RAGE
Producer: Bethesda Softworks
Release Date: October 4, 2011
Platform: Xbox 360, PS3, PC
Rating: Mature
Genre: First-Person Shooter
Shoot to Thrill
Written by Jesse Seilhan
It has been seven years since id Software released Doom 3 and divided shooter fans right down the middle between “Doom rocks” and “Doom sucks.” The legacy of the creators of Doom, Quake and Wolfenstein has left an impression on all gamers, but whether it was negative or positive might reflect your excitement for RAGE, the team’s first big shooter this generation. RAGE gives first-person shooter fans plenty to like, with over-the-top characters, maddeningly fun enemies to slaughter, and a varied enough landscape to decrease boredom over the game’s short, but significant, campaign. The decision to deliver all of this in a package that runs at a super smooth 60 frames per second is the cherry on top, giving every shotgun blast and Mad Max-style racing sequence that much more pop and polish. But sometimes the focus on graphics and performance can take away from the substance.
RAGE has about as much readable in-game fiction as Doom did, that is to say, none. If your Elder Scrolls-induced OCD kicks in and you find yourself clicking on every file cabinet in hopes for scraps of paper that somehow make you better at boxing, pause the game and take a break. Realize that the backdrop is there only to hide the next batch of excellently organized AI attack squads and that this is a wonderful thing. We do not need this studio to revolutionize the first-person shooter, because they already did that. Once is enough, and their ability to recognize that a myriad of good games have been out since their last shooter and use their strengths to reinforce their brand of action is superb. It would be nice if 75% of missions did not fall under the “You need X, but you have to do Y for it” category. Although, if you already have the item in your inventory before taking on the mission, it auto-finishes and instantly rewards you. RAGE intelligently mixes quest strategies and mini-games from titles like Fallout and Red Dead Redemption, but sticks to straight up shooting dudes after you accept any quest.
The A.I. is the best part of this game, as each type of enemy has a different attack style, for both the shooting and driving segments. The trade-off of creating new art is that you have less time to create more gameplay. The long development time ensured that not only would the graphics be top notch, but that the gameplay would be responsive, intelligent, and fun. Any reservations you might have about this game should wash away once you face the first boss or mini-boss. This team knows how to make group encounters, boss fights, clever puzzles, and fast-paced action and RAGE shines in all of those aspects. Add in realistic character animations, co-op gameplay, good voice acting and you’ve got the making of one excellent title. With a bit more polish and variety, RAGE could have been the next Borderlands or Fallout, but instead is the next game in a lineage of excellent titles from id Software. A sequel might allow the team to develop the story further, create even larger areas to traverse, and potentially create a franchise worth making for years and years to come.