Mafia 2 - Review

Mafia 2 is an open world game that I wish more developers would learn from and be informed by. It's not faultless but what it sets out to do a few things and basically nails every single one with varying degrees of success. In a world of acne-ridden world maps the six-year old Mafia 2 is a breath of air fresher than a christmas scented airwick.

Upon initial release I was put off by the reviews I'd read that seemed to imply it was quite a dull and empty game. Also, and definitely more importantly, it was an 18 and I didn't have any I.D so I'd be refused service, thanks Gamestation. I do wonder though would I have agreed with the consensus if I'd played it at launch? I think honestly, I probably would have and my love for what Mafia 2 is borne out of a frustration with the open world-ification of video games these days.

The story in M2 is quite a simple rags to riches story. It's nothing you've not seen in the 234 Martin Scorsese gangster films or the Godfather trilogy you keep telling yourself you'll watch. You play as Vito a man who starts with nothing, gets everything, loses it again and then ends up somewhere in the middle. It's not world-changing, it's not even particularly memorable but what it is, is effective and well told. It doesn't pertain to have seventeen different layers that end with it being about how biscuits are actually bad nor is it needlessly convoluted to last the entire length of an achingly padded 40 hour experience. It lasts the 10 or so hours that it needs to and that's that. Job done. Story told. Thumbs up.

This idea of being what it needs to be. The idea of leanness courses through the veins of M2. It's a delightful antidote to the modern-day game design philosophy of "More is more is more is more." What people consider dull and empty, I consider thoughtful and deliberate. Nothing in M2 is out of place, it fits in perfectly. There's no need for time trial races or real-estate mogul'ing. There are collectables, Playboy magazines, but they feel relevant, they feel like an actual real collectable that make sense within the context of the universe. If you were robbing someone and you saw a nudey mag, wouldn't you take it home for a quick one?

Adopting a less is more approach when making an open world game makes you wonder why the developers would go that route? Why not just have it be a set of linear levels that feed into each other through cut scenes. Honestly, I believe that would have hampered the experience of the game. M2 is a period piece, its world is a museum tour compared to a theme park. You can become immersed in this world because it feels real. There's something to be said about the jarring nature of being greeted by an icon for a time trial or jump over the car mini-game as you ride around modern open worlds. How can you take emotional moments seriously when you're funnelled into laborious collect-a-thons every step of the way. "please save the world! Also mate, if you wouldn't mind, please collect these flowers, cheers pal"

Big set-piece moments are few and far between in M2, but when they do happen, they feel great. They feel earned and this is normally followed by having your next mission taking place half way across the map. It's during those brief respites that you get to think about what you've done. The missions are all quite linear and whilst that may add fuel to the fire of "why is this game open world." I'd tell you to shut up and listen.

Assassins Creed has long suffered from poor mission design. It seems to insist on these awful tailing missions that take you all across the city and can turn a fun playground into the back garden of a mate who only has a half pumped up fly-away and a broken swing. Mafia 2 never wrings the open world dry. It's always fun to be driving around the city because you're very rarely forced to navigate it.

The focused nature of M2 means that when it does encounter issues they stick out. The shooting doesn't feel too great, none of the guns feel particularly weighty and all feel completely interchangeable. The driving is pretty dire and this combined with maybe the most sensitive police force in video game history, can make for some incredibly frustrating moments. These are all minor in a game so lovingly crafted, but they can and do detract at times.

The thing I'm wrestling with as I write this review is the idea that I only really like M2 because I actually hate the way modern video games are designed. Do I geniunely enjoy M2 or do I only find it a respite from the modern day game template. Regardless, M2 is a great game to play in this day and age, to remind yourself that less is more, as well as that playboy used to just be about the titties and not insightful games journalism.

