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Posted : 2 weeks ago on 11 July 2008 03:40 (A review of Robert Ludlum's The Bourne Conspiracy)

In the realm of movie-to-video game adaptations, their quality is almost as unpredictable as adaptations made from video games to film.

In the case of "The Bourne Conspiracy," High Moon Studios' prequel to/recreation of "The Bourne Identity," a film-based video game adaptation has never been presented with this much quality or concern for its source material. Take your pick, from "Street Fighter: The Movie" to titles that go as far back as the Atari's "E.T.," quality has usually been subpar at best for this gaming subgenre. But "The Bourne Conspiracy" aims to change all of that with a swift chop to the throat and a quick kick to the kneecap.

First and foremost, "Conspiracy" is less of an actual game and more of an interactive feature film in video game form. Presented many times throughout the game are Quick Time Events that challenge the player to press one of the four colored buttons or two triggers on the controller when prompted on the screen to do so. When a button is pressed, "Conspiracy" will go into something of a cinematic, showing Bourne evading bullets, sniping, ducking out of the way of explosions, or taking down numerous opponents. All fights and most cinematics are presented in an interactive manner fully allowing the player to "be" Bourne instead of simply playing as him. It should also be noted that when these Quick Time Events are nearing their utilization, a distinct sound will occur, thereby preparing the player for them. Sound effects in these sections, and elsewhere, are simply fantastic.

The bulk of "The Bourne Conspiracy" will either be played through hand-to-hand combat or third-person shooting segments. The hand-to-hand combat is handled quite effectively with X and Y being your main attack buttons. With these buttons, you can string together combos and, when your Attack Meter is at least 1/3 full, Bourne can perform a takedown on an enemy by pressing B; signature to what he does in his films. The shooter portions of the game, although plentiful, aren't as satisfying as "Conspiracy's" hand-to-hand counterpart. Sure, there are quite a few guns to use and Shooting Takedowns (similar to typical takedowns, and also performed the same way, but require a gun) are unsurprisingly fulfilling when used, but the clunky hit detection, as well as enemies that can require up to six/seven bullets to go down, spoils some of the fun of this otherwise decent segment.

Just as important is a sequence taken from the "The Bourne Identity." The game's singular car chase sequence (you know, the one with the Mini-Cooper) is mildly fun, but due to poor vehicle controls, handling, and bland level design feels rather unaccomplished. The level's conclusion has a nice Quick Time sequence that is incredible to watch, but the actual game play leaves much to be desired.

As pleasing as "Conspiracy's" game play is, graphically, it isn't the prettiest game around. Although powered by Unreal Engine 3, textures are muddy, washed out, and lack polish. There is some minor clipping present that ruins some otherwise pleasant art direction, but overall the game lacks most in the aforementioned low-res textures. Lighting is spectacular though and said lighting hides many of the texturing problems, but in dark spots, the game looks downright ugly at times. For a next-gen title, this could have easily passed for a late-life PS2 game.

But don't let dated graphics get you down, "The Bourne Conspiracy" is very much so a unique, worthwhile experience. Although running very short at only 5-8 hours, it's still worth the cash. Even though "Bourne" fans will eat up every second of it and non-fans will love the nonstop action, they will undoubtedly be lost story-wise. Nevertheless, this is a fine accomplishment considering the previous disasters this subgenre has faced.

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Posted : 2 weeks ago on 11 July 2008 03:32 (A review of Condemned 2: Bloodshot)

If "Condemned: Criminal Origins" was just the tip of the iceberg, then "Condemned 2: Bloodshot" is the Titanic smashing into it.

"Bloodshot," because of its expansive horror elements and copious amounts of gore, feels more like a harsh NC-17-rated sequel to its moderately R-rated predecessor. Forgetting the improved fighting mechanics, reworked game play elements, and prettier graphics for a moment, "Condemned 2" is easily one of the most graphic, disturbing and pervasively violent games I've ever played. Not only will you be punching, bludgeoning, shooting, and exploding the heads of numerous psychotics, you will also be tossing them into television sets, dunking their heads in toilet bowls, smashing their craniums in doorways, and slamming their faces into posts, shelves, and fences. If anyone thought the first "Condemned" went too far with its violent content, be warned that "Bloodshot" pushes the limits.

