twisty on 18/12/2003 at 22:28
As far as that ccgr site is concerned, does the world really need to get a religous perspective on computer games? wtf.
Slartybartfast on 19/12/2003 at 00:22
percentage scores are inherently ridiculous? so, what, there should be no score given at all?
ANY score is, inherently, a percentage. 8/10? 80%
3 stars out of 5 maximum? 60%
6 lucky lotus bananas out of 12? 50%
youre right about 80% being a silly average though (well, 60% in my favourite publication, but internet publications are much worse).
Primal on 19/12/2003 at 03:54
Quote:
Originally posted by BR796164 For the middle of 2000? I don't think so much.
Besides, he game had actually a bit too high hardware requirements for most computers at home at that time time. Something what happened again with DXIW.
The AI was perhaps notr the brightest, yet completely functional. Depends on what exact flaws of the AI you mean.
As I said, "from certain limited angles". Neither the AI nor the GFX were actually bad, but they really weren't pushing the technical boundaries of the day either.
Rogue Keeper on 19/12/2003 at 09:59
Hey, compare the DX graphics to Thief II, released in the same year.:sly:
Blackjack on 19/12/2003 at 10:17
Quote:
Originally posted by BR796164 Hey, compare the DX graphics to Thief II, released in the same year.:sly:
Indeed, although I love the art design in Thief 1 & 2, DX had far superior graphics to T2, technically speaking, with 32 bit colour, reflections, better water, etc. I preferred the overall immersiveness of the DarkEngine, largely owing to its awesome sound propagation, but it wasn't as pretty as DX. Sadly, neither ran too well on my old 8MB ATI Expert 98 card, lol.
Ayearepee on 19/12/2003 at 15:26
>>>>
percentage scores are inherently ridiculous? so, what, there should be no score given at all?
<<<<
That's a non-sequitur; it doesn't logically follow. Besides which, why score a game? The tone of the review should make it apparent whether the game is any good or not; Pauline Kael never felt the need to give 'Robocop' or 'Bonnie and Clyde' marks out of a hundred. Computer games reviewers use percentage scores because other computer games reviewers use percentage scores; nobody really likes them or knows what to do with them, but people feel strange without them.
Percentage scores make no sense in a creative context, because there's no way to judge something as complex and subjective as a computer game to the nearest hundredth of a point, and in any case what's the real-world difference between 84 and 85 per cent? Outside the world of computer games reviews - one populated by a higher percentage of the illiterate and statistics-obsessed than any other non-professional field with the exception of American sports - percentage scores are rightfully shunned.
If you must apply a number, five or ten stars are quite enough.
BlackCapedManX on 19/12/2003 at 19:33
but if you have a score out of 5, then essentially you're rounding to the nearest 20%, if you have a score out of 10 you're rounding to the nearest 10% etc.
You're arguing different subjects, Slartybartfast is saying that any fraction is a percentage and you're saying that you don't need to be so precise as having a score out of one hundred.
I agree with your point on not having a score at all however, as it makes sense not to need a "score" to judge a game, just because the game receives 5/5 (100% for those who are so inclined) stars doesn't mean that the game will appeal to everyone, it's the content of the game that is being reveiwed, and the "value" of the content is subjective, so applying a steadfast score to the game is more or less worthless in the objective sense.
LlamaGod on 19/12/2003 at 20:00
Deus Ex looked better than Thief because it used the Unreal engine, I think. Lots of smooth 32bit textures and random colored lights in that engine.
But the AI was laughably bad in Deus Ex...
I'd shoot guys in the head and they'd go 'WAS THAT THE WIND?' and after a second shot to kill, they just run like a goose. Another fun example is when I set off a security camera, it stopped shooting at me when I stepped behind a plant, and disengaged. Other good examples come from that review 'hey, we know where he is!'.
The "RPG Features" were mainly smoke and mirrors, too. Roleplaying without the Roleplaying, sorta. All they really did RP wise was 'You can hack the system over here and go in through the tunnel, or use the lockpick on the door and walk down the hall, or just break the window and climb in.'
The game's atmosphere and feel was pretty poor too, felt more like bland Matrix stuff instead of a fun cyberpunk. It was just current day with high-tech gear. Kinda boring..
One thing that always sorta irked me was the fact they didnt make the engine not render things that wernt in your view, which I think would of helped performance. Hell, even when I play Deus Ex today I get bits of lag at points, mainly because I can see the entire level from one point at times... It has the same fault Morrowind has, but atleast theres tools for Morrowind.
Liliel on 19/12/2003 at 21:15
well, some say the skills/augs system is deeply flawed with lots of useless choices. So are the weapon mods...
well Deus Ex looks better than Thief, it doesn't look really as good as the original Unreal...
oh, and I always think Firingsquad has some of the ebst game reviews. Their reviews comes later than most, but also more objective and balanced than most. Sometimes reviews from gamespot and ign could be really laughable, but not so with firingsquad, although sometimes I disagree with their opinions, I can see they almost always provide enough reasons and logics to back up their opinions...
ZylonBane on 19/12/2003 at 21:42
Quote:
Originally posted by LlamaGod The "RPG Features" were mainly smoke and mirrors, too. Roleplaying without the Roleplaying, sorta. All they really did RP wise was 'You can hack the system over here and go in through the tunnel, or use the lockpick on the door and walk down the hall, or just break the window and climb in.'
Right. As opposed to "real" RPGs where you face decisions like, "You can defeat the monster guarding this door, or.... leave."
:rolleyes:
