Assassin's Creed II DRM Requires Internet Connection

We knew that Assassin's Creed II's DRM for the PC would require online authentication, but apparently, it's more than that... much more. Computer and Video Games checked out Assassin's Creed II, and bring back the disturbing word that the game will require a constant internet connection, and if that connection drops, your game will boot you.

Think about this: A hiccup in your DSL, and the game kicks you out and you automatically reverts back to your last save point. That somethong you don't want.

This means playing the game will be impossible if Ubisoft's servers are down. It will not function on a laptop on an airplane, for example. If you have a spotty internet connection for some reason, you're going to be very unhappy.

All of this is to protect the game from piracy, of course, which is a noble goal, but on the other hand, I predict this game will be cracked. And the cracked version won't require online authentication (obviously), so this DRM will essentially make the retail version appreciably worse than the pirate version...So is this necessary self-defense from warez thieves, or is this a recipe for self-defeat?

Tags: PC, Video Games

Dirt Cheap Video Games

Labels: PC, video games

BioShock 2 Review

 

The first BioShock was a critically acclaimed hit, and was highly regarded as the game of 2007. It introduced you to the underwater world of Rapture, put you up against Big Daddies, and delivered a unique and engaging story. 2K Games hopes to perfect the world of Rapture with the sequel, BioShock 2. Your second trip to Rapture will hand you a Bid Daddy suit and a drill and will also throw you in a ring of Splicers for some multiplayer fun. BioShock 2 has the heavy task of reintroducing us to the world of Rapture, and establishing Bioshock as a series and not just a one hit wonder. Now, “would you kindly” read on.

 

The story of BioShock 2 takes place ten years after the original game. You take on the role of a prototype Big Daddy, commonly referred to as, Subject Delta; you are also the first Big Daddy to be bonded with a Little Sister. It just so happens that the Little Sister is Elanor Lamb, the daughter of Sofia Lamb who is the antagonist of BioShock 2. Your Little Sister is taken from you while you’re left for dead, and after waking up your only task is to get her back. That is the story of BioShock 2 in simple terms, but there is way more to it as you progress and find audio diaries. You will learn the origins behind some of the things that make up Rapture, and although Sofia Lamb is no Andrew Ryan, BioShock 2 still has some good characters to follow the story. You’ll get the most out of the story if you played the first game, but first timers could get through it with a few minor confusions. BioShock 2 delivers a good story that is easier to digest but it doesn’t top the first.

 

 

Playing as a Big Daddy in BioShock 2 has its advantages on the gameplay. For starters, you can now duel-wield a plasmid and a gun, which eliminates having to switch back and forward between plasmids and guns. Not many new plasmids are introduced in BioShock 2, you pretty much only need and use the basic ones like the electric, fire, and freeze plasmids. Luckily you can upgrade the plasmids, making every plasmid much better to use; turn a simple fireball into a flamethrower out of the palm of your hand. The same goes for the weapons in the game. You get a shotgun, machine gun, rocket launcher, and a new gun called the Rivet Gun, and a couple more. If you’re lucky enough to find the hidden weapon upgrade stations in the levels, then you can turn do more damage and eventually add lightning striking shots and other special things. Being a Bid Daddy also comes with the infamous Drill. You can drill your enemies and leap towards them with a melee hit so long as you have fuel for it. I didn’t find myself using the drill after the initial try in the earlier stages of the game, mainly because it’s not as great as you would expect.

 

The game does take place in stage like form, so there is no going back to explore, once you leave the main area you can never go back. There are also segments of the game which have you out in the water life of Rapture, but they feel too linear and there is no sense of real exploration to them. Gathering ADAM, to buy plasmids, comes in a form of adopting a Little Sister by killing her Big Daddy. Once you become her Big Daddy, you can take her to certain dead enemy bodies in which she begins to suck the ADAM out via a needle. While the gathering, you must protect yourself and the Little Sister from Splicers which show up to take the ADAM. these gatherings are optional so you’re not forced into taking part in this, but it’ll help if you want to make progress. Once a gathering is complete you can choose whether you want to rescue the Little Sister or harvest her. These choices and a few other moral choices in the game will determine the ending of the game.

