experienced shooter fan, we value your input and look forward to hearing what you have to say.

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Over at the Mass Effect forums writer Patrick Weekes has, in one fell swoop, announced that the writers are not only working on promised DLC for Mass Effect 2 but that some writers have now begun work on Dragon Age 2.

At this stage in the project, writers get to do a lot of things.

1) Bug fixes. It’s a big game, and we’re catching things now that we missed before. It’s tough to make big changes at this point, so in many cases we have to cut or move lines in order to alter the story without adding or changing the VO. This takes a lot of time and is the vast majority of what we’re doing.

2) Systems. Some writers are working on planet descriptions or codex entries. I’m working on a Paragon/Renegade pass (putting in all the “you get a small bonus here” actions on good lines). I’m also working on the sound sets (the ambient barks that bad guys use in combat). What we have now is good, but some lines fire way too often or way too close together, so the combat team and I are working on probability tweaks to get the best possible experience.

3) Downloadable content. And that is all I can say about that.

4) Many writers are on different projects now, like Dragon Age 2 or the MMO.

5) In our spare time, we playtest like mad. We’re the ones who know the story the best, so while we may not be the best at firing combat bugs, we’re great at catching, for example, when lines that should have fired didn’t.

Not only do I hope that the DLC being worked on for Mass Effect 2 outdoes Mass Effect’s attempts, but I hope Dragon Age warrants a sequel(I have little doubts it’ll under deliver).

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Over at Shacknews are a couple of mentions on the DLC that is planned for Borderlands. Sadly, there is only hints and promises.

First is the quote given by CEO Randy Pitchford on what their plans on the development of said DLC,

People are going to be surprised when they find out how quickly we’re coming, and with what content we’re coming. Also, we’re going to watch and see what happens when the game launches, so we can have our plans affected by what our customers want more of.”

Another quote by Pitchford is quote more interesting and can be found on his Twitter page,

What happens a lot of the time is you finish your game and it’s time for cert, and during cert a lot of bugs crop up that you have to fix, and a lot of them are really, really big bugs. You are certainly not adding any content to the game at all. A level? No way.

But, during cert, if you have a lot of level designers who have nothing to do–which is pretty common, you pull level design and art off first–they’re gonna be making cool shit and want to make cool shit. That cool shit, that tends to be what DLC ends up being. It’s the stuff we couldn’t add to the game because we’re making it during cert, which is impossible to get into the [retail] game.

Personally, I am hoping for a handful of new quests that will keep me busy for the coming months. Just hope it isn’t as disappointing as plenty of other examples we have seen.

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Over at the Mass Effect website, under Universe, is new information on a new species that will be seen in Mass Effect 2.

To put it lightly…the creature looks quite…creepy. I can’t wait to jump into the Mass Effect universe and see what other species Bioware has invented.

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