One of the best developments in video games over the years has been the life-like, spectacular visual effects and stunning cut-scenes that contribute to the story. For the past year, we've seen some amazing gameplay, but the larger than life action in the gaming worlds cut-scenes is one of the best technological advances in the industry. Here are this years top Cinematic scenes in video games.
Bioshock 2 Opening Scene: The opening scene of this terrific sequel to the hit series Bioshock was breathtaking, both visually and in story. From the sweet yet creepy little girl leading you down a hallway to the amazing scenery of Rapture before it was ravaged by civil war, this opening sequence did a wonderful job of seeing into the plot of the game, while introducing the vile Sofia Lamb and her army of deluded followers.
Splinter Cell Conviction Ending: After hours of going through trecherous missions, reliving old war memories, and finding a way to get to the truth surrounding his daughters mysterious death, Sam Fisher arrives in time for a covert operation at the White House, where a rougue group is set to kill the President. After fighting through the White House, Sam must face his nemisis, and decide who is truly his ally, and who is his foe.
Fallout: New Vegas opening scene: Ever wonder what would happen if a Nuclear war nearly destroyed the world, and those left behind were to stumble upon Las Vegas? Well, Fallout: New Vegas, sure answers that question. The opening scene to this hit game shows off the wonders of Vegas, and the fight for control over the city and its surroundings, leaving players excited from the get-go. Because, "War, War never changes."
Halo: Reach ending: After hours of fighting off the Covenent, racing around the planet, finding key artifacts to help with the fight, and defending the planet as it is evacuated, the last scene of the game showcases the Spartans unwillingness to give up, and one mans struggle to keep up the fight until the end.
Mass Effect 2 Ending: By far the best ending i've seen in a game. Full of action, drama, and infinite possibilities, the epic space saga known as Mass Effect arrived at the end of its second game with a bang. Infiltrating a base controlled by an alien race serving the Reapers, sentient machines bent on galactic destruction, Commander Shepperd and his team went on a suicide mission, and this is how it ended, (at least, one way it ended, depending on your choices.) The characterization, drama, and non-stop action all the way to the end makes this the best Cinematic experience in the year in Gaming.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Top Games of the Year
The end of another fun filled year in gaming is coming to an end. With no other major game releases due out until the beginning of the year, we sit back and reflect on the year in gaming. For those looking for games to get for loved ones or themselves during this holiday season, this is a must read.
10. Dante's Inferno: You have to love a game that is adapted from an ancient epic poem. Dante's Inferno follows Dante, a soldier during the Crusades that comes home after the horrors he suffered and that he inflicted during the war, only to find his true love, Beatrice, murdered. Upon finding her naked body, her soul is taken by Lucifer into hell, and Dante's takes flight, diving into the pits of hell in order to save her soul. Fighting through the nine circles of hell, Dante faces hordes of demons and must confront his own personal demons, in hopes of either redeeming his soul or condemning it further by exacting his revenge. Full of similar game play to Assassins Creed and Prince of Persia, the game is stunning, both visually and in terms of plot, and despite the graphic violence, nudity, and sex scenes, the games story and game play far outweigh the negatives.
9. Mafia II: For those who love the Godfather and Sopranos series, Mafia II is a must have this holiday season. Following the path and career of Vito Scalletta, a soldier who returns from WWII and finds himself working for the mob in fictional Empire City. Players are able to live out the life and growth of a mobster, from shake downs and drive bys to assassinations and drug dealers, this game showcases the notorious lives of gangsters and good fellas during the 1940's and 50's. Set in a third-person shooter, the game showcases the lifestyle of the time, with classic cars, classic radio and songs, and snappy suits that scream Dean Martin.
8. Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction: Theres nothing better than the espionage and action of a political, ex-soldier shoot-em-up. Players are immersed into the story of Sam Fisher, who for three years has grieved over the loss of his daughter and who has managed to stay off the radar from the shadow group Third Echelon. However, Sam finds himself brought into a hairy situation when he goes after the man he believes murdered his daughter. Going after the man leads to being caught into a political conspiracy between members of his own government and terrorists. This third-person shooter is amazing, with Jason Bourne like action and classic Tom Clancy plot that makes this game a must have.
7. Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands: Its a tale as old as time in the gaming world. Ever since the Prince of Persia showed up in his original 2-D game, fans all over have flocked to the Princes world, fighting zombies, demons, and evil Viziers. In the latest installment in the series, gamers follow the Prince before he was introduced to the Sands of Time. Arriving in his brothers kingdom in order to learn how to become a leader, the Prince finds himself trapped in a city of infected citizens. His brother, who was fighting a losing war, decided to unleash King Solomon's Sands, a power said to hold the ability to defeat all those who stand in the unleashes path. The Sands, however, transform the soldiers and citizens into mindless sand creatures, and the Princes brother becomes possessed by a horrible demon bent on world wide destruction. The game play is solid, and full of non-stop action that is classic to the Prince of Persia series.
