Alan Wake Review:

First things first, the delay. Clocking up six years of development time, if Alan Wake is to win any awards this year, it’ll certainly snatch the “Longest development for a game that isn’t shovelware and actually turned out pretty good” gong, (Duke Nukem Forever? Forget it. It isn’t coming). So after years of being thrown tidbits, I believe I speak on behalf of everyone when I say it was a relief to finally see the fruits of Remedy’s hard work at E3 last year (perhaps not PC gamers). With the curtains shut and the lights turned off, I jumped into the world of Bright Falls. Alan Wake has arrived... fashionably late.

If you didn’t know already, Alan Wake is 50% story and 50% actual game. That’s not an over-exaggeration either. Much has been invested into making this not only a unique tale, but one told in an original, fresh, never-before-seen-in-a-video-game way.

 

Successful novelist Alan Wake is deceived into taking a vacation to the sleepy town of Bright Falls, Washington, by his wife Alice. Ok that’s probably a more cynical twist. She has his best interests at heart. Alice believes the beautiful setting Bright Falls exhibits may be able to cure a nasty case of writer’s block Alan has unfortunately developed, since she knows he’s capable of some truly great novels. He knows it, and it seems the town’s folk of Bright Falls do too. Naturally, being a psychological thriller, it’s not long before things turn sour. During a dispute between husband and wife, an eerie presence creeps in. Alice is then seemingly kidnapped, thus Alan begins his journey to find his wife, all the while figuring out why exactly the townsfolk have transformed into obscure shadow-like spirits known as the Taken.

 

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Star Ocean: The Last Hope International Review:

After a painfully long wait for many, the PS3’s version of Star Ocean: The Last Hope is finally here with Star Ocean: The Last Hope International. The new edition of the game boasts Japanese voice tracks and anime menus that were cut out of the English version. Even with the late port and high price, this action RPG is worth a look.

 

In the year 2064 the Earth almost destroys itself in a massive nuclear world war, forcing humans to begin searching for a new home in space. Enter Edge Maverick, a seemingly average young pilot in the SRF (Space Reconnaissance Force) with an inferiority complex. Together with his childhood "friend" Reimi Saionji, Edge travels space exploring new planets for potential human colonization. Along the way Edge and Reimi meet the expected anime clichés (the cat girl, the android, the annoying child, the disgruntled badass, etc.) and continue their travels with their ragtag crew. Eventually the inevitable great evil threatening the whole universe pops up, and Edge and crew set out to stop it.

There is nothing extraordinary in the plot, and character development is poor at best. Often characters will actually regress in maturity. Edge spends a few hours halfway through the game being an incredibly annoying and depressed prick, and right as he manages to come out of it another crew member decides to make himself the most annoying character in the game. Some of the character interaction is good, although there are more cringe-worthy moments than genuinely good ones. The plot itself isn't particularly bad, just very predictable. That said, the game clearly tries to find a deeper message than it really has to give at the end, and ends up being wordy without really saying much at all. There is enough between the character interaction and the plot to keep the player going, but thankfully The Last Hope has a lot more going for it than its narrative.

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Dante's Inferno Review:

By now, it is common knowledge that just about anything is susceptible to being made into a videogame. Therefore it was only a matter of time until we were playing games based on epic poetry such as the Inferno. Developed by Visceral Games, Dante’s Inferno is the re-imagining of Dante Alighieri’s influential work as a violent hack and slash. The game bears a strong resemblance to a certain other mythological action adventure, but does that mean it lives up to the acclaim of its source material?

 

Dante is a soldier during the Crusades, and after executing many terrible crimes, he is confronted by Death. He survives, and after experiencing the horrors of war, returns home to find both his father and his fiancée Beatrice slain. The innocent Beatrice is taken to the underworld, so Dante plummets to Hell in order to save his betrothed. His journey is not an easy one and will require him to survive the nine diabolical circles of Hell. Listed in order they are: Limbo, Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Wrath, Heresy, Violence, Fraud, and Treachery.

