There has not been such an intense and fanatic series as Halo since Star Wars first appeared. The Halo franchise has become a hit phenomenon within the gaming industry, and when Halo 3: ODST dropped into stores this past months, fans had little to worry about. The creative minds at Bungie and Microsoft always seem to bring a great new element and always bring great multiplayer capabilities.
Halo 3: ODST, follows a group of Orbital Drop Shock Troopers as they are deployed into the African city of New Mombasa. During their descent, however, the Covenant armada within the city jumps into hyperspace, and scatters the troopers across the now devastated city. Players step into the shoes of the Rookie, who wakes up hours after the troopers were scattered. You must navigate through the city, which is monitored by an AI computer who helps navigate the Rookie throughout. You must find clues and piece together what happened to your team, and find out why the Covenant have chosen to take over the city.
The game is host to a number of great features. It has elegant and more mysterious music that helps had a new sense of environment and character to the game. The visual effects are spectacular, and something we have come to not only expect but appreciate from Bungie. The sense of mystery of the game is a new addition that I find wonderful. While not quite as long as the original trilogy, this game also features a second disk with all the multiplayer maps and games ever created by the Halo creators, including three new maps. Also, the game is host to a wide cast of voice actors, including Sci-Fi legends Nathon Fillion,(Serenity, Castle), Tricia Helfer, (Battlestar Galactica), and Alan Turdyk, (Serenity, Dollhouse). All in all, I think Halo fans will love this game, and so I rate it a 10 out of 10.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
X-Men Origins: Wolverine Uncaged Edition
I have one word for all of you readers out there: Wolverine. That's right, the latest game to be reviewed is none other than the X-Men Origins game based on the hit movie, Wolverine. Filled with great visual effects, non stop action and R-rated gore that truly lets us get an up close and personal feel for the character, the game never lets up, and allows us a great view into the past and future of the legendary hero.
Set in the Marvel comics universe, the game tells the story of Logan, a mutant with the ability to rapidly heal, and in so doing allowing himself to live an almost immortal life. He was also born with animal like instincts and three extended bones in each hand. He and his brother, Victor Creed, who is also a mutant, are hired by the US government to be a part of an elite group of mutants. Throughout the game, you see how the group becomes corrupt, and how Wolverine gets the adamantum claws and exoskeleton that make him so unique. While following elements of the movie, the game also has unique plot twists of it's own, such as the introduction of the Sentinels, deadly robots manufactured to hunt down mutants and exterminate. We also get a glimpse at the mysterious Mystique, and a possible little look at the future origins of another X-Man.
The gameplay follows a third-person action adventure setting. You are Wolverine, and you use your animal fury to rip your enemies to ribbons. Unlike most games, this is a Mature rated game, and so you watch as your claws cut limbs off, and blood flows out of the victims. This is not the most gruesome game I've ever played, but parents not wanting their kids to play bloody games will not want their kids to play this. I do feel however it is an accurate portrayal, and we get to really see how ferocious the character really is. I do rate this game a 10 out of 10, for it is a great look at a popular comic book franchise, and is full of non stop action and plot twists, and the effects and the cinematics never skip a beat.
Set in the Marvel comics universe, the game tells the story of Logan, a mutant with the ability to rapidly heal, and in so doing allowing himself to live an almost immortal life. He was also born with animal like instincts and three extended bones in each hand. He and his brother, Victor Creed, who is also a mutant, are hired by the US government to be a part of an elite group of mutants. Throughout the game, you see how the group becomes corrupt, and how Wolverine gets the adamantum claws and exoskeleton that make him so unique. While following elements of the movie, the game also has unique plot twists of it's own, such as the introduction of the Sentinels, deadly robots manufactured to hunt down mutants and exterminate. We also get a glimpse at the mysterious Mystique, and a possible little look at the future origins of another X-Man.
The gameplay follows a third-person action adventure setting. You are Wolverine, and you use your animal fury to rip your enemies to ribbons. Unlike most games, this is a Mature rated game, and so you watch as your claws cut limbs off, and blood flows out of the victims. This is not the most gruesome game I've ever played, but parents not wanting their kids to play bloody games will not want their kids to play this. I do feel however it is an accurate portrayal, and we get to really see how ferocious the character really is. I do rate this game a 10 out of 10, for it is a great look at a popular comic book franchise, and is full of non stop action and plot twists, and the effects and the cinematics never skip a beat.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2
There is nothing better than sequels to games you've fallen in love with. So when Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 came out, I knew I had to play it. Having amassed a huge collection of superheroes, the creative geniuses behind the second game have brought a masterpiece right out of the comics, and has given the fans of superheroes everywhere a new look at the heroes we fell in love with.
