Author Archives: Nelly

Why Playing Battlefield makes you a C.O.D. Beast

Posted on by
499

Despite what you may read on the internet, you don't *actually* have to choose sides when it comes to Battlefield and Call of Duty.  I know, it's blowing your mind.  How could those pea-brained, trigger happy, Black Ops noobs possibly understand the deep inner workings of a truly realistic battle simulator which relies on *teamwork* as opposed run and gun style arcade gimmickry?

Well, folks, I'm one of those "pea-brained, trigger happy, C.O.D. monkeys."  And I love Battlefield.  It is, of course, a totally different game with its own unique features that make it great.  Recently, I've been playing Bad Company 2 to psych myself up for BF3.  I'll admit, I was totally prepared for the rough transition from C.O.D. to Battlefield.  And yes, it was a little tough getting used to the more open, strategic style of gameplay.  But, again, I expected it. 

What I didn't expect was heading back into those old Black Ops lobbies after playing hours of Battlefield and realizing that my game had become super duper stupid tight.  It was uncanny.  I usually run a Black Ops k/d ratio a bit higher than one.  But after playing tons of BF then jumping into a Black Ops match, my k/d ratio shot up to above 2.0 consistently for about four or five games. 

What the hell happened? After thinking about it for a day or so, I came to this realization; an analogy, if you will.  Battlefield gameplay is like P90X for C.O.D.ers. 

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRA8-rHNrGc&feature=player_embedded

You're familiar with P90X, right?  Essentially, it's a workout program that gets you ripped in about three months, using a combination of diet and what's called "muscle confusion."  You're changing up your exercise routines to gain strength quickly.  

Consider Bad Company 2 the equivalent of muscle confusion for Call of Duty.  Some of the skills you hone in game turn you into a Black Ops (or MW2 or MW or... whatever) beast.

1)  Patience - C.O.D.ers always got places to go, people to see.  Sprint to one side of the map.  Turn around.  Sprint back.  Sprint. Sprint. Get shot in the face.  Respawn.  Sprint. 

If you want to be more successful, you've got to slow your roll down, baby.  That's where Battlefield shines.  It forces you to think before you act.  If you run out in the open, chances are you're getting sniped.  That, or you're getting run over by a tank.  After a while, patience becomes second nature in Bad Company 2 and when you get back in those C.O.D. servers, you'll find you're not running around like a moron.  Instead, you're waiting for the other morons to run around that corner at full speed... straight into your sights.

2)  Playing on larger maps - Battlefield's wide expanses make C.O.D. maps feel like a shoebox.  Add to that the fact that you've stopped running around like a doof thanks to "patience" (see example #1)...  and you may find Black Ops Team Deathmatch feels like shooting fish in a barrel. 

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fk9DAp3cBWU&feature=player_embedded

3) Cover and the risk of death - In Battlefield, it means something when you die in game.  It is to the great detriment of your team.  It can mean the difference between winning and losing a battle.  There's a medic class specifically created for making sure you stay alive and in the fight.  When your opponents overwhelm you, you're more apt to retreat, find good cover, and rethink your strategy.  Bringing that mindset into Call of Duty serves you well.  When you value your character's life more, you're bound to be more situationally aware.  That leads to more kills and more success taking in-game objectives. 

4) Lil' targets vs. Big targets - Ok, sure.  A tank it a big target.  If you're hiding out in the weeds with a rocket launcher, you're going to hit it.  But killing human opponents in Battlefield can be a different story.  Many times, you'll find yourself targeting a player from halfway across the map, trying to take him out with an assault rifle.  When you're successful, it feels great.  Spotting and hitting enemies from far off is required learning in Battlefield.  Those skills translate well in the frantic C.O.D. circus.  With most your gun fights taking place at close to mid-range, you'll hit your enemies with ease.  Hell, you may even feel like you can't miss. 

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTOS0ELXuaw&feature=player_embedded

5) The buddy system - Battlefield rules:  You go it alone, you're toast.  C.O.D. rules: Team?  What team?  You may be tempted to "one man army" the hell out of your next Black Ops match, but remember what Battlefield taught you.  The buddy system is best.  In most random C.O.D. lobbies, implementing even a *little* teamwork will result in easy wins. 

So why align yourself with some faux C.O.D. or Battlefield fanboy squad?  If you dig Call of Duty, play some BF.  It's sure to make your game better. 

