The Bourne Conspiracy (360 / PS3)

[Vemsie]

I really liked the first bit of the demo. High paced, lots of variation and some really cool takedowns.

I'm less of a fan of the shooting bits. Somehow the targeting reticule seems a bit iffy and enemies are bullet sponges. I hate plowing bullet after bullet into a body, only to see them recover. One shot in the head should be enough.

The fight in the plane took me awhile, mainly because I consider the fighting system a bit too limited. A kick button, evasive move (like Ninja Gaiden's roll) and more combo possibilities would've been very welcome.

The driving was too short to really form an opinion of.

It definitely has its moments, the physics are great (liked seeing a body being pushed away by the incoming train) and the music has that Bourne feel to it. But it also has its weaknesses, so I'm still on the fence.

[Afternoon Delight]

I must have played a different demo.

What I got was a dreadful dragon's lair re-hash mixed in with some button-mash-em-up elements, then a dire third person shooter with loads more insta-death, then some kind of 'driving' thing where they were in the wrong car, the city was three streets wide, and there was more dragon's lair action for the handbrake.

Honestly, I thought insta-death and QTE's and bullrt sponges were big no-nos on rllmuk.

[Vemsie]

Honestly, I thought insta-death and QTE's and bullrt sponges were big no-nos on rllmuk.

Maybe, but I love QTE's.

[Rudderless]

I'm not sure if I'm playing the wrong demo, but there's only one QTE I failed, and that's the one with the snipers, where you easily have the shortest amount of time to react compared to any of the others.

I liked it, anyway. Captured the spirit of the films quite well, particuarly in the hand-to-hand combat. The shooting's a bit tricky, though - aiming's not easy, and if you shoot enemies anywhere except the head you might as well be using a water pistol. Driving was "wah, what the fuck, woah, shit" then over, seemingly in about half a minute. Hard to judge whether that section was good or bad, really.

Really nice, big, chunky character models, too. Added to the intensity of it, and the jerky cam felt like the movies without ever getting confusing - quite some achievement, that.

Too many QTEs, but then loads of games have too many QTEs. As licensed games go, it's one of the most polished I've played in a fair while. Not amazing, but it's no disaster, either.

(Good call on the Yakuza comparison, Kinketsu - it's the only recent game I can think of where the fighting seems as brutal. Every punch seems to connect.)

[Uzi]

I'm not sure if I'm playing the wrong demo, but there's only one QTE I failed, and that's the one with the snipers, where you easily have the shortest amount of time to react compared to any of the others.

I liked it, anyway. Captured the spirit of the films quite well, particuarly in the hand-to-hand combat. The shooting's a bit tricky, though - aiming's not easy, and if you shoot enemies anywhere except the head you might as well be using a water pistol. Driving was "wah, what the fuck, woah, shit" then over, seemingly in about half a minute. Hard to judge whether that section was good or bad, really.

Really nice, big, chunky character models, too. Added to the intensity of it, and the jerky cam felt like the movies without ever getting confusing - quite some achievement, that.

Too many QTEs, but then loads of games have too many QTEs. As licensed games go, it's one of the most polished I've played in a fair while. Not amazing, but it's no disaster, either.

(Good call on the Yakuza comparison, Kinketsu - it's the only recent game I can think of where the fighting seems as brutal. Every punch seems to connect.)

As usual, I'm in pretty much agreement with you- nearly- I found the shooting ok, maybe because I was playing GTA4 a lot at the time but I was getting headshots easy.

Regardless we haven't tag teamed in a while so high five or whatever

[Gabe]

Wow, I'm surprised; I expected to see people not taking too warmly to this, but there you go!

Firstly, the positives:

I like the way the spirit of the character is captured, in that he isn't an on-the-loose killer, merely subdues enemies (well, those without guns at least, although I guess you could probably take the time to fight them too).

Big, chunky character models.

The scope is there for some variety between fighting, shooting and driving.

