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[Sysgen]

Goddamn. What a ripoff. Published by SEGA I bought this game for today for $50 (which I rarely do) having played and liked the demo. The multiplayer is fun and features 16 player weapon based fighting across many modes. There is no single player story mode which I was looking forward to having loved Soul Calibur 2. Half the fucking game is missing.

I've looked 10X.

Training
Xbox Live
System Link
Play Offline (bots).

No story mode.

From Gamespot:

http://www.gamespot.com/xbox/action/ironphoenix/preview_6090458.html

The game is being developed by InterServ International, a Taiwanese developer whose PC catalog is extensive and varied. One of InterServ's key strengths is its experience in online games, which is just what the doctor ordered for Iron Phoenix. While the game will have a single-player story mode, the meat of the package will be found in the online play modes. The single-player game will follow your fighter as he or she sets out to gather up the nine weapons, which are all currently held by a colorful assortment of folks who aren't in a huge hurry to give them up.

From TXB:

http://previews.teamxbox.com/xbox/885/Iron-Phoenix/p1

After being brought into the Sammy Studios fold, the team wanted to keep the unique online multiplayer focus of Meteor Blade, while also incorporating a solid story mode into an all-new game. Thus, Iron Phoenix was born. Asian developer InterServ International is well versed in online multiplayer games for the PC and with their love of Chinese mythology and martial arts, the possibility of creating an online fighter was too good to pass up. While Meteor Blade worked as a PC online multiplayer game in Asia, Sammy Studios knew that in order for it to gain wide acceptance in North America some changes were required. The game needed to be revamped to be more console-friendly, and a story mode was integral so that Iron Phoenix wasn’t tagged as JUST an online multiplayer title. It’s a bit ironic that a story was created after the core gameplay was developed because the plot is one of the best we’ve heard in some time. Only time will tell if the story’s depth matches its initial punch.

I can attest that the story modes depth doesn't match anything becuase it's not there. I'll eat major crow if it is. Maybe it's hidden, you know like the Phantom Dust demo on the OXM disc. Press XYAABUPLEFTDOWN ..... to play the story mode. Iron Phoenix should of been priced at no more than $29.99. $50 is a complete ripoff.

 

[Matlock]

:lol

Oh, sega.

 

[TekunoRobby]

No that can't be, that's too much of a blatant oversight.

 

[Shard]

Yea, I don't think there is going to be much even in the way of online gaming.

 

[The Faceless Master]

that sounds pretty funny... how could they not have a story mode?

 

[Sysgen]

The game seems to be held back from reviewers before it hit the streets. Hmmm.

 

[Lyte Edge]

I heard from some sources that the game also got a split-screen multi-player mode added in as well, but it's not to be found either. And while the game isn't nearly as choppy as the demo was, it's still a bit too chaotic when you do more than 8 players IMO.

I like the combat system, and after playing training mode, I can see the potential for some really cool-looking fights, as the characters have some nice moves, but then playing the game it feels as if the action is all over the place for you to really do anything.

But more play time needs to be spent with it, ESPECIALLY online, which is why I bought Iron Phoenix in the first place. I don't see how you'd want to play this game single player anyway, though, it's clearly a deathmatch-style game made for multiplayer. There's a nice bit of variety in the vs. modes, too, so if it plays well enough online, it has some potential IMO.

Right now, I feel that Unreal Championship 2 is going to spank this game.

EDIT: Is it possible that Sega REMOVED the story mode for some strange reason? I mean, they hired voice actors just for the training mode alone? Strange.

 

[Shard]

The game seems to be held back from reviewers before it hit the streets. Hmmm.

Yea, that usually is not a good sign. Like movies that hold back critics from early screenings.

 

[Sysgen]

UC2 will spank it because Epic and Midway choose to put in a story mode vs SEGA and Sammy which choose to rip me off. Every 3d fighter I've played had a story mode. Has there ever been one that hasn't had one?

 

[Shard]

First time for everything.

 

[Lyte Edge]

UC2 will spank it because Epic and Midway choose to put in a story mode vs SEGA and Sammy which choose to rip me off. Every 3d fighter I've played had a story mode. Has there ever been one that hasn't had one?

Er, most fighting games don't have story modes. They either get a simple two-three screen ending with some still pictures and a bit of text, or a CG movie. That's not a "story mode." Even Tekken 4 and 5's "Story modes" don't offer that much more than an opening text screen to accopmany the ending (and a midfight dialogue with a character in 5) If you want storyline, play an RPG.

Fighting games are made to be played multiplayer. In Iron Phoenix's case, however, SOMETHING is going on when sites are saying it has a story mode in previews and it's nowhere to be found.

