Tag n' Frag

How can Nintendo save itself?

2009-04-10T07:18:00.000-07:00

"Save itself?"

A valid question. To look at the state of Nintendo and say that it needs 'saving' at this point in time sounds ludicrous. The Wii has sold over 50 million units globally since its launch back in 2006, and the hand held Nintendo DS has sold well over 100 million units. Unlike the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360, Nintendo are actually gaining money with every sale. So what needs saving? Since the bleak days of the Nintendo 64 and Gamecube -- Nintendo is now thriving, expanding into markets that have been largely untouched by Sony and Microsoft.

What needs saving now is Nintendo's integrity.

The Nintendo 64 and the Gamecube, whilst not financially prosperous, were amongst the best gaming consoles of wall time. In so many ways, we have been wowed by the degree of quality that Nintendo delivered: The Legend 0f Zelda: Ocarina of Time, GoldenEye, Perfect Dark, Banjo-Kazooie, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Pikmin. The list goes on.

Now, the Wii is plagued by titles like Wii Sports, Wii Music, Wii Fit, Wii Play. What happened to the old Nintendo? Flagship titles like Metroid and Zelda have lost their lustre. Super Mario Galaxy, whilst being the most critically acclaimed games of 2007, has been a diamond in an ocean of mediocrity.

Nintendo needs to act fast. These are ways that it can restore -- not its sales -- but its reputation.

1. Bring out: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker 2

Look at it. Just look at it.

Within this game lies so much awesomeness, and I wish Nintendo could realise this.

The Wii will never be a graphical power-house in comparison to the PS3, or Xbox 360, but with the Wind Waker's cell shaded charm, this is easily forgettable. The gameplay and magic of the Zelda series should not be just limited to the Nintendo DS, with Phantom Hourglass or Spirit Tracks. It needs to be on the big screen! Everything about Zelda is so good, that you could take the same game, add some different levels and quests: and Voila! You have Wind Waker 2.

Twilight Princess took a totally different route -- but can we say that this has the same charm or likability as Wind Waker? Graphically, Twilight Princess is sterile and out of date.

This title alone would justify my purchase of the Wii.

2. Stop putting 'Wii' in game titles!

Seriously. if there's a Legend of Zelda: Wii -- people will die...

3. More cell-shading / artistic graphic design.

Let's do a comparison shall we?

How, Nintendo? How can you possibley say: "We have the best exclusive games", when your competition have a graphical leap above you of this kind of calibre? Nobody will be able to take you seriously. If you want to look like you are in this to win this, you need to make your games stylised and charming rather than realistic. Nobody expects you to have amazing textures, nobody expects you to have detail and finesse - they expect colourful and charming design aspects (both of which, you can accomodate).

Again, Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, is one good option -- that kind of style is easy to create and looks great no matter what platform it's on. Or Super Mario Galaxy, with a kind of charismatic, colourful animated effect.

Whatever you do, don't try to get technical.

4. Restore the 'Quality' in Quality Assurance.

That means none of this crap, Nintendo.

And Box-Art aside, none of this either:

Hath Humanity Lost its Soul? Shadow of the Colossus - The Movie

2009-04-08T02:29:00.000-07:00

Movies based on video games have not typically been successful. In fact, they’re usually catastrophic failures. In lieu of these facts, it’s easy to see why your heart might (or perhaps should) sink when you hear that Team ICO’s Playstation 2 game, Shadow of the Colossus is being made for the big screen.

To rub a little bit more salt in the wound, it’s being scripted by Justin Marks. Does the name ring any bells? He’s the guy who scripted The Scorpion King, Doom and more recently, Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li. His portfolio of titles does not exactly recommend him for the job.

But who knows? The Street Fighter and Doom franchises have never been saturated with outstanding narratives. Shadow of the Colossus certainly has opportunity to experiment. However, do I really believe that this movie will turn out to be anything other than a catastrophe? No.

The only video-game-movie that I’m currently excited for is Bioshock. Other than that, I’ll keep away from movies inspired by video games like mosquitoes keep away from insect repellent.

There's Something In the Sea...