The combat system fueling Dante’s descent seems well thought, but that does not mean that it is perfect. Dante’s weapon of choice is the scythe which he wins from the Grim Reaper. Melee attacks are relegated to the same two-button scheme found in many other action games: square for swift-light attacks and triangle for stronger but slower hits. L2 blocks, the right analog stick evades, L1 utilizes magic and X is used for jumping and double jumping. Circle fires projectile holy crosses, your supply of which is infinite. By defeating foes, you build up the Redemption meter. Once it is filled, Dante can receive a boost in attack power if you press R1 and L1 together. Overall, the controls are easy enough to grasp, though it took me a while to get the hang of countering some enemy attacks.

 

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Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks Review:

Spirit Tracks may be one of the least ‘hyped’ Zelda games in the series, but like another under-the-radar Zelda game, Minish Cap, Spirit Tracks happens to be a truly unique side story. This is the third game in Zelda universe established by Wind Waker, and Spirit Tracks radically redefines the word of Hyrule much the same way its progenitor did. Legend of Zelda: The Spirit Tracks is one of the better side stories in the series, and is an adventure you will not soon forget.

Apparently, Spirit Tracks is set at least hundreds of years into the future, perhaps thousands. This notion stems from the fact that the Kingdom of Hyrule is no longer a flooded landscape peppered with many islands, but instead has been transformed into a kingdom with four different realms. The four realms are pretty generic and uninspired: Forest, Snow, Fire and Water. Across the land of Hyrule are the mysterious Spirit Tracks, the origins and purpose of which are unknown. These tracks are your only means of conveyance across Hyrule. They are not as restrictive as it would seem, but the train system does limit overworld exploration, which is unfortunate in a Zelda game.

The Hero, of course, is Link, or at least a descendant with the same name. This Link is no warrior or small wooden village orphan, instead he is a train engineer who is embarking to Hyrule to seek his Engineer License directly from the Princess herself, Zelda. Once that task is complete the real adventure begins. I’ll sum it up without too many spoilers. Corruption within Zelda’s administration is found and a plot to unleash an ancient evil is executed. This results in the Spirit Tracks disappearing and Zelda’s body being taken as a vessel for the ancient evil lord, Maladus (even his name emanates evil). Link teams up with the astral form of Zelda that only a few can see and sets off to restore the Spirit Tracks and defeat Maladus.

 

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Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction

 

After what seems like an age since those original screenshots were first unveiled, Splinter Cell: Conviction is finally here and it looks almost unrecognisable. Indeed, if the path taken in Conviction is anything to go by, the series itself has now undergone a complete overhaul. It has evolved for the modern era of gaming. Sam is now a changed character and the rigid pure stealth of old has gone, no doubt to the chagrin of many long standing fans, but the Splinter Cell series is certainly not immune to the necessity of change.

 

Sam has gone rogue in a quest to discover who killed his daughter – that means he’s finally off his leash, free to do things his way in his search for vengeance and, crucially, free to jettison stealth and engage in combat when the need arises. The mystery surrounding the death of his daughter Sarah is only a small part of the story, and it’s really only in the second half of the game - when this particular storyline takes a back seat - that the game becomes particularly engaging.

 

Mission structure is varied. There’s really no let up in the action and definitely no filler. Most of the time this works wonders. One level you’re sneaking quietly into a high security building in a throwback to the series’ roots, in another you’re chasing an assassin through the crowded backstage of a political rally. There’s one occasion where Ubisoft make a huge error of judgment in an underwhelming flashback sequence that not only ultimately feels pointless, but also turns this excellent stealth action game into a mediocre third person shooter for its brief duration. That one level aside, the single player campaign is a lot of fun.

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  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.

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Rogue Warrior Review

 

Rebellion Games’ Rogue Warrior found itself lost among the fall lineup and unfortunately for me, Rogue Warrior should of stayed lost. With Mickey Rourke voicing the protagonist and Bethesda publishing this title, I was surprised at just how bad the game is. I scratched my head while playing asking myself, how could anyone make this game and price it at $60 dollars? In a time where there’s more than three games you should buy instantly. Rogue Warrior presents itself as one you should avoid at any cost, literally. Playing as a F-bomb dropping Navy SEAL during the Cold War killing terrorist has never been more boring. Like James of TheKoalition would say, “The S&!t is @$s!

