Let’s take a stroll down memory lane. Looking at the sparse selection of titles that were available in 2007 for the Playstation 3, few titles stood out as gems. Of course, Ninja Theory’s Heavenly Sword comes to mind, but one title basically defined the PS3 experience, being praised by critics and gamers alike. That game was Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune. Naughty Dog had crafted not only a new character that was genuine, but also a game that had plenty of memorable moments. The first title had its share of flaws, but with lessons learned, the team set out to create a sequel to raise the bar in terms of gameplay and storytelling.
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is undeniably the most amazing game you will play this generation – to date. The game is so ridiculously polished. I thought MGS:4 was the best single player experience this generation, but Uncharted 2 takes the cake.
Nathan Drake’s new adventure revolves around an unsolved historical mystery – this time surrounding Marco Polo and his doomed voyage home from China in 1292. After spending almost 20 years in the court of the emperor Kublai Khan, Marco Polo departed with 14 ships and over 600 passengers and crew – but when he arrived at his destination a year and a half later, only one ship remained, and only 18 of the passengers had survived. The story will eventually lead Drake to the Himalayas on a search for Shangri-La
Way more than most titles before it, this game feels like a true Hollywood Blockbuster that you control in the palm of your hands The first reason being that the game never, ever lets up, even at points that are supposed to be “slow”. There are more water cooler moments in this game than most. They all show themselves at the perfect moment too, from engrossing plot points to some intelligently crafted fight sequences. It’s a very unpredictable, yet entirely satisfying dynamic. Then, there is the excellent camera placement. Uncharted 2 intentionally fixes the camera so it can pull you into the world, showing even the smallest details. Even the way the camera pans when a scene starts is predesigned, bringing attention to the gorgeous scenery. It’s kind of hard to explain here, but when you see it in action, it will be appreciated. Lastly, there are the visual themselves. You will be hard-pressed to find a game (maybe MGS:4) that looks this good on any system, period. There are so many small details that have nothing to do with gameplay that shine throughout the entire game. It gives a great since of immersion with all of these elements working together.
What is so amazing about this game is how it continues to push you forward with crafting the story, though. There aren’t too many surprises, but the game makes you want to continue to play until the end. The developers have penned a story with a deliberate “smack-in-the-face” pace. It’s again, just like a blockbuster movie. You have to watch it, knowing that the ending will be well worth your time and in this case, effort. The delivery and character development are nothing short of amazing. The banter between the various characters in Drake’s world is sharp and witty. The game does a good job of filling moments of bland, dry space with meaningful conversations, giving a social aspect to Drake and Co. - even down to your enemies. You will actually care about the cast of this game.
As for gameplay, you can expect more in Uncharted 2. Of course gunfights, environmental navigation and puzzle solving mechanics are back, but now they are blended together in a more streamlined fashion, especially combat and navigation. For most it will take a second play through to actually appreciate the fantastic level design. While the first Uncharted had you mostly on the ground moving from cover to cover while firing your piece, the second adventure gives you a more vertical dynamic. Multiple levels and areas are abound for you to use to your advantage. Sure you can stay on the ground, but actually being able to move to higher ground to flank makes the battle more realistic, giving more of a tactical approach to combat. Couple this with clever options on how you actually dispatch enemies, and the possibilities become virtually endless.
What more can I say about Uncharted 2? The game is spectacular from the beginning to the end. Oh, I forgot the multiplayer…forgive me - Fu*king Awesome! Naughty Dog has done a fine job of bringing the single player elements into multiplayer. There are the standard team deathmatch, capture the flag (or treasure), and elimination amongst other modes. You also have co-op modes, one sort of like Horde in Gears 2 called Survival, and the other is playing out single player scenarios with up 2 buddies. In the co-op modes communication is critical, lest you be popped point blank with a .45 in the back of your skull. With so much going for the single-player expeirence, the multiplayer is just a thick layer of icing on the cake.
Uncharted 2 is a true contender for Game of the Year. It does not change anything in the third-person shooter genre; it just does everything that defines the genre with uncanny brilliance. This one is worth every bit of $60 and even a few sick days from the office. PS3
It's time for Marvel's mightiest heroes to join forces again and save this world from foes that are far deadlier than any other they have ever faced: themselves. Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 follows the Civil War between the Marvel Superheroes. After a series of tragic events, the government steps in and decides they want all superhuman heroes identities to be registered. This splits the Marvel Universe down the middle; those in favor of freedom and those who do are open to full disclosure. This is the backdrop to set up for Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2.
