Splatterhouse is a new game in Namco's older series of games originally released from 1988-1993. It was released on both PS3 and Xbox 360 and is now available at a much lower MSRP of $29.99 instead of it's debut price of $59.99.
Graphically, both versions are identical. They both run with a terribly inconsistent frame rate and panning even slightly left or right results in large frame rate drops. They are v-synced, thankfully, but it's very clear this engine has not been optimized very well. Both versions are tied for graphics.
For sound, the 360 version gets DD 5.1 while the PS3 gets DD5.1 PCM. Oddly enough, both mixes sound the same with some slightly lower default sound levels on the PS3. Technically, the PS3 wins this category with it's uncompressed sound.
Gameplay is also identical across both platforms. The game responds well to command inputs. I could not detect any delay from the controls on either system so your buying preference relies on which controller form factor is most pleasing to you. Again, both versions are tied for this caregory.
The PS3 is the leading purchase winner with the Xbox version lagging only due to sound.
I'm sure you're wondering why I've decided to comment on this game. It was largely ignored during it's initial run and the franchise has always been a bit obscure. I only purchased it because of it's reduced price and because it features all three of the previous game emulated. Oddly enough, I ended up enjoying the new game quite a bit even though it actively hits all the wrong cords of game design; the camera pans too slowly, enemies will often move out of camera view, enemies constantly hit you from behind, hit detection is suspect (on the 2D levels), you can potentially paint yourself into an impassable corner if you don't upgrade the right moves, and some enemy animations run too long and are invincible. Yes, almost everything that game players hate this game does.
However, the game is still rather fun. The challenge level is fairly high on a first playthough, the script is witty, and the additional moves you upgrade to make you feel more and more powerful. It's most like Dante's Inferno except less refined but certainly not reaching the levels of Bayonetta or Devil May Cry. At this new price point, though, the fun outweighs the investment and I've using this game as a small break from my other more serious games. I would recommend a purchase or a rental for a good afternoon of bloody fun.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Friday, November 25, 2011
Rayman Origins
Rayman Origins is available on all three home consoles and features gameplay that is most comparable to the first game in 1995. It is also the first game to be built using Ubisoft's UbiArt engine.
On Xbox 360 and PS3 the game features a very crisp 720p image while the Wii features a very pleasant 480p image. All versions of the game run at a constant 60 fps without the slightest frame-drop or screen-tear. Even with multiple characters, layers of scrolling, and effects running the engine never faltered on any of the platforms.
Graphically, the 360 and PS3 version are identical; there were times where I would switch the video input back and fourth and would pick up the wrong controller because I was confused which feed was running. Neither system had the normal quirks associated with other cross-platform titles. The Wii version, of course, runs only at 480p but is still quite a sight to behold. No matter which version you play, you are getting the best performance available so there are no clear winners in this category.
For sound, we get the normal platform separation. The 360 features Dolby Digital 5.1, the PS3 gets up to Dolby Digital 7.1 PCM, and the Wii has Dolby 5.1 ProLogic IIx support. Essentially, the maximum support has been given to the hardware's capability. The PS3 wins the sound category here.
Gameplay, much like the graphics, are also identical. There isn't a clear winner in this category, either, so it comes down to personal preference which form factor is most pleasing to your hands. For the record, I prefer to use the Wii's Classic Controller Pro if given the choice since this is a strictly digital-controlling game. That being said, it's a three way tie for gameplay.
Rayman Origins the single most adept cross-platform game released. The PS3 version edges out the other version by virtue of it's maximum supported sound capability. It doesn't matter which version you purchase, though, as you will be receiving a marvelous, marvelous game experience. I would high recommend you buy this game.
On Xbox 360 and PS3 the game features a very crisp 720p image while the Wii features a very pleasant 480p image. All versions of the game run at a constant 60 fps without the slightest frame-drop or screen-tear. Even with multiple characters, layers of scrolling, and effects running the engine never faltered on any of the platforms.
