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Metal Arms - Under-Appreciated For The Holidays?

Thanks to GamesDomain for their review of Metal Arms: Glitch In The System, as their take on Vivendi's multi-platform "robot-themed third-person shooter", released this week, echoes the conclusions of many other positive ratings in proclaiming: "it's a real shame that this game doesn't seem to have quite the attention it deserves." 1UP also comments on the title as "one of the best under-hyped games of the year", describing it as "Ratchet & Clank fused with Halo", but why has this Swingin' Ape-developed title got such a low profile - lack of advertising, choice of subject matter, too many games released at the same time?

38 comments

  1. Tell you why I'm not buying it by MBraynard · · Score: 4, Insightful

    No Xbox Live support. Any game without multi-player has a very finite playtime- you can beat it a few times at best and your 50 is gone. But with other titles out there for Xbox, the playing time you have built in with XBL titles - Counter Strike, RainbowSix 6, Crimson Skies, etc -why waste the 50?

    1. Re:Tell you why I'm not buying it by shadowcabbit · · Score: 1

      Metal Arms doesn't have XBL support because it's a multi-platform game.

      I agree that multiplayer-- online or otherwise-- can significantly extend the hours a game is played, but it's not the sole reason to buy or not buy a title. Hell, FFXI is the first Final Fantasy title to have true multiplayer, so would you say that's the only Final Fantasy game worth buying?

      If you're that concerned about "wasting the 50", as you say, just wait until Metal Arms hits the bargain bin or the Greatest Hits/Platinum/Player's Choice lists. If the reviews say $50 is worth it, then $20 some six months down the road is a steal.

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    2. Re:Tell you why I'm not buying it by Babbster · · Score: 1
      Metal Arms doesn't have XBL support because it's a multi-platform game.

      Small note: Being multiplatform doesn't preclude including Xbox Live capability - Midnight Club 2, for example, includes pretty nice XBL support. There are also Phantasy Star Online, Capcom vs. SNK 2, the Sega ESPN Sports series, etc.

      Of course, as you correctly point out, not every game needs to be online to be fun. It just helps. :)

    3. Re:Tell you why I'm not buying it by PeeweeJD · · Score: 1

      I got the demo in Xbox magazine and thought is was really cool... that was the first I heard of it... Of course since E3, I have been anxiously waiting for Crimson Skies, Project Gotham, Counter Strike, Rainbow 6 3... With no live support it will be pretty hard to get my money for a game of this type especially when all these heavy hitters are around...

      I buy games for multiplayer nowadays... either on live (shooting games) or split screen (hockey / sports)... shooting games belong on the internet now..

      They are suffering from the "can't compete against the hyped games" syndrome... And had they waited until spring to relaease this, they would be competing against the mother of all xbox games...

      When this thing sells for $20 I will certainly pick it up... but now, I ma trying to justify buying counterstrike and project gotham 2 when I have bought: ESPN Football, ESPN Hockey, Rainbow 6 3, Tony Hawk Underground, Amped 2 and Crimson Skies in the past 3 months....

    4. Re:Tell you why I'm not buying it by antin · · Score: 1

      Q: Why waste $50?

      A: Because not all games are good multiplayer. For instance take any installment in the Final Fantasy series - all of them acclaimed games, and all of them single player only. Apart from the obvious fact that none of them are on the xbox, even if they were they would not have live support.

      Many great games will never be multiplayer, and never have live support - discounting all that don't will really limit your selection.

    5. Re:Tell you why I'm not buying it by DavidLeblond · · Score: 1
      For instance take any installment in the Final Fantasy series


      That is, except for the online Final Fantasy games, right?
    6. Re:Tell you why I'm not buying it by antin · · Score: 1

      They don't count - the only online version that has a number is FF-XI and people bitched at Square when they decided to give it one.

      Anyway FF wasn't the point of my post, rather an example - 11 of the FF games are singleplayer only. There are hundreds of other games out there that are single player only, FF was just one, I am sure you can use your imagination and think up others.

