Spike TV recently held their annual Videogame Awards and as is tradition, several new trailers premiered throughout the evening. 2010 is poised to deliver a multitude of AAA titles following a generally light 2009 line up.
Spec Ops: The Line
This one came out of left field. Yager is a mostly unknown developer with only a handful of budget titles under their belt. The team has apparently gone under revisions and the company is ready to release what they hope will be their first stand out release. Judging from the premiere trailer, Spec Ops: The Line is going to be one to watch in the coming months. The game takes place in a sand storm stricken Dubai as elite Delta Force Operators are sent to rescue a missing U.S. Army team behind enemy lines. The trailer features superb graphics and exciting pitched battles among ultra modern architecture bathing in a sea of sand.
Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands
Speaking of sand, the next installment in the Prince of Persia franchise has been announced. As is all too common with initial reveals, the debut trailer doesn't show a single frame of gameplay. It has since been confirmed by the develoment team that the game is not related to the film in any way. Altough, it's worth noting that The Prince is dressed an awful lot like Jake Gyllenhaal as seen in the film's trailer. It also appears the ability to rewind time will make a return. Forgotten Sands looks to be bridge the gap between The Sands of Time and Warrior Within.
Batman: Arkham Asylum 2
Surprise! Here we have yet another trailer omitting any semblance of gameplay. Rocksteady crafted a unique and original masterpiece the first time around and with the Joker spilling chaos in to the streets of Gotham, I can hardly wait to get a peak. However, the trailer serves its purpose; to confirm the inevitable and have us squirming for more.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Review
The most highly anticipated game of 2009 has finally been released to a rabid gaming public salivating at the bit for more modern warfare. Developer Infinity Ward has crafted a memorable and addicting experience in less than two years from the previous installments release. This in and of itself is an incredible feat and one that should be highly commended. Despite Infinity Ward's best efforts, the short comings of a short development cycle are still evident.
Modern Warfare 2 is split into three distinct experiences featuring Campaign, Spec Ops and Multiplayer. The Campaign mode is a non stop adrenaline ride that is as exciting as it is hard to follow. There is seemingly an endless array of breath taking gameplay moments from the moment you begin your journey to the instant the credits roll. Modern Warfare 2 is by far the most cinematic of the Call of Duty series to date. This provides a strong emotional connection, but ultimately fails to deliver the same experience crafted in Call of Duty 4. The sense of authenticity and realism that made the former so unique has been replaced with a narrative that is pure Hollywood. The plot of the game is largely unbelievable and filled with confusing twists and plot holes. This is mainly due to the fact that much of the story driven dialogue is presented while you are desperately fighting for survival. It's difficult to grasp the situation when your main concern is the barrage of RPG laden OpFor hell bent on introducing you to your maker. Nevertheless, the action is intense and exciting and there is never a feeling of "I can't wait until this is over." Coincidentally, the experience will be over before you know it and you will indeed be pining for more. In what appears to be a seemingly cheap tactic, the difficulty has been increased in an effort to lengthen the disappointingly short campaign. If you are an avid FPS player, expect a five hour run through on even the Hardcore setting.
Modern Warfare 2 features visuals with a noticeable improvement over Call of Duty 4. The graphical jump is most noticeable on the PC as long as you have a powerful rig to max out the settings. However, the current generation of consoles is starting to show their age with inferior textures and anti-aliasing. Draw distance is not particularly impressive in either the campaign or multiplayer. It is most obvious in multiplayer given the increased map sizes. Diverse character models are another casualty of a tight deadline. One need only play the now controversial airport mission where you attempt to infiltrate Vladamir Makarov's terrorist organization. The opening scene features civilians crowded together in an airport terminal. I counted only a handful of models with matching clothing in a scene that features easily a few dozen non-playable characters. Immersion was instantly broken and the gruesome scenario that unfolds loses some of its shock value.
Spec Ops easily steals the show with two player Co-op missions that feature exciting and unique scenarios that are a blast to play through with a friend. The Spec Ops mode is roughly the same length of the Campaign, but it doesn't feature a story element. These are purely combat missions, many of which are inspired by memorable scenes from both Modern Warfare games. Should you fail to achieve your objective, be prepared to restart from the beginning. This creates a tension and sense of urgency that actually adds to the experience. Missions are usually brief and restarting a level due to mission failure doesn't become an issue until the later missions.
The multiplayer is by far the largest portion of what Modern Warfare 2 has to offer. In many ways it improves upon the near perfect formula created in the last chapter of the franchise. Unfortunately the added features may prove to be overkill. The additional kill streaks are great fun for the possessor, but have the ability to quickly disrupt balance. Gameplay is faster and deaths are nearly instantaneous in Modern Warfare 2. Controlling the more powerful kill streak rewards can create a devastating onslaught that can cripple a team without much hope of retribution. Spawn points are another area that needs attention. You will often be spawned in the same exact place you were gunned down giving your opponent an opportunity for easy seconds. Furthermore, hit detection feels a bit off which is most noticeable when sniping. Many times a shot will be fired directly into an opponent’s chest without the shot even registering a hit. The game is heavily populated at the moment and very few matches don't exhibit game hindering lag even with a high speed internet connection. Lastly and probably most unfortunately, many of the bugs from the original Modern Warfare make their way into the sequel. In true Call of Duty fashion, it is all too easy to get stuck in a street sign or barrel with the only option being a cooked frag grenade to queue a respawn. If your out of grenades, be prepared to wait until an opponent puts you out of your misery. Glitch spots are even more rampant then before and are seemingly encouraged by Infinity Ward based on the level design. There isn't anything more frustrating then being sniped from the top of some building you can only get to if you jump off your team mates head, spin 3 times and click your heels. Despite several set backs, the multiplayer is incredibly addicting and one that could become unequaled given a few much needed updates.
Modern Warfare 2 is a must own for any gaming fan, though this time the bar has not been set quite as high. It is an exceptional game that is a victim of circumstance. It brings to mind what truly could have been possible if Infinity Ward was given time to fully realize their vision. Given the record shattering first day sales, I don’t expect Activision to have a change of heart anytime soon.
Rating: 8.5 out of 10.0
Modern Warfare 2 is split into three distinct experiences featuring Campaign, Spec Ops and Multiplayer. The Campaign mode is a non stop adrenaline ride that is as exciting as it is hard to follow. There is seemingly an endless array of breath taking gameplay moments from the moment you begin your journey to the instant the credits roll. Modern Warfare 2 is by far the most cinematic of the Call of Duty series to date. This provides a strong emotional connection, but ultimately fails to deliver the same experience crafted in Call of Duty 4. The sense of authenticity and realism that made the former so unique has been replaced with a narrative that is pure Hollywood. The plot of the game is largely unbelievable and filled with confusing twists and plot holes. This is mainly due to the fact that much of the story driven dialogue is presented while you are desperately fighting for survival. It's difficult to grasp the situation when your main concern is the barrage of RPG laden OpFor hell bent on introducing you to your maker. Nevertheless, the action is intense and exciting and there is never a feeling of "I can't wait until this is over." Coincidentally, the experience will be over before you know it and you will indeed be pining for more. In what appears to be a seemingly cheap tactic, the difficulty has been increased in an effort to lengthen the disappointingly short campaign. If you are an avid FPS player, expect a five hour run through on even the Hardcore setting.
Modern Warfare 2 features visuals with a noticeable improvement over Call of Duty 4. The graphical jump is most noticeable on the PC as long as you have a powerful rig to max out the settings. However, the current generation of consoles is starting to show their age with inferior textures and anti-aliasing. Draw distance is not particularly impressive in either the campaign or multiplayer. It is most obvious in multiplayer given the increased map sizes. Diverse character models are another casualty of a tight deadline. One need only play the now controversial airport mission where you attempt to infiltrate Vladamir Makarov's terrorist organization. The opening scene features civilians crowded together in an airport terminal. I counted only a handful of models with matching clothing in a scene that features easily a few dozen non-playable characters. Immersion was instantly broken and the gruesome scenario that unfolds loses some of its shock value.
Spec Ops easily steals the show with two player Co-op missions that feature exciting and unique scenarios that are a blast to play through with a friend. The Spec Ops mode is roughly the same length of the Campaign, but it doesn't feature a story element. These are purely combat missions, many of which are inspired by memorable scenes from both Modern Warfare games. Should you fail to achieve your objective, be prepared to restart from the beginning. This creates a tension and sense of urgency that actually adds to the experience. Missions are usually brief and restarting a level due to mission failure doesn't become an issue until the later missions.
The multiplayer is by far the largest portion of what Modern Warfare 2 has to offer. In many ways it improves upon the near perfect formula created in the last chapter of the franchise. Unfortunately the added features may prove to be overkill. The additional kill streaks are great fun for the possessor, but have the ability to quickly disrupt balance. Gameplay is faster and deaths are nearly instantaneous in Modern Warfare 2. Controlling the more powerful kill streak rewards can create a devastating onslaught that can cripple a team without much hope of retribution. Spawn points are another area that needs attention. You will often be spawned in the same exact place you were gunned down giving your opponent an opportunity for easy seconds. Furthermore, hit detection feels a bit off which is most noticeable when sniping. Many times a shot will be fired directly into an opponent’s chest without the shot even registering a hit. The game is heavily populated at the moment and very few matches don't exhibit game hindering lag even with a high speed internet connection. Lastly and probably most unfortunately, many of the bugs from the original Modern Warfare make their way into the sequel. In true Call of Duty fashion, it is all too easy to get stuck in a street sign or barrel with the only option being a cooked frag grenade to queue a respawn. If your out of grenades, be prepared to wait until an opponent puts you out of your misery. Glitch spots are even more rampant then before and are seemingly encouraged by Infinity Ward based on the level design. There isn't anything more frustrating then being sniped from the top of some building you can only get to if you jump off your team mates head, spin 3 times and click your heels. Despite several set backs, the multiplayer is incredibly addicting and one that could become unequaled given a few much needed updates.