If you're an exclusive Battlefielder, pop in Black Ops.  At the least, it'll be fun wrecking noobs :)  

Happy gaming!

It’s Good to be Back

Posted on by
457

PSN fans should be pleased to learn that Sony's Welcome Back Program is live and the network is now completely up, although on shaky legs. 

There's been some debate online about the value of the program.  Some people (including dudes on our podcast) simply want the network to work and say forget the free games.  Others are complaining that the list of Welcome Back titles are weak at best.  They want another five free games, $100 credited to their online wallet, and Sony execs to personally come to their homes and make them a sandwich.  I "welcomed myself back" a few hours ago, and I have to say, Sony's response the the month long PSN outage is more than just appropriate.  It's a terrific deal for hardcore and casual playstation fans alike.

On the Playstation side of things, you pick two free games out of a list of five.  They are:

InFAMOUS

Little Big Planet

Super Stardust HD

Dead Nation

Wipeout HD + Fury

My decision was pretty easy to make.  I've beaten inFAMOUS twice and I'm not the biggest LBP fan.  As for racing games, I own one cart racer (Sonic All-Stars racing...  it's really fun... and it's really cheap.  Get it!) so I've got my racing fix.  Dead Nation and Stardust it was.

I went into this knowing nothing about Super Stardust HD.  I thought it would just be a throwaway title.  You know, play for a couple hours, then forget it.  Oh no, my friends.  It's not like that.  S.S.HD is legit.  I'm shocked I didn't have this game in my collection sooner.  I mean, take a look at the gameplay.  Who doesn't want that?

It's a perfect "casual" game.  I'm a sucker for arcadey titles that can be played while listening to music or podcasts.  I can't tell you how many hours I've sunk into Tetris or Pac-Man C.E. listening to my favorite talk programs.  Super Stardust is an older game on PSN but the controls and graphics are tight.  The game is challenging but not frustrating.  Its mechanics keep you coming back for more, demanding that you replay and improve.  I'd gladly throw down $10 - $15 for this game.

Then there's Dead Nation.  You already know what that's about. 

Let's go kill some zombies. 

Those are just the titles I settled on.  If you haven't played inFAMOUS or LBP, getting both those games for free is a tremendous value.  inFAMOUS will keep you busy for 20+ hours, and Little Big Planet's "create/share" functionality makes it a source of limitless gameplay.  These are AAA titles, absolutely free.

PSP users also get some cool stuff.  Titles like LBP, Modnation Racers, and Killzone Liberation are up for grabs.  Sweet.

On top of all that, you're getting a month of Playstation Plus absolutely free.  Current members get something like an additional two or three months.  Now, I'm not a big Plus fan.  I like my PSN without subscriptions.  But damned if I don't use this trial month to get a few games at a discounted price.  Samurai Showdown, I'm looking at you... 

The only thing left to address is what I wrote in the first paragraph of this article.  While it's great that PSN is fully functional, many users have reported errors popping up while trying to use the service.  I know a lot of it (if not all of it) has to do with the sheer amount of gamers downloading free content at the moment, but it's still a cause for concern.  Sony is just getting through one of the darkest times in its history.  PSN was compromised and its customers were rattled.  The last thing Sony wants is a rickety reopening.  If PSN errors persist for another week or so, it won't do much to restore faith in the network.  On the contrary, I'll be wondering if Sony really did enough to rebuild and secure their service.  Only time will tell on this one.

For now, the main point is this.  Plenty of people have been whining about this Welcome Back deal.  But in all honesty, it's more than fair.  Odds are there's at least one game on the list that you're going to love.  So enough with the whining.  Start gaming.  Thanks to Sony, my already large backlog of games just got larger.

My Big Questions Regarding C.O.D. “Elite”

Posted on by
309

Boy oh boy, gaming forums are blowin' up about this Call of Duty Elite announcement.  To be honest, it's mostly a bunch of hate.  Tell us that we may have to shell out some more cash and we get angry as hell.  But let's not be so quick to judge.  Let's go through what we know and think this thing through, baby.  If you haven't been following the news, allow me to sum it up quickly.

C.O.D. Elite is going to be a new service provided by Activision, rolled out in earnest for the release of Modern Warfare 3.  It's a mega stat tracker and community hub that will offer some services for free and others for a monthly subscription. 

It's important to note, simply playing online will remain free.  So if you buy Modern Warfare 3 day one, you can go home and start ripping it up without paying an additional cent. 

