Quick review of Duke Nukem Forever

It may have seemed like forever, but Duke Nukem Forever, the shooter game first announced in 1997, has finally arrived.

Take-Two Interactive Software Inc, which publishes the game, launched in Europe and Australia on Friday. The game makes its debut on Tuesday in the United States, Canada and Mexico for the PlayStation3, Xbox 360 and PC.

Despite the long wait, the game launched to tepid reception from critics. The website Metacritic.com, which aggregates reviews, gave the Xbox 360 version a score of 55 out of 100. The game did better on the PC with a "metascore" of 76 out of 100. There is no score currently available for the PS3 version.

After promising for years that the game would be released "when it's done," its developer 3D Realms closed up shop in 2009 citing lack of funding.

The game was resurrected by Randy Pitchford, the founder of Gearbox Software, the developer of Borderlands, which is also published by Take-Two.

Quick review of Duke Nukem Forever

It may have seemed like forever, but Duke Nukem Forever, the shooter game first announced in 1997, has finally arrived.

Take-Two Interactive Software Inc, which publishes the game, launched in Europe and Australia on Friday. The game makes its debut on Tuesday in the United States, Canada and Mexico for the PlayStation3, Xbox 360 and PC.

Despite the long wait, the game launched to tepid reception from critics. The website Metacritic.com, which aggregates reviews, gave the Xbox 360 version a score of 55 out of 100. The game did better on the PC with a "metascore" of 76 out of 100. There is no score currently available for the PS3 version.

After promising for years that the game would be released "when it's done," its developer 3D Realms closed up shop in 2009 citing lack of funding.

The game was resurrected by Randy Pitchford, the founder of Gearbox Software, the developer of Borderlands, which is also published by Take-Two.

Quick review of Duke Nukem Forever

It may have seemed like forever, but Duke Nukem Forever, the shooter game first announced in 1997, has finally arrived.

Take-Two Interactive Software Inc, which publishes the game, launched in Europe and Australia on Friday. The game makes its debut on Tuesday in the United States, Canada and Mexico for the PlayStation3, Xbox 360 and PC.

Despite the long wait, the game launched to tepid reception from critics. The website Metacritic.com, which aggregates reviews, gave the Xbox 360 version a score of 55 out of 100. The game did better on the PC with a "metascore" of 76 out of 100. There is no score currently available for the PS3 version.

After promising for years that the game would be released "when it's done," its developer 3D Realms closed up shop in 2009 citing lack of funding.

The game was resurrected by Randy Pitchford, the founder of Gearbox Software, the developer of Borderlands, which is also published by Take-Two.

Nintendo 3DS could use fresher games

Whether you're watching a Hollywood action movie in an Imax theatre or college hoops on a 3D TV, there's no denying the wow factor of current 3D technology. And the trend isn't lost on videogame companies - particularly Sony, which has been trumpeting the 3D environments of recent PlayStation3 games like Killzone 3.

Still, big-screen 3D isn't for everybody: Those of us with poor vision will probably never adjust to wearing 3D glasses on top of our prescription specs.

That's why Nintendo's announcement last year that it had created eyeglasses-free 3D was greeted with such enthusiasm. And its 3DS portable game machine (US$250) lives up to the hype, creating a convincing illusion of a third dimension beyond its 3.5in screen.


The most dazzling demonstration, which comes installed on the device, is AR Games. ("AR" stands for "augmented reality.") Place a card on a table, point the 3DS cameras at it - and a dragon bursts out of the flat surface. To shoot targets on the dragon, you have to move yourself around the card to find different angles.

You can also take 3D photos and add a variety of effects. Or you can incorporate your friends' images into Face Raiders, which morphs them onto a fleet of floating, whirling attack helicopters. Like AR Games, it's simple, but offers a promising glimpse of what we might expect from future 3DS software.

Nintendo has assembled a solid but derivative lineup of 18 games (US$40 each) to accompany the launch of the hardware. Almost all of them are based on familiar franchises, including Nintendo's own Pilotwings Resort, a lighthearted flying game, and Nintendogs + Cats, a lovable pet simulator.

The 3D effect does enhance sports games like EA Sports' Madden NFL Football and Namco Bandai's Ridge Racer 3D. But it feels superfluous in Capcom's Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition because its 3D angles tend to block your view; it's a good game, but "SF" fans will probably stick to the 2D perspective.

