AGZ

One unsatisfied customer indeed, and he ain't no freakin' fanboy either!

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:16:04 +0000

Hey I had to share this with you guys. This has got to be THE funniest rant that I have heard in a long time. This dude was really pissed off, and I can't say that I blame him. Just watch the video, but go to the bathroom before you do, cause you will piss yourself.

Assassin's Creed II: Lineage

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:51:24 +0000

An Assassin's Creed Movie?

Yes. The maker�s of Assassin�s Creed just announced that they will be will be launching three short movie episodes on YouTube. The first being on October 27th in order to explain the details that happen leading up to the start of the assains Creed game. It will be displayed on the Assassin's Creed II 's gamesite webpage in eight counties for a 24 hour period.

Ezio�s father, Giovanni Auditore da Firenze is the focus of the short films, and supposedly we get a chance to see why certain things came to be, and who some of the characters are the we will see in the game when it is released on November 17th this year.

Being a big fan if the game, I can�t wait to see the video�s. There is supposed to be a mix of live action and CGI, and from what I�ve seen from the teaser trailer, it should be pretty awesome.
Check out the teaser below, and you�ll see what I mean.

Great Games to Play for Halloween

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 18:06:08 +0000

Well it's Halloween time again and I was thinking about some of the games I'm gonna be playing with a few buddies for a "Survival Night Monster Mash" fest at the crib, aince I'm way too damn old to be going trick or treatin'. There are some pretty decent prices with these games and worth price if you want to get you scare on. I don't do well at haunted houses since I tend to "react" if someone scares the crap out of me, like the time I clothes-lined the crap out of someome for running up on me real fast...(I'm from the STL, got it?), so I think this way it's safer for all, especially them. Of all of the games Deadspace is the one I am looking to spend so time on since even when the Demo came out it was the must disturbing, and for real, if you are weilding a pacemaker or go into shock easy, don't turn out the lights, you're gonna have to see your way to the bathroom after you crap your pants. No, really.

Check out the list. If you have a good one to recommend let us know what it is.

Resident Evil 5

Platforms: Xbox 360, Playstation 3, PC

Publisher: Capcom

Price: $39.99

The Umbrella Corporation, another experiment, another thing gone wrong. Nasty Creatures, in the worst way. With this game darkness can save you, and the light can lead into a path you just don’t want to follow. Hours of game-play so little time. This is a game that you can play more than once, demanding more satisfaction. Even for the price it’s a must have for October.

Left 4 Dead

Platforms: Xbox 360, PC

Publisher: Electronic Arts

Price: $29.99

How jacked up is that? To be left for dead? Really?! This is an excellent game for the price. You are fighting zombies, and some Boss Infected nasty little�(shut my mouth) ‘ers!
Multiple maps, over 10 weapons are for use in this one. The online game-play is where you get the best value.

Dead Rising

Platforms: Xbox 360

Publisher: Capcom

Price: $19.99

All you want to do as a reporter is get the scoop of a lifetime, and go home. You discover that in the town that you are working for your story something just ain’t right. Zombies are everywhere and you escape to a mall thinking that you’re safe only to find out that it was the worst mistake of what may be left of your life. If you’ve ever wanted to find other uses for shopping carts, here is your opportunity. I had fun with this one. Helping others will help you help yourself. Just watch it before you turn the corner.

Dead Space

Platforms: Xbox 360, Playstation 3, PC

Publisher: Electronic Arts

Price: $29.99
A very frightening game that will definitely give you the scare of your life. This is not just an average battle against some aliens.
You are an engineer sent to repair a telecommunications system aboard a ship floating in outer-space, but when you get there you find that some serious bloodletting has occurred, and the "precious cargo", that the ship is carying has alot to do with mutated suckers that are running around the ship. You have the ability throw object at your enemy using telekinetic powers. The realization is that you must not only fight to save your life , but your home planet may be at risk. Definitely a game that you want to play in the dark, until...that noise that your roommate is making starts getting louder and weirder, then you remember that you live alone...

The art of war expanded again: Napalm and Cordite Review (Killzone 2 DLC).

Sat, 25 Jul 2009 00:04:29 +0000

Once again Guerrilla has delivered new experience to the already robust online competitive play of Killzone 2, this week we got Napalm and Cordite, the third DLC for Killzone 2. This new DLC has 2 maps and the addition of 2 new weapons that are quickly becoming fan favorites around the world. Let�s talk about the maps first.

Suljeva Cliffside.
A pretty weird name for a pretty weird map. It features 2 relatively small indoor spawn points and a big courtyard with a lot of platforms made of scrap metal and wrecked structures. There is a beautiful permanent sandstorm effect on the outside giving the illusion of movement at any time so you�ll be always on your toes wondering if that was the sandstorm or the enemy around the corner.

The high grounds on the courtyard are pretty much as independent of the floor as you want. It has a considerable amount of coverage and multiple paths. You can pretty much get to the enemy base this way without worrying about snipers. Having control of this second level is crucial for mission objectives such as �seek and destroy� or �assassination�.

Arc tower Landing.
My favorite map of the couple. It consists on 3 well separated indoor and outdoor levels with a lot of catwalks and connected via standard stairs. Indoors gameplay is vital as the objectives are either inside the bases or on the inferior level, close to the bases. Smart outdoor gameplay is vital however. Veteran snipers will soon find out that the sight from the top of the bases is great for their task and they must intercept and keep the enemies out of the base in order to prevent spawn kills or enemies spawning inside your own base.

The lower levels however take most of the action as they are going to be crowded. Well places turrets and handy people with the shotgun are going to be vital. Be sure you don�t get in the way of your people, there are going to be a lot of accidents with grenades and rockets around there.
The outside effects are beautiful as well. Lightning bolts hitting some towers and a lot of environmental sound effects take place outside; the inside has nothing special but still is very well done.

Now let�s talk about the starts of the DLC; the weapons.

Let�s clarify something first. These weapons are placed on the new maps. You can�t find them anywhere else or get them as your standard weapons for any class. So you�ll hve to purchase these new maps in order to play with the new toys.

That said we�re talking about the VC1 Flame Thrower first (pick-up exclusive to Suljeva Cliffside). It is as awesome as it can be. I don�t have to say it is better on closed areas where your enemies won�t be able to run anywhere to get far from you. It is really powerful if you know how to use it and sometimes it can feel like a very cheap weapon. But as far as you know your spacing and aim for the head a flamethrower won�t be a big thread for you. Use it defensively for better results.

Next is the VC21 Bolt Gun (pick-up exclusive to Arctower Landing). A heavy weapon with a beautiful sound effect every time you shoot it. Once you get it you�ll notice bolts are slower than standard bullets and you might even feel you have very limited ammo for it. But hey, it is a one shoot kill every time you hit. You have to be aware or the space between you and your target and calculate your shoots very well. You�ll have 2 or maybe 3 shoots to kill or be killed so be wise when shooting it. It is easily the most satisfactory feeling when you nail your foe to the wall and then bolt explodes. It is truly an amazing weapon for skilled players, a little awkward for novices.

Guerrilla has said this is the last DLC for the moment; they are taking a well deserved break after this map pack and I have to say after so many patches, updates and maps we are well covered for months to come. The battlefield has expanded and you must not miss this DLC.

Killzone 2 fans, get online right now, download and start playing.

8.7/10

Stay tuned people, we are going to have the best of the summer DLC's reviewed here at AGZ, including the new Halo Wars maps, Gears of War 2 DLC and the long awaited Marvel VS Capcom 2.

Comic-Con 2009 San Diego Convention Center

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 23:26:42 +0000

Comic-Con is in San Diego this year and it's supposed to be off the chain. We are asking of anyone that will be attending to share your experience. You can submit any pictures to events@agzonline.com

You can also post about the Comic-Con experience too. This is going to be a fun event and we were thinking that since we can�t go and there are plenty of people that also can�t go that we would try to help you experience the show as best we can.

Check out the "Big Ass Map" of the convention center.

L4D Game of the Year...Not so Much

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:46:20 +0000

As all of you may or may not know I'm not that into Zombie games. For reasons I've stated before I just have a fundamental problem with them, but I'm open. If a game is good I'll say that it's a good game and give it it's proper due. I can't say the same for Left for Dead. I know, and I'm sorry but I think it's an over hyped mediocre game that plays upon the lowest common denominator of gratuitous violence. That's an easy sell to most so at least Valve is smart.

Don't get me wrong there are some good things about the game. I like the intense fighting even though the graphics suck like a two dollar you know what. I mean really at this point I don't want to see characters falling through floors or seeing through walls if I stand really close to them...Next Gen? The way the Zombies attack is pretty cool and the AI is decent but I'm glad I only paid $37 on sale for L4D because I just don't see the hype. Fear was a much better game with more detail, better graphics and a storyline that at least for that game made some sense.

For me Left for Dead just lacks personality.

New Street Fighter IV?

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 04:05:20 +0000

CAPCOM has confirmed something we all know: Street Fighter sells pretty good. So considering how many versions of SF they seem to be planning a new one for Street Fighter IV.

Not much has been said, as a matter of fact it isn't official yet but we already knew about "complete" T. Hawk and Dee Jay characters close to the release of SF IV. Now heads are turning for 2 new characters: Rolento and Gouken's daughter.

I'd say this is a shocking but predictable announcement; the logical minds say this should be released as DLC (I'm willing to pay 20-25 bucks for it) but I really hope they are not planning to charge extra 60 bucks (or more if a new limited edition is confirmed) for some new characters. There are no images or more facts to share right now but stay tuned to AGZ for more info...

New Street Fighter IV?

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 04:04:41 +0000

Gel Set & Match

Sun, 14 Jun 2009 22:34:44 +0000

Well I'm pretty sure that you must have seen the review for "Gel Set & Match" on the main site, if not then check the review.

As a fan of puzzle games this one is one of the more interesting ones that I have seen in a long time. This game is brought to by the creators of the XBox Live arcade game, "Fuzzee Fever", which was available for download on the original XBox. Fuzze was featured at being the first original IP created specifically as a downloadable console title at the time.

You can play this game both online and offline. The game is available for download on Xbox Live for 800 Microsoft points. Below is a game play video to show you how it begins, but please don't be fooled, it does get harder! If you are a puzzle gamer then this one is for you. Check it out.

Gel features the following:

- All new side-scrolling Action Mode.

- Over 100 single player puzzles

- 25 co-op specific puzzles

- 3 unique multiplayer battle modes

- Extensive character customization

- Special �seasonal costumes� only available at certain times of the year

- Fantastically realized 3D environments

"Gel: Set & Match" is rated "E" (Everyone) by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) for Animated Blood and Comic Mischief.

Scratch the Ultimate DJ vs. DJ Hero

Sun, 14 Jun 2009 16:04:08 +0000

If you only love Hip-Hop then STUDJ just might be the game for you. Genius Products, Inc and Numark Industries have joined together to create the interactive DJ video game, "Scratch the Ultimate DJ" Slated for the PS3 and 360, I'm not sure if this game will stay afloat, because the tracks are limited to just Hip-Hop. The graphics appear to be a bit lousy. The only possible saving grace is the controller, which appears to be more realistic than the "DJ Hero" controller for the PS3. As the leading manufacturer of DJ equipment in the world, Numark Industries had alot to do with the design of the controller, making them similar to the controls for equipment used by Professional DJs.

Scratch Ultimate DJ Controller

The downfalls of this game are that there is no mention of online play, and that there are no other kinds of music included other than Hip Hop, don't get me wrong, I love some Hip-Hop, but I must say that they might have shot themselves in the foot before they even had a chance to start the race. So far I haven't even seen a release date on this.

My money is on DJ Hero, there is no question that this game will be a popular sell the coming Xmas season. Brought to you from the makers of the Guitar Hero Series, it is scheduled to be released in Oct, 2009. DJ Hero allows you to mix to different blends of music like Tears for Fears �Shout� vs Eric Prydz �Pjanoo�, Chuck Brown & The Soul Searchers �Bustin� Loose� vs The Zombies �Time of the Season� (DJ Shadow Mix), Black Eyed Peas �Boom Boom Pow� vs Benny Benassi �Satisfaction�, just to name a few. DJ Hero will be released for the PS3, Wii, Xbox 360. For $119 you get the turn table kit and the game. Without a doubt this one will be on my Xmas list.

DJ Hero Controller

Check the Videos and tell us what you think.

Scratch the Ultimate DJ:

DJ Hero:

PSP Go

Sat, 30 May 2009 17:04:16 +0000

It's pretty much official now; PSP Go is real and it's coming next fall. Days before E3 a Qore video for June confirms it.

Seems like it won't replace PSP-3000 for now, as they will both be on stores at least for the rest of the year. 16 GB of internal memory, no UMD and bluetooth are the first confirmed characteristics of the gadget. We'll sure know much more about it next week.

And now, the video of this new PSP and the always beautiful Veronica Belmont. Enjoy.

Link

inFAMOUS - One of the best this year for PS3!

Thu, 28 May 2009 20:04:44 +0000

I definitely mean it! I just picked this up yesterday and could not put it down. With this being a single player game for the PS3 It looks like the folks at Sucker Punch have most definitely laid this game out! This game is brought to you from the folks that made the Sly Cooper series for the PS2.

The game starts off with an explosion the rocks Empire City and your character (Cole) is at ground zero. You are standing in the middle of a crater wondering, "What in the hell happed?!" As you begin to walk through the city you begin to notice that some changes have occurred and that you are not the same person anymore. You begin to develop superhero powers, and are able to absorb electricity, as well as focusing bolts of electricity at your enemies.

Throughout the game you are able to make moral decisions that will ultimately result in Cole's "Morality Meter", turning red - Evil, or Blue - Good. After the explosion criminals take over the city and the government quarantines everything off. You are at the center of the explosion everyone thinks that you had something to do with it, and now they are out to getcha. You can chose to go out and annihilate the city, or save it.

There are a few glitches in the game, such as, when leaping from building to building the character sticks a little bit, and a few visual issues later on in the game. Overall the good outweighs the bad, and I can�t give you one reason not to add this one to your collection.

This game is a �Must Play� on the Morpheuz-o-meter!

All troops regroup: Halo Wars Strategic Options Review.

Mon, 25 May 2009 23:05:47 +0000

Halo Wars gets new life thanks to the first and hopefully not last DLC pack. This pack features 3 new game modes and some new achievements for those looking for more. It is available now on the Xbox Live Marketplace for the Price of 800 MS. Let�s find out if these strategic options are worth our money.

Reinforcements Mode.
This is probably the weirdest and most bizarre mode of them all. The game starts off normally; you have to stock on supplies as usual and even start building an army for yourself. After some time every player gets a wave consisting on a small army according to the buildings and resources you have. If you have nothing but barracks and supply pads you will only get standard soldiers, maybe some Warthogs. The waves depend on you supplies and buildings at all time, so you probably have to focus more on gathering resources and conquering other bases as fast as you can.

This mode is faster than the standard mode as you are focusing your efforts on conquering other bases and gathering more resources. You should find yourself with a respectable army in something like 7-10 minutes and from there the winner is determined based on your managing and a little bit of luck. It is a very fun and addictive mode.

Keep Away Mode.
My favorite of them all, think of it as the neutral flag of Halo 3, but with a mobile flag. The game starts normally. After an apparently random time a flag spawns somewhere on the map and you have to chase it in order to destroy it and become the holder. From here you become the holder until a timer runs giving you a point or until a foe destroys your holder. It is important to say that you can choose to have a fast unit as your holder (like a ghost) or a well protected, slow one (let�s say a Wraith). The first one should be able to get to the flag�s location fast but will be vulnerable to a potential surprise attack, while the former may arrive too late to the desired location.

This mode invites you to build different types of unit in order to counter what your opponent may throw at you and to have control over key parts of the map, specially the center. One thing I didn�t like about this new mode is that if you actually destroy a flag carrier you don�t become the carrier of it. It just disappears and you have to wait for another flag to appear, probably enough time for you foe to build a new army and throw it at you. First faction with 3 points is the winner. So these matches actually take their time to be finished.

Tug of War Mode.
This final mode is probably the best of them all if you are trying to improve your game. The game length is actually up to the players and not ruled by any timer. You have to destroy anything crossing your path in order to take an advantage over your opponent. You can either destroy enemy units or buildings or even take on some neutral rebel bases. You have to be fast and start taking the lead quickly, even it that means having a mediocre army at the beginning, first with a considerable advantage wins. This may take 10 minutes or even hours, depending on the level of you opponent and the strategies you take. Do not ever stop building armies, this is an offensive mode, if you start camping or stop building, you are going to have a tough time winning the game.

Overall, I have to say this is a great pack for avid players but it might not be as good for those who are still thinking about getting the game, think of it as an expansion focused on the experienced players, so they can have a little bit more juice out of this game. I still think it is a good idea to include the Flood as a playable faction just because all the structure of it is already in the game, but that�s just me, and we might never see that.

Final score: 8/10

A new classic on PSN - ZEN Pinball Review.

Mon, 18 May 2009 22:51:58 +0000

There was a time when coin-operated arcade machines ruled America and Pinball machines were one of the favorite challenges of gamers, even if it wasn�t a videogame. Those times are over now but from time to time we get the chance to bring back those feelings.

Today we get to review a PSN exclusive pinball videogame. I was sincerely happy and grateful when I knew I was going to do this review because Pinball was one of the first gaming experiences I had and the nostalgic feeling is all over this game, prepare to remember.

ZEN Pinball is a very impressive pinball simulator, maybe superior to what we�ve seen so far. It is a simple game as expected, with intuitive controls and a general idea of what are you supposed to do from the beginning. ZEN Pinball has one of the better physics I�ve seen on a pinball simulator. The weight of the ball feels right, the reaction of the flippers seems almost real and the feeling is so familiar that I can guarantee anyone with experience on the original machine will be playing this like a pro in no time.

ZEN Pinball has 3 main modes; the single player mode is you with 3 balls against one of the four tables with the only goal of achieving points (and very specific trophies). Four tables may sound like a short game but they are actually enough, well executed and very fun to play. All four tables; V-12, Tesla, Shaman and El Dorado have their own identity and feeling each. With the promise of more tables via DLC this is going to be a bigger and better experience.

The second mode is multiplayer; local multiplayer is like playing on a real machine; you play with one control and pass it over to the next player once your turn is over. I have to say this was an excellent choice; it imitates the real machine and these kind of games are not meant to be played on a split screen, so good for ZEN Studios on making this choice. Online multiplayer is where the real deal is. The host player picks a goal consisting on a determined number of points (these are expressed in millions, so games can even take � hour to be completed, maybe more), penalties for lost balls, a table and language preferences, then up to other 3 players can join and play; the first player to get the points win. It sounds very simple but it is a lot of fun playing with real people. There is no way to see their tables but there is an indicator showing progress of each player towards the goal so you always know how you�re doing. This game is also compatible with the PlayStation Eye giving you the chance of video chat while playing. Watching the expressions of your fiends while you are taking the lead is priceless.

The final mode is actually composed of different tournaments that are held �from time to time� according to the info strip. However I was never able to find any tournament this weekend, hopefully I�ll be able to give you an update on this later via our message boards.
The user interface is fantastic; it simulates a real pinball table and goes from one part to another depending on the menus you are exploring. It also features, as I said before, a led-like info strip giving you real time info about other players, records and rankings. This info is always displayed on the menus and on loading screens so you will always have something to read.

ZEN Pinball uses al the sights and sounds of a real table, there is no room for fantasy or superpowers on this game. It is you against gravity and no more. There are many camera angles and you can choose between fixed or mobile angles. You also count on an info screen giving you real time info on score, balls remaining and some hints for extra points. This game also has a very impressive voice work to help you know what�s going on just in case you don�t like or can�t read the info screen, as well as some minor yet nice environmental sounds.

Replay value is actually quite good, it will take a lot for you to get bored of the multiplayer, and even if you do, you can tweak some settings, such as a slow motion option, in order to get a different experience. Trophies are hard to get and you will have to spend a decent amount of time on each table if you want to get them all. There is a lot to do here, and they sure know how to get you very motivated to try it all on ZEN Pinball.

Overall, this game is destined to become one classic experience on the PSN. I�m very glad we get to see this kind of simple yet very addictive games for the price of only $10. If you are looking for a classic experience, competitive casual gameplay and a good use for those PlayStation Eyes, then go buy this right now. It is the best Pinball game I�ve played in a very long time.

Thanks for reading and as always, I�m open for feedback and suggestions via comments or you can contact me at reeve.ryu@agzonline.com.

Hug a Zombie Day

Mon, 18 May 2009 18:43:24 +0000

Okay so on the main site we have a story about "Hug a Zombie Day" click on the link to check it out. So with that we wondered what would you do to survive a Zombie Apocalypse at least for a while. So post your best Zombie Survival tricks.
Mine are:
Weapons:
Shotgun ( Riot Type with 10 shots)
9mm - Easier to control in tight situations
Hunting Knife
Nunchucks - For bashing Zombie Head and getting some distance

You have to travel light so I would need to be able to carry enough ammo to make it for at least a couple days until I got to a safe location. Speaking of that I would establish a couple of safe zones for sleeping and eating. Mostly small spaces that are high up and not easy to see, but easy to defend with at least two ways out in the event I were to get overrun or found by hungry undead. So what would you do and how would you do it?

We will post the best Tips and Zombie Tricks on the main site and you may just get a prize!

It's official: Pokemon Gold & Silver remakes are real.

Fri, 08 May 2009 04:34:39 +0000

Last sunday we got some clues leading to possible remakes, now it's official. Rejoice Pokemon traines all around the world; the game boy color classics will be back, better than ever. I remember great gym battles and epic scenarios, add a Wi-fi connection, better graphics and 2 screens and you should have another Pokemon hit. I'm feeling these new versions will have exclusive DSi features as well, but thats just me.

Pokemon Heart Gold & Pokemon Soul Silver are scheduled for release in Japan this fall and probably next spring in NA. We should definitely have an import preview/review so stay tuned for details.

Gears of War 2: All Fronts Collection

Thu, 07 May 2009 21:33:59 +0000

Celebrating its 5 million copies sold, GOW 2 will launch new content at retail stores and Xbox LIVE on July 28.

This new content is actually a compilation of all the DLC to this date (sorry guys, no golden hammerburst); Flashback, Combustible and Snowblind map packs will be all here and we also get 7 new multiplayer maps. This is going to be a great deal for those missing all the DLC. The official names and descriptions for these new maps here:

- Allfathers Garden: Honor the sacred grounds of the Coalition founders in this explosive map, where powerful weapons catalyze fast and furious action at this COG landmark.
- Memorial: Set near the Eternal Flame, which pays tribute to the fallen soldiers on the battlefield, a hard-fought battle ensues at the Tomb of Unknowns. Putting their flank formation and evasive skills to the test, players will fight to control the Boomshot.
- Sanctuary: Once a peaceful ground for reflection and remembrance, all that remains of the Sanctuary is the chill of death. Feast your eyes on the arsenal of weapons available as you make your way through the tight paths and blind corners of the Locust-damaged temple corridors.
- War Machine: In the abandoned train station that once served as a hub for travel, players will need to master the Longshot, Mulcher and Boomshot weapons to advance the fight while evading fire from the platforms above.
- Highway: Take the fight deep into the Locust Hollow in the complex passages of this underground highway system brimming with enemy vermin. Stick together, separate the enemy and have an exit strategy ready or it�ll be a one-way trip.
- Way Station: Sitting in limbo between death and �processing� are Locust way stations filled with fallen COG soldiers. Tread lightly and practice patience as it�s better to sacrifice firepower for stealth while navigating this minefield of hidden grenades.
- Nowhere: Set in the middle of what was once a destination for weary desert travelers, the land is now barren and devoid of life. Pick off your enemies with the Longshot sniper rifle and make your way to the stairwell with a well-fortified team during this intense firefight.

But that's not all fellas, the main attraction for the all front collection is actually a deleted campaign chapter called "Road to Ruin". You will be able to play this chapter old school or in "all-new stealth mode". There is Metal Gear Solid in Gears of War?! Now that's interesting... We shall see about that Epic.
We will also get some extra content like an introduction from the design director formerly known as Cliffy B, a premium theme, a collectible poster and a strategy guide.

The price? 20 bucks. No doubt it is a great deal for every GOW fan out there. Lots of content for your cash.
If you are like me then you already own every single map there is. Fear not, as the new maps and the campaign chapter will be on Xbox Live Marketplace on the same day, for 1600 MS Points... You won't have the strategy guide or the poster, but it is a good deal too.

It's gonna be a hot and bloody summer thanks to this huge add on. GOW 2 has suffered a lot thanks to its still buggy matchmaking. Hopefully this will be the redemption for one of the best exclusive Microsoft franchises. I'll leave you with some shots...

_{*Images taken from Joystiq}

Mind blowing huh? Stay tuned to AGZ for more info...

Wii no ma

Tue, 05 May 2009 18:04:02 +0000

Wii no ma lauched in japan on May 1st, 2009. currently it is only limited to Japan, but is slated to make it's way to other countries in the near future.

Wii no ma is an interactive video streaming service (Wii Channel) that further expands Nintendo's offerings for the Wii by giving people who might not be that interested in playing video games another reason to use the Wii.

Nintendo President, Satoru Iwata touts the new service as being part of a larger initiative to improve the social awareness of video games for gamer and non gamers. This will be an interesting feature when it finally makes it's way to the US, but for now we will just have to wait and see.

NVGA Supercon - 2009

Fri, 01 May 2009 17:35:51 +0000

As some of you know, AGZ is one of the founding Chapters in the National Video Game Association. This summer the NVGA Supercon will be hosted in Denver, Colorado. Details are listed below. Click the picture to get more details.

The show of all shows is here. Introducing the 2nd Annual NVGA SuperCon event. This event showcases the talent, education and products of the NVGA and the gaming industry. Education of the gamer is what this event supports

The NVGA SuperCon event touches three essential elements to the gaming world

* Gaming Industry
* Competitive Play
* Gaming Cave

Gaming Industry:

The combination of panels, workshops and exhibits from gaming specialist from around that nation makes this aspect of the SuperCon a great source of knowledge for gamers but also allows companies to be exposed to thousdands.

Competitive Play:

SuperCon is honored to host not only the NVGA Championships but the Soul Calibur 4 National championships

* Soul Calibur 4 Nationals

With over 1000+ people from across the nation these tournaments are a must see attraction for the SuperCon

The Gaming Cave:

If you are an advent gamer wanting to expand your knowledge of gaming in general, meet new friends and sfoes or simple just want to game and be part of the excitment then the Gaming Cave is the place for you.

The NVGA SuperCon event is the essense of gaming community and education for the gamer. This is an experience you don't want to miss.

Ghostbusters

Fri, 01 May 2009 03:26:33 +0000

Don't get slimed! I'm not sure about this one. You know what they say about video games and movies. Yet, I am curious as to how they laid this one out. It's been years since Ghost buster I and II, and from what I have seen so far this game will be one for the kiddies, comic micheif and what-not. Since I'm a kid at heart I might like this one, if they come correct. They really have to step up to get my attention. The projected release date for the game is in in June 2009.

However, it has come to light that there is a rumored release dat for a Ghostbusters III movie in 2012. I wouldn't bank on the movie happening then, as it appears that they don'ty have their stuff together. Most of the major characters aren't even committed to the movie, according to public knowledge.

The upcoming game is definitely a "Let's wait and see". I might only consider this one fron the "used" rack if it has some weight.

Speak out if you know anything about it.

M.

Street Fighter IV In the STL

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 03:43:40 +0000

How about another Street Fighter IV showdown in the STL? Any taker's? Can ya' kick my ass? Well you might be able to if you're really good, but anyways, I'm talking about an event with a nice payout for the winner and great exposure for best of the best. Stay tuned because some things are in the works, and more details to come.

Beatles Rock Band is coming...

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 03:31:55 +0000

I can't wait for this one. I love the Beatles. I grew up playing their songs in stage and concert band in high school, and really think that they can't go wrong with this one. According to multiple news outlets there is an agreement between MTV, The Beatles Apples Corps and Harmonix to create a game using the Beatles music and swagger from back in the day. The entire catalog has been said to be included in the game scheduled to be released later in 2009. I cant wait for this one. One of my fav's is Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, we played that every day for two months in band class, and never got tired of it...

(and oh yes we had a "full" band, not that goofy twelve horn brass ensemble crap)

OK, I'll shut the hell up , but check this out:

Beatles Rock Band First Footage

WCG Ultimate Gamer

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 23:45:16 +0000

If you haven't heard the WCG started a new series called WCG Ultimate Gamer. Its on the Sci-Fi channel every Tuesday 10/9c, or on www.hulu.com. The show takes competitive gamers from all consoles and all games. Then each week there is a new game that everyone competes in a real life challenge similar to the game they have to play that week. For example the week where they had to play Halo 3, they played paintball in the real life challenge. I enjoy this show very much, and would like to see more and more people watching it. To many gaming shows go unnoticed because everyone is to busy playing video games! Haha, so I would suggest watching the previous episodes on www.hulu.com. Then check it out on Sci-Fi Channel every tuesday 10/9c.

BiG_ReD

AGZ Hacked!!

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 22:10:16 +0000

Yeah there was a Trojan installed in one of the files on my server. I had logs and was able to find the cats messing with the site. Got him back and sent a mail bomb to the originating IP address.
*******************************************************************************
We have the site back up and running! Darn hackers
********************************************************************************
*****************************************
Hey guys the site got hacked and is down. I'm looking into it now and hopefully we will be back up soon. I'll update the board as things change.

Street Fighter IV Game Night - Saturday March 14th

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 02:52:42 +0000

This Saturday from 11pm until 1Am! We need gamers to step up to host some matches. Submit your gamertag in the comments to let us know if you want to host.

Just Send a message to Bladeex1 and I'll send you an Invite to some Head Smashing action.

Matches are:
Best of 3 Rounds
Fighters: Any

The Legend of Chun Lee...

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 00:57:08 +0000

I can't even begin to count the number of bad reviews that this movie had. Hell, the two main characters from the game were not even in the movie. What is that about? That's like making a movie entitled, "The Avengers", with only one stinkin' character in it. I will not pay to see this movie. Save your ducats for the "Watchmen" movie...

NEW AGZ SITE IS LIVE!

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 19:49:06 +0000

Guys the New site is ready and we are starting to add stories and reviews to it. Look for new reviews to be posted soon!

Writers Needed:
We need a couple of writers that would be willing to learn the system and once proven start to receive games to review and write about. This will not be a paid position but you get free games to review that you can most of the time keep.

Street Fighter IV

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 01:51:58 +0000

As a fan of the game, no doubt this is "The" game to get in 09. This game comes out on 2/17/09. For 20 bucks above the standard price you can get: Downloadable content, CD Soundtrack, Bonus Disc w/65 minute Anime movie, Collectable figurine, ...and a hint book. (Does anybody read these things anyway?)

Without question the 360 game is the one that I'm getting. I'll spend the extra 20 for what they are slinging. What's in your wallet?

Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost & Damned

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 01:23:09 +0000

Heads up!

Grand Theft Auto IV has an add-on pack coming out on 2/9/09. The package includes a 2 sided poster, and an Xbox Live token card to download the content from Xbox Live. Supposedly this this is the first of two new episodes to come for the 360 version. Can't wait for this one!

Afro Samurai...Whadayathink?

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 01:10:21 +0000

I must say that I really enjoy playing the game. I bought the PS3 version and I am definitely pleased with the purchase. There aere a few things like the camera angle, great music. I didn't see the so called hiccups that some people are complaining about for the PS3 version. This is an entertaining game overall. How did you like the game? What platform did you buy it for?

A little Body Part Poker anyone?

DEVASTATION 2009

Sat, 24 Jan 2009 23:45:43 +0000

As a founding Chapter of the National Video Games Association, we are happy to announce the upcoming event in Phoenix AZ!

DEVASTATION is a three-day gaming event in Phoenix, Arizona. Players have the opportunity to compete in fifteen different tournament events for thousands of dollars as well as enjoy casual and exhibition console games along with free-play arcade machines hosted by one of the Supporters, Castles N� Coasters. Adjoining the DEVASTATION event area is another Supporter, the Big Boys and Their Toys Expo, offering over 160,000 square feet of expo floor space that our Registered Players may enjoy at their leisure.

Dates: June 19th, 20th, and 21st, 2009

Friday
- Tournaments/Pools/Semi-Finals, Casual/Exhibition, Expo

Saturday
- Tournaments/Pools/Semi-Finals, Casual/Exhibition, Expo

Sunday
- Tournament Finals, Casual/Exhibition, Expo

Hotel Accommodations
- Hyatt Regency Phoenix, 122 North Second Street Phoenix, Arizona 85004
- Go to the Hotel page for more details and be sure to ask for the DEVASTATION Group Rate!!

Online regsistration is required to attend DEVASTATION, so reserve your spot today: Register for DEVASTATION

Site Maintenance

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 05:09:53 +0000

Please be patient while we are performing our annual maintenance on the agzonline.com website.

Zune Y29 Issues?

Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:05:40 +0000

An Adrenaline Gaming Zone Official Zune Owners 2009 Update

Recently, there have been widespread alerts of issues for owners of the Zune 30GB model having freezing issues upon reboot, (Manufactured in 2006).

Microsoft is currently rushing to build a patch that will resolve the freezing issue by January 1st. The claim is that it will be resolved within the next 24 hours or by January 1st, 2009.

Basically, there is a bug in the internal clock driver related to the way the device handles a leap year. The internal clock on the Zune 30GB devices will automatically reset tomorrow (noon, GMT). By tomorrow you should allow the battery to fully run out of power before the unit can restart successfully then simply ensure that your device is recharged, then turn it back on.

Zune Pass subscribers may need to sync your device with your PC to refresh the rights to the subscription content you have downloaded to your device.

If you happen to own one of these devices please stay tuned as we will update you with the status of the patch and if it works.

For up-to-Date Results, please check:
zune.net/support

So...What did you get for Xmas?

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 01:18:31 +0000

Well first let me say that I wish everyone Happy Holidays!

I hope you all were able to enjoy yourselves in the best way this season. So I gotta ask, What games are you playing this holiday season?

A Lot of New Games out there like:

Star Wars - The Force Unleashed

Mortal Kombat vs. DCU

Fable II

Gears of War II

Guitar Heros World Tour

COD World at War

Left for Dead

Rock Band 2

If I left any out, let us know what you got this season, how you like it.

So far I picked up. "The Orange Box" for $20! Yes It is now a Platinum Item! Five Games in one Box - Completely Awesome Indeed!
I also picked up Mortal Kombat vs. DCU (360), and Star Wars - "The Force Unleashed (PS3)", "Tomb Raider Underworld" (PS3), "Fable II (360"" and will pick up Guitar Hero World Tour next week.

Post up and let us know what you got or what you're gonna get!

M.

psp questions.....

Wed, 24 Dec 2008 16:56:03 +0000

a couple quick questions about PSP....

1. is it true that Oblivion is comming for the PSP? that would be the greatest!
2. any ideas when that GPS update will be released to the psp??

Playstation Home

Sun, 14 Dec 2008 22:51:15 +0000

Not sure how I feel about this one so far. So far this is only a beta version, arriving few weeks after Microsoft Launched it's interactive overhaul (not in a beta mind you...) I installed the Playstation Home Beta and created my character, then I walked around for a bit and chatted with a few people, crusied the mall, checked out the bowing alley. I also had an issue connecting at first, but still wasn't blown away by the amenities.

I hope that there is more to come and that Sony isn't just yanking people chains with this "New Offering". I would like to see this option turn into something decent, but I must say that I think Sony waited a bit late to add this tool to their arsenal of options for the PS3, meaning to release it in Beta mode at Christmas time leaves alot to be desired. Timing is everything, right? My thoughts are that they should have perfected the product and then call it what it should be called like, some thing of greatness for the PS3...or whatever, not a funky-dunk beta version.

Has anybody else checked this out? Let me know if I am missing something. So far I spent about 1 1/2 hours on it and crashed and went to sleep. I will spend some more time with it again tonight and will take it like a man if I am completely wrong. Somebody let me know what you thought.

PS3 Keyboard Add-on

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 23:25:37 +0000

One of the things that always gets on my nerves is navigating the onscreen keypad when tying in information either for a new profile, or messaging. It appears that Sony has decided to catch up with Microsoft by adding the keypad option to the PS3. Sony will be releasing the new "QWERTY" style key pad online and in stores, on 11/26/08. It also can be paired wirelessly via Bluetooth, with out any other add-ons*. I am pretty sure that I will be picking one up.

These will be on sale for $49.99.

Now keep on mind that Madcatz also has one available for $29.99, bit i have to say that it looks kinda klunky and awkward. It doesn't appear to have the same snug fit that the Sony version will offer, and it requires that you connect a USB receiver to the PS3. I'm pretty sure that this might bring up issues with lag time and outright non-responsiveness when in the heat of battle during online play What do you think?

*Yaaay!!

Gears of War 2 - Game Nights and Tournaments

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 22:50:56 +0000

We are looking for someone to run some gamer nights on the beta site until we settle on a new design for the site. If anyone is interested we are going to have something launching tomorrow on the beta site if all goes well for matches to be managed and to run online tournaments. You can find the beta site at: AGZonline Beta Site

Gears of War 2 - Oline Play Sucks!

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 22:36:03 +0000

Okay let me first just say that I'm a fan of Gears hands down. The story so far is great with some really good one liners and revved up graphics that make "daddy" real happy. Now that's out of the way what's up with the online play? I can't seem to get in a room PERIOD! I wanted to play in the Launch weekend Wingman tournament, but could only successfully get in one match the entire weekend. I experienced wait times as much as 5 to 10 minutes only to have the connection reset or start looking for players again.

Before you think to ask it's not my connection as I have a 16mg down and 3mb up connection and tested it just to be sure network traffic was good. No big deal right I'll just play another game type since there are so many to choose from ( Yes and no but I'll get to that) well needless to say once again I was only able to successfully get into one match and once it was over I was booted out. Then couldn't get back into another match! I put down dead space and fable for this! This is CRAP! I've asked others and everyone has been going through this with Gears so it's possible that once again Microsoft was not prepared to handle the traffic from a popular game. Whats going to happen with COD World at War?

Can anyone tell me if there is just a free-for-all mode in Gears? I couldn't find that option to just run around like a "Mad Cog" and frag people until I was satisfied. So even though there are some very creative modes of game play FFA is one that no shooter should be without. Now given my level of frustration I could have missed it and will go back this evening to check it out for sure. If anyone knows the inside scoop please let me know before I sell this frickin game on Ebay and buy some stuff for the kids on the Wii

Oh well there's always COD and Fable 2 to keep me happy.

Xbox 360 Sales Beat PS3 in September

Sat, 18 Oct 2008 19:38:27 +0000

Courtesy of Digital Trends.com

The Xbox 360 is still knocking the PS3 oof of the block in sales. See the Article below:

NPD: Xbox 360 Sales Beat PS3 in September
October 17, 2008 | by Geoff Duncan
Despite the rocky economy, the video game industry remains healthy...and Microsoft's Xbox 360 trounced Sony's PS3 in console sales during September.

Market research firm NPD has released new video game sales figures for September 2008, and while the Nintendo Wii is still far and away the top-selling video game system, Microsoft's Xbox 360 shows surprising strength, trouncing the PS3 in the United States during September. According to NPD, Microsoft sold 347,000 Xbox 360 consoles during the month, following price cuts early in the month that put the least expensive Xbox 360 below the price of the Nintendo Wii. In comparison, Sony managed to sell 232,000 PlayStation 3 consoles during the month�although the Nintendo Wii was far-and-away the console winner, moving 687,000 units during September.

Sony's console sales figures get a little rosier for September if sales of its older PlayStation 2 unit are factored in: Sony managed to push 174,000 PlayStation 2 units out the door even as the console approaches its ninth anniversary. Still Nintendo's Wii sales represent a 34 percent sales increase over August, when the company sold a mere 453,000 consoles.

Nintendo also sold sine 537,000 Nintendo DS handheld systems, while Sony moved 238,000 PlayStation Portables.

Among games, the Xbox 360 edition of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed earned the top spot for the month with 610,000 copies sold, and the Xbox-exclusive Rock Band 2 came in third with 363,000 copies. The Wii landed the second and fourth game sales slots with Wii Fit and Mario Kart Wii. The PS3 version of The Force Unleashed came in fifth with 325,000 units sold.

In terms of sales, September 2008 actually represented the first monthly decline in the video game industry since March 2006 when considered year-on-year, but it's important to note September 2007 was a very strong month for the industry due to the release of Halo 3. Overall, NPD0 expects the video game industry to continue to do good business even as economies falter.

PS3 drops in price

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 23:38:54 +0000

Hey folks, today I I finally bought a PS3! As the result of the price drop I took the plunge and picked up my PS3 w/ 80 GB HD for $399.

First let me tell what my experiene was.. I saw the advertisment for the 80GB Version in a Circuit city advertisement for this week and went in to pick one up. The guy in the games department told me that they had them in but could not sell them until tomorrow. (What the hell is that about?) I told him that the advertisement stated that they had it for sale "now" and he argued that they still could not sell it to me, but he could sell me a Metal Gear Solid Bundle for almost 500 bucks. (again I say, What the hell is that about?) so because I know that crappy service is a common thing for Circuit City Stores here in STL I checked in at another Circuit City store closer to my home and got the same response.