 

BioShock 2 introduces a first for Bioshock with the addition of multiplayer. You can choose between several different Splicers as who you want to play as, although it makes no difference. You have an apartment in which you can make minor customizations to your character, check the leaderboards, switch between weapons, and listen to audio diaries from the Splicers in the multiplayer; which give some added info on the history of your character. you can find the common game types online like deathmatch, team deathmatch, and team survival. but you can also find Capture the Flag and Oddball but with both having a BioShock 2 twist to them. I found all the game types enjoyable and the overall multiplayer was great, definitely not something that was just slapped on for the added value. There are a bunch of unlockables in the multiplayer so there is incentive to keep playing but I question the long lasting appeal of the multiplayer compared to other shooters out now.

 

 

In terms of sound and graphics, BioShock 2 is great. The game looks way better than the original, but that’s expected. you can choose to make the game run at 60fps in the options menu, but if you do then you’re open to screen tearing issues and frame rate problems.The sound in BioShock is one I particularly enjoy due to the sounds of the 1960’s type of music. It’s appropriate when it needs to be and when the lights are out and you’re roaming in the dark, the score kicks in for that part. The voice acting is pretty good, I have nothing more to say or anything negative on it. Just know that no one delivers like Armin Shimerman did for Andrew Ryan.

 

2K Games made the improvements it needed to make in the first game with BioShock 2, but it lacks the depth the story had in the first game. The return to Rapture might of lost some of its nostalgia for some but you must return. Not doing so will only make you miss out on a great sequel. BioShock 2 solidifies that the name BioShock isn’t just a one hit wonder, it is now a great series of games that I hope continues on.

 

Tags: Game Reviews, PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

Dirt Cheap Video Games

Labels: Game Reviews, PC, PlayStation 3, xbox 360

  Mass Effect 2 Review

Without giving away spoilers, Mass Effect 2’s story holds a quality that we rarely see in gaming. Few games have put you into a world where the storyline and dialog are even more engaging than the actual action itself. Mass Effect 2 is one of those games. You are not just playing the game to shoot shit up, or to race to the end as quick as you can. Mass Effect 2 is an experience that you wish was never ending, because it makes you really feel apart of the world, It makes you really think that you are Commander Shepard. Because of the fact you want to be on such good terms with the other characters in the game, you will put off rushing through the main missions, to complete side quests for your crew, just because you’ve grown to care about these characters so much. In short, Bioware has made the universe of Mass Effect 2 so alive, that you really feel like your putting a part of yourself into the experience.

I don’t need to touch on the storyline of Mass Effect 2, because I am sure you do not wish to know spoilers. The most I will say is that the game has certified it’s position as one of the most engrossing video games ever. There have been a number of PC games to do what Mass Effect has done already, so to those gamers this is nothing new. However, Bioware bringing this caliber of game to a console, and pulling it off so well, means that they should be hailed as one of the elite developers. So let me give you the short run through of the games story.

You start off back in the Normandy (whether you import your Mass Effect character or not), but you quickly run into trouble. Your ship then needs to be evacuated. Long story short, Shepard looses his team, then hooks up with a new organization to take on a new threat (the collecters), whom you find out have ties to the Reapers. You must then build up your squad, to ensure you are fully equipped to take on the new problem head on. I know everyone was eager to see how their decisions in the first game would effect Mass Effect 2, but they hardly make up too much in the games storyline. You may feel disappointed with the lack of things relating to the first games decisions, as there aren’t a significant amount. However there is enough references to your choices there to make you think “Oh yeah, I made this happen”, or “Oh yes I remember this character from the first game”. The amount of new faces you will bring on your squad may also make you a little skeptical. At the moment I have only come across two people from the first game that I was able to bring back on my squad to fight, but this is forgivable seeing as how the new squad members are all very interesting people.