Modern Warfare 2 is a must own for any gaming fan, though this time the bar has not been set quite as high. It is an exceptional game that is a victim of circumstance. It brings to mind what truly could have been possible if Infinity Ward was given time to fully realize their vision. Given the record shattering first day sales, I don’t expect Activision to have a change of heart anytime soon.
Rating: 8.5 out of 10.0
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Demo Round Up - 11/18/09
When Valve released their Left 4 Dead demo around this time last year, it was an instant fan favorite. The demo offered a gratuitous amount of gore, humor and addicting cooperative play that could be played multiple times. Now Left 4 Dead 2 has crept up on us like a ghoul amidst controversy from the franchise's core following. It's only been one year since the original and many fans feel it didn't garner enough support from developer Valve. Are zombie maniacs justified in their war cry?
Left 4 Dead 2
The demo is nearly identical in presentation to last years sampling. A gorgeous CG cut scene introduces the characters, what little plot there is, and a few of the new additions to the zombie line up. This time around you'll have to deal with Jockeys, Chargers and Spitters (reminds me of high school). The new enemies add some flare to the line up, but ultimately don't change the gameplay significantly. Four new characters are introduced as well although the demo never delves deeper than a few albeit humorous one liners. The blue print that was laid in the first has been dusted off yet again with only skin deep elements added in hopes of convincing the player that this is an entirely new experience. Sure, there are new guns and new locales, but there isn't enough here to persuade fans of Left 4 Dead to switch to this year's installment. There has been little improvement in the graphics department other than changing the time of day to showcase sun soaked bayous and city streets. The campaign in the demo is significantly shorter then what was featured in it's predecessor's demo offering and ultimately feels a little too familiar. Several other modes are included as well all of which can be played with up to three friends. Left 4 Dead 2 is still mainly a co-op demo. If you have friends that can fight at your side, you're still going to have a blast. If you have played the original to death, than this demo has just enough variety to keep you going for a little bit longer.
Verdict: Download it!
Left 4 Dead 2
The demo is nearly identical in presentation to last years sampling. A gorgeous CG cut scene introduces the characters, what little plot there is, and a few of the new additions to the zombie line up. This time around you'll have to deal with Jockeys, Chargers and Spitters (reminds me of high school). The new enemies add some flare to the line up, but ultimately don't change the gameplay significantly. Four new characters are introduced as well although the demo never delves deeper than a few albeit humorous one liners. The blue print that was laid in the first has been dusted off yet again with only skin deep elements added in hopes of convincing the player that this is an entirely new experience. Sure, there are new guns and new locales, but there isn't enough here to persuade fans of Left 4 Dead to switch to this year's installment. There has been little improvement in the graphics department other than changing the time of day to showcase sun soaked bayous and city streets. The campaign in the demo is significantly shorter then what was featured in it's predecessor's demo offering and ultimately feels a little too familiar. Several other modes are included as well all of which can be played with up to three friends. Left 4 Dead 2 is still mainly a co-op demo. If you have friends that can fight at your side, you're still going to have a blast. If you have played the original to death, than this demo has just enough variety to keep you going for a little bit longer.
Verdict: Download it!
Monday, November 9, 2009
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves Review
Few games in the history of the industry have ever come close to a completely immersive experience- one in which you are emotionally invested in the characters on screen. This has often been a draw for motion pictures, but with the release of Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, the gaming world looks to level the playing field.
Nolan North once again delivers a brilliant portrayal of wise-cracking adventurer Nathan Drake, who brings along a host of new characters and some old favorites as well. Drake's new love interest Chloe Frazier is an excellent addition to the cast with a stand-out performance from Claudia Black. The story also introduces a new villain in Zoran Lazarevic, a merciless and genocidal maniac obsessed with discovering the fabled Chintamani stone. The stone is believed to be capable of granting great power to whoever possesses it.
As the plot unfolds the player is transported from one breathtaking locale to the next. Naughty Dog has outdone themselves in bringing the world of Uncharted 2 to life. It isn't just the sweeping panoramic views of snow covered mountains, or the towering ancient trees and jungle fauna. It's in the way Drake reacts to the world around him. When Drake is hurt he stumbles with a believable gait. When he encounters the flames of a burning train car, he shields his eyes from the light.
There is literally never a dull moment in Uncharted 2. The game has the ability to leave you winded from the safety of your couch. Each set piece is more outrageous than the previous and the platforming elements are some of the most innovative I've seen in years. The rushing train sequence roughly half way through the game is an instant classic and an incredible achievement in game design. Gun play has been greatly improved and the control scheme has been reworked, allowing for faster and more fluid action on screen. The campaign is several hours longer than the original and you'll still feel a need for more. It's just that good. I was legitimately sad when it ended.
When you've completed the campaign, you unlock the "Crushing" difficulty that will provide a challenge for even the most experienced players. Additionally, there is now a fully fleshed-out multiplayer component. There are several cooperative modes as well, including one reminiscent of Gears of War 2's Horde Mode. Several team games are also available including the standard team deathmatch and Naughty Dog's version of Capture the Flag entitled "Plunder." Players earn money from getting kills as well as completing various in-game tasks such as assisting a teammate and achieving a kill streak. The multiplayer is challenging to master and comes with a steep learning curve. The matchmaking is non-existent and you will often face-off against much higher level foes. "Boosters" are the name of the game to give you an edge similar to Call of Duty 4's perk system. They are absolutely necessary in order to stay competitive with higher ranked players. Whatever you do, don't quit out of a game; Naughty Dog has implemented a merciless system to punish players who are looking for greener pastures. I was disconnected two consecutive times and was hit with a $200,000 earnings penalty and a 2 tier loss in rank. This is the equivalent of several hours worth of gameplay. Be sure you have a strong connection as the new evil system can't tell the difference between a victim of circumstance and a quitter.
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is a nearly flawless experience. If it weren't for the new unforgiving punishment system governing the game's multiplayer, I wouldn't have a single grievance. Uncharted 2 is a serious contender for the gaming community's various "Game of the Year" awards and is certainly in consideration for Gamerology's inaugural top honor.
Rating: 9.5 out of 10.0
Nolan North once again delivers a brilliant portrayal of wise-cracking adventurer Nathan Drake, who brings along a host of new characters and some old favorites as well. Drake's new love interest Chloe Frazier is an excellent addition to the cast with a stand-out performance from Claudia Black. The story also introduces a new villain in Zoran Lazarevic, a merciless and genocidal maniac obsessed with discovering the fabled Chintamani stone. The stone is believed to be capable of granting great power to whoever possesses it.
As the plot unfolds the player is transported from one breathtaking locale to the next. Naughty Dog has outdone themselves in bringing the world of Uncharted 2 to life. It isn't just the sweeping panoramic views of snow covered mountains, or the towering ancient trees and jungle fauna. It's in the way Drake reacts to the world around him. When Drake is hurt he stumbles with a believable gait. When he encounters the flames of a burning train car, he shields his eyes from the light.
There is literally never a dull moment in Uncharted 2. The game has the ability to leave you winded from the safety of your couch. Each set piece is more outrageous than the previous and the platforming elements are some of the most innovative I've seen in years. The rushing train sequence roughly half way through the game is an instant classic and an incredible achievement in game design. Gun play has been greatly improved and the control scheme has been reworked, allowing for faster and more fluid action on screen. The campaign is several hours longer than the original and you'll still feel a need for more. It's just that good. I was legitimately sad when it ended.
When you've completed the campaign, you unlock the "Crushing" difficulty that will provide a challenge for even the most experienced players. Additionally, there is now a fully fleshed-out multiplayer component. There are several cooperative modes as well, including one reminiscent of Gears of War 2's Horde Mode. Several team games are also available including the standard team deathmatch and Naughty Dog's version of Capture the Flag entitled "Plunder." Players earn money from getting kills as well as completing various in-game tasks such as assisting a teammate and achieving a kill streak. The multiplayer is challenging to master and comes with a steep learning curve. The matchmaking is non-existent and you will often face-off against much higher level foes. "Boosters" are the name of the game to give you an edge similar to Call of Duty 4's perk system. They are absolutely necessary in order to stay competitive with higher ranked players. Whatever you do, don't quit out of a game; Naughty Dog has implemented a merciless system to punish players who are looking for greener pastures. I was disconnected two consecutive times and was hit with a $200,000 earnings penalty and a 2 tier loss in rank. This is the equivalent of several hours worth of gameplay. Be sure you have a strong connection as the new evil system can't tell the difference between a victim of circumstance and a quitter.
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is a nearly flawless experience. If it weren't for the new unforgiving punishment system governing the game's multiplayer, I wouldn't have a single grievance. Uncharted 2 is a serious contender for the gaming community's various "Game of the Year" awards and is certainly in consideration for Gamerology's inaugural top honor.
Rating: 9.5 out of 10.0
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Modern Warfare 2 Special Ops AC-130 Gameplay
Here is footage of 2 player co-op featuring a man on the ground, and a 2nd player controlling the devastating AC-130 gunship from the skies. There are over twenty Special Ops missions included in the game. If they even come close to what is seen here, we are all in for one wild ride.
Marc Moves to Pennsylvania!
I wanted to take a moment and congratulate Marc on his new job and new life in Pennsylvania. We hope you find much success! All donations and delicious perishables may be sent to Jonathan Focarino. Good luck, have fun!
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Games You Should Play - 10/20/09
It's been a very busy time in The Marc household, with moving and starting a new job and working my butt off at my old job to train my replacements. I haven't really had that much free time to blog. However, I figured since I posted my Brutal Legend review, that I would enlighten all of you with a brand new "Games You Should Play."