2009-03-15T02:54:00.000-07:00

Can you guess what this footprint belongs to?

The Answer:

That's right. We will get to venture into Rapture once again in Bioshock 2 - Only this time, with a new breed of enemy: Big Sisters. The game came to light through its teaser trailer released inside the Playstation 3 version of Bioshock, in October 2008, although the game had been unofficially mentioned earlier in March.

Now, a new website brings more information about the games story - clues to moisten our tongue whilst we hungrily await the games' inevitable release sometime this year:

There's something in the sea!

The website uses a map with scraps of photos, notes, letters, drawings and more attached to it. With a frantic, perhaps insane person annotating each piece of evidence. The website gives clues rather than spoilers, and it also helps to piece together an idea of what kind of direction Bioshock 2 will be heading with its already intruiging storyline.

But don't take my word for it! See for yourself! Visit the website now.

PS3 - Killzone 2 - Review

2009-02-28T22:36:00.000-08:00

Killzone 2 is arguably the best first person shooter out on consoles. The infamous E3 trailer released in 2005 created an air of controversy around the game – and many people believed that whilst CGI delivered the initial ‘wow’ factor, the playable game could only ever live in its shadow. Guerilla was a small and relatively inexperienced Development Company at the time of the game’s announcement. Their first game, Killzone had already been considered a failure amongst most leading critics. So whilst the trailer was visually dynamic and exciting, perhaps people were justified in their belief that Killzone 2 would ultimately fall victim to the same fate of its predecessor: a ‘Halo-killer’ that collapses under the pressure of intense fan anticipation. Justified perhaps, but catastrophically wrong nonetheless. In a similar fashion to the Ghost of Christmas Past, Guerilla match and surpass the graphical prowess of the 2005 trailer – and proving their observational skills at the same time, as the gripes that critics had with the first game seem to have all been addressed second time around. Killzone 2 does not reinvent the combat mechanics of first person shooters, but perfects them. And whilst the story remains ever so slightly shallow, the arresting visuals, refined gameplay and addictive online multiplayer make this game a must-buy for any Playstation 3 owner who likes shooters. Who knows? It could be the right excuse to buy the Sony console if you haven’t done so already.

Killzone 2’s premise is interesting, but fails to expand on the key points in the narrative, and some questions never really get answered. Essentially, if you haven’t played the first game, or Killzone: Liberation on the PSP, there really isn’t any need to go back and revisit them, because there isn’t a lot else that can be learned. All you need to know is that the Helghast started ‘the war’ when they invaded planet Vekta, and in a move of retaliation, the Interplanetary Strategic Alliance (ISA) are now taking the fight to Helghan. The motives for both of these invasions remain very limited. The lack-lustre story telling elements in Killzone 2 aren’t helped much by the game manual, which merely says that the ISA are trying to stop the Emporer Visari from releasing untold damage to the galaxy after he ‘managed to steal a set of nuclear warheads’ when retreating from Vetka. So indeed, the contextual elements of the story are really none-existent. The game really focuses on the acts of a lone soldier, ‘Sev’. This plays out quite nicely, because it throws the player into a realistic viewpoint of a soldier, showing you a relatively narrow perspective in terms of overall purpose, but capturing perfectly the emotions of watching comrades fall, and episodically records your growing loathing the Helghast. Your ‘story’ in this sense, consists of certain objectives such as ‘secure this position’, ‘destroy that building’ etc. but never losing sight of the player’s overall aim – capturing Emperor Visari, and ending your war for good.

It’s ironic, because whilst your perspective as a soldier is integral to the game’s atmosphere, the characterization is relatively shallow. You play as ‘Sev’, a man of very few words, and like every other member of the ISA, an even more limited vocabulary – swearing liberally. You are a member of Alpha squad, alongside Natko, Garza, and Rico, and whilst they fit perfectly into the role of the macho and overenthusiastic band of soldiers, the game successfully secures your affection for each member. Killzone 2 also does a good job of creating interesting enemy roles, with Emperor Visari, dictator of Helghan and the Colonel Radec, leader of Pyrrhus’ defense. Brian Cox’s voice acting for Visari is superb, his speech in the opening cinematic will undoubtedly give you goose bumps, and overall he manages to create a well-constructed villain.