    7. Re:Tell you why I'm not buying it by Masem · · Score: 1

      There are plenty of ways to extend the lifetime of a single player game without adding multiplayer, and Ratchet and Clank Going Commando is an excellent example. Yes, the main storyline game takes about 10-15 hrs of play, but once you finish, you open up a Challenge Mode where the difficulty is higher, but the number of bolts (currency units) to buy weapons and other goodies drastically increases. Further weapon enhancements become unlocked. Additionally, there are skill points that unlock 'cheats' and platinum bolts that can be used to by modifications for weapons. Continuing to unlock all these items will unlock special DVD content, such as drawing board ideas, making-of movies, TV spots, and so forth. I've already added at least 20 more hours of gameplay after finishing the game just to continue to unlock things, and that $40 has definitely been well spent, IMO. However, R&C tends to be the exception, not the rule, for many platformers or shooters nowadays.

      --
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  2. underappreciated is metal..... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    METAL DILDOS!!! hahaha DIE LUNIX FAGS

    I hate you all!

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  3. tsarkon reports grease my anus yeah! YODA DOLL..! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll
    To the 12 year old bait taker - FUCK YOU in Advance, you think you are miss manners? Fuck you and the horse you rode in on =)

    9 steps to greasing your anus for Yoda Doll Insertion!

    1. Defecate. preferably after eating senna, ex lax, prunes, cabbage and hot sauces.
    2. Wipe ass with witch hazel, soothes horrific burns.
    3. Prime anus with anal ease.
    4. Slather richly a considerable amount of vaseline or other anal lubricants into your rectum at least until the bend and also take your yoda doll or yoda soap on a rope and liberally apply it.
    5. Pucker your ballon knot several times actuating the sphincter muscle in order to work it in.
    6. Put a nigger do-rag on yoda's head so the ears don't stick out like daggers!
    7. Make sure to have a mechanism by which to fish yoda out of your rectum, the soap on the rope is especially useful because that is built in.
    8. Slowly rest yourself onto your yoda figurine.
    9. Gyrate gleefully in your computer chair while your fat sexless geek nerd loser fat shit self enjoys the prostate massage you'll be getting. Think about snoodling with the Sarlaac pit. Read Slashdot. Masturbate to anime. Email one of the editors hoping they will honor you with a reply. Join several more dating services - this time, you dont check the (desired - speaks english) and (desired - literate). You figure you might get a chance then. Order some fucking crap from Think Geek. Get Linux to boot on a Black And Decker Appliance. Wish you could afford a new computer. Argue that IDE is better than SCSI because you cant afford SCSI. Make claims about how Linux rules. Compile a kernel on your 486SX. Claim to hate windows but use it for Everquest. Admire Ghyslain's courage in making that wonderful star wars movie. Officially convert to the Jedi religion. Talk about how cool Mega Tokyo is. Try and make sure you do your regular 50 story submissions to Slashdot, all of which get rejected because people who arent fatter than CowboyNeal can't submit. Fondle shrimpy penis while making a yoda voice and saying, feel the force, padawan, feeel the foooorce, hurgm. Yes. Yes. When 900 years you reach, a dick half as big you will not have.

    All in a days work with a yoda figurine rammed up your ass.

    I HAVE A GREASED UP YODA DOLL SHOVED UP MY ASS!

    y______________________________YODA_ANUS
    o_________________.'_:__`.________________y
    d____________.-.'`.__;___.'`.-.___________o
    a___________/_:____\_;__/____;_\__________d
    s_,'__""--.:__;".-.";:_:".-.":__;.--""__`,a
    e_:'_`.t""--.._'/@.`;___',@\`_..--""j.'_`;s
    x______`:-.._J_'-.-'L___`--_'_L_..-;'_____e
    ________"-.___;__.-"__"-.__:___.-"________x
    y____________L_'_/.------.\_'_J___________y
    o_____________"-.___"--"___.-"____________o
    d______________.l"-:_TR_;-";._____________d
    a_________.-j/'.;__;""""__/_.'\"-.________a
    s_______v.'_/:`._"-.:_____.-"_.';__`.v____s
    e____.-"__/_;__"-._"-..-"_.-"__:____"-.___e
    x_.+"-.__:_:______"-.__.-"______;-.____\__x
    _v;_\__`.;_;____________________:_:_"+._;_
    y_:__;___;_;____________________:_;__:_\:_y
    o_;__:___;_:____________________;:___;__:_o
    d:_\__;__:__;__________________:_;__/__::_d

