Binary Domain- PS3/Xbox 360

[evil_ash_xero]

Anyone played the demo? I thought the game looked pretty generic, but it's actually quite fun.

The demo is up on the JPN PS3 store, and I posted a link to the Xbox demo on NEOGAF(it's for Xbox Gold members, originally). http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread. ... 451&page=6

The PS3 version has some frame rate issues. The Xbox version runs better, which is odd, considering this is a Japanese game, made by folks who primarily work on PS3 games. Oh well.

Here's the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbAbo3G8 ... re=related

Here's the demo:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9b4JXC0YFds
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3_dUJHk ... re=related

Stage 2, is far more interesting.

[Estebang]

I've played the demo as well. It's probably my favorite Gears clone to date. The voice recognition for AI commands seems to be spot on, and unlike in Vanquish, the enemies actually act like robots: they don't feel pain and they take a hell of a lot of damage, being metal. They'll also adapt differently depending on what limbs you shoot off. I also like that you can't just keep getting revived forever; you're limited by how many health packs your team has. Will be getting this at launch, so I can be around for the incredibly short-lived multiplayer scene. A great boss fight at the end of Mission 2, shame it cuts off before you can finish it.

Normal mode is too easy--they had to be accommodating for Japanese players with little or no experience in the genre, I guess. Go for Hard or maybe No Mercy (in the full game).

[TrevHead (TVR)]

I havnt played the demo but im looking forward to this since its gears but fun. Gears (2) combination of bulletspunges, enemy ai ducks behind cover too much, no headshots, wide spread of fire of the rifle makes ranged combat so slow, and the PC moves too slow to make melee any useful. Its bad Bad BAAAGGHHD

Anyway rant over, Luckily from what ive seen the enemies in this game dont camp too much behind cover so I can actually kill them and keep the pacing moderately fast.

Im kinda hoping it will be a sleeper hit but considering the negativity its had from westerners it'll probably be a flop

[iconoclast]

I'm interested in renting this, but the demo lowered my expectations for it quite a bit. The framerate was awful (PS3), and the boss at the end of the first stage is more bullet-spongey than every enemy in Gears combined. I was looking forward to this since I'm a fan of Nagoshi, but maybe he should just stick to Ryu ga Gotoku/Yakuza sequels.

Really, aside from Mikami, Japanese developers suck at TPS. And Lost Planet 1 was pretty good too (LP2 sucked though).

[evil_ash_xero]

Try the Xbox demo, if you have one. It's frame rate is pretty solid.

Also, you got to know where to shoot the enemies. At first, it just seems like they take a million years...but you can pick them apart. Up your weapons, at the little shops, and that makes things much easier/quicker. The rocket launcher and sticky grenades are helpful too.

I have to disagree about the TPS/Japan statement. Then again, I don't like any cover based TPS, other than Vanquish. Gears can eat me.

[Estebang]

I'm interested in renting this, but the demo lowered my expectations for it quite a bit. The framerate was awful (PS3), and the boss at the end of the first stage is more bullet-spongey than every enemy in Gears combined. I was looking forward to this since I'm a fan of Nagoshi, but maybe he should just stick to Ryu ga Gotoku/Yakuza sequels.

The first stage is a tutorial/intro designed to ease you into the game, hence the excessively small and linear level design. Things really ramp up in Mission 2. Give it more of a chance.

Also, you kill the first boss by getting on top of a building, jumping on his head, and shooting his computer brain out (while maintaining balance). He's not a bullet sponge at all.

I guess you can't remedy this, but the framerate is better on the 360.

[iconoclast]

Also, you kill the first boss by getting on top of a building, jumping on his head, and shooting his computer brain out (while maintaining balance). He's not a bullet sponge at all.

Hm, I didn't know that. But in my defense, I couldn't understand most of the dialogue, so it wasn't completely obvious. So I just shot him until he died.

I'll be sure to give the demo another shot on the 360 as well. It's odd to see the PS3 version running so poorly, considering it's coming from the RgG studio. You'd think they'd know the PS3 pretty well by now.

[Casper<3]

what is the name of that other gears clone where everything is all crystalized and extra cheesy?

[Jonathan Ingram]

I really liked Ryu ga Gotoku: Of the End. The shooting mechanics and controls may have been somewhat janky, but the game still had that Ryu ga Gotoku charm. Not really looking forward to Binary Domain. Ryu ga Gotoku 5 is supposed to be coming out this autumn anyway.

[Estebang]

At least BD requires you to actually aim at enemies. Of The End's combat boils down to "Face the zombies and mash the trigger." Sure, you can go into a more precise aiming mode, but what's the point?

And, I mean, QTEs to make a fuel tank explode after you already shot it? Won't find that nonsense in BD, as far as I'm aware.

[Jonathan Ingram]

Does Binary Domain have a big Osaka guy with a transformable Gatling gun arm singing Karaoke? Or a loan shark who can sleep through a zombie apocalypse? Or a head of a Yakuza clan that dresses as a woman just to lure a zombie out? Or hostess clubs that cheat on their customers by trying to pass zombie girls off as hostesses? Or shops and restaurants that keep working as usual in a zombie infested city? Or crazy film directors that use the zombie outbreak as an opportunity to shoot a film? Does it? I thought so.

Of the End > Binary Domain

[Estebang]

BD actually does have hostess clubs (the outside of them, at least) and yakuza, and those are all just window dressing for the game mechanics, anyway.