LucasArts' Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars delivers flashier 3D effects: In combat, enemies burst into Lego bricks that look like they're going to burst through the screen. For the most part, though, the game plays just as well in two dimensions.

It's easy enough to switch that extra dimension on and off, and I suspect many players will make frequent use of the device's 2D/3D slider. If you look away from the 3D screen, it takes a few seconds to readjust your eyes back to it. More significantly, my eyes got tired after about 10 minutes of 3D action, so I spent more time with it turned off.

So, if the games are just as playable in two dimensions, what's the point? The 3DS launch lineup doesn't answer that question, but surely some developers are plotting software that makes 3D more integral to gameplay.

Still fighting

Beyond 3D, the 3DS does sport several new features that will delight longtime players of Nintendo handhelds. The most welcome change is a circular thumb pad - at last! - that complements the traditional plus-sign-shaped directional pad.

The 3DS adds a motion sensor so you can tilt the device to control the action in games like Super Monkey Ball 3D. And a retractable stylus can be adjusted to your comfort level.

The whole package is only slightly thicker and heavier than 2008's DSi. The biggest drawback is battery life: If you have the screen set at maximum brightness, a charge lasts just three hours.

Before release, I was unable to try out the 3DS' wireless features, which encourage you to leave the device turned on - in sleep mode - while you carry it around. SpotPass will detect wireless hotspots and automatically download information and free software, Nintendo says.

StreetPass will detect other 3DS players and automatically transfer data such as Mii avatars between devices. And the Nintendo eShop, like the earlier model's DSi Shop, will let you buy and download new games, starting in May.

Nintendo's longtime dominance of handheld gaming has been threatened by the expanding presence of smartphones, especially Apple's iPhone.

It will probably take more than 3D technology to slow down the competition, so the eShop and the 3DS' other wireless goodies will be key.

What the 3DS demonstrates is that Nintendo isn't going to give up the portable market without a fight.

Nintendo 3DS could use fresher games

Whether you're watching a Hollywood action movie in an Imax theatre or college hoops on a 3D TV, there's no denying the wow factor of current 3D technology. And the trend isn't lost on videogame companies - particularly Sony, which has been trumpeting the 3D environments of recent PlayStation3 games like Killzone 3.

Still, big-screen 3D isn't for everybody: Those of us with poor vision will probably never adjust to wearing 3D glasses on top of our prescription specs.

That's why Nintendo's announcement last year that it had created eyeglasses-free 3D was greeted with such enthusiasm. And its 3DS portable game machine (US$250) lives up to the hype, creating a convincing illusion of a third dimension beyond its 3.5in screen.


The most dazzling demonstration, which comes installed on the device, is AR Games. ("AR" stands for "augmented reality.") Place a card on a table, point the 3DS cameras at it - and a dragon bursts out of the flat surface. To shoot targets on the dragon, you have to move yourself around the card to find different angles.

You can also take 3D photos and add a variety of effects. Or you can incorporate your friends' images into Face Raiders, which morphs them onto a fleet of floating, whirling attack helicopters. Like AR Games, it's simple, but offers a promising glimpse of what we might expect from future 3DS software.

Nintendo has assembled a solid but derivative lineup of 18 games (US$40 each) to accompany the launch of the hardware. Almost all of them are based on familiar franchises, including Nintendo's own Pilotwings Resort, a lighthearted flying game, and Nintendogs + Cats, a lovable pet simulator.

The 3D effect does enhance sports games like EA Sports' Madden NFL Football and Namco Bandai's Ridge Racer 3D. But it feels superfluous in Capcom's Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition because its 3D angles tend to block your view; it's a good game, but "SF" fans will probably stick to the 2D perspective.

LucasArts' Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars delivers flashier 3D effects: In combat, enemies burst into Lego bricks that look like they're going to burst through the screen. For the most part, though, the game plays just as well in two dimensions.

It's easy enough to switch that extra dimension on and off, and I suspect many players will make frequent use of the device's 2D/3D slider. If you look away from the 3D screen, it takes a few seconds to readjust your eyes back to it. More significantly, my eyes got tired after about 10 minutes of 3D action, so I spent more time with it turned off.

So, if the games are just as playable in two dimensions, what's the point? The 3DS launch lineup doesn't answer that question, but surely some developers are plotting software that makes 3D more integral to gameplay.

Still fighting

Beyond 3D, the 3DS does sport several new features that will delight longtime players of Nintendo handhelds. The most welcome change is a circular thumb pad - at last! - that complements the traditional plus-sign-shaped directional pad.

