HAZE - Official Thread

[jako]

you can't watch this site with your PS3, 'm tired of browsing with it:( I

[OG_Monkey]

Ubisoft and GameTrailers present...
The HAZE/Korn Mash-Up Contest: Where Nectar Meets Metal
(http://www.gametrailers.com/usermoviecontest_haze_contest_sub.php)


Contest Entries Accepted April 28th - May 18th
Because we believe in fundamental values such as competitive spirit, team spirit, constant and relentless effort, surpassing oneself, and camaraderie, Mantel Global Industries is proud to announce a new event in our roster of games and competition. Starting April 28, 2008, we will begin the first-annual Mantel Mash-Up Event. This is a special project close to the heart of our CGO (chief gaming officer) Geoff Keighley, and he will be announcing the winner on-air on June 13 2008, on the new MTL Network news division, GameTrailers TV.

In this new and exciting competition, we are asking you, our proud and creative Mantel employees, to share your vision for the future. Share with the rest of our global citizens how Mantel’s Nu Metal K.O.R.N System has changed your life for the better. By using the key assets we have provided for you below as well as the anthem, “Haze,” apply the creativity stimulated by Nectar and submit your finished work to GameTrailers.com. Once all entries have been received, our panel of the brightest minds at Mantel will decide on the top five entries, with the final winner decided by the global Mantel citizens.

Our values are at the very core of everything we do. They are what we are, and why and how we conduct our operations. It is our honor to scrupulously respect all applicable laws and regulations in the numerous countries in which Mantel Global Industries has an activity.

Guidelines:

* Open to US Residents Only
* Limit 1 entry per person
* Download the pack of assets to begin the Mash-Up
* Use of original Haze Inspired Artwork and Animation is encouraged along with the provided download pack
* Videos submitted must be 1 minute and 30 seconds in length, include the Korn song, "Haze," in it's entirety with no modifications, and no larger than 200mb in size
* The Top 5 will be selected by the GT Editorial Team based upon style(50%) and originality(50%)
* The winner will be announced June 13, 2008 on GTTV. Winners will be notified by email so make sure the email address in your account is current.
* Be sure to read the full rules for all submission requirements!

Read the Full Rules and Regulations (http://www.gametrailers.com/usermoviecontest_haze_contest_sub.php#rules)
Download the Contest Assets (http://trailers.gametrailers.com/assets.zip)
Upload your video (http://users.gametrailers.com/usermoviesubmit.php)

Dates:
Upload Period: 4/28/08 - 5/18/08
Vote on the Top 5: 5/20/08 - 5/30/08
Winners Announced: 6/13/08

Prizes:
The Top 5 Finalists will all receive a signed copies of the game.

In addition, the following will receive:

First Place: Sony HDTV 46", PS3, Customized HAZE guitar signed by the band, and an amp, plus $1000

Second Place: A PS3 and the entire collection of Korn CDs and Ubisoft PS3 library plus $500

Third Place: The entire collection of Korn CDs and Ubisoft PS3 library

[LaLiLuLeLo]

They're pretty much actively punishing whoever gets third place.

[OG_Monkey]

LMFAO, now THAT was funny!

[LaLiLuLeLo]

Hahahah...now, if it was the entire Ubisoft PS3 library moving forward, maybe I wouldn't be writhing in disgust. There's Assassin's Creed and.....pfffft.

[VG Aficionado]

:lol:

[LaLiLuLeLo]

It's funny, cuz it's true.

[LiquidEagle]

They're pretty much actively punishing whoever gets third place.

Hahahah...now, if it was the entire Ubisoft PS3 library moving forward, maybe I wouldn't be writhing in disgust. There's Assassin's Creed and.....pfffft.

It's funny, cuz it's true.

Indeed. That's why I must get 1st place!!! My friends & I are all gonna have a go at it :-D

[bilbobob007]

Looks like we got a demo hitting the PSN next week. Euro site that is. Not that it matters really with multiple accounts. I had this one pre ordered since the bible was first printed.

[Raitei]

ah ffs

exams in 2 weeks

really am not going to have much time to spend on the demo

[Red]

I got the new play 3 magazine they have playd a nearly complete version of the game. They say it lokks like an upscaled ps2 game in HD. :lol:

[VG Aficionado]

From the early trailers, that isn't remotely true. Although it makes me wonder what concept some people have of PS2 games graphics when they haven't played any in a while.

[LiquidEagle]

From the early trailers, that isn't remotely true. Although it makes me wonder what concept some people have of PS2 games graphics when they haven't played any in a while.

Seriously. I played some San Andreas before GTA IV came out and it made my friends really appreciate how far GTA has come. I think people are being too generous in their nostalgia of PS2 games if they're making comments like that. Especially when they should have been saying that about stuff like Genji if anything.

[Sephiroth_VII]

I found Genji beautiful, but its camera system was broken beyond repair.

[LiquidEagle]

I found Genji beautiful, but its camera system was broken beyond repair.

Genji was pretty nice, but being a launch title it felt more like a PS2 title on some kind of performance-enhancing drug that a full-blown PS3 title IMO.

[Sephiroth_VII]

Maybe. I only played the demo :-p

[LiquidEagle]

Maybe. I only played the demo :-p

Me too :laugh:

My main point is that they're saying HAZE looks like a PS2 game in HD when there are WAAAAY better candidates for that "award," and HAZE definitely isn't a PS2 game in HD.

[Sephiroth_VII]

Agreed. [/pointless bickering]

[Red_Eyes]

I don't remember Haze saying that it will be the graphical powerhouse of this generation. I do remember Haze saying it will be about the storyline and 4 player split screen online gameplay with 2 unique styles.

[Red]

Just look how good black looks in 1080P and look how haze looks. They are right the graphics are lame.

And it's crappy that if you played the game 33% through you fight for the rebels.

[LiquidEagle]

Just look how good black looks in 1080P and look how haze looks. They are right the graphics are lame.

And it's crappy that if you played the game 33% through you fight for the rebels.

Oh, I didn't know you owned the game.

That's right, you DON'T. Wait 'till it's out and you'll see how wrong you are.

