Video Game Reviews - Print Topic

I've always wanted to start this type of thread, so i hope it doesn't get deleted(after, games use scripts as well).

My first review will go to my favorite game...

Resident Evil 4(GC,PS2,PC)

The Resident Evil series is the face of horror in the video game realm. The games have always had revolutionary graphics and innovative game mechanics. With Resident Evil 4, the series succesfully reinvents the survival horror genre.

In case you haven't heard yet, this entry ihas ditched what popularized it, the zombies. In their place are smarter, meaner, and much faster foes. Your enemies will flank, call for back up, and even use weapons against you. The slow-paced days of the Resident Evil are gone.

You play as Leon Kennedy(the male lead from RE 2)as he travels to a remote European village in search of the presidents missing daughter. Of course, the mysteriuos villagers want nothing more than to brutally kill you. As the game plays out you discover that the village holds a deadly secret that threatens the entire planet and that the presidents daughter is key to their plan.

The graphics are great even by todays standards. Animations, lighting, and character models are top-notch. Textures and effects have a realistic glean that is rarely seen in video games(this genration of systems or last). The framerate is also superb, playing at all times with out a hitch.

The sound is great on a technical level. Guns sound powerfuly convincing and the musical score is of hollywood quality. The voice acting is also well done, but some of the dialogue is a little hammy.

Gameplay wise, the game plays similar to others in the series, except now the camera is behind you and you can actually aim! You can now interact with the inviroments in cool and innovative ways. Also, the cutscenes are made interactive through timed button presses that alter the way a scene plays out.

Overall, the game is fantastic. It's a horror buffs wettest dream. It comes so close to perfection that it's almost scary.

Graphics- 9.5
Sound- 9.5
Gameplay- 10.0
Overall- 9.5

~Zack~

I don't think RE 4 revolutionized the survival Horror genre. It just switched from pure Horror to Action/Horror.

I liked it. The gameplay, the graphics, sound, etc. But it simply lacked the essence of the other games. I had only a slight sense of danger throughout, but nothing compared to REmake or RE2.

Sure, it's fast-paced with lots of gore. Little talk and lots of Action. But IMO the real Horror was nonexistant. The plot was cheesier than any other entry in the franchise, and even a five-year old could solve the puzzles the game presented you. In the other games, you actually had to think to advance through the story and "make it out alive". But in RE4, all is just shoot this, shoot that. And that's it.

It is a decent game. Good entertainment. But it could've been longer and harder and they should've worked on the Horror aspect of it more (although those Regenerator monsters were actually pretty creepy). 6/10

--Julio

RE 2(one of the best in the series) was never remade. The original was(and it was damn good). Part 2 was re-released for the GC, but it was the same game that was released years earlier on the PS1.

~Zack~

No, no, no. You misunderstood. I was comparing RE4 to REmake and RE2 (I am aware 2 wasn't remade). RE4 has nothing on those two games, Horror-wise.

RE4 is probably the best of the series when it comes to gameplay, but I agree that it is very tame when it came to the horror and scares. I remember once when I was playing RE2 a few years ago and I was in the interigation room and while I was leaving, something jumped through the double-mirror and attacked me. Needless to say, my character died because I was on the floor trying to recover from the heart attack I almost had. I'll never forget that moment and I hope RE5 has some of those.

While we're on the topic, has anybody seen some of the stills for RE5? They look amazing. It looks like it's taking place in a fictional Somolia because the setting is being described as a desert region, similar to that of Black Hawk Down's. Here's one I got from Wikipedia.

It looks really cool. I wonder if they'll continue with the Illuminados storyline.

Here's the trailer from E3: http://youtube.com/watch?v=ILuP43jcaXw

I'm liking the change of settings but it looks like the game will be nearly impossible on higher difficulties. I'd rather have less health and less zombies than an insane amount of health and a machine gun to mow down the insane "Dead Rising" amount of zombies. I'll most likely just rent it and if I deem it worthy, shell out the 70$ for it.

Call Of Duty 4(PS3,360)

I've never been a Call of Duty fan, they've always seemed like Medal of Honor rip-offs to me. The I played part 4...

The biggest change in this sequel is the setting. You are now fighting a fictional war in todays world. What makes things even better is how the story folds out. You are constantly switching back and forth through characters(some of them die in epic cut-scenes). By the end of the game, you really care about the soldiersaround you.

Graphics- The game is beautiful, and it runs as smooth as butter. Some would argue that it's the best looking game on the market, but I did notice that some of the shadows look a little blocky. That's no big deal though, considering how life like the rest of the game is.

Sound- Flawless. A soundtrack fit for Hollywood. Voice acting is among the best in the business. And constant clammer of war is simply breath taking. Grenades leave a high pitched in your ear. Shotguns boom with power. This part of the game couldn't be better.

Gameplay- The game plays almost perfectly. All of the buttons are well mapped and make controlling character incredibly easy. However, I would have liked a lean or cover button. The enemy A.I. is also topnotch(on the harder settings). There are times that I felt like I was actually fighting someone and not just shooting fish in a barrel.

Overall, if you like first person shooters, this game is the cream of the crop. It will constantly floor you with it's amazing detail. Call of Duty 4 was a canidate for best game of 2007, and for good reason.

~Zack~

Hey Zack

Glad to see you back in this thread, I thought you'd given up on the reviews. I ay this cos I was waiting to see what you were gonna review next, COD4 is one of the best games around.

As a single player game it's entertaining, if a little short but the diversity in the levels always keep it exciting. It's the online though that stand this far and away above the rest. There's no shortage of players online and the game rarely suffers any lag. The novel ranking system and challenges gives the game longevity, unlocking new weapons and add ons.

Anywho good review Zack.

Thanks alffy. I'm just glad that I'm not talking to myself. For my next review I'll be going old school...

