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Introduction:
What
usually separate the "okay" shooters from
the cream of the crop are excellent A.I., a graphically
rich environment, and a distinct personality. Oh yeah,
and weapons that tear limbs apart from bodies are
a plus for many fans too. Devastation definitely has
the good looks, firepower, and even some personality-what
it's missing, however, is some believable and realistic
A.I. to bring it all together.
 Nevertheless,
Devastation does live up to its title-it's a violently
fun romp through a futuristic war-torn San Francisco
with thirty plus weapons with which to play shoot-em-up.
The year is 2075, and-surprise-the Earth is in chaotic
ruin and only a few Mega-Corporations control the
little technology that's left. And oddly enough, it's
a fictional story. These corporations have made it
their job to exert control over citizens, even using
"pacification squads" of cops to suppress
individuals. Bio-tech companies like Grathius are
hard at work creating nano-tech armies to eliminate
all threats. Needless to say, it's a little tumultuous
these days in the Bay Area. In the game, you play
as Flynn Haskell, an edgy hard-nosed member of the
forces opposing the corporations named the Resistance.
Looking at the box art for Devastation, you'd think
Flynn also part-times as Eminem's double. Throughout
the game, Flynn befriends fellow supporters of the
Resistance and these characters become a part of the
entourage you control in the game.
Graphics:
When
the single player game boots up, you're greeted with
a sleek introduction video that begins the game-long
exhibition of snazzy graphics and attention to detail.
As seen during scenes of heavy rainfall in the opening
video, Devastation's graphics are crisp and detailed,
and its particle effects are equally impressive. Rain
drops fall and ripple as they would in real life.
It's always nice to see developers pay attention to
creating a realistic natural and structural environment.
Undoubtedly, a little help from the UnrealEngine goes
a long way in Devastation.
This
much seems true the second you enter the gaming environment.
Graphically, Devastation brings its story's chaotic
setting to life in nice fashion. Devastation's environments
are beautifully rendered, in all their post-apocalyptic
grimness and urban misery. Half-demolished buildings
light up the sky as fires blaze from them. Some windows
have been knocked out while others remain in place.
The streets are littered with trash, broken bottles,
and rubble. Needless to say, the atmosphere is a dark
and unnerving one (that would be that whole post-apocalyptic
thing). Through these dystopian urban landscapes,
the developers truly succeeded in creating a gloomy
mood to fit the story.
The
fire effects are probably one of the most impressive
graphical elements in the game. Fire and explosions
blaze realistically, both in motion and color. Gunfire
is pulled off just as well. Shoot a wall, and dust
flies out as cartridges crash to the ground. Shoot
an enemy, and the blood and gore effects are grim
and nicely detailed. The engine offers above average
placement damage, something especially shown off by
sniper shots. Other effects like steam rising from
a puddle of water are sharp and add even more realism
to the environments. That said, it would have been
nice to see some motion in the sky, as has been seen
in some older and more recent shooters. As expected
in almost every FPS, there are some clipping issues:
you might see the enemy's legs poking out through
a wall, for example.
More
Screenshots:
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