The 3DS adds a motion sensor so you can tilt the device to control the action in games like Super Monkey Ball 3D. And a retractable stylus can be adjusted to your comfort level.

The whole package is only slightly thicker and heavier than 2008's DSi. The biggest drawback is battery life: If you have the screen set at maximum brightness, a charge lasts just three hours.

Before release, I was unable to try out the 3DS' wireless features, which encourage you to leave the device turned on - in sleep mode - while you carry it around. SpotPass will detect wireless hotspots and automatically download information and free software, Nintendo says.

StreetPass will detect other 3DS players and automatically transfer data such as Mii avatars between devices. And the Nintendo eShop, like the earlier model's DSi Shop, will let you buy and download new games, starting in May.

Nintendo's longtime dominance of handheld gaming has been threatened by the expanding presence of smartphones, especially Apple's iPhone.

It will probably take more than 3D technology to slow down the competition, so the eShop and the 3DS' other wireless goodies will be key.

What the 3DS demonstrates is that Nintendo isn't going to give up the portable market without a fight.

Nintendo 3DS could use fresher games

Whether you're watching a Hollywood action movie in an Imax theatre or college hoops on a 3D TV, there's no denying the wow factor of current 3D technology. And the trend isn't lost on videogame companies - particularly Sony, which has been trumpeting the 3D environments of recent PlayStation3 games like Killzone 3.

Still, big-screen 3D isn't for everybody: Those of us with poor vision will probably never adjust to wearing 3D glasses on top of our prescription specs.

That's why Nintendo's announcement last year that it had created eyeglasses-free 3D was greeted with such enthusiasm. And its 3DS portable game machine (US$250) lives up to the hype, creating a convincing illusion of a third dimension beyond its 3.5in screen.


The most dazzling demonstration, which comes installed on the device, is AR Games. ("AR" stands for "augmented reality.") Place a card on a table, point the 3DS cameras at it - and a dragon bursts out of the flat surface. To shoot targets on the dragon, you have to move yourself around the card to find different angles.

You can also take 3D photos and add a variety of effects. Or you can incorporate your friends' images into Face Raiders, which morphs them onto a fleet of floating, whirling attack helicopters. Like AR Games, it's simple, but offers a promising glimpse of what we might expect from future 3DS software.

Nintendo has assembled a solid but derivative lineup of 18 games (US$40 each) to accompany the launch of the hardware. Almost all of them are based on familiar franchises, including Nintendo's own Pilotwings Resort, a lighthearted flying game, and Nintendogs + Cats, a lovable pet simulator.

The 3D effect does enhance sports games like EA Sports' Madden NFL Football and Namco Bandai's Ridge Racer 3D. But it feels superfluous in Capcom's Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition because its 3D angles tend to block your view; it's a good game, but "SF" fans will probably stick to the 2D perspective.

LucasArts' Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars delivers flashier 3D effects: In combat, enemies burst into Lego bricks that look like they're going to burst through the screen. For the most part, though, the game plays just as well in two dimensions.

It's easy enough to switch that extra dimension on and off, and I suspect many players will make frequent use of the device's 2D/3D slider. If you look away from the 3D screen, it takes a few seconds to readjust your eyes back to it. More significantly, my eyes got tired after about 10 minutes of 3D action, so I spent more time with it turned off.

So, if the games are just as playable in two dimensions, what's the point? The 3DS launch lineup doesn't answer that question, but surely some developers are plotting software that makes 3D more integral to gameplay.

Still fighting

Beyond 3D, the 3DS does sport several new features that will delight longtime players of Nintendo handhelds. The most welcome change is a circular thumb pad - at last! - that complements the traditional plus-sign-shaped directional pad.

The 3DS adds a motion sensor so you can tilt the device to control the action in games like Super Monkey Ball 3D. And a retractable stylus can be adjusted to your comfort level.

The whole package is only slightly thicker and heavier than 2008's DSi. The biggest drawback is battery life: If you have the screen set at maximum brightness, a charge lasts just three hours.

Before release, I was unable to try out the 3DS' wireless features, which encourage you to leave the device turned on - in sleep mode - while you carry it around. SpotPass will detect wireless hotspots and automatically download information and free software, Nintendo says.

StreetPass will detect other 3DS players and automatically transfer data such as Mii avatars between devices. And the Nintendo eShop, like the earlier model's DSi Shop, will let you buy and download new games, starting in May.