 

Visually the game is stunning, with only a few minor hiccups. Compared to the first game, Mass Effect 2 takes a huge leap forward, even if they had to sacrifice the convenience of having the game on one disc. Yes the game is on two discs, but it is highly forgivable and just looking at the amount of detail in the game, it becomes reasonable to see why. The game is definitely one of the most beautiful things to look at in the Xbox 360’s library all together, and the facial detail on the characters makes everyone seem unique. Even the aliens that are meant to all look the same, have differences in their facial appearance which can be picked out, and the fact that there are thousands of NPC’s in the game makes that even more amazing.

When it comes to combat, a lot has changed since the first game. Mass Effect 2 is definitely more action packed, and less like an rpg (as far as the combat). There is no more choosing your equipment from the start menu, that has been scrapped, and perhaps for the best. Now you just choose your guns and spray away. Of course your equipment can still be upgraded, but this is done back on the ship before you head off for combat. Meaning there’s less messing about in the start menu once you venture out on a mission. When it comes to armor, you only have one standard costume. Don’t panic though, the costume is fully customizable and supports add ons to help you perform better in combat. You can change the color of your armor, and attach add ons such as medi gel attachments. If you feel like mixing things up, then Bioware will provide us with different set’s of armor, via DLC. So far I have the Dragon Age blood armor, which looks amazing. The only upset is not being able to remove the helmet.

As for the action itself, it is more head on this time around. There is less messing around with menus, and more attacking. You still have your special attacks related to your class, and you can even map your favorite one to either the Y button or the left and right bumpers on the controller (Xbox 360). Overall though, the fun is in gunning down the enemy, and aiming for the head. The soldier class in the last game was kind of boring to play with, but this time around I can see how it would be the most enjoyable class to use. The team AI has improved a great deal also, you can send them into a covered position and they will do their job. Of course you can also order them to use one of their own special powers, to help break down enemy forces. Cover is a must in this game, and Bioware did a great job of implementing useful cover positions in the level designs. I must say though, the cover system can get annoying. When you press the A button to get into cover, sometimes it takes a while to respond, causing you press it again, which makes you snap out of cover instantly. This can be a factor that leads to your death, very often. Another fact which may annoy some, is the fact that you now have to use ammo for your weapons. This change isn’t much explained in the game, but it works in the favor of making a more action packed experience. Ammo is not hard to come by, so it shouldn’t cause a problem for anyone.

The sound in Mass Effect 2 is very authentic. In usual Bioware fashion, there is tons of dialog. Which means theres a whole lot of voice acting (with no Nolan North in sight). Fortunately the voice acting is superb, there are even celebrities lending their voice to the game. I’m not sure how much Bioware spent on the voice acting, but it must have been a huge part of the budget. There are so many different characters, and the ones you speak to have tons of dialog. The best part is, everyone sounds different.

There is not much more I can say about Mass Effect 2, besides telling you how much of a fool you are for not buying the game. The game is a near flawless experience, full of engrossing drama, and non stop gun blasting action. In my opinion, this is the best the Xbox 360 has to offer to date, therefore there should not be an Xbox 360 owner without this game (including the first one). Even if you didn’t play the first game, there is no reason for you not to play this one. Bioware has designed the game to be friendly to new people, but to also reward the people who played the first game. The game is also very lengthy this time, if you choose it to be. Currently I am 18 hours in, and I still have a lot of side quests to do. If I wanted to I could of course pursue the main missions and race to the end, but with this game you want to soak in the experience as much as you can on the first play through. Though be prepared to play the game through a couple times, just so you can see how different decisions pan out in the story.

To summarize, Mass Effect 2 represents what next generation gaming is about. Mass Effect 2 defines video gaming, and it is evidence enough of why the industry has surpassed Hollywood. Mass Effect 2 is one of the most engaging experiences in video game entertainment, one that should not be missed out on.

Tags: Game Reviews, PC, Reviews, Xbox 360

 

Dirt Cheap Video Games

 

Labels: Game Reviews, PC, Reviews, xbox 360

 

 

 

Divinity II: Ego Draconis Review

 

Since the release of the acclaimed World Of Warcraft franchise, the fantasy RPG genre has been redefined for it’s addictive gameplay and customizable character elements. Other notable titles such as Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and Fable would go on to further immerse fans in the realm and open up a world full of possibilities. Now with the start of the New Year comes a dull and diluted RPG titled Divinity II: Ego Draconis. Here are a few reasons why you should pass on this game and wait for Fable III instead.

