The poor performance is particularly noticeable during the driving portions, which perhaps the engine wasn't originally designed to handle. Not only does the action become bogged-down with stuttering frames, but in some cases the environment simply refuses to load at all. Note that it's not that the environment's textures don't load; the entire environment won't load, leaving you without a game world to play in... or stand on! There were a few times when we'd figure that the level was still trying to load in the textures, drive forward into the nothingness, and fall out of the world to our death because there was no floor to the level to begin with. These issues were typically cleared up after a reload, but that didn't help maintain any sense of immersion.
One level stands out, however, and we cherished the precious few moments we spent in the detailed and visually appealing swamp. Swaddled in the queasy withdrawal resulting from Nectar disruption, the swamp uses some cool lighting effects, particularly on the glowing fireflies that guide you through the level. Unfortunately, this short portion of Haze is not enough to redeem the rest of the game, which is a dull and uninspiring slog through similarly dull and uninspiring levels.
One of the major deficits to both the multiplayer and single-player components is the tragically stupid NPC AI. Think of all the "bad AI" cliches that you can: walking into your line of fire, eschewing cover and getting shot to pieces, not reacting to local firefights and just standing around like morons... Haze hits every one of them. This would be kind of understandable coming from the Mantel soldiers, since they're all doped-up anyway, but the shoddy mental processes are epidemic.
While it's nice to see bots available in the multiplayer, it's rather telling that you aren't allowed to play the Team Assault mode with them. One can only assume that, as they are incapable of taking cover from incoming fire, the bots in Haze can't even begin to fathom the delicate intricacies of objective-based combat.
Although the online multiplayer handles smoothly, the scant three modes simply don't compare to other multiplayer-focused games like Unreal Tournament III or even Grand Theft Auto IV. Though Free Radical has traditionally done well in the competitive online arena, Haze presents us with a very narrow and anachronistic multiplayer that satisfies only the leanest of expectations.
It's clear from the bare-bones multiplayer, glitchy graphics and incredibly short storyline that Haze is a game interrupted. Discussion of whether Free Radical did not anticipate the difficulty of building a next-gen engine or whether it ran out of resources is academic at this point, because we can all see that Haze is not finished... not graphically and not narratively, either. For a much-hyped, blockbuster PS3 exclusive, Haze does very little to endear itself or the PS3 to anyone.
Isn't the whole point that they're macho bullshit marines because the whole thing is bullshit and they're not being sent in to liberate people, but to oppress them. They just don't realise because they're so juiced up on the combat meds.
The game still looks like crap, but I understand what they're trying to do with the story at least. Probably better suited to a film or something really, because they have to make the first half of the game intentionally obnoxious. And not particularly new or mature "Ololz the rebels are actually the good guys, and the big superpower with all the technology are bad"
That may have been their goal, but they did it in such a ham fisted way that it is just so stupid it is hilarious. They could have easily done it in a far more subtle yet still obvious way instead of having them act like how everybody stereotypes Americans as.
What the hell is up with that guy with the stereotypical southern accent?
We call this one Watch Strap. Hahahahaahahah.
They says that cuz he's skinny, see, like a watch strap.
Is his model actually any skinnier than a normal fratboy soldier model?
Couscous on
0
augustwhere you come from is goneRegistered Userregular
edited May 2008
I only ever played Timesplitters 2, but it's an amazing fucking game. And over the top in a good way. Guess they didn't know how to do a serious satire or something.
Isn't this the game that if you preorder from EB and return it in a month, then it's completely free? Or something like that, my memory is a bit foggy on the details.
I'd say warning flags should have went up then. I think they did, too.
Sort of, the promotion was reported by game-sites but it was a information fuck up or something. A few days later it corrected to "no you don't get a free game or special trade-in" or similar.
That may have been their goal, but they did it in such a ham fisted way that it is just so stupid it is hilarious. They could have easily done it in a far more subtle yet still obvious way instead of having them act like how everybody stereotypes Americans as.
Yeah it seems like they really wanted to beat you over the head with it.
That may have been their goal, but they did it in such a ham fisted way that it is just so stupid it is hilarious. They could have easily done it in a far more subtle yet still obvious way instead of having them act like how everybody stereotypes Americans as.
Yeah it seems like they really wanted to beat you over the head with it.
