Yo Joe? More like: Oh no, G.I. Joe game impressions

[wraggster]

EA is talking up its first G.I. Joe game, a movie spin-off, as "cross-generational." It's so easy to control that even "mom" can play. Which means, moms -- if you're reading -- not only will you be subjected to chaperoning a mission to the local theater to suffer through the G.I. Joe film adaptation this summer, you also may be expected to idle away your weekends with the game. Let's hope it's a short one.

G.I. Joe: The Game plays as any generic third-person shooter, with the bonus of the aforementioned base layer Mom Controls®. Literally, all that is needed to proceed is the left thumb steering the on-screen character and the right index finger, locked down on the designated shooting button -- just keep on holding it and the game will automatically target a new enemy once the current one has absorbed too many laser blasts and disappears into the well known in-game ether. Of course, "hardcore" gamers will find melee and character-exclusive secondary attacks, along with a rolling dodge and cover mechanic mapped to their controllers.

EA is throwing out some big-name inspirations for its game: Contra, Ikari Warriors and Ikaruga. We suppose you could consider G.I. Joe as a like-designed title in so far as it is built as an "arcade" throwback, with high scores being the ultimate reward. Actually, the ultimate reward is unlocking all twelve playable characters -- unlocking characters requires score points, though. Scoring is linked directly to difficulty setting and one's play. Dying, for example, decreases one's overall score, but, on the lowest difficulty setting, will not produce further setbacks. Think of this as a "no fail" setting -- you know, the one mom can play.

http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/12/yo...e-impressions/

[Eviltaco64]

I really liked G.I. Joe: The Atlantis Factor on the NES.

It's sad to see that the G.I. Joe franchise had to go suffer almost exactly like Marvel's did.
I mean, both the Marvel and G.I. Joe licenses were at one time owned by Capcom, who produced quality titles. Now, EA has both of them, making generic and mediocre platforming/FPS games.

[DrBlue]

I guess it all depends on which in-house studio is developing it, but a game based on a film for the younger audience is never a recipe for success.