Videos: Modern Warfare 2 and Bad Company 2.

These are the latest trailers for both Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 and Battlefield Bad Company 2. We talk about these in our latest podcast (episode 7, that has not yet been posted) and so I'm posting them here so you'll know what we're talking about.

This is Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2.



This is Battlefield Bad Company 2.



We hope you like them as much as we do. CoD:MW2 is due out 11/10/09 and BF:BC2 is due out 3/2/10. Both are being released for the Xbox 360, Playstation 3, and PC.

Upcoming games to look out for

Like most years, 2009 has started out slow with in terms of big games being released.  But, alas, January is over and the games are about to flow.  Tomorrow, the sci-fi horror shooter F.E.A.R. 2, which has received mass praise after its demo was released, ships out for the Xbox 360, PS3, and PC.  While I didn't write an article about it on here, I was thoroughly impressed with the F.E.A.R. 2 demo and can't wait to get my hands on it.  For those who only have a Wii and still want a fun and gory experience, do not worry.  Sega has you covered with the all new House of the Dead: Overkill.  We only hope that they have improved the voice overs from the past games.  That's not all to expect from Sega this week though, for you fans of classics, Sega has created the Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection for the Xbox 360 and PS3.  This is not another Sonic compilation game!  This game includes 40 (THAT'S NO TYPO, FORTY!) classic Genesis games, oh, and did I mention it's only $30?  You want a list?  You got it: 

• Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle
• Alien Storm
• Altered Beast
• Beyond Oasis
• Bonanza Bros.
• Columns
• Comix Zone
• Decap Attack starring Chuck D. Head
• Dr. Robotnik's MBM
• Dynamite Headdy
• Ecco the Dolphin
• Ecco II: The Tides of Time
• E-SWAT
• Fatal Labyrinth
• Flicky
• Gain Ground
• Golden Axe I
• Golden Axe II
• Golden Axe III
• Kid Chameleon
• Phantasy Star II
• Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom
• Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium
• Ristar
• Shining in the Darkness
• Shining Force
• Shining Force 2
• Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master
• Sonic 3D Blast
• Sonic and Knuckles
• Sonic Spinball
• Sonic the Hedgehog
• Sonic the Hedgehog 2
• Sonic the Hedgehog 3
• Streets of Rage
• Streets of Rage 2
• Streets of Rage 3
• Super Thunder Blade
• Vectorman
• Vectorman 2

There are more games than this that will be unlockable as well.  Finally a classic game collection with good games!  But this week isn't the end of it!  Oh no, in two and a half weeks (Feb 27th) Killzone 2 ships out!  Based off the demo (whether you preordered it or downloaded it from the European PSN store), this is going to be a system seller.  The PS3 has had a hard time getting a legitimate system seller like Microsoft's Halo series.  Metal Gear Solid 4 is probably considered its strongest "system seller" at the moment, but a lot more people would go for an fps then a stealth third person action/shooter.  Killzone 2 is a solid shooter with insane graphics (best looking game yet? maybe...) and great action.  If the new multiplayer scheme is a winner, Killzone 2 will be a system seller for sure.  

If that wasn't enough, psp owners will finally get to dust off their fancy little portables come March 3rd when Sega releases Phantasy Star Portable.  The Phantasy Star series has a pretty strong following and his title will hopefully bring some life back into the psp.  It is basically a new and updated version of Phantasy Star Universe with a nice wireless multiplayer feature.  Does Sega stop there?  Nope!  They recently announced Phantasy Star Zero for the Nintendo DS which is a prequel to the hit title Phantasy Star Online that was released years ago for Sega's Dreamcast, then eventually Xbox, Gamecube, and the PC.  No date has been released for that game yet though.  Wii fans not happy with the gory'ness of House of the Dead, well Capcom has you covered with Dead Rising: Chop til you Drop which is coming February 24th.  Also, for you fans of fighters, Feb 17th marks the day of Street Fighter IV for Xbox 360 and PS3.

Also on March 3rd, Halo Wars for Xbox 360.  Microsoft's hit fps goes rts with this prequel to the hit Halo series.  A demo is currently available on XBL.  March 13th brings Capcom's survival horror series Resident Evil back to life with Resident Evil 5.  The demo for that is already out on PSN and XBL for download offering a look at two different levels.  If none of the games mentioned in this article appeal to you, then there's something wrong with you.  In the next month, there's something for everyone coming out.

