Zombies have invaded once again. It's been years since the release of the groundbreaking game, Dead Rising, and zombies have become once again a part of the mainstream pop culture. With the release of the groundbreaking television show, The Walking Dead, zombies are on everybody's minds right now. And with that, it is no wonder that fans were so excited for the release of Dead Rising 2.
Taking place five years after the release of the first game, the plot follows motocross champion Chuck Greene, who has traveled to the resort city of Fortune City in Nevada to compete in the game show "Terror is Reality". He has taken part in this show in order to win the money necessary to get the drug Zombrex, which his daughter Katey needs in order to prevent her from becoming a zombie. After the show ends, Chuck emerges from an elevator to find the city overrun by a zombie outbreak. Taking his daughter, they run to the safety of a shelter. From there, Chuck has three days to uncover the mystery of the outbreak, which he has been set up for causing, while hunting down the real perpetrators, saving the survivors of the outbreak, and getting his daughter the medication necessary to keep her alive.
The gameplay is much faster and crisper than the original game, and the story and its characters are much more likable and allow the player to really delve into the plot. The addition of combo weapons, in which the player can combine any two items to create a new weapon, really adds to the fun that is Dead Rising 2. Another great feature is the multiplayer aspect, a first for the series, and story related. The multiplayer allows players to enter the game show "Terror is Reality", competing in dozens of new game modes to kill as many zombies as possible. Another great feature is that whatever money you earn in multiplayer, you get to keep in the single player story. I must give this game a 10 out of 10, for the developers truly made this game fun, intriguing, and action packed, all the way to the end.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Halo: Reach
You know how it ends, but how did it begin? That was the question fans had when the announcement of the new Halo game, Halo: Reach, occurred. Released nearly two months ago, I have seen the story progress, and have to say I am truly impressed. The story was totally original, and each character was as intriguing as they were heroic. The gameplay was crisp, constant, and showed no glitches or faults that hindered the game whatsoever.
Being a prequel to the first Halo game, the plot takes place on the human occupied planet Reach, the last human planet standing in the Covenants path towards Earth. The titular character is Noble Six, a Spartan who takes the place of a fallen Spartan on Noble Team. Investigating a colony on the planet, the team discovers the Covenant, who have infiltrated the planet in search of something. You must fight the alien forces off, while uncovering the mysteries of the planet and the events that lead to the first Halo game.
With fast paced action, new, fresher weaponry, and the addition of armor enhancements, such as jet packs and sprinting capabilities, this game was truly unique. Another great aspect of the game was its multiplayer, which had a great many new game modes, and included the firefight mode introduced in Halo: ODST years before. With stunning scenary and visuals that make you feel like you are living in the game, I must give this game a 10 out of 10, for I found it just as fun if not more fun than the groundbreaking Halo 3. Remember Reach!
Being a prequel to the first Halo game, the plot takes place on the human occupied planet Reach, the last human planet standing in the Covenants path towards Earth. The titular character is Noble Six, a Spartan who takes the place of a fallen Spartan on Noble Team. Investigating a colony on the planet, the team discovers the Covenant, who have infiltrated the planet in search of something. You must fight the alien forces off, while uncovering the mysteries of the planet and the events that lead to the first Halo game.
With fast paced action, new, fresher weaponry, and the addition of armor enhancements, such as jet packs and sprinting capabilities, this game was truly unique. Another great aspect of the game was its multiplayer, which had a great many new game modes, and included the firefight mode introduced in Halo: ODST years before. With stunning scenary and visuals that make you feel like you are living in the game, I must give this game a 10 out of 10, for I found it just as fun if not more fun than the groundbreaking Halo 3. Remember Reach!
Monday, October 11, 2010
New images from Batman: Arkham City
OK, so as you all know, I'm a big fan of the EIDOS company's game, Batman: Arkham Asylum. I loved the game, and especially since I'm an avid Batman fan, and comic book fan in general, I was pumped when the announcement of a sequel was announced. With plot details being released recently, I could not be more thrilled.
