PURE Review

11 01 2010

Intro

PURE was released on September 16, 2008 and developed by Black Rock Studio formerly Climax Racing who were previously behind the Moto GP and ATV Offroad Fury franchises. The roots of those franchises can clearly be seen in PURE; like ATV Offroad Fury PURE is an off-road quad-bike racing game that also incorporates insane tricks into the game. The player races customizable ATV’s in picture perfect destinations across the world in an attempt to be atop the world ranks all while pulling of incredible stunts at gravity defying heights.

Can this title be a launching point of success for Black Rock Studio or has this title simply crashed and burned? Continue reading to find out.

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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Review

16 12 2009

Intro

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 is a first person shooter that was recently released worldwide on November 10, 2009. This title is the sixth installment of the Call of Duty franchise but Infinity Wards first work since Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare which was universally praised and basically put Infinity Ward on the map of top tier developers. In traditional Call of Duty fashion you assume the role of multiple characters as you progress through the single player campaign. This installment picks up five years after Call of Duty 4 and ventures to many different settings like Afghanistan, Siberia, Washington D.C. and Rio de Janeiro while trying to counter a new Russian ultranationalist terrorist organization set to invade the United States.

Can this new title build on the success of Infinity Ward’s previous title or are we set up for a disappointment? Continue reading to find out.

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Uncharted 2: Among Thieves Review

23 11 2009

Intro

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is a Playstation 3 exclusive developed by Naughty Dog that was released on October 13th 2009. Naughty Dog was previously behind the Jak & Daxter series for the Playstation 2 and of course Uncharted: Drakes Fortune. Like its predecessor Uncharted 2 is a third person action adventure puzzle solving game. It takes place after the events of Uncharted and again follows the adventures of Drake as he journeys off to explore remote lands like the lush forests of Borneo and the snow-covered mountains of Tibet in search of the lost treasures of the Marco Polo voyage.

After the universal praise Uncharted has received can Uncharted 2: Among Thieves live up to the hype and be that blockbuster title for the Playstation 3? Continue reading to find out.

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Batman: Arkham Asylum Review

23 09 2009

Batman Boxart

Intro

RockSteady’s newest game is a third person action adventure game with a creative mixture of stealth elements based off the famous DC comic book superhero Batman titled Batman: Arkham Asylum. This game was recently released on August 25th 2009 for multiple platforms including the PlayStation 3.

In Arkham Asylum you play as Batman who has just easily captured the Joker which leaves The Dark Knight very wary. Upon returning him to Arkham Asylum Batman’s instincts are proven right when apparently the Joker deliberately allowed himself to be captured and with the help of Harley Quinn escapes the watchful eye of Batman. The Joker soon takes control of the island and reveals his grand scheme. So with only radio help from the oracle and armed with his full arsenal of gadgets Batman must investigate and stop the Joker. Of course the Joker has other plans and leads Batman through an elaborate journey of Arkham Asylum where coincidentally many of Batman’s other villains are being held.

The one true question is whether this specific title can cleanse itself of the problems that have riddled the previous Batman titles and other comic book based video games or break the mold and truly be unique? Continue reading to hear my take.

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InFamous Review

16 07 2009

Infamous Box Art

InFAMOUS is a sandbox-style third person action adventure game that is exclusive to the Playstation 3 and developed by Sucker Punch Productions who were previously behind the Sly Cooper series. In this game you take control of Cole MacGrath a bike messenger who survives a massive explosion that disables Empire City, a fictional world where the game takes place. This explosion caused a plague to develop thus forcing the military to quarantine the entire city. The blast subsequently granted Cole electrical based powers allowing him to traverse the city to reveal the conspiracy behind the blast and the origins of his powers while fighting off the resistance of various gangs and factions that are attempting to take over the city.

Can inFAMOUS successfully blend these aspects into an electrifying game, or will it simply be uninspiring? Continue reading to find out.

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Terminator Salvation Review

10 06 2009

Terminator Box

Terminator Salvation is yet another movie tie-in game that was recently released on May 19, 2009 in conjunction with the movie of the same title. This action/shooter game was developed by Halcyon Games, a recently created subsidiary of Halcyon Company who bought the rights of the Terminator franchise, as well as Swedish developer Grin who just developed Bionic Commando and Wanted: Weapons of Fate. In Terminator Salvation players control John Conner in a third person perspective in a story which takes place two years before the current movie in a desolate and decimated Los Angeles. While trying to escape the area John gets a transmission of a resistance team that needs help and against strict orders decides to attempt a rescue mission.

Can this movie tie-in game escape the cliché’s that fall upon most titles, or should this simply be terminated? Read on to find out.

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X-Men Origins: Wolverine Review

6 06 2009

Wolverine Box Art

X-Men Origins: Wolverine is a video game adaptation of the movie both of which were recently released and for the first time explores the back-story of Wolverine. While the developer, Raven Software, didn’t stay completely true to the original story most of the movie storyline is also in the game. In this game you take control of Wolverine, from a third-person point of view, and release your inner animal rage in traditional hack n slash fashion to dissect Wolverines past and eventual recruitment into Weapon X.

While the premise is great the true question is whether this is a traditional movie tie in game or something actually worth sinking your claws into?

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F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origins Review

2 04 2009

FEAR 2 Box Art

The recently released multi-platform title F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origins is a follow up from Monolith to their successful survival horror shooter F.E.A.R. or First Encounter Assault and Recon that was released in 2005. F.E.A.R. 2 picks up directly where the original left off. You take control of Michael Becket a Delta Force Operator that Alma has a special attraction to and who is obviously upset after the events that previously occurred. Despite not playing the original I decided to pick up this title given the high praise the previous installment received.

So the question remains, how does this game stack up to the ground breaking elements that were in F.E.A.R. and can it maintain that delicate balance between survival horror and shooter? Continue reading to find out.

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Killzone 2 Review

10 03 2009

killzone-2-box-art

In the recently released PlayStation 3 exclusive, Killzone 2, players continue their struggle with the Helghast yet this time on enemy territory. During the assault of Helghan your ultimate goal is the capture of adversary leader of the Helghast, Emperor Scolar Visari. The story is as cliché as all other first-person shooters, but that isn’t what is in question. The real question is whether or not Killzone 2 delivers on all of the promises and expectations set upon it and can actually sell units and/or systems.

First on a side note I have read my fair share of reviews of this game and feel some are simply whining. Are the default controls different? Yes, but that shouldn’t hurt a game especially since you are given the opportunity to change the lay out. As far as the controller lag others have mentioned, that has already been fixed via their 1.20 patch. Is the game hard? No, it’s challenging but I enjoyed being challenged and finding alternate ways to complete a mission or game when the way I was trying hasn’t worked.

Anyways, now that I got that off of my back on with my full review.
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