Metareview -- Lair (PS3)

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Sep 3rd 2007 at 1:30PM }

On paper, Factor 5's Lair does so many things right: Beautiful graphics and sound making full use of all the blue rays, cells and bumpy maps the PlayStation 3 has to offer. Majestic dragons flapping their leathery wings, swooping down on hapless soldiers and occasionally fighting other, similarly majestic dragons. Unfortunately, this enticing list was apparently jotted down with a pen the size of a tree stump. Awkward to maneuver and clumsy to clutch, Lair's mandatory motion-control scheme seems to have sent it into a quality nosedive.

IGN (49/100) laments the "horribly unresponsive" controls and "god-awful lock-on system," quickly labeling the whole affair as "a mission worthy of swallowing the business end of a shotgun to avoid." Just so we're clear, they're implying that you'd rather kill yourself instead of playing Lair. Harsh, and certainly surprising if you read the E3 preview -- a few weeks earlier, the game was "surprisingly easy to pick up and play" with dragon controls that became "simple with practice."
Gamespot (45/100) thinks Lair is beautiful... a "beautiful disaster," that is. The review's third sentence claims it's "stunning to watch", but that comes after the second sentence which declares the game to have "one of the worst control schemes ever devised." That's assuming you even make it that far, as the first sentence is simply, "You shouldn't play Lair." If that sounds bitter, it's probably because you remember the sweet taste of the last preview: "Flying the dragon around isn't tough, but there is a bit of a learning curve." Apparently it was more like a 90-degree angle.
1UP (60/100) was right to be concerned about the controls in an earlier version of the game. Here, the game is deemed frustrating and "one of those games where you die or fail through no fault of your own." The article also reinforces the belief that Factor 5 is still stuck in the icy wastelands of Hoth, complete with dinosaurs waiting to trip over your dragon tow cable.

Tags: Lair, Metareview

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)

vidGuy @ Sep 3rd 2007 1:35PM

I'm glad I saved my 599 US DOLLARS.

Mr. P @ Sep 3rd 2007 2:30PM

33%

vidGuy @ Sep 3rd 2007 2:33PM

61.5%

17

B

Matt B @ Sep 3rd 2007 5:48PM

As for someone who has played LAIR, instead of relying on other opinions, I think its awesome!!!! Yes, the controls are difficult to pick up at first. If you are a patient person in the beginning, you will find the game very good once you get the controls. There was also some talk of framerate issues. I have yet to see any issues.

The controls are NOT perfect and there is a learning curve. The reviews make it sound like it is totally unplayable and that is hardly the case.

I have it. I love it. It's too bad they don't get it.
It wouldn't surprise me to see a patch to use the analogs as the controller though.

samfish @ Sep 3rd 2007 11:03PM

Now you know how I felt about Sonic & The Secret Rings, Matt.

Welcome to the Games You Love But Everyone Else Hates More Than Passing A Kidney Stone Club!

I'm the President-For-Life, by the way. You can't have my position.

Matt B @ Sep 4th 2007 10:54AM

Heh, can I be VP? ;)

Fernando Rocker @ Sep 3rd 2007 1:35PM

Thats what a PS3 fanboy call a AAA title...?

Fernando Rocker @ Sep 3rd 2007 1:46PM

Just remember. Every PS3 fanboys said this words in the past: "Just wait until Lair and Heavenly comes, it will show how great the PS3 is blah blah blah..."

Now, the history is repetaing: "Well, Lair flop, Heavenly flop... just wait until Ratchet and Uncharted comes..."

Remember, good graphics doesnt make a good game... Heavenly and Lair are the perfect examples.

Now its clear... the PS3 may be a good machine, a good movie player, a nice protein folder, a good piece of hardware, but not a good gaming system.

Night Elve @ Sep 3rd 2007 1:50PM

Keep it up boy.

Justice @ Sep 3rd 2007 1:54PM

HS got pretty good reviews. It seems you care alot about this? Why does it matter to you if a PS Fanboy says something. Please grow up. Thanks =]

Oh next time don't look at every PS title to be a flop. Thanks bud. :D

DonWii @ Sep 3rd 2007 1:55PM

Just goes to show, Gameplay is still King.

Word of the street. @ Sep 3rd 2007 1:58PM

Heavenly sword flopeed?,When that happened?.There are reviews already?.

Well Warhawk didn't turn out that bad,huh I was expecting lower from warhawk and it seems is a great game huh.

Well You know how is Sony Expect the(flopage)unexpected.IMO Killzone 2 (Which I think it could be a flop not 100% but a have 10% doubt)and MGS4(Which could or couldn't be exclusive)are the only hopes left for the PS3.

