Review

So back in 2010 I picked up a title that I had been following a bit but I had not seen a review yet.  The game was being called a God of War Legend of Zelda mash up......so I picked it up.  This title was called Darksiders.

Darksiders became one of my sleeper hits of 2010, I was so surprised by how well the game functioned and flowed that the moment I heard that the sequel was being made I was filled with excitement.

Darksiders 2 has taken that formula and improved on it, in the first game you played War, one of the horsemen of the apocalypse.  In Darksiders 2 you play Death, neither of them are better than the other....but where war is a bulk of raging fury.  Death is a ghost that darts around the battle field eviscerating his enemies.

Graphically this game is standard for our generation but the art design is fabulous.....the locations, characters, and enemies all feel very unique and solid.

The sound is filled with great dialog and wonderful ripping and tearing of flesh and the shattering of bone.

The story is a great addition to the first game....it left me wanting to get my hands on the inevitable third and fourth iterations of the game, since there are 4 horsemen.

The gameplay is a mix of god of war combat style with big weapons, bigger enemies, and devestating combos.  The platforming of Prince of Persia and other action platforming games, and the looting/item grabbing of action RPGs.

If you are looking for a great action adventure game, go get both of these titles Darksiders and Darksiders 2 are more than worth your valuable money.

Review

Oh how I love choices. Open world games are my favorite new frontier in gaming because of all they have to offer. Two very different open world games have been my most recent forays.

First Dragon's Dogma....one of the sleeper hits of the year. It was never on my radar...and then I saw it in action....and the ability to climb on a cyclops and stab his eye, or a chimera and cut of the snake head tail, and riding a dragon while tearing away at the wings made this game fantastic.

If you are into the more D&D realm of RPG land then give it a roll.....you will not be disappointed.

Now for Sleeping Dogs, a game that nearly died as True Crime Hong Kong when Activision dropped it. Thankfully Square Enix must have fallen in love with the combat system in this game. The shooting is doable....the driving is tight and responsive showing that someone with training is driving. But this game shines in it's melee combat being able to feel like you really control the combat is rewarding and the game has all the right variations in the combat to make you want to change up your tactics and approach situations in different ways depending on the number of and types of enemies.

If you are a fan of the GTA series or would just love a really deep fighting engine then look no further Sleeping Dogs will not disappoint.

Review

I am not a fan of the path that modern day gaming is currently on. We are dominated by first person shooters left and right and all they do is churn out copies of the last game or attempted copies of it over and over. Where as games that follow a gameplay pattern but are not shooters are constantly called repetitive (Starwars the Force Unleashed for example) but please give me a gun and let me run for a few minutes and kill some guys and then see a set piece please.

The only shinning ray of hope I have for the shooter genre is from Tom Clancy, his three dominate game franchises (Rainbow Six, Ghost Recon, And Splinter Cell) brings the tactical aspect to this genre. Thus the reason as to why I was excited for Ghost Recon Future Soldier, and I was not disappointed.

Graphically is where GR suffers at all, sometimes the game is gorgeous and other times it gets a slap of ugly. Like a character that is of set or clipping into the scenery. However over all the game is pretty and the interface and art direction are excellent.

The audio is fantastic every combat sound is amazingly mixed through my surround system. All the weapons and tools have perfect quality and carry what they represent quite well. The voice over work carries the story and makes you actually connect to the characters involved.

The story is pretty predictable sometimes but throws some nice curve balls that help build tension and drive to push through what you are faced with.

The gameplay is a prefect tactical masterpiece, the perfect way to enjoy this game is with friends that have a patient and tactical mentality. If you go run and gun you will get put down by the enemies in seconds especially in the later levels. But if you are able to watch the opposition and plan accordingly you will come out feeling like the unstoppable team that you are. There is also a great thing called "gunsmith" where you can customize your weapons in every way from the paint on the outside all the way to the trigger mechanism on the inside.

The multiplayer is actually fun too, there are two different ways to play multiplayer. Either co-op or competitive, the co-op has two separate ways as well one is the campaign or course and the other is a tactical horde mode called guerrilla. Both are fun and have different styles that help you change up what you are doing if you are getting bored. The standard multiplayer is pretty addicting, playing as squads that have objectives makes a fast paced battlefield and you never feel like you can rest, which is good. It also excels at giving you experience for every action that you do. Even if you don't perform the current objective you are given points for supporting your squad, reviving them or killing an enemy together, or even taking out a guy firing on your buddy.

All in all this game is fantastic, I now there is some DLC on the horizon for the multiplayer but I hope that some campaign DLC will be added as well so that we can complete some more missions as the Ghosts. If you are craving a tactical shooter experience pick this up and dive in you will not be disappointed.

