Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that this game has its share of violence and gore, as you ride the back of a dragon and attack other beasts and soldiers with dragon fire or claws. Or when on foot, players will engage in hacking and slashing with a sword, leaving your enemies slain -- by the thousands. The game also suffers from a very bad control system so players may just get frustrated and give it up.
Families can talk about the biggest issue with this game, which is its control scheme. Should game companies try to reinvent the wheel or stay with a tried-and-true formula? Or give the gamer the option to use one or the other, as with EA Sports' Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08? Or, if companies do take a chance on delivering something new, such as the Nintendo Wii experience, why do some get it right while Factor 5 might have failed in this department?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Marc Saltzman
LAIR is a beautiful fantasy action game with a good story and extraordinary music.
Too bad it's virtually unplayable.
This is because the Sony PlayStation 3 (PS3) exclusive is one of the most difficult video games to control in recent memory. It employs the PS3's SIXAXIS motion-sensing control scheme built into the wireless controller, meaning you tilt the game pad in the direction you want to go -- it sounds much easier in theory than it is in practice. While Nintendo's wireless motion-sensing Wii remote controller is so intuitive a child can perform the action, Lair on the PS3 is a bungled mess. And you can't choose to turn this feature off.
The story tells of a peaceful and prosperous Asylian civilization under attack by the war-mongering Mokai race and the huge creatures trained to do their bidding. You play as an Asylian warrior named Rohn, a dragon rider and member of the elite Sky Guard, who wards off the assault in the skies, over the seas, and on the ground. Some of these battles are quite epic in scope; in some, dozens of flying creatures fight above crumbling cities, battling through hundreds of soldiers on the ground, or swoop down to breathe fire on rival ships' sails so they burst into flames and sink.
Sound like fun? Unfortunately it isn't, because maneuvering your dragon through the air and targeting enemies has a steep learning curve. And even once you get used to it (after the fourth or fifth short mission!), it still doesn't feel natural.
Visually, the game is spectacular. If movies like Eragon and Braveheart had a baby, it might look something like Lair. This is one of the first 1080p-supported games, so all 1,080 lines of resolution are displayed at once on a compatible HDTV, resulting in a rich and colorful picture. The cut-scene sequences, where you'll learn more about these warring cultures and Rohn's character, also look gorgeous. Available in up to 7.1 surround sound, the music soundtrack rivals a Hollywood blockbuster -- actually, this epic score was composed by Academy Award-nominated composer John Debney of Sin City and The Passion of the Christ fame.
The sad truth is that there seems to be a very good game buried in Lair, but the difficult controls will prevent many players from finding it.
A hack-and-slash that does work on the PlayStation 3 is Heavenly Sword. Another good fantasy title for teens is Okami for the PlayStation 2.
Reviewed: 10/02/2007
Rate It!
| Content | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CS | adults | kids | ||
Sexual Content |
 |
|
||
ViolencePlenty of violence and gore: When your character is on a dragon's back you can attack other beasts and soldiers with dragon fire or claws. On foot, players will engage in hacking and slashing with a sword, leaving your enemies slain -- by the thousands. |
 |
|
||
Language |
|
 |
||
Message |
|
|
||
Social Behavior |
 |
 |
||
Commercialism |
|
|
||
Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco |
|
|
||
Educational Value |
|
|
||