The gameplay in Killzone 2 is refined and well paced. Killzone 2’s gunplay and movement definitely feels heavier than most other shooters. Aiming feels slightly sluggish at first, but you will quickly adapt to this change, and eventually relish it. The weighting on your movements are firstly, a degree nearer realism – but also force you to adjust tactics. Guerilla has nicely implemented a cover system that allows you to attach yourself to any flat surface, then peak out and fire off a few rounds of ammunition. The advantage of this is that advancing through enemy lines requires more strategy – you need to find cover, locate the red eyes of the Helghast, kill as many as you can and then proceed forward. The Helghast aren’t ignorant to the idea of cover either, and will use it to their advantage regularly. The artificial intelligence in Killzone 2 is another highlight of the gameplay. When plentiful in number, the Helghast confidently fire at you from open positions. However, if a Helghast soldier’s team has been wiped out, he will be more reserved – choosing to blind fire instead. They also appear responsive to your actions; so if you choose to throw a grenade, your enemy will dive out of the way. Fighting against a dynamic and intelligent enemy is challenging, but never too frustrating, as you can utilize a number of tactics in order to defeat them. Throwing a grenade near their position can flush them out of cover, or using bursts of suppressive fire can allow you to safely advance to a more ideal shooting spot.

The variety of foes you have to face is limited, but this doesn’t necessarily have a negative effect on the game. All of your foes adhere to the Space Nazi archetype, with demonic red eyes – but there’s enough variety in the uniform to keep the game dynamic; with the regular Helghast, sub-machine gun wielding Assault troopers and shock troopers. There are also a few boss battles, which keeps things interesting – ‘Heavies’ wielding mini-guns, agile flying sentry units and more. There is always a technique in killing these bosses, although you will generally be told what this is by squad-mates. One of the more gratifying elements of Killzone 2 comes from the feeling of firing the different weapons. Guerilla have added a nice mix of standard guns, like the trusty ISA assault rifle with a green scope, as well as more original guns like the bolt gun, which pins your enemy against any wall behind it, before exploding. There’s also a Helghast version of the assault rifle, alongside the rocket launcher, a sniper rifle, the trusty shotgun and the rarely seen but ridiculously powerful lightning gun. There’s some nice tweaks to the weapons that have been added, such as for the sniper rifle, the Sixaxis function is implemented so that holding your controller steady will improve accuracy.

Graphically, this game is unparalleled. Gun models are well designed, explosions are awe-inspiring and realistic, textures are crisp, animations are put together excellently and Guerilla certainly weren’t afraid to coat everything with a layer of blood. What makes Killzone 2 special however, is its art design. Light effects set the mood perfectly, with a bold colour palette and dramatic angles – Helghan is turned into a living and breathing warzone. Anti-aircraft shells and lightning create the backdrop to many battles, explosions are regular and the flash of gunfire is often the most potent source of light. As you lose life, the colour will slowly fade from screen, and you’ll have to watch as blood trickles into the edges of your screen. Never before has a game blended technical prowess and stellar artistic design so effectively as Killzone 2, and this is undoubtedly the finest looking game available.

On this final note, it becomes easy to conclude that Killzone 2 is a game that can definitely be recommended. It features an intense campaign that, whilst lacking in a cohesive plot, has great pacing and an epic conclusion. The game is aesthetically outstanding, and has the addictive gunplay to match. Beyond the single player campaign is a superb online multiplayer addition, which is almost certain to occupy much of your time. This game raises the bar for first person shooters everywhere, and if there is a game deserved of your hard earned money: this is it. Stop reading now. You owe it to yourself to go out and buy Killzone 2.

Rumour Alert - New PSP Slide Screen?

2009-02-24T06:58:00.000-08:00

Apparently so according to "highly trusted sources". The PSP is labeled the PSP-4000, and will have a sliding screen.

This seems like a good idea to me - Sony have been struggling slightly with their PSP, and the trendy new look will perhaps appeal to the people who don't want games, but would like a very nice screen to watch movies on. It's also, of course, nice for gamers who can now play in much higher resolution than in the past.