Graphically, the 360 and PS3 version are identical; there were times where I would switch the video input back and fourth and would pick up the wrong controller because I was confused which feed was running. Neither system had the normal quirks associated with other cross-platform titles. The Wii version, of course, runs only at 480p but is still quite a sight to behold. No matter which version you play, you are getting the best performance available so there are no clear winners in this category.
For sound, we get the normal platform separation. The 360 features Dolby Digital 5.1, the PS3 gets up to Dolby Digital 7.1 PCM, and the Wii has Dolby 5.1 ProLogic IIx support. Essentially, the maximum support has been given to the hardware's capability. The PS3 wins the sound category here.
Gameplay, much like the graphics, are also identical. There isn't a clear winner in this category, either, so it comes down to personal preference which form factor is most pleasing to your hands. For the record, I prefer to use the Wii's Classic Controller Pro if given the choice since this is a strictly digital-controlling game. That being said, it's a three way tie for gameplay.
Rayman Origins the single most adept cross-platform game released. The PS3 version edges out the other version by virtue of it's maximum supported sound capability. It doesn't matter which version you purchase, though, as you will be receiving a marvelous, marvelous game experience. I would high recommend you buy this game.
Monday, November 21, 2011
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Skyward Sword isn't a multi-platform release, obviously, but it's so good that I'll forgo my normal cross platform comparison focus. Stop reading this and buy this game! If you don't already own a Wii, Target will be featuring a Wii with the Collector's Edition of Skyward Sword for $149.99 on black friday. Make use of this unique offer and play this game.
Skyward Sword is another game in Nintendo's Legend of Zelda series. This series has had mutliple games spanning multiple platforms though the number of games in the main console series have been few. Each game on the home consoles have actually been very unique amongst each other and this game continues the tradition by providing the very best implementation of motion controls and the most plot of any previous game.
The game's art resembles something out of an anime and impressionistic watercolor. There isn't anything else like it on the market. The engine performs fairly well with some occasional drops in framerate. V-sync is, thankfully, enable like all other Nintendo produced games. The art manages to overcome the limitation of the hardware so it wasn't too distracting playing this game on an EDTV resolution.
The sound is Skyward Sword's largest improvement over previous games. A full orchestrated soundtrack has been implemented and it makes a world of difference. This feels like the most epic journey Link has ever partaken in and it's all due to the wonderful orchestration. Dolby Pro-Logic II support is active so you will receive the benefits of non-discreet surround sound. If you purchase the collector's edition it comes with a soundtrack sampling so I would highly recommend it for acquirement this bonus.
Gameplay is, quite frankly, perfect. The use of motion, pointing, and traditional stick controls are well executed and respond well once you understand the rules on how to perform motions. They aren't immediately intuitive like Metroid Prime's controls but you will quickly adapt to them. Just remember that keep your remote in a center position before you start a fight and move relative to that center. Hitting Down on the control pad also forces a recenter, so you can always pause the game to your item screen, point at the center, and hit down to recenter at any time.
Skyward Sword is a large, well written, and highly entertaining game. This game, along with Elder Scrolls: Skyrim, bookend a perfect year for adventure games with their opposite approaching to epic storytelling. Now go and buy this game!
Skyward Sword is another game in Nintendo's Legend of Zelda series. This series has had mutliple games spanning multiple platforms though the number of games in the main console series have been few. Each game on the home consoles have actually been very unique amongst each other and this game continues the tradition by providing the very best implementation of motion controls and the most plot of any previous game.
The game's art resembles something out of an anime and impressionistic watercolor. There isn't anything else like it on the market. The engine performs fairly well with some occasional drops in framerate. V-sync is, thankfully, enable like all other Nintendo produced games. The art manages to overcome the limitation of the hardware so it wasn't too distracting playing this game on an EDTV resolution.
The sound is Skyward Sword's largest improvement over previous games. A full orchestrated soundtrack has been implemented and it makes a world of difference. This feels like the most epic journey Link has ever partaken in and it's all due to the wonderful orchestration. Dolby Pro-Logic II support is active so you will receive the benefits of non-discreet surround sound. If you purchase the collector's edition it comes with a soundtrack sampling so I would highly recommend it for acquirement this bonus.
