Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Thursday, December 3, 2009
EGM NOW!: The EGM rebirth
When Steve Harris announced he would be starting EGM back up I had mixed emotions. First of all most of my favourite writers were laid off and the entire reason I enjoyed reading EGM was the writers were some of the best in the business, and they really understood video-games. Secondly what was to keep EGM Now from becoming EGM of yesterday, right now isn't the best time to release a magazine or any print for that matter.Well over the last week one of my worries disappeared. It seems Harris has been seeking out some previous talent, on December first Harris revealed that Dan 'Shoe' Hsu would be returning to EGM which got me thinking 'hmm thats nice, but wish he would bring back a few more vets' and well my prayers were answered with the news Revision 3 the guys behind Co-op and 1upShow fame will return to the famed magazine. Are there more returnies to come only time will tell.
:)
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Update: Whats Ahead
Upcoming Reviews
God of War Collection
(New) Meta Reviews:
Time Fcuk (Flash)
Spider (Ipod)
Canabalt (Ipod)
These games will be reviewed on a 5 point scale to differentiate them from major releases ...
now back to Modern Warfare 2
...
God of War Collection
(New) Meta Reviews:
Time Fcuk (Flash)
Spider (Ipod)
Canabalt (Ipod)
These games will be reviewed on a 5 point scale to differentiate them from major releases ...
now back to Modern Warfare 2
...
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Review: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 [360,PS3,PC]
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
The name Call of Duty brings up a lot of emotion amongst people, whether it's pure joy, pure hatred or nostalgia. Two years ago Modern Warfare shaped the landscape of online multi-player, mixing fun easy to jump in and out of game-play with a ranking system that took ques from mmo's like World of Warcraft. Now on the heels of one of the biggest releases of the year Modern Warfare 2 has huge potential to do new and innovative things in the video-game medium and deliver more of that awesome multi-player experience that gamers have been addicted to for the past two years.
Modern Warfare 2 revolves around 3 basic game modes; Single Player, Multi-player and the new addition Spec Ops. Spec Ops acts as a replacement to co-op and runs you through various missions ranging from sniper missions to snowmobile chases. Many of the missions are taken straight from the single player but shaped to support two players and although you can play by yourself it is evident that these levels were intended for two. The multi-player is very similar to that of COD4 which is not an issue seeing as COD4's multi-player is some of the best we've seen in video games ever. There are enough game-modes to keep the action fresh and the ranking system will keep you hooked for months to come. The HUD is much more polished than in previous games and the maps are in my opinion the best yet and with the promise of support from infinity ward through patches and DLC, MW2 is a great choice for anyone looking for a multi-player game to sink into for a long time. My one complaint about multi-player isn't so much a complaint as it is something I found odd, with a new reward system in MW2 numbers are flying all over the screen at a constant pace and although it's far from distracting it seems as though the game was intended for people who constantly need to feel rewarded kills early on reward you with so many points you'll be a little stunned.
Modern Warfare 2's single player however is a much different beast. The campaign sends you through some really incredible action scenes that will leave your jaw on the ground the only problem is that the story fails miserably at trying to make sense of them all. The story which centers around several playable characters all of which are bland and unimaginative. Modern Warfare protagonist Soap Mactavish returns and is just as stereotypical and unappealing as ever and despite being an incredible badass is not memorable, most other characters are merely palette swaps of Soap's personality with a few minor tweaks or fit into another stereotypical soldier persona. The central antagonist of modern warfare 2 is Makarov is also not a bright spot amongst the cast, a flat and well predictable villain Infinity Ward made little to no effort making Makarov a fully rounded character with clear intelligent motives and a persona, the one issue with Makarov is he doesn't seem human he seems like a monster which you're probably going 'well he is a monster' let me tell you the best villains are the ones you feel empathy towards which is something that video-games struggle to do that cinema has done so well. The one semi-well developed character is prisoner 627 (to avoid spoilers I'll refer to him as 627). 627 isn't a hero nor is he a villain, he is merely a man stuck on the protagonists side, he is flawed, rude, ill mannered and stubborn and this makes him all the more interesting. His dialogue is smart and snappy and was my highlight of the latter half of the game. The campaign ranges from 4-6 hours depending on your difficulty which would be fine if the game didn't lack replay values; seeing as MW2 campaign relies so heavily on shock value the second and third times through lack the oomph that the first play through had had. 
Shocking is definitely something Modern Warfare 2 attempted.[SPOILER WARNING -first act airport scene- SPOILER WARNING]
The first Modern Warfare's infamous nuke scene garnered the game praise from much of the game critic population, so it wasn't surprising that MW2 would try to top it. The airport sequence where you play an undercover agent amongst a terrorist group shooting at civilians is initially gut wrenching and quite the moral dilemma but after several seconds the inherent game-e-ness sets in, every person in the airport ranges from 20-40 and almost every fifth person is wearing the same outfit. Had the crowd been more diverse the scene would have had far more of an impact. The idea of seeing a family murdered defenselessly in cold blood would have sent the message Infinity Ward was trying to send rather than a seemingly failed attempt at being deep, the sequence over all does not take a huge part in the plot other than moving the plot forward.
[SPOILER WARNING -END- SPOILER WARNING]
The game is tied together through power point like presentation with chatter taking place in the background and although it looks cool it feels like a sloppy and dated way to tell a story. The over arching narrative is a cluster fuck... to say the least. I found myself pausing to get a grip on character motives and plot twists, in fact it felt like segments of the game were missing and they had rushed and crammed the narrative in to what was left over.
Complaints aside MW2 is an amazing game Spec Ops and Multi-player are near perfection but they won't suit everyone. Don't expect MW2 to change the way you view COD games if you didn't like them before don't expect to like them now. A pure adrenaline rush of action MW2 is worth your money it's just a shame that at the end of the day MW2 didn't go that extra step it very much took the safe bet and isn't going to change the face of gaming. Modern Warfare 2 is an awesome game that couldn't quite do the extra little thing to place itself amongst the pantheon of greatest games of all time.
The game is tied together through power point like presentation with chatter taking place in the background and although it looks cool it feels like a sloppy and dated way to tell a story. The over arching narrative is a cluster fuck... to say the least. I found myself pausing to get a grip on character motives and plot twists, in fact it felt like segments of the game were missing and they had rushed and crammed the narrative in to what was left over.