Alas, I get ahead of myself. Whether this rumour is true, is yet to be seen.

Capcom Uncover Sequel to Lost Planet

2009-02-24T06:19:00.000-08:00

The highly anticipated sequel to Lost Planet: Extreme Condition has finally been announced. The confirmation of the title's development came via a video, available on Xbox Live. The 'Extreme Condition' segment of the title has all but disappeared, with arctic environments being swiftly replaced by tropical rain forests.

Game Director Kenji Oguro has hinted at a shifting of perspectives as the player progresses through the narrative, 'There are various different groups of Snow Pirates living on E.D.N.III, the story in 'Lost Planet 2' will be told from the perspectives of some of those different groups'.

The first game received generally solid reviews - so this game is perhaps one to keep an eye out for.

God of War III Set for 2009 Release!

2009-02-23T06:40:00.000-08:00

If you haven't heard already - God of War III is coming soon. Very soon. Video game website, GamePro have enjoyed the first impressions of the game. The most notable information that can be taken from this is that the game has been confirmed to be mere 'months away from completion'. Yes, Kratos might be arriving onto the Playstation 3 even sooner than most have expected.

The icing on the cake is that the game apparently 'looks so good that the only closest reference [Sid Shuman] can draw is Crysis'. I think that there might be an air of hyperbole in this part, but you get the idea - the game is notable for its visuals. Gamepro describe the graphics with a bit more precision further down the article:

'His 3D character model is shockingly well-rendered on the PlayStation 3: his Golden Fleece armor now sparkles with high-resolution reflections, the scars that crisscross his body glow with malevolence, and he scowls and grimaces during trying battle scenes. The visual fidelity is so off-the-charts that you can make out folds of flesh on the knuckles of his realistic-looking fingers, catch an occasional gleam in his ferocious eyes, and see a soft glow off his smoothly shaven skull.'

But will the game excel in gameplay? 'God of War III will either live up to the hype or it won't.' says Shuman, 'The pedigree is there, the technology is there, and Kratos is there. Speaking frankly, this one looks like a slam-dunk.' This game is likely to be one of Sony's heaviest hitting exclusives this year. Hopefully it will continue to grow and improve as the development process continues.

Stay tuned for more information!

How to Improve your PC's Performance - Part 1

2009-02-22T06:52:00.000-08:00

This guide is designed to improve the speed and running efficiency of your PC. There are several programs cited in this guide, which will help you remove unnecessary background tasks, and delete wasteful files – whilst at the same time, ensuring that your computer is absolutely safe.

All the programs listed in this guide are freeware, so you can successfully make your computer faster without paying a cent. Also, paying for products doesn’t necessarily make them better – so you don’t need to try and go beyond the advice here.
On a final note, Enjoy!

1. Removing Unnecessary Files and Programs.

One of the most common misconceptions amongst PC owners is that by adding more programs to your computer – you are effectively making it faster. So for example, your thought process might be something like this:

“Anti-Virus Program X is good.
Anti-Virus Program Y is good.
Therefore, by having both X and Y on my computer, I am less likely to get viruses.”

The reality is that if you have several programs on your computer that are similar, you are more likely to slow it down. So, the first thing you need to do, is strip your PC naked.
Get rid of all anti-virus, anti-adware, anti-spyware etc. programs.

…………………………………………………………………………………………
To do this, follow these instructions:
a) Go to,
http://www.download.com/ccleaner/?tag=mncol
b) Click ‘Download Now (3.02MB)’.
c) Wait for download to finish, and then run installer.
d) Open up CCleaner, and click on ‘Tools’.
e) Go down the list and search for all anti-virus, anti-adware, anti-spyware etc. programs and click – Uninstall. (Make sure that in particular, you get rid of all Norton/Symantec products, or McAfee products).
f) –Optional- I know many people ardently oppose registry cleaners, so I’ll leave this to your own judgement. However, I believe that CCleaner’s registry cleaner is effective, and regardless, the program allows you to make a backup of your registry so that if anything goes wrong, you can restore your previous settings.
In this case, go to the ‘Registry’ tab, and run the cleaner.
…………………………………………………………………………………………

