Judge Dredd vs Death (Xbox)
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I narrowly avoided an embarassing encounter a fortnight ago. I had the good fortune to chat to Jason Kingsley, the head of Rebellion Games, at the Edinburgh International Games Festival. I happily told him I had bought myself a copy of his latest title and was looking forward to playing it soon. Had I met him now I would be in a dashed awkard position if he asked me what I thought of it!
I don't know if it is the bland textures or the sluggish controls but it just fails to engage me. I know I will plug on through, but it has turned out to be a peculiarly joyless experience. God knows they have some terrific IP and some of the Mega City advertising hoardings are laugh out loud funny, but there is simply no magic. The damned thing is there isn't anything particularly wrong with it, it just doesn't gel. How frustrating it must be to a developer who can manifestly see the problem, but is at a loss how to inject that certain something.
Three levels in is probably not quite the place to cast judgement, but at present I can see that it thourougly deserves Edge's lack-lustre 5.
ONE WEEK LATER - Well I can't say that I have really changed my opinion, but I have to wonder why the saved all the best till last. The final few levels are more assured in design, but maybe less interesting to play. The geometry in the Deadworld level in particular are worthy of note. Even then, in the final skeleton bound arena, the gameplay is such that you don't get the chance to step back and enjoy the scenery.
Lighting is good and a very cartoony set of shaders build on the comic book heritage, but where the action should be larger than life, I am just frustrated by the slow speed of the Judge and the super-fast reflexes of the enemies. That and the rather flimsy feel of the weapons means you feel more of a desk jockey than a kick-arse lawman.
Overall, nice try, but not there yet. Overly linear and lumpy game play makes for a missed opportunity. Pity.
gameFAQs
I narrowly avoided an embarassing encounter a fortnight ago. I had the good fortune to chat to Jason Kingsley, the head of Rebellion Games, at the Edinburgh International Games Festival. I happily told him I had bought myself a copy of his latest title and was looking forward to playing it soon. Had I met him now I would be in a dashed awkard position if he asked me what I thought of it!
I don't know if it is the bland textures or the sluggish controls but it just fails to engage me. I know I will plug on through, but it has turned out to be a peculiarly joyless experience. God knows they have some terrific IP and some of the Mega City advertising hoardings are laugh out loud funny, but there is simply no magic. The damned thing is there isn't anything particularly wrong with it, it just doesn't gel. How frustrating it must be to a developer who can manifestly see the problem, but is at a loss how to inject that certain something.
Three levels in is probably not quite the place to cast judgement, but at present I can see that it thourougly deserves Edge's lack-lustre 5.
ONE WEEK LATER - Well I can't say that I have really changed my opinion, but I have to wonder why the saved all the best till last. The final few levels are more assured in design, but maybe less interesting to play. The geometry in the Deadworld level in particular are worthy of note. Even then, in the final skeleton bound arena, the gameplay is such that you don't get the chance to step back and enjoy the scenery.
Lighting is good and a very cartoony set of shaders build on the comic book heritage, but where the action should be larger than life, I am just frustrated by the slow speed of the Judge and the super-fast reflexes of the enemies. That and the rather flimsy feel of the weapons means you feel more of a desk jockey than a kick-arse lawman.
Overall, nice try, but not there yet. Overly linear and lumpy game play makes for a missed opportunity. Pity.
gameFAQs
August 30, 2004