Complaints aside MW2 is an amazing game Spec Ops and Multi-player are near perfection but they won't suit everyone. Don't expect MW2 to change the way you view COD games if you didn't like them before don't expect to like them now. A pure adrenaline rush of action MW2 is worth your money it's just a shame that at the end of the day MW2 didn't go that extra step it very much took the safe bet and isn't going to change the face of gaming. Modern Warfare 2 is an awesome game that couldn't quite do the extra little thing to place itself amongst the pantheon of greatest games of all time.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Update: COD-pocalypse
"... zomg have you seen d'em d'ere Call of Dutyz "
... this is whats been echoing thorugh my head for the last week. As much as I'm glad Call of Duty is making videogames a topic in the mainstream i can't begin to define my frusturation with people's blind obsession with this game. Much like how a sports fan nods mindlessly along to a casual sport enthusiast ranting during the super bowl about how great those patriots have been I can't help but wish that they weren't talking to me about the subject. Before you start going 'oh he just hates things that are popular' hear me out, I understand why people like Call of Duty 4, it was a great game that made online multi-player fun and addictive for both casual and hardcore gamers. It did a hell of a-lot right in fact it is hard to pick out major flaws but what my problem is, is that i expected the aftermath of COD4 to be much different.
My hope for Call of Duty 4 was to suck some of the casual user base into the hard-core circle, to be blunt i wanted COD4 to be people's videogame equivalent to a gateway drug. I wanted to see people jump from Call of Duty to games like to games like Metal Gear and Splinter Cell and then to games like Shadow of the Colossus and Half Life but instead they used Call of Duty 4 as a standard for which to base there interest in other games upon. People simply tried to find games similar to COD4 and use them as a distraction for a week or two before they return to COD4. Now it was foolish of me to assume people would naturally become accustomed to games of a different artistic outlook in fact most people didn't like Call of Duty 4 for its deeper moments like the nuke blast and I guess that the mainstream isn't looking for a deep experience what they want is the Transformers 2 or Gears of War experience (More gore, more action, more violence more explosions...) . All i want is these artistic games to get a fair shake and I fear that COD is what may be preventing them .
Can You Name the Game above? If you can't never talk to me again ever ...!
The following Paragraph contains minor spoilers from the opening segment of Modern Warfare 2
I'm excited for Modern Warfare 2 don't get me wrong, it's just i can't help but feel left out when it comes to how excited everyone else seems. Is it that I'm not a huge fan of multi-player? No because when it comes down to it the single player should still be enough to motivate me to play the game. It's the potential of MW2 that has me a little uneasy, MW2 has the potential to send a message through a game without suffering sales wise because it has such a large dedicated fan base, so in my eyes if Infinity Ward doesn't jump at the opportunity the game will be a failure in my eyes. A few days back upon hearing of the opening level of MW2 my excitement rose tremendously and then came to a crashing halt. The opening level in which you are an undercover agent disguised as a terrorist in an airport and instructed to take down civilians has the potential to be a moving moment that only a video-game could portray. The bitter feeling of killing innocents in order to save millions is subject matter that movies have delt with a lot over the past decade and it is something that could be a huge step forward for videogames but then when I heard that it was an optional segment my respect for Infinity Ward flew out the window, if you have something to say as a developer ... no as an artist, you say it you don't make it optional. I'm going to steal an example from a podcast i listened to a little while back that i cannot remember the name of (sorry), would Saving Private Ryan let you skip the opening scene, no they wouldn't , because that opening scene demonstrates the brutality of war the pain suffering and agony of battle and sets the tone for the film and leaves you afterwords with a different mindset than you came in with.
!
I was going to save that last segment for the review but decided otherwise because MW2 isn't out yet, i have not played it, and there is still the opportunity for it to change my mind and impress me and i just wanted you the reader to understand my mindset heading into Modern Warfare 2. Until Next Time ... See You Later Space Cowboy (!)
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Review: Uncharted 2 [PS3]
REVIEW
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
When Uncharted 1 came out gamers were shocked by the quality narrative and character development but the core game-play although competent was not on par with many games of the time. Now 2 years later is Naughty Dog's Uncharted 2 an improvement or is it more of the same?
From the opening cut-scene it is obvious that Uncharted 2 is a good looking game. Uncharted 2 has more polish and detail in a single sculpture than most games have in their entire single-player. Nathan Drake and many of the main characters are very well animated throughout both cut-scenes and gameplay, and this game is a testament of how great a developer Naughty Dog is. It is the little things that make Uncharted 2 great, whether it is Drake stumbling after a jump or an old log snapping under pressure it's the little quirks of Uncharted 2's world that makes it believable and brings it to life. The setting in Uncharted 2 is great but it's the characters that makes Uncharted 2 the game it is. The main character Nathan Drake is, in my opinion, the most well developed character in Video-Games to date, and after playing Uncharted 1 I looked forward to seeing Nathan Drake in a game again much like how you look forward to seeing an actor again in a movie. The Uncharted universe is full of villains and Nathan Drake is merely a villain thrust into the roles of a hero this makes him more interesting than the flat characters we expect in most games who are always to the extreme end of the moral meter. But what makes him shine as a character is how well he interacts with the other characters, most notably with Uncharted 1 returny Elena Fisher. The banter and chemistry between characters is on the same level as or better than most films and makes the narrative and game-play more interesting. All the characters are very much action film archetypes not stereotypes which makes them familiar but not played out or over used, the one exception to this is the main villain who is very stereotypical and predictable, an interesting villain would have made uncharted 2 a perfect narrative experience.
The game-play of uncharted 2 is a welcome improvement to the original. Like Uncharted it revolves around 3 basic mechanics Combat, Platforming, and Exploration/Puzzle solving. The combat of Uncharted 2 is a cover based shooter akin to Gears of War but without the clunky movement. Drake is a very mobile character thus adding a layer of game-play Gears lacks. You can vault over ledges, climb high obstacles and get attacked from every angle. Uncharted 2 also introduces a stealth mechanic that, other than in an initial segment of the game, is well implemented and optional which keeps it from being frustrating. The platforming is very similar to that of Uncharted 1 but some little things(ie:things breaking and things chasing you) keep it exciting and at times intense, there are several occasions when something looks like you can jump on is actually impossible to jump on and this can be frustrating but a hint system keeps it from becoming game breaking and controller tossing. The puzzle solving is definitely reduced in comparison to the first game which depending on who you are may be a welcome change, the puzzles in Uncharted 1 slowed down the narrative and made it feel more gamey, so in Uncharted 2 the few puzzles are very well polished but since the are so few and far between don't bring the narrative to a halt.