Gameplay is, quite frankly, perfect. The use of motion, pointing, and traditional stick controls are well executed and respond well once you understand the rules on how to perform motions. They aren't immediately intuitive like Metroid Prime's controls but you will quickly adapt to them. Just remember that keep your remote in a center position before you start a fight and move relative to that center. Hitting Down on the control pad also forces a recenter, so you can always pause the game to your item screen, point at the center, and hit down to recenter at any time.
Skyward Sword is a large, well written, and highly entertaining game. This game, along with Elder Scrolls: Skyrim, bookend a perfect year for adventure games with their opposite approaching to epic storytelling. Now go and buy this game!
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Saints Row The Third
Saints Row The Third is, naturally, the third game in the long running series from Volition. Though it's story and elements are over-the-top and immature it's gameplay is still firmly rooted in the traditions set up by Grand Theft Auto.
Graphically, we get much improved visuals from the previous game in the series but it's still not a very well optimized engine. You get a medium amount of detail up close but there is a steady supply of pop-in and the framerate frequently drops below 30 fps. I enabled v-sync for both versions because I am not a fan of screen tearing and would rather suffer some decreased performance. There are many high-intensity workloads running during the game so there will rarely be a time when things run smoothly. The PS3 version suffers from fits of poor performance quite a bit more than the 360 and it's visuals are not quite as crisp, either. Graphically, the 360 wins this contest by quite a bit.
For sound, the 360 supports Dolby Digital while the PS3 version supports PCM which is par for the course. Naturally, the PS3 wins the sound category with it's slightly higher fidelity.
Controller response is largely the same across both platforms though the PS3 suffers a little bit because of more frequent framedrops. The 360 wins this just by a tiny hair.
I know it seems like I've been largely negative but I would like to remind readers that this game is not about graphics and sound. It's about over-the-top scenarios and the freedom to explore the game's large world. In this case, the game easily succeeds and I recommend it highly for a purchase. The plot isn't as high a priority as the gameplay and that's where all games should focus. Saints Row The Third is fun even with it's underperforming engine.
Graphically, we get much improved visuals from the previous game in the series but it's still not a very well optimized engine. You get a medium amount of detail up close but there is a steady supply of pop-in and the framerate frequently drops below 30 fps. I enabled v-sync for both versions because I am not a fan of screen tearing and would rather suffer some decreased performance. There are many high-intensity workloads running during the game so there will rarely be a time when things run smoothly. The PS3 version suffers from fits of poor performance quite a bit more than the 360 and it's visuals are not quite as crisp, either. Graphically, the 360 wins this contest by quite a bit.
For sound, the 360 supports Dolby Digital while the PS3 version supports PCM which is par for the course. Naturally, the PS3 wins the sound category with it's slightly higher fidelity.
Controller response is largely the same across both platforms though the PS3 suffers a little bit because of more frequent framedrops. The 360 wins this just by a tiny hair.
I know it seems like I've been largely negative but I would like to remind readers that this game is not about graphics and sound. It's about over-the-top scenarios and the freedom to explore the game's large world. In this case, the game easily succeeds and I recommend it highly for a purchase. The plot isn't as high a priority as the gameplay and that's where all games should focus. Saints Row The Third is fun even with it's underperforming engine.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim
I suppose I don't need to headline that I am doing non-scientific cross-platform analysis in my titles anymore, so I will just start placing game names in the title from hereon.
Skyrim is the long awaited follow-up to Oblivion. Bethesda claims that their "new" engine, the Creation Engine, features improved animation, draw distance, and AI.
Perhaps this is true from the programmer's perspective but from the consumer end this game looks largely the same as Oblivion. There are many big, beautiful vistas and lots of little details in foliage ... to a point. Pop-in is still heavily present, texture quality is still all over the place, and the animation is still as stiff and awkward as ever. It's not as very good looking game compared to Rage or even Red Dead Revolver Redemption but it's also a game that is much more complex than either of those titles. The game still looks quite serviceable but it's certainly not going to turn any heads.
