Haze

Like so many games before it, the buzz perhaps killed Haze before it even stood the chance. Actually this game reminds me of the film "The Happening". It's lead up to be one thing but in the end it fails to deliver anything worth while.

Graphically Haze is a beauty but the lack of different locations hurts this. Plus I've seen a hundred different factories and ships and dammit they all look the same. I need something new here.

Maybe having beat Metal Gear Solid 4 right before starting this up has something to do with the bad taste the plot has left in my mouth but really, the plot is just that bad. The acting and dialog are stiff, almost always wooden or overacted. The plot itself is about a government using something called Nectar and the effects it has on the soldiers. I guess that's not giving too much away but really the plot is so paper thin that it has no real point.

I don't know where the production costs went for this game or even why Sony wanted it for a limited time exclusive because even from the trailers this game didn't appear original or anything special.

Of course I'm sure you're reading this for the game play as that's why we play games isn't it... Well, if you've played a first person shooter than you've played Haze. You go around linear locals (sometimes running into a locked door and eneding to find a switch). The enemies pop out, you shoot them and they die in one hit which is kind of odd but whatever.

From there you just have Nectar itself. Injecting Nectar into your body gives you extra strength and enhances your senses. An awesome idea indeed except you just pop a dose before every gun fight and you'll waste everyone. It highlights them in dayglow orange and provides no challenge.

The controls are also a bit stiff and while the vehicles control okay, it became a pain trying to get into a vehicle and realizing I had to be standing in front of the hood to drive even though the drivers door was on one side. One would also think i could just ride shotgun or even fire the machine gun but the AI refuses to enter a vehicle unless you drive.

The AI itself is rather brain dead. There is also no problems with shooting your own teammates which seems a bit silly. I shoot them, they scream and life goes on. Oh well..

There is also on-line play but frankly I didn't play it because I'm just not interested in it. It's free to play so even if it sucks you're not wasting a service fee.

All in all Haze is a mediocre title all by itself but the crap acting, plot and dialog just bring it an extra mark down. I saw rent if you're truly interested, it's a short game anyway, or just avoid.

Story - 2/10
Graphics - 8/10
Sound - 4/10
Control - 5/10
Game Play - 5/10
Replay value - 5/10

Final Score - 4/10