It seems like "Elite" is shooting to add a new layer of depth to online play.  As I mentioned, there will be extensive stat breakdowns.  You'll get your k\d stats (as expected), but there may also be breakdowns of which loadouts best suit your style of play.  Map analysis will show you where you're dying and thriving the most, allowing you to tweak your gamplay.  Part of Elite's function is to give you concrete tools to get better faster. 

From a community perspective, there will be clan support, along with c.o.d. groups, which are expected to easily link up like minded gamers.  So if you really want to meet dudes who are into Justin Bieber (don't judge), you can do so and start getting into some matches.  There will be a system for video sharing, as well as online competitions for what are vaguely being referred to as "real prizes."

OK, that's it in a nutshell.  So here are my burning questions...

1)  So what's free, and what's not?  I expect we'll get the info at E3 (maybe sooner).  Right now, C.O.D. does a good job of providing player stats for free, and I'm guessing that will remain the case.  My guess is you'll have to pay a monthly subscription for clan and group support, along with eligibility into these tournaments for "prizes."

2)  Ok, so how much is it going to be?  No word yet, but internet chatter seems to be indicate the price could be comparable to Netflix... i.e. $8 or so each month.  ***It's important to note*** we know that if you subscribe to "Elite," you will *not* have to pay for subsequent map packs.  You get them free if you're a member.

So, let's say I bought the last two Black Ops map packs for a little over 30 bucks.  For the sake of argument, if I join Elite at MW3's launch at $8 a month, I'll be shelling out $96 a year.  Factor out two map packs I get free with the subscription, and I'm paying about $66 bucks for Elite's extra features.  If there are three map packs released in a year, then I'm paying $55 for those features.  So 50 bucks gets me into tournies and helps me find new online friends.  That's not considering whatever other features Activision has yet to announce.

You can make the argument that's not the worst deal on Earth.  But, that's going by internet rumor.  What if the Elite subscription is $10 a month?  Or $15?  It would make this service a tougher sell.

And what about dedicated servers? So far, I haven't come across anything that tells me if that would be part of the subscription fee, but if it were I could see gamers moving this from the "no thanks" column, to "yes please." Host migration and connection errors are a pain.

3)  What's to keep me from cheating you, Activision?  Prolific Youtuber, Woody's Gamertag, brings up great point which I present to you below.  The concept is this:  not everyone continues with subscription services forever.  If I pay for two or three months of Elite, get a free map pack, then back out of the service, do I get to keep that free download?  What if cunning (and let's face it, cheap) gamers out there subscribe for a month, download all the map packs, then cancel their subscription? 

My fear is Activision will run this like Sony's Playstation Plus, meaning you get to keep your free content so long as you continue your membership.  That would keep gamers from cheating the system, but it would stink for a  loyal customer who, after many months of paying for a subscription, decided to back out.  It would also imply there's no "ownership" of C.O.D. DLC anymore.  When I buy a map pack now, I own that.  But if I'm an Elite member, I may never have true ownership of all the content I get.  It's more like leasing DLC.  That rubs me the wrong way. 

4)  What's up with this leaked trailer?  Observe below.

Maybe I'm nuts, but in my opinion, this does not sell the service.  The script is waaaaay over hyped (how many references to "blowing a dude's head off" do I need?) and does little to explain why you would want to pay the subscription.   It feels flimsy.  Does that mean there's less to C.O.D. Elite than we think?  Or is Activision just saving the best parts of the service for last?  It remains to be seen, but officials better start talking soon.  Right now, even with all the information we have, it's difficult to determine if this will be a solid investment for fans.   

The Collector’s Edition Curse – Paying More for Less

Posted on by
411

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 37:04 — 33.9MB) | Embed

Face it. Gamers love crap. Trinkets. Knickknacks. Crap. It's not our fault. We were conditioned in our younger years, to collect stuff. Action figures, trading cards, comics. You name it, we wanted it. Hell, we still love that stuff. Case in point, the little dude rockin' on my desk right now.
 


He gives me strength

 Now more than ever before, the video game industry is tapping into those childhood urges, by way of "collector's editions."   It's become standard practice for developers to bundle their hot new games with added DLC, artbooks, toys, and other gimmicky kitch.  In theory, it's a neat idea, especially if you're a die hard fan of a particular game.  The only problem is, more and more collector's edition releases are ripping you off.  Hard.