Are you seriously planning to buy UC2 for the *story*? That's like buying Unreal Tournament 2004 and only playing it vs. bots offline.

 

[Teknopathetic]

Maybe you have to play through training first? (That'd be ridiculously stupid, but, in Richard Burns Rally you have to go through rally school before you can play the actual stages, etc.)

 

[Lyte Edge]

Maybe you have to play through training first? (That'd be ridiculously stupid, but, in Richard Burns Rally you have to go through rally school before you can play the actual stages, etc.)

I'll give that a try and see what happens, but I doubt that's the case. I went through training but skipped the "movement" tutorial in the beginning.

 

[Shard]

Well, clearly some people have their priorites mixed up.

 

[Mr_Furious]

What's more confusing is Phantom Dust was released at only $20 and it kicks the living shit out of Iron Phoenix.

 

[Lyte Edge]

Well, clearly some people have their priorites mixed up.

A single player mode for this game would be nice, but it's just not the focus of this title. Playing the CPU over and over would get veyr boring FAST.

What's more confusing is Phantom Dust was released at only $20 and it kicks the living shit out of Iron Phoenix.

Definitely; this should have been a $30 release like Spikeout. Majesco seems to understand that games like Phantom Dust aren't going to sell here for full price, Sega is not as smart. I like how they released VF4 Evolution for $20, but their Xbox games are $30+.

 

[Sysgen]

Soul Calibur 2 had an awesome story though it was text based.

 

[Optimistic]

For those who have never read a book in their life, Soul Calibur 2 had an awesome story though it was text based.

Fixed.

 

[HokieJoe]

Goddamn. What a ripoff.

That sucks. The videos look pretty good.

UC2 will spank it because Epic and Midway choose to put in a story mode vs SEGA and Sammy which choose to rip me off. Every 3d fighter I've played had a story mode. Has there ever been one that hasn't had one?

I think UC2 has the potential to own- especially on Live. Although the demo chugs every once in a while, it's a lot of fun. As well, it looks better than I thought it would. I think the best part of the game is the variety of combat modes it offers: melee, ranged, or brute firepower.

 

[Sysgen]

SCII story mode was well written and surprisingly immersive given that it was text based.

Iron Phoenix is good. Good online. Just played some and it's good. Minimal lag, weapon based fighting. I had a good time. There were like 8 people playing the arena mode where you continually face off in closed arenas against other people in the room. I tried a mode called Giant offline with bots and that has potential online also. Basically everyone has to take down the Giant. I would like to try it online but theg ame just came out and there aren't that many people on.

 

[bidjchz]

It's a shame. I was kind of interested in the game.

 

[Tellaerin]

Are you seriously planning to buy UC2 for the *story*? That's like buying Unreal Tournament 2004 and only playing it vs. bots offline.

Sounds like you'd be surprised if you knew how many people in the UT (PC) community buy the games solely to play against bots, Lyte. It's more than just 'practice for online', especially for people who have lousy connections. The bots are good enough that playing against them is fun in its own right.

Similarly, I enjoy playing fighting games solo, and not just as 'practice' for multiplayer, so I think I know where Sysgen's coming from here. I don't expect fighting games to have plots worthy of Shakespeare or anything, but I do feel that things like giving the characters motivations, rivalries, and unique ending sequences (beyond 'CONGRATURATION!' and a credits scroll, at least; something that concludes their story) adds immeasurably to my (and others') enjoyment. That's why it gets me whenever the hardcore competitive types insist that fighting games should dispose of things like endings because they're 'unnecessary'--they may think so, but I don't, and it irks me that someone would want to have an element I really enjoy excised from fighting games because they're too lazy to hit Start when a cutscene starts to roll.

 

[Bog]

Why does Sega keep fucking us. Why.

 

[Lyte Edge]

Sounds like you'd be surprised if you knew how many people in the UT (PC) community buy the games solely to play against bots, Lyte. It's more than just 'practice for online', especially for people who have lousy connections. The bots are good enough that playing against them is fun in its own right.

I realize this, but somehow I'd think people with such losuy connections are going to choose something story-based like Half-Life over just a deathmatch game. And besides, you can play Iron Phoenix offline, there's just no story mode.

Anyway, no story mode isn't a reason to buy this game. The lackluster GAME PLAY is. Unless I'm missing something, depsite the cool idea of having a 16 player fighting game with some unique attacks and flying/running off or up walls is, this game just plain flat-out STINKS. I'm going to give it some more play time (was going to try it on Live earlier but ended up playing Spikeout instead), but this game is likely going to be traded in towards Splinter Cell or Dynasty Warriors 5 next week.

