Tech Blog

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The release of new additions to the Playstation 3 "Greatest Hits" library has to be among my favourite times of the year.   Not only do many great, older PS3 games resurface and get released in a shiny new red case, there is always a significant price reduction (sometimes as high as 50%).  For gamers like me who are a little picky about which games I'm willing to plunk down my hard-earned dough on, it's refreshing and even inviting when you see the value proposition "Greatest Hits" titles have to offer.

Back in late May, Sony announced that six more PS3 titles would be inducted into the "Greatest Hits" library starting on June 16.  According the intel I've read, to be considered as a "Greatest Hit" a PS3 game has to be on the market for at least 11 months and has to have sold a minimum of 500,000 copies worldwide. 

With the new batch of games out now I thought I'd do a two-part run-down of what's available and some thoughts/impressions I have on the games.  For sake of transparency, I've played three of the six games extensively and had some hands-on time with the demos of the remaining three.  I'll indicate which is which for each game. 

Devil May Cry 4 (Capcom)

 

What is it?  Devil May Cry 4 immerses gamers in a gothic supernatural world, where a new protagonist clashes with a familiar hero. As the new leading man, Nero, players will unleash incredible attacks and non-stop combos using a unique new gameplay mechanic, his powerful “Devil Bringer” arm. Ths was one of the first supposed *PS3 exclusive* games that eventually jumped ship and was also released on the Xbox 360.  The game was released on February 5, 2008.

What do I think of the game?  Aside from Devil May Cry 2 (PS2) which was somewhat of a dud, this franchise has always been pretty solid.  I've put in several hours into the Devil May Cry 4 demo for PS3 and thought overall that it was a quality game.  The game retains the attributes that fans have liked in previous versions such as the over the top fighting sequences, visually arresting graphics, tons of replayability, and plenty of unrelenting action.  Since the game has a long history on Playstation consoles, many people (GamePro included) consider this game to control a bit better on the PS3 than the Xbox 360.  You'll have to be a bit patient though as the game takes a whopping 20+ minutes to install (5GBs are required).  If you like action games such as Heavenly Sword, God of War, or Dynasty Warriors you should have a blast with this title.

ESRB Rating: "M" for Mature

Gran Turismo 5 Prologue (Sony Computer Entertainment)

What is it?  Developed by Polyphony Digital, Inc, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue forte is extreme realism in the racing category with its quality of design and physics technology. Players can race, either online or offline, more than 70 realistically detailed vehicles on tracks from around the world. This game is considered by many to be a *demo* of Gran Turismo 5 which should release...some day.  The game was released on April 15, 2008.

What do I think of the game?  I picked up this game last year and to be honest, I have mixed feelings about it.  It's certainly breathtaking to look at and the controls are top-notch for a racing sim.  While many people do consider this a demo, with six tracks and 70 cars there is certainly enough content to give you plenty to play with.  My biggest gripe about the game is simply that I feel this release is milking the series a bit too much.  To me it seems the main reason this game was brought out is because Sony knows the Gran Turismo series is a system seller and GT5 was a long way off last April.  In fact it's still a long way off a full year later.  To put the game into perspective, when Gran Turismo 4 was released it featured more than 50 tracks and more than 700 cars.  Even at a reduced price I still think only hardcore racers should apply.  For everyone else, wait until GT5 comes out, or consider getting other top-notch PS3 racers such as Burnout Paradise, GRID, or Pure.  If you own an Xbox 360, you might want to consider getting Forza Motorsport 3 which drops this October.

ESRB Rating: “E” for Everyone

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (Konami)

What is it?  The final chapter in the saga of Solid Snake which sends him around the world in pursuit of his arch nemesis, Liquid Ocelot. In his final mission, Snake must sneak deep into enemy locations in the Middle East, South America, and other corners of the earth to foil Liquid Ocelot plans for total world domination. The game was released on June 12, 2008.

What do I think of the game?   Absolutely stellar, in fact this was the game that prompted me to buy a PS3 a little over a year ago.  Since the Metal Gear Solid franchise made its debut on the PSone it has been a flagship series for the Playstation brand.  MGS4 is no different, offering quite possibly the best graphics on any home console, 20+ hours of entertainment, plus plenty of replay value with the inclusion of many unlockables, hidden weapons and rankings.  The game also comes equipped with Metal Gear Online, a full multiplayer game based in the Metal Gear universe and employing the same tactics of stealth, camouflage and grapples.  I voted the title as my PS3 Game of the Year on NextGen Player so it pretty much goes without saying that this game gets my highest accolades.  My only warnings are that this game is a HDD memory sucker, taking up a 5GBs of space, and the game also contains an absurd amount of cutscenes -- many of which are 15 minutes or longer.  If you're the type that enjoys fast transitions between CG cutscenes and gameplay you'll be a little frustrated with this game.  I suppose you could skip the movie sequences, but that almost defeats the purpose of playing this story-driven masterpiece.

ESRB Rating: “M” for Mature

Stay tuned for the remaining three game impressions tomorrow.  Until then, happy gaming!

Message Edited by PaulH on 07-02-2009 11:43 PM

Message Edited by Laura on 08-21-2009 05:04 PM