New Review Posted: Second Sight

[Daniel Weissenberger]

Andrew Fletcher reviews Second Sight and worries that it's too little, too late:

"Bet they didn't see that coming! Back in the springtime, Nottingham's Free Radical Design—the illustrious descendents of Rare's celebrated Goldeneye 007 and Perfect Dark teams—began priming the gaming media for the imminent release of a third-person action adventure based around psychic abilities. Coming from out of nowhere, with no publisher yet on board, and already nearly finished, Second Sight was going to "mark an important step in the expansion of Free Radical" (company director Steve Ellis) and provide "a sumptuous pick-and-mix buffet of styles" (director David Doak). Unfortunately for them, June saw Midway release Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy, a bold, brash and profoundly American take on the same theme. Now if Second Sight was supposed to be the trail-blazing Goldeneye of psychic action games, then Psi-Ops soon proved itself a premature and precocious Perfect Dark—a remarkably sophisticated title in which the central conceit of mastering psychic powers had already arrived fully formed and effortlessly incorporated into a solid, entertaining game. "

The rest of the review is available here.

[Hypatia93]

I /mostly/ agree with your review, Mr. Fletcher. However, I must say the controls and camera are neither spot on nor intuitive. The simple reason for this is because I /always/ use "inverse" controls. (Maybe b/c I'm an invert?) You know, the way flight controls are designed and the way fps were originally designed on the pc. For the life of me, I can't seem to stomach "verse" controls.* B/c of this, I've put the game on the back burner (it's not like I don't have plenty of others to amuse me) -- for now. I actually liked the story and cared enough about Vattic that eventually I want to find out what made that cute nerd of a man so messed up.

*Why, for the love of god, didn't they make those controls customizable? The controls in Timesplitters 2 were /extremely/ customizable, and I was glad for that.

[Andrew Fletcher]

Originally posted by Hypatia 93
Why, for the love of god, didn't they make those controls customizable?

Interesting. I tend to just accept the default controls on a game for the same reason I never tamper with the default subtitle options--to see if the developers have calibrated the game ‘correctly’ from the off. Perhaps this is a futile exercise, but in Second Sight’s case, I felt that the interface was so well judged that, evidently, I didn’t even consider the inverse/normal aiming option enough to notice the lack of choice in this area. But I can’t really defend the game; if it was enough to stop you playing then it is definitely an oversight.

This seems like another instance of designers trying to get us to play their game the way they intended. Similarly, I suppose people may not have liked the auto-aim on the sniper-rifle for the very reason that the developers probably loved it, namely that it simplified and streamlined sniping. Being a snob, I personally welcome these kinds of idiosyncratic and stubborn design decisions. I admire anything (within reason) that challenges me to think about or play a game in a new way. Just my taste in art, I suppose; the subversive, bold and controversial sparks my interest, the clichéd and conventional sends me to sleep.

But on the whole, I still think Second Sight strikes a good balance: generally a very accessible game, but with enough love/hate quirks to distinguish it from the crowd.

[Hypatia93]

Well, I guess I'm simply not as adroit as you. Still, I understand (to a degree) what you mean.

I also welcome innovation and the desire for designers to keep "true" to their original ideas. For instance, I rather enjoyed the targeting system, something that's unalterable in customization. I'm talking about button layout and in/verse controls. That's all.

All and all, however, it was a good review that gave a good overall feel for the game.

P.S. Have you played Timesplitters 2? The targeting system is a bit difficult to get used to, as the reticle seems to slow down dramatically the nearer to the target it's aimed. Otoh, the button layout and controls were among the most customizable I've ever seen. And, both of these games were developed by FRD, so I know it's in them.

[Andrew Fletcher]

Originally posted by Hypatia93
Have you played Timesplitters 2? The targeting system is a bit difficult to get used to, as the reticle seems to slow down dramatically the nearer to the target it's aimed.

Timesplitters 2 obviously did very well to emulate the frantic frag-fests (I can’t believe I just typed that) of PC FPSs on the home consoles, but I can’t say I noticed anything as innovative as Second Sight’s tweakable lock-ons and sniper system. They’re so creamy it’s sickening.