Review

 

A lot of people didn't play the first Prototype, it had a pretty bad release window.  I got it right about the same time that I got the first Infamous (also a great game).  I liked the first game a lot, it was a great sandbox game that made you feel like an unstoppable monster.  Prototype 2 is better in every way.

 The one place this game has it hardest is graphically, it isn't ugly by any means but there are some flat textures and some awkward animations.  All in all though it did the job.

The audio for this game is well done, the voice over work fits right in, however having characters swear every 3 seconds gets old fast, it was like being in the military again.  The combat sounds however from the military weapons to the horrible crushing and slashing sounds your powers do to random meat sacks are great.

The story is obvious and predictable but it was a fun journey.  Honestly a game like this is not really about the story.

The gameplay is what everything is about.  This game is what a sandbox game should be.  Forget grand theft auto those games are okay but I never feel really powerful.  But give me a game like this or the Infamous games and I am a happy camper.  However I would equate the level of fun in Prototype 2 to the type of crazy fun you can have by making your own fun.  I learned how to make my own fun with the original Prototype and Just Cause 2.  Prototype 2 is just like that, there are so many toys at your disposal that you are given a virtual playground.

All in all this is a fun game, if you are unsure I would say give it a rent you could beat it in about 10 hours play time so give it a whirl and see what you think.

Review

One of the greatest games I have ever played, and has been taking up most of my gaming time over the last few weeks. Bioware is officially my favorite game developer, as great as Dragon Age was Mass Effect 2 makes it feel like a sub par pile junk, and I loved Dragon Age.

All right let's start with things I don't really care about Graphics, this game is gorgeous I mean seriously beautiful. There are so many little details like the ads that float in 3D style off of the walls.

The sound track is one of the most inspirational and moving scores I have ever heard in a game or movie before. The dialog is top drawer on par with the Uncharted series, not to mention all the star power that fills the cast. The sound effects are perfect making the weapons and powers feel effective and solid.

The gameplay is great, all of the little problems with the combat in the original game were fixed and the combat really feels like a third person shooter without loosing the RPG elements. The weapon and armor system has been stream lined to let you focus on the story and gameplay and I wasn't disappointed in that change at all. I did have to say that the loss of the Mako is a win lose situation all of the side missions are much more accessible this time since you didn't have to ride around a plants surface to find them, however I am not a big fan of the new scanning and mining of plants to get materials to upgrade your weapons, armor, and ship.

The story, okay I have never been in a situation in a game where I thought I would die and be able to come back, but in the finale of the game after i had all ready lost three crew members (I mean I actually saw them die in front of me and I felt pain and loss because of it) I really thought I was on the verge of death by the end of the game, I was not sure I was going to make it and I didn't breath easy until I had gotten the heck out of there.

In closing this is one of the most impressive games I have ever played in my entire life, if you are even at all interested in it go get it. If you want wait a few months until you can get it cheap, but at the very least give it a try you will not be disappointed.

Review

All right I have a couple reviews I need to post and the first one is a great game that was almost a perfect game by Double Fine productions. Brutal Legend is an amazing concept, top shelf cast, great sound track, and a hilarious story. Unfortunately the gameplay is where this game failed to come together completely.

Don't get me wrong I loved playing this game the controls are solid and the combat and solo moves flow together well, however the game engine that was built for a third person action adventure game needs some tweaks to run on an RTS style. Unfortunately they failed to alter the game play to fit the RTS segments.

Everything else about this game is well....pure metal. If you do not like Jack Black or heavy metal DO NOT PLAY THIS GAME because you will not enjoy it. However if you dream about the ability to play an actual face melting solo then go grab it I got it at Gamestop for like $30 buck and I am glad I did.

Review

Okay let me start this review by saying that according to sale reports everyone in the world owns this game right now. Also I had this game for less than a week simply because I didn't enjoy it. Let me explain.

The FPS genre is the most over saturated in the business, there are so many crap games and so many poor game mechanics that you have to be careful what you put your trust in. First off there is no excuse to have a shooting in this current generation of gaming with out having a cover system. I don't mean the ability to crouch behind a box or step behind a wall, but the system that Rainbow Six uses so well sticking to cover and entering a third person view.

But this is not my problem with Modern Warfare 2, my biggest problem is that I feel like I have just witnessed a historic election, where all the politicians are making these huge amazing promises and then once they are in office nothing happens. The first Modern Warfare was enjoyable and had some really good movie moments. But this was supposed to top all of that and it didn't.

