EvaUnit02 on 15/1/2010 at 11:12
From Airtight Games, developer of the Xbox 1 under-appreciated gem, Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge.
I played the demo. Sadly the flying controls in this game are pretty horrible, at least with mouse+kb. Reportedly they're just as shocking on dual-analogue stick gamepads as well. Steering the jetpack might be akin to riding the horse in Shadow of the Colossus could be like, it takes getting used to.
The ground-based combat is pretty cookie cutter Gears of War stuff, but it all feels solid and polished so that's fine. Double-tapping jump and then holding it down makes you hover, thus adding an innovative vertical new element to 3rd person cover-based shooter formula. I can foresee it working pretty well in the full game, adding more enjoyment to the ground-based combat.
You can hijack alien saucers by initiating a repetitive QTE sequence (yeah, that will definitely get old fast), but on Normal difficulty it seemed easier to take out the other alien saucers with just your jetpack guns. I'd imagine that hijacking craft would be useful when fighting bigger, tougher enemies later on in the full game though.
Overall, it's likely a solid title, judging from the demo. But I'd only pick it up once it hits the bargain bins for say $20-35NZD max, TBH.
Download mirrors:-
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http://www.worthdownloading.com/download.php?gid=3368&id=21048)
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http://www.fangaming.com/fileinfo.php?fileid=7420)
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http://www.fileplanet.com/209065/200000/fileinfo/Dark-Void-Demo-(FilePlanet-Exclusive))
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http://games.on.net/file/31647/Dark_Void_Demo_for_PC)
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http://www.gpdownloads.co.nz/dl.dyn/Files/4577.html)
Apparently the PC version uses some hardware-accelerated exclusive PhysX effects, for particles and smoke trails, etc. (
http://www.gametrailers.com/video/pc-combat-dark-void/60825) PC trailer here.
Quote:
In fact, when it ships in the fall of 2009, Dark Void will have the distinction of being the first game to use dynamic, accurate smoke effects and smoke trails for the game's innovative jetpack, UFOs, and spaceships, all of which will be hardware-accelerated by GeForce® GPUs when played on compatible desktop PCs.
Developed by Airtight Games and Capcom, Dark Void incorporates a unique vertical combat system that allows players to dangle from thousand foot drops as they take cover and drop enemies from above and below, bringing a whole new sense of vulnerability and thrill to gamers. The game's jetpack allows players to fly with reckless abandon while performing hair-raising stunts, taking the 3D action to a whole new level. Airtight Games is utilizing both NVIDIA PhysX and APEX technologies to deliver an inspired, interactive experience, complete with a GPU-accelerated particle system that is used extensively for weapons and debris effects.
“The extensive capabilities that NVIDIA PhysX and APEX technologies provide to developers is colossal,” said Jim Deal, President at Airtight Games. “For example, the new APEX turbulence module that NVIDIA recently introduced allows us to have infinite artistic freedom in the way the game looks, plays, and feels. We hope that gamers will appreciate these fine touches when they play Dark Void later this year.”
(
http://www.nvidia.com/object/io_1240832649742.html) source
henke on 15/1/2010 at 14:17
Yeah piloting the jetpack was deceptively difficult. Hopefully it'll feel rewarding and fun once you master it rather than just constantly feeling like the game is working against you and the controls are stupid.
Aja on 15/1/2010 at 17:55
I found the demo kinda boring, but the jetpack was easy to fly--I mostly had the hang of it after the first training round.
henke on 15/1/2010 at 18:51
I couldn't quite figure out how to do that 180 turn or the quick-siderolls.
Aja on 15/1/2010 at 19:39
On the playstation you just clicked
the right joystick and moved both sticks in unison, left or right for barrel rolls and forward for 180 turn.
Aerothorn on 16/1/2010 at 15:38
The thing is, the controls in CS:HRTR were fine, and once fully airborne roughly the same principles apply to the planes and the jetpack (particularly since the main plane in CS is rear-powered). What did they change about the control scheme?
