I could not bring myself to complete this game. I tried, oh I tried, but even with the negative reviews it’s been getting, I had faith. I do not like reviewing a game I have not finished, and I have criticized others for doing so before me, but I feel obligated to stress that the one interesting idea this game brought to the table, alternate history World War II, was an absolute failure. I have thoroughly read up upon this game but because I didn’t complete this game and get the full experience, I wouldn’t mind if you decided to turn back now.
Winston Churchill never became Prime Minister in this game, and without his fierce leadership, the United Kingdom falls to Nazi Germany, paving the way for all of Europe to suffer the same fate. It’s 1953, and Hitler, with all of Europe behind him, comes after the United States.
As much as I hate comparing games in my reviews, Turning Point: Fall of Liberty reminded me of those games I rented while anxiously waiting the release of Halo 2. Straight out of mid-2004, the graphics then weren’t very impressive, now it’s just sickening. There was the occasional drop in framerate, and lighting seemed to falter at times, but on the whole Turning Point’s graphics were done incredibly lazy. Vehicles, characters, weapons, structures, and the ground are just some examples of this unfinished game. If anyone knows what my favourite current generation games are, you’ll realize that I’m not all about graphics and a game can be good without top of the line visuals. But with sub-‘last gen’ graphics, you have to wonder what in the hell were the games developers thinking?
Did they want to put a fresh face on a tired genre? Did they actually think this could compare with the latest games? Or did they wish to further glorify American participation, by giving an alternate view on WWII?
Audio also has that feeling, that it’s been done before. Stale weapons sounds and tired vehicle noises do nothing to take away from the classic WWII game music, which is good, but again, has been done so many times before. The explosions and other combat sounds aren’t terrible, but they bring nothing new to the table. Also, voice acting follows the same line that all other audio does, as it’s done in the form of a low budget.
As a construction worker, you amazingly also know how to expertly work weapons and armoured vehicles. Some of the weapons and vehicles weren’t used in WWII but were in development at the time, the inclusion of these is pretty cool. But aside from that, the gameplay is textbook Shooter style with no innovation what so ever. There are puzzles in the game and this is something most shooters don’t have, but these puzzles were extremely easy and put together very poorly.
Turning Point: Fall of Liberty has a disastrous singleplayer campaign mode, but even worse online multiplayer. With 4 maps, 2 gametypes, and an 8 player limit, the multiplayer is Turning Point is dry and empty. Again, nothing new is implemented. It’s not that the multiplayer leaves you with a sour taste in your mouth; it leaves you with no taste. And the same could be said for the games achievements, it’s almost as if the developers knew they would have a waste of time on their hands so they give a lot of achievements early on, for doing basically nothing.
Games are works of art, and I do not enjoy giving some games a low rating. I hate failing games and I do it grudgingly so. But Turning Point: Fall of Liberty earned its score and I have no problem throwing this game down as hard as I can.
It’s time to wander through the Game Graveyard. A haunting, foggy location in which overlooked and forgotten video games rot under the murky surface of the earth. Unmarked tombstones litter the landscape and the tears of developers that once floated upon the air are now just dissonant wails in the distance.
The third installment of the GameStooge Awards features Part II of the Technical Awards, which is the fun part. These Awards feature the stuff that don't easily fit under any category, such as Best Expansion or Best Editor.
The winners (or losers, as the case may be) are:
BEST ONLINE GAMEPLAY OF 2008: Left 4 Dead
BEST EXPANSION OF 2008: World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King
BEST GAME EDITOR OF 2008: Far Cry 2
BEST GAME YOU DIDN'T PLAY IN 2008: Roogoo
BEST SURPRISE OF 2008: Braid
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT OF 2008: Spore
MOST DEAD ON ARRIVAL GAME OF 2008: Wii Music
WORST DIGITAL GAME OF 2008: Pong Toss: Frat Party Games
WORST GAME OF 2008: Homie Rollerz
The final installment will be the Platform Awards, including Best Game of the Year.
So you have the likes of Call of Duty 4, Halo 3, Gears of War and Battlefield: Bad Company if you ever fancy a multiplayer shoot-off.
But what about Turning Point, The Darkness, Prey or Battlefield 2: Modern Combat? Do people still play these or has everyone moved on?
OXM UK fired up 10 of the older games on Xbox 360 to see what the deal is. For their previous results on Tenchu Z, Marvel Ultimate Alliance, Brian Lara Cricket and the like, check out Part 1.
Nice article. People still playing BF:MC, i remeber buying it way back in 2006. Left teh single player after sometime and went into MP for quite somtime. ITs still quite fun even in this day and age and beats the hell out of the abomination MP of BIA:HH.
haha wow thanks for this review. I've been staring at this game at the stores for the past couple days asking 'should I?' dang 2.0 that's a bad game.
lol how embarrassing
"No quote could entice anyone into this game."
lol.
That just might be the greatest quote ever.
I think this game came out 2 years to early...or 4 years to late.
You forgot to mention how when you aim the sights of your gun block everyting except what is directly in front of you.