Uncharted 2 isn't without flaws, there are several points in the game where you can get stuck, most notably the initial stealth segment where if you don't do it exactly how the game wants you to it is instant failure. Also there will be times when you face an enemy who can take a ridiculous amount of bullets which may take you out of the experience, for the most part this is only boss enemies but it is still bizarre when a man can take 3 shot gun blasts to the face and still get up.
Uncharted 2 also has a ton of replay value something the first Uncharted was lacking. With a plethora of unlock-able skins, weapons and renders you'll be coming back to the singleplayer to test out your new stuff and besides how can you hate a game where you can play as a Skeleton or doughnut Drake
Uncharted 2 is a incredible game which features more quality, depth, character development, laughs, thrills and memorable scenes than most games out there, hell i haven't mentioned the Multi-player yet (which i will go in depth with at a later date) . Uncharted 2 is a top tier game that is deserving of the 60$ price tag and one of the best games of this console generation.
When Uncharted 1 came out gamers were shocked by the quality narrative and character development but the core game-play although competent was not on par with many games of the time. Now 2 years later is Naughty Dog's Uncharted 2 an improvement or is it more of the same?
From the opening cut-scene it is obvious that Uncharted 2 is a good looking game. Uncharted 2 has more polish and detail in a single sculpture than most games have in their entire single-player. Nathan Drake and many of the main characters are very well animated throughout both cut-scenes and gameplay, and this game is a testament of how great a developer Naughty Dog is. It is the little things that make Uncharted 2 great, whether it is Drake stumbling after a jump or an old log snapping under pressure it's the little quirks of Uncharted 2's world that makes it believable and brings it to life. The setting in Uncharted 2 is great but it's the characters that makes Uncharted 2 the game it is. The main character Nathan Drake is, in my opinion, the most well developed character in Video-Games to date, and after playing Uncharted 1 I looked forward to seeing Nathan Drake in a game again much like how you look forward to seeing an actor again in a movie. The Uncharted universe is full of villains and Nathan Drake is merely a villain thrust into the roles of a hero this makes him more interesting than the flat characters we expect in most games who are always to the extreme end of the moral meter. But what makes him shine as a character is how well he interacts with the other characters, most notably with Uncharted 1 returny Elena Fisher. The banter and chemistry between characters is on the same level as or better than most films and makes the narrative and game-play more interesting. All the characters are very much action film archetypes not stereotypes which makes them familiar but not played out or over used, the one exception to this is the main villain who is very stereotypical and predictable, an interesting villain would have made uncharted 2 a perfect narrative experience.
The game-play of uncharted 2 is a welcome improvement to the original. Like Uncharted it revolves around 3 basic mechanics Combat, Platforming, and Exploration/Puzzle solving. The combat of Uncharted 2 is a cover based shooter akin to Gears of War but without the clunky movement. Drake is a very mobile character thus adding a layer of game-play Gears lacks. You can vault over ledges, climb high obstacles and get attacked from every angle. Uncharted 2 also introduces a stealth mechanic that, other than in an initial segment of the game, is well implemented and optional which keeps it from being frustrating. The platforming is very similar to that of Uncharted 1 but some little things(ie:things breaking and things chasing you) keep it exciting and at times intense, there are several occasions when something looks like you can jump on is actually impossible to jump on and this can be frustrating but a hint system keeps it from becoming game breaking and controller tossing. The puzzle solving is definitely reduced in comparison to the first game which depending on who you are may be a welcome change, the puzzles in Uncharted 1 slowed down the narrative and made it feel more gamey, so in Uncharted 2 the few puzzles are very well polished but since the are so few and far between don't bring the narrative to a halt.
Uncharted 2 isn't without flaws, there are several points in the game where you can get stuck, most notably the initial stealth segment where if you don't do it exactly how the game wants you to it is instant failure. Also there will be times when you face an enemy who can take a ridiculous amount of bullets which may take you out of the experience, for the most part this is only boss enemies but it is still bizarre when a man can take 3 shot gun blasts to the face and still get up.
Uncharted 2 also has a ton of replay value something the first Uncharted was lacking. With a plethora of unlock-able skins, weapons and renders you'll be coming back to the singleplayer to test out your new stuff and besides how can you hate a game where you can play as a Skeleton or doughnut Drake
Uncharted 2 is a incredible game which features more quality, depth, character development, laughs, thrills and memorable scenes than most games out there, hell i haven't mentioned the Multi-player yet (which i will go in depth with at a later date) . Uncharted 2 is a top tier game that is deserving of the 60$ price tag and one of the best games of this console generation.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Top 5: NES Games
Top 5 NES Games
The NES was the beginning. Nintendo had grown tired of supplying Japans underground mobs with playing cards to wage illegal gambling matches of life and death and felt there talents were perfect for making the Videogames for little kids. While Atari was busy feeding Japans inner need for pixilated porn Nintendo worked the Famicom, which released in Japan with moderate fan fare. Afraid of the bad image videogames had in America Nintendo decided to call the system the Nintendo Entertainment System because there is no way anyone would be able to make the connection between Games and Entertainment. Over 20 years later the NES has one of the largest and greatest collections of games and here are 5 that stick out from the bunch.
#5 Final Fantasy: The only game in the series to not contain roman numerals, Final Fantasy one was the game that would shape how spiky haired homosexual boys from Japan would settle disputes for the next 2 decades. Although it wasn’t the first game to use a turn-based battle system Final Fantasy, with it’s perfect blend of chess like strategy and over the top dialogue grabbed players in a way that many games would mimick for the coming decade. The class system that included classics like the white mage, red mage, Black Mage (which was coloured Blue?) and thief, became a hallmark of RPGs in general. Although it wasn’t the first to do many things Final Fantasy brought many aspects of RPGs to the forefront and made them staples of the genre for years to come. On a side note however do not try to play this game right now … you will hate your life for it.
#4 Super Mario Bros 3: As exciting as Super Mario Bros 2’s turnip picking was gamers were desperate for a true follow-up to Super Mario Bros greatness and something that wasn’t just Doki Doki Panic with Mario characters. SMB3 fulfilled that request combining creative level design and challenge from the original with an inventory system, power ups and checkpoint system made SMB3 worthy of Mario name and is one of the best NES games out there. And besides you got to play as a Tanuki which is basically a Squirrel like animal from Japan that uses it’s massive scrotem (or ball sack as some may refer to it) to glide through the air. Oh Nintendo you perverts.