6. Dead Rising 2: Zombies have invaded pop culture once more this year. With the Walking Dead's major success's, as well of Left 4 Dead's hit add-ons, Dead Rising 2 was a perfect game to play during the holidays. Following motocross champion Chuck Greene, players find themselves trapped in Fortune City, a Las Vegas type of city that has been invaded by a zombie outbreak. Chuck, who has been framed for starting the outbreak, must clear his name, find the real source of the outbreak, and find the medicine that is keeping his only daughter, Katey, from becoming a zombie herself. Full of dramatic plots, heartwarming character development, and bloody carnage and game play, this game is a cult-hit, and a great game for the zombie lover in all of us.
5. Bioshock 2: Welcome to Rapture! The underwater city built by Andrew Ryan. Set 10 years after the first game, Bioshock 2 places players in the shoes of the first Big Daddy, who wakes up 10 years after being shot and killed by Dr. Sophia Lamb. When you awaken, you find the once marvelous city of Rapture has begun to be claimed by the ocean, with degradation and decay setting in throughout the city. Dr. Lamb's daughter, Eleanor, your little sister, is now grown up, and has awoken you so that you can free her from her mothers captivity and escape the city. You must traverse through the broken down city, face Big Daddies, automatic defenses, and genetically altered humans called splicers, so that you can stop the evil forces from taking over the city of corruption. Also added is the multiplayer aspect, which gives players a story related aspect, taking you to the time in Rapture's history when a civil war broke out, and the city was left in chaos. This game is breathtaking, with amazing visuals, creepy characters, and fast paced action.
4. Fallout: New Vegas: "Ain't that a kick in the head?" That's what all fans asked themselves when Fallout: New Vegas was first released. Set in post-apocalyptic Vegas, players find themselves in the shoes of the Courier, who is shot and left for dead by a Casino boss named Benny. When you awaken, you go in search of your would-be killers, and try and learn what was so valuable that it was worth killing for. Also, players make companions, help citizens of the Mojave wasteland, and find themselves caught in a war between two factions who vie for control of the Hoover Dam, New Vegas main supply of power. The game is full of action, rich plot, and fully developed characters, and a must have.
3. Halo: Reach: Welcome to Reach, humanities last stand against the alien invasion force known as the Covenant. Set between the aliens and Earth, Reach hosts a group of Spartan soldiers known as Noble Team. When a settlement goes dark, Noble Team goes to investigate, and learns that the Covenant has invaded Reach. You play Noble Six, the latest addition to the team, and the one man capable of fighting the covenant to the end. Everyone knows the Halo series, and how the fight for Reach ended. This game is the story of how the end came to be, and how one team gave their lives and fought valiantly to save what they could of humanity. This game is a must have for fans of the series.
2. Mass Effect 2: I have one name for you guys, Commander Shepperd. That's right, anyone who knows the story of Mass Effect knows Commander Shepperd. In the sequel to the hit game, Mass Effect 2 finds players in Shepperd's shoes once more, having died in an alien attack on his vessel an being reborn by the Illusive Man, the leader of a human organization who wants to find a way of defeating the Reapers, sentient machines bent on galactic destruction. Humans colonies have been disappearing all over the galaxy, and it is up to Shepperd to recruit a new team, and investigate the disappearances and fight the enemy aliens. From the creative minds of Bioware, this game is rich in plot, characterization, and game play, as you use your high tech ship to fly around the galaxy, investigating new worlds and finding a way to defeat a formidable foe.
1. Assassins Creed Brotherhood: History and action combine to bring fourth the best action-adventure game not only in the Assassins Creed series, but of the year. Players follow Desmond Miles, an assassin by blood and in training, who is on the run with his allies from Abstergo Industries, the modern day Templar order. Using a machine known as the Animus 2.0, Desmond is able to access his ancestors memories embedded in his DNA. Using the machine to find information on an ancient relic known as a Piece of Eden, Desmond recalls the memories of Ezio Auditore, the Master Assassin during Renaissance Rome. Players find Ezio returning to Rome after Cesare Borgia attacks his Villa home and leaves him for dead. Ezio goes to Rome in search of Cesare and his allies, so that the corruption and evil plaguing Rome may end. The Piece of Eden is the key to saving the planet from destruction by natural means, and using Ezio's memories, players must traverse through corrupt Rome to find it. Another reason why this is our game of the year is because of the addition of multiplayer, in which players find themselves working for Abstergo Industries, using memories recorded from test subject and having you train as Assassins from the Rennassaince era. The game play, weaponry, story, and characters make this game at the top of our holiday wish list, and both this blog and its affiliate, Rock on Request magazine, the Game of the Year.