~Zack~

Cool Zack, I love old school games. I've been a gamer since the 80's and the sinclair spectrum, dunno if you've heard of that. Old games seem so much better but unfrotunately playing them now is a dissapointment and I strongly recommend sticking with the memories lol. I'll look out for your reviews though.

OK Zack here's my first retro review.

I think it was 1997 when a game called 'Thrill Kill' was scheduled for release on the PS1.  It was a four player beat em'up that was to be an adult game only, meaning it was extremely violent.  Again I think it was to released by Virgin but I could be wrong. I remember reading the previews and the buzz was amazing, everyone wanted this game and then they pulled the plug and it was canned.

The games itself was finished and by some wheeling and dealing I managed to get a copy.  The fact was that it wasn't that gory or brutal but what it was, was a great game that should have been released.  I really can't remember that many four player beat em'ups at the time, this one stuck in the mind.

Although not as sick as portrayed it was very twisted in its characters and setting.  Fighting in dungeons and asylums with murderers, doctors and the fact you were beating someone to death with human limbs says it all.  There was blood in the general atmosphere was dark but you can't beat an illegal, under the counter purchase to get the juices flowing.  Just knowing you were playing something they didn't want you to play...or didn't they, seems to me they leaked this out and I'm glad.

It is a great game.  Check out the video (bad quality though)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_VbjA4BjGk

Okay so since Alffy brought up old games, I thought I'd go with one of my favorite games ever. It's called Mad TV and is about running a TV station where you have to buy commercials, movies, create new shows from scripts you buy and choose your news, and have to get better ratings than your two rival stations. The cool part is that the movies are real movies, so you can buy Back to the Future, Kiss of the Spiderwoman or Apocalypse Now. But don't broadcast an R-rated movie before 9 a clock or you'll get a fine.

The game is from 1991 and has naturally aged considerably but the concept is just amazing if you're a movie buff like me. If they made a game like this today the possibillities would've been endless.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mad_TV_%28computer_game%29

Hey,

Since we are on the subject of classics-- or I suppose old games is the more accurate term, I can't help but direct you to the king of old video game reviews. He's a bit of an acquired taste but he entertains me.

Here's his review of Top Gun. Enjoy.

If you enjoyed that then you should also check out this.

sheepwalker

Donkyey Kong Country

This was the first game I ever beat... so it holds a special place in my heart. I remember it being amazing. Great 2D graphics, catchy tunes, and easy controls. Well, having just beaten it again for the first time in over a decade, I'm glad to say it's still a great game!

Graphiclly the game is good... but not great. Everything runs smoothly and the characters are actually well animated. Each level feels unique and there a bunch of 'em(at least 40).

Sound wise, the game has shown it's age. The tunes are still catchy, but the quality is seriuosly lacking. Why does everything sound like it's in mono!?

Gameplay wise, the game is also very good. Although, it's kinda simple by todays standrads. Hell, three buttons go un-used! But hey, it works and it's fun.

I don't think the game has a story, you just jump on lizards and throw barrels. One thing that made me made was that every time you reset the game, all of you extra lives were erased. That really bummed me out. Also, some of the later levels were a little too hard considering how easy the game is at first.

Overall, this game is still a very good game. Some what aged, but still good. One of my favorites.

Graphics- 4/5
Sound- 2/5
Gameplay- 4/5
Overall- 4/5

~Zack~

skate. (PS3, 360)

I started off as a tony hawk fan. As they kept releasing them, a lack in quality was apparent. THPS 4 was the last game that actually caught my eye, but after that, they got exponentially worse after each installment.

I always wanted a skating game where I could feel a sense of accomplishment after doing small things. What I wanted to have became a reality when I heard of EA's skate. I watched all of the videos online months before the release date, just wanting to see a bit more. This was also the only game I've ever pre-ordered. Right when I put that magic little disc into my 360 I felt a sense of warmth.

CONCEPT: Make a real world environment, with a made up city modeled after some of the best.

GRAPHICS: Spot on, the physics are just right, character models are great, and the city looks incredible.

SOUND: The game itself has a great soundtrack. But personally, I'd rather listen to the sound of wheels rolling on the pavement, and the tail snapping off the ground. The ambiance is great as well.

PLAYABILITY: The flick-it system gives you such a sense of accomplishment when you perform tricks, no grind button and spot-on physics make the game tough and challenging, I remember spending ten minutes on one spot trying to tre-flip tailside down a stair set.

ENTERTAINMENT: If you like skating games, just add this to your list. You must play this game. The game is fun, and challenging. Nothing else needs to be said.

GRAPHICS: 4.5/5
SOUND: 4.5/5
PLAYABILITY: 4/5
ENTERTAINMENT: 5/5

OVERALL: 4.5/5
A very solid game

A'ight, I'll shoot.

Oldies review--Chrono Trigger. (SNES/PS1)

Originally for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Here's the game that revolutionized turn-based RPG gaming. Forget Final Fantasy, CT is the real deal. The game came out in the mid-nineties, so the graphics are the very best you will see on a SNES game. Best 2-D ever used. The sound quality was great for its time but has since aged considerably. And as far as the actual music goes, it's not only catchy, it's actually *good* music. This was proven with an orquestal re-release of the sountrack that came out long after the game.

The story is set in a Fantasy world and it mainly revolves around time-traveling to different eras to stop Lavos (an evil entity that fell from the sky a long time ago, this plot device was later ripped off in Final Fantasy VII with Jenova) from being awakened and devouring the whole planet. Time-traveling is the game's greatest strength and weakness--on one hand, traveling to different times from 65000000 B.C to 2013(?) A.D is very interesting. You get to see ancient wars and a bleak Terminator-ish future, which is great. BUT--the problem here is that the day of the Apocalypse is supposed to happen in 1999 and, obviously, we are all okay right now. This is a clear sign of the game's age and it does bother me alot, despite the fact that it is set on a Fantasy world. It makes me sort of disconnect from the adventure, you know?

