280°

Too Human Demo: Vindication for Denis Dyack

Consoleme.ca writes: Everyone knows the long and sordid history of Silicon Knights' new game for the Xbox 360, Too Human. It had a terrible showing at E3 in 2006, is part of a huge lawsuit against Unreal 3 engine maker Epic Games and is being led by one of the industries most outspoken individuals in Denis Dyack. Since that poor showing in 2006 Too Human has been on its heels trying to repair the damage done by an on-floor demo that was crippled by an incomplete Unreal Engine and in a form not ready to be seen by the public. For Dyack, this battle has raged on now for almost 3 years…and is finally about to come to its dramatic conclusion. The game is finally releasing in August of 2008 and, as promised, Canada's own Silicon Knights have released a demo for a game many not only expect to fail, but want to fail. Dyack has ruffled enough feathers and talked enough game to rile up the most outspoken gamers in the community. The question now is, did Dyack deliver a hit, or is it another Haze?
kontakt - contributor
Published: 515 days 8 hours ago | Article | Xbox 360
 
 

Showing: 1 - 25 of 25 Comments
Shut this user up Let user speak
green - 515 days 9 hours ago
1 -
The funny thing is that, i almost canceled my pre-order for Too Human just before the demo came out based on the negative previews that were popping up.

Releasing a demo for Too Human was the smartest thing they did because it has shown that the game is very very good but above all else, that the gaming media can be very biased by willingly giving a game negative previews in order for the game to fail just because you have some hidden agenda against the developer.

I hope Too Human becomes a success so that Microsoft will have a reason to fund the development of the rest of the trilogy but if the game fails due to the biased previews that it initially hard,then these journalists would have not only punished Denis Dyack but indirectly and most important, robbed us gamers of ever having a chance to complete a masterpiece that might have been the Too Human Trilogy.
Shut this user up Let user speak
elitewh0re - 515 days 7 hours ago
1.1 -
agreed, i understand how some people can have a problem with DD in particular as he is a bit of a loose cannon, but the game is incredibly fun and I for one can't wait to get my hands on the final retail. I doubt microsoft will withdraw funding from Too Human if it gets less than average scores but if that would happen I agree us gamers are the ones who lose.. :\
Shut this user up Let user speak
Chubear - 515 days 6 hours ago
1.2 - You'd be surprised at the amount of games Editorial gaming sites do this with.
It doesn't take much at all. Some editor tries pulling a fast one and taking a peek at something they aren't supposed to at some convention and gets yelled at by some employee of the studio of the game; then says "Oh yeah, Well we'll see if your game sells after I get other editors to ragg on it"

Editorial gaming sites are like gods this gen and they know it. Whatever they say will not be questioned by the majority of the community and they'd even go to lengths of fighting others who call foul even though they've never actually played the particular game. They just believe anything gaming sites state like it's gospel.

I'm not a 360 fan and I don't have one but when I see the hate for this game coming from it's fanbase I'm just amazed at the power these gaming sites have.

I've seen numerous vids of this game's gameplay mechanics and loads of interviews with indepth info and I just have no clue how this game garnered so much hate. It's mystifying cause the game looks like it'd be fun.

Editorial reviewers and their gaming sites have way too much power over the gaming community. They know this and they certainly abuse it too.
Shut this user up Let user speak
Lyan - 515 days 6 hours ago
1.3 -
I need to preface my next comment with the fact that I truly liked and thoroughly enjoyed the Too Human demo.

Now that that is out of the way, I don't think this game will be a "masterpiece" as you put it and it is far from perfect. The thing is though is that it has Amazing potential within its context and concept. My problem is that you can see these great possibilities, but they are not going to be realized in this first part of the series. Combat, co-op, mechanics, and environments have great potential and the demo showed it. The demo also showed how much delay and damage changing engines half way through did to the game by how much will be left out and unpolished. I just wish they had more time to work on this game or had started with their own engine from the get go. Still, it will be a very good game imo.

About gaming journalism, agree with the above posters. I've also read a lot of articles from gaming journalists that are just regurgitation of what another writer has written. Even though they didn't have the same interaction or experience within said topic they still write about it simply to gain attention. Band wagon opinions are epidemic on the internet not simply b/c it's easy to do, but b/c of fanboys and people who think they can spew whatever crazy thoughts they have at other people without thinking about it. Veiled identity lets people say whatever they want and gives more weight to those who scream the loudest.
1.4 xm15e2s | 515 days 6 hours ago - User only got 1 bubble - Show
Shut this user up Let user speak
player911 - 515 days 2 hours ago
1.5 - yea mon
I finally downloaded the demo today... and man was it sweet. This one really caught me by surprise. Initially from the trailers it looked awesome. Then I saw gameplay videos and lost interest. THEN I played the demo and boy oh boy was it awesome.

