SOCOM and Onimush 2 IGN Review Scores!

Joeiss · 08-26-2002, 11:02 PM

SOCOM US Navy Seals :

Presentation
Superb interface design, and realistic detail throughout in graphics, sound, control, everything. The online interface is very user-friendly, and includes built-in community options. 9.0

Graphics
Not immediately impressive, but the more you see, the more the little details in animation and design show through. 7.0

Sound
The dynamic soundtrack isn't engineered as well as some, but the sound effects and voice acting are ace. 8.0

Gameplay
Online multiplayer is good, if not great, but the real problem is the single-player game's AI. It shoots some unpleasantly big holes in otherwise strong design. 5.0

Lasting Appeal
Toss-up. The online game presents potentially infinite replay value, but only if it hooks you. 7.0

OVERALL SCORE (not an average) 7.5

Onimusha 2 : Samurai's Destiny

Presentation
The CG and surrounding environments are better than ever, but the bad English voice acting takes away a little something extra. 8.0

Graphics
Pre-Rendered glory provides some of the best water around. Not to mention the slick character models, way-cool special effects, shadows, and lighting tricks. 9.0

Sound
The score would be much higher if the terrible English-only voice acting didn't bog down the excellent soundtrack and flawless sound effects. 7.0

Gameplay
Most camera problems have been fixed, and the added RPG elements add a lot to the established engine. The action could have been more balanced however and the lack of analog is disturbing. 8.7

Lasting Appeal
Slightly longer and much deeper than Warlords, Samurai's Destiny still falls victim to the same fate all adventures do. Not enough to do once you've beaten it. 7.2

OVERALL SCORE (not an average) 8.9

I thought SOCOM was going to get better scores, but whatever. The game will still rock.

DarkMaster · 08-26-2002, 11:10 PM

surprising score for socom, onimusha 2 sounds pretty good though. oh well, i care not for reviews of professionals, they always seem to think differently than us more casual gamers.

bobcat · 08-27-2002, 04:16 AM

Hmm not interested in Onimusha at all, Socom is/was another story. I still might check it out.

5.0 for gameplay? ouch

Perfect Stu · 08-27-2002, 07:39 AM

*thinks about cancelling preorder for SOCOM*

Bond · 08-27-2002, 09:17 AM

I'm not surprised at all about SOCOM. I mean one day no one knew about the game and the next day it was the next big thing.

Crono · 08-27-2002, 09:26 AM

Yeah, I think SOCOM should've got a better score too, but 7.5 isn't that bad if ya think about it, anything over 7 is usually good.

Joeiss · 08-27-2002, 11:32 AM

The only reason that SOCOM's Gameplay got a 5.0 was because of the AI. Now, if you are like me, you will probably not be playing the single player mode as much as the online mode, so it doesn't really matter.

gekko · 08-27-2002, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bond
I'm not surprised at all about SOCOM. I mean one day no one knew about the game and the next day it was the next big thing.

The concepts behind it were top-notch. Whether they execute it well or not is always a different story.

Just like the concept of Blinx is cool, but it has a snowball's chance in hell of even being remotely fun.

Perfect Stu · 08-27-2002, 04:34 PM

I just got SOCOM, and I must say I like the game a lot. The level I played was much darker than the one in the demo, and therefore was a better environment to use stealth elements (which I absolutely love a la MGS(2)).

I still look forward to seeing some of you guys online

gekko · 08-27-2002, 05:47 PM

My copy arrives tomorrow morning. I'll be on after school.

Joeiss · 08-27-2002, 06:01 PM

I just got it! And it absolutely rocks! The first level is great, and I mean great! Amazing stealth action. Hiding in shadows is really fun! I had to take a break, because i will be eating supper soon. I will post a complete review later tonight or early tomorrow morning.

So Stu, you did get it! Lol....

gekko · 08-27-2002, 06:25 PM

From the sounds of it, after reading the review, the game just didn't deliver as promised. So instead of it being something unique and kick ass, it's been done before and turns out not being so impressive.

Which, although that disapoints me, I understand why. It is a game, and there is a fine line between fun, and tedius. Gamers, (or I should say most gamers cause I would prefer the latter) play a game like SOCOM to have fun. If you make it too hard, they won't enjoy it, they won't play. I would much prefer a level taking an hour or hopefully more on some missions (should be able to save midway through, but not load the same file twice), and require tons of communications with your teammates, and if one of your guys gets hit you need to extract them, possibly forfeit the mission. I want something real, but it wouldn't be fun for everyone. Requiring tons of strategy, weapon choice, etc. SOCOM is supposed to be mainstream, and believe it or not, most gamers like to skip through mission breifings. *gasp* I want a game where they give me the information and map before hand, and I need to plot out my own strategy, actually put a good 20 minutes worth of planning at home, on my own with a pen and paper, then go tackle the mission. Hopefully fail, make me realize what I did wrong, and go at it again. Maybe that's just me

Seriously, people don't want a game they can't beat. And if SOCOM was executed how it was supposed to be, a lot less people would buy it and enjoy it. If they made SOCOM really real, and how I want it, very few people would play it. I can understand the game, but I don't approve of the way they made it. However, I'm still gonna get it, and likely play it to death for many months.

I just wish they would let you play the single player missions online. Therefore, the stupid AI wouldn't be a factor, and you would need to play a lot smarter to outsmart other humans who know the map as well as you do. Only thing then would be you would need more points where you can enter the stage, and what have you. I dunno, I wish this game was on PC where we could see a million expansion packs and new levels added.

Tomorrow it's mine!

etoychest · 09-06-2002, 01:36 AM

My review for the game can be found here:

http://www.etoychest.org/ps2_r_6.html

In short, it's an example of a good sequel, which is something to be said when most sequels fall flat when trying to emulate the success of the original. The game does nearly everything the original did, only better. I only wish the camera was better, as it has the annoying tendency to get stuck, and leave you looking at a wall while your character is getting pounded.

DeathsHand · 09-06-2002, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by etoychest
I only wish the camera was better

Yeah I know, sometimes during battles the camera angles wouldn't be looking towards the enemy... even in boss battles (Hell, even in this one boss battle where you fight him on this small narrow path in the forest!)...

Other than that the game is quite fun and was at least a good rental

Maybe I'll buy it later when the price drops to 20 or something like I'm gonna do with Onimusha... It's price has already dropped, but I don't have any money and I'd rather save up for GTA:VC :P