I then ventured over to the Toys-R-Us across the street and they didn't have any 80GB systems left...because they were "Sold out" However I was told by "home skillet", with the massive goatee, that they had some 40GB systems left and they were selling them for the same price as the 80 GB system, (What the hell is that about?)

So I said screw it, I then went to Game Crazy, across the street from them. They had the 80GB system for $399 and told me that they had been selling it at that price for about a month now. (?????) Several were in stock. So I bought the 80GB system that included the six axis controller along with an extended warranty plan..and picked up MGS4 for only 44 bucks (used). I casually asked about the price of the 40GB system (New), that they also had in stock and they told me that it was the same price as the 80GB system - $399, but would soon drop to $359, and he didn't know when it was going to happen.

First let me say that Circuit City is tripping...hard. Second, What in the hell the the hold out about?

Console Failure

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:45:38 +0000

Yes, I too have fallen into the realm of folks that have reported problems with the 360. I started to get the three red lights after I started a game, and would simply reboot and I was able to play for a few hours until I turned it off. Soon the problems became more and more frequent until I couldn't even load a game for play without getting an error message in several languages, and then the screen froze.

How many of you have have the same issues and had to send your system back in for repairs? So far I know of 4 people, and from what I have seen the average turn-around time to get the system back is about three weeks. So far for me, it has been about a week since I shipped my system off to Microsoft.

What did you experience?

M.

GTA IV - Completed

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:35:30 +0000

Have any of you guys completed GTA IV? I know Blade completed it and had a few comments on the front of the website AGZONLINE.com

What did you think about the game? I still have a way to go and since my 360 is down as the result of the dreaded, "Red Ring of Death" I am forced to wait until I get it back. Damn, I miss my 360...

M.

Gaming Chatroom

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 02:38:49 +0000

I�ll start off by indicating that I have received permission from Bladeex1 to post information about this gaming chatroom.

I run an IRC (internet relay chat) based gaming chatroom; the main purpose of this chatroom is for gamers to come together and discuss video games for all systems. To those of you who are as enthusiastic about video games as we are, we welcome you to join us and become part of the #Game-chat community today.

This chatroom can be accessed by one of two main ways: through a Flash chat client (the �easier� way that most of you will probably access the chatroom) or through a program known as mIRC.

Accessing the chatroom through the Flash chat client:

To access the chatroom via Flash, simply click this link:

http://web.webchat.org/?theme=webchat&@channel=game-chat

Once the page loads, you will see a login box. Where it says �enter your nickname�, type in the nickname that you want to use, then hit connect to enter the chatroom. Once you are connected to the chatroom, you can type /nick yournnickamehere to change your nickname at any time.

Accessing the chatroom through mIRC:

To download mIRC, go here: http://www.mirc.com/get.html

After you have downloaded and opened the mIRC program, type /server irc.webchat.org to connect to the network that our chatroom is on. Once you have connected to the network, type /join #Game-chat to join the chatroom. As with the Flash client, You can type /nick yournicknamehere to change your nickname at any time.

Registering a Nickname (optional):

To register a nickname, make sure you are currently using the nickname you want to register; use the /nick command described above if necessary. Then, type /attach yourpasswordhere youremailhere to register your nickname.
After this, and e-mail will be sent to you containing an activation code to finish the registration of your nickname; copy and paste the code into the mIRC program or the Flash chat client. After you have successfully registered your nickname, you will have to �identify� yourself every time you login in order to be able to use the nickname that you have registered. This is done by typing /nick yourregisterednamehere yourpasswordhere every time you connect to the network.

Note that you can use all of these commands, including the ones necessary to register a nickname and identify for a nickname, regardless of if you connect to the chatroom through the Flash chat client or the mIRC program.

Get ready to get your game on in St. Louis (courtesy of Blockbuster's)

Sat, 06 Sep 2008 04:14:30 +0000

Date:

Saturday, September, 6th

Blockbuster Location:

4177 Lindell Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63108

Time:

1P.M. - 5P.M.

Games: Wii Sports

Prizes:

1st Place - Wii Fit
2nd Place - Nintendo DS
Plus Many more prizes from Blockbuster

Go for the Gold against other families in Wii Sports

Midnight Gaming Chamionship

Sat, 06 Sep 2008 03:47:34 +0000

Just to let everyone know, The Midnight Gaming Championship is planning on coming to St. Louis in October '08. AGZ will be working with the MGC folks to promote the event. Once a location is determined we can provide you with more details. Stay tuned, more to follow...

M.

Get political with your 360!

Sat, 30 Aug 2008 15:25:55 +0000

I found an interesting article about how Microsoft will be making it possible for gamers to register to vote via the 360 console. I think it's a great idea. Check it and tell us what you think.

Courtesy of The Seattle Times:

Microsoft helps gamers register to vote, express political preference on Xbox Live

Add civic engagement to the ever-growing list of video, gaming and communication offerings on Microsoft's Xbox Live network. As the Democratic National Convention continues this week, the company is ramping up a partnership with Rock the Vote that gives Xbox Live members information about the presidential candidates and help registering to vote.

"Youth today is connected with each other in these social communities, playing on Live," said Marc Whitten, general manager of Xbox Live. "This was a great way to continue that engagement [of Rock the Vote]."

Xbox Live has more than 12 million members around the world. The majority are in the United States, Whitten said, but he would not disclose an estimate of how many are eligible to vote.

Rock the Vote began in 1992 as an effort to bring young people into the political process. It started with high-profile musicians and that remains a major feature of the effort. But the organization has also been quick to embrace the technologies captivating its target audience.

The Rock the Vote site within the Xbox Live network has downloadable Gamerpics, which can be added to an individual's Xbox Live profile, in support of Barrack Obama or John McCain, the presumptive Democratic and Republican nominees, respectively. There's also voter registration information and Rock the Vote videos.

Banner ads on the Dashboard -- the central hub of Xbox Live -- will point people toward the Rock the Vote content. After downloading the "I registered" pic, members will get voter registration information via e-mail.

"It's not about trying to get people to enter a whole bunch of text on the console. That's not really what the console in the living room is great at. It's great at exposing you to visual information and helping you find out about stuff," Whitten said.

This is the first feature of Xbox Live -- primarily an entertainment service -- that would fall under the category of civic engagement, Whitten said. But he noted that there are other features that aren't just about entertainment. People communicate via instant-messaging or in-game chats with their families and organize virtual church group meetings inside games played over the service, Whitten said.

"It seemed like the type of things that we could start imagining. What would 12 or 13 million people in the living room connected through this social network on the TV think about doing?" he said.

The effort extends to a presence for Xbox Live at both the Democratic and Republican conventions, and on into election season.

An Xbox Live presidential poll is planned for Sept. 9 to 14. The site will also participate in a registration drive Sept. 23.

It will also help people go through the voting process. "Voting is Easy," the site says, reminding people to register on time (30 days before an election in Washington, or 15 days if you go in person to your county elections department).

"Remember to Vote!," it continues.

GHIII Southern Illinois Open: Oct 4, 2008; Nashville, IL

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 01:13:10 +0000

Oct 4, 2008 SoIL Open: Nashville, IL - Event Info

We are currently looking for prize sponsors and the use of a large HDTV for the event. Please send email inquiries to soil_gh@thegame.com if you are willing to help. Deadline for sponsorships is September 27, at 18:00 CDT

Showing your CAS!

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 05:39:16 +0000

Update
Hit the Soul Calibur Community Blog! We are doing a contest soon so don't miss out. There is going to be at least a $25 gift card given out to the top pick so just follow the link to the Soul Calibur Community Blog - Click Here

CaS = Create a Soul (custom characters) in Soul Calibur IV. I've been playing since I got the game yesterday and the Custom Character mode is just as much fun as playing the game...at least for me. You know how you have always wanted to create some bad ass fighter for a game. Well this is your chance to at least dress one. Ok I'm a bit of a fanboy for SC4 and the "Barbie dress up" in fighting games is nothing new but I really like some of the stuff I've seen others do online and would love to see what everyone else is doing.

Hit this post and submit your pics of your newly created characters or post them in the the community blog over at http://agzonline.com/sc4/

Soul Calibur IV Game Night

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 04:40:16 +0000

Soul Calibur IV is officially out and it is everything people have been hoping for. As you may or may not know AGZ is part of the NGVA and will be hopefully holding some of the online regionals for the Xbox 360 version in the coming future. Keep checking the board for updates. Until the online tournaments we want to do some Gamer Nights.

So hit this link and sign up at the community @ http://agzonline.com/sc4 Communities made just for you. Get in and lets build a AGZ SC4 Community.

Defunct Games fetaured on GameTrailers Playing Rockband 2

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:52:25 +0000

That's right guys our very own Defunct Gamer and web programmer Patrick are featured playing the game at E3. Check out the skills

And also here giving it away!

Great job guys I'm so jealous i couldn't make it there.

E3 Ends! That's right it's done

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:41:41 +0000

Yep you heard it it's all over after today. No more E3...that is until next year! If you want to know what happend get all the news from the front page of the main site at AGZ ONLINE Main Site Look for the hands on honest reviews that you are not going to find anywhere else on the net except here and Defunct Games. Cryil the guy who writes for Defunct Games is providing all the show coverage for us, along with reviews and plenty of pictures from the show.

So don't miss out and check the AGZ ONLINE Front Page for all your E3 updates.

Exclusive E3 Coverage

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 19:54:39 +0000

Don't forget to check the main site for E3 updates and coverage provided by Defunct Games!

Create your Own Communities now open!

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 00:13:57 +0000

Hey guys we have opened the ability for you guys to create your own groups! That's right if you want a group for your friends then you can now.

Create:

Clans
Interest Groups
Meeting places

Or whatever type of groups you want to create. It's all open for you. Have fun and we are looking forward to seeying what new groups are created.

Comment here: AGZ Blog

Any Gamer Nights?

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 09:40:38 +0000

So are there any gamer nights coming up for any games (CoD 4, Unreal Tournament 3, Halo 3, Battlefield BC)?

If so message me via XBL:

ATM BuTcH3R

hi everybody

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 01:57:14 +0000

i'm new here

Midwest Gaming Association: Guitar Hero III tourney July 26, Metropolis, IL

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 06:41:33 +0000

Expert mode only

http://www.myspace.com/themga

Secure HDCP Link Not Found

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 01:33:40 +0000

Is anyone out there having issues with "Secure HDCP Link Not Found" when trying to play DVDs on their 360 Elite?
A buddy of mine from work was telling me that he's getting the error stating that the link was not found, and yet it does not affect the ability for him to play games. Keep in mind that he is trying to use "Up-conversion" functionality on the 360 Elite.

I know that the folks at Sony had a similar issue like this and it has since been resolved. I have been doing some digging around regarding the Elite and converting via an HDMI cable, and have yert to find conclusive discussions. From what I have heard Microsoft is aware of the issue, and has yet to come up with an answer for the masses.

Cheating your way to a better gamerscore

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 22:11:03 +0000

So over the past week there has been a discussion in the NVGA about button mapping for Smash Bros Brawl and if it should be allowed. Then today I got around to reading an article by Kerry Studnick featured in OXM Mag called Grey Matter. The article talks about cheating your way to a better Gamerscore and what Microsoft is doing to catch cheaters. Now Kerry doesn't excatly condem the practice of getting friends to line up in Halo for a two for one kill with the Spartan Laser or do other stuff with friends to boost rank. Now he talks about he wouldn't boost rank but thinks it's ok to do it with friends.

When it comes to button mapping, exploits, cheats of any kind that are not part of the default settings in my opinion is BS. There is no display of skill in getting people to help you earn rank, or unlock achievements period. Skill is earned and there is no debate about that period. Ever seen ask for help with earning a win in golf? I could go all day with examples but what's the point I think anyone with experience in gaming that spent the time in earning rank or achievements would agree with me.

Just my two cent I could be wrong but somehow I just don't think I am.

Hulk Better than the first...

Sat, 14 Jun 2008 02:32:13 +0000

I saw the movie tonight, and I must say it was way better than the first one. No dogs were injured during the making of the movie. Then again maybe a couple, but only on film, and they weren't all hopped up good on super-steriod-eradiated gorilla juice.

Great fight scenes. The graphics were awesome to say the least. If you are a Marvel fan this is definitely a must see. I was a little hesitant at first when it was announced that there would be a second Hulk movie, but then pleasantly surprised when I saw it. I think everyone is gonna love the ending. Post if you saw it, and what you thought.

Any Hulk Video game people out there? If so would you buy the latest version of the game?

Welcome paris17!

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 20:14:18 +0000

Welcome to our newest AGZer paris17!

GameSpot Links Defunct Games!

Fri, 30 May 2008 22:31:37 +0000

I'm back with yet another self-serving thread! Hope you all don't mind.

So today I discovered that Kyle Orland (who I talk with from time to time) was nice enough to link one of my articles in his newest write-up for GameSpot. It's in his May Round-Up, posted May 29, 2008. Check out the link below ...

PressSpotting: May Round-Up

Unfortunately you'll need to do a little searching to find the link, but I'll help you out. Scroll down to where it says "host of blog posts" and then click on the word "of". That's right, I got the word "of"! IN YOUR FACES, FOOL!!! Ha ha, anyway ...

So there you have it, my glorious mention on GameSpot. I now expect my ratings to go way up because of this.

$300 to See what you think ? May 30th to June 3rd Only!

Thu, 22 May 2008 03:40:15 +0000

$300 to know what you think about gaming!

Okay $300 is what you will be paid if you agree to the survey. Here's what happened. One of my game industry contacts and an Entertainment Group that I can't name contacted me about getting some St. Louis gamers to spend some time taking a survey. It's about the Video Game industry of course and it's PAID! I know you hear about people being paid for medical research all the time but this is all about gaming. The pay is $300 for 2.5 hours of your time which in anyones book is good money. A great way to start your summer vacation right!

All the details are below so if you meet the qualifications just contact the research company to set up a time. We get absolutely nothing for you going but we do want to make sure you tell them you heard about it on AGZonline.com That's all we ask for hooking you up with the summer funding. The details are below and I have also included a flyer you can download with the info as well.

St. Louis Gamers
Paid Research Study Announcement

If you like to play video games and live in St. Louis, we�d like to talk to you. We are looking to do some PAID in-home market research interviews with 18-34 year-old guys between May 30 - June 3. If you are interested, message us with the following:

Your favorite TV channels & shows
How much TV you watch per week
How you get your TV programming (for example, Basic Cable, Digital Cable, Satellite, etc.)
Your favorite games & game systems
How much time you spend playing video games

To learn more about our company & what we do, check out our site: www.sachsinsights.com

We�ve been hired by a major entertainment client to conduct in-home interviews in St. Louis. If you qualify & are available for a 2.5 hour interview on the above dates, you can earn $300 in cash to express your opinions on the current gaming industry.

Thanks!

To contact us, please email us at: research3@sachsinsights.com

Cyril Reads Ninja Gaiden

Fri, 16 May 2008 11:22:15 +0000

Hello AGZers.
Cyril here from Defunct Games. Believe it or not I actually have a very exciting announcement, one that I think at least one or two of the Adrenaline Gaming Zone junkies might like.

Back in April Defunct Games introduced our newest audio program, Cyril Reads Ninja Gaiden. If you've ever listened to a book-on-tape then you'll feel right at home with what we have here. Basically we are reading the original 1989 Ninja Gaiden book, a 120 "novel" that was part of the Worlds of Power book line (Scholastic). In each episode I read you two chapters, complete with Ninja Gaiden music, sound effects and an open letter to A.L. Singer, the author of Ninja Gaiden.

So far we're half way through the season, but that doesn't mean you can't catch up. Most of the episodes run only 15 minutes in length, so it's easy to power your way through several episodes in a day. Check out the archive link below, and then under the book you will find episode links. Make sure you start from the beginning, but I assure you that the book really picks up steam the further we get in. So far I have quite a few people hooked on my weekly episodes, so prepared to be impressed with Cyril Reads Ninja Gaiden!

CYRIL READS NINJA GAIDEN!

Cyril Reads Ninja Gaiden Ep. 7 - Chapters 13 - 14
Cyril Reads Ninja Gaiden Ep. 6 - Chapters 11 - 12
Cyril Reads Ninja Gaiden Ep. 5 - Chapters 9 - 10
Cyril Reads Ninja Gaiden Ep. 4 - Chapters 7 - 8
Cyril Reads Ninja Gaiden Ep. 3 - Chapters 5 - 6
Cyril Reads Ninja Gaiden Ep. 2 - Chapters 3 - 4
Cyril Reads Ninja Gaiden Ep. 1 - Chapters 1 - 2

New Episodes Air Every Wednesday!

NVGA SuperCon 2008

Tue, 13 May 2008 02:08:03 +0000

Don't forget about the NVGA CHampionships in New Mexico! Click on the flyer for the Supercon tocheck out all the events!

The NVGA Championships are here. From September to May members of the NVGA have been in countless battles improving there ranking in search of the being the NVGA champion in today's most competitive games.

Now the time is now and the championships are here. Whether you are a ranked player of the NVGA or just a player trying to make a name for themselves this is the ultimate championship in the games that gamers love. Check here for the schedule!

Fighting Games:

Virtua Fighter 5

Soul Calibur 3

Street Fighter 3: Third Strike

Smash Brothers Brawl

- Singles
- Teams

Guilty Gear Accent Core

Tekken: Dark Ressurection

Capcom vs. SNK 2

Dead or Alive 4

Marvel vs Capcom 2
------------------------------------------------------------

First Person Shooters:

HALO 3 Rules

HALO 3 (4 v 4 GameTypes)

HALO 3 (2 v 2 GameTypes)

Call of Duty 4 Rules

Call of Duty 4 (2 v 2 GameTypes)
-------------------------------------------------------------

Music Games:

Guitar Hero 3

Rock Band
--------------------------------------------------------------

Other:

Eye of Judgement
--------------------------------------------------------------

Misc Info:

Pot Fee / Payout

BYOC Room

Grand Theft Auto IV (Xbox 360) Review

Mon, 12 May 2008 03:09:35 +0000

Grand Theft Auto IV

Publisher: Rockstar Games
Developer: Rockstar Games
Genre: Action/Adventure
System: Xbox 360
Written By: Cyril Lachel

Grade: 10.0

Whenever I start one of these Grand Theft Auto reviews I find myself talking endlessly about how fully realized the cities are. I talk about how every house looks different, the changing of tone from community to community and how much fun it is to explore (perhaps even live) in this Rockstar Games created world. But with Grand Theft Auto IV I find myself unable to start out my review with mindless chatter about the locale. Not because I find the city bad, but rather because for the first time ever there is something more fully realized than the game's fictional location. His name is Niko Bellic.

It shouldn't seem weird to call Niko the star of Grand Theft Auto IV; after all, he is the lead character in the game. But in the past entries in this franchise the main character played almost a secondary role to the city itself. But that's not the case with Rockstar's newest masterpiece; Niko Bellic is the real reason to buy/play Grand Theft Auto IV. Niko is perhaps the most fully developed video game character of all time, a character that has complex emotions and amazing depth. He's a flawed man, yet we root for him because deep down we understand his plight. If we remember this game for anything, it's going to be because of Niko Bellic.

Thankfully he's not the only star. I don't think I have to describe the crazy amount of hype and anticipation surrounding this game. For millions of people around the world this is more than a game, this is an experience unlike any other. And as crazy as it sounds, maybe these people are actually on to something. Let's face it, no so-called GTA clone has even come close to matching what Rockstar Games has been able to do. Not just in sales, but also in quality and innovation. Right when you think one company has the franchise topped, Rockstar Games comes out and proves that they are the king of the sub-genre.

Grand Theft Auto IV is no exception. It has been four years since we've had a console-specific Grand Theft Auto game (regardless of how good they were the two PSP 'Stories' games don't count), and Rockstar Games is proving that they've had a lot of really good ideas in that time. From a gameplay point of view this is not a revolution in the same way that going from Grand Theft Auto II to Grand Theft Auto III was, but there's definitely enough new here to warrant a closer inspection.

Don't get me wrong; it's not that Grand Theft Auto IV feels like a small step up (because it doesn't). This game's enhancements go beyond simple gameplay tweaks and a better narrative, the revolution is more about how this game makes you feel. The brilliance of this game is in the depth of the character, the nuance of the city, the way everything looks like it's supposed to look, the way characters react realistically, the way that people actually get mad at you if you ignore them. The brilliance of this game seems to fall into a lot of categories that I don't usually talk about when critiquing games, social improvements, enhancements with the animation and the intangible emotions. At first glance this may look like just another Grand Theft Auto game, but by the end of the game you will feel like you've really experienced something good. No, not good, something truly mind-blowing.

Hyperbole aside, Grand Theft Auto IV begins with Niko Bellic sailing into the harbor of Liberty City, a metropolis best known for welcoming immigrants and having really, really strong weed. Niko has traveled all the way from the Eastern Bloc in hopes of living the American Dream. Unfortunately he was suckered by his cousin, a compulsive liar by the name of Roman. The huge mansion that Roman promised is actually a run-down apartment. The expensive sports car Roman supposedly drives? You guessed it, it's a taxi cab. The life that Roman has talked about is all an act, and Niko is about to see the ugly side of city living.

But Niko is a complex character; he's more than just a sucker for believing his brother's lies. He's a tough guy who has served in the military and is running from a past of illegal activities. Unfortunately there aren't a lot of doors open for Niko when he lands in Liberty City. His immigrant status is causing some problems and he isn't exactly qualified to work a nine to five. Instead he finds himself taking any shady job he can get, which usually requires him to protect somebody, deliver something valuable or go all the way and kill somebody.

Fans of the Grand Theft Auto series will no doubt recognize how this game begins, outside of the immigrant twist; Grand Theft Auto IV starts out like every other game in the series. But unlike every other game in the series, Niko's goal is not to own the most property in the city or get to the top of some gang. The story in Grand Theft Auto IV feels a lot more natural, it's a personal story about this one guy who has to live with the consequences of his actions. There are still a lot of crazy over-the-top missions, but the story is a lot more intimate this time around.

Interestingly enough, the missions in Grand Theft Auto IV haven't changed all that much. Then again, that may be a testament to how good Rockstar Games is at creating interesting missions. If nothing else, the missions serve as a tour guide (an extremely violent tour guide, but still a guide) to the hotspots in Liberty City. In the 30+ hour storyline you'll find yourself running down bad guys in a fictional Times Square, shooting down helicopters next to a fictional Statue of Liberty, strolling through a fictional Coney Island, getting lost in a fictional Central Park and even scaling a fictional Empire State Building. You'll also have a chance to see a lot of seedy apartment complexes and visit a bunch of run-down houses. Needless to say, you're going to see a lot of real estate when you go through the story mode.

You'll also be introduced to a number of really cool characters, including an impossible to understand Rasta drug dealer, a steroid ridden car collector and a woman with the lowest standards possible. And that's just in the first few hours, before the end of the game you'll be dealing with some real big players in Liberty City, all of which are memorable and well acted. This is definitely one of the best Grand Theft Auto stories; it's doing an excellent job of imitating The Wire, which isn't entirely a bad thing.

Like all of the Grand Theft Auto games of the past, GTA IV generally has four or five different missions open to you at any one time. One thing that Rockstar Games has added this time around is the ability to make a choice. While it's not in every mission, from time to time you'll be given the choice of who to kill, or even if you want to kill somebody at all. You'll be given social choices, too. Do you go on your date or save your cousin? All of these things play into the overall sense of actually being involved with this world. There's one choice towards the end of the game that will even determine how the end game plays out for you. There aren't enough of these choices, but this is definitely a step in the right direction for Rockstar Games and Grand Theft Auto.

Oddly enough the biggest gameplay addition doesn't really sound all that impressive on paper. That's because it's nothing more than a cell phone; the little piece of technology that almost all of us have. But here's it's more than just a phone, it's your lifeline to all sorts of personal relationships. It's the way to get a job and get things done. It's the way to keep up with your love life. The phone turns this game from being you against the world to you feeling like you have a close knit group of friends and family. This may sound like something minor, but it really adds a lot to the entire experience.

The phone is about more than just personal conversations. You can also use your cell phone to take pictures, call up cheat codes or get quick and easy side work for a few extra dollars. This is the kind of addition I expect to see in every Grand Theft Auto clone in the future, and maybe a few that you wouldn't consider to be clones.

As expected there's more to this world than just completing missions and advancing the story. Like all Grand Theft Auto games, it's easy to get completely side-tracked by doing everything but the story. Not that this is a bad thing, since almost all of the mini-games are fun. The way you find these mini-games feels a lot more natural, too. For example, you'll be able to bowl at the bowling alley, shoot pool and throw darts at the local pub and get drunk at a club. And that's just the beginning of the mini-games. There are a lot of missions you can do for your friends, including drug running and finding specific cars that people are looking for. What's more, you can also steal a police car and get two different kinds of missions. One of the missions has you going to some enemy stronghold and just killing everybody inside, while the other has you chasing after an escaping criminal and arresting him (well, more like beating him till his pulse stops).

And that's not all. On top of all of those mini-games are a few different non-interactive shows you can attend. The most entertaining of the two is the comedy club, where Ricky Gervais (creator/actor in the original UK version of The Office) and Katt Williams (Norbit, Epic Movie) do an incredibly funny stand-up routine. If you're not in the mood to laugh then why not try the cabaret? There you'll find everything from singing to dancing to magic tricks to a cowboy performing stunts. It's not the best thing Liberty City has to offer, but it's a fun place to take a date.

And get this; you don't even need to leave your safe house to be entertained by Liberty City. In a Grand Theft Auto first, Rockstar Games has added actual television shows that you can watch. I don't know if it's a social statement or not, but there's something kind of depressing about being a guy on a couch watching a guy on the couch watching TV. Maybe it's just me. Either way, the hour or so of television programming is all top quality, complete with funny commercials, over-the-top TV shows and a few surprise celebrities. The best of the television broadcasting has to be the spot-on Republican Space Rangers and the History Channel-like documentary about the birth of Liberty City. Beyond that there's programming for guys, a show about rich people and even televised poker.

On top of all this is the internet caf�, where you can communicate with your family back in the old country, look for dates online, buy new ringtones and make a MySpace page. At first this all looks like just extra stuff that you can do when you get bored of running from cops, but it won't take long before you realize that all of these elements play a significant part in the storyline. Make no mistake about it; Rockstar Games has put all of this stuff in deliberately. It adds a lot to the story and creates a full world that offers a lot of the same extras you would have in the real world.

But who cares about all of this atmosphere if the controls are bad. Grand Theft Auto has always had a reputation for having somewhat subpar controls. It's not that the games felt bad, but there was never the same amount of attention put on the controls as the world itself. Thankfully that has all changed with Grand Theft Auto IV. While Rockstar Games hasn't resolved all of the control problems, they've fixed enough of them to turn this from a so-so playing game to an action game that is extremely easy to control.

The biggest change comes with the shooting mechanic, which still has you targeting your enemies but also giving you a lot more freedom to aim and control your shot. There is also a fantastic cover system that feels like it was ripped right out of Gears of War. There are entire shoot out missions built around the new cover system, so figuring out how to use the objects in the area to your advantage is crucial to you beating the game. And to top it all off there is now a hand-to-hand combat system, so getting into a street fight is suddenly something I look forward to, not run from. In all the controls have been properly updated, still giving you the feel of the old Grand Theft Auto games, only now with a lot more depth to them.

The vehicles (from cars to boats to helicopters) have also received some work. In Grand Theft Auto IV the different cars all handle differently, so you will find yourself always looking for one or two of you favorite cars. In most cases the cars feel more natural, so even when you're skidding out of control you still know what you need to do to get out of the situation. The boats also feel better this time around, as do the helicopters. Some may gripe that their favorite Grand Theft Auto ride doesn't feel exactly the same, but for the most part I think all of the cars were tweaked to handle better, not worse.

And then again a lot of the time you won't even need to drive yourself around. Because it is essentially a recreation of New York City, Liberty City is overflowing with taxi cabs. In the old games you could steal the taxi and be on your way, but by holding the "Y" button you can flag down a cab and have him take you where you want to go. Not only is this a time saver (for a few dollars more you can pay the cab to literally skip the trip and you'll be instantly transported to your destination), but these taxis allow you to take in all of the sights and sounds of Liberty City.

I cannot stress enough how stunning Liberty City is. While a lot of it is cityscape, Rockstar Games has managed to do an excellent job of making every block of the game look and feel different. What's more, the different islands (four major ones in all) are all very unique. They come with their own atmosphere and group of people. Heck, they even have their own unique architecture and hang outs. They all feel like they are living and breathing, even though I know that they are nothing more than I's and O's on my Xbox 360 disc. But that isn't the point, because Liberty City is how you feel, not how it was done.

In fact, it's better you don't think about how Rockstar Games was able to pull all this off. It's more than just watching the countless different people walk by, it's about how they all animate and interact with the world. And it's not just them, it's Niko too. The attention to detail is staggering, especially when it comes to body movements and facial expressions. You really get the emotion from these characters, and that turns out to be a crucial part of selling this world. Grand Theft Auto IV isn't about selling you a big "sandbox" world that you can play around in, it's about selling you a world that you actually care about, a world you will want to come back to time and time again.

Part of the appeal of this entry has to be the graphics, which, for the first time ever, don't completely suck. In fact, I would go as far as to say that this is a spectacular looking game. No, it's not as detailed as Gears of War, Call of Duty 4 or BioShock, but considering the scope of this world I don't see how you could fault them for it. It's clear that Rockstar Games had to cut a few corners to make everything work, just like they've done ever since Grand Theft Auto III back in 2001. There are a number of glitches and imperfections (background pop-up, disappearing cars, etc.) that seem to dog this franchise no matter what system you program them for. Thankfully none of these issues impact the overall enjoyment of the experience, but it is funny to see some of these problems still rearing their ugly head seven years later (on new hardware).

But in my excitement to talk about the story, the city, the improved controls and the greatness that is Niko, I have forgotten to mention one of the most substantial additions to Grand Theft Auto IV. It's this improvement that takes this game from merely a 50 hour experience and turns it into something you'll spend hundreds (maybe thousands) of hours playing. It would have been easy for Rockstar Games to take the easy way out and give us only a few different game modes, all of which are half-baked and pointless. But that's not what they did here; they turned Grand Theft Auto into an online experience that feels like no other game on the Xbox 360. This isn't just another online third-person shooter, the addition of cars, people, cops, huge buildings and helicopters make it all magic. It's not as streamlined as Call of Duty 4, but it's one of the best online multiplayer games you will play this year.

Believe it or not, this game comes pre-loaded with 15 different online modes, including everything from free-for-all shooting to races. At their best these modes are extremely rewarding and exciting, even if you'll sometimes complain about cheap deaths and bad starting locations. A lot of the game modes require teamwork, especially when it comes to play cops versus robbers and things like that. Even something as simple as an online race can turn into all out warfare with the addition of guns and grenades. What could have felt like a watered down Midnight Club sequel is given a unique twist that makes you like it even more. On top of that, you will be collecting money for every person you kill and race you win, and as that money adds up it will level your character up and allow you to customize your character even more. It's not nearly as deep as the Call of Duty 4 system, but it's not bad for being something tacked on to a 50 hour video game.

Grand Theft Auto IV is an event. It's like that major blockbuster movie that you absolutely must read or that TV show that everybody keeps talking about. I don't think it's too much to say that this is the game that Rockstar Games will be remembered for years from now. It's a massive game full of great locations, a fantastic story, a ton of online modes and one of the greatest video game characters of all time. Even if you're not the kind of person that normally likes these Grand Theft Auto games, I have a hunch that once you meet Niko Bellic you're going to fall in love. After putting dozens of hours into this game, I have no problem calling this game an absolute masterpiece, easily one of the greatest action games of all time.

SUMMARY: It's easy to talk about how amazing Liberty City is in Rockstar Games' newest action game, Grand Theft Auto IV. But this time around the city isn't the real star; instead that part goes to Niko Bellic, one of the greatest video game characters of all time. This is an event game, the kind of thing you simply need to own ... even if you don't consider yourself a Grand Theft Auto fan.

Condemned 2: Bloodshot (Xbox 360) Review

Mon, 12 May 2008 03:07:44 +0000

Condemned 2: Bloodshot

Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Criterion Games
Genre: Sports
System: Xbox 360
Written By: Cyril Lachel

Grade: 8.5

Try as they might, it's hard to get real genuine scares out of a video game. It's not from a lack of effort or anything, it's just that getting the atmosphere, camera angles and tension right is a near impossible task. To accomplishment most video game developers turn to some proven techniques, such as adding in effective gimmicks (Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem) or having scary animals jump out at you when you're least expecting it (Resident Evil). But even with those proven techniques, most games can only hope to startle you for a moment; none of them get under your skin like a real effective horror movie.

But that's not true for Condemned 2: Bloodshot. This sequel to a Xbox 360 launch title proves to not only be one of the creepiest things you will ever experience, but may just be one of the first truly effective horror games. Sure it uses a few gimmicks to make the horror work (the game is constantly pitch dark, so you never know what something is sneaking up behind you), but I have never experienced a title that gets under your skin like this one. If you're the type of player who wants a cup full of tension in their game, then boy do I have the perfect game for you.

Condemned 2 takes place right after the events of the first game. You play Ethan Thomas, an ex-police officer who has descended into a life on the streets as an alcoholic homeless man. At the beginning of the game Ethan isn't looking so hot, he hasn't shaven in weeks, he smells like the garbage dump and he can barely walk straight. Surprisingly the stench isn't enough to keep Ethan's old employers from looking for his help in solving their newest case, a series of murders that resemble what Ethan went through in the first game.

Of course the crimes are related, would you expect anything less from a video game sequel? Before long Ethan is back to doing what he knows best, which just so happens to be beating the tar out of a bunch of psychotic homeless people. Through creepy city streets, creepy doll factories, a creepy (and explosive) lodge, a creepy apartment complex and pretty much everything else creepy, Ethan searches for clues, beats up attackers and does what he can to get some closure on this terrible chapter of his life.

Like the first game, the gimmick in Condemned is that practically everything is played from the first-person point of view. But this is not a first-person shooter (though there are guns found in the game), this is more of a traditional brawler (similar to Final Fight or Streets of Rage), only done from a first-person perspective and full of puzzles. The controls make sense, your fists are mapped to the left and right triggers and you can kick by using the right analog stick. On top of the fisticuffs, Ethan can (and should) pick up all sorts of weapon-like objects lying on the ground. I'm talking about everything from chunks of wood to wrenches to bed posts and so on. In total the game holds dozens of melee weapons, each with their pros and cons. Half of the fun of this game is playing around with everything in your environment.

On top of the cool melee weapons, Ethan will also be able to interact with the environments to finish his opponents off. There comes a point towards the end of a fight where the bad guy (usually a bum) has dropped to his knees and can no longer go on. At this point you run over to him, grab him and select where you want the finishing blow to take place. This means that once you have him in a neck hold you can smash his face through a TV, impale him on a pipe, crush his head in a large press and so on so forth. All of these various death moves are gruesome and look like something you would see in one of those "Saw" sequels.

But it goes beyond just being bloody and disturbing, there's a real visceral feeling to this game. Perhaps it's the first-person perspective or the fact that everything is so dark and atmospheric, but the graphic violence in this game feels a lot more realistic and harsh. And that goes for more than the finishing moves; the whole combat system is constantly in your face. It's the way the camera moves and the characters animate, the combination of these two things creates a visceral reaction from anybody playing it. It's real effective, certainly a lot more so than last year's Manhunt 2.

It's rare for a video game developer to actually listen to the critics and change the sequel, yet that's exactly what Monolith did when developing Condemned 2. Every single complaint the critics had with the original game has been addressed here, from the shallow gameplay all the way to the investigation moments. That's not to say that the game is perfect, but it's nice to see a company actually take the feedback to heart.

Don't undersell the improvements to this sequel. When people complained about the shallow combat in the first game, Monolith answered by giving us fun combos and special moves in the sequel. When we griped about the boring level designs they countered with some of the coolest locations ever seen in a survival horror game (if you can consider this a survival horror game, that is). And when we complained about the lame CSI-style stuff in the first game, they turned those boring sequences into one of the best elements of the game.

That's right; the crime scene stuff has gone from being a drag on the pace to one of the most enjoyable things to do in the game. In Condemned 2 you actually have full control over the investigation, so you will need to pay special attention to how the victim was killed, where it happened and whether or not there was any evidence left at the scene of the crime. It may sound dull on paper, but it's actually a lot of fun to pull out the UV light and follow the blood trail. These parts can also be something of most tense, since you can't hold a weapon and your UV light at the same time. My only complaint with this crime scene stuff is that I wished it would play more into the story, as it is it still feels like it's nothing more than a small mini-game stuck in the middle of a violent action game.

The game is actually quite a bit longer than I expected. All told there are eleven levels, taking you from the mean streets to the city museum all the way to a large junk barge. The first half of the game is definitely heavy with story, but for some strange reason that element kind of drops off a bit in the second half. What's more, the story we do get in the final five chapters isn't all that memorable, which is kind of a pity given the high quality of the rest of the product. But don't take my words to mean that it's not worth playing through the complete single-player game; I'm just saying that the second half of the story could have been a little stronger.

A weak story can be forgiven, especially when the levels and action are so interesting. Even after you've completely lost interest in the lame cat and mouse storyline, you'll still want to see where you are going next and what bad guys you will see. And to be fair, the game does have a satisfying conclusion, so the story could have been a lot worse. And really, the story in this game is no worse than what we saw in the first game.

The problem with a game like this is that there generally isn't much incentive to go back through the levels. Monolith tries to solve this problem by giving you extra things to do in each level. For example, all of the levels have a certain amount of these transmitter things that you need to destroy. You will also need to locate all of the televisions and radios to listen to the story elements (which include a Saw-like villain and two annoying news reporters that are giving you up-to-date accounts of what's going on downtown). And if these mundane tasks fail to make you want to go through it again, then maybe you should check out the first-person shooter mode, which effectively turns Condemned 2 into a crappy Half-Life wannabe.

On top of the single-player content is an online mode, but it's absolutely terrible. There are games that sound like they would be perfect for online play ... Condemned 2 is not one of those games. The online modes are an absolute disaster, the melee combat is boring and predictable and the various game types aren't interesting enough to take your attention away from Call of Duty 4 and Halo 3. The less said about this one blemish on Condemned 2 the better.

The one thing Sega does doesn't need to apologize for are the graphics. Like the first game, Condemned 2 offers some striking visuals, especially when you're locked in combat with a drugged up bum. Of course, the big magic trick is that the game only looks good because it's so dark. If you could actually see everything clearly the game wouldn't look nearly as good, but now that it's drowning in darkness it looks fantastic.

The tone of this game is extremely dark; you can see that not only from the ultra violence, but also from the dark graphics and industrial sounds surrounding Ethan. This dark and gloomy world may not be the kind of place you want to stay for long stretches of time, but at the same time it's easy to get sucked into this character's quest. If you're looking for a dark and gloomy game experience then you can't go wrong with Condemned 2, everybody else may want to check this game out in short spurts.

With its improved combat system, fantastic graphics, cool levels and fun crime scene instigation, Condemned 2: Bloodshot is easy to recommend to anybody that enjoyed the original. The game isn't perfect, but it offers a fully realized world that is unlike anything else on the market today. If you've been looking for a video game to truly give you a scare, then I suggest giving Condemned 2 a shot.

SUMMARY: Question: Do you want to be scared? I'm not talking about being startled when a dog jumps through the window or the lightning cracks; I'm talking about staying under the covers and never wanting to come out. Is that what you want? Then Condemned 2: Bloodshot is the only game you should have on your mind right now.

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII (PSP) Review

Mon, 12 May 2008 03:04:41 +0000

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII

Publisher: Square Enix
Developer: Square Enix
Genre: Adventure
System: Sony PSP
Written By: Cyril Lachel

Grade: 9.0

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII is a stunning accomplishment from Square Enix. This new PSP action/adventure game is so good that you'll completely forget about the other horrible Final Fantasy VII spin-offs (including, but not limited to, Dirge of Cerberus and Advent Children). This game is so good that it makes up for the lack of original PSP software from Square Enix. It's so good that ... well, it's so good that you'll have a hard time going back to God of War: Chains of Olympus. And at the end of the day isn't that the biggest compliment of them all?

Crisis Core is the long-awaited prequel to Final Fantasy VII. You play Zack, a character who made a small, but important, role in Square's seminal 1997 PlayStation role-playing game. Given Zack's brief cameo in Final Fantasy VII, it may seem a little strange to see him headlining his own game. Believe it or not, Zack is integral to Cloud's classic adventure and his story manages to flesh out an already epic story.

The game begins with a young Zack pining to become a SOLDIER 1st Class, an elite group of fighters that appear to be genetically enhanced. Along the way he'll meet up with a number of famous characters from Final Fantasy VII (Cloud, Tifa, etc.), become one of the greatest soldiers in Midgar and, most importantly, uncover the truth about a secret project that was trying to genetically engineer the perfect warrior (in other words, it's the story of Alien Resurrection).