[Raitei]

wait til tomorrow even (or is haze thursday)

[dnpmakkah]

I'm looking forward to getting this demo. Hopefully N.A. PSN will get it too. At least with a demo there is a chance I might like it and buy it but without a demo I wouldn't have even considered it.

[LiquidEagle]

I think HAZE should be Tuesday, which it just barely turned in the UK, but it probably won't be up for a good 12 hours I'd say...

Hopefully the US store gets it, of course ;)

[Raitei]

its up now by the way

[Jay Gee]

I need your impressions, Europeans!!! Will it be worth another $64.12 charged to my Best Buy card?

[cliffbo]

I need your impressions, Europeans!!! Will it be worth another $64.12 charged to my Best Buy card?

go to the PSN thread and check out the first post. at the bottom it explains how to log onto European PSN

[Gegenki]

seemed a bit meh to me. I couldnt even tell if I was definately hitting someone. And why does no-one have headsets. Sony makes it nice and open for us and nobody uses it. - Yea the demo allows for co-op play.
Its probably made in this way but I pretty much had to use nectar to be able to see my enemys

[Jay Gee]

Hmm, play it some more and give me your final thoughts, Gengeki.

[Raitei]

still downloading

[Segitz]

PSN is SLOW here!

[Sephiroth_VII]

Oh shock...

Everyone is trying to get their hands on the HAZE demo, so what did you expect?

[Segitz]

Oh shock...

Everyone is trying to get their hands on the HAZE demo, so what did you expect?

The same speeds, when HS, Uncharted, Ratchet, Burnout etc. etc. etc. were released^^

I mean, it is REALLY slow, like crawling... I am at 70% after... I dunno nearly 4 hours or so (and my line does ~1GB per hour usually). Not that it is really annoying, just that it is getting tedious :D

[Raitei]

yeah my line is honestly bitching at me

it must be done by now though

[Derrick Barra]

I downloaded it, but I'm looking for some friends to play it with, it doesn't seem anybody on my list has it (or is on, or just not playing GTA4). I'll play through single player and report back.

[hevymac]

Nice game, plays well and the voice acting is pretty good too. If I had friends (who play games) other than ny bro then I'd play it coop. S'pose I'll just have to wait fer 'em.

[Derrick Barra]

Graphics are pretty decent, it runs at 60fps without a hitch and the audio is great but nothing you wouldn't expect from a B-class game. The audio chat that your buddies do in between fights seems a bit cliche', and the facial animations don't seem up to par with other FPS's that have done it right (Half-Life series). I didn't get a chance to use Nectar too much as the demo is a short one (still clocks in at a gig'na'half though). Overall it seems like a great rental or a possible buy if the actual story/multiplayer co-op proves to be something inspirational. Its going to have a really tough time going against Killzone 2, and Resistance 2 though.

[cliffbo]

HD PSN Download vid

http://www.gametab.com/news/2587465/

[LiquidEagle]

60 fps?? Littlewood said a long time ago that it was gonna be 30 fps, so that's pretty cool if it's at 60 :)

[Segitz]

60 fps?? Littlewood said a long time ago that it was gonna be 30 fps, so that's pretty cool if it's at 60 :)

I dunno, even if it was 30fps, I still managed several slowdowns in less than 5 minutes (run and gun like hell while on nectar)...

The graphics are subpar... I mean, I find this game to look worse than GTA4, and GTA4 looks... only slightly above par.

Well... it is a simple shooter, nothing else sadly

EDIT: I am quite sure, this game is NOT native 720p... it is not even close to 720p (i.e. lower than GTA4 and then some)... Very bad indeed!

[cliffbo]

i'm beginning to wonder about this guy. he only has a 360 and yet is judging the demo on the PS3


Add HAZE to the Sub-HD Generation

by Patrick Steen on May 6, 2008

haze_s2-storyimagecopy.jpg

As seems to be the norm this console generation, not all games can hit that elusive 720p HD resolution. First Halo 3, then GTA4 (PS3) and now the PS3 exclusive Haze.

As previously reported, a demo of Haze can be found on the Playstation Store, supporting 4 player co-op. Graphically it’s solid, but what’s most impressive is that it runs silky smooth. It runs at a locked 30fps, and even with a host of foliage and enemies on screen - it never dips.

Though there are more impressive looking games on the PS3, it’s with Haze’s gameplay and story that show off its true colours. (More on this in our upcoming preview of both the four player co-op and multiplayer modes.) Nonetheless, for Free Radical to achieve a solid PS3 engine with no loading throughout the game, they’ve had to make some concessions.

Qua51 of Beyond3d now confirms Haze’s resolution to be 1024by576 with no anti-aliasing. That is, going by the demo, and there’s yet to be a difference in resolution from a game’s demo to its final release. At the end of the day, this is something we’re going to have to get used to. If developers find they can put the saved power into a solid framerate, or better graphics - then should we really be complaining?

http://www.ripten.com/2008/05/06/add-haze-to-the-sub-hd-generation/

[Derrick Barra]

Are we playing the same game? I didn't notice any slowdown on my playthrough, and the graphics looked pretty good from my end, I couldn't really tell whether or not it was running in 640p or 720p, the graphical polish that the game gets when you use nectar made me not really care.

Oh by the way I take back what I said about it running at 60fps, its actually just 30fps but it looked like it was running smoother than that.

This is the type of game that would likely dramatically improve with friends, I can see how in the final build a reviewer would get bored going it solo, the characters and dialogue don't seem up to the standards nowadays. We'll have to wait and see on this one guys...

[TEEDA]

Oh My dear Quaz51. Our best techies from Playfrance. He can counts every lines on a tv screen lol.
So awesome guy.

[Nameless]

Downloading now, but it seems to be going really slow at 64%...

[Derrick Barra]

Is it just me that always has PSN going at lightning speeds? Jeez it sounds like it sucks for you guys...

[Nameless]

^ Europe PSN man...

I played the demo and it's nothing special IMO.
The visuals are average at best and look like a typical multi-platform title.
Everything about the title seems generic and like your typical shooter; the Necture idea was interesting, but kind of corny in execution...

