Jul 28
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THIS MONTH ON RARE DROP RADIO: Comic-Con has come on gone and we discuss all the happenings. Plus, news on the future of Rare Drop Media and why there have been so few updates. As always we’ll plug you into the news, talk numbers and much more!
Jun 20
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THIS MONTH ON RARE DROP RADIO: It’s our annual mega-packed super E3 2010 Podcast special! Topics will include all of the press conferences, tons of talk about the games that were shown and much more in this 3+ hour edition that you don’t want to miss!
May 26
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THIS MONTH ON RARE DROP RADIO: First of all, we must apologize for the poor audio quality of this episode. We are having issues with our soundboard and will have to replace it before next month’s show. However, this months show is well worth listening to! We delve deep into Red Dead Redemption, Alan Wake, Trauma Team, Super Street Fighter 4, Ironman 2, StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty and much more.
We ask the question, should more Dragon Ball Z be made? The conversation continues with what anime titles we would like to see more of.
We’ll also get you Plugged into the News with Killzone 3, Halo Reach, Fable 3, Dragon Quest and Little Big Planet 2. It’s an action-packed episode you don’t want to miss.
May 24
May 24
May 5
May 5
Apr 28
FOR MORE ON SPLINTER CELL VISIT OUR FRIENDS AT CHEATMASTERS.COM
| STORY: | 8.5 out of 10 |
| GRAPHICS & DESIGN: | 8 out of 10 |
| SOUND: | 8 out of 10 |
| GAMEPLAY: | 8.5 out of 10 |
| FUNFACTOR/TILT: | 9 out of 10 |
| OVERALL SCORE: | 9 out of 10 |
I’ve got to be perfectly honest. I have never liked Splinter Cell. To me, the controls always felt clunky and the way things were laid out just made for a game that was out of reach for anyone who wasn’t deeply invested in the series (or someone like me who is just downright impatient). Even going into Splinter Cell Conviction, I had major reservations (as stated on our podcast). In fact, I actually considered not even playing it. Thankfully, I decided to give Ubisoft’s latest entry into the series a shot.
I’m not too familiar with Tom Clancy’s past storylines for the Splinter Cell series so tying everything together for a newcomer is a bit daunting but not certainly not overwhelming. You’ll be able to piece things together easily enough but you certainly get the feeling that those who have followed the franchise have a much better scope of the Splinter Cell universe. We find Sam Fisher out for revenge for the murder of his daughter but of course there is more than meets the eye. The plot is engaging and keeps you moving forward throughout the game, wanting to see just what will happen next.
The big thing that stands out for me about Splinter Cell Conviction is that the controls are now accessible. The way the game introduces you to Sam Fisher’s gadgets is paced well and you never feel overwhelmed as in previous versions. The focus is largely on stealth and in that respect, one can make some comparisons to Batman Arkham Asylum more so than something like Metal Gear. You can sneak up behind enemies, kill them and take their guns. But Sam’s tried and true default silencer pistol is hands down the most effective weapon in the game. Other gadgets include remote snake camera, EMP grenades and a broken mirror to look under doors. Perhaps the coolest innovation to the Splinter Cell franchise gameplay is the Mark and Execute finishing maneuver. This ability becomes available every time you take out a bad dude with a stealth kill. You can literally mark your pray, press a button and let Fisher do the work. Everything comes together and feels great!
The audio has a moody, cinematic feel to it that suites the game well. Voice acting is also well done with Sam Fisher sounding like a complete grizzled bad-ass and the supporting cast is also well done.
The graphics look good but there’s nothing outstanding. Character models sometimes look a bit jagged and the movements a bit android-like but they get the job done. The surrounding world itself certainly sucks you in, allowing you to become Sam Fisher, each location with its own very complex layout. The set pieces and surroundings in this game are certainly something you will be talking about a long time.
There is no doubt that this is the best entry into the Splinter Cell franchise. The gameplay is much improved allowing everyone access, the story is well-told and pushes you forward, the music accompanies the game well, the voice acting is spot on and the graphics are a wonderful sight to behold. Fans of Stealth-action should not hesitate to grab Splinter Cell Conviction.
-Yuen Fei Lung 云飞轮
Apr 20
Apr 14
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THIS MONTH ON RARE DROP RADIO: Tons to talk about this month including the on-going saga of Infinity Ward vs. Activision. Blu-rays that are even BIGGER than blu-rays will abound along with talk of the Wild West, Pokemon Black and White, Visual Novels RPGs, dogs, cats, GIANT PASTA/MEATBALL portions and MUCH MORE on this edition!
