• Review: Shank 2 (XBLA)

    by
    Emily "Darkcamllama" Hatcher
    Published on 02-17-2012 07:09 PM
    0 Comments Comments


    Developer: Klei Entertainment
    Publisher: Electronic Arts
    Platform: Xbox 360 (XBLA), PlayStation 3 (PSN), PC
    Genre: Action, Side Scroller, Beat ’em Up
    Rating: Mature
    Release Date: February 8th, 2012

    Presentation
    For those interested in the backstory to Shank 2, I would highly suggest visiting the official website. The publishers kindly released a comic, free of charge, fleshing out some details as to what occurred in the intermediary events between the games. Our hero, Shank, returns to action when his South American bus makes an unscheduled stop by a group of terrorists. One man mistakes our hero as nothing more than a drunk, yet he soon discovers otherwise, after knocking the alcohol bottle from Shank’s hands. Shank’s adventure begins immediately after as he sets out through the jungle to destroy any that stand in his way.

    Graphics
    The cartoony animations are rife with blood and gore. Foreground clutter can sometimes hide enemies and block you from seeing some of the visceral death animations, but this doesn’t become too much of a hindrance. The comic book style art is crisp and well punctuated with color, especially once the bright red blood splatters across the environments. Enemies come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and appearances; following the traditional pattern of pallet swapping. Most importantly is that the graphics retain the charm from the first game, only they have a bit more polish and refinement.

    Sound/Music
    Epic rock music greets your ears, getting the blood boiling for the action to come. The beats pulse, making excellent music to dismember bodies to. There’s a wicked glee to hearing your blades cutting into your foes, the squelching wetness of the sounds of dismemberment. The voice acting is hit or miss, and the random shouts from the enemies are easily dismissed and ignored as you progress through the game.

    Gameplay
    At the start of the game you are given a choice to select your weapons. On the first play through, you only have a single weapon to choose from in close range and projectiles, but your explosives allow you to pick from grenades, Molotov’s, and mines. A costume select is also available, but again, on the first time through you are stuck with the basic look. The controls are simple, with one button per attack or jump. While the attacks may seem simple, you will be easily overrun if you do not take advantage of mastering the combos and knowing when to dodge or counter. The controls are silky smooth and highly accurate, but sometimes Shank seems to run or jump along a bit too much. The first time I saw his running animation I thought our hero was skipping along like a classic cartoon character, rather than running like a murderous hero. On a personal note, I find most side scrollers tend to grow repetitive too quickly. Shank 2 however provides a bit more of a challenge and rewards players to their creativity rather than blind button mashing. Some moments are indeed tough, and require precise timing to proceed. Weapon selection is also important because some foes may be more susceptible to one attack over another.

    Survival Mode offers a bit more body-ripping enjoyment. Supporting local and online co-op allows for players to select from a variety of different characters with different traits and stat bonuses. Killing more opponents nets you more money, which allows you to purchase extras to assist you during the upcoming fights. These bonuses can be particularly useful if you’re playing solo and risk becoming overwhelmed by some of the tougher foes.

    Lasting Appeal
    The game provides the player with 20 achievements to obtain, and various medals for completing certain tasks/attacks. This may keep the player interested for a while. For those who have little interest in games without a deep story and/or little love for linear game play, Shank 2 will not be for you. However, for the price, the game is a good buy if you want to add an extra game to your library that is strictly for passing the time. It’s quick to get into and play for a short, brief period before enjoying something else.

    Conclusion
    The game is certainly an enjoyable bit of mindless fun. It’s not a game where you have to think too deeply about the story, nor will the game play become too taxing. The game provides amusement, and brings back the retro feel of 90s sides scrolling fighters with that extra bit of gore that allows you to delight even more in the carnage.

    Score:
    7/10

  • Review Scale

    Score 10- Flawless Victory: A score not handed out to every game. Games earning this rare score sit at the very pinnacle of excellence. These games act as the examples for which all others should be measured with. They are instant classics from the beginning. These games not only deliver what was expected of it, but also exceed the player’s expectations. The game’s features are innovative and original. No game is without its absolute flaws, but the finished product you bring home surpasses the anticipation the game has formed. A day one buy is a must. The game you hold in your hands with this score is a video game jackpot.

    Score 9 - 9.5- Outstanding: Games earning scores such as these absolutely must be played. Games that achieve this high ranking do so because they define the genres that they are in. Flaws are few and barely noticeable. Features seen in the game have been renovated to provide something new and fresh. The story, gameplay, graphics, and lasting appeal are all fantastic and is reason enough to bring the game home and to enjoy with family and friends. Every penny you spend on the game is so worth it.

    Score 8 - 8.5- Great: Any flaw the game may possess is overshadowed by its fun factor. These games would be great for gamers to play. These great games appeal to gamers more and more outside its normal player base because of what it brings to the table.

    Score 7 - 7.5- Good: Flaws do exist in these games, but the positive features of the game can counterbalance the flaws. Additionally, players who are predisposed to liking a game of a particular series or genre with this score should enjoy the game. These are in no way bad games, and much fun can be had with them. An overall good game is worth taking a look at, whether you are willing to buy the game or rent it first. That or you can also wait for the game to reach a good price.

    Score 6 - 6.5- Decent: Games falling into this category may suffer from numerous flaws (for example, graphics or gameplay), but are still worth playing. Granted, the player should be aware that a game with these scores may not guarantee them full satisfaction.

    Score 5 - 5.5- Average: An average game is one in which a game’s features are neither good nor completely terrible. Instead, the finished product is manageable. Little has been done to hold the player’s interest. If anything, rent this game before you consider buying it so that you can at least get a feel for the game’s overall experience.

    Score 4 - 4.5- Poor: Games falling into this category may only keep gamers entertained for a short while. While the game may seem enjoyable for moments at a time, it can quickly grow old and may never be revisited again. The game’s overall function is lacking in quality and may not hold the player’s attention for long. The game leaves little or nothing else to return back to.

    Score 3 - 3.5- Bad: If any positive qualities about a game in this category exist, it is not enough to redeem the game for its shortcomings. Sure you may find yourself playing it, but for how long? You will wind up not giving the game a second glance.

    Score 2 - 2.5- Horrible: Games such as these may not be totally unplayable, they nearly are. Additionally, they may lack, or greatly suffer in, the fundamental functionality of the software as a whole. The game simply does not come close to meeting industry standards at the time of its release.

    Score 1 - 1.5- Appalling: Gamers should avoid this game at all costs. The game was clearly not ready to make its way to store shelves in its status. Save your money and find something else. See it in the bargain bin? No! Stay away! Keep moving and look for something else.