The Conduit 1 received (from me): 6.9/10
Presentation: 8.0
Gameplay: 6.75
Value: 6.75
Right now, based off what screenshots I have seen I have come up with a general idea of how The Conduit 2 will perform based on the successes and pitfalls of the original. I’ll start by explaining what I honestly think will probably occur once the game comes out Q4 2010, beginning with the presentation category.
Presentation:
The Conduit 1 was an impressive title from a technical standpoint, using a host of visual effects to enhance gameplay and give Wii owners a little ‘oomph’ in their standard FPS experience. Items like the ASE looked pretty good, and most weapons had solid designs. However, The Conduit suffered from an uninspired art and level design, so the title aesthetically downplayed the great things it did technically.
In The Conduit 2, enemies have received a visual overhaul of sorts and are more varied. Although you meet up with many armed goons similar to what we have seen in the first title, it is less frequent to see the same models over and over again. Slight nuances separate the masked enemies from one another, and Ford’s adversaries have a much more defined identity and sinister image. Information delivered from the story is much more refined, and the different locales the game guides you through prove to be far more interesting than the bland corridors and diluted streets of Washington D.C. from TC1. The story itself is just as campy as ever, but you do not have to be versed in the conspiracy theories of yesteryear in order to understand as much this time around.
In terms of sound the title is comparable to the original, with no standout tracks, but they fit the moments pretty well. Audio quality is about the same as well, with a few better sound effects from the guns and enemy reactions. Dialogue in the title is still B-movie quality, but it isn’t terrible, and helps move the story along better than the original.
Gameplay:
The controls of the original game were impressive to say the least, and they only get better here. With a few more customization options to choose from and increased fine tuning, The Conduit 2 sets the bar even higher. The All-Seeing Eye finds several more uses.While it still doesn’t quite seem like a legitimately solid piece in the overall puzzle of the title, it is more central to the story in terms of importance.
Enemies have slightly better AI than before but still get caught up in environments. Also, there are a few segments where difficulty wavers a bit, but the upswing is not as steep as in TC1. In the previous title, there were segments in which your progression would come to an abrupt halt when faced with a league of enemies that constantly respawn from ‘conduits’ (which surprisingly don’t appear as much in this title), bringing fighting to a standstill and my frustration through the roof. The online was also faced with loads of hackers and the options were pretty limited in terms of match types, but the number of players allowed has expanded a little bit to 12, and there has been much more effort dedicated to improving the experience in this regard. In comparison with TC1, the difference is really night and day. Matchmaking doesn’t take nearly as long, and the extra bells and whistles in the overall look of your online opponents is much improved. The title’s run-and-gun approach takes a slightly more strategic turn due to the improved level design.
Value:
The single-player campaign is the same length as the original, so I ended up with about 9 hours**. There are still little items to find throughout the world if you choose to do so, and newly implemented co-op really adds that much more. Local multiplayer extends the life of this game by loads, and the improved online kicks more butt than the original did. For gamers underwhelmed by the first title, The Conduit 2 is a welcome improvement and a damn good title for those looking for that Wii FPS fix. High Voltage Software has shown some more promise this time around, but are still a ways away from getting that truly excellent title. Despite the sequel’s shortcomings, it improves on the existing formula in many ways and will rightfully serve those who enjoyed the original.
Presentation:8.25
Gameplay: 7.75
Value: 7.75
The Conduit 2 will receive (from me): 7.9/10
Leatherhat on July 6th, 2012 3pm. Vita sales:"3 mil for COD 2 mil for AC. Maybe more. " thehusbo on July 6th, 2012 5pm. Vita sales:"5 mil for COD 2.2 mil for AC."