Not to sound harsh, but with the current shooters on the market and the big guns in development I will definately pass on this title. I doubt I will even rent this game; too many better titles to play now...

I will try the demo again, because perhaps my initial impressions are too harsh.

[Red_Eyes]

Tired online yet?

[Nameless]

^Nah

[VG Aficionado]

I played it twice, for about 5 minutes. Then I deleted it. That's all I'm going to say.

[masteratt]

Ouch VG & Nameless lol.
At least you are being honest.

Can't play GTA4 and download at same time (fucks up GTA4 and download goes REALLY slow) and every time my PS3 is on I feel like playing GTA4 lol so I'll probably never play this demo but now I don't mind too much.

Everyone says it's a short demo anyway and at 1.5GB why the hell is it short?

I'll just rent the full game to see how I enjoy it.

[Cyrus]

I think it's going to be a blast online if they've managed to balance the nectar vs non-nectar correctly. The controls are very smooth and pumping nectar actually feels very satisfying. :D

[LiquidEagle]

Ouch VG & Nameless lol.
At least you are being honest.

Can't play GTA4 and download at same time (fucks up GTA4 and download goes REALLY slow) and every time my PS3 is on I feel like playing GTA4 lol so I'll probably never play this demo but now I don't mind too much.

Everyone says it's a short demo anyway and at 1.5GB why the hell is it short?

I'll just rent the full game to see how I enjoy it.

At least give this game some kind of a go... it plays well and even though the demo wasn't anything we haven't seen from the initial gameplay demonstration, you get to play it co-op and overall I still believe this game will be very very awesome when we get the full version and story. All the story elements they mention in the demo were interesting IMO.

[masteratt]

At least give this game some kind of a go...
I'll just rent the full game to see how I enjoy it.
0_o....lol

Anywho, I went for shopping and for the first time EVER, left the PS3 on unattended and let the thing download (and then install, that takes too long!).

And yes I've enjoyed it very much on single player, I think the characters are well done and the feeling of being buzzed on Nectar is created extremely well, you actually feel invincible when Nectar is activated so a huge plus point for that.

I agree with you on the story, I thought it was interesting as well (some lol worthy voice acting though ¬_¬).

I definitely enjoyed the experience.

[Cyrus]

Yay, at least some get it. :p I was especially surprised how well the "pumping nectar into your blood" is handled, it really does feel great, the sound and the visual effect is very nice. And it's also nice to hear the others pumping it beside you, just has a great feel.

I'm especially expecting great things from the multiplayer, it all just comes down to the balancing of nectar vs non-nectar really and obviously net-code. The controls and the feel of the game are very nice so those dont concern me anymore.

[VG Aficionado]

And it's also nice to hear the others pumping it beside you, just has a great feel.

:cowboy:

[Cyrus]

:cowboy:

Haha, I dunno. The sound is just perfect. :p

[Bsack]

I'll be downloading the demo to this game when I get home tonight and I'm gonna play through it online with my brother. =)

[cliffbo]

this game is really good. baring in mind that this demo is very old, the finished game will be awesome. a must buy for me.

[Raitei]

that was slightly annoying...

bah, it was fun but a little... eh.. run, gun, recieve nextar.. fuck em up

run gun repeat

i want to play with you guys though, get a feel of what the games all about

[LiquidEagle]

Yeah, I was addicted to nectar quite quickly ;)

And Masteratt, I'm aware you said you were going to rent it, I was just agreeing with that comment that you should give the game a try in some form or another... I probably should have worded my post differently so you knew I knew that :-p

[GTAce]

The sound of the game is prety good.^^
Gameplay is pretty... well... pretty "old".
Typical shooter but its not a bad game.
Fire & smoke effects are cool too.

[Red]

Haze looks and plays like shit.

[LiquidEagle]

Somebody's a grumpy gus...

[masteratt]

haha.

Everyone is grumpy on the internet.
World Wide Web? More like World Wide Complaints.

[jako]

I didn't like this demo, the graphix are just....OK. And the game is a bit boring for me.
I would like to thank ubi for releasing this demo because I was about to buy this game (from the videos and photos) and trying this demo made me open my eyes : Haze is just a regular FPS. Not good but not bad.
I'm a bit disapointed on this one.

[LaLiLuLeLo]

haha.

Everyone is grumpy on the internet.
World Wide Web? More like World Wide Complaints.

Awww masteratt you totally could have ran with the WWW acronym!
World Wide Complaints? More like World Wide Whiners.

[masteratt]

Oh shit, I'm losing my edge.

[LiquidEagle]

-rep for missed opportunity.

[Xclusion]

I'll play with you and your bro bsack.

This is the type of game I'd get if and only if it has a strong community because its no good if its hard to find games.

[Nameless]

Haze looks and plays like shit.

Classic... LMAO!!!

I don't completely agree with that statement, but it kind of sums up my initial impressions after playing the demo. I would not call the game garbage, but it's just nothing special IMO. If this game was a launch title when there was nothing to play I would be amped, but with titles like COD4 being out there I just can't get into this game at all... Also, the long wait for a mediocre title is not giving me a good feeling either.

Anyone who plans to play online with friends could have a good time, but there are too many better games to play on my PS3 to give this game the time of day.
It's a damn shame, because the developers had high hopes, but these results could equate to horrible sales figures upon release...

Also, the new Killzone2 footage could not have come at a worse time, because it makes a game like this look ridiculous visually IMO… *And that game has 9 more months of development!!!* :doh:

[LiquidEagle]

Classic... LMAO!!!

I don't completely agree with that statement, but it kind of sums up my initial impressions after playing the demo. I would not call the game garbage, but it's just nothing special IMO. If this game was a launch title when there was nothing to play I would be amped, but with titles like COD4 being out there I just can't get into this game at all... Also, the long wait for a mediocre title is not giving me a good feeling either.

Anyone who plans to play online with friends could have a good time, but there are too many better games to play on my PS3 to give this game the time of day.
It's a damn shame, because the developers had high hopes, but these results could equate to horrible sales figures upon release...

