Some recent Demoes.

Frontline:

Overall, not impressed.

The game play and graphics are decidedly oldschool. Nothing new. If the story is a good one and the levels well organized then it might prove itself, otherwise, I don't think this will be a "must have" title for me.

On the plus side the plot premise was interesting and the gameplay WAS fun if not a little 2-dimensional. With a lot of titles scrambling for realism this one is so far showing that not everybody is. It looks a little cartoony and the character movement (while smooth enough) seems arcade like. In fact, the look and feel remind me of some of those standy-arcade shooters. Maybe if this one was designed around a light-gun (something I'm all for btw) it would actually feel more nostalgic than old.

This game though feels like it would be right at home on a PS2, NOT a next gen console.

Hour of Victory:

This game sucked so bad my Kirby vacuum cleaner is jealous. The game was damn near unplayable. It literally reminded me of a game of Doom on a 386 PC "back in the day". Except, Doom ran fairly smooth. This terd must have been a High School students programming class project.

Nuff said.

Undertow (Arcade):

As an arcade title I wasn't expecting much but I was pleasantly surprised. It had good visuals and a smooth feel. Very much a next gen interpretation of the classic side-scroller. the cut-scenes were decent quality, ala a good PS2 or Xbox1 title. I haven't dropped the coin on the full version yet but I might once I've cleared some video off of my hard-drive.

The gameplay was hard without being maddenly difficult. Not something you'll pull your hair out doing but it will make you suck in air through your teeth.

The story was good as well. The premise is simple and not overly complicated. The cut scenes aren't too long or preachy. I can see why this game was an editors top pick recently.

Kane and Lynch: Dead Men

Just downloaded it today. I've been looking forward to this one as I kind of like the psychopathic shooters. My brother doesn't like playing the bad-guy so he isses out on a few of my favorite titles (not that he cares). I spend so much time trying to keep people doing the right thing and punishing those that don't that on my off time I lie to let loose and destroy wantanly.

Played it and it was fun. Not a buyable but definitely a rental. Reminded me a lot of Grand Theft  Auto. Maybe a little too much. The graphics are really nice and the movements are smooth but the aiming is a litte tough to get the hang of. A run and gun in the fine tradition of mindless killing. Maybe when I rent it a little bit of it will grow on me.