Your computer is now totally exposed to viruses, adware, spyware etc. so be careful what you do next. You will now need to reinstall free, and effective security programs – so say goodbye to your Norton subscription!
(Incase you are wondering, Norton/Symantec and McAfee products are bloat-ware. They say that they help, but really, they are taxing on your computer’s performance and fill it with a lot of unnecessary junk. So I would recommend that you get rid of them)
Now, onto your new downloads.
These programs are all selected because of personal preference. If you do not like the recommended programs listed, I give a list of alternative programs, which are also effective.
Regardless, I have tried them all during at least one point – all of them are safe.
…………………………………………………………………………………………
To do this, follow these instructions:

a) Go to,

---Anti-virus Software---

Avira AntiVir Personal - http://www.download.com/Avira-AntiVir-Personal-Free-Antivirus/3000-2239_4-10322935.html?tag=contentBody;mostPopTwoColWrap&cdlPid=10986298

Suitable Alternatives:

AVG Free Edition - http://www.download.com/AVG-Anti-Virus-Free-Edition/3000-2239_4-10320142.html?tag=contentBody;mostPopTwoColWrap&cdlPid=11001323

Avast Home Edition - http://www.download.com/Avast-Home-Edition/3000-2239_4-10019223.html?tag=contentBody;mostPopTwoColWrap&cdlPid=11004783

---Anti-Spyware/Adware Software---

Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.6.2 - http://www.download.com/Spybot-Search-amp-Destroy/3000-8022_4-10122137.html?tag=mncol

Suitable Alternatives:

Ad-Aware Anniversary Edition 8.0 - http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-Anniversary-Edition/3000-8022_4-10045910.html?tag=mncol

b) Run Installer.
c) Update if necessary, then proceed to scan computer.

…………………………………………………………………………………………

Stay tuned for Part 2.

Mass Effect 2 - Teaser Trailer

2009-02-21T19:00:00.000-08:00

Bioware have finally released a trailer for the highly antiscipated sequel to Mass Effect (appearing on both PC and Xbox 360) - Mass Effect 2. Unfortunately, it is only a teaser, with no gameplay footage or dialogue. However the trailer has successfully released enough information to entice our interests in the game prior to its release. The trailer doesn't mention however, what systems the game will appear on, even though there have been murmurings of a release on the Playstation 3.

The trailer initially describes the successes of your character, Commander Shepard. However, it quickly reveals that Shepard's status is 'Killed in Action'. Certainly enough to provoke discussion amongst Mass Effect fans, and perhaps onlookers which know little about the game.

Check it out for yourself here.

The trailer doesn't disclose a release date, but my guess would be late 2009.

Killzone 2 - Demo Impressions

2009-02-07T21:45:00.000-08:00

In case you haven't heard. The Killzone 2 demo is out on the PSN!

'But only for people that pre-ordered from Gamestop?'

No. Really, it's out on the PSN for everyone to enjoy - so stop reading now and go download it. Quickly!

Are you back?

Well, I've already played it, several times - so here's my impressions whilst you are downloading.

1. All I'm doing by writing this is wasting valuable seconds of my life, because just about everyone says it. I'm going to say it anyway - the graphics are awesome. Towards the end of the demo, I just sat in the corner and threw my extra grenades at stuff, just to look at the debris effects. It's not just the graphics, but the physics and lighting that make the game appear so awesome.

At one point you enter a building with gaping holes in the roof - and the light shafts that come through those are just beautiful. As for the physics, I was amazed as I shot a gas tanker, watched it propel itself up, and then explode beautifully in mid-air.

Graphics really are a highlight of this game - but you probably knew that already.

2. You've heard the voice acting is bad - but I really think that you've underestimated how catastrophically terrible it is. Seriously. It's sad that you play the character with the least-manly voice, Sev. His one and only line in the demo is shockingly delivered, 'Incoming Flak!' and he sounds more like a weakling then a battle-hardened soldier.