Also, the new Killzone2 footage could not have come at a worse time, because it makes a game like this look ridiculous visually IMO… *And that game has 9 more months of development!!!* :doh:

I honestly wouldn't discount HAZE kicking serious ass when the full game comes out. It's got story to back its gameplay, not to mention another set of gameplay mechanics besides the ones used in the demo. Also, KZ2 may look better but that doesn't mean jack when it comes to how the game's going to play, which was KZ1's big failing as well. Graphics can only take a game so far and though HAZE may not be pushing polygons to the Xtreme, it's got very tight art design still.

[Matt]

Finally got around to playing the demo last night. Like a lot of other people have said, it's OK, but nothing amazing. The gameplay is solid, but it's a FPS, you'd expect that by now from all FPS games.

I'm sure there's a lot more to it, but the demo didn't do enough to make me want to buy it.

[Smokey]

theyre gonna have trouble competing with COD4 let alone new FPS

[LaLiLuLeLo]

Finally got around to playing the demo last night. Like a lot of other people have said, it's OK, but nothing amazing. The gameplay is solid, but it's a FPS, you'd expect that by now from all FPS games.

I'm sure there's a lot more to it, but the demo didn't do enough to make me want to buy it.

With that in mind, the uncharted demo is pretty dull. It's pitted right in the middle of one of the dullest (relatively speaking) parts of the game. Aside from its beauty it didn't play in a stand out way, so I still have hopes for HAZE.

[Sephiroth_VII]

If the reviews are good, I'll buy it. I'm afraid they'll just confirm my suspicions of this being a dull game though.

[Xclusion]

GGL got a 4v4 tournament coming up for Haze, winning team gets $5000. I'm setting up a team anyone know if they're picking the game up?

[section]

The 4 player co-op part was the most interesting part here, it actually worked really well and was fun. Just give me an opportunity to host a game and call out friends to play online co-op and I'm sold.

[Smokey]

i will not be buying this game

[cliffbo]

Famitsu Gives Haze a Glowing Review
Japanese publication says PS3 shooter lives up to the hype.
By Jonathan Lumb, 05/15/2008

Haze, the new exclusive shooter for the PlayStation 3, releases in both Japan and North America next week, and the latest issue of Famitsu gives the game a gold award, with the overall score of 34/40.

The four reviewers all praise the different play styles of the ally troopers and the enemy army, with both sides having interesting strengths and weaknesses. Global online play, an interesting scenario mode, and beautiful graphics are all mentioned as positives for the western-developed game. However, most of the reviewers complain that the event scenes feature too much shaking. The game is recommended to sci-fi fans and FPS players of all levels.

For the 1UP opinion on Haze check out our preview of the recent demo and watch for a review after the game's release. We have one sooner, but... you know.

http://www.gametab.com/news/2597960/

[Red_Eyes]

Let's see if other reviewers give it a positive review too.

[Gummy]

Demo sucked for me.

[Jay Gee]

I'm gonna try to play Ass Creed some more, and if it still doesn't impress, I'm gonna see how much it will shave off Haze, otherwise it'll be a rental for me now as well.

[LaLiLuLeLo]

I'm saying though, let's wait for the score averages to come in, because some game demos are too short, or one of the weaker parts of the game.

[cliffbo]

Haze runs at 720p
Posted by Talk Playstation
on May.17, 2008 at 10:51 am

Previous reports suggested that the PS3 exclusive shooter Haze runs at a sub HD resolution of 1024×576. I can confirm that this is false. According to the Haze Community Developer, Aymeric Evennou AKA Ubi_Wuzzi, Haze runs at a HD resolution of 720p.

Haze

“Since last week, I hope you enjoyed the demo and that you did not make any abusive use of Nectar. From what we saw, it seems that you enjoyed playing this demo. Yet, we noticed that some of you found the demo too easy, for those ones the suggestion is to try the Hard mode. (You may also be glad to know that an Ultra Hard mode is unlockable in the final version of the game!) From some other comments I read, I wanted to clarify that the game runs at 720p resolution.”

So for those who wanted a definite answer straight from the developers mouth, there it is, Haze runs at 720p.

http://talkplaystation.com/haze-runs-at-720p/

[Segitz]

Hmm...

this sounds ... strange though...

Yes, the demo also "runs" at 720P (i.e. it puts out a 720P picture), but it is rendered at 576P. I know, I am nitpicking here, but if the game indeed is rendered at full resolution, why in hell did they release a demo that does not run at this resolution??

[cliffbo]

Hmm...

this sounds ... strange though...

Yes, the demo also "runs" at 720P (i.e. it puts out a 720P picture), but it is rendered at 576P. I know, I am nitpicking here, but if the game indeed is rendered at full resolution, why in hell did they release a demo that does not run at this resolution??

because it was the old demo from way back

[cliffbo]

Haze will have a 4GB mandatory install

Posted May 17th 2008 12:30PM by Nick Doerr
Filed under: News
You had to have known in some area of your brain that Haze would come with a mandatory install. It's almost a trend and almost always a hassle -- especially when it comes to hard drive space (we're so very sorry, 20GB PS3 owners!). The size of Ubisoft's oft-delayed shooter is going to be in the realm of 4GB's. Time to make a sandwich, huh? Well, love it or hate it, just be ready to let the game web itself into your PS3 for a while before you get crackin' on killin' those Mantel troops. It sure would be a bummer to break it out of its shrink-wrap at a party only to make everyone wait. You've been warned.

http://www.gametab.com/news/2600441/

[Sephiroth_VII]

Oh terror, we have to wait 10 minutes before playing the game!!! :emo:

[VonGak]

That just means the game's streaming engine is optimized for the 360's DVD drive.

[section]

Oh feck, time to start looking up for a good sized 2.5 inch HDD. I will be buying this game, mainly for the 4 player co-op because it rules.

[VG Aficionado]

That just means the game's streaming engine is optimized for the 360's DVD drive.

That just means they took the easy route for the shortest loading times.

[Lekko]

20 GB owner here dev, no biggie. I slapped a 250 GB one in just a few days ago.

I did it for GTA and GT. You've got room now thanks to them, I suggest sending them a 'thank you' note.

[saud264]

4.5 from ign

http://ps3.ign.com/articles/875/875229p1.html

[Z]

ouch. what went wrong?