The PS3 and Xbox 360 games look quite similar. The PS3 image has a slightly higher gamma setting by default but it can make the image seem a little washed out. I should stress the "little" in that last sentence and you may prefer the lighter image in order to see more detail. This is fairly typical across both systems and it's a common denominator in most games.
Textures seem to look a bit sharper on the 360. There is just a slight bit of softness on the PS3 version. Draw distance on the 360 is just a little sprint ahead of the PS3 as well. Some areas have a little less extra detail in the PS3 version as well; there are just a few less branches and patches of grass. I stayed in single areas and approached it from different areas to see if it was just a matter of detail not being loaded in but it seems like it was a deliberate omission from the PS3's engine.
The PS3 requires an HDD install of files while the 360 version can be played straight from disc. It should be noted that, currently, there is a bug in the 360 version which can prevent high detail textures from loading when you install the entire game. The bug is eliminated when you run the game from disc so I would suggest to forgo an install until it's address.
That being said, the 360 version wins the graphic contest. With it's slightly longer draw distance and textures it edges out the PS3.
For sound, we once again find that the 360 supports 5.1 Dolby Digital while the PS3 can support up to 7.1 PCM. Skyrim has good use of the surround channels so the PS3 wins this quite easily.
Gameplay is where there can be a fairly significant difference between the two versions. The 360 version can have a bit of screen tearing during very busy scenes while the PS3 version will keep itself v-synced but sacrifice it's speed. In general, I prefer a game to keep it's v-sync. I find the tearing distracting much like gamers used to find sprite flicker distracting. In this particular case, though, the slowness isn't smooth as the screen still tries to update when you're panning from side to side resulting in a jerky movement. This directly affects your controller response times. In a game with this kind of methodical pacing, it isn't that much of a detriment, but it's not pleasant. The 360 version edges out on gameplay here just due to having a more consistent performance.
In the end, I'd recommend the 360 version of this game. Even though it doesn't feature 7.1 PCM, the overall game experience is just a little cleaner and smoother. Just remember not to install the game onto your HDD until further notice.
Skyrim is the long awaited follow-up to Oblivion. Bethesda claims that their "new" engine, the Creation Engine, features improved animation, draw distance, and AI.
Perhaps this is true from the programmer's perspective but from the consumer end this game looks largely the same as Oblivion. There are many big, beautiful vistas and lots of little details in foliage ... to a point. Pop-in is still heavily present, texture quality is still all over the place, and the animation is still as stiff and awkward as ever. It's not as very good looking game compared to Rage or even Red Dead Revolver Redemption but it's also a game that is much more complex than either of those titles. The game still looks quite serviceable but it's certainly not going to turn any heads.
The PS3 and Xbox 360 games look quite similar. The PS3 image has a slightly higher gamma setting by default but it can make the image seem a little washed out. I should stress the "little" in that last sentence and you may prefer the lighter image in order to see more detail. This is fairly typical across both systems and it's a common denominator in most games.
Textures seem to look a bit sharper on the 360. There is just a slight bit of softness on the PS3 version. Draw distance on the 360 is just a little sprint ahead of the PS3 as well. Some areas have a little less extra detail in the PS3 version as well; there are just a few less branches and patches of grass. I stayed in single areas and approached it from different areas to see if it was just a matter of detail not being loaded in but it seems like it was a deliberate omission from the PS3's engine.
The PS3 requires an HDD install of files while the 360 version can be played straight from disc. It should be noted that, currently, there is a bug in the 360 version which can prevent high detail textures from loading when you install the entire game. The bug is eliminated when you run the game from disc so I would suggest to forgo an install until it's address.
That being said, the 360 version wins the graphic contest. With it's slightly longer draw distance and textures it edges out the PS3.
For sound, we once again find that the 360 supports 5.1 Dolby Digital while the PS3 can support up to 7.1 PCM. Skyrim has good use of the surround channels so the PS3 wins this quite easily.