Furthermore, you can't explore every single era, which makes the game seem ver limited--you go from 65000000 B.C to 1000 A.D, etc.

Story-wise, the game is good. Very good, specially for a time when games used to have next-to-no story and only action. There is actual character and plot development along with several different endings depending on your actions. This might be very "meh" by today's standards, but remember we're talking about the friggin' SNES here. The developers really did do the impossible with this.  The character cast is small, but very unique. You got a teenage boy, a rebellious princess and a nerdy girl from 1000 A.D, a Sorcerer anti-hero from magical times along with a knight-turned-frog, a cave-woman from Dinosaur times, a robot from the future, etc. It's rather short, but fun with some replay value.

As for the gameplay--for the SNES, it is the best turn-based game you'll ever find. Battles are not random--you can actually *see* the enemies wandering around and they sometimes wait within bushes to ambush you in packs. You can see your party behind you at all times and the attack animations were very smooth and pretty impresive for its time.

All in all, a great game. If you like turn-based RPGs, this is worth a shot. The PS1 version features Anime cutscenes done by the creator of Dragonball Z, but as a downside adds loading times to the game. 9/10

The game's sequel, Chrono Cross, is also an excellent game.

Crysis

I am going there with a vengeance... I recently rebuilt my pc to be the ultimate gaming machine/rig and I cannot even play Crysis on anything but Medium settings and that's even pushing it. This game is a whore and it really uses up a lot of resources.

The game itself is a fun modern/futuristic shooter with a decent story and human opponents that don't stand in front of bullets (Most of the time) and actually hide behind things and sneak up on you.

The machine opponents are dumb but it takes a lot more to kill them. They freeze your screen literally with this ice crap and it makes it hard to see.

Vehicles handle better than you'd expect but not as good as it could be.

Weapons are generic at first and get really decent later on.

If not for the demanding nature of this game it might be one of the best single player experiences right now on the PC.

Champions of Norrath (PS2)

Champions is one of my favorite games and any gamer who likes dungeon crawlers(the Diablo series, Baldurs Gate: Dark Alliance) will love this game as well.

Concept- Take Diablo 2, give it some sleek new 3D graphics, set it in the Everquest saga, and make it awsome. Do that, and you'll come up with Champions of Norrath.

Graphics- Some of the best on the PS2, hands down. From the bump map texturing to the real time lighting effects, this game is down right gorgeous. The framerate will studder if things become to hectic, though.

Sound- Generic fantasy score that somehow still manages to bring you into the game. Crisp and satisfying sound effects. And some truly awful voice actors.

Gameplay- While insanely simple, the gameplay offers a ton of strategy. I honestly couldn't imagin this game playing any better.

Overall, an exellent game that RPG/Action fans should check out.

9/10

~Zack~

Halo(Xbox, PC)

What else needs to be said about Halo? It single handedly saved the Xbox from failing and redefined the first person shooter. The game is a masterpiece.

Concept- Take an epic Sci-Fi tale, throw in a dash of mystery and horror, and balance the crap out of every aspect of the game.

Graphics- The graphics were mind blowing when it launched with the Xbox. And you know what? It still looks great. The human character models are a bit iffy, but the environments will still take your breath away. The textures are amazing.

Sound- Perfect. Seriously, go ahead and try to knock a single thing about the sound. I don't see how the sound could possibly be improved on. The score is thundering and gets your blood pumping. The sound effects kick you in the stomach. And the voice acting is big-budget Hollywood quality.

Gameplay- The best FPS controls to date. The control is so fluid that you actually forget the huge hunk of plastic in your hands is even there. The driving parts could be a game by themselves.

Overall... You guessed it. I LOVE Halo. What's that? You don't love it? Well, why don't you play it.

10/10

~Zack~

hey zack. yeah, halo 1 and 2 have to be the best games i played! haven't got to halo 3 yet as a 360 ain't part of my budget! i loved playing them on the legendary setting! an early scene of halo 2 took a week to get past! other games i liked were the oddworld ones on the original PS. also the madden ones are tops. but i don't play games anymore now i'm a 'budding scriptwriter'! don't have the time! cheers!

Stevie, there's always time for a good video game! As for Halo 3, the idea of it is better than the actual game. It was a disappointment.

~Zack~

Halo 3 was simply way too short. I hate how these game developers nowadays are sacrificing good, quality single player campaigns in favor of online gameplay. It's ridiculous. Online gameplay is supposed to be an extra plus, not the other way around. I finished the game in three hours.

It also killed off way too many characters, thus ruining any chance of a good sequel (if they were gonna keep milking the franchise with Recon and Wars they might as well should've left some space for a Halo 4 instead of those spin-offs).

On the bright side, it looks amazing--one of the best-looking X Box 360 games out there. It also plays really smoothly, but then again, so did the previous installments.

--Julio

GUN-Xbox,PS2.GC,X360, and PSP

I love this game. Sure the world is small and at times may seem a bit barren, but it doesn't matter. You will keep on playing just too see the next cut scene. I'm gonna go out and say it, this would make one hell of a movie.

The basic premise of the game is a GTA game with a Western setting. You play as Colton White(voiced by Thomas Jane), a local mountain man who gets caught up in General Mcgruder's(voiced by Lance Henrikson) vicious and brutal greed. After your father9or so you thought) is killed in a steamboat ambush, you must set out and take Mcgruder down. Along the way you will join renegades, rescue indians, ambush a train, protect whores, and just about anything else you can imagine that would be in a western game. While the actual gameplay may be shallow, loose, and overall a bit repetitive, it's still solid. But this isn't a game about gameplay... it's a game about story.