The story is very interesting and actually carries this game more than anything else. UA2 combines both the Secret War mini-series and the Civil War storyline and presents a truly epic tale. By the end of the game, the fate of the whole world hangs in the balance and the game does a good job handling the resolution to the conflict. It's not totally Marvel canon, but it is definitely satisfying.
On the gameplay side of things, UA2 sports 4-player co-op both locally and online. While it is sometimes chaotic, it works and is a solid outing. The coolest addition are the new fusion attacks. Basically fusions allow different heroes to combine their powers into earth-shattering special moves. If you are a fan of team-up comic books, you get the picture. Seeing a Hulk/IronMan fusion is actually as good as it sounds and the results are devastating. There are three types of fusion attacks - one for clearing, one targeted attack, and one guided attack. It gives you an element of strategy when picking your teams, as different heroes work better with some more than with others.
The game looks pretty good too. It is so much better than the first, but it won't blow you away. Heroes are rendered very well and look better than the character models from the first UA. The environments are lush and more detailed, and again, look better than the last game. The animation is also a little smoother, especially the fusion transitions. It's not knock your socks off, but compared to UA1, it looks awesome.
But the game falls off the table after presentation with some glitches and inconsistencies. For starters, why the hell was the game dumbed down? The role-playing elements from the first title have been scaled back tremendously. There is no inventory system to speak of, and there are no alternate costumes. Then the voice work is spotty at best. Certain characters shine while others sound like shit. Also, it's perplexing that some of the main issues with the first game seemed to not have been addressed. Like, why are some of my AI controlled teammates still getting caught in level geometry and not following me. These issues are not deal-breakers, but are apparent and are just annoying. I mean, my guys should not be running past me only to catch up with me by running in on the opposite side of the screen after I've engaged in combat. Let's stay together.
So Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 is an ok game, but not the experience I was expecting. There still seems to be something missing from this title. Maybe it's what Vicarious Visions decided "not" to include that makes it seems kind of generic this go round. Everything is better as far as story, graphics and some gameplay elements, but the game is just not as deep as the first. It is great with friends, and as a beat'em up it's spectacular. Rent it first, but if you must buy, pay $40. PS3X360
The Halo franchise never changes. Frankly, it’s not like Bungie has to change their winning formula. They, in my opinion, perfected console first person shooters, advancing the genre in terms of gameplay mechanics, visuals and stellar AI. But I must admit, from the first announcement of Halo 3: Recon, my thoughts were “Here we go again-another Halo…” How many more times can Microsoft cash in on this name. After following the details of the game for months, even after an intelligent decision to change the name to ODST, my skepticism started to change. Promising new innovations and a new story arc, this could be the best in the series since the original Halo.
Truth be told, I had a hard time putting this review together. Halo 3: ODST is a good game. It’s just not worth $60. I’ve played this game three times before this iteration. Hell, I’ll probably put it up after about two weeks of playing it. This is why I can’t understand why Microsoft would not do the fans of the franchise a favor and release this fan service for $40. The game is short and the story is spotty at best. More questions will be raised about the Halo Universe than answered. I left the game trying to still figure out who “The Rookie” really is. The mission structure is questionable. I still, for the life of me, cannot understand why no one gives games a linear structure anymore. In ODST’s case, it’s not go anywhere-do anything. It’s just that some missions can be played out of order, leaving you to piece different parts of the story together. Then, the controls are just not as spot on like other Halo titles either. It’s hard to explain. They just feel “floaty”. Also, where is the option to map my buttons? And the graphics…oh God, the graphics are LOW-RES (640p?!). This is a huge problem in my eyes. I mean, here we have a storied franchise which is still not completely high-def yet. WTF?!
But with all of my complaints, there is still one constant that cannot be taken away. This is still Halo, and the tried-and-true gameplay formula still works somehow. The weapons, as always, are cool. The vehicular combat shines as usual. The enemies are varied, and the AI is stellar at best. Also, the new “visor” effect is always entertaining. It just gives you a new way to look at Halo’s world, or New Mombasa for that matter in a different light. To Bungie's credit, even with my complaints about the game's resolution, the framerate is stable and the textures look like they are the best in the series thus far. Lastly, the multiplayer mode is built for everyone this time around, even the casual. The firefight 4-player co-op mode is still a knockoff of Gears’ Horde Mode, but it plays a little differently in ODST. Defeating waves of enemies introduces new gameplay complications tagged as "skulls" that cause all enemies to react differently. For instance, they may intelligently evade danger or toss more grenades at you. It makes the multiplayer experience more dynamic, giving it a layer of depth not seen in many titles.