 

 

Concept:
Divinity II: Ego Draconis is billed as being the sequel to Divine Divinity, a computer role-playing game that was created back in 2002 by Belgian developer Larian Studios. The story takes place in Rivellon, a world populated by both humans and creatures unaware of the impending war that is before them. You assume the role of a nameless Dragon Slayer who is focused on taking down dragons to preserve society’s order. However throughout your journey, you also have the ability to become a Dragon, which instantly puts your foes at a disadvantage. After taking part in the dragon slayer ritual, you’ll have the option of choosing from 1 of 3 significant disciplines that will aid you in combat. They are as follows:

 

Ranger- Path Of Archery
Warrior- Path Of Sword
Alberic- Path Of Magic

 

 

It’s worth noting that there will be instances where some of these skills can be combined but it requires that you practice strategy to get the most impact from your attacks. The one good aspect of combat is that you can switch weapons virtually on the fly by pressing any of the corresponding buttons on the controller For example, if you choose the path of the warrior you’ll be able to use your sword by pressing X then switch to using your arrows by pressing A. You also have the option of Leveling Up your character by adding points to their specified abilities as stated below:

 

Vitality- General Health and Fitness
Spirit- Mental Power and Aptness
Strength- Physical Prowess and Athleticism
Dexterity- Agility and Reflexes
Intelligence- Cognitive Competence and Resistance to Attacks

 

 

Among the strongest skillsets you can acquire is the ability to mindread. This is significant because it allows you to have the upperhand in conversations, rewarding you with both cheaper prices from vendors and unveiling passwords to acquire more riches or unlockables. The same could be said about lockpicking techniques, which are also gained by properly allocating your Experience points to the right abilities only earned through combat. The campaign of the game clocks at about 60 hrs total should you decide to participate in the many sidequests that are offered. While these tasks are extremely repetitive in nature, any fan who truly wants to attain any or all of the insanely deep skillsets available will more then likely progress through the game for that very reason.

 

Execution:
Since Divinity II: Ego Draconis was a game created primarily for the PC gamer, its seems like the decision to release an Xbox 360 version came as a complete and underwhelming afterthought.  The graphics remain choppy and washed out easily putting it on par with launch titles from the previous generation of consoles. There are noticeable lag times, which occur all too often while your character is moving throughout the world. Even more frustrating is the game’s high tendency to crash, which usually happens at pivotal points in the campaign. This also exposes a flawed save system which forces the player to start from the beginning of a task rather then picking up from where they left off. For example, after your epic first encounter with the main antagonist of the game, Damien, you are then sent forth on a mission to gain enough power to beat him. Common sense would dictate that if this is a crucial point in the game and Autosave is automatically enabled then you should be able to start over from this point on. However, once your character dies you are forced with the task of playing from the previous savepoint to reach that sequence again. Equally annoying is the fact that you can’t skip over cutscenes, which pretty much becomes the equivalent of pulling teeth.

 

 

Divinity II also claims to have an intuitive morality system that rewards players with new experiences. This fact isn’t clearly displayed though because most of the conversations you engage in lead to the same result 9 times out of 10. The lack of range creates boredom and therefore isn’t enough to keep a gamer interested for very long. Customizing your character is extremely limited in scope meaning you can only choose hairstyles, facial appearance, voice, demeanor, and gender. The fact that you can’t change the race of your character is pretty insulting given that it’s suggested that in this setting there is diversity but it only applies to the differences between the humans and the creatures.

 

As I mentioned before the enemy A.I. is extremely unforgiving and warrants that you take the necessary precautions to win battles. There are jumping evasive maneuvers to avoid hits instead of dedicated cover system. The only problem is that your character is extremely weak throughout most of game and isn’t given quite as much incentives to gain power. For Example, after defeating the Arben Ghost inhibiting your soul you are given his sword to add to your arsenal of weapons. Immediately after receiving it, your lead commander takes it leaving you with the same lackluster weapons that you began the game with. This is a harsh slap in the face later once you face off against an array of enemies that are far more powerful and advanced then you.