I mean c'mon "BOOSH"?
But the plot is supposed to be mature. What is mature about having a side so obnoxious that not even the back of the box pretends that they aren't going to become enemies?
That may have been their goal, but they did it in such a ham fisted way that it is just so stupid it is hilarious. They could have easily done it in a far more subtle yet still obvious way instead of having them act like how everybody stereotypes Americans as.
Yeah it seems like they really wanted to beat you over the head with it.
I mean c'mon "BOOSH"?
But the plot is supposed to be mature. What is mature about having a side so obnoxious that not even the back of the box pretends that they aren't going to become enemies?
Again, satire has to be good in its own right, otherwise it just looks pathetic or lazy. I'm sure there could've been an effective way to make the comments they wanted, without it looking like lazy writing and design.
After watching that, I'm left with something similar to the same feeling I got while playing the demo for Turning Point: "Did they make this with the intention of making people not want to play it??"
Just a sample of some of the brilliant lines that are blurted out ad-nauseum by characters on the battlefield:
"BOOSH!"
"This is the most fun I've ever had with my pants on!"
"This sure beats pumpin' gas!"
"Yeah, boyeeee!"
BOOSH!
?
If only...
Cohsae on
0
augustwhere you come from is goneRegistered Userregular
edited May 2008
I wonder if the part of the problem isn't that a bunch of money went to fucking Korn. Does Free Radical call thier own shots, or are they beholden to a publisher?
I was wondering if Korn blasted from the speakers everytime you found yourself in a firefight. That would be enough to warrant review scores of 4 and 5
It's weird watching that video. It's pretty obvious that it's supposed to be satirical, but of course the problem is that it's obvious. But it's not like FRD is unable to make a serious plot. Second Sight has a very well-written, serious narrative. Maybe that "top-secret LucasArts project" has been pulling too many resources from them for the last year? I dunno, I can see what they're going for, but it's rather more forced than their previous storylines.
I wonder if the part of the problem isn't that a bunch of money went to fucking Korn. Does Free Radical call thier own shots, or are they beholden to a publisher?
In the past, they've dropped deals with publishers when they felt it wasn't going the direction they wanted. Whether they're still willing to, I don't know.
I want to make a really, really bad game. 1 hit kills, AI that uses aiming hacks, cheap spawn points, derivative techno soundtrack, 50 character password save, ect. The works. Then when people call my game bad, I'll say "It's satire". Then my bad game will instantly become the best game ever.
Claiming something to be satirical is not a get-out-of-jail-free card for shitty games.
The Wolfman on
"The sausage of Green Earth explodes with flavor like the cannon of culinary delight."
I want to make a really, really bad game. 1 hit kills, AI that uses aiming hacks, cheap spawn points, derivative techno soundtrack, 50 character password save, ect. The works. Then when people call my game bad, I'll say "It's satire". Then my bad game will instantly become the best game ever.
Claiming something to be satirical is not a get-out-of-jail-free card for shitty games.
I want to make a really, really bad game. 1 hit kills, AI that uses aiming hacks, cheap spawn points, derivative techno soundtrack, 50 character password save, ect. The works. Then when people call my game bad, I'll say "It's satire". Then my bad game will instantly become the best game ever.
Claiming something to be satirical is not a get-out-of-jail-free card for shitty games.
This is how I feel about everything Paul Verhoevon has ever touched.
I want to make a really, really bad game. 1 hit kills, AI that uses aiming hacks, cheap spawn points, derivative techno soundtrack, 50 character password save, ect. The works. Then when people call my game bad, I'll say "It's satire". Then my bad game will instantly become the best game ever.
Claiming something to be satirical is not a get-out-of-jail-free card for shitty games.
This is how I feel about everything Paul Verhoevon has ever touched.
Okay, first of all, Starship Trooopers is a fantastic movie if you don't take it seriously, because come on the novel is all masturbating about "facism is awesome".
Secondly, Robocop, your lord and savior, is the title character in one of the best black comedies of ALL TIME.
I want to make a really, really bad game. 1 hit kills, AI that uses aiming hacks, cheap spawn points, derivative techno soundtrack, 50 character password save, ect. The works. Then when people call my game bad, I'll say "It's satire". Then my bad game will instantly become the best game ever.
Claiming something to be satirical is not a get-out-of-jail-free card for shitty games.