 

[Tellaerin]

I realize this, but somehow I'd think people with such losuy connections are going to choose something story-based like Half-Life over just a deathmatch game. And besides, you can play Iron Phoenix offline, there's just no story mode.

I'm not speaking in the abstract, man. I'm talking about actual members of the UT community who bought the game solely to play it offline. The simple act of playing deathmatch (or CTF or what have you) against decently-skilled bots is fun in its own right for some of us. It's not a replacement for a story-driven FPS like Half-Life; it's more like the enjoyment you'd get from a sports game. Only pointing that out because the notion of people being fans of UT offline seemed to surprise you.

Anyway, no story mode isn't a reason to buy this game. The lackluster GAME PLAY is. Unless I'm missing something, depsite the cool idea of having a 16 player fighting game with some unique attacks and flying/running off or up walls is, this game just plain flat-out STINKS. I'm going to give it some more play time (was going to try it on Live earlier but ended up playing Spikeout instead), but this game is likely going to be traded in towards Splinter Cell or Dynasty Warriors 5 next week.

Ugh, this game sounds awful. Thanks for the heads-up... I'll save my cash for something better.

 

[Lyte Edge]

Ugh, this game sounds awful. Thanks for the heads-up... I'll save my cash for something better.

I still have to reserve FINAL JUDGMENT for after I've played against some human opponents, but perusing the dreaded Gamefaqs message board for the game hasn't been that reassuring that it's better online. Apparently there's a huge problem with weapon balance. :/

Bot AI in single player is pretty stupid on the normal setting. They seem to attack each other and NOT me. :lol Need to see what cranking the difficulty up will do.

Still, there's something about Iron Phoenix that's stopping me from labeling it as complete garbage. I'd like to hear some other peoples' opinions and see what IGN, Gamespot, etc. rate it.

 

[HokieJoe]

I'm not speaking in the abstract, man. I'm talking about actual members of the UT community who bought the game solely to play it offline. The simple act of playing deathmatch (or CTF or what have you) against decently-skilled bots is fun in its own right for some of us. It's not a replacement for a story-driven FPS like Half-Life; it's more like the enjoyment you'd get from a sports game. Only pointing that out because the notion of people being fans of UT offline seemed to surprise you.

You're right about the bots in single-player. When you crank up the difficulty level, they're pretty good.

 

[HokieJoe]

SCII story mode was well written and surprisingly immersive given that it was text based.

Iron Phoenix is good. Good online. Just played some and it's good. Minimal lag, weapon based fighting. I had a good time. There were like 8 people playing the arena mode where you continually face off in closed arenas against other people in the room. I tried a mode called Giant offline with bots and that has potential online also. Basically everyone has to take down the Giant. I would like to try it online but theg ame just came out and there aren't that many people on.

The Giant mode sounded pretty interesting in OXM. Hopefully the online play is enough to make up for no single player. Other games have been noted for their lackluster single player modes; but had awesome multiplayer modes. I don't think Battlefield 1942 made any pretense that it was anything BUT a multiplayer game. To have no single player mode is fairly unusual though.

How in-depth is the training mode?

 

[Lyte Edge]

The Giant mode sounded pretty interesting in OXM. Hopefully the online play is enough to make up for no single player.

Giant mode is basically just "everyone is out to kill you" mode. You have one or two giants, who play exactly the same as a normal character, running around trying to defend themselves against all the other characters.

Online play will help, but the problem with Iron Phoenix is its ultra-chaotic game play. The speed should have been toned down if anything else, and when all the players are in one area together, forget about being able to really do anything other than mash buttons and hope you don't get killed.

It's a shame, because this game really does have some potential. Each weapon has a good enough number of moves and feels unique in the way your character handles it, and you can do a lot of acrobatic manuevers (wall running/hanging, gliding, etc.), play dead, even take another character as a human shield. You can also call out another player into a "blood feud," which creates a small area that only the two of you can stay in to duke it out 1-on-1. Unfortunately, the chaos just ruins this.

BUT I still want to reserve judgment for online play. It could just be the AI that's making it so messed up; like I said, when I put more than one bot on a map, they go after each other instead of me. I'm the only one running around the maps (which are quite large) looking for items, while the CPU just keeps staying in the same spots beating each other up.

To have no single player mode is fairly unusual though.

The game DOES have single player. It just doesn't have a STORY MODE, which is what Sysgen was complaining about. You can still play offline against bots.

How in-depth is the training mode?

Doesn't cover the move lists for each weapon, but it will teach you the basics. It's missing a lot of stuff, though. (everything is listed in the manual.)

