3UP Gaming: Gaming Review, Tech, Hardware, Net Blog

Game Review: Ninja Gaiden Sigma

In the while I have owned my PS3 no game had me so hooked such as this one.This is the best PS3 game by far, and I'm a Shooter guy.Since the XBOX release of the original Ninja Gaiden lots of people have been waiting for a comeback, the comeback is here and the wait was worth it!If you don't own this game rent it, and then buy it. The game features a ninja (obviously) named Ryu Hayabusa, who's past is shrouded in mystery

Gameplay 9/10

The games controls are fairly simple to use, which is a very good thing for people like me, but the camera does not always work along with you but thats a minor issue. This game has a great storyline with a story that puts you in the middle of the whole thing.

Graphics 9.5/10

The first words I said when I saw these wonderful graphics was OH MY GOD! The graphics are beautiful truly next gen. It's like your actually following Ryu around!The graphics will leave you breathless as you move around not so ancient Japan. Strongest part of game

Sound 8.5/10

The sound is amaizing if you have the right system, plainly gorgeous! Tou can hear soft noises, noises from the beautiful pixelated surroundings (even from thoes damned bats)!The voice acting is spectaculous, and fits every single character in the game deep for buff guys not so deep for not so buff guys.

Replay 10/10

This game is no sand box game but you will certanly keep playing it over and over for its masterful story, and great entertainment value.

Overall

This game is defenantly a must buy for any PS3 owner you spend 60 bucks and recieve the video game experience of this curent system generation!

Game Review: Elder Scrolls Oblivion

Game Score and Comments: 10/10, Best RPG/Adventure/Action/category/another category...

"An Instant Classic"

Oblivion is a mix of ingenuity, advanced computing, and the love a designer places into his titles. Oblivion is without a doubt, a stupendous thrill ride that should not be missed. The exceptional graphics will awe most any gamer with a great enough PC to run it at it's full potential. The sound design and voices sound top-notch, bringing Hollywood into game designing. The game play will immerse the player for hundreds among hundreds of hours of pure enjoyment, something that cannot be achieved by a simple RPG.

Moving further on in greater detail, Oblivion carries a hefty load of gaming's finest elements, providing a truly memorable experience unlike anything before in my life. The Graphics are, jaw-dropping. When on a system powerful enough to show the game's true face, Oblivion is miraculously detailed. The textures, lighting, character models are near picture perfect, carrying a true sense of the term, Next-Generation. The load times are short; the game is massive, set in an area of 16 square miles, at the province of Cyrodill. The game area packs a variety of landscapes, from snowy mountains, to populated cities, to lush forests filled with organisms detailed beyond any simple gamer 's comprehension. The lighting and the set HDR makes the experience quite more life-like and fulfilling. The character models are much improved from TES III, Morrowind. The water details, reflections/refractions are wonderful, though just hardly missing the same level of Valve's Half-Life 2's astonishing and realistic water effects.

The sound is also quite exceptional, though it sometimes feels a bit repetitive. The composed orchestral score is mystifying, suiting the game very well. The sound effects also feel dynamic and realistic, tweaked to perfection. The voice-overs truly show what it means to bring Hollywood talent into the mix. Patrick Stewart, Sean Bean, and many other actors are brought into Oblivion, offering full-voice acting throughout the whole experience. There is no more Wikipedia type responses like in Morrowind, the game uses full voiced dialogue, with the also included asset of Subtitles. The game feels this way more dynamic, real, and engaging, truly setting it aside from its predecessors.

The game play is where Oblivion truly shines. This new addition to the Elder Scrolls franchise truly brings out the meaning of "innovation at its best." The game features a very engaging and dynamic campaign reaching across the whole province of Cyrodill, featuring about 40 of play. But, the main story is only the tip of the iceberg. Oblivion offers many side quests, mini-games, exploration, Easter-eggs, people, places, and things to see which enhances the experience and brings the total game play to over 200 hours. This, is of course, not including user-made modifications for the game, which will be out (and maybe already are) and will enhance the game by varying degrees. Also, Bethesda will be providing Official Mods for a small fee, as well as Expansion packs in the near future.

Oblivion houses The Havok Physics engine known from Half-Life 2. Every item in the game is controlled by this system, as well as the enemies and NPC 's, which are dynamically controlled by Rag-Doll physics. Radiant AI is also shown off in Oblivion, and is one of the Trade Mark features Oblivion is showing off. The NPC 's no longer have meaningless existences; they fully engage in non-scripted conversations with other NPC 's, with you, have a special list of "goals and needs" which they fulfill with their own creativity and knowledge. They also have varying personalities which determine how they accomplish their goals, talk to you and other NPC 's, and affect the environment around them.

This review only expresses the deep gratitude I have for Bethesda. For years in the making, and will forever be known as the RPG to change all RPG 's. Oblivion is a masterpiece, fully establishing it's spot in the greatest games of all time list, and truly showing developers and gamers alike what a game truly can be if the developer places enough time, energy, devotion, and creativity, pushing themselves to the limit in the goal of pleasing gamers around the world, and for their obsessing love in video game design. Once you play Oblivion, you can never go back to anything previous to it. This game is what every RPG should be like. Well, the best compliment I could personally give this game is that, years from now, gamers will look back upon this huge, revolutionary and ambitious game and say that it was a classic.

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princesses

Game Score: 10/10, Fun, innovative, and challenging!

"Link's adventures don't get much better than this. The greatest legend of Hyrule has arrived."

Four long years have passed since we were given the last console Zelda title, 2003's The Wind Waker. It has been a long, arduous wait, a rollercoaster ride of emotions. During that time, Twilight Princess has had hype unlike any game prior, a game that had to succeed on numerous levels in order to live up to the steep expectations laid out before it. Not only was it being billed as the greatest Zelda ever -- serious shoes to fill, no doubt -- but also had to show that the Wii's new controller was suited toward the "hardcore" games; against all odds, between all the criticisms and controversy between their being two versions, Twilight Princess amazingly follows through on all of its promises. Nintendo has done what one might consider the unthinkable -- achieved perfection.

The most surprising part of Twilight Princess is how well this brand-new control scheme works. The biggest changes from a regular control system including using the Wii Remote as Link's sword; when you swing the controller, Link swings his sword. While it isn't 1:1 control (meaning that Link doesn't mimic your swing), it adds a layer of immersion that you wouldn't otherwise have. I really found myself engaged with the game at multiple points. If I'm in the middle of a big battle, I'll be swinging like crazy, despite how it's not at all necessary. Simple flicks of the wrist are enough for the game to detect the motion -- and you won't get tired at any point in time.

The other half of the new controls comes in the "point-and-aim" scheme that you use with weapons like the Slingshot or Bow. You simply pull these items out and then use the Wii Remote to point exactly where you want to shoot on the screen. There is a certain level of precision and quickness to this that a normal analog controller just cannot match. It takes a little while to get used to, but the game's clever tutorial in the beginning eases you into everything nicely. If there were ever a point in which this Wii version proved it superiority, it's definitely here.

The other less worrisome addition to the game was Link's transformation in a wolf. He's always interested in getting into with his more...animalistic side. Once a bunny, now a wolf -- here, however, Link is not completely useless. Similar to A Link to the Past, whenever Link enters into the Twilight Realm, he'll transform into this beast. It is here that he'll first meet his companion on the quest, Midna. She'll assist him in many ways, not the least of which is making otherwise impossible jumps and allowing him to lock-on to multiple characters dealing one-hit kills, harder said than done for sure.

If there was one disadvantage to his transformation into a wolf, it is the inability to use any of his equipment, everything from his sword to his bow. However, he gains numerous other abilities that set him apart and make the wolf very refreshing and enjoyable to play as. The first of which is the ability to Sense; sensing allows Link to go into a darkened state where the view is very focused in front of him. He'll be able to see invisible objects or enemies or pick out certain "soft spots" in the soil. Those soft spots lead to the second new ability, that being his ability to dig. The most useful part of this is, for example, finding a locked gate and being able to open it. If there happens to be a little break in the ground to either side of that gate, Link would be able to dig and climb underneath to gain access to the other side. It sets up for a ton of unique uses and really keeps the gameplay fresh on both sides when it comes to switching back and forth between forms.