It wasn't always that way, though.  If you look back earlier in this console generation, you'll find some collector's edition deals that absolutely ruled.  Here are a couple examples.

Bioshock - Xbox 360 ($70)

For just dollars more than the full retail price, the Bioshock Collector's edition came stuffed with decent sized Big Daddy statue and a bonus dvd, highlighting the making of the game.  Now that's value, son.

The same year, Fallout fans were blown away by this collector's edition offering...

Fallout 3 ($80)

The entire package came in a collectible tin lunch box.  Included was the game, a "making of" dvd, a thin art book, and a "Vault  Boy" bobble head.  Hot damn!

Those were great deals!  The "collector's editions" just mentioned were well priced and actually included things that were *worth* collecting.  Oh, but times have changed.  The success of earlier special edition releases have given way to a flood of immitators, bent on getting more of your cash and giving you less content.  I've noticed there are some running themes here.  For instance, one dirty move developers pull is to hype you up for a cool collectible statue or desk piece, only to shatter your hopes with some crappy plastic... thing.  Let's take a look.

Tron - Evolution ($129)

This is one of the worst deals I could find.  For the low, low price of ... one hundred and thirty frickin' dollars, you got the game, a coupon to see the movie in theaters and....  a plastic light cycle that goes in a plastic display.  Really?!? I went on Amazon.com just for funzies and checked out how much a toy Tron lightcycle would run me.  The answer?  $10 - $19.   All included, the package is probably worth 90 bucks, but some suckers out there shelled out an extra $40.  Really lame.

This next one breaks my heart...

Batman - Arkham Asylum ($100)

Nooooooooooo!!!!!!!  Not Arkham Asylum!  It's *the* game to end all Batman games.  It's got such awesome street cred!  Don't tell me they screwed us on the collector's edition!!!  Oh, but they did.  To be fair, it comes with a neat little Arkham diary, but the real selling point was the batarang replica.  That's right.  A batarang replica.  The dark knight's *defining* piece of gear, barring the batmobile.  And guess what? It was plastic!  

Blarg.  It didn't even have any real weight to it.  I'm sure plenty of gamers felt pissed about dropping that benjamin. 

One more!

Dead Space 2 ($80)

Comes with a soundtrack (do you really care?) and...  a genuine, certified plasma cutter.  One thing, though....

Yeah, it's the size of your palm.  It made for the ultimate "womp womp" moment. 

The parade of suck continues.  Saints Row II wanted an extra $20 for a money clip and 2 gig flash drive.  Forza Motorsport 3's package comes with another 2 gig flash drive and a keychain.  Seriously, how many 2 gig flash drives do I need?  And what the hell do they have to do with racing cars and gang bangin'?

Can someone explain to me what the hell the dudes who made Mortal Kombat were thinking when they decided to include *bookends* in their "Kollector's" edition?

 I mean, they're detailed, but it just feels like they were thrown in there for lack of a better idea.  Oh, by the way, nothing impresses a lady more than a rich library of mentally stimulating novels neatly tucked between a depiction of Scorpion spearing Sub-Zero through the chest.

It's difficult to notice when you're in the store, but the prices have gone way up over the years.  When Assassin's Creed : Brotherhood released, the special edition was a cool hundred clams.  The real selling point was this weird jack-in-the-box.  Yeah, you know, the lame toy you would have never wanted as a kid.  But now, that it's packaged with a game... it's "awesome." 

Yeah, seems like a great get.  I nearly wet myself when I read an article by Kotaku's Mike Fahey detailing the release.  He wrote,"I need an Assassin's Creed jack-in-the-box like I've never needed anything else, and $100 seems like a fair price to pay to secure one."

Really?!? You really really ***need*** that crap more than anything else?  Fair?  Someone should let Mikey know your average kid's crappy jack-in-the-box runs $15 - $20.  Let me ask you.  Have you been on toys-r-us.com lately looking for the best deals on jack-in-the-boxes?  No?  You mean to tell me you haven't been thinking on and off about pulling the trigger, throwing caution to the wind, and just splurging on that cute Curious George pop up doll stuffed in the tin box?    I'm shocked.  Snarkiness aside, those who spent $100 bucks on AssCreed Broho's "box" really got snookered. 

Here's the kicker.  Thus far, collector's edtion packages haven't increased in value.  They've decreased.  A lot.  Sure, maybe 50 years from now, someone will want to pay you thousands of dollars for that mini statue of all the dudes from Halo Reach, but I wouldn't hold my breath.  Take a look at this...