The campaign was lackluster after playing games like Uncharted 2. It is hard to see a game with so much hype and talent and then have it end up being unimpressive. Don't get me wrong the game as a whole is not bad but it suffers from the developers relying too much upon frat boy fans who don't seem to mind poorly developed games.

Everyone keeps trying to tell me that the multiplayer is where this game shines, and that is all well and good except for a few problems; first off if you have a game that is going to be all about the multiplayer do it right like MAG and make an online only game, second if you are going to have a single player campaign then make it worth while don't try to hang your game on the multiplayer.

All in all the game was made by a talented team good graphics and physics, good dialog and a decent story idea, the problem is that there are too many reasons why this should not be the best selling game of all time. This is the perfect example of what is wrong with the gaming market today. Games like this are the top of the heap and amazing games like Beyond Good and Evil don't even have solid sequels yet.

In closing all I have to say is that gaming is more about head shots and teenagers swearing at each other. Gaming has evolved past all that and is more substantial today so remember that next time you pass up a game like Shadow of the Colossus and instead buy Madden or Call of Duty and ask yourself if you are a real gamer or just some frat guy with a 360.

Review

Well Finally back from all my selfish game time this holiday season and ready to review Assassin's Creed 2 by Ubisoft. Well it's no secret that this game is great, it has gotten amazing reviews for months now but I wasn't able to play it until recently because my wife got me the Master Assassin edition for Christmas (one of the many goodies is a statue above of the image).

I loved the first Assassin's Creed despite some short comings and some mixed reviews. This game was a no brainer for me, I knew I wanted to play it right off, and I was not disappointed.

The gameplay is right in line with the original with more weapons and abilities than the first. Counter attacking is still the most fun for me but with new enemy types that can counter you and deflect your counters it makes for amazing battles. The free running and climbing is smoother and faster than the original.

The graphics are great I have never been to Italy but I believe that if I ever visit I will be able to recognize land mark buildings just by playing this game. On top of that the main character (Ezio) has amazingly fluid motion all the time if he is climbing or fighting he moves realistically.

The sound is done really well the dialog is great and everyone plays their roles perfectly, not to mention the constant chatter and ambiance of the cities makes then feel alive. Oh and the combat sounds from the clashing of swords to the cracking of bones sound real and visceral.

The story is amazing, it builds on the first one and sets everything up perfectly for the third one (hope that comes soon) it also makes you care about the characters and the fight that they are faced with. I won't spoil anything but do not fail to scan all the glyphs (you will know what I am talking about) and missing the message of subject 16.

Okay in closing this game is a landmark for gaming just like the first one it raises the bar on what games have to live up to in the future. If you liked the first one play this game now, if you are looking for a good action adventure game play this game, if you want to kill corrupt people in Renaissance Italy play this game, in short there is no reason not to play Assassin's Creed 2.

Review

Okay here we go, first off I love Bioware they became one of my favorite developers with their last game Mass Effect. With Dragon Age my hopes were high and I was praying that I wouldn't be disappointed.

Well needless to say with all the time I have spent playing Dragon Age this past month it's pretty obvious that I love this game. Between my first, second, and now third campaign that I have recently begun I have played this game about 120 hours.

The graphics are not as good as Mass Effect but it is a different team at Bioware and I did play it on the 360 and this was ported to the 360 from the PC, but the graphics are not bad in any way, and the gore is great especially when you have persistent gore on and the blood stays on your characters until you rest or change areas or something.

The sound is great the dialog is better than most Hollywood productions and the combat ambient noise holds you enthralled.

The gameplay is great you can play it as an RPG pausing and issuing orders to your team or set your teams tactics up and just fight with your controlled character at the time. It flows well and really plays on balancing your team and using strategy to beat large groups of enemies or more difficult bosses.

The story is great I always felt like my choices really effected the end game and the lives of the citizens in the world I was trying to protect. If you love epic stories and deep characters then do yourself a favor and pick up this game, but be warned it will eat up a lot of your time.

Review

It has been over a week since I got my hands on Uncharted 2 Among Thieves and in a word this game is amazing.

It met all my expectations and even surpassed them as well considering that it has one of the most entertaining multi-player components out there.

Here are the nuts and bolts of it. Yes the game is gorgeous even more so than the first one, I have never seen snow that looked real in any game ever before.

The sound is great every shot and punch feels good, the dialog is amazing (better than most blockbuster movies) and the music highlights every section so well that I couldn't ask for more.

The story is better than the first Uncharted and the character interactions and development feel even more real. You really feel that these people are in danger and you root for them more because of it.