Gameplay is where there can be a fairly significant difference between the two versions. The 360 version can have a bit of screen tearing during very busy scenes while the PS3 version will keep itself v-synced but sacrifice it's speed. In general, I prefer a game to keep it's v-sync. I find the tearing distracting much like gamers used to find sprite flicker distracting. In this particular case, though, the slowness isn't smooth as the screen still tries to update when you're panning from side to side resulting in a jerky movement. This directly affects your controller response times. In a game with this kind of methodical pacing, it isn't that much of a detriment, but it's not pleasant. The 360 version edges out on gameplay here just due to having a more consistent performance.
In the end, I'd recommend the 360 version of this game. Even though it doesn't feature 7.1 PCM, the overall game experience is just a little cleaner and smoother. Just remember not to install the game onto your HDD until further notice.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Rage cross platform comparison
I've also had the opportunity to play both console version of Rage. The PS3 version comes on a single BD-ROM while the Xbox 360 version comes on 3 discs with one disc dedicated to the multiplayer content.
The PS3 requires a mandatory HD install, of course, while you may forgo an install with the Xbox 360 version. id recommends that users install the full game on the 360. Those without a HDD or for those who have only purchased a 4gig system are going to be at a disadvantage as your won't get the full performance from the game. For the purposes of this comparison, I didn't install any game discs, as I believe most users don't make a habit of doing so.
Since I only care about the single player campaign, I ran through the initial two hours on both platforms.
Graphically, both games look quite stunning. Both versions run at a very consistent 60fps. I did not detect any frames drops during my playtime. It's very impressive that a game with such large areas can run at such a high speed while still looking this good. Like games running the Unreal Engine 3, though, you will still notice some texture pop-in. It isn't quite as bad as it was with Halo or Gears of War but it still comes up often enough for you to notice even in the game's closed environments.
The PS3, as usual, suffers a bit from image clarity, though most people will not be able to tell without some close scrutiny. The 360 version is just a hair cleaner though some textures favor one system over the other. The 360 version also has less of an issue with texture pop-in but it's still very, very close in terms of update time. Here, the 360 wins in terms of overall visual quality.
For sound, you get the usual Dobly 5.1 for the 360 and 5.1 PCM for PS3. Here, the PS3 just edges out the 360 due to featuring uncompressed audio.
Game play is practically identical on both systems. I really didn't perceive any lag time in either version of the game. Even the unusually large dead zone most PS3 games have isn't as present on this game so it's just a matter of which controller you prefer. Personally, I like the 360 controller setup better.
In the end, Rage is just a tiny bit better on the 360. With it's slightly crisper image and slightly less texture pop-in it is the better experience for the campaign. The game looks especially good compared to both Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 or Battlefield 3.
Is the game worth playing? Well, when it's fun, it's very fun. The shooting is tight, the AI manages to be just smart enough while still being stupid enough to be enjoyable. The racing is a little uneven; I just wish the cars were a bit heavier as they tend to bounce around and spin a bit more than I'd like. I'd say if you could get it at a discount then it would be well worth your money.
The PS3 requires a mandatory HD install, of course, while you may forgo an install with the Xbox 360 version. id recommends that users install the full game on the 360. Those without a HDD or for those who have only purchased a 4gig system are going to be at a disadvantage as your won't get the full performance from the game. For the purposes of this comparison, I didn't install any game discs, as I believe most users don't make a habit of doing so.
Since I only care about the single player campaign, I ran through the initial two hours on both platforms.
Graphically, both games look quite stunning. Both versions run at a very consistent 60fps. I did not detect any frames drops during my playtime. It's very impressive that a game with such large areas can run at such a high speed while still looking this good. Like games running the Unreal Engine 3, though, you will still notice some texture pop-in. It isn't quite as bad as it was with Halo or Gears of War but it still comes up often enough for you to notice even in the game's closed environments.