But Final Fantasy VII fans will get something more out of this experience. If you're one of those people who cried when Aerith died ten years ago or are still confused at exactly what happens at the end of disc three, then Crisis Core is for you. In this thirty hour adventure you'll learn a number of crazy things that will make you reevaluate everything you thought you knew about the original Final Fantasy VII. What will you find out, you may ask? Well, learn all about Sephiroth before he became a girl killing jerk. Learn about Cloud's man-crush on our hero, Zack. Learn why Yuffie will stop at nothing to steal your hard-earned treasure. Learn why Aerith would be the sweetest, yet most boring girlfriend ever.

Yes, this is the kind of game that is nothing but fan service, which will probably leave a lot of non-Final Fantasy VII fans scratching their heads. The good news is that Crisis Core manages to weave a tale that works on its own. So while some gamers may not understand the significance of Cloud, Tifa and the rest of the famous Final Fantasy VII characters, they won't think about it for long because they'll be too wrapped up in the game's exciting story. I definitely like that this works as its own stand-alone story, in truth the game is meant to be played by those of us who remember Final Fantasy VII back in the late 1990s. That's the target audience, so if you haven't played the original game then what are you waiting for? By now every serious fan of role-playing games should have made it through at least the first disc of Square's 1997 epic.

Without a doubt the biggest bone of contention for a lot of people is the brand new combat system. In a lot of ways Crisis Core does not feel like a traditional Final Fantasy game; the actions aren't turn based, you never control more than one person and it happens so fast that it might as well be in real time. It's a radical departure for Square Enix; the game really feels more like a cross between Kingdom Hearts and Parasite Eve. Regardless of how different it is, this brand new combat system works surprisingly well on the hand held and makes this game feel a lot different from its console brothers.

When you enter a combat situation your heads-up display will change and you will control a small row of icons at the bottom of the screen. You attack with the "X" button; however all you are doing is ordering your character to perform a move. By pushing the left and right shoulder buttons you can switch between commands for Zack, including conjuring up magic, using items and kicking butt. You can also use the "triangle" button to block attacks and the "square" button to roll out of the way.

For the first hour or two it feels like Crisis Core is nothing more than "Push X: The Game." It felt like a lot of the battles could be won by simply mashing the "X" button and focusing your attention on something else (like the Charles in Charge marathon you could be watching). But slowly the game adds more depth, including ways to customize your character in a number of intriguing ways. Crisis Core goes from being a button masher to having one of the most exciting control schemes I've seen in years. It's a lot deeper than you'll give it credit for in the beginning, yet so simple that after thirty hours you won't feel like you're just wading through boring menus.

The truth of the matter is that the controls just work, to the point where you will be able to take on huge enemies that should be way outside of your experience level with relative ease. That's not to say that the game is easy, but once you've mastered the controls and menu you'll start to discover just how exciting these battles can be. That doesn't mean that taking on the low level enemies will be any more entertaining, but you're going to have a blast dodging the boss attacks with this easy to use control scheme.

Along with this strange new control scheme is something called the DMW, the Digital Mind Wave. This slot machine-style leveling up system is not only bizarre (and maybe a little out of place in a role-playing game), but also bound to rub a few Final Fantasy purists the wrong way. It's out there, that's for sure. Ignore the silly name; the DMW is nothing more than a traditional slot machine. But this is no ordinary slot machine, it has pictures of characters found in the game (Sephiroth, Cloud, Aerith, etc.) and allows you to pull of special moves (and maybe a few summons, if you're lucky enough).

As a gamer you have no control over the DMW machine, it just sits at the top left of your screen spinning independently from your battle. For the most part you can completely ignore it, however, once the DMW has made two matches your battle will be interrupted by a larger version of the wheel and the chance to connect three characters in a row (and thus pull off that person's special move). But wait, there's more. If you match two or more numbers you will also upgrade you various magic spells and special attacks. And if you are able to connect three 7's in a row your character, Zack, will level up. It's that simple.

Okay, I'll admit, all that sounds kind of confusing. And the fact that you don't gain experience, but rather level up through what seems to be a random pull of the slot machine sounds bad. But I assure you, all of this quickly comes together and it ultimately makes the whole thing a lot more enjoyable. In fact, because you never know when you're going to level up, I actually found myself really excited about getting into random battles. When was the last time you could admit to being happy about random encounters?

Regardless of whether you like these changes or not, Crisis Core proves that Square Enix isn't afraid to take chances when making their games. Of course, one could certainly argue that a lot of those chances haven't paid off for them (Dirge of Cerberus springs to mind), but from time to time they strike gold and come up with something that is original, functional and a lot of fun to play with. And that's the combat in Crisis Core, it takes the Final Fantasy gameplay in a whole new direction ... and I like it.

Along with a lengthy quest, Crisis Core features dozens of optional missions that are completely separate from the main story. The brilliance of these missions is that you can only do them at save points, so they are always accessible and ready to go. Best of all, if you only have a few minutes to spend playing Crisis Core, all you need to do is turn the system on and go into a mission, you never have to hunt around for them or spend time going through needless dialog. These missions are quick (often no more than three to five minutes) and full of cool loot (extra spells, new summons, etc.). They are the perfect time waster; it's just one mindless mission after another.

As I was preparing this review I started to think back at my time in the wonderful/horrible world of Midgar. While it's easy to pick apart some of the minor gripes (why can't we skip cinemas?), the truth is that there's a lot to love about the approach Square Enix took with this release. It's not the big things that impress (though, the changes to the combat system are both bizarre and impressive all at the same time), it's all of the small touches that make this feel like the polished product that it is. It's the small things, like the complete lack of backtracking you do in the title. If the story wants you to return to some place across the world map it will instantly teleport you there, you rarely have to spend time running through familiar locales.

I also love how quick and easy it is to do everything, from customizing your character to buying brand new items. In this game you don't have to worry about finding a town with an item shop, you can just buy your potions and magic spells from just about anywhere in the world. This, like the lack of backtracking and availability of option missions, makes Crisis Core feel like the perfect portable adventure game. The game is always accessible and always fun, even if you're stuck on a tough boss.

But maybe we shouldn't gloss over the negatives so quickly. The game does have a few minor problems that should have been addressed before shipping. The biggest gripe has to be the fact that you can't skip lengthy cinema scenes. At first this isn't a problem (since the cinemas are generally pretty interesting), but there are a few points where you'll go against a tough boss only to lose and then have to watch the whole cinema all over again. Seeing the same cinema three or four times in a row is no fun, especially when some of them are so long and over the top. Thankfully I only had to deal with that a few times, but it's annoying that you can pause a cinema but not skip it.

Another small gripe is the amount of random encounters. While it's true that Crisis Core has made random battles fun again, it's also true that you can have too much of a good thing. This game is loaded with random encounters, often at the worst possible times. There are some dungeons that will have one random battle after another, sometimes with no more than one or two seconds between them. Thankfully this problem doesn't happen frequently, but it would have been nice if the developers could have toned down the amount of random battles a little.

The game itself is not quite as long as its console siblings. You'll notice that this game does not come on three UMDs, so you should probably expect a much shorter experience than other recent Final Fantasy games. The game itself (including the extra missions and whatnot) will run you around 30 hours. That's not bad, especially for a portable game, but if we were talking about Final Fantasy XII then 30 hours would have been the halfway mark. Fortunately the length works to the game's benefit. Seeing as you're only playing one character 30 hours seems about right; this game definitely does not overstay its welcome.

As good as the story, gameplay and cinemas are, the real reason to play Crisis Core is for the graphics. Now that I'm so used to playing all of my "next-generation" games in high def it's sometimes difficult to be impressed by a portable game playing on a small screen. But Crisis Core's visuals will blow you away. From beginning to end the game is absolutely gorgeous, each area (the dungeons, cities, snowcapped mountains, etc.) has an amount of detail that you just don't see very often in a portable game. And it's not just the backgrounds, the enemies you fight against are very cool ... especially the bosses. And let's not forget the summon spells, a Final Fantasy staple that has always wowed graphics-hungry gamers. Although there are only a few creatures to summon, their cinemas (which, unlike all other cinemas, you can skip) are on par with anything I've seen on the PlayStation 2.

But it's not just the level of detail that is so impressive; it's also WHERE you are. Let's not forget that it's been 11 years since we've visited a mako reactor in Midgar. The last time we saw these locations they were small, overhead and 32-bit. But all that has changed, and we can see what Final Fantasy VII would look like had it been remade for the PlayStation 2. All this is done on purpose; there are so many areas that are meant to remind you of something you saw a decade ago. Heck, even the game's introduction is a throwback to the beginning of Final Fantasy VII, complete with the music and train barreling towards the city.

Speaking of music, Crisis Core's audio is on par with its visuals. Like all great Final Fantasy games, this PSP title features a nice collection of songs. It's not unusual to go from a sweeping song with a beautiful melody to butt rock. The soundtrack is diverse and exciting, featuring a number of remixed versions of familiar Final Fantasy VII songs. The voice acting is also good, though not nearly to the same level of Metal Gear Solid Portable Ops or God of War: Chains of Olympus. Then again, part of the problem may be the somewhat clunky localized script, which is good, but still a little wooden.

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII is the Square Enix role-playing game that people have been clamoring for ever since the release of the PSP. This is a phenomenal achievement, both in terms of graphics, gameplay and story. Although it's shorter than previous Final Fantasy outings, Crisis Core's story is no less interesting and intense. In fact, I would argue that the story here is one of the most interesting I have seen in a long time. Its roots are still very much in the Japanese RPG genre, but it's not afraid to try new things. Crisis Core is a must buy for anybody that owns a PSP, it's that simple.

SUMMARY: Forget remaking Final Fantasy VII, Crisis Core is the Final Fantasy game you've been waiting eleven years for. With amazing graphics, an intriguing new combat model and one of the best RPG stories I've experienced in years, Crisis Core may just be the game that makes you completely forget about God of War: Chains of Olympus!

Summer Sports: Paradise Island (Wii) Review

Mon, 12 May 2008 01:40:24 +0000

Summer Sports: Paradise Island

Publisher: Destineer
Developer: Destineer
Genre: Sports
System: Wii
Written By: Cyril Lachel

Grade: 6.5

When I look back at all of Wii games I have played I find myself conflicted. While I have enjoyed the "hardcore" games like Metroid, Smash Bros. and Super Mario Galaxy, I still feel like my favorite Wii experience has been with the pack-in game, Wii Sports. It's not that it's the best game on the Wii or fully realized, but it was the game that best demonstrated what was so unique about Nintendo's motion sensing console.

Seeing the popularity of Wii Sports I can certainly understand why so many different publishers would be pushing for some sort of motion-controlled sports compilation. This is the easiest way to explain Destineer's newest game, Summer Sports: Paradise Island. Summer Sports is certainly not the most original game to come out this year, but it does have a nice collection interesting sports to choose from ... a few of which have never actually been recreated on the Wii before. It's nowhere near perfect, but if you're the kind of gamer that is looking for another Wii Sports game, you could do a lot worse than Summer Sports.

Summer Sports: Paradise Island is exactly what it sounds like; it's a mini-game collection full of all the kind of simplistic sports that you might play with your friends if you were stuck on a tropical island (and not having to run from smoke monsters and people you refer to as "The Others"). While this collection features a few boring selections (the various basketball mini-games spring to mind), overall Summer Sports delivers on the promise of Wii Sports-style action applied to a greater variety of events. Regardless of their execution, it's hard to not get excited about throwing horseshoes, playing badminton, trying your luck at croquet or chucking lawn darts as hard as you can. Even if some of the gameplay is sloppy, at least this is a mini-game collection full of mini-games I might actually want to collect.

As you can probably guess, there isn't much of a story in Summer Sports. Instead we have a map with eight different event locations, which include places to play badminton, volleyball, miniature golf, horse shoes, lawn darts, croquet and a few different variations of basketball. Each of these mini-games can be controlled using only the Wii's remote; you'll never have to attach the nunchuk when playing this game. Better yet, most of the "sports" allow you to swap a single Wii remote between four people, that way everybody can have fun and you won't have to break the bank buying a bunch of extra Wii controls.

Logistics aside, Summer Sports is a fairly straightforward mini-game collection. In most games you decide how many people you want to play with (up to four, including computer-controlled characters with varying degrees of difficulty), then you select your characters, then team up or stay free-for-all, and finally get to playing ... and (hopefully) have fun. Some of the sports require teams and others allow you to customize your experience in different ways, but when it comes right down to it you're basically playing these games as-is. Thankfully this isn't a bad thing, since most of the sports are actually a good deal of fun.

The good news about Summer Sports is that there is a surprising amount of solid sports in this collection. After pulling this out at a recent gaming get together I found that just about everybody had a good time with lawn darts, miniature golf and croquet. These three sports, more than any others, managed to recreate something that we rarely see these days. And best of all, after we got used to the controls we found ourselves having a fun and lively competition. This was especially true when it came to lawn darts, a "sport" that has been banned in this country from almost twenty years.

At its best Summer Sports offers us good simulations of a bunch of oddball sports. None of the games are must-own titles, but collectively they make for an exciting few hours of Wii play (which is not to be confused with the far less fun Wii Play). The miniature golf game is terribly limited and suffers from a few control quirks, but at the same time you'll be instantly reminded why you love the sport. The same is true with croquet, which controls almost exactly like the miniature golf event. The horse shoes can be fun, but it plays a little too much like lawn darts, a much more exciting game.

Unfortunately there are a few disappointing events. I was not a particular fan of either the volleyball or the badminton games. While I generally like these sports in real life, there was something about these simulations that just felt a little off. Part of the problem is the terrible camera angles, which make it extremely difficult to determine where the ball is going to land and when you should start your swing. To make matters worse, you have a very limited amount of control over your situation, so you're constantly praying that the computer will move you where you need to be. Needless to say, these are the events that are easiest to skip past.

Perhaps most disappointing is the representation of basketball. Try as they might, the developers behind Summer Sports just couldn't make basketball work. This is especially disappointing because there is so much basketball in this game, everything from a simple game of HORSE to Around the World to Shot Clock. Heck, you even have your choice of where you want to play those events, something that you can't do with any of the other sports. The problem is that none of the basketball mini-games are much fun. The shooting mechanic feels right, but it just never feels as natural as the other sports in the box. What's more, it's actually really difficult to gauge your shot, something that wouldn't be an issue in real life. After spending quite some time with the three basketball events I started to wonder why I wasn't just playing this in real life. How expensive can a basketball be? And it's never difficult to find a basketball hoop. Summer Sports is at its best when it's recreating sports that nobody actually owns.

No matter how good or bad the different sports are the one thing you're going to have to get used to is the learning curve. Thankfully it's not too steep, but none of these controls seem nearly as natural as what we saw in Wii Sports. Most of the party goers were able to grasp the nuance of the controls quickly, but some of the sports felt like they could have used a bit more tweaking before release. The controls, just like the sports themselves, are something of a mixed bag.

Speaking of Wii Sports, one of the biggest draws of that game was the idea of using your custom made Mii character against your friend's character (and other crazy concoctions you've made/downloaded). Unfortunately you can't do that here. Not that this is unexpected, so far Nintendo and Electronic Arts are the only two companies using the Mii characters, but it is disappointing that Destineer wasn't able to incorporate these personalized players into the game. This is all the more noticeable when you see the short list of character found in the game. With five men and five women, Summer Sports gives you a small choice that features a lot of athletic-looking meatheads with a number of different ethnicities. Sadly none of these characters are all that unique and they are completely interchangeable. It's also disappointing that you can't customize these characters in any way (not even shirt color); they remain the same no matter what sport you're playing.

The graphics in Summer Sports are fair, neither fantastic nor bad looking. The beach locales are nice and soothing, but outside of a bird flying by or a boat in the ocean, there just isn't much detail to look at. Not that there was much to look at in Wii Sports or any of the other Wii mini-game collections. The character models are good and the sports have a unique look, but you shouldn't use this game to demonstrate the power of the Nintendo Wii or anything.

Outside of the seven events there aren't that many extras to speak of. The most intriguing bonus in the game is the addition of achievements, similar to what you would find in all of the Xbox 360 games. They are only good for this one game, but they will give you something to shoot for if you're looking to extend the hours of gameplay. As a fan of achievement points I can see how this could be a fun diversion, but you probably won't care much about these if you end up not enjoying the actual game.

Your enjoyment of this game is going to come down to how much you like the various sports. Chances are you're going to dislike a few right away, but if you give the others a chance you will find that there are enough good games here to warrant a play. I can see myself pulling the game out at parties to play lawn darts and miniature golf, so as a first attempt at this type of game Destineer deserves credit. Summer Sports is nowhere near consistent, but then again neither was Wii Sports. If you're the kind of gamer that likes to play alone then there's no reason to even consider this game, but if you're the kind of person that has a lot of friends over then you should definitely give this one a shot.

SUMMARY: Summer Sports: Paradise Island is exactly what it sounds like, a mini-game collection full of exciting sports you mostly play when the sun is out and everybody is complaining about the heat. There are a few really fun events to play through here, but this compilation isn't nearly as consistent as one would hope!

Pinball Hall of Fame (Wii) Review

Mon, 12 May 2008 01:37:59 +0000

Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams Collection

Publisher: Destineer
Developer: Destineer
Genre: Action
System: Wii
Written By: Cyril Lachel

Grade: 8.9

Who knew that one of the best games for the Nintendo Wii would be a video game compilation of twenty year old pinball games? While Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams Collection may not be as flashy as Super Mario Galaxy, Smash Bros. or Mario Kart, it more than makes up for that by delivering rock solid recreations of some of the best pinball games of all time. Whether you're an old school pinball wizard or a kid who doesn't even know who Williams is, Pinball Hall of Fame is an incredible game that deserves to be included in your game library.

This Wii game is the second game in the Pinball Hall of Fame collection. Four years ago Crave Entertainment released Pinball Hall of Fame: The Gottlieb Collection for a handful of console. Flash forward to present day and we have another solid entry in this line of pinball compilations, only this time around the pinball tables are even more recognizable. I'm something of an idiot when it comes to classic pinball tables, but even a novice like me remembered a few of these machines.

The Williams Collection is a compilation of ten classic pinball tables that span more than twenty years of history. The game has painstakingly recreated each of the ten tables, simulating the lights, paintjob and sounds of the real machine. On this $30 disc we are given access to classics like Black Knight, Firepower, Funhouse, Gorgar, Pinbot, Space Shuttle, Taxi, Whirlwind, Jive Time, and Sorcerer. If those names don't mean anything to you don't worry, because no matter who you are you're probably going to have a great time with any one of those machines.

Obviously some machines are better than others, but as I played through the various machines I found that they are all good for completely different reasons. It may be hard to explain to the generation buying up copies of Grand Theft Auto IV and Call of Duty 4, but not all pinball games are built the same. It's not just about how these machines look, but rather how they feel, where the bonuses are and what secrets you can find. There's a lot of exploration to do on each of these machines, which is probably why so many people remember them all these years later. Sure the games had gimmicks, but in most cases that just added to the appeal of these deceptively simple machines.

The problem with video game pinball simulators is that many of them fail to get the physics right. I can't even begin to list off all of the well intentioned pinball games that failed because they just didn't feel right. I know that a word like "feel" is subjective and a little vague, but there's a specific way that a pinball ball is supposed to feel. They have a certain weight and bounce that has been hard to recreate on a video game system. There's a reason that twenty years later we're still talking about games like Alien Crush and Devil's Crush as the high point for video game pinball.

But Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams Collection gets that pinball feel just right. The weight of the ball is absolutely perfect and these machines work exactly the way they would if you could find one of them in real life. It may seem strange to some that I'm gushing over a Wii game that games the physics of pinball right, but this is one of those things that happens so seldom that when somebody does do it right they require a little extra attention for their feat.

Crave could have gone the easy way out and just put all the games in one quick and easy menu system, but instead they opted to recreate a classic arcade (complete with snot-nosed kids and rockin' music) for you to walk around in. The atmosphere is nice, but the truth is that you'll spend most of your time playing one of the ten pinball machines.

The controls are simple, you use the "B" button on the Wii's remote to flick the right flipper and you use the "Z" button on the nunchuk to work the left flipper. Outside of that all you will need to know is how to pull the plunger (you use the analog stick on the nunchuk) and how to "tilt" the table (shake your Wii remote). While I like this set up, I simply don't understand why this game requires both the remote and the nunchuk. Considering the lack of buttons, it would have made sense to offer a remote-only control scheme, in turn making the multiplayer modes easier to manage.

Thankfully the lack of control schemes is the only glaring problem with this game. Pinball Hall of Fame does a lot right, especially when it comes to the single player challenges and multiplayer modes. While you might not think that pinball can be a competitive multiplayer experience, Pinball Hall of Fame does a good job to try and change your mind with the tournament mode. The good news is that no matter how many people you play with you will only need one Wii remote (and nunchuk). The tournament probably won't stop you from four-player Smash Bros. sessions, but it can be a lot of fun if you're around a bunch of old school pinball fans.

On top of the multiplayer mode are the single player challenges, which have you trying to earn specific achievement to unlock a whole bevy of extras. Some of the challenges are easy, but if you're the kind of person that wants to do everything in a game, then completing all of these tasks could take you a good long time ... not that you won't have a lot of fun doing it.

The game's presentation is also spot-on. Pinball Hall of Fame offers quite a few camera angles, including everything from one that travels alongside the ball to one that shows the entire machine. While some of the camera angles seemed unnecessary, you should have no problem finding a look that works for you.

The truth is that these days a pinball video game is a hard sell, no matter how good the product is. The kids of today aren't looking to be taught the ins and outs of classic pinball machines, they want to shoot stuff or drive a go kart. But maybe there's enough room on the Wii to have both kinds of games, especially when Pinball Hall of Fame is so good. It's hard to imagine a better pinball game than this, but I challenge Crave to top this with whatever they have in store for us next. Pinball Hall of Fame is a worthwhile addition to any Wii library, and when it comes right down to it that's just about the best thing you can say about a $30 pinball game.

SUMMARY: You may think I'm crazy, but Pinball Hall of Fame: The William Collection is easily one of the best games on the Wii. This game not only recreates ten of the best pinball machines of all time, but it also offers some of the best pinball physics around. Pinball Hall of Fame is not to be missed!

Sam & Max 204: Chariots of the Dog (PC) Review

Mon, 12 May 2008 00:30:14 +0000

Sam & Max 204: Chariots of the Dog

Publisher: Telltale Games, GameTap
Developer: Telltale Games, GameTap
Genre: Point & Click Adventure
System: PC
Written By: Cyril Lachel

Grade: 9.0

What would you say if I told you that this newest episode of Sam & Max, Chariots of the Dogs, would answer some of the biggest questions of all time? I'm talking about the biggies, like how the universe was created, what came first - the chicken or the egg, and what kind of woman would find Max attractive. Well, not only do you get answers to all of these burning questions, but you also get one of the greatest Sam & Max episodes of all time.

I honestly didn't think it could get much better than episode 203, Night of the Raving Dead, but somehow Telltale Games have been able to give us one of the funniest, craziest, most time travelingest games ever made. Move over Bill and Ted, take a hike Marty McFly, the only time travelers would talking about are Sam and Max, freelance police.

It all starts when Sam, Max and Flint Paper (the next door neighbor) decide to investigate why Bosco has been missing for so long. After breaking into Bosco's Inconvenience (and finally showing us what the high-security bathroom looks like) Sam & Max find themselves being abducted by aliens. That's right aliens. And when I say "Aliens" I mean Mexicans. But not just Mexicans ... but time traveling Mexican aliens (with a spaceship and everything). Yes, I know it's outlandish, but let's not forget that just one episode ago we were using Frankenstein to defeat vampires and zombies.

From here on out I could go into all kinds of details about the plot of the game, but the truth is that nobody that is going to play Chariots of the Dogs is going to want the storyline spoiled for them. Needless to say, this Sam & Max adventure deals with you going into the future, into the past and everywhere in between. No joke. You'll get whiplash from going into the far off future and then seeing what it was like before the universe was created. You'll meet familiar faces along the way and go back to some of the best moments from Sam & Max's first season. This game has it all.

But then, it's really hard to mess up a story about time traveling. There's just something instinctively awesome about knowing that with every step you take you're probably changing the future. This type of story is also rife with self referential comments and jokes about the future and past. And best of all, you don't mind going to places you've been to in past games, since this time around they are either in the future or past and are full of weird changes. I love time travel as a gimmick; it's a shame that more video games aren't using this idea.

Outside of the story everything is pretty much the same. The game controls just like the other ten games in the series, you point (with your mouse) where you want to go and click on items to interact with them. Like the other games this season you will be able to make Sam sprint around the level and there are also helpful hints that pop up when you are lost and can't figure out one of the puzzles. It's as if Telltale Games has thought of everything when it comes to polishing up the way Sam & Max controls.

Like the controls, the graphics are also basically the same. That's not a bad thing by any means; the graphics (especially this season) have been especially good. They aren't going to blow you away with their polygon crunching power, but they could look a lot worse considering the short amount of time it takes to make one of these episodes. Either way, I can't imagine any fan of this type of graphic adventure genre being too disappointed with the visuals in this game.

Forget the visuals for a moment, the real star of this game is the audio. It's not just the fantastic score that accompanies every part of the game, it's not just the great voice acting (which is at the top of its game in this title) ... the real star this time around is the song and dance number. Of course, for Sam & Max fans that shouldn't come as a surprise, the song and dance numbers in these games are always spectacular.

To say that this is another excellent episode of Sam & Max would be to undersell just how good this game actually is. This is easily the best episode this season, and possibly even better than the best of last season, too. Next month's episode, What's New, Beelzebub, has a lot to live up to after this episode. Chariots of the Dogs may have a silly name, but it's easily one of the best two hours I have ever spent in front of a video game.

SUMMARY: Chariots of the Dogs is great on so many levels, from its fantastic time traveling plotline to all of its great pop-culture references. But the reason to play this Sam & Max episode is not to laugh at the Back to the Future jokes or Bosco as a cow, instead the reason you want to play this game is because it will conclusively tell us which came first - the chicken or the egg!

Sam & Max 203: Night of the Raving Dead (PC) Review

Mon, 12 May 2008 00:28:17 +0000

Sam & Max 203: Night of the Raving Dead

Publisher: Telltale Games, GameTap
Developer: Telltale Games, GameTap
Genre: Point & Click Adventure
System: PC
Written By: Cyril Lachel

Grade: 8.5

Month after month Telltale Games proves that Sam & Max are the funniest game characters working today. Even their worst adventures are infinitively more enjoyable than the other so-called comedy games. However, as good as the franchise is, I just haven't been all that excited about this second season. Don't get me wrong, I'm still having a great time playing through these episodes and I'm excited to see where it takes us, but part of me just feels like there's something missing.

Thankfully that's not the case with Sam & Max's third episode of the season, Night of the Raving Dead. So far this season our favorite furry freelance crime fighters have traveled to the Bermuda Triangle and fought Santa at the North Pole, so it probably shouldn't surprise you that this episode takes place in a creepy German castle. How this connects together I'm not sure, but it definitely seems like every episode has our heroes going to another extreme.

Night of the Raving Dead is told almost entirely through flashback, which is a storytelling device brand new to the Sam & Max universe. The game starts out with both Sam and Max tied up to a big spike machine that is about to impale our heroes with dozens of sharp knives. Yikes! Thankfully Sam has enough time to tell the harrowing story of how they ended up in such a sticky situation.

It all started with a simple zombie invasion. Out of the blue Sam and Max's peaceful block was being invaded by slow moving, bad smelling, hard to understand zombies. What's worse, Bosco is missing, Stinky's Diner has run out of food, Sybill broke up with the big stone head of Abe Lincoln ... oh the humanity! After some investigating our heroes realize that the answer lies in Stuttgart, Germany. After a short trip to Eastern Europe, our heroes are introduced to a creepy metrosexual vampire named Jurgen. Without spoiling too much of the plot, the rest of the adventure involves you fighting some zombies, making fun of Resident Evil and ultimately slaying any well articulated vampire that gets in your way of saving the world.

Night of the Raving Dead is by far the shortest episode of Sam & Max to date, however, don't confuse that with its overall quality. Thanks to the introduction of Jurgen, the return of some long-forgotten friends and a few sharp pop-culture jokes, this Sam & Max adventure is without a doubt the best episode so far this season. Not only that, but the story actually makes me appreciate the groundwork that was being paved in the first two episodes, Night of the Raving Dead connects it all together in what appears to be the series' overarching storyline.

After playing this episode I realized what it was about the first two episodes that disappointed me. It wasn't that those episodes were bad; they were just so random that it felt out of place. It's strange to go from ridding the world of hypnotic dolls to trying to kill Santa Claus. But this episode connects it all together. There are elements in this episode that are so good that I'm actually starting to believe that this season could be even better than the last.

Of course, the one thing that doesn't change is the control scheme. Basically you point at an object and click your mouse button to interactive with it; it's no different from all of the other graphic adventures that have flooded the computer space for the last thirty years. But while the basic mechanics are the same, Telltale Games has been busy at making the game more accessible. For example, this season Telltale Games decided to include a tutorial level, which gets you up to speed with how the game plays. You will also be able to the hints on, just in case you get frustrated with a certain puzzle and just want to move on. And best of all, Sam can finally run from place to place, which is accomplished by double tapping the mouse button. All of these improvements add something to the value of the game; it's nice to see the company adding to what was already a streamlined series.

When it comes right down to it, it's the humorous stories that keep people engaged in Sam & Max, not the diverse gameplay and amazing controls. That's not to say you don't do anything new (there is a fun Paperboy-inspired mini-game), but if you've played any of the eight episodes before Night of the Raving Dead then you will feel right at home. Then again, what's cool is how the writers and developers are playing off what you expect, so they are constantly able to wow you with funny plot twists and references that go back to episode 2 of the first season.

Night of the Raving Dead works because of the storyline, which is easily one of my favorite scripts and looks to be setting up the final two explosive episodes of this season. If you're been following Sam and Max's exploits over the last eight episodes then you will definitely want to check out this entry, but I would recommend that even those who have never played a point-and-click adventure check out this fantastic game. If this Sam & Max episode doesn't have you howling at the moon with laughter then you might want to check your pulse, because I have a hunch you might already be one of the raving dead.

SUMMARY: After a somewhat slow start to the second season, Sam & Max are back with a vengeance. Night of the Raving Dead is easily the best episode of the year, an adventure so good that it rivals some of the greatest episodes of last season. It may be short, but Sam & Max episode 203 is definitely worth your time and money!

Iron Man the real deal

Tue, 06 May 2008 04:43:18 +0000

So How many of you actually saw Ironman this past weekend. God was this a great movie! Although not totally on the comic book storyline the update to the story was a tasteful choice and turned out to be one of the best parts of the movie. Ok so for those that don't really know much about the metal clad warrior here's a little background on Tony Stark.

Info from The Marvel Directory

Real name: Anthony "Tony" Stark
Occupation: Inventor, Industrialist
Identity: Secret
Legal status: Citizen of the United States with no criminal record
Place of birth: Long Island, New York
Marital Status: Single
Known Relatives: Howard (father, deceased), Maria (mother, deceased), Morgan (cousin)
Group affiliation: Avengers
Base of operations: Seattle, Washington
First appearance: TALES OF SUSPENSE #39

History: Anthony Stark, son of industrialist Howard Stark, demonstrated his mechanical aptitude and inventive genius at a very early age, enrolling in college electrical engineering program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology at the age of 15. When he was 21, he inherited his father's business, Stark Industries, and within a few years turned it into a multi million-dollar industry complex whose chief contracts were for weaponry and munitions for the U.S. government.

Stark was sent to Vietnam to supervise a field test for one of his transistorized weapons. While he was there Stark trip on a booby trap and a piece of shrapnel was lodged in his chest. The gravely injured Stark was taken captive by the Communist leader Wong-Chu, and was informed that within a week the shrapnel would penetrate his heart and kill them. Wong-Chu offered Stark at deal: if he built the Communist a powerful weapon, want to allow Stark to undergo an operation to save his life. Stark agreed, hoping to gain time and access to tools.

Stark was given access to a small laboratory in communist territory with another captive, the renowned Oriental physicist Professor Ho Yinsen. With the incense help Stark designed and built an electrically powered suit of armor and equipped with heavy offensive weaponry. The armor also contained pacemaker like device which enables Stark's heart to keep beating after the shrapnel entered it. Donning the suit, Stark connected it to its power source, an electrical generator. Lying on a table Stark was helpless until the suit was fully charged. His captor, Wong-Chu, sensed something was amiss and came to investigate with armed men. Realizing he was sacrificing his life, Professor Ho Yinsen went out to confront Wong-Chu, to give Stark the extra time he needed to charge the armored suit fully. As the Iron Man Stark avenged Yinsens death and scattered Wong Chu's guerrilla troops. Then, still clad in his armor, which was necessary to keep his heart beating, stark made his way to the jungle, trying to escape communist territory.

After making it back to the United States, Stark redesigned his chest plate, which contained a pacemaker like device, reducing the chest plates size and wait so he could wear it under his normal clothing. Required to wear the armor is just played at all times to keep his heart beating, Stark decided to put to rest of the armor to regular use as well. After redesigning the entire armored suit to match the letter chest plate, Starks made the existence of the suit public.

Read more info about Stark from The Marvel Directory

GTA 4 Freezing Problem Fix!

Sun, 04 May 2008 02:47:36 +0000

So I have a problem with the PS3 version of GTA 4 and when you start up the game it sometimes goes to a endless loading screen, heres ways around this problem till they actually fix the problem:

Step 1: Turn on PS3

Step 2: Sign OUT of PSN

Step 3: Start GTA IV

Step 4: Play GTA IV (Offline)

ON-LINE (without it freezing seconds after you select to sign in)

Step 5: Start Multiplayer

Step 6: Sign in THROUGH GTA IV

Step 7: CONTINUE TO WALK TILL YOU SEE THE GAME OPTIONS FOR MULTIPLAYER!!!!!<---very important, if you dont it will freeze again)

Step 8: ENJOY!

PS: You can leave the multiplayer and still be loged into the PSN.

Happy Birthday DG!!!

Thu, 01 May 2008 03:20:42 +0000

Hey everybody, we had some issues with the board and had to recover from our last backup. Unfortunatly some folks may have missed the post that I had about Defunct Gamer's Birthday on April 26. Yeah I clowned him and called him "An Offical Old Dude." And yes he's gonna find that the youg dudes are gonna start calling him sir and wanting to hold the door, and get his game controller for him...

Like I can really talk, since I have him by ten years call me Mr. Krochtey old dude!

Anyway, as I said before I'm glad DG made it and may he have many more B-day's to come!

Happy B-Day!!!

Tournament Directors Needed

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 03:33:17 +0000

Hey AGZ'ers we are looking for guys and gals that would be interested in hosting tournaments online. We really want to get our online gaming going and need your help to get it there. The new website if designed for networking and the board is here for you to use so let get busy. Here's what we are looking for.:

Dedicated Gamers - We need people that are dedicated to gaming. If you only play once a week then don't even...
Good Writers - Ok we need you to be able to tell what happened on tournament and gamernights.

That's it! Pretty easy huh? If you want to have a great group of people to play with online all the time then become a tounament director and start getting your friends in here so we can have some fun. Oh yeah did I mention that ZTD (Zone Tournament Directors) will get some of the exclusive deals that only come to AGZ.

Well you won't find those out now. Join and we will give you a hint. Free Games That's all I'm saying.

Reply back and I'll message you.

GTA IV Launch Tournament Sunday May 4th 10PM CST

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 03:23:45 +0000

Hey I'm know you didn't think we were going to just let this launch go by and not do anything. So lets have an online launch party. The Rockstar Gods did not shine on my this time so like everyone else I have to either go get my copy this evening ...not doing that or pick it up tomorrow (Special Edition) when best buy opens.

This coming Sunday@ 10:00PM sounds like a plan. We should all join in online and get our GTA IV on. The sign up list is below the game types so just reply that you are going to play and make sure I'm on your friends list.

Also we are looking for tournament directors to run online tournaments. So let us know if you are interested.

Here are the modes for those who don't know already
Hangman's NOOSE
Car Jack City
Bomb da Base
Bomb da Base II
Mafia Work
Team Mafia Work
Deathmatch
Team Deathmatch
Turf War
Cops n Crooks
Race
GTA Race
Deal Breaker
Free Mode

Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 22:46:16 +0000

Um I don't get it. Here's the tag line "For the first time ever Scorpion, Sub-Zero and the Mortal Kombat warriors battle with Batman, Superman and other popular DC Universe Super Heroes. "

Really?? Scorpion vs Superman..."Get over here!" Then the spear bounces off Superman's chest. Unless they have been handed some real extra stuff Mortal Kombat charcters are not going to be able to hang with Superman. Hell Batman can't hang with Superman in a fight. The only thing that makes any sense about this game would be that Superman can't defend himself against magic.

Ok now with all that said I'm lovin the trailer and that fight between Batman (former Ninja sort of) and Sub zero looked interesting and really painful. Check out the trailer and let me know your thoughts on this one.

GTA IV PS3 or XBOX360 Which One???

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 02:59:44 +0000

Ok so what I've heard is the Xbox 360 is going to have additional content, and nothing has been confirmed for the PS3. So the question is which one to get? The online play promises to be better on the 360 so what reason would I have for getting GTA IV for PS3 and struggling on the Playstation Network to get a lag free game. I don't know and I'm rushing to make this post as I'm watching the political debate. I'll come back to this one in a few.

Stephen King Defends Video Games

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 01:50:44 +0000

Hey I was checking out an article today about Stephen King defending the honor of video games, ultimately stating that it's really up to parents to monitor what thier kids play, instead of the spooky ugly government dudes (yeah, I said it), in suits deciding what people should do as if they were not responsible for themselves and their kids. I really liked what he had to say...

This is what he said on Reuters, Just click on the quote and you can read the full article:

Thanks to Reuters for the article!

"What really makes me insane is how eager politicians are to use the pop culture as a whipping boy. It's easy for them, even sort of fun, because the pop-cult always hollers nice and loud. Also, it allows legislators to ignore the elephants in the living room,"

"Parents need to have the guts to forbid material they find objectionable ... and then explain why it's being forbidden,"

Because of his success as a horror novelist and director, I'm not really sure if this statement won't be twisted up and used for fuel-for-fire by someone or a group of people that just have it out for the video game industry.

Thoughts anybody?

BASE Foundation Guitar Hero Tourney - Sponsor: Red Octane

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 02:17:31 +0000

BASE Rocks for Youth

Link for BASE Foundation Contest: BASE

Brighton Area Schools Educational Foundation is proud to present an all age concert event��

Featuring �..The Hard Lessons with special guests: Apathetic Critic, Exit 58 and Second Nature

When: Saturday, April 26, 2008 Doors open at 6:00pm
Where: The Annex, 400 E. Grand River, Brighton (inside the
1st United Methodist Church)
*Tickets: $7.00 ADVANCE / $10.00 AT THE DOOR/
$15.00 BOTH EVENTS

*Advance tickets available online @ fusionshows.bigcartel.com, Art Ventures in downtown Brighton and at Discs & Tapes in downtown Howell.

Also Featuring�..Guitar Hero Tournament (XBox360)

Time: 3:00pm � 6:00pm
Ages: 12-18 years old
Cost: $5.00 (Pre-registration mandatory, must be received
by Friday, April 11th)
Spectator Cost: $2.00 AT THE DOOR (Under 12 yrs. Must be
Accompanied by Adult)

**Prizes will be awarded & Refreshments will be available to purchase**
Click Here For Guitar Hero Tournament Entry Form
Click Here for Rules & Regulations

Rock Band Store

Sun, 30 Mar 2008 02:59:03 +0000

Has anybody checked out the RockBand store yet? You can buy just about everything in order to become a true Rock Star in your own world. Please keep in mind that portions of the site are a portals for other businesses offering services such as, musical instruments , clothing, transportation, and even getting yourself styled up. Just know that the prices for these wonderful services are not for the faint of heart.

I also heard that Harmonix will have a menu driven type "I-Tunes" download option from within the game, since the downloadable content via Xbox live and the Playstation Stores appear to be somewhat unmanageable.

I finally got a chance to see a custom stage setup in a friend's basement and it was pretty nice. Some of the stuff he had setup like his own custom lighting and (fake) soundboard, posters etc. I almost flet like I was in Missisppi Nights (St. Louis folks know what I'm talkin' about)...and yes he had his own personal fog machine.

Another reason to buy the game, I say. I should be getting the rest of my stuff for RockBand later this week. I'll keep you posted.

M.

Speed Racer Lives!

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 03:12:59 +0000

Not sure how many of you out there remember the original Speed Racer. I gotta say that I was happy to hear that a movie was coming out about the series. The movie seems to Fast and the Furious feel to it (Tokyo Drift), rockin a bit of anime influence. I really hope this movie is a good one. I just wanna know who is going to play the role of Ace Ducey, and how much money did they pay the monkey?

Here is the trailer:

Speed Racer The Movie

Supreme Commander

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 02:39:16 +0000

Was anybody out there salivating about the new release of Supreme Commander? The game was scheduled to come out on the 360 platform and has been pushed off until sometime later this summer. Hard feelings? Have you ever played it? Think it sucks?

M.

Will game discs disappear?