Halo Reach Legedary Edition - Was $150, Now $99

Alan Wake - Was $80, Now $50

Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (with the AWESOME jack-in-the-box) - Was $100, Now $64

Street Fighter 4 - Was $80, Now $30

Resident Evil 5 - Was $90, Now $60

Follow me? 

In all fairness, there are still some deals out there that give you the right bang for your buck.  While researching for this story, I found games like Starcraft and The Witcher II really pack a lot of interesting stuff in their collector's editions for a fair price.  But those deals are few and far between. 

The bottom line is this.  A good deal is really in the mind of the buyer.  If you absolutely love a game, then spend some more.  But don't be surprised when you don't get what you bargained for. 

That beta was SOCOMical

Posted on by
166

So much for first impressions.  I've been really wanting to get in on the SOCOM 4 beta for a while now.  The other day, I finally did.  And I have to say, it was maybe one of the most hilarious (hilariously "sad," that is) gaming experiences I've had in a long while. 

A little background.  The SOCOM 4 beta has been out for a while now.  In fact, Playstation Plus members have had access for weeks.  Since I'm not a Plus member, I had to wait like the rest of the regulary PS3ers. 

First off, I had to ***find*** the beta.  You'd think Sony would be so proud of its new exclusive that it would plaster the download right on the front page of PSN.  Nope.  If you want to play the SOCOM beta you have to really look.  It's not on the front page.  It's not filed under "demos".  Instead, my associate, Ben, and I, had to search through the "game titles" section until we found it.   

 

Happy hunting, bitches.

Then, there was the download itself.  It took about an hour.  I know!!!  An hour?!?  "Nelly, it must be your internet connection."  No, dude, it wasn't me, it just took forever.  It felt like I was drawing data from a server hooked up to a friggin' dial up modem on the moon. 

 

With the beta finally downloaded, it was time to **finally** rip some SOCOM 4. 

The beta provides gamers with two maps to battle on.  One is a shipping port, the other, some non descript jungle area.  Both maps are pretty large, with plenty of cover.  I found the map design to be the most interesting part of the beta.   Controlling certain buildings or vantage points is critical to being successful in the game. 

The actual combat, though, is a little underwhelming.  Getting into and out of cover is a sticky situation, requiring you to tap the circle button.  On more than one occasion, a wrong button press cost  my Navy Seal his life.  Also, my Navy Seal must have failed his PT requirements, seeing that he moves about as fast as a sloth when not sprinting.  It's a war, dude!  Get moving!

The guns aren't anything to write home about.  You don't really feel the weight or power of your weapon.  That may be attributed to the 3rd person view.  Your melee option is nothing more than a quick, feeble looking swipe.  Let's just say you don't feel like a god when you go on a killstreak.

It's not to say SOCOM is all bad.  There were times when I was really enjoying myself.  Every so often, I'd be matched up with some serious gamers and it was a blast using tactics to storm part of a map and hold it down.  But that happened far too infrequently.  Most of the time, I was set up with a bunch of really whiny guys who just didn't get why they were getting rocked by the enemy.

"OMG, dude!!!  WTF!!!! So Cheap!!!!"

And I thought the black ops community was bad.

In the end, it took me about an hour and a half of time to play a semi-annoying game for 45 minutes.  I write "semi-annoying" because if you actually have a crew you roll with, you'll probably enjoy SOCOM 4.  But if you're a flighty gamer like me, looking for the next group of strangers to team up with, this beta is more laughable than laudable. 

Ghostbusters – Sanctum of Slime

Posted on by
198

Ok, we all know movie-inspired video games are usually doomed to fail.  Hey, are you going to play the new game based off the family movie hit, "Rango?"  Yeah, I thought so.  How did those "Harry Potter" games treat you?  More like, "Harry Pooper," right?  More often then not, "movie games" are laughable. 

But over the years, the "Ghostbuster" franchise has bucked the trend.  The early 8 - bit Ghostbuster game playable on PC, NES, and Sega Master system was a blast.  The later adaptation for Sega Genesis was pretty well received.  More recently, the Ghostbusters full retail game for Xbox 360 and PS3 was met with mixed.. but mostly postitive reviews.

Now, we're given "Ghostbusters - Sanctum of Slime."  It's a downloadble title you can pick up now.  To quote the immortal lyrics of Ray Parker Jr., it's "something weird, and it don't look good." 

