Rage: id tech 5

[Chargers]

Rage

Played Windows7 64-bit PC version
Single-player review only

Issues:
1) The PC version requires Steam activation.
As with most corporate customer requirements, it is all for the company and just an inconvenience to the customer.
Online activation is for 5-6 things:
a) Prevent copying and illegal distribution of the game.
b) Prevent cheating online.
c) Ease of software updates (game patches or add-ons)
d) A central location for finding online games for multiplayer clients.
e) A central location for the company to sell other games.
f) For some games, there is an online statistic or shared in-game resource location.

The problem with online activation is:
a) You must have internet access. (duh)
b) It is all for now.  Does WON ring a bell?  In 5-10 years, you won't ever be able to play this game again because you can't register it.
c) It is all for the company... nothing for the customer.

I would personally prefer that only the online version required activation.  Easy to split the protocols or have seperate executables.
Or I would prefer paying $200 for the game... with online activation and reimbursement for $140.

2) The game very stupidly ties your windows login account name to your character name and install.
You need a second login account to let your son start his own game.
Which also means that you cannot have more than one 'game' running.
Also, If you play multiplayer I bet you'll see "Gabe Newell", "Kitchen downstairs", and "fuckumicrosoft" playing.
Stup-id.(as in stup-id-software)
3) The game menus are slow and buggy.
4) It is easy to fall out of the map at lifts.
5) You can get trapped in the game with no exit if you double-back during several segments.
6) You can only have 12 savegames.  why?   probably because the consoles can't support more.
7) Very close combat is annoyingly awkward....  whereas in q2 it is not.
The difficulty level is inconsistent... and the end segments of the game are too easy.
9) I don't like the "Most gamers suck at games so bad that let's make a game where you can't die" approach.
Your health is not displayed and there are several cure-alls as well as instant resurrection.  =/
10) Dispise id's lack of good demo recording/playback support in their recent games.  We miss you Romero.  THEY miss you.
11) The game is a dumbed-down version of the real games of the past. 
Just like Half-life2, the game constantly nanny-assists you.  "Ugh, I'm hurt"  "He's real close"  "I can see him" "Just go to the eastern city and get that medicine"
ugh.  Where are the real games at?

Good:
1) More fun to play than Doom3 and Quake4.  It is more of a console-game with mini-missions and racing and such.
A good christmas gift for a 12-year old boy.
2) Game engine, models, weapons, maps, etc... were all done well.  From a techinical pov, it doesn't disappoint.
3) The game doesn't require that you use their gadgets too often(some segments you have to use the "repair vehicle" or "use bandages" or "RC car bomb" or you can't continue). 
I strongly prefer this.  I like being able to ssg/chaingun my way through the game as opposed to using the automated they-die-instantly approach.
4) As in real life, things that are done well are hard to notice.
Many things in the game are done very well.  The vehicle control, shooting weapons, the world-effects like water, smoke, and rocket trails to name just a few.

Other:
1) Game progression is odd. 
You'll get a new vehicle in one segment, then the very next segment you get a better one.
Without spoilers, I'll say that it seems like segments 78-95 are missing.  The end happens very quickly... just as things start to get going.
2) In some sequences the voice and models were not in-sync.  If you back off a NPC when they are talking, they stop... but you can't get them to repeat it. 
The block brushes are annoying in some areas.
3) no grenade launcher and a weird BFG.
4) It leaves it open for a sequel/MissionPack.

View:
I liked the game, and I look forward to replaying it sometime.
Online activation to play a single-player game is ridiculous.