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 03:19:45 +0000

Today, I saw an article regarding there being no fear of Console/PC Video Game discs disappearing just as the CD and DVD movies that are now offered by the Music and Movie Industries who now offer their wares online. Yet we all see that this is somewhat contrary to what we know that could happen. We can download some video game content via Xbox Live, Nintendo, etc.
Are the folks that wrote this article confused or what? Unless the ESRB Rules completely lock everything down in the future, I would love for "Full Feature Games", to be available for download to our consoles instead of walking into stores and waiting in line for hours. Of course, I do understand that a lot of people out there do enjoy the competition of, "Getting there First", after all we ARE gamers.
Yes, it would put some pressure on the console manufacturers to slap so bigger hard drives in the units, and thinking about upgrades. I personally have not checked the hard-drive space limitations for the 360by adding �unauthorized-upgrades�. (If there are any, remember this IS Microsoft, and you wont find out easily)
Honestly, I think that an online download for ALL games, should be offered only after the first week of the initial launch if it is being introduced for an in-store-pick-up. Are they worried about piracy issues? Most probably. (My opinion)
So what I am really looking for here are you comments. So let me know what you're thinking.

M.

btw - here is the article that I read:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23713154/

Your Xbox Isn't Going to Turn You Gay

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:26:46 +0000

Hey Gang.
This is one of those forum threads where I write a brief paragraph telling you why you should click the link and go to Defunct Games. Sorry in advance.

Okay, now that I got that out of the way, here is why you should go to Defunct Games today: After spending the last week looking over a bunch of the Xbox 360 forums/message boards, I finally have something to say about people's reaction to Bully: Scholarship Edition. Specifically people's reaction to the "Over the Rainbow" achievement, which involves you getting to first base with a number of gay teenage boys.

As you might expect, this achievement was met with some backlash. In "Your Xbox Isn't Going to Turn You Gay," I take a look at each of the arguments against the achievement and debunk them. I think it sucks that I have to write a story defending the idea of homosexuality in games (even when it's an option and not required to complete the game), but that's the world we live in. At the same time, I would argue that Rockstar Games is doing the right thing by including this, if only so that we can start to get used to this kind of content in modern games.

Below is the link to the article, I hope that you'll check out the article and see where I'm coming from. Some of you may be a little surprised at the comments being made by these gamers, especially when it comes to violence and religion. I would also love to hear any thoughts, even if you disagree. Discourse is a good thing, just as long as it's productive.

Your Xbox Isn't Going to Turn You Gay

Culdcept SAGA (Xbox 360) Review

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 00:28:09 +0000

Culdcept SAGA

Publisher: Namco Bandai Games America
Developer: Omiya Soft/Jameswork
Genre: Adventure/Card Battle
System: Xbox 360
Written By: Cyril Lachel

Grade: 8.0

Culdcept SAGA is the type of game that will frustrate you, send you intro fits of rage and make you cry ... and that's all before you beat the first level. With its steep learning curve, slow-paced action and mind-numbingly complex set of rules, Culdcept SAGA is not going to appeal to everybody. But if you're a fan of slow moving board games or card-based battles, then this brand new game from Namco Bandai may be worth checking out.

Culdcept SAGA began its life on the Sega Saturn, which is where it gained a cult following and eventually found its way on the PlayStation, Dreamcast and the PlayStation 2 (not to mention an announced, although unreleased, game for the Nintendo DS). Along the way the gameplay (and the basic look) has stayed the same, which is good since despite its relatively low sales this is one of the most interesting adventure/role-playing games on the market.

Now on the Xbox 360, Culdcept SAGA takes all of the elements that fans of the series have fallen in love with and added a few new wrinkles, not to mention a fun online component and the ability to patch the game when problems arise. While this game is still as intimidating as ever, those who have been intrigued by this strange adventure game can now pick up the most complete version of the game yet, all for a slightly lower than usual price tag (expect to pick this game up for $40 instead of the usual $60).

So what is Culdcept SAGA? In a nutshell it's the combination of Monopoly (the good Parker Brothers Monopoly, not the bad Ma Bell kind) and Magic: The Gathering, a fusion that doesn't sound as delicious as it actually is. Basically the game is played on a small board, each player takes turns throwing a die, traveling around the board, putting down monsters on the various property and fighting for control of the board. At first it's an overly complex mishmash of weird rules and crazy cards. But don't worry, all it takes is a few losses and you'll figure out just what you're doing and how to beat the poor computer up.

But let's not get too far ahead of ourselves; it's important to understand that unless you're a master Cepter, the chances are good that you're going to lose the first few times. Yes this is frustrating, but before long you are starting to figure out the intricacies involved in playing this game. Every time you land on a plot of land you're going to ask yourself if you should lay down a monster card. And if you do, what kind of monster will it be? You will also need to figure out how you want to use your money. Should you pay to upgrade the land (which will give you more points and get you closer to winning), or should you save up the money for when you actually need it? The first few minutes of this game are a chaotic mess that will likely send you into the kind of rage that will make you hate this game. But stick with it, because after you've gotten the hang of the fundamentals, Culdcept SAGA ends up turning into an incredible game that is worth checking out.

For the most part you will notice that I've avoided actually explaining how the game works, and trust me I'm doing that on purpose. While I could spend the next few paragraphs explaining the ins and outs of plotting a successful round of Culdcept SAGA, the truth is that all that's going to do is turn everybody off. It's not that the game isn't fun (because let me tell you, the game is a blast), but this isn't an easy game to explain to those who have never seen it before. And besides, you basically know what you're getting when I compare it to Monopoly and Magic: The Gathering, this is a deep card combat game that requires you to spend a lot of time traveling around a board. Now don't get me wrong, when I say that this game is the combination of those two long-running franchises I'm not playing coy, I'm serious, this game is exactly like you blended those two things together, baked it in the oven and decided to sell it at your local farmer's market. Heck, you even get gold when you pass go (but don't worry, there's no jail you have to worry about).

The battles themselves (when they actually do occur) are your basic card fighting fare. That is, two cards go into battle and each player gets to choose some sort of card that will augment (effect) the card in one way or another. Once both players have done this you can put the control down and watch the cards duke it out. But don't get too excited, because the game's combat visuals leave a lot to be desired. At most you'll see a sword pop up on the screen and take a swing or fire engulf your enemy's card, neither of which is all that exciting of effects.

When it comes to Culdcept SAGA you're going to be putting your control down for more than just card battles, there are long stretches of this game where all you'll do is watch the computer take their turn, summon monsters, earn gold and battle you for land. Unfortunately you aren't able to fast forward all of this, so you're going to spend a lot of time just waiting around for your turn. This gives you the opportunity to catch up with your emails, go make some food, do a crossword puzzle, learn to speak Japanese, watch TV and, if you're anything like me, write a review of Culdcept SAGA.

While I kid Culdcept SAGA, the truth is that this is an incredibly slow-paced game, to the point where that aspect alone is going to turn off a lot of gamers. But I would contend that not every game needs to be a fast-paced action game like Halo 3, sometimes it's just nice to be able to sit back with a game like Culdcept SAGA and not be in a rush to get anything done. The nice thing is that the game will wait for you, so you can literally leave the room when the computer is playing and then come back in whenever you feel like taking a turn. I found myself playing Culdcept SAGA and a portable game at the exact same time, and not once did I feel like I wasn't giving this game enough attention. Like a chess match (or a game of Monopoly, if you want to continue this analogy) you never really have to pay attention to what the other person is doing.

While we're on the subject of things that will surely turn off most gamers, this Xbox 360 Culdcept doesn't look much better than the PlayStation 2 version that came out a few years ago. Obviously there are a few differences, for example it's nice to have full HD support and a widescreen display, but there's no doubt that this game could have looked a lot better than it does. I don't know if the company just wanted to rush it to the new console or just didn't think it would sell well and decided to skimp on the graphical flair, but there's no getting around that this game looks awful. The most dazzling moments of the game happen when you're in combat, and even that doesn't look very good.

With its bad graphics, steep learning curve and long waiting times, you might think that I'm ready to pan Culdcept SAGA. But you would be wrong, because despite all of the negative things I've said about it so far, this really is an exceptional game. This is not the kind of game you fall in love with when you first start playing, it takes a few turns before you start to get the hang of it and call what you're doing "fun". But the more you stick with it the more you'll enjoy it, to the point where once you've completed it you're friends are never going to get you to shut up about your experience. This is a deep experience that only gets deeper as you trudge through the story mode.

The story itself is somewhat interesting (even though the dialog and voice acting is a bit on the cheesy side), but the real meat and potatoes of this game come in the online mode. Once you've played against the computer, compiled a worthwhile card deck and feel like you understand the basics of the Culdcept universe, it's time to go online and test your mettle. Online you can play up to four players at the same time, either as teams, individuals or against computer opponents. While it might seem minor to some people, the addition of the online gameplay is just the thing Culdcept fans have been asking for ever since playing it on the PlayStation 2. It's hard to find friends who are into this kind of game, so being able to play this game online against people who love the game as much as you do is a real godsend. But beware, because just like the single-player game, playing online will require you to actually sit by your TV for a long, long time. There are not short Culdcept matches.

Sadly Culdcept SAGA isn't everything it could have been, it would have been nice if they had added more to this new game (outside of the addition of 200 cards), improved the graphics and made the title just a little more user friendly. But outside of those complaints this is a top-notch adventure game. Just keep in mind that this game is not for everybody, it's takes a certain kind of gamer to look past some of the imperfections and find the pearl in this oyster. Fans of the PlayStation 2 game should definitely pick this up (if for no other reason than the online modes), but everybody else may want to check out the demo before leaping head first into this unusual, complex and exciting adventure game.

SUMMARY: Culdcept SAGA is not for everybody. This is a slow-paced game with ugly graphics, a steep learning curve, and a terrible story line. Yet despite all of those imperfections, this is one adventure game that I will wholeheartedly endorse ... just as long as you're the kind of gamer that can handle it.

Commanders: Attack of the Genos (XBLA) Review

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 00:26:42 +0000

Commanders: Attack of the Genos

Publisher: Sierra Online
Developer: Southbend Interactive
Genre: Turn-Based Strategy
System: Xbox Live Arcade
Written By: Cyril Lachel

Grade: 8.0

As I begin my review of Commanders I'm reminded of something Clint Worley (producers of Field Commander for the PSP) said when defending himself against a barrage of negative comments that connected his game with the popular Advance Wars series. He said: "We are being compared directly to one of the best turn-based strategy titles made on the portable market. Our goal was to offer an experience on the PSP that isn�t available."

In a lot of ways Sierra's newest turn-based strategy game, Commanders: Attack of the Genos, is suffering from the same problem as Field Commander. Like Sony's portable game, Commanders is a straight forward rip-off of Advance Wars. Not that Advance Wars owns the rights to this style of action, but given the success of that series it's hard to look at similar games as anything other than a big rip-off of Nintendo's strategy series. But is that really a problem? Up until now the Xbox Live Arcade was without a game like this, so I welcome an Advance Wars rip-off ... assuming it's as good as Nintendo's series (or at least as good as Sony's Field Commander).

The good news is that Commanders is indeed a solid strategy game. Unfortunately it doesn't take any major chances or evolve the genre in any significant way, but it does what it sets out to do and gives you a great deal of action for a mere ten dollars. If you're the kind of guy who buys Nintendo's portable systems just for your Advance Wars fix then you probably aren't going to be all that interested in this shameless rip-off, but Commanders is an inexpensive way to check out a genre that hasn't received a lot of play on the Xbox 360.

Commanders: Attack of the Genos has a crazy storyline set in a fictional turn of the 20th century world where a genetically enhanced race of humans (the Genos) have founded their own country. Thanks to a cold war between these two groups, the humans and the Genos have built up their militaries and are now ready to steam roll over the other side. This story is told (and concluded) over a 15 level single-player story mode, which will feature all sorts of punny lines and plenty of insight about real world wars. At its core it is a science fiction game, so expect a heavy dose of cautionary warnings about the evils of nuclear power, spending all your money on wars and all the other cliches that tend to be brought up in these kinds of games.

What's even more interesting than the story is the look of the game, which is a fusion of low budget science fiction movies from the 1950s and a cool art deco style that looks like it comes from the early 20th century. Not only does this cool visual story permeate through your vehicles (which include airplanes, tanks, small soldiers and more), but it also influences the look of the characters and the architecture seen in the game. While it's certainly not everybody's taste, the game's look is one of the very few things that manages to differentiate itself with that Nintendo franchise we've brought up several times already.

The action in Commanders is pretty standard stuff; the two (or more) sides will each take turns moving their characters around a large map trying to capture buildings, locate the enemy forces and mop the rest of the map with your opponents. Obviously this is easier said than done. You will quickly discover that each of the different characters/vehicles can only move so far every turn, so you'll have to decide where it's safe to move them and plan out your attacks a few steps in advance. What's more, you're also going to have to deal with the fog of war and other strategy game mainstays. Add all this together and you have a strategy game that is neither too easy nor too hard, a balance that every game in this genre strives for.

The vehicles themselves aren't all that spectacular. For the most part you're going to be dealing with a lot of standard vehicles, the kinds of vehicles you've seen in other games of this type. Like all Advance War-style games, Commanders requires you to pay attention to what vehicles are better against your enemy's forces and what they are weak to, if you don't pay close attention to how far your opponent can move and what he's attacking you with then you'll never have a chance of winning this battle.

But it won't be just your usual tanks, soldiers and airplanes taking down the enemy forces. On top of those standard units you will also be in control of a commander unit, an unusual craft (it looks like the machines in War of the Worlds, only with four legs instead of three) that is not only strong, but also allows you to power-up your army and potentially change the momentum of the war. Depending on which commander you choose to take into battle, you will be able to give your soldiers two turns in a row, make them invincible for one turn or send scores of missiles down towards any nearby enemies. These different abilities can mean the difference between winning and losing, so it's vitally important that you keep track of what your commander can do and when they can do it.

While the fifteen level story may not sound like much, this mode can easily take you more than ten hours to beat. Obviously this all comes down to how good you are at these kinds of games, but the average person will spend close to an hour trying to beat a number of these lengthy levels. On top of the basic story mode you will also get an advanced story, which adds a lot of challenge to the standard levels. And that's not all, you will also get a series of throw-away levels, levels that are in no way connected to the story mode but are there for you to jump into if you're just looking for a fun battle against the computer. Between these three modes there's definitely more than enough content to warrant the $10 price tag.

When you're not spending your time battling the computer, you can jump online to check out the various multiplayer modes. For the most part this Xbox Live section has a barebones look and feel, but if you're looking for a fun multiplayer match (which allows you to play against up to three other people at the same time) this should get the job done. What I was impressed with was how much faster everything moved online, it's as if the developers realized that the people playing online are not going to want these matches to take up the entire afternoon and decided to speed everything up. That was a good decision, as far as I'm concerned.

Unfortunately there are a few problems with the game that I wished were ironed out before the game was uploaded to the Xbox Live Marketplace. For one thing the way the camera moves can sometimes be a bit jarring, every time you or the enemy attacks the camera will pan around the level and move in weird ways. When you're battling only one or two things it's not that noticeable, but once you're locked in a war against a half dozen vehicles it'll start to give you the uneasy feeling you get when you're on a boat or about to watch a Jennifer Lopez movie. For the most part this isn't that big of a deal, but it would have been nice if somebody would have noticed this before it went gold.

Another thing that bugs me is the leveling up system. As each of the individual vehicles attacks they will gain experience, until ultimately they level up. When they do this they will regain all of their health and become a little stronger. Don't get me wrong, I love the idea of leveling up the individual vehicles, but it would have been nice if these characters were given a different look, a new weapon or something noteworthy. That alone would have been a great way to separate this game from that other franchise it's so easy to compare it to.

The graphics in Commanders are good, but they aren't going to knock your socks off or anything. The different units are generally good looking and, most importantly, they look different at a distance. The backgrounds are a bit lackluster, but this type of game has never been a graphical power house. It's nice to see this style of game in a 3D setting, even if we've already seen a lot of these effects in Field Commander. When it comes right down to it the graphics look good on high def TV set and everything explodes real good. Although you won't notice it at first, the game's low budget sci-fi look manages to pay off in good ways towards the end of the game. All in all this is a solid looking strategy game.

What it ultimately comes down to is what kind of gamer you are. If you've never played the Advance Wars games before but have been intrigued by them, then Commanders is worth all ten of those dollars. However, if you're the kind of guy who has never gotten into this type of game, then maybe you should stick with other game. Fans of Advance Wars may not find anything new or original in this game, but Commanders is a solid game that is unlike anything else on the Xbox Live Arcade. Here's hoping that Commanders 2 tries harder to differentiate itself from the other titles in the genre.

SUMMARY: Unfortunately Commanders: Attack of the Genos doesn't take any major chances or evolve the genre in any significant way, but it does what it sets out to do and gives you a great deal of action for a mere ten dollars.

Boogie Bunnies (XBLA) Review

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 00:25:18 +0000

Boogie Bunnies

Publisher: Sierra Online
Developer: Artech Studios
Genre: Puzzle
System: Xbox Live Arcade
Written By: Cyril Lachel

Grade: 6.5

Beware: Boogie Bunnies, the new action/puzzle game from Sierra Online, is one of the most painfully adorable games of all time. This is the kind of game that is made to just melt your heart, the kind of game that will make your girlfriend "ooh" and "ahh" while you attempt to earn achievements. I say this at the beginning of the review because I know that there are plenty of gamers out there who would rather not touch anything that looks like it's for babies. Boogie Bunnies is so over-the-top cute that it could potentially turn you off of all games in the future, no matter what company makes them or what system they are on.

But if you're able to get past the excessive cuteness and the annoying bunny rabbits, then you will find that Boogie Bunnies isn't a half bad action game. This ten dollar Xbox Live Arcade game doesn't exactly cover any new ground, but it's enjoyable enough to keep casuals gamers busy until the next best thing comes out. While it's true that this game is littered with questionable design decisions, part of me feels like this game would have been a lot better served without the non-stop Teletubbies-style assault on my poor eyes.

In a lot of ways Boogie Bunnies feels like a variation on Taito's classic puzzler, Puzzle Bobble (also known as Bust-A-Move). Except in this game you aren't trying to match bubbles, instead in Boogie Bunnies you are in charge of tossing colored bunny rabbits towards a line of dancing boogie bunnies. The object of this game (like Puzzle Bobble and so many other puzzle games) is to match up three or more bunnies; once you've done that you will erase a group of bunnies and potentially create a chain reaction of matched bunnies.

At the beginning of each round there are several parallel lines of dancing bunnies. You are just one bunny looking at this line-up of colored bunnies, so it's up to you to line up your shot and match as many of the bunnies as possible. But you better be quick, because every few seconds the bunnies will get a little closer, until they get so close to the side that they start to fall in a small lake, big cavern or whatever else separates you from the line of dancing rabbits. Once the bunnies are starting to fall in you know you're in trouble, lose too many of these rabbits and it's game over for you.

This basic premise (throw a bunny, match a bunny, clear the board of bunnies) is repeated numerous times over the course of the game. You'll start in the forest, but eventually you'll work your way to beach, snowy mountains and city streets. But don't get too excited, the action doesn't actually change when you go from level to level.

The biggest problem with a game like this isn't that it's cute, that in a lot of ways is completely beside the point. My issue is that there's not much to the game, the basic gameplay is repeated level after level, which gets old quickly. The gameplay itself is as barebones as you get, the most you are capable of doing is moving around a small chunk of land and throwing yourself into the line of dancing bunny rabbits. This gameplay mechanic isn't exactly the most inspired thing you will ever see, and in a lot of ways you'll feel like you've seen everything there is to see only seconds after you turn on the game.

Oddly enough there are a few different ways to play the game, including an arcade mode, classic mode and an endless mode. The arcade and classic modes are practically identical, which makes me wonder why Artech Studios decided to split them up in the first place. On the other hand, the endless mode is cool ... if all you want to do is stay in one location throwing bunnies trying to earn a new score. Either way, these modes aren't very original and certainly won't change the way you look at the game. Unfortunately neither will the multiplayer modes, which we are better off not talking about.

The graphics and sound are perfectly acceptable, they are neither good nor bad, they simply exist as cute cartoon-like bunny rabbits doing ridiculous (and monotonous) dance routines for no reason at all. This is the kind of thing that will appeal to a younger gamer, even though the core gameplay will no doubt put them right to sleep. In other words, the graphics and sound are definitely not the problem with this shallow action game.

But despite my better judgment, there's just something I like about this game. Perhaps it's the fact that games are inherently entertaining, so no matter how disappointing something is, we still want to give it the benefit of the doubt and enjoy it. But part of me kept coming back wanting more, if only so that I could better my score and beat that annoying single-player campaign. There's nothing grand or deep about Boogie Bunnies, but if you're looking for a lighthearted action game starring a bunch of cute little bunnies, then you could do a whole lot worse than this game. This is worth a look, but beware that this is one of the cutest games currently available on the Xbox Live Arcade.

SUMMARY: Boogie Bunnies is cute, exciting and a lot of fun ... for a few minutes. Unfortunately the shallow gameplay and boring levels keep this adorable game from being more than a silly time waster. This is yet another very average game on the Xbox Live Arcade.

The Club (Xbox 360) Review

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 00:23:22 +0000

The Club

Publisher: Sega
Developer: Bizarre Creations
Genre: Action
System: Xbox 360
Written By: Cyril Lachel

Grade: 7.5

If you were to hear me talk for any amount of time you would think that I hate Sega. You'll hear me curse up and down about this once-mighty video game company; it will be an ugly mess of angry words, betrayed feelings and terrible games. Oh those terrible games. But believe it or not, I don't hate Sega; I've been a huge supporter of the company since I first hooked up my Sega Master System. I don't hate Sega; instead I'm just frustrated by their surprising inability to make great games. While Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft and all of their third parties are churning out hit after hit, Sega can't seem to get their act together, and it's really bumming this long-time Sega-phile out.

But lately things have started to look up. Within the last six months Sega has managed to release a solid Virtual Fighter 5 port for the Xbox 360, offer up a competent sequel to NiGHTS into Dreams, and reminded us why Sega Rally was so damn cool all those years ago. As far as I'm concerned Sega is on a roll, those three games alone make up for my time with Alien Syndrome (but just barely). But all of those games came out last year, would Sega's 2008 line-up be as good as Virtua Fighter, Crush and NiGHTS? If The Club is any indication then Sega is a company worth watching this year.

If I were to say that The Club is nothing more than Project Gotham Racing meets Gears of War you would think I was insane. On the surface there's nothing in either of those two games to connect this weird analogy. But rest assured; all it takes is one small play session to see that there is no better way to describe this exciting, arcade-style action game. While the combination may sound weird, in practice it makes for the best third-person shooter Sega has made in years.

The Club was developed by Bizarre Creations, the team that is best known for their Project Gotham Racing and Metropolis Street Racing franchises. In a lot of ways The Club is a huge departure from what we've come to expect from this company, but at the same time Bizarre Creations has managed to take some of the best elements from their racing games and combine them with the twitch mechanics of a Gears or War-style action game. The result is definitely unique, but the game is ultimately undermined by its shallow game modes and repetitive gameplay.

Unlike most modern shooters, The Club isn't trying to tell some epic story or change the way you think about third-person action games. Instead this game is about old school action, sort of like an on-rails shooting range where you have to shoot them before they shoot you. This game isn't about ducking behind protective objects in order to methodically take out your opponents; instead you're rewarded for rushing through the levels as fast as possible trying to kill as many guys as possible without breaking your combo chain.

The Club's one big gimmick is this combo chain mechanic. The way it works is for each character you take down you will earn a score multiplier, so if you take down five characters in a row each addition enemy will be worth five times their value. Of course, you can't just wait around to increase your score, when you don't kill somebody fast enough your combo chain will start to bleed, so you will either have to kill another bad guy or lose your combo all together. While this mechanic is nothing new, the combo chain timer does give the game a sense of urgency that sets this game apart from the rest of the crowd. This isn't a racing game, but you always feel like you're being pushed to kill as many people and complete the level as fast as you possibly can.

The game is split up into eight different levels, each with six to seven events each (in total there are 49 events to play through). The different levels are nice and diverse; they range from an old rundown warehouse to an ocean liner to the dank prison cells to war-torn city. In these levels you will find a number of different events, each of which will take you to different parts of the level. For example, in the prison cells level you may see a whole part of the prison that is off limits to you in one event, but is open and ready to be explored in the next. That's not to say that you won't be seeing a lot of the same area, but like a racing game, you'll find that the various courses are different even if there are some recycled backgrounds.

Each of the 49 individual events in The Club can be beaten in under five minutes, which gives this game a pick-up-and-play feel that you normally only get with portable games or the stuff on the Xbox Live Arcade. The Club is not the kind of game you pick up and play for hours on end, but if you're looking for an action game you can tackle in short bursts, then this may just be the game for you. Either way, all of these different elements fly into the wind of modern shooter mechanics, which is both alienating and intriguing all at the exact same time.

The main single-player mode in The Club comes in the way of the Tournament, an eight-level sporting event that will have you playing against a cast of seven different sharpshooters. Now don't get me wrong, you aren't actually shooting at these different people, instead what you're doing is comparing the score you get in each of the level's six to seven events and then assigning points for each player. Obviously you want to earn as many points as possible so that you will be able to win the tournament and then move on to the next group of events.

The Club has eight different characters to choose from (six ready from the start, two that you unlock as you play through the single-player tournament), each with a crazy over-the-top look and tons of attitude. For example, one of the character's is Nemo, the scariest fisherman I've ever seen. You will also be introduced to Dragov (the most wanted criminal in Russian history), Finn (a high-stakes gambler who looks a lot like Brad Pitt in Fight Club), and Seager (an extreme sports jerk who is looking for the next big high). Like a fighting game, each of these characters has their strengths and weaknesses, so your choice is about more than just which one is the least obnoxious and annoying.

At first the events seems diverse, but it won't take long before you realize that you're essentially doing the same few game types over and over again in multiple levels. The basic game type is Sprint, which involves you shooting your way through dozens of enemies while searching for the level's exit. There are also a couple of variations on that theme, including a timed mode that makes you rush through the level before time expires.

Oddly enough, that's not the only timed mode found in The Club. Another interesting mode is called Time Attack; it involves you running laps around a level, similar to how a traditional racing game works. As you are running through the course you will need to shoot objects on the wall, kill enemies and pick up stop watch icons in order to extend your time and live to see another crazy lap. Is this mode realistic? Not in the least, there's no reason why you would be running through the level three times in real life, yet as a crazy arcade-style action game it seems to fit in just fine.

Another event is the Survivor and Siege modes, which give you a small chuck of land that you need to stay in until the time runs out. These modes feel the most like the traditional target practice shooting range, you basically stand with your back up to the wall shooting any object that pops up, runs at you, or looks like a threat. If you need life here is usually a small health item found in the level, but it will require you to run out of bounds and get back in before time runs out. Not only is the object to stay alive until time runs out, but you will also want to rack up as many points and combo chains as possible.

Regardless of what kind of event you are playing, The Club's objective is always clear. You want to come out of each of these events with as many points as you can, which means that you're going to have to rerun these courses multiple times so that you can memorize where all the enemies are, find the hidden objects, and get to the exit with a huge combo chain. What's more, you get more points depending on how you kill an enemy, so it's imperative that you try for head shots or environmental kills (gas cans, etc.). It's this combo-based scoring system that is the most appealing part of the game, which is probably why it's so tightly woven into the fabric The Club.

When you aren't competing against the other members of The Club, you can try and beat your score (and maybe even your friend's scores) in the single event section. This is where you can play all of the events you've unlocked, constantly upping your score and practicing for the next tournament. When you're not doing that you can set up a playlist so that you can play all of your favorite events in whatever order you want.

Unfortunately that's about all there is for a single person to do. The action, while compelling, is extremely shallow and repetitive. It won't take long before you realize that you're doing the same sorts of things level after level, which can get old if you're trying to play it for hours on end. Adding to the problem is the relatively short tournament, something that can be beaten on multiple difficulties in one afternoon. That's not to say that you won't have a good time going through The Club, but there's not a whole lot of meat on this animal.

For some people the very idea of going back and beating their scores will be enough of a reason to keep playing the game, but I suspect that there are just as many people who would be completely turned off by this simplistic gameplay mechanic. This is definitely a throwback to the arcade mentality we had a dozen or so years ago; it is not meant to be played for huge chunks of time, but rather in those moments when you want to play a game with a lot of action but don't have a lot of time to devote to your favorite shooter.

On top of the 49 single-player events, The Club also comes with a very average online multiplayer-mode. Not only does this game offer all of the standard (read: boring) game types, but it also gives you nice and large levels to fight in. Actually, that's the problem, the levels are entirely too big for this type of game. To make matters worse, the game's controls are not set up for an online shooter, what is passable as a single-player set-up does not cut it in the world of multiplayer shooters. Another problem is that this game is essentially competing against the likes of Halo3, Call of Duty 4, Team Fortress 2 and even Gears of War, whereas the single-player feels so fresh and new that it's hard to compare it to any other shooter on the market. There's just nothing in the multiplayer mode that will keep you coming back for more, which is sad when you consider the potential this title had.

At first the game looks pretty good, but the more you play The Club the more you'll start to see where the developers cut corners. The backgrounds are nice; they are richly detailed and generally look good. On the flip side, the enemies you fight are rather plain and ugly, not to mention that they aren't as detailed as the backgrounds and your character. As you start to see these characters constantly in your face you realize how average the game looks, even with the spectacular background graphics.

The Club is a game of good ideas, but Bizarre Creations just wasn't able to wrap it up in a deep enough package. I'm sure there will be people who can't wait to replay these levels again and again trying to beat their high scores, but I'm not sure there's $60 worth of content here. Having said that, The Club is definitely an exciting game that takes the shooting genre in a completely different direction. Part of me really likes the fact that there are companies trying new things, even if this is not a complete success. The Club is worth checking out, but I'm not sure you'll want a lifetime membership there.

SUMMARY: While The Club is one of Sega's best action games in years, it's marred by a lack of depth and repetitive gameplay. If you can get past some of these shortcomings then you will find that The Club is a worthwhile game that tries to do something different with the third-person shooter genre.

Burnout Paradise (Xbox 360) Review

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 00:20:07 +0000

Burnout Paradise

Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Criterion Games
Genre: Sports
System: Xbox 360
Written By: Cyril Lachel

Grade: 9.0

When talking about Burnout Paradise it's easy to bring up other racing games like Need for Speed and Midnight Club, however it's another Electronic Arts franchise that is a more apt comparison. While it's not exactly the same genre, the leap from Burnout Revenge to Burnout Paradise feels a lot like the leap from SSX Tricky to SSX3. Both games managed to rejuvenate their respective franchises in a way that not only turned them into instant classics, but also raised the high water mark for every other game in their genre. It's going to be hard to look at another racing game quite the same way after playing through Burnout Paradise, no matter how well designed the competition is, part of me is going to yearn for the innovations that are found in Criterion Games' newest masterpiece.

Let me just get this out of the way before we dig into the meat of this review, when I first heard that Burnout Paradise was going to be an open-world racing game I was skeptical. For me a lot of the fun of the Burnout series was racing down narrow paths battling the computer controlled cars. I worried that this brand new experience would be too similar to what we've seen from the recent Need for Speed games, we would be part of a large world where you could go any way you wanted and never see your competition. This worry was only compounded by the somewhat lackluster demo that was released weeks before the game shipped. To me the game just didn't feel right; it looked and sounded like a Burnout game, but while playing the stripped down version I started to get the feeling that I was playing an updated Midnight Club game and not the next generation of Burnout.

Thankfully I was wrong. Not only does Criterion's newest racer feel like a fully fledged Burnout game, but it also manages to evolve the series in new and exciting ways. Yes, the game is drastically different from the last two Burnout games. If you go into Burnout Paradise expecting nothing more than Burnout Revenge with a slight graphical upgrade then you will no doubt be disappointed, but anybody that plays the game for more than five minutes will discover that this is easily one of the best racing games to come along in years. While it's nowhere near as realistic as Forza Motorsport 2 or Project Gotham Racing 4, Burnout Paradise is incredibly deep and involving in and of itself.

Burnout Paradise takes place in a fictional metropolis known as Paradise City. Besides being the name of a popular Guns 'N Roses song (which is featured prominently in this new Burnout game), Paradise City is a large (and deserted) plot of land that is designed to take elements from a number of real life cities (such as Los Angeles). Like all fictional game cities, Paradise City is full of huge skyscrapers, unfinished construction sites, residential area and a lot of wide-open space for you to explore. Outside of the stunning level of details found in the game, Paradise City isn't all that much different from the fictional locations found in the Grand Theft Auto, Midnight Club and Need for Speed games. That's not to say that this city doesn't have a feel all its own, but don't expect Paradise City to revolutionize the way you think about open-world environments.

Once you've officially become a proud citizen of Paradise City (which is made all the more exciting when you receive your first driver's license) it's off to run some events, bang up some cars and find all of the hidden billboards, shortcuts, super jumps, etc. In other words, the whole 250+ mile area of Paradise City is yours to do what you want in ... try not to have too much fun.

At first Burnout Paradise looks like it's set up like any other open-world racing game, but Criterion Games has managed to innovate on the racing genre in a few memorable ways. The first thing you'll notice is that you never have to pick from a list of events or deal with a menu system; instead you will find an individual event at each of the city's various intersections. Oddly enough you aren't able to restart an event if you fail; the only way you can try again is if you drive all the way back to the intersection that housed that particular event. At first this is annoying, I'm the kind of guy who likes to do a particular race over and over until I complete it and then move on. But that's not how this Burnout sequel is set-up, if you fail an event then just drive around and find another race. It's all very non-linear, and once you get over the idea that you aren't just going to rerun events over and over it becomes extremely liberating.

Paradise City is made up of five different events, each of which fits perfectly with the open-world feel of your environment. Obviously there are racing events; it wouldn't be a Burnout game if you didn't find yourself in a high speed race against five other computer-controlled opponents. The nice thing about Paradise City is that there are only eight different finish lines (including a baseball stadium, an observatory, a country club and five other out of the way landmarks that are hard to miss), so no matter what race you start you're going to end in a familiar location. This actually works out perfectly, especially early on. Instead of being forced to stare at the mini-map so that you don't miss your turn, you'll find that you're going to places that you remember and will begin to recognize these places and learn the paths. For this very reason I had a much easier time memorizing Paradise City than the cities in recent Need For Speed and Midnight Club Racing games.

Thankfully not every event involves you racing against computer-controller cars, a good chunk of the action involves you trying to slam into cars and avoid being taken down. Road Rage and Marked Man are by far the two most successful events found in this new Burnout game. Road Rage is no different from the past games; you drive around the streets of Paradise City trying to takedown as many enemy cars as you possibly can. Marked Man is a little different; you are given a finish line (which is always one of those eight locations) and it's your job to get there in one piece (there are black enemy cars that will do everything in their power to stop you in your tracks). In both cases the enemy cars move with you, so if you turn around or take a strange path you'll always find cars around you. These two event types manage to combine the most exhilarating and frustrating moments of Burnout together in one awesome package.

The other event types include a stunt run which is moderately enjoyable and something called Burning Route. Burning Route is a lot like a regular race, only you're trying to beat a pre-set time and you have to use a specific car per event. The good news is that when you beat a Burning Route you will get a brand new car (generally a suped-up version of the car you used), so it's definitely worth your time to go through and do all of the Burning Route events just to earn the new rides.

For the most part it doesn't matter which events you decide to take part in, the game will allow you to be as repetitive as you want to be. If all you want to do is race, then have at it. Same goes for the Marked Man, Road Rage and Stunt Run events. All Burnout Paradise asks of you is to beat a certain amount of events in order to upgrade your license. You start with nothing more than a beginner's license, but eventually you'll earn a C grade license, then B, then A and eventually you'll be sporting the super slick Burnout License. Once you upgrade your license all of the events you've completed are reset, allowing you to go back and select them all over again if that's what you choose. Eventually you're going to be forced to complete all of the events in order to earn the best license, and by that time you'll have run some of the events three or four times.

But while repetitive races would be the downfall of a lot of games, this is not a problem with Burnout Paradise. The trick to Burnout is that no matter what you're doing you're always having a good time. Even when you're jumping up and down yelling at your TV (which happens more often than I would like to admit) you're still having a great time. I don't know what it is, but Criterion seems to always have the right ingredients when it comes to making a fun game. Sometimes I wish Criterion could send that special ingredient to all of the other game developers so every game could be as good as Burnout Paradise.

But don't get too excited, long-time Burnout fans. While this game looks and feels a lot like older titles, there are a few things missing that are worth pointing out. For one thing there are no after touch takedowns. In fact, there is no after touch at all in Burnout Paradise. You also can't traffic check the way you could in Burnout Revenge (that is, fit the back of a car at full speed and send it flying). The good thing is that these gimmicks aren't missed, while the after touch is fun, it just wouldn't fit in with what Burnout Paradise is trying to do. I wouldn't be surprised if we started to see some of these missing elements added back into the series when the next Burnout is released.

Unfortunately there's one missing Burnout mainstay that is sorely missing - the crash mode. Now don't get me wrong, there is something of a crash mode alternative added to the game. This faux-crash mode is called Showtime and it's, well, it's not the crash mode ... and that really sucks. You can enter the Showtime mode any time; you just have to crash and then hit the left and right bumpers together. The object is to use your car to hit as many other vehicles as possible, creating a huge pile-up. To keep the crash going what you do is use your turbo to literally leap off of the ground and hit more cars, each time getting a little boost back. The problem with this mode is that it's a little too easy to keep it going forever and it's just not as exciting as the traditional crash mode was. I don't know if Criterion is planning on adding the traditional crash mode to this game (perhaps with downloadable content) or if they are going to use it in a future installment, but I'm going to be very depressed if we've seen the last of the traditional crash mode.

In total the single-player mode will run you around 30 hours ... and that's not including all of the extra stuff you can do while simply driving around. By the end of the game you'll be asked to race more than 200 events, which will certainly take you awhile. Not that you'll notice, I sat there glued to my TV for eight hours straight the first day I got it ... it wasn't until I got up that I realized just how long I had sat there having a good time. If that's not a good judge of the quality of the game then I don't know what is.

The best part of this new Burnout is that when you get sick of hanging out with computer-controlled vehicles, you can always jump into an online game without leaving your position in Paradise City. You see, in Burnout Paradise you don't have to exit the main game to jump into the online mode, all you have to do is push right on the D-Pad and get seamlessly transported into an online lobby. Unlike most racing games, Burnout Paradise does not have you go into some weird lobby where you pick races and events. Instead the entire city is the lobby and you just wait for the host to start up a challenge and give you something to do.

There are 350 different multiplayer challenges. You read that right; there are 350 ... that's more than twice the number of actual events in the offline mode. The events are split up depending on how many people are in the room, so you'll have 50 two-player events, 50 three-player events, 50 four-player events and so on so forth. Unfortunately not all 350 events are worth talking about, most of them involve you meeting someplace on the map (in no particular order), making a certain amount of jumps, hit some of the billboards and so on so forth. Thankfully most of the missions are fun and this is definitely a nice way to spend the afternoon with people online. The problem is that I would liked to have seen some of the offline stuff featured online, especially things like Marked Man and Road Rage. Having said that, Burnout Paradise certainly has enough online content to keep you busy for days (if not months) to come.

This is a game about small (but amazing) moments, be it narrowly missing a five car pile-up or slamming into a bus and flying a hundred feet into the air. The truth is that there are almost too many amazing moments in Burnout Paradise to talk about, I would have to spend the next ten pages just hyperventilating about how cool all of the different cars are, or how I love the three boost types (each taken from an older Burnout title), or how I love that you can use the Xbox Live Vision camera online to take pictures of yourself whenever you get taken down, or how I love being able to drive through a gas station to fill up my boosts, fix my car or give my ride a new paintjob. It's not any one of these things that makes this game awesome, it's all of these elements put together.

One of the reasons I was excited about a next-generation Burnout game was because I couldn't wait to see what Criterion could do to the graphics, and let me tell you, I was not disappointed. Not only is Paradise City one of the best looking fictional locations ever created for a video game, but it's full of small little details that make it look even more realistic. On top of the amazing background graphics, the actual cars all look stunning (especially in HD). The game is full of "HOLY CRAP!! DID YOU JUST SEE THAT?!?" moments that will entertain both you and your friends.

The audio is also good, but I personally can't stand the announcer and the music selection. Outside of that the sound effects and ambience is nice, even if the EA Trax (Electronic Arts' radio) is on the annoying side. Thankfully Xbox 360 owners can substitute their own music, which is the only way to go.

Now that I have put dozens of hours into Burnout Paradise it's hard to remember just why I was skeptical about the game in the first place, this is a phenomenal racing game that I can't imagine not having in my collection. If you're a fan of the Burnout franchise then there's no reason not to own this game, this is one of those games that actually feels like a real sequel, not just an expansion pack with extra levels. While I'm disappointed that some of my favorite features from the previous installments were cut from this game, I feel that I can safely say that this is the best Burnout game in years.

SUMMARY: Don't be afraid of the different route this sequel took, Burnout Paradise is every bit as exhilarating as you could hope for. With its amazing graphics, great sense of speed, fantastic level design and fun events, this Burnout game is one of the best racing games to be released in recent years.

Discs of Tron (XBLA) Review

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 00:17:04 +0000

Discs of Tron

Publisher: Disney Interactive
Developer: Backbone Entertainment
Genre: Action
System: Xbox Live Arcade
Written By: Cyril Lachel

Grade: 6.5

While not the greatest movie of all time, Tron has managed to hold up surprisingly well. With its video game inspired story, compelling characters and fantastic use of CGI (a new technology at the time), Tron managed to take the science fiction genre in a brand new direction. Unfortunately the Tron games haven't been as influential. The original Tron mini-game collection was a complete mess, the PC Tron games haven't been much better, and I have little faith in anything called Tron 2.0: Killer App. Perhaps all of its potential wasn't meant for the game space after all.