10. Dante's Inferno: You have to love a game that is adapted from an ancient epic poem. Dante's Inferno follows Dante, a soldier during the Crusades that comes home after the horrors he suffered and that he inflicted during the war, only to find his true love, Beatrice, murdered. Upon finding her naked body, her soul is taken by Lucifer into hell, and Dante's takes flight, diving into the pits of hell in order to save her soul. Fighting through the nine circles of hell, Dante faces hordes of demons and must confront his own personal demons, in hopes of either redeeming his soul or condemning it further by exacting his revenge. Full of similar game play to Assassins Creed and Prince of Persia, the game is stunning, both visually and in terms of plot, and despite the graphic violence, nudity, and sex scenes, the games story and game play far outweigh the negatives.
9. Mafia II: For those who love the Godfather and Sopranos series, Mafia II is a must have this holiday season. Following the path and career of Vito Scalletta, a soldier who returns from WWII and finds himself working for the mob in fictional Empire City. Players are able to live out the life and growth of a mobster, from shake downs and drive bys to assassinations and drug dealers, this game showcases the notorious lives of gangsters and good fellas during the 1940's and 50's. Set in a third-person shooter, the game showcases the lifestyle of the time, with classic cars, classic radio and songs, and snappy suits that scream Dean Martin.
8. Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction: Theres nothing better than the espionage and action of a political, ex-soldier shoot-em-up. Players are immersed into the story of Sam Fisher, who for three years has grieved over the loss of his daughter and who has managed to stay off the radar from the shadow group Third Echelon. However, Sam finds himself brought into a hairy situation when he goes after the man he believes murdered his daughter. Going after the man leads to being caught into a political conspiracy between members of his own government and terrorists. This third-person shooter is amazing, with Jason Bourne like action and classic Tom Clancy plot that makes this game a must have.
7. Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands: Its a tale as old as time in the gaming world. Ever since the Prince of Persia showed up in his original 2-D game, fans all over have flocked to the Princes world, fighting zombies, demons, and evil Viziers. In the latest installment in the series, gamers follow the Prince before he was introduced to the Sands of Time. Arriving in his brothers kingdom in order to learn how to become a leader, the Prince finds himself trapped in a city of infected citizens. His brother, who was fighting a losing war, decided to unleash King Solomon's Sands, a power said to hold the ability to defeat all those who stand in the unleashes path. The Sands, however, transform the soldiers and citizens into mindless sand creatures, and the Princes brother becomes possessed by a horrible demon bent on world wide destruction. The game play is solid, and full of non-stop action that is classic to the Prince of Persia series.
6. Dead Rising 2: Zombies have invaded pop culture once more this year. With the Walking Dead's major success's, as well of Left 4 Dead's hit add-ons, Dead Rising 2 was a perfect game to play during the holidays. Following motocross champion Chuck Greene, players find themselves trapped in Fortune City, a Las Vegas type of city that has been invaded by a zombie outbreak. Chuck, who has been framed for starting the outbreak, must clear his name, find the real source of the outbreak, and find the medicine that is keeping his only daughter, Katey, from becoming a zombie herself. Full of dramatic plots, heartwarming character development, and bloody carnage and game play, this game is a cult-hit, and a great game for the zombie lover in all of us.
5. Bioshock 2: Welcome to Rapture! The underwater city built by Andrew Ryan. Set 10 years after the first game, Bioshock 2 places players in the shoes of the first Big Daddy, who wakes up 10 years after being shot and killed by Dr. Sophia Lamb. When you awaken, you find the once marvelous city of Rapture has begun to be claimed by the ocean, with degradation and decay setting in throughout the city. Dr. Lamb's daughter, Eleanor, your little sister, is now grown up, and has awoken you so that you can free her from her mothers captivity and escape the city. You must traverse through the broken down city, face Big Daddies, automatic defenses, and genetically altered humans called splicers, so that you can stop the evil forces from taking over the city of corruption. Also added is the multiplayer aspect, which gives players a story related aspect, taking you to the time in Rapture's history when a civil war broke out, and the city was left in chaos. This game is breathtaking, with amazing visuals, creepy characters, and fast paced action.