Nintendo's longtime dominance of handheld gaming has been threatened by the expanding presence of smartphones, especially Apple's iPhone.

It will probably take more than 3D technology to slow down the competition, so the eShop and the 3DS' other wireless goodies will be key.

What the 3DS demonstrates is that Nintendo isn't going to give up the portable market without a fight.

Sony delays the release date of its "Gran Turismo 5"

PUSHED BACK: Sony delays the release of Gran Turismo 5 again.

Sony expected to delay the global release of the latest version of its popular Gran Turismo car-racing game, which was due early next month, to later this year.

Gran Turismo 5 for the PlayStation3 videogame console was to hit US and European markets on Nov 2 and Japan the following day, but the release will now be "this holiday season," said Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

The delay is due to "production reasons," said Makiko Noda, a spokesman for the electronics giant's game unit, without elaborating.

She said it was not clear whether the release would be in time for "Black Friday," the day after US Thanksgiving in late November, and considered the biggest shopping day in the United States, the largest market for the game industry.

The Gran Turismo series is one of the biggest money makers for Sony's game business, having sold more than 56 million copies worldwide since making its debut in 1997.

The release of Gran Turismo 5 had already been delayed from March this year.

Japanese videogame rival Nintendo last month said that its hugely anticipated handheld 3DS console would miss the key Christmas season - a factor in the company sharply reducing its profit forecast for the year.

Sony delays the release date of its "Gran Turismo 5"

PUSHED BACK: Sony delays the release of Gran Turismo 5 again.

Sony expected to delay the global release of the latest version of its popular Gran Turismo car-racing game, which was due early next month, to later this year.

Gran Turismo 5 for the PlayStation3 videogame console was to hit US and European markets on Nov 2 and Japan the following day, but the release will now be "this holiday season," said Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

The delay is due to "production reasons," said Makiko Noda, a spokesman for the electronics giant's game unit, without elaborating.

She said it was not clear whether the release would be in time for "Black Friday," the day after US Thanksgiving in late November, and considered the biggest shopping day in the United States, the largest market for the game industry.

The Gran Turismo series is one of the biggest money makers for Sony's game business, having sold more than 56 million copies worldwide since making its debut in 1997.

The release of Gran Turismo 5 had already been delayed from March this year.

Japanese videogame rival Nintendo last month said that its hugely anticipated handheld 3DS console would miss the key Christmas season - a factor in the company sharply reducing its profit forecast for the year.

Sony delays the release date of its "Gran Turismo 5"

PUSHED BACK: Sony delays the release of Gran Turismo 5 again.

Sony expected to delay the global release of the latest version of its popular Gran Turismo car-racing game, which was due early next month, to later this year.

Gran Turismo 5 for the PlayStation3 videogame console was to hit US and European markets on Nov 2 and Japan the following day, but the release will now be "this holiday season," said Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

The delay is due to "production reasons," said Makiko Noda, a spokesman for the electronics giant's game unit, without elaborating.

She said it was not clear whether the release would be in time for "Black Friday," the day after US Thanksgiving in late November, and considered the biggest shopping day in the United States, the largest market for the game industry.

The Gran Turismo series is one of the biggest money makers for Sony's game business, having sold more than 56 million copies worldwide since making its debut in 1997.

The release of Gran Turismo 5 had already been delayed from March this year.

Japanese videogame rival Nintendo last month said that its hugely anticipated handheld 3DS console would miss the key Christmas season - a factor in the company sharply reducing its profit forecast for the year.

Singularity: A stitch in time - Reviewed

Use time as a weapon in this fast-paced first-person shooter.

NASTY: Aside from the Russians, you'll be fighting against horribly mutated creatures.

SINGULARITY puts you in the role of black ops operative, Nathaniel Renko, who has to investigate an abandoned Russian facility on the fictional island of Kartorga 12.

The mission inevitably goes bad and an alternate timeline is created where the Russians have taken over the world. It's up to you to find a way to restore the timeline.

You will spend much of your time exploring an abandoned research facility on Kartorga 12 and learn of its dark past from audio recordings which tell of a new element called E99 that allows time and space to be manipulated.

For the most part you will be in an altered 2010 reality but also get to travel back in time to 1955 to change history and save the world.

Presentation

The game uses the popular Unreal Engine 3 but it doesn't look great because the characters and ­buildings look bland.