[section]

^^It's PS3 exclusive ;)

[VG Aficionado]

Quite a harsh review. It's probably not that bad, but the demo wasn't promising either.

[section]

Demo wasn't promising but it isn't score wise 4'ish bad.

[Z]

is this the worst FR score?

[AbominatioN]

I don't know who made the .gif (it was sent to me through icq) but it rulez !!!

http://i30.tinypic.com/2r6fjw8.gif

[gibmonster]

Dayem!! Thats pretty harsh... I would have thought it was gonna get a 6 at least.

Oh, well. I really didn't feel anything while playing the demo. Nothing really stood out and the enemies were pretty stupid. The narrative just didn't grip me either.

[cliffbo]

i'll tell you what went wrong! it was going to be multi-platform, then became an exclusive, but the team had moved along the development line too far to change it dramatically. to justify using a Blu-ray, they then tried to add content to a DVD sized game, which is why it was delayed... then they realised that it wasn't going to blow minds and considered putting it back to a timed exclusive and delayed it yet again.

[Z]

that or FR is just not that good of a dev. their TS games weren't anything special. sure, they had some funny concepts, but the games were average to meh for me. guess haze isn't that different.

PS. awesome and very appropriate gif. lol

[Viper]

I never understood the hype surrounding this game. Was it just developer pedigree?

[masteratt]

That and the promising demo (for some of us at least).

[cliffbo]

I never understood the hype surrounding this game. Was it just developer pedigree?

yeah, Tiimesplitters for Christ sake. i really hope that the reviews are wrong, but the balance is unerringly heading into the toilet.

[GTAce]

4.5 is way to hard.
Comparing the demo to other shooters (TimeShift, Turok, Blacksite) i actually think its a decent game.

[LaLiLuLeLo]

That's a shame, but the critiques presented in the review seem legit rather than petty. I'll be passing over this one I guess, unless a few differing opinions crop up.

[masteratt]

I trust Famitsu more than IGN.

IGN rated one of my favourite games (Culpa Innata) a 4.

[Z]

Famitsu hasn't got a clue about scoring- especially for FPS...
I admire the mag for scoring exclusives left and right, but when it comes to scoring...

[Raitei]

as for lowest FR score, that would be goldeneye which got a 4 initially

hey.. look how that is in the memory of people (never liked it eceptionally myself)

[EvilTaru]

That's a nasty score especially coming from IGN, something went wrong during development, they had a TON of time to make this work, I can't believe how this is turning out, yes the story was cheesy but that's Yescombe's fault, they have problems beyond that though, such as the rendering engine having LOD problems and the lackluster AI. I kind of wonder what happened behind the scenes between FR and Ubi, Ubi for sure would want them to make a multi-platform game.

[Gummy]

I disliked the game, but 4.5 is too low.
It should be at least a 5 or 6. =\

The demo didn't kick me in the nuts, so that's no fun.
I had a feeling it would get a low score though.

As mentioned, it was bland and too generic in a bad way.

[Viper]

Gamers Hell (don't how trustworthy they are) just gave it a 65%.

[NickSCFC]

Average scores for an average game, going on the demo anyway.

[<3frosty]

as for lowest FR score, that would be goldeneye which got a 4 initially

hey.. look how that is in the memory of people (never liked it eceptionally myself)

a 4 from who?

Looks like Free Radical bit off more then it could chew and just made a bad game. Sometimes, things like that happen. I enjoyed the Time Splitters series, but it looks like all the gripes here are substantial and IGN gave a score that may be low but may not be at the same time. I see wayyy too many people saying that based on a demo (A DEMO) that the game should have scored higher.

[Jay Gee]

Wow, they really should've made the game using the TS3 engine. That game looked great for a last gen title, and it was multi plat to boot. I honestly expected better from Free Radical. Hopefully this won't bit them on the ass hard enough to deter them from making TS4 fuck awesome. So this is pretty much done.

So I guess "It's time to SPLIT!"

[qzak]

I wanted to believe the story that all that extra development time was for "perfecting" this title, but deep down I feared it was just doublespeak for "we can't get it to work right." Unfortunate.

[Diresu]

Ouch...can't say I am surprised though....

[curryking1]

Ouch...can't say I am surprised though....

Right as I started the demo I was like 'Something's really not right here...'

The game just feels poor to play. And it doesn't feel remotely fun. It felt tedious and frustrating to look at and play in my opinion.

I don't think the 4.5 is off either.

All else there is to say I guess... thank god for demos. I might've actually had a passing interest in the game but I was saved the guilt of spending any money or more time at all now or in the future in regards to this title.

[LiquidEagle]

Still buying it, I'll tell you what I think when I get it :-p

[sam stoepee]

I was seriously considering buying a PS3 for this game alone, guess I'll continue waiting until they release an exclusive PS3 game thats worth a damn.

[LiquidEagle]

I was seriously considering buying a PS3 for this game alone, guess I'll continue waiting until they release an exclusive PS3 game thats worth a damn.

If that's what you were waiting for, you shoulda bought one at launch, Resistance is great and there are several other great games out there for it.

[Viper]

I was seriously considering buying a PS3 for this game alone, guess I'll continue waiting until they release an exclusive PS3 game thats worth a damn.

Damn, Sam. Haven't seen you post in a long time.

[Jay Gee]

Damn, Sam. Haven't seen you troll in a long time.
Haze was gonna sell you a PS3? *chortle*

[JasonXe]

i think i earn a award for calling this game out when it was "first" announced as being crap. Like a Micheal Patcher award or something.

Edit: I'll man up if it somehow rebounds.

[Viper]

i think i earn a award for calling this game out when it was "first" announced as being crap. Like a Micheal Patcher award or something.

Edit: I'll man up if it somehow rebounds.

That means I get the "why is this game so hyped?" award.

[LiquidEagle]

And I'll get the "Loyal trooper" when this game rocks and I'm the only one who stood by it :-p

[Viper]

Might be a Ubisoft thing. They did make Red Steel after all.