 

By the same token, when you take on the form of the Dragon you are virtually unstoppable. The only problem is that this privilege is only gained through certain parts of the story and therefore most of your time is spent in human form. Beyond the surface, the main gimmick of this title is the ability to play as a Dragon.

 

Therefore, it would only make sense to emphasize and push those boundaries further. Given that there is no multiplayer support in this game, there could have easily been a versus mode for Dragon fights between players over Xbox live or PC. It might not have been much but it definitely could have been a better alternative to playing a cliché story mode corrupted only by its own limitations.

 

 

Final Verdict:
Divinity II: Ego Draconis is a forgettable RPG that lacks dimensionality and only exists to capitalize on the genre. While the RPG elements of leveling up and the ability to play as a dragon may be fun for gamers, the limit you have to go through to achieve these goals hardly seems worth it at all. If you enjoy playing fantasy RPG’s I would strongly urge that you play Dragon Age: Origins instead. In the issue of fairness, I’m sure the PC version performs better given that it was originally manufactured to be played on a top tier computer. However as it stands now, playing this game is divinely atrocious so much so that I’m sure somewhere in the world Peter Jackson is shaking his head in disappointment.

 

Tags: Game Reviews, PC, Xbox 360

 

Labels: Game Reviews, PC, xbox 360

Dark Void Review: Into The Void

 

After more than two years since it was announced, Capcom and Airtight Games are ready to take gamers into the void, Dark Void. The game caught the eyes of several due to its impressive aerial combat gameplay and the use of a jet pack. It’s now time to strap on that jet pack and blast off. To infinite and beyond, right? Wrong! Now I can’t go to Wal-Mart and buy a jet pack but I can imagine using a jet pack for the first time and thinking, “wow this is cool.” But after the first 30 minutes or so I’m sure most will say, “ok get me off this thing.” That theory can be applied to this game.

The story of Dark Void, ironically, takes place in the year 1938. I was not aware jet packs and robots were around in the 30’s but I digress. As World War II is on the verge of starting, aliens and their robot minions (The Watchers) are planning their own takeover. Not over a country but over humanity. Consequently, our hero, Will A. Grey and his former main squeeze, Ava, have crash landed their plane somewhere in The Bermuda Triangle, which eventually leads them into this place known as The Void. Equipped with the great Nikola Tesla’s jet-pack, you must now stop The Watchers, help survivors in the Void, and find Ava. Dark Void juggles a couple of plots, and the main one suffers because of it. The on and off romance subplot seems straight out of Uncharted 2, but this game has been in development for quite sometime, so maybe it’s just a mere coincidence. Plus, the characters aren’t intriguing enough for you to care about them nor even like them. The main campaign will take about seven hours to complete, and there’s absolutely no incentive to replay it again. If you need a story that moves you, then this won’t due.

 

 

G is for gameplay but in Dark Void, G is for generic. That’s only during the third-person shooter portions, which oddly enough I enjoyed more than anything. The first episode of Dark Void focuses mainly on the third-person shooter aspects of the game, which includes all the typical moves like melee and a cover system. All works the same and works good but why play this when you can play a more engaging third-person shooter. Once you finally obtain the jet pack, you can enter vertical cover which allows you to shoot enemies below or above certain platforms and comes in handy a few times. The Watchers can be killed with six of the different weapons available ranging from an assault rifle to a variation of The Watchers weaponry. Each gun can be upgraded twice but none are better or worse than the other. No gun, no problem. Melee attacks in Dark Void are cheap; the toughest enemy takes three melee attacks to die and the puny enemies take only one hit.

With that being said, lets get to the crème de la crème of Dark Void’s gameplay. The jet pack is what made you skeptical about this game and it’s the main highlight of this game. At any time during gameplay, you can choose to hoover or take off and fly. Hoovering in the air and shooting down on the enemy proves to be a great technique and fun at times. It comes to good use for tactical reasons like getting a better shot or flanking a turret gunner but there are very few moments in which tactics come into play. Dark Void also has a Star Wars vibe with aerial combat aspects of the game. During these aerial moments the controls change, from a third-person shooter to a flying game like Crimson Skies, which was developed by the core team at Airtight Games. The controls can be confusing for quite sometime but eventually you’ll get the hang of it. While up in the air you can also jump into ally ships or choose to hijack enemy UFO’s. None are proven to be stronger than the other but I found myself really tired of the jet pack so I would jump in a ship just because.

