Title: Hybrid
Format: Xbox 360
Release Date: Out now
Publisher: Microsoft Studios
Developer: 5th Cell
Price: 1200 MSP
ESRB Rating: Online interactions not rated
Morning/afternoon or evening to whoever is reading this, my first post on the S&S reviewing team. I hope you all enjoy my weekly reviews. I will definitely try to get round to reviewing as many new releases in the Xbox 360 and possibly PS3 and promise to bring you all a non biased take on the games, no promises on opinions coming through but I'm sure the comment section is there for all to have a civilised discussion. But to the reviewing, today I've decided personally for my first game review to be the latest addition to Microsofts 'Summer of arcade' selection, Hybrid.
Presentation:Hybrid has most definitely got its own visual identity among the other new arcade releases. It's overall look has been nicely configured. The surfaces have been lighted, coloured and most important given a great sense of character. The several maps, menus and background drops all give the game an amazing atmosphere along side the story. The menus allow you to choose which side you would like to fight for the 'season' either the Paladins or Variants while giving you massive amount of information such as world wide battle areas, e.g North America, Europe, etc. As well as whether your side has either taken controls of areas, been defeated or are on the edge of victory or defeat. Which allows you then to either fight along side your team to hold off the oncoming attacks or focusing your attacks on other areas of the world wide battle ground. On a quick glance, Hybrid really brings a lot to plate visually and interactively.
Core Gameplay:To start with, if anyone was expecting a thrilling storyline, I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news. To be short, there really isn't one, alien race attacks earth therefore we defend and retaliate, typical basis. There are other factors that come in once the online starts up, 'dark matter' has some sort of power and place for the alien race to attack but no more information is given. With the lacking storyline out the way, Hybrid really comes alive once you've bypassed the tutorial and taken a few matches under the belt. Your character is totally your own and the depth of customization is phenomenal. Your amoury comes alive with unlocks, weapons, armour, upgrades and special abilities but be warned, you'll be shelling our more MSP's as a majority of unlocks cost the dollars. There are several game types, Team Deathmatch, king of the hill, etc. But to be completely honest during my time with the game, I didn't take in consideration what game type I was playing because I was so enthralled by the gameplay. I saw the influences straight away, take Gears of War covering system, add Vanquish's fast motion movement and Hybrid is born. Your allowed to gracefully move from cover to cover, float, strafe, shoot and call in your support. The levelling system seems solid enough and XP seems to be given out easily for a majority of things in the game. The only problems I could personally find, and scouring through the internet for Hybrid, was the Server issues and host migration, the latter I encountered easily every two to three games and a majority of times it failed. The loading times were slow and it took several minutes for me to be in the lobby. But other then that, Hybrid really does a stellar job at what it's built for, online and it will not disappoint.
Final Thoughts:Hybrid is an action packed, deep and entertaining game and for 1200MSP I would recommend it. It has it's flaws and downfalls but it doesn't totally outway the pro's of the game. It wasn't the best arcade game I've played this year and it wont be the last, but for what it is, it does it well.
S&S Rating: 8.5/10