Concept- A western GTA, a story that truly deserves a big screen adaptation, and collecting scalps... what more do you want?

Graphics- Meh. They don't look bad. Some enviroments and character models actually look great. Too bad they are repeated over and over. Animation is great, however.

Sound- Awesome. A sweeping, epic western score. Amazing voice work by Tomas Jane, Lance Henrikson, Ron Pearlman, Brad Douriff, Kris Kristofferson, and more. A great script as well.

Gameplay- Much like the graphics... Meh. Not bad at all. Just very repetitive and kinda loose. The game is far too easy, even on the harder difficulties. Still good fun.

Overall- A very good game that is carried by an excellent story and superb cast. Paul W.S. Anderson, what the hell are you waiting for? Here's your next movie!!!

8/10

~Zack~

Quoted from alffy

I did like 'The Black Knight guy' still fighting on with both arms missing. :)

LEFT 4 DEAD-X360,PS3,PC

Wow. I really don't understand why everyone is going gaga for this game. It's extremely mediocre. Very blah. Dead Rising is a much better game. Average graphics, a non existent story line, and painfully repetitive controls sink this game's value. What a disappointment.

Concept- Play though 4 different campaigns(story-less campaigns) and blast away at thousands of zombies and other foul monsters. Oh yeah, and somehow manage to be underwhelming at the same time.

Graphics- Average. The amount of zombies on screen is impressive and all, but overall it's seriously lacking.

Sound- Some of the one liners are actually pretty funny. The score is fitting. The groans and guns shots all sound good. The sound department gets a passing grade.

Gameplay- The controls are fine. The game plays well and everything is super responsive. It's also very fun... for the first 10 minutes. Then the same 10 minutes repeat themselves over and over and over...

Overall- A massive disappointment. The only horror I found in the game was the repetition. Only the most hardcore of zombie fans need apply.

5/10

~Zack~

Thanks for the tip...Left 4 Dead was on my list...Scratch that for Chop 'Til You Drop...

What about Guitar Hero? Well worth going into debt for, the Metallica game if nothing else...

Graphics: Cartoonized Kirk, James, Lars and Robert throw down like the real deal...(They did the Ping-Pong suit thing, which is amusing, at least to me...)

Songs: All the classics, with a few other metallic favorites picked out by James and the boys.

Game Play: Can't keep the drums working. Kids rock too hard on them. Get it Best Buy, though and take advantage of the extended warranty. Guitar works fine, smoother action than the one I got with the PS2 Guitar Hero as payment for a logo...The vocal play is a bit lame, too. Not very challenging.

Overall: 8 out of 10...9/10 If they add a Zombify option for your rocker...

I'm very addicted to Team Fortress 2. I can't stop playing it.

Quoted from Blakkwolfe

What about Guitar Hero? Well worth going into debt for

I love Guitar Hero but the damn guitars are so cheap, I went through 3 in 2 weeks when I got World Tour. Maybe I'm just too heavy handed.

I've been a video game fan ever since Pong first came out (yes, I'm that old...no comments, please!).

Gotta say my faves have always been the Zelda and RE games.  I was pretty sure nothing would ever beat Zelda: Twlight Proncess, but RE 4 did it, and it did it quite easily.  What a great game!  I thought there were alot of horror elements, but do agree that most of it wasn't as bleak or scary as walking down a quiet hallway, or entering a seemingly empty room, like in RE 2.

Well, I have a new favorite game, and recently finsihed it on the PS3, after playing for well over 1,000 hours (yes, you read that correctly...over 1,000 hours!)...and there are still things I haven't gotten to, so I do still play every now and then.

It's name, you ask?  Elder Scrolls IV:  Oblivion.  Wow, what a game!  Graphics are unreal...just literally mind blowing from creatures to scenery that look like you're watching a movie...and these are not the cutaway scenens I'm talking about...the normal game play involves such detail in it's surroundings, it's something you truly have to see to believe,

Game play is also amazing.   Completely limitless possibilities and a completely open world, where you can go anywhere you want, and complete quests in any order you feel like it.  You can play in first person or over the top of your character view.  Limitless weapons and magic possibilities, as well as numerous different character types to play as, meaning replay value can go on forever.

It's the kind of game in which strategy is all important. You can follow the laws of the land, or you can be a wanted man and have gaurds hunt you down and throw your ass in jail whenever they see you.  Numerous factions to join, quests to complete, and exploring to be done.

I can't say enough about this game, as it offers so many different facets of what I enjoy in a video game.  If you've never heard of it or seen it, you owe it to yourself to check it out.  I recommend the game of the year version, which includes several expansion packs all included together, and since it's been out for awhile, you can get it for a great price.

Easily the best game I haev ever played.  Enjoy!

Hey Zack. i've got GTA IV on pc heading my way soon. Any thoughts on it? i played the San andreas one years ago. Cheers

Quoted from Dreamscale

I was pretty sure nothing would ever beat Zelda: Twlight Princess

Have yet to play Twilight Princess, but not sure if I want to. It's already a struggle trying to decide which is better: Ocarina of Time or Link to the Past. :-)

I really think they're all good and worth playing if you like the Zelda franchise.  Not quite sure, but I seem to remember that Ocarina of Time wasn't my favorite, and I don't think I ever finished it.

Twlight Princess was probably the best, but it did have a repetitive feel to it in places.  There's just so much you can do and the world is so big.

If you like those games, I think you'd love Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.  It's just amazing...has everyting the Zelda franchise had and alot more options, bigger world, more freedom to do things as you want, and a much more serious, adult theme and graphics, not to ention that there is also a good deal of actual spken dialogue, which is one theing I think the Zelda games always lacked.

Quoted from Dreamscale

A lot of people didn't finish Ocarina of Time because the Water Temple is just too damn hard.

