> GAME RAMBLE, 21/09/11First thing I'm going to say is that I sold my copy of this game. Now, that probably doesn't sound good... and it isn't. But that's kind of down to me alone, and only partially down to the game itself being a trainwreck. Allow me to explain.
I'll start with the Multiplayer aspect, since it's easilly where I spent the least amount of my time. For the first couple days I didn't actually get into a single game... I just spent 10 minutes or so at a time in an empty lobby, with the odd person or two coming and leaving, until it eventually booted me for not being able to start a game. When I finally did start experiencing the realm of Homefront MP... I was less than impressed, really.
What was immediately noticeable was the game's resemblance to a certain series involving a duty that calls... I'd heard the game compared to Battlefield titles, but the Arena-like nature of the maps, lack-luster treatment of vehicles, the various perks that could be purchased as essentially killstreak rewards, and the pace of the gunplay made me think otherwise. There were no classes, nothing to do other than kill or be killed. Now to most, this wouldn't be a problem. But to me, on my connection (which is appalling even for a New Zealand connection), killing is MUCH easier said than done. Especially when you're put down in barely a few bullets.
In other, more tactical squad-based games, I can stand my ground fairly well... but playing a game that mimics COD's twitch-reflex gameplay of fast-paced killing and not much else, on my connection, it was a joke. Considering MP was bringing me little but laggy boring matches, or nothing at all, I turned my attention entirely to Campaign. Other than the fact the graphics are absolutely atrocious on PS3, to the point of being distractingly unrealistic & bad, I actually derived a degree of fun and enjoyment out of this area of the game. Not quite enough to merit a full-price purchase, since it's really only good for a couple playthroughs tops, but it was tolerable enough for me to wind up going for all the Campaign trophies.
The main point of interest was the story. Though it essentially boils down to the same idea as any other FPS out there, ie. "you are America and ______ is the enemy attacking us and you must kill them and save our tits-awesome country" etc etc, it was an interesting slant putting the US as the country on the receiving end of a ruthless and cruel invasion. Though beyond that, the story just milked the shock factor and didn't really take any unexpected turns or go anywhere interesting other than the all's-well ending, and the characters were fairly boring and forgettable. Despite this, the Campaign did have its moments of adrenalin-pumping intensity, especially on the hardest difficulty the game offered.
Sadly at the end of it all, as the campaign is really only enjoyable the less times you play it, and with a largely disappointing Multiplayer, this is a game that ultimately just didn't deserve my money. Well, it got my money at first anyway... but then I took it back.
Homefront (PS3)
Released: 2011
Developer: Kaos
Publisher: THQ
Genre: First-Person Shooter
"Occupation" trailer
Death of a Dead Day