This is how I feel about everything Paul Verhoevon has ever touched.
Okay, first of all, Starship Trooopers is a fantastic movie if you don't take it seriously, because come on the novel is all masturbating about "facism is awesome".
Secondly, Robocop, your lord and savior, is the title character in one of the best black comedies of ALL TIME.
Total Recall..
As much as I love Philip K. Dick and what he wrote, the original story has mice that were set on overthrowing the world.
I was wondering if Korn blasted from the speakers everytime you found yourself in a firefight. That would be enough to warrant review scores of 4 and 5
The multiplayer is supposed to have some pretty bad songs according to some reviews, but I haven't seen them complain about the Korn song.
-- Load a destiempo of textures everywhere.
-- We continue with the vast waters of the brutal game we xD.
- Displays AI ally Quer boarding the car while going to explode. Explodes, we'll eat anything and go away the remains.
-- Two soldiers threatening to shoot the wall, one with a leg embedded within a barrel, which as you see with megatexturas.
--- Great effect of blood, sir.
-- Trees in 2d.
-- Smoke or snow or something unusual comes out of my bike at all times when running on leaves and soil.
-- Texturazas
Gear GirlMore class than a state universityRegistered Userregular
edited May 2008
I had a feeling this game was going to be shit. Every video or screen I saw of it looked like the worst kind of generic shooter yet it was getting hyped like crazy.
I had a feeling this game was going to be shit. Every video or screen I saw of it looked like the worst kind of generic shooter yet it was getting hyped like crazy.
When Ubisoft wants to, it has a great, mighty, powerful hype engine that it can turn on for the games that it chooses to do so.
Most of the time it's the ones that they've poured the most money into.
Playing Haze left me disappointed, for sure, but it also left me extremely curious about its development. Free Radical, the developers of Haze, have done better in the past in almost every single way possible, from weapons, to levels, to bot intelligence. Though it was announced just over two years ago, the end result plays like something that was slapped together and shipped after a year or so, rather than something that was painstakingly developed and refined.
Perhaps Haze suffered from the same fate that befell sonic 2006? Halfway through development having a huge change in direction and thus having to rush everything, the result being a bucket of shit. Wonder if we'll ever find out what happened. Because the guys right - this just doesn't make sense. FRD make good, polished and funny/mature games.
I'm pretty saddened by this. Back when Timesplitters 2 came out I always wanted to play that, and my friends all insisted on Halo instead. I was never really planning on buying Haze, but I was kind of hoping it'd be good like TS2 and I could pick it up a bit later and have some fun. The gameplay videos and stuff I saw had a lot of promise, too, which is why it's even sadder, I think. The story had some promise too, I think, as long as they didn't take it down the avenue it seems that they did (beating you over the head with cliche'd annoying characters).
I thought they had kinda an interesting concept for this game when they first spoke about it, I thought they were going to do kinda a sindicate type thing, where while your character was on nectar everything would look shiny and happy except the enemy and everyone would be cheering you and so forth, you'd be forever seeing hot girls bringing you flowers and the rebels would be mutant horrifying monsters while your allies would be in cool looking power suits.
However once you started to run out you would see that the world was this devastated mess and that all the civilians were starving and cowering in fear of you while you stomped down the street in this bloodspattered battle armor crushing poorly armed rebels underfoot. As you took or didn't take nectar the world would morph back and forth, getting more and more confused as you overdosed on the drug to try and fight on.
Over the game the player would wonder what was real, and what wasn't and who was really manipulating him Mentel, or the rebels.
However it would seem that that whole idea went out the window eh?
I thought they had kinda an interesting concept for this game when they first spoke about it, I thought they were going to do kinda a sindicate type thing, where while your character was on nectar everything would look shiny and happy except the enemy and everyone would be cheering you and so forth, you'd be forever seeing hot girls bringing you flowers and the rebels would be mutant horrifying monsters while your allies would be in cool looking power suits.
However once you started to run out you would see that the world was this devastated mess and that all the civilians were starving and cowering in fear of you while you stomped down the street in this bloodspattered battle armor crushing poorly armed rebels underfoot. As you took or didn't take nectar the world would morph back and forth, getting more and more confused as you overdosed on the drug to try and fight on.