Quoted from Dreamscale

If you like those games, I think you'd love Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. It's just amazing...has everyting the Zelda franchise had and alot more options, bigger world, more freedom to do things as you want, and a much more serious, adult theme and graphics, not to ention that there is also a good deal of actual spken dialogue, which is one theing I think the Zelda games always lacked.

Sadly, I am without a gaming system at the time, but I'll keep that in mind when I inevitably buy a system in the future.

It's also available on the PC, and I think that's where teh Elder Scrolls originated.

Oblivion is good. My only complaints about it are the battle system and the ocassionally bad voice acting (which is forgivable, though, considering just how many characters the game includes in its virtual world). They also star Sean Ben and Patrick Stewart in two important voice roles.

But I'd say, if you like the Zelda games, definitely try out Fable (PC and original X-Box) and its sequel for the 360. I dunno if the sequel is available for the PC yet though. Combat is more entertaining than Oblivion and the games themselves are funny as hell, poking fun at several adventure game cliches.

And for fans of either Oblivion or post-apocalyptic settings (or both), check out Fallout 3 (360, PS3, and I *think* it's also available for the PC). It uses the same engine as Oblivion and has Ron Perlman, Malcom McDowell, and Liam Neeson in it! Its two predecessors for the PC are good as well, but those are completely different games (turn-based).

--Julio

I won't review games I haven't beaten, but I will share my thoughts on some of the games mentioned.

Dreamscale- Twilight Princess, the best Zelda??? Fuck that. I hated that game. The Wind Waker is my favorite Zelda. If it wasn't for all of the sailing that game would be my favorite game period. In all fairness I never got far in Twilight Princess. I stopped playing once I became a wolf. I hated the controls.

As for Oblivion, I agree about it being awesome. An amazing character driven game. I beat the main quest, but still have a shit load of stuff left to do. I will say that I think Fable 2 is the better game. The world seems much more natural and the gameplay is head and shoulders better. Also good is Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind.

Stevie- Never been a big GTA fan. Always got bored with them faster than I should. That said, from what I played of 4 it was pretty cool. The graphics are outstanding and the gameplay has been refined again. My biggest gripe with that one was the character you play as. He's such an unlikeable douche bag. However, if you enjoyed the other games in the series than number 4 is money well spent.

~Zack~

I think the battle systems for Oblivion are fantastic! What don't you guys like about it? All the different weapons, magic, conjuring, strategies..I don't see any fault in it at all...literally none!

I've heard good and bad things about Fable...is it available on the PS3?

It's only available on Xbox and PC. Those who said bad things are just sour because the game was missing some of the features the creator promised when he was hyping it up. I never followed the hype for the game, so when I picked it up I was surprised. It's amazing.

Oblivion's gameplay and combat system are great. I have no problems with it. That said, there is a bit of a learning curve. Where as in Fable 2 anyone can just hop in and play. And yet it still requires skill. Oblivion is a game about the world you play in, Fable and it's sequel are games about the player you create and how the world reacts to you. I like the Fable series more.

~Zack~

Thanks Zack. it should be cool. I got it brand new on Ebay for forty Aussie dollars, including delivery. Its a US import, uncut version.
On that Fable game, I played, I think, the second one on xbox and it was a top game.

Yeah, since it's not available on PS3, I won't be playing it. It does sound cool though.

hey, Zack, I'm level 44 now, and just finishing up various quests and finding new places. Still working up my levels on hand to hand, blunt, and marksman. The game is so damn big, you can just play forever...I'm in well over 1,000 hours, cause I like to be very thorough and explore every single place I find.

I love this game and look forward to teh next one, being released in 2010 (hopefully).

Dreamscale- Do you have the game of the year addition of Oblivion? That one comes with both of the expansions. Much more bang for your buck. Oh, and go buy an original xbox! They only cost like 30$ now. Then pick up Fable:The Lost Chapters. You can thank me later.

~Zack~

The next Elder Scrolls game should be amazing. I can't wait for it!

Dreamscale, if you have a decent graphics/video card on your PC you should DEFINITELY try out the Fable series. The first game has some glaring flaws (there was an attempt at recreating the light from the sun for the game to make it look more realistic, but all it does is blind you at times) but it is still highly enjoyable.

Fable II is simply a masterpiece. It's not as expansive as Oblivion but there's a whole bunch of stuff you can do like get married, have kids (which eventually opens up new quests for you to do) and loads of stuff! The story is also able to be taken more seriously than the one in the first game. Don't get me wrong though -- the first game also had a good story but at times it seemed like a parody of itself.

[EDIT: I just learned that Fable II is NOT going to ever be available for the PC. Shame. You can still pick up the first one though, or get an original X Box]

I agree about Fable 2. It's a masterpiece of a video game and incredibly underrated. In my honest opinion it is the best video game sequel out there, hands down.

~Zack~

Yeah, I have the Game of the Year version with the expansion packs added in, which are great! Knights of the Nine is a great quest and the stuff you get is invaluable!

Never been a PC gamer, for some reason. I do have a very good graphics/video card, but just never used my computer for games..weird...I know.

Quoted from stevie

Hey Zack. i've got GTA IV on pc heading my way soon. Any thoughts on it? i played the San andreas one years ago. Cheers

GTA IV is bland with very little room to customize your MC which in my opinion is the best part.

Saints Row 2 lets you customize cars, your crew, and pretty much everything from your sex to your crib.

Online play with other people is great. XBox Live isn't working so I can't play right now but it is fun.

I play NHL 09 online so much I think it's grounds for addiction.

Quoted from Old Time Wesley

GTA IV is bland with very little room to customize your MC which in my opinion is the best part.

Honestly, I think every other GTA suffers from blandness as well. Never been a fan of the series. If GTA 5 lets you create your OWN character I may give it a look.

