Review: Damnation

What in tarnation is up with Damnation?

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You've saved me some money; a steam-punk western in the style of gears of war seems good. But judging from the video and this review it just seems awful. cheers

Wow, it took half a review to get into the stuff that actually matters and even then it's not quite satisfactory. Damnation IS a bad game, but you seem to be disliking it for all the wrong reasons (graphics, the absence of the far-from-vital cover-system and whatnot), at least for the most part of it. Of course, in the end opinion is quite a subjective thingy, but I guess that's why one's gotta know the reviewer in order to trust her/his opinion. I must say though that I found there to be too much uninteresting "noise" and not enough content in the review. Which might just be wholly subjective as well.

Also, on a personal note, I presumed the creators just failed, instead of failing on purpose in some vain hopes of some, uhm, "fast buck". And I'm a cynic, so what does that make you, heh.

I actually had the misfortune of renting this game without knowing much about it. I thought it would be a Gears clone set in a steampunkish Wild West, oh how wrong I was.

If you really want to know my thoughts on it, this game deserved at least another year in the development studio, or it should've been given the Old Yeller treatment. Suffice to say, I agree with this reviewer. Also, this one.

Guess it was a bad idea to go from Mod to "full-fledged" game; Shame to hear, the first iteration for UT2k4 was quite acceptable.

[...] a Regretti Western.

You sir, are a villain. Curse you for making me laugh at such an appalling pun.

Well that's unfortunate... I was actually looking forward to this one, what with the cool seeming setting and all. But I suppose concept isn't everything, especially if the game proper is completely broken beyond help.

I was looking forward to this one, and actually rented it too. I switched it off promptly.

I rented this game for an hour and took it back to Blockbuster and they asked if something was wrong with the disk and I just told them it was the disk but the game. It wasn't even worth the hour of game play.

I'm saddened by the result because I liked the UT 04 mod Damnation.

Wow, I just noticed Tom has a very sexy voice.

I was curious about this one. It looked like the atmosphere would be cool. Too bad it just plain sucks. I've seen it from anybody who reviews the game- it just plain sucks.

But the idea of a steampunk western had seemed so cool. And the other thing is now whenever a developer goes to a publisher saying "I've got a great idea for a game. It's a steampunk western third-person-shooter set in an alternative future following the American Civil War," and the publisher will say "Nope! No way. Damnation tried that and failed miserably. No way am I pouring money into that pit," and an entire genre of games which could have been awesome will never come to be.

[EDIT]: I just had a great idea for a game: a free-roaming steampunk RPG. Fallout Meets Warmachine. Someone get Bethesda on the line now!

Jiki:
Wow, it took half a review to get into the stuff that actually matters and even then it's not quite satisfactory. Damnation IS a bad game, but you seem to be disliking it for all the wrong reasons (graphics, the absence of the far-from-vital cover-system and whatnot), at least for the most part of it. Of course, in the end opinion is quite a subjective thingy, but I guess that's why one's gotta know the reviewer in order to trust her/his opinion. I must say though that I found there to be too much uninteresting "noise" and not enough content in the review. Which might just be wholly subjective as well.

Also, on a personal note, I presumed the creators just failed, instead of failing on purpose in some vain hopes of some, uhm, "fast buck". And I'm a cynic, so what does that make you, heh.

what are you on about? I cant even begin to try and explain what is wrong with your post... everything you have said seems to have come from nowhere... re watch the review and see that his main complaints were the controls, lack of content and bugs.

you must be one of damnation devs.

You poor, poor man. Doomed to play that awful game.

Get some PvZ in you before you kill someone!

very short review
but straight to the point
Damnation sucks?
yay!
you just saved me a whole lotta cash :P
and good job man
you managed to master climbing the ladder, its all about patience,
do that and you can have it down in about 15 seconds :P

Shamus Young:

[...] a Regretti Western.

You sir, are a villain. Curse you for making me laugh at such an appalling pun.

I concur. You, Mr Endo, are ridiculously awesome.