Mickey Rourke voices the lead character, Richard “Dick” Marcinko. Dick is a insubordinate Navy SEAL, who is sent to North Korea to receive intel on some missile launchers. Upon the arrival, Dick’s team is killed and is now handed the task to stop a group of Russian terrorist and stop these missiles from being used. The plot seems easy enough to understand, but the heart of the story is lost in translation once Dick opens his mouth and talks. Nearly every word coming out of his mouth consist of one or two obscenities, which I’m sure was suppose to make him seem like a badass but it only makes him seem like a dick. Not only that, but the limited cutscenes and the mission briefings in between makes the story telling dull. You can play this game on mute and you’ll know what I know. The campaign can be completed withing three hours or less, so this bumpy ride is over quick.

 

 

Rogue Warrior’s gameplay mashes up some stealth elements with its first person shooter style. Except, the gameplay doesn’t really work out like it should have. The simple things like moving are just done wrong, it feels like the frame rate drops every time you move. The shooting is bad too, if your enemy isn’t literally standing next to you, then you have no chance of hitting him. Rogue Warrior does have a cover system, which for the most part is ok, but the hit detection during blind fire is worse than it should be. The stealth elements I mentioned are poor, you can pretty much run behind someone and they wont notice you. Stealth elements also add kill moves which can be performed with a tap of a button. If there’s anything interesting in this game, this is it. Watching Dick slice a guy’s throat and then blurt out a cheesy one liner, is ok at the most, although the kill moves will get repetitive.

Graphically, Rogue Warrior’s graphics are a little less than the standard of what a game should look like in this generation. The grenade explosions look horrible and the enemies look like the ones you just previously killed. The locations aren’t really detailed and the textures look poor. The animations also seem stiff and just plain weird, I’ve seen dead enemies twitching inside of a wall.

On the sound department, Rouge Warrior also lacks. The gun sounds aren’t really impressive, they sound like BB gun rounds. But like I said, the real annoyance here is the voice acting. Not so much how Mickey Rourke sounds when he’s reading the lines, but the material he was given to read is horrible. Nothing but F-bombs and such, I’ve even heard him tell an enemy something about putting his hairy balls in their mouth.

 

 

Rogue Warrior does offer some multiplayer modes. Only two actually, Deathmatch and Team Deathmatch but I don’t see that as a problem. The main problem is that it plays exactly like it does in the single player campaign. I for one cannot see myself playing this game when there’s way better online multiplayer games out there. Checking through the leaderboards only about eight hundred people have played online so I doubt you’ll even be able to find someone to go up against.

Rogue Warrior is a game you need to avoid this fall. The only thing this game would be good for is to give as a joke gift for Christmas, but note that you’ll lose a friend in the process. This mediocre game gets even worse when you see the $60 dollar price point that Bethesda gave the game. From publishing Fallout 3 to this game, it must be some kind of weird joke around the office to publish crappy games like Wet and now this. To wrap this review up; Don’t buy this game, Bethesda hire someone for quality control, and Mickey Rourke fire your agent.

 

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God Of War Collection Review

 

There’s nothing like a good ol’ game compilation, but unfortunately they come in few and far between. While the world is anticipating the release of God of War III Sony have released a $40 compilation featuring the first two games in the series complete with enhanced HD visuals and trophy support, but how well do these once excellent games hold up against todays standards?

Upon it’s 2005 release the original God of War was one of the most violent and action packed games ever made. Drenched in Greek mythology God of War was an epic tale of revenge and redemption as Spartan warrior Kratos set out to destroy Aires, the very god who both saved his life and transformed him in to the savage, beast-of-a-man he is now. Armed with the Blades of Chaos (a pair of blades, which are chained to his forearms) Kratos’ adventure will have him decapitating hundreds of enemies, solving environmental puzzles and traversing through tricky platforming sections, some of which are truly frustrating.