 

 

There are two key elements to the sound in Dark Void that make the game bearable. The first is you have Nolan North providing the voice of the lead character, Will. If you’re not familiar with Nolan North, he’s the voice of Drake in Uncharted. His delivery in this game is great but it might be a better idea if you don’t use the voice of Drake to voice a character so similar to Drake. Nolan North pretty much plays the same character here, although Drake’s lines are way better than Will’s. The second key element is the great score by Battlestar Galactica composer, Bear McCreary. I’ve never watched the show before but hs work in this game is pretty good for his first score in a videogame. The music compliments and fits the mood. I probably wouldn’t of noticed it much but due to a glitch that turned all the audio down with the exception of the score, I did.

In terms of graphics, Dark Void gets by with neither bad nor impressive graphics. Cutscenes are pretty well animated; Dark Void doesn’t try to go for the photo realistic look. You can also find blurry textures and the occasional texture pop-ins. The main gripe comes from a technical standpoint in which the frame rate drops during big battles, its not significant but it’s there and you’ll notice.

The wait for Dark Void was long and now that it’s here, it truly is a disappointment. There is very little fun to be had in this game. There’s this nostalgia in videogames for jet packs and chainsaws and honestly they hardly ever fulfill anything. Jet packs are the new chainsaws. Dark Void does not merit a $60 dollar purchase, although I’m certain it won’t stay at that price for long.

 

Tags: Game Reviews, PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

Labels: Game Reviews, PC, PlayStation 3, xbox 360

 

 

 

Left 4 Dead 2 Review

 

Since the launch of the original Left 4 Dead during the holiday gaming season of 2008, Valve has received an outcry of industry recognition for their excellence is crafting an engaging First Person Shooter experience set in the world of survival horror. However E3 2009 would prove to be the grounds for the shocking announcement that a sequel was in the works and set to appear one full year after the first title. Now in the unveiling of the latest entry in the series, Left 4 Dead 2 intends to strengthen the core elements of the first game while continuing to keep the cooperative play addictive and exciting. Here are a few reasons why now is the time to take out the infected.

 

 

Campaign and Gameplay:
Left 4 Dead 2 recreates the original formula of the first game by staging all the events within the southern region of the United States, including Savannah, Georgia and New Orleans, Louisiana. The new cast of survivors this time around includes Coach, a high school football coach; Rochelle, a TV network production assistant; Ellis, a witty mechanic; and Nick, a gambling conman. The initial goal of the cast is to successfully evacuate the infected regions by working together as a team and using safehouses to regroup. The story is set up into five campaigns or chapters as you progress through till the end. These campaigns include the following:
Dead Center- A Shopping Mall Setting
Dark Carnival- An Amusement Park Setting
Swamp Fever- A Bayou Setting
Hard Rain- A Rainy Setting
The Parish- A New Orleans Setting

Overall these new venues are pretty creative and not only allow you to learn more backstory about the main characters but also accurately portray how widespread the outbreak is. Every stage is completely abandoned leaving only you and the infected zombies to deal with. However, there are interesting elements throughout each stage, which make them more dimensional and less boring. The Dark Carnival stage makes reference to a band known as the Midnight Riders, which foreshadows the final wave of zombies you face while on stage at a performance arena. It would be completely easy to display these stages without any story elements, but Valve’s attempt to create further storylines shows their commitment to the content as a whole.