What really manages to keep everything going and feeling great, though, is what you have to do in between each dungeon in the game. Zelda games have always been about dungeon and puzzle solving. You get your task; you go to the dungeon, then another and another. Here, this is particularly because of the exceptional pacing in the game, you will do hours worth of stuff after completing a dungeon. You'll spend more time outside of these dungeons than you will in them. That's not a bad thing either because Whether that's running around the visually astonishing Twilight Realm or getting to know certain characters or locales through various tasks to complete, you'll be doing something and it'll be fun.

This is also due to the fact that the storyline in Twilight Princess is truly engaging and interesting. While the game starts off like any other typical Zelda fare, what it evolves into over the course of the game is anything but. There are tons of twists and turns that'll leave you begging for more. Keeping with that, Nintendo really worked hard on producing some characters that you get attached to and enjoy. Hyrule feels like a living, breathing world with its colorful characters and their drastically different personalities. They feel like characters, not NPCs just standing around all day. Hyrule Castle Town, for instance, is a bustling town full of people shopping, chatting, running around, and everything you might expect from a big city. On the other hand, a place like Ordon Village -- Link's hometown -- is a quiet little town, home to only a few people who you'll get to know well.

These drastically different locales contribute greatly to the enjoyment of the game too. You visit numerous places all over the land, be it the hot and dry Gerudo Desert or the chilly peaks of the Snowpeak Ruins. There is a sort of natural progression from each of these different environments. It's never an abrupt cut off that has you going from the lush green fields of Hyrule to the rain ridden desert. Each of the dungeons also stick with this refined and polished world. None of them feel like dungeons buried deep underground or completely out of the way. They're all naturally apart of the world, filled with tons of puzzles that all have logical solutions to them.

That is perhaps the best part about Twilight Princess's dungeons. They never have any puzzles that have you running all over the dungeon or something that is stupidly frustrating. They're tough, no doubt, but each has its own logical solution to it that'll give a "Duh!" feeling after you've figured it out. Every dungeon also has its own unique way to solve puzzles, so you'll never feel like you've already solved this same puzzle so many times before. It's a great way to keep the game feeling "new" the entire way through.

But, if there were ever a chink in the invincible armor of Twilight Princess it would be on the more technical side of things. The game definitely isn't going to blow you away with its technical visuals. Given the scope of the game, it's understandable that there would be some low-res textures used, but even then it's not exactly a game that is always a lesser looking game, though there are clear times when it has its low moments. But this is somewhat countered in the fact that it has incredible art direction. This is one of the best designed games in the industry today, and that really helps it to overcome its technical shortcomings.

On the other side of the coin, the music in the game serves a different purpose here than one might normally think. Instead of being significant and in your face, it primarily works as sort of a way to set the mood by softly playing in the background. Sometimes you'll notice it and others you won't, but it's always there to really invoke some kind of emotion within you. That's not to say that there is no part where the music doesn't shine, but it serves to be a little more atmospheric, and it does it really well. One instance is riding along Hyrule Field at night, the music at times feels completely absent, but then you'll hear the hum of this womanly voice and soft tune that really gives off that "nightly"-vibe. It's enjoyable, but not precisely memorable.

What could be the most astounding part of the entire game might just be the sheer enormity of Hyrule. Never before has the land of Hyrule ever been so fully realized like it is in Twilight Princess. From the first moment you step out onto the field and hear that familiar tune of day breaking, you'll be hooked on exploring every nook and cranny -- and there are plenty of them. The promises of a truly large Hyrule were delivered, but the best part about its size, exploration aside, is that it never feels empty or mundane. Unlike its older brother, The Wind Waker, there is enjoyment in simply running around and checking out the scenery. The addition of things to do and enemies to fight is a huge bonus too.

And that's just about the name of the game -- "large." This is a product of four long years of development from Nintendo's best minds. What you're going to get in Twilight Princess is not just another Zelda game, but a truly unique experience that will leave you scratching for more, even after 50 long hours of venturing. This is not simply the best Zelda game ever, but the best game ever. Everything from the clever puzzles and unique dungeon designs to the engaging and well developed characters, this is the best of the best, the magnum opus of Shigeru Miyamoto. If there were ever a reason to hand over $300 to a cashier at your favorite retailer, this is that reason. Twilight Princess is truly the definitive game of this industry; it's a work of art that Nintendo will be hard pressed to top. This is the game to dethrone Ocarina. This is The Legend of Zelda.

Final Score -- 10.0

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (Third Person Role Playing)



Game Score and Comments: 10/10, Give the old man 250 credits for medicine, or hold a blaster to his head and take everything? You decide!

For many, many years I've been an avid fan of Star Wars. Not as long as some, but long enough. Also, for many years, I've played a plethora of Star Wars games. In fact, there are only a rare few that I haven't played either because I couldn't or just didn't want to. From Jedi Knight to Yoda Stories to Pit Droids to Rogue Squadron, I've set my hands on a LOT of Star Wars games. However, not a single one of these games compares to the sheer volume of quality that is produced by Knights of the Old Republic.

Ironically, it's a game that takes place at a period of time where there were no Star Wars movie characters or events to use that turns out to be the best one. Also ironically, I've given this game 10/10, had it for only a few days and already dedicated over 12 hours into it, am barely even what seems like 1/3rd into it.

All in all, I can't sit and play a turned based RPG. My style of game is more tailored to what many other gamers prefer: action, fast-pased and constant. Which is why I prefered many of the other Star Wars games. However, with KOTOR, you'll find that not only is the game full of action and excitement, but the flow of the story and the endless side-quests more than makeup for whatever ''lack of action'' there possibly could be in this RPG.

As I said, I'm only 12 hours into it, so I haven't even come close to completing the title yet, but I've completed enough that I know that if you're a Star Wars fan, an RPG fan, or just someone who enjoys a GOOD GAME, you'll love KOTOR.

GAMEPLAY: 10/10
This game plays very simply - and even though the breakdown of controls can appear a little daunting from the instruction manual - it's easy enough to play this game with the mouse and a couple keys. The shortcuts help, but you can tailor them accordingly. KOTOR is also very easy to navigate through. Bringing up specific menus is simple enough, and finding the right place to go is just a click away. With one key touch, you can reference your team's inventory, your personal inventory, your missions and related items, a brief dialog archive, and your map. It's that easy.

So, while interacting with the game is easy, interacting with the environment is even easier. Just point and click. A door, a container, a character.. Just click on them. The simplicity of the interface for navigating throughout the game and in the environments is a big plus for this game.

Another part of the gameplay which is very well done is the combat system. As this game is an RPG, the battle system - as well as other facets of the game - are based off of the d20 rules for a genuine pen-and-paper Star Wars RPG. So, combat is determined by rolls - none of which you see - and progresses from there. While you have no rolling to do, your involvement is still pretty critical. KOTOR uses a turn-by-turn based combat system, which - however - can appear to be real-time in it's flow.

When entering combat, you can pause the game to choose up to four actions to take place on your enemy or enemies. When unpaused, your character will carry out the tasks on the quere and use basic attacks on the enemy until you choose another action for them. Actions consist of attacks, speciality attacks (i.e. advanced attacks), using items, throwing grenades, etc. It's all done smoothly, and once you get the hang of it, you can just avoid the pause part alltogether and just point and click away until your victims are dead.

One of the best parts about KOTOR is the underlying Force theme. Of course, the Jedi are very prominent. And while this is an RPG - and there are a few endings and multiple directions you can take to get there - I've only explored the Jedi path so far. However, all gamers will have points relative to Light Side or Dark Side regardless of use of the Force. Certain responses and actions with NPCs will determine how your character stands. Of course, you can always change your mind. Personally, I started off as a moderately light-side fellow and, upon becoming a Jedi, began my decent to the Dark Side.

It's these aspects about KOTOR which make it such an incredible game, and so much fun. Definitely the best Star Wars game I've played, and easily one of my favorite games period.

GRAPHICS: 10/10
While, of course, your graphics are limited to the quality of your graphics card, everything is delivered - according to me - spectacularly. The environments are huge and detailed, the alien characters are excellently done, and even your fellow humans look pretty good - though not the best human models ever. One of the most well done things in this game is the motion of the characters mouths. It's one of those few games which accurately seems to portray the proper movement of a character's lips to what they're saying. That impressed me. And I'm not easily impressed. Hey, look! A Jawa!

