With the 2.0 patch and 50 hours of playing I can report another unknown classic.
I have a 2ghz AMD Athlon, Igb Ram, fx5600XT card and this game runs as smooth as a puppy. Something I cannot say for Oblivion, for example. With the 2.0 patch the game is more than managable and can be thoroughly enjoyed in a way few games will let you (may be less than 10 games in 20 years of PC gaming!)
I will not repeat what the story is, etc. That is covered well enough in the above fair (1.0) review. I will say that for games like this there need to be a slightly different reviewing structure. In effect, having a 'second look' 6 months or a year later, with patches installed. Currently, all the reviews in printed and web mags are the 1.0 game sans any patch. If you're considering this game that's what your going to see. unless you search for reader reviews like this one you will get a very wrong idea about the game. Quite simply, with the 2.0 patch applied, this is a 90% game! (I am going to score it as a 2.0 game too!)
This game, like Planescape: Torment, will show you what type of gamer you are. If you need a game to be bug free but confining rather than open-ended with bugs (all open-ended games have bugs, Gothic, Morrowind, etc all have bugs). Then you will miss out o some great RPG'ing. If you are open-minded and understand the big picture with these type of games you will already have Boiling Point, I would guess.
So what type of gamer are you? Buy this game, even though it is still not perfect, and have one of the best experiences you will have this or any year. Games like this have been released once every 5 years in the past, but with less liklehood of EVER being published in the future. So give it a try. You may end up enjoying the last free-form, open-ended, non-fantasy RPG on your PC! Just look at the following list and tell me what else is out there like this?! You owe it to yourself to get this game! RPG:
- About 30 parameters that affect the player
- Stats are raised when used, reduced when not used
- There is no levelling up and no experience points
- Talk to NPC's and choose from multiple responses
- Economic system allows for trade
- Repair weapons and vehicles
- Localised damage affects the player in different ways: damage to arms affects shooting accuracy, legs affects movement speed etc.
- Inventory restricted by weight
- The more you carry the slower you move - at full capacity you will hardly move and sway from left to right as if completely drunk!
- Dynamic relationship to the six confronting factions
- Vehicle inventory
- Vehicles can be repaired and require fuel
- Ability to hunt
Action:
- About 20 types of weapons
- Weapons can be upgraded
- Weapons can misfire
- Weapons can be repaired
- Weapons have a rate of wear (linked to misfires)
- Different bullets types
- 12 types of car, motorcycle, helicopters, tank, boats, ships, plane, digger etc.
- Ability to work with explosives
- Player actions = walk, run, crouch, prone, crawl, jump, swim
- Vehicles have a damage model
- People can be shot through car windscreens
- Certain structures can be destroyed
- Hit Calculation based on 6 zones: Head, torso, left/right leg, left/right arm
- Thin surfaces can be shot through
Gameplay:
- Absolute freedom of movement and action in the game world
- Huge world - ~625 sq.km, progressive loading with no "Loading..." screens
- Talk to any character
- Six confronting forces : Government, mafia, Bandits, CIA , FARC, Indians
- Day/night cycles
- Changing weather conditions
- Vehicles require fuel
- Hit calculation algorithm, various kinds of injuries
- When shot in the leg, enemy will kneel down and limp
- High quality and varied A.I.
- A.I. has virtual sight and hearing
- NPC's are responsive to gunfire and objects thrown at them
- NPC's can be distracted by unusual sounds (thrown objects etc.)
- Gamplay allows for stealth
- You Can become addicted to drugs (changed to Synthetic Adrenaline - censorship)