The scripting is poor as well. Yes, I know - being shot at whilst invading a hostile planet doesn't tend to inspire the most poetic of lines. Nonetheless, perhaps the game developers should have taken this kind of route:

"DO NOT stop until you reach the shingle!"

Obviously, Sev. You are invading Helghan and you are being shot at by heavy anti-air artillery. We really don't need you to point out to us that there's "Incoming flak!".

Sev's abysmal voice acting is matched only by Rico - who pretty much tried to make himself sound as manly as possible to the extent that you can't actually understand what the hell he's saying - does this ring any bells people?

3. Many people have had complaints about clunky controls - some people even going as far as 'unresponsive' with their criticism. Let me put your mind at ease and just say - this is baloney. Really, it's not true at all. Sure, whipping your gun round at 100 mph isn't going to happen - but then again, it wouldn't be that way in real-life.

The best way to describe the controls in Killzone 2 are - realistic, and overall I thought the control scheme was put together pretty well.

4. Level design was put together well I think, and the developers have done a really good job of capturing the nitty-gritty aspects of a war torn planet, with trenches, barbed wire, debris etc. However I had a slight problem with the fact that the Helghan thought it might be a good idea to place a huge pile of explosives on the bridge - one of the most integral parts of their defence. It seemed to me to be a very unimaginative way of getting you to destroy a bridge.

Other than that, level design was impressive.

5. I was pleased with how good the AI was at flanking your position. Killzone 2 has strength in the fact that you are always on the move - staying in one position for a long time can often have dire consequences.

6. Dahhh! This isn't a demo, but rather, the demo of the demo. It took almost no time at all to complete. (However, I thought it was really awesome that it timed how long it took you to complete a section, and I hope that they have this in the real thing too. I have played repeatedly trying to beat my previous times.)

So that's my impressions folks. I am still looking forward to this game's release, and the demo has given me high hopes.

Expect a full written review around the time that the game is released.

EDIT: The controls also have a sensitivity controlling feature, so really, there can be no complaints about 'clunky' or 'slow' movement abilities.

WATCH THE DEMO BELOW:

Here

Dawn of War II Beta - Impressions

2009-02-03T02:20:00.000-08:00

So Dawn of War II Beta has come out for the public to test. So far, i'm impressed.

The visuals on this game are really good, and so is the audio - voice acting is really superb, and it's a real improvement on Dawn of War: Soulstorm. The game functions differently to the previous Dawn of War. There is almost no base-building, with a particular focus on combat. In order to collect resources, you have to go out and capture requisition and power nodes.

I was disappointed with this at first, but actually, it means that you are encouraged to go be offensive rather than hiding in your base.

Races too, seem a bit more balanced - Eldar are superb, and Orcs are becoming ever-more deadly. The game has adapted a few more RPG elements, with a Hero leveling system (similar to Company of Heroes). Machines are more robust too, and they'll be crucial during battle.

Here's some footage recorded on FRAPS. Hope you enjoy:

.

PS3 - Little Big Planet - Review

2009-01-27T23:00:00.000-08:00

If you were to go to a video game store and look at different game boxes, ‘Little Big Planet’ wouldn’t appear to be particularly exciting or challenging. However, a closer inspection will prove that it includes so much more than neat graphics and a charming sack-person as the game’s protagonist. Media Molecule’s genius in ‘Little Big Planet’ doesn’t derive from the complexity of the game play; on the contrary, you’d be hard-pressed to name a moment where you use more than three buttons at any given time. No, the excitement of ‘Little Big Planet’ comes from a level creator that has almost no limitations, an online networking system which really does make the words of the game’s narrator, Stephen Fry, “Planet Earth, or as the rest of the omniverse call it, ‘The Orb of Dreams” resound true, and a strong single player campaign which manages to capture the countless nuances of culture that can be seen all around the world today – Yes, the charming sack-person and the neat graphics certainly don’t detriment from the overall experience either.