Following the smash hit of the first game, Batman: Arkham City takes place right after the first game. A portion of Gotham city has been sealed off and designated a part of the Arkham facility, housing some of Gothams worst criminals. When a threat emerges in the city, Batman must enfiltrate the city, and take on the likes of Two-Face, Penguin, and the return of a very ill Joker. Teaming up with Catwoman, this game is bigger and more bad-ass, but the plot itself was not what intrigued me most. The recent screenshot posted on G4 TV's website showed off a vast and expansive world, and by the looks of it, this game is going to rock. I know that this is sure to be a contender for Game of the Year, and i cannot wait for its release in 2011. Check out the pictures here!
http://g4tv.com/images/3785/Screenshots---Batman-Arkham-City/63288/
Following the smash hit of the first game, Batman: Arkham City takes place right after the first game. A portion of Gotham city has been sealed off and designated a part of the Arkham facility, housing some of Gothams worst criminals. When a threat emerges in the city, Batman must enfiltrate the city, and take on the likes of Two-Face, Penguin, and the return of a very ill Joker. Teaming up with Catwoman, this game is bigger and more bad-ass, but the plot itself was not what intrigued me most. The recent screenshot posted on G4 TV's website showed off a vast and expansive world, and by the looks of it, this game is going to rock. I know that this is sure to be a contender for Game of the Year, and i cannot wait for its release in 2011. Check out the pictures here!
http://g4tv.com/images/3785/Screenshots---Batman-Arkham-City/63288/
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands
One of the action genre most well known and popular series is the Prince of Persia series. Having begun as a 2-D, side scrolling game for the PC, the Prince of Persia has become one of the most beloved characters in the game industry. Having followed his exploits and heroism for years, I am an avid fan, and the latest game in the series proves why that is.
The game is set between the first and second Prince of Persia games, and follows the Prince as he sets out for his brother Malik's kingdom. Having been sent there by his father to learn more about leadership from his brother, the Prince arrives to find the kingdom under attack by enemy forces, and Malik's army is taking heavy losses. By the time the Prince reaches his brother, his brother has decided to release an ancient army set in King Solomon tomb. When the Princes pleas to leave the army be go unheard, the army is released, first as glowing sand and then slowing become undead soldiers, the Prince must unite the seal that kept the army locked away for so long and destroy the undead army and its demon leader, before his brother and the entire kingdom are consumed by death.
Using new powers that the Prince has never seen before, players can not only turn back time, but can now solidify water, rebuild broken down buildings, and can teleport across vast distances. Using the third-person action element, the Prince must fight legions of the undead, while traveling across a vast palace and figuring out intricate puzzles that can further him in his quest. Players can also upgrade the Prince to help in his fight.
Overall, the game has proven to be the most realistic, most fun game in the series. With realistic settings, a rich plot, and an action filled adventure, the game has proven to be a front runner for game of the year. And included in the game is a challenge mode, which allows players to take the skills earned during the game and put them to the test. I give this game a 9 out of 10, and look forward to seeing what the series next turn will bring us.
The game is set between the first and second Prince of Persia games, and follows the Prince as he sets out for his brother Malik's kingdom. Having been sent there by his father to learn more about leadership from his brother, the Prince arrives to find the kingdom under attack by enemy forces, and Malik's army is taking heavy losses. By the time the Prince reaches his brother, his brother has decided to release an ancient army set in King Solomon tomb. When the Princes pleas to leave the army be go unheard, the army is released, first as glowing sand and then slowing become undead soldiers, the Prince must unite the seal that kept the army locked away for so long and destroy the undead army and its demon leader, before his brother and the entire kingdom are consumed by death.
Using new powers that the Prince has never seen before, players can not only turn back time, but can now solidify water, rebuild broken down buildings, and can teleport across vast distances. Using the third-person action element, the Prince must fight legions of the undead, while traveling across a vast palace and figuring out intricate puzzles that can further him in his quest. Players can also upgrade the Prince to help in his fight.
Overall, the game has proven to be the most realistic, most fun game in the series. With realistic settings, a rich plot, and an action filled adventure, the game has proven to be a front runner for game of the year. And included in the game is a challenge mode, which allows players to take the skills earned during the game and put them to the test. I give this game a 9 out of 10, and look forward to seeing what the series next turn will bring us.