Uncharted and Ratchet and clank are pure filler,No offense but I can't see Ratchet and Clank being a killer app like Super Mario Galaxy even when R&C games are awesome they aren't killer apps or system sellers.

Fernando Rocker @ Sep 3rd 2007 1:58PM

Metroid Prime 3... thats a AAA title. Good graphics, excellent gameplay, great story, great history.

People thinks that the Wii owners doesnt buy games... I bet my ass that here are more hardcore gamers that own a Wii than casual gamers. Metroid Prime 3 outsell Bioshock already.

TheGuy @ Sep 3rd 2007 1:58PM

1. Speaking for myself, I never had much enthusiasm for Lair. I had a feeling from seeing the previews of this game that it would be too repetitive (they should have allowed for combat off the dragon), and the type of game this is would only have a niche appeal.

2. Since when has Heavenly Sword become a flop? If you ask me, I believe this game is being underrated due to the comparisons being made to God of War. Still, even being overrated it has a Metacritic average review of 80, which is still pretty good.

Fernando Rocker @ Sep 3rd 2007 1:59PM

Word of the street

Heavenly Sword receive a 7 from IGN

Word of the street. @ Sep 3rd 2007 2:01PM

No DonWii,That only proves that a shitty camera and broken controls can turn any game into crap.

Still Gameplay>Graphics yet graphics are still important so no soup for the Wii,NEXT!.

TheGuy @ Sep 3rd 2007 2:03PM

Word of the street

Don't base your opinion of games on other people's opinions, let alone 1 person's review (IGN may have gave-it a low rating, but according to Metacritic it has an average rating of 8).

Fernando Rocker @ Sep 3rd 2007 2:06PM

A metacritic review of 80 is good... but its not the AAA title that PS3 fanboys and developers said it will be.

Justice @ Sep 3rd 2007 2:14PM

@Ferny- HS reviews:

Game Pro 4.5/5
Game Informer 8.75/10
IGN 7/10
1 Up 8/10

Can you shut it now? =]

waves @ Sep 3rd 2007 2:26PM

No soup for for the Wii?

I hate to break it to you, but the Wii is eating everyone's soup right now.

Mr. P @ Sep 3rd 2007 2:27PM

I'm not a PS3 fanboy, but I do own one, and I never cared for Lair to begin with. What I call AAA titles are MGS4, GT5, FF13... The kind of games the PS3 will get next year.

It's called an investment. I invested in the $500 version that still has the EE inside so I can play my PS2 games upscaled until those other ones come around. What will you be saying when they do?

Shagittarius @ Sep 3rd 2007 2:28PM

Fernando you sure are loud for a guy who likes a system that only has 2 decent games (Zelda and Metroid) . Too bad the PS3 games rated higher than Wii games combined.

I'm sorry you can't afford a PS3 and are vindictive against it, but you know what it is a better experience than waving your arms around with some antiquated 10 year old technology.

Lets see PS3 games worth having: Motorstorm, Warhawk, Ressitance, Virtua FIghter 5, Ninja Gaiden, and I think Lair is actually not as bad as the reviews make it.

Whats the Wii got Zelda and Metroid. Everything else is pure ass. Well I know the Wii fanboys will come out of the woodwork to defend it but that doesn't make it so.

In short Fernando, If you even had 5 minutes with Lair you would trade your lame ass Wii in for it in 1 second given the opportunity, but unfortunately your BK fry cook job can't afford that kind of machine so you need a wii, and you defend it like its actually something worth defending. Oh well continue to dilude yourself...have fun with you POS Wii.

Slaziman @ Sep 3rd 2007 2:35PM

Super Paper Mario, Trauma Center, Super Mario Strikers Charged? Maybe not your cup of tea but are rated above 80% if I'm correct.

Shagittarius @ Sep 3rd 2007 2:42PM

Super Paper Mario = My first RPG (Ok my second RPG after the original)

Super Mario Strikers = 79% nope not an 80

Truama Center - Rated HIgher on the DS, it must suck to get a full console version of a game where the handheld version is rated the superior version.

The thing thats funniest is that fernando tries to compare the systems as if they are both hardcore systems which is just not true.

I think fernando is just terrified in the dirrection that nintendo is taking their casual console and is doing everything to convince himself that he bought the right system even though he knows its not really a gamer system.