Jiki:
Wow, it took half a review to get into the stuff that actually matters and even then it's not quite satisfactory. Damnation IS a bad game, but you seem to be disliking it for all the wrong reasons (graphics, the absence of the far-from-vital cover-system and whatnot), at least for the most part of it. Of course, in the end opinion is quite a subjective thingy, but I guess that's why one's gotta know the reviewer in order to trust her/his opinion. I must say though that I found there to be too much uninteresting "noise" and not enough content in the review. Which might just be wholly subjective as well.

Also, on a personal note, I presumed the creators just failed, instead of failing on purpose in some vain hopes of some, uhm, "fast buck". And I'm a cynic, so what does that make you, heh.

muse-13-bliss:
very short review
but straight to the point
Damnation sucks?

Maybe you two fail to understand the concept of 'supplement video.' As in, the video is a supplement to the full review, which you can find by clicking the 'Read Full Article' link at the top of the review.

Syntax Error:
Wow, I just noticed Tom has a very sexy voice.

Same here. I watched the video review twice, once to watch it and one to listen to his voice again.

This is a current game?!? When I watched unskippable it just made me think of a bad game for the ps2...

..,heh, it's weird how the chasm like steam-punk logic jump in the setting isn't the worst aspect of this game...

Hey, review dude, you used the "ghost town" pun in both the text review and the video. You really loved it, didn't you? ;-P

and yeah, I was all up on this game when I heard "steampunk shooter" but from the first vids I realized it was very poorly made. Now, I don't even have to play it to find out! Thanks, Internet.

Still, I'm waiting for a classic steampunk game to come out. You know, filthy London, pepperbox pistols and steam-powered miniguns, spring-based computers, etc.

Chris B Chikin:
[EDIT]: I just had a great idea for a game: a free-roaming steampunk RPG. Fallout Meets Warmachine. Someone get Bethesda on the line now!

May I suggest a name? The adventures of Othar Tryggvassen, Gentleman Adventurer!

I think this is the first 100% negative review I've seen on the Escapist. I enjoyed it very much.

I remember a few months ago when some trailers for Damnation were released on Steam, I watched one and got very confused. The developer was talking about 'never before seen' platforming while showing gameplay that looked like the first few levels of Prince of Persia: SOT, except with more cowboys, and less exciting. They were about 6 years too late to call it 'innovative', but they decided to anyway.

amendele:
I actually had the misfortune of renting this game without knowing much about it. I thought it would be a Gears clone set in a steampunkish Wild West, oh how wrong I was.

You got off light! I rented it because it looked like an RPG!

Yay! RPG!
Oh. Shooter.
Yay! Steampunk!
Oh. Shite game.

Khada:

Jiki:
Wow, it took half a review to get into the stuff that actually matters and even then it's not quite satisfactory. Damnation IS a bad game, but you seem to be disliking it for all the wrong reasons (graphics, the absence of the far-from-vital cover-system and whatnot), at least for the most part of it. Of course, in the end opinion is quite a subjective thingy, but I guess that's why one's gotta know the reviewer in order to trust her/his opinion. I must say though that I found there to be too much uninteresting "noise" and not enough content in the review. Which might just be wholly subjective as well.

Also, on a personal note, I presumed the creators just failed, instead of failing on purpose in some vain hopes of some, uhm, "fast buck". And I'm a cynic, so what does that make you, heh.

what are you on about? I cant even begin to try and explain what is wrong with your post... everything you have said seems to have come from nowhere... re watch the review and see that his main complaints were the controls, lack of content and bugs.

you must be one of damnation devs.

The problem with the review is that disliking the game comes off as more of a choice by the reviewer than grounded in a set of reasoning (subjective or not). Past that, there's no real reference for why exactly the game is so bad - bugs? Every game has bugs. Gameplay mechanics? Is the sole problem that there is no cover- system - I mean, that just sounds petty. Open areas - it's not a rule against that either. The first Unreal game had huge open areas and only music. Lots of games use open areas with nothing but the skybox in it, and it works perfectly fine if the story- boards play out well.

So the problem with the review is that it sounds like there's some different reason for why the game is bad. One that couldn't be written out clearly.s

(Troll- protection summary: I'm not saying it is necessarily a good game, I'm saying the review somehow fails to explain exactly why the game is bad).