But twisted violence isn't the only thing on this menu; much of the previous title's game play has been improved, reworked and revamped for this sequel. The first "Condemned" was, disappointingly, lacking a combo system to accompany its brutal melee combat. This, however, has been remedied in "Bloodshot." Each respective hand is controlled with either the left or right triggers. You can perform combos with all sorts of handheld weapons and even your fists when a melee weapon is not equipped. Knowing when to block or parry your attackers, as well as attack with a combo, are very important aspects of "Bloodshot" and will lead to you coming out victorious in each melee battle. Moreover, for each type of combo you string together successfully you fill up a small portion of your combo meter which will then allow you to unleash a devastating, Quick Time combo on an opponent that will immediately defeat most enemies. There is a seemingly endless supply of combos to try out and you will be practically begging for more enemies to come your way just to see what you can conjure up.

Also new to "Bloodshot" is the ability to perform environmental finishers instead of Criminal Origins's four D-pad-based kills. Akin to the original "Condemned," when you have weakened an opponent and gotten him to his knees, position yourself in front of them and press the left and right triggers simultaneously to grab them. Performing these signature moves is then as simple as walking your foe over to skull-like icons based in the environment which signal environmental kills. There are an innumerable amount of ways to finish off an opponent environmentally, some as simple as slamming them into the corner of a shelf, others as brutal as kicking your victim in the face, laying his head in between a doorway, then slamming the door into it a couple of times. Rest assured, though, that the melee combat is just as satisfying as ever (if not more so with the inclusion of numerous, varied combos and the aforementioned Quick Time combo finishers). Firearm combat is also incredibly satisfying but like the original Condemned, firearms and their ammunition are quite scarce.

More impressive, however, may be just how deep Monolith has made the investigative sequences this time around. Instead of simply having the correct detection tool preselected for you only at the given moments they are most required, you can now select any of four tools at any time during game play. The investigative sequences are also much more detailed and elaborate. You must now collect a certain number of evidence, then come to an educated conclusion based on the given clues from the scene around you. You must determine, from a list of possible evidential conclusions, which selection (or selections) is correct and, the more correct deductions you make, the better overall score you receive for that scenario (and the better quality your item upgrades are). Due to their elaborate, involving nature, these sequences are what I really found the most rewarding in "Bloodshot."

Perhaps not the prettiest game around and not a huge departure from the first, "Bloodshot" is still quite a looker. The art direction is fantastic, the visuals are gritty and fittingly morbid, and the cinematics are some of the more interesting I've had the pleasure of watching (as well as some of the more highly detailed). Although environments, much like the first, tend to look the same moving from one location to another and are more like giant mazes than believable real-world locations, they create a sense of desperation and paranoia within their creepy designs, as well as their bleakness. Character models are the game's strong suit and all are presented with an incredible amount of detail and hi-res texture work. The game's entire look, though not the most graphically impressive, is surely one of the most unique and that definitely counts for something.

It should be noted that "Condemned 2: Bloodshot" is not for everyone. The game's ridiculously vile tone, morbid violence, and tense atmosphere will certainly alienate many, but those same attributes will please devotees of the survival/horror genre. First-person shooter fans wanting something a bit different from your more atypical action experience will surely want to seek this out.

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I'm a little busy here!

Posted : 2 weeks, 1 day ago on 10 July 2008 02:24 (A review of Company of Heroes)

Company of Heroes is a World War II real-time strategy game developed by Relic Entertainment for Microsoft. There are two main gameplay modes to choose from as the player can either choose to follow the 'campaign mode' - following scripted and sequential battles roughly corresponding to the historical course of World War II, or 'multiplayer mode' - where skirmishes against the AI or online battles against friends and total strangers are options.

