Lifeline?

[Alucard]

I was wondering if anyone has played Lifeline for the Ps2? I heard it was good, and they gave it a pretty good rating in GI. Was just wondering what my fellow DPer's thought of it. Looks good but would like to hear your thought's, and if the controlls are alright.

Thanks,
Dustin

[pragmatic insanester]

i bought it for $12 used at EB out of pity. need to get a headset eventually.

[Lothars]

It looks really good and i've been looking to pick it up soon

reviews have been pretty decent for it as well.

[mills]

Its pretty decent

[SamuraiSmurfette]

I have it and like it.
Your enjoyment of the game is directly proportional to how well you enunciate.

[The_4th_Survivor]

I have it and like it.
Your enjoyment of the game is directly proportional to how well you enunciate.

Very true.

It also depends on how good your timing is, because the main character in the game will sometimes need you to say some phrases in unison, otherwise you'll be stuck at certain points in the game. (Like I am. :embarrassed: )

You'll also need a bit of patience to learn how to control the main character without having too many errors.

It's not just about how you enunciate, it's how clear you're actually speaking into the microphone.

Take for example, a simple command like "Run". To have the character do this, you'd simply speak the word "Run" into the boom mic as you press the 'speak' button. Sure enough, the character would start running and you'd be set. The strange part for me, is that I wanted to screw around a bit and find out exactly what commands the computer would understand.

Once, as I pressed down the button, I mumbled some gibberish words as well as some grunting noises and strangely enough, the main character did some simple actions. She either ran around the room, turned around, inspected areas of the room or (more often than not) would simply say "huh?" or "I didn't understand".

One of the major things that irritate me in the game is when you're trying to investigate and examine the main character's surroundings. When I first started playing the game, the main character (whom I will now further refer to by her name, "Rio") would be in rooms where I had to examine certain areas.

Unbeknownst to me, I needed to search a simple set of three vending machines, placed side-by-side in order to find an item which was clearly visible for Rio to take. (This item was located in the vending machine all the way to the left)

My command to her was "Search vending machine", which I thought would have her automatically take the item. That was not the case. She ended up saying something back like "There's nothing in this one.". After repeated attempts using different phrases (such as "Search vending machine", "Take item in vending machine", "Search left vending machine" and "Take item in left side vending machine") to try and have her take the item, I finally figured out that you had to use a specific phrase in order for her to take the item. If I recall, the phrase was "Search vending machine third from right". (Sound complicated? It was)

Aside from the vending machine debacle, there are also instances where Rio must search rooms. It's easy to tell Rio to search a 'drawer', 'bed', 'mirror', or 'table', but what do you say to her once she says something like "I see something on the table." and you have no idea what she's looking at?

You have to be very articulate in your responses to her as well as careful in how you examine things, or you'll never have a chance to have her look at an item or location a certain way again, unless you re-load the game from a save point.

Say for instance, she just looked at the table and the camera angle changed to show you a quick glance at what she was referring to. What do you do if you had no idea as to the description of the item she was looking at? You'd end up getting stuck for a bit because the camera angle has changed back to your viewpoint and you can't get a closer look at it because Rio has no idea which item you're talking about. (Yes, Rio doesn't seem like too bright of a girl)

Many a time I've had Rio look at a simple item such as a book, but could never have her examine it until I figured out the correct phrase for the particular book I wanted her to examine.

It just goes to show that this voice control technology is still in it's infancy, but overall, Konami's effort is entertaining if not a bit frustrating at times.

[maxlords]

Never play it when your wife is home though. MAN do you get laughed at!

"What are you hollering at?"

"Um...well...I'm talking to Rio."

"Who's Rio?"

"Um...the girl in the game?"

"So you're...talking to a video game girl. Why are you telling her to take a shower?"

And so forth.... lol

Overall it's not too bad. Nothing spectacular, but I did enjoy what I played of it. It's still way better than, say, Run Like Hell :D

[Alucard]

Thanks for all of the info. I thought it looked pretty interesting and after hearing what all of you said, I think I will get the game.