Games You Should Play - Amplitude
Amplitude is to Rock Band/Guitar Hero as Medal of Honor is to Call of Duty. Both are precursors to the biggest games out there. If you have played Rock Band Unplugged on the PSP, you have played Amplitude. Amplitude is actually the sequel to the game Frequency...but much much better. It's kind of hard to explain exactly what it is or how it plays, but once you play it and start to learn it it is not that hard. It's actually easier if I explain how Rock Band Unplugged works. Basically, you play the whole band, all four instruments, and you have to keep them going all at the same time. But...you don't have to play them all at the same time. You have to keep them going by hitting a whole bunch of notes in a row for a defined section, then that track (drum, guitar, bass, solo) plays automatically and you can move on to the next track. Repeat for all the tracks and by the time you have all 4 going at once (if you are good) the first one you did should be back to hitting the notes. You have to be pretty quick and be able to keep a rhythm to succeed at this game.
In order to know where Rock band and Guitar Hero get their roots, you should play this game for that reason alone. The multiplayer stinks (it is definitely NOT a party game) and you cant even play online anymore if you wanted to as they shut the servers down years ago. The difficulty ramps up about as well as the RB/GH games, and Brutal is seriously, seriously, hard. But if you put the time and effort into memorizing everything, it should be easier. What really kills this game, is the song list. Good songs, don't get me wrong, but only 26 songs makes for a game where there is not much variety. There's a decent variety to the tracks, but only 26 songs makes for a game where you can hear about every song in an hour. There are no MEGA HUGE AWESOME songs either. In fact, most of it is stuff you've never heard of. Don't get me wrong, the game is still fun. You should definitely play it.
Brutal Legend Review
I usually don't like to review games until after I have beaten them, but in the case of the awesomeness that is Brutal Legend, I will make an exception. To put it bluntly, BRUTAL LEGEND ROCKS! It has its downfalls, which I'll delve into, but on the whole as a package, it is the definitive heavy metal game.
I won't bore you with the intricacies of the story (which goes from 0-60 in about the length of time of an Iron Maiden guitar solo), but I will say a few things that I like. It's a decent story, probably Tim Schaefer's weakest, however, in the grand scheme of things, way better than a lot of crappy stories these days (I'm looking at you Mirror's Edge). Tim Schafer games include all of the Monkey Island Games, Grim Fandango, Full Throttle and Psychonauts.
The story is basically a "what if there was an parallel universe where Heavy Metal was created and passed down by the gods and people forgot it over time, but if you rock out and play some kickass solos you get awesome powers." I mean, how awesome is that!? If you didn't say very awesome, then you are dead wrong
It takes some huge balls to create a game like this, both figuratively and financially, as in the last 20 years (or if we want to get very technical, since Metallica's Black Album), heavy metal has been slowly dying. It has since been replaced by many things, none of which are even close to being the same thing. Goth and scream metal are not the same things. In fact, one of the main villains you fight are Goths, but I won't get too much into that. How metal is this game? Well, apart from the kick ass solos you bust out in a Guitar Hero styled way, there's also 82 metal songs in this game. These aren't just little blurbs or major bands, I'm talking huge names and huge songs and really obscure (but still AWESOME) songs. This is a game that has Ozzy, Lita Ford, Rob Halford and Lemmy doing voice acting. Let it be known that Ozzy does have the smallest part in terms of importance to the actual story, but he is the fucking GUARDIAN OF METAL. I mean, do I really need to sell you on the metal level of this game? I think not. If you like metal, don't read the rest of my review. Just go buy this damn game.
Ok, for all of you people on the fence who kinda like metal or Jack Black, here's what is good and bad about the the actual gameplay.
That really is the only bad thing I could find in this game, and while it is a design choice and a matter of personal preference (I hate RTS games, too much going on at once), but if you can get past that, you'll love this game. Please play the demo on 360 or PS3 to play the 1st half hour of the game if you are on the fence. That should make you want this game a lot more. If you are thinking about it, PLEASE buy it. This is a game that will LIVE AND DIE by the sales it has when you purchase it NEW. Please support the fine developers at Double Fine and only purchase new, as I fear that if this game bombs, it will just make it harder for an original game with an original idea to get created if you aren't from a big company and because dammit, Tim Schaefer deserves it.
Rating: 9.5 out of 10.0
I won't bore you with the intricacies of the story (which goes from 0-60 in about the length of time of an Iron Maiden guitar solo), but I will say a few things that I like. It's a decent story, probably Tim Schaefer's weakest, however, in the grand scheme of things, way better than a lot of crappy stories these days (I'm looking at you Mirror's Edge). Tim Schafer games include all of the Monkey Island Games, Grim Fandango, Full Throttle and Psychonauts.
The story is basically a "what if there was an parallel universe where Heavy Metal was created and passed down by the gods and people forgot it over time, but if you rock out and play some kickass solos you get awesome powers." I mean, how awesome is that!? If you didn't say very awesome, then you are dead wrong
It takes some huge balls to create a game like this, both figuratively and financially, as in the last 20 years (or if we want to get very technical, since Metallica's Black Album), heavy metal has been slowly dying. It has since been replaced by many things, none of which are even close to being the same thing. Goth and scream metal are not the same things. In fact, one of the main villains you fight are Goths, but I won't get too much into that. How metal is this game? Well, apart from the kick ass solos you bust out in a Guitar Hero styled way, there's also 82 metal songs in this game. These aren't just little blurbs or major bands, I'm talking huge names and huge songs and really obscure (but still AWESOME) songs. This is a game that has Ozzy, Lita Ford, Rob Halford and Lemmy doing voice acting. Let it be known that Ozzy does have the smallest part in terms of importance to the actual story, but he is the fucking GUARDIAN OF METAL. I mean, do I really need to sell you on the metal level of this game? I think not. If you like metal, don't read the rest of my review. Just go buy this damn game.
Ok, for all of you people on the fence who kinda like metal or Jack Black, here's what is good and bad about the the actual gameplay.
Good
- The hack and slash parts are excellent and everything controls very well. From driving your car (Druid Plow) to running and picking certain enemies to attack, everything is smooth.
- The actual hack and slash battles are also equally excellent, making you think about how you will attack a huge group of enemies and switch between your battle axe, and your guitar (or, other battle axe if you want to use Heavy Metal lingo).
- The side missions, while repetitive, have a good variety to them. There are a decent amount and you don't really HAVE to do them, although they will help you later on buy more upgrades that you will need. They aren't bad if you do them sporadically, like I have, but if you want to do a whole bunch in a row, you will notice that they get very boring and that the little cutscenes right before are almost exactly the same in each case, but overall, I liked the variety of them.
- The graphics are gorgeous. There is a bit of pop-in when you are driving, but GTA has pop-in too and I think it's still an unavoidable thing when you are talking about a huge open world game. The characters are very cleanly rendered and the style of everything is awesome. When it really shows off is when there are LOADS of enemies and units on screen. There is almost no slowdown (once I've seen in), while there are loads of units fighting. This was never designed to be a realistic looking game, and I wasn't expecting that, but the art design and style is phenomenal.
- The voice acting is among the best I've ever heard. Even with huge names, they don't give them WAY too many lines and the more important people are voiced by phenomenal voice actors (Tim Curry or even Jack Black). My only qualm was that Rob Halfords character looked like it should have been voiced by David Bowie.
Bad
- About an hour in you have your first boss battle, or "stage battle" as it's called in the game. No matter what Tim Schaefer says, this is totally a RTS design. Read this Penny Arcade strip to get a sense of what i am talking about. I, for one, am not a fan of real time strategy games. However, they are not quite that hard, except for the one I am currently stuck at! GRRRRRRRRR! However, they are unnecessarily long and while it is encouraged that you actually fight in these battles, you don't have super powers or a health bar so it is tough to gauge how much you can actually take, and these enemies will kill you (you automatically respawn an infinite number of times until someone actual wins or loses the battle, but its annoying).
Rating: 9.5 out of 10.0
Monday, October 19, 2009
Darksiders Hands On Impression
This past weekend I was fortunate enough to make it to the Big Apple Comic Con located in midtown Manhattan. The convention was totally overhauled this year to include B movie stars, comic book artists, and videogames. The only 3rd party title on display was the upcoming Darksiders developed by Vigil Games. This is the developer's first outing and the pressure is on to produce a brand new hit intellectual property. I had an opportunity to play through a portion of the game and form some pre-release impressions.
The demo opened at some point deep within the story. You play as War, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. You are a hulking bad ass that is more than capable of laying to waste everything in your path. War has a variety of both physical and magic attacks. All of which are brutal, visceral and gruesome. Comparisons will immediately be made to the God of War series and with good reason. Darksiders wants to be God of War in every way imaginable. If you had dropped Kratos into the mix, it would have made little difference to the gameplay. The button configuration is nearly identical, including light and heavy attacks with a grab button for gore soaked close encounters. Darksiders even features simple platforming to accompany the carnage. Intimidating foes of various scale are ever present as you slice, dice and clobber your way through the level. Boss fights are massive, over the top and require quick time events to bring the behemoths to their knees. The developers at Vigil Games are clearly great admirers of the God of War franchise and with good reason. The question is, do we really need a God of War impersonator when God of War III is just around the corner?
In the coming months, no doubt more information will be released and the Vigil Games will be looking to differentiate themselves from the crowd while still appealing to the God of War audience. As it stands now, the game looks great. Character models are richly detailed and the environment is well defined. Famed comic book artist Joe Madureira provided the character designs for Darksiders and the developer's 3D artists did a fantastic job bringing his creations to life. For the record, there was little discernable difference between the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. However, the Xbox 360 version did appear to be a bit brighter. We shall have to wait and see if Darksiders is a worthy spiritual successor or a note for note carbon copy of one of gaming's biggest icons.