To be blunt, it feels like Atari just pulled this one out of Slimer's ass.  I know, we've come to expect so much more from the company that brought us unforgettable, childhood changing classics like E.T., the *original* home version (ha!) of Pac-man, and the revolutionary console with so much power, it could only be called "Jaguar" (well, at least it had Doom, I guess).

Irony aside, the game is lackluster.  After firing up the demo, I could only get through about five or so minutes.  It's that bad.   

Much like "Zombie Apocalypse" or "Dead Ops Arcade," Sanctum of Slime is a top down shooter.  You and your friends are in control of the Ghostbusters.  No, not the iconic characters you've come to know and love... you play as rookie ghostbusters.  The characters have no depth and to make matters worse, the story unfolds by way of comic book style illustrations.  No voice work.  No animation.  Just plain old comic book pages.  It's a technique that ensures you'll never give a damn about the game's narrative.

That's really Sanctum's downfall.  You never really *feel* like you're playing a Ghostbuster game.  The enemies are generic, bearing little resemblence to anything you've seen in the movies. My understanding is that boss battles are better but core gameplay levels are simply boring.  Level *design* is "been there, done that."  In the demo, I think I was busting ghosts in an insane asylum or something.  Whatever, it was just a top down multi-room map, funneling me to my next room. 

The controls are competent and responsive.  The difficulty is set a level which is managable, yet challenging.  Sadly, it's a challenge this souless game doesn't inspire you to take up. 

There is some good news, though.  Atari was able to license the original theme song, which plays during the "start" screen.  Sweet.  So if you really have to, you can justify this purchase by saying you bought a $9.99 mp3. 

I'm normally not this harsh but trust me, skip Sanctum of Slime.  The boring gameplay will annoy you but Sanctum's inability to tap into the essence of "Ghostbusters" may enrage you, especially if you're a fan of the movies.   

More Shooters! An hour with “Homefront”

Posted on by
212

Why is it that every new FPS title released to market is hyped to be a "Call of Duty killer?"  If your game has guns in it, you better get the PR people to whip up a press release about how it's going to totally "pwn" Black Ops and reduce it to a community full of "No0bs." 

I remember reading up a bit on "Homefront" before it released.  Expectedly, there were a number of stories written about how THQ's new shooter would be *the* nail in the coffin for C.O.D.  Hindsight being 20/20, that is a hilarious assertion.  "Homefront" is nothing like C.O.D.  And it's a good thing.

Papa Cheeks and I have spent some time with the multiplayer portion of the game.  So consider this a "first impressions" piece.  There will be no opinions offered about the single player campaign.  We'll probably publish a second article on that a little later.

To get you up to speed on the plot, "Homefront" is about North Koreans invading the United States.  That's really all you need to know.  The multiplayer maps, therefore, are designed to make you feel like you're fighting in your own backyard.  Suburban neighborhoods, farms, and more urban areas provide backdrops for your multiplayer games. 

Usual guns aside, "Homefront" is packed with cool secondary weapons and vehicles.  Tired of running around the field looking for dudes to shoot?  Why not take a load off and deploy a remote controlled flying death bot?  Or just jump in a tank and do tanky things...more to the point...  blow crap up. 

Oh, but you don't just *get* up-armored Humvees and flying robot death machines at the start of the match.  You've gots to work for em', baby.  The game utilizes an interesting "battle points" system.   Every time you do something in game (kill an opponent, provide support, etc...)  you get points.  You can spend them immediately for a small perk, like extra armor.  Or, you can save up and splurge on that tank or helicopter.  It's up to you. 

Killstreaks are set up differently as well.  In most games, killing a number of players simply rewards you with cool stuff.  That's true here, but when you find yourself on a hot streak, your oppenents are alerted to it.  A "red alert" is issued to the other team, along with a high point "bounty" for your head.  It makes killstreaks a rewarding, yet anxiety - riddled experience.  The better you do, the more your enemies are gunning for you. 

Sound a lot like Black Ops?  Hell no.  The maps are much bigger and thanks to dedicated servers, THQ's new shooter runs really... really smooth. 

After playing some TDM and Ground Control (basically... Domination for you C.O.D. fans) it's clear this game deserves attention.   "Homefront" is not frantic like some shooters out there.  Taking your time and planning your next move is preferred.  And as people start clanning up with friends, the game's strategic value will surely shine. 
 