The gameplay is perfect everything handles well and you can approach sections as you want, from guns blazing to sneaking around breaking necks. The single player campaign is longer and deeper than the first and for the first time I have found a multi-player component that I want to keep playing and doesn't get boring to me.

In closing I say Nathan Drake has earned the right to become the face for the PS3. If you have a PS3, are thinking about getting one, or want to experience a game that feels like an Indian Jones movie or Dirk Pitt adventure. Then do yourself a favor and go get Uncharted 2 Among Thieves it is more than worth the $60 price tag.

Review

I have to be honest, I never was really interested in Red Faction Guerrilla while it was in development at Volition. I kept hearing that "you can destroy everything" or "you will be able to tear buildings down by taking out key structural points.

I just didn't care, then the game came out and people couldn't stop raving about it saying that it was an industry changing game that brought new meaning to destructible environment. Well after I traded in some games I had finished it was sitting in Gamestop staring me in the face in the used section. I knew I could buy it and if I didn't like it I could take it back in a few days, you know, a "Gamestop rental".

So I went ahead and got it and it turns out they were right. The game starts off with the back-story letting you know how the liberating forces from previous Red Faction games are now (surprise, surprise) abusing power. Well, you of course want no part of it but with in minutes of the game starting you end up getting reason to help the revolution using (you guessed it) guerrilla warfare.

The game has a good graphics engine showing the destruction of everything that you bring down and blow up whether you mean to or not. It handles draw distance and loading times as well as and better than many open world games.

The sound is great, you can hear every groan and creek of the buildings as you tear them apart. The dialog and ambiance is done well too, most memorable in the wastes of the old building later in the game (you will know what I am talking about).

The gameplay is for the most part on par with open world games when it comes to driving, shooting, and navigation. What this game really has to offer is the destruction. Seriously, the first section of the game has you tasked with blowing things up. If I was going to describe this game in a few words it would be "a boy-hood dream play ground." The game doesn't just ask you to blow stuff up, it makes it the key component of the game. How many times have we played games that ask us to kill some general and we have to go through all the twists and turns of his base when we are carrying a rocket launcher. Why can't we blow a hole in the back wall and take him out in a few seconds? Well this is a game that lets you do just that.

In closing I recommend this game if you want a different kind of open world experience, or if you really just want the feeling of destroying a giant structure worth millions of dollars and not going to jail for it.

As a side note I will be holding a give away later this week in which you will have to comment in order to be entered. So keep checking out the site for a chance to win a yet unannounced prize.

Review

So this is my first review. Seeing as how my next game doesn't come out until October 13th I will review the last game I finished playing. I will try to post reviews in a timely manner but since I am not getting games early I won't be able to post them until after the game is released and if I want it and am able to afford it. Now lets get started.






Batman Arkham Asylum from Rock Steady studios has finally delivered on the promise of every single comic game ever made: YOU will feel like the hero. Despite the plethora of Batman games in the past none of them have ever fully delivered because Batman is a multi-layered character. He is a master of hand-to-hand combat, better at stealth than any ninja, and holds a genius intellect.


The impossible was accomplished in this game when every facet of Batman's character was balanced to perfection and yes I said perfection. Now don't get me wrong every game has it's flaws but very few hold the honor that Batman Arkham Asylum shares with few of having it's only flaw being that it ends too quickly.


Graphically it is one of the best looking games on the market right now, the characters move realistically the environment is captivating and Batman even shows damage to his suit as the game progresses.


The sound is great the voice actors from Batman the animated series reprise their roles perfectly pulling you into the story with true to form dialog. The music is well placed and the ambient noise work to support the islands feel.


The story is on par with the best Batman has to offer, having been written for the game by Paul Dini veteran of Batman the animated series. The story is delivered perfectly by using the setting and various characters to make you feel immersed in the Batman universe with everything riding on Batman and in this case you.


The game play is where this show really shines, every real gamer out there has always wanted to be Batman and that wish is fulfilled in this game. From following clues and solving the various challenges around the island placed by the Riddler, to beating henchmen into submission, and of course Batman's bread and butter using misdirection and stealth to take out a room full of armed thugs Batman Arkham Asylum is the first (and hopefully Rock Steady will make sure not the last) time that gamers have ever been able to actually feel like Batman.


In closing I full recommend Batman Arkham Asylum to anyone who is looking for a great action adventure game, it will keep you hooked through the whole game and when you finish it the only let down you will feel is that it is over.


I plan on using the next couple of weeks to do reviews of great games I have played in the last six months, so if you have some requests for recently released games let me know and I will see what I can do.