Recently Disney Interactive decided to stir the nostalgia pot with their release of Discs of Tron, a pseudo-sequel to that Tron mini-game collection. This Xbox Live Arcade game may not look like much, but it's worth talking about if only because this is the first time the original arcade game has been accurately ported to a home console. Unfortunately the game itself isn't worth the 400 points (roughly $5), but fans of old school arcade games should definitely download the demo and try out this action game at least once.

Discs of Tron is based on a short action sequence in the movie that had human video game characters throwing discs at each other trying to knock each other off of the top these white pillars. In the movie world this was a fun recreation of games like Pong, it demonstrated real people playing these simplistic computer games. Despite looking like something you would see on an upcoming season of American Gladiators, this disc game doesn't translate as well to the arcade as you might imagine. What we get here is a clunky one-on-one battle that is never as exciting as it should be.

The controls are simple, you run around on the top of these circular pillars avoiding the discs that your enemy is throwing at you. While doing this you use the right analog stick to aim and the left trigger to throw your discs, the whole point is for you to dodge the enemy discs and try to knock your opponent off his pillar. It sounds simple, but the game throws plenty of twists your way to make the whole ordeal all the more difficult.

The problem with this game is that once you've gotten the hang of dodging discs and knocking your opponents out there isn't much else to do. Like a lot of arcade games from the early 1980s, Discs of Tron doesn't have a whole lot of depth. This isn't one of those games that involves you trying to get to the end, but rather involves you trying your hardest to beat your best score (and all of the scores on the built in leaderboards). It's the lack of depth that will turn off most of the modern action game fans, there really isn't a whole lot for you to do with this game and you can pretty much get everything you need out of one play through.

To Backbone Entertainment's credit, Discs of Tron has been given a cool little Xbox Live multiplayer mode. Unfortunately, there seems to be a complete lack of interest in this game, since I spent several days trying to find somebody to play this online with. If you're looking for a hot new Xbox Live Arcade game to play online, then Discs of Tron may not be the game for you. However, if you and a friend want to play online there should be plenty of space for a private room. Either way, it's nice that the option is there ... even if nobody seems to be using it.

Like most of the classic arcade game ports on the Xbox Live Arcade, Discs of Tron offers two ways of playing the game. Regardless of whether you want to play the game with the original graphics or using brand new "high-def" visuals, Discs of Tron has you covered. But don't get too excited, the original graphics are understandably lackluster (it's a 25 year old game, after all) and the new graphics aren't nearly as spectacular as they could have been. But at the end of the day it doesn't really matter how good the graphics are, when the game play stinks the rest of the game suffers.

Discs of Tron is a surprisingly easy game to review, with only two game modes and gameplay that can be easily explained within the first thirty seconds of the game, this is one game that doesn't require two thousand words to review. If you're one of those people that loved this game 25 years ago and have been waiting for a way to capture the magic on a home console, then your dreams have come true. But for everybody else (and I include myself in this list), Discs of Tron is nothing more than a second-rate action game that gets boring incredibly fast. Tron is a one of the greatest sci-fi movies of all time, it's a shame none of these games could live up to those high standards.

SUMMARY: On one hand Discs of Tron has never been accurately ported to a home console, so this Xbox Live Arcade version is an important release in that regard. Too bad the game is not worth playing. Discs of Tron could have been an exciting action game, but the shallow gameplay keeps this game from ever being as entertaining as the movie.

Official Army of Two Giveaway

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 23:32:20 +0000

Ok guys we are going to be giving away a copy of Army of Two in the next couple of weeks and we need your help. We want you to get active on the beta site located over at http://agzonline.net Just sign up and get your profile created. That's all!! The date of the Giveaway depends on what day we launch the new site, but it will be in the next couple of weeks for sure.

Let your friends know and lets get some suggestions on Zones you want created on the new site.
http://agzonline.net

US Air Force Buy 300 PS3's to build Super Computer...Right

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 23:06:13 +0000

That's right the USAF is submitting an order for 300 40GB PS3's to build a super computer. I'm sure your like what!! It's true?? What the heck are they doing that for? Well it is true and though they are claiming to be using them for the computing power I'm not sure if they are not just wanting to hold some great LAN parties.

The Air Force's purchase is not the first time this sort of thing has been done. In fact is the PS3 is the perfect Open source platform and one of the best systems available on the market. That makes it ideal to work on and run complex math computations. Here are some interesting facts about the PS3 you may not know.

One of the government big brains Astrophysicist ( you know the same as Samantha Carter on Stargate) Gaurav Khanna gave the example that 16 PS3's loaded with Linux and network with any Gigabit Switch has the same processing power as a 400-node supercomputer. The PS3 is better than the best computer on the market and can compare to a 25 node IBM Gene supercomputer. Now I bet you understand why you paid $600 bones for one a year ago. Also the PS3 has 6 CPU's, called PPU's and special compute engines, called SPUs available for raw computation. Each SPU performs vector operations, which implies that it can compute on multiple data, in a single step.

Even more interesting have you ever hear of the Binary Black Hole Coalescence using Perturbation Theory?

What you haven't I thought everyone knew about this The project broadly deals with estimating properties of the gravity waves produced by the merger of two black holes. Gravitational waves are "ripples" in space-time that travel at the speed of light.

That is correct Mcfly space travel is possible with your PS3 and should be available on the next update to the firmware. Well not really but pretty cool stuff. Even more reasons to like my PS3. Enjoy the pictures of a 16 Computer node.!

Champions Online

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 04:36:25 +0000

How many folks do we have out there that are fans of City of Heros? Well Cryptic Studios will be launching a new MMO entitled Champions online, and from what I hear this one is going to be another hit. The game touts total character customization with billions of options.

The real question is : Will it ever make it to console gaming? Fans of the PC game please give your thoughts.

I've been giving more and more thought to building a gaming system and City of heros and possibly this one might be given strong consideration. Check back in and let me know what you think.

M.

Super Smash Brothers. Brawl

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 05:09:58 +0000

Yes it's finally come. The Date is set so get ready to dash and jump and smash the heck out of your friends. There are some really great tournaments coming up including an interesting one from Gamestop.

Spoiler

Microsoft Pulls Plug on HD DVD Players

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 18:16:33 +0000

Source

SEATTLE (AP) � Microsoft Corp. said it will stop making HD DVD players for its Xbox 360 video game system after Toshiba Corp. ceded the high-definition video format battle to Sony Corp.'s Blu-ray.

Microsoft said Saturday it would continue to provide standard warranty support for its HD DVD players. Toshiba President Atsutoshi Nishida last week estimated about 300,000 people own the Microsoft video player, sold as a separate $130 add-on for the Xbox 360.

"HD DVD is one of the several ways we offer a high definition experience to consumers and we will continue to give consumers the choice to enjoy digital distribution of high definition movies and TV shows directly to their living room, along with playback of the DVD movies they already own," Blair Westlake, a corporate vice president of Microsoft's media and entertainment group, said in a written statement.

Microsoft was one of HD DVD's main backers, along with Intel Corp. and Japanese electronics maker NEC Corp., and its support for the format was seen as a big win for Toshiba's format.

But support for the HD DVD waned as major movie studios � Sony Pictures, Walt Disney Co., News Corp.'s Twentieth Century Fox and Warner Bros. Entertainment � picked Blu-ray to distribute high-def DVDs. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. struck what seemed to be the final blow just over a week ago when it said it would only sell Blu-ray players and discs.

Microsoft said it is looking at how the HD DVD technology it has developed, such as HDi, which adds interactive features to DVDs, and its VC-1 video encoding technology, can be applied to other platforms.

The Redmond-based software maker said the decision to stop selling HD DVD players won't have a material impact on its video game business.

Is AGZ Dead?

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 00:56:08 +0000

Well i mean theres been no online tournaments no recent Gears or Halo or COD LANS theres nothing to do anymore.. I mean seriously now your time is to step up MLG just recently announced they will only be holding GEARS of WAR in Meadowlands Toronto and Dallas... Ill be attending Meadowlands and Dallas.. But seriously you guys need to have online tournaments just set up a sort of bracket thing then have it like $100 per team and have them paypal it to you guys then there you go the start of an online tournament. Do it like this site. www.profesionalgamingleague.com ...

Well i can really careless about online tournaments please try and set up a Gears tournament some where...

or some type of tournament...

At the moment i really think this site is dead.

Gears of War 2 in Nov 08 Sweet

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 03:49:18 +0000

Ok three words - Gears in November
That's all I care about. Now I'm not the biggest Gears fan in the world but I do love the game and can't wait until the next one comes our way in November. The second will hopefully be just as good if not better than the second and improve on the game play and some of the glitches currenly out...only to be replaced with new ones I'm sure. Well check out the press release from the GDC going on that I would love to be at but I just don't have enough vacation time to do everything I want to do this year.

Microsoft Provides Thrilling First Look at Xbox 360 Blockbuster Portfolio for 2008, Announces "Gears of War 2" Ships This November
The world's hottest developers pave the way for a banner year with a blockbuster lineup that includes "Gears of War 2," "Fable 2," "Ninja Gaiden II" and a rich mix of indie Xbox LIVE Arcade titles.

SAN FRANCISCO � Feb. 20, 2008 � Today at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2008, Microsoft Corp. provided an exciting glimpse at what promises to be another landmark year for games and online entertainment on the Xbox 360 platform and officially announced the launch of �Gears of War 2,� exclusively for Xbox 360 this November.

Providing a dramatic close to Microsoft�s GDC keynote address, Epic Games Inc.�s lead designer Cliff Bleszinski announced that the epic saga of Marcus Fenix and Delta Squad continues exclusively on the Xbox 360 this fall with �Gears of War 2.� This highly anticipated sequel to the 4.5 million-selling blockbuster �Gears of War� delves deeper into humanity�s struggle for survival against the nightmarish Locust Horde, and promises to take high-definition visuals to a whole new level.

In addition, acclaimed developer Peter Molyneux of Lionhead Studios took the stage to showcase exciting new multiplayer features for �Fable 2,� introducing dynamic cooperative play, a first to the franchise. Molyneux also announced that later this year, and before the launch of �Fable 2,� gamers can get a sneak peek at the game�s world when the �Fable 2� pub games debut as a stand-alone download on Xbox LIVE Arcade. When �Fable 2� launches, gamers will have the ability to transfer currency earned in the pub games directly to their character in �Fable 2.� This unique and first-of-its-kind experience, which can be found only on Xbox LIVE Arcade, will give the millions of �Fable� fans and gamers all around the globe the opportunity to jump into the �Fable 2� world with money already in the bank.

Tomonobu Itagaki also revealed new �Ninja Gaiden II� game-sharing features, including Ninja Cinema, which is enabled solely through Xbox LIVE, providing exciting and innovative entertainment experiences for the more than 10 million Xbox LIVE members worldwide by allowing players to record and upload their best ninja moves to Xbox LIVE.

�To our team the original game was just a tease, the appetizer to the �Gears of War� characters and new style of gameplay. We were so amped to get to the next chapter, and dig deeper into the universe of this franchise,� said Cliff Bleszinski, lead designer for Epic Games. ��Gears of War 2� is an even bigger, better, and more badass experience than the first game, and we can�t wait to get it in the hands of eager gamers this November.�

This year, the most anticipated games will be found exclusively on Xbox 360, including the next chapters of top franchises such as �Gears of War,� �Fable� and �Ninja Gaiden,� as well as new titles such as �Too Human.�

� �Gears of War 2� (Epic Games). �Gears of War 2� is the sequel to the 4.5 million-selling blockbuster that redefined the third-person tactical action game genre. �Gears of War 2� continues the story of Marcus Fenix and Delta Squad in an epic saga of survival, loss and retribution. Developed by Epic Games exclusively for Xbox 360, �Gears of War 2� launches this November.

� �Fable 2� (Lionhead Studios). In addition to the dynamic co-op mode unveiled onstage, Peter Molyneux also announced that Carbonated Games is bringing the �Fable 2� experience to Xbox LIVE Arcade. Before the game�s launch, gamers will be able to get an early taste of the �Fable 2� experience and gain a head start on earning currency for use in �Fable 2� by playing �Fable 2�-themed pub games that will be downloadable via Xbox LIVE Arcade. The currency earned in these Xbox LIVE Arcade titles will enable players to purchase items in �Fable 2� when the game launches later this year.

� �Ninja Gaiden II� (TECMO/Team NINJA). Tomonobu Itagaki debuted several tantalizing new Xbox LIVE features of �Ninja Gaiden II,� including the ability to capture and share videos of a player�s glorious battles via the Ninja Cinema feature and upload them to Xbox LIVE. �Ninja Gaiden II� launches worldwide this June.

� �Too Human� (Silicon Knights). Microsoft also showcased the epic action game from renowned Canadian developer Silicon Knights, �Too Human,� at a media event before today�s keynote address. In �Too Human,� players are treated to a nonstop barrage of action powered by the seamless integration of melee and firearms combat, plus deep role-playing elements fueled by breathtaking visuals enabled by the power of Xbox 360.

With online multiplayer gameplay, downloadable content and ways to stay in contact with a global community, these forthcoming blockbusters harness the power of Xbox LIVE to create truly innovative and exciting entertainment experiences. Each game also comes packed with Achievements, so Xbox LIVE members can help add to the more than 1 billion Achievements already unlocked on the service to date. And, as with the �Fable 2� pub games, downloadable content in Xbox LIVE Marketplace allows gamers the opportunity to customize and enhance their gameplay experiences. Since the service launched, Microsoft has seen more than $250 million in digital revenue from Xbox LIVE Marketplace through the purchase of more than 20 billion Microsoft Points.

Xbox LIVE members have been using a large portion of those Microsoft Points in Xbox LIVE Arcade, which is the premier destination for digitally distributed, high-definition original and classic games. With over 116 games to choose from on Xbox LIVE Arcade, everyone�s invited to get instantly immersed in the fun. Xbox LIVE Arcade is also home to the world�s most innovative independent developers, with more than 25 independent studios serving as the creative fuel behind the original games that represent more than a quarter of the Xbox LIVE Arcade library. The following titles represent a sample of games launching on Xbox LIVE Arcade in the near future from the world�s leading independent developers:

� �Braid� (Number None Inc.). Developed by Independent Games Festival Winner and experimental game designer Jonathan Blow, �Braid� is a platform experience that bends all the rules with the manipulation of time. �Braid� will launch this spring.

� �Castle Crashers� (The Behemoth). �Castle Crashers� is the second title currently in development by award-winning independent developer The Behemoth, creator of �Alien Hominid HD.� The role-playing game (RPG) adventure will let up to four players hack, slash and smash their way together through a visually stunning hand-drawn landscape. �Castle Crashes� launches this summer.

� �Defense Grid: The Awakening� (Hidden Path Entertainment LLC). �Defense Grid: The Awakening� is the definitive tower defense game experience designed specifically for Xbox LIVE Arcade and launches this summer.

� �Go! Go! Break Steady� (Little Boy Games). An Xbox LIVE Arcade exclusive, �Go! Go! Break Steady� is the debut title from independent developer Little Boy Games. The combination music and puzzle game combines break dancing with novel gameplay and launches this summer.

� �Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness� (Hothead Games). The first video game collaboration between Penny Arcade creators Mike �Gabe� Krahulik and Jerry �Tycho� Holkins and legendary game designer Ron Gilbert, �Penny Arcade Adventures� is an RPG-adventure game set in a highly stylized 1920s universe filled with bizarre characters, outrageous combat and adult humor. The first episode of the game launches this summer.

About Xbox 360

Xbox 360 is a superior video game and entertainment system delivering the best games, unique entertainment features and a unified online gaming network that revolve around gamers. Xbox 360 has a portfolio of more than 300 games in nearly 40 countries. More information can be found online at http://www.xbox.com/xbox360.

About Microsoft Game Studios

Microsoft Game Studios is a leading worldwide publisher and developer of games for the Xbox and Xbox 360 video game systems, the Windows operating system and online platforms. Comprising a network of top developers, Microsoft Game Studios is committed to creating innovative and diverse games for Windows (http://www.microsoft.com/games), including such franchises as �Age of Empires,� �Flight Simulator� and �Zoo Tycoon�; Xbox and Xbox 360 (http://www.xbox.com), including such games as �Gears of War� and franchises such as �Halo,� �Fable,� �Project Gotham Racing� and �Forza Motorsport�; and MSN Games (http://www.games.msn.com), the official games channel for the MSN network and home to such hits as �Bejeweled� and �Hexic.�

About Xbox LIVE

Xbox LIVE is the first and most comprehensive unified online entertainment network seamlessly integrated throughout the entire console experience, making it easy for people to find the friends, games and entertainment they want from the moment they power on their Xbox 360 system. Xbox LIVE connects millions of members across 26 countries to enjoy hundreds of multiplayer games, downloadable games via Xbox LIVE Arcade, free and premium playable game demos, music videos, TV shows and movies in the United States as well as new game levels, characters and vehicles for all their favorite retail games. More information can be found online at http://www.xbox.com/en-us/live.

About Xbox LIVE Arcade

Xbox LIVE Arcade on Xbox 360 is the premier destination for digitally distributed high-definition games. Xbox LIVE Arcade is a fast-growing phenomenon with a diverse library of original development and classic titles from the world�s best independent and established developers and publishers. With a dynamically updated library and free trials for every title, Xbox LIVE Arcade makes it easy for every type of gamer � from casual to hard-core � to get instantly immersed in the fun. Xbox LIVE Arcade also lets friends connect and play these incredible games either from the same room or from around the world via the Xbox LIVE online entertainment network. More information can be found online at http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/livearcade.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq �MSFT�) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass on Microsoft�s corporate information pages. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may since have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft�s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/contactpr.mspx.

Xbox 360 Invite Gamers to do the Home Brew thing

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 03:40:58 +0000

That's right kids but I have to make a correction to the press release below. Microsoft is not the first game consol to open this up. Do any of you recall the Phantom? Think about E3 a couple of year ago and all the hype that was floating around about the Phantom. Well they never really got much in the way of game developers to make any games, but they were actually the first consol to open the Kimono a bit and let people in.

So this is the chance for all you would be gamers to have at it and put some of that game knowledge to the test.

Here's the press release:

Xbox 360 Becomes First Video Game Console Ever to Invite the World to Create Original Games and Share Online With Millions
Flood of community-created games to double leading games library.

SAN FRANCISCO � Feb. 20, 2008 � In a landmark announcement during the keynote address at the annual Game Developers Conference (GDC), Microsoft Corp. promised to soon allow Xbox LIVE members to play, rate and share community-created games. As the first in the industry to pioneer high-speed online gaming and high-definition games, Xbox 360 once again broke new ground by introducing a new, open distribution service for games created by the community and soon playable by its 10 million Xbox LIVE members. Community-created games on Xbox LIVE will quickly double the size of the Xbox 360 game library. By the end of 2008, Xbox 360 owners will have access to more than 1,000 games, making it the largest, most creatively diverse library across all next-generation platforms.

�The time has come for the games industry to open its doors to all game creators, enabling anyone to share their creations with the world,� said John Schappert, corporate vice president of LIVE, Software and Services for the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft. �Our goal is to drive a creative and social revolution in games with the same transformative power that we�ve seen in digital music and video sharing.�

Inviting Everyone to Share Their Own Games With Millions

Demonstrating a look into the future potential of community-created games on Xbox 360, Chris Satchell, general manager and chief XNA architect at Microsoft, announced that seven games created using XNA Game Studio 2.0 would be available immediately for Xbox 360 owners to download from Xbox LIVE Marketplace:

� �JellyCar.� Created by Walaber from the United States, this game is about driving a squishy car through squishy worlds, trying to reach the exit.

� �Little Gamers.� This is a 2-D high definition action side-scroller based on the famous Web comic �Little Gamers� created by Lo�c Dansart, a 24-year-old software developer from Belgium.

� �The Dishwasher: Dead Samurai.� An intense 2-D action platform game created by James Silva from the United States, �The Dishwasher: Dead Samurai� has a unique, highly stylized look and fast and fluid action.

� �TriLinea.� This puzzle game created by Edison S. Prata Jr., Renato Pelizzari da Silva and Davi da Silva Prata from Brazil mixes fast-paced action with strategy.

� �RocketBall.� Created by Tyler Wanlass, Patrick Murty and Todd Barrons of the United States, this neighborhood game of dodgeball explodes onto the street with fast-paced multiplayer action.

� �ProximityHD.� This game, created by Brian Cable from the United States, takes the essence of strategy games � battles for control of territory and armies � and distills it down to a simple, easy-to-understand set of rules for casual players.

� �Culture.� Created by independent game development company Hidden Path Entertainment from the United States, �Culture� contains challenging games and puzzles based on beautiful flowers.

An Xbox 360 community game created using Microsoft�s XNA Game Studio software and XNA Creators Club membership will be able to be submitted for distribution on Xbox LIVE. Each community-created game must then undergo a thorough peer-review process and be evaluated for accuracy in representation and appropriateness. Community game developers will be able to beta test the process this spring and will be able to distribute their games on Xbox LIVE by the end of this year.

About Xbox 360

Xbox 360 is a superior video game and entertainment system delivering the best games, unique entertainment features and a unified online gaming network that revolve around gamers. Xbox 360 has a portfolio of more than 300 games in nearly 40 countries. More information can be found online at http://www.xbox.com/xbox360.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq �MSFT�) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

360 issues

Mon, 18 Feb 2008 02:24:01 +0000

Hey, I know that this discussion has been mentioned before, but I wanted to take a poll on this just to track results.

After speaking with a number of friends that I have out there I am hearing that more people are having 360 issues such as hard drive failures, and in some cases that "Ring of Death". Have any of you have to send your 360 in for repairs? How long did it take for you to get it back?

G For Game: The Defunct Games Movie is Announced

Sun, 17 Feb 2008 21:10:51 +0000

Hello Gang.
I'm posting this here because I'm 100% sure nobody will notice it ... which is exactly what I want. I have a super huge announcement that I don't want to announce yet, but part of me knows that it's important for me to tell somebody. So I'm going to hint at it here, say the name and then reveal that the first official trailer will come in April. Enjoy.

Defunct Games is proud to announce that work has started on our biggest project to date, a full-length feature film! That's right, Defunct Games is going to the movies. Coming in 2008 (tentatively scheduled for a Fall 08 release) we will put together a full 90+ minute motion picture called ...

G FOR GAME: THE DEFUNCT GAMES MOVIE!

But what will it be? Will there be acting? Will it be a documentary? Is it a parody? What games will it feature? Will it play in your local multiplex? Will there be any trailers? What is the budget? Will it make more than that Paris Hilton movie? Why a I announcing this here? When will I be able to see more? Will there be blood?

All of these are excellent questions with excellent answers. Here are the answers in no particular order: I can't say yet, there will, it is not, nope, Street Fighter II and others, probably not, yes, no budget, definitely, because I need to tell somebody but don't want to officially announce it, this upcoming April, and yes, there will be blood.

The Celebrity Next Door

Sun, 03 Feb 2008 00:04:04 +0000

There's internet celebrity (everybody who is known by at least 100,000 people surfing the net) and then there's REAL celebrity. Today those two world's collided.

For the last couple weeks I have been arguing with a buddy about a song in Juno (y'know, the movie that is in theaters right now). He and I have seen the movie three times each and we own the soundtrack, yet there seems to be an argument about whether one of the songs is appropriate or not. In the movie there's a song repeated several times called "Anyone Else But You". The song is not only used throughout the movie, but the two main characters in the movie (played by Michael Cera and Ellen Page) play the song together at the very end of the movie in what has the be one of the most touching moments of the movie.

Well, the song in question is by The Moldy Peaches, and even though it is not the title song in the film, it's turning into the breakaway hit. The Moldy Peaches have been all over the place, from The View to Best Week Ever (not to mention on a soundtrack that has been on the Billboard Top 10 for more than a month now). But Patrick seems to think the song is about child molestation, because he's convinced that the two people singing are both men (sample the song for yourself to see if you agree with him).

Of course, I know better. I actually looked the band up after getting the soundtrack and know for a fact that The Moldy Peaches are actually a man and a woman. They are Kimya Dawson and Adam Green. The two of them have a break out success, which is nice for them (I always root for the indie band).

But here's the thing, while debating this I decided to link Patrick the Wikipedia page for the band. While waiting for his response (which should be something like: "wow Cyril, you're right ... as always") I decided to look up each of the two members to see if they did anything I would know before Juno. They hadn't. But I did learn that Kimya Dawson lives in Olympia ... the same "smallish" city as me. We may not have a lot of people, but we definitely have a thriving art scene here.

Seeing as she's local, I figured I would look her up in the phone book. Who knows, maybe she's listed. SHE IS. And she lives less than a mile away from me. In fact, she and I live on the same street. I walk by her place every single day. In fact, I probably have seen her a bunch and didn't know. To me this is very cool. She may be a no-name singer, but she plays games (at least her lyrics suggests she does) and lives next to me.

And that's my story. So tell me, do any "famous" people live less than a mile from you?

Adreanaline Gaming Zone Beta Site is Now Launching

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 00:52:48 +0000

Hey guys we have been working behind the scene to get the new site up and running. Well we now have the beta site up and live and would love for people to start trying that site out. The web address will change back to the dot com web address after we officially launch the site but for now please visit AGZ ONLINE Beta 0.8

You will notice the site has a totally different look and dare a say a "social aspect" to it. Our goal is to offer you a site where just like the message board you can meet up with your friends. How this site is different is there are:

Communities
Friends List
Blogs
Photo Uploads
Video Uploads
Custom Profiles
Your own web address - http://agzonline.net/ Your User Name (That's going to change to .com soon)

And soon there will be private messaging via the website and we are still keeping the message board! It's an exciting time for us!

The site is still under development so be patient in the event of errors, but you shouldn't have too many of those. We also want your suggestions on Zone Communities you want created. Currently there is a Halo 3, Call of Duty 4, Xbox 360 Owners, Ps3 Owners and AGZ Tournaments community.

Go out an register. AGZ ONLINE Beta 0.8

The site is best viewed in Firefox or Internet Explorer 7

Sam & Max 202: Moai Better Blues (PC) Review

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 20:45:56 +0000

Sam & Max 202: Moai Better Blues

Publisher: Telltale Games, GameTap
Developer: Telltale Games, GameTap
Genre: Adventure
System: PC/GameTap
Written By: Cyril Lachel

Grade: 7.5

Just in time to save us from the WGA writer's strike, Sam & Max are back for their first new adventure of the new year. That's right, Sam & Max are back and they've decided to trade in the chilly temperatures of their last outing (Ice Station Santa) for a warm tropical adventure. This is Moai Better Blues, and while this new Sam & Max game doesn't break any new ground for the genre, it is a nice (warm) alternative to all of the left-over toys you could be playing with.

It's just another exciting day outside of Sam and Max's office, Bosco is freaking out about something new, the diner is open for business and there's a giant dimensional gate chasing Sybil around. Yup, it's just another normal day in the life of Sam and Max. Before you know it Sybil is being sucked into weird dimensional gate and it's up to our two heroes to leap into action and save the damsel in distress.

But what's this? Instead of being taken to some hellish pit of torture and chaos, Sam and Max are spit out in the Bermuda Triangle. That's right; it's time for our hard working heroes to take a vacation in Easter Island. But it's not going to be fun and sun for Sam and Max, because these two smart-mouthed freelancers are about to set off on an adventure to stop a volcano from erupting, become a high priest and figure out what to do with the Fountain of Youth. Oh, and I mention that this episode explains what happened to Glenn Miller, Charles Lindbergh, Jimmy Hoffa and Amelia Earhart. Yeah, this is going to be a crazy adventure.

This episode is a bit more low-key than some of the previous episodes; it has a very laid back and straight forward story. There are a few moments of brilliance (including the hints that the woman running Stinky's Diner may actually be up to no good), but the story isn't as memorable this time around. That's not to say there aren't some good jokes, I was laughing throughout the entire episode. Part of the problem is the premise itself; the game introduces you to these long lost characters from our past only to do nothing with them. I was disappointed with how quickly they race past potentially funny situations in order to get to the boring and tedious main plot. The second half is also a bit weak this time around, after thinking I was going to help out D.B. Cooper the game takes a drastic turn that I didn't find all that interesting.

Don't get me wrong, I haven't soured on the Sam & Max franchise; I still look forward to seeing what crazy situation these two characters get into. Hopefully Telltale Games can regain their footing with their next episode. But even if the next four episodes are no better than this one, gamers will still be in for a solid adventure game with some of the best writing around.

Outside of a few minor tweaks here and there, this brand new Sam & Max game controls exactly like all of the other titles in the series. Basically you point at an object and click your mouse button to interactive with it; it's no different from all of the other graphic adventures that have flooded the computer space for the last thirty years. But while the basic mechanics are the same, Telltale Games has been busy at making the game more accessible. For example, this season Telltale Games decided to include a tutorial level, which gets you up to speed with how the game plays. You will also be able to the hints on, just in case you get frustrated with a certain puzzle and just want to move on. And best of all, Sam can finally run from place to place, which is accomplished by double tapping the mouse button. All of these improvements add something to the value of the game; it's nice to see the company adding to what was already a streamlined series.

For the most part the graphics are the same as they were in the first season, which is certainly not a bad thing. While there may be a few minor upgrades to the character models and whatnot, from what I can tell the game appears to be running on the same engine as the first six episodes. Even though it's nice to have top of the line graphics, these Sam & Max episodes are not about how many polygons you can push and the stunning lighting effects. That's not to say the game looks bad, quite to the contrary. While Sam & Max can't compete with the recently released PC version of Gears of War, as a game about a crime fighting dog and rabbity thing I think the game looks fantastic. The character models are large and detailed and the worlds are full of life.

The game's real strong suit is the audio, which features some of the best voice acting you'll ever hear. The voices of both Sam and Max are fantastic, and the supporting cast (Bosco, Abe Lincoln's head, Glenn Miller, etc.) all give it their all. Unfortunately there isn't as much music in this episode; it's as if the sound department decided to go on vacation with Sam and Max. What's more, the dialog in this episode isn't nearly as memorable as in past episodes. In fact, I'll go as far as to say that the funniest part of this game has nothing to do with the voice acting (it has to do with Duke Nukem Forever, believe it or not).

Moai Better Blues is another solid entry in the Sam & Max franchise. Sadly this month's adventure isn't nearly as inspired as some of the previous outings, but that doesn't stop this from being a fun adventure game with a few brain busting puzzles. If you can overlook some of the game's problems you will discover that this is a fun game with a lot of laughs.

SUMMARY: Moai Better Blues is another worthwhile Sam & Max game. Unfortunately this month's episode isn't nearly as exciting as the ones that came before it. If you can overlook some disappointing plotting and a lame story then you'll find this to be a solid adventure game with enough laughs to hold you over until the next episode.

Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe (XBLA) Review

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 20:43:51 +0000

Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe

Publisher: Empire Interactive
Developer: Bitmap Brothers
Genre: Sports
System: Xbox Live Arcade
Written By: Cyril Lachel

Grade: 7.5

Before there was Faceball. Before there was Blast Chamber. And yes, before there was Ballistix, Battle Sport and Unreal Tournament, there was Speedball. Originally released in 1988 for the Amiga home computer, Speedball took Europe by storm and spawned a number of equally popular spin-offs and sequels. Although it was released on a number of other formats (including the Sega Master System, Nintendo Entertainment System and Commodore 64), Speedball was only able to make a name for itself in Europe.

But as they say, everything old is new again. Thanks to the Xbox Live Arcade, Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe has been given a second chance at making it big in the United States. While this $10 update/remake from 17 years ago may be old, there's no reason why Speedball 2 can't enjoy a small taste of popularity in this country. The game remains as fast and exciting as ever, offering gamers a unique sport that takes everything we love about basketball and turns it into a violent game of life and death.

Don't worry if you don't know the rules, because in the distant future sports aren't any more complicated than they are now. Basically Speedball is a competition between two teams. The goal for each team is to score the most points, and you do that by taking a ball and delivering it to something that looks suspiciously like a soccer net. But it's not going to be that easy, in order to score you're going to have to deal with a whole team of steroid-enhanced athletes who are dead set on making sure you don't get even an inch closer to that goal. It's a sport so extreme that it makes Rollerball and American Gladiators look like golf. At times Speedball resembles a pinball game more than an actual sport. As you are rushing for your goal you'll be bouncing off of just about every player on the opposing team. And all this is made even more brutal when you realize that it all takes place in a steel cage.

Thankfully there are a few ways of actually scoring the ball, so this isn't all about rushing from one side of the court to the other trying to get the ball in the goal. For example, you can snag a small number of points by hitting various targets on the floor and on the walls. Also, if you're brutal enough, injuring one of the other players is worth as many points as a real goal. And if that wasn't enough, there are score multiplier targets that show up at the halfway line and can do some real damage to the other team. You never really know what's going to happen; you can be down by dozens of points and ultimately squeak out a win with a few well-timed goals. It's all very exciting, especially when playing against your friends.

To make things even more intense, Speedball 2 features a number of power-ups scattered around the large steel cage. While the effects of these power-ups will only last a few seconds, that should be enough to turn the game in your favor. While some of the power-ups are fairly obvious (an armor power-up, for example), there are some items that make this game stick out. For example, one of the power-ups will stop your opponents dead in their tracks, which should make it a little easier to dodge the other team and toss that ball into the goal. And it's not just power-ups for single-player games; there are items for multiplayer games as well. A good example of that is the power-up that literally flips the second player's controls around, confusing them long enough for you to score a few extra points. Knowing how to use each of these power-ups effectively is the difference between a win and a loss, and at the end of the day all of this adds to an already deep sports game.

Speedball 2 isn't just a deep experience on the court, you'll also notice that there's a lot to do and see before and after each match. While the original 1990s Speedball 2 only offered 16 different teams, this Xbox Live Arcade version doubles that and offers a whopped 32 teams to choose from. As a single-player game Speedball 2 words, there are several modes set up to simulate league games and a full season play off, while at the same time you'll have to figure out who you want to play and who you will want to sit out. What's more, as you progress through these modes you will find that your player's improve their skills, giving you even more incentive to keep at the game.

But while the single-player stuff is fun, the real excitement comes when you play against another real person. Thankfully you have a couple of ways of going about this, including both online and offline options. The online modes probably won't blow you away; Speedball 2 offers a choice between a non-ranked player match and a ranked match, both of which allow you to play your own custom league against the rest of the world. Unfortunately this is kind of a niche game, so the online mode suffers from two very distinct (and very troubling) problems. One problem is that very few people in the United States are actually playing this game, so finding an online game can be somewhat tricky (even at the peak hours). The other problem is that once you do find somebody to play against it's generally somebody who has been playing the game since 1990. This can make for a very uneven experience, which isn't a lot of time when you're just starting out.

Like a lot of classic games revived on the Xbox Live Arcade, Speedball 2 gives you the option of playing it with the classic 1990s graphics or the brand new polygonal visuals. Don't get too excited, though. While the graphics have definitely been upgraded, there is still a lot of work to be done before they can be considered up-to-date. Still, the graphics get the job done, even if the straight overhead perspective makes everything look a little funnier than it needs to be. If you were to take a side by side picture of the two visual modes you would see a big difference, but in action these two games look oddly alike. Part of the reason for this is because the animation is right out of 1991, which is kind of jarring when you're looking at slightly updated polygonal characters. I suppose that when it comes right down to it the graphics don't matter that much, but it would have been nice if this game wasn't so depressing to look at.

While there are other futuristic sports titles already available on the Xbox Live Arcade (see: Cyberball 2072), Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe is the only sport worth downloading. With its strong (albeit limited) multiplayer modes, slightly updated graphics and quick matches, Speedball 2 is a fun way to waste away an afternoon. Even if you've never played Speedball 2, I have a feeling that once you get into the swing of things you will find that this is your new favorite professional sport.

SUMMARY: Speedball 2 doesn't offer a lot of frills and extras, but it does prove to still be a solid action/sports game that is just as violent today as it was 17 years ago. Fans of Speedball should be impressed with what Bitmap Brothers have done with this franchise and new players shouldn't have much trouble seeing what the appeal is. It's not for everybody, but Speedball 2 is worth checking out.

Draglade (NDS) Review

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 20:41:01 +0000

Draglade

Publisher: Atlus
Developer: Dimps Corporation
Genre: Action/Fighting
System: Nintendo DS
Written By: Cyril Lachel

Grade: 7.5

Draglade is not based on a popular Japanese anime TV series. It may look and sound like it's based on a long-running anime series, but I assure you that it's not. Instead Draglade takes all of the clich�s we know and love about Japanese cartoons and turns them into a compelling action/fighting game for the Nintendo DS. While it might not grab you at first, Draglade is a refreshing action game that may just surprise you with its unique game play and exciting battles. It still hits a few bumps along the way, but at least it's not based on a TV show.

The story of Draglade isn't especially deep, but it gets the job done and gives us a reason to fight a lot of sword-wielding men and psychotic animals. You play one of four characters who are on a quest to become a "Master Grapper". That's right; this game is all about grapping, grappers and the people that love them. Apparently a "grapper" is a person who makes their living from fighting other opponents in an arena battle. Grappers use what amounts to a wrist computer (known as a G-Con) which will create unique weapons that you can use to clobber your opponent to death (or at least until they are knocked out). It's kind of a silly concept, but I suppose it's no worse than telling a story about a kid who wants to be a professional wrestler or a pugilist.

For whatever reason, Draglade takes quite a while to get started. Before you even have a chance to start a fight, you have to put up with quite a bit of narration and some generic conversations (none of which are very good here). There's a whole back story about a kid who meets his hero and is told that if he practices every day for years he too could be a, ahem, "Master Grapper". Thankfully Draglade doesn't make us sit through a multi-year montage of our hero training; instead we pick back up with the story five years later and go on our merry way.

After talking to some of your friends, getting your grap license and buying some supplies, it's time for our hero to embark on what is sure to be a grand adventure. But not so far, because before you can start having fun you will have to learn how to grap (apparently you didn't learn that in the five years of training we just skipped past). How it works is that each character has two attack buttons, one that is a quick and light attack, and the other is a hard attack that is slower. Beyond the two attack buttons, there is also a jump button and a magic button. The battles resemble 2D brawlers (such as Magic Sword and Flame of Recca) more than your traditional fighting game. At first this take on the fighting genre feels a little weird, but it doesn't take long before you're getting the hang of it and even having a fun time.

Thankfully there's a little more to Draglade than I've let on, this game also features an interesting "beat" mechanic that helps to set this fighting game apart from the rest of the crowd. You see, this is a music-based fighting game. That's right; Draglade combines the fun of Street Fighter II with the rhythm mechanics of Beat Mania. Okay, so maybe it's not that extreme of a combination, but the music-inspired game play is definitely an interesting idea that goes a long way to making this game fun. At the bottom of the screen sits a "beat" bar that you can use to create some massive combos. The trick to this meter is that you have to hit each of the beats at just the right time, if you miss one then your combo is over and you leave yourself open for possible attack.

Outside of the "beat" mechanics and standard attack buttons, your grapper also has the ability to cast magic at their opponents. At first you'll only have a couple of magic attacks, one that you can throw at your enemies (a fireball) and one you can use to heal yourself. But don't worry, along the way you will earn all sorts of other magic attacks, including a lot of the classics, like a wall of fire, electricity, ice and so on. While you can carry dozens of magic attacks, when you are in battle you can only choose from six at a time. You select the different magic attacks by using the touch screen; it's a simple thing that ends up adding a lot of strategy to each battle.

Draglade is split up into a couple of different sections, including one where you're walking around various towns talking to the townsfolk and one where you are running through 2D action level that requires you to fight hypnotized animals. Beyond that you will have to battle other grappers in one-on-one arena battles (some of which have levels that fight back). The whole game is just one battle after another, generally with you earning money and experience along the way.

I'll be completely honest with you; I didn't care much for this game when I first started playing it. I found it hard to connect with the characters, the initial story was a complete bore and the conversations were painfully dull. What's more, every aspect of this game felt like it was ripped away from another anime-inspired action game. But I gave Draglade a chance and found that this is not just a fun action game, but it's also a lot deeper than I had given it credit for. Draglade isn't the best game on the Nintendo DS by any stretch of the imagination, but it's a lot better than most of these kinds of games.

The reason that this game works so well is because of the fighting engine. Sure, it's not as complex as what we've seen in traditional fighters (Street Fighter II, Virtua Fighter, etc.), but it also feels fresh and exciting. These battles only become more fun when you have a lot of magic attacks to choose from, which will happen relatively early in the game. You'll still have to plod through the game leveling up your character, but even that isn't all that annoying thanks to the fun fighting engine.

The fun extends past the single-player mode, as well. Draglade offers a compelling multiplayer mode that is even more addictive than the single-player story mode. Best of all, you can connect to people both online and off. Make no mistake about it; this is an exciting fighting game that is even more fun against real people. Part of the reason this game works so well is because it perfectly matches the Nintendo DS hardware. This isn't one of those games that tries to do more than what the hardware will allow, it understands the limitations of the DS and crafts a game that perfectly matches the system. Hardcore fighting games may have a hard time going from Virtua Fighter or Tekken to this weird 2D anime-influenced action/fighter hybrid, but those who give it a try will be impressed with what Dimps Corporation have been able to pull off.

