Arthur Gies
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Writing For
IGNLatest Reviews
While Deus Ex: Human Revolution can't be the revelation that Deus Ex was in 2000, it's an achievement nonetheless. It's a visionary, considered piece of work, and while my thoughts drift to the things that could have been and the compromises made due to the possibilities of video games in 2011, they're just as quick to consider playing through it again. Human Revolution is a smart, rewarding piece of transhumanist noir that does justice not just to Deus Ex, but to the fiction that inspired it.
Sniper: Ghost Warrior on PS3 is even more disappointing than its sister releases last year. The feeling of missed potential and lack of polish is sharper given the additional year of development time. It looks and runs worse, and fails to address the hyper-linear level design that doomed the original release to the bargain bin. It’s the rare example of a definitive version that only brings into sharper focus why the original failed.
Despite those complaints, Crysis 2 succeeds. It’s a beautiful, engrossing experience that avoids the anemic, scripted playbook made law by the 500 pound shooter gorilla. It plays well, encourages creative problem-solving, and confidently delivers a series of escalating and changing encounters and scenarios that will push you to think in a way few shooters have in an era of increasingly funneled experiences. While Crysis 2 loses its footing during a few odd moments, Crytek more than delivers on the promise of their previous games.
Bulletstorm demonstrates the value of "why" for action games. Taken out of the context of its fiction, People Can Fly would have something fun but forgettable on their hands, but the way Bulletstorm fits together results in something cool and memorable. Multiplayer failings notwithstanding, Bulletstorm shines as a single-player shooter. Despite its crass humor and wang-flinging bravado, it's got some real character and heart to it. I'm not happy about the story's sequel-bait belly flop of an ending, but I'm excited to see where Grayson and Bulletstorm go next.