~Zack~

I know this is quite an old game now but Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare is still the best FPS out there. I never get tired of shooting those "ragheads" and blowing shit up. War...it's fantastic!

Treyarch once again proved themselves vastly inferior to Infinity Ward with the forgetable Call of Duty: The World At War, but Infinity Ward is coming out with Modern Warfare 2 in November and I can't fucking wait.

Quoted from Sniper

Infinity Ward is coming out with Modern Warfare 2 in November and I can't fucking wait.

I second this comment...bring on November!

Holy shit, that game looks awesome.

Hey, my GTA 1V just got delivered right then! I'm gone!

COD is not the best FPS but Modern Warfare 2 does look awesome. The climbing demo at E3 was so pretty it makes the game look good.

Time for a new review.

DEAD SPACE

You creep down the bloodstained corridor, lights flickering, the scream of a dying crew member somewhere in the distance. The Plasma Cutter in your hands has two rounds left. You pray you find more ammo before THEY find you. Something moves in the shadows behind you. You spin around and aim your weapon, but it's already to late. They've found you.

Dead Space is the scariest, most intense game I've ever played. I've played RE2, Silent Hill 2, and even the creepy Parasite Eve games, but none of them made my butt hole pucker up quite like this game did. I was scared to enter the next room. I was scared to look behind me. Hell, I was scared to open my inventory, for fear that I'd be ambushed by those monstrous freaks.

The story is simple. A massive deep-space mining ship goes dark after unearthing a strange artifact on a distant planet. Engineer Isaac Clarke embarks on a repair mission, only to uncover a nightmarish bloodbath- the ships crew horribly slaughtered and infected by an alien scourge. Now Isaac is cut off, trapped, and engaged in a desperate fight for survival.

Concept- Resident Evil in space. Nothing mind blowing or original, but it works. There's a pretty sweet twist at the end as well. Oh yeah, the final cut scene made me scream like a little girl.

Game play- Every thing is as tight and responsive as can be. Good thing to, cause this game doesn't ask you to mindlessly unload into your foes until they drop. Instead you are force to dismember your enemies. Oh yeah... It's fucking bloody.

Sound- Great. The score is subtle, yet insanely creepy. The sound effects are top-notch. The screams of the monsters will send chills down your spine. The voice acting is also very good, though your character is a generic mute, which makes it kinda hard to connect with him.

Graphics- Amazing. No details were spared in the ship. It really seems like the ship was designed to be able to actually work. The character models are even better. Every limb is so well realized that when you break them off of your enemies you will cringe. The lighting and textures couldn't be better.

I was surprised at how few of my friends have heard about this game. If you are a horror fan, check it out. Just keep the lights on.

10/10

~Zack~

Braid

http://www.braid-game.com/

Braid is a 2-D platform game which manipulates time. This game is beautiful and the music complements the game's graphics.

It's a simple and quick game and if you have Steam I'd buy it. It's cheaper than most games and easily affordable.

I'd give this game a 10/10.

Click on the link and see the video for yourself.

JT.

This is no review but I love CoD MW2 and this movie clip is just the best I've ever seen....I hate campers!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JP5mSDfCPsU

If anyone plays Modern Warfare 2 on PSN, add me.

Account name is Splatter-Boy.

~Zack~

Quoted from alffy

This is no review but I love CoD MW2 and this movie clip is just the best I've ever seen....I hate campers!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JP5mSDfCPsU

That is hilarious.

Hahahaha. That video is amazing Anthony. Good find.

~Zack~

Quoted from Zack

If anyone plays Modern Warfare 2 on PSN, add me.

Account name is Splatter-Boy.

~Zack~

You have Killzone 2 on PS3? I bought that game day 1 and never played it till a few months ago haha

Multiplayer games are only fun when you know the people you're playing with.

Was it you that I played some Diablo II with online? After that I couldn't bring myself to play it because it's just not that fun by yourself.

Haha. Yeah, that was me playing D2 with you. I love that game. I still play everynow and then if you still wanna get on. A new patch is about to be released for it.

I checked out Killzone 2 and it was alright. The multiplayer maps are to big though, and it just feels really slow. Great graphics though.

~Zack~

I wasn't crazy about Dead Space. Thought it looked great but the sample I downloaded on PS3 wasn't very cool, IMO. I love the RE games, but this one didn't quite do it.

Now playing Fallout 3, which is awesome! Favorite is still Oblivion.

Zack, I own a 360 for my sins so can't add you :(

Trade that box for a PS3! You won't regret it.

~Zack~

Quoted from Dreamscale

I wasn't crazy about Dead Space. Thought it looked great but the sample I downloaded on PS3 wasn't very cool, IMO. I love the RE games, but this one didn't quite do it.

Please reconsider. I too downloaded the demo and wasn't too impressed. I only got the game cause it was on sale and I had heard good things. The game is so much better than the demo made it out to be. Terrible demo, AMAZING game.

~Zack~

I trust you Zack. I have heard great things about it. We'll see.

Not really a review. I just wanted to pop in and say how fucking awesome Killzone 2 is. What an underrated masterpiece. This game makes Modern Warfare 2 look like a bad joke. You guys wanna play a real shooter, play Killzone 2.

~Zack~

Quoted from Zack

Underrated?  It sold close to 3 million copies and scored like 9's and 10's across the board.  In this day and age, selling on a Sony console to boot, selling 700,000 is a success for those guys.

But with that said, yes... Killzone 2 really set the bar.  I'd say buy a Ps3, not for the games, but for all it can do.  It really is a media hub.  I own 2 of them, a launch system in which I put a 500gb hdd in and store a wealth of my movies and what not on... And a new slim, on which I do "light" gaming on.

