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Enclave
Technical Specs:
Publisher - Vivendi Universal
Developer - Starbreeze
Genre - Action
Platform - PC, X-box & Gamecube
Number of Players -1
Requirements:
PIII 600MHz or equivalent, 192 MB RAM, 16 MB VRAM, 2200 MB disk space, mouse, sound card, DirectX v8.1.
Ten-second Rundown:
Like Tomb Raider with more goblins and less cleavage.
In 2002, Vivendi Universal release Enclave for the X-box.
The Fantasy 3-d person shooter did well despite its flaws.
Quick to capitalize on success, Enclave has been released
for the PC and Gamecube. Fortunately for us, it's not a straight
port from the X-box and many of the flaws have been addressed.
Unfortunately, not enough to justify buying it.
In Enclave you have the choice to fight for the forces of
good or evil. You choice will determine your starting character
and mission goals. Along the way you'll rescue additional
characters, 12 total, that you can then play in the following
missions.
Each character has its strengths and weaknesses, but more
than likely you'll get really good with one character and
just power your way through each mission with that one.
Any experienced
PC gamer should be able to install Enclave and get right to
playing. It has a very familiar feel and a short learning
curve.
How complex
is the concept of a sharp sword or bow and arrow?
The various monsters you battle look realistic (as realistic
as something that isn't real can be). The large mission zones
give the graphics a chance to shine. Real-time lighting and
varying weather conditions look impressive. There are sections
of the game where the graphics look like yesterday's technology,
but it holds up well.
A great deal of attention was also put into the game's soundtrack. Not since Diablo 2 have I not been so quick to disable the music in game. It manages to add to the environment's atmosphere without becoming repetitive and boring.
But Enclave's presentation can't hide obvious flaws. Anyone that plays the game for more than ten minutes is sure to be annoyed by the fact that enemies have the ability to shoot through doors, rock, walls, etc… I doubt that's an ability the enemy was given and more likely the result of bad clipping errors.
Water is another issue in the game. Enemies can't seem to survive in it. If you're having trouble with a particularly nasty creature, just lead him to water and have him get his toes wet. He'll drop dead in seconds.
Save points were added to the PC and Gamecube version, but
they are sparsely scattered throughout the levels. Obviously
the control and navigation systems were changed from the X-box
to fit the Gamecube and PC set up.
Even with the errors I did play the game far more than was
necessary to write this review. The simplicity was a nice
change of pace from the typical PC game.
I'd recommend that if you see a copy of Enclave on the bargain
bin shelf, you pick it up. It may hold your fancy for longer
than you'd think, but the annoying bugs should prevent you
from paying full price. Maybe PC gamers just expect more bang
for their buck.
Enclave
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