Uncharted 4 and the introspective deception

UC4 feels like a parent and Nathan Drake is their loud, abrasive and annoying toddler. UC4 will often put Nathan on the proverbial "naughty step" to think about his actions but just as quickly it'll be shoving ice cream down his throat and telling him what a good boy he is. Whilst it's admirable that UC4 even approaches some level of introspection its non-committal attitude manages to damage the game by leaving a game that is confused in its messaging and outreaching its grasp. The confusion could be attributed by the change in key staff during its development

The Last of Us influence is achingly apparent in UC4 and that is almost certainly down to both the success of TLoU but also Neil Druckmann taking over from Amy Hennig. Druckmann was the creative director of TLoU and UC4 never feels wholly consistent with its tone. Not only within its own game but also with the rest of the series. 

Uncharted, up until 4, had been loosely connected swash buckling adventures that mainly stood on their own. Characters would sometimes re-appear from game to game but this was about all you got. UC4 tries to retcon in a brother, called Sam, for Drake. Up until now their have been 4 uncharted games and not once was a brother mentioned. 

The game tries to get away with it with some incredibly limp cop out about drake not wanting to talk about it, but I just find it incredibly difficult to believe that it never would have come up, between Drake, elena and Sulley. This is combined with the fact that it also completely messes up the timeline of events for the Uncharted games with UC4 implying that Nathan and Sam were together through everything yet UC3 had a younger Nathan meet Sulley and their was no mention of a brother. 

That timeline gripe is a minor thing, but it's an illustration of the complete lack of overall focus that UC4 seems to exhibit. There's no cohesive arc for Nathan during the series or the game. Early on in the game, Nathans wife, Elena, tells Nathan to go on an adventure since she can tell he is somewhat bored with a domesticated life. Nathan insists he isn't yet within a short space of time Nathan lies to Elena and jets off to help his newly created brother. If their were any sort of consequences for this it would have been an interesting moment for Nathan. Realising he can't get away with everything he wants, that people have feelings and they will get  hurt be his selfish actions, however Nathan and Elena just have a bit of a slide in some mud and they are back to being normal.

This pattern repeats itself time and time again. The game pretends to have some deeper message about how Nathan is more fucked up than Freddy Kreuger, that he does struggle with the idea of having murdering a small town in Englands worth of people and destroying countless millenia old artifacts as well as peoples homes but it doesn't. It lies, it is still a game about celebrating Nate as some average joe hero. 

Nathan never gets his comeuppance in the story he always ends up on top and this grates against the admittedly brave attempts at character development. The game even creates the perfect chance for some self-reflection with the awkwardly shoe-horned in brother character. Sam is older and often a good indicator of where Nate could end up. Yet despite his obsessive behaviour, Sam is still in the end rewarded in the story. He basically gets off scott-free ready to adventure on with Sulley. The games story would have been better served by killing off Sam. By showing Nate than intense obsession has its consequences. 

Instead, the only character who does get punished in the story is the Villain, Rafe. That may seem like an obvious point, but the character of Rafe is just a mirror for Nate and Sam. All he is is an obsessed glory seeker. Yet the game likes to pretend that Rafe is somehow worse and that his methods are much more deplorable that should die but Nathan and Sam deserve to live, happy. I would bring up Nadine but her character is such a non-character that she might as well not have even been in it. She's a completely wasted opportunity offering absolutely nothing. 

The ending for UC4 is the worst offender for this limp attempt at introspection. Nates life ends up rosy with a kid and a beautiful wife (not weird to fancy pixels, don't judge me.) His days of treasure hunting behind him. Their is absolutely no hint that he has been affected by his adventures and instead is more than willing to tell his daughter all about the time he murdered thousands of people for a single gold coin that no good Tesco will accept. 

For the game to have any weight, any meaning Nate needed to either end up dead or barring that a completely broken man. The ending of UC4 needed to end in a way that it could have perfectly led into Max Payne 3. I concede that this might have been too dark and nihilistic for a game like Uncharted 4 but also, that means that UC4 tries to have its cake and eat it. It flip-flops between Nathan being a borked human and him being something of a hero and that confusion leads to a completely wasted and disappointing adventure.