The demo opened at some point deep within the story. You play as War, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. You are a hulking bad ass that is more than capable of laying to waste everything in your path. War has a variety of both physical and magic attacks. All of which are brutal, visceral and gruesome. Comparisons will immediately be made to the God of War series and with good reason. Darksiders wants to be God of War in every way imaginable. If you had dropped Kratos into the mix, it would have made little difference to the gameplay. The button configuration is nearly identical, including light and heavy attacks with a grab button for gore soaked close encounters. Darksiders even features simple platforming to accompany the carnage. Intimidating foes of various scale are ever present as you slice, dice and clobber your way through the level. Boss fights are massive, over the top and require quick time events to bring the behemoths to their knees. The developers at Vigil Games are clearly great admirers of the God of War franchise and with good reason. The question is, do we really need a God of War impersonator when God of War III is just around the corner?
In the coming months, no doubt more information will be released and the Vigil Games will be looking to differentiate themselves from the crowd while still appealing to the God of War audience. As it stands now, the game looks great. Character models are richly detailed and the environment is well defined. Famed comic book artist Joe Madureira provided the character designs for Darksiders and the developer's 3D artists did a fantastic job bringing his creations to life. For the record, there was little discernable difference between the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. However, the Xbox 360 version did appear to be a bit brighter. We shall have to wait and see if Darksiders is a worthy spiritual successor or a note for note carbon copy of one of gaming's biggest icons.
Big Apple Comic Con photos courtesy of Stephanie Koithan
Thursday, October 15, 2009
CryEngine 3 Beauty Speed Interaction Trailer
Crytek is widely considered to be the industry leader when it comes to in game graphics. After taking a look at this brand new trailer showcasing the CryEngine 3, it isn't hard to see why. I can't wait to see this technology put to use in a new intellectual property from Crytek.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Batman: Arkham Asylum Review
There are a few universal truths in the videogame industry. Halo games will always be released full price regardless of content. Your girlfriend will never care about your latest Xbox 360 achievement (if she says she does, she’s lying) and finally, games based on comic books can never be Triple A titles. I am pleased to report that at least one of these truths has been laid to rest. More appropriately it’s been blown to bits. Batman: Arkham Asylum is that good.
From top to bottom Batman: Arkham Asylum has more polish than the top of Patrick Stewert’s head. Bad jokes aside, this is a carefully crafted masterpiece and I don’t throw that word around lightly. You will be immersed in an experience that takes you to every corner of the Asylum as you play through continuous memorable moments. The game begins with Batman bringing Joker back to Arkham after an admitedly easy scuffle. Joker, never being one to be outdone, turns the table on the Dark Knight and takes command of Arkham. Chaos naturally ensues and Batman is left to his own devices to bring down the nefarious super criminal. Many characters from Batman’s stellar catalogue of villains make an appearance including Victor Szasz, Poison Ivy, Killer Croc, and Scarecrow among others. Each villains segment plays out in a unique manner with the Scarecrow’s sequences being particularly fantastic.
The player has the unique position of witnessing the longest night of Batman’s life. You begin the evening with only your trusty batarang and grappling hook to tackle your foes. As the story progresses, you’ll have the opportunity to retrieve several more wonderful toys from Batman’s arsenal as well as unlock combat specific abilities. Each gadget is fully upgradeable and a lot of fun to use. You haven’t truly lived until you’ve hung upside down from a stone gargoyle only to swoop up an inmate and hang him by his toes. The up close and personal combat is surprisingly fluid. Seamlessly moving from takedown to takedown is a sight to behold. With only a few simple button presses you can pull off a 40 hit combo and leave a room full of bad guys in a world of hurt. The button configuration is simple, but the timing and execution of combos takes a great deal of patience to master. Everything looks fantastic as well. The game has a very clean and stylized artistry while maintaining crisp clear visuals. Rocksteady completely captured the feel of the Batman universe. This is as close as anyone is going to get to dawning the cape and cowl. The developers were careful to exclude hockey pants from Batman’s wardrobe.
Batman: Arkham Asylum will take about ten hours just to complete the main story objectives. This is not including the over 240 Riddler challenges that will have you crawling through the complex solving various cryptic messages and uncovering hidden Riddler trophies. Several combat trial rooms are included as well with more unlockable as you progress through the game. Small graphical hiccups are present, but are nearly negligible considering they are infrequent and don't intefere with the experience. The majority of texture loading issues are most certainly due to the Unreal Engine the game is built on. Buy a copy of Batman: Arkham Asylum and give it a place of distinction on your game shelf as one of the very best this generation.
Rating: 10.0 out of 10.0
From top to bottom Batman: Arkham Asylum has more polish than the top of Patrick Stewert’s head. Bad jokes aside, this is a carefully crafted masterpiece and I don’t throw that word around lightly. You will be immersed in an experience that takes you to every corner of the Asylum as you play through continuous memorable moments. The game begins with Batman bringing Joker back to Arkham after an admitedly easy scuffle. Joker, never being one to be outdone, turns the table on the Dark Knight and takes command of Arkham. Chaos naturally ensues and Batman is left to his own devices to bring down the nefarious super criminal. Many characters from Batman’s stellar catalogue of villains make an appearance including Victor Szasz, Poison Ivy, Killer Croc, and Scarecrow among others. Each villains segment plays out in a unique manner with the Scarecrow’s sequences being particularly fantastic.
The player has the unique position of witnessing the longest night of Batman’s life. You begin the evening with only your trusty batarang and grappling hook to tackle your foes. As the story progresses, you’ll have the opportunity to retrieve several more wonderful toys from Batman’s arsenal as well as unlock combat specific abilities. Each gadget is fully upgradeable and a lot of fun to use. You haven’t truly lived until you’ve hung upside down from a stone gargoyle only to swoop up an inmate and hang him by his toes. The up close and personal combat is surprisingly fluid. Seamlessly moving from takedown to takedown is a sight to behold. With only a few simple button presses you can pull off a 40 hit combo and leave a room full of bad guys in a world of hurt. The button configuration is simple, but the timing and execution of combos takes a great deal of patience to master. Everything looks fantastic as well. The game has a very clean and stylized artistry while maintaining crisp clear visuals. Rocksteady completely captured the feel of the Batman universe. This is as close as anyone is going to get to dawning the cape and cowl. The developers were careful to exclude hockey pants from Batman’s wardrobe.
Batman: Arkham Asylum will take about ten hours just to complete the main story objectives. This is not including the over 240 Riddler challenges that will have you crawling through the complex solving various cryptic messages and uncovering hidden Riddler trophies. Several combat trial rooms are included as well with more unlockable as you progress through the game. Small graphical hiccups are present, but are nearly negligible considering they are infrequent and don't intefere with the experience. The majority of texture loading issues are most certainly due to the Unreal Engine the game is built on. Buy a copy of Batman: Arkham Asylum and give it a place of distinction on your game shelf as one of the very best this generation.
Rating: 10.0 out of 10.0
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Uncharted 2 Single Player Gameplay!
Today we have some footage featuring various locales and gameplay from Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. I literally can't wait to get my hands on this game. If you haven't done so yet, download the multiplayer demo from PSN and join in on the mayhem. I personally recommend rolling with the shotgun. Getting a one hot kill on an unsuspecting foe is ridiculously satisfying. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves will be released next week on October 13th.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Demo Round Up - 9/30/09
I'd like to introduce a new feature here at Gamerology called "Demo Round-Up." Most game critics will review a game in the interest of saving you money. On Demo Round-Up, we are going to sift through the weekly demo releases and tell you which are worth your time. You've heard it said that "time is money," but in this day and age, time is quickly becoming more valuable then the greenback. This week, we are going to take a look at Brutal Legend, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves and Wolfenstein.
Brutal Legend
Brutal Legend comes from the genius mind of Tim Schafer. He is best known for the Monkey Island series among other great titles. Despite his wealth of creativity, his games have been overlooked by the gaming community as of late- Psychonauts being his latest critical jewel that didn't find success on a large scale. Brutal Legend looks to change all that. This game is fronted by the likeness and unmistakable vocal stylings of Jack Black as he takes on the role of Eddie the Roadie. This gives the game instant mainstream appeal. The beauty is that this isn't a mainstream title. It's all about Heavy Metal, leather jackets and blowing demons' heads off with delicious power solos. Let's not forget Eddie's kick-ass belt buckle that actually has the power to summon Ormagöden, The Fire Beast, Cremator of the Sky, and Destroyer of the Ancient World. Who knew Hot Topic sold such valuable artifacts?
The demo lasts about twenty minutes and features a variety of gameplay including literal axe wielding, guitar shredding, and hot rod driving. The game's initial boss fight is also included. Suffice it to say, you'll be going toe-to-toe with a giant worm complete with a set of jowls stocked with teeth. The game is genuinely funny and takes some shots at the current metal scene. Overall, the demo is a fair representation of what we can expect from Brutal Legend without spoiling any crucial story elements.
Verdict: Download it!
Brutal Legend
Brutal Legend comes from the genius mind of Tim Schafer. He is best known for the Monkey Island series among other great titles. Despite his wealth of creativity, his games have been overlooked by the gaming community as of late- Psychonauts being his latest critical jewel that didn't find success on a large scale. Brutal Legend looks to change all that. This game is fronted by the likeness and unmistakable vocal stylings of Jack Black as he takes on the role of Eddie the Roadie. This gives the game instant mainstream appeal. The beauty is that this isn't a mainstream title. It's all about Heavy Metal, leather jackets and blowing demons' heads off with delicious power solos. Let's not forget Eddie's kick-ass belt buckle that actually has the power to summon Ormagöden, The Fire Beast, Cremator of the Sky, and Destroyer of the Ancient World. Who knew Hot Topic sold such valuable artifacts?