In closing, Halo 3: ODST is a Halo game made for Halo fans (the million plus of them!) The game won’t win any awards for game of the year or anything like that. The lead character isn’t memorable and the story is sub-par. The saving grace is the multiplayer, which is always fun with your peeps. But that is still not enough to warrant spending $60 on this title. That is bullshit. I wish Microsoft would have actually thought about the millons we've already spent on this francise, and released this game at the price it is worth, which Is 40 bucks. X360
EA has finally brought Need For Speed back to its former glory! Need For Speed: SHIFT has taken the series back to what a racing game should be about-RACING. Gone are the corny FMV’s and stories about street cred and illegal drug trade. This is a straight up racer, where racing earns you money. The money buys you better cars so you can race in better events for more money. Also, the open world environments have been scrapped for closed circuit tracks, mostly which are real-world locations in America or Europe. Who knew simplicity would be a stroke of pure genius?
It doesn’t hurt that the games visuals are something to behold. Slightly Mad has recreated the cockpits of all 65+ cars in the game so that you can race from a first-person perspective. Very cool. And although we’ve seen it done before, it seems as if SHIFT does it with a level of detail unseen. The option to race in third-person is available, but give the FPR a shot. As odd as it sounds, it actually works. Your vision will narrow at top speeds creating an exhilarating experience. Your perspective will rock back and forth as you hit bumps, and hitting a wall or the brakes hard will cause you driver to lurch in his seat, blurring your vision momentarily. You’ll never get tired of seeing opponents in your side or rear view mirrors. It actually is a nice touch, injecting a new level of realism into racing games.
There are several modes in the game to increase the replayabilty of the game including a robust career mode with over 200+ events, and an excellent multiplayer component. You and up to 7 buddies can go online and hit the tracks, with no speakable lag whatsoever. The career mode is as you would expect, starting off with a low class car and working your way up the ranks. The star progression system kind of reminds me of Burnout: Takedown. You’ll earn one, two, or three stars depending on your finish, and bonus stars for doing stuff like running cars off the the road. What makes the system so good is that even if you don’t get a podium finish, you can still earn stars to move along. Also, if you want to do a race over to gain some extra stars, you can do it to your hearts content.
All in all, Need For Speed: SHIFT is an awesome game. While it’s still not a true racing sim like the Forza’s and Gran Turismo’s of the gaming world, it does hold its own. EA has done a wonderful job bringing one it’s storied franchises back to what it was meant to be. Definitely a must have for any fan of the racing game genre. Cop It Now! PS3 X360 PSP
Rubi Malone is a bad-ass. She slices her foes with a razor sharp blade. She wields two guns at any given time, popping pills in her enemies in a cool display of gun-ballet. She is a fresh character in a year filled with game sequels. She wears leather pants...Unfortunately for all the coolness that comes with Ms. Rubi, WET still suffers from fatal flaws that plague the gameplay.
The cool thing about WET is it stays true to it's Quentin Tarantino, John Woo-esque influences. Expect a lot of slow-motion fighting and a lot of fu*king blood. The slow-motion effects are tied to an acrobatic move so wall-running triggers slow-motion. Sliding across the floor triggers slo-mo. Diving in any direction while shooting, slo-mo. You get the picture. The good thing is that all of these moves are mapped to their own button, so it's never hard to pull one off. You pull these acrobatic moves off without a hitch. For as easy as these moves are to pull off, the game still provides a challenge, especially in latter levels where you are forced to score lots of points with strung-together combos to survive an onslaught. Then there is "Rage Mode" where blood splatters on Rubi's face, the music goes berserk, and the screen changes to this red backdrop with silhouette enemies. It kinda reminded me of Killer 7 and after a while, it hurt my eyes. But it never got old and was a nice diversion from the gunplay and boring ass platforming sections.