Make no mistake about it; Draglade is not a perfect game. I personally could have done without the longwinded conversations and boring back story. But once the action starts it's hard to put this game down. Even though the heavy emphasis on Japanese anime can get a little grating at times, Draglade is a solid action game that is worth picking up. If you're a Nintendo DS owner who has been waiting for a solid fighting game, then you should already be running out to your local game store to pick up this wacky little action game.

SUMMARY: It may look like it is based on a Japanese TV show, but I assure you that this game is not based on a licensed property. And maybe that's a good thing, because Draglade proves to be an interesting take on the fighting genre that perfectly fits the Nintendo DS' limited hardware.

Indianapolis 500 Legends (NDS) Review

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 20:39:27 +0000

Indianapolis 500 Legends

Publisher: Destineer
Developer: Torus Games
Genre: Sports/Racing
System: Nintendo DS
Written By: Cyril Lachel

Grade: 5.0

It was at last year's Penny Arcade Expo in Seattle, Washington, where I was first introduced to Indianapolis 500 Legends for the Nintendo DS. It was while covering the Destineer booth that I stumbled across this odd little racing series. After playing the game on both the Nintendo DS and Wii I wasn't sure what to make of it. Here was a standard racing game that decided to try something completely new and original. This is a racing game that decided that having a lot of tracks was overrated. Indianapolis 500 Legends is the kind of game that fascinated me and worried me all at the same time.

It was while hanging around the Destineer booth that I first learned that Indianapolis 500 Legends had solved the problem of driving with the touch screen. You heard me, Destineer adamantly stated that this racing game was the first to get the touch screen controls right. That's quite a bold statement considering the history of Nintendo DS racing games, one look at Ridge Racer DS or Burnout Legends should be enough to demonstrate that racing games and touch technology is a lethal combination. But Destineer claimed to have made a racer that felt good when playing with the touch screen.

Unfortunately now that I've had some time to sit down with Indianapolis 500 Legends I'm not sure I agree with Destineer's PR department. Yes, Indianapolis 500 Legends' touch controls are better than Ridge Racer DS, but that's like saying that moldy bread is better than sewage water. Thankfully Indy fans won't have to put up with the touch screen if they don't like it (you can play the game just fine with the D-pad), but at the same time I was kind of hoping that this would be the game that convinced me that the touch pad was good for racing games.

Believe it or not, Indianapolis 500 Legends isn't as dull as the title lets on. The game is presented as a history of the classic race, taking us from 1960 all the way up to 1971. Along the way we are introduced to some of the masters of race driving, including A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, Al Unser, Johnny Rutherford and many, many more. Toss in some extremely cool (and extremely dangerous) cars and you have the makings of a solid racing game.

There's just one big problem, the game only has one track. I know I'm said it before, but it bears repeating a few more times. When I say that the game has one track I mean it, there's no mirror mode or alternate path here. Instead you get the same track that some of the greats made history on. If you're the kind of gamer who could care less about the history lesson and wants diversity in your game, then you might want to check out one of the other racing games on the console. However, if you're the type of gear head that wants to go back in time and recreate some of the best racing rivalries of all time, then Indianapolis 500 Legends may be worth your $40.

The good news is that this racer isn't nearly as monotonous as it sounds. My greatest fear was that this game was going to force me to race a 200 lap race eleven times in a row. As much as I love racing games, I'm not sure I could handle sitting there and racing one of these vehicles for 200 laps straight. Even if it was the best racing game in the world, the idea of doing the same thing 200 times just sounds incredibly boring.

Thankfully that's not what Indianapolis 500 Legends asks you to do. Instead you get something called the "Mission Mode" which assigns a bunch of unique tasks to each racer and each year. One of the common missions is to finish off a race, which means that you will take control when there are only two or three laps left in the 200 lap race. In another mission you will need to swerve out of the way to avoid multi-car pile-ups. In yet another mission you will need to pass a certain amount of cars in order to advance, a mode that was taken directly from the Burnout series. There's even a mission/mini-game that has you using the Nintendo DS' touch screen to change a tire and refill the gas tank. For the most part these various missions are a lot of fun and do a good job of adding some diversity to the theme. Unfortunately you'll be asked to do most of these missions over and over again, so eventually the monotony will start to creep back into the overall racing experience.

Indianapolis 500 Legends also comes with a more traditional "Classic Mode," which allows you customize a race to your liking. Not only can you set the game up for two players (no four-player support here), but you will also be able to choose the number of laps you want to play (all the way up to 200), whether or not you want to run a qualifying race and what year you want all of this to take place in. For some strange reason the developers have decided to lock all of the years out from the get-go, so you're going to have to go through that single player mission mode and unlock everything. While I'm sure there's a good reason to do this, it's sad that people just looking for a fun two-player game have to go through the single player experience to unlock the most crucial parts of the game.

Outside of the two main modes there's not much else to do. Beyond viewing your profile and changing the options, the only thing left for you to do is check out the Indianapolis 500 Museum. As you can guess from the name, the museum is a collection of photographs from the race's history. While this isn't the kind of thing I look for in a racing game, I'm sure there are plenty of Indianapolis 500 fans who love seeing this kind of nostalgic footage.

As I mentioned earlier in the review, the controls are kind of a mess. Basically you have two different options, one that involves you trying to play with the touch screen, and a traditional mode where you play with the D-pad and face buttons. While neither control scheme is perfect, there's definitely one that is a lot better than the other. The touch screen control scheme is a little awkward, it involves you using the screen to steer the car and the d-pad to accelerate or brake (assuming you're right handed). At first playing this way is a bit awkward, but after awhile you'll start to get the hang of it. But don't confuse getting the hang of it with it being a better alternative to the standard racing controls. It's definitely possible for somebody to play through Indianapolis 500 Legends using the touch screen, but I found using the D-pad just felt more comfortable and was more precise.

Besides the questionable controls, the game does have a few other problems that dog this otherwise entertaining racer. For one thing the graphics aren't very good, especially when compared to what we saw on the Wii. While I certainly understand that the Nintendo DS has its limitations, I didn't feel that the hardware lent itself well to this kind of game. In the Wii version it was interesting to watch the course change over the years, however in this game a lot of that nuance is completely lost. Thankfully it's not all bad news, it's worth noting that Indianapolis 500 Legends moves at a brisk pace and keeps the frames per second locked.

Another minor complaint is that this game doesn't offer download play. Given the niche audience this game is targeting it would have been nice for this game to allow me to play multiplayer with only one card. I was also disappointed that this game wasn't all that different from the slightly better Wii version. I suppose a lot of this translates well to the Nintendo DS, but it would have been nice to see a few added modes or something.

Indianapolis 500 Legends is not a bad racing game; it's an average racer that has a unique (but ultimately flawed) premise. It's hard to make a full game out of only one track, and Indianapolis 500 Legends proves that. While I definitely like some of the ideas that the developers put into the game, I found myself getting bored of the experience after a few short events.

SUMMARY: With its poor controls, ugly graphics and limited track list, Indianapolis 500 Legends is not one of the better Nintendo DS racing games. Then again, it's not one of the worst. This game does a few things well, but none of it can save it from being just another average racing game with an interesting gimmick.

NVGA Events

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 23:15:38 +0000

Yo, this is DancingFighterG. What up people!! If you are looking for competitive action and lots of money then check out the events that are going on in the NVGA site. Go here:

http://www.nvgaonline.com

Check our calender and our front page for all the events that are going on in all the chapters in the NVGA, which include a $2000 pot for HALO, regional championships for Colorado and the NVGA SuperCon event. YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS OUT!!

R-U-A Guitar Hero? Live Competition

Sat, 26 Jan 2008 00:23:12 +0000

Monday, February 11, 2008 students in the Sports & Entertainment program at Fontbonne University will be hosting the R-U-A Guitar Hero? Live Competition.

Registration is $15.00 in advance $20.00 at the door. Advance registration can be completed by sending and email to R-U-A Guitar Hero or register at the Fontbonne University Business Office. If registering by email the advance registration fee can be paid at check-in the night of the tournament.

Must be 16 years old to participate in the tournament.

For tournament rules send an email to R-U-A Guitar Hero and indicate that you would like to receive the tournament rules.

All event procceds from the tournament including an Extreme Silent Auction will be donated to the Children's Miracle Network.

Dungeon and Dragons Tactics (PSP) Review

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 20:38:57 +0000

Dungeons & Dragons Tactics

Publisher: Atari
Developer: Kuju Entertainment
Genre: Adventure/Tactical Role-Playing Game
System: PSP
Written By: Cyril Lachel

Grade: 5.5

It's a crazy world we live in. For the past two years the only tactical role-playing game on the PSP was a disappointing Lord of the Rings RPG put out by Electronic Arts. Yet here we are two years later and all of a sudden we're swamped with nothing but big budget tactical RPGs. In the second half of 2007 we have and Dungeons & Dragons Tactics, the amazing Jeanne D'Arc and a remake of the original Final Fantasy Tactics ... not to mention the Japan-only R-Type Tactics. It's as if tactical role-playing games was to the PSP what first-person shooters is to the next generation console, that one genre of games that everybody is dying to have.

Unfortunately because of how many high quality RPGs are hitting the PSP at the same time it's almost impossible to talk about one without comparing it to the others. That's the biggest problem with Dungeons & Dragons Tactics, Atari's newest portable role-playing game. It's extremely difficult for me to simply erase all of my memories of Jeanne D'Arc, especially since I just recently finished going through that 30 hour epic. Yet I'm going to do my best to not taint this review with too many unfair comparisons, because this tactical Dungeons and Dragons game deserves to be evaluated on its own merits.

Right from the very start you'll notice that Dungeons & Dragons Tactics is a dark and gloomy adventure game. Instead of giving you a fantastical world full of amazing vistas and exciting battlefields, you get boring corridors and depressing dungeons. While other PSP tactical role-playing games are going for a cartoon-style look, Dungeons & Dragons Tactics wants to be as realistic as it can; a bold style choice that continues to come back to haunt this game.

The story of Dungeons & Dragons Tactics is right out of the pen and paper game; it's all generic adventure plotting, featuring huge monsters, towns under attack and a world that needs you to rescue it. It's also extremely convoluted and full of boring characters chatting your ear off about all of the things that need to change and how the world needs a new hero. You play that hero, a figure that is up to the task of leading a small group of warriors on a quest to defeat all sorts of fantasy nonsense.

You do that by taking part in a turn-based role-playing game; essentially you move your character and then the enemy moves. Back and forth the two of you go until one of the sides has been defeated. Here's hoping that it was the bad guys that perished, because otherwise you're going to have to load your game again and try a second time. Either way, expect to do a lot of waiting and planning as you take your small team to victory.

Dungeon & Dragons games have a reputation for being insufferably difficult for new fans to pick up. Often these games will expect you to know what kind magic defeats what kind of monster, who the best warriors are and how to take advantage of that installment's rules (and loopholes). Thankfully Dungeons & Dragons Tactics is a little easier to manage. Based on the recently created 3.5 edition rule set, Dungeons & Dragons Tactics is a fairly easy game to get into. Once you've picked and customized your hero it's off to take part in one small skirmish after another. Eventually you'll run into massive battles, but for the most part the game's missions are bite-sized pieces of entertainment that fit perfectly on a handheld console. Thankfully most of these missions don't require you to have the rules memorized, at its core Dungeons & Dragons Tactics tries to be an accessible adventure that can stand on its own legs.

The operative word there is "tries." Dungeons & Dragons Tactics can try all it wants, but this game is definitely not the poster child for accessible RPGs. Navigating this game is much more difficult than it needs to be, often giving me the impression that the developers went out of their way to make this as difficult as humanly possible. And it's not just working through the various pause menus, it's also frustratingly difficult to pick up dropped treasure and customize your characters. To make everything worse the whole process is extremely slow, which makes doing any actual role-playing feel like a thankless job.

Sadly it's not just the menus that will get on your nerves. It's also worth mentioning that even the simplest items are often marred by questionable design decisions. For example, who knew that picking up treasure would be such a monumental pain in the butt? Like a lot of modern role-playing games, Dungeons & Dragons Tactics keeps track of how many items you are carrying and has that affect your overall stats (such as your speed, etc.). But in this game you'll never actually know how much something weighs until you've picked it up ... and even then you actually have to go looking to figure out how it's going to affect your character. I'm not saying that everything needs to be spelled out for the game playing audience, but the developers certainly could have thrown us a bone and given us the information we actually need to play in this world. This is but one of the numerous oversights that plague this Kuju Entertainment developed game.

At least the game controls well. Then again, that's the one thing you can say when talking about any contemporary tactical RPGs. After setting down your party you will have the opportunity to move around in just about any direction (just as long as it's not obstructed in some way). Once you've moved you will be able to attack, use and item, open doors, and an assortment of other useful tasks. Like most tactical RPGs you can control the camera angle, which is accomplished by moving the analog nub around. In truth this game controls about as well as you would hope for, there are no glaring flaws associated with the control set-up. Sadly the same cannot be said about the menu system (which you will use more than just about anything else in the game), but we've already been over this subject already.

The most frustrating thing about Dungeons & Dragons Tactics is how much potential the project had. Despite a few control issues, this is a good playing game that has the makings for a solid adventure game. I would even go as far as to say that there are genuinely good ideas found in this PSP game, including a deep character creator and how ethics work in this fantastical world of dragons and gnomes. The problem is that most gamers won't get far enough into the game to see how great these ideas are. Instead most gamers will give up shortly after they start the project, frustrated by all of the terrible design choices that were made along the way. While there's not one thing that ultimate breaks the game, the combination of literally dozens of design flaws start to take their toll on you.

What's more, the gloomy graphics never make you want to continue on your quest. I understand that not everybody likes the anime-inspired visuals in Jeanne D'Arc, but Dungeons & Dragons Tactics swings the pendulum a little too far in the other direction. This is a "realistic" looking game, which is to say that everything is grittier and looks a little more like what you would see in the real world. But there's no reason for the graphics to be so depressing, it's as if the developers went in with the specific goal to bum us all out with sad rocks and boring caverns. Movies like The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings trilogy prove that you can make an exciting fantasy world that looks realistic without turning everything dark and dreary.

Of course, it's not unrealistic to believe that there may be some gamers who are looking for this king of Dungeons & Dragons game. While the game didn't do much for me, I'm sure there are fans of the series that will be able to overlook some of the negatives and find a worthwhile game here. If that describes you then you're in luck, because Dungeons & Dragons Tactics offers a lengthy single-player campaign. It isn't nearly as interesting as the campaigns found in other recent PSP tactics RPGs, but it's still long and full of diverse missions.

And if that's not enough, Dungeons & Dragons Tactics also comes with a multiplayer mode. Unfortunately you can't team up with other players and play cooperatively. Instead you're forced to play competitive games, such as monster bash and deathmatch. Sadly neither of these modes are much fun, so most people will probably just ignore the multiplayer option altogether.

Dungeons & Dragons Tactics is a game that had a lot of potential. There are some interesting ideas, along with a deep role-playing engine that allows you to build a lot of unique characters. Unfortunately the game is brought down by a number of gameplay flaws, depressing graphics and slow-paced action. With so many better role-playing choices out there I see no reason for anybody to pick this up, it's just another example of a good idea gone wrong.

SUMMARY: This is a dark, depressing and boring role-playing game with complicated rules and major design flaws. With games like Jeanne D'Arc and Final Fantasy Tactics on store shelves there's no reason to play Dungeons & Dragons Tactics.

Project Gotham Racing 4 (X360) Review

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 20:37:41 +0000

Project Gotham Racing 4

Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Developer: Bizarre Entertainment
Genre: Sports/Racing
System: Xbox 360
Written By: Cyril Lachel

Grade: 8.0

It seems like it was just a couple of months when I was raving about how much I loved the Microsoft published racer, Forza Motorsport 2. I couldn't get enough of the different races and amazing online community, to the point where I was looking forward to playing it every spare minute of the day. But here we are just a few weeks later and Microsoft is back with yet another solid racing game. This time around it's Project Gotham Racing 4, the sequel to the popular arcade-style racing series that has you racing through real cities at breakneck speeds. While this new game looks great and plays like a dream, part of me has to wonder if it's a little too soon for Microsoft to flood the market with similar racing experiences.

As the title suggests, Project Gotham Racing 4 is the sequel to one of the Xbox 360's best launch games. This time around we're given a new set of cars, the ability to drive motorcycles, cool weather effects, a bunch of new cities, a new campaign mode, and a brand new Geometry Wars sequel. It's a full package that will keep you interested for weeks to come. But while this is a competent racer, it's hard not to compare this game to the superior Forza Motorsport 2. There is nothing particularly wrong with Bizarre's newest racer, but part of me wonders if Microsoft should have spread these two similar games out a little more.

Either way, Project Gotham Racing 4 is a solid game no matter if you're playing with friends or all by yourself. This time around the game is split into two different single player modes, one that resembles what we found in the first three PGR games, and another mode that has you using a calendar to schedule events and compete in exclusive competitions. No matter how you play the game, you will get your money's worth when playing the game by yourself.

The biggest addition this year is something called the Gotham Career; the object of this mode is to create a racer and go from the bottom of the ranks to the top. You do this by using a calendar that has a number of different tournaments and other events throughout the year. The trick to this mode is that you can't possibly do everything in one year, as you go along you're going to have to choose from several different events to compete in. Unfortunately once you've beaten that event it's on to the next week, so you will have to wait a full virtual year for those other events to pop up again. While I certainly like that the developers were trying something a little different with this Project Gotham Racing sequel, it's somewhat annoying to have to play through races you have no interest in just to complete all of the races and win this mode.

Thankfully the races you encounter are as fun as ever. If you've played any of the previous Project Gotham Racing games then you will know that this series is about more than just three-lap races. While the game does have standard races, a lot of your time will be spent dodging cones, racing for kudos, weaving between gates and much, much more. This is the kind of racing game that is hard to get sick of, since you're always being asked to do something different. There aren't really a lot of new ideas found in these various events, but it's hard to be too critical when pretty much all of the different race types are fun.

The gimmick of Project Gotham Racing is that this is about more than just getting to the finish line first, it's also important to finish the race with as much style as possible. "Style" is counted with kudos points, when you perform something daring or tricky you'll earn a small amount of kudos points for your trouble. The trick is to combine these stylish moves (which can include everything from popping a wheelie, performing power slides, passing other vehicles, perform a perfect lap, among other things) with each other, so that your kudos count will continue to grown without a break in the action. It's your job to somehow balance the need to come in first with the need to pull off sweet moves that impress all of the on-looking fans.

While kudos points are nothing new, what you do with them certainly is. This time around the kudos points are for more than just bragging rights, you can also use this currency to buy new cars, extra content and other bonus features. You can still earn stuff the old fashioned way (by earning it), but it's nice to see that in Project Gotham Racing 4 these kudos points actually have a purpose.

Despite what it sounds like, not everything in this Project Gotham Racing game has changed. While the career mode is new and you can use your kudos points as currency, the majority of the sequel is the same old tune you've been whistling since playing the first PGR game back in 2001. You're still racing exotic cars through real-life cities (including Las Vegas, New York, London, Shanghai, Tokyo, etc.) trying to earn medals and points so that you can unlock new cars and go even faster. Bizarre Entertainment has done a good job of adding a few new wrinkles to the festivities, but Project Gotham Racing 4 feels more like an expansion pack than a fully realized sequel.

One of the new wrinkles is the addition of motorcycles. While this is no doubt a nice new addition to the Project Gotham Racing franchise, it's hard to be too excited about another popular racing series adding bikes. At this point we've seen a number of other racing franchise (Midnight Club, Test Drive, etc.) add motorcycles to their garage, so it's not nearly as exciting as it once was. Having said that, the motorcycles do add something to the overall experience. As you would expect, the motorcycle handle a little different and it may take a few tries before you can whip around corners without falling off your bike. On the flip side, the motorcycles do have a few obvious advantages, such as being able to weave in and out of traffic and earn kudos points by performing wheelies and other stunts.

For the most part you can go the entire career mode without spending much time on the bikes, but you're going to have to get used to the two-wheel vehicles if you're going to beat the Arcade mode. Arcade mode is a more traditional take on the Project Gotham Racing series, in this mode you play through a series of themed races for medals. The nice thing about this mode is that it doesn't feel like a stripped down variation on the career mode, instead it manages to feel like it's own thing. Best of all, the arcade mode rectifies some of the problems I had with the career mode, which made this "classic" mode even more fun for me. Bizarre Entertainment did a wise thing, no matter whether you like the new career mode or not there's going to be something in Project Gotham Racing 4 to keep your attention.

Beyond the new game modes, vehicles and events, Project Gotham Racing 4's other big enhancement is the weather system. While this may not sound like much, Bizarre Entertainment actually spent a lot of time making sure they got all of the weather effects perfect, and it really shows. PGR4 accurately recreates a heavy fog, the snow and the rain. Sure, other games have done this in the past, but there's something authentic about the way they affect the race track. Even though there are three weather conditions, there's one you will see more than any other - the rain. It rains a lot. In fact, there were entire months of the career mode where it felt like rain was the only thing I was racing in. The good news is that the rain is incredibly realistic; it makes you slip and slide, while looking cool as it hits the camera/windshield. If Project Gotham Racing 4 does anything well it's the weather effects, they are simply stunning and just the beginning of a world of racing games (and all games, really) that use realistic weather to heighten their level of authenticity.

Unfortunately that's also the problem with this game; the most innovative thing about Project Gotham Racing 4 is the weather effects. That's not to say that this game isn't fun, it's just not as fresh and new as it probably should have been. There's this sense while playing the game that you've seen and done this all before, even some of the cities from older PGR games make an appearance in this game. It all just feels very recycled, as if Bizarre Entertainment was just going through the motions when making this game. The fact that I can still recommend this game feeling this way is a testament to how much fun the core mechanics of the gameplay are.

The real reason this game is so easy to recommend is because of the amount of content found on this DVD. Not only does this game have a lot of compelling single-player modes (career mode, time attack, arcade mode, etc.), but Project Gotham Racing 4 also comes equipped with a number of exciting multiplayer games. Be it racing by yourself or as a team, there's just nothing like racing against other real people. PGR4 gives gamers a chance to fight it in all kinds of race types, including elimination, street race, cat and mouse, and bulldog mode. While the online modes aren't as meaty as what we saw a few months ago in Forza 2, there is certainly enough content here to keep even the most diehard fan entertained for months to come.

It also doesn't hurt that Project Gotham Racing 4 is easily one of the best looking racing games on the Xbox 360. PGR4 manages to take everything that was good about the third installment and add more details and style. This is a sharp looking game that is only improved by the addition of amazing weather effects, such as the drops of rain on the front of your car and how the snow sits on the real city streets. As good as the game looks in still images, it only looks better when running on a nice high definition television.

Project Gotham Racing 4 is a fun game, there's no doubt about that. It's also an extremely unlucky game. Coming out only months after Forza 2, it's hard to not want to compare these two racing games. But Project Gotham Racing 4 is not Forza 2; these are two different games competing for the same space. Project Gotham Racing may not be as innovative as I would have hoped, but it's still a solid racing game that offers hours of content to play through. If you're the type of gamer who is looking for some diversity in their racers, then Project Gotham Racing 4 is well worth adding to your collection.

SUMMARY: Project Gotham Racing 4 is a solid game that delivers a diverse collection of races to complete. Unfortunately it's marred by the fact that it's not all that different from Project Gotham Racing 3 and isn't as much fun as Forza 2. Still, this is an exciting racer that is well worth adding to your collection.

Switchball (XBLA) Review

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 20:36:23 +0000

Switchball

Publisher: Sierra Online
Developer: Atomic Elbow
Genre: Action/Puzzle
System: Xbox Live Arcade
Written By: Cyril Lachel

Grade: 8.0

Switchball is another excellent example of why services like the Xbox Live Arcade need to exist. As a standalone Xbox 360 game, Switchball would not have cut it. There just isn't enough game here and it's over too quickly, but as an inexpensive Xbox Live Arcade game Switchball is perfect. This is an addictive little puzzle game that will keep you coming back long after you've beaten the 30 levels, which is really all you should ask for in a $10 game.

In a lot of ways Switchball feels like a glorified tech demo. The whole game hinges around one specific play mechanic, which involves you rolling a shiny marble around the level looking for the exit. Of course, that's easier said than done. Along the way you'll have to put up with your usual set of crazy obstacles, as well as some interesting power-ups and ingenious level designs. Switchball may not be the deepest game of the year, but it's an enjoyable ride that will keep you using your brain from beginning to end.

What sets Switchball apart from other similar games (Marble Madness, Marble Blast Ultra) are the different power-ups that litter the mazes. By using the various stations found throughout the levels you can magically transform your marble into a brand new form. A lot of these new forms are self explanatory, for example you can turn your marble into a heavy ball (which you can use to move objects around) or a light ball (which allows you to quickly glide over weak objects). Then there are some forms that require a little more trial and error, such as the power ball, a form that allows you to jump, dash and magnetize.

As you can probably guess, these different forms are the key to solving the game's multiple puzzles. As you race through each of the different mazes you'll run into all sorts of nasty obstacles that can only be overcome by using the different power-ups. While there are a certain number of obstacles that are repeated a few too many times (rolling over a patch of cloth, magnets), the game does manage to throw a lot of new barriers in your way as you play through to the end.

Switchball is split up into five different areas, each of which offers six levels to complete. In true video game fashion, these five areas offer a different theme, including a sky world, an ice world, lava world and so on. Not only do the different themes look cool, they also influence the types of puzzles you will have to deal with. Unfortunately there are times when it feels like the developers could have gone a little further blending the puzzles with the theme, but Switchball does a good job of giving you new obstacles and pretty backgrounds to look at.

Although there are a couple of different ways to play Switchball, the most compelling is the default mode, Timed Play. Since this is a timed mode it's up to you to solve the puzzle in the fastest time possible, awards are handed out if you manage to beat various times. While this kind of mode is nothing new, it doesn't change the fact that it's the one reason you'll come back to this game after solving the puzzles. In fact, I would go as far as to say that I had more fun trying to get gold on every level than I did actually solving the puzzles. But that's just me. Thankfully you can choose to play the game this way or just go through every level trying to solve the puzzle and not worry about the timer at the top of the screen.

On top of these two single-player modes, Switchball also features some interesting multiplayer modes that you can play online using the Xbox Live service. Unfortunately the multiplayer stuff feels a little tacked on, there are only four multiplayer maps and it all gets old quickly. The game does give you the option of either an eight-player race or a two-player co-op mode. The two player stuff is actually pretty interesting; there are some well-designed challenges that will require the two people to work together. I was a little less impressed with the race mode, it's a chaotic situation where everybody is bumping into each other and nothing is getting done. Chances are no matter which mode you select you're going to get sick of it quickly, so it's worth treating the multiplayer modes has something of an afterthought.

It's worth pointing out that Switchball is one of the best looking Xbox Live Arcade games currently available. Although the concept is simple, there's a surprising amount of detail placed into every level. Best of all, the game's textures are always convincing and it's fun to see how the different power-ups affect the graphics. The game not only looks good from afar, but also up close. Since you can control the camera you can see everything from up close, and that's really where the graphics shine. And while there's no question that this game looks best on an HDTV, I was impressed at how good it looked on a regular standard definition set.

While not as shiny, the controls are also good. The problem I've had with a lot of these marble games is that they are generally difficult to control. Thankfully Switchball doesn't suffer from this problem; the game has solid controls that are generally easy to use. There are a few times when controlling the game is tricky, but it's never so bad that you want to give up all together. While Switchball isn't doing anything new (you are rolling a marble around a maze, after all), the controls perfectly suit what the developers are trying to do.

With only 30 puzzles to solve one could complain that Switchball is a little too short for its own good. While it would have been nice to get a few more levels, the 30 different puzzles will take you some time to figure out. The game starts out nice and easy, but by the end of the game you'll be using all of your skills to figure out how to find the exit. There isn't enough here to warrant a full box release, but as a small $10 download Switchball makes a lot of sense. You get a lot of content for your ten bucks and a nice challenge. It's not for everybody, but if you enjoy rolling marbles around three-dimensional mazes then Switchball is the right game for you.

SUMMARY: Switchball doesn't try to be anything it's not. Not only is this one of the best puzzle games on the Xbox Live Arcade, but it's also a fantastic looking game with a compelling gimmick. If you had fun playing with marbles as a kid then Switchball is the game for you!

Arkadian Warrior (XBLA) Review

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 20:35:12 +0000

Arkadian Warrior

Publisher: Sierra Online
Developer: Wanako Studios
Genre: Action/Adventure
System: Xbox Live Arcade
Written By: Cyril Lachel

Grade: 5.0

Over the last two years Microsoft and its third parties have done an amazing job of offering nearly every different type of game on the Xbox Live Arcade service. From old school arcade games to puzzlers to 2D shooters to fighters, the Xbox Live Arcade has given fans of all genres something to spend their Microsoft Points on. Unfortunately there's one genre that has until recently been ignored on the Xbox Live Arcade. I'm of course talking about the Diablo-style dungeon crawler, the kind of game where it's level after level of hacking and slashing.

Thankfully Sierra Online listened to all of those dungeon crawler fans, because Arkadian Warrior is exactly what you expect it to be. It's the kind of game where you venture deep into the earth and kill as many bad guys as possible, all while completing quests and picking up fallen treasures. In other words, it's exactly like every other hack 'n slash game you've ever played, only this time with achievement points and Xbox Live support.

In Arkadian Warrior you play a heroic intern that seems to show up at just the right time to destroy some dark evil that is menacing the town. Before long you will be tasked with a lot of familiar missions, including ones where you have to kill a certain amount of enemies and ones where you have to pick up a certain amount of treasure. Once you've completed your quest a magical portal will appear and take you right back to town, where you will be given another familiar task to complete. In total there's about six hours of this back and forth in the single-player campaign, all of which feels perfectly at home with this generic dungeon crawler.

The problem with this game is that it never does anything new or exciting. Just about every mission is the same (even if the task is slightly different), the graphics are exactly what you would expect and at times it just feels like you're doing a lot of busy work for no reason. At the same time, if all you're expecting is a game where you can go into a big cave and kill a bunch of bad guys, then Arkadian Warrior may be exactly what you're looking for. But I somehow doubt that most people are going to put up with six hours of repetitive hacking and slashing, I know I got bored of the repetition within the first hour.

As expected, Arkadian Warrior does offer a few different characters to choose from, but don't expect that to change the overall campaign all that drastically. From the get-go you will have a choice between a soldier (who is good with blade weapons), an archer (who is good at long distances) and a sorceress (who floats around, looks good in a skin-tight blue costume and throws a mean fireball). But don't get too excited, outside of offering slightly different special moves, these three characters are essentially identical. That's not to say that you won't like one more than the others, but at the same time none of these characters changes the story enough to warrant playing through the game three different times.

When it comes right down to it, the most important part of making a dungeon crawler is giving gamers interesting dungeons to explore. This is the biggest problem with Arkadian Warrior; none of the levels are all that interesting. It doesn't help that most of the levels look the same, level after level you're asked to fight your way through the same boring caves fighting the same boring enemies. To make matters worse, all of these different levels start to blend together after awhile. The fact that there are slightly different textures and a subtle change in color doesn't alter the fact that you're essentially doing the same thing over and over for very little reward.

That's the other big problem with the game; it never feels like there's much of a reason for you to be performing these tasks. This town that is supposedly under attack looks peaceful to me, and if these townsfolk were so desperate for help then why am I getting paid at minimum wage levels? And that's not the worst of it, Wanako Studios has taken away the most addictive aspect of a dungeon crawler - the ability to pick up the enemy's dropped treasure/weapons. It's not that you can't pick up the fallen loot, but when it comes right down to it there's no reason to. The weapons the enemy's drop barely nets you any money and you'll never want to equip it because you will already have better items. I found myself simply avoiding most of the dropped treasure when I played the game, which defeats the whole purpose of this type of game in my opinion.

Thankfully there are a couple of nice things to say about Arkadian Warriors. For one thing, it's nice that you're able to play through this game with an online friend, having a second person around will definitely diminish the monotony. I also enjoyed the fact that this game isn't too wordy, I'm sick and tired of Diablo-clones that spend ten minutes explaining a story you honestly don't care about. All you want to do is jump down a hole and start killing things, the fact that there's this exciting good vs. evil story in the backdrop is just the gravy.

The one thing Arkadian Warrior does manage to get right is the actual hacking and slashing mechanic. While it's not as good as some dungeon crawlers, the controls in this game are easy to manage and never get in the way. The game gives you a different button for everything you could want (attack, magic, block, etc.), and Wanako Studios even went ahead and gave us a lock-on button (which makes one on one battles a lot easier to manage). Unfortunately all of these good things are squandered by a game that is just boring and repetitious.

The game's presentation is also something of a mixed bag. It's not that Arkadian Warrior looks bad, but the game never pops off the screen the way that the best looking Xbox Live Arcade games do. Also, I noticed that everything got real ugly once we entered a dungeon. While I'm sure that most dark dungeons would be dirty and ugly, the fact is that you're spending most of your time in these levels, so part of me kind of wishes that these segments looked more appealing. To top it all off, the various monsters are pretty boring and they are repeated over and over with different colors (to represent their difficulty, I have to assume).

Arkadian Warrior isn't a bad game by any means; it's just a boring game that doesn't stand out in any way. If all you're looking for is a cheap Gauntlet-style dungeon crawler you can play with your friends, then you might find a certain amount of fun in Arkadian Warrior. But don't expect much more than that. At the end of the day this is just an average action RPG that doesn't try to do anything new or exciting.

SUMMARY: Arkadian Warrior could have been the Xbox Live Arcade's Diablo, but due to lazy programming, a boring story, repetitive level designs and crummy graphics, it just ends up being another average action RPG.

Taito Legends Power-Up (PSP) Review

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 20:33:31 +0000

Taito Legends Power-Up

Publisher: Destineer
Developer: Taito
Genre: Compilation
System: Sony PSP
Written By: Cyril Lachel

Grade: 7.0

I propose that in the future all classic game compilation reviews need to have a 50 word limit. Let's face it, nobody cares what I think about all of the individual games game any given compilation, they just want to know what games are featured, if the games have held up well and if the game has some major design flaw. So, in the spirit of adventure and science, let's try out this brand new style of writing reviews for classic game collections.

What's the compilation? Taito Legends Power-Up for the PSP. What system is it for? The PSP (I guess this format has a few kinks to work out). What games are featured? Space Invaders, Elevator Action, Qix, New Zealand Story, and 22 other "classic" arcade games. Have these games held up? Some have, some haven't. Is there a major design flaw? Not that I ran across.

Unfortunately I can't get away with a 50 word review. Instead I actually have to spend the time talking about all of the reasons why you should rush to the store and buy Taito Legends Power-Up, a PSP compilation that features some of Taito's best known games. Maybe one day I'll have my way and be able to simplify everything to a simple crib sheet, but I have a hunch that nobody would be happy with me just springing that on you like that. Not the publisher. Not the developer. And certainly not my editor.

In case you haven't noticed, video game compilations are a tough thing to review. Generally speaking it doesn't matter what I have to say about the games in the collection, if you're a fan of the games and the company then you aren't going to listen to me any way. The best I can do is try and convince those unfamiliar with the company to give a damn, which is easier said than done. But maybe, just maybe, I'll get through to you this time. Perhaps Taito Legends Power-Up is the game that finally gets you to rush to the store and buy a classic game compilation. I have my fingers crossed.

Taito Legends Power-Up is a collection of 25 classic Taito arcade games, including a number of genuine arcade hits, like Space Invaders, Legend of Kage, Elevator Action, Rastan and Qix. On top of that you will also get a bunch of obscure games, such as Kiki Kaikai, Balloon Bomber, Lunar Rescue, and Alpine Ski. Some of these games hold up remarkably well, while others feel as old as they look. But while there are a few stinkers in the package, at $20 this is cheap enough to warrant a closer look.

The first thing you'll notice about this collection is that it seems to have a predilection for the Space Invaders series. Not only does this collection come with the original Space Invaders (1978), but it also features Space Invaders Part 2 (1979) and Return of the Invaders (1985). While I respect Space Invaders' importance in our gaming history, I'm of the belief that the game hasn't held up real well and that having three different versions of the game is a bit of an overkill. Of course, Space Invaders fans will no doubt disagree and we'll just be arguing in circles.

On top of the 21 classic arcade games, Taito Legends Power-Up also contains four "brand new" versions of the classic games. This "enhanced" mode is nothing new; companies like Namco and Atari have been doing it for years. The four games in questions are Crazy Balloon, Balloon Bomber, Legend of Kage and Cameltry. I'll admit that some of these remakes are kind of fun, doing a good job of capturing the spirit of the original game. However, not all of them are worth playing and the whole thing just seems tacked on at the last minute. Also, for some strange reason all four of the games have the year 2005 in their title (Legend of Kage 2005, Cameltry 2005, etc.). Considering that this game was released in 2007 this doesn't give off the impression that these enhanced modes are particularly new. Thankfully you can just ignore these games and go back to the 21 classic arcade ports found on this UMD.

Like the recent Capcom Arcade Classics collections, Taito Legends Power-Up allow you to customize the screen in a number of ways. Not only can you see the game from the original aspect ratio, but you can also flip the PSP around and play the games vertically (which works out perfect for vertical 2D shooters). From a technical perspective this Taito collection is definitely well made, the menus are easy to navigate and everything is nice and clean. These are the kinds of things that tend to get ignored when making a classic game compilation, so it's nice to see Taito spend some time polishing this disc up.

It wouldn't be a proper game review without some random complaining and nitpicking. While I certainly can't complain about some of the selections on this UMD, I'm perplexed why some of the better titles were left out. I'm talking about games like Bubble Bobble, Puzzle Bobble 2, Darius Gaiden, Liquid Kids and Dungeon Magic. Having a few of these games would have made it easier to swallow the idea of getting three different Space Invaders games.

Taito Legends Power-Up is exactly what it sounds like; it's a collection of 21 classic Taito arcade games. Is this the kind of thing that appeals to you? Well, if you're a fan of old school arcade ports then this should appeal to you, especially with games like Qix and Elevator Action headlining. At $20 it's hard to say no to a disc with so many solid arcade games? I say give this one a try, even if you've never heard of half of these games.

SUMMARY: While it misses some of the company's best games (Bubble Bobble, Darius Gaiden), Taito Power-Up contains more than enough great arcade ports to warrant a purchase. If you're a fan of Taito's classic arcade games then this PSP disc should already be in your collection!

Godzilla Unleashed: Double Smash (NDS) Review

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 20:31:40 +0000

Godzilla Unleashed: Double Smash

Publisher: Atari
Developer: Santa Cruz Games
Genre: Action
System: Nintendo DS
Written By: Cyril Lachel

Grade: 2.0

How is it possible that we've gone three decades without a half-decent Godzilla game? I'll admit it; I'm a fan of the Japanese film franchise, even with their painfully cheesy special effects and man-in-suit technology. But while I'm ready to forgive the movies for being nothing more than a guilty pleasure, I can't extend the same kindness to the various video games. For whatever reason it seems like the best Godzilla games aren't Godzilla games at all, instead they are titles like the original arcade version of Rampage and Sony's criminally underappreciated action game, War of the Monsters. What about Godzilla? Is there just something about this massive lizard-creature that cannot be brought to an interactive experience?

Going into Godzilla Unleashed: Double Smash, Atari's newest Nintendo DS game, I wasn't expecting a masterpiece, I knew that at best this would be nothing more than a brainless action game starring some oversized creatures. I knew that if I kept my expectations low there would be no way for me to be disappointed with the game. Boy was I wrong. Not only is Godzilla Unleashed one of the worst games of the year, it may just be the worst game currently available for the Nintendo DS.

So let's get the good stuff out of the way right at the top. The game has a story. It may be an incoherent story, but it definitely has a story. Apparently some weird crystal meteor has landed on Earth and is now causing all sorts of destruction. As you can imagine the humans are freaked out, they are worried that the monsters are going to kill them all and are ready to send the Army after anything bigger than 40 feet. Like I said, it's not a real good story, but it's no worse than some of the hackneyed plots used in the classic man-in-suit movies.

And that's not the only good thing Godzilla Unleashed has going for it. This Nintendo DS game actually features a whole roster of familiar names and faces, including the likes of Mothra, Fire Rodan, Gigan King Ghidorah, and several others. On top of having a nice roster of well-known characters, Godzilla Unleashed also offers "Co-Op Duel Screen Destruction" ... at least, that's what the back of the box says.

In truth none of this really matters, because Godzilla Unleashed: Double Smash (get it? The initials are "DS," like Godzilla Unleashed DS) fails on just about every possible level. The game starts with you choosing two different characters, one that can fly (such as Mothra) and one that can walk (such as Godzilla). These two characters each take up one of the Nintendo DS' two screens (the flying creature is on the top screen and the walking creature is on the bottom, in case you couldn't figure it out). You play as one character at a time, so from time to time you will want to push the shoulder buttons and "tag" the other large creature.