The greatest thing about ‘Little Big Planet’ is that the longer it is played, the more exciting the experience gets. The beginning of the single player campaign starts out very basically, really designed to farmilarise the player with the control scheme. However, as you progress through each chapter, or in this case, continent (although this will be explained later), the complexity of the levels increases. The campaign is mainly there to help gather items, costumes, stickers and decorations in order to make your level creation process more fulfilling. You will gather different ‘bubbles’ throughout your journey in order to obtain these four categories of objects. The way that the increasing complexity of each level is coupled with a system of item hunting really is excellently done. You’ll find that as the levels develop, so do you – so if you do a second run-through of the campaign, you’ll be able to trigger that hidden switch, which was not so obvious when you played the level for the first time. This really does add to the replay value of the game, and will leave you repeating the same level with the same degree of novelty that you experienced the first time you played it.

The player navigates the single-player campaign by using a Little-Big-Planet-Esque globe that maps out the location of each level. The globe serves as a loose reflection of the real world (It’s easy to identify continents, but they are only denatured sketches). Once you have found a level you’d like to play – a quick push of the ‘Start’ button will hurl you into a 2D arena (although you can shift your ‘Sack-Boy’ from foreground, the middle layer and background). As you progress through each level you will unlock new continents and countries – starting from Europe, then moving into Africa, South America, Mexico, North America, Japan, India and finally arctic Russia. What’s so great about these places is that there’s so much reference to culture – you’ll gather costumes consisting of feathered hats, lion manes, sombreros, sunglasses, ninja suits, turbans and fur hats, as well as playing in levels which include kings, rampant buffalo, ghosts, cowboys, gangsters, sumo wrestlers, dancers and soldiers. The list continues endlessly, but the point is made; there’s so much colour and variety in this game that it becomes almost impossible to get bored.

Once the campaign is finished, it’s time to create your own levels and play the levels that others have made. The level creator is, in short, brilliant. The way that people have created their own tanks, traps, contraptions and vehicles is testament to the power of the creation tools at your disposal – and whilst it can be complex, the tools given to you are designed in a certain way that it doesn’t take long to figure out how to use them. Each item has a tutorial, in which Stephen Fry’s voice will run you through how to use it. Where though, do you draw inspiration? Surely, it must be daunting to create a successful level from scratch! Enter the online aspect of ‘Little Big Planet’. Every user of ‘Little Big Planet’ can publish their own level content online for others to play. Of course, there are many, many abysmal levels – but there are a few gems. People have been able to create levels such as a fully functioning piano, and some genius in Japan has even put together a side scrolling shooter. The list goes on, and it really is testimony to the power of the creation tools available. The levels aren’t necessarily fun within themselves, but it is great to sit and marvel at the ingenuity that many people seemingly possess.

The criticisms that I have of ‘Little Big Planet’ are few, and very minor. Firstly, although the level creator is excellent – levels always take a much longer time to create than anticipated, with a lot of trial-and-error involved in the process of sculpting them. You’ll have to measure things perfectly, and one can only wish that there were better ways of getting things to work. Secondly, if you know anything about ‘Little Big Planet’, you’ll know that shortly after the games release, a branch of the Muslim community complained about a song that was featured in the game called, ‘Tapha Niang’ (the lyrics contained a verse from the Qur’an). Shortly after the complaint, Sony recalled the product immediately and released a new, censored version of the game, without lyrics. This was a shame, because whilst the tune retained its beauty – it didn’t retain the same degree of authenticity and charisma as the unadulterated version.

So there it is. When it comes to ‘Little Big Planet’, the accolades are plentiful and the criticisms are relatively few. This game is indisputably the best platform game of 2008, and certainly one of the greatest games of the year. Graphically, the game is a powerhouse, with a charming artistic direction, crisp textures and beautiful colours. It also has a superb licensed and original soundtrack, which has been blended with the game in such a way that each song fits the story excellently. ‘Little Big Planet’ oozes quality, and it is a game that can be very easily recommended to all age groups – this is a game that you will not soon forget.

PS3 / 360 - Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit - Review

2008-07-08T06:53:00.000-07:00

If you are a die-hard fan of the Dragon Ball Z series, there is no question that you should buy Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit. Moreover, if you have endured three Tenkaichi games wishing that Budokai would eventually make its rightful return: your wish has been granted. Burst Limit does a good job of maintaining the strength of the Dragon Ball Z franchise, and although this game will not be the sparkling gem of your game collection, it’s certainly worth a purchase. This game is by no means perfect; on the contrary, with a few minor improvements the game-play would have improved drastically. However, if you want to have a taster of that feeling you got when you first watched the series, this is the game for you.