The one thing that annoyed me about Timesplitters 2 was that whilst it managed to work remarkably well with the DualShock2’s much-maligned analog sticks, I found it really frustrating to play with the GameCube’s highly-praised pad. I found the yellow C-stick was inadequate for both moving and aiming; too taut, snappy and hemmed in awkwardly by the controller shell. And am I the only one who finds my thumb slipping on that analogue stick? And why is the damn thing set at a slight angle? Novelty value?

[Hypatia93]

I played the game on the XBox, so I can't comment on either the PS2 or the Cube's control scheme.

I /think/ what may've been considered so innovative is the plethora of multi-player modes, including all of the unlockable characters, available bots, and map editor. That's big stuff for console games (and not really at all for pc games).

[EnduroGamer]

Originally Posted by GC_Andrew

The one thing that annoyed me about Timesplitters 2 was that whilst it managed to work remarkably well with the DualShock2’s much-maligned analog sticks, I found it really frustrating to play with the GameCube’s highly-praised pad. I found the yellow C-stick was inadequate for both moving and aiming; too taut, snappy and hemmed in awkwardly by the controller shell. And am I the only one who finds my thumb slipping on that analogue stick? And why is the damn thing set at a slight angle? Novelty value?

No. I never played Timesplitters 2 on the GC, but I couldn't stand to play MOH: Frontline with my sisters and father because of the tiny little nub they call a C-Stick. The thing worked fine for Metroid Prime and other games where it's more of a flick-stick, but to rely on it consistently as a second analog stick is just plain wrong. It's no wonder why the GC has far fewer FPS games than the other consoles--the controller isn't up to snuff in that category.

Oh, but it's okay because Nintendo is different and original.

[Daniel Weissenberger]

Brad Gallaway takes a second look at Second sight, and wonders at Free Radical's timing:

"Bet they didn't see that coming! Back in the springtime, Nottingham's Free Radical Design—the illustrious descendents of Rare's celebrated Goldeneye 007 and Perfect Dark teams—began priming the gaming media for the imminent release of a third-person action adventure based around psychic abilities. Coming from out of nowhere, with no publisher yet on board, and already nearly finished, Second Sight was going to "mark an important step in the expansion of Free Radical" (company director Steve Ellis) and provide "a sumptuous pick-and-mix buffet of styles" (director David Doak). Unfortunately for them, June saw Midway release Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy, a bold, brash and profoundly American take on the same theme. Now if Second Sight was supposed to be the trail-blazing Goldeneye of psychic action games, then Psi-Ops soon proved itself a premature and precocious Perfect Dark—a remarkably sophisticated title in which the central conceit of mastering psychic powers had already arrived fully formed and effortlessly incorporated into a solid, entertaining game."

His second opinion can be viewed, in its entirety, here.

[Daniel Weissenberger]

Brad Gallaway takes a second look at Second sight, and feels it was actually a little better than that other psychic game... what was it called again?:

"Stepping up for a second opinion on Free Radical's Second Sight, I find myself dissenting a bit from Andrew's evaluation. Like Senor Fletcher, I've now been through both of the curiously-timed psychic-powered releases mentioned in the main review. Unlike Andrew, I think I'm going to give the edge to Second Sight. I will say that both it and Midway's Psi Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy are great, worthwhile games, but to me they are each appealing to different audiences despite the similar content. "

His second opinion can be viewed, in its entirety, here.

[Hypatia93]

Man, you guys are weird. Two postings about one second opinion. Weird, I tell ya.

So Brad, what does this mean: "Free Radical's behind-the-back sniper rifle setup is pretty sweet?"

I'm another who has enjoyed the character development and storyline more that the shallow attempts put forth in "Psi-Ops." Frankly, that's what compels me to finish it (after my friend brings it back). If not for those, the constrol scheme (just the in/verse thing) would've already ruined it for me. And b/c Brad didn't complain about that in his review either, it must just be me. Just me who hates "verse" controls (not side-to-side, mind you, just up and down), and who really prefers (is handicapped by the need to use) "in"verse controls.