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction
One of the most popular, well known political and military thriller writers of all time, Tom Clancy has become extremely popular over the years with gamers for his well known Splinter Cell series, which follows Sam Fisher, a Jason Bourne-Esq character that works with a military group known as Third Echelon, battling terrorist threats and conspiracies both international and domestic.
Set three years after the death of his daughter, Sam Fisher, now retired, is contacted by an old friend, who informs him that hit men are after him. When he finds the leader of the hit men, he learns that a drug dealer named Kobin is responsible for his daughter's death, and this leads to Sam's mission in the game, which is to uncover the truth of his daughters death and the connection it has with his old line of work.
Set all around the world, this game is a fast paced, third person shooter that plays like Resident Evil but follows a Bourne Ultimatum story. Full of action-packed gameplay that involves a ton of weaponry and surreal settings that are full of life and rich textures, this game is a groundbreaking venture on the Splinter Cell series. Full of twists and turns that take the player into a million new directions, it is no wonder the series has been a fan favorite for years. And one of the things that makes this game so unique is the use of stealth and sneak attacks, which give you the ability to have quick executions and give Sam the element of surprise. Remember, Stick to the Shadows!
I must give this game a 9 out of 10, for its rich story, intricate plot twists, and action filled gameplay truly captured my mind the entire time I played. An added bonus also gives fans a prelude story for those who wish to play in a Co-op setting, and a challenge section to earn points and new weapons.
Set three years after the death of his daughter, Sam Fisher, now retired, is contacted by an old friend, who informs him that hit men are after him. When he finds the leader of the hit men, he learns that a drug dealer named Kobin is responsible for his daughter's death, and this leads to Sam's mission in the game, which is to uncover the truth of his daughters death and the connection it has with his old line of work.
Set all around the world, this game is a fast paced, third person shooter that plays like Resident Evil but follows a Bourne Ultimatum story. Full of action-packed gameplay that involves a ton of weaponry and surreal settings that are full of life and rich textures, this game is a groundbreaking venture on the Splinter Cell series. Full of twists and turns that take the player into a million new directions, it is no wonder the series has been a fan favorite for years. And one of the things that makes this game so unique is the use of stealth and sneak attacks, which give you the ability to have quick executions and give Sam the element of surprise. Remember, Stick to the Shadows!
I must give this game a 9 out of 10, for its rich story, intricate plot twists, and action filled gameplay truly captured my mind the entire time I played. An added bonus also gives fans a prelude story for those who wish to play in a Co-op setting, and a challenge section to earn points and new weapons.
Dantes Inferno
It's not often that an epic poem that has spanned the past 700 years can be made into a bloody video game. However, Visceral games has made that game with the release of Dante's Inferno, based on the Divine Comedy written by Dante Alighieri's. With stunning and graphic details, an amazing story, and the most vivid description and picture of hell every depicted, this game has beaten the odds and become a hit video game.
Set during the Crusades, Dante is a fierce warrior, who comes home from the war to find his wife, Beatrice, murdered. She appears to him as a spirit, and she knows of his sins and betrayal while at war. Before he can apologize, she is taken by Lucifer himself, and Dante must chase after her and straight into hell to find her so that she does not have to spend an eternity in hell. Traveling the 9 circles of hell, Dante must fight hoards of demons to save his beloved Beatrice.
Set as a third-person action game, players have two different weapons for an attack: the Grim Reapers Scythe and a blessed and holy Cross, which represent both the dark and light sides of Dante's personality. Players also get an option to either save the souls that have been turned into demons, or you can damn their souls even further into hell. These choices will have an outcome on how the game ends, and determine how Dante's soul will play out. Filled with famous people from history and literature, including the temptress Cleopatra and her lover Marc Antony, whom guard the Lust circles of hell. With all of this amazing gameplay an intricate story, I must give this game an 8 out of 10, for it is a great game, but has a lot of touchy and brutal language and scenes, which include a lot of sexual themes, especially in the lust level, (any heavily religious people or people who are especially uncomfortable with those types of situations, viewer discretion is advised for this game).
