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Thursday, December 23, 2010

Mafia II: Joe's Adventure Review

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Mass Effect
PS3 vs. 360 Comparison Mafia II: Joe's Adventures PlayStation 3 #facebook-like {float:left;} Release Date: November 23, 2010 More Info

Also Known As: Mafia II --Joe's Adventures, Mafia 2 --Joe's Adventures
Also on: X360, PC
Genre: Action
Publisher: 2K Games
Developer: 2K Czech
M for Mature: Blood, Intense Violence Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs and Alcohol For more info visit the Mafia II: Joe's Adventures Profile » Game Highlights Review Images Walkthroughs Cheats All Articles Message Boards #Layer1, #Layer1 IMG {position:absolute; visibility: hidden; z-index:10;}

Mafia II: Joe's Adventure Review You can't go home again.showUSloc=(checkLocale('uk')||checkLocale('au'));document.writeln(showUSloc ? 'US, ' : ''); December 17, 2010December 17, 2010December 17, 2010by Greg MillerLATEST IMAGES

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When Mafia II was originally released, I reviewed it and gave it a 7.0. I loved the story of the game -- the life and times of an up and coming gangster -- but the fetch quests, empty world, and dated cover/shooting mechanics were a real turnoff. Mafia II: Joe's Adventures starts on a high note and seems like it's going to address those issues, but then it sinks back into the same old same old.

A meaty piece of DLC, Joe's Adventures drops you in the shoes of -- you guessed it -- Joe Barbaro, the best friend of the former main character Vito. If you played Mafia II, you know Vito goes to the big house for part of the game, and that's where Joe's Adventures is set. You'll play as the fat man as you set out to exact revenge on the stool pigeon that sent Vito away, and then you'll just continue doing tasks for the seedy individuals you work for as the story unfolds.

Don't mess with the fat man.
Some of these are cool and shake up the Mafia II formula. At one point, you're driving across a frozen lake as you chase your target. You need to zig and zag around gaps in the ice and catch up to the bad guy. Trouble is, when you do catch him, he just sits in the car like a spud and lets you cap him in the head. He doesn't fight or react like a real person.

The DLC is stuck not knowing what it really wants to do -- it's somewhere between the disc-based game and the arcade DLC that has come before. I'd love to get a compelling Joe story that has some substance like the one told in the proper Mafia II game, but that doesn't happen here. We get a few cutscenes in the beginning of the game, but then you start getting the static screens that introduce missions with text -- the storytelling flair disappears. With the movie-like atmosphere removed, you're just running to floating "mission start" icons on the screen, getting your mission and trying to get it done before the timer runs out.

It's boring. Joe isn't getting the attention Vito's tale did. While that was OK for the arcade-style "Jimmy" DLC missions that came before, it's a weird juxtaposition now.

With the story feeling, well, nonexistent, you're left to rely on Mafia II's stiff gameplay. Again, just like the retail game, you have forced stealth missions, stupid AI that will chase you into shops and then forget about you, and really dated cover and shoot mechanics. There are still cars to drive and oldies to listen to, but it all feels like well-worn territory.

Closing CommentsThe problem with Mafia II: Joe's Adventures is rather simple -- there's nothing compelling about it. Mafia II's strength was its story, but Joe's Adventures strips that away. Soon, you're just a hefty man running around doing missions for some silly reason or another. It's a letdown and I never felt like I had to know what was going to happen next.IGN Ratings for Mafia II: Joe's Adventures (PS3)RatingDescriptionout of 10Click here for ratings guide6.0OVERALLOkay(out of 10)See All Mafia II: Joe's Adventures (PS3) Reader ReviewsWrite Your Own Review of Mafia II: Joe's Adventures (PS3)More PlayStation 3 ReviewsLatest PlayStation 3 News, Reviews, and VideosSHARE THIS ARTICLE Hottest PlayStation 3 Reviews DanceDanceRevolution Review
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Game Details

Mafia II: Joe's AdventuresMafia II: Joe's AdventuresMafia II: Joe's AdventuresPublished by: 2K GamesPublished by: 2K GamesPublished by: 2K GamesDeveloped by: 2K CzechDeveloped by: 2K CzechDeveloped by: 2K CzechGenre: ActionRelease Date:
US:November 23, 2010
Release Date:
Europe:November 24, 2010Release Date:
Australia:November 24, 2010M for Mature: Blood, Intense Violence Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs and AlcoholPEGI: RPOFLC: MA15+Also Available On: Xbox 360, PC

var gobId="86664"; 6.0 IGN SCORE "Okay" 6.9 Press Score - 3 Ratings 6.6Reader Score - 3 Ratings 0.0 0.0 Optional:
Write a full review #afc-300w {clear:right; width: 300px; height: auto; margin:12px 0; overflow: hidden; background: #fff;}#afc-300w .afc-hdr {color: #73767B; text-align: right; margin: 0; padding: 0;}#afc-300w .afc-ad {float:left; width:100%;}#afc-300w p {margin: 0; padding:6px; font:normal 12px arial,helvetica,sans-serif; line-height:18.12px; color:#000;}#afc-300w a {font-size:11px; }#afc-300w a:first-child {font-size:13px; }Sponsored LinksAround the NetworkMafia II: Joe's Advent... at IGNMafia II: Joe's Advent... at GameSpyMafia II: Joe's Advent... at GameStats Latest PlayStation 3 ReviewsDanceDanceRevolution ReviewMafia II: Joe's Adventure ReviewX-Men Arcade ReviewPlayStation 3 Bluetooth Headset 2.0 ReviewPinball FX2: Marvel Pinball Review #Layer1, #Layer1 IMG {position:absolute; visibility: hidden; z-index:10;}