Although uninspiring, it gives Kartorga 12 a dark and desolate atmosphere.

DESOLATE: You'll spend most of your time in the game exploring the ruined buildings.

Also, the level of gore is quite high as dismembered limbs start flying once the action begins.

The game's musical score is a mix of horror and fast-paced beats that sets the tone when you play the game's intense set pieces.

Singularity has a clichéd cheesy science fiction vibe that matches well with the game's story.

Design

At its core, Singularity is a standard first-person shooter. It guides you through a set of linear pathways that's often populated with enemies.

If you get lost in the game, pressing the D-pad will point you in the direction of your next objective.

There is a set number of objectives to complete in each chapter and there is only one way to solve a problem.

FACE OFF: Your enemies aren't afraid of getting up close so give yourself lots of space to move.

However, the game encourages you to search for weapon upgrades and listen to audio recordings to get the bigger picture.

The major hook is a special device called the TMD (time manipulation device) which can restore or age objects.

Implementation of the TMD is severely limited because only a few things like locks, crates and stairs can be manipulated to solve puzzles.

Also, the same puzzle is repeated over and over again that it becomes tedious very fast.

More impressive usage of the TMD is usually only seen during prescripted events like when you have to restore an entire ship.

Gameplay

Combat is what you expect from an FPS game and Singularity has its share of standard weapons like the pistol, assault rifle, shotgun and sniper rifle.

Unique to Singularity is its E99 powered weapons. One such weapon is the seeker, a rifle that allows you to guide a bullet in slow motion towards your target and make it explode on impact.

E99 weapons are fun to use but the game limits its use because they are so powerful - you will only get one in certain parts of the game and it'll usually run out of ammo.

Also, weapons can be improved at upgrade stations if you manage to find upgrade kits scattered on the island. The upgrades increase clip size, reload speed and damage.

The kits are limited so you have to hunt them down and choose your weapon upgrades carefully.

ELECTRIFYING: The abandoned facility Kartoga 12 still shows signs of life.

You can also "upgrade" yourself (better health, take less damage, etc) and the TMD.

Besides manipulating the environment, the TMD can also be used in combat and it's very handy for killing certain type of enemies.

Some mutants are so fast they phase in and out of time and the only way to get a clear shot is to slow them down with the TMD.

The TMD also replaces the standard melee attack with a strong force blast that can blow soldiers to pieces at close range.

Other creative uses of the TMD include sending rockets back at enemies and creating a time bubble that stops any object within its sphere.

This allows you to pump enemies full of lead as they are helplessly frozen - it's simply fun to see them turn into a red mist once the time bubble bursts.

To keep the game challenging, the TMD has a finite amount of power that recharges over time and can also be replenished by special vials.

Multiplayer

The multiplayer aspect of Singularity has you taking the roles of either the Russian soldiers (each using a TMD specialised for a certain function) or the mutants (with different skills for each type).

Similar to Team Fortress 2, players can play as different classes, specialising in certain roles and must work together to win a match.

There are only two modes available in multiplayer: Deathmatch and Control Point where a team has to hold and defend and area from enemies.

The two multiplayer modes feel uninspired and boring.

Conclusion

Singularity is an average FPS game that has some interesting ideas that could have been better realised.

It's a fun game nonetheless as the pacing is good and the set pieces are well scripted.

The TMD also makes combat interesting as there are so many ways it can be used to dispose of enemies. Also, the storyline wasn't too bad and there are multiple endings to explore.

Overall, Singularity was a fun game with some clever implementation of time manipulation.

Pros: TMD makes combat fun; impressive set pieces; fancy weapons.

Cons: Dated graphics; boring and limited multiplayer modes.

Singularity
(Activision)
First-person shooter for PlayStation3, Xbox 360, PC
Price: RM190 (PS3); RM180 (Xbox 360); RM160 (PC)
RATING: 3.5

Singularity: A stitch in time - Reviewed

Use time as a weapon in this fast-paced first-person shooter.

NASTY: Aside from the Russians, you'll be fighting against horribly mutated creatures.

SINGULARITY puts you in the role of black ops operative, Nathaniel Renko, who has to investigate an abandoned Russian facility on the fictional island of Kartorga 12.

The mission inevitably goes bad and an alternate timeline is created where the Russians have taken over the world. It's up to you to find a way to restore the timeline.

You will spend much of your time exploring an abandoned research facility on Kartorga 12 and learn of its dark past from audio recordings which tell of a new element called E99 that allows time and space to be manipulated.

