Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogobig.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Fable Heroes review: For every choice, no consequence]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/fable-heroes-review/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/fable-heroes-review/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/fable-heroes-review/#comments ImageIn Fable Heroes, you and some friends take the role of cutesy Fable-based puppets, battling through a number of cookie-cutter levels on the couch or online. Put frankly, the game is a shameless abuse of the Fable property. The idea of a cartoonish hack-and-slash isn't necessarily a bad idea, if executed properly. Unfortunately, Fable Heroes struggles at its core concept.

Like most hack-and-slash games, the button scheme is fairly simple, featuring a light and heavy attack, along with a roll maneuver. You can open chests for various power-ups (some of dubious helpfulness) and there is a special move that none of my multiplayer party fully grasped. I knew how to do it, but for the life of me couldn't figure out when it was available. This led to rampant guesswork with limited success. The help section of the game didn't offer much assistance either. (Though it does include a 17-page description of all the power-up chests.)

Gallery: Fable Heroes (Marketplace, 3/4/12)

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JoystiqFable Heroes review: For every choice, no consequence originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 01 May 2012 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fable-heroesLionhead-Studiosmicrosoftxblaxboxxbox-livexbox-live-arcadeTue, 01 May 2012 17:45:00 EST<![CDATA['Everything's happening now:' Indie Game: The Movie at Sundance]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/everythings-happening-now-indie-game-the-movie-at-sundance/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/everythings-happening-now-indie-game-the-movie-at-sundance/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/everythings-happening-now-indie-game-the-movie-at-sundance/#comments In many ways, documentaries are not truly tools for documenting events. Instead, many documentaries choose to delve into the minds of their subjects, presenting not documentation, but something else entirely -- an up-close trip into the human psyche.

During one such moment from Indie Game: The Movie, which I caught at a screening at the Sundance film festival, game designer Phil Fish states that if he couldn't finish his long-awaited game Fez, he would commit suicide. The camera remains on him for an awkward moment, and the line draws a number of uncomfortable chuckles from the audience. He seems to rethink his outrageous statement and then states once more: "I will kill myself."

This attitude for the most part represents the majority of the film. Focusing primarily on the development and production of Fez and Super Meat Boy, Indie Game is really the story of obsessed developers pouring their insecurities and hearts and souls into a game, without leaving much, if anything, for themselves.

Gallery: Indie Game: The Movie

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Joystiq'Everything's happening now:' Indie Game: The Movie at Sundance originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>braidedmund-mcmillenFezindie-game-the-moviejames-swirskyjon-blowjonathan-blowlisanne-pajotsundance-film-festivalsundance-film-festival-2012super-meat-boyteam-meattommy-refenesMon, 30 Jan 2012 18:01:00 EST