I have confessed before that I have an affinity for first person shooters. I also have always enjoyed playing RPG's. Therefore, I find that first person shooters that rely heavily on story and advancing a character through a plot to complete a quest are very rewarding to play. Singularity falls into this category. The developers did an admirable job of keeping the player keenly interested in what will happen next. Nothing is super predictable, and twists and turns exist to continue to propel the hero on.
Singularity sometimes feels like Borderlands with a better story and a more rewarding experience. Sometimes, Singularity reflects elements of other sci-fi successes like Fallout 3 and Bio-Shock. Then, some game play aspects feel like Portal. Obviously, by comparing Singularity to these games, you probably see a positive review coming up. That is only partially true. Although many of the elements of the game are unique and marshall fuzzy feelings, there are other elements that allow the game to fall just a little.
First, the good. The graphics are rich and detailed on 720p, the colors are subdued but the occasional plasma blue and bright red filters through to add depth and a feeling of futuristic science. Effects are brilliant. The levels and the abandoned research facility provide just the right balance between dilapidated and oppulent. One can see that this was once a model of futuristic design. The sound is excellent. The gameplay is innovative and addictive. Once you move an item to find a hidden cache or to bash a mutated human in the head, you won't want the fun to end.
The game finds a great balance between using these special effects of the Time Manipulation Device and the more ordinary ordinance of a shotgun, an assualt rifle, a sniper rifle and a pistol. Some levels require a new component of the TMD to be installed and a new game mechanic is opened up. And, occasionally, you will find a new shiny weapon you can use for specific tasks.
The developers obviously worked hard on the balance and it doesn't seem strained. You are just powerful enough to take on whatever task is set out for you. Well, that is only partially true. Occasionally you will be faced with an opposition that will seem an unsurmountable task. About midway through the game, right after you are introduced to a cool new tool of your TMD, you are dropped into a pit with "ticks" that have bubbles on thier backs. They are fast, and if the bubbles burst near you, they do a lot of damage. Often, this is too fast to heal properly and your only hope is to use your new TMD ability to get out of the jam. Trust me, running really fast away from these beasts is the better part of valor.
And then, you have the "Boss Battles." The first one is predictable and after reading the suggestion the game gives you, it is easy to figure out the pattern. But be careful, they throw a monkey wrench in the works when you might least expect it. Just stay near the entrance for as long as you can during the first part, run around for the second act and shoot the blue stuff, then the third act requires that you do a combination of retreating to the overhang by the entrance and dodge the big guy and shoot him. In between each "act" are some clever interludes. Be prepared to shoot some bad guys and slow them down with your TMD.
Alright, the TMD. The Time Manipulation Device can do a ton of things over time and can be upgraded just like the weapons. It can age people and objects forwards or backwards, it can move objects, it can create bubbles of slowed time (sort of like a D & D "Time Stop" spell), it can slow some bad guys down, some it will age until they are dust, it can "push" them away and more.
As for the extras, the developers made sure to include as much stuff as possible for the completionist gamers. There are recordings to listen to, notes to read, you can use the TMD to see "Chrono Messages," weapon upgrades to find in hidden places, "money," puzzles to solve, videos to watch and from time to time (pardon the pun), a random "time event" will occur as a flashback to what had transpired at the facility. All of these elements allow Singularity to feel like a rich experience. The story starts out fast paced and gets more interesting as you move through it. A little over half way through, your goals will be come clearer and as more is revealed, it propels you to the culmination of the story.
Overall, this is a good review. However, I want to point out that the "tick" challenge almost got me. I retried this part over and over before making it through. On top of that, before being dropped into that location, I was searching for the way to a hidden treasure chest that I had located, but had not made it to yet. Scaling this encounter to make it a little less challenging (or making the time bubble effect last longer) would go a long way to making the game more enjoyable. Don't get me wrong, I like a challenge, but I don't have the patience for encounters that seem impossible.
The voice acting was believable but not memorable. The soundtrack was practically non-existent. The weapons seemed half-hearted attempts. The upgrades were nice, but the selection was poor. They had me at the introduction, but almost lost me about half way through the game. That is something that has to be considered. I can compare it to Resident Evil 4 and how you felt "Dang, this is taking too long!"
In addition to these general complaints, the single most dissappointing thing about the game is the multiplayer. I LOVE that you can play as either a soldier or a mutant. That was super cool, but why only two game modes? And, why no leveling system? Those two missing ingredients alone would make the multiplayer experience a huge "FAIL." It is saved only in that through what it does offer: customizable spawns, multiple ways for team building, fast paced environments and cool powers.
Despite the bad, the game rises above the mediocre. It is still a worthwhile purchase. I do not recommend renting it, as it has too many twists and the multiplayer, as broken as it is, still is more rewarding than, say, Battlefield Bad Company 2.
THE FINAL WORD
RATINGS
Gameplay (single player): 8
Gameplay (multiplayer): 6.5
Graphics: 9
Sound: 9
Replayability: 8
TOTAL: 8.2
No comments:
Post a Comment