AUDIO: 10/10
Another one of this games mammoth strong points comes in it's audio presentation. Sound effects, the key element to any Star Wars game, are flawlessly executed. You know a blaster bolt when you hear it, just as you know the roar of a ships engines, the hum of a lightsaber, and the blast of hyperspace as your little vessel roars into it. These are usually well done in Star Wars games. But, the biggest element in which KOTOR succeeds is it's voice acting. It's not often where you find a game that so successfully delivers well-acted voiceovers. This game does it on many, many levels. The actors are so talented that you get a very good idea about who the character is simply by HOW they say what they have to say. Kudos to the voice-over crew at KOTOR.

PRESENTATION: 10/10
I'm sure you see where this is going. Anyway, for overall presentation, this is Star Wars at it's finest. While games are good at capturing the Star Wars landscape, Knights of the Old Republic manages to offer up numerous WORLDS of Star Wars environments. Each of which is designed beautifully. The many different places your character will go feel, from top to bottom, like they belong in Star Wars. And isn't that what it's all about?

REPLAY VALUE: 10/10
KOTOR wins this crown on it's numerous endings, hands down. Not to mention that every single thing your characters says can have a tremendous impact on how the story will flow from point A to point B, as well as how your character will develop. While, for all intents and purposes, the story does follow a linear path to get to it's ultimate ending, the roads you take to get there are where the fun really lies. In fact, I made sure to have numerous save game points so that I can replay parts of the game as a Dark Jedi and a Light Jedi, and even in-between should I want to. KOTOR, while it lacks an online feature - which would have been great - makes up for it with one of the best single player games in years.

OVERALL (not an average): 10/10
See? I knew you saw where this was going. Yes, KOTOR deserves straight 10s across the board. And while some gamers may have problems with this game, due to the fact that any game which requires a lot of horsepower to push it can prove taxing on some machines, it shouldn't be turned away from. If you have any way to do so, try KOTOR on your computer so that you know it works. And if so, BUY IT. You will not regret owning this game. I can assume that because you took the time to finish reading this review, so you must like something Star Wars. Either that, or your a glutton for punishment. Even so, that's a greater excuse to buy this game! What better than a game you wouldn't like to punish yourself with? Erm.. It appears I've gotten off on a tangent. Anyway, I'll leave it at this: Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic will be the most fun you've ever had with Star Wars gaming in a long, long time. Period.

Ok guys, with this review I'm gonna give you a real treat. I am gonna tell you all about the worst game ever made. And at least 76% of the public will agree with me...Ha!

Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing (Driving, Racing, Truck)

Game Score: 0/10, Wait a sec, this is a game????

It's hot inside the truck cab. You've been sitting there for at least five minutes, giving off the sweet stench of sweat and feeling the upholstery meld itself to your pants. The sun is beaming its rays onto the road in front of you, painting the desert in an unearthly bright glare. The windows are down, but there isn't a breeze worth a damn. The little hula girl figurine on your dashboard looks like it's about collapse into steaming pile of liquid plastic. Above the dull roar of the big rig's engine, you can hear the CB radio crackle with the sounds of other drivers toiling away their existences for a paycheck. Unlike those poor bastards, your only job today is to race, and race hard. Gunning the engine, you zoom forth with your multi-ton payload trailing behind, praying that you'll win a competition that has no point whatsoever.

Roughly one second into your race, reality suddenly freezes, stopping your truck cold in the middle of that sun-blasted wasteland. After you peel your face off the bug-spattered windshield, you'll behold a gigantic golden trophy cup floating in midair. As you shield your eyes from its unnatural gilded glow, you'll notice the proclamation “YOU'RE WINNER !” floating beneath it. That's right. You won the race before it even began. However, that trophy isn't some kind of divine blessing, but the symbol of your gaming damnation. You aren't participating in an illegal race for fame and glory, but are playing Big Rigs: Over The Road Racing. But if that revelation isn't enough to stop you from turning off the game, ripping out the disc and setting it aflame, you'll reset the race and begin the masochistic ritual anew.

Assuming that you actually get somewhere (apparently the game can't tell the difference between leaving and crossing the finish line), you'll be whisked away into the most surreal race of your life. At least, it's supposed to be a race; your 18-wheeled adversary doesn't feel the need for speed, opting instead to languish at the starting point the entire time to ensure your victory. If you try to crash into him a la Burnout, you'll end up barreling through him like a diesel-chugging ghost. Considering the non-existent hit detection, you essentially are; you can literally drive through any poorly rendered house, tree, or any other obstacle with no opposition whatsoever. Even the sturdiest of bridges seem to be made of truck-consuming quicksand. Thus the races involve little more than meandering over one of the game's five tracks (one of which is a field of white nothingness that stretches on forever before crashing the game) and ending the race at your leisure.

Unfortunately, Big Rigs doesn't have any realistic driving at all. Shoddy control issues aside (because we all know that the keyboard arrows are so much more practical than peripherals), there are absolutely no physics involved. You'll be able to accelerate your massive rig far beyond the missing speed limit in only a matter of seconds. If that gets boring, you can simply tap in the opposite direction and have the truck stop sans inertia. But even if you somehow lose control, don't worry; your truck's hidden magical abilities allow it to speed across any surface, regardless of its angles and inclines. You'll be able to zoom up vertical cliff faces, crushing pixilated pebbles and splotchy grass as you launch toward a clouded midday sky. In fact, you'll be able to transcend the boundaries of the game's dimensions and explore the vast gray space that seems to lurk just beyond the fabric of gaming reality.

If there's some existential meaning behind such blankness, you probably won't have the patience to ponder over it. Big Rigs: Over The Road Racing is a gaming travesty. There are no redeeming qualities whatsoever; it's a mere husk of what could have been a fun racing title. Since your opponent is always asleep at the wheel, success is always assured. At least, if the random automatic victory screen doesn't pop up first. The game only has four playable tracks that offer nothing more than a smattering of see-through towns, grassy terrain that has no respect for the laws of physics and a mass of gray matter that'll become all too familiar after a few minutes of mindless keyboard tapping. But when you look past all of the glaringly obvious flaws and utterly ridiculous gameplay, one question remains: Why?

Please don't buy this game, and if you do, prepare to sign in for mental rehab....

Fable (Action, Hack and Slash RPG)

Game Score and Comments: 7/10, Doesn't live up to the hype, but overall its pretty decent.

"Good or evil? The choice is yours"

It has been a long time since the announcement of Fable/Project Ego. It was first called Project Ego then later on it was renamed to Fable. There have been numerous delays and it has been a painful wait. I have been waiting patiently for this game to be release and now I finally had a chance to play it due to its recent release. Big Blue Box the developer behind Fable had many ambitious ideas. Due to these many ambitious ideas Fable became one of Xbox most anticipated titles. There was tons of hype following this game throughout the years. Some of those ideas never made it to the game as development progress. Peter Molyneux promised many things; in fact he promised that Fable would be the greatest rpg ever. Is it in fact the greatest rpg ever or is it the biggest bust ever, find out in my review of Fable.

As most people are aware of, Xbox is capable of some of the most gorgeous graphics for this generation of games. Fable offers a beautiful environment coupled with some great animations. The world of Fable or better known as Albion offers a rich and detail environment. The water affects are very nice looking, the rain effects are also gorgeous. Character models are nicely detailed. The animations are simply gorgeous. Everything from the animations of magic, to the sword fighting are all very beautiful. The one problem however is the frame rate. For the most part Fable's frame rate is steady and smooth, but sometimes it does lag a bit. Although Fable has some gorgeous graphics the minor frame rate issues dropped a point off.

Fable, since its first announcement was praised for its many ambitious gameplay ideas. While many ideas were cut what is left still makes Fable a worthy game to purchase. There are some ambitious ideas that remain that makes you realize how good this game is. The combat is basically a hack and slash game, you press a single button and slash your way through foes. However when you get a few combos in, a icon on the bottom right screen will flash which allows you to unleash a powerful strike. As you progress through the game the combat system does get a bit repetitive. You will find yourself just smashing the X and B buttons. Even though the combat does get a bit repetitive there are still enough things to do to make you play the game through. There are some impressive magic that can be used. My personal favorite is the lightning strike. You can upgrade your spells throughout the course of the game. You can also use bow and arrows, which plays very well. I like how it controls and it feels very smooth when you use your bow and arrow. While the combat is fun it is not the strong point in terms of gameplay. It is the expression system and the interaction with NPCs. As you go through the game you will earn different expressions such as farting, the middle finger, laughing, flirting and etc. It is a joy to walk up to NPCs and try different expressions to see their reactions. If you fart or flip them off you get a negative reaction from them. If you flirt with them they could show interest in you or give you an excuse such as, “ I am washing my hair”. You can get them to fall in love with you through flirting, giving gifts, show them your manly muscles and etc. A bonus is if an NPC gets on your nerves you can kill them, or at least most of them. Be careful though if you kill them in a town then you have to pay a large fee. Marriage is also possible, but you have to impress the girl by doing the right things. If she shows interest a heart appears over her head and if it gets larger it means she is becoming more and more in love with you.