There are several aspects of the game which put it streets ahead of both other World War II based games and the RTS genre in general. The graphics are a major strong point, with extremely detailed troops and armoured units which you can zoom in and out from at leisure with the help of your mouse wheel. The terrain in CoH is also extremely detailed and utilising the cover opportunities that old stone walls and abandoned tractors can give you is essential for success. The level of detail and realism isn't just thrown in to look nice, the environment is dynamic and all the while your troops can find cover in newly created craters from artillery strikes, or behind the ruins of a recently destroyed tank. This means your tactics also change to suit the terrain. The dependence on cover in the game enhances the realism no end as you find yourself trying to outflank garrisoned buildings and artillery guns instead of assaulting them head on as you would in other RTS games. The audio soundbytes of each unit are also worthy of mention. The troops say some legendary things, and can often let you know what problems they are facing when under attack (even if you are not looking at them on the map).

The resource system is maintained, but has one benefit in that all resources are infinite. It's up to you and your army to go out and secure strategic points on the map which generate one of three main expendables: fuel, manpower and ammunition. This feature forces players to think aggressively and seek to expand their territory rather than turtling up units in their base. Another benefit of this game is the population cap you have on your army, preventing massed units of tanks that steamroll everything in their path. You are forced to build a well rounded army and look after every one of your troops. The population cap expands gradually as more resource points are ascertained, though it never reaches a massive amount, leaving room for strategy over cataclysmic assaults.

The campaign mode follows the American army as it invades Normandy and beyond. Interspliced between and during missions are short cut scenes which introduce us to protagonists of the story. These scenes are often filled with some generic war time clichés, but they never detract from the fun and are, more often than not, ultra violent. By the time you complete the campaign mode, you may feel just about ready enough to take on the online multiplayer world. Although there are only two armies at your command, each has a very unique set of units, upgrades and unit type, which takes time to master.

The only negative aspect of my playing experience came from the ridiculous Relic-online registry system, whereby I had to download approximately 2GB worth of patches before I could even start the normal game campaign. The anti-piracy software is extremely over the top and even makes me thankful that Steam (which this game is now available on) isn't as infuriating as this. Other than that, I instantly fell in love with the game, which can provide moments of extreme hilarity and heroism. Having fun with a dozen Sherman Calliopes or spawning in twenty or so V2 rocket hits ends in unrivalled carnage.

But don't cheat until you've completed it!

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This game is boring

Posted : 2 weeks, 3 days ago on 8 July 2008 08:55 (A review of Arcade Classics)

Recently I took a look at Arcade Classics because I didn't really know what was featured on this game. In 1996 came this very game which does feature only 3 games and these are Centipede, Missile Command, Pong (which is included as a bonus yes that is the best they can do). As for these there all Atari games so why wasn't the game called Atari Arcade Classics. The main issue with this game is that the graphics and sound is the same so you don't get any remixed versions just ports from the Atari 2600. I don't really need to go into that much detail of these games cause we have seen them before. I own the Atari 2600 and believe me there was better games like Food Fight for instance that was a classic.

This is a poor game with only 3 games on here when you could of got more I mean look at the Mega Games also released on Genesis/Mega Drive at least one of them had 10 games in 1. If you see this game it is worth a miss the only good thing to say about it is the intro screen.

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AMAZING!!!!!!!!

Posted : 2 weeks, 3 days ago on 8 July 2008 05:43 (A review of Microsoft Xbox 360 Console)

Please don't listen to any PS3 fanboys or fangirls about the X-Box 360 because it is quite obvious that it reigns over the PS3. The graphics are perfect, especially in high definition. The gameplay is great on single player and online play, and that is a huge plus. The X-Box 360 has the greatest online play ever made. The PS3 on the other hand, has very poor online play. Those are only a few of the comparisons. If you are looking to buy a video game console, then the X-Box 360 is the one to buy.

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Posted : 2 weeks, 3 days ago on 8 July 2008 02:21 (A review of Battlefield: Bad Company)

Previous iterations of the "Battlefield" franchise had all been strictly multiplayer games. Even if they did have a single-player campaign, it was usually akin to similar types of multiplayer match types held within its online mode (think "Unreal Tournament III's" single-player portion).