The problems begin almost immediately. The problem with Godzilla is that he's just too damn large; the guy is the size of skyscraper. Have you ever tried to throw something at or shoot a skyscraper? They're not so hard to hit, mostly because they take up an entire city block and are a mile tall. You would have to be blind to not be able to at least come close to hitting a skyscraper, and even then you would still probably hit it. Well, the same can be said about our hero Godzilla. The character is so large that he seems to soak up any and all of the bullets shot from the tanks and airplanes.

And if the idea of getting shot non-stop wasn't enough, you also have to suffer through some of the worst controls I have ever seen. Basically the screen forces you to move at all times (unless you're fighting a boss, which is a painful experience we'll talk about in a minute), so you walk from left to right punching and kicking your way to victory. Unfortunately these attacks aren't very effective. The punches don't have much range to them and the kicks are only good for taking out ground vehicles. You can jump, but all that does is make it easier for the airplanes in the sky to hit you. Thankfully you do have another attack, which is a charge attack that has you shooting a large stream of energy across the screen. This is definitely the most useful attack in your repertoire, but that's only because you're limited to about five different moves.

For what it's worth the flying character doesn't fair much better. On the top screen you fly around the screen shooting enemies like a classic 2D shoot-em-up. But even this relatively simple task is littered with problems. For one thing the "bullets" (or whatever it is Mothra uses) are completely useless, they are slow and not very powerful. You don't have to shoot the oncoming airplanes; you can also use your wings to punch and your moth butt to kick. No, I'm not kidding, you really do use your butt to kick ... and it's just as ridiculous as it sounds.

So here's the problem with a tag team game like this one, where exactly does the other character go when you're not playing him? It's not like these are small monsters, we're talking about a creature that is the size of a skyscraper, he doesn't just disappear. Mothra (and the rest of the flying creatures) I understand, he can fly away from the scene and catch his breath. But I'm not buying the idea of Godzilla just walking off the screen and not being noticed by the military.

Beyond the control issues and complete lack of moves, Godzilla Unleashed is also a completely boring action game that offers no challenge whatsoever. Every level plays out exactly the same way. Each location has two classic monsters you will need to destroy, but before you can do that you'll need to walk from left to right taking abuse from the airplanes above and breaking large crystal shards. When you find one of these crystals the screen will stop moving and the enemies will completely ignore you while you perform about a dozen combos on the crystal. The object here is to push the combo they are asking for (Y - B - B, B - Y - B, etc.) until it breaks. That's it. This mechanic isn't interesting the first time you do it, and it certainly isn't any better the tenth time.

Once you've beaten up a crystal and dodged enemy fire, you're off to fight one of the large boss creatures. Unfortunately this is yet another reason why this game should never be played by another human being. Most of the bosses can by beaten by simply standing (or floating) in one location and charging up your special attack. Heck, you won't even need to use your left hand to move around for most of the battles. The bosses aren't challenging and they aren't entertaining, they are just there to keep you from getting to the next level.

And then there's the fact that you can beat Godzilla Unleashed in one sitting. At most Godzilla Unleashed is an hour long ... and even that may be a bit generous. I was able to beat the game straight through without even once seeing a "Game Over" screen. The game is not only short, but it's painfully easy as well. Atari does try to get you to play through the game multiple times by offering extra unlockable characters, a couple of new (pointless) modes and art. The game is bad enough to go through the first time; chances are you won't want to revisit this train wreck a second or third time.

On the positive side, at least Godzilla Unleashed: Double Smash looks good. While this is definitely not the best looking game on the Nintendo DS, it does have a unique art style that is sometimes very attractive. I especially like the fire level, which has all sorts of ash and debris raining down on Godzilla (and the city). While the background graphics tend to look good, I did have some issues with the character models. Don't get me wrong, Godzilla and Mothra look pretty good, but none of the bosses look quite right. I would be willing to forgive this if the game was actually fun to play, but it's not.

Godzilla Unleashed on the Nintendo DS feels like it was half-baked. Even if the game was longer than an hour it would still be an incredibly disappointing side scrolling action game that makes a mockery of this giant lizard-creature. I went in wanting to enjoy Godzilla Unleashed, but it seems like the developers sabotaged the project every step of the way. Perhaps it's best to stick with Rampage and War of the Monsters, because Godzilla Unleashed proves to be one of the worst games on the Nintendo DS.

SUMMARY: Godzilla Unleashed is a slow, boring and easy 2D action game that fails miserably on every level. With its terrible controls and short story mode, this Godzilla game is only good for testing your Nintendo DS to make sure it still works.

Indianapolis 500 Legends (Wii) Review

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 20:29:17 +0000

Indianapolis 500 Legends

Publisher: Destineer
Developer: Torus Games
Genre: Sports
System: Wii
Written By: Cyril Lachel

Grade: 6.0

It's easy to be skeptical about a game like Indianapolis 500 Legends. While the idea of making a licensed racing game is nothing new, it seems awfully risky to base an entire game around one race. These days it's not uncommon to expect dozens of tracks to come with your typical racing game, yet Indianapolis 500 Legends completely bucks the trend and only offers one track. It's a crazy concept that seems like it's destined to fail.

Thankfully Indianapolis 500 Legends is a lot more exciting than the title lets on. The game is presented as a history of the classic race, taking us from 1960 all the way up to 1971. Along the way we are introduced to some of the masters of race driving, including A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, Al Unser, Johnny Rutherford and many, many more. Toss in some extremely cool (and extremely dangerous) cars and you have the makings of a solid racing game.

There's just one big problem, the game only has one track. I know I'm said it before, but it bears repeating a few more times. When I say that the game has one track I mean it, there's no mirror mode or alternate path here. Instead you get the same track that some of the greats made history on. If you're the kind of gamer who could care less about the history lesson and wants diversity in your game, then you might want to check out one of the other racing games on the console. However, if you're the type of gear head that wants to go back in time and recreate some of the best racing rivalries of all time, then Indianapolis 500 Legends may be worth your $40.

The good news is that this racer isn't nearly as monotonous as it sounds. My greatest fear was that this game was going to force me to race a 200 lap race eleven times in a row. As much as I love racing games, I'm not sure I could handle sitting there and racing one of these vehicles for 200 laps straight. Even if it was the best racing game in the world, the idea of doing the same thing 200 times just sounds incredibly boring.

Thankfully that's not what Indianapolis 500 Legends asks you to do. Instead you get something called the "Mission Mode" which assigns a bunch of unique tasks to each racer and each year. One of the common missions is to finish off a race, which means that you will take control when there are only two or three laps left in the 200 lap race. In another mission you will need to swerve out of the way to avoid multi-car pile-ups. In yet another mission you will need to pass a certain amount of cars in order to advance, a mode that was taken directly from the Burnout series. There's even a mission/mini-game that has you using the Wii's motion controls to change a tire and refill the gas tank. For the most part these various missions are a lot of fun and do a good job of adding some diversity to the theme. Unfortunately you'll be asked to do most of these missions over and over again, so eventually the monotony will start to creep back into the overall racing experience.

Indianapolis 500 Legends also comes with a more traditional "Classic Mode," which allows you customize a race to your liking. Not only can you set the game up for two players (no four-player support here), but you will also be able to choose the number of laps you want to play (all the way up to 200), whether or not you want to run a qualifying race and what year you want all of this to take place in. For some strange reason the developers have decided to lock all of the years out from the get-go, so you're going to have to go through that single player mission mode and unlock everything. While I'm sure there's a good reason to do this, it's sad that people just looking for a fun two-player game have to go through the single player experience to unlock the most crucial parts of the game.

Outside of the two main modes there's not much else to do. Beyond viewing your profile and changing the options, the only thing left for you to do is check out the Indianapolis 500 Museum. As you can guess from the name, the museum is a collection of photographs and videos from the race's history. While this isn't the kind of thing I look for in a racing game, I'm sure there are plenty of Indianapolis 500 fans who love seeing this kind of nostalgic footage.

While a lot of Wii games give you a number of different control options, Indianapolis 500 Legends limits you to one way to play the game. Thankfully the one and only control scheme works well for what the game is trying to accomplish. You won't need the nunchuk for this racing game; instead you take the standard Wii remote and flip it on its side. You play the entire game like a steering wheel, similar to what we saw in Nintendo's launch title, Excite Truck. I've had issues with this control set-up in the past, but I was pleasantly surprised by the feel of the game. Perhaps it has to do with the way the cars handle (kind of like a missile with wheels) or maybe Torus Games did a good job of balancing out the controls, but whatever it is the game feels good.

Then again, in the year 2008 we should expect that every racing game released should have workable controls. The fact that Indianapolis 500 Legends is easy to steer shouldn't even be something I should have to address. The big problem is that the controls are perfectly unremarkable. The game's one noteworthy gameplay mechanic is the drafting boost (when you are behind a car an invisible gauge will fill up that allows you to push the "B" button and get a short boost of speed). Unfortunately even this is nothing new; we've already seen this kind of mechanic employed in games like Midnight Club and Burnout. As it stands the controls in Indianapolis 500 Legends are good, but not great.

The graphics are also good, though rarely memorable. This kind of game is all about small details and the nuance between the years, and Indianapolis 500 Legends manages to get a lot of that right. The problem is that the artists are being asked to make small changes to the level they've completed, which sounds more like busy work when you think about it. The developers do a good job of recreating the world of 1960s auto racing, but none of the effects are going to wow you.

The game does have one thing going for it - the cars. While I'm not usually much of a car person, even I was interested in all of the different makes and models. After playing racing games for so many years I thought I had seen it all, but Indianapolis 500 Legends allows me to race in the vintage cars that I've only low-budget drive-in movies. I'll admit that it's also fun to watch how the cars evolve over the decade covered in this game. The game is certainly good at telling an intriguing story of drivers and their cars, I'm not sure that's worth the price of the game, but Indianapolis 500 Legends definitely gets that one thing right.

Going into Indianapolis 500 Legends I was skeptical about the gimmick, I worried that I wouldn't enjoy going through the same course over and over again. Now that I've gone through the full experience I'm not going to say that I'm completely sold on the concept, but this certainly isn't a bad racing game. I won't lie to you, the game does get repetitive and I could have done with more variety, but at the same time I'm not sure what I would have added to the game. At best Indianapolis 500 Legends is an interesting experiment, at worst it's a slightly above average racing game.

SUMMARY: As far as racing games with only one track goes, Indianapolis 500 Legends isn't half bad. Unfortunately its limited scope makes it difficult to recommend over some of the better racing games on the console.

Luke's Game Space

Tue, 22 Jan 2008 04:46:57 +0000

Hey has anyone else been to this new game tournament place in O'Fallon?

I went there the other day and registered The A-Team for a Call of Duty 4 Tournament coming up this Thursday and Gears of War tournament in February.

They had 6 PS3s there, about 16 Xbox 360s, and like 8 Wiis.

Cloverfield

Tue, 22 Jan 2008 02:02:24 +0000

I know that we have had discussions about "games and movies based on them", in the past. But people this movie was off the chain! I gotta say that this would a "great game based on a movie".

Everthing was nonstop and with the way it was filmed was excellent. I have heard heated discussion about folks who flat out think that movies and games based off of them pretty much suck. With this one I would have to disagree because it's the exact opposite. If you have already seen the movie then speak on it. I would love to hear what other people have to say.

M.

Rock Band Stage Kit

Sun, 20 Jan 2008 02:57:18 +0000

Rumor has it the there will be a new addition to the Rock Band arsenal... The Rock Band Stage Kit, which includes an interactive light show with the fog machine as the added bonus. Unless it a spectacular light show like ELO did back in the day. I can't see the joy in spending 100 bucks for something that you could set up with Uncle Joe's Marine boat lights, a pack of Duaracells, and a humidifier. Since I am limited on the details I won't clown it too much, so can anyone shed some light on the details? And would you buy it?

Super Smash Bros. Brawl Delayed

Sun, 20 Jan 2008 02:44:40 +0000

Delayed indeed! Nintendo recently announced that the recentversion of the game has been delayed. I can imaginge that lot of poeple are ticked having preordered the game already. Anybody out there feel the same? I'm a little disappointed, but I guess that kinda thing is to be expected.

Army of Two Giveaway

Sat, 19 Jan 2008 20:50:18 +0000

I just got Blade's message about the Army of Awo giveaway. It is going to be similar to the Halo 3 giveaway where we just need to post and be involved on the site?

Are there going to be bonuses for being on member teams?

PSP just got more better

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 00:01:49 +0000

Hey, the PSP is coming out with a keyboard, and a camera. Now the PSP is going to be the piece of pocket tech around...damn you apple!

Sony Computer Entertainment America reps confirmed to GameSpot that both peripherals will be available in North America by the end of the year. No specific time frame was given, but we're hoping sooner rather than later.

Found this little quick hit after talking with someone from gamestop.

Ghost Busters 2008?

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 04:19:34 +0000

Oh yes, it appears to be true. Ghostbusters is back as a video game after a long rest, but will it make it? My hopes are that it will give justice to the movie with the game being on point.

I had some issues posting the pics so here is the site:

http://www.sierra.com/en/products/ghostbus...ot.67017.0.html

This is one of my favorite movies from back in the day. The game is supposed to come out in Oct. of 2008, and it should be available on the Xbox 360, PS2, PS3, Wii, PC, and Nintendo DS.

Hopefully Sierra/Vivendi Games can knock this one out of the park. As of lafte I have been somewhat disappointed by games modeled after movies, but since Dan Ackroyd has been involved with the development of the game and it is supposed to be set back in 1991. I really hope that there will very many redeeming qualities about the game.

Any fans of the movie out there? What do you think? Just, Don't cross the streams!

New Changes Coming

Sun, 06 Jan 2008 05:02:57 +0000

Hey guys I know I've been a little missing in action latley and that's because I've been working on new changes for this message board and changes to the new website we are puting together. The changes are taking a while to come but will be more than worth it. We are looking at adding more community features like blogs, member pages, and video uploads.

We are looking at a launch date for around Jan 15th but no later than Jan 31st. So if there are any features you guys are looking for please let us know and if possible we will include them in our changes.

BladeEx1

HappyNew Year!!!!

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 06:49:07 +0000

Hey it's been a long and busy year for us here at AGZ. Thanks to everyone that visited the site and helped us make it one more year. this upcoming year is going to be a great one for AGZ with some much needed upgrades to the main website and more of what you guys came to love about us....Tournaments!!!! Grat announcements coming soon!

PSP virus 2005

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 23:36:09 +0000

I was browsing around and came across an article regarding the PSP virus reported back in 2005. THe way that users were infected was that they had to download a,"downgrader" which was supposed to reverse the firmware from 2.0 to 1.5. So Sony put the laid the smack down and said that they would not support the virus victims, because they should not have been modifying their PSP via and unauthorized method.

Were any of you affected by the PSP virus? If so, How did you resolve it?

Great Moments In Forum History (Part 1): John Deere

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 22:04:55 +0000

As a lot of you already know I get a lot of games for free to review. When I tell people this most of them think this is a great thing, they can't believe how incredibly lucky I am to get these games without paying for them. But what they don't realize is that from time to time I actually have to play some poor games. I'm not just talking about games like Kane & Lynch that are a 6.0 - 6.5, I'm talking about really bad games that aren't worth the disc they are printed on.

This is the case with John Deere Harvest in the Heartland. It's a farm simulator for the Nintendo DS with a heavy emphasis on John Deere. Okay, let's just be clear about this, Harvest in the Heartland is a big advertisement for John Deere products. This part doesn't bother me, it's everything else about the game that does. Whenever I get a bad game I like to go to the GameFAQs forums and see how fans of the game defend these terrible titles. Usually they just complain that the critics are biased, but from time to time I actually find a post that is so stupid that I feel like telling everybody about it. And that's what I have for you today.

This post comes to us from SuperMarioDSFa (whatever that means) on the John Deere Harvest in the Heartland GameFAQs forum:

"i love our tha sweet tea. its da ho down bomb digity. YYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE HHHHHHHAAAAAAWWWW"

For what it's worth, I don't think this person was actually being serious. The long YEEE HAW at the end gives off the impression that he's just kidding. But can somebody please explain to me what he's talking about? "I love our tha sweet tea"? What does that even mean? And how is it the "down bomb digity"? Am I just not hip with the slang? What the hell is he trying to say?

Rock Band (Xbox 360) Review

Sun, 09 Dec 2007 23:32:33 +0000

Rock Band

Publisher: Electronic Arts/MTV
Developer: Harmonix Music Systems
Genre: Music/Action
System: Xbox 360
Written By: Cyril Lachel

Grade: 9.1

They say that good things come in small packages. They lie. Rock Band proves without a shadow of a doubt that size really matters. From the moment you take a look at Rock Band's massive box (measuring at one foot tall and around two and a half feet long) you know that you're getting something important. You know that you're getting something substantial; something that is going to change your life. And it better, at $170 this Xbox 360 game doesn't come cheap. But if you can get over the larger than normal price tag you'll find that Rock Band is easily one of the best games of the year and a phenomenal multiplayer experience.

In essence Rock Band is the combination of everything Harmonix Music Systems has worked up to this point. Like Guitar Hero, Rock Band offers you control over the lead guitar or a bass guitar. Like Karaoke Revolution, Rock Band gives you a microphone and wants you to sing us a song. And even the drumming mechanic (which is the game's biggest innovation) often feels like a slightly altered version of Amplitude. As individual games these titles were amazing, so you can only imagine how much better they are when you put them all together and tie them into the most compelling storyline since PaRappa the Rapper. It's official, Rock Band rocks!

After you've ogled the large box (and its pretty pictures), I think it's about time we open up this package and see what we're in store for. Right off the bat the game comes with a fake plastic guitar, this time modeled off of the popular Fender Stratocaster. The guitar is a little larger than what RedOctane and Activision are giving out in Guitar Hero III, and there are a few more knobs and buttons on this Rock Band guitar. There are also five more buttons you can push down. These buttons are located right next to the body of the guitar (where you strum) and are specifically made for solos. You don't have to move your entire hand down to these smaller frets, but if you do you will be able to hit the notes without strumming. Unfortunately the guitar is wired, so expect to always be tethered to the console.

The actual guitar portion of Rock Band looks and feels much like Guitar Hero, and for good reason, since Harmonix was the company that turned that game into the mega-selling franchise it is today. The controls work the same as before, a series of notes and chords will come your way and it's your job to hold down the right button and strum the guitar at exactly the right time. This concept is made even easier when you realize that there's not a person in the United States who has never seen a guitar in their life. Getting the timing just right may take some practice, but acting like a rock star should come naturally.

If playing the lead guitar is just too much for you to stand, you can also use your trusty fake plastic guitar to play the bass parts. As you would imagine the bass parts are insanely simple (even on the hardest difficulty setting) and there's not a lot for you to do. The bass is a perfect place for novice Rock Band fans to sharpen their chops before jumping into the wild world of lead guitar. For whatever reason the Rock Band box does not come with a second guitar, so you won't be able to play both the lead and bass guitars until the publisher decides to release some stand-alone accessories.

Putting the guitar down for a minute, let's see what else we can dig out of this huge box. Next up we have the drum set, which is definitely the most exciting addition to the collection. Obviously there's no way for Harmonix to create a drum kit that is as large and involved as a real drum kit. Not only would that be entirely too expensive, but where would you even keep it? So the company has done the next best thing, they've created a drum kit that looks a lot like an electric drum, but feels like a real drum set. You even get drumsticks and a foot-peddle to complete the experience.

In game the drum mode is set up a lot like the guitar was, only instead of strumming notes you are hitting the drums at just the right times. Basically you have four colored notes that scroll towards you; it's your job to hit those different notes with four corresponding colored drums. Occasionally a long horizontal line pops up, that's your cue to hit the foot peddle. Of course, all this sounds easier than it actually is. Like any real drummer, you're going to have to get used to using both arms and one leg at the exact same time. Thankfully the game starts you off easy, but by the time you've hit the harder difficulties you will basically be drumming. The drums are difficult, but they can be the most rewarding fake plastic instrument packaged in the box. In fact, learning to play these fake drums may give you the fundamental information for learning to play real drums.

The last instrument found in this box is the official Rock Band microphone. I've had some experience with video game microphones in the past, both with Sing Star and Karaoke Revolution, so I say with some authority in the subject that this Rock Band mic is far and away the best gaming microphone yet. The little unit is good sized and has a solid feeling to it. It also comes with a long cord, so feel free to run around your virtual stage dancing with your guitarist and cheering on your drummer.

The actual singing part works a lot like other karaoke games, such as Sing Star. Basically words will scroll by the bottom of the screen (or, if you're playing multi-player then your box is at the top) and try to sing along hitting the right pitch. There will be a little arrow that will show you where you're pitch is, the object is to get that arrow to where the game says the right pitch is. From time to time you will have "spoken" parts; this is where you can talk out the words without worrying about the pitch. Most of the songs in Rock Band do not use these spoken portions, but from time to time you'll find a song with an excessive amount of talking. In fact, at no point do you do anything but "talk" (well, rap) when trying to sing Sabotage by the Beastie Boys. Thankfully most of the songs aren't that easy.

So now you have Rock Band all set up and you're ready to do some rocking. I'm talking about the kind of rocking where the cops show up, you trash a hotel room and you're head deep with beautiful young groupies. If that's the kind of rocking you want to do, then you will have a number of different options to select from. The single-player game is basically split up into several parts, two for each of the instruments in the package. When playing the game with the guitar, drums or microphone, you will be asked if you want to play a quickplay game or go ahead with the solo career.

The solo career works in much the same way Guitar Hero did, there's a loose story about some musician who starts in some dive bar and works their way up to playing huge theaters in New York and traveling the world on your own airplane. But when it comes right down to it this "story" (if you can even call it that) is just an excuse to get you to play the game's 45 main songs. The solo career is split up into seven different locations, each with five songs for you to sing. What you'll notice if you go from one instrument to the next is that you won't always play the songs in the same order. For example, the guitar career is different from the one you would be on if you played the drums or sang. The songs are laid out for each instrument by their difficulty, so it's sometimes funny to see something that is one of the hardest songs on one instrument be in the first grouping with another. Regardless of whether that is actually funny or not, Rock Band's solo career is just as solid as it was in Guitar Hero or Amplitude.

But when it comes right down to it Rock Band is really made for people to have a good time with other people. You came to rock, not sing your wussy solo songs without a bass or drums (though, I certainly wouldn't mind Acoustic Band, featuring Bob Dylan, Beck and Frente). Rock Band is best when you have friends over to play each of the different parts, from singing to drumming to shredding on the guitar. Not only is this the only way to see the game's true story mode (a lengthy world tour mode that can only be accessed when two players are signed on), but it's also the best way to feel like you're in an actual band.

The world tour mode is one of the most compelling additions to the music game genre. Basically you and some friends form a band (my band, for what it's worth, is named Kentia Hall) and set off to take the world by storm. At first you won't have any fans or money, which is kind of how it is when you're a struggling band. But soon you'll play enough gigs and get large enough to be booked in other nearby cities, ultimately working your way up to a full world tour. At any given time you will have a half dozen (if not more) options open to you, so you can freely jump around the map and play what you want to, where you want to.

But all this freedom comes with a price. Because there are only 45 main songs (plus 13 bonus tracks) your song choices are a bit limited. Don't get me wrong, 58 songs is quite a few, but when you are playing so many gigs you are going to be playing a lot of the same songs time and time again. I suppose you could argue that real bands play the same songs over and over again, but despite this nod to realism, it can sometimes be disappointing to play a song you played only four or five songs ago.

Thankfully there's good news, Harmonix seems determined to offer as much extra downloadable content as they can. Already there are several packages, each with three songs. And that's not all; you will also be able to buy the songs individually, so you won't have to buy a package that contains a song you don't like. Unless Harmonix deviates from the original plan, you can expect to find brand new songs for sale every week. These downloaded songs can be inserted into the world tour mode, so there may come a time when you have enough songs so that you rarely (if ever) run into a repeat.

What sets this world tour mode apart from all of the other music games is that there are actual consequences for your actions. In most games you can fail a song and just try it again, but in Rock Band if you do that you will lose fans. Since the object is to amass as many fans as you can get you will definitely want to avoid failing out of a song. To make things even trickier you will have to deal with gigs that want you to play two or three songs in a row. Occasionally you get to select the songs you want to play, but there are also a lot of these gigs where the song selection will have already been made and you never know what you're going to get. It could be that you play a couple songs you love and then have to deal with one extra hard song, or it could be that you get three hard songs in a row. No matter what happens, you have to determine for the band whether the reward outweighs the possible risk.

A real rock band is all about helping each other out for the good of the group, and this Rock Band is no different. When playing the game four-players it's important that you all work as a team in order to earn as many points as possible. There's also the possibility that one of your band mates will fail out, which means that you are either going to have to revive him or fail the song all together. This working together dynamic is new for the music genre, and it's definitely one of the most interesting parts of the game.

Contrary to what science tells us, it's actually pretty easy to bring somebody back to life. When somebody fails one of the remaining band members will need to activate something called the overdrive mode. If you've played Guitar Hero before then you'll feel right at home with the overdrive. As you play through the game there will be specific notes that you can hit in order to charge up the overdrive meter. Once it's at the half way mark you can activate this mode to multiply your score and quickly get the fans back on your side. Oh, and the overdrive power brings a failed band member back to life. But don't die too many times, Rock Band plays by the three strikes and you're out rule.

Of course it all comes down to the game's track list, if the 58 songs are no good then nobody will want to play the game (no matter how fun it is). The good news is that Rock Band's track list is indeed impressive, featuring a lot of classic songs from the 1960s, 70s, 80s, 90s and present day. It's also a diverse collection of bands; you'll get bands like Nine Inch Nails, The Smashing Pumpkins, Bon Jovi, Nirvana, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Ramones, Metallica, The Pixies, REM, Garbage, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Weezer, KISS, Hole, Radiohead and many, many more. In my opinion the track list in Guitar Hero III is a bit stronger, but I can't argue too much with the songs found in Rock Band. It's also worth again pointing out that if you don't like any of these songs you will be able to download new songs that are more to your liking.

While I am fully prepared to call this one of the best multiplayer games of the year, Rock Band does suffer from a few noteworthy problems. For example, if you plan on mostly playing this by yourself then you might find Rock Band to be a bit lacking. No matter what instrument you play there will be long stretches where you anticipate making music. This isn't as bad for the drums (since most songs have drums all the way through), but there are a number of songs for the guitar and vocals that will have you just waiting around for something to happen. This is fine in a multiplayer setting (since it's a lot of fun to watch your buddies play these fake instruments), but it can be a bit boring when playing by yourself.

It's also worth mentioning that the Rock Band guitar is not as good as the one that comes with Guitar Hero III. It's not just the fact that this guitar is wired (though that does play a part), but the actual buttons don't feel right to me. To add a sense of realism Harmonix has decided to make the buttons flush with the next. While this makes the guitar "look" better, these new buttons can be a little unruly at times. This is especially true when you're trying to play the two hardest modes and you keep losing track of where the buttons are. Thankfully there is a solution; Xbox 360 owners can use their Guitar Hero III guitar to play Rock Band. As far as I'm concerned this is the only way to play the game, not only does it feel better, but it's wireless, too.

And while this may come off as nothing but nitpicking, I'm not a fan of all of the repeats found in both Rock Band and Guitar Hero III. If you own both games (and you really should) then you will no doubt hear "Cherub Rock" by The Smashing Pumpkins a few too many times, along with "Mississippi Queen" by Mountain, "Sabotage" by the Beastie Boys, and "Reptilia" by The Strokes. This isn't that big of a deal, but as a person who came from non-stop play sessions of Guitar Hero III to non-stop play sessions of Rock Band, these duplicates are frustrating and disorienting.

My only other complaint with Rock Band stems from the online mode. Don't get me wrong, I love the idea of the online mode, being able to play against (and with) people online is a must in any music game. But the online multiplayer feels more like an afterthought in Rock Band. The biggest travesty is that you can't play the world tour with friends online. The problem I have is that most of my musically-inclined friends live an hour or more away from me, so I won't have as much access to the world tour as I would like to. There's really no reason for them not to allow us to play this campaign online. I suspect this will be something Harmonix fixes in the near future, but as of this writing I still could not enjoy the world tour online.

Although there are a few different modes to choose from, most of the choices will be pretty familiar to anybody who played Guitar Hero. Score Duel is probably the most balanced way to play online; basically it just has two players playing the exact same song with the exact same notes, the person that has the highest score at the end wins. The Tug of War is slightly different, but is generally the same principle. In this mode you won't be playing the same notes, the two players will take turns back and forth playing different strings of notes. Whoever has their meter most filled by the end of the song is the winner.

While these music games have never been about stellar graphics, I really like the art design of Rock Band. None of the characters look photorealistic; instead Harmonix is going for a simple look with features that stand out. Unlike Guitar Hero you actually get to construct your own rocker, it's that rocker who you will tour the world with and who you will earn points with. Better yet, it's that rocker that you will get to dress up and buy stuff for. When your virtual avatar is offstage their simple look isn't anything to write home about, but once they start rocking you'll be fixated on the well-animated moves. It's not that the game looks great; it's that it got all of the animations and style right. It always looks like the characters are singing their songs, playing the right notes and hitting those drums in beat with the song. When the singer is not singing he (or she) will be running around the stage getting the crowd going. The animations are absolutely perfect, they really give off the impression that Harmonix paid a lot of attention to how musicians actually move.

Unfortunately the stages aren't nearly as interesting as the animation. In all there are around 40 different venues for you to play, but only a few really stand out. The reason for this is the camera angle, you rarely see past the first few rows and it's always dark. What you can make out is well detailed, but these levels are nowhere near as interesting as what you saw in Guitar Hero III. On the other hand, there are a lot of levels and they do put forth the right atmosphere every time.

One thing you won't be disappointed with is the game's audio. Beyond all of the great songs to choose from, Rock Band also has some great sounding sound effects and crowds. When you first start the game you may be surprised to hear the audience singing along to one of your songs when you're doing well. Although this is hardly the first music game to support true surround sound, it is one of the best sounding games I have ever heard. The crowds are priceless and the way the music sounds is second to none.

I'll give you that $170 is a lot to spend on one game, especially if you're already starting to lose interest in the Guitar Hero franchise. However, it's hard to imagine the fun you will have when you play this with a large crowd. No other game has been able to capture the same feeling that you have playing Rock Band with three other people, for once you actually feel like you're in a band. It's good to know that there's a real person next to you playing the drums, trying to keep the beat so that the guitarist and singer will know what to do. It's fun to win and lose fans on your way to being the biggest rock band in the history of the world. It's fun to be able to download the songs you want when you want them. It's just fun. Rock Band is one of the most fun gaming experiences of the year, and that's why it's a must-buy for anybody who even remotely enjoys rocking out to classic music.

SUMMARY: Rock Band is as incredible as it sounds. It's a big box full of great music, cool instruments and more fun than you can imagine. While not as solid as a single-player game, the game's multi-player experience is better than just about anything else released this year. You must buy Rock Band ... and then you must rock!

Kane & Lynch: Dead Men (Xbox 360) Review

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 12:09:01 +0000

Kane & Lynch: Dead Men

Publisher: Eidos Interactive
Developer: Io Interactive
Genre: Action
System: Xbox 360
Written By: Cyril Lachel

Grade: 6.5

Kane & Lynch want you to hate them. There's just no two ways around it, the characters of Kane and Lynch do everything in their power to make you want them to fail. These men are absolutely unlikable, both men have spent the last few decades killing people, their language is coarse and the two of them have absolutely no respect for one another. Believe me when I tell you that the "heroes" of Kane & Lynch: Dead Men are the two most unlikable characters to ever been introduced in a video game.

But a little hatred can be a good thing when you're developing the next great crime drama. The crime genre is filled with unlikable characters being turned into heroes, look at the characters in Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs or any Elmore Leonard book. There can be a lot of amazing tension when the main cast of characters hates each other, and you (the outside observer) can see everybody's point of view clearly. That's what Io Interactive (Freedom Fighters, Hitman) is going after in Kane & Lynch, the new action game for the Xbox 360.

Perhaps a brief introduction is in order. Kane is a family man who worked for a long time as a mercenary for a mysterious group known as The 7, only to be caught by the police and sentenced to the death penalty. Lynch, on the other hand, is a paranoid schizophrenic who is also on death row. Unlike Kane, Lynch is kind of a loose cannon, you never really know what's he's going to do ... or who he is going to accidentally kill. These two murderers are not friends, but in order to get what they both want the two of them are going to have to work together.

Not surprisingly, both Kane and Lynch are pushed together right from the get-go thanks to a somewhat successful prison break. Before long these two convicts are planning bank heists, running from the cops and trying to put their lives back to normal (not necessarily in that order). Early on this game feels like it has what it takes to be an amazing crime game, there is nothing but cop on criminal violence all around you, things are exploding, and everybody is reacting to the constant chaos.

Unfortunately Kane & Lynch: Dead Men can only sustain this level of excitement for so long. It won't take long before the non-stop bickering between these two characters starts to take its toll, couple that with the repetitive missions and you have a recipe for disaster. There were times when I felt like Kane & Lynch was the video game equivalent of having a kid in the backseat kicking your chair and asking "are we there what?" ... only there's no way of turning this car around, once you are introduced to these two characters you are committed until the end.

There are two major problems with Kane & Lynch's storytelling. The biggest problem I have with it is that it's just not very interesting. The game starts out acting like it's going to be the video game version of that 1995 movie, Heat. But it's not. In fact, the secret that nobody is telling you is that Kane & Lynch quickly turns into something of a military shooter. You don't enlist in the Army or anything like that, but before long you will be fighting guerillas in the middle of the jungle and waging war against what appears to be a terrorist militia. If you could chart my interest in the storyline, you would see that I became less entertained with each passing chapter. Had the whole game stuck with the banks heists and squabble between the convicts and the cops that would have been one thing, but I really started to lose interest once our two "heroes" left the country.

The other problem with the narrative is that it's kind of confusing. Instead of offering cinemas between levels that tell you where you're going next and what the mission is, Kane & Lynch: Dead Men just starts you off in a new location every level and expects you to know what's going on. It's actually kind of jarring, because you can go from breaking people out of jail in one scene to rushing a large Japanese skyscraper in the next. There were times when I felt like I missed an important cinema or something. But alas this is just the way it was made, the game doesn't seem to care that from level to level you seem to be going to almost random locations with no set-up what so ever.

But I can forgive a lame story and crummy transitions; what I can't forgive are the terrible controls. Kane & Lynch is controlled like a lot of other third-person action games; you control a small reticule and attempt to shoot down as many bad (good?) guys as possible. The problem is that the crosshair is sluggish and you never really feel like you're in control of your character. The good news is that you can tweak the controls a bit, but even after doing that I found that the game just didn't feel right. What's more, the game is clearly trying to get you to use cover to avoid being shot, but the cover system in Kane & Lynch is broken beyond all repair. Instead of giving you a button to press when closed to a barrier (ala Rainbow Six Vegas or Gears of War), the covering system in Kane & Lynch is automatic. That is, when you are close to something you can use for cover the game will automatically position your character next to it for safety. At least, this is what is supposed to happen. As I played through the game I tried my hardest to use the cover, but the computer just isn't very good at sensing when you should be flat up against a wall and when you shouldn't.

Unfortunately that's just the start of the control problems. You also get squad tactics about half way through the game. The problem is that your computer AI isn't very good at finding cover and shooting bad guys, so in most situations you will be the only person actually taking out the enemy and advancing the action. For what it's worth, if you are killed in the course of a level one of your squad members will come over and revive you using a shot of adrenaline. But don't get that shot too many times; it's just a little too easy to overdose in this game. Kane isn't the only person that can be revived; you will also need to keep your squad alive at all times. If any one of your squad dies during a mission your entire outfit will perish and you'll have to start all over again. Early on it's easy to revive people and stay out of trouble, but as the game progresses things become increasingly more chaotic and it will be extremely difficult to get to all of your downed men in time. To stay out of trouble you will probably want to keep your squad close together at all times, which effectively makes the squad controls useless.

As a single player you go through the game from the perspective of Kane, the less crazy one in this scenario. However, if you want to see the game from the other perspective you can always get a friend involved and play the game using both Kane and Lynch at the same time. This is definitely the most entertaining way of playing through the game, since the fun of playing multiplayer will take away some of the disappointment over the game's pacing and control issues. Unfortunately you can only play the two-player co-op locally; there is no way to take the story mode online. This is definitely unfortunate, sine you're somewhat limited with what you can do when playing locally.

On top of the two-player co-op mode, gamers will also be able to go online and play a multiplayer mode called Fragile Alliance. In this mode you are put together in a room of eight criminals who are set on stealing money, drugs and other valuable things. The way this works is all eight of the players will be on the same team, all working for the same goal. But an individual person can choose to defect at any time so that they can take all of the money/drugs/jewels for themselves.

The concept is definitely intriguing. At first the characters have to work together to pull off a successful heist, this means that you will actually have to play your part if you want to see any profit from this heist. The game gives you a lot of room to work, each of the levels offer you multiple entrances and plenty of places to hide. But at the same time you will also need to be thinking about when is the perfect time to break away from the crowd and take the loot for yourself. Do you do it with another person? Do you wait until nobody expects it? What if somebody else decides to do rebel before you do? These are the things that are running through your mind at all times during this innovative game mode.

At its best this mode allows you to play a game that is not only cops vs. robbers, but also robbers vs. traitors. There is a great dynamic here that is almost better than the overall single-player experience. I wouldn't mind seeing this concept fleshed out a bit more, even if that means I have to put up with these character's hateful comments in another nonsensical adventure. But there is one problem with this mode; there just isn't enough to do in this multiplayer experience to keep you coming back for weeks and months. Chances are you'll see what you need to see within a few hours and be done with it. What's more, since this is the only way to play the game online the Kane & Lynch multiplayer mode can be extremely short lived. Hopefully we can see this kind of thing in the future, perhaps as a component of a better game.

Like the storyline, Kane & Lynch's graphics are kind of bland. It's not that the game looks bad, it just looks dated when put up against the other titles being released this season. The backgrounds tend to look good and most of the character models are fine, but there are times when I thought I was playing a higher res PlayStation 2 game. The good news is that none of these problems bring the overall fun of the game down, but it's a bit jarring to go from something like Call of Duty 4 to Kane & Lynch.

While you can have a lot of fun playing through Kane & Lynch, part of me wishes that something could have been done about the poor play controls and the lame story. Despite being incredibly unlikable, I was really into the idea of these two convicts who hate each other working together. The problem is that this kind of story is better kept for the movies. I can definitely see myself enjoying a Kane & Lynch movie, but so far I haven't been too impressed with their video game adventures.

SUMMARY: Kane & Lynch is a good idea that is plagued by poor controls, unbalanced weapons, a boring story and some questionable writing. That's not to say that you won't have a good time playing through this brief action game, but you will have to put up with a lot of poor development problems before really enjoying yourself.

Virtua Fighter 5 (Xbox 360) Review

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 19:39:04 +0000

Virtua Fighter 5 Online

Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega/AM2
Genre: Fighting
System: Xbox 360
Written By: Cyril Lachel

Grade: 9.0

It's about time the somebody makes another fighting game for the Xbox 360! Outside of Xbox Live Arcade games like Street Fighter II Turbo and Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, Dead or Alive 4 is the only Xbox 360 fighting game of note. While I can't argue against the busty babes that adorn every inch of Dead or Alive, Tecmo's fighter lacks the depth that I want from my one-on-one experience. Thanks to Sega, Xbox 360 owners will finally have a second option for their 3D fighting. That option is Virtua Fighter 5, one of the greatest fighting games of all time.

For what it's worth, this is not the first time Virtua Fighter 5 has been released on a home console. Earlier this year Sega released what was supposed to be a PlayStation 3 exclusive, however, for whatever reason, Sega decided to share the love and release the game on the Xbox 360 six months later. While the half-year wait has been excruciating for fans, the good news is that Sega has actually gone through the already solid game and made it better than ever. And even though this is the only version of the game on the Xbox 360, Sega even went ahead and added the word "Online" to the title just so nobody would confuse this for some other version of Virtua Fighter 5.

To be fair to Sega, the name tells you everything you need to know about this game. This is the fifth iteration of the Virtua Fighter series, the franchise that first introduced arcade gamers to the concept of a 3D fighting game. While it's nowhere near as popular in the U.S. as other fighting games, Virtua Fighter has a name for being one of the deepest and most balanced fighters on the planet. And like the title suggests, this version of Virtua Fighter 5 is "Online." Surprising almost everybody, Sega decided to make this Xbox 360 version the first Virtua Fighter game to offer online multiplayer support. It may not be the prettiest name around, but Virtua Fighter 5 Online gets the job done.

For many Xbox 360 owners this will be the first time ever experiencing a Virtua Fighter game, up until now this 3D fighter has only been on Sega and Sony consoles (unless you count the port of the 2D Virtua Fighter 2 on the Nintendo Wii's Virtual Console). Thankfully this Xbox 360 debut is a perfect port that in some ways is actually better than its PlayStation 3 and arcade releases.

Virtua Fighter 5 Online has a lot going for it. On one hand the game is easily the best looking fighting game on the Xbox 360, not that it takes much to unseat 2005's first-generation Dead or Alive 4. But most importantly this is one of the best playing fighting games of all time, it offers deceptively deep controls and more moves than you will ever know what to do with. It also features a huge line-up (18 in all) of interesting fighters that all look and play differently. What's more, the game features one of the most compelling single-player modes ever featured in a fighting game.