Like the amazing Kotor, Fable also allows for good and evil decisions. While Fable dwells deeper into the good and evil decision I still feel Kotor's choices were more enjoyable. In Fable it is also pretty obvious, you can protect kids from bullies, you can snitch on a cheating husband to his wife. You can do evil deeds by killing NPC's when you see them on the road. For the most part Fable is very linear and you won't get loss very often. For most of the game you will get quest cards. You can make a boast before your quest that earns you more money. With the completion of quests you will earn money and renown. Through the game there are many things that you can do that is extremely fun. For example the first thing I did was punt the chickens in Fable. It was hilarious seeing the chickens fly. You can also chop an enemy's heads off and kick it away like a soccer ball. Another thing that I really liked was spending time in the towns and talking to NPC's and hearing there reactions to my expressions. The A.I in Fable is fairly good. The game is in no way difficult; you probably won't die very much. I did however find some of the enemies to be aggressive. Also as you become more well known in the world of Albion people will respect you and fear you.

Customization and story are also an important part of an rpg. Customization in Fable is very deep as you can choose which area you want to excel in. Do you want to be a powerful magician, stealthy or do you want to have raw power. The game allows you to choose which area you want to excel in with points you earn throughout the game. You can also choose what your character wears. You can wear clothes of bandits, magicians or armors that portray you as a powerful warrior. You can buy titles such as arseface or deathbringer. As you make your choices whether evil or good it will effect how your character will look. The way you look revolves on how you play. The story in Fable isn't anything special, but it is fairly good. Your family is basically killed by bandits and your off to revenge and on your way to revenge you will do quest and etc. Overall Fable offers a solid combat system that does get a bit repetitive, great character customization and a fairly good story.

Fable offers amazing music and amazing voice acting. From the opening scene, which was done by Danny Elfman and throughout the game, the music really sets the tone. The music even enhances the game and makes it that much more enjoyable. The music really sets the mood and really portrays the atmosphere well. The voice acting is also incredible. Each character has a unique voice and it really fits the game. Overall the game offers amazing voice acting and music.

Fable's main quest is extremely short, even if you do most of the quest and spend time talking to the NPC's you can still beat the game rather quickly. I beat the game in 14 1/2 hours with only a few side quests left to do. This is truly disappointing for an rpg, especially if you consider that this game has been in development for so many years. To say the least I am truly disappointed in Fable's length. There is a little incentive to play it again if you want to see the differences between good and evil. Even with that the extremely short play time hurts Fable a bit, although the game is short it is still highly enjoyable the time you do spend playing it.

Fable was not everything it was supposed to be, but what is there is still very good. The music and voice acting was superb. The graphics were great. The gameplay got a bit repetitive, but overall still a very good experience. The ability to built your character to be a big buff guy or a magic wielding sorcerer really shows how innovative the game was despite the fact that so many things were taken out. Like many others I wish Fable would have had more of the promised features, but what is still in there will still give you a more then good game.

It has been a long wait for Fable and was it worth it? I would have to say no, Fable is a enjoyable game, but not without flaws. While the combat isn't the greatest the customization of your character and the numerous things to do makes Fable an enjoyable game. Is Fable the greatest rpg as Peter Molyneux puts it? No it isn't, not even close. Is Fable the biggest flop in the history? Definitely not, but it is still disappointing considering the amount of hype and time that went into this game. While Fable isn't the best rpg ever it is however worth it too pick up. I would suggest renting it first because it is an extremely short game, but it is still an enjoyable game in its own rights.

Pros
+ Great soundtracks
+ Beautiful environments
+ Outstanding voice acting
+ Solid combat system
+ Deep Customization
+ Good and evil choices

Cons
- Very short quest
- Lacking story
- Minor frame rate issues
- Repetitive after a while

Super Smash Bros Melee (Action, Fighting Multiplayer)

Game Score & Comments: 10/10, Awesome game to play at parties, and WARNING!: YOU WILL BECOME ADDICTED AND LOSE SLEEP!

"It's been over a year since I got this game..."

Introduction:

...And I'm still playing it. SSB:M was my introduction to the Gamecube, and it remains my favorite game on it to this day. I can't stop playing it, even with newer games out. Is that good or bad? I'm not sure. But I do know that this game is outstanding. So why is this game so good? What makes it stand above the rest, even two years after its release? Let's have a look.

Story: NA/10

This is Nintendo's premiere fighting game...But it has no real story. Basically, it's the result of Nintendo fans debating over which character could beat whom in a fight. Who wouldn't want to see Mario stomp on Link, or see Pikachu get clobbered by Fox's Arwing? This game is based off its predecessor, Super Smash Bros. The goal of the the match is to damage your opponent and to send them flying from the ring. Sounds straightfoward, right? There are so many ways to deal out damage to your adversaries, various items from previous Nintendo games, or just using good ol' hand to hand combat. The more damage you dish out, the further your opponent will fly. Eventually, your opponent should fall off the stage and into oblivion, thus winning you the match. Straightfoward concept, but the detail of this game provide for deep, enjoyable gameplay.

Graphics: 9.5/10
The graphics are incredible. Simply incredible. Where do I begin? Just have a look at the game intro. I'd have to say that the scene with Sheik looking into the night sky was of the finest graphics I've ever seen. How about during actual gameplay? Near-perfect animations and excellent framerate, with highly detailed characters and and stages. You can zoom in and see the denim overalls that Mario wears, or the way Marth's cape flows with the wind supposedly flowing through the stage. Or how about the flowing water in the Fountain of Dreams stage? Or that awesome big screen in the background of Pokemon Stadium? Link's sword? The lighting effects on Brinstar? The flame effects from Roy's sword? There is so much detail in this game that there is no possibly way to describe it all here. It's good stuff.

Gameplay: 10/10
I've been playing this game for over a year. That either signifies that I'm obsessed with this game, or that the gameplay is outstanding. I'm thinking a little of both. This game took a huge jump from its predecessor on the N64. New fighting modes, mini games, characters, button layout, everything here has been improved to provide a more enjoyable and complex playing experience. It's quite addictive, actually. The sheer number of trophies to collect and characters and stages to unlock draws you toward playing more. This is the game to have when friends come over. There is nothing better than doing a victory pose after annihilating your best friend in a hard-fought stock match. There are few games with a multiplayer that has the potential for so many variations. Stock, Coin, and Time matches are just the beginning. What makes this game so successful is that the same thing never happens twice. Each match is unique in its character variations and item drops that there is literally no match that is exactly alike. That being said, you can use the Item Switch screen, which controls what items appear, if any at all. If you get tired of a particular match, create a different kind of match and see how you like it. The gameplay is far more technical than its predecessor. You can hold down buttons to build up strength for your attacks, dodge attacks midair as well as on the ground, etc. The controls provide for amazing gameplay. If you don't like its excellent graphics, you will likely appreciate its outstanding gameplay instead.

Characters: 10/10
Have a look at the roster of playable characters. Every popular Nintendo character from their respective franchises appear in this game. It's kind of a given that this game would include all the characters from the previous game, but the old characters have been vastly improved with new moves and effects. When choosing your character, you somewhat take on the role of the character you're playing. After all those Mario games over the years, who wouldn't want to see Luigi do a flying headbutt? Or get the chance to play as the great Ganondorf or Mewtwo? Unlike some fighting games which people don't seem to get, it is actually fun to play as these characters. These are characters that you've seen on many an occasion, some of which have never been playable until this game. Some of which haven't been seen outside of Japan. These characters define Nintendo as a lasting franchise over the years. The only thing I don't like about some of the extra characters is that they are essentially clones. However, these clones provide enough variation in them to provide for unique gameplay with respect to the characters they're modeled after. Who cares if Roy is essentially Marth with flame effects? There is enough difference between the two for gamers to recognize it. Look, you have 25 of Nintendo's finest at your fingertips. Even if some of them are almost the same, it's not going to stop you from having fun.