Still, WET feels dry, like something is missing. The graphics are not the worse, but they are not the best either. The scratchy film effect is cool, but these are some of the weakest looking character models. I can't help but think of NBA2K7, where the characters just looked like "hollow men". While you do always have your trusty six-shooters with unlimited ammo, you only unlock three more weapons with limited ammo. And the targeting is awful. First, the reticle is way too damn small. This is so evident in the highway sections. Also, it always seems like you can't line your shots up "just right." Another thing is the camera, especially when you get in tight spaces. It just goes awry. And the platforming sections are so boring. They should have been thrown out, as they only slow WET down from what it does best, non-stop, in-your-face, bloody action.
But WET is still an Ok game. It manages to do a lot right. Being a new IP, that's saying quite much. The game is hella short, which was expected, but the experience is tight. The slow-motion, though a bit overused, will never get tiresome. In the game's big moments, it delivers in spades. Too bad the whole game can't. PS3 X360
Vanilliaware is one of the finest studios when it comes to crafting 2d masterpieces. Like Odin Sphere and GrimGrimoire before it, Muramasa: The Demon Blade is one of those games that blends the beauty of side-scrolling genius with a remarkable art style that you just won't forget. And that’s the first thing you’ll notice in this game are the eye-catching visuals. Each one of the characters, both Kisuke and Momohime, look straight out of an anime. Their animations are silky smooth, too. The games environments also have a great level of detail. Definitely no shortage of eye candy here. You’ll trek back and forth between environments more than once, (think Metroid) but sometimes you’ll wonder why the hell you had to, especially when there is nothing to do. The games music is fuggin sweet, fusing traditional Japanese tunes with some funky electro beats. Controls flow like water and are not hard to get used to, but not easy to master. The endless amount of combos you will do in this game make you appreciate that, as there is not a hitch in transitions, and the balancing act between your three different swords gives makes you think first before you react. Boss battles are awesome, with some bosses being several screens tall. Also, each one is completely different from the next, so expect to put your thinking cap on. Two different difficulties give the game some longevity, but the easy mode- dubbed Muso - is a throwaway. It’s just way too easy way. Start the game in” Shura mode which provides you with more enemies and challenges your “twitcher “finger. You’ll appreciate it more, trust me. If you beat the game, you are given a third difficulty, but you are required to play the game perfectly as you only have one hit point. There is not too much I can find at fault with Muramasa. I enjoyed it, but then again, I have wanted this game for a while. My only complaint is that I wish that the characters could be leveled up a little more. Also, the backtracking gets in the way sometimes. Vanillaware should have chosen a stage design vs. an open-world one, but it still works regardless. Muramasa is not a must have, but it is one of the finest experiences on the Wii. Wii
Cursed Mountain is one of those games you'll hate to love. It's not a bad game, it just has some gameplay issues that hold it back from being a great game. The setting is Chomolonzo, one of Tibet's Himalayan mountains. You control Eric Simmons, a star mountain climber who is in search of his hothead brother, Frank, who has gone missing on this "cursed mountain." But the curses are more with the gameplay than anything else. The controls are not bad, just frustrating as hell sometimes. Like, why is it so hard for this game to recognize a thrusting action. More often than not, undetected control gestures lead to deaths. However, when the control works, it's like a charm, sparking a balance between motion control and button presses to rid this mountain of unholiness. The pacing of the game was too slow for my tastes, so if you're used to the Resident Evil-style survival horror game, skip this one. The graphics are ok, but won' t win any awards. The visual effects have some nice touches in certain areas. There is this one overused "haze" visual mechanic when in a cursed area or battling that you'll just get tired of seeing, trust me. As for the sounds-creepy as fu*k, especially on a home theater system. The sound icy wind made me want to grab a coat, while the groans of the evil spirits made want to grab a crucifx. There is just a level of authenticity to this game that makes it even creepier, especially when some of the story elements are based on actual religious teachings. Hate it or love it, Cursed Mountain will keep you engrossed. It's just one of those games where controls are not consistent. And sometimes, it's enough to make you scream in agony, not from fear, but from downright frustration. Wii