I have a stack of games I haven't even opened up yet.  I have God of War 3 and like 5 other games still in the wrapper.  I just don't have it in me.  If I'm going to do something these days that doesn't have to do with my little girl, it's going to be my music - gym - my concept cartoon album and then writing.   Then again,  I do find myself gaming more than usual while staying with my band mates these last few days.  We have some off time late at night around 2 to 4 and I'll jump on Burnout or play Gravity Crash for a bit.  Though it'll change when I get back home.  My wife keeps me on my toes.

PS3 ROCKS!!!! It does everything you'd want such a thing to do. When my computer crashed, it gave me E-Amil through Web Mail and of curse, the internet.

I only have 2 games...Oblivion, which I mastered and spent some 500+ hours on, and now I'm playing Fallout 3. Both Bethesda, and both brilliant. So huge, so open, so fucking COOL!!!

Okay maybe underrated was a bad word choice. But I always here people talking about MW 2 and never hear anyone mention Killzone 2. In my honest opinion Killzone 2 is the FAR better game.

Jeff, I love Oblivion. Currently going through the fighters guild. :) I got bored with Fallout 3 about 4-5 hours in. Not a bad game, just not for me. Stay away from Bethesda's newest game "Rogue Warrior". I haven't played it, but I've heard it's laughably bad.

~Zack~

Killzone 2 was/is a victim of hype. I bought it and never played it for half a year and when I did finally play it I loved it but put it away and haven't played it since.

Playstation 3 exclusives are kind of forgotten by gaming fans especially when not titled God of Bore and are exactly the same shit you come to expect.

I always heard about this half second gun delay in Killzone and never experienced it. Single player FPS experiences have gone down hill with games like COD boasting online and not being as fun as they were a few years ago because nothing new happens.

MAG is the answer to that I think wherein you can actually play as a medic (Battlefield has that but is average) and once they get more maps it will take off possibly or die like Socom because PS3 exclusives with that chat system just aren't as fun.

If only they would copy xbox and allow party chat (Give it some shiny new name but have it be the same thing)

MAG was HORRIBLE. Impressive player count, but the gameplay was so generic. Bleh. Killzone 2 surpassed the hype for me. After the mediocre original Killzone I wasn't expecting much from the sequel, which is why I waited so long to pick it up. I wish I would have got it opening day. It's amazing.

~Zack~

Hey Jeff, I remembered that you are a huge fan of Oblivion so I thought you might want to see this(if you already haven't)- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEfXQ6-nrQs

Oh man... I get goosebumps every time I watch that video. Bring on 11-11-11!!!!!!!!!!

Oh, and I will have a new review up soon. :)

~Zack~

Yeah, Zack, I've seen this many times.  Sure wish I could get the damn thing now. It looks amazing and I've read so many good things about the game. They've revamped a number of things...the characters no longer just stand and stare at you when they talk..they carry on whatever they're doing and it's actually harder to have conversations with some characters because they're busy doing stuff.  Also, you can equip weapons in either hand or both, and you need to have a free hand for magic.

And...there are dragons which play a major role in the game.

Speaking of dragons...I bought Dragon Age Ultimate Edition a couple months back.  I've tried to get into it and just can't.  Way too much to worry about and set up all the time.  Graphics are weak. Combat is terribly confusing, and the controls are so difficult to use.

So many people say it's one of the best games ever, but definitely not for me.  I'm giving up and going to be selling it, as it's barely even used.

I actually went back to Oblivion as a different character to get me through the wait till Skyrim.

GEARS OF WAR REVIEW

When Gears of War was first revealed for the Xbox 360 it blew people away. Never before had graphics been this detailed. Well I'm here to say that while the graphics are indeed fantastic(they still hold up very well), the game play is what makes Gears such a great game.

Concept- Many critics have cited the story of Gears as a weak point, but I disagree. It is a very simple tale about an alien(or demon???) horde coming up from underground and engaging humanity in a brutal war. There's not much to it, but I feel as though the characters are strong enough to push it along.

Graphics- Amazing. Even today they can compete with the best of the best. Everything from the character models to the textures to the animations is top notch.

Sound- The sound design and voice acting is great. However, the script itself is a bit hammy. Also, i kinda wish there was a more memorable score.

Game Play- Excellent! The cover system was revolutionary and has since been copied by a vast amount of third (and first) person shooters. Co-op really does make the game twice as good.

Overall- A good game by yourself, but great with a friend! This game will be remembered as one of the first truly great next-gen games.

9/10

~Zack~

SKYRIM REVIEW

Haven't posted a review in some time so I figured I'd share my opinion on a little game called Skyrim. Jeff, I know you're a fan of Oblivion, so I'm sure you already have this masterpeice. And if you don't, shame on you. This is an amazing game. Ten times better than Oblivion in every aspect.

Concept- You are the legendary Dragonborn, and it is up to you to save a world being overrun by mysteriously ressurrected dragons! And if you wanna ignore the story and go do your own thing, feel free. There are guilds to join, a Civil War to fight, crypts to loot, wild life to hunt, bounties to collect, and MUCH more.

Graphics- Amazing. This would look good for a game one tenth its size. Great textures, character models, and animation. The draw distance is also pretty great.

Sound- Great on all fronts.Sound effects and voice work is exceptional. And the score is one of the very best in all of gaming.

Game Play- It's Oblivion... but much improved. It controls like a dream. And the 3rd person view is actually playable this time.

Overall- I got this game the day it came out and have been playing it ever since. This is one of my favorite games of all time and Im sure I will continue to play it for years to come. A masterpeice.

10/10

~Zack~

Zack, just looking over older comments and I see I had a 360, well i ditched it for PS3...best thing I ever did.

Lol... I switched to 360. :P

~Zack~

Never got into Skyrim, or Oblivion for that matter. My partner loves them but her playing days have dwindled since the kids came on the scene.