The demo lasts about twenty minutes and features a variety of gameplay including literal axe wielding, guitar shredding, and hot rod driving. The game's initial boss fight is also included. Suffice it to say, you'll be going toe-to-toe with a giant worm complete with a set of jowls stocked with teeth. The game is genuinely funny and takes some shots at the current metal scene. Overall, the demo is a fair representation of what we can expect from Brutal Legend without spoiling any crucial story elements.
Verdict: Download it!
Uncharted 2 Multiplayer
When a franchise has established itself as a tried and true single player experience, the idea of adding a multiplayer component is often met with the inevitable sighs and eye rolls. I am here today to testify on behalf of the Uncharted 2 multiplayer. It is well-tuned and incredibly addicting. I had the privilege (not really, I pre-ordered Infamous) of testing the multiplayer component long before any demo was available. I saw the bones of a great game that desperately needed a healthy dose of polish. I am pleased to announce that Naughty Dog has not disappointed and Uncharted 2 plays better than ever.
An incredible portion of the multiplayer game is available in the demo right from the start. You'll have 5 maps to battle on in various game types as well as full co-op support for multiplayer-specific modes. The controls are easy to pick up, but will take some time to master. The cover system, shooting and climbing mechanics all worked great and overall the gameplay felt incredibly smooth. There is an large number of unlockables including character skins, boosters (similar to COD4: Modern Warfare's perks) and taunts. Matchmaking could use an adjustment; first time players will be pitched against much higher level combatants. The unlockable booster system gives those with higher ranks a distinct advantage.
Uncharted 2 is a real looker too. It is certainly one of the best looking games ever made. The multiplayer looks better than most games single player campaign. Naughty Dog claims to be pushing the Playstation 3 to its limits and the demo made a believer out of me. Do yourself a favor and download this demo now. It has the potential to keep you busy all the way up until Uncharted 2: Among thieves is released on October 15th.
Verdict: Download it!
Wolfenstein
Last and certainly least, we have Wolfenstein. I was hoping to bat a perfect average this week, but I had no such luck. First of all, the game has been out for almost two months. Why are we getting a demo now?
Wolfenstein is running on the Doom 3 engine from ten years ago. As such, it looks inexcusably dated. That would be more forgivable if the gameplay was more akin to the the current generation of First Person Shooters. The entire experience feels like something that would have been great in 1999. No doubt it would have gotten top marks across the board. I regret to inform Raven Software that it is in fact 2009 and the gaming world has come to expect more from its developers. The demo will take you about half an hour and gives you a pretty clear picture of what Wolfenstein has to offer. Too bad it's not a pretty picture.
There are some redeemable qualities like the ability to upgrade weapons via the Black Market. This feature is something that I hope becomes more popular in the genre. In fact, all signs are pointing toward Gears of War 3 featuring more role-playing-like qualities. The shooting component works fine and over-all the game doesn't necessarily feel broken, it just feels uninspired. If you are a die-hard fan of the series, then at least wait for this to hit the bargain bin.
Verdict: Skip it!
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Final Fantasy XIII TGS 2009 Trailer
The Final Fantasy series is undoubtedly the most respected and successful Role Playing series in the history of the genre. Currently featuring twelve feature titles and many spin off games, Final Fantasy has consistently been a go to franchise for exceptional story telling, gameplay, and graphical excellence. Come this December, the series 13th installment will be released in Japan. The bar has once again been set, and there doesn't appear to be many contenders on the horizon to shake the King from atop it's sturdy mountain. Enjoy this full length trailer featuring gorgeous CG cut scenes and breath taking in game footage. No word yet on a U.S. release date, but the game is expected to launch sometime in the Spring. Who said that post Winter releases can't be AAA titles?
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Modern Warfare 2 Leaked Single Player Footage!
SPOILER ALERT!
Brand new footage has been leaked of the Rio de Janeiro mission from Modern Warfare 2. This is a full length video featuring over eight minutes of heart stopping action! The new vertical element of combat is very much on display and it looks exilerating. The in game cut scene at the beginning is shocking and will certainly elicit an emotional reaction from even the most battle hardned FPS junkies.
Brand new footage has been leaked of the Rio de Janeiro mission from Modern Warfare 2. This is a full length video featuring over eight minutes of heart stopping action! The new vertical element of combat is very much on display and it looks exilerating. The in game cut scene at the beginning is shocking and will certainly elicit an emotional reaction from even the most battle hardned FPS junkies.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 Review
Excelsior! True believers, it's Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2. I would like to say that this is a game "unlike any other," but sadly I cannot quote Stan Lee three times in two sentences. To get to the point, you’ve played this before. It was once called X-men Legends; its x-gene then mutated to become X-men Legends II, and then was bitten by a radio-active arachnid and became Marvel Ultimate Alliance! It seems as though Marvel and Activision are just cashing in on their licenses with Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2.
The gameplay from game to game has changed very little. In Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2, you take control of a team of four different Marvel superheroes and fight against leagues and leagues of enemies. Your characters gain experience from defeating enemies and subsequently gain levels and become more powerful. The combat is very basic; the visuals are somewhat outdated (the cut-scenes especially); the story is a cut-and-paste nightmare, and the gameplay is pretty derivative. However, for some ridiculous reason, I can’t seem to put this game down.
The button-mashing, “beat-'em-up” style is a lost art. In the golden age of the SNES, these games were too plentiful; but in this current, FPS (first person shooter) generation, we have been unable to find our roots. Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 does its best to bring us back to 1991, and it’s a romp. It will satisfy the hunger pangs of any starved Marvel super-fan. In general, superhero games tend to be quite weak, and it’s nice to see a game that represents its characters so well while providing the player with an enjoyable experience.
Each character has a light and heavy attack, as well as four super-powered attacks. Characters have a red bar, which represents health, and a blue bar which represents endurance/magic power (use super powers and you drain endurance). By defeating the leagues of enemies, your characters will gain experience to level-up, which the player can use to increase the strength of each of their four superpowers, as well as bolster the character’s statistics/abilities. This method is the cookie-cutter approach to any action RPG. There are really no strides or attempts to change the combat. The game introduces new Fusion attacks to the system, which add a different level of depth to this relatively shallow experience. Fusion attacks are super-powered attacks that use two different characters. The player has a meter that increases for each successful attack and once that meter gets to a certain point, the player may choose to unleash a fusion attack. These attacks vary and are situational. Fore example, clearing attacks are used to clear a room full of enemies; whereas targeted fusions are used to target one enemy to do massive damage. This adds a new intricacy to the combat, because the player needs to strategize in order to use the correct fusion at the proper time. The bottom line on gameplay is that it’s an old dog that has learned one new trick. It works, it’s fun and gets the job done, but it’s very tired.
The production value of Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 is on the low end. The storyline combines events from two more recent Marvel story arcs including the Secret War and the Civil War. The storyline feels very forced. Civil War is treated like the cream of the Oreo, wedged between the two chocolaty Secret War wafers. Roughly a third through the game the player must make a decision of whether they will be for the Super Human Registration Act or against it. By doing so the player unlocks different characters, and gains different abilities. This story choice was smart, because the power gamer needs to play through this game twice to get everything (can you say built-in replay?).
The character selection is quite good, but some choices are worthy of a Mike Staub, “Huh?” For some reason, Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 feels the need to include characters that have no business being part of the Civil War (i.e. Iceman, Gambit, most of the Fantastic Four, and Hulk). The game also excludes characters like the Punisher, Dr. Strange, and Ronin which were integral to the Civil War. I foresee more downloadable characters hitting PSN and Xbox Live in the near future for a price of $1.99 or so.
The graphics are reminiscent of the first Marvel Ultimate Alliance and the game can only be played in up to 720p, so it will never look spectacular. The game is also a little buggy, like any action RPG. If there are too many enemies on the screen, the game will slow down. Sometimes characters on your team will choose not to attack, or do anything for that matter. The A.I. is weak, and needs a tune-up. I will say that the voice work is generally very good, although Thor’s voice sucks. Generally, the characters were properly represented by their voice acting and that’s key for a huge Marvel fan like myself.
If you are a fan of the Marvel universe and greatly enjoy the characters, this game will not let you down. If you are a fan of action style “beat-'em-ups” then this game will be a fun and rewarding experience for you as well. I enjoy this game, but it’s just a flash in the pan. It won’t greatly impact the gaming world, and it’s an ultimate fan service. We live in the age of the sequel, when sales are more important than originality. Spidey’s Red and Blues work, but are in need of a good wash. Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 is currently available on the Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Playstation 2 and Wii.
Rating: 7.5 out of 10.0
Review by Mike (henshin a go-go baby!) Staub
The gameplay from game to game has changed very little. In Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2, you take control of a team of four different Marvel superheroes and fight against leagues and leagues of enemies. Your characters gain experience from defeating enemies and subsequently gain levels and become more powerful. The combat is very basic; the visuals are somewhat outdated (the cut-scenes especially); the story is a cut-and-paste nightmare, and the gameplay is pretty derivative. However, for some ridiculous reason, I can’t seem to put this game down.
The button-mashing, “beat-'em-up” style is a lost art. In the golden age of the SNES, these games were too plentiful; but in this current, FPS (first person shooter) generation, we have been unable to find our roots. Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 does its best to bring us back to 1991, and it’s a romp. It will satisfy the hunger pangs of any starved Marvel super-fan. In general, superhero games tend to be quite weak, and it’s nice to see a game that represents its characters so well while providing the player with an enjoyable experience.