Extras: 10/10
There is not a game to my knowledge that has this many unlockables, playing modes, and collectibles. There's so much to this game at its default settings, you don't even realize that there is so much more to be discovered. There are almost thirty stages total some of which take some effort to unlock. The extra characters are also challenging to obtain, but definitely worth it. You can listen to the song tracks for the game, switch items, unlock new events to be beaten. And of course, let's not forget the trophies. 293 trophies are to be obtained in this game through various methods. Whoever was in charge of creating the trophies for this game, I would like to shake their hand. There is a trophy for almost every Nintendo character in existence. Not only that, but each trophy is highly detailed and has its own little description with an explanation of the characters' history. Excellent stuff.

Replayablity: 10/10

This game was one of the first to be released after the Gamecube launched back in 2001. Yet it remains arguably the most popular game for the console. Why? I think a lot of it is due to this games' replayability. You have 25 characters with different moves, abilities, and variations. There are almost thirty unique and challenging levels. There are five difficulty settings which provide a challenge to even some of the most wary gamers. There are several mini-games, including Home Run Contest, Break the Targets, and Multi-Man Melee. A gamer could spend months trying to break their own records, or playing competitively with their friends. Multiplayer allows for dozens, if not hundreds, of variations to create new and unique matches. There are literally hundreds of things to find and unlock in this game; finding them all will keep a gamer busy for quite a while.

Sound/Music: 10/10
If you've ever played a Nintendo game from one of their popular franchises, chances are you'll recognize a remix from a game in SSB:M. These remixes are astounding. Hearing the theme from Legend of Zelda is such detail is amazing. Let's not forget the superb Pokemon remix with a choir backing up the powerful orchestra theme. Not to mention all the little extra songs, like Saria's theme from Legend of Zelda or Balloon Fighter. The character voices are excellent as well. I like the detail that was placed on the individual voices. Marth and Roy speak fluent Japanese in their poses. Jigglypuff's high pitched battle-cries are unmistakable. The only thing really off about the character voices was that of the Star Fox team. They're not quite the same as the character voices from Starfox 64, but who really cares? The fact that they add to this game is fine with me. As far as sound/music goes, I can assure you that you will enjoy the Sound Test option once you unlock it.

Overall: 10/10
This was my first game on the Gamecube. It's still the one I play the most. This game blew my mind in terms of gameplay and detail. This game is a must-have for any Nintendo fan, as well as anyone who owns a Nintendo Gamecube. No collection would be complete without this game. This game defines fun, addictive gameplay. not that that's a bad thing. Super Smash Bros. Melee is an outstanding piece of work that displays Nintendo's finest.

Pros:
Highly detailed graphics
Outstanding gameplay

Cons:
This game invokes obsession.

To Buy or Not To Buy:

You're kidding, right? As a Nintendo's Player's Choice Game, this game has already been marked down to thirty bucks, if not twenty by now. This game is still worth 49.99, if not more, IMO. Go and play it. If you don't like it, just return it. Nothing too hard about that.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix: (Fantasy, Adventure)

Game Score & Comments: 8.1/10, Great improvement over the previous games, could use some work though.

"If you see this game , "Accio" it to you !"

Have you ever sat down and said to yourself , I'd like to be at hogwarts? Or said , I wonder what it's like to really use a wand ? Well, if you get this game...both of those questions will be answered in a jiffy! In this version of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, you actually use the Wii remote as a wand ! And for the first time ever, the castle is the exact same size as the set for all of the Harry Potter movies ! Well , lets move on to the review.

Game Play--> 9/10 This time around , its not "do this , then go directly and do this" its kinda " when you feel like it , go and do this". By this I mean, you do everything in your own time. Some people are calling this HP game a GTA type game. Meaning that there is incredible free roam. Go anywhere anytime you want in the HUGE castle. Also, this time there is a streaming environment. Which means.... NO LOAD TIMES ! Also , almost everything is fully interact-able. So, if you see a bench in the courtyard you dont like, Wingardium Leviosa it over into the Great Hall. The game play is the best the series has ever had, but its only drawback is the length of the game itself. I beat the main story in 3 days.

Music--> 10/10 The music in this game is incredible! EA managed to get the ability to use "Hedwigs Theme" from the movies in this game. The music is great, sometime I just left the game on to listen to Hedwigs theme and the other great music's of this game. The music was very very well done on this game.

Controls--> 7/10 If you were planning on getting this game for any other system other than the wii, I bet you would be drawn back last minute to purchase this version just for the controls. No longer is it " Press x to cast wingardium leviosa" now its " list the wii remote up to cast wingardium leviosa". This is great because sometimes you really feel like a wizard. Even the wii remote feels like a wand because of its shape and the movements that you make to cast the spells. I think the controls would be the main selling point for this version of the game.

Graphics-->8/10 Now, I bet I am going to get some disagreements from some people on this next one. Alot of people are saying that this game is nothing in graphics compared to Ps3 Xbox360 version. And, I bet they are right. But, with the Wii's graphics processors and the wii's standard of games this game is a master piece indeed. The castle looks great especially from the outside. When you are going up the Main Staircase and see all the paintings on the walls you can really compare it to great master-pieces that are already on the Wii such as The Legend Of Zelda: Twilight Princess which was regarded for its graphics. My personal opinion is that this game's graphics are the best on the Wii. Thats right, better than any other game.

So, were you going to the store to buy this game, but you suddenly had second thoughts? Maybe you thought it would be horrible? Gimmicky? As some gamers put it " another movie game that trys to milk its franchise for all its worth" ? Well its not, this game is a game of all games. A master piece to be thought of in years to come. Yes, that is how good this game really is. So if you see this game in a store, pull out your Wii Remote and say ACCIO !

Ratchet and Clank: Size Matters

Game Score & Comments: 7.5/10, Not bad addition for your PSP, nice game.

After saving the galaxy from unspeakably wicked aliens not once, not twice, not thrice, but FOUR TIMES on the PS2, Ratchet finally has some time to take a well-earned break from the hero-gig on the PSP. He decides to bask in the radiant sunshine of the wonderfully scenic beaches of planet Pokitaru, without a care in the world, but as always, with his faithful robotic sidekick, Clank, in tow. Being a famous face and all, he is soon recognised by an adorable little girl by the name of Luna. Not wanting to pass up a chance to show off his superb skills to a devoted fan, Ratchet legs it across the sand displaying his incredible athletic finesse, and trademark wrenching and gun toting. But a hero can never safely rest on their laurels. Soon enough, a new terror appears in the form of the Technomites, and they kidnap the helpless Luna in plain sight for all to see. A damsel in distress needs rescuing, and Ratchet & Clank are the only duo capable of doing so. Thus they embark on yet another intergalactic run-around, later discovering that a conspiracy to bring them down brews malevolently behind the scenes.

The time spent frolicking around the beach serves to introduce us to Ratchet's control scheme that has been modified to suit what the PSP is capable of providing. If you are a long-time fan of the PS2 games, it will take a while to adjust to the new layout, but once you have made it out of this introductory area and are zipping across to other weird and wonderful locales, you'll be right at home with doing everything from quick-selecting weapons to strafing while shooting. It is a good thing that the controls are as tight as they are, allowing you to hop around the place with a champion's grace. It means that you won't be distracted as you zip across the beautiful landscapes, from soaring skyways to moonlit meadows to disturbingly trippy dream worlds.

Ratchet games have always prided themselves with their focus on heavy artillery. Size really doesn't matter in this department; during his travels, Ratchet will arm himself with an assortment of destructive weaponry including a Concussion Cannon that fires a wide burst of shrapnel, useful with crowd control, and an Incinerator that heats battles up by inflicting fiery pain. There are also a few joke-type devices such as the Agents of Doom, diminutive, but lethal robot bodyguards, and the Mootator which turns enemies into walking slabs of prime beef. In keeping with the recent Ratchet: Gladiator, you are able to upgrade any of the weapons. This is done through an experience point system, so the more you use a specific gun, the stronger it will become; you start out with just a paltry pistol, but time and dedication will see it turn into the semi-automatic Dual Lacerators that are nothing to be scoffed at. There are 13 different tools of mass destruction in all, and you won't be disappointed with any of them.

