Raz Review: "Finally! An FPS with seamless RPG elements that keep the
gameplay fresh and interesting, AND a compelling story. It has some
very close ties to System Shock, a cult classic PC game. Placed in the
past instead of the future (circa 1959), you wander an underwater Art
Deco dystopia rife with corruption, greed, deception, amorality and
violence.
I won't spoil the game for you (since you absolutely
must go out and get it), but suffice to say genetic engineering is key.
There are so many facets to gameplay, including but not limited to
inventing your own ammo and upgrades, and making moral choices that
affect the course of the plot.
This in no way detracts from
the simple pleasure of unloading two rounds of buckshot into a
Splicer's occipital lobe, or using a gene-altering Plasmid to set him
on fire with pyrokinesis (whereupon he'll run around screaming and
setting other things on fire - great fun). Your genetic superpowers
aren't just for killing stuff, though; as with System Shock, there are
puzzles and secrets that can only be unlocked with certain abilities.
Also, in any given encounter, there's generally a number of ways to
approach the situation depending on your upgrades and disposition -
that's the sort of flexibility that makes for maximum replay value.
You'll
laugh, you'll cry, you'll jump, you'll shake your head in disbelief.
Most of all - you'll come away from it profoundly disturbed and
questioning the moral structure of society.
That's what I love
about games like this; they actually get you thinking beyond the game
itself. Ok, enough reviewing - go and get this game. Now. Right now."
Online: No
Rated: 8.5/10
PlayStation wowed gamers from day one, but developers managed to push the console much further - TechStomper tracks the progress made over the PS1's years at the top through five games that show how programmers and artists unlocked the legendary grey box's potential.
Look, I loved my PS1. Graphically though N64 delivered a better overall experience. The difference that gave PS1 an advantage was CD storage PS1 had some beautiful cut scenes, but in terms of graphical power N64 hands down was better. PS1 had WAY more GAMES though. I think Developers preferred the tstorage over squeezing everything onto a cartridge with VERY limited space!
GameCube same thing Nintendo went with storage that was limited, but had games using multiple disks. RE4 is one port that clearly showed GC advantage. Rouge Squadron 2 and Luigi's mansion were beautiful launch games. Again PlayStation didn't Limit developers storage space. Nintendo's mini discs were expensive, and developers went with PS2! PS2 I am pretty sure has the largest game library of all consoles. Maybe not if you in include the vast amount.of.shovel wear on current consoles.
After that ugh, Nintendo seems to have given up on graphical power. Switch 2 games look really good, but I am usually going to buy ports on PS5/Series X.
N64 had some stunning games, but a lot of the library ran poorly. PS1 games tended to hit a playable 30 more often, albeit with less complex geometry and less/no filtering of textures, and the inherent flaws in how PS1 rasterises graphics.
I played loads of both back in the day and I definitely preferred the solid geometry and smooth textures of N64.
PlayStation 1 Devs were so innovative back in the day utilising so many techniques to achieve the best results. I think this article needed to focus on the games that used pre-drawn backgrounds like Resident Evil, In Cold Blood and FF8 to produce visuals that surpassed anything at the time.
I think you are right and I might add in an honourable mentions to at least discuss pre-rendered backgrounds in the visual history of PS1. It was hugely important and should have been in there.
I was going to include Resident Evil for 1996 but I wanted to talk about a second-generation 3D engine versus Ridge Racer, and I also wanted to talk about Lara's animation.
I was also going to put FF8 for 1999 on the list, even wrote a sentence. But then I figured that Driver would say more about how far programmers (and artists) had come in getting the most from the console.
Could even do an 'alternative PS1 graphics' history. Focus on atypical presentations, like pre-rendered, 2D, BSP engines etc.
A grotesquely brilliant odyssey of feline eugenics, Mewgenics pairs deep DNA-driven mechanics with biting wit.
WWE 2K26 Ringside Pass introduces a battle pass system that could push the game’s total cost to $675, sparking major backlash from fans.