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Tuesday, December 21, 2010

DanceDanceRevolution Review

DanceDanceRevolution Review - PlayStation 3 Review at IGN if(typeof _comscoreGuard == 'undefined') { document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https://sb" : "http://b") + ".scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js' %3E%3C/script%3E")); }if(typeof _comscoreGuard == 'undefined') { COMSCORE.beacon({ c1:2, c2:"3000068", c3:"", c4:"http://ps3.ign.com/articles/114/1140922p1.html", c5:"", c6:"", c15:"" }); var _comscoreGuard = new Object(); } if(typeof _omniGuard == 'undefined') { document.write('#Layer1, #Layer1 IMG {position:absolute; visibility: hidden; z-index:10;}

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Mass Effect
PS3 vs. 360 Comparison Dance Dance Revolution PlayStation 3 #facebook-like {float:left;} Release Date: November 16, 2010 More Info

Also Known As: DDR, Dance Dance Revolution (Game & Dance Pad), DanceDanceRevolution 2010 Bundle
Also on: X360
Genre: Music
Publisher: Konami
E10+ for Everyone 10+: Mild Lyrics, Suggestive Themes For more info visit the Dance Dance Revolution Profile » Game Highlights Review Videos Images Walkthroughs Cheats All Articles Message Boards #Layer1, #Layer1 IMG {position:absolute; visibility: hidden; z-index:10;}

DanceDanceRevolution ReviewWill it set the dancing world on fire?showUSloc=(checkLocale('uk')||checkLocale('au'));document.writeln(showUSloc ? 'US, ' : ''); December 17, 2010December 17, 2010December 17, 2010by Ryan ClementsLATEST IMAGES

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When I think of arcades, I think of DanceDanceRevolution (DDR). Its intense, rhythm-based gameplay not only helped uncoordinated gamers exercise, but it also served as our window into the delightful oddities found in Japan's gaming world. DDR has made an appearance on a number of consoles and now players will be able to dance frantically with DanceDanceRevolution on the PlayStation 3.

The newest title in the sweat-inducing line of games offers more of the same gameplay we've come to expect, along with the inclusion of Move support. It's a polished game with a diverse track list, but some odd issues hold back an otherwise enjoyable experience. It's also based on an outdated formula that's been surpassed by other dance games available today.

DanceDanceRevolution uses the same formula as its predecessors: directional arrows flow up the screen towards a "Step Zone" at the top of the display. When the arrow crosses the corresponding marker in the Step Zone, players step on the indicated part of the included dance mat. The more accurate steps a player completes, the more points they earn. As players complete the steps, the Groove Gauge fills up. When it caps off, players can activate the Groove Trigger, which adds a multiplier to the points they earn. This is all traditional stuff for DanceDanceRevolution, and it still works.

Watch 'Plastic Beach'
The track list is a sticking point for DDR enthusiasts, and the tunes in this DanceDanceRevolution make for an interesting set. A number of popular American songs like Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" and Paramore's "crushcrushcrush" are included alongside several older tracks like "Celebration" by Kool and the Gang. Most are fun to dance to and work well with DanceDanceRevolution's style. A handful of the high-intensity Japanese songs that DDR veterans love also make the cut, but most of the initial tracks are American. Luckily, more tracks can be unlocked on top of the initial 30.

Incorporating your upper body is where Move support comes into play. The Step & Move mode tasks players with hitting on-screen targets with the Move controller while dancing normally. There are four targets -- one in each corner of the screen. When the icon for the upper right target appears, players move their hand towards that target in time with the music. This mode adds an extra layer to the experience, which is refreshing for long-time DDR players that want a new challenge. The Step & Move gameplay is similar to the motion functionality found in previous Wii versions of DanceDanceRevolution, but it's more accurate here.

Overall, I was happy with Step & Move. It's more difficult than the traditional modes, and hitting the on-screen targets is a fine way to mix things up.

For those bored of the typical modes, the additional ones are a good way to mix it up. The Club Mode strings a set of songs together with special challenges tossed in to keep players on their toes (no pun intended). The Dance Off game type pits multiple players against one another in an attempt to own the most arrows in a song. This is done by taking turns on a looped track and working to be the most accurate dancer of the bunch. IGN Editor Jack DeVries and I played through this mode and enjoyed it because it brings a more immediate competition to the formula. It's about as close to a dance battle as you're going to get here.

Both Club and Dance Off are appreciated, but I'm especially happy with the included tutorials. This was a smart idea on the developers' part to bring in newcomers, and giving players the ability to practice songs (or parts of songs) at a slower pace is invaluable.

You go, girl.
You'll need to slow down songs and practice, too, because DanceDanceRevolution has some issues that make it occasionally brutal. There's a massive difficulty spike between the Basic and Difficult settings. On Basic, things are way too easy for me, but jumping to Difficult seems steeper than it should be -- and Difficult isn't even the hardest setting available. Also mindboggling is the lack of a pause button. Perhaps there's a secret pause feature that I'm not aware of, but no button on my mat or controller paused the game. Oversight? I'd say so.

Along with difficulty and interface, the thing that holds DanceDanceRevolution back the most is its age. This is largely the same game we've seen for years. This is a good thing for those that have happily followed it, but I personally want something more out of a dance game. The tech has evolved to a point where we don't necessarily need to follow a set of four arrows to "dance." There's more realistic ways to bring dancing into games. The Kinect title Dance Central, which involves real dancing with no peripherals, makes dance pad games feel antiquated.