    Because of Yoda's attitude, I usually don't respond to his perversions, but this time I'll make an exception. For starters, the nicest thing that can be said about Yoda's lackeys is that they are goofy insurrectionists out to demonstrate an outright hostility to law enforcement. Already, some piteous Neanderthals have begun to fund a vast web of uncontrollable vagabonds, combative slackers, and naive malodorous-types, and with terrifying and tragic results. What tracts will follow from their camp is anyone's guess. Think about that for a moment. Simply

  4. Re:tsarkon reports grease my anus yeah! YODA DOLL. by Captain+Goatse · · Score: -1

    Yay, thanks for the Goatse video, I've been looking for it.

    And by the way, your guide is a bit misleading. Mr. Goatse does infact not insert his gigantic dildos/yoda dolls in his ass. It is 'his' vagina!

    Mr. Goatse is infact neither/both a man and a woman, also known as a hermaphrodite. Both Hermes and Aphrodite were gods, therefore it is natural to assume that Mr. Goatse is infact a God.

    By the way, if you aren't sure, take a look at the pictures in the series(771 Kb zip). you'll clearly see that there's something behind his 'asshole'... something that stinks.

  5. Saw the demo..bought the game by bigman2003 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I got the demo for Metal Arms a few months ago in Xbox magazine. It had action, it was funny, looked good, and was easy to play. Somehow though all the magazines gave it like a 7.2 in their previews.

    This time I ignored the ratings, and bought it on the day it came out.

    It's a great game, lots of fun. I don't think it is earth-shattering, or life changing, but it really is fun. One of the best cameras on a 3rd person game that I have ever played. If nothing else, everyone should be looking at the camera, and trying to duplicate it. Countless 3rd person games have been ruined by a crappy camera (Rayman 3?!).

    Right now though, Top Spin is in my Xbox- waiting for me to finish career mode, then I'll go back to Metal Arms.

    I don't think that Metal Arms NEEDS Live support though- sometimes a good solid single player campaign is what I am looking for.

    --
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    1. Re:Saw the demo..bought the game by bigman2003 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Yes- I realize that the reviews are good- but the previews everywhere sucked. It seems like either the previewers didn't actually play the game, or they thought that they couldn't score it well, because there was no hype.

      Now most of the reviews are pretty good-

      --
      No reason to lie.
  6. Too much good stuff out there by Dark+Paladin · · Score: 1

    Between Mario and Luigi, Fire Emblem, Prince of Persia, Jak II, Final Fantasy X-2, on and on - there's just too many good things for the holiday season. Metal Arms just got the bad end of the release timing.

    1. Re:Too much good stuff out there by shadowcabbit · · Score: 1

      And it joins the ranks of Wild ARMs (all of them), Grandia, and Skygunner in the pantheon of good games that were released at crappy times.

      Heh. Wild ARMs, and Metal Arms. Just noticed that.

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  7. Another by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Another game that I've heard very little about but that looks cooler the more I hear about it is this crossplatform thingy from Namco called "I-Ninja". Has anyone heard anything about this?

    1. Re:Another by shadowcabbit · · Score: 1

      Another game that I've heard very little about but that looks cooler the more I hear about it is this crossplatform thingy from Namco called "I-Ninja". Has anyone heard anything about this?

      Not as such. There was a favorable preview in this past month's OPM but that's not saying much. All things considered, though, it'll probably fall into the same category as Metal Arms-- cool game but underappreciated because of some unfair quirk (in I-Ninja's case, because the graphics are "too cutesy"). Ah well. Too much good stuf these days.

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  8. The Holiday Downside by Babbster · · Score: 2, Interesting
    Metal Arms seems like exactly the kind of game that should either receive major hype (something Vivendi isn't in a position to provide at the moment) or be released in the off-season. If this game were released just about anytime between April and August, it would get a heckuva lot more attention. It would probably even get better review scores since fewer good games would be competing during its release period.

    Then again, there's the question of who will OWN Vivendi's game division this time next year. Maybe they decided to get it out ASAP in the hopes that it would make a chunk of change and stoke interest - and more importantly, bidding - again. It could be considered particularly important since Half-Life 2 and Starcraft: Ghost won't drop until next year.