For the most part you will be in an altered 2010 reality but also get to travel back in time to 1955 to change history and save the world.

Presentation

The game uses the popular Unreal Engine 3 but it doesn't look great because the characters and ­buildings look bland.

Although uninspiring, it gives Kartorga 12 a dark and desolate atmosphere.

DESOLATE: You'll spend most of your time in the game exploring the ruined buildings.

Also, the level of gore is quite high as dismembered limbs start flying once the action begins.

The game's musical score is a mix of horror and fast-paced beats that sets the tone when you play the game's intense set pieces.

Singularity has a clichéd cheesy science fiction vibe that matches well with the game's story.

Design

At its core, Singularity is a standard first-person shooter. It guides you through a set of linear pathways that's often populated with enemies.

If you get lost in the game, pressing the D-pad will point you in the direction of your next objective.

There is a set number of objectives to complete in each chapter and there is only one way to solve a problem.

FACE OFF: Your enemies aren't afraid of getting up close so give yourself lots of space to move.

However, the game encourages you to search for weapon upgrades and listen to audio recordings to get the bigger picture.

The major hook is a special device called the TMD (time manipulation device) which can restore or age objects.

Implementation of the TMD is severely limited because only a few things like locks, crates and stairs can be manipulated to solve puzzles.

Also, the same puzzle is repeated over and over again that it becomes tedious very fast.

More impressive usage of the TMD is usually only seen during prescripted events like when you have to restore an entire ship.

Gameplay

Combat is what you expect from an FPS game and Singularity has its share of standard weapons like the pistol, assault rifle, shotgun and sniper rifle.

Unique to Singularity is its E99 powered weapons. One such weapon is the seeker, a rifle that allows you to guide a bullet in slow motion towards your target and make it explode on impact.

E99 weapons are fun to use but the game limits its use because they are so powerful - you will only get one in certain parts of the game and it'll usually run out of ammo.

Also, weapons can be improved at upgrade stations if you manage to find upgrade kits scattered on the island. The upgrades increase clip size, reload speed and damage.

The kits are limited so you have to hunt them down and choose your weapon upgrades carefully.

ELECTRIFYING: The abandoned facility Kartoga 12 still shows signs of life.

You can also "upgrade" yourself (better health, take less damage, etc) and the TMD.

Besides manipulating the environment, the TMD can also be used in combat and it's very handy for killing certain type of enemies.

Some mutants are so fast they phase in and out of time and the only way to get a clear shot is to slow them down with the TMD.

The TMD also replaces the standard melee attack with a strong force blast that can blow soldiers to pieces at close range.

Other creative uses of the TMD include sending rockets back at enemies and creating a time bubble that stops any object within its sphere.

This allows you to pump enemies full of lead as they are helplessly frozen - it's simply fun to see them turn into a red mist once the time bubble bursts.

To keep the game challenging, the TMD has a finite amount of power that recharges over time and can also be replenished by special vials.

Multiplayer

The multiplayer aspect of Singularity has you taking the roles of either the Russian soldiers (each using a TMD specialised for a certain function) or the mutants (with different skills for each type).

Similar to Team Fortress 2, players can play as different classes, specialising in certain roles and must work together to win a match.

There are only two modes available in multiplayer: Deathmatch and Control Point where a team has to hold and defend and area from enemies.

The two multiplayer modes feel uninspired and boring.

Conclusion

Singularity is an average FPS game that has some interesting ideas that could have been better realised.

It's a fun game nonetheless as the pacing is good and the set pieces are well scripted.

The TMD also makes combat interesting as there are so many ways it can be used to dispose of enemies. Also, the storyline wasn't too bad and there are multiple endings to explore.

Overall, Singularity was a fun game with some clever implementation of time manipulation.

Pros: TMD makes combat fun; impressive set pieces; fancy weapons.

Cons: Dated graphics; boring and limited multiplayer modes.

Singularity
(Activision)
First-person shooter for PlayStation3, Xbox 360, PC
Price: RM190 (PS3); RM180 (Xbox 360); RM160 (PC)
RATING: 3.5

Singularity: A stitch in time - Reviewed

Use time as a weapon in this fast-paced first-person shooter.

NASTY: Aside from the Russians, you'll be fighting against horribly mutated creatures.

SINGULARITY puts you in the role of black ops operative, Nathaniel Renko, who has to investigate an abandoned Russian facility on the fictional island of Kartorga 12.

