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Friday, April 30, 2010

The Very Best from the World of Cosplay!

I've never been one to dress up as a ficticious character. It's labor intensive, expensive and more often that not, the results are underwhelming. However, there are those in the cosplay community that go above and beyond. They re-create highly accurate and detailed omages to some of gaming's finest. Today we celebrate the very best the world of cosplay has to offer.

Helghast from Killzone 2

Nero from Devil May Cry

Naked Snake from Metal Gear Solid 3

Marcus Fenix from Gears of War

Master Chief from Halo

Fran from Final Fantasy XII

Evil Nurses from Silent Hill 3

Soap and Ghost from Modern Warfare 2

Dante from Dante's Inferno

Samus from Metroid Prime

Dark Link from Zelda: A Link to the Past

Kratos from God of War

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Halo: Reach Beta is Inbound!

Halo: Reach is one of the most anticipated titles of the year. Bungie is claiming that this will be the final title in the franchise. As a result, Halo: Reach has been re-tooled from the ground up and the results are remarkable. Best of all, in less than a week, millions of loyal fans will be able to check out a pre-release build for themselves. The beta will be released May 3rd and will be available to those who previously purchased Halo 3: ODST. It will be accessible via the campaign disk and will run until Microsoft and Bungie have completed their testing. Since it is available through the disc, renting Halo 3: ODST or purchasing it used should still allow you to participate.




Bungie has released a new ViDoc entitled "Carnage Carnivale" showcasing some exciting new footage of actual gameplay. Some new features include choosing your own load-out and assassinating your opponents with a flashy coup de grĂ¢ce.

Friday, April 23, 2010

The Assist: Battlefield Bad Company 2

The Assist is a new feature where we share tips for some of your favorite games. In this installment we show you how to properly snipe at various ranges in Battlefield Bad Company 2. Sniping in Bad Company 2 is unlike most modern shooters. Traditionally, wherever you place the cross hair is where the bullet will travel and it will do so in a straight line. In Bad Company 2, ballistics are taken into account every time you squeeze the trigger. Here are a few helpful tips to make you the most effective sniper possible.

- Distance and bullet travel time isn't an issue with targets at close to medium range. If you're enemy is close enough to occupy most of your scope, you can place the bullet directly where the cross hair is focused.

- Sniping at medium to long range is a bit more complicated. It takes practice and time to get a feel for distance shooting. Depending on how far your target is, you'll have to compensate by aiming the cross hair above their heads. The further the target, the more you will have to compensate. This is because the bullet will begin to drop after a certain distance. The mil dots on your scope are helpful for gauging target distance.

- The same is true for a moving target. You will have to lead the target. in order to have them run into the bullet. The angle at which the target is moving is also important. If they are running directly from left to right, you'll have to lead the target a great deal more in order to land a hit. If they are moving toward you on a diagonal, then you'll have to lead considerably less.

- You should always go for head shots whenever possible. Regardless of distance, a head shot will always kill in one shot. A sniper's goal is always "one shot, one kill." Occasionally you'll have to fire off a round with haste so this won't always be possible. If you are certain you can land a body hit that leaves an enemy vulnerable, better to gain points for assist, than no points at all. The only circumstance where a body shot is preferable, is when you know that your target is already injured and a single shot will get the job done. Killing an enemy at full health will require two body shots with considerable downtime in between shots if using a bolt action rifle.

- Only fire when a shot is possible. Sending a bullet down range when the target isn't visible or acquirable will betray your position as well as waste valuable ammunition.

- Press the "back" button on the Xbox 360 controller or "select" on the Playstation 3 in order to highlight enemies on screen. This is possible only when you are looking through your scope or aiming down sights with other weapons. Enemy positions will now be visible to your teammates and you will be able to rack up "spot points" with nearly no effort at all. The class is called "recon" after all.

- Accessories are a snipers best friend. Use your motion detection mines! It only takes a second to throw out, and on close quarter maps you can rack up points like nobody's business. Once you've unlocked it, the mortar strike ability is your new best friend. The sniper class is more than any other capable of wreaking havoc on enemy personnel. This is especially true against vehicles. A well placed mortar strike can decimate enemy tanks in seconds. It's also great for flushing out an ambush of closely grouped foot soldiers.