 

 

When it comes to gameplay mechanics, Left 4 Dead 2 raises the bar by including 10 melee weapons this time around. These new weapons include the following:
Baseball Bat
Cricket Bat
Crowbar
Electric Guitar
Fire Axe
Frying Pan
Katana
Machete
Police Baton
Chainsaw

 

 

The inclusion of these melee weapons provides an added combat strategy for gamers. Often times you’ll end up being surrounded by enemies and these weapons will be more effective then guns. The most powerful melee weapon is the chainsaw, which is only limited by the battery life that you have to work with until it runs out completely. You’ll notice that when you do use these weapons the decapitations are gorier then before, adding to the fun factor. You’ll also be able to use at least one melee and one gun as your weapons inventory. Should you decide to use guns as your primary and secondary weapons then you’ll have many options to choose from along with different types of ammunition rounds hidden throughout each campaign. When wounded in battle, you’ll have the ability to revive fallen teammates by healing them. After dying though, you can only revive someone if you have a defibrillator kit. All of these aspects insure that teamwork must be the anchor to completing the game.

Multiplayer Features Galore: Left 4 Dead 2 outshines the original when it comes to multiplayer features. In edition to offering Single Player, Campaign, Versus, and Survival modes there is also the new Scavenge and Realism modes. The Scavenge mode offers a variation on versus mode, pitting teams of survivors and infected against one another as the survivors gather up to 16 gas canisters to maintain fuel in power generators. In many ways this is an expansion of the objective you complete when finishing the Dead Center campaign with the only exception that the gas is used to fuel your getaway car. However, players this time around may find satisfaction in playing as the infected. Several of the infected zombie bosses from the first game have upgraded abilities that are more damaging. The new infected included the Jockey, Charger, and the Spitter. The Charger stands out as the most dominant of the new in the sense that his charges knock you off course and you can be grabbed and pummeled into the ground. The Jockey provides a leaping attack that just as damaging and annoying to avoid.

 

 

The Realism mode adds a more realistic feel to the campaign. You are unable to see your teammates silhouettes and when dying only a defibrillator can revive you. There are less health packs scattered throughout stages and zombies appear more brutal in attack mode. Add in the fact that the Director A.I. has been improved and this easily assures no playthrough will ever be the same. Enemies may spawn in different places forcing you to change your strategy impulsively on the fly. The only advantage you have to make it through this mode is within your headset you use with other players. Communication becomes the centerpiece of getting the most out of Realism mode. On the surface, these modes are great editions to the package. Ultimately PC gamers will have a better advantage over Xbox 360 owners because they can make use of the modding community and create varied maps and enemies. Still it’s interesting to see what future downloadable content Valve will add to this already enticing package.

 

 

Final Verdict:
Left 4 Dead 2 continues to redefine the genre of Survival horror First person Shooters. In more ways then one this game is exactly what the first game should have been. Valve has promised to be more dedicated to offering more weapons and campaigns in the very near future. If you’re a die hard fan of the series then you absolutely can’t go wrong picking up this title.

 

 

Written By Richard Bailey

 

Labels: Featured, PC, Reviews, Tags, xbox 360

 

 

Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Review

 

 

Since the release of Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare, Infinity Ward has been praised for redefining the scope of the FPS franchise by trading in the traditional World War II landscape for a more modern day approach to combat. Now in the highly anticipated second installment of the series, Modern Warfare 2 attempts to add to earlier successes by promising more memorable campaign experiences and an unrivaled multiplayer system full of unlockables. Here are a few reasons why this game is worth enlisting in.

 

 

Campaign & Gameplay:

Modern Warfare 2 takes place 5 years after the events of the original game. By now the efforts of the United States Marines against terrorism have fallen significantly short allowing the Ultranationalists to seize command and control over Russia. The main protagonist of the game is Vladimir Makarov, a former lieutenant who now gets his kicks by setting up several terror attacks throughout the globe. You begin the game from the perspective of U.S. Army Ranger Private Joseph Allen stationed in Afghanistan during an intense war. Just as in the previous game, you gradually shift command of up to five different characters at specified points and times in the story. While the aspect of having intertwined storylines adds to the core plot, the execution of this technique fails to offer a complete campaign experience. There are several loose ends that aren’t fully examined and give the impression that these explanations were purposely left out for Modern Warfare 3. An example of this theory comes within the controversial airport level, which by now has created a media frenzy. In this scene you assume the control of Private Allen while being undercover and lead by Makarov in a shooting spree at a nearby Airport. While the inclusion of this scene brings to light intense issues and suggests discussion on the topic of terrorism, it fails to serve justice to the culprits involved. As you progress through the game there is never a final confrontation between Makarov, which is a big reason why this level stands out. In traditional cinema it is always believed that sooner or later the villain gets what’s coming to him and unfortunately that’s not the case in this story. Likewise, there is also curiosity left over as to what happened to the characters of other units that you play in. One can argue that single player campaign shouldn’t be the focus of any COD game, but with a hot topic such as terrorism you can’t help but want to see a definitive resolution to the conflict. Add in the fact that this mode will only take you 5 hours to complete and you’ll feel as through there is still plenty more that could have been explored to lengthen the overall experience.

