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Review: Spectral Force 3 (360)

It’s quickly becoming clear that the Xbox 360 is becoming the new platform of choice for RPG fans, and Atlus’ Spectral Force 3 release is a clear case-in-point. As a Tactics-style RPG with a strong Japanese influence, Spectral Force 3 is exactly the kind of RPG that, in the previous generation of hardware, would have appeared on PlayStation 2 without a second’s hesitation; so its appearance on Xbox 360 with no announcements of a PS3 version could signify a lot about the direction of RPGs in this generation.

The game focuses on a band of military mercenaries under the leadership of grizzled veteran Judo; when he receives a mortal wound early on, he makes a split decision to pass leadership of his ragtag group of warriors on to the raw, mostly untested Begina, rather than a more veteran member of the cadre.

It’s a decision that seems destined for ridicule and to drive Begina to an addiction to weight loss pills, though eventually the rest of the group comes ‘round and decides to give him a chance.

As for the gameplay itself, it is standard Tactics-style RPG fare. This, of course, is a good thing if you consider games like Final Fantasy Tactics and Disgaea to be the pinnacle of an enjoyable gaming experience; many do. The game offers a solid mix of storytelling and action, loads of side-quests and a challenging battle system that keeps adding new elements to maintain freshness throughout the epic storyline.

The leveling up system is quick and easy, and allows you to make gains right in the middle of battle, as soon as you reach the necessary level of experience to advance. Each battle also rewards you with some pooled experience points you can distribute as you see fit, post-battle, and is useful for helping newly-acquired characters catch up to the rest of your party if they join up later in the game.

The backdrop is a European-like continent that is in a continual state of war as multiple sides fight for dominance; early on, you’ll receive most of your missions from one side only and the main missions will help turn the tide of battle to their side. However, as the story progresses, you’ll be able to change allegiances like any true mercenary.

The story itself is rather generic when it comes right down to it; the characters do not aspire to grow beyond genre expectations and the plot developments won’t surprise veterans of this genre much. Still, the dialog is witty at times and the core attractions, really, are the lovely complex battles.

Sure, the graphics are nothing revolutionary and could just as easily have been pulled off on last-gen hardware; but then Tactics-style RPGs have rarely been noticed for their cutting-edge graphics – game play is king.

Due to some great depth, smart map design and a wide variety of foes offering various challenges to success, Spectral Force 3 is a solid entry into the genre that won’t leave you bored after the first dozen or so battles. The only thing holding it back from true greatness is a more engaging and original storyline. Beyond that, the challenge level ramps up at a nice, accessible pace while still offering a chance to be outwitted every step of the way. Good show!

Review: Love Lies Bleeding (DVD)

Christian Slater has been transparant since he began his film career back in 1985, in a film called The Legend of Billie Jean; he’s a Jack Nicholson wannabe. Worse, he’s a poor imitator of Nicholson. For years, I thought he’d grow out of it and develop his own acting style, and the only glimpse I ever really spotted of his potential to do so came in the 1992 film Untamed Heart, but he never had the courage of his own talent to stick with the Nicholson-free version of himself and soon reverted to form.

Love Lies Bleeding is a film that summarizes the sorry state of Slater’s career as it now stands. Following bouts with alcohol and drugs that slowed his career, he is reduced to playing a “corrupt and increasingly crazed” DEA agent in a film where he is the biggest star and the second biggest star is… well, just pick any name at random from this list full of nobodies.

The title role of an Iraq war vet goes to Brian Geraghty, while the female lead is Jenna Dawson. No, I haven’t heard of them before, either. So it is that Duke and Amber (their characters) stumble onto a bag full of drug money after a shootout leaves all principals in the drug bust gone bad dead or, at least, incapacitated.

Thinking they can take the money with no consequences, they hit the road and head toward a new life, only to be tracked by Slater’s Pollen character. What follows is an increasingly hard-to-believe chase movie that, while delivering a fair amount of action, is too full of mindless violence, pointless characters and unbelieable (yet somehow still sadly predictable) plot twists. The profanity ratio is off the scale, too, so this flick earns its R rating in just about every way conceivable.

Which wouldn’t be so bad if this were a stylistic send-up by Quentin Tarrantino; but it’s not. This is the kind of film Tarrantino lampoons while also celebrating his his movies. Slater doesn’t even look that good in the role, and appears to be, at this point in time, a man in need of some weight loss pills.

One thing Slater never learned from Nicholson is how to pick great roles in great films; as an actor entering his 40s, Slater’s no longer young enough to be this desparate for work while at the same time being this hasty in his selection of roles. After a career imitating Jack Nicholson, it’s clear all Slater can achieve so far is to get down the voice and mannerisms to some degree. What he can’t duplicate is Nicholson’s talent, judgment and wisdom.

Sure, it took Nicholson a while to get there, too; but by the time he was entering his 40s, Nicholson had already made Chinatown. Slater seems unable to recognize the difference between Chinatown and Plan 9 From Outer Space. Unless he changes course, his career seems destined to pale in comparison to Nicholson’s, just as much as his imitative performances pale in comparison to saucy Jack himself.