I'm convinced now that this game must have had a story mode that was removed. You get the backstory/profile for the two characters in training mode. They have their own voice actors for training mode. There's a bunch of generic enemy characters you can choose to play as (all of them are at the bottom right of the select screen; hitting x cycles through them, and the "master" from training mode is in there too), and in the giant mode, the CPU giant that was with me looked very different than my giant and was called "Iron Phoenix." All the elements for a story mode are there (various enemy characters, main characters, a boss, etc.), but no story mode. Good job, Sega.

 

[Agent Dormer]

The developers were really cool guys, too.

 

[fennec fox]

The developers were really cool guys, too.

And Sammy held a rockin' sushi party to show off the multiplayer a few months ago. When did Sega get this?

 

[Buffy4ever]

And Sammy held a rockin' sushi party to show off the multiplayer a few months ago. When did Sega get this?

Sammy merged with Sega. Sonow any game Sammy was going to Publish, Sega of America publishes for them. I for one going to avoid the game becuase if it wasn't for the merger, Sega wouldn't be publishing the game. So in my heart it not a Sega game, but a Sammy game. Plus the games doesn't look interesting.

 

[Lyte Edge]

Sammy merged with Sega. Sonow any game Sammy was going to Publish, Sega of America publishes for them. I for one going to avoid the game becuase if it wasn't for the merger, Sega wouldn't be publishing the game. So in my heart it not a Sega game, but a Sammy game. Plus the games doesn't look interesting.

Again, I really have to give it to the developer for attempting something (somewhat) new. Iron Phoenix really is a unique deathmatch-style experience, and there's lots of cool things you can do, but where the game fails is in the chaos/choppy game play.

Want a good laugh? Check out Gamefaqs. Some people, including myself, posted some impressions in various threads, and now we're all "trolls" because we don't think the game is that good. :lol

"all of these trolls are coming to the board trying to persuade people from buying the game-unfortunately, they failed in some sense because I read what they had to say and still plan to pick it up and hopefully I'll like it. if not, it's no big deal. It's only %53. %53 in "grand scheme of things" isn't going to put me in debt.

"yeah, don't listen to the trolls, the demo was fun. iv got this preordered and paid for."

"rom: VisionBOasis | Posted: 3/25/2005 10:12:10 PM | Message Detail
I thought it was under development for over a year just about...dammit now I don't know whether or not to get it...
---

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Gamertag: Vision B Oasis
Currently Playing: Phantom Dust and Brother in Arms
From: LyteEdge | Posted: 3/25/2005 10:29:05 PM | Message Detail

Vision, if you have Phantom Dust, skip this game. Play that and wait for Unreal Championship 2 instead.

If you REALLY want to try Iron Phoenix, rent or wait for a price drop.
From: VisionBOasis | Posted: 3/25/2005 10:38:32 PM | Message Detail
Yeah, I guess I'll wait for a price drop. This will be the 2nd canceled preorder in 3 days at EB and I have Phantom Dust but I stopped playing it because of the anticipation of Iron Phoenix.
---
Gamertag: Vision B Oasis
Currently Playing: Timesplitters: Future Perfect and The Suffering
From: Brandon129899 | Posted: 3/25/2005 10:57:31 PM | Message Detail
I like this game a lot, I don't see why you all don't. Go play a game you like and stop maniuplating people with your complaining.
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XBL Gamertag: Devious Fiend
Look for me on: Unreal Championship 2 Demo, Halo 2, and soon Iron Phoenix!
From: LyteEdge | Posted: 3/25/2005 11:05:24 PM | Message Detail
"I like this game a lot, I don't see why you all don't."

-It's called having a different opinion than you do.

"Go play a game you like and stop maniuplating people with your complaining."

-Yes, we're all trying to MANIPULATE everyone here because we have an evil vendetta against the makers of Iron Phoenix. I admit it...they stole my lunch money when I was kid!! :::rolls eyes:::

Instead of posting nothing credible to this discussion, why not tell us WHY you like it? Are we missing out on something?

From: Brandon129899 | Posted: 3/25/2005 11:09:14 PM | Message Detail
I admit, at first I was slightly frustrated when I couldn't do moves, then I got the hang of some of the weapons, and that's when the fun started. So maybe you should master some moves before you put the game down. It's not nearly as broken as all you claim. Seriously, if you don't like the game, you go ahead and not like it, but you don't have to go around and say it all the time to turn people like Vision B Oasis away from the game. Thanks for that, he was going to be in my clan."

Gamefaqs really IS populated by 14 year olds.

 

[BlackClouds]

Ah, sounds like playground talk, like GAF. Anyways, that's the risk of doing something new and original, it can fail. Much easier and safer to tweak something that's already been done. Why create a new melody when you can remix a past hit that you know was good.