[Nameless]

I agree the Demo was not very impressive.
*I was one of the first to post my thoughts...* ;)

I think the game deserves more than a 4.5 I think a 6.5 or 7.0 would be accurate based on my time with the demo. If the game does not have any horrible flaws or glitches the 4.5 is too harsh. I think the initial PS3 exclusive hype really put this game under the microscope and unfortunately they failed to deliver especially from a visual perspective. Once again the Killzone 2 footage coming out right at this game release was not good, because it just made the visuals look pathetic IMO... I know games are not only about visuals, but with the long development time anyone would expect more polish. If the MP component is good there's still some potential with this title, but honestly there's too many good games currently released or about to hit.

[gibmonster]

Haze was gonna sell you a PS3? *chortle*

What this guy said.

[gibmonster]

I agree the Demo was not very impressive.
*I was one of the first to post my thoughts...* ;)

I think the game deserves more than a 4.5 I think a 6.5 or 7.0 would be accurate based on my time with the demo. If the game does not have any horrible flaws or glitches the 4.5 is too harsh. I think the initial PS3 exclusive hype really put this game under the microscope and unfortunately they failed to deliver especially from a visual perspective. Once again the Killzone 2 footage coming out right at this game release was not good, because it just made the visuals look pathetic IMO... I know games are not only about visuals, but with the long development time anyone would expect more polish. If the MP component is good there's still some potential with this title, but honestly there's too many good games currently released or about to hit.

It didn't look very good. I could put up with it if the AI was actually good, but that was just everywhere. I was hoping they would use the extra time to iron things out because I lost interest in this game way back.

I don't think it deserves anything less than a 5 unless there glitches or something that make the game unplayaable.

[GTAce]

Glad to see that im not the only one who thinks like that.

[qzak]

Gamespot review is in:

Meh

Ok, really, they gave it a 6.

If you played any given 10-minute chunk of Haze, depending on what part of this futuristic first-person shooter you chose, you would be convinced that it was either incredibly exciting or simply dreadful. Dim-witted artificial intelligence and deeply embarrassing storytelling are mixed with some breathtaking action sequences and thoughtful map design into an awkward and messy hodgepodge of shooting and driving that alternates between the entertaining and the downright unpleasant. It's fitting that Haze's gameplay would embrace such extremes, because its entire fiction is built around shallow absolutes. One faction embodies unlikeable and unredeeming lowbrow sensibilities without a hint of irony; the other embraces its ethical, sympathetic cause with angelically high morals. This is a shooter both easy to love and easy to hate, and you'll probably find yourself feeling both emotions within moments of each other.


This dichotomy is fueled by the aptly named nectar, a drug that Mantel Global Industries persistently injects into the bloodstreams of its mercenary soldiers. Nectar gives the soldiers extraordinary capabilities, but it also appears to have some unpleasant side effects. As Mantel grunt Shane Carpenter, you see and experience these effects firsthand: the intense focus, the adrenaline-pumping rush--and the total loss of control that an overdose triggers. Nectar also turns every Mantel soldier into an obnoxious frat boy with barely more emotional range than the average caveman. You'll spend the first hour or so of the game with these unlikeable, overgrown adolescents, who spout abysmal dialogue punctuated with frequent cries of "boosh!" Haze doesn't mean for you to like them, and it succeeds all too well at this task. On the flipside, you're meant to respect and admire the Promised Hand, the South American rebels fighting to defend their villages and expose the evils of Mantel's beloved nectar. These men are the shining beacons of Haze's two-sided moral compass, the rational and ethical antithesis of Mantel's malice, yet they're written with the same lack of subtlety. Eventually, the game acknowledges the missing shades of gray in a few bits of contrived and hackneyed dialogue, but by then it's too late: The story has long been exposed as a shallow mess that simply can't deliver on its intriguing foundation.

Nectar is more than a plot device; it's the basis of several mechanics that give each faction distinct play styles. As a Mantel trooper, you can inject a quick gusher of nectar by pulling a trigger, which heightens your senses and causes all of your enemies to glow. While high on the stuff, you are also more resistant to damage, can detect mines more easily, and have better aiming skills. You're also prone to overdose if a stray bullet punctures the nectar administrator strapped to your back. Should you be so unlucky, you will temporarily lose control of your actions. On these occasions, your view becomes muddled and you cannot control your shots, so you'll watch helplessly as you plug your comrades with lead.

A short way into the game, you'll gain an entirely new set of abilities, and you'll spend the majority of the campaign using them. At this point, you can infuse standard grenades with nectar, which will in turn cause an overdose if certain enemies come in contact with the resulting cloud of gas. However, chief among these abilities is the capacity to play dead if you take damage. When prompted, you can fall to the ground and your foes will promptly ignore you; after a few moments (or when you press X), you'll stand again and rejoin the battle. This is a powerful ability, though in the single-player game, you may not always see it as an advantage. If no friendlies are around to take fire once you drop, enemies may hang around, ready to blast you the moment you stand. If there's an automated turret nearby, it will continue to fire even after you've feigned death, so if you find yourself in such a circumstance, you're as good as dead.

If only your enemies had the deadly accuracy of those turrets. The term "artificial intelligence" only half-applies to your computer-controlled challengers, who are laughably, painfully stupid. Foes will run directly past you as if you aren't there, stand motionless as you fire, and completely ignore grenades tossed toward them. On the occasions when they do notice that a grenade has been thrown, they will wait a few seconds and then leap forward as if stealing second base--sometimes choosing to dive toward the grenade, rather than away from it. You may even find an enemy facing a wall, pointing his gun at a texture rather than noticing that you are standing directly beside him. You're frequently accompanied by AI-driven squadmates, and sadly they fare no better. They seem incapable of using cover intelligently, they stand in your line of sight, and they're often more hindrance than help. In tandem, the AI of both factions will create scenes of comical ineptitude, such as when a trooper and rebel circle one another for 30 seconds in a surreal do-si-do.

In spite of this brainlessness, Haze offers the occasional golden nugget of utter brilliance, and most of those moments come courtesy of some intelligently designed levels that are too good for the AI that inhabits them. Two on-rails sequences are exceptionally thrilling. In one, you defend a village from behind the turret of an aircraft; in another, you race alongside an enormous land carrier while trying to take down its defenses. The carrier sequence in particular is a total rush, pulverizing you with its sense of breakneck speed and using scripted camera adjustments to enhance the thrill. A few other levels are equally enjoyable in spite of the shortcomings, such as a climb toward an observatory and a tense village battle capped by the destruction of a rocket-launching tank.