-CA

DLC Review: Fallout 3's Operation: Anchorage (Xbox 360, PC)

The first of 3 downloadable content packs has been released to our 2008 Game of the Year called Operation: Anchorage.  After you download the content, when you start your game (once you're out of vault 101 if it's a new game) you receive an emergency radio transmission from the Brotherhood Outcasts.  This will place a quest in your quest menu, and a map marker on your map.  When you travel to the marker, you will find an Outcast outpost in a big battle with Super Mutants.  After the battle you'll be invited into the outpost because you have a pip-boy.  The outcasts tell you that there is a large weapons cache that they have found but they cannot open it until they complete a military simulation.  None can use the military sim without a computer like the pip-boy.  So they offer you the task and in return you will get your share of loot from the cache.  *Note: Even if you killed all of the Outcasts in Fort Independence you WILL be able to do this quest.  **Image below courtesy of IGN

Once you are in the simulation, you get to see Fallout 3 in a whole new way.  This is both a good and a bad thing.  It is good because the environments are new and fresh, everything is clean and new, your weapons and armor are brand new so they do not deteriorate, and best of all, there are a couple all new weapons and armor.  The bad, well, the content as a whole is very linear.  There is a lack of exploration due to the fact that you can only pick up certain items in the simulation.  Enemies disappear once they are killed so there's no loot to be taken from them either.  You are limited to certain areas of the simulation as well so the whole free-roaming feel just disappears.  That does not mean that the content is terrible though.  It is still very fun and bring lots of great battles.  The story is pretty decent as well.

*Spoilers* After you beat the sim, you get to take everything out of a weapons room which includes some new weapons and armor such as the Gauss Rifle (uses microfusion rounds), Trench Knife (like the combat knife), Jingwei's Shocksword (electric Chinese officer sword), Winterized T-51b Power Armor (and helmet), and the badass Chinese Stealth Armor. This is not all that is in the cache though.  There are tons of other weapons and guns throughout, but that is all of the new stuff that you get to bring into your Fallout universe.  *End spoilers*  My recommendation for maximum loot'age would be to do the sim, then kill all of the Outcasts in the outpost.  They all have a lot of weapons and the outpost has quite a bit as well.

In the end, I'd give the DLC a 7 out of 10.  It's hard to discredit the content too much because it is still Fallout 3 which is tons of fun and it brings some pretty awesome new stuff to the game.  Though it does leave a little to be desired.  Also, the 4 added achievements that total for 100 gamerscore are rewarded for completing the quests within the content and nothing more, so no going out of your way for strange achievements.  Good thing it is only 800 points as opposed to 1200 or 1600.

7/10

-CA

Review: Lego Star Wars: Complete Saga (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PC, DS)

Ah, yes. The latest installment of the Lego Star Wars series. I figured I would give this a review in light of the upcoming Lego Batman and Lego Indiana Jones games. I'll start off with the console version, whereas I have the PS3 version. I had Lego Star Wars 1 for Gamecube and Lego Star Wars 2 for Xbox 360, so I pretty much thought I knew exactly what I was going to get. It was a matter of whether or not it would live up to what I expected. I thought I was going to get a polished version of both games with a few extras. Well, it did, more so than I even expected!

The graphics are as good as they are going to get for a Lego game, which is fantastic. You literally look like little legos running around (except they're a little more flexible than real legos). The music and sounds are straight from the movies and 100% perfect. Apart from the old versions, there are a few more characters, a few extra 'extras', and even a few extra'ish levels. But the fun doesn't stop there.

In Lego Star Wars, you start off in what I will call, for lack of better words, the overworld. It's nothing like an overworld in most games but it is where you choose what episode and chapter you will play. But it is free roaming and such like an overworld area. Well, I found that there was so much fun that you could have in this little overworld area. (see pic below)

That is a picture I took with my camera of my TV (which explains the odd look to the picture), and I took this picture because of how ridiculous I thought this was (in a funny way). You don't just walk outside and there's a race track and go-kart thing, you have to do a few things to get them there, but this is one of the things I love about the Lego Star Wars series. Random stuff thrown in to make pure hilarious fun. The game is simple and fun, with plenty of game modes (including a new challenge mode for each stage), you won't get bored easily. The controls are great and easy, though the flying levels are still a little awkward. I give the console versions an 8 out of 10.

