Sceptic
Arcane
- Joined
- Mar 2, 2010
- Messages
- 10,874
UPDATE 1: THE BASICS
In the fast-growing tradition of "watch Sceptic play a shitty FPS so you don't have to", welcome to this awesome LP of the even more awesome Battle: Los Angeles. This game is based on the movie of the same name (disclaimer: I've not seen the movie) involving the US Marines savingthe world Los Angeles from an alien invasion. As a result, expect lots of MARINES!, even more , the occasional , and in general a healthy dose of stupid. In case you're wondering what possessed me to LP this, you'll understand as soon as you see the first animated cut-scene.
Besides it has death animations so it's a good CRPG.
On to the game!
Three guesses which platform this was designed for, and the first two don't count.
Fact: the game crashes if you try to start it with Fraps running, and will then keep crashing even if you close Fraps until you restart Windows. I had to start Fraps after the game, hency why you don't get any screenshots of all the cool companies involved in making the game.
Needless to say I click start campaign. But first, let's meet the cast.
Nantz is the typical tough-as-nails Sergeant who's tough but deep inside has a heart of gold and protects his men like his children while at the same time being a tactical genius who can outwit any general... at least when he's not making mistakes of stupendous proportions (see update 2). The "tough sergeant" aspect also never comes up, in fact I was surprised when instead of ordering a private to do something he just asks him to, and when the private says no to his face he doesn't seem fazed in the least...
Don't be too fooled by the description, his wit is duller than Liberal's, and in fact he's the resident whiner as far as the cutscenes are concerned.
Imlay's the guy we'll be controlling in the game. He doesn't utter a single word in-game (this is a respectable modern FPS after all), but he's the one narrating during the introduction and in most cutscenes, and he even speaks in these cutscenes. Other characters will be introduced as they appear.
DOM DOM DOM!
Are you sure about this?
Ok...
The narration switches to some random officer speaking.
Narration switches back to Imlay.
There were just a few of us and Staff Sgt. Nantz - an old-timer with a bad reputation and a personality to match.
Not much to say so far, it's the standard alien invasion with every cliche played straight.
Now the reason I actually played all the way through this is the very, very silly animation of the cutscenes. This being a screenshot LP you'll only be getting a diluted version of it, but the "art style" (if we can call it that) still gives a pretty good idea. And, although you'll be seeing the speech bubbles in place, they actually pop up from the person speaking, and then sometimes pop back in when they're done. It's really quite hilarious.
So... you girls ready for a fight?
MARINES, FUCK
You'll have to rope down!
There's no place for landing here!
All right. Everyone out. Use the ropes. Move! Move! Move!
The contrast between the cheap-as-fuck cutscenes and the 3D engine is striking.
If you're wondering what that big red thing in the middle of the compass is...
Yep, quest compass. In a linear FPS. I'd rage, but we're kinda used to this by now.
The conspicuous lack of a health bar means, of course, that this game has health regen. It's also got the now-standard limit of 2 weapons that you can carry, but since there are only 3 weapons in the game anyway that's not such a big deal.
This is a tutorial of sorts that teaches you the various controls. Since the game's pretty straightforward the tutorial's pretty quick-playing. Then again so's the entire game.
And here's our second weapon! Which we actually won't be using that much... the standard assault rifle is much more useful in about every situation, including the ones where the game specifically tells you to use the sniper.
Just in case you were still getting lost with the quest compass, the game helpfully highlights what needs to be done. And no, this isn't just for the tutorial.
And, just to properly immerse you in the B-movie vibes, I'll turn this into a cliffhanger by stopping right as we meet our first alien!
In the fast-growing tradition of "watch Sceptic play a shitty FPS so you don't have to", welcome to this awesome LP of the even more awesome Battle: Los Angeles. This game is based on the movie of the same name (disclaimer: I've not seen the movie) involving the US Marines saving
Besides it has death animations so it's a good CRPG.
On to the game!
Three guesses which platform this was designed for, and the first two don't count.
Fact: the game crashes if you try to start it with Fraps running, and will then keep crashing even if you close Fraps until you restart Windows. I had to start Fraps after the game, hency why you don't get any screenshots of all the cool companies involved in making the game.
Needless to say I click start campaign. But first, let's meet the cast.
Nantz is the typical tough-as-nails Sergeant who's tough but deep inside has a heart of gold and protects his men like his children while at the same time being a tactical genius who can outwit any general... at least when he's not making mistakes of stupendous proportions (see update 2). The "tough sergeant" aspect also never comes up, in fact I was surprised when instead of ordering a private to do something he just asks him to, and when the private says no to his face he doesn't seem fazed in the least...
Don't be too fooled by the description, his wit is duller than Liberal's, and in fact he's the resident whiner as far as the cutscenes are concerned.
Imlay's the guy we'll be controlling in the game. He doesn't utter a single word in-game (this is a respectable modern FPS after all), but he's the one narrating during the introduction and in most cutscenes, and he even speaks in these cutscenes. Other characters will be introduced as they appear.
DOM DOM DOM!
The narration switches to some random officer speaking.
Narration switches back to Imlay.
Not much to say so far, it's the standard alien invasion with every cliche played straight.
Now the reason I actually played all the way through this is the very, very silly animation of the cutscenes. This being a screenshot LP you'll only be getting a diluted version of it, but the "art style" (if we can call it that) still gives a pretty good idea. And, although you'll be seeing the speech bubbles in place, they actually pop up from the person speaking, and then sometimes pop back in when they're done. It's really quite hilarious.
MARINES, FUCK
The contrast between the cheap-as-fuck cutscenes and the 3D engine is striking.
If you're wondering what that big red thing in the middle of the compass is...
Yep, quest compass. In a linear FPS. I'd rage, but we're kinda used to this by now.
The conspicuous lack of a health bar means, of course, that this game has health regen. It's also got the now-standard limit of 2 weapons that you can carry, but since there are only 3 weapons in the game anyway that's not such a big deal.
This is a tutorial of sorts that teaches you the various controls. Since the game's pretty straightforward the tutorial's pretty quick-playing. Then again so's the entire game.
And here's our second weapon! Which we actually won't be using that much... the standard assault rifle is much more useful in about every situation, including the ones where the game specifically tells you to use the sniper.
Just in case you were still getting lost with the quest compass, the game helpfully highlights what needs to be done. And no, this isn't just for the tutorial.
And, just to properly immerse you in the B-movie vibes, I'll turn this into a cliffhanger by stopping right as we meet our first alien!