A game, when one is patient to overcome the bugs, displays a whole new level of originality.
User Rating: 7.5 | Advent Rising XBOX
Advent Rising is a game thrown into a vortex of agony by inconvenient bugs and technical glitches, but when one manages to find ways around these sometimes "minor" issues, the game displays itself in one of the most addicting, and original game styles ever portrayed. You play the game as young Giddeon Wyeth, a brash and ambitious pilot who is constantly in fun competition with his brother. While many may think the game takes everything that made Star Wars, Halo, and Titan AE all great and rips them off, it doesn't appear that any mode of content Advent Rising has to offer was taken directly from any of these great titles. It seems to have rather "borrowed" ideas that made them great, much as George Lucas had borrowed ideas from films such as The Great Escape, The Wizard of Oz, and The Last Days. It's something we call "inspiration," and Advent Rising is full of it. That being said, the story and plot are well conveyed when one takes the time to put it all together. It is easy to become distracted and become biased against the game's wonderful story when you're frustrated with the game's myriad of bugs, which is where Advent Rising's shortcomings come into view. The gameplay is often thrown out of its intended fast pace when you suddenly lock onto an object or enemy with your reticule, which can be cumbersome when attempting to reach health or ammo. If you skip over a seemingly unnecessary battle and run where the game is leading you, at times you will no longer be able to progress, because that so-called "battle" is part of a previous objective that you didn't complete. Technical issues aside, and discovering ways around them makes this game rather memorable at times. While the graphics could be better, the game uses good use of anime-style figures and models to bring the somewhat "anime" style of the game into light. If one would like to look into the game's true inspiration (from it's delivery on-screen), it would be most likely borrowed from Aeon Flux, an action-packed dark-anime series made famous by MTV. As you use Giddeon to dodge and return fire at his foes, you'll soon come to discover this game's original intention, and begin seeing the fun in this feature. As you progress through the game, you'll encounter a plethora of weapons to use, all of them upgradeable the more you put them to use. In fact, just about EVERYTHING you do in this game is upgradable. From dodging, to jumping, and even these psionic (or spiritual, rather) powers, all actions, for the most part, are upgradeable. While not all upgrades seem to be worthwhile, most of them will suit your needs for later battles, including a barrier that, in the beginning is only a shield you can place in front of you, but as you progress with it, will become a hold-up and move defense shield you can project in front of you. The sound is some of the best you'll ever hear in a game. All the weapons sound as if they're from an original sci-fi film, while explosions and other ambient sound effects are always on cue and fitting of the scene. The musical score is, by definition, just that. It scores big in the video game market as a perfectly-themed orchestral soundtrack, with its own separate themes, motifs, and moods. When you put it to the Aeon Flux-style anime design of the game and the largely complex, yet motivating story, everything fits into place. It is not likely one will find a better sound design in a game for quite some time. The story is well scripted, and the only flaw to the plot and characters is the dialogue. There are a few one-liners in there that could make even George Lucas cringe...but we've also all seen and (hopefully) really enjoyed Revenge of the Sith. Poor dialogue aside, the story is well told, and seems to be quite original for the most part. From the initial annihilation of Giddeon's friends and fellow humans, to the journey he must take as a deity figure for his befriended alien race, you seem to care more and more for the struggle of "others" rather than just the humans who have suffered. As you progress and get to know the antagonist race, the Seekers, you will discover more to be behind their plot than just their hatred toward all races but their own. As this becomes apparent, the story becomes much more interesting and involved with the galaxy as a whole. Recent news from Majesco has suggested this to be the first in a trilogy of games. When it comes down to it, Advent Rising is a game that has to be at least tried, if not completed to see how the first chapter unfolds. When one can surpass the myriad of bugs this game has to offer, it runs along rather smoothly and at a rapid pace that keeps a seasoned gamer on his toes (especially on the HARD difficulty). It would be unwise to not at least give this game a chance on a rental.