Over the game the player would wonder what was real, and what wasn't and who was really manipulating him Mentel, or the rebels.
However it would seem that that whole idea went out the window eh?
Which would make the "looks like it was thrown together in one year" comments make sense. A big change in direction like this would amount to an alomst complete reboot of the project.
I thought they had kinda an interesting concept for this game when they first spoke about it, I thought they were going to do kinda a sindicate type thing, where while your character was on nectar everything would look shiny and happy except the enemy and everyone would be cheering you and so forth, you'd be forever seeing hot girls bringing you flowers and the rebels would be mutant horrifying monsters while your allies would be in cool looking power suits.
However once you started to run out you would see that the world was this devastated mess and that all the civilians were starving and cowering in fear of you while you stomped down the street in this bloodspattered battle armor crushing poorly armed rebels underfoot. As you took or didn't take nectar the world would morph back and forth, getting more and more confused as you overdosed on the drug to try and fight on.
Over the game the player would wonder what was real, and what wasn't and who was really manipulating him Mentel, or the rebels.
However it would seem that that whole idea went out the window eh?
You could make a really awesome, psychologically fucked up game with this sort of idea. Where if you shot up you'd see monsters and shit and have to shoot them, but if/when you didn't they were destitute, starving humans. Everyone would want to shoot up so they're not killing innocent people and all that jazz. I mean, this idea if pulled off right could be really really cool, and could even possibly say something meaningful. But, yeah, the way HAZE went about it, it just fails... horribly.
it really does have the most hackneyed and obvious 'satire' plot a game could possibly host. the fact they talked it up as a kind of breakthrough in videogame stoytelling is pretty dire. there's an art to subtlelty, especially when you're trying to convey a message through story, and haze never gave off the impression its commentry was anything but a brick to the head
shame, though. war does need to be critiqued, and games do need to have a sort of consciousness about their subject matter, so i did have hopes this would do something right. i'll keep waiting
it really does have the most hackneyed and obvious 'satire' plot a game could possibly host. the fact they talked it up as a kind of breakthrough in videogame stoytelling is pretty dire. there's an art to subtlelty, especially when you're trying to convey a message through story, and haze never gave off the impression its commentry was anything but a brick to the head
The funny thing is that this is exactly what Second Sight pulled off.
I thought they had kinda an interesting concept for this game when they first spoke about it, I thought they were going to do kinda a sindicate type thing, where while your character was on nectar everything would look shiny and happy except the enemy and everyone would be cheering you and so forth, you'd be forever seeing hot girls bringing you flowers and the rebels would be mutant horrifying monsters while your allies would be in cool looking power suits.
However once you started to run out you would see that the world was this devastated mess and that all the civilians were starving and cowering in fear of you while you stomped down the street in this bloodspattered battle armor crushing poorly armed rebels underfoot. As you took or didn't take nectar the world would morph back and forth, getting more and more confused as you overdosed on the drug to try and fight on.
Over the game the player would wonder what was real, and what wasn't and who was really manipulating him Mentel, or the rebels.
However it would seem that that whole idea went out the window eh?
You could make a really awesome, psychologically fucked up game with this sort of idea. Where if you shot up you'd see monsters and shit and have to shoot them, but if/when you didn't they were destitute, starving humans. Everyone would want to shoot up so they're not killing innocent people and all that jazz. I mean, this idea if pulled off right could be really really cool, and could even possibly say something meaningful. But, yeah, the way HAZE went about it, it just fails... horribly.
This would be totally awesome with no equal. Too bad this wasn't the game made.
After watching that, I'm left with something similar to the same feeling I got while playing the demo for Turning Point: "Did they make this with the intention of making people not want to play it??"
Christ, that voice acting is beyond atrocious.
That was so fucking horrible. Up and Atom? "And you've got wood?" Who the fuck wrote this shit. 4.5 is generous based on the cutscenes alone.
Posts
BOOSH!
http://ps3.gamespy.com/playstation-3/free-radical-project/875472p1.html Edit: X-Play gave it a 2/5.
http://www.g4tv.com/xplay/reviews/1781/Haze.html
How good are Free Radical's bots usually? I never played the multiplayer in their games much.
This smells like a severly rushed game.
That is odd considering is was delayed a few times.
What the hell is up with that guy with the stereotypical southern accent?
