Codemasters released Rise of the Argonauts on Xbox 360, PC and Playstation 3 in the US this week, while everyone in Europe but the UK got it last friday. Some of you might have seen the launch trailer we put up last week, and I was really skeptical about it after watching it. Fact is, that the game looks pretty acceptable except for the cut-scenes, and more importantly it's pretty fun to play.
The game is an action game centered around the Greek mythology. Tge story includes several mythological figures, like Titans and magical beasts. Interacting with the characters is pretty advanced for being an action game, using a system similar to Mass Effect. Several answers are sometimes available, like choosing what weapon you request or what direction you want the conversation to take.
What I first experienced with the controls was that they are very instant. When pressing attack, there is an instant response from the fighter. This makes the fights pretty interesting, though some might find it a bit unrealistic with the lightning-fast combat.
There are several weapons to chose from, and attacks are created by pressing different combinations of X and Y. Using the spear gives the option of either swing it with X or do a straight thrust forward with Y. As shown in the video below, X can be used to shatter a shield and Y to attack those without shields. During a fight there is also aid available from both simple guards and more famous figures.
The game suffer from some technical issues. There's the occasional framedrop and sudden "teleport" of characters. I didn't find it game breaking at all, but it is worth to be mentioned. The animations also tend to look pretty bad in some situations.
There is pretty heavy editing in this video - I wanted to fit the first level/tutorial in one video, so I removed some of the opening combat sequences. The first three fights or so are pretty dumbed down anyway and there's tons of better ones in the video later on. Enjoy!
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All comments (22)
Commented on 2008-12-19 16:57:43
Commented on 2008-12-19 18:40:50 In reply to bromanBut for the most part I agree, I feel like games like this could have been done on PS2/XBOX/GC just not in HD. No impressive physics, pretty textures, nice shadows (these look quite bad to me), nice effects, or good lighting. And the gameplay is straight up hack and slash.
Definitely not something I can see many picking up at full price, maybe at $30 or lower if you really like this type of thing.
Commented on 2008-12-19 19:19:36 In reply to MvmntInGrnWell I agree with Beast Rider and Conan, this is definitely in that league. Heavenly Sword at the very least nailed the visuals, its gameplay was satisfactory if a bit too GOW inspired. At least that is my opinion.
But for the most part I agree, I feel like games like this could have been done on PS2/XBOX/GC just not in HD. No impressive physics, pretty textures, nice shadows (these look quite bad to me), nice effects, or good lighting. And the gameplay is straight up hack and slash.
Jebus, You could say it had extremely good character models, very good mo-cap (just for cutscenes, even if the Lip-synch was way Off), but... the animation, GOD! The transition from stances where the character was here, and a millisecond after it was 2 feets away because of animation, without middle connection... FLUID it was not.
Reminded me from PSX era Beat'em ups. Ugh.
Commented on 2008-12-19 21:11:23Been looking forward to this for a long time.. shame i'll have to wait longer now. Although IGNUK didnt seem to think much of it..6/10
Commented on 2008-12-19 21:42:08 In reply to broman
Commented on 2008-12-19 23:07:07*waiting for the first angry reply*
Commented on 2008-12-20 00:09:47 In reply to donkeymanJebus, You could say it had extremely good character models, very good mo-cap (just for cutscenes, even if the Lip-synch was way Off), but... the animation, GOD! The transition from stances where the character was here, and a millisecond after it was 2 feets away because of animation, without middle connection... FLUID it was not.
Reminded me from PSX era Beat'em ups. Ugh.
Where as I look at game like Conan and Beast Rider and it didn't hit AAA anywhere. Understand?
Commented on 2008-12-20 00:19:14 In reply to donkeymanJebus, You could say it had extremely good character models, very good mo-cap (just for cutscenes, even if the Lip-synch was way Off), but... the animation, GOD! The transition from stances where the character was here, and a millisecond after it was 2 feets away because of animation, without middle connection... FLUID it was not.
Reminded me from PSX era Beat'em ups. Ugh.
might actually play twing twang again some time.
Commented on 2008-12-20 00:46:11I rebought the game yesterday and with the DS3 support update it feels "better".
Anyway, the lack is, short game, but a very good experience on at that though.
No other weapons other than Heavenly Sword, not even some power magic moves.
No other outfits for Nariko, that would be very cool to see.
But other than that, I thought it was a very very good game, much better than B games from the looks of it like Conan and Beast Rider.
Commented on 2008-12-20 00:54:17 In reply to KORNdogThey are some of the worst I've ever seen in a button masher.
Commented on 2008-12-20 02:24:35 In reply to donkeyman
Commented on 2008-12-20 02:35:12As for this game, looked pretty meh from the get go.
Commented on 2008-12-20 04:42:03
Commented on 2008-12-20 09:58:31 In reply to sykofantiz
Commented on 2008-12-20 12:32:35 In reply to broman
Commented on 2008-12-20 12:52:49
Commented on 2008-12-20 17:53:55 In reply to broman
Commented on 2008-12-20 20:01:54 In reply to Baleur
Commented on 2008-12-21 07:17:38
Commented on 2008-12-22 17:36:40
Commented on 2009-01-02 09:35:48
Commented on 2009-01-02 09:44:43 In reply to Baleur