I am a big martial arts buff. I gotta admit I was excited about Invincible Tiger. Unfortunately it's bland as hell. It tries to emulate to the style of the kung-fu classics, it just doesn't do it well. The combat is just so boring and uninspired. It never reaches the *oomph* point. Mashing buttons replicates the sliding kicks and flying punches you'd expect, but it so lackluster. You have two moves at your disposal--a punch and a kick--and you combine these into three-hit combos to perform finishing attacks. The one thing that truly stands out though are the 3D backdrops, especially if you have 3D glasses. Objects and enemies seem to just fly off the screen (I dodged an explosive barrel, no lie!) Very nice. To bad this can't hide the mediocre gameplay. There is not a side-scroller either. It's just connected rooms where you can move on once you defeat enemies, rinse and repeat. It is worth mentioning that the boss fights are kinda cool, requiring a little more strategy. Also, the game has Co-op, which I'm on the fence about. It works in some areas, and you'll dread it in others. In a game where combat is the main focus subject, you'd expect more from the combat. I really had high hopes for this one, all the way back from E3. Too bad this is kinda shitty. PSN XBLA
Way more than most titles before it, this game feels like a true Hollywood Blockbuster that you control in the palm of your hands The first reason being that the game never, ever lets up, even at points that are supposed to be “slow”. There are more water cooler moments in this game than most. They all show themselves at the perfect moment too, from engrossing plot points to some intelligently crafted fight sequences. It’s a very unpredictable, yet entirely satisfying dynamic. Then, there is the excellent camera placement. Uncharted 2 intentionally fixes the camera so it can pull you into the world, showing even the smallest details. Even the way the camera pans when a scene starts is predesigned, bringing attention to the gorgeous scenery. It’s kind of hard to explain here, but when you see it in action, it will be appreciated. Lastly, there are the visual themselves. You will be hard-pressed to find a game (maybe MGS:4) that looks this good on any system, period. There are so many small details that have nothing to do with gameplay that shine throughout the entire game. It gives a great since of immersion with all of these elements working together. 
What is so amazing about this game is how it continues to push you forward with crafting the story, though. There aren’t too many surprises, but the game makes you want to continue to play until the end. The developers have penned a story with a deliberate “smack-in-the-face” pace. It’s again, just like a blockbuster movie. You have to watch it, knowing that the ending will be well worth your time and in this case, effort. The delivery and character development are nothing short of amazing. The banter between the various characters in Drake’s world is sharp and witty. The game does a good job of filling moments of bland, dry space with meaningful conversations, giving a social aspect to Drake and Co. - even down to your enemies. You will actually care about the cast of this game.
What more can I say about Uncharted 2? The game is spectacular from the beginning to the end. Oh, I forgot the multiplayer…forgive me - Fu*king Awesome! Naughty Dog has done a fine job of bringing the single player elements into multiplayer. There are the standard team deathmatch, capture the flag (or treasure), and elimination amongst other modes. You also have co-op modes, one sort of like Horde in Gears 2 called Survival, and the other is playing out single player scenarios with up 2 buddies. In the co-op modes communication is critical, lest you be popped point blank with a .45 in the back of your skull. With so much going for the single-player expeirence, the multiplayer is just a thick layer of icing on the cake.
On the gameplay side of things, UA2 sports 4-player co-op both locally and online. While it is sometimes chaotic, it works and is a solid outing. The coolest addition are the new fusion attacks. Basically fusions allow different heroes to combine their powers into earth-shattering special moves. If you are a fan of team-up comic books, you get the picture. Seeing a Hulk/IronMan fusion is actually as good as it sounds and the results are devastating. There are three types of fusion attacks - one for clearing, one targeted attack, and one guided attack. It gives you an element of strategy when picking your teams, as different heroes work better with some more than with others.
But the game falls off the table after presentation with some glitches and inconsistencies. For starters, why the hell was the game dumbed down? The role-playing elements from the first title have been scaled back tremendously. There is no inventory system to speak of, and there are no alternate costumes. Then the voice work is spotty at best. Certain characters shine while others sound like shit. Also, it's perplexing that some of the main issues with the first game seemed to not have been addressed. Like, why are some of my AI controlled teammates still getting caught in level geometry and not following me. These issues are not deal-breakers, but are apparent and are just annoying. I mean, my guys should not be running past me only to catch up with me by running in on the opposite side of the screen after I've engaged in combat. Let's stay together.
All in all, Need For Speed: SHIFT is an awesome game. While it’s still not a true racing sim like the Forza’s and Gran Turismo’s of the gaming world, it does hold its own. EA has done a wonderful job bringing one it’s storied franchises back to what it was meant to be. Definitely a must have for any fan of the racing game genre. Cop It Now! 