Binary Domain screenshot:

[evil_ash_xero]

what is the name of that other gears clone where everything is all crystalized and extra cheesy?

Are you talking about Quantum Theory? If so, it was HORRIBLE.

It kind of bothers me a bit that every TPS is called "Gears Of War clone". I mean, Gears Of War reminds me of Winback mixed with Resident Evil 4, in terms of controls. Until recently, I had though U.S. developers had come up with the cover system. Guess not. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vvxo_w4Wggc

How come everyone doesn't call God Of War a Devil May Cry clone, if they're so apt to call every TPS a Gears clone?

[Casper<3]

what is the name of that other gears clone where everything is all crystalized and extra cheesy?

Are you talking about Quantum Theory? If so, it was HORRIBLE.

It kind of bothers me a bit that every TPS is called "Gears Of War clone". I mean, Gears Of War reminds me of Winback mixed with Resident Evil 4, in terms of controls. Until recently, I had though U.S. developers had come up with the cover system. Guess not. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vvxo_w4Wggc

How come everyone doesn't call God Of War a Devil May Cry clone, if they're so apt to call every TPS a Gears clone?

Yes that's it! I tried to look it up after making my post for like an hour last night and couldn't find it. I don't know if your remaining portion of the post was directed at me but I only played the demo of Quantum Theory and it seemed like a horrible rip off of GoW.

[evil_ash_xero]

Yes that's it! I tried to look it up after making my post for like an hour last night and couldn't find it. I don't know if your remaining portion of the post was directed at me but I only played the demo of Quantum Theory and it seemed like a horrible rip off of GoW.

No no, just the comment made me think of numerous other comments from people around the net. However, Quantum Theory is a Gears rip off. That's a true statement. It sucks major too.

[TrevHead (TVR)]

I have a theory concerning the stories of Japanese devs who played one western shooter and found it so bad that they wont so much as look another western game. It was gears that they played.

[Estebang]

So did anyone here actually play Quantum Theory? You can get it for $10 now. It's really quite decent, and was unfairly derided. Interesting weapon variety, no QTEs, an actually helpful AI partner, amazing Kentarou Miura-inspired aesthetics, a cohesive setting and sense of progression (the game takes place almost entirely inside one tower), well-done platforming(!) sequences, and the greatest boss battles in a TPS I've seen. I wish I could try it in multiplayer.

[evil_ash_xero]

So did anyone here actually play Quantum Theory? You can get it for $10 now. It's really quite decent, and was unfairly derided. Interesting weapon variety, no QTEs, an actually helpful AI partner, amazing Kentarou Miura-inspired aesthetics, a cohesive setting and sense of progression (the game takes place almost entirely inside one tower), well-done platforming(!) sequences, and the greatest boss battles in a TPS I've seen. I wish I could try it in multiplayer.

I only played the demo.


Anyway, here's the first reviews from Dengeki: 80/85/90/85

[Estebang]

I only played the demo.

See, there you go! The area shown in the QT demo is completely changed up in the final version, and the controls were improved.

[TrevHead (TVR)]

So did anyone here actually play Quantum Theory? You can get it for $10 now. It's really quite decent, and was unfairly derided. Interesting weapon variety, no QTEs, an actually helpful AI partner, amazing Kentarou Miura-inspired aesthetics, a cohesive setting and sense of progression (the game takes place almost entirely inside one tower), well-done platforming(!) sequences, and the greatest boss battles in a TPS I've seen. I wish I could try it in multiplayer.

Hmmm I just checked a gameplay trailer out. It doesnt look too bad. Fast killing of enemies, fast PC who can roll, ill have to pick up a copy

[evil_ash_xero]

Famitsu Scores are in: 10, 9, 9, 7

[Estebang]

Positive Famitsu scores are literally meaningless, but at least they're always a sure boost to sales.

[evil_ash_xero]

Are Dengeki scores any more reliable?

[Estebang]

Unlikely.

There's apparently a multiplayer mode styled after Gears' Horde, something Vanquish would have greatly benefited from (though the bullet-time mechanics would need a reworking).

[evil_ash_xero]

Demo's up on PSN. You may have to search for it.

It should be up on Xbox soon.

[Estebang]

The full game's out in the US today!

I've got it, but won't have a chance to properly play it until the weekend. I must sadly report that the preorder DLC is on-disc, and gives a competitive advantage in multiplayer. Sega's marketing department did what they had to do.

[evil_ash_xero]

I'm still waiting for EB to get the game to me. It's shipped, but last I checked, it's in Kentucky.

[Wooph]

Out on PC in 2 weeks.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/203750

[Estebang]

Well, I guess it's impossible to make any money off of console-exclusive shooters anymore, huh? Let Rome burn, and just keep shoveling feed into Gabe Newell's pigpen...

By the way, I've played and beaten the game--it's highly recommended if you're willing to play on Survivor difficulty, anything lower is too easy. I'd even put it over the Gears series and several miles over Mass Effect. The amount of detail put into the enemies (31 unique types!), boss fights, and environments is magnificent. I just wish the RPG elements and voice commands had a bit more depth to them, but they work well enough. The multiplayer scene's already dead, but that shouldn't be a problem if you get the PC version.

[iconoclast]

This was just released on Steam for $40.

I still haven't played this, but I've heard lots of good things about it. I was always under the impression that this was going to be a story-driven game (kinda like a Japanese Mass Effect), but I hear it's a lot closer to an action game. Estebang mentioned RPG elements, so I doubt it's going to be pure action like Vanquish, but I'll still pick it up soon.