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| | Title:
Fear & Respect
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System:
Xbox
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Genre:
Third-Person Action Adventure
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Publisher:
Midway
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Developer:
Edge of Reality
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Release:
January 2006
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Online:
No
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ESRB:
Mature (M)
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With a history of popular rap songs, several roles in Hollywood movies, and a new video game about to come out, things are looking good for Snoop Dogg. Fear & Respect, features directing, and story elements from controversial, and acclaimed film director, John Singleton. However, it has yet to be seen whether this game surpasses the stigma of repetitive fist-fighting, and shoot-outs, we’ve seen one-too-many times already.
Jail bird song
The story in Fear & Respect, starts with the main character, Goldie, being released from prison after receiving his second strike...and desperately trying to avoid his third. As a former gang-member, and street-goer, it doesn’t take long for Goldie to (conveniently) end back up in a world of trouble. John Singleton co-wrote the story for the game, to try reflecting the difficulties, hardships, and complexities of gang-life in LA. The academy award winning director, John Singleton, and Edge of Reality studios, are hoping to captivate players with the dynamic story, and intense action featured in Fear & Respect.
For fear or respect
While some gamers might have been thinking this game will de-throne GTA from its pedestal, I’m here to tell you that it won’t. The story in Fear & Respect is entirely linear, and vehicles, so far, don’t seem to be part of the interactive mix. Instead, the interactivity has been shifted towards a more character-driven element, which affects the story based on fear and/or respect.
Players will guide Goldie through a series of missions, with the ability to enhance their reputation by interacting with other characters in many different ways. Depending on how players act, react, or respond, determine how other characters relate to Goldie; respecting him or fearing him as a result. Moreover, the reputation meter will further determine how the characters and story will play a part in how the game ends, given its multiple endings.
Fists and firepower
Action games are only as good as the available weapons you have at your disposal, in the game. Okay, that’s not entirely true...but a strong arsenal still makes up for a big part of the fun factor. Considering that this game is based on the street drama of gang-life in LA, don’t expect any laser weapons or guided warheads to be part of the selection. Instead, the ubiquitous Uzi sub-machine gun, assault rifles, revolvers, shotguns, and automatic assault pistols, will all be retrievable. One thing that Midway, and Edge of Reality, has made quite clear is that the shoot-outs will not be a standard arcade shoot-em-up scheme. Players must use cover points, walls, cars, and other objects and environmental structures for cover. Two or three shots can easily put down an enemy, or just as well, put you down. Therefore, the shoot-outs were focused on being more intense, and dramatic, to keep players keen and on their toes always. Whether or not this aspect of the game is as dynamic and original as it might seem, we’ll just have to wait and see until the final product.
Apart from the gun-related arms, players will also have an array of fist-fighting techniques to dispose of their foes with. Unlike other fighting games, though, the fighting featured in Fear & Respect will tout players to strategize their technique to the likes of their opponent(s). The neat part about the fighting system, is that it will feature more street-fighting moves rather than the fancy (but worn out) arcade-style martial arts. Moreover, the fights won’t last very long due to the hard hits and brutal moves you, or your opponent(s), can unleash on one another. Making two-on-one or three-on-one fights against the player, very challenging.
Edge of Reality also added another feature to keep things fresh, gameplay-wise. Players will take part in drive-by shootings. Designated targets can be selected by the player, and depending on who the player decides to take-out, can change certain aspects of the character relations in the game. Moreover, players must make snap decisions with long-lasting effects for the rest of the game.
Rims of gold
Edge of Reality really seems to have gone out of their way to make objects and environments look truly amazing. The reflection detail, lighting schematics, and environmental visuals look absolutely stunning. Landmarks are all modeled after their real-life counterparts in, and around the LA area. Long Beach Bridge, Leimert Park, and the LA Twin Tower Prison are just a few of the locations that players will visit in Edge of Reality’s Fear & Respect. The character models on the other hand, look good, but move in a slightly awkward manner, hopefully this will be fixed before the final release.
Midway, though, is known for doing a fair job of picking innovative titles to publish. If the developers weren’t keen on adding enough gameplay variety, this game could easily slip into an action genre of repetitive gunplay/fighting. Hopefully, like The Suffering: Ties That Bind, Midway and developers, Edge of Reality, will bring a new and exciting twist to this action title, that’ll make it stand above rest. Fear & Respect is expected to ship in January 2006 for: the PS2, Xbox, and Xbox360.
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