Shooting crates to expose enemies/force them to move is good.

Takedowns are cinematic and with the opportunity to use the environment should provide some visual fun. Reminds me of The Punisher.

I like to think some of John Powell's soundtrack from The Bourne Supremacy would be in there - does anybody know?

But the negatives:

The fighting was far too clunky and unresponsive; the delay between blocking and then attempting to attack-back is far, far too long. And it really needed to reward a perfectly-timed block with a counter-move. I never really felt totally in control of my moves; there seemed to be a delay between me pressing buttons and the action taking place.

The camera moves too slowly, as evidenced when running-up the stairs.

The driving -ho, ho, ho. QTEs to change gear? Oh dear, that isn't the right way to keep players on the edge. And QTEs in general are a bit shit, I find.

The shooting was a bit fluffy and as has been said, the enemies do soak-up an inordinate amount of bullets to the head.

Overall from what I've played it's not something I would buy; rental, if anything.

[Cyhwuhx]

.::: It's something I'm willing to gamble on. Sure QTE's can be rough, but when the entire game is geared towards it, it suddenly becomes a different beast. I'm getting an arcade-vibe from rather than a full-blown action-adventure. Which I like.

[Paulando]

I thought it was rubbish. Far too on-rails, the shooting was generally awful, the combat was dull and the driving section was terrible.

Get Uncharted or something, it's far better.

[Cyhwuhx]

I thought it was rubbish. Far too on-rails, the shooting was generally awful, the combat was dull and the driving section was terrible.

Get Uncharted or something, it's far better.

.::: That's what I meant. The on-rails stuff and the pressure was good imo. Just not as an adventure game. TBH, I think this form fits the license better than a 'do it at your own leisure' basic license-game.

[Gambit]

I wish I was playing as Matt Damon.

Bit of a mixed bag this demo. I like the combat but the shooting is pretty bad. Still, at least it's quite lengthy as opposed to the three minute demos we usually get these days.

[Afternoon Delight]

.::: It's something I'm willing to gamble on. Sure QTE's can be rough, but when the entire game is geared towards it, it suddenly becomes a different beast. I'm getting an arcade-vibe from rather than a full-blown action-adventure. Which I like.

Very good point - I can see it in an arcade sucking quids out of my pocket, but as a home game on the basis of this demo I think it just sucks.

[Cyhwuhx]

Very good point - I can see it in an arcade sucking quids out of my pocket, but as a home game on the basis of this demo I think it just sucks.

.::: Fair enough. I'm already amazed at the fact that a license-game has managed to keep my attention for more than five minutes.

[Paulando]

.::: That's what I meant. The on-rails stuff and the pressure was good imo. Just not as an adventure game. TBH, I think this form fits the license better than a 'do it at your own leisure' basic license-game.

Yeah, that's true. I can't imagine a Bourne game being anything other than endless QTEs and short-burst action sequences, but then it makes you think whether they should have bothered at all.

It should be all over-the-top, resembling a Sega coin-op or something

[Vemsie]

I've played through the demo again and I liked it a lot more than the first time. Of course I knew what was coming, but it's still pretty staggering how many different takedowns they've programmed. I also saved up my takedowns so I could do a multi-takedown, which looked pretty damned cool.

Oh, and the shotty rules. Missed it on my first play through.

I also really like the music that plays during the cut scene before you take on the guys in the trainyard.

[Rudderless]

.::: It's something I'm willing to gamble on. Sure QTE's can be rough, but when the entire game is geared towards it, it suddenly becomes a different beast. I'm getting an arcade-vibe from rather than a full-blown action-adventure. Which I like.

Good point. This won't happen, but if they kept the whole thing really short and had Ghost Squad-style multiple routes through the stages, it'd have great replay value.

[Strawp]

Just played the demo - the escape part and then the car part.

Oh God. I can't recall a worse car section since the Playstation 1 days . They didn't even put the right car in it.