 

What propelled God of War above all other third-person action games is it’s user-friendly combat system that allows players to pull off incredible feats with minimal effort. Initially you’ll start off with only your trusty chain blades but as you progress the gods will reward with you new weapons, powers and abilities to help you through your quest. Each of your weapons can be upgraded by collecting red orbs which are obtained by killing enemies or opening up specific chests located through-out the game. Upgrading your desired weapon will increase it’s strengths and in most cases will also enable additional moves for them. For the majority of the game your Blades of Chaos will be all you need and thankfully they’re a joy to use. Stringing together combos couldn’t be easier, simply tapping either the light or heavy attack button will have you pulling off basic combos but you also have the option to combine the two, perform grab moves or hold down L1 while attacking to administer more damaging and flashier blows. Add to that the ability to use items mid-combos and its easy to see how more advanced players will find hidden-depth in this seemingly bare-bones system.

While “Quick Time Events” serve as a more of a clichéd annoyance these days God of War was the game that kick started the trend. When faced against large enemies or enormous bosses you’ll have the ability to finish them off via a QTE whenever they’re running low on life. Pressing the circle button when the symbol appears over your dying enemies head will set the QTE in motion, you’ll then have to press/tap the appropriate sequence of buttons or rotate the right analog stick as instructed to make Kratos unleash acts of torture to his victims. Some of these moments are down-right disturbing but they help to show just how merciless and evil Kratos can be. As a main-character Kratos is a complete asshole and ultimately he is hard to root for. His only desire is to kill in the most ruthless way possible and during both gameplay moments and cutscenes you’ll see him killing more innocent people than an Al-Qaeda terrorist playing the airport level in Modern Warfare 2. While several people are able to mistake his maliciousness for “badass-ness” I found myself disliking Kratos more and more as the game went on which was problematic and did the well crafted story no favors.

My biggest problem with this enhanced version of God of War is the disparity between the graphics during gameplay and the visuals during the in-game cutscenes. While Sony did a great job upscaling the graphics during gameplay sequences the cutscenes remain untouched and honestly they look awful. Transitioning from gameplay to cutscenes and vice-versa feels awkward and it will constantly remind you that despite it’s HD coating you’re really just playing a PS2 game in disguise. Even with its few flaws God of War is still an incredible adventure that stands head and shoulders above other games in it’s genre. While you’ll be able to make it through the campaign in around 7 hours the unlockable Very Hard mode, additional challenge rooms and lengthy video features will keep you entertained way beyond the end credits.

 

 

2007’s God of War II is where this collection truly shines. As excellent as the first game is, the sequel turns the awesome dial up to 11 and significantly tones down all of the annoying bits. It’s hard for me to speak too much about story without spoiling the first game but this time around Kratos is as pissed off as ever and is seeking to destroy Zeus himself. Almost everything in God of War II is an improvement over it’s predecessor including the combat, pacing, interface and cinematics. There are some truly epic moments to be had here with hardly any of the downtime which plagued the original game. Kratos also redeems himself as a character and for the first time I actually enjoyed playing as him, sure he‘s still the same ultra violent asshole but the team at Santa Monica Studios did a great job making his anger seem more genuine even though his motivation is less heartfelt. Graphically God of War II is almost of PS3 quality and both the in-game and CGI cutscenes hold up exceptionally well. While this sequel is more of  a evolution than a revolution it does everything so well and on such a huge scale that it’s easy to see why many consider it to be one of the best games in the PS2’s vast library. Avid gamers may be able to complete the story mode in a weekend but there is plenty to see and do once the story is wrapped up. Once again God of War II goes beyond the standard protocol and there’s well over an hours worth of Making Of videos to enjoy all of which can be accessed directly from the video section of the XMB eliminating the need to boot up the game.

The inclusion of the God of War III E3 Demo is just icing on this intensely satisfying cake and while it doesn’t reinvent the wheel it is an exciting demonstration of what’s to come. I would have loved if the PSP’s God Of War: Chain’s of Olympus was included in this compilation but as it stand God of War Collection offers both exceptional value and entertainment for a budget price. Even if you already own these games in their original form that shouldn’t deter you from picking this up, the updated visuals breathe new life into the franchise and you’ll earn a host of Playstation Network Trophies in the process. If you’re a God of War virgin consider yourself lucky because you’re about to embark on one of the greatest adventures of your life. Unless your heart pumps Kool-Aid and you shudder at the thought of a Gargoyles eye being gouged out, or a Medusa’s head being wrenched and pulled off of her shoulders this is an essential purchase.

