Movie Gamer - Tom
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Today Tom is:
As a student of Film and a fan of technology, I love the intersection of art and tech. I'm fascinated by the latest advances and what they're capable of: new ways to interact with games, new graphics to make the experience as immersive as possible, or simply the culmination of existing techniques.
These concepts are unique to video games, but I'm also interested in what games borrow from films and other art forms.
Read more about me.
Aliens vs. Predator 360 is a semi-sequel to a comic adaptation of a film, and this identity confusion is evident throughout the game. The terror of playing as the hunted is underused, and the chance to actually play as the monsters is disappointing... read now
Dungeon Siege 3 is a middling hack 'n' slash adventure that fails to create a believable world. With even the most basic of fantasy films spending the majority of their budget on the creation of their world, it's an odd misstep for Dungeon Siege. Even the strong co-operative element can't quite make up for this... read now
The Force Unleashed II 360 buckles under the pressure. A few bright spots of imaginative spectacle fail to make up for the criminally short story, underdeveloped characters and low expectations of the player... read now
Splinter Cell: Conviction succeeds in making stealth games accessible, but loses something along the way. It apes Bond movies which themselves (more recently) reflect the Bourne franchise. While this grittier, more personal territory results in an intense singleplayer experience, the level of violence is troubling and often derivative... read now
F.3.A.R combines great action with neat co-op, but is let down by a nonsensical and incredibly brief storyline. Surprisingly, for a game with such a specific acronym, scares and tension play second fiddle to combat... read now
While far from perfect, X-Men Origins: Wolverine breaks preconception about movie tie-in videogames. Enjoyable combat and gruesome violence pay homage to the comic-book character, and not just the teen friendly movie version although it is ultimately let down by being too long, with overly repetitive enemies. .. read now
Kane and Lynch 2 is far better in theory than in practice. The concept is stylish, artistic, and subverts the shooter genre. Unfortunately, these elements don't match up to the competition. The result is an incredibly short game that still feels too long... read now
Dead Space borrows classic horror movie elements, but its clever approach to interface and the lack of cut scenes create something far more immersive, intense and, ultimately, scary. Whereas in horror movies we share the nightmare, in Dead Space we live it. .. read now
Mafia 2 is a sprawling epic: a tale of betrayal, revenge, the American Dream, friendship and family. The game plays a little like an interactive movie, taking cues from The Godfather and Goodfellas, but never reaches the same heights due to its hotchpotch of gameplay. .. read now
Singularity is good, but borrows too heavily from elsewhere. Echoes of Dead Space, BioShock and Half-life 2 leave a distinct feeling of deja vu. The moments that really stayed with me after playing were those that capitalised on its B-Movie storyline, adventurous gameplay and standout set-pieces. .. read now
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