[Uzi]

It only lasts about 2 mins though. It wasn't that bad, I was able to pass it without any trouble and hopefully in the full game the driving bits will be very short and serve as tiny breaks from the other action.

[Uzi]

Good point. This won't happen, but if they kept the whole thing really short and had Ghost Squad-style multiple routes through the stages, it'd have great replay value.

They'll almost definately be a time attack mode. The demo gives you your best embassay time and I've had fun knocking that down (played it five times now)

[Strawp]

Also, I thought people had stopped trying to make games which accurately portrayed the exact same events as a film in the mid nineties?

I thought people had realised that this doesn't work as an interesting narrative at all.

[Uzi]

I really enjoyed playing out the Embassy scene. When you're capturing amazing action scenes from an amazing action movie and stick that in an action game, it works fine. The "original" level in the demo had nothing better narrative wise though it was nice to see non movie scenes in it to.

I don't see it as a hard and fast rule that if you make a game based on a movie or movie series that you have to stray/stick to certain things. It's the end product that counts.

[Strawp]

Well here's the thing: Who's going to buy this? Fans of the film? In which case they'll have already seen the entire plot, so following the story arc is a bit pointless. If people who haven't seen it buy it then they're not going to appreciate it because story telling in games in undoubtedly inferior to that of films. It doesn't make sense to recreate the film in a game in either situations.

[Kinketsu]

Well here's the thing: Who's going to buy this? Fans of the film? In which case they'll have already seen the entire plot, so following the story arc is a bit pointless. If people who haven't seen it buy it then they're not going to appreciate it because story telling in games in undoubtedly inferior to that of films. It doesn't make sense to recreate the film in a game in either situations.

Eh? Sure fans of the film will buy it. They've already seen the entire plot when they buy the DVD, too. They like the character and like the world and want to play it. Why have licensed games sold like hot cakes from the dawn of video game time until this very day?

[Cyhwuhx]

It should be all over-the-top, resembling a Sega coin-op or something

.::: The Bourne Dynamite Deka...

SOLD!

[Vin]

I might need new eyeballs, but is this up on the PS store?

[Vemsie]

Eh? Sure fans of the film will buy it. They've already seen the entire plot when they buy the DVD, too. They like the character and like the world and want to play it. Why have licensed games sold like hot cakes from the dawn of video game time until this very day?

It's so much more more than just the story of the film anyway. But yeah, I like the character of Bourne. This living, breathing weapon who fucks you up in seconds if you're in his way. The fact that they really nailed the style of the movies is a big plus as well.

[Uzi]

Well here's the thing: Who's going to buy this? Fans of the film? In which case they'll have already seen the entire plot, so following the story arc is a bit pointless. If people who haven't seen it buy it then they're not going to appreciate it because story telling in games in undoubtedly inferior to that of films. It doesn't make sense to recreate the film in a game in either situations.

If you're a fan of the film you get the play out the awesome action scenes- I already said that. I'm not expecting this to be metal gear- the narrative itself is secondary to the action.

Secondly if you'r enot a fan you get great action scenarions lifted from films with great action scenarios.

[tsunami1]

I might need new eyeballs, but is this up on the PS store?

I'm not sure if its now up on the UK store but I downloaded it from the US PSN.

[lem]

It's poor.

The takedowns also the miss the cinematic flair of Bourne his moves in the movies.

This would have been stunning if given to a good developer.

[Mars]

Also, I thought people had stopped trying to make games which accurately portrayed the exact same events as a film in the mid nineties?

I thought people had realised that this doesn't work as an interesting narrative at all.

Goldeneye?

[Strawp]

Eh? Sure fans of the film will buy it. They've already seen the entire plot when they buy the DVD, too. They like the character and like the world and want to play it. Why have licensed games sold like hot cakes from the dawn of video game time until this very day?

I'm sure it'll sell. Movie tie-ins have also been piss-poor since the dawn of time (ET, LOL), only to get better recently where developers use the universe but not the plot (e.g. Riddick).