8/10

Now in the DS version, you obviously expect a downgrade in graphics and sound because the DS is not a powerhouse system. The graphics are quite superb for it being on the DS though. The screenshots your see from here on are actually from the DS version.

To be honest, there isn't too much different in the DS version from the console versions. There are the obvious shortcomings due to lack of storage space on the DS cart. Less levels, different sometimes shorter levels, not as many extras or characters, and it was semi side-scroller in play. But that doesn't make it much worse of a game at all. It is definitely a great portable edition of the series.

The only thing that really bothered me about the DS version is the cutscenes. They were basically stop-motion animation. A bunch of still images spliced together, they are so annoying to watch. They almost take the humor out of the cutscenes. The controls are the same as the console versions except for a few touch add ins (some you don't need to use). Now that isn't to say that the DS version is completely lacking. It has many extras that the consoles don't have. Quite a few mini games, most which utilize the touch screen. You can definitely tell that the game was built from the ground up for DS and not horribly ported. The game is great and if you like Star Wars, you'll like this game. I'm going to give the DS version a 7 out of 10.

7/10

-CA

Review: Lost - Via Domus

Lost: Via Domus is about a guy who is on the same flight as the rest of the of the cast regulars. He is a photo journalist who has a very incriminating photo. Only problem is, he gets amnesia. The whole game is spent trying to regain his memory. They really do not set up what has been going on in the show to well. If you haven't seen the show, you will have no idea what is going on.

Also there are allot of reused lines from the show. And your character will ask, "Why were you on flight 815" and never get a real answer, thus negating asking every person that.The graphics and presentation in Lost is amazing. Their amount of detail to the characters and environments is spot on to the show. You will go to the beach during and after the crash. You will go to the hatch and push the button. If you do not understand what I just said, again, not a game for you. Also every chapter of the game starts off like the TV show, even with the "Previously on Lost"

Sound is a mixed bag on Lost. The music is excellent. It is intense when the smoke monster attacks. The sound of the countdown timer in the hatch is eerie. But then the voice acting. How were they able to get the villains, but none of the main character voices. Jack sounds like a college student, and John Locke is the most disappointing.

Lost is an excellent game, if you don't like that whole game play thing. The controls are pretty much your character running around, not getting caught by the smoke monster, not being shot by Others, and not being in the dark in a cave. Also there is a level where you run and jump, or slide. Seriously, I got the game Thursday, watched Lost on TV, had 3/4 of the game done.

This game is for Lost fans who need a little bit more Lost in their lives. However it isn't worth a purchase, especially at $60. Rent it. You will be done so quick you may be able to return it and be able to pick up a serious game like Mass Effect.

I give Lost : Via Domus a 5 out of 10

Gears of War (Games for Windows Live)

My computer recently over went a complete overhaul (read brand new). So during this time I wanted a game that would showcase what a semi powerhouse I just purchased. I already had Gears of War on Xbox 360, and loved it. So I figured I would give it a try on PC.

On PC there are a few things that make it interesting. Gears of War on PC is part of the Games for Windows Live program. What that is essentially is all the things that people love on Xbox 360, are now on your computer. As a matter of fact, if you already have a Xbox 360 gamertag you are ready to go. Everyone on your friends list will be downloaded automatically. Also it adds achievements. Whayher it's a good or bad thing is up to you. Also it allows seamless integration with Xbox 360 peripherals.

The story is very simple. On a planet that looks similar to earth, but all men love to work out, alot; a strange race of creatures emerge from the underground and attack and destroy most of humanity (They call this emergence day). Well, years go by and humans are still waging war against the "locusts". The story picks off where they are at their last hope, they free you from prison, in exchange for you to help out in the war.

The game is different from most first person shooters, as you do not go running in and try to kill as much as you can. This is a duck and cover shooter. If you go running in on this game, you'll likely end up dead.

The controls are nice and responsive. Sometimes the only one button for "snapping" to walls and cover most of the time gets annoying, but is forgivable. The active reload is a nice little change. It acts as a mini-game, and if you mess up you jam your gun and have to wait longer for the reload. There is a run button and your character does get tired after a while.