But "Battlefield: Bad Company" is changing things around a bit. Not only does this game feature a plethora of new features over its predecessor, "Battlefield 2: Modern Combat," it is also backed by much-improved graphics and an intense, story-driven single-player campaign.

From the very first day "Bad Company's" demo was released, something became very clear; us 360 fans were expecting another, or at least something similar to, the excellent 2007 war/action game "Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare." "Bad Company" in no shape, way or form resembles that game. That is not to say it is somehow worse or even better than Infinity Ward's epic, it is just entirely different. First and foremost, "Call of Duty 4" was a war game through and through. "Bad Company" is, more or less a story of four ragtag soldiers who become disillusioned with the reasons they are fighting so they embark on a quest for personal gain.

That is not to say "Call of Duty 4" didn't have a superb story, because it certainly did. But everything about that game was based in and around war, including its story. "Bad Company" is a story more akin to a dramedy that just so happens to be set during a war (think “Three Kings”). And it isn't so much a war they're fighting as it is opposition hellbent on stopping them from achieving their goal... who just so happen to be Russian military. It's this grown-up approach that I appreciated. While "Call of Duty 4" had its fair share of epic, dare I say clichéd moments; "Bad Company" has manned up and offers to the gamer a story of serious drama and pervasive comedy that, instead, takes place during the time of battle instead of a story about the battlefield.

Moreover, the inclusion of destructible environments lends to the illusion of being in a war more true-to-life. Picture it for a second, if you will. As you're wiping out enemies left and right, here comes a tank from the West. It comes barreling through a fence, tearing it to pieces, and smashes into and through the corner of a house, perfectly protruding through it. As this massive piece of armor swings its canon towards you, you begin to run. Narrowly dodging the explosive shell it shoots, it hits the watch tower to your left and the whole thing comes crumbling down, in pieces, with smoke billowing out from the rubble.

I think it would be safe to say that without the destructible environments, this game would lack much of its fun factor. Most of the excitement of the game stems from just blowing holes in houses, exploding random objects or seeing what else goes "kaboom" just to watch the beautiful aftermath. But a plethora of drivable vehicles make the game just as much fun. You can sprint across the entire game if you so choose, but to make things a little easier, "Bad Company" also allows you to commandeer as many vehicles as needed and to even repair them if you have the required tool. You'll be flying helicopters, driving jeeps, golf carts, tanks, boats, and typical wheeled vehicles as well. Anything that appears drivable in "Bad Company" probably is.

Even without all of the icing on the cake and as just a vanilla shooter, "Bad Company" would have worked decently. The sounds of battle are perfect and as you blast away with your primary weapon or take control of mounted machine guns and missile launchers, the feeling of empowerment that will more than likely wash over you (as it did me) is amazing. The beautiful orchestration of on-screen violence, the sounds of explosions, and the accompanying combat was astounding. The ragdoll physics are quite generous, and whether enemies are tossed through the air with by way of an explosion or just shot once in the head and brought down like a sack of potatoes, "Bad Company's" combat is 100% satisfying.

In terms of graphical prowess, “Battlefield: Bad Company” is one of the best looking games currently available for the 360. Not only are the character models highly detailed and realistically mo-captured, but each locale that they populate is vastly expansive and packed with small, minute touches that brings them to vibrant life. While buildings and houses tend to look painfully similar as the 10 hour campaign wears on, they are modeled accurately, and the damage models are absolutely perfect. I’m sure, though, that many gamers will complain about the lack of NPC model variation, but with the other visual details present (such as being able to destroy or knock down just about anything) these few visual flaws are easily forgivable.