But let's not get ahead of ourselves, at its core Virtua Fighter 5 Online is a standard 3D one-on-one fighting game. You control the game using only three buttons, one for punch, kick and block. Don't be fooled by the uncharacteristic amount of buttons, each character in Virtua Fighter 5 features dozens of powerful attacks and counters. Each battle takes place in a square ring; some of these levels allow you to hit your opponent over the side for an instant win. If you've played the first four Virtua Fighter games then you'll feel right at home with this fifth installment, and even new fans should get the hang of things without much effort.

What sets Virtua Fighter apart from all of the other 3D fighting games on the market is how different each of the characters feels when playing. This is not one of those games where if you're good at one fighter then you will be good with all of them. This is the kind of game where you spend months of your life perfecting your skills with one character. That's not to say that you can't dabble with a few other characters from time to time, but the fun in the game is learning everything there is to know about a singular character (and then taking him into the ring and showing no mercy to your opponent).

On top of a solid fighting engine, Virtua Fighter 5 Online has at least one truly amazing single-player mode. Even the most hardcore fighting game fanatic would agree that the single-player mode is where most fighters fall down. But Virtua Fighter 5 is different; it offers a "Quest" mode that gives you a compelling reason to fight hundreds (if not thousands) of battles without complaining.

In Quest mode you get to choose one character and then play as a guy going from arcade to arcade playing virtual Virtua Fighter 5 fans, entering tournaments, customizing your character and going from the bottom ranked player to the top. It's not as deep as a full-fledged adventure game or the campaign in a first-person shooter game, but Virtua Fighter's quest mode is oddly addicting.

Each of the city's arcades is represented by a little icon on a large map; in each arcade are a series of Virtua Fighter regulars who are looking for a new challenger. Each of the arcades has three different Virtua Fighter cabinets, so pick the one closest to your rank and see how many opponents you can beat in a row. From time to time you'll win prizes for playing certain fans and, if your experience is high enough, you may even rank up to another level. Part of what makes this game so addictive is leveling up your character, it's always exciting to know that you're making progress and are ready to fight the arcade's more experienced players.

Of course, none of this would work if you were just playing the same 18 characters over and over. The reason that this quest mode can exist at all is because of how customizable each of the characters is. Between the different clothes, accessories and hairstyles, every character can look as goofy or deadly serious as you want them to look. While none of this changes the way they fight, it is awfully fun to dress your character up in a lot of different weird ways. In the quest mode you will be running into a lot of other people's Virtua Fighter characters, that is, the dressed-up fighter that each real person has come up with. The reason this works so well is because each fighter is given a name and you start to recognize certain virtual fighters based on the way their Virtua Fighter looked.

The quest mode is about more than just fighting strangers at one of the city's many arcades; you can also enter major tournaments and see if you can hit the top spot. What's more, the game also tracks your wins and losses, as well as let you add your own icons next to your name/handle. While there isn't a story in the quest mode, this does offer a compelling reason to fight when you're by yourself.

But as great as the quest mode is (and trust me, I've lost plenty of hours just sitting there ranking up my character), Virtua Fighter 5 is meant to be played against other people. If this was any other version of Virtua Fighter that would involve you finding another real person who was into video games (and good at Virtua Fighter), but thankfully that's not the case with this Xbox 360 game. As I mentioned before, this is the first time Virtua Fighter has been online, and Sega has done a remarkably good job of giving us a smooth running 3D fighter that works with the Xbox Live service.

Of course, no online game is perfect and Virtua Fighter 5 does have a few problems. The obvious concern for a game like this is internet lag; fighting games just don't work right if there's lag while playing the game. Unfortunately Virtua Fighter 5 runs into this lag concern, but it's not nearly as bad as other attempts at online 3D fighting (see: Dead or Alive 4). I have played rounds of Virtua Fighter 5 online that have been lag-free, while other rounds have devolved into a framey mess. The good definitely outweighs the bad here, but I can only hope that somebody will be able to perfect online fighting.

Another problem with this service is how boring and basic the set-up is. It would have been nice to have a better matchmaking set-up where people of similar skills could play each other. As it is no matter what your skill level is at you'll probably be paired up with an expert player, which can be a bit daunting for those who are new to the Virtua Fighter franchise. It also would have been nice of Sega to allow more than two people to play in a room; I rather like the idea of watching other people play before I'm ready to take on the winner. I can't be too harsh on Sega for these relatively minor gripes, at the end of the day I'm just happy that they decided to take the leap and allow online play with this Virtua Fighter. Here's hoping that all future installments will have a similar online mode that only builds on an already good foundation.

When you're not playing online, customizing your character or fighting through the quest mode, you can also check out some of the other modes in Virtua Fighter 5. Even though the quest mode is the most exciting single-player component, Sega did include the Arcade mode, which plays like a standard arcade game where you go from one fighter to the next and then face a final boss. You can also learn new moves and combos in the Virtua Fighter Dojo. Rounding out the list is the VF.TV, which is a place for you to watch saved fights. The VF.TV is a good idea, but it doesn't feel fully realized in this Xbox 360 game. These different modes are interesting, but at the end of the day the best reason to play this fighter is for the multiplayer and quest mode.

Virtua Fighter 5's amazing graphics don't hurt its appeal any. This is easily the best looking fighting game currently available on the Xbox 360, and arguably the best looking fighter on any platform (including arcade). The backgrounds (which include all the basics, like a river, mountains, city, etc.) are full of small details that make them stand out. And you can't forget about the characters, each of the 18 characters is large and full of polish. It's hard to imagine a Virtua Fighter game looking better than this, but I'm sure I'll be saying that about Virtua Fighter 6 whenever it comes out.

While you can play Virtua Fighter 5 with the standard Xbox 360 control, the best way to play an arcade fighter like this is with an arcade-style joystick control. Unfortunately this means you will probably have to invest another $60 dollars into the game, $120 if you want a second joystick for a friend. Getting everything set up can easily cost you $200, which can be a lot of money for a fighting game. But Virtua Fighter 5 is worth it, there just isn't a better fighting game on the market. And the good news is that nobody is actually forcing you to buy the expensive joystick controls, they are completely optional.

Virtua Fighter 5 more than lives up to the high pedigree of the first four games, which should be enough of a reason right there for most people to buy the game. With its amazing cast of characters, detailed graphics and solid gameplay modes (for both online and offline play), Virtua Fighter 5 is the best fighting game currently available on the Xbox 360. We can argue all day about whether it's the best fighting game of all time, but I doubt too many people are going to disagree that this is a high water mark for Microsoft's next-generation console.

SUMMARY: Released six months after the PlayStation 3 version, Virtua Fighter 5 proves to be an even better game on the Xbox 360. Not only are the graphics as good as they can be, but the game sports some of the most compelling game modes found in a fighting game. If you even remotely enjoy beating the snot out of another person, then Virtua Fighter 5 is the perfect game for you!

Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (Xbox 360) Review

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 19:37:37 +0000

Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock

Publisher: Activision
Developer: Neversoft
Genre: Music/Action
System: Xbox 360
Written By: Cyril Lachel

Grade: 8.5

If you had told me back in 2005 that the next big thing was going to be gamers jamming on fake plastic guitars I would have thought you were absolutely batty. While I saw the potential of the music genre, I had no idea just how much the guitar game sub-genre would take off. But take off it did. This year alone Activision has released two different versions of the game on the Xbox 360 (each with their own version of the fake plastic guitar) and a PlayStation 2 expansion disc that offered two dozen tracks from the 1980s. This is one of the best selling franchises of the year; influencing other companies to jump into the music genre. I think that it's pretty obvious that Guitar Hero has landed ... and it's here to stay.

But this year's Guitar Hero could have been a complete disaster. There's always reason to worry when your favorite franchise switches from one developer to another, especially if the new team has never worked on a music game before. This is exactly what happened earlier this year when series creator Harmonix was bought by MTV and Neversoft (who is best known for the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater franchise) took control of the project. Could Neversoft live up to expectations and deliver another great guitar-based game, or would this be the first Guitar Hero game worth missing? The good news is that Guitar Hero III is a rock solid game full of great music and a great sense of style. It may not be as novel as it was back in 2005 and there may be a few too many diversions from the core gameplay, but Guitar Hero III is a fantastic game that everybody who loves to rock out needs to pick up.

Despite the fact that it comes with a fake plastic guitar, Guitar Hero is a relatively simple game. In short, you have five fret buttons and a strum bar, as the song progresses notes will appear on the screen, it's your job to hit as many as you can. Occasionally you'll be asked to hit more than one note at a time (which makes a chord) or hold a long note, but that's pretty much all you need to know about playing the fake guitar. If you've played any of the Guitar Hero games before then you know everything there is to know about the gameplay mechanics of this third installment and those of you who are new should have no problem figuring out what's going on.

But let's be honest here, it's not the brand new gameplay mechanics that has everybody excited about Guitar Hero III. It's the music, and this year's installment features what is arguably the best track list of any music game. No matter what you're into Guitar Hero III has something for you. Do you like the classic rock? Then I have good news, because you get "Paint It Black" by The Rolling Stones and The Who's "The Seeker." Are you more into the modern scene? Then you should check out The Killer's "When You Were Young" or "Miss Murder" by AFI. Need something harder? There's always "One" by Metallica or "Raining Blood" by Slayer. And what if 1990s alternative is your bag? Then I'm going to point to "Kool Thing" by Sonic Youth and The Smashing Pumpkin's "Cherub Rock." And that's only part of the list, the 70+ track list features Kiss, Heart, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Weezer, Pearl Jam, Aerosmith, Guns N Roses, Scorpions, The Dead Kennedy's, White Zombie, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Muse, Queens of the Stone Age, and many, many more.

Best of all, there are only a handful of cover songs. A large majority of Guitar Hero III's music is from the original band, which goes a long way to make this package feel even more authentic. It's worth mentioning that two of the game's bands actually re-recorded songs for this year's Guitar Hero installment, which is an impressive feat considering that just a couple years ago the developer was having trouble convincing bands to even participate in the franchise. In the case of The Sex Pistols the remaining members reunited for the first time in years. Needless to say, the track list is strong enough to impress even the most hardened critic.

The "career" mode is played largely the same as all other Guitar Hero games. You will go from one venue to another playing four or five different songs and then being asked to perform an encore. This year's installment offers a few new additions to the standard career, most of which are pretty harmless. The first thing you'll notice is that the career offers you short cinema intermissions. These brief animated sequences don't offer much in the way of witty dialog (unless you consider grunting to be compelling conversation), but they have more than a few funny moments and sew the story up nicely.

Another new addition is the boss battle. I'll be honest with you, when I first heard that Guitar Hero III was going to feature boss battles all of my hair stood on end and I prayed to the heavens that everything was going to be all right. Thankfully these boss encounters are mostly harmless, even if they are a might frustrating (especially on the harder difficulties). There are three bosses in the story mode, one where you play Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave), one with Slash (Guns N Roses), and a final boss that I won't spoil (but I bet if you think hard enough you can guess who this celebrity is). This mode differs from the standard point-driven mode in one important way; you can attack the second player. Basically what you do is collect power-ups that you can use to injure the other player. The object is to get the opponent to miss enough notes and get booed off the stage. These battles aren't great, but I'll give Neversoft credit for trying something new.

One of the biggest additions to Guitar Hero III has nothing to do with the actual video game; instead it's the brand new wireless guitar. Instead of just packaging in another new guitar, Activision has gone all out to make this the best fake plastic guitar on the market. Based on the vintage Les Paul line, this brand new guitar has been improved in almost every way possible. Perhaps the most important aspect of this guitar isn't something that was added to it ... it's what was taken away. That's right, for the first time ever a wireless guitar comes standard with a Guitar Hero game. This is great news for all of you hardcore rockers who wanted to jump off your couch and really show the neighbors what you have.

On top of taking away the wires, this brand new guitar also features a detachable neck. While this may not sound like that big of a deal, being able to cut the size of the guitar in half is a godsend when you're taking it to a friend's house (or rock tournament). The neck isn't the only thing that detaches from this new guitar, you are also able to take the faceplate off and substitute it with ones that have designs and advertisements on them. That's right, now you can personalize your axe with optional faceplates that are sold at various game stores and retailers. I am not that hardcore about it, but even with its black finish I think this is a great looking fake guitar.

But what it comes down to is how good it feels when you're on your third encore being told that you are a rock god. The good news is that this Les Paul model is the most comfortable fake guitar that has ever come packaged with Guitar Hero. Best of all the wireless support works flawlessly, I never detected any dropped notes or lag issues.

While the song list is amazing and the game is still insanely fun to play, Guitar Hero III does suffer from a few minor problems. The biggest problem I have is the game's difficulty. On "easy" and "medium" the game isn't all that hard; most beginners should be able to make it through these two difficulties with relative ease. But once you hit hard the game becomes insanely difficult. This is especially true when you reach the final fifteen songs, which will have your fingers working overtime. And don't even get me started on the "expert" mode, everything happens so fast that you probably won't even know what hit you.

The problem I have is that these four difficulty settings feel too spread out. The two easiest modes are a little too easy, while the two harder settings are much too difficult. It would be nice for there to be something between "medium" and "hard," a difficulty for people who are looking for a challenge but still want to have fun playing Guitar Hero III. I worry that the game's extreme difficulties may turn a lot of new fans off.

Another problem I have comes in the way of the character designs. Now I'll be fair to Neversoft, the Guitar Hero character models were always a little goofy. But this time around most of the characters look more creepy than goofy. You still get the big rocker dude (Axel Steel), the half-naked skinny girl (Casey Lynch) and the rest of the cast, but this time around all of the models are hideous looking. Every single character has been tampered with to the point where they barely resemble the characters they started out as. It's as if Neversoft sent them to a bad plastic surgeon and this is what they came back looking like. I think it's about time Guitar Hero lets us create our own character like that other music game released around the same time.

Speaking of which, maybe now that we're three games into this franchise it's time we figure out a more compelling single-player career mode. There is so much you can do with this rock theme that you shouldn't be limited to just giving gamers a long list of songs to play. Take a cue from what Rock Band is doing and have us go on a worldwide tour where we can win and lose fans based on how well we played. The point is that it would be nice to have something more to do than just play a bunch of songs in a row. The cinemas are nice and the boss battles are interesting, but I want something more for Guitar Hero IV.

Eventually you may grow tired of playing these 70+ songs by yourself and want to look for friends to play with; thankfully Guitar Hero III has you covered. Like past Guitar Hero releases, Legends of Rock features a strong multiplayer selection that includes both online and offline gameplay, as well as competitive and cooperative play types. The best addition to this year's Guitar Hero is the ability to play online, which allows you to play against both friends and strangers. This is one of those modes I have been waiting for since day one, so I'm happy to see Activision give us the one thing that makes this franchise complete.

Unfortunately not every multiplayer addition is as successful as the online mode. Take the "battle" mode, which is basically just a two-player variation on the single-player mode's boss battles. Basically the two players take turns using power-ups to try and make the other player lose, on paper this sounds like an exciting multiplayer game that could jump some fresh blood into the guitar series. Unfortunately it doesn't work that well. In fact, what I've noticed is that once you get behind it's almost impossible for you to catch back up again. In my experience battles would last no more than thirty seconds, which just isn't as satisfying as beating somebody else's score at the standard multiplayer mode.

Despite having the power of the Xbox 360 to work with, Neversoft decided to leave the Guitar Hero graphics largely intact from the last game. Considering that Guitar Hero II was hardly the best looking game on the system, it's a little disappointing to not see a huge improvement this time around. One could definitely argue that this franchise has never been about the graphics, but it would be nice to see this game given the real next-gen make over.

The one notable visual standout are the various concert venues, each featuring its own atmosphere and small details. Even though this year's installment visits a lot of the same places we've been before in other Guitar Hero games, I still enjoyed the different takes on familiar locations. Guitar Hero III's story mode will take you from a local backyard concert to a dive bar to what is essentially Burning Man to one of Japan's megadomes. While there's nothing mind-blowing in that list, the backgrounds are still solid and you'll be excited about experiencing each and every one of them for the first time.

Guitar Hero III doesn't set out to revolutionize the two year old franchise, but that doesn't stop it from being one of the best games of the year. With its strong track list, fun celebrity cameos, exciting multiplayer modes and interesting story, Guitar Hero III is a must buy for anybody who loves to jam at a fake plastic guitar. You won't find a whole lot that is new this time around, but Neversoft has done an excellent job of ironing out some of the kinks and making this the best Guitar Hero game yet.

SUMMARY: With its strong track list, fun celebrity cameos, exciting multiplayer modes and interesting story, Guitar Hero III is a must buy for anybody who loves to jam at a fake plastic guitar. You won't find a whole lot that is new this time around, but Neversoft has done an excellent job of ironing out some of the kinks and making this the best Guitar Hero game yet.

Ninja Gaiden 2 Xbox 360

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 05:03:55 +0000

Well it's Ninja Day today and to honor the day the guys over at Team Ninja have decided to release some of the video footage for the upcoming Xbox 360 game. Check it out and let us know what you think. Now I have to warn this video may not be suitable for children. To get ratings information please visit The ESRB

Ok now here's the video:

WordJong (Nintendo DS) Review

Tue, 04 Dec 2007 12:53:24 +0000

WordJong

Publisher: Destineer
Developer: Magellan
Genre: Puzzle
System: Nintendo DS
Written By: Cyril Lachel

Grade: 8.0

Despite all the hype for next-generation action games like Halo 3, BioShock and Call of Duty 4, it's the handheld puzzle games that seem to be coming out on top this year. 2007 has been a surprisingly good year for portable puzzlers, featuring solid titles like Practical Quotient 2, Crush, New York Times Crossword Puzzles, and my personal favorite game of the year, Puzzle Quest. You can add WordJong, Destineer's oddly addictive new puzzle game, to that list of great puzzle games.

WordJong is about as straight forward as a game comes, it's a simple idea that is spread across a number of interesting modes. Basically this is the lovechild of Scrabble and Mahjong, a combination that may not sound all that intriguing at first. The way it works is you will have to spell out words from a pile of letters scattered around the table. The longer the word the more points its worth, with the ultimate goal being you clearing the pile and earning a high score. It's a unique concept that is surprisingly simple and may even make you use words you normally wouldn't think about using.

Although it's always best to go into this type of game with a working knowledge of Mahjong, it's not essential when it comes to WordJong. All you have to know is that you can only use certain tiles and that you are trying to clear every single piece off of the board. As you spell out longer words you will unlock a number of items that will make your life a lot easier. For example, one of the items is a bomb which you can use to destroy unwanted letters. You will also have a wildcard that you can use at any time. And while not exactly bonus item, there are letters to look for that are worth more than others, that's the best way to rack up high scores.

The game is split up into a few different single- and multiplayer modes, each tackling the spelling challenge in a slightly different way. The most intriguing mode is the Daily Puzzle, which offers you one brand new puzzle for every day of the calendar. Like Brain Age and other edutainment games on the Nintendo DS, WordJong wants you to spend a few minutes of each day trying to clear a board and earn a high score. Best of all, this mode keeps track of your high scores and which days you've completed.

If you liked playing your daily puzzle and you still want more, then maybe you should check out some of the other single-player modes found in WordJong. One of these modes is the Temple Challenge, a campaign mode of sorts that is all about you earning high scores and becoming the ultimate WordJong player. This mode is actually a lot like the Daily Puzzle mode, only this time around you are earning experience points that will help you increase your rank level. Basically this mode is just an excuse to get you to play a bunch of puzzles in a row, which can be a real fun way to waste some time.

Perhaps the most exciting single-player mode is the battle mode, a competitive game of WordJong played against a computer opponent. This versus mode takes the best elements of the other modes (spelling large words for points) and mixes it with a fast-paced two-person game. In this Battle Mode you fight an opponent in a turn-based game where each person is trying to earn the most points before the tiles are all used up. Because of the speedy pace, this versus mode is actually the most entertaining thing about the game ... even if it is only me fighting a computer character. The good news is that you will be going up against a number of crazy animal characters as you earn gold coins and advance through the ranks.

As much fun as the computer opponents are, the game only gets better when you play it with a friend. For the most part the multiplayer mode works exactly like an extension of the Battle Mode, the two players take turns spelling words and earning points. The difference is in the delivery, since you can play both online and off. The offline game is fun, and if you can find somebody with a similar vocabulary it can be downright exciting. WordJong also offers you the ability to jump online and play games with other people. At least, that's the theory. While I'm sure this mode is a lot of fun, after several days of trying I could never find anybody to go play against. Perhaps it's only a matter of time before people start popping up online, but as of this writing it's barren online.

The graphics and gameplay are understandably simple. For the most part this is a game where all you are looking at and clicking on is differently labeled tiles. Thankfully the developers have opted to add pleasant nature themed backgrounds, so the game isn't nearly as boring looking as it probably sounds. That's not to say that the game isn't boring looking, because it is. But it gets the job done, and that's all you can really ask for with this type of game.

Like the graphics, the controls also get the job done. There's not a whole lot to the gameplay, but that's probably for the best. At most all you will be doing is using your stylus to click on the various letters and spell out words. Occasionally you'll have to push the back button or clear the board, but all that is accomplished with the touch screen. The gameplay is nothing revolutionary, but it's definitely easy to use.

If you can get behind the concept then this will be one of those Nintendo DS games you keep with you at all times, however those who aren't into spelling or Scrabble-like games will likely not be swayed by WordJong. Even if you're on the fence, the $20 price tag may make experimenting with this casual game a little easier to swallow. Either way, I had a lot of fun with WordJong and can see myself popping it into my DS to keep up with the daily puzzles.

SUMMARY: WordJong is a modest game, a simple puzzle game that does only one thing ... but does it very well. There's a lot to love in Destineer's newest portable puzzle game, including a fantastic multiplayer mode and daily puzzles. It's not for everybody, but if you like to spell then here is the game for you!

TimeShift (Xbox 360) Review

Tue, 04 Dec 2007 12:51:26 +0000

TimeShift

Publisher: Sierra Entertainment
Developer: Saber Interactive
Genre: First-Person Shooter
System: Xbox 360
Written By: Cyril Lachel

Grade: 6.5

On paper TimeShift sounds like it has what it takes to compete with the big first-person shooters of the season (such as Halo 3, BioShock and Call of Duty 4). After all, who doesn't like the idea of running around killing people with the power to stop, slow down or reverse time? Unfortunately Sierra's newest Xbox 360 first-person shooter is a by-the-numbers shooter that is guilty of the one crime you shouldn't commit while making an action game ... it's boring.

TimeShift starts out promisingly enough; the game gives us a slickly put together cinema that brings us up to speed with what is going on in this futuristic world. Apparently the evil Dr. Krone has stole a special suit that lets him travel through time and create an alternate reality. Since the doctor is using this suit to terrorize the world and control everything that happens. It's up to you to take an experimental beta suit and defeat Dr. Krone once and for all. While that is essentially the story that is laid out for you, deciphering that can be tricky because of the game's incoherent narrative that at time feels like it's working against you on purpose.

The good news is that you won't need to pay close attention to the maddeningly twisty story to enjoy yourself while playing TimeShift. For the most part this is one of those action games where you kill hundreds of similar looking soldiers as you try to reach the next checkpoint. A lot of your time will be spent behind cover waiting for the right moment to pop out and kill as many bad guys as you possibly can before retreating for cover again. Chances are you've played this game before, because in a lot of ways TimeShift feels exactly like every other first-person shooter on the market right now, from Call of Duty to Half-Life to Killzone.

There is one thing that sets this game apart from all of those other shooters, though. The big new addition to this game is the ability to manipulate time, which sounds like a really exciting new wrinkle for the slightly stale first-person shooter genre. At pretty much any time your character has the ability to do one of three things - stop time, reverse time or slow down time. These abilities will only last for a short amount of time, but if you use them correctly you will be able to gain the upper hand on your enemies no matter how many soldiers they throw at you.

It won't take long before the player's experimental side comes out to play. All of a sudden you're trying out new things that you normally couldn't do in other first-person shooters. For example, it's always fun to stop time and run up to your enemies and take their weapons. Or how about stopping time so that you can literally walk on water? Perhaps my favorite thing to do is get stuck with a grenade and then reverse time, so that the grenade flies away from me back at the person that originally threw it. All of these things (and many more) are possible when you start to use your time suit properly.

As you might imagine, these time-changing abilities also come into play when you're trying to solve puzzles and make your way through the world. From time to time you'll have to figure out how to walk through fire, make it through a timed door, escape a time bomb, and other events. Most of these puzzles can be solved by doing little more than stopping time, but from time to time you'll have to actually slow down time and in some cases reverse time. The problem is that the developers tend to recycle the same types of puzzles without giving us new puzzles to solve. Even worse is how easy most of these puzzles are, pretty much any time you're stuck someplace all you have to do is stop time and you've solved the puzzle. It would have been nice to see a little more creativity in the various puzzles, as it is these events just feel tacked on at the last minute and never fully realized.

Unfortunately that explains the action, too. TimeShift is an extremely linear experience where you go from one checkpoint to the next shooting your gun and altering time. This would be fine if it weren't for the fact that you're basically doing the same thing time and time again. None of the objectives are much fun to complete, it's just the same old shooting gallery from one part of the level to the next. The game does throw in a few different environments to shoot up, but even then the game comes off as repetitive and kind of boring.

Not even the time shifting is very exciting. At first it's a lot of fun to play with the various enemies on the screen, but the joy of stealing guns and reversing grenades starts to lose its appeal when you realize that there's no challenge to it. The game itself is actually very easy, all one really needs to do is activate a time ability (such as the one where you slow down time) and then run around killing as many people as possible. Once you've run out of time that's your cue to run back to cover and wait until you can do it all over again. If you play the game like this you should have no problem beating the game in a roughly ten hours. Obviously you don't have to play the game like this, but TimeShift gives you very little incentive not to just be cheap with your powers.

As if the time powers didn't make the game entirely too easy to begin with, you are also given a whole collection of incredibly powerful weapons that make cutting through the enemies easy and painless. At any given time you can hold a few different weapons at once, so feel free to mix and match the guns as you feel fit. A lot of the weapon selection is right out of other first-person shooters, so expect a handgun, shotgun, automatic rifle, etc. The good news is that there are a few surprises along the way, as well as a few guns that don't act quite like you expect them to. Unfortunately these weapons are a little too effective, which means that if you couple these super powerful guns with the time shifting abilities you will be practically unstoppable. I suppose that's the point of the game, but outside of a few cheap deaths there just isn't much challenge in TimeShift.

With powers or without, TimeShift's story just isn't interesting enough to keep me captivated from beginning to end. While I'll give Sierra high marks for making the game longer than your average first-person shooter, some of it feels like they stretched only three or four hours of actual game into ten to twelve hours of repetitive shooting. Worse yet is the anticlimactic ending that fails to impress on every level. Gamers can have a moderate amount of fun while playing the single-player campaign, but it's hard not to feel a little let down given the potential of the gimmick they were working with.

When you're done with the single-player mode you can always head over to the slightly more exciting online multiplayer mode. The online multiplayer works pretty much as you would expect, only now you have to worry about people using time tricks to gain the upper hand. The way it works online is that you have these time grenades that will affect everything in a small blast radius. That is to say, you can throw a grenade that slows down time and only that small part of the map will actually be affected. In theory this is a great idea that can change the way we play online first-person shooters. Unfortunately this unique gameplay mechanic comes with a few hiccups that weigh this game down. For example, it's all too common for people to rely solely on the time grenades. When I played online it seemed like that was the first thing everybody did when they saw somebody else. I suspect that once the die-hard TimeShift players start to settle down you'll start to see more strategic gameplay, but so far that has not been my experience.

The online modes are pretty much what you would expect, including everything from Capture the Flag to Deathmatch to the One-on-One battles. There are a few interesting variations on the theme worth mentioning. The first is called King of Time and it involves players trying to control a time sphere, once you are holding the sphere you are impervious to all of the time attacks around you. Another mode is called Meltdown Madness. In this mode you work as a team to keep the other team's machine counting down by throwing the time grenades at it. The game also gives you the ability to create your own gametypes, as well as add new abilities to each of the players online. This is definitely the highlight of TimeShift, which is unfortunate given how groundbreaking this game could have been.

Despite its flaws, TimeShift is a solid looking action game from beginning to end. I do have a few issues with repeating backgrounds and textures, but for the most part the game looks surprisingly good. I act surprised only because of how long this game has been in development, given that the title was announced years ago I was expecting the game to look decidedly worse than it does. It's certainly not on the same level as Call of Duty 4 or BioShock, but there are moments when it comes awfully close. There are some effects early in the game that will definitely give you the impression that the game is going to be awesome. Sadly that is before you realize just how average it actually is.

Outside of some repetitive gameplay and a convoluted story, TimeShift is a decent action game with a few interesting gimmicks. Had this game been released earlier in the year when there was nothing else to play I can see it becoming something of a cult hit, but Sierra decided to put this game up alongside a half dozen of the biggest names in first-person shooting. When you have games like Call of Duty 4, Halo 3 and The Orange Box upping the high water mark, it's hard to come out with a shooter that is just average. You can tell that the developers are trying to do something original, but TimeShift is never as exciting and original as it could have been.

SUMMARY: TimeShift has a great concept that should have added something new and original to the crowded first-person shooter genre. Unfortunately Sierra's newest action game is marred by a boring story, an easy difficulty and time shifting abilities that aren't nearly as much fun as they should have been.

Who Is Celebrating Me Now?

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 13:11:58 +0000

From time to time I like to Google myself and see what people are saying about me. While I'm certainly not a "celebrity" in the sense of Britney Spears or Tom Cruise (I.E. - Crazy), I have managed to find some notoriety thanks to my non-stop writing on Defunct Games, Gaming Nexus, File Front and GameFAQs. While I am in no way a household name, I still tend to find a lot of people talking about me, my opinions and my various articles. It's usually a lot of fun and enlightening to see what people are saying about me and my various work, so every few months I toss my name into the Google and search away (it's actually pretty easy, since I'm pretty much the only Cyril Lachel on the planet).

The other day I did this and found something truly bizarre, the type of thing I figured I would post on this very message board. Apparently a little over a year ago I was quoted in the Toronto Star, which is (according to Wikipedia) "Canada's highest-circulation newspaper." It happened in THIS ARTICLE. Here's the quote ...

I'm sure Nintendo looks back at Super Scope, the light gun's younger brother, with a shameful shake of the head. This nearly 2.5-foot contraption was derided as bulky and cumbersome. Should someone enjoy this hunk of plastic enough to play with it for a few hours straight, its six AA batteries would be due for replacement.

"You would think that, after 14 years, I would have gotten over my disdain for Nintendo's bazooka-like gun," writes Cyril Lachel on Defunctgames.com. "But I'm pretty sure I hate it more now than I ever have in the past."

Easy, tiger.

"These days, we hear the word `innovative' tossed around anytime Nintendo introduces a new accessory, but the Super Scope is definitely one innovation that should never have seen the light of day," he continues. "(It) was a tragic misjudgment by Nintendo. Every aspect of the product, from the design to the games, was ill-conceived."

Take that, Nintendo.

But here's the thing, Tamara Cherry (the person that wrote the article) didn't actually contact me for the quote. In fact, she never even emailed me to let me know she was using my quote. What she did was take some of the text from one of my articles (The Super Scope 6 Blues). To be fair, she did use my name and mention the site, but it would have been nice of her to ask permission or even let me know that I was going to be quoted that way.

I know that I should be happy about being quoted and promoted. I should be honored that Tamara Cherry liked my article enough to use quotes from it in her news piece (which was circulated all over Canada). But part of me thinks that this is pretty shoddy reporting. This is the largest newspaper in Canada, yet Tamara couldn't contact me for a quote or even let me know she was going to take comments from an article I wrote? This is a woman who is getting paid to write for the largest newspaper in Canada and all she's doing is taking quotes that she no doubt found via a Google search. Edward R. Murrow she is not.

Having said that, I am happy to see my name in Canada's most popular newspaper. I am thinking about contacting her and mentioning that I saw it, hoping that I might even be able to get a hard copy of the newspaper in question. And what's more, we hired our Toronto-based game reviewer right after this article was printed. I am left assuming that he saw the site's name in the news piece and checked out Defunct Games. So something good has come from it. Hopefully more magazines will start to celebrate my work. One can only hope.

Arrange a Band Audition Here

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 05:17:32 +0000

Look for Band Members here. If you got skills on the drums or can sing or play the axe then post about it here. Are you looking for people for your band or some jam sessions? find them here.

Are you a Rocker or What?

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 05:15:33 +0000

The game is out and a little expensive but for the price it's a deal. So the question is are you going to get it and when are you going to get in here with your band and cause some trouble Really let us know if you are into Rockband we want to know.

Extreme Holiday shoppers

Mon, 19 Nov 2007 00:57:51 +0000

Hey everybody!

You know how when you look at the news and see all the people standing in line, waiting for the doors of the store to open, shaking and freezing from the elements....

Once again it's that time of year when folks go EXTREME for the holidays. So with that being said, if you do plan to go store and camp out, what is it for? Gaming goodies or electronics or what? How extreme do you plan to be, or is the Grinch locking you down?

Tomb Raider: Anniversary (Xbox 360) Review

Sun, 18 Nov 2007 13:48:17 +0000

Tomb Raider: Anniversary

Publisher: Eidos Interactive
Developer: Crystal Dynamics
Genre: Adventure
System: Xbox 360
Written By: Cyril Lachel

Grade: 8.0

I'm always impressed at the bad design issues we'll put up with because we don't know any better. Think back to all of the classic games we grew up loving only to experience them again a decade later and find them practically unplayable. A perfect example of this would have the be the original Tomb Raider, the classic 1996 adventure game that introduced the world to one of the biggest video game stars of all time, Lara Croft. With its insanely frustrating puzzles, unflinchingly difficult jumps and a control scheme that seemed to work against you at every turn, Tomb Raider is one of those games that are almost impossible to enjoy eleven years later.

Perhaps this is the reason that Eidos Interactive (along with developer Crystal Dynamics) felt that it was a perfect candidate to be remade. A lot of game remakes fall into the trap of only updating the graphics and sound, but in Tomb Raider: Anniversary the developers have gone back to not only reimage the best elements from the first game, but fix all of the problems that makes the 1996 version so unplayable. It may not do anything new or original, but this classic remake is a much needed reminder of why everybody liked the original Tomb Raider all those years ago.

This brand new Xbox 360 game turns out to not be very new at all. Tomb Raider: Anniversary is actually a port of a game that was released on the PlayStation 2, PSP and PC earlier in the year. This not quite new, not quite old video game remake is built out of the same engine that powered the 2006 surprise hit, Tomb Raider Legends. In some ways that's a good thing, since Tomb Raider Legends was hailed as a return to form for Lara Croft. But at the same time this opens up the possibility for critics to argue that this is nothing more than a shameless cash cow. I don't subscribe to the latter way of thinking; instead I'm happy to see Lara's first adventure retold using this brand new engine.

If you haven't played the original Tomb Raider (or any Tomb Raider game, for that matter), then here's what you've been missing: Tomb Raider tells the story of a young female adventurer named Lara Croft (think: Indiana Jones with enormous breasts). In this particular adventure we find Lara fighting through the lost tomb of Qualopec in hopes of recovering a mysterious artifact called the Scion of Atlantis. Of course, finding the Scion isn't going to be as easy as it sounds. In order to succeed Lara is going to have to brave the dark caves, fight plenty of wild animals and solve a number of difficult puzzles. She's also going to have to use her acrobatic skills to jump over large holes, climb up rocks and shimmy through tight areas. Will you be able to weather the elements and survive long enough to find the artifact? Let's hope so, because Lara is depending on you.

While the simple story is nothing to write home about, it does its job to set up a reason for you to get yourself into exotic locations so that you can solve puzzles, make extremely difficult jumps and fight a bunch of animals and dinosaurs. It's the exploration coupled with the ingenious puzzles that makes Tomb Raider what it is, and if that's what you're looking for then this remake will deliver the goods. Obviously if you're looking for an involving story, non-stop action and mindless fun, then Tomb Raider isn't for you. But then again, by now you should know what to expect from a Tomb Raider game ... especially one that came out eleven years ago.

As in the original 1996 game, Tomb Raider: Anniversary will take you all over the world in search of adventure and hidden treasure. You'll start out your quest in Peru searching through dangerous caves, eventually you'll move on to abandoned buildings in Greece, the temples of Egypt and the mines and pyramids of the Lost City. All along the way you will be asked to solve increasingly more difficult puzzles that will require you to hunt down specific items and intimately learn your surroundings. While the puzzles in the first few areas won't seem that hard, by the time you've made it to Egypt and the Lost City you'll be rushing for the guide to see just exactly where you're supposed to go and what you're supposed to do. The good news is that none of the puzzles feel nonsensical, you always feel like these brain teasers fit in with the environment and what you're trying to do.

In the 1996 game these puzzles were made all the more difficult by a control scheme that worked against you at every turn. In the original version jumps were practically impossible, you not only had to line them up perfectly, but many of them required you to get a running jump which was beyond frustrating given the title's awkward controls. Thankfully Tomb Raider: Anniversary doesn't have that problem. Instead of keeping the game's original control scheme, Anniversary completely throws out the clumsy old controls and streamlines them in a lot of good ways. Jumps are no longer a frustrating endeavor, the developers have finally gotten it through their heads that the fun of these games is not battling the controls, but rather being able to solve these complex puzzles and navigating the large worlds.

To that end, the controls in Tomb Raider: Anniversary actually feels pretty good. Climbing up and down ledges, somersaulting out of the way of enemies, shimmying from side to side and grabbing on to ledges all feels natural, and I don't think I'm risking my credibility to say that this Tomb Raider remake controls about as well as you can expect the series to control. There's always room for improvements, but I don't think too many people will have issues moving Lara Croft around the screen this time around.

When you're not navigating around the large (and often interesting) environments, you're forced to deal with a lot of wild animals. For the most part the combat is good, though it's certainly nothing you haven't seen before in other 3D action games. The way it works is that you basically hold down the trigger to lock on to your opponent and then start laying into them. Thankfully there are a few additions to this mechanic, including an adrenaline dodge that you can activate at the push of a button. Basically the adrenaline dodge slows down time for a few seconds and allows you to jump out of the way, while at the same time you can pinpoint where you want your bullets to hit (effectively giving you a headshot). But even with the slight gameplay additions, Tomb Raider: Anniversary is still more about exploration and puzzle solving than gunplay.

With only four locations (albeit with several sub-sections each), Tomb Raider: Anniversary isn't the longest adventure game you'll play this year. Part of this has to do with the source material; by and large games from the 1990s were shorter than the types of games we play today. Having said that, if you're new to the puzzles (or haven't played the original game in so long that you've completely forgotten the solutions to the puzzles) the game will take you a good amount of time to complete. I doubt that most people will come away from Tomb Raider: Anniversary feeling that they didn't get their money's worth, especially since this game is carrying a budget price (around $40).

Even though it's hardly the best looking game on the platform, this brand new Tomb Raider game definitely upgrades the graphics from the original. Not that this is a hard task to accomplish, the original is 11 years old and on a console that is now two generations removed. Even though psychologically I know this game looks much better (in every single way possible), part of me can't help but wonder what it would look like if this game was originally programmed to be a "next-gen" game. That's not to say the graphics look bad (because they definitely don't), but at its best it looks more like a slightly more detailed PlayStation 2 game. Of course, I would argue that the late-generation PlayStation 2 games certainly look good (maybe even on par with some early-generation Xbox 360 games), but it's just not the same as having a game made for the high definition generation.

Thankfully the game's graphics actually improve over the course of the game, and just about the time you're getting tired of seeing the same kind of environment, the game completely switches up the location so that to keep you engaged with the adventure. Oddly enough, the worst looking parts of the game are often the cinemas, which look a little stiff and are never as convincing as you would like them to be. The good news is that once you start playing the game the brilliant animation shows up and everything starts to look pretty again. In fact, I can't say enough good things about how the game animates. Even when you're messing up, you'll always enjoy bouncing around because of the way Lara moves around the environment. But at the same time part of me wonders what a next-gen exclusive Tomb Raider would look like; I can only imagine how much better it would look than this port.

While the graphics won't blow you away, the sound quality is surprisingly good. Taking notes from the original game, Tomb Raider: Anniversary doesn't offer a lot of music, but what's there is often good. The sound effects are also nice, though they tend to be the same sort of sounds you've heard in countless other games. The game does have a nice ambience, so I doubt you'll be too disappointed with the presentation.

It hasn't been easy to be a Tomb Raider fan for the last decade. Between all of the terrible sequels and the cheapening of the Lara Croft brand, Tomb Raider fans have had a lot to be depressed about. Thankfully this Xbox 360 remake is a great game that was certainly needed. This is the kind of game that will not only impress fans of the original game, but also introduce Lara to a new audience who never understood what all the fuss was about. With its attractive price and workable controls, Tomb Raider: Anniversary is easy to recommend to anybody who enjoys exploring dank and dark caves looking for hidden treasure.

SUMMARY: After a decade of depressing sequels and lame movies, it's finally good to be a Tomb Raider fan again. Although it is nowhere near as exciting as Tomb Raider: Legends, Anniversary is still a solid adventure game that you can pick up for a budget price. Sadly this is hardly the first console to see this remake, but as they say, better late than never.