4. Fallout: New Vegas: "Ain't that a kick in the head?" That's what all fans asked themselves when Fallout: New Vegas was first released. Set in post-apocalyptic Vegas, players find themselves in the shoes of the Courier, who is shot and left for dead by a Casino boss named Benny. When you awaken, you go in search of your would-be killers, and try and learn what was so valuable that it was worth killing for. Also, players make companions, help citizens of the Mojave wasteland, and find themselves caught in a war between two factions who vie for control of the Hoover Dam, New Vegas main supply of power. The game is full of action, rich plot, and fully developed characters, and a must have.
3. Halo: Reach: Welcome to Reach, humanities last stand against the alien invasion force known as the Covenant. Set between the aliens and Earth, Reach hosts a group of Spartan soldiers known as Noble Team. When a settlement goes dark, Noble Team goes to investigate, and learns that the Covenant has invaded Reach. You play Noble Six, the latest addition to the team, and the one man capable of fighting the covenant to the end. Everyone knows the Halo series, and how the fight for Reach ended. This game is the story of how the end came to be, and how one team gave their lives and fought valiantly to save what they could of humanity. This game is a must have for fans of the series.
2. Mass Effect 2: I have one name for you guys, Commander Shepperd. That's right, anyone who knows the story of Mass Effect knows Commander Shepperd. In the sequel to the hit game, Mass Effect 2 finds players in Shepperd's shoes once more, having died in an alien attack on his vessel an being reborn by the Illusive Man, the leader of a human organization who wants to find a way of defeating the Reapers, sentient machines bent on galactic destruction. Humans colonies have been disappearing all over the galaxy, and it is up to Shepperd to recruit a new team, and investigate the disappearances and fight the enemy aliens. From the creative minds of Bioware, this game is rich in plot, characterization, and game play, as you use your high tech ship to fly around the galaxy, investigating new worlds and finding a way to defeat a formidable foe.
1. Assassins Creed Brotherhood: History and action combine to bring fourth the best action-adventure game not only in the Assassins Creed series, but of the year. Players follow Desmond Miles, an assassin by blood and in training, who is on the run with his allies from Abstergo Industries, the modern day Templar order. Using a machine known as the Animus 2.0, Desmond is able to access his ancestors memories embedded in his DNA. Using the machine to find information on an ancient relic known as a Piece of Eden, Desmond recalls the memories of Ezio Auditore, the Master Assassin during Renaissance Rome. Players find Ezio returning to Rome after Cesare Borgia attacks his Villa home and leaves him for dead. Ezio goes to Rome in search of Cesare and his allies, so that the corruption and evil plaguing Rome may end. The Piece of Eden is the key to saving the planet from destruction by natural means, and using Ezio's memories, players must traverse through corrupt Rome to find it. Another reason why this is our game of the year is because of the addition of multiplayer, in which players find themselves working for Abstergo Industries, using memories recorded from test subject and having you train as Assassins from the Rennassaince era. The game play, weaponry, story, and characters make this game at the top of our holiday wish list, and both this blog and its affiliate, Rock on Request magazine, the Game of the Year.
Fallout: New Vegas
Everyone loves Las Vegas. The lights, the shows, the parties, the adventure of it all, everyone wants to be there. In Bethesda studio's latest Fallout game, New Vegas, however, the Strip may not be as glamorous and fun as it is today. Full of warring factions, violence at every corner, and shady individuals who will stop at nothing to see you dead, New Vegas is full of the non-stop action and detailed plot lines that gamers have come to love of the Fallout series.
New Vegas finds players in control of The Courier, a man sent out to deliver a platinum poker chip to a mysterious figure. When a Casino boss known as Benny corners you, however, he takes the chip, and shoots you in the head, leaving you to die in the grave he forced you to dig yourself. However, upon waking up, players find themselves on a journey to find the man who left him for dead, get revenge, and learn the mystery surrounding the poker chip and the Mojave Wasteland. While on your journey, players will find themselves caught in a long-scale war between the New California Republic and Caesar's Legion, a group of slavers who have formed an army to take over the Hoover Dam, which is the NCR controlled power source for New Vegas.
The game play is very much like that of Bethesda's hit game Fallout 3. A first person shooter, role-playing game, the mechanics have improved deeply, with faster reload's for your weapons, an iron-sights that allows more accurate shooting, and a much more realistic VATS system, which allows players to systematically pick where your shots are fired and how much damage will be taken. Another great feature is the return of radio stations, which allow players to listen to old school music that takes you back to the days of Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra. And finally, the realistic scenery and amazing cast that voices the characters of the game, (Matthew Perry, Ron Perlman, Felicia Day, Michael Hogan), the plot of the game blends well with the mechanics of the game, making it one of the best games in the series, if not the best.