The mission inevitably goes bad and an alternate timeline is created where the Russians have taken over the world. It's up to you to find a way to restore the timeline.

You will spend much of your time exploring an abandoned research facility on Kartorga 12 and learn of its dark past from audio recordings which tell of a new element called E99 that allows time and space to be manipulated.

For the most part you will be in an altered 2010 reality but also get to travel back in time to 1955 to change history and save the world.

Presentation

The game uses the popular Unreal Engine 3 but it doesn't look great because the characters and ­buildings look bland.

Although uninspiring, it gives Kartorga 12 a dark and desolate atmosphere.

DESOLATE: You'll spend most of your time in the game exploring the ruined buildings.

Also, the level of gore is quite high as dismembered limbs start flying once the action begins.

The game's musical score is a mix of horror and fast-paced beats that sets the tone when you play the game's intense set pieces.

Singularity has a clichéd cheesy science fiction vibe that matches well with the game's story.

Design

At its core, Singularity is a standard first-person shooter. It guides you through a set of linear pathways that's often populated with enemies.

If you get lost in the game, pressing the D-pad will point you in the direction of your next objective.

There is a set number of objectives to complete in each chapter and there is only one way to solve a problem.

FACE OFF: Your enemies aren't afraid of getting up close so give yourself lots of space to move.

However, the game encourages you to search for weapon upgrades and listen to audio recordings to get the bigger picture.

The major hook is a special device called the TMD (time manipulation device) which can restore or age objects.

Implementation of the TMD is severely limited because only a few things like locks, crates and stairs can be manipulated to solve puzzles.

Also, the same puzzle is repeated over and over again that it becomes tedious very fast.

More impressive usage of the TMD is usually only seen during prescripted events like when you have to restore an entire ship.

Gameplay

Combat is what you expect from an FPS game and Singularity has its share of standard weapons like the pistol, assault rifle, shotgun and sniper rifle.

Unique to Singularity is its E99 powered weapons. One such weapon is the seeker, a rifle that allows you to guide a bullet in slow motion towards your target and make it explode on impact.

E99 weapons are fun to use but the game limits its use because they are so powerful - you will only get one in certain parts of the game and it'll usually run out of ammo.

Also, weapons can be improved at upgrade stations if you manage to find upgrade kits scattered on the island. The upgrades increase clip size, reload speed and damage.

The kits are limited so you have to hunt them down and choose your weapon upgrades carefully.

ELECTRIFYING: The abandoned facility Kartoga 12 still shows signs of life.

You can also "upgrade" yourself (better health, take less damage, etc) and the TMD.

Besides manipulating the environment, the TMD can also be used in combat and it's very handy for killing certain type of enemies.

Some mutants are so fast they phase in and out of time and the only way to get a clear shot is to slow them down with the TMD.

The TMD also replaces the standard melee attack with a strong force blast that can blow soldiers to pieces at close range.

Other creative uses of the TMD include sending rockets back at enemies and creating a time bubble that stops any object within its sphere.

This allows you to pump enemies full of lead as they are helplessly frozen - it's simply fun to see them turn into a red mist once the time bubble bursts.

To keep the game challenging, the TMD has a finite amount of power that recharges over time and can also be replenished by special vials.

Multiplayer

The multiplayer aspect of Singularity has you taking the roles of either the Russian soldiers (each using a TMD specialised for a certain function) or the mutants (with different skills for each type).

Similar to Team Fortress 2, players can play as different classes, specialising in certain roles and must work together to win a match.

There are only two modes available in multiplayer: Deathmatch and Control Point where a team has to hold and defend and area from enemies.

The two multiplayer modes feel uninspired and boring.

Conclusion

Singularity is an average FPS game that has some interesting ideas that could have been better realised.

It's a fun game nonetheless as the pacing is good and the set pieces are well scripted.

The TMD also makes combat interesting as there are so many ways it can be used to dispose of enemies. Also, the storyline wasn't too bad and there are multiple endings to explore.

Overall, Singularity was a fun game with some clever implementation of time manipulation.

Pros: TMD makes combat fun; impressive set pieces; fancy weapons.

Cons: Dated graphics; boring and limited multiplayer modes.

Singularity
(Activision)
First-person shooter for PlayStation3, Xbox 360, PC
Price: RM190 (PS3); RM180 (Xbox 360); RM160 (PC)
RATING: 3.5