Each character has a light and heavy attack, as well as four super-powered attacks. Characters have a red bar, which represents health, and a blue bar which represents endurance/magic power (use super powers and you drain endurance). By defeating the leagues of enemies, your characters will gain experience to level-up, which the player can use to increase the strength of each of their four superpowers, as well as bolster the character’s statistics/abilities. This method is the cookie-cutter approach to any action RPG. There are really no strides or attempts to change the combat. The game introduces new Fusion attacks to the system, which add a different level of depth to this relatively shallow experience. Fusion attacks are super-powered attacks that use two different characters. The player has a meter that increases for each successful attack and once that meter gets to a certain point, the player may choose to unleash a fusion attack. These attacks vary and are situational. Fore example, clearing attacks are used to clear a room full of enemies; whereas targeted fusions are used to target one enemy to do massive damage. This adds a new intricacy to the combat, because the player needs to strategize in order to use the correct fusion at the proper time. The bottom line on gameplay is that it’s an old dog that has learned one new trick. It works, it’s fun and gets the job done, but it’s very tired.
The production value of Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 is on the low end. The storyline combines events from two more recent Marvel story arcs including the Secret War and the Civil War. The storyline feels very forced. Civil War is treated like the cream of the Oreo, wedged between the two chocolaty Secret War wafers. Roughly a third through the game the player must make a decision of whether they will be for the Super Human Registration Act or against it. By doing so the player unlocks different characters, and gains different abilities. This story choice was smart, because the power gamer needs to play through this game twice to get everything (can you say built-in replay?).
The character selection is quite good, but some choices are worthy of a Mike Staub, “Huh?” For some reason, Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 feels the need to include characters that have no business being part of the Civil War (i.e. Iceman, Gambit, most of the Fantastic Four, and Hulk). The game also excludes characters like the Punisher, Dr. Strange, and Ronin which were integral to the Civil War. I foresee more downloadable characters hitting PSN and Xbox Live in the near future for a price of $1.99 or so.
The graphics are reminiscent of the first Marvel Ultimate Alliance and the game can only be played in up to 720p, so it will never look spectacular. The game is also a little buggy, like any action RPG. If there are too many enemies on the screen, the game will slow down. Sometimes characters on your team will choose not to attack, or do anything for that matter. The A.I. is weak, and needs a tune-up. I will say that the voice work is generally very good, although Thor’s voice sucks. Generally, the characters were properly represented by their voice acting and that’s key for a huge Marvel fan like myself.
If you are a fan of the Marvel universe and greatly enjoy the characters, this game will not let you down. If you are a fan of action style “beat-'em-ups” then this game will be a fun and rewarding experience for you as well. I enjoy this game, but it’s just a flash in the pan. It won’t greatly impact the gaming world, and it’s an ultimate fan service. We live in the age of the sequel, when sales are more important than originality. Spidey’s Red and Blues work, but are in need of a good wash. Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 is currently available on the Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Playstation 2 and Wii.
Rating: 7.5 out of 10.0
Review by Mike (henshin a go-go baby!) Staub
The Beatles: Rockband Limited Edition Xbox 360!
Introducing The Beatles: Rockband Limited Edition Xbox 360. How rare is this gem? One of them just went for $17,300! Would you like a car or would you like a pretty new Xbox? Of course it's all for charity so prices tend to be inflated for the common good. It's unknown as to how many of these new consoles have been produced. One thing is for certain; it looks amazing. I have a feeling I could sell most of the major organs in my body and still not have enough cash to bid on this bad boy. I think for that kind of money, Paul McCartney should hand deliver it with the Xbox in one hand and a pot of delicious meat balls in the other. All proceeds will benefit Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), an international medical humanitarian organization working in more than 60 countries to assist people whose survival is threatened. Rockband fans and Beatles enthusiasts alike also have an opportunity to win the custom console by downloading the exclusive "All You Need is Love" bonus track available now on Xbox Live.
Grooooovy!
Monday, September 21, 2009
Halo 3: ODST Gameplay Footage
Happy Halo 3: ODST eve! Many gamers will be lining up at midnight tonight to get their hands on the latest chapter of the Halo franchise. Halo fans will get a chance to play as the elite Orbit Shock Drop Troopers (or ODST) as they take the fight to the Covenant. The story takes place after the events of Halo 2, but before Master Chief makes his return in Halo 3. Included in the newly full price title is Firefight, a mode that allows four players to team up and take on wave after wave of Covenant forces. The mode will be familiar to Gears of War fans as obvious comparisons are being made to Horde mode. Enjoy the fresh gameplay videos below featuring both campaign and Firefight footage.
Halo 3: ODST Single Player Campaign
Halo 3: ODST Firefight
Halo 3: ODST Single Player Campaign
Halo 3: ODST Firefight
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Games You Should Play - 9/17/09
Yes, I know. I'm sorry, it's been a while since I last posted a Games You Should Play. Let's just say my life has gotten pretty nuts the last 2 weeks and I haven't had much time to do much of anything. And both my 360s died when I was about 75% through Batman, and about to get Shadow Complex. Yeah, and my 360s are the least of my problems right now. Anyway, moving on.
Games You Should Play - Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure Edition
I can hear the rumblings already. How can you put a game on here that's only been out for like, 5 months? I'll tell you why, NOBODY IS BUYING THIS GAME. It hasn't sold like my previous most recent Games You Should Play game, Mirror's Edge, despite it having a worthy story and excellent gameplay. It's got an 83% rating on MetaCritic, yet there are barely any sales figures on this game because well, according to VGChartz it has only sold about 30k in the US. That's THIRTY THOUSAND. For the only blend of platforming and puzzles the DS has ever seen! (And no, Puzzle Quest is a blend of RPG and puzzles).
Well to stop my ranting, I will tell you why this game is awesome. First off, it's insanely British, which I love. The graphics are very crisp and clean, and the controls are spot-on (see, British humour! Hah!). How the game works, basically, is that on the top screen you control Henry Hatsworth through his adventure, but on the bottom screen there is a Puzzle League style puzzle game going on. Now when you defeat guys on the top, they don't go away, you also have to make them go away in the puzzle too. Ingenious! There's your standard power ups and stuff, but you can get items in the puzzle to help you in your adventure, and you can use the puzzle to also beef up grenades, boomerangs and your trusty gun while the projectile is in mid-air.
Here is the first level in action:
So what's the downfall, you say?
It's hard. Not Ninja Gaiden hard, but definitely frustrating at points. Now, whereas I did manage to beat the game, believe you me it wasn't easy. But it was so good I was DETERMINED to slay the game. The levels are all very long, and seemed kind of stretched out. Some levels have sections where you just have to fight a whole bunch of predetermined enemies, and it seemed like a lame mini-boss type area, and those parts get repetitive fast. Many levels also seem very similar as well, making some of them feel like a chore to get through.
The story is pretty good too, with a nice twist at the end. It's completely ridiculous, but a lot of fun nonetheless.
Please give it a shot. You can snag it for only $18.99 at Amazon these days and is definitely worth it at that price.
Games You Should Play - Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure Edition
I can hear the rumblings already. How can you put a game on here that's only been out for like, 5 months? I'll tell you why, NOBODY IS BUYING THIS GAME. It hasn't sold like my previous most recent Games You Should Play game, Mirror's Edge, despite it having a worthy story and excellent gameplay. It's got an 83% rating on MetaCritic, yet there are barely any sales figures on this game because well, according to VGChartz it has only sold about 30k in the US. That's THIRTY THOUSAND. For the only blend of platforming and puzzles the DS has ever seen! (And no, Puzzle Quest is a blend of RPG and puzzles).
Well to stop my ranting, I will tell you why this game is awesome. First off, it's insanely British, which I love. The graphics are very crisp and clean, and the controls are spot-on (see, British humour! Hah!). How the game works, basically, is that on the top screen you control Henry Hatsworth through his adventure, but on the bottom screen there is a Puzzle League style puzzle game going on. Now when you defeat guys on the top, they don't go away, you also have to make them go away in the puzzle too. Ingenious! There's your standard power ups and stuff, but you can get items in the puzzle to help you in your adventure, and you can use the puzzle to also beef up grenades, boomerangs and your trusty gun while the projectile is in mid-air.
Here is the first level in action:
So what's the downfall, you say?
It's hard. Not Ninja Gaiden hard, but definitely frustrating at points. Now, whereas I did manage to beat the game, believe you me it wasn't easy. But it was so good I was DETERMINED to slay the game. The levels are all very long, and seemed kind of stretched out. Some levels have sections where you just have to fight a whole bunch of predetermined enemies, and it seemed like a lame mini-boss type area, and those parts get repetitive fast. Many levels also seem very similar as well, making some of them feel like a chore to get through.
The story is pretty good too, with a nice twist at the end. It's completely ridiculous, but a lot of fun nonetheless.
Please give it a shot. You can snag it for only $18.99 at Amazon these days and is definitely worth it at that price.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Official Modern Warfare 2 Xbox 360 Announced!
So Yeah, under the radar or WHAT!? A sick looking custom Modern Warfare 2 console, two black controllers, the game, and a 250GB HDD. Buyers get everything included for only $399.99. The extra controller and game would set you back $110 alone. And a 250 GB HDD! That's more than double whats available now! Oh man, I want this bad.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Assassin's Creed 2 Gamescom 2009 Walkthrough
As promised last week, here is the Gamescom 09 gameplay walkthrough that features Izio on the hunt for his next target. The game already looks slicker and more responsive then it's predecessor. The graphics have been given an upgrade over the still beautiful original. Hopefully the tasks are varied enough to hold the player's interest this time around. Half way through the first Assassin's Creed I found myself playing for the sake of playing as each mission was a regrettable clone of the previous. Regardless, the concept was fantastic and wholly original. The blue prints were laid and the bones were put in place. Ubisoft is now poised to deliver a classic. Assassin's Creed 2 is set for release on November 17th.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves Pax 2009 Gameplay
I'm going to go ahead and say it. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is the best looking game this year. No doubt there are other stellar titles with jaw dropping visuals (Mass Effect 2 and Assassin's Creed 2 come to mind), but Uncharted 2 seems to have that certain something to propel it to the top of the heap. Feel free to count the "2's" in that last sentence.