#3 Metroid: Nintendo gave birth to two of the biggest franchises in videogames, Legend of Zelda and Super Mario. Now if those two franchises had a child the offspring would be Metroid. Nintendo took the 2D platforming of Super Mario Bros and the exploration and puzzle solving of Zelda and threw it in space with crazy aliens and laser blasters. Metroid puts you on a foreign alien world infested with aliens and space pirates and you played the role of Samus a badass, strong, killing machine who was a ... Chick?
#2 The Legend of Zelda: Da da … da da da da… da da da de … dun dun dun dun … this melody echoed through my head for weeks and I loved every second of it. Legend of Zelda began like every game should by walking into a dark cave and accepting a gift from a creepy old dude and just like that you set of on an adventure the likes of which gamers had never experienced before. The Legend of Zelda incorporated the perfect blend of puzzle solving, combat and exploration. As well as a expansive world full of mystery … well in my mind it was… 
#1 Super Mario Bros. : Miyamato is the idea man behind Nintendo. He drew inspiration from his real world surroundings and based games upon them, The Legend of Zelda was inspired by his love of exploring the outdoors, Pikmin was based on his love of gardening and Wii Fit was based on his love of things that match his Ikea furniture. Mario was based upon his jolly Italian landlord and Mario quickly became the poster boy of videogames. But Mario didn’t really get his spotlight until Super Mario Bros. on the NES. Whether you were a 5 year old who found challenge in jumping over the first Goomba to cross your path or were a seasoned videogame vet who enjoyed the challenge of perfectly timing jumps on Level 8-1 [on a side note I hated the second Para-Koopa on level 8-1] Super Mario Bros. gave joy to anyone who has a soul.
Playing modern day platformers like LittleBigPlanet, Shadow Complex and Trine really helps you appreciate just how perfect Super Mario Bros. was. What it really got right was it’s jumping mechanics, it may sound trivial but the jumping in Super Mario Bros was so perfectly tuned. There is even scientific evidence to back the claim that Mario’s jumping pattern benefits a gamers’ enjoyment of a game. Several games to follow would attempt to mimic Mario’s jumping but none would surpass it, even Master Chief’s jumping is similar in trajectory and momentum. SMB also set a benchmark for challenge in games, a perfect match of difficulty and enjoyment. What really is impressive is how much Nintendo was able to squeeze out of what resources and experience they had, it is Super Mario Bros inherent simplicity that makes it so beautiful and complex. For decades developers tried to make games with destructive environments while SMB had done it years before with it’s exploding blocks. SMB is a perfect example of how creative design will always surpass technology limits and hardware.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Update: Foreign Exchange
Well it's been a while since I've posted so I thought I'd throw together an update.
Upon hearing that Yakuza 3 was going to be translated for a US release I decided to hit up the Japanese PSN store and check out the Yakuza 3 demo. Now I've always liked Japanese culture so I always found Yakuza to be an interesting series even though I don't understand one word anyone is saying. Yakuza 3 despite it's slightly dated looking animations really drew me into this foreign world something that most GTA games were never able to do. The combat can be a little jankity and certain terrain looks like it's way to small in comparison to the main character (ie Giant Character little stairs) but there is something about Yakuza 3 that grabs me ... which is odd because for all I know the characters could be fighting over rubber ducks.
I also picked up the Peacewalker demo that IGN made available during TGS. Once again the language barrier may have retracted from my experience but I really enjoyed what MGS:PW had to offer. The demo starts off with the infamous Metal Gear Solid cliche of cut-scenes and after a (skip-able) tutorial that took forever you are given a set of 4 levels to explore. The PW gameplay is a modified combination of MGS Gun play and MGS3 stealth. The camera and aiming cursor are fitted to the face buttons which replaces the much needed second analog stick. The triggers are your combat buttons and the D-Pad handles Item/Weapon management as well as crouching and general actions. As a fan of the more dim witted AI of MGS1 and 2 I found MGS:PW enemies more fun to sneak up on and offers added flex-ability that MGS4's perfect hearing enemies did not. I really look forward to checking out the co-op me and my buddy were already thinking up a ton of strategies for the tank boss battles.Monday, September 21, 2009
Review: Archive 09/21/09
Review Archive
09/21/09
09/21/09
Batman: Arkham Asylum -------------------------------- 9.2/10
Call of Duty: World at War ------------------------------ 7.0/10
Fallout 3 ---------------------------------------------------- 9.1/10
Fallout 3 ---------------------------------------------------- 9.1/10
Fat Princess ----------------------------------------------- 7.5/10
inFAMOUS ------------------------------------------------ 8.8/10
Killzone 2 -------------------------------------------------- 8.7/10
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots --------------- 9.6/10
Resident Evil 5 -------------------------------------------- 8.8/10
Resistance 2 ----------------------------------------------- 7.8/10
inFAMOUS ------------------------------------------------ 8.8/10
Killzone 2 -------------------------------------------------- 8.7/10
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots --------------- 9.6/10
Resident Evil 5 -------------------------------------------- 8.8/10
Resistance 2 ----------------------------------------------- 7.8/10
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Update: Time Fcuk
This weeks been busy so I didn't play to many games but I have been playing some Batman Arkham Asylum and I'm still enjoying it. If you want to know my thoughts on it just check out my review below.
I've also been playing some retro games. I recently downloaded Bonk's Adventure for the TurboGraphx 16 a game I think many people may have missed out on since it was always overshadowed by it competition, Mario and Sonic. It's really fun and challenging. The checkpoint system is fair and the game does feature quite a few times when things are put in your way to frustrate you. I recommend it to anyone looking for some retro goodness.
In my opinion Flash games do not get the attention they deserve. The Flash games community is much larger than some people think and there are truly some great game amongst the jungle of flash games out there. A great example of how unique and enjoyable flash games can be is 'Time Fcuk'. The game is a platforming puzzler similar to 'Shift' set in a wacky world that messes with your mind. There is a truly great sense of atmosphere in 'Time Fcuk' an accomplishment that is quite difficult to achieve in video-games or let alone a flash game. It is an equally enjoyable and challenging game I recomend to anyone and everyone. Check it out @ http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/511754 ...