But this game is called Ratchet and Clank. Surely that little smart-alec of a recycled piston has got some star power here, right? Well, after his backseat role in Gladiator, Clank returns in fine form with his own selection of solo sprees. The metal dwarf is able to go where no Ratchet can go, sneaking into temples through potholes, and commanding a small army of look-a-like Gadgebots to activate switches or ravage any other teeny-tiny bots. When Clank obtains the ability to transform into a colossal Goliath, you can fly him through solar system, laying waste to the barrage of fighter crafts that impede your path. These flight sections play out like the classic Star Fox games or the Gummi Ship sequences featured in Kingdom Hearts II. They are packed with a simply dazzling amount of eye-candy – brilliant neon sparks, fantastic explosions and euphoric bursts of glorious technicolour. Not that the rest of the game looks bad, far from it, but these levels will make your jaw drop, and your PSP's if it had one too. It is a crying shame there just isn't enough Clank-time, because it's so good!

There's actually not enough Ratchet here as well. Size Matters is a far cry from the length of the ride that went with the PS2 outings. Don't be surprised if you manage to reach the final boss within 5 hours of play, even if you don't rush it. There are of course some mini-games to bide time: Skyboard races are an interesting diversion that grow old fast due to the lack of tracks, but the various Clank Challenges are quite entertaining. There are 3 kinds of games here: a destruction derby free-for-all that puts you in an odd assortment of vicious vehicles; a capture-the-robot game of basketball where you can punch out or lob explosives at opponents in order to stop them from scoring; and my favourite which has you assigning instructions to Gadgebots as they make their way to the goal box in a 2D maze. These parts play out just like a retro Lemmings game, and you have to instruct when the little robots should swing across gaps, build a bridge, or detonate to provide a pitfall for the good of the rest of the Gadgebots. Again, these Clank-featured bits are far too few in numbers, and it should only take the better part of 2 hours to fly through them all.

Once peace has been restored to the galaxy, in less time than it takes to roast a turkey and mash some potatoes, where to next for our nimble pair? If you are able to take this game online you may indulge in some head-to-head deathmatching, not dissimilar to what Gladiator offered to us not too long ago. Wireless support for up to 4 players has also been added to appease those without such privileges. However, if a solo adventure is all that you are eyeing, Size Matters may serve to disappoint. You can replay the game in challenge mode, retaining your existing arsenal so that you are able to fully max out the capabilities of each one, but there isn't really a point to it seeing as the enemies don't get any tougher to compensate. And how many times do you think you'll be able to play through the same linear, 5 hour (or less) jaunt?

Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters, for all intents and purposes, was created to capture the essence of the blockbuster PS2 quadrilogy in a miniature guise for the off-shoot PSP handheld. It was a large undertaking, but the results are nothing short of amazing. Graphically it can't be beat by anything currently available for this genre, and despite a soundtrack that's arguably inferior to previous instalments, the audio is nonetheless as crisp and clear as you'd expect from the furry animal and his robot buddy. What ultimately drags it down is the lack of content. The portable design lends itself well to more mini-games to make up for the brief quest, but unfortunately in High Five Games' debut Ratchet production, most of the effort was concentrated on imitating the look, but not the complete feel of the inspirational series. Still, it's a highly enjoyable blast-a-thon before all the smoke settles.

Gears of War (3rd Person Shooter)

Game Score & Comments: 9.7/10, Buy the game, period...

The wait is finally over as “Emergence Day” has arrived and the post-apocalyptic action begins - Gears of War is now out on the Xbox 360! Gears has been highly anticipated for almost two years now, well before the 360 itself was out. Microsoft has been pushing this as the must-have killer app for the 360 much like how they did for Halo on the original Xbox. Just like Halo, Gears somehow manages to live up to the hype.

Oddly, the main story background for Gears isn't readily available when you start up the campaign; instead, a cut scene pops up after letting the title screen set idle for a minute that explains the story. It is the distant future, what becomes known as “Emergence Day” arrives where the alien horde known as the Locust emerge from the planet, Sera's crust and wipes out a quarter of humanity. That's about all it explains, which is kind of weak but it sets the overall tone for gameplay, I just wish the developers could have incorporated this into the opening of the campaign as well.

If you decide to not to wait at the title screen and jump into the campaign, you instantly go to COG soldier Dom breaking our main anti-hero Marcus Fenix out of prison to go back to work and finish the fight against the Locust. Marcus was imprisoned for treason after disobeying an order so he could attempt to (and fail at) save his father's life. The top dogs at COG don't want Marcus back, but at this point in the war they'll take any help they can get.

Dom is the right-hand man of Marcus and is the only guy that is present at all times in your four man squad throughout the five act journey. After the first act two more characters, Baird and Cole (think Bear from the film Armageddon) finish up rounding off your main four man squad. There is also Anya, a female tactician who is constantly in your earpiece setting you up with escape routes and such a lot like Cortana did in Halo. Don't think of this as your typical Ghost Recon-esque squad based shooter however, and don't think of this as a run-n-gun fest like Halo. The developers at Epic are labeling Gears as a “stop-n-pop” style action game; the name is because many objects allow you to duck behind it for cover.

With a couple exceptions, the weaponry appears to be very basic in Gears yet it still brings a lot to the playing field. Future technology allows a chainsaw of all things to be attached to an assault rifle which allows for some very gory, yet extremely satisfying up close and personal death blows. There is also your standard sniper rifle, shotgun and pistols which act how you'd expect them to and Locust versions of these weapons as well. The grenades have an on screen trajectory arc that predicts where they'll land, which proves handy because they are needed to vanquish “emergence holes” that the Locust erupt from. The main standout weapon is the Hammer of Dawn which shoots down a satellite beam of energy once an area is targeted outside for a few seconds.

When I first heard of this description of gameplay I was skeptical, but I became a fan within minutes of immersing myself in the visceral action. Health is implemented in a way similar to Call of Duty 2 where after taking enough damage you'll see the Gears skull logo pop up and will get darker indicating you're about to die, just take cover and hide until the logo goes away and you'll be back at full health. If you die, you got a certain amount of time until your allies can “revive” you back into battle. The way the action is presented and controls is like very few games before it. Going in and out of cover is as easy with a flick of the A button. Also when holding down the A button your character can run across the battlefield, but the camera follows your character like an actual cameraman is running right behind you which adds a new intense atmosphere into gameplay that I can't say many other games have achieved. Rather than dreading battle after battle, I anticipate it as I plan out how I can flank or outmaneuver the Locust and savor every precious kill.

I have read some people complaining about Gears length saying it is too short of a game. I went through it on Hardcore (medium) difficulty and it took me about a good ten hours to complete, though I did have a couple parts that I had to repeat several times due to my ill-conceived battle tactics. With that said I feel Gears is the perfect length, it has enough action and places you in a variety of different atmospheres to keep the experience fresh to the very end.

I also disagree with people who say Gears has a cliffhanger ending. Without spoiling anything, Gears actually ends with a feeling of overall accomplishment, and just tosses in a little something to leave the door open for the inevitable sequel much like the original Halo did. One of my few qualms with the campaign is your next objective only appears once during gameplay and cannot be accessed at any other time which proved to be a nuisance a couple of times as a few battles left me sidetracked and lost until I unintentionally stumbled upon my next goal.

Gears does have a very solid multiplayer component thanks in part to the always-excellent Xbox Live. First off co-op play is here in full force in split screen, system link, and Xbox Live options. There are three multiplayer modes, Warzone is your basic deathmatch, Assassination makes a named captain of each team the primary target in order to win, and Execution allows only close range kills such as death by chainsaw and curb-stomps. Only up to eight people can compete online simultaneously, more would have been nice but eight players seems to be the sweet spot with Gears as planning your attack with your allies proves to be vital in order to win unlike a lot of other action titles out there.

The Unreal Engine 3 powers Gears and it looks phenomenal. Even on my basic standard definition television the game looks amazing. Once I plugged Gears into an HDVT however, Gears unleashed a whole new type of amazing to the plate. The hi-def graphics blow the standard def away, and it is far superior with its uber-shiny layer of polish it adds. This is one of the defining next-gen games. I don't know where to start breaking down how great Gears looks, I could ramble on about the insane lighting effects, and super-detailed character models, but instead I recommend you just hunt down some screens and see for yourself as my mere words can't do the visuals justice.

A lot of work went into the original score for Gears. This orchestral mix chimes in at all the right moments in the campaign, though at times it oddly reminded me a lot of the Star Wars score. Just a friendly reminder, make sure not to skip the end credits as there is one unique tune that plays that you should not miss out on. There isn't a boatload of voice acting as I thought there would be, but what is here is done very well all around as all the voice actors accomplish the Gears theme of making everybody sound badass. I also got to give mad props to the sound effects director, they did one heck of a job and added a lot to the presentation in a way not a lot of other action titles have done before it.

