PROJECT SYLPHEED: ARC OF DECEPTION for the XBOX 360 - First Glance Review
- 20th July , 2007 by KNDY in Video Game Reviews: XBOX Related
- 0 comments
GAME: PROJECT SYLPHEED
CONSOLE: XBOX 360
DEVELOPER: Square Enix
RATING: TEEN
Wow! I’m pretty stoked to see a Square Enix game on the XBOX 360. And it’s a game from the makers of “Final Fantasy” and “Kingdom Hearts”. Now, it seems that my XBOX 360 will be used afterall. J/K!
I know that in the podcast, that I’ve been talking about PC games but I figure that I need to get my XBOX 360 running again and purchased a few games (because they were cheap) such as: “Ghost Recon: Advanced War Fighter”, “Prey” and “Earth Defense Force” and my favorite, “Guitar Hero II”. Also, a purchase of “Double Dragon”, “Castlevania” and songs for GH2.
Although, I’m quite open to video gaming of different genres, my passion are games from Japan and I actually knew nothing about the game until I saw ads that a Square Enix game was coming out for the 360. For all intents and purposes, if the game reeked of a SaGa game, I wouldn’t care. If it’s made from Square Enix, Atlus or NIS…I’m more likely to buy it.
So, I put the game on and played it and enjoyed the cinematics and I was happy that it was a space shooter game…reminded me like the old school Star Wars (or Wing Commander) games but needless to say that so many things were going on screen that I managed to beat the first level but was utterly confused with the controls.
Sure enough, being the non-manual reading person that I am, I see there is a tutorial and from there I learned the control scheme and how much was involved with the game. A fun game it is and it felt like I was playing a game in the (new) Battlestar Galactica universe and taking on the Cylons (I know…sounds so geeky but I love the new BG).
The main storyline is that you are part of Earth’s terran forces known as TCAF (Terra Central Armed Forces). Pretty much for five centuries, people of Earth have colonized the galaxy via terraforming but after one terraforming mishap which pretty much obliterated the population of the planet Acheron. Four systems want out of the TCAF and have created the ADAN “Freedom Alliance” to fight against, what they call “Terran Tyranny”.
The storyline focuses on TCAF pilots Katana Faraway (the person you play), Ellen Bernstein and Margras Mason. The trio were close friends in pilot training school, that was until Margras home planet Acheron was destroyed in the mishap.
Margras has now joined with the ADAN and now, Katana and Ellen need to prepare for battle against ADAN and possibly their friend.
The game, similar to other space shooters allows you to accumulate different weapons via purchase over time. You have to battle ADAN forces in each mission, may it be to protect or escort a spaceship or go in an all out battle.
The biggest difference compared to other games of this genre is the frenzy what you see on screen. Each spaceship produces a trail of light. TCAF has trail of blue and ADAN a trail of red. This helps distinguish what is what because there are so many things on screen with big giant spaceships for the TCAF being under attacked by dozens of ADAN forces and then there is your team trying to eliminate the ADAN.
If anything, the controls might be a bit much for those who want simplicity with a few buttons. Everything on the XBOX 360 controller is being utilized. Triggers for speed, shoulder buttons for weapons, analog sticks for piloting and movement and the buttons for cycling through weapons, performing advanced maneuvers and special attacks.
Fortunately, the tutorial will get you up to speed in no time.
I’ve only beat the first five missions so far but I enjoy the game a lot and it’s definitely a welcomed addition to the XBOX 360. I enjoy the storyline because it has that “Battlestar Galactica” feel where pilots grieve after pilots killed in battle, new pilot recruits talking during battle of their feelings and so forth. Of course, with all the frenzy going on, sometimes you just don’t listen to what the rookies and other pilots have to say. Even at one point, an admiral tells another admiral to not talk to him during the heat of battle. That was quite funny.
All in all, it’s a fun game for the XBOX 360 if you like these type of games. It’s also among the cheapest games for the XBOX 360 at $39.99 (and that’s for a “new” game).
Check it out!
Tags: PROJECT SYLPHEED: ARC OF DECEPTION