Jake @ Sep 3rd 2007 3:03PM

The 360 clearly has the best games and fall lineup overall. Metacritic reviews give a balanced look from many different hardcore gamers with varying tastes. They also leave the fanboy out. You will see the 360 clearly mopping up in that department. You just can't compare games like Bioshock, Mass Effect, and Halo to things like Heavenly, Lair, or Ratchet. The 360 exclusives each were in development longer, by better develepment houses with more resources, and just plain are going to be better, obviously.

But at the same time, what if you aren't really into space shit and/or vulgar and violent gameplay? If that is the case for you, then the 360 is the worst choice for you specifically.

I mean, each system has its own strengths and weaknesses. If you aren't very good at games and that into gaming, the Wii will offer you much more fun than the other consoles. If you are into really familiar franchises like GT, MGS, and especially FF then the PS3 is the only system getting those games. Throw in movies and more game diversity from the standpoint that the PS3 offers much more semi-casual gaming than the 360. If you are a hardcore gamer and enjoy violent games and genre bending "truly next gen" stuff, then the 360 is where its at.

Squeek @ Sep 3rd 2007 3:42PM

I don't know about you, but I prefer your so-called "casual" games to nothing but shooters, sports, and racing games.

I am a gamer. I already own nine Wii games and only one is sub-par: Red Steel. Metroid Prime 3 is still in the mail due to a shipping error. My gaming collection will double by the end of the fiscal year.

Though you probably say the Gamecube was a flop too, right? The console I own 42 games for, 38 of which are solid titles? Yeah, that's the one alright.

If you manage to take a look from a different perspective, you'll see that stereotypes of things merely clouds your judgment and prohibits you from expanding your experience. I used to be so anti-Sony that I refused to buy a PS2. I eventually bought one a few months after I got Wii and I admit it: I play it more than I do the Wii. That's because Wii's games are still in development as the devkit was only released a year ago. If there were more games out, they'd suck because the developers rushed to put them on the market.

Also, because it doesn't matter at all, Zelda, Trauma Center, Monkey Ball, Elebits, WarioWare, Sports, Red Steel, Super Paper Mario, Metroid Prime 3.

My interests? Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles (sweet on-rail co-op shooter like Time Crisis), No More Heroes (Suda51 project to be like Killer7), Dewy's Adventure (another Konami game that looks really, really cool), Tales of Symphonia sequel (A sequel to one of the greatest games ever made? Hmmmmmm), Trauma Center 2 (The first was solid and the second has co-op operations. Totally worth it), Zack and Wiki (Capcom's foray into motion controls. So far, looking great), and the obvious: Galaxy, Brawl, and Kart.

Yeah man! Totally casual games thar! Stupid kiddy garbage that only 8-year olds would enjoy! Totally not designed for a 21-year old college student to play with his buddies!

Mal F4cti0n @ Sep 3rd 2007 4:03PM

Actually, the triple A title is not given by fanboys. I am not sure who decides what title is supposed to be triple A, but the fanboys sure are not the ones.

Replying to Fernando Rocker in case this goes in the wrong place again.

License to ill @ Sep 3rd 2007 5:11PM

@fanboy Rocker

You're a broken record, get a new routine...

Shadow El @ Sep 3rd 2007 5:19PM

Aw, wook at the wittow PS3 fanboys getting their panties in a bunch over "casual kiddy shit" titles being better than their precious "hardxcore" titles.

Metroid Prime 3 is all I need right now for the Wii. When I'm done with that, I'll have Elebits and Zelda to keep me company until Mario, Smash Bros., and Fire Emblem come to sweep me off my feet.

(And also NiGHTS, assuming it's not delayed.)

Kye @ Sep 3rd 2007 5:47PM

This super-long reply chain is new and exciting.

Where was I now... oh yeah;

Fernando, great work.
Don't think your unwaivering devotion to the NDF has gone un-noticed.

Word of the street. @ Sep 3rd 2007 6:12PM

Wow I was voted down twice I guess I truly hurt some Wii/Ps3 fanboys.I didn't mean too.

But seriously how is the Wii eating everyone soup?,What 3 great games is eating the soup well the x360 just finish the soup,the main course and is already eating the desert.

Spiza @ Sep 4th 2007 12:45AM

The 360 is good if you can actually stand playing FPS games on a gamepad. One bright spot for the PS3 for me is the possible use of keyboard/mouse on FPS/RTS games. It could replace my PC for gaming. If Half-Life Orange is keyboard/mouse capable on PS3, then PS3>360 for action games FOR ME. WHY? HL2 >>>>>>Halo. To each his own.

Does anyone know if HL2 Orange will be keyboard/mouse playable on PS3?