 

 

When it comes to gameplay, Modern Warfare 2 continues to shine in this department. The control mechanism is easy to get used to and is intuitive enough that even someone who has never played a cod game will be right at home with this one. You’ll easily be guided through each objective by the use of a numbered checkpoint system over a traditional map. The added military talk personnel adds to the effectiveness of capturing quality sound that keeps the environments real and engaging. An array of weapons from assault rifles, to duel wielding pistols is at your disposal and keeps the gunplay highly enjoyable and rewarding. The A.I. within the campaign is a bit dulled down even at the highest difficulty level. It’s worth noting that you’ll find the steepest challenge once you decide to play against competitors online. The graphics are also vastly improved which ranks this entry in the series a step above the original. The best display of this notion is expressed by the many locales you visit throughout the campaign including Washington D.C. and Rio De Janeiro to name a few. Even the amount of damage you can inflict upon each stage is impressive. You can tell Infinity Ward wanted to create the world on a much more grander scale and they should be applauded for there efforts this time around. Once you finish the campaign mode, you’ll be given the option to play the new Spec Ops Mode. This is a mode that allows you to play through several missions and challenges either by yourself or cooperatively with a friend. The inclusion of this feature adds further value to the package by encouraging you to replay every mission until you have successful captured all 69 stars.

 

 

Multiplayer Madness:

Modern Warfare 2’s bread and butter remains in the highly competitive online multiplayer experience. Just as in the previous entry in the series, you have the ability to create customizable classes by choosing your primary and secondary weapons, special grenades, tactical perks like Air Strikes, and improved combat techniques. Every time you play through a match you gain points based upon your individual performace. These points are then used to not only raise your player ranking but also to unlock upgraded weapons and attacks that you can use in any given match. The overall system is insanely balanced in the sense that there are always ways to counter attacks with the improved Killstreak options. There is also the ability to change Callsigns, emblems, and clan titles in the pre-match lobby to create a deeper sense of authenticity. The package contains a total of 15 multiplayer maps with the promise of more to drop in spring of 2010. There are also several match types to choose from like Free-For-All and Team Deathmatch. My only complaint about the mode is that until you unlock the ability to choose your respawn destination, you’ll find yourself dead in the middle of multiple shootouts. Certain maps offer places to hide while others lack the range of options necessary to get the upper hand on your opponents. For example, the airport terminal map is one stage that constantly keeps you highly susceptible to high death counts. Many will argue that these instances will force you to step up your gaming aesthetics when going online. Overall, the multiplayer mode is highly addictive and one of the most engaging reasons for high replayability.

 

 

Final Verdict:

Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 does an excellent job of portraying the harsh realities of war in our society. When compared to other First person shooters, it sticks to the core roots of gameplay that made the first one a hit. This concept doesn’t make it revolutionary but instead just keep things as expected. While the campaign needs a deeper sense of completion to fully convey the message, its clear that Infinity Ward has gotten people thinking about the delicate issues of terrorism as it relates to our everyday lives. The Spec Ops and Multiplayer Modes offer a meaty package that is sure to own your nights for hours on end. Ultimately if you were a diehard fan of the original Modern Warfare, then chances are you don’t need a more compelling reason to pick up this game. However, if you are considering making this your first venture into the series then I recommend this is one war you don’t want to miss.

Labels: Featured, PC, PlayStation 3, Reviews, xbox 360