The gameplay videos made it out to be another Ninja Gaiden or DMC4... but its not. It has a really cool feel too it... kinda like the movie "Chronicles of Riddick".

The game is awesome. I'm gonna try some other players using the hack tomorrow.
Shut this user up Let user speak
green - 514 days 20 hours ago
1.6 - lyan
I said it "might" be a masterpiece and i will tell you why.Too Human won't be a AAA game for sure.based on the Demo i rate the game an 8.8.

But it's possible that if the game sells well then more money will be pumped into making the sequel a better game and the final part of the trilogy much much better.

Now when you sum up the entire trilogy it could definitely be a AAA offering.

Lay emphasis on the words i use "might" and "could".I am not stating it as fact but something that could happen.
Shut this user up Let user speak
zer0man1 - 515 days 6 hours ago
2 - I'm just saying
I say this with absolutely no bias in my heart, Too Human was just an OK game, and there is nothing wrong with that. However, a game being just OK can be an issue if the developer is telling the world "my game will be the best game ever period".

I played the demo, it was ok but I cant see this game being rated as a triple-A title.
Shut this user up Let user speak
Chubear - 515 days 6 hours ago
2.1 -
... Does it really NEED to be "AAA"? I mean, really? So anything that the almighty reviewers don't give a 9.2 and above is now a "FAIL"?

Also, it may be OK to you but that doesn't mean it won't/can't be more than OK to other gamers.
Shut this user up Let user speak
Steven Colbert - 515 days 6 hours ago
2.2 - Good point chubear
I dont like to see people refuse to buy a game just cause its an 8 or a 9.
Shut this user up Let user speak
kewlkat007 - 515 days 4 hours ago
2.3 - Chubear you know how it is, anything that's not at least a 9.0=FAIL this gen.
that's whats killing the industry....delusional AAA complexes...
Shut this user up Let user speak
zer0man1 - 515 days 2 hours ago
2.4 - @chubear
"Does it really NEED to be AAA"? Given the amount of press, Denis Dyack hype and development time, Yes.

"Also, it may be OK to you but that doesn't mean it won't/can't be more than OK to other gamers".

I never said other gamers couldn't have a different opinion of the game, in fact doesnt this article reflect a more optimistic opinion of the game than my own.
Shut this user up Let user speak
HALO-32 - 515 days 6 hours ago
3 -
At first I didn't know if Too Human would ever come out, so I canceled my pre-order. Then I played the demo and I actually enjoyed it! The camera may not be perfect, but it's better then some other games (Dino Crisis 3 anyone?) and once you get used to the combat it makes it enjoyable. Plus I got a armor set that was actually pretty sweet...then the demo ended.

I'm not quite sure if it will be the hit that Microsoft is looking for, but I don't think it will be another Haze (and Haze isn't the worst game ever either).

Plus who knows how old the demo is? It could be from six months ago and the camera could have improved by now.
4 incogneato | 515 days 6 hours ago - User only got 1 bubble - Show
Shut this user up Let user speak
FantasyStar - 515 days 5 hours ago
4.1 - I expect the 360's version of "Haze"
Total outcry by the reviewers, underappreciated game by the gamers.
4.2 Playstation Man | 515 days 5 hours ago - User only got 1 bubble - Show
Shut this user up Let user speak
LightofDarkness - 515 days 4 hours ago
4.3 -
NO, I'm sorry. Haze was AWFUL. It got the scores it deserved. It was not generic for a current gen game, it was generic for a LAST gen game. It seemed to have no redeeming qualities, and I completed it simply because I felt compelled to not have completely wasted the rental fee. And I work for the rental shop.
Shut this user up Let user speak
player911 - 515 days 2 hours ago
4.4 - Too Human is awesome
I played the game today thinking it was going to be stupid like DMC4 or NG2... but it wasn't at all. I enjoyed collecting new swords, guns, and armor... and adding runes to make them more powerful. I also liked jumping on the back of those big machines and giving them a deadly whack to the head.

The game was superb and left me wanting more. I wasted almost 2 hours playing around in the demo just going through 1 play through. I found all the secrets and items. I just got a sweet sword and armor set when it ended.

