Movie Review - Quantum of Solace

The new Bond flick is no Casino Royale. It doesn’t have the same meaningful impact on the franchise as the series reboot. Daniel Craig is still great as James Bond and brings a great amount of gravitas behind the character. I just wish the movie was as up to par with him.

The movie picks up soon after the events of Casino Royale. After apprehending Mr. White, a member of a highly secret organization, Bond is in search of information behind this group and their involvement with Vesper Lynd’s death. It goes without saying that Bond is highly pissed off and is a force to be reckoned with, as his desire for revenge eats away at him. He acts like Vesper didn’t matter, but the continual recklessness in his actions shows otherwise.

There’s really not too much I can say about the film. The action comes in large amounts and there are only small tidbits of story or exposition. The action scenes are highly satisfying and are up to the task, but everything else is lacking. This would have been a great Bond movie back in the days of Pierce Brosnan, but Craig’s first outing as the character elevated the ongoing series to a much higher level. Quantum seems to have more in line with the old Bond, but only brings the ferociousness of the new.

Quantum is pleasing as an action film and nothing more. I can only hope that Bond’s next outing will be more substantial.

Game Review - Far Cry 2 (PC)

Far Cry 2 is a sequel in name only and has no ties to the previous title. You take the control of one character out of a handful, with his own background and ethnicity, before you start the campaign. The choice seems really arbitrary in the end, because it ultimately affects nothing. Your character might as well be Gordon Freeman. He never really talks and has no special set of skills. You’re a mercenary with a mission to search an unnamed African nation deep in civil war and kill the enigmatic Jackal, an arms-dealer that is supplying the two warring factions (the UFLL and APR) with weapons.

Before you have a chance to drop in on the action, your character gets infected with malaria, you pass out, and you are introduced to The Jackal, who knows all about your plan. He ends up sparing your life. However, you are left to fend for yourself with no weapons. You are forced to work with both the UFLL and the APR, each using you as a deniable agent in order to avoid a full-scale war, while you find the whereabouts of The Jackal. Various side missions are also available. These range from underground missions for malaria medicine, obtaining additional weapons from weapons dealers, gaining reputation with your buddies, and taking assassination contracts.

The graphics are not Crysis-quality, but they are still very good and offer excellent performance. The game attempts to never draw you out of the game. Want to use a map? You will pull one out of your pack. Want to drive a Jeep? You character slides right into the vehicle. Each action you do transitions effortlessly through the next.

Though, after obtaining over 50% completion of Far Cry 2, I've come to the conclusion that it is fairly bland and lifeless. The whole immersion factor the game attempts to portray with your character never quite works. I do love how you're never taken out of the game and jumping through various actions is all seen through your character's eyes. That is something that FPS games should do from now on. However, it makes the flaws stick out so much more in Far Cry 2.

For one, I never get the feeling that I'm in the middle of a nation of two warring factions. It seems like it is only me versus everyone else. You're always shot at on mere sight, yet you're working for these factions as a freelance mercenary. Which faction am I fighting at every guard post? The factions have no distinguishable difference other then name. You can't tell anyone apart. I don't get any feeling that these groups are out to kill each other. They just stand around and wait around for me to show up.

Also, where are all the civilians? Even warzones have some semblance of normal life going on about the chaos. I realize there is a reason given for the lack of innocent bystanders, but it isn't good enough. The few animals found roaming around the wilderness do absolutely nothing but wander around. Simply having their presence does not give the illusion of life required.

The gunplay is just competent. The missions are highly repetitive. I feel no connection with my buddies, because there's no story and everyone has zero personality. I'm not expecting RPG quality dialogue or plot, but expecting something a little more isn't too much out of the question, particularly with the ambition and scope of the game. Healing your wounds or repairing broken vehicles is a one-click affair. It is more immersive then Metal Gear Solid 3's menu-based upkeep, but I feel it could have been done much better.

The Jackal is a weak antagonist. I believe the factions are just as much to blame for the supposed bloodshed happening in the country. The politically-charged subject matter is fumbled horribly, because my main target is the middleman. I'm sure if they didn't have any guns they'd be killing each other with knives, rocks, homemade explosives or whatever.

Far Cry 2 is indeed an ambitious project, but it never can quite pull what it wants off. This is by no means a complete failure. It is just a tedious experience.

Game Review - Crysis Warhead

Last year’s Crysis wasn’t just a technological achievement in graphics; it was also one fantastically good game. It provided open-ended environments with engaging and strategic FPS action. With the release of Crysis Warhead, the stand-alone expansion to the original game, it builds upon the established story and goes full speed ahead with the intensity.

Instead of taking of control of Nomad this time around, you play as Jason Statham lookalike Psycho, the no-nonsense, hardcore British solider from the original game. You basically play through the events that take place while the rest of the team is scattered across the island. None of the events from the first game will really intertwine here.

It is your mission to locate a large container, obviously containing an alien life form, and apprehend it from the North Koreans. The story won’t make too much sense if you haven’t played the first game. However, the enjoyment level of the gameplay shouldn’t be hampered too much.

Unlike the offering of small skirmishs like before, Warhead has balls to the wall action. You won’t be able to survey the area as much before making your first move. Things never let up here and you rarely have a chance to gather yourself. You’ll face waves and waves of Koreans, aliens or both at any given time. It makes this game a pure adrenaline rush compared to last year’s more cerebral play style. I’m not sure if it makes for a better game, but it sure makes for one hell of a ride.

The same main component behind the game, while also enhancing your abilities, is the Nanosuit. It allows you to increase your strength, speed, and armor or use a Predator-like cloak. Basically, you can enter any situation as you see fit. Also, the driving controls have been improved. You’re given more control over vehicles, and it doesn’t become a headache to get from place to place anymore. A few more additions, such as weapons and vehicles, have been also been added.

Of course, the main question, like before, is how well does it run. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Not only does it run better then the original game, but it also looks better. Crytek has done an exceptional job here, as the Crysis engine has been heavily optimized. While I found a lot of the previous criticisms against the performance to be exaggerated, it is far less of a concern now. You still won’t be able to run it on that old clunker your parents won’t replace, but it helps the folks with entry-level gaming rigs.

With the smaller price tag, more emphasis on action, and better optimized graphics, it makes Crysis Warhead a deal too good to pass up. It is a ton of fun, and I completely recommend it to anyone that has an itch to blow some stuff up.