We call this one Watch Strap. Hahahahaahahah.
They says that cuz he's skinny, see, like a watch strap.
Steam ID: slashx000______Twitter: @bill_at_zeboyd______ Facebook: Zeboyd Games
The game still looks like crap, but I understand what they're trying to do with the story at least. Probably better suited to a film or something really, because they have to make the first half of the game intentionally obnoxious. And not particularly new or mature "Ololz the rebels are actually the good guys, and the big superpower with all the technology are bad"
Is his model actually any skinnier than a normal fratboy soldier model?
Serious?
Excuse me...
AH-HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
I mean c'mon "BOOSH"?
?
But the plot is supposed to be mature. What is mature about having a side so obnoxious that not even the back of the box pretends that they aren't going to become enemies?
hi5
Again, satire has to be good in its own right, otherwise it just looks pathetic or lazy. I'm sure there could've been an effective way to make the comments they wanted, without it looking like lazy writing and design.
After watching that, I'm left with something similar to the same feeling I got while playing the demo for Turning Point: "Did they make this with the intention of making people not want to play it??"
Christ, that voice acting is beyond atrocious.
XBL : lJesse Custerl | MWO: Jesse Custer | Best vid ever. | 2nd best vid ever.
If only...
In the past, they've dropped deals with publishers when they felt it wasn't going the direction they wanted. Whether they're still willing to, I don't know.
And hey, I like Korn:(
Claiming something to be satirical is not a get-out-of-jail-free card for shitty games.
That is true of movies too.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Concorde:_Airport_%2779#Inconsistencies_and_criticism
This is how I feel about everything Paul Verhoevon has ever touched.
Okay, first of all, Starship Trooopers is a fantastic movie if you don't take it seriously, because come on the novel is all masturbating about "facism is awesome".
Secondly, Robocop, your lord and savior, is the title character in one of the best black comedies of ALL TIME.
Gamertag: PrimusD | Rock Band DLC | GW:OttW - arrcd | WLD - Thortar
Total Recall..
As much as I love Philip K. Dick and what he wrote, the original story has mice that were set on overthrowing the world.
This is not Hitchhiker's Guide.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20OnIZZ3aVc
The part around 50 seconds in shows off the bad AI. Forgive the babelfish translation.
That would be the best thing ever.
When Ubisoft wants to, it has a great, mighty, powerful hype engine that it can turn on for the games that it chooses to do so.
Most of the time it's the ones that they've poured the most money into.
Steam ID: slashx000______Twitter: @bill_at_zeboyd______ Facebook: Zeboyd Games
Perhaps Haze suffered from the same fate that befell sonic 2006? Halfway through development having a huge change in direction and thus having to rush everything, the result being a bucket of shit. Wonder if we'll ever find out what happened. Because the guys right - this just doesn't make sense. FRD make good, polished and funny/mature games.
However once you started to run out you would see that the world was this devastated mess and that all the civilians were starving and cowering in fear of you while you stomped down the street in this bloodspattered battle armor crushing poorly armed rebels underfoot. As you took or didn't take nectar the world would morph back and forth, getting more and more confused as you overdosed on the drug to try and fight on.
Over the game the player would wonder what was real, and what wasn't and who was really manipulating him Mentel, or the rebels.
However it would seem that that whole idea went out the window eh?
Which would make the "looks like it was thrown together in one year" comments make sense. A big change in direction like this would amount to an alomst complete reboot of the project.
You could make a really awesome, psychologically fucked up game with this sort of idea. Where if you shot up you'd see monsters and shit and have to shoot them, but if/when you didn't they were destitute, starving humans. Everyone would want to shoot up so they're not killing innocent people and all that jazz. I mean, this idea if pulled off right could be really really cool, and could even possibly say something meaningful. But, yeah, the way HAZE went about it, it just fails... horribly.
shame, though. war does need to be critiqued, and games do need to have a sort of consciousness about their subject matter, so i did have hopes this would do something right. i'll keep waiting
The funny thing is that this is exactly what Second Sight pulled off.
I never asked for this!
That was so fucking horrible. Up and Atom? "And you've got wood?" Who the fuck wrote this shit. 4.5 is generous based on the cutscenes alone.
Evangir. Go find that out sir! I'll sit here and watch a few more of the cutscenes and figure out what the hell is going on.