News Round Up

Some Stories that I think are interesting in the world of the video games

Sony Controller Patent

https://twinfinite.net/2016/06/sony-patents-new-dualshock-4-controller/

WarCraft Film making money - Possible Duncan Jones Return

https://twinfinite.net/2016/06/duncan-jones-would-be-interested-in-directing-a-second-warcraft-film/

Mighty Number 9 middling reviews

http://opencritic.com/game/1554/mighty-no-9

Mass Effect no ending acknowledgement - More Mass Effect information to come

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2016-06-20-why-mass-effect-andromeda-wont-acknowledge-your-choice-of-me3-ending

Top 10 facts about the Witcher 3

Hello

Hello Blogger its me again. I'm back again with another Top 10 Facts, this time it's about The Witcher 3, probably the only good game to come out in the past ten years!

You may be thinking, "there's probably more than ten facts about The Witcher 3?" to which I'd reply "Yes, you are probably right"

Fact Number 1: The Witcher 3 landmass is based on Salford, Manchester.

That's right. CDProjektRed may have you believe that they took inspiration from the book but actually they took inspiration from somewhere a bit closer to home (My home I mean, not theres, Salford is miles away from CDPR.)

You may find this hard to believe, but honestly it's true because this list is called "Top 10 Facts" and that means it's a fact.

When you really think about it though, The Witcher 3 is a land full of absolute creatures, destroyed buildings and the card game Gwent. Not so different now is it?

Fact Number 2: I wish Geralt was my Dad

That's right. Without any shadow of a doubt I really wish he was my Dad. When I was growing up as a child I was endlessly frustrated by the complete lack of spells my Dad could cast. Whenever I asked him to use Axii he simply gave me a confused stare and threatened to leave.

Geralt and I during my imagined childhood. 

Thankfully it wasn't an empty threat and he quickly took off once I asked him about his intentions with a piece of filth I'd found.

Fact Number 3: All the creature are inspired by 3 boybands

That's right. East 17, 5ive and One True Voice all provided inspiration for the weird and wonderful creatures present in the world of The Witcher 3.

There's a little known easter egg that I'm surprised hasn't been put on Youtube yet. If you go to Skellige, meditate for 48 hours, put vampire oil on each of your blades and then spin around, you'll be greeted by a lute player who will play the East 17 classic "Stay another Day." Don't believe me? Try it, then kick off. Fucking doubters.

Fact Number 4: It took me over 100+ to finish TW3

That's right. It did!

Fact Number 5: Peter Jackson played through TW3 before starting work on his LOTR Trilogy

That's right. Peter Jackson loves Lord of the Rings I think (This isn't a Peter Jackson facts list so I can't be certain) but it was his love for Geralt and Dandelion that convinced him that it was possible to bring J.R.R Tolkeins classic audiobook trilogy to the big screen.

A rare set photo of Peter Jackson in full Witcher gear whilst filming "Lord of the Rings: Double Tower"

Fact Number 6: Geralt

Fact Number 7: There are only 6 Facts about The Witcher 3.

That's right. If you read the first paragraph again you'll see that I said "You're probably right" not definitely. Learn to read.

Goodbye.

News Round Up

News Round Up: 03/05/2016

Dishonoured 2 gets a release date

Dishonoured 2 or if you want to spell it completely wrong "Dishonored 2" has been given a release date of 11th November 2016. For you American readers (of which there are none because it's just me on here) that's November 11th 2016. Fingers crossed Trump can fix the way you handle dates. 

Dishonoured never really clicked for me so I'm excited for November to be the month I just talk loudly about how good Infinite Warfare is.

Source: http://www.pcgamesn.com/dishonored-2/dishonored-2-release-date-november-11

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War III Announced

How many times will war dawn? It's been 3 times now and it's seriously getting a bit much. We only had two world wars and that was more than enough. Maybe they should change the name "Warhammer" as it's apparent it's helping nobody out. 