Nevertheless, not every level reaches these heights. In Haze's worst level, you must escort a vehicle from one side of the map to the other. This badly structured mission requires a bit of trial and error, given that the vehicle's driver is cut from the same cloth as his teammates; he'll readily drive over you or your squadmates, or into the minefield that you're supposed to clear before he arrives. Other levels put you behind the wheel of a vehicle, but these scenarios are less detours than they are wrong turns. Vehicles handle very loosely, as if they weigh just a few pounds, and the odd, limited camera implemented during the driving sections adds to the awkwardness.


Thankfully, the core gameplay of a first-person shooter--the shooting proper--is smooth and silky. The standard assault rifles handle beautifully and have just the right weight and feel, and chances are that you'll be using them for the majority of your journey. Each faction's shotgun also feels good, though it takes a few more close-range shots from the Oso shotgun to defeat a trooper than you may expect. It's also effective at a greater range than with similar weapons in other games. The small blight on the parade of solid weaponry is the flamethrower, not just because of how it feels, but because of the frustration it initiates. If one should set you ablaze, you have to shake your controller to fan away the flames, which disturbs the momentum of battle and simply isn't much fun. The flamethrower also seems to have a much greater range than it should, so though it may not look as if the flames spewing forth are reaching your enemies, somehow you manage to set them alight anyway.

That issue could be partly due to the pixellated fire visuals, which look decidedly last-generation. In light of the PlayStation 3's powerful capabilities and the genre's ever-rising standards of technology, Haze looks good but not impressive. It certainly has its bright spots: Some of the outdoor lighting is striking, and the centerpieces of the best levels, such as the aforementioned observatory and a hotel courtyard, are rendered with great detail. The game performs beautifully with few frame-rate jitters, so when the action is heavy or you're traveling at high speeds, things look quite nice. When things slow down, you'll notice how modest Haze actually looks. Textures are muddled, scenery is blocky and lacks detail, and animations are clunky. Character models are also inexpressive, which only reinforces the pettiness of the story.

At least Haze sounds big and boisterous, filling your ears with explosions, gunfire, and the rush of aircraft engines. These elements don't sound extraordinary, but they fulfill their roles nicely, as does the orchestral soundtrack, which injects drama into the scenes most in need of it. But this is a game that prizes juvenile leering over multidimensional storytelling, and the voice acting is exactly what you would imagine: a cast of drill seargent wannabes competing to see who can sound more uncivilized. The Promised Hand is no less annoying; once you hear a rebel cry out "Remember your promise to Merino" for the hundredth time, you may be tempted to look down the barrel of your own weapon. Then there's the awful rap tune that plays while you wait for competitors to join some online matches--and then continues to play throughout the match. Its presence is absolutely embarrassing.

Most shooter campaigns are better when someone else joins you, and Haze is no exception. Up to three others can play along, both online and in split-screen play. The game ramps up the challenge during co-op play, and considering the horrendous AI, that's a welcome change indeed. Vehicle sequences are all the better for having a buddy join you, and some action-packed moments are improved with the presence of a few hired guns. However, not every level is suited for cooperative shooting. Some scripted sequences, such as one in which a bridge collapses, are at complete odds with the existence of another player, as if the possibility wasn't considered when the level was designed.


If you held out hope that the multiplayer could succeed in spite of the campaign's shortcomings, you may be disappointed to learn that competitive play is at best underwhelming, and at worst, weirdly out of balance. Up to 16 players can compete in Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, and Assault modes. You can also fill out unranked matches with bots, but considering the moronic AI, why would you want to? Assault is the clearly superior mode here, in which rebel and trooper teams take on opposing objectives, which in turn lead to the occasional focused and intense firefight. The other modes are exactly what you'd expect. Unfortunately, shortcomings that aren't readily apparent in the campaign due to the horrible AI are obvious the moment that other players join the fray. Although you'd think that the inherent strength that nectar provides troopers would make them the more powerful faction, the upper hand goes easily to the rebels, thanks to the playing-dead mechanic and each rebel's ability to dodge by double-tapping the jump button. An effective rebel can rack up the kills in this manner, because in a full match, opposing players aren't apt to hang around and see if you spring up 10 seconds later. It's also proof that nectar is, at its core, a gimmick. Being able to cause a trooper's overdose is great in theory, but in practice, it's more efficient to just mow them down as you would in any shooter.

A seven-hour campaign and uneventful multiplayer modes just don't cut it in light of the far better modern shooters available on the market. The patchy quality of the entire package is surprising, considering the developer's fine pedigree. Yet Haze is a roller-coaster ride made up of tall peaks and unfathomable valleys, and it won't leave you so much breathless as disappointed with its squandered potential.



Anyone wondering if IGN was just being harsh just got a second opinion. The patient is dead.

[lips]

Too bad they didn't bother to add wall clipping, watching someone fall through a supposed crate was sort of horrifying. I hope the gameplay is atleast average.

[Jay Gee]

I'm still so shocked that this is actually a Free Radical game. I'm gonna pop in Timesplitters 3 right quick and try to find any glitches and the like.

[BluBoi]

Found this on gaf

http://i30.tinypic.com/2r6fjw8.gif

:spit:

I remember this one preview saying how the Mantel troops would use "shocking, mature language" to make the plot more convincing and all. Then in this gameplay video recently they said "It's like taking candy from a baby... a crippled baby lulz!11":doh:. Also from the GS review it seems they like to say "Boosh!" whatever that means.

I was interested in this game initially but after these reviews I wonder what the hell they were doing all this time.

[Nameless]

^ That gif is classic... LMAO!

[BluBoi]

http://www.videogaming247.com/2008/05/20/the-first-nine-minutes-of-haze-video/

First 9 minutes of Haze. Gamespot was right. Probably 5 times these two guys are like "Hellz yeah! BOOSH!" *slap hands*. No way I could take the game seriously after that but I think I'll rent it just for the laughs.