Set during the Crusades, Dante is a fierce warrior, who comes home from the war to find his wife, Beatrice, murdered. She appears to him as a spirit, and she knows of his sins and betrayal while at war. Before he can apologize, she is taken by Lucifer himself, and Dante must chase after her and straight into hell to find her so that she does not have to spend an eternity in hell. Traveling the 9 circles of hell, Dante must fight hoards of demons to save his beloved Beatrice.
Set as a third-person action game, players have two different weapons for an attack: the Grim Reapers Scythe and a blessed and holy Cross, which represent both the dark and light sides of Dante's personality. Players also get an option to either save the souls that have been turned into demons, or you can damn their souls even further into hell. These choices will have an outcome on how the game ends, and determine how Dante's soul will play out. Filled with famous people from history and literature, including the temptress Cleopatra and her lover Marc Antony, whom guard the Lust circles of hell. With all of this amazing gameplay an intricate story, I must give this game an 8 out of 10, for it is a great game, but has a lot of touchy and brutal language and scenes, which include a lot of sexual themes, especially in the lust level, (any heavily religious people or people who are especially uncomfortable with those types of situations, viewer discretion is advised for this game).
Mass Effect 2
In 2007, Bioware brought to video game and sci-fi fans everywhere one of the most epic, dramatic, and biggest character driven games to ever hit the market: Mass Effect. The story of Commander Shepard and the fight against the ancient Reapers has captivated the minds of millions of fans, and made it game of the year in 2007. In January 2010, Bioware upped the ante with Mass Effect 2, the groundbreaking sequel to it's Game of the Year.
Mass Effect 2 starts where the first game left off. Thanks to Commander Shepard and the Normandy crew, the Reapers were stopped, and humanity set itself as a full fledged member of the Council, a group of alien species and planets that have come together to become a galactic government. As the game begins, the Normandy is attacked by a new and unknown enemy. As the ship is obliterated, the crew escapes with their lives, save for Shepard, who stayed with the ship. Presumed dead, we come to learn that a human organization known as Cerberus has saved the Commander and have brought him back to life using cutting edge technology. When he wakes up, the remaining geth and the knew enemy are attacking the medical station he has been at for two years.
The gameplay takes place as a third-person shooter, and the mechanics are some of the smoothest gameplay that the video game industry has seen in ages. With cinematic cut scenes that make a person feel like they are at the movie theatre and a story that spans two whole discs, it is no wonder that fans have become obsessed with the series. The best part of this game is being able to control where the story goes, choosing what to say in response to questions, and making alliances with friends and enemies that will determine the final outcome of the longest, most grueling and exciting final battle. I must give this game a 10 out of 10, for it is fun, exciting, one of the most amazing stories, and the most exciting gameplay that I've seen in years.
Mass Effect 2 starts where the first game left off. Thanks to Commander Shepard and the Normandy crew, the Reapers were stopped, and humanity set itself as a full fledged member of the Council, a group of alien species and planets that have come together to become a galactic government. As the game begins, the Normandy is attacked by a new and unknown enemy. As the ship is obliterated, the crew escapes with their lives, save for Shepard, who stayed with the ship. Presumed dead, we come to learn that a human organization known as Cerberus has saved the Commander and have brought him back to life using cutting edge technology. When he wakes up, the remaining geth and the knew enemy are attacking the medical station he has been at for two years.
The gameplay takes place as a third-person shooter, and the mechanics are some of the smoothest gameplay that the video game industry has seen in ages. With cinematic cut scenes that make a person feel like they are at the movie theatre and a story that spans two whole discs, it is no wonder that fans have become obsessed with the series. The best part of this game is being able to control where the story goes, choosing what to say in response to questions, and making alliances with friends and enemies that will determine the final outcome of the longest, most grueling and exciting final battle. I must give this game a 10 out of 10, for it is fun, exciting, one of the most amazing stories, and the most exciting gameplay that I've seen in years.
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