There are a lot of videogames about shooting mean things from space. Sometimes you’re shooting them in space or on the dreary planet from whence they came. Sometimes you’re shooting them in a recognizable city from our planet. Usually, you are allowed to turn their war tools against them. The mean things from space have three stock forms: the beast, the inhuman bi-ped, and the faceless, armored/exoskeletoned mystery (this last variety also covers robots.) The shooting-things-from-outer-space model is the chicken of game recipes, a flavorless, ubiquitous ingredient that is made spectacular only through delicate flavoring. At first blush, High Voltage’s The Conduit looks like grilled chicken breast: you play as a faceless government agent battling aliens on the streets of Washigton D.C. while also uncovering a massive conspiracy. Heat and serve with garnish, right? It’s hard to shake The Conduit’s inherent familiarity even beyond its premise. The game’s menus, control, and enemy design all recall the Wii’s greatest success in shooting-stuff-in-space field: Metroid Prime 3. But even the simplest dish can become a gourmet masterpiece in the hands of the right chef.
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