When it comes to animation, Naughty Dog doesn't pull any punches. Every movement in the game was painstakingly recorded in studio with a live actor. I know what you're thinking, "Don't a lot of developers do that?" Yes, however how many of them feature the actual actor used for recording the dialogue. Each scene is actually acted out between actors to create a chemistry that hasn't been achieved in other next generation titles. Throw in amazing technical graphics with a fantastic art style and you have a real looker on your hands. You may salivate over Exhibit 'A' below. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves hits stores October 13th.
When it comes to animation, Naughty Dog doesn't pull any punches. Every movement in the game was painstakingly recorded in studio with a live actor. I know what you're thinking, "Don't a lot of developers do that?" Yes, however how many of them feature the actual actor used for recording the dialogue. Each scene is actually acted out between actors to create a chemistry that hasn't been achieved in other next generation titles. Throw in amazing technical graphics with a fantastic art style and you have a real looker on your hands. You may salivate over Exhibit 'A' below. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves hits stores October 13th.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Shadow Complex Review
Shadow Complex is easily the most ambitious Xbox Live Arcade release to date. It combines gorgeous visuals with fast and addictive gameplay. The game is built using the Unreal Engine and Epic Studios even had a hand in delivering the final product. You play as Jason Flemming, a young man thrust in to a heroic role when he unknowingly uncovers a radical militia's devious plot to overthrow the government and start a 2nd civil war. All of which starts when Jason ventures on a hiking trip with his new girlfriend (evidence that exercise is indeed bad for you). The game is a companion piece to the Orson Scott Card Empire series of novels.
Shadow Complex is very much a traditional side scrolling adventure game, however the unique twist comes in it's execution. It features fully three dimensional environments rendered with actual depth. Enemies no longer attack from above, below, left or right as they can now flank you from behind. This is a small touch that makes the game feel very original and helps bring it in to the modern gaming era.
One of the more addictive aspects of the game is it's use of deep exploration to upgrade your character. Many areas will not be accessible until the appropriate upgrade is found. Some puzzles can be found throughout the map, but few are overly challenging. Most upgrades can be found through simple yet time consuming level exploration. Your character will also gain levels through experience earned from exploring and combat. The more you search the world, the more powerful you become. This is a necessity as the enemies and bosses will become increasingly challenging. A bulk of the upgrading will happen naturally through story advancement. If you run right through, you'll be able to best the radical militia in less than 5 hours. If you're going for 100% completion, you'll be grinding for about 8-10 hours.
From beginning to end, Shadow Complex is an exceptional game with few hiccups worth mentioning. The graphics maintain a very high technical standard throughout, although there is occasional screen tearing and stuttering. I also had a few instances where audio and video were not synced correctly. In most cases, restarting the game from a previous save room corrected the issue. The main campaign is short enough that it merits a 2nd or 3rd play though, which will be necessary to unlock all of the achievements. Several challenge rooms are also included to test your metal for those looking to smash high score records. All in all, Shadow Complex is a definite purchase and one of the few Arcade titles worth 1200 Microsoft Points ($15).
Rating: 9.0 out of 10.0
Shadow Complex is very much a traditional side scrolling adventure game, however the unique twist comes in it's execution. It features fully three dimensional environments rendered with actual depth. Enemies no longer attack from above, below, left or right as they can now flank you from behind. This is a small touch that makes the game feel very original and helps bring it in to the modern gaming era.
One of the more addictive aspects of the game is it's use of deep exploration to upgrade your character. Many areas will not be accessible until the appropriate upgrade is found. Some puzzles can be found throughout the map, but few are overly challenging. Most upgrades can be found through simple yet time consuming level exploration. Your character will also gain levels through experience earned from exploring and combat. The more you search the world, the more powerful you become. This is a necessity as the enemies and bosses will become increasingly challenging. A bulk of the upgrading will happen naturally through story advancement. If you run right through, you'll be able to best the radical militia in less than 5 hours. If you're going for 100% completion, you'll be grinding for about 8-10 hours.
From beginning to end, Shadow Complex is an exceptional game with few hiccups worth mentioning. The graphics maintain a very high technical standard throughout, although there is occasional screen tearing and stuttering. I also had a few instances where audio and video were not synced correctly. In most cases, restarting the game from a previous save room corrected the issue. The main campaign is short enough that it merits a 2nd or 3rd play though, which will be necessary to unlock all of the achievements. Several challenge rooms are also included to test your metal for those looking to smash high score records. All in all, Shadow Complex is a definite purchase and one of the few Arcade titles worth 1200 Microsoft Points ($15).
Rating: 9.0 out of 10.0
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Modern Warfare 2 Uncut Multiplayer Gameplay!
As promised by Infinity Ward, here is a brand new uncut multiplayer video. The video is chalk full of little details that I'm sure will be analyzed to death in the coming days. Why not get a head start on the competition with a brief overview?
- Riot shield is in full view and being used to protect the flag bearer
- New name tag system of identifying who you killed
- Brazilian Militia is a playable faction
- Multiple kill streak rewards on display including UAV, Predator Missile, and Air Drop
- Kill streak rewards are no longer limited to numerically odd intervals
- Several new guns including AA-12, TAR-21, SCAR-H w/ Bling, MP5K and UMP45 w/ extended mags
- New host migration system is on display
- Throwing knives are confirmed
Let us know if you notice anything else hidden within the brief, but loaded new video.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Modern Warfare 2 Gameplay Leak!
I'd apologize for focusing largely on Modern Warfare 2 as of late, but something tells me you don't mind. Perhaps it's because it's the biggest game of the year and quite possibly of all time. New info on Assassin's Creed 2 coming soon as well new Halo: ODST multiplayer gameplay. That is if you don't have a heart attack from the excitement of the aforementioned video below.
The Calm Before the Storm
Hey there game fans. The gaming news has all but come to a hault. This is typical of this time of the year. The flood gates will surely open as the fourth quarter draws near. A new Modern Warfare 2 multiplayer perk video is due out any day now. Also, look for a review of Shadow Complex in the next day or so. A real review from a real gamer; no strings (or advertisers) attached. In the meantime, please enjoy this photo of my face plastered on Super Mario.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Games You Should Play - 8/25/09
Games You Should Play - Power Stone 2
So when I pick the games I'm going to do for this weekly installment here at Gamerology, I try to pick a game that has fallen by the wayside or games that people may have avoided for whatever reason. But, in going with the name of the column, you should play these games. Let's recap real quick what games I have chosen and why you SHOULD play then, and why you shouldn't.
Mirror's Edge
Good: Incredible sense of motion and speed for a first-person view. Smooth controls.
Bad: Terrible story. Real bad.
XIII
Good: Fantastic comic-book graphical style. Good voice acting, amazing soundtrack.
Bad: Terrible AI, lame overdone story. Controls are lousy.
Ok, now I'm going to to keep this database updated everytime I write one of these articles, in case you are new or want to see what I've written about in the past. But, they will be at the END of each article, not the beginning. This column is still a work in progress, but I think soon enough I will have finalized the format.
Anywho, on to this weeks game: Power Stone 2 (Dreamcast)
Now, I'm just talking about the DREAMCAST version of this game, not the arcade or PSP version that is on the Power Stone Collection (the load times are horrendous on that).
Ah, Power Stone 2. Just talking about it makes me want to bust out my Dreamcast and play it again. It is, one of the first, if not first 4-player simultaneous fighting games to ever be released. It is a fully 3D fighting game, where you can run to any point at any time (not like Tekken or Soul Calibur where you can only sidestep or dodge in 3d). Not only that, but the level design is excellent as well and they have multiple levels within the level! One level starts you fighting on a flying airship, only to break apart and then have you freefall down to another part of the level. Another level has an Indiana Jones style giant ball chasing you. The levels are also extremely interactive. Some levels have turrets or other things you can use as weapons. There are also tons of items around that you can pick up and use as a weapon. The sheer insanity of what is going on when 4 players are playing at once is awesome.
Check this video out to see a FULL playthrough of almost all the levels you see in the game:
You can also combine weapons you pick up with other weapons or items, and make NEW weapons which you can use! Where could this game go wrong?
Well, the characters are incredibly lame. The character design in this game is not really good at all, and there is no differentiation really except for the big guys (who move a little slower and can use a pole as a weapon) and the superpowers you get when you collect three gems. Otherwise, each character is basically the same. The stages, which are a HUGE part of the game and awesome in their own right....welll there are only 5 of them. And 2 boss stages. For a game where the level design is so good, the repetitive nature of the stages gets boring after a while. There is no story, well, there kind of is. You are trapped in this magical castle and you have to escape. There are no "endings" like other video games. You have no attachment to the characters. I know, stories and fighting games are usually kind of lame but at least they HAVE one and they HAVE endings that make you want to play with each character so you can see the ending. This game doesn't have that.
But don't let my negativity fool you, you SHOULD ABSOLUTELY play this game and then wonder to yourself, why haven't they released this on the XBox Live Arcade, or made a new one in GORGEOUS HD graphics? I ask myself those questions quite often.
Mirror's Edge
Good: Incredible sense of motion and speed for a first-person view. Smooth controls.
Bad: Terrible story. Real bad.
XIII
Good: Fantastic comic-book graphical style. Good voice acting, amazing soundtrack.
Bad: Terrible AI, lame overdone story. Controls are lousy.
Ok, now I'm going to to keep this database updated everytime I write one of these articles, in case you are new or want to see what I've written about in the past. But, they will be at the END of each article, not the beginning. This column is still a work in progress, but I think soon enough I will have finalized the format.
Anywho, on to this weeks game: Power Stone 2 (Dreamcast)
Now, I'm just talking about the DREAMCAST version of this game, not the arcade or PSP version that is on the Power Stone Collection (the load times are horrendous on that).