That's all for this week, but be sure and check back for future installments of The Assist. Leave any comments or questions below and let us know how you're doing in Battlefield Bad Company 2.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

God of War 3 Review

God of War 3 is a modern masterpiece of gaming. It is, in nearly every way, a representation of what today's game developers are truly capable of. Both the artistic and technical graphics are state-of-the-art, presenting a sense of scale that other games have only hinted at. Everything, including the cut scenes, are rendered with the in-game engine. Load times are infrequent and short and I didn't notice any frame rate issues. High resolution textures drape nearly the entire world with the occasional instance of a lower resolution object or set piece. Character models are highly detailed and animations are fluid and believable. God of War 3 is by far the best looking game on the market today.

The English language has served me well throughout my life. In near every situation, I've been able to find just the right terminology to get my point across. However, I feel a new term is needed to describe God of War 3. Words like brutal, visceral, and sadistic don't even come close for the most violent game in the series. I humbly suggest (wait for it) Kratostrophic. Whether your gutting a Centaur or tearing off Helios' head with your bare hands, you'll be squirming in your chair with one eye open. The sex mini game is the most explicit of the series and finds Kratos enjoying Aphrodite's company while her half-naked followers look on with delight. This is not a game for minors in any way, shape or form. If you have kids or younger siblings, tuck them in before popping this one in.

Kratos' total disregard for anyone but himself has always made him a difficult character to relate to. He's not so much a bad ass as he is an asshole. It's a credit to the game's writers for being able to make you care about what's happening on screen. As inhuman as Kratos may seem, his tragic past offers a plausible albeit irrational motivation for his rampage against the Gods. You are supposed to feel that Kratos is going too far, and you certainly will by the time you've completed your journey. The ending is controversial to say the least and may leave a bitter taste in the mouths of some of the most hardcore fans.

The action and set pieces vary at a pace that keeps the game exciting and fresh. In a game that spans about 10 hours, I never found myself bored with what the game was throwing at me. Each boss battle is completely unique and offers something new. You'll acquire a majority of your in-game items and weapons by defeating the Gods and their kin. Combat is very deep featuring four melee weapons, magic attacks and special items. As seen in previous installments, you feed red orbs into your weapons to level them and gain new attacks and abilities. The special items like Apollo's bow and Hermes' boots will recharge after a short rest. The key is experimenting to find what works best against the many types of enemies you'll face. The difficulty is consistent on normal and will offer a challenge with the occasional bout of frustration. There is one mini boss in particular that had me red faced for nearly an hour. The puzzles are mild brain teasers that are easily solvable with a bit of trial and error. The only part of the game I downright despise is the wind tunnel flying sequence featured in the demo. It's long and feels cheap since misjudging a single opening can lead to an unavoidable series of collisions. Also, as breathtaking as the visuals may be, some environments and character models will occasionally appear crisper and more detailed than others. The slight unevenness doesn't take much away from the experience and even at it's worst, God of War 3 looks better than any of its contemporaries.

If you can stomach the violence and gratuitous nudity you'll be rewarded with one of the very best experiences in gaming. The story is powerful and easy to follow. The visuals are gorgeous and the production values are incredibly high. There are several items to unlock, and a second play-through is well worth it if just to enjoy some of the more unforgettable moments all over again. God of War 3 is a must-own exclusive for the Playstation 3. Feel free to leave a comment and let us know how you feel about Kratos' latest adventure.

Rating 9.5 out of 10

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Gears of War 3 Debut Trailer

The debut trailer for Gears of War 3 has been unleashed on the world. It made it's debut on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. It's nice to see games getting some mainstream media attention without being connected to some scandal. Most noteworthy is the inclusion of a female COG soldier who might be Anya from the two previous Gears of War titles. Cliff Bleszinski of Epic Games has mentioned in the past that he sees the FPS genre adopting certain Role Playing mechanics. Will the new Gears of War have upgradeable armor and weaponry? Is there such a thing as a Level 9 Marcus Phoenix Mage? More information will no doubt be released as it's release draws nearer. Gears of War 3 will conclude the series and is set to be released in April 2010.