The bad thing is that I'll have to play through another 2 hours just to get to where I was after the demo.

I can't afford another game right now... but whatever. I'll figure out some way to get it.
Shut this user up Let user speak
LightofDarkness - 515 days 4 hours ago
5 - You know...
I actually enjoyed this demo, it reminded me of Diablo II with it's rapid levelling and immense quantities of loot. Except this game is much more real-time with a greater level of control over the combat. Maybe not "amazingly awesome OMGXORZ", but thoroughly enjoyaeble. I just mhope there's much more free-roaming elements and the missions/story structure are not so linear.

But, I must agree about the level of control and power that gaming sites/blogs have over the general gaming public these days. It feels like I'm arguing with 12 year olds, and I most likely am. It seems as though they have equated opinion with fact and that it apparently rubs off on their chromosome deficient followers.

I suppose an example is necessary. I absolutely LOVE Megaman and Castlevania games. Yet, I look at the reviews for my favourite Megaman series so far, Megaman Zero 1-4 on the Gameboy Advance. Amazing games in my opinion, thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish, and yet the game itself enjoyed merely mediocre critical reception (7 or 8/10). In my personal opinion, based on what I PERSONALLY enjoy most about gaming, the MMZ series is far more enjoyable than just about 99% of the crap I see coming out on my "next-gen" super-ultra-mega-awesome consoles. MGS4 rules, it's as though Kojima understands the great core gaming experience, even though I do sincerely wish there were more gameplay segments throughout MGS4. But that's off the point a little.

In all fairness, get the demo. Don't listen to what any unreasonably self-righteous blogger/omniscient being says to you. Your opinion is your own, don't let other's speak for you because it demeans you.
Shut this user up Let user speak
Baka-akaB - 515 days 4 hours ago
6 -
I do feel that (from the demo) Too Human is kinda a Haze . But it's not like i find haze horrible or crappy . It's an ok to average title who suffered from too much press exposure and hype , but most of all horribly late for what it's ultimately worth .

Haze was ok , but i dont find right for such a late game to be of the same quality overall than Timeshift .
Too human is ok , and despite his tentatives to be different with sci fi settings and combos , with it's execution and overall quality , it's no better than most ok hack and slash , and good diablo clones .

The remaining question is weither or not you can accept buying ok and non AAA titles or not . Of course if you love it , it's not even a question for you .
Shut this user up Let user speak
monet man - 515 days 4 hours ago
7 - 8.4 in my book!!!!!!!
every 360 owners should have this title in their collection!!!!!
Shut this user up Let user speak
Mausenheimmer - 515 days 3 hours ago
8 -
Score one for Too Human!
Shut this user up Let user speak
ngg12345 - 515 days ago
9 - This game isn't 9
or a 8. It is a 7 to 6 game. Not the fail like haze, or lair though.
Shut this user up Let user speak
ngg12345 - 515 days ago
10 - Also this article is full of fail
"Once I fired up the game I was already impressed with the visuals. This has been a point of contention on the net with many claiming that the game looks no better than PS2 games with sparse envirnoment and terrible character models. Well, no, it certainly doesn’t look like a PS2 game. I have just come off playing some of the best games that the PS2 has to offer in God of War 2, Okami and MGS2. Too Human takes them all to school. The art design is excellent and the norse setting make for a truly unique game world. Character models look good, not great. Certainly, Too Human should not be confused with the visual powerhouses of the industry - think Gears of War 2 and Killzone 2. However, the game manages to have its own style and it works well here.

"
it looks better than god of war, congratulation. Now how about xbox 360 launch games. COD2 looks better than this game. I love this failure. Funniest thing I've ever seen.
Shut this user up Let user speak
1stKnighT - 514 days 19 hours ago
11 -
Another positive preview. Looks like most gamers and journalists agree that this game is a winner! :)
Add Comment (Gamer Zone)
Gamer Zone Posting Guidelines
The Gamer Zone is for members who want a more friendly and civilized discussion. This section is heavily moderated by the N4G staff, so leave your fanboyism at the door please. Members who are unable to behave in a mature and respectful manner will be temporarily or permanently restricted from posting in the Gamer Zone. Using words such as Xbots and Sony droids, or other words from the console war vocabulary, is strictly prohibited in this Zone.
Read More...
 
 
You must log in to post comments.
Username:  
Password:  
 
 
About N4G
N4G is a social game news site that covers the game industry 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
More Info... | Submit News