Kindredbay
11-09-2011, 12:54 AM
I'll start off by saying that this is by far the most enthralling videogame I have ever owned. The fluidity of the combat system is absolutely superb, and the attention to detail is spectacular. This game accurately encompasses all of the greatest elements of an action-RPG, while keeping the player's experience as the top priority. The breadth of this game is astounding, especially for what I thought was allegedly a pure "hack n' slash" title. I have read several other reviews and it saddens me that this game could even get anywhere close to an 8, let alone a 7, out of 10. From what I've seen, this game has been solely criticized for its lack of character development and that it's "repetitive". I have to strongly disagree with both criticisms because if you actually talk to the people that you can talk to in the game, they have a lot to say if you listen. As for repetitiveness... What more do you want? You have an arsenal of abilities at your disposal that you can pick from. Also, there aren't only orcs in the game, there are a myriad of different foes that you have to kill. Even the stereotypical orcs and trolls differentiate from each other with different armor and weapons and attack styles... I have played several other so called "top" games that the PS3 has to offer, and most fall short of what I have wanted for a long time; That certain "feel" you get when you know you found the game. That game is this game. War in the North makes you feel that you are a part of the story, while at the same time showing the prominent and gruesome realities of war and conflict. I've decided to list off all the pros and cons that I have personally found with War in the North:
Pros:
Auditory: Music is pronounced and appropriate when needed, sound effects are accurate and life-like, and voice acting is perfect. Rating=9.2
Visual: Blood is intense and well displayed. Scenery is lush and vivid in all areas. Attention to detail is prominent (Ex: A hollow log laying off to the side on closer inspection has a bee hive inside of it with actual bees buzzing around it in detail). Weather effects are detailed and realistic (hate using the "R" word for reviewing videogames, but the weather effects do look realistic). Characters have detailed facial expressions and look great. Armor and weapons are also well done and look fitting/appropriate. Weapon and ability effects are visually appealing and attention grabbing. This game has set the baseline for how every game in this genre should look. Rating=10
Kinesthetic: Gameplay is cohesive; fluid. There is a very interactive multiplayer experience, so much so that the game is actually a more fluid, balanced, and interactive experience with multiplayer than single player, something most games fail to pay attention to in this generation of consoles. War in the North works wonders with the license. Controls are easy to learn, allowing virtually any gamer to pick it up and participate in the experience... Which is how controls should be for this type of game. Menu options are decent and helpful. Camera is absolutely PERFECT, Snowblind is one of the few studios that actually understands how the camera should be controlled in an action-RPG. LOOT... A HUGE plus for this game. Who doesn't like having the option to scrounge? It is always gratifying in any action-RPG to be able to break things and open things to get... THINGS. War in the North has heart and soul, that's for sure. It's a game for the players, and it executes itself flawlessly as visual eye candy while also having ingenuity while being innovative. Rating =10
Cons:
Auditory: Small sound stuttering problem that has happened twice, was easily fixed by reloading the game or changing the sound in the menu. Music doesn't altogether stand out or knock you off your feet, but that does very negligible damage to the game's atmosphere. -0.8 for that reason alone. I only count bugs if they aren't patched within a month, are severely disheartening, or are game breaking.
Visual: Split screen and how lots of worthless items with different names share the same inventory icon, that icon being of a closed treasure chest. Basically, only things that would relate to my own personal preferences, but had no bad impact on the game in any way. There is nothing that detracts from the experience at all.
Kinesthetic: Nothing
Rating: 9.7/10
Please note that this review is simply that. A review... With some impressions. However, any commentary is appreciated.
Pros:
Auditory: Music is pronounced and appropriate when needed, sound effects are accurate and life-like, and voice acting is perfect. Rating=9.2
Visual: Blood is intense and well displayed. Scenery is lush and vivid in all areas. Attention to detail is prominent (Ex: A hollow log laying off to the side on closer inspection has a bee hive inside of it with actual bees buzzing around it in detail). Weather effects are detailed and realistic (hate using the "R" word for reviewing videogames, but the weather effects do look realistic). Characters have detailed facial expressions and look great. Armor and weapons are also well done and look fitting/appropriate. Weapon and ability effects are visually appealing and attention grabbing. This game has set the baseline for how every game in this genre should look. Rating=10
Kinesthetic: Gameplay is cohesive; fluid. There is a very interactive multiplayer experience, so much so that the game is actually a more fluid, balanced, and interactive experience with multiplayer than single player, something most games fail to pay attention to in this generation of consoles. War in the North works wonders with the license. Controls are easy to learn, allowing virtually any gamer to pick it up and participate in the experience... Which is how controls should be for this type of game. Menu options are decent and helpful. Camera is absolutely PERFECT, Snowblind is one of the few studios that actually understands how the camera should be controlled in an action-RPG. LOOT... A HUGE plus for this game. Who doesn't like having the option to scrounge? It is always gratifying in any action-RPG to be able to break things and open things to get... THINGS. War in the North has heart and soul, that's for sure. It's a game for the players, and it executes itself flawlessly as visual eye candy while also having ingenuity while being innovative. Rating =10
Cons:
Auditory: Small sound stuttering problem that has happened twice, was easily fixed by reloading the game or changing the sound in the menu. Music doesn't altogether stand out or knock you off your feet, but that does very negligible damage to the game's atmosphere. -0.8 for that reason alone. I only count bugs if they aren't patched within a month, are severely disheartening, or are game breaking.
Visual: Split screen and how lots of worthless items with different names share the same inventory icon, that icon being of a closed treasure chest. Basically, only things that would relate to my own personal preferences, but had no bad impact on the game in any way. There is nothing that detracts from the experience at all.
Kinesthetic: Nothing
Rating: 9.7/10
Please note that this review is simply that. A review... With some impressions. However, any commentary is appreciated.