"Homefront."  Lots of customization.  Pretty much lag free.  Robot flying death machines!!!  Plus, the hour or so Papa and I put in felt like ten minutes.  Time will tell if "Homefront's" online community will thrive.  Personally, I fear it will be swallowed alive by the likes of Battlefield 3.    But for now, at least,  this is an easy recommendation for FPS fans. 

Black Ops Double XP Weekend and the Dastardly Map Pack

Posted on by
486

Oh, let us all worship at Activision's evil altar and dust off those copies of Call of Duty: Black Ops.  The title's second "Double XP" Weekend is upon us.  Time to get your grind on.

Say what you want about Activision.  Sure, plenty of people love to complain about how the C.O.D. series isn't forging new ground.  Others want you to believe it's a played out FPS reserved for brainwashed morons who just don't really get where the genre is going.   Internet trolls are feverishly typing away as you're reading this, hoping like hell Modern Wafare 3 will tank just so they can smuggly proclaim, "We told ya' so." 

The truth is, despite the barrage of backlash,  Treyarch and Activision have been completely successful in keeping you playing their game.  Double XP weekends are offering players more incentive to fire up their consoles (or computer) and prestige one more time.  Honestly, I haven't been playing Black Ops much lately, but now that I know I'll get 200 points for every dude I kill, I'm back in. 

The Double XP weekend comes just as the "First Strike" downloadable map pack is made available on the PS3.  Understandably, PS3ers have been a little ticked over the whole "timed exclusivity" deal.  Xbox 360 owners have been playing these maps for a month now and for some gamers (like myself), being left out has turned me off and drove me to play other games. 

But let's face it, baby.  You can only stay gone for so long.  The new maps are pretty fun and offer a new perspective on the gameplay.  That, coupled with the whole double experience thing = "winning," if I can quote Charlie Sheen.

Black Ops is now $50 on Amazon.  You owe it to yourself to grab it along with the DLC.  Get in the game, dudes!  Millions of us are waiting for you. 

Bulletstorm Review

Posted on by
566

Ok, you will *never*....  never, ever, *ever*...  hear me say this again.  This game doesn't need a good story.  I know!  Blasphemy!  All games need great stories, right!?!  It's what keeps us coming back for more!  It's what makes us feel *connected* to the characters.  Oh, how we want to empathize with them and really *feel* like we know them.

Screw your feelings.  Bulletstorm grabs your feelings by the throat, straps some explosives to them, then shoots them in the nuts before watching them burn.  Then, Bulletstorm pees on the ashes.  Harsh.

This ain't your ordinary first person shooter.   If you had a chance to play the demo, you know the game is an over-the-top, bloody pointfest which rewards you for figuring out the nastiest, most sadistic way to dispatch your enemies.

The system is based on skillshots.  Shoot a dude in the head, you only get a few points.  Kick him in the chest, *then* shoot him, *then* blow him up with a nearby powder keg...  lots of points.  The points you earn in the game go toward upgrading weapons so killing creatively is a must.

Because I played the demo, I was well aware of how Bulletstorm worked.  When I popped the game in, I was chomping at the bit to start raising hell.  So I was surprised when the first half hour or so of the campaing consisted of cut scenes, backstory, and slow paced action.  What?!?  To be honest, I'm not really interested in the story itself.  I originally thought Bulletstorm was about intergalactic, ass kicking pirates, bent on destruction.  Turns out, the story is a revenge tale about soldiers wronged by their leader.  But seriously, who cares?  The gameplay is so addictive, so creative, so non-stop and in your face, that pausing to figure out the fancy schmancy story only seems to get in the way.  Don't get me wrong, Bulletstorm's tale isn't bad.  It's just unneccessary filler.  If you don't agree with me, you must be one of those dudes who subscribes to Playboy magazine for the articles. 

Bulletstorm is available on the big two consoles and PC.  Normally, a multi-console release spells trouble for the PS3.  Bayonetta and Black Ops are just two recent examples of PS3 ports that didn't quite get the job done.  Refreshingly, Bulletstorm is different.  I'm playing the game on PS3 and it runs great.  Frame rate drops appear to be non existent, except for a few cut scenes. 

The controls are tight and responsive.  Using a mix of crazy guns, an electric whip, and some good ole' boot leather you'll be bashing your foes with style in no time. 