The graphics are nothing short of amazing. The textures are fantastic, and the characters are really detailed. The most impressive part is that the levels do not get repetitive. They all generally look vastly different than each other. It gives it a more "real world" feel. There is excellent atmospheric effects as well.

The sound is great with its orchestrated score. It gives it a very epic and war like feel. The sound effects are well done including the very stimulating chainsaw to chest sound. Trust me: when you hear it, it doesn't get old.

The PC version differs slightly from the Xbox 360 version. The PC version contains 5 new chapters during the final level of the game. Its during this part when you are being chased by the brumac. The brumac can be described as a T-rex, piloted by a locust, with a cannon on his back, and guns on his arms. Yes. So that is the huge draw of the PC version, besides the map editor and few extra levels for multi-player.

Gears of War on PC is not for everyone. The few extra add-on's are nice, but not worth the other $50. If you MUST know what Marcus Phoenix is doing more than on 360, go for it. If you have never played Gears of War, want a nice co-op game on your PC this is a great game for you.

I give it 8 out of 10

Some APB footage

This is some exciting footage of APB from the GDC. APB is essentially an MMORPG like World of Warcraft, but instead, it is cops and robbers. The demo is difficult to hear, however it does show both sides of being with the law and against it. The most interesting part is when all of this is going down, they then show a new criminal to the game who just stole a TV. Its worth a watch.

Releases: Week of 2/5

Here is the list of titles to be released this week (most of them today).
Assassin's Creed: Altair's Chronicles (DS)
Culdcept SAGA (Xbox 360)
Devil May Cry 4 (PS3, Xbox 360)
Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore (Wii, Xbox 360, PS2)
Sins of a Solar Empire (PC)
Turok (PS3, Xbox 360, PC)
Twisted Metal: Head On: Extra Twisted Edition (PS2)

Technorati Tags: Releases,PC,Nintendo Wii,Xbox 360,PlayStation 3,Nintendo DS

Review: Portal (The Orange Box) [X360, PS3, PC]

A game that is, without a doubt, easily overlooked because of the fact that it is within a 5 pack of games; all of which have had great previous showings. The average person will look at the 5 games and say, "Sick! 3 Half-Life games and a new Team Fortress! Not too sure what this Portal thing is but those other 4 should hold me over pretty well." Well, I PROMISE you that (unless you are an idiot and can't figure out the puzzles) you WILL enjoy this game. The game is quite unique in that it is a first person shooter puzzle game. People who have never seen the game might ask how that is possible. To be blunt, you have to get out of several sticky situations with nothing but your trusty portal gun. Some may find this stupid, but frankly, I think it's quite brilliant!

The game starts you off as a random female test subject in a glass room that has no doors. An automated voice greets you to the Aperture Science Testing Facility and tells you pretty much what to do for the first half of the game.

The voice is coming from a female sounding super computer and "motivates" you through these "tests" with the promise of... cake??? once you have completed them all. The game is actual very funny in how the computer reacts to you completing and attempting to complete certain tasks.

*Slight Spoilers Ahead*

Well, after you finish the tests, the computer says that it is time for cake... then attempts to dump you into a massive pit of fire! Once you manage to escape that sticky little situation you spend the rest of the game making your way through all of the Aperture Science Center in attempt to find this super computer. After defeating the last boss, the funny doesn't stop! There is a song that plays over the end credits that is absolutly HILARIOUS (but you won't get it unless you've played through the game).

Not only is this game brilliant in combining the FPS genre with the puzzle genre, but it is absolutly hilarious. Everything from the Aperture Science Weighted Companion Cube (seen below) (and the possiblility of it talking or stabbing you) to the song that plays over the ending credits provides quite the laugh.

The game your first time through should only take you about 2 hours from start to finish, and only an hour if you've played through before. But don't let that discourage you from the games' true greatness. I give Portal 9 Obese Children out of 10. Why not 10 of 10? Because it is in fact quite short and for the lack of moving enemies to combat with your portal gun. Other than that though, this is a tiny little masterpiece.

9/10

-CA

Technorati Tags: Portal,Review,Xbox 360,PlayStation 3,PC