Taking my "inverse" self home to play,
Colleen

[Brad Gallaway]

The sniper rifle setup in Second Sight is unique, and probably the first new way of designing a sniping interface that's been created in years... probably since Silent Scope.

i can't recall what part of the game the sniper riflle becomes available, but it's a third-person interface where the character looks through the rifle but the player still sees everything around the character rather than being limited to the view through the scope. the scope view is still present, but it's sort of off to the side so you can both look through the scope and also monitor the environment around your character at the same time.

totally, totally sweet.

and about the controls... i used to be a "flight-stick" control guy when it came to cameras, but over the las year or so, i've just totally become used to the standard "up-is-up, down-is-down", especially for shooting games. still, that doesn't excuse the lack of customizability....to be honest, though,i didn't even notice that adjusting it wasn't an option until you mentioned it.

[EnduroGamer]

Originally Posted by GC_Brad

and about the controls... i used to be a "flight-stick" control guy when it came to cameras, but over the las year or so, i've just totally become used to the standard "up-is-up, down-is-down", especially for shooting games. still, that doesn't excuse the lack of customizability....to be honest, though,i didn't even notice that adjusting it wasn't an option until you mentioned it.

That's weird. I'm the same way. Every time I get a new shooter, I automatically invert the axis out of habit--it's the way I used to like it. And within ten minutes, without fail, I'm back in the options screen setting it to normal.

You know what it was for me? Metroid Prime. That was the game that forced me to change and it ruined me. Ruined, I tell you! RUINED!

[Andrew Fletcher]

For the record, I agree with Brad that Second Sight and Psi-Ops are "each appealing to different audiences despite the similar content", but in comparing them I was kind of looking at the public perception of the two games, partly to try and justify Second Sight's unique contribution to gaming in spite of the praise heaped on Psi-Ops--which itself is impossible to ignore or argue against. Maybe my open admiration of the latter somewhat muddied this intention.

I also agree that the game was well-plotted and intriguing, I just reckon the story was tired and dull in itself. I guess instead of Brad's "I didn't find it any more cliché-ridden than most games", I would say "I found it just as cliché-ridden as ever other game". Perhaps expecting more, since the game's storytelling (in terms of pacing, direction, and the tone of the cut-scenes and dialogue) can't be praised high enough.

[Sajon]

Just wanna pipe in here.

I recently bought Second Sight based on Brad's second op, and I gotta say we see utterly eye-to-eye on this game. It personally feel the game lacks a certain degree of polish, most noticeable in the lack of alternate control schemes and some odd visual loose ends (i.e. the obvious "slow motion walking," lack of movement reflection when looking in a mirror, etc.) However, in every other way the game is great. And I must disagree with Andrew on a few things.

First of all I don't see much point in criticizing the story, even mildly, based on its choice to work within the confines of a genre. To me that's like criticizing Kill Bill for being a melodramatic martial arts movie that is only "saved" by its skillful execution. I dunno. I suppose I have no problem with a "psychological mind-fuck conspiracy thriller" story if it's done well, and as long as it is done well I don't see any need to complain about it being what it is... unless one has an inherent "problem" with this type of story. I admit there are some clichés I can't stand no matter how well they are done, but I haven't experienced any of those in Second Sight. So rarely is this genre done well, it's nice to see someone get it right.

Secondly, I have to say it is precisely this game's BRITISHNESS that I love. "American bombast" is the LAST thing this art form needs more of. That's like saying 28 Days Later would have better had it been directed by Michael Bay. :P


-Matt

[ASS-asn]

I don't have anything meaningful to add but I want to say I have bought the game very recently too, also based on the second opinion
and I'm very satisfied; so thanks

I think this game is just very well executed (not the best graphics mayb but I don't care)
story driven plot that really intrigues, also that squad based stuff, very great and all I think
even tho it had ingame cutscenes I never felt I alienated from my character (dunno if this is the right choice of words)
great stuff this is

actually I bought this game together with fable but haven't played the latter game yet