Great video review. Escapist reviews typically don't have enough talking and remain silent for awkwardly long stretches of time, but this one was very professional. Good job.

my only problem with this review is that it is only released NOW. if this was done about a month or two back, it would have saved me not only money that i could have used for a better game, but would have saved me the few hours i wasted playing it. hours i'll never get get back
(without the assistance of a steam-powered time machine)

got about 4/5 hours into the game before its annoying, boring and dull game play caused me put the controller down and say a great hearty "fuck this shit".

My level design teacher used this game's production trailer as an example of how to plan out levels. He was also looking forward to a steam-punk game. Too bad I guess, too bad.

Your succinct review was appreciated and valued.

You made valid points and cued them with appropriate footage.

Ignore the nay-sayers - this was just what the doctor ordered.

So, we had Turning Point by Codemasters, and now Damnation. As the next FPS game lined up is Operation Flashpoint 2, we might be in for a fun ride.

It's really a shame. Damnation sounded like a brilliant concept in an even more brilliant setting. Maybe I'll go and buy it after all, because I *like* cheesy stories in a cool setting, and I find the setting very appealing.

Maybe, if there's bug-fixes?

Oh, right. Codemasters. Turning Point. Not even one patch (not that there was anything left to save in any case).

PedroSteckecilo:
Well that's unfortunate... I was actually looking forward to this one, what with the cool seeming setting and all. But I suppose concept isn't everything, especially if the game proper is completely broken beyond help.

Mirrors Edge had a Cool Seeming Setting and All

and what did we get?

This is probably the first game in a long time I returned to the store becuase it was shit. Even if I'm not that fond of a game, I'll usually just sling it on a shelf somewhere until I get the urge to give it another go.

This game didn't grab me at all at any point on any feature, wether it was the combat, the platforming or the voice acting. Its a shame cos I too like steampunk and I may have even been interested in the story if the rest of it hadn't been so abysmal.

dietpeachsnapple:
Your succinct review was appreciated and valued.

You made valid points and cued them with appropriate footage.

Ignore the nay-sayers - this was just what the doctor ordered.

..if the game is so easy to dislike - how come it's so difficult to explain why?

Karacan:
So, we had Turning Point by Codemasters, and now Damnation. As the next FPS game lined up is Operation Flashpoint 2, we might be in for a fun ride.

It's really a shame. Damnation sounded like a brilliant concept in an even more brilliant setting. Maybe I'll go and buy it after all, because I *like* cheesy stories in a cool setting, and I find the setting very appealing.

Maybe, if there's bug-fixes?

Oh, right. Codemasters. Turning Point. Not even one patch (not that there was anything left to save in any case).

That's not the only game Codemasters failed to support (or get support for). I've gave up waiting for a patch for the PC version of Rise of the Argonauts (another AVOID IT game).

Sigh. I was gonna boycott Overlord II because of it, but couldn't. I'm still in mourning for Dungeon Master I.

Oh, and I wouldn't hold my breath for patches or DLC for Damnation. Given:
1. It's Codemasters
2. Lawsuits are involved
3. They might have just laid off the entire development team

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/92817-Turmoil-and-Layoffs-at-Damnation-Developer

Nerdfury:
Maybe you two fail to understand the concept of 'supplement video.' As in, the video is a supplement to the full review, which you can find by clicking the 'Read Full Article' link at the top of the review.

Never jump to conclusions - it makes you look pretty bad when it appears you're wrong as is the case now, aka I READ the article and skipped the video since the videos rarely offer anything at all and are indeed just a supplement(and too often quite pointless).

Khada:
what are you on about? I cant even begin to try and explain what is wrong with your post... everything you have said seems to have come from nowhere... re watch the review and see that his main complaints were the controls, lack of content and bugs.

you must be one of damnation devs.

If you can't begin to try and explain what is wrong, then why even post? Since, sorry, but you said nothing of use, just that you disliked my comment and that I should rewatch (reread?) the review and hence amend my opinion to suit the more popular one. If you must answer me, then would you please be so kind to actually insert some weight in your post next time?

Also, very witty with the last comment. Of course I must be one of the devs for disliking a weak review. How petty of me to dare to have a different opinion from the masses. I will try to control myself the next time and just shout on about how right the escapist guys all are. Maybe I'll even get a cookie then, though on the other hand I highly doubt they need or want your kind of avengers, so I'll just go and get one from the real-world cookie jar.