I guess I�m more of a CoD fan. I did enjoy the recent Hitman game which was far better than all the previous entries in the series.

Looking forward to Aliens: Colonial Marines that is out soon. Interested to see how they tackle that one.

I haven't owned a video console since they started making "sequels" to them.
So yeah. PS 2 and I never became friends. :P

But CAPCOM is here to save the day for old school gamers.
Here's an awesome NEW GAME that's a free download for classic MegaMan addicts!

Here's the direct link for the U.S. version:
http://www.capcom-unity.com/brelston/blog/2012/12/17/street-fighter-x-mega-man-now-available-for-free

Enjoy!

E.D.

Got sick of oblivion after a few days, just could not get into it. Fallout 3 felt like a better game. Skyrim was fun but I just didn't feel like investing so much time into it.

Quoted from CoopBazinga

I did enjoy the recent Hitman game which was far better than all the previous entries in the series.

I actually really enjoyed Hitman Contracts, one of the best stealth based games I've ever played. I'm definitely going to buy the newest one, looks cool.

I loved Skyrim, but I've been very pissed about the dlc for PS3 still not being available...so...I haven't played in many months. I did finish though...and I will buy the dlc and continue on as soon as the fuckers at Bethesda make it available.

In the meantime, I've been playing Fallout 3 New Vegas, which is an excellent game. I think it may even be better than Fallout 3. It is a bit buggy for sure, but it's a blast and goes on forever, if you want it to. I'm not thrilled with the dlc though. I bought the Ultimate Edition, which came with all 4 dlc titles included.

Fallout 3 and New Vegas are a total blast. I clocked in about 20 hours into skyrim and realized that I simply didn't have the time to invest in such a massive game. Seriously, I've heard some have logged in about 500 hours into Skyrim (and that's just being modest).

With New Vegas, I'm always trying to find new ways to be as evil as possible. For example, when you meet that asshat who tried to kill you, you have the option of killing him on the spot, letting him go, or crucifying him. Naturally I put him on the cross. I then found him hanging there, just barely alive, and proceeded to beat him with a bat. After his corpse fell from the cross, I stole his checkered suit and wore it around town proudly just to tell everyone not to f uck with me. the game didnt realize what i was doing morally.

Anyways, the reason I'm posting is to encourage everyone to play telltale's walking dead game. Seriously, you want to talk about character development and story telling? You NEED to play this game. It doesnt follow Rick's story or anything like that. It's a whole new story based on choices. There are a few quick time events (which are super annoying), but they're pretty easy. Also you can't invert the Y-Axis which pisses me the f uck off. But this isnt a game you play, it's a game you experience. And it's the year's best. And it's only $30 for all 5 episodes. So there's no reason not to play it.

What's the game you're talking about, Penguin? I don't understand...

Sorry about that. It's just called The Walking Dead: The Game. Telltale produced it and it started off as DL only. However, they just released a disc with all of the DL content on it.

Here's IGN's link to the game...

http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/12/12/the-walking-dead-the-game-review

The Walking Dead is amazing. It's my choice for best game of the year. Really powerful storytelling.

~Zack~

Quoted from albinopenguin

Anyways, the reason I'm posting is to encourage everyone to play telltale's walking dead game. Seriously, you want to talk about character development and story telling? You NEED to play this game. It doesnt follow Rick's story or anything like that. It's a whole new story based on choices. There are a few quick time events (which are super annoying), but they're pretty easy. Also you can't invert the Y-Axis which pisses me the f uck off. But this isnt a game you play, it's a game you experience. And it's the year's best. And it's only $30 for all 5 episodes. So there's no reason not to play it.

Thanks for the heads up on this one, Will. :)

I downloaded the first episode last night on my iPad (free on the app store) and was engrossed immediately. It's a very addictive game.

I finally got around to trying all of the Mass Effects. I'm a stickler (does anybody even say that anymore?) for story and characters over graphics and I was very pleased. I've logged about 100 hours into them in the last two weeks but I don't play as much as I used to.

All three are great and have their own strengths and weaknesses.

Original was best for its story.

2 was best for its characters.

3 was best for its graphics and sense of urgency.

I like them in that order.

I got Hitman Absolution. Have liked Hitman ever since the ps2 game. I believe I fell in love with the 3rd one.

I like the the ps3 game except that it's effing difficult. The story's short but, the amount of ways you can finish the mission has become hard. It's just effing difficult. lol. It's good and frustrating at the same time.

Gabe

Quoted from Mr.Ripley

I believe I fell in love with the 3rd one.

Better than Blood Money? That's a tall order, Gabe... =)

Nah Mr. Blonde,

I forgot what the 3rd one was called. lol. Blood money rocked. Figuring things out were easier than in Absolution.

I have to agree with Mr. Ripley about Hitman Absolution, it was so hard. My favourite Hitman remains Blood Money. I spent more hours trying to complete the mission in the hotel in as many ways as I possibly could than I put in on the whole of Absolution. The old school maps were way better too. BTW did anyone else get to play the sniper challenge that came as a free download if you pre ordered the game? I thought it was an excellent mini game.

In terms of games with a good story, did any of you ever play 'Heavy Rain'? It came out a few years ago now and was only available on PS3, but it's definitely one of the best, if not the best, game I've ever played.

It was pretty much the game I'd always wanted to play, where every decision you make can change how the story ends. You play as 4 different characters, a dad, a female journalist, an FBI agent and a private detective, all trying to stop 'The Origami Killer', a killer who kidnaps children during heavy rainfall in order to drown them.

It was basically a really long film noir that you get to change the outcome of. In my first run through I managed to get a couple of the characters killed, but when a character dies they don't regenerate, that's it, they're gone for good. Stakes are high. It had a pretty huge twist that I didn't see coming either.