The PS3, as usual, suffers a bit from image clarity, though most people will not be able to tell without some close scrutiny. The 360 version is just a hair cleaner though some textures favor one system over the other. The 360 version also has less of an issue with texture pop-in but it's still very, very close in terms of update time. Here, the 360 wins in terms of overall visual quality.
For sound, you get the usual Dobly 5.1 for the 360 and 5.1 PCM for PS3. Here, the PS3 just edges out the 360 due to featuring uncompressed audio.
Game play is practically identical on both systems. I really didn't perceive any lag time in either version of the game. Even the unusually large dead zone most PS3 games have isn't as present on this game so it's just a matter of which controller you prefer. Personally, I like the 360 controller setup better.
In the end, Rage is just a tiny bit better on the 360. With it's slightly crisper image and slightly less texture pop-in it is the better experience for the campaign. The game looks especially good compared to both Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 or Battlefield 3.
Is the game worth playing? Well, when it's fun, it's very fun. The shooting is tight, the AI manages to be just smart enough while still being stupid enough to be enjoyable. The racing is a little uneven; I just wish the cars were a bit heavier as they tend to bounce around and spin a bit more than I'd like. I'd say if you could get it at a discount then it would be well worth your money.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 cross platform comparison Update
After extensive playtime with both the PS3 and Wii versions of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, I have to give some solid commendations to the team at Treyarch for the Wii version.
Even though the visuals have suffered a fair amount, the gameplay is largely the same across all platforms. It is particularly impressive that the Wii can deliver the same single-player campaign experience. Infinity Ward's position that the Wii could not deliver the same experience is obviously false and a testament to either their inability or Treyarch's superiority.
I will, however, give a rather disapproving finger wagging to developers that continue to use such a low gamma setting. I understand most people put their TVs on Vivid or Sports settings and never bother to properly calibrate their set but it's a bit frustrating for those of us that do to have to make those changes every time we want to play a game. Brighten those levels up!
I also find it curious that the Wii version is quite a bit harder than the other versions. Enemies take much less damage than they do on the higher resolution versions. Even with added precision of the Wii remote, I found myself having to squeeze the trigger at least twice to take down a similar enemy.
In conclusion, the game has an enjoyable campaign mode and I would recommended at least a single playthrough. It's a loud, twisting roller coaster on all the platforms. Highly recommended in regards to the single player content.
Even though the visuals have suffered a fair amount, the gameplay is largely the same across all platforms. It is particularly impressive that the Wii can deliver the same single-player campaign experience. Infinity Ward's position that the Wii could not deliver the same experience is obviously false and a testament to either their inability or Treyarch's superiority.
I will, however, give a rather disapproving finger wagging to developers that continue to use such a low gamma setting. I understand most people put their TVs on Vivid or Sports settings and never bother to properly calibrate their set but it's a bit frustrating for those of us that do to have to make those changes every time we want to play a game. Brighten those levels up!
I also find it curious that the Wii version is quite a bit harder than the other versions. Enemies take much less damage than they do on the higher resolution versions. Even with added precision of the Wii remote, I found myself having to squeeze the trigger at least twice to take down a similar enemy.
In conclusion, the game has an enjoyable campaign mode and I would recommended at least a single playthrough. It's a loud, twisting roller coaster on all the platforms. Highly recommended in regards to the single player content.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Ticklist --public!!! philosophy
When I was 30 lbs heavier, others said I was fat
When I was 30 lbs lighter, others said I was anorexic
When I was 10 years younger, others said I was naive
When I was 10 years older, others said I was cynical
If they thought I was handsome, others called a flirt
If they thought I was ugly, others called me a creep
There will always be others that want to hate you
There will always be others to find an incident, a flaw, a reason
But you are the only one that can absolutely love you
Your light, your dark, your moments of levity, your days of tragedy
These are the things that lift you and guide
Love them and your head will shine above the clouds
--public!!! -audapostrophe
When I was 30 lbs lighter, others said I was anorexic
When I was 10 years younger, others said I was naive
When I was 10 years older, others said I was cynical
If they thought I was handsome, others called a flirt
If they thought I was ugly, others called me a creep
There will always be others that want to hate you
There will always be others to find an incident, a flaw, a reason
But you are the only one that can absolutely love you
Your light, your dark, your moments of levity, your days of tragedy
These are the things that lift you and guide
Love them and your head will shine above the clouds
--public!!! -audapostrophe
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 cross platform comparison
I've had the good fortune of experiencing all three of the home console versions of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. It's the benefit of having multiple tech-minded friends over for a short midnight launch party. The retail US price for both the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 versions are $59.99 while the Wii version is priced at $49.99. Like last year's Black Ops, all three versions are available on the same day.