Egster @ Sep 4th 2007 5:58AM

Fernando the fanboy lol.

Keep playing on your poor mans PC. There are people who like to play something different than shooters.

Earl @ Sep 3rd 2007 1:35PM

This is supposed to be a AAA title? Ouch Sony!
Looks like "pretty" games do not necessarily mean good games.

Jojo @ Sep 3rd 2007 1:36PM

Wow... I'm still waiting for the PS3 to come out with games I can't wait to have before I get one. I guess Lair is off of that list.

Poisoned Al @ Sep 3rd 2007 1:38PM

Okay, the 360 has Bioshock now and Halo 3 in a few weeks, the Wii has Metroid and the PS3 has... this.

*face palms*

Word of the street. @ Sep 3rd 2007 1:45PM

Warhawk ;).

Suddenly I imagine the Lair Dragon crashing like the Hidenburg.

Poisoned Al @ Sep 3rd 2007 1:51PM

Oh thanks for reminding me. What I've seen of that game is pretty darn cool. It gives the Sony fans some hope.

waves @ Sep 3rd 2007 2:04PM

I really would like to play Warhawk, but some bastard stole my ATM card out of the mail, so now I have no way to buy it until the replacement arrives.

mksolo @ Sep 3rd 2007 1:39PM

oh man, i am glad these reviews are coming out, it will hopefully help my friend save his money and not buy this game. well, not everything turns out the way you want it too.

Mr Khan @ Sep 3rd 2007 1:40PM

It seems oddly reminiscent of Factor 5's other project Star Wars Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Assault

excellent graphics and other technological usage (lots of on-screen activity, good physics), but some pretty bad implementation (the flying stages were as good as the older game, but those ground-based missions blew chunks)

History repeats itself

DonWii @ Sep 3rd 2007 1:53PM

I said that the day I saw Lair.

rom @ Sep 3rd 2007 1:43PM

Thank you for bringing up the preview vs review angle. It's one of the things that bug me about the industry. Every time I read a game preview they say nothing but good things, but when when the game comes they think it's utter crap. I've learned to NEVER trust previews. It's for this reason that I never get interested in a game until its been officially reviewed.

t_m @ Sep 5th 2007 2:11AM

Ditto. Its the most interesting part of the story IMHO.

Everyone has suspected that Lair would suck for months now...

but the fact that all these sites BLATANTLY LIE in their previews.. only to contradict themselves a few days later in the reviews is something that has bugged me for years. You guys should do a follow up piece and check out some other previews/reviews and see whats going on.

Also, you should have a quiet word with PLAY magazine and see what comment they have on giving Heavenly Sword 10, Lair 9 and Sonic 9.5???? It'd be interesting to see how they justify that.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Ryan LN @ Sep 3rd 2007 1:44PM

I have absolutely no evidence to back this up, but does anyone else think that Sony may have exerted some pressure on Factor Five to include the the mandatory sixaxis control, rather than use the standard analog controls that they mastered so well with Rogue Squadron et al? I have never understood why industry giants, in transparent attempts to keep up with the Joneses, always feel the need to put together half-assed imitations of each other when if they stick to what they know they'll excel. Keep in mind that I haven't played the game and I'm only basing my comments on the reviews that I've read. Hopefully by the time I complete my system trifecta and acquire the PS3 they will have released a patch allowing for normal control of the game and maybe it will realize the brilliance that could have been.

Snukadaman @ Sep 3rd 2007 3:09PM

I had the same suspicions, someone talked up that sixaxxis control up bigtime. What i cant understand is why no analog controls. If the controls were there it would of been a different game. Another suspicion I have is the games ,for example, lair,heavenly sword, and even warhawk were rushed out too compete this holiday season. With both heavenly sword and lair having issues with control, how long they are, some estimates are 7-8 hours each, that finished or not they had too be put out there. Warhawk with only multiplayer screams of being rushed. A ps3 owner should be feeling let down from all this and hope the rest of the games coming out justify their 500 dollar purchase.

Justice @ Sep 3rd 2007 1:51PM

Sad, looked good. Looks can be deceiving. Oh well.

Word of the street. @ Sep 3rd 2007 1:52PM

Ok so the previews saying it was really easy to pick up and play?,What?,were they lying all this time or they got their hands on playing a different version?.

I'm with Ryan LN,the game would have been better with the standard controllers without using the Suxaxis at all.Maybe you are right and Sony forced Factor 5 to use the Suxaxis so sony could promote the Ps3 saying "you can't do this on any other console,teh power of the Sixaxis"

What a shame,I had hope on this game Oh well.