Scarface - Impressions

[mactombs]

Here are my impressions so far (and I'll update it later as I play more) ...

So I bought Scarface on Direct-2-Drive. It was my first game purchase using D2D, and other than DL 2 gigs being a waiting process, it was easy, plus it's nice to be able to play the game without a CD (and not needing cracks for that). $49 hurts the wallet, though.

Anyway, here's my impression so far in brief: passable graphics, great voice talent and dialog, good storyline (so far), good gameplay, but everything is hampered by system performance (which I'm not sure is my PCs fault) and iffy controls.

My system:

Intel 3.40E
1Gig RAM
GeForce 7600

I'm using a gamepad (which always requires extensive re-mapping of the buttons). At first, I had to use the keyboard because the first part of the game only allows minimal changes in the game options, you have to get past it before you can even change a lot of options such as the controller, etc. Anyway, this is a console port. The motion is jerky and too-linear, and the option for shooting allows you to push on an auto-lock key (ami bot!) and then wiggle the thumbstick to target specific areas (like the groin, kidney, knee, etc.). I'm not complaining too much about that, but it sucks (at least until you get used to it) using keyboard + mouse, especially when you are used to a FPS.

Also, it seems you never run out of ammo. Never. You reload sometimes, but it doesn't seem to serve a purpose.

This game is excessively violent. The movie is pretty damn violent, so that's to be expected. Lots of swearing and dirty innuendo.

Driving is good. At least on par with GTA, and certainly better than the simplistic physics and poor variety in Godfather. As you progress, you unlock more exotic cars you can find and steal. (You also unlock other things like music tracks and guns). Powersliding (which gives a bonus to your "balls") is fun and the cars ride like you'd expect them to. Good, but for some reason the game in certain areas suddenly seems to bog down into slo-mo ... not necessarily frame rate, just everything else. If no one else runs into this, I'll shut up about it, but so far it's been tedious and miserable. Also, the road layout for the city doesn't seem as "free" to go anywhere and still get where you're going as GTA is.

Variety is good. Different kinds of missions and different things you can do (like take stores and turn them into a front for drug dealing).

Dialog is great. The character you play is well-defined by what he says and his motion-capture, etc. Other characters (including random guys on the street) have interesting dialog, and sometimes you can get into a longer conversation with people and unlock conversations.

That's my first impression. If anyone else has played the game, I'd love to hear what they think.

[mactombs]

UPDATE:

Okay, I was wrong about ammo. You do reload. It's just the first part that has unlimited ammo.

Also, it seems I was right about the slow-down issue. A lot of other people are having the same problem.

A new gripe I've discovered is that the thumbstick on the gamepad for looking around is messed up so up/down is right/left and vice versa and there's no way to fix it currently (other people also have this problem).

A patch is supposed to be coming out, but this release is shoddy. It's not very playable as it is, which is too bad. After a patch is released, I'll write another update.

[Jakestaby]

I've played it just fine, with no problems whatsoever.  By the way, it lets you configure how you want to look around at the very beginning before you start fighting.

[mactombs]

It lets you configure that if you're lucky. At that part for me, my controller just stopped working altogether.

That's cool it works fine for you. You must have a kosher computer. Write a game review for those of us that have to wait for a patch to find out if it's good or not.

[mactombs]

UPDATE: I found out how to fix the lag or slow-down issue! Go into your video card properties (like the nvidia control panel) and set the vsync to be forced off for all applications.

Now all I need is to be able to use my gamepad ...

[mactombs]

UPDATE: I got an X360 gamepad for my PC (well, it can be used on both) and it automatically works with the buttons set up nice and workable. This game is sooo much better with a gamepad.

Is it such a surprise that a Microsoft product works better?

[Labyrinthine]

Actually, yes.

Just wait though, within 2 days after the warranty expires it's guaranteed to break.