The game is set a year before the events of the fabled comic book event, The Civil War. Nick Fury leads Captain America, Iron Man, Wolverine and Spider-man to Castle Doom, where the Latverian leader, Lucia Von Bardas, has begun supplying the criminal mastermind, The Tinkerer, with advanced weaponry to sell to villains across the globe. The President of the United States has forbidden Fury from raiding the castle, but moves ahead anyways, keeping the heroes out of the loop. The mission is successful, and Castle Doom is destroyed, with Von Bardas presumed dead. A year later, however, a group of supervillians led by a cyborg enhanced Von Bardas attack New York City, and her attack kills many civilians. Later, a group of superheroes known as The New Warriors battle Nitro, a villain with explosive powers, in Stanford, Connecticut. Upon capture, Nitro uses his full powers, unleashing a massive explosion that kills 600 people. This forces the President to sign a Superhuman Registration Act, in which case divides the superhero community. From there, the Civil War begins.
Players must choose between the Pro-registration movement, led by Iron Man, or the Anti-registration movement, led by Captain America and Luke Cage. Each mission becomes about fighting former allies, and taking down powerful foes. The gameplay is crisper and much faster than the previous game, and the story is consistent and epic throughout. The visuals are a lot sharper than the first game, and although some fans may say that the first game was more epic and had a lot more dynamics, I feel that the game had a more profound effect on the fans, and not only portrayed on of the most critically acclaimed story arch's from Marvel comics history, but made the fans feel like it was a little closer to home, and kept the main setting in our world. I rate this game a 10 out of 10, for this was a fun, action packed, and well thought out game.
The game is set a year before the events of the fabled comic book event, The Civil War. Nick Fury leads Captain America, Iron Man, Wolverine and Spider-man to Castle Doom, where the Latverian leader, Lucia Von Bardas, has begun supplying the criminal mastermind, The Tinkerer, with advanced weaponry to sell to villains across the globe. The President of the United States has forbidden Fury from raiding the castle, but moves ahead anyways, keeping the heroes out of the loop. The mission is successful, and Castle Doom is destroyed, with Von Bardas presumed dead. A year later, however, a group of supervillians led by a cyborg enhanced Von Bardas attack New York City, and her attack kills many civilians. Later, a group of superheroes known as The New Warriors battle Nitro, a villain with explosive powers, in Stanford, Connecticut. Upon capture, Nitro uses his full powers, unleashing a massive explosion that kills 600 people. This forces the President to sign a Superhuman Registration Act, in which case divides the superhero community. From there, the Civil War begins.
Players must choose between the Pro-registration movement, led by Iron Man, or the Anti-registration movement, led by Captain America and Luke Cage. Each mission becomes about fighting former allies, and taking down powerful foes. The gameplay is crisper and much faster than the previous game, and the story is consistent and epic throughout. The visuals are a lot sharper than the first game, and although some fans may say that the first game was more epic and had a lot more dynamics, I feel that the game had a more profound effect on the fans, and not only portrayed on of the most critically acclaimed story arch's from Marvel comics history, but made the fans feel like it was a little closer to home, and kept the main setting in our world. I rate this game a 10 out of 10, for this was a fun, action packed, and well thought out game.
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
World renowned franchise Star Wars once again reels out an intense game playing experience. Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, takes place between the third film, (Revenge of the Sith), and the fourth film, (A New Hope). It brings a mix of lightsaber duels and mind blowing force abilities that bring out the action, and a plot so dark and intricate that only the creative minds from Lucas Arts could tell it.
The game follows the nameless apprentice of Darth Vader known only as Starkiller. Born from two Jedi knights, (one of whom Vader killed after the events of the third film), Darth Vader takes the young boy from his home and trains him to become a sith apprentice, weilding unimaginable powers. Struggling with his natural born instincts for good and his twisted training for evil, Starkiller is sent out into the universe to hunt down the remaining Jedi who escaped the extermination ordered by Emperor Palpentine in the third film. Along the way, as his powers grow, Starkiller is betrayed, and is left to decide his own path. Will he go down a path for revenge? Or will he choose to help the universe he brought chaos to?
Bringing forth a blend of dark imagery, expansive landscapes unique to each planet the player visits, and hundreds of different moves that blend lightsaber skills and force powers, this game is unlike anything Lucas Arts has ever brought before. I give this game a 10 out of 10, for it's quite unique and unlike anything I've played before, and for all Star Wars fans out there, this game will not disappoint.