Without a doubt, this may be the most fun I've ever had playing a single player FPS campaign.  Sorry, Bioshock, you just got bumped.  Bulletstorm's level design is engaging.  The path you take is linear but the path is so pretty you don't even notice.  Developer, People Can Fly, put a lot of love into the look of the game and it shows.

Then, there are the set pieces.  You'll find yourself dodging skyscraper sized hazards, battling epic bosses, and, from time to time, upping your arsenal with silly (silly awesome!) mega weapons.... like a robotic dinosaur.  If you think that sounds great, you're right.  It is. 

As innovative as it is, Bulletstorm does stumble when it comes to multiplayer.  A lot of people are complaing about its lack of competitive "team deathmatch" games.  Personally, I think the decision to exclude deathmatch is fine.  Instead, gamers are treated to "Anarchy" and "Echos" modes.  The big one, "Anarchy," is basically a horde mode.  It's a great idea and a great time...  if you can get into a match.

Yeah, I sat around for about a half hour today trying to get into an Anarchy mode game.  Every time, it was the same old song.  "Lobby closed."  The game even informed me that my network connection's strength may not be good enough to host games.  I call shenanigans.  I have high speed internet and have never had problems gaming online.  In fact, I popped in a couple other games just to make sure my connection was ok.  It was.  Bulletstorm was having server problems or there was no one playing.  Either way, if the problem isn't addressed, or gamers fail to flock to the online modes, the game's play value will be diminished.

Bulletstorm is a wild, inventive ride all FPS fans should check out.  The single player campaign is memorable and you'll most likely want to play through a few times as you figure out new ways to kill your enemies.  The real wild card is the multiplayer.  If the community thrives, Bulletstorm may go down as a classic.  But if poor online matchmaking emerges as a persistent problem or  gamers just get bored...  Bulletstorm could be heading for the bargain bin faster than we thought.     

REVIEW – Back to the Future Ep. 1

Posted on by
248

***WARNING - THE FOLLOWING GAMER'S RIOT REVIEW WILL RELY HEAVILY ON CORNY BACK TO THE FUTURE PUNS***

Fire up the flux capicitor, bitches.  Telltale's Back to the Future game just generated the 1.21 gigawatts of electricty needed to drop on PSN.  Let's jump in the delorean and see if this is a game worth our... time.  Get it?

The game is broken down into five episodes that pick up the story after the events of Back to the Future 3.  In the recently released first episode, our beloved time traveling protagonist, Marty McFly, has to save Doc Brown's ass yet again.  Apparently, getting nearly killed by Buford Tannen back in the 1800s hasn't dissuaded the lovable old kook from waltzing through the space time continuum and generally sticking his nose where it doesn't belong. 

Where you're going you don't need... er, you *do* need roads.  Episode one takes you the Prohibition Era of the 1930s.  Doc's in jail for a crime he didn't commit and you need to spring him out. 

If you're a fan of the movies, this game will have you smiling from the moment you hit start.  Voice acting is spot on, with Christopher Lloyd returning to voice Doc.  The guy who voices Marty does a commendable job sounding just like Michael J. Fox.   

From the classic Back to the Future music, to the unforgettable "chimes" that ring anytime the story progresses, Telltale's use of sound will bring you right back to the first time you watched those epic films.  Nostalgia is dished out in large quantities and it feels great.  Check out the video below for a heaping helping of gameplay.  Don't watch if you want to go into the game cold. 

What *doesn't* feel so great are the controls.  To be fair, Telltale Studios is about presenting you with a great story, not about cranking out a game with super responsive controls.  Still, the game could benefit from better "move" mechanics.  At times, Marty just doesn't walk where you tell him to.  I can't tell you how many times he was just walking around in circles when all I wanted him to do was go left or right.  Think, McFly, think.  I wish the problem could be categorized as a small one, but with the amount of walking you do in the game, it can become a little frustrating.

Back to the Future's puzzles aren't brain busters.  And with a handy tip guide built into the game's mechanics, you're sure to keep the story moving. 

And what a story it is.  Truth be told, it doesn't feel as deep as the movies but the game makes sure to stick to the Back to the Future lore.  It feels like an actual extension of the story, not just a tacked on adventure to make a few bucks. 

Speaking of money, the five episode bundle will run you $19.99.  So you will need a credit card (or a PSN card) to ride this train.  Consider it cash well spent if you're a Back to the Future fan.  It's a terrific change of pace for hardcore gamers.  

Ok, review done.  Time for me to make like a tree and get the hell out of here.