*DEMO IMPRESSIONS*

*Pre-playing demo

Well got it downloaded, installed and it was a no go. As it turns out DX2 requires a video card with pixel shading. The Geforce4mx 8x AGP (came default in my PC) couldn't deliever. I was waiting to buy a new card when the current run of cards dropped in price, since the Geforce seems to work surprisingly well for the time being (Heck I was running Max Payne 2 at 1182x864 w/high detail, at very respectable frame rate ). Well with that said, I brought out my Radeon 9000pro 128mb card from my last PC. Good 'ol ATI, the good shit . Demo booted up right away. Funniest thing was after the Edios logo booted up, the Nvidia logo came up. HAHA! Ya, Nvidia is the was to go all right! (Better have a TI at least). Looks like maybe alot of people are going to be buying the Xbox version.

*Played Demo

At first I was a little worried. Right away you get a communication much like what you would get from Alex or Paul in the first. The female that calls you basically give you a run down of various way to accomplish your goal. I was worried that they dummied the game down from the first. After playing through the mission I found alot of flexiblity within the ideas she threw down.

The graphics where slick and added to the atmosphere alot. The atmosphere seemed alot like Max Payne meets Blade Runner. Actually reminded me alot of the Great PC Blade Runner game. The world seemed alot more alive than in the first. You walk through the bar and can over hear full conversations, not just one line comments. You can attempt to engage with the individuals as well. The bar in the demo even features an area where you can engage in betting on furturistic cock fights. Cool thing about that, was in the arena alone you could get advise and info about the fights from 4 or 5 diferent people. One of those conversation even expands into a sidequest.

Combat is pretty simular, but AI is much better. The smarter ememies will chase after you, and react to the sounds you make and visual sightings . I ran away from an enemy by going into a building. They followed and I ran out of the back enterance and tried to cut around the building to the front so I could attack them from behind. They caught a view of me through a window and started firing at me. Damn cool!

I could go on and on, but gotta get to bed. I'll play some more tomorrow and let everbody know more.

Download this demo!!!!