The First 10 Minutes: BiA: HH
2008-10-04 23:28:01 by Manager
Ubisoft released Gearbox' Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway last week on Playstation 3 and Xbox 360, while the PC version will hit the stores next week. Here are the first 10 Minutes of the game, actually more than that since the intro is really long. Some of this is in the newly released Playstation 3 demo, but since it's not sure when the Xbox 360 version comes up I decided to just capture this part for now.
We got the game really late so I haven't really been able to play it much, but so far I've been pleasantly surprised with it. The graphics aren't that bad and some things actually look pretty good, specially the ground - a part a lot of game developers seems to ignore. I've always been a fan of the series and this is very much like the previous games, so I really can't complain on the gameplay. As you will see in the video when I enter the house, the enemy sometimes simply stands still in the open just waiting to be shot. Close combat, specially in buildings, doesn't work well with the AI.
So the AI isn't exactly groundbreaking , and the Unreal Engine 3 slow texture loading is as usual fully visible in the cut-scenes. The much hyped "emotions" the characters show leave a lot to be desired, something we could see in the previous trailers - they just doesn't seem to be alive enough to show the tears, hopelessness that the developers seem to aim at.
As usual you guys are free to write your impressions in the comments below, and if you haven't played the game yet, enjoy these videos below.
The First 10 Minutes: Intro
The First 10 Minutes: Part 2
Since 288 Days
2008-10-05 01:30:51 The First 10 Minutes: BiA: HH
Despite the really, really obvious technical difficulties, I really have to admire the ambition. Sure, the script is a little stilted, the camera direction's going for Scorcese but is hamstrung by bad pacing and the delivery is hampered by robotic faces, but it's admirable in the sense that it's very close to achieving its goal. And yet it's also frustrating that it's not quite attained it.
It actually made me think of Ace Combat 6, which stunningly had better cutscenes with very crisp graphics and nice character models - and that's a game which didn't really need character models for the gameplay. Again, that had some real nasty scripted moments, but it really tried to deepen the core gameplay experience by making you feel you were making a difference, whilst trying to (mawkishly, maybe) actually say something about how war affects people on all sides.
It's a shame UE3's texture loading difficulties and some nasty tearing and slowdown affect it so much, but you know - sometimes I really feel developers are almost trying too hard. Too many effects when they're actually losing out by layering too much. It'd be better to tone them down and up the performance rather than make the story suffer by obvious technical faults.
That said it's a reasonable looker and the fact that the locations are real and mapped out so closely... despite the problems, I may end up eventually picking this up.
(oh and it's "leave a lot to be desired") ;)
Since 1409 Days
2008-10-05 01:35:00
Poor AI...Poor density.....
Since 720 Days
2008-10-05 02:09:02
Almost completed it. It's a great game in terms of gameplay and graphics.
Each level is fairly long and really varied. Also you feel like you are in a wide open environment, a feeling that was not really apparent in a game like COD4
The story is bad though. I almost completed the game and can barely follow the story, nor am I attached to any character. It's just drama for the sake of drama...
Since 747 Days
2008-10-05 02:36:20
Manager-dude.. How is the multiplayer? Is it as laggy as it was for me with the 360 version? (practically unplayable with enemies running into walls and teleporting away, it felt alot like the good old pc internet days with a 28.8k modem)
Or does the ps3 version somehow have a better netcode? Thanks.
Since 937 Days
2008-10-05 08:05:45
Although it has some issues (AI + limited terrain), it really is a great game. Looking forward to the sequel !
Since 214 Days
2008-10-05 08:22:54
Its not that bad of a game. Some issues as stated above, but over all a good experience.
Since 1173 Days
2008-10-05 13:36:42
I really enjoyed it even though it had a few problems was just a shame it was over so quick! Can't wait for the next one were hopefully they sort put the texture loading (only Epic have no texture loading problems with unreal engine! LOL) and sort out the animations and facial expressions! Because they were pretty bad! Worth the wait though but I have all the BiA games so I'm a bit of a fan. :)
---
Warp Speed!
Still drinking
Since 1172 Days
2008-10-05 13:42:44
This game would be good, if not for the horrible texture loading.
(joking guys; I've not played this game)
Since 1816 Days
2008-10-05 14:27:26
BIA:HH still looks cool and has my interest though, especially because it plays in my own country.. I'll check it out on PC when it's released..
---
http://www.cyberwarriors.nl
http://home.xmsnet.nl/bigbear/mycar.jpg
Since 265 Days
2008-10-05 14:49:57
It is a really good game. The story is a little difficult to follow, but is actually really great and cinematic. The graphics are sometimes great, but sometimes there is a little lack of detail. The gameplay is much better than the previous BIA's because of the cover system, healthsystem, and destructable cover.
I have played it both on PS3 and 360, and the framerate in the cutscenes was much better on 360.
Still drinking
Since 1172 Days
2008-10-05 15:23:14
I don't believe a fucking word of that.
sorry :)
Since 201 Days
2008-10-05 15:23:26
Bakers actually 23yrs old, thats what war does to you.. gives you Dawson creek syndrome
Since 265 Days
2008-10-05 16:43:47 In reply to PlumbDrumb (2008-10-05 15:23:14)
sorry :)
Still drinking
Since 1172 Days
2008-10-05 16:49:03
no no, sorry.
Just realised I'm wrong about everything.
I'ts hard to accept this game may not be the stuff, I've been waiting for it to come.
Since 1149 Days
2008-10-05 17:04:18
Finished the game is less than 9 hours AI was poor and it it got boring online is poor as hell but the story mode was good..
Since 59 Days
2008-10-05 17:36:04
Is it just me or does this look worse than the ps3 demo? I don't know, I think its the colors
Since 265 Days
2008-10-05 17:47:41 In reply to extraextra (2008-10-05 17:36:04)
Since 1117 Days
2008-10-05 21:15:34 In reply to droezelke (2008-10-05 17:47:41)
Since 953 Days
2008-10-05 22:00:31 In reply to licenturion (2008-10-05 02:09:02)
Each level is fairly long and really varied. Also you feel like you are in a wide open environment, a feeling that was not really apparent in a game like COD4
The story is bad though. I almost completed the game and can barely follow the story, nor am I attached to any character. It's just drama for the sake of drama...
it's a pretty average game and everything which the game has as it's "features", we have already seen in the past. So in my point of view, this game has failed to impress and deliver something new.
---
Can't deal with it? Then face it!
Since 253 Days
2008-10-05 22:01:03
I thought the demo was pretty boring, to me it didn't feel like there was enough action. Hopefully the full game delivers more.
Since 254 Days
2008-10-06 00:19:12
I played through the demo and was unimpressed. It's not a bad game to play, just average, but visually it's really sub-par. It has an overly colourful cartoony look, which is pretty gaudy at times, the lip syncing and animation in general is absolutely terrible, the environments are simplistic and flat, and the frame rate is all over the place.
With all the amazing games due out soon this is going to get lost, and it will be no great loss.
Since 720 Days
2008-10-06 02:56:47 In reply to TrebuTa (2008-10-05 22:00:31)
If you want extremely varied gameplay play Zelda :)
Since 265 Days
2008-10-06 07:52:52 In reply to newbielives (2008-10-05 21:15:34)
Since 265 Days
2008-10-06 08:00:36 In reply to moroboshi (2008-10-06 00:19:12)
With all the amazing games due out soon this is going to get lost, and it will be no great loss.
Since 78 Days
2008-10-06 09:18:01 In reply to droezelke (2008-10-06 07:52:52)