  9. Possible reason by Swift(void) · · Score: 1
    but why has this Swingin' Ape-developed title got such a low profile - lack of advertising, choice of subject matter, too many games released at the same time?
    1. Never heard of this game until blues news reported that a demo was out.

    2. Whose swingin' ape? Who works there? What else have they done?

    Not to mention the fact that i get a connection refused error when i try going to their site
    1. Re:Possible reason by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The site is actually www.swinginape.com.

  10. Love it by Denver_80203 · · Score: 1

    I couldn't decide between Gotham II and Metal Arms after playing the demo... So I picked up both. I have played Gotham for about 45 minutes ata time before I get pissed enough to walk away while I have lots of trouble putting down the controller for MA.

    The multiplayer looks awsome but I agree -Would ROCK on Live and would benefit greatly from System link. Oh well... Bottom line -it's a great game.

    1. Re:Love it by Babbster · · Score: 1

      I haven't played the newest PGR 2, but I know the original had the same effect on me in that I couldn't play it for more than an hour at a time before wanting to do my patented controller toss (patented because I always have a pillow around designated for cushioning my frustration). Getting those Kudos consistently takes quite a bit of work and one mistake can really drive a person batty - much like linking long combos in trick games like Tony Hawk and SSX. Fortunately, I like tough games...in one-hour doses. :)

  11. lets be clear here... by joelja · · Score: -1, Troll

    It's for Xbox. no-one cares. ship it for psX or gasp PC and maybe someone would notice.

  12. Halo by t0ny · · Score: 1
    I recently finished Halo on the PC. Am I the only one who was somewhat disappointed by the single-player story? The whole thing with "the flood" felt like somebody spilled Half-Life in my Halo.

    Multiplayer is fantastic, however. Is this the first fps to do this great a job on vehicles?

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    1. Re:Halo by bugbread · · Score: 1

      No, that's pretty much the group consensus. Halo is a multiplayer game at heart, with a single player mode attached for practice and late-nights when your friends are asleep. It's just been taken as such a given that few XBox players even mention it, so many PC version purchasers don't know.

    2. Re:Halo by antin · · Score: 1

      I don't agree - halo is a single-player game at heart, with a multiplayer mode rushed and tacked on before it shipped. It just so happens that the multiplayer element is great fun, but I think the focus was very much on single-player.

      As to the story, I don't know what you expected, but I for one found it extremely detailed and interesting, and all of my friends feel the same way. There are even 3 novels based around the game, so it isn't like the story was lacking...

    3. Re:Halo by Mike+Mentalist · · Score: 0

      Halo is a multiplayer game at heart, with a single player mode attached for practice and late-nights when your friends are asleep.

      Erm, since when?
      I know very few people who have actually played it multiplayer, but everyone raves about the single player. Halo is possibly the best FPS I have ever played.

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    4. Re:Halo by t0ny · · Score: 1
      I know the 'repetitive' complaint comes up a lot (although backtracking afterward really didnt bother me, since the levels were restocked), but I just found the whole 'headcrab' thing to be too done before.

      I mean, there has been the Alien series, The Thing, Half-Life, etc. Dont get me wrong, I enjoyed the game, but I think they could have been a bit more original. Well, I read Bungie was sort of in a time crunch, and didnt get to put all the story items they wanted to into it. There is always Halo 2, right?

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  13. Its sad by t0ny · · Score: 1
    in a way, its bad having so many great games coming out all the time. Before, several great games would come out, and be wildly successful by beating out all the crap other companies were putting out.

    Now, however, very good games have a potential to do poorly, just because of lack of press/marketting, being released along with major blockbuster games, etc.

    I think its sad when great games sell poorly, and it will probably be happening a lot more as the bar keeps getting raised higher. The main negative to this, that I can see, will be too many MOTS games, and sequelitis.

    But then again, if they turn into bad games, it just makes room for something better... Weird times ahead.

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  14. Just saw a show on it by Necroman · · Score: 2, Informative

    G4TV did a half-hour segment talking about this game. It does seem really sweet.
    The company that makes this game was founded back in 2000 by 3 guys that used to work at Midway (and had been for a while). They were doing arcade games and knew the market for them was dieing, so the took a leap of faith and started their own company. They then got the funding behind the project and just went to town.