 

 

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Madden NFL Arcade Review

 

Every August Football fanatics around the world are treated to the latest version of Madden NFL complete with updated rosters and features. This year EA Sports decided to up the ante by adding a dull arcade style football game over Xbox live and Psn titled Madden NFL Arcade. Here are a few reasons why you should pass on this game.

 

 

Concept:
Madden NFL Arcade is an arcade stylized version of Madden but with the sole emphasis on playing football without the rules and guidelines associated with the sport. The game comes complete with all 32 NFL teams and operates as a 5-on-5-player experience similar to that of the NFL Street franchise. From the minute you take to the field you only have 4-5 downs and 60 yards to score a touchdown. You can score anywhere from 6 to 48 points to emerge victorious over your opponent. There are no special teams animations in the game and you are instead given a choice to go for the two point conversion or have the 1 point kick automatically added to your score. To add to the challenge of gameplay each player is given the ability to use up to 13 gamechangers, which can greatly determine your effectiveness in each down. For example using the Molasses gamechanger can allow you to slow down your plays for accurate passes, while the Turbo gamechanger can do the exact opposite. When it comes to running plays you only have four options to choose from which are run, short pass, middle pass, and long pass. The A.I. Difficulty settings remain the same as the options in Madden NFL 10, making fans feel right at home. The simplified control system is meant to make this a pick up and play type of game that anyone can enjoy. There are also Leaderboards for those who decide to play online and check their ranking among others.

 

 

Execution:
Madden NFL Arcade has several flaws that keep it from being a game worthy of the Madden brand. The graphics are on par with games from the previous generation of consoles with character models that look all too similar and lack fluidity while moving. While the gamechangers add fun to the game, there is no way of knowing when or if you will receive one. It would be helpful to have a system in place that would allow you to build up gamechangers based upon how well you execute on each individual play. There also are no roster updates, which can easily frustrate diehard fans if an important player is traded to another team. There are no season, franchise, or tournament modes, which only diminish the chances of this game ever having a high replayability value. Among all these nagging issues, the most insulting thing about this game is its $15 price point. It’s no secret that one of the biggest criticisms about Madden 10 was EA Sports focus on using microtransactions to unlock other gameplay features. As a consumer you have the ability to buy whatever game or add-on you like, but for a Madden game the expectations should be higher. Being that there is no competition from other NFL sports games, EA Sports should strive to deliver a full package from day one. Had Arcade been included as part of the Madden 10 package then the missing features wouldn’t have been such a big deal.

 

Final Verdict:
Madden NFL Arcade is a fun, but forgettable title that’s lack of features easily make it one of the worst packages to buy. While the simple ability to pick up and play is appealing, it’s hard to justify paying $15 bucks for this when you could purchase any of the more creative independent games on Xbox live instead. If your one of the few who hasn’t bought a football game and are thinking about purchasing this, I would highly suggest you pick up Madden NFL 10. Otherwise playing Madden NFL Arcade would make you an easy target to tackle on any and every given Sunday.

 

 

 

 

 

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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

 

Tekken 6 Review

 

Ever since its phenomenal third installment Tekken has been regarded as one of  the top franchises in the fighting game genre, however the series has been on rocky ground ever since. Tekken: Tag Tournament was almost a port of Tekken 3 but with upgraded visuals (due to it appearing on the PS2 rather than the PSone) and a new Tag-Team element, Tekken 4 took things further down-hill and was a slow-paced, clunky embarrassment which under-performed in every aspect. It wasn’t until Tekken 5 that the series managed to climb back up (Heihachi style) and reclaim dominance. Now almost 5 years later, with the power of the PS3 and Xbox 360 at their disposal can Namco manage to keep the franchise relevant, especially with great fighters like Street Fighter IV already on shelves?

My first impression of the PS3 version of Tekken 6 was far from pleasant, after forcing me to update to Sony’s “optional” 3.01 firmware I then had to  sit and wait for the game to patch itself which altogether took roughly 20 minutes. Once I finally reached the main menu things didn’t get any better, as soon as it loaded I was bombarded with a wealth of information and unnecessary distractions that I quickly had to wrap my head around. On the left were the usual selections (Online Mode, Offline Mode, Gallery, Options etc.), on the the right was my “profile information” which displayed my won/lost ratio, my fight money and my report rank, while in the background a character from the game was moving around in his fight stance while tanks drove by behind him shooting and causing mulitple explosions. This was by far one of the most clunky main menus I have ever seen and navigating through it was a pain until I learned where everything was.