Water effects are another plus and are some of the best looking since last year’s “BioShock.” Although the game really only has one look, which is distinctly gritty, I appreciated that look immensely. War is not pretty and it isn’t fun, and looking at the smudges on our four main character’s faces and noticing their dirt-laden fatigues lends credence to the game’s war-time setting. HDTV‘s are almost a must to get the most out of this game. Granted, the visuals still look good on a standard television, but at 720p or 1080p, every single one of the game’s details becomes magnificently recognizable; some of them more so as you progress. As harsh as the violence is (even without any blood or gore), I can’t say it has ever looked any more beautiful.

While the game is immensely fun to play thanks to its outstanding combat and beautiful graphics, there are still some minor quips I would like to get out of the way. For one, the enemy is crack shots. Even though there is something called an auto-injector which allows you to refill your health whenever you need to, being at full health and being reduced to less than half in a matter of seconds by one enemy really becomes tedious, especially during later missions when the game becomes increasingly more difficult. The controls can also be hard to get the hang of. Vehicles handle exceptionally well and are always responsive, but some of them, like a huge attack chopper, are so frustrating to even use that it becomes an exercise in futility. While the game is fairly easy and I died very few times, the controls were cause for a large portion of that.

With the exception of some unnecessarily difficult controls and repetitive NPC designs, this is one of the finest first-person shooters I’ve ever played. It could be because I’m such a war junkie, but “Bad Company’s” combat is so intense and so addicting that you probably won’t find yourself leaving the house until you’re through with this one. Then you’ll play it again. There are a fair amount of things to collect and unlock during the single-player campaign to keep you searching and, of course, coming back for more, too.

As with any “Battlefield” game, there is also a multiplayer component that, personally, I feel is this one’s weakest facet. One game mode and a ton of cheating players make for a totally unrewarding experience. Never mind that there is destructible cover and a huge, expansive environment to enjoy, its online mode is simply not as fun as it used to be. But Digital Illusions, a company that firmly focused on multiplayer for years, have crafted a single-player game with interesting, relatable, often-humorous characters, as well as an original story. With that said, there is much more fun to be had offline than online. Take that as you may, but this is unarguably one of the finest FPS’s of the year.

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Finally, a killer PS3 racing game

Posted : 2 weeks, 5 days ago on 7 July 2008 12:28 (A review of DiRT)

I've tried a few racing games before this one but came away unsatisfied for one reason or the other. This is *the* racing game for the PS3 I've been waiting for. The events have amazing variety, both in discipline as well as circuits. The game looks gorgeous on my HD television. The learning curve is not too steep and you get better and buy better cars that further improve your performance as you go along. I'm only 20% of the way through after about three and a quarter hours of racing. This game should keep me occupied for a couple of weeks.

A couple of minor quibbles. Some of the events are just boring, especially when trying to drive a massive truck or a buggy through a long dusty desert track. Racing the trucks through the desert is especially painful, since they're massive, slow and tend to tip over. The best events are with the more conventional cars, especially the 4WD cars that handle amazingly well. The second thing I don't like is the loading time, maybe I've been spoiled by the super quick loading times of games on the Wii.

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Fun, But Not My Cup Of Tea.

Posted : 2 weeks, 5 days ago on 6 July 2008 07:32 (A review of Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock)

This game is fun if your into playing guitar, or are just into music a lot. I enjoyed playing it. I only played the game twice, and it was pretty fun. I guess it's just not my cup of tea.

Gameplay: 8.5

Replay Value: 9.5

Entertainment Value: 9

I highly recommend this game. Just because I am not totally into it, does not mean you will not love it. It is just a matter of opinion.

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Actually Pretty Fun.

Posted : 2 weeks, 5 days ago on 6 July 2008 02:52 (A review of Lost: Via Domus)

"Lost: Via Domus" is actually a pretty interesting and fun video game. The difficulty level is high, but that is a good thing. The graphics are a 9.5. The gameplay a 8.5, and the replay value probably around a 5. Bottomline: a pretty fun game.

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SIMS 2

Posted : 2 weeks, 6 days ago on 6 July 2008 08:27 (A review of The Sims 2)

This is definitely the best PC game ever! Highly addictive and entertaining. I cant wait for SIMS 3 and its seamless neighbourhoods and new create a sim!!

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