Overall, Gears of War is the complete package. It packs a dang good campaign, along with some stellar multiplayer. It will go down as one of the few games that managed to live up to the insane hype it created. Your Xbox 360 collection won't be complete without Gears of War in it.

Resistance: Fall of Man ( 1st Person Shooter)

Game Score & Comments: 8/10, Good PS3 Launch Title

Resistance was the launch title that everyone was talking about. It was suppose to be the Gears of War killer. I may be a good 8 months late but how does it stack up to Gears? Is it a game worth buying a now $500 system for? Read on!

What if during World War II giant creatures had attacked in London? While the game follows the trend of War World II it does it with a twist and it's one of the few recent shooting games where there is a ton of cut scenes. Plot isn't godly but it does the job well and it offers at least some closure.

I'm by no means a graphics whore but dang this game looks nice. Pictures do not do this game justice. Character models look good and while the game is super hyper detailed, it's detailed enough and is moderately interactive. I loved putting holes in windows ECT.

The sound in the game was okay. Voice work was excellent and really got the job done. Sound effects are good and I could tell from the sounds of the guns to know which I was firing. The music didn't do anything for me but it was pleasant enough I guess.

Control in the game is very easy. L2 is duck, R1 is shoot, hold R2 to switch weapons. X is jump, square is reloaded and circle is to throw a grenade. It's all easy and I had no problems adjusting to how it all played.

Resistance is your typical first person shooter. To be honest if you've played one then you know how they will all play. Resistance it slightly different than the current normal first person shooter.

The game is split up into 30 or so levels. They are fairly long, kind of linear with some open paths to venture off to find ammo, health or reports. I do like that at times you are given different options of routes to go. Allows for you to sneak up on the enemy.

One thing a gamer should know before playing this game is that it is tough. The first level alone caused me many problems. This was due to no health items or no recharging health. I was seriously worried.

Thankfully the second levels not only gives you healing items to pick up and it allows for your health to recharge, the catch is that your health bar is split into 4 or so segments. If you let an entire segment vanish it can only be regained via a health pick up. Your health only recharges for that bar it's in. This makes the game a little tougher and really makes you keep an eye on your health.

The next thing I should mention is that the AI is pretty smart. They will hunt you down. They will change their tactics and they will counter fire like they should. And all of this was on the easiest setting. The game really wants to keep you on your toes.

The thing is though that as long as you pay attention, take cover. Wait out situations until you can attack then it won't be so tough but it took me a few times to get into that kind of gaming. You really won't win with run and gun tactics.

The features some pretty interesting guns. I liked how each gun offered two types of attacks. I found that I tried to save the more powerful stuff for when I was in a tight situation. But it also isn't your typical gun selection but it isn't too hard to figure it all out.

The game is rather long and tough so a number of attempts on some stages will extend the games length even more. Not only that but the game offers on-line play. Sadly I wasn't able to access that feature at this time so I'll have to get back to that at a later date.

Resistance was the best game at launch according to almost every critic and site. While I find the game to be really good, I don't think it deserved game of the year or anything. I think my only problem with the game was that it wasn't all that interesting. And by that I mean the game play itself. It's very basic at its core and even though it offers some new ways of looking at the situations before you, it really isn't anything all that new. Still it's an excellent title for the PS3, and will keep you hooked for a good time.

Animal Crossing: Wild World (Virtual Reality)


Game Score & Comments: 9/10, Jammed in my DS won't come out, must play...

There's a place where cruelty and malice know no limits. Depression, lust and greed run through its streets unimpeded. Its inhabitants are jaded, quietly accepting the folly of their existence in a pathetic attempt for emotional security. It haunts people as they continue to grow. It is the place where people must go to come to terms with their lives, tasting the bitter sting of reality in the process. In that place, it isn't a matter of when or how you die, but how much you want to live. Individuals struggle to survive on a daily basis, and only the strongest, cunning, and skilled will come out the victor. In this harsh and uncaring place, one must use whatever he or she can to get through the day unscathed. Success is a road laden with traps and obstacles, and failure is for the weak. This place is called the real world, and it lies just beyond the borders of the innocence of childhood. You will have to visit this place at some point, and you'd better be ready.

In case you need a break from the stress and worries of your daily life, Animal Crossing: Wild World makes for a wonderful diversion. You aren't some powerful superhero, masterful tactician or typical RPG adolescent. You're nothing more than a weary traveler setting forth into the world as you come of age. After arriving in the town, you'll come to the sad realization that you have no funds to sustain yourself. Tom Nook, the local store owner and master craftsman, has built you a meager shack of a house to shelter you from the elements. Like any other hardworking capitalist, he expects to be paid handsomely for his work. You're facing a bill that costs several thousands of dollars in hard currency, stranded in a town with complete strangers. With nowhere else to go, you must figure out a way to pay off your debts and survive on your own.

Luckily for you, the realm of Animal Crossing: Wild World is laden with everything you need to become not only financially independent, but filthy rich as well. At first glance, the town looks boring, decorated with nothing but some houses, trees and a river. But when you take a closer look at your environment, you'll find it filled to the brim with potential. Several of the trees will provide you with various fruits, each of them worth a certain price at the local shop. The river and the distant sea are filled with fish of all shapes and sizes, and the beach is littered with several shells. The plants and flowers attract a wide variety of bugs and insects, all of which can fetch for a hefty price. Last but not the least, your new neighbors will usually have some odd job for you to perform, usually rewarding you with some well-deserved cash. The trick is learning how to use all of these aspects in tandem, allowing you to amass a fortune of unparalleled proportions. It's simply a matter of focusing on your overall goal.

Paying off your debts in Animal Crossing: Wild World is not a question of amount, but of time. The game makes use of the DS's internal clock, keeping track of when and how long you play. Unlike other games, this game does not have an estimated completion time; existence in Animal Crossing does not stop. Every day can be played differently, each new dawn offering the potential for something new. Your neighbors will awaken and fall asleep at certain times, making you schedule your time if you want to build a relationship. Sales will only happen on certain days, offering excellent prices for all items. The surroundings and weather will change depending on the time of year, offering snow and rain in the winter and flourishing plants in the summer. The tides will change based on the hour. Certain animals will only appear at specific times and months. Should be awake early enough, you can watch the sunrise, then watch the stars appears as dusk settles in the evening. If you return to the game after a long absence, you'll find that your house is filled with roaches and the neighbors missed you dearly. It is truly a dynamic environment filled with the little details that you hardly ever notice your own life.

However, the changes in the town aren't determined only by the time. This game allows for an unprecedented amount of customization and personal style. You'll be able to create a town specifically designed for your preferences. Flowers can be planted almost anywhere, fruit trees and be grown and harvested, the theme song, flag and your clothes can be tweaked and revamped. Your house, which started off as nothing but a mere shack, will eventually be remodeled into a four-room estate. You can fill your house with countless pieces of furniture, rugs, wallpaper, and other trinkets. This game comes with hundreds of collectible items, the ideal challenge for the obsessive gamer. Nearly every aspect of this game is left up to your own discretion; the beauty of your town depends solely on your will to improve it.

Should you devote time to developing your town, you'll be rewarded with a beautiful, vibrant place to live. Your town is depicted in a wide variety of bright colors, catching your eye and drawing you in with each passing moment. Everything will gradually change as the day progresses, offering a wide variety of perspectives with the passing hours. The leaves slowly drift to the ground when you shake the trees, the fish look like pixilated replicas of their real-world counterparts, and the weather will change a few things as well. You can visit the exhibits at the museum, look at the aquarium, visit the lonely tavern, and walk along the beach at your leisure. Though your neighbors look like cartoon animals, they often display an assortment of emotions; you'll have the opportunity to comfort them when they're sad or avoid them when they're angry. You can wander down the banks of the river, taking in the soft gurgling of the water and the chorus of the wild grasshoppers and cicadas. Though the background music is comprised of a few basic beats, it still makes you feel at ease. Such aspects make for the perfect place to sit back and relax after a long day.