I've also been playing some retro games. I recently downloaded Bonk's Adventure for the TurboGraphx 16 a game I think many people may have missed out on since it was always overshadowed by it competition, Mario and Sonic. It's really fun and challenging. The checkpoint system is fair and the game does feature quite a few times when things are put in your way to frustrate you. I recommend it to anyone looking for some retro goodness.
In my opinion Flash games do not get the attention they deserve. The Flash games community is much larger than some people think and there are truly some great game amongst the jungle of flash games out there. A great example of how unique and enjoyable flash games can be is 'Time Fcuk'. The game is a platforming puzzler similar to 'Shift' set in a wacky world that messes with your mind. There is a truly great sense of atmosphere in 'Time Fcuk' an accomplishment that is quite difficult to achieve in video-games or let alone a flash game. It is an equally enjoyable and challenging game I recomend to anyone and everyone. Check it out @ http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/511754 ...
Webcomic of the Week
I know I just posted a webcomic a day or two ago but that one was actually almost a week late so here is this weeks actual Webcomic of the week. It comes from Digital Unrest to check out there other stuff visit digitalunrestcomic.com. ENJOY.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Ty's Rant: To boycott or not to boycott
To Boycott or not to Boycott
When Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare was released there was a momentous shift in what people began to play online. People I knew who never really played many video-games other than Halo and Madden once every other week suddenly were regularly playing Call of Duty 4. The Casual-Hardcore as i refer to them (people who only play a few games a year but games that would be considered hardcore) treated COD4 as the second coming. It's genius upgrade system hooked gamers feeding off everyone's need for inner-accomplishment and turning gamers into crack addicts. Now two years later Infinity Ward is ready to give gamers there next fix with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.
Now heres my problem and its a problem I think a lot of gamers who look at the business side of games may be facing. Activision is the company everyone loves to hate, they take a lot of shit from gamers for routinely producing rehashed versions of old games and sucking every bit of cash from the game until it's dry (ie: the Tony Hawk series). Bobby Kotick CEO of Activision has been the leader behind Activision for a little while now and when people hate on Activision often times the hatred is directed toward Bobby Kotick. Bobby Kotick has made it clear that the only thing he cares about when it comes to making games is how much money he can make out of it. He was recently interviewed by Gamespot where he stated;
When Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare was released there was a momentous shift in what people began to play online. People I knew who never really played many video-games other than Halo and Madden once every other week suddenly were regularly playing Call of Duty 4. The Casual-Hardcore as i refer to them (people who only play a few games a year but games that would be considered hardcore) treated COD4 as the second coming. It's genius upgrade system hooked gamers feeding off everyone's need for inner-accomplishment and turning gamers into crack addicts. Now two years later Infinity Ward is ready to give gamers there next fix with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.
Now heres my problem and its a problem I think a lot of gamers who look at the business side of games may be facing. Activision is the company everyone loves to hate, they take a lot of shit from gamers for routinely producing rehashed versions of old games and sucking every bit of cash from the game until it's dry (ie: the Tony Hawk series). Bobby Kotick CEO of Activision has been the leader behind Activision for a little while now and when people hate on Activision often times the hatred is directed toward Bobby Kotick. Bobby Kotick has made it clear that the only thing he cares about when it comes to making games is how much money he can make out of it. He was recently interviewed by Gamespot where he stated;
"The goal that I had in bringing a lot of the packaged goods folks into Activision about 10 years ago was to take all the fun out of making video games."
"really [reward] profit and nothing else"
"Mwah Ha Ha"
"Mwah Ha Ha"Bobby Kotick has made it clear that he doesn't care about Video-Games from a quality standpoint and merely look at it as a growing Cash Cow. This is the direction many gamers and I do not want to see games going in.
Now were on the verge of Modern Warfare 2 a game published by Activision and bound to sell millions of copies and be a quality game but no doubt the money from this game will only help Activision churn out 20 more Guitar Heroes and Tony Hawks. I just don't feel comfortable purchasing a game that supports (in my opinion) negative ideals and it is for this reason i refuse to purchase Guitar Hero or Tony Hawk games.
However I do realize that there are other people here, not everyone in Activision supports Kotick's ideals and Call of Duty developer Infinity Ward has some truly talented individuals who understand video games and are deserving for all the effort they've put into the game. Also I am sure Call of duty: Modern Warfare 2 will be a great game that i would certainly miss out on.
I will inevitably end up picking up Modern Warfare 2 at some-point but I'm considered my opinion on the game may be tarnished with the thought that I'm supporting someone I disagree with.
Until Next time ...
Now were on the verge of Modern Warfare 2 a game published by Activision and bound to sell millions of copies and be a quality game but no doubt the money from this game will only help Activision churn out 20 more Guitar Heroes and Tony Hawks. I just don't feel comfortable purchasing a game that supports (in my opinion) negative ideals and it is for this reason i refuse to purchase Guitar Hero or Tony Hawk games.
However I do realize that there are other people here, not everyone in Activision supports Kotick's ideals and Call of Duty developer Infinity Ward has some truly talented individuals who understand video games and are deserving for all the effort they've put into the game. Also I am sure Call of duty: Modern Warfare 2 will be a great game that i would certainly miss out on.
I will inevitably end up picking up Modern Warfare 2 at some-point but I'm considered my opinion on the game may be tarnished with the thought that I'm supporting someone I disagree with.
Until Next time ...
Webcomic of the Week
This weeks comic suits the Batman theme. It comes from Ninja Ken @ http://www.theninjaken.com/comic/ .... enjoy
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Review: Batman Arkham Asylum [X360,PS3,PC]
Review
Batman: Arkham Asylum
9.2 / 10
Batman, makes the perfect videogame character. He has a ton of gadgets, he kicks ass and is a great puzzle solver but for some reason developers have trouble pulling off the awesomeness that is Batman. RockSteady was looking to change this with Batman Arkham Asylum. So is Arkham Asylum the game we've all been waiting for or is Arkham Asylum a game that does everthing but not anything great?
9.2 / 10
Batman, makes the perfect videogame character. He has a ton of gadgets, he kicks ass and is a great puzzle solver but for some reason developers have trouble pulling off the awesomeness that is Batman. RockSteady was looking to change this with Batman Arkham Asylum. So is Arkham Asylum the game we've all been waiting for or is Arkham Asylum a game that does everthing but not anything great?