Now, I'm not a professional reviewer but, thankfully, I have the same qualifications, spelling, and grammatical capacity as most reviewers in the field: none. So, with that, I'll give you my take on one of the year's biggest multi-platform games.
I'm only going to cover the single-player experience of the first three game levels. Yes, I know the perceived viewpoint from most reviewers is to dismiss the single player campaign as simple filler and write about the online multi-player experience. But I'm don't particularly enjoy online gaming in a player-vs-player setting. And, quite frankly, well over half of customers that purchase Modern Warfare 3 will never play the online portion of the game. The actual percentages vary from platform to platform, of course, but it's a staggering number of people. To dismiss the majority of the playerbase's only experience is a bit perplexing and I don't know why we tow the publisher's and developer's line that the true experience should only regard the multiplayer portion.
Since this is mainly a comparison article, I'm not really going to review the content itself. If you'd like my impression of whether or not the game is fun, I'll have to save that for another day when I can finish the campaign and give it a fair review.
Graphically, both the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of Modern Warfare 3 are very close featuring higher texture and polygon quality upscaled to mid/high-HD resolutions while the Wii version runs in low-HD. As always, I hesitate to call the Xbox and PS3 versions "High Definition" because they are, technically, not high definition games. Their native resolutions are sub-HD but they are upscaled by the system's hardware. It would be like calling an upscaled-DVD "high definition".
The Xbox version runs at the highest native resolution, followed closely by the PS3, and then the Wii. This follows the same pattern we saw from last year's Black Ops. Because of this, the Xbox version appears the cleanest and also benefits from higher gamma levels. The PS3 version appears slightly softer and the dark colors are just a bit more dark. The Wii version's default gamma is the darkest so I would suggest adjusting your television settings. The Xbox and PS3 versions run at 60 fps with the occasional screen resolution changes while the Wii version runs at 30 fps with some dropped frames. If you're wondering which is the "best" image between all three then the Xbox version comes out slighlty ahead of the other versions.
The game's audio is presented in Dolby 5.1 for the Xbox, up to 7.1 PCM for the PS3, and Dolby ProLic IIx for the Wii. All three versions sound quite fantastic and the rear channels are aggressively used throughout the game. Here, the "best" sound quality goes to the PS3 since it supports higher fidelity.
And now on to the most important part of this comparison: the control. All three versions share the same game script and feature the same levels. Yes, even the Wii version. Call of Duty is known for it's large set pieces and scripted checkpoint events so you won't be disappointed if you have been following the series from year to year. Due to the nature of the systems, the Xbox version features slightly faster response from it's controller with the PS3 version lagging a few nano-seconds behind. The dead zone is just a little larger in the PS3 version so that explains why it feels a little different. The Wii version, of course, uses a completely different control scheme and will be very comfortable to those that played Black Ops on the Wii, although you do have the option to use a Classic Controller. The PS3 version does not have Move compatibility which is a real shame considering how it enhanced both Killzone 3 and Resistance 3. The Xbox version does not feature any Kinect functionality, either. In the end, because of the pointer and motion functionality, the Wii features the "best" control.
Now, I know there are a number of whinecore gamers out there that are going to shout from their couches about my opinion regarding control. But, once you've gotten used to the pointer and motion controls it's very hard to go back to the cro-magnon days of analog sticks. The responsiveness is only bested by a keyboard and mouse interface but that isn't possible on any console version.