And usually I don't think the gifs at gaf are that funny but man that one really did make me lol.

[Viper]

What the hell? Why do all the voice actors sound like they're 16?

[LaLiLuLeLo]

I was seriously considering buying a PS3 for this game alone, guess I'll continue waiting until they release an exclusive PS3 game thats worth a damn.

You were waiting for Haze? Really?
Haze?!

[section]

I'll continue waiting until they release an exclusive PS3 game thats worth a damn.^^Well then you don't have to wait for too long :)

[Jay Gee]

http://i30.tinypic.com/2r6fjw8.gif
Haze just got zinged out of this fucking GALAXY.:spit:

[NickSCFC]

http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/933103.asp?q=haze

Why is this game getting publicity?

[SuperLuigiBros]

Well, shit. I was really looking forward to Haze as Free Radical is one of my favorite developers, and the Timesplitters games are my favorite FPS's.

Maybe this was just a test to see what next gen was all about. Hopefully they dont fuck up TS4.

[Jay Gee]

I just watched the first nine minutes of Haze video, and I must say that it doesn't even seem like a Free Radical game. I mean, the production values the Timesplitters series exudes just doesn't appear to be there. Everything seems less animated in comparison. It's quite saddening.

[OG_Monkey]

And I had high hopes for this game :(

[SuperLuigiBros]

I just watched the movie as well. What was that flickering camera thing? Was that part of the game? A glitch in the game? A glitch with youtube, perhaps?

If its the whole way through the game, itd suck horribly.

Its a shame, really. Im worried about TS4 now.. :(

[NickSCFC]

I bet someone on here buys this game just cause it's T3H EXCLUSIVE!!1 ;)

[Diresu]

I bet someone on here buys this game just cause it's T3H EXCLUSIVE!!1 ;)

There is just something funny about you of all people trying to point out someone else as a console fanboy.

[EvilTaru]

http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/933103.asp?q=haze

Why is this game getting publicity?

Holy shit the game is getting panned across the board, too bad for Free Radical, I wonder what happened to them during the developmet process, are they having trouble transitioning to current gen tech-wise and gameplay-wise?

[Gummy]

To enjoy this, you need purple haze.

[LiquidEagle]

Bought it today and I've been playing through single player -- it isn't as solid as I expected/hoped, but I also had very high expectations. These reviews are way too low, don't even listen to these jackasses. Gamespot giving this game the same score they gave Kane & Lynch (which was this close to being literally unplayable) is a joke. The story is good and it's the closest you'll get to a good videogame that talks about war in an interesting way (besides Metal Gear, of course).

[Viper]

It's Ubisoft.

Look how Red Steel turned out.

[LaLiLuLeLo]

Sometimes, they put out a bum game. The sad part is, it costed them 20 mil to do it.

[the boney king of nowhere.]

no doubt this thread will disappear into obscurity within the next week or so.
reminds of the days of lair.

[section]

This is another of those titles which will be good enough when the price drops. Somehow you could tell it wouldn't cut the mustard for full price, albeit Free Radical track record. They would have done lot better with another Time Splitters.

And once again, Lair was and still is a decent game. It's just... misunderstood :D

[Gummy]

I have yet to experience Lair.

[Z]

I'm curious to know how the gameplay compares to TimeSplitters? I feel it is very close- for better or for worse.

[jako]

UK launch trailer :

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/34321.html

[EvilTaru]

What a shame for Free Radical. *sigh*

I don't get the "teh corporation is teh evil" thing though.

[Z]

I watched a review vid. the shooting looks good- which is the most importing thing in a FPS for me. the game overall does look average. and what the hell happened to the graphics? it doesn't look as good as the initial screens at all. that or the world moved on faster.

having said that, this isn't any difference from any Free Radical game. really, the TS series felt just as mediocre. I don't know what the fuss is about for any of those. and I don't care about the archaic Golden Eye. that was ages ago. get over it.

[fortieTHief]

Bought it today and I've been playing through single player -- it isn't as solid as I expected/hoped, but I also had very high expectations. These reviews are way too low, don't even listen to these jackasses. Gamespot giving this game the same score they gave Kane & Lynch (which was this close to being literally unplayable) is a joke. The story is good and it's the closest you'll get to a good videogame that talks about war in an interesting way (besides Metal Gear, of course).

YES,this is a very GOOD game,and the graphics is more polished,the reviews is too bad.

[section]

But being good these days isn't enough. You may create a solid title with good enough graphics but it will be bombarded looking like turd because it doesn't look like GeOW/CoD4. It may have decent playability but it is called turd because it isn't similar to GeOW. Or if it's too similar it's accused for plagiarism and because of that it is turd. It may have some nice features like excellent 4 played online co-op but those will be dismissed because of they overall want the title to fail in its own mediocrity.

I can understand 7ish, even 6ish scores for this but 4? Now that's just ridiculous.

[JasonXe]

I think it was scored low because it was being compared with Halo or cod4. I forgot which podcast I was listening (probably n4g or hado kings) to but they said Haze makes Halo looks like Shakespeare with Master Chief holding a skull infront of your face. I don't like fps so I can't judge properly between the two. (im more of a rpg person)

[Z]

But being good these days isn't enough.
maybe not to us; those who are into gaming more than the general gamer. but I think it'll do okay financially.
personally, I love the stiff 'serious' competition that grinds the top players in each genre. I love seeing the likes of CoD4 pressuring the next big player. I don't play a lot of games, but what I play tends to be la creme du la crop.

excuse my bad french, but you get the idea.

[KRA]

maybe not to us; those who are into gaming more than the general gamer. but I think it'll do okay financially.
personally, I love the stiff 'serious' competition that grinds the top players in each genre. I love seeing the likes of CoD4 pressuring the next big player. I don't play a lot of games, but what I play tends to be la creme du la crop.

excuse my bad french, but you get the idea.

la creme de la CRAP :)

[Z]

CoD4 is the standard to beat in fast pace serious action with great controls. Resistance is to beat for online performance and clan options. Killzone is to beat for graphics and animation.
everyone strides to make their signature product and outdo the competition. and I just love that!