Batman: Arkham Asylum throws you into Gotham's mad house Arkham Asylum where the Joker is planning to take over the Asylum along with every other Batman villian. The game acts as the ultimate fan service to any Batman fan, with villains ranging from the Joker to Killer Croc. Arkham Asylum is a wonderfully crafted world the environments seem lifelike and have incredible detail which reminded me of the level design in the Metroid Prime or Bioshock games. The Unreal Engine that Arkham Asylum runs on is perfect for a Batman the slightly over the top look but realistic look of unreal engine is perfect for the slightly over the top yet realistic feel of Batman. The new renditions of old villains for the most part capture the persona of the original character perfectly and the story is very Batman if you were expecting heavy moral dilemmas along the lines of the Dark Knight film than you may be disappointed but if you wanted a throwback to classic Batman comics and cartoons with a mature look then this will be perfect for you.
The gameplay in Arkham Asylum revolves around 3 core mechanics; combat, stealth, and detective mode. The combat is easy to understand and get used to with three basic attack buttons punch, counter and stun and you learns some extra button combos (throws and takedowns etc...) this simplistic approach works perfectly and combat feels great, not since God of War has it felt so good to hit an enemy the techniques and feel of hitting an enemy is brutal but not over the top it is just perfectly Batman. The Stealth may be a little less hardcore to an MGS or Splinter Cell fan but is fun in its own way. Instead of feeling at a disadvantage like in MGS and Splinter Cell you are always in control during stealth segments which allows you to be creative without the trial and error of many other stealth games. Instead of being punished for experimenting with techniques you always have an escape option when you screw up.
Batman: Arkham Asylum's third gameplay portion is the detective mode. Detective mode is the Metroid Prime equivalent of the Scan visor, when in detective mode you can see through walls, detect armed enemies and scan objects to solve puzzles or get clues. The detective mode really stands out when attempting to solve the over 200 Riddler challenges. These Riddler challenges quickly became one of my favourite parts of the game the riddles range from aligning images to clues to scanning objects in your environment, and unlike the usual open world tasks of collecting orbs or shards, the Riddler challenges are just challenging enough but not frusturating or tasking and i actual found myself hoping for more after i had completed all 200 or so of them.
Speaking of Metroid Prime, i found myself consistently seeing similarities between Metroid and Batman. Like Metroid Prime, Batman AA is perfectly paced you will experience 10 minutes of combat then 10 minutes of stealth and then 10 minutes of exploration and puzzle solving before it switches back to combat. This keeps the many parts of Batman AA from getting old or repetitive and keeps it fresh throughout the game. Also like Metroid, Batman AA shares the same sense of "can't open door-find item-open door with item" that Metroid had with it's item upgrade system. The feeling you get when you get a new weapon or item is amazing it's almost as if the chains had been lifted and now you could run free. When you get the grapple gun for example you'll start to recall all the places you couldn't go before without it and suddenly you feel the need to explore thus keeping things like back tracking fun and exciting and not tiring and boring.
Batman Arkham Asylum is a pleasant surprise that i was not expecting. It takes many ques from other games and refines many of them and unlike many licensed materials the game fits great with the Batman aesthetic. A lot of care went into creating Batman and it shows throughout and is truelly a well crafted experience.
The gameplay in Arkham Asylum revolves around 3 core mechanics; combat, stealth, and detective mode. The combat is easy to understand and get used to with three basic attack buttons punch, counter and stun and you learns some extra button combos (throws and takedowns etc...) this simplistic approach works perfectly and combat feels great, not since God of War has it felt so good to hit an enemy the techniques and feel of hitting an enemy is brutal but not over the top it is just perfectly Batman. The Stealth may be a little less hardcore to an MGS or Splinter Cell fan but is fun in its own way. Instead of feeling at a disadvantage like in MGS and Splinter Cell you are always in control during stealth segments which allows you to be creative without the trial and error of many other stealth games. Instead of being punished for experimenting with techniques you always have an escape option when you screw up.
Batman: Arkham Asylum's third gameplay portion is the detective mode. Detective mode is the Metroid Prime equivalent of the Scan visor, when in detective mode you can see through walls, detect armed enemies and scan objects to solve puzzles or get clues. The detective mode really stands out when attempting to solve the over 200 Riddler challenges. These Riddler challenges quickly became one of my favourite parts of the game the riddles range from aligning images to clues to scanning objects in your environment, and unlike the usual open world tasks of collecting orbs or shards, the Riddler challenges are just challenging enough but not frusturating or tasking and i actual found myself hoping for more after i had completed all 200 or so of them.
Speaking of Metroid Prime, i found myself consistently seeing similarities between Metroid and Batman. Like Metroid Prime, Batman AA is perfectly paced you will experience 10 minutes of combat then 10 minutes of stealth and then 10 minutes of exploration and puzzle solving before it switches back to combat. This keeps the many parts of Batman AA from getting old or repetitive and keeps it fresh throughout the game. Also like Metroid, Batman AA shares the same sense of "can't open door-find item-open door with item" that Metroid had with it's item upgrade system. The feeling you get when you get a new weapon or item is amazing it's almost as if the chains had been lifted and now you could run free. When you get the grapple gun for example you'll start to recall all the places you couldn't go before without it and suddenly you feel the need to explore thus keeping things like back tracking fun and exciting and not tiring and boring.
Batman Arkham Asylum is a pleasant surprise that i was not expecting. It takes many ques from other games and refines many of them and unlike many licensed materials the game fits great with the Batman aesthetic. A lot of care went into creating Batman and it shows throughout and is truelly a well crafted experience.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Update: Better Late than Never
Update
I'm Batman. Well maybe i just feel like it. The long weekend is over and over the weekend i picked up a copy of Arkham Asylum and man am I ever loving it expect a review in the next week or so. Im sorry to say that there will not be a webcomic this week because I'm being lazy and really want to get back to being B-Man ... speaking of which why am i typing write now if i could be playing. Now if only i could get to my room without being seen ...
"He Wont See Me"
I'm Batman. Well maybe i just feel like it. The long weekend is over and over the weekend i picked up a copy of Arkham Asylum and man am I ever loving it expect a review in the next week or so. Im sorry to say that there will not be a webcomic this week because I'm being lazy and really want to get back to being B-Man ... speaking of which why am i typing write now if i could be playing. Now if only i could get to my room without being seen ...