So, that's my brief synopsis of my experience with all three home console versions of Modern Warfare 3. Graphically, the Xbox 360 leads. The PS3 leads in audio. And, the Wii leads in control. I'd recommend a purchase of any version, quite frankly. It's quite a fun ride so far but I haven't finished the game so my opinion might change drastically in the next few days.
Now, I'm not a professional reviewer but, thankfully, I have the same qualifications, spelling, and grammatical capacity as most reviewers in the field: none. So, with that, I'll give you my take on one of the year's biggest multi-platform games.
I'm only going to cover the single-player experience of the first three game levels. Yes, I know the perceived viewpoint from most reviewers is to dismiss the single player campaign as simple filler and write about the online multi-player experience. But I'm don't particularly enjoy online gaming in a player-vs-player setting. And, quite frankly, well over half of customers that purchase Modern Warfare 3 will never play the online portion of the game. The actual percentages vary from platform to platform, of course, but it's a staggering number of people. To dismiss the majority of the playerbase's only experience is a bit perplexing and I don't know why we tow the publisher's and developer's line that the true experience should only regard the multiplayer portion.
Since this is mainly a comparison article, I'm not really going to review the content itself. If you'd like my impression of whether or not the game is fun, I'll have to save that for another day when I can finish the campaign and give it a fair review.
Graphically, both the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of Modern Warfare 3 are very close featuring higher texture and polygon quality upscaled to mid/high-HD resolutions while the Wii version runs in low-HD. As always, I hesitate to call the Xbox and PS3 versions "High Definition" because they are, technically, not high definition games. Their native resolutions are sub-HD but they are upscaled by the system's hardware. It would be like calling an upscaled-DVD "high definition".
The Xbox version runs at the highest native resolution, followed closely by the PS3, and then the Wii. This follows the same pattern we saw from last year's Black Ops. Because of this, the Xbox version appears the cleanest and also benefits from higher gamma levels. The PS3 version appears slightly softer and the dark colors are just a bit more dark. The Wii version's default gamma is the darkest so I would suggest adjusting your television settings. The Xbox and PS3 versions run at 60 fps with the occasional screen resolution changes while the Wii version runs at 30 fps with some dropped frames. If you're wondering which is the "best" image between all three then the Xbox version comes out slighlty ahead of the other versions.
The game's audio is presented in Dolby 5.1 for the Xbox, up to 7.1 PCM for the PS3, and Dolby ProLic IIx for the Wii. All three versions sound quite fantastic and the rear channels are aggressively used throughout the game. Here, the "best" sound quality goes to the PS3 since it supports higher fidelity.
And now on to the most important part of this comparison: the control. All three versions share the same game script and feature the same levels. Yes, even the Wii version. Call of Duty is known for it's large set pieces and scripted checkpoint events so you won't be disappointed if you have been following the series from year to year. Due to the nature of the systems, the Xbox version features slightly faster response from it's controller with the PS3 version lagging a few nano-seconds behind. The dead zone is just a little larger in the PS3 version so that explains why it feels a little different. The Wii version, of course, uses a completely different control scheme and will be very comfortable to those that played Black Ops on the Wii, although you do have the option to use a Classic Controller. The PS3 version does not have Move compatibility which is a real shame considering how it enhanced both Killzone 3 and Resistance 3. The Xbox version does not feature any Kinect functionality, either. In the end, because of the pointer and motion functionality, the Wii features the "best" control.
Now, I know there are a number of whinecore gamers out there that are going to shout from their couches about my opinion regarding control. But, once you've gotten used to the pointer and motion controls it's very hard to go back to the cro-magnon days of analog sticks. The responsiveness is only bested by a keyboard and mouse interface but that isn't possible on any console version.
So, that's my brief synopsis of my experience with all three home console versions of Modern Warfare 3. Graphically, the Xbox 360 leads. The PS3 leads in audio. And, the Wii leads in control. I'd recommend a purchase of any version, quite frankly. It's quite a fun ride so far but I haven't finished the game so my opinion might change drastically in the next few days.
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