The game follows the nameless apprentice of Darth Vader known only as Starkiller. Born from two Jedi knights, (one of whom Vader killed after the events of the third film), Darth Vader takes the young boy from his home and trains him to become a sith apprentice, weilding unimaginable powers. Struggling with his natural born instincts for good and his twisted training for evil, Starkiller is sent out into the universe to hunt down the remaining Jedi who escaped the extermination ordered by Emperor Palpentine in the third film. Along the way, as his powers grow, Starkiller is betrayed, and is left to decide his own path. Will he go down a path for revenge? Or will he choose to help the universe he brought chaos to?
Bringing forth a blend of dark imagery, expansive landscapes unique to each planet the player visits, and hundreds of different moves that blend lightsaber skills and force powers, this game is unlike anything Lucas Arts has ever brought before. I give this game a 10 out of 10, for it's quite unique and unlike anything I've played before, and for all Star Wars fans out there, this game will not disappoint.
Resident Evil 5
I have two words for you: Resident Evil. That's right, the game I'm reviewing today is the highly anticipated game, Resident Evil 5. This franchise is about the Umbrella company, who through a series of events lets out a biological weapon, turning many citizens of Raccoon City into zombies. From there, many more attacks and events ensue.
This game follows Chris Redfield and Sheva Alomar as they are sent into the African city of Kijuju to apprehend Ricardo Irving, who is in the country to sell bio-organic weapons on the black market. From there, all hell breaks loose. The people of the city are being fed parasites that turn them into zombie like creatures. Chris also learns that his presumed dead partner, Jill Valentine, has been seen in the country, and Chris and Sheva set out to stop the terrorist attack and find his partner.
This game is set as a third-person shooter, and the graphics and music blend together to form an eerie and terrifying atmosphere. The plot has twists and turns that make you want to stay with it all the way to the end, and for that, I rate this game a 9 out of 10, and am happy to say that the action and suspense of the game makes me craving more.
This game follows Chris Redfield and Sheva Alomar as they are sent into the African city of Kijuju to apprehend Ricardo Irving, who is in the country to sell bio-organic weapons on the black market. From there, all hell breaks loose. The people of the city are being fed parasites that turn them into zombie like creatures. Chris also learns that his presumed dead partner, Jill Valentine, has been seen in the country, and Chris and Sheva set out to stop the terrorist attack and find his partner.
This game is set as a third-person shooter, and the graphics and music blend together to form an eerie and terrifying atmosphere. The plot has twists and turns that make you want to stay with it all the way to the end, and for that, I rate this game a 9 out of 10, and am happy to say that the action and suspense of the game makes me craving more.
Robert Ludlum's The Bourne Conspiracy
While supernatural and science fiction games have become the norm in the video game industry, it is always great to find a great action game. This was the case when I played Robert Ludlum's The Bourne Conspiracy. Having been a huge fan of the movie franchise, I was extremely excited to play the next chapter in Jason Bourne's story.
Set before and during the events of The Bourne Identity, the first movie in the franchise, The Bourne Conspiracy follows Jason Bourne, a government assassin working for a government project known as Treadstone. The game follows Jason Bourne as he is sent to kill African dictator Nykwana Wombosi. After many attempts to get to the dictator, Jason finds the leader with his two daughters, and seeing his family causes Jason to let Wombosi live, and in the process, he is shot four times in the back, and left for dead in the ocean. This set's up the rest of the plot for the first movie, while also allowing players to go through past mission's Jason was sent on as he begins to get brief glances into his past.
The gameplay is quite unique, combining gun shootouts similar to Resident Evil gameplay, (in other words, a third-person shooter), with unique fighting techniques that only Jason Bourne could pull off, including intense fight scenes with deadly assassins, government leaders, and world renowned terrorists. With an intricate plot, realistic cinematic movie sequences, lush and large scenery from around the world, and action packed gameplay throughout, I rate this game a 10 out of 10, because it has definitely set the bar for action games in the industry.
Set before and during the events of The Bourne Identity, the first movie in the franchise, The Bourne Conspiracy follows Jason Bourne, a government assassin working for a government project known as Treadstone. The game follows Jason Bourne as he is sent to kill African dictator Nykwana Wombosi. After many attempts to get to the dictator, Jason finds the leader with his two daughters, and seeing his family causes Jason to let Wombosi live, and in the process, he is shot four times in the back, and left for dead in the ocean. This set's up the rest of the plot for the first movie, while also allowing players to go through past mission's Jason was sent on as he begins to get brief glances into his past.
The gameplay is quite unique, combining gun shootouts similar to Resident Evil gameplay, (in other words, a third-person shooter), with unique fighting techniques that only Jason Bourne could pull off, including intense fight scenes with deadly assassins, government leaders, and world renowned terrorists. With an intricate plot, realistic cinematic movie sequences, lush and large scenery from around the world, and action packed gameplay throughout, I rate this game a 10 out of 10, because it has definitely set the bar for action games in the industry.
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