Probably because nobody expected this game to have single player at all, let alone a halfway playable one. The reviewer even admitted as much. I'm not a fanboy by any means, but even though it didn't turn out great I think credit was given for an effort here.
You can't really fault them for it. It's DICE we're talking about here, and their true talents lie in making the absolute best multiplayer shooters on the market. While I agree with your old-timey view of wanting a good SP campaign (hell I grew up with games like Half Life 1) you can't really expect a leopard to change its stripes.
I'll be giving the co-op campaign a whirl with my brother-in-law this weekend regardless.
Even though reviewing this game is pointless (you either will or won't buy it based on beta and the hype/rivalry), you did a good job nonetheless.
Now, if only we could get cross-platform compatibility. Most of my friends are playing the stupid Xbox version, after I dumped a ton of cash into a rig to play it maxed out. :(
Wow, what a trainwreck of a comment thread. I wasn't exactly thrilled with DA2, it really smacked of "rush job" and all but some of the blatant rage here towards Bioware and Felicia Day made me throw up in my mouth a bit. Just reminds me that this definitely isn't the Ars Technica community.
BTW, SWTOR is fantastic, The Guild is hilarious, and haters gonna hate.
@DockenWS82 I love how WB didn't even let PC gamers know of the delay until less than a week before the 18th. On top of that, they're launching the PC version a week after Skyrim comes out. It's almost like they WANT PC gamers to ignore this title. What a waste.
If my fiancee didn't get the free code with her GTX580, I probably wouldn't even bother. So tired of PC gamers being treated like second-class citizens.
Sorry, but this guy should have never been given a beta key. He pretty much went into this review expecting to hate the game, and it's kind of obvious he hates every other Bioware game. What a waste of time.
Honestly, did you really expect a 100% free-world type of game based on every other Bioware title? No, their emphasis is and always will be on story. That said, this game does a great job getting you into the universe, and as "canned" as you think the dialogue response options are they give you a lot more immersion and connection to your character than WoW, AoC or any other previous MMO has.
SWTOR has its flaws, but this reviewer really failed to touch on them while completely downplaying its myriad strengths.
I thought it was a decent, solid shooter. The plot was good enough, if a little predictable (even if the ending was horrible and an obvious sequel setup) and I enjoyed every part of the game except the last boss (seriously, a 5-minute quicktime event?). I thought the characters, particularly the Warboss, were done well enough to advance the plot, if not develop feelings for them on a level with say, Mass Effect. Oh, and the sound design was EXCELLENT...the bolters, chainsword, melta/plasma guns sounded proper and satisfying. One of the best bits of detail was the extra "thunk" sounds you got when your bolter was low on ammo, I wish more games had that.
That said, the single player was entirely too short, you got to use the jetpack entirely too few times, the textures were too low-res, and the overall experience wasn't worth the triple-A price. It was an obvious console port for us PC players and prone to the failings that entails. If you haven't picked this up yet, wait for a Steam sale.
Hrrrm.....PC version on a stable platform, versus PS3 (also known as 30-minute install) version on a platform that's been hacked more times than the Gibson. Why are you guys focusing on the PSN version?
So I got up 20 minutes earlier than usual to download this puppy. Of course when I get to the BF3 "beta page" there isn't a link to it. In fact there isn't a link to EA's Origin page anywhere on that site. I had to GOOGLE it. Stay classy.
Once I got to the Origin site, tried to log in with Firefox to get the Origin installer and..."service temporarily not available" repeatedly. Had NoScript temporarily allow all their bullcrap ad networks, same result. Finally decide to try IE, and it works. Really?!?
Anyways, downloaded the Oirign client at a speedy 2MB/s, install that puppy, grab the BF3 beta and...600Kbps. Cue Price Is Right fail horns. So much for getting a game in before work. Just wanted to gripe about how stupid and ridiculous their setup is for getting this beta.
Battlefield 3 review: Squad score bonus
Oct 24th 2011 10:05AM (Joystiq)Probably because nobody expected this game to have single player at all, let alone a halfway playable one. The reviewer even admitted as much. I'm not a fanboy by any means, but even though it didn't turn out great I think credit was given for an effort here.
Battlefield 3 review: Squad score bonus
Oct 24th 2011 10:01AM (Joystiq)You can't really fault them for it. It's DICE we're talking about here, and their true talents lie in making the absolute best multiplayer shooters on the market. While I agree with your old-timey view of wanting a good SP campaign (hell I grew up with games like Half Life 1) you can't really expect a leopard to change its stripes.
I'll be giving the co-op campaign a whirl with my brother-in-law this weekend regardless.
Battlefield 3 review: Squad score bonus
Oct 24th 2011 9:57AM (Joystiq)Now, if only we could get cross-platform compatibility. Most of my friends are playing the stupid Xbox version, after I dumped a ton of cash into a rig to play it maxed out. :(
Dragon Age 2 - Mark of the Assassin Review
Oct 21st 2011 12:07PM (Joystiq)BTW, SWTOR is fantastic, The Guild is hilarious, and haters gonna hate.
Metareview: Batman: Arkham City
Oct 20th 2011 4:39PM (Joystiq)If my fiancee didn't get the free code with her GTX580, I probably wouldn't even bother. So tired of PC gamers being treated like second-class citizens.
A certain point of view: Jef's hands-on with SWTOR's beta
Oct 20th 2011 4:33PM (Massively)Honestly, did you really expect a 100% free-world type of game based on every other Bioware title? No, their emphasis is and always will be on story. That said, this game does a great job getting you into the universe, and as "canned" as you think the dialogue response options are they give you a lot more immersion and connection to your character than WoW, AoC or any other previous MMO has.
SWTOR has its flaws, but this reviewer really failed to touch on them while completely downplaying its myriad strengths.
Relic reflects on Warhammer 40K: Space Marine reception
Oct 13th 2011 9:27AM (Joystiq)That said, the single player was entirely too short, you got to use the jetpack entirely too few times, the textures were too low-res, and the overall experience wasn't worth the triple-A price. It was an obvious console port for us PC players and prone to the failings that entails. If you haven't picked this up yet, wait for a Steam sale.
Payday: The Heist delayed to 'later this month'
Oct 4th 2011 12:09PM (Joystiq)Syndicate trailer shows off Starbreeze's vision
Sep 29th 2011 10:05AM (Joystiq)Battlefield 3 beta now available to the masses
Sep 29th 2011 9:58AM (Joystiq)Once I got to the Origin site, tried to log in with Firefox to get the Origin installer and..."service temporarily not available" repeatedly. Had NoScript temporarily allow all their bullcrap ad networks, same result. Finally decide to try IE, and it works. Really?!?
Anyways, downloaded the Oirign client at a speedy 2MB/s, install that puppy, grab the BF3 beta and...600Kbps. Cue Price Is Right fail horns. So much for getting a game in before work. Just wanted to gripe about how stupid and ridiculous their setup is for getting this beta.