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!
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
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
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