 

 

Once I entered the Arcade mode and saw the huge array of fighters my heart began to warm-up. There are over 40 characters available from the start including 6 all new combatants. Arcade mode in itself is a severe disappointment though, forcing you to fight against a seemingly unbeatable robot, an overpowered Jin Kazama and a cheap, larger than life final boss. If you do manage to make it through this torture-fest your sense of accomplishment will be instantly shot down as the credits roll as soon as the final match is over without even so much as a “Congratulations”. Another reason why you may not want to bother with the Arcade mode is the fact that it is no longer the home of the games story, If you want justification as to why you’re going around punching people, robots, panda’s and kangaroos’ in the face you’ll have to consult the awful Scenario mode.

By now fans should be used to Namco’s failed attempts to inject third-person brawler modes in to Tekken games but usually these modes were considered mere extras and playing through the arcade mode provided you with the games story. However Tekken 6 takes the complete opposite approach and now the Scenario mode is the place to go if you want to learn what’s going on and unlock most of the titles achievements/trophies. Here you play as newcomer Lars Alexandersson fighting alongside an AI Controlled Alisa Bosconovitch, as a pair you run around uninspired 3D environments beating up hordes of enemies and collecting loot. I’m not going to waste time trying to explain the illogical, convoluted story but it involves Lars attempting to recover his memory and discover his roots. Early on in the campaign you can choose to play as any other character from the roster but whoever you chose will be replaced by Lars during the cut-scenes with no explanation what-so-ever which just serves to make the terrible story seem even more disjointed.

 

 

Like all good fighters Tekken 6 really comes to life when playing against other human opponents and you can choose to do so either locally or online. Local VS mode can be incredibly fun and the game does an excellent job accommodating for both newcomers and series veterans. As the button layout and move lists are relatively unchanged from previous installments I found myself able to jump in a whoop ass with no problems. Newbies will also find themselves pulling off several moves and basic combos simply by mashing on the four face buttons.  While this may sound like a bad thing, all bashing mashing can be countered using perry’s and well timed side-steps so if your girlfriend manages to beat you in a round or two you’ve only got yourself to blame. When you feel like you’re good enough to take on the world you literally can with the excellent online mode. But be warned, as the fighting system encourages you pummel your opponent while their defenceless via air juggles and ground attacks, playing online against skilled players can at times feel extremely unfair and one-sided. Also present are all the game modes you’ve come to expect, namely Survival, Time Trail, Team Battle and Practice. There is also a new Ghost Battle mode where you can fight endless streams of opponents to earn cash (used to customize your characters appearance) and quickly upgrade your rank from a Beginner to a Tekken God.

As long as you have a decent Internet connection or similarly skilled friend to play with Tekken 6 is a fantastic game but the disappointing single player offerings, terrible story and the re-use of animations and voice work from previous games in the series hurts the title overall. If you’re a Tekken fan you’re probably going to buy this game regardless of what any reviewer has to say but for everyone else I suggest you consider purchasing Street Fighter IV, Soul Calibur IV, Mortal Kombat Vs. DC Universe or even Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection on the PSN before you put your money on the counter and take this game home.

Tags: Featured, PlayStation 3, Reviews, Xbox 360

Labels: cheap video games, Featured, PlayStation 3, Reviews, xbox 360

WWE Smackdown V.S. Raw 2010 Review

 

THQ and Jakks Pacific’s latest iteration in the Smackdown series aims to redefine the genre by making customization the centerpiece of the game. Now in its 11th year, Smackdown Vs Raw 2010 steps into a bold new direction providing the true essence of a definitive WWE experience. Here are a few reasons why now is a good a time as any to step back into the ring.