"He Wont See Me"Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Review: Fat Princess [PSN]
Review
Fat Princess
7.5/10
Once upon a time, in a land far far away there was a cake ... and a really really hungry princess. To sum up Fat Princess it is basically a glorified game of capture the flag. The flag being the princess who you can feed cake to increase in size thus making it harder for the opposing team to carry away. Do not let the game's fairy tale art style mislead you one swing of your sword will slice your enemies into a bloody mess.
Fat Princess revolves around its 5 classes the Knight, Mage, Worker, Ranger and the Priest. All the classes can be upgraded by collecting various resources such as wood and iron. The Priest for example normally is strictly a healing unit but when upgraded becomes a powerful Dark Priest capable of sucking health from enemies. Early on you will notice that the worker is very important when it comes to winning. The worker can harvest resources, upgrade classes and build various siege weapons (such as catapult, box springs and ladders).
Your experience with Fat Princess will hinge on whether or not you can get a group of friends who all have mics to play together because when you work together you can dominate any game and have fun while doing it. A party of a Priest, Ice Mage, and Ranger or Warrior all working in tandem with one another can be a wrecking crew swiftly running in and snatching the Princess. As with most multi-player games communication is key and this brings up a key flaw with the PSN, you will be lucky to see one other person in a game using a mic and without communication this game falls apart. You can have brief fun by yourself experimenting with the many multi-player modes and fighting through the games story mode which is more like a tutorial than a full-fledged game. With a good clan support and support from the developers Fat Princess could have a long life but without others to play with the game is but a nice game that may preoccupy you for several days. Fat Princess has potential but only time will tell whether this game can be all that it could've been
7.5/10
Once upon a time, in a land far far away there was a cake ... and a really really hungry princess. To sum up Fat Princess it is basically a glorified game of capture the flag. The flag being the princess who you can feed cake to increase in size thus making it harder for the opposing team to carry away. Do not let the game's fairy tale art style mislead you one swing of your sword will slice your enemies into a bloody mess.
Fat Princess revolves around its 5 classes the Knight, Mage, Worker, Ranger and the Priest. All the classes can be upgraded by collecting various resources such as wood and iron. The Priest for example normally is strictly a healing unit but when upgraded becomes a powerful Dark Priest capable of sucking health from enemies. Early on you will notice that the worker is very important when it comes to winning. The worker can harvest resources, upgrade classes and build various siege weapons (such as catapult, box springs and ladders).
Your experience with Fat Princess will hinge on whether or not you can get a group of friends who all have mics to play together because when you work together you can dominate any game and have fun while doing it. A party of a Priest, Ice Mage, and Ranger or Warrior all working in tandem with one another can be a wrecking crew swiftly running in and snatching the Princess. As with most multi-player games communication is key and this brings up a key flaw with the PSN, you will be lucky to see one other person in a game using a mic and without communication this game falls apart. You can have brief fun by yourself experimenting with the many multi-player modes and fighting through the games story mode which is more like a tutorial than a full-fledged game. With a good clan support and support from the developers Fat Princess could have a long life but without others to play with the game is but a nice game that may preoccupy you for several days. Fat Princess has potential but only time will tell whether this game can be all that it could've been
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Webcomic of the Week
This weeks webcomic comes from Penny Arcade titled "The Circle of Life"
To check out more of Penny Arcades gaming related webcomics check out
http://www.penny-arcade.com/
To check out more of Penny Arcades gaming related webcomics check outhttp://www.penny-arcade.com/
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Update: Saturday August 29th
The last week has been like a gaming drought for me personally.
I was super busy for the last week or so and while most people are playing Arkham Asylum and Shadow Complex I've had every console off and havent found time to play much.
I downloaded the NHL 10 demo and well it's still NHL. I really like Hockey and will buy NHL 10 no matter how it turns out but I was kind of disappointed with the lack of changes. From what I've seen and heard the biggest changes are fighting, board-play, post-whistle scrums and Be a GM mode. Board-Play and the post whistle scrums are perfect and i've been waiting for them for a few years. The fighting system is a bit clunky in my opinion and I'd have preferred button controls over stick controls. Although i haven't played be a GM mode from what I've seen it's just Dynasty Mode + Be a Pro mode. One thing that still pisses me off is the defensive play, for those who don't play hockey a good defense-men will almost never be beat 1 on 1, and for sure no NHL player would be beat on an 1 on 1. But in NHL games defense is so frantic and hard to control you can't line up a guy, you can't force a guy towards the boards and you can't really prevent a guy from hanging out in front of your goalie all things that are really easy and necessary in hockey.
On the other hand however I do not like MMOs. I never tried Warcraft or Everquest and the only one I've ever really gotten into is Runescape which is widely considered MMO 4 n00bs. But lately I've gotten really excited for The Old Republic. I always kinda liked the Star Wars movies but i really like the fiction which is why i always liked KOTOR 1 & 2. I really want to get into TOR and will probably be picking it up when it comes out.
Im probably going to play as a bounty hunter because who hasn't wanted to be Jango Fett but im debating whether or not to play as a Sith ... im sorry i just noticed how Nerdy i sound ... oh well ...
I was super busy for the last week or so and while most people are playing Arkham Asylum and Shadow Complex I've had every console off and havent found time to play much.
I downloaded the NHL 10 demo and well it's still NHL. I really like Hockey and will buy NHL 10 no matter how it turns out but I was kind of disappointed with the lack of changes. From what I've seen and heard the biggest changes are fighting, board-play, post-whistle scrums and Be a GM mode. Board-Play and the post whistle scrums are perfect and i've been waiting for them for a few years. The fighting system is a bit clunky in my opinion and I'd have preferred button controls over stick controls. Although i haven't played be a GM mode from what I've seen it's just Dynasty Mode + Be a Pro mode. One thing that still pisses me off is the defensive play, for those who don't play hockey a good defense-men will almost never be beat 1 on 1, and for sure no NHL player would be beat on an 1 on 1. But in NHL games defense is so frantic and hard to control you can't line up a guy, you can't force a guy towards the boards and you can't really prevent a guy from hanging out in front of your goalie all things that are really easy and necessary in hockey.
On the other hand however I do not like MMOs. I never tried Warcraft or Everquest and the only one I've ever really gotten into is Runescape which is widely considered MMO 4 n00bs. But lately I've gotten really excited for The Old Republic. I always kinda liked the Star Wars movies but i really like the fiction which is why i always liked KOTOR 1 & 2. I really want to get into TOR and will probably be picking it up when it comes out.