    It seems to follow most other basic FPSes out there are far as style, but they did it in an innovative way. They've got lots of different weapons and such (like 14 I think), and some really cool features for when you are going through the missions (being able to re-program enemy machines to fight along side you, or you can sneak up on other robots, and "jack-in" to them and have total control).

    It looks pretty sweet, I think it would be a fun "party" type game, like TimeSplitters 2. Gamecube and X-Box have up to 4 person multiplayer, 2 person on PS2... not sure if you can link consoles together or not. They have all the different multiplayer modes that most of the other FPS console games have.

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  15. I work at a gaming store by Lemental · · Score: 0

    And this is the most underappreciated game of the year. Its gameplay is tight, its graphics are pretty and its just an all around fun challenging game.

    I can't beleive it has been passed over by the hype machine. Its the sleeper of the year IMO.

    Hope it does well, I want to see a sequel.

  16. Make some actual friends by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Try making some actual friends sometime. Playing a console game chilling on the couch with friends on a weekend night is infinitely more satisfying than playing with a bunch of other friendless losers on xbox live.

  17. why? by Zed2K · · Score: 1

    "but why has this Swingin' Ape-developed title got such a low profile - lack of advertising, choice of subject matter, too many games released at the same time?"

    One reason. Its too Japanese. Come on, big robots fighting? Nothing says Japanese like that. People may like that whole thing but those that do are in the minority. Its a niche game that is seeing its "niche" grow smaller every year.

    1. Re:why? by MMaestro · · Score: 1
      'People may like that whole thing but those that do are in the minority.'

      Transformers anyone?

    2. Re:why? by Zed2K · · Score: 1

      Yeah and we've all seen how well transformers video games have done in the past. The transformer movie sucked. It was really really bad. The toys were cool, but only because it was unique at the time. A lot of people like it now for the same reason people like 80's rock stations and 80's television shows. They are reliving their childhood.

    3. Re:why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But it's not a Japanese game!

  18. The problem is... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The problem with this game is that it doesnt really have a target group (adults, teens, kids?) or even a fan group (anime, sw, cartoons?) I mean is a war game about comic, cartoony robots beating each other with lethal weapons. is too violent for kids and is way too silly for an adult.

    Another game in that demographic is voodoo vince, its a platformer game about a voodoo doll that hurts itself to damage enemies, we have the same same case scenario, too violent for a kid, too silly for anyone else (I mean, underneath is just an average platform game) still it got some sales because is a rather original concept, advertising campaign and childlish/horror games do have a fan demographic (Tim Burton/scooby doo fans) to ice that cake, it got released in october (halloween)

    Besides theres A LOT of great games out there right now, from Prince of persia to Mario Kart DD, passing through Ninja Gaiden, jak 2 and FF X2 covering all systems for xmas definetily thats some tough competition.

    Dont worry though, if the game is Really good it will eventually get some sales as soon as word of mouth helps to increase its credibility. but seriously is this game as good as Ninja Gaiden? and Pop? if it is, then I definetily have to check it out, if not it has to wait in line (maybe even get a discount) like everyone else.

  19. Vivendi Management by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I work as a tester at Vivendi, so perhaps I can provide some insight.

    The reason it didn't get hyped is that the Vivendi Powers That Be decided that their damn Hobbit game should get the hefty advertising budget. The Hobbit is a stiff, unimaginative Zelda clone that controls, looks, smells, plays like crap. Think that Vivendi doesn't have advertising dollars to shell out? The Hobbit had two demos: a regular and one released through McDonald's, full-page and two-page ads in gaming magazines, and that's only the tip. (And don't get me started on the terrible War of the Ring game. It had many nicknames among the testers: "Warcrash", "Warcraft of the Ring"...) And their next 'big project' is Van Helsing, a crappy Devil May Cry clone. Vivendi spews crap, but of their two good games this year (Homeworld 2 and Metal Arms), only one of them got any press, and that was only because Homeworld 2 is 'safe', being a sequel to a wildly popular game. Unfortunately, and this is not just Vivendi, large game companies are willing to pour resources into games that will sell, and originality is perceived as very risky.

    On a side note, Vivendi was formed in North America when a sewage treatment company in France started buying up American game companies.