 

 

Create your own experience:
Smackdown Vs Raw 2010 boasts an impressive new mode for story management titled Story Designer. This feature lets you craft your own WWE storylines to your heart’s content by creating moments, matches, or both. The use of these insanely deep tools range from adding text dialogue and camera cuts to developing a cast of wrestlers with no limit to your creativity. Once completed, you can preview the story or upload it to the online community via Xbox Live. PS3 fans have further upload options with the ability to post creations on You-tube. When using the default roster of wrestlers you are allowed to create up to 500 scenes with over hundreds of precut animations. The only drawback here is that your limited to 10 created superstar scenes that your character can appear it. This seems like a strategy by THQ aimed at getting the consumer to purchase next year edition for the additional content. Overall though the tool has enough versatility that you can create up to a decade’s worth of material. If you want two divas to face off in a Hell In A Cell Match then it’s totally possible. Add in the fact that stories can be uploaded and this easily translates to new content always being available.

 

 

There have also been some worthy additions to the Create a Superstar Mode. Now not only are you able to design your own wrestler, but you also can edit the current roster using the Superstar Thread tool. With this device you can change the outfit colors for each wrestler or diva. Again the drawback here is your limited to threads only and therefore can’t change hairstyles, jewelry, or facial features. It seems pretty silly to be able to change MVP’s costume color but not be able to edit the color of his nose bandage. Once again I expect there to be more options available in the next update.

 

 

The Returning Features:
The Road To Wrestlemania mode returns to greatness with 6 new storylines including Edge, Randy Orton, Shawn Michaels, and Mickie James just to name a few. Each story begins with a general introduction by various WWE superstars on what Wrestlemania means to them before branching off into there own individual story. Overall the stories include the right formula of drama and suspense that you would expect from any Raw or Smackdown show. You’ll once again have to make choices throughout that greatly affect your outcome. It’s also worth noting that in some cases you’ll want to change the difficulty settings to gain certain unlockables. For example, you may be given the task of beating Kane in under 3 mins to unlock a bonus arena or hidden character. In this instance playing under the Legend setting will rarely get it done as the computer likes to reverse every move. There are also stories that can be played cooperatively (Brand Warfare story) and as your created superstar. If Road to Wrestlemania isn’t for you, then you can always play the Career mode. This is a standard feature that follows you in your quest to collect every title belt the WWE has to offer. You can choose from any wrestler on the roster to participate in these challenges. There is also the new Championship Scramble Match, which will provide fun for up to 5 players. Lastly, the Royal Rumble match has been significantly upgraded. Your now able to eliminate your opponents in one of four ways (Over the Top Rope, Bottom Rope, Corner Turnbuckle, and Special Finisher). You will often need to tap multiple timed commands to escape elimination. This element of gameplay not only refreshes an otherwise old concept but also forces you to develop a strategy for survival. The one match type that should be explored next is the legendary Survivor Series Match as many fans have expressed interest in seeing this.

 

 

mproved Gameplay and Online:
Once you step inside the ring you’ll notice the combat system has also changed. THQ decided to use the same system implemented in the Legends Of Wrestlemania engine. There is a halo bar that appears below each wrestler and gauges when your able to perform signature moves and finishers. This allows for a more smooth control mechanism, which won’t frustrate the gamer as much. The one area that determines your difficulty lies in the Game option settings. Playing on Easy will make the A.I. a pushover while upping the ante to Legend will provide for a more challenging foe. The online play was vastly improved with no noticeable lag time. This of course will vary based upon the strength of the hosting connection. Last year many fans made created wrestlers and cheated by giving them a 99 overall rating. This year that concept has been fixed by forcing everyone to develop their created superstar’s attributes by participating in online matches. The one area that needs improvement with online lies in the addition of defending titles or creating belts. It’s bad enough that you can’t create a belt and even worse that you can’t defend one online. This also could account for creating a better reward system and point builder should THQ decide to explore this option at a later date.

Final Verdict:
WWE Smackdown Vs Raw 2010 does an excellent job of portraying the wrestling franchise that fans have known and grown to love. While there still are many customizable options and match types that need to be added, you can’t argue that THQ has taken a promising step forward with this release. The ability to alter your own stories is something past GM modes touched on but nearly really nailed to this degree. If you’re a wrestling enthusiast don’t hesitate to check out this game. Otherwise, you might as well book yourself for a one-night stay at the Smackdown Hotel.

 

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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