Turning Point: Fall of Liberty
(Rated T. Price: $60.) A Codemasters
presentation of a game developed by Spark Unlimited for the PC, Playstation 3,
and Xbox 360. Reviewed on Xbox 360.
In 1931, Winston Churchill was
visiting New York City
when he was almost killed by a taxi while crossing Fifth
Avenue. Codemaster's new videogame
"Turning Point: Fall of Liberty"
imagines the alternate scenario, which results in Nazis overrunning Europe
and setting their sights on the U.S.
It's a fascinating nightmare scenario and is pretty much all that "Turning
Point," a glitchy title that's mediocre on nearly every level, has going
for it. Sales will likely be as weak as Neville Chamberlain's nerve.
Game starts with a bang in 1953 as construction worker Dan Carson looks
across New York harbor from the
top of an unfinished skyscraper and sees a barrage of Luftwaffe fighter planes
and Zeppelins attacking the city. The sounds of bombs exploding and planes whizzing
by are thrilling, as is the cinematic score by Oscar-nominated composer Michael
Giacchino ("Ratatouille"), which is easily "Turning
Point's" highlight. Unfortunately once Carson,
the game's protagonist, escapes from the construction site to partake in the
underground resistance, it is all downhill the rest of the way.
Frequently beset by glitches, "Turning Point" has the look and
feel of an unfinished project. Having to restart a game when it freezes up in
the middle of the action isn't exactly an engrossing experience. The artificial
intelligence is particularly weak, as fellow resistance fighters can block Carson's
entrance to a doorway and Nazis sometimes fire at ghosts rather than the people
trying to kill them.
"Turning Point" takes place in three main areas -- New
York, Washington, and London
-- all of which are severely lacking in dettail. Other than picking up guns and
grenades, there's little reason or opportunity to explore.
Characters and plot are similarly underdeveloped. What's Carson
doing in DC? Who is the general he's supposed to save before blowing up the
White House? The objectives simply don't connect to each other enough to make a
coherent plotline.
That's a particular shame since the action has some good points. There are a
variety of cool new weapons, based on the theory that Germans were able to
develop advanced post-war weapons, along with impressive environmental kills
and grappling moves. Those looking for a vicarious historical thrill will
particularly enjoy the ability to use Nazis as human shields. The high
intensity action, however, is hampered by infrequent check points and an aiming
reticule that, no matter what setting the player chooses, is either too slow or
too imprecise.
Online multi-player is very basic, allowing just eight people to play
standard kill-or-be-killed games on four different maps.
Read the full article at:
http://www.variety.com/story.asp?l=story&r=VE1117936457&c=1079