Gamers that are familiar with the Gamecube version of Animal Crossing are well aware of these aspects. However, this latest installment adds a few new features to satisfy veteran gamers' appetites. If you don't feel like using the traditional Control Pad and buttons, the DS's Touch Screen can be used for basic movement and menu browsing. However, this control scheme is a minor aspect when compared with this game's true trump card: online multiplayer. The DS's WiFi connection allows gamers from all over the world to visit different towns, find rare items, and enjoy the company of anyone who happens to be on your buddy list. Friends can move into each other's town and share the burden of paying off debts, help out around the area, and play minigames. You'll be able to get messages and downloads from the Nintendo staff, unlock certain features, and sent letters and gifts to your friends. This makes Animal Crossing: Wild World live up to its namesake, letting gamers experience an interactive world through their humble handhelds.

The success of Animal Crossing: Wild World is based on two reasons: Nintendo did not drastically change the game from its Gamecube predecessor, appealing to the legions of fans that devote their time to it. Secondly, the online multiplayer provides for limitless possibilities for handheld gaming, allowing its participants to access a miniature world where individual style and interactivity reign supreme. Animal Crossing: Wild World is not merely a handheld version of an excellent console game, but an improvement as well. If there is one defining game for a DS owner to have in their collection, it's this game. Though the real world can't be avoided, the world of Animal Crossing is far more appealing.

Civilization IV (Real Time Strategy)


Game Score: 10/10, Sid Meier Does It Again

Social life ruined, all other games on the shelf, I bask in the glory that is Civilization IV.

I have never been more happy to pick up a game at my local EBGames than the day that I picked Civ. IV up. It surpasses all of my expectations.

The most noticeable change from Civ. III is the graphics, which are all in 3D now. I was a bit skeptical from the screenshots I had seen. I was not sure that 3D graphics could capture the vibrant, real world feel that Civ. III had. Boy was I wrong; the world in Civ. IV is amazing. Each tile, resource, and improvement mesh together perfectly. All of it is very detailed and immersive. My personal favorite is the water, I love the way the rivers look as the wind through the different types of terrain. The Civ. leaders look exceptionally good, so life like that I have attributed their faces to the real people in history.

Quite a few aspects of the game play have changed as well. The new unit promotion system works very well. Each combat unit evolves into a unique entity as they go through different combat experiences. The result is a highly customized military that you create through offensive and defensive warfare. Each unit is no longer the basic template following the same track. They also have one universal power rating now, and you won't see many spearmen poking holes in a panzer anymore.

New terrain improvements have been added, windmills, watermills, lumber mills, and cottages. They offer a balance between coin, production, and food that was not offered in Civ. III. It took me a few games to break the standard farm/mine combination of Civ. III. Also, Settlers and workers no longer take population from the city they are built in, city growth is stopped while they are in production.

Cities will no longer riot, a successful attempt at cutting back on micro managing. Instead, citizens will just stop working, and an un-happiness icon will appear. Easy to remedy, and not near as annoying as the old riots.

Great people add a new dimension to the game play. There is even a leader trait that will allow you to increase the birthrate of great people. You can specialize each city to produce different types of great people, they can grant free technologies, hurry production on a world wonder, found culture rich religious buildings, conduct trade missions to foreign cities for lots of gold, start a golden age, and all of them can join cities as super specialists.

The tech tree has changed for the better. The techs are no longer confined to specific ages in history; you can go down one path and ignore all others. It adopts an "or" approach instead of the old "and." Instead of needing "this and this" to reach a certain tech, you now only need "this or that." It makes deciding and planning what to research fun.

The game focuses on the quality of cities over the quantity. You can expand at a rapid pace if you like, but it will lead to financial trouble very quick. The game is much easier if you focus on improving fewer cities instead of trying to grab every bit of available land.

As I said before, it more than lives up anything I expected. Now, instead of a nice closing paragraph, I'm going to play Civilization IV.

-Game Guru

Kingdom Hearts (Role Playing Game)

Game Score & Comments: 9/10, Excellent fusion of gameplay and design by Square and Disney

Kingdom Hearts transcends some serious flaws to emerge as an action (and I do mean action)
RPG worthy to stand proud among the best works of both Square and Disney.

First off, all you hardcore Squareophiles can breathe a sigh of relief. Kingdom Hearts is NOT a heaping helping cutesy pie. Just because it’s Disney doesn’t mean it’s bad is just as true as just because it’s Square doesn’t mean it’s good. Remember that Disney gave us Fantasia and Square gave us Tidus. That should give you some perspective and you’ll be able to approach Kingdom Hearts with a little objectivity. For your information the mix of characters drawn from the rich pool of Disney and Square favorites works surprisingly well bouncing off each other and their coexistence is never forced or unnatural.

The overwhelming achievement that this game represents is mindboggling. This game features at least fifty different Disney characters culled from eighty years of film making. Every single character model is perfect. Almost without exception, all of the original voice talent reprises their roles. The dozen or so folks taken from the Final Fantasy series receive a spiffy facelift without sacrificing their personalities. Selphie is still perky and Squall (or rather Leon) is still sullen. For those who might lament the absence of Chocobos or threaten suicide after learning Lance Bass provided the voice of Sepiroth: just calm down and go with it. It works.

Your character is a spunky kid named Sora and he lives on an island with his friends Kairi and Rikku. They all dream of traveling far and wide seeking adventure together but those plans are forever crushed when the Heartless attack. Sora winds up in what becomes his de facto home base of Traverse Town searching for his two missing friends in an unlikely alliance with Donald Duck and Goofy who are searching for the similarly missing King Mickey. Together you journey from world to world to find your friends and defeat the Heartless.

One of the nicest features is that you’ve got Donald Duck and Goofy fighting next to you as you progress through the game. You don’t control them directly but you can control settings governing how often the use melee attacks, magic, special attacks and items. It’s crucial to start fiddling with these settings early on so you can ''cooperate'' better as the story develops. The battles near the end will be a real headache if your partners are off doing things they shouldn’t be doing. There are also certain worlds you can swap one of them out of your party in favor of another Disney character such as Tarzan, the Little Mermaid or Peter Pan. Usually the new characters are more powerful than Donald or Goofy and since Donald’s magic doesn’t get strong enough to really contribute much until you’re pretty well into the game so you’ll probably play a lot of worlds through with Goofy and whoever the not-Donald is for that world.

The battle system is simple and engaging, not overly deep but not meant to be. It’s meant to be fun, and it is. It’s fairly obvious that Square really wanted to concentrate on making this a game that’s feels natural to pick up and play with a minimum of pages of instruction or complicated tutorial. I’m pleased to say they succeeded brilliantly. Kingdom Hearts is a fun romp that anyone can jump head first into but also incorporates enough RPG elements, rare items and customization to keep the more hardcore crowd satisfied.

Another unique feature is the fact that you level up immediately during battle. You just defeated the first of five enemies and he’s worth twenty experience points. You don’t have to wait until the end of the battle, if those points kicks you up to the next level you level up right then and there as you’re fighting the next enemy with no interruption. After playing you’ll scratch your head and wonder why has no one ever thought of that before?

The graphics are (what else?) incredible. As mentioned above all the character models are highly detailed and true to the source material. Your enemies come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes and they all move in impressively unique ways. Some are large and bumbling, others are small and twitchy. Battles are an energetic frenzy of motion and effects. In Kingdom Hearts when you defeat an enemy he drops money and power ups in the form of different orbs which you have to run around an pick up during battle because they disappear quickly. So it’s you and your two companions against usually between three and six enemies, everyone’s on screen at once fighting, casting spells, picking up money and power ups and it never hits a glitch. All that going on at once and it never slows down, the framerate never drops. It’s almost more eye candy than you can take in at once.

The music, especially the fun ''island'' numbers, are also up to Square’s normal high water mark. The occasional homage to a classic Disney ditty adds to the enjoyment but original music is the rule here and the Disney tunes are the exceptions. You never feel like you’re listening to a ''Disney’s Greatest Hits'' soundtrack.

Let’s do the bad news as quickly as possible. 1.) The camera: it’s hard to see where you’re going, what you’re doing and what’s around. 2.) The gummi ship: a space shooter minigame is your transportation between worlds and a baffling addition. Not bad but certainly not good. 3.) Winnie the Pooh minigames: they all frustrate and annoy. 4.) What do I do next? The story is very linear but your gameplay is not always well directed. Be prepared for occasional aimless wandering.

It’s the camera that almost killed this game. It’s a constant maddening eyesore but when you add together the whole package it somehow can’t manage to ruin the experience. This game is not perfect but whenever I got frustrated, said ''screw this'' and walked away, I found myself quickly returning to have another crack at it.

-Game Guru