Overall, Fallout: New Vegas is a must have this holidays season. Full of intricate plots, amazing character development, intense action, and fluid game play, the only downfall is a series of glitches that arise at random moments in the game, which developers are in the works of fixing. I give this game a 9 out of 10, for it one of the most detailed, enriching games I've played in a long time, and will spend countless days and weeks playing in the future.
New Vegas finds players in control of The Courier, a man sent out to deliver a platinum poker chip to a mysterious figure. When a Casino boss known as Benny corners you, however, he takes the chip, and shoots you in the head, leaving you to die in the grave he forced you to dig yourself. However, upon waking up, players find themselves on a journey to find the man who left him for dead, get revenge, and learn the mystery surrounding the poker chip and the Mojave Wasteland. While on your journey, players will find themselves caught in a long-scale war between the New California Republic and Caesar's Legion, a group of slavers who have formed an army to take over the Hoover Dam, which is the NCR controlled power source for New Vegas.
The game play is very much like that of Bethesda's hit game Fallout 3. A first person shooter, role-playing game, the mechanics have improved deeply, with faster reload's for your weapons, an iron-sights that allows more accurate shooting, and a much more realistic VATS system, which allows players to systematically pick where your shots are fired and how much damage will be taken. Another great feature is the return of radio stations, which allow players to listen to old school music that takes you back to the days of Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra. And finally, the realistic scenery and amazing cast that voices the characters of the game, (Matthew Perry, Ron Perlman, Felicia Day, Michael Hogan), the plot of the game blends well with the mechanics of the game, making it one of the best games in the series, if not the best.
Overall, Fallout: New Vegas is a must have this holidays season. Full of intricate plots, amazing character development, intense action, and fluid game play, the only downfall is a series of glitches that arise at random moments in the game, which developers are in the works of fixing. I give this game a 9 out of 10, for it one of the most detailed, enriching games I've played in a long time, and will spend countless days and weeks playing in the future.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Mafia II
Forget about it! For anyone who loves The Godfather, The Sopranoes, or Goodfellas, Mafia II is the game for you. Full of intense action, dramatic scenery, vintage music, cars, and weapons, and great character development, Mafia II was a surprise hit that left me in eager anticipation for a sequel.
Set in the 40's and 50's, players play as Vito Scalletta, a young italian man from Sicily who looks over his life as a gangster. After coming home after fighting overseas during WWII, Vito meets up with his best friend Joe, who uses his mafia connections to get Vito out of having to return to the war effort. When Vito finds out that his now dead father has left his mother and sister in debt, he goes to work for the Clemente crime family. From there, a series of powerful events lead you from simple errand boy, to made man, to family muscle, to desperate gangster.
The gameplay is much like that of the Resident Evil series, with third-person shooter action. Set in the fictional city of Empire City, based on cities like New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Detroit. Full of classic weaponry of the era, including Tommy guns and .38 caliber weapons. Also present are classic vehicles of the era, with the ability to not only listen to the radio stations of the city, but to change the stations as you see fit. The voice over work of the game is high caliber has well, with a good majority of the cast helming from those actors from the infamous show, The Sopranoes.
Overall, I'd have to give this game an 8 out of 10. It was fun, exciting, action-packed, exhilirating adventure. While not the typical game I would play, it was a great game, and had me enthralled from begining to end.
Set in the 40's and 50's, players play as Vito Scalletta, a young italian man from Sicily who looks over his life as a gangster. After coming home after fighting overseas during WWII, Vito meets up with his best friend Joe, who uses his mafia connections to get Vito out of having to return to the war effort. When Vito finds out that his now dead father has left his mother and sister in debt, he goes to work for the Clemente crime family. From there, a series of powerful events lead you from simple errand boy, to made man, to family muscle, to desperate gangster.
The gameplay is much like that of the Resident Evil series, with third-person shooter action. Set in the fictional city of Empire City, based on cities like New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Detroit. Full of classic weaponry of the era, including Tommy guns and .38 caliber weapons. Also present are classic vehicles of the era, with the ability to not only listen to the radio stations of the city, but to change the stations as you see fit. The voice over work of the game is high caliber has well, with a good majority of the cast helming from those actors from the infamous show, The Sopranoes.
Overall, I'd have to give this game an 8 out of 10. It was fun, exciting, action-packed, exhilirating adventure. While not the typical game I would play, it was a great game, and had me enthralled from begining to end.
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