Anyway, Dawn of War III is now a game that definitely exists. It'll be PC-Exclusive and released sometime in 2017. 

Source: http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2016-05-03-warhammer-40-000-dawn-of-war-3-announced

Modern Warfare Remaster won't be sold separately

In an FAQ for Infinite Warfare Activision have confirmed that the remaster of "Modern Warfare: All Ghillied up is all I care about" won't be sold separately. This is a bold, big bastard of a move and one I love. Make everyone buy your game whether they want Space War Bastard or not. 

It's also most likely going to turn out to be a lie but here's hoping. 

Source: http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2016-05-03-you-cant-buy-call-of-duty-modern-warfare-remastered-separately

New Releases

Battleborn (Gearbox) PC, PS4, Xbox One. 

Captain America: Civil War - Film

Captain America: Civil War (2016)

Directors: Joe and Anthony Russo

Starring: Most people

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3498820/

Civil War is an incredible film. I can't put it any other way. Not only does it work as the beginning of Phase 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it also works as the final act of the Captain America trilogy. Whether we get a 4th is up to to men wearing suits worth more than me. 

Winter Soldier was a heroic Marvel debut from the Russo Brothers. They were able to tell a brilliant and personal story within a universe full of aliens and Robert Downey Jrs somewhat dubious facial hair. With Civil War however, they've completely one-upped themselves. It brings together the very focused nature of Winter Soldier as well as the bombast of the Avengers films all in a very breezy two and a half hours. 

As well as some of the best action the MCU has seen, Civil War features some of the best performances too. Everyone puts in a solid shift but it's newcomers steal the show. Chadwick Boseman as the wonderfully regal T'Challa aka Black Panther, I almost felt I should have bowed every time he showed up on screen. Tom Holland also excels as Spiderman. In what will probably be a largely thankless rule, Bruhl plays cold and calculating expertly. He also further cements his status as King of Accents.

With everything Winter Soldier had to do it could have absolutely crumbled into incoherency ala Marthaman vs Marthaman: Dawn of Martha. However it does the exact opposite. It weaves between closure for character arcs and world building with aplomb leaving the MCU perfectly poised for the future 283 Marvel films. 

Despite my love for Civil War, I think it's a good indication of whether you're in or you're out with the MCU. I can't see it converting many people to the cause and will only really work on it's many levels if you're invested in the universe. Guardians of the Galaxy this certainly isn't. 

Marvel have been on an upward swing of quality with the MCU films and Civil War is absolutely the peak of that. It'll be interesting to see if Dr. Strange will be good or just Dr. Lame-nge (?) but going off Civil War, Marvel have got this down to a fine science and if the films remain of this quality they can crank them out till I die, which will be soon I hope. 

Wolf of Wall Street - Film.

Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
Director: Martin Scorsese
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0993846/?ref_=nm_knf_t2

Wolf of Wall Street left me with many conflicting thoughts. I couldn't help but enjoy Wolf yet at the same time kind of feel incredibly icky and dirty about liking it. Wolf is a good, fun film about horrible horrible people and perhaps the biggest criticism is that it forgets that it's about horrible people.

DiCaprio puts in a great performance as Belfort and is totally in his element. Jonah Hill and the rest of the supporting cast are also great. They best word for all the performances is "energetic" there is a certain energy to Wolf that is hard to escape and it radiates through the actors.

It perhaps glorifies Jordan Belfort a bit too much. His pretty terrible habits are painted in too fun of a light and the "bad guys" in this film appear to be the police doing their job. One scene in particular which paints cocaine in a similar light to spinach in pop-eye. It's a little bit daft and unneeded. Jordan Belforts cameo at the end of the film feels like it's in poor taste considering the film just showed us what a bad human being he could be.

All the problems I feel can be attributed to the source material. The film is adapted from Belfort own memoirs and it does feel entirely one sided. Scorsese probably didn't intend to pick a side when it came to Wolf but by the end it's hard to not think Wolf is painting Belfort as "just an American" or even something of an anti-hero.