Featured Video Game /‘D. I. P. R. I. P. Warm Up’
Downloaded freebies are lots of fun
‘D. I. P. R. I. P. Warm Up’ Steam Games; PC; Free ESRB Rating: N/R (Not Rated) ★★★★z out of 5
One of the neat things about the new generation of consoles is the ability to purchase short and/or technically light games on the cheap. That’s a very good thing, considering the harsh economic climate across the nation that makes $60 purchases of “A-list” retail games out of the question for many. So it follows that even neater than cheap little games on consoles are free little games on PC.
Steam Games recently released five such downloadable freebies, one of the more enduring of which is “D. I. P. R. I. P (Die in Pain, Rest in Peace),” a post-apocalyptic car-combat game currently available as a demo, but in full working order.
Created by a small team of coders in Poland, this “MOD” — a custom variation on a Source-base game made possible by Valve Software’s open distribution of their code — takes the fun, but short-lived driving segments from the “Half-Life 2” series, modifies and revises them to make a self-contained, online multi-player shooter out of it.
Tearing around in three distinct vehicles (more to come), each offering a balance of beefcake over nimbleness (among other things), all armed to the teeth with guns and other wondrous explosive-type weapons picked up on the fly, is truly a lot fun.
Getting gunned down or rammed to death repeatedly, not so much.
The thing is, though gameplay is pretty straightforward, “D. I. P. R. I. P.” is quite difficult to master. Save for the forward mounted guns and missile launchers, you’re often trying to drive using W, S, A, D for forward, back, left and right, as with a first-person shooter (FPS), while free-looking around and aiming a top-mounted turret/launcher using the mouse.
In traditional FPS play, you invariably walk or run in the direction in which you’re looking; a natural. When driving, however, look and aim is independent of steering, so you’ll fixate on something to shoot at even as it passes you by, rounds a bend and heads off down the road while your vehicle plows straight into a wall or something. This action is like a rubbernecker passing a car crash on the freeway, eyes clearly not on the road but on the action.
But really, it’s just a rub-tummy/ pat-head skill that’s easy enough to get a handle on with some patience and practice . . . if you can endure the constant barrage from those players who’ve mastered the skill already.
Anyway, you’ll need Steam software and a previously purchased “Half-Life 2” game already installed in order to get “D. I. P. R. I. P. Warm Up.” On the off chance you don’t already have one, Valve is offering easy entry into the world of the Source MODs with “Half-Life 2: Episode One” now available for just $4.99. That’s a heck of a deal right there, with five freebies, “D. I. P. R. I. P.” included, like a bonus bonanza. All available at www.steamgames.com.
‘WipEout HD’ Sony;
PlayStation 3 (PlayStation Network);
$19.99
ESRB Rating: Everyone (10+) (fantasy violence)
★★★★ out of 5
The original “WipEout” — undisputed granddaddy of the three-dimensional, sci-firacing genre — gave players a thrilling taste of what anti-gravity racing might be like. Thirteen years and eight games later, the only thing that’s really changed is the unfortunate realization that vehicular technology is progressing so slowly that we may not see mainstream acceptance of purely electric cars in our lifetimes, much less vehicles that defy Newton’s Law.
“WipEout HD” has the same sort of hump-shaped ships, twisty tracks, funky weapon power-ups and pulse-pounding electro music found in all of its predecessors. The good news: The combative racing is as solid as ever. If you enjoyed earlier iterations in the series, chances are you’ll like this one, too.
Bonus: 1080p resolution spiffs up the franchise’s look and feel more than you might expect.
‘Duke Nukem 3D’ Microsoft;
Xbox 360 (Xbox Live Arcade);
$10 (800 Microsoft Points)
ESRB Rating: Mature (17+) (blood and gore, strong sexual content, violence)
★★★ out of 5
In its heyday, “Duke Nukem” was about as offensive as games got. Starring a redneck hero with a blond buzz-cut and a fondness for guns and strippers, this early first-person shooter franchise mixed questionable politics with blatant sexism to create games that were adored by pimply pubescents and abhorred by their parents.
Still, they did have compelling game design — at least for their era.
Fast forward a decade and this warts-and-all re-release of one of the series’ most beloved games feels not only dated, but inordinately unfair. Navigating its maze-like levels is a challenge, not a pleasure. Its saving grace is the new online cooperative mode so you can play with people who remember where all of the must-find hidden areas are.
Tip of the week
While trying to get a handle on the peculiar driving-while-shooting control scheme of “D. I. P. R. I. P.,” stick with missiles (pick-up weapons scattered about each map), which are more or less self-guided once fired at the vicinity of your foe.