Ah, Power Stone 2. Just talking about it makes me want to bust out my Dreamcast and play it again. It is, one of the first, if not first 4-player simultaneous fighting games to ever be released. It is a fully 3D fighting game, where you can run to any point at any time (not like Tekken or Soul Calibur where you can only sidestep or dodge in 3d). Not only that, but the level design is excellent as well and they have multiple levels within the level! One level starts you fighting on a flying airship, only to break apart and then have you freefall down to another part of the level. Another level has an Indiana Jones style giant ball chasing you. The levels are also extremely interactive. Some levels have turrets or other things you can use as weapons. There are also tons of items around that you can pick up and use as a weapon. The sheer insanity of what is going on when 4 players are playing at once is awesome.
Check this video out to see a FULL playthrough of almost all the levels you see in the game:
You can also combine weapons you pick up with other weapons or items, and make NEW weapons which you can use! Where could this game go wrong?
Well, the characters are incredibly lame. The character design in this game is not really good at all, and there is no differentiation really except for the big guys (who move a little slower and can use a pole as a weapon) and the superpowers you get when you collect three gems. Otherwise, each character is basically the same. The stages, which are a HUGE part of the game and awesome in their own right....welll there are only 5 of them. And 2 boss stages. For a game where the level design is so good, the repetitive nature of the stages gets boring after a while. There is no story, well, there kind of is. You are trapped in this magical castle and you have to escape. There are no "endings" like other video games. You have no attachment to the characters. I know, stories and fighting games are usually kind of lame but at least they HAVE one and they HAVE endings that make you want to play with each character so you can see the ending. This game doesn't have that.
But don't let my negativity fool you, you SHOULD ABSOLUTELY play this game and then wonder to yourself, why haven't they released this on the XBox Live Arcade, or made a new one in GORGEOUS HD graphics? I ask myself those questions quite often.
Double your Deagle, Double Your Fun
It has now been leaked that dual wielding will now be possible in Modern Warfare 2. Whether limited to the campaign or multiplayer has yet to be officially confirmed, although Infinity Ward's Robert Bowling has eluded to akimbo being available in both. Right now there is confirmation that the dual-wielding will be limited to side arms, however side arms are now no longer limited to pistols. Dual Knife?
Don't worry, you won't be able to duel wield like Mr. High Pants in the picture. I'm pretty sure if he started shooting the momentum would knock him over.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Modern Warfare 2 Gets an Upgrade
Yesterday I featured a pair of Modern Warfare 2 screenshots from Gamescom 2009. Today, Robert Bowling of Infinity Ward has released an enhanced version of the image featuring Captain "Soap" McTavish. The brand new streaming texture technology is on display and it looks spectacular. This seemingly puts to rest any doubt as to whether the sequel would feature a noticeable graphical leap. Below is yesterday's low resolution image along with the just released high resolution image featuring the new streaming technology.
With Streaming Texture Technology
Without Streaming Texture Technology
With Streaming Texture Technology
Without Streaming Texture Technology
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Gamescom 2009 Highlights
Hey there game fans. I'm checking in today with a few highlights from this year's Gamescom convention. This is the convention's inaugural year; However, it is in actuality a re-branding of the Leipzig convention. Gamescom has a new location in Cologne, Germany to go along with its new and peculiar name. Below are some of my personal picks of the more noteworthy exhibitions.
Mass Effect 2
Mass Effect 2 comes out of the gates with a brand new trailer, showcasing a notorious mining facility named Omega. The facility is mercenary-controlled and is a veritable sin city, complete with exotic dancers and gambling. Mass Effect 2 looks gorgeous and with the new improvements to gameplay, this promises to be one of the best titles of 2010. As a side note, if you've never played Mass Effect in HD, you don't know what you're missing.
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
Naughty Dog has done a terrific job of keeping Among Thieves in the public eye (Infinity Ward could learn a thing or two). A steady stream of trailers, combined with last month's killer closed beta, has rocketed this title to the top of my winter 2009 most wanted list. The new Gamescom trailer showcases the state-of-the-art graphics and gameplay that you've come to expect from Naughty Dog. Uncharted 2 features the most life-like and expressive character models I've ever seen in a game to date. With the ever shrinking list of Playstation exclusives, this is definitely not one to miss.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
I know what you're thinking: "Only two screenshots!?" I couldn't agree more. Infinity Ward has really dropped the ball as of late. I know this is considered blasphemy these days, but I like to call them like I see them. This is Europe's premier gaming convention and only two screenshots are released to the public. The images can certainly be considered eye candy, but they don't showcase anything we haven't seen already. The Special Ops mode was apparently demo-ed for the press, but nothing has been made available to consumers as of yet. On the upside, Robert Bowling has stated that we can expect a brand new multiplayer perk trailer sometime next week.
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow
Fact: You involve Hideo Kojima in your game development, you get a kick ass game. Even if Kojima just used the game disc as a coaster for his morning smoothie, his magical gaming dust would sprinkle all over it and make it a kick ass game. Can you tell I'm a fan? Not much is known as of yet, but if this extended gameplay trailer is any indication, we have a hit on our hands.
Battlefield: Bad Company 2
No two ways about it, this game is going to be a lot of fun. Although Battlefield: Bad Company 2 does not have the mass appeal that Modern Warfare 2 does, it will certainly provide a compelling alternative. The new multiplayer looks fantastic featuring Destruction 2.0 and a new level of team gameplay. Who knows, it may even give Modern Warfare 2 a run for its money.
Fable III
Finally, we have the official announcement that Fable III is in development at Lionhead Studios. The trailer is purely a teaser and barely worth mentioning, but it is a welcome addition all the same. It's nice to see that the franchise will continue on Microsoft's current generation Xbox.
Stay tuned for more from Gamescom 2009 as information becomes available.
Mass Effect 2
Mass Effect 2 comes out of the gates with a brand new trailer, showcasing a notorious mining facility named Omega. The facility is mercenary-controlled and is a veritable sin city, complete with exotic dancers and gambling. Mass Effect 2 looks gorgeous and with the new improvements to gameplay, this promises to be one of the best titles of 2010. As a side note, if you've never played Mass Effect in HD, you don't know what you're missing.
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
Naughty Dog has done a terrific job of keeping Among Thieves in the public eye (Infinity Ward could learn a thing or two). A steady stream of trailers, combined with last month's killer closed beta, has rocketed this title to the top of my winter 2009 most wanted list. The new Gamescom trailer showcases the state-of-the-art graphics and gameplay that you've come to expect from Naughty Dog. Uncharted 2 features the most life-like and expressive character models I've ever seen in a game to date. With the ever shrinking list of Playstation exclusives, this is definitely not one to miss.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
I know what you're thinking: "Only two screenshots!?" I couldn't agree more. Infinity Ward has really dropped the ball as of late. I know this is considered blasphemy these days, but I like to call them like I see them. This is Europe's premier gaming convention and only two screenshots are released to the public. The images can certainly be considered eye candy, but they don't showcase anything we haven't seen already. The Special Ops mode was apparently demo-ed for the press, but nothing has been made available to consumers as of yet. On the upside, Robert Bowling has stated that we can expect a brand new multiplayer perk trailer sometime next week.
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow
Fact: You involve Hideo Kojima in your game development, you get a kick ass game. Even if Kojima just used the game disc as a coaster for his morning smoothie, his magical gaming dust would sprinkle all over it and make it a kick ass game. Can you tell I'm a fan? Not much is known as of yet, but if this extended gameplay trailer is any indication, we have a hit on our hands.
Battlefield: Bad Company 2
No two ways about it, this game is going to be a lot of fun. Although Battlefield: Bad Company 2 does not have the mass appeal that Modern Warfare 2 does, it will certainly provide a compelling alternative. The new multiplayer looks fantastic featuring Destruction 2.0 and a new level of team gameplay. Who knows, it may even give Modern Warfare 2 a run for its money.
Fable III
Finally, we have the official announcement that Fable III is in development at Lionhead Studios. The trailer is purely a teaser and barely worth mentioning, but it is a welcome addition all the same. It's nice to see that the franchise will continue on Microsoft's current generation Xbox.
Stay tuned for more from Gamescom 2009 as information becomes available.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Games You Should Play - 8/16/09
Games You Should Play - XIII
XIII is the first cel-shaded FPS in gaming history. The graphical style is excellent and is one of the two reasons you should play this game. The soundtrack/voice overs is the other. The game has a very unique style because of the cel-shading, and actually looks like a comic book. However, the plot, AI and control all suck. Bad. For me, if a FPS cannot control like I want it to control, I don't even bother. There are plenty of other games out there I could play instead that can control exctly how I like (Halo, Bioshock and Call of Duty spring to mind). The gameplay is standard FPS, but becuase the AI is so unbalanced, sometimes they won't hit you from 5 feet away but hit you dead on from 50 feet away. The plot is your basic amnesiac who can't remember he is a secret agent plot (basically a Bourne Identity rip off). However, there is good in this game.
Check out the fantastic graphical style of this game. The comic book action words ("POW", "BAM", etc.) and the panels within the game. This was one of the first games to do that. At the 4:00 minute mark is a cool example of how this game was at its best.
Check out a sample of the soundtrack here.
It's a funk-electro fusion and it is outstanding. I managed to score the soundtrack CD and used to listen to it all the time. It really stands out on its own. The voice acting is also very good, with a good David Duchovny (not like his Area 51 bullshit performance), Eve, Adam West and the supporting voices were also excellent.
It's worth a play, and can be had for under 10 bucks on Xbox, PS2 and PC. I recommend the PC or Xbox versions. It's also based on a French graphic novel, and there's a miniseries movie too, starring Stephen Dorff (it suckssssssss so bad).
Next week: Power Stone 2
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