Im probably going to play as a bounty hunter because who hasn't wanted to be Jango Fett but im debating whether or not to play as a Sith ... im sorry i just noticed how Nerdy i sound ... oh well ...
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Webcomic of the Week
This weeks comic of the week is from Nerf Now entitled World 1-4
To check out more comics from NerfNow visit
To check out more comics from NerfNow visit
nerfnow.com/
Side Note: I added some widgets (fish,hamster...) all credit goes to aBowman.com check it out its a real cool site
Update: Sunday August 23rd
I got into the MAG beta finally and after five thousand downloads and updates i finally was ready to play a match except for one small problem, i forgot that there were specific times in which you can play so i waited until the next morning and i jumped into a match.
First you have to pick a faction but since its a beta the only factions available were RAVEN and VALOR, i picked RAVEN despite the fact i was disappointed to not see S.V.E.R. and began customizing my character which was actually kind of cool. It reminded me of MGSO in the way you could customize your character. I made my guy and hoped in a match and the first thing I noticed was that the controls were very Call of Duty like except for the fact you crouched with triangle. I began to walk along with my squad (the squad system is very well implemented) and noticed only one person in the match was wearing a headset a problem which plagues many PSN games. I walked forward wondering where the enemy was because all i saw was my own teammates and noticed that there were only 32 people in my match very disappointing since i was excited for the 256 feel. I died quite a few times before i got the hang of the game and started picking guys off. The re-spawn system was very well implemented as players spawn in waves so that you always start in a group. I wasn't quite sure what my objective was and how i was supposed to go about doing it all i saw was a point on the map i was supposed to head to, i assume this is something that i'll get used to the more i play. Once i got the hang of it the match ended and i had to shut off my PS3 since i had other things to do but i feel it is the type of game ill get the hang of over time. I really saw the potential in the game and ill probably give my thoughts when i get some more time to play.
My flash game 'bank robbery' is nearing completion. It's my first attempt at a flash game or any game for that matter and i'm having alot of problems. At the moment the brunt of the game is finished but i'm working on putting some sort of score system in place and a timer but have run into some very noobish prolems i'll post it somewhere if i finish it
In other news don't expect to much news in the coming days since im working this week and wont have much time to game i may check in and submit the review of Fallout 3 that is nearing completion but im not making any promises.
Until next time ... >>>\/<<<
First you have to pick a faction but since its a beta the only factions available were RAVEN and VALOR, i picked RAVEN despite the fact i was disappointed to not see S.V.E.R. and began customizing my character which was actually kind of cool. It reminded me of MGSO in the way you could customize your character. I made my guy and hoped in a match and the first thing I noticed was that the controls were very Call of Duty like except for the fact you crouched with triangle. I began to walk along with my squad (the squad system is very well implemented) and noticed only one person in the match was wearing a headset a problem which plagues many PSN games. I walked forward wondering where the enemy was because all i saw was my own teammates and noticed that there were only 32 people in my match very disappointing since i was excited for the 256 feel. I died quite a few times before i got the hang of the game and started picking guys off. The re-spawn system was very well implemented as players spawn in waves so that you always start in a group. I wasn't quite sure what my objective was and how i was supposed to go about doing it all i saw was a point on the map i was supposed to head to, i assume this is something that i'll get used to the more i play. Once i got the hang of it the match ended and i had to shut off my PS3 since i had other things to do but i feel it is the type of game ill get the hang of over time. I really saw the potential in the game and ill probably give my thoughts when i get some more time to play.
My flash game 'bank robbery' is nearing completion. It's my first attempt at a flash game or any game for that matter and i'm having alot of problems. At the moment the brunt of the game is finished but i'm working on putting some sort of score system in place and a timer but have run into some very noobish prolems i'll post it somewhere if i finish it
In other news don't expect to much news in the coming days since im working this week and wont have much time to game i may check in and submit the review of Fallout 3 that is nearing completion but im not making any promises.
Until next time ... >>>\/<<<
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Review: Killzone 2
REVIEW
KILLZONE 2
8.7/10
In videogames mankind is always under attack from one of two things, Nazis or Aliens. The only thing I could think of that is worse than getting attacked by Nazis or Aliens is being attacked by both and Killzone takes those two videogame clichés and combines it into one Mega-Cliché that for the most part is my favourite part of the game. The Helghast, the enemy race that you oppose throughout the game, both look badass and are far more interesting that your ISA counterparts. Here is where the game suffers; Killzone 2 suffers from Gears syndrome a trend that is becoming all too common in videogames. In Killzone 2 you take the role of Sev a generic soldier given the responsibility of defending the Human race. Your squad mates are all super macho meatheads that spew out words that would make an avid church goers cry. All the characters are so flat you can’t really sympathies with them and honestly if any of them die you don’t really care. Killzone 2 is a futuristic world war 2 shooter that is short on story although there is a much larger Killzone fiction that you have the option of reading that the game directs you to read online on the Killzone 2 website, a nice touch that gives players the option of going deeper into the narrative if they want to without slowing down the action.
Where Killzone 2 excels is in its game play and presentation. The controls take a bit of getting used to for those who are used to the controls of the like of Call of Duty and Halo. In comparison to other shooters Killzone 2 is a lot heavier in terms of movement and things like turning around or rushing around corners are a calculated risks since reaction time is much slower than other FPS. Also things like reloading and throwing grenades leave you vulnerable for long periods of time which adds a layer of strategy I don’t think of while playing most other games, you will probably find yourself reloading every time you get a chance to breathe. The biggest game play mechanic that Killzone 2 adds is the inclusion of a cover system. The cover system is a welcome mechanic that lets you hide behind cover to recover damage rather than retreat out of the action like you do in many other FPS.
Saying Killzone 2 is a good-looking game is an understatement. Killzone 2 boasts great graphics and great art style. Large explosions and bullets flying everywhere make for great set pieces that really make you feel like you amidst a much larger war. My only gripe with the game is like many games lately the environments are mostly all different shades of brown and gray and although the game offers a solid variety of environments most share the gray and brown theme. The opening cinematic shows great use of colour and lighting that you don’t see very often in the actual game and really had me hoping for more.
Killzone 2 is an first person shooters that in my opinion falls short of what it could’ve been story wise but delivers on it’s mechanics and presentation and delivers a great experience that is sure to make you go wow at least once or twice. It is non-stop testosterone driven action that doesn’t fail to capitalize on its many intense action set pieces.
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