Ubisoft says Haze to remain PS3 exclusive

by Andrew Yoon { Mar 17th 2008 at 7:00PM }

Ubisoft representatives reaffirmed that Haze will remain a PS3 exclusive at the recent Play.com Live event. According to Ripten, "they said in a resolute fashion that the game is not just a PS3 timed exclusive, but will never make its way onto any other platform."

Good news? Perhaps. But our very own Jem Alexander attended the Live event, where he was able to play the hotly anticipated FPS. Apparently, "the company presented an underwhelming single-player demo which never managed to really amaze." Unfortunately, the demo lacked the visual flair expected of a PS3 exclusive: "the environments didn't seem particularly inspired and boasted only a minimal level of destructibility." And the gameplay? Well, you can read more.

We know that there are many that are seriously anticipating this release, touting it as a strong reason to pick up the PS3. However, this initial hands-on doesn't have our expectations high. Perhaps it was simply a bad demonstration. However, unless things shape up in the final build, this is one "exclusive" that we wouldn't mind losing to a multiplatform release.

Tags: haze

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

frankym @ Mar 17th 2008 7:07PM

Initially a must buy. Now, with all the delays and this bit of info, I doubt I will buy.

Fiddlesworth @ Mar 17th 2008 7:11PM

Was it the same demo from months ago though?

Dru @ Mar 17th 2008 9:41PM

It has been reported as a demo from many months ago. Which could be viewed two ways:

It's either really dissapointing and won't amount to much since this is what they felt was the best they had to present at a game show or those turds are so hard at work putting the finishing touches on this little gem that they couldn't be bothered to give folks a decent demo to try.

I'll take the latter since I believe that this game is going to fly a little under the radar and quietly surprise people. Well...at least that's what I hope anyway.

Dahk @ Mar 17th 2008 7:36PM

May 22 cuts way too close to June 12th lol - for the greatest game release in history (debatably).

Sorry Haze. May have to play you when I'm less busy =(.

Schoolimangooli @ Mar 17th 2008 7:38PM

True that!

frankym @ Mar 17th 2008 7:45PM

Agree 100%

Ysleiro @ Mar 17th 2008 11:27PM

If Metal Gear's RELEASE/SALES tops Halo 3's release. I'll be very suprised.

TKC-Muzzer @ Mar 17th 2008 7:45PM

I think some where old builds. Strangely people in the forums(PS) who went and played it came away impressed with what they had played. One persons view is never enough. I mean limited destruction , come on Halo 3 had none and look how that did. Plus the thing he moans about the most is what he could not test. Let's wait and see as i for one have given up on reviewers opinions. most game sites should post at least three different reviews of the same game from three different people to get a better view.

TKC-Muzzer @ Mar 17th 2008 7:48PM

Sorry i am still bitter about the ridiculous reviews Halo 3 got from completely disillusioned reviewers who have convinced me that the most important opinion is my own. Roll on RFOM2

Brian Spence @ Mar 18th 2008 9:26AM

You got that straight. I think Haze just looks like a generic shooter, with the only originality is that your character looks like a bumblebee. Sure there's the addition of nectar, but I get the feeling that suddenly turning on your friends in battle will get extremely annoying.

SG @ Mar 17th 2008 7:52PM

IGN has a great, long video of gameplay footage. Watching it is what made me realize that Haze looks very underwhelming. The graphics really aren't impressive, and the gameplay isn't anything new (Nectar is a gimmick.)

Too bad though. I love FPSs, and I'm a PS3 user.

Noshino @ Mar 17th 2008 7:53PM

Andrew, remember the same happening to Uncharted? and actually the reviews of the demo for Uncharted were quite negative, in this case, Haze has ok-yet-not-amazing reviews...

They still have time keep working on it

Andrew Yoon @ Mar 17th 2008 7:55PM

Yep! I got bashed a LOT for my negative preview of Uncharted ("What kind of PS3 fanboy are you?!"). But, the folks at Naughty Dog said that it was feedback like that that helped them tweak the aiming -- the game became much better for it. Hopefully, Haze will improve as well. ::fingers crossed::

Dahk @ Mar 17th 2008 9:33PM

But the other problem was that, the demo shown here was purely single player right? Uncharted was good for that cuz it was ONLY single player and they could really get those negative feedback comments in.

But Haze was designed to be up to 4 player coop, and there was none of that external interaction that they could view and get feedback on. And with 3 months left, that time is quickly dwindling.

And really, Naughty Dog might just be some damn special team.

Hala Madrid!!! SSBB Code:3866-7729-0830 @ Mar 17th 2008 8:54PM

It looks like a copy of RFOM
Good graphics
average gameplay
I hope the multiplayer is solid like RFOM

R.crisp @ Mar 17th 2008 9:02PM

Sorry to come across as a bit of a sour crumpet and all that, but please don't refer to any game like Haze as a clone of RFOM. If anything RFOM was a clone of about 2 dozen first person shooters over the last 5 years.

I like RFOM don't get me wrong, but if Haze is a clone of anything it's a spit-shined Timesplitters. The gfx are all new and everything but the way the gameplay vids look to me gives a feeling of Timeslpitters due to the pace and control (Hard to really say that since I haven't played it yet).

My point is, everybody clones everyone else to a degree. It's when something like CoD4 or even Halo copies it and expands on it to a large enough degree that it seems fresh that I would feel a bit odd refering to the game as a clone.

Please don't take this as a flame, I'm a polite and proper English gentleman ;)

Hala Madrid!!! SSBB Code:3866-7729-0830 @ Mar 17th 2008 9:47PM

what I'm saying is that i've seen some videos of this game and it looks similar in the way you play it. I know all FPS are the same in some features but this game looks like an average copy of RFOM

Kabapu @ Mar 18th 2008 1:31AM

This game really looks *nothing* like RFOM. RFOM takes place in a fictional WWII setting with the Allies fighting aliens. Haze, on the other hand, takes place present-day-ish against rebels/corporations. Even the gameplay itself differs entirely. RFOM's main focus is on the unique alien weapons, whereas Haze's focus is entirely on using your arsenal in ways to make the enemy fight itself.

Kabapu @ Mar 18th 2008 1:14AM

I don't know about all this talk about the graphics or gameplay looking sub-par ... after taking a look at the IGN vids, I'm actually a little more interested than I was before.

Consolcwby @ Mar 17th 2008 10:25PM

The skinny low-down for those who may have missed it:
QUOTED:**We spent the majority of our time inside one of the game's vehicles, driving around some sparsely populated cavern environments whilst avoiding explosive mines and enemies...The vehicles themselves looked like they'd be great fun with a full team in co-op mode...Non-vehicle parts of the demo were much better, however, with Free Radical doing what it does best: Engaging firefights. The Nectar system also works nicely and incorporates some great graphical effects, with the drug adding some awesome tactical potential to the game...With three months of development between the version shown and the final build, there's still time to get some issues sorted...**

Call me weird, but it actually doesn't sound so bad to me. =/

JimmyD @ Mar 18th 2008 8:17AM

Played Haze at play.com live (the completed game) and it was excellent - definately worth the money.

Golds @ Mar 18th 2008 9:07AM

wooo, another FPS.
common, where are the RPG's or action games?

you know, I am anticipating Rearmed and SF2 HD remix more than some run of the mill FPS.

JCool32 @ Mar 18th 2008 11:08AM

At least it's an exclusive, dont rip into the game before you can review the full release. All fanboys talk about are exclusives and once we get one, you say let the XBots have it!?

C'mon, give this game a fair shake, it's probably no Resistance killer but let's wait and see instead of short ending Haze from the start.