So let’s not leave the best to last. If graphics ever were a fair indicator of how good the game is, Burst Limit would be one of the best. This game has the best cell-shaded graphics of any game by a country mile. Every line is crisp, every colour is bright and it’s undeniable that the auras and Ki blasts have been animated to perfection. If there ever was a graphical experience that could make you feel like you were actually playing the series, Burst Limit is it. The screen shots of the game look excellent, but it can only really be appreciated when seen in action; characters flawlessly teleporting, rolling and pulling together punching and kicking combinations. Games aren’t generally fun to watch, but Burst Limit is an exception. It’s the same kind of pleasure you get when you watch a fight scene from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon or The Matrix.

The game’s developers seem to play at this idea of cinematic game-play by adding ‘Drama Pieces’ into each fight. Certain actions will trigger these off, and the game will smoothly transition from game-play to cut-scene. For example during Gohan’s fight with Cell, Vegeta will jump in to aid Gohan, somewhat similarly to the way he does in the actual series. The concept of ‘Drama Scenes’ is interesting initially, but it easily gets repetitive, and because there is no way of prompting one of these scenes, they will appear more so as a rude interruption to your fight rather than a welcome addition.

That’s not the only gripe that I had. Some moves are just cheap. When you battle online, you will continuously be the victim of Ki spamming. Vegeta for example, will tirelessly cast the ‘Big Bang Attack’, before finishing you off with his ‘Final Flash’, leaving almost no time for his opponent to stand up. Budokai 3 had a mechanic designed to stop this; the ‘Dragon Rush’ mode. This mechanic actually meant that there was a risk in trying to pull off an ultimate move. Thus, Ki spamming is avoided. Unfortunately, Burst Limit doesn’t have anything remotely like this.

The game also has an incredibly disappointing character roster. Even the selection of characters is totally random. For example, they include Recoom and Captain Ginyu from the Ginyu force, but totally miss out Guldo, Burter and Jeice. I can’t really understand it: why only those two out of the five members? The other thing is that having a Super Saiyan 1 Goku, yet having a Super Saiyan 2 Gohan just seems like a crazy decision. The tiny character roster isn’t helped much by the story mode, which covers a measly half of the full Dragon Ball Z series. Only covering three sagas may leave room for downloadable content in the future, but the entire package seems at this stage, very limited.

Regardless, the core game play can be extremely fun, and undeniably addictive. Everything is fast moving; a player can activate their ‘Aura Spark’ mode, and then quickly teleport behind their enemy. Likewise, you can dodge, block and counter many of the attacks made against you. It’s almost a task in itself to keep up with what’s happening on-screen.

Ultimately, Burst Limit is an absolutely solid fighter. If you are a Dragon Ball Z fan, this really is an excellent purchase. You wont quite be able to watch the entire story unfold, but you’ll be able to relive some of the most epic moments (“It’s over 9000!”). The visuals are stunning, the action is fast paced, and as long as you have a friend who is willing to indulge in a fair fight with you, the multiplayer isn’t half bad either. Welcome back Budokai 3, we missed you.

PS3 / Xbox 360 - Grand Theft Auto IV - Review

2008-05-24T22:49:00.000-07:00

It's difficult to put a score next to a name like Grand Theft Auto IV, whilst it successfully creates a living and vibrant city for you to explore, the game has so many flaws that you'll feel guilty enjoying it. There are so many games which are technical masterpieces - the developers will invest their hearts and souls into the game, but it will be ripped apart quickly by reviewers. This game by no means pushes any of the technical boundaries of video games, but everyone enjoys it anyway. What I mean by this is that you'll never see anyone saying: "GTA IV's graphics are amazing!" or anything like that, and there are plenty of reasons that would make you bad-mouth the game. Regardless, we play it and enjoy it. This is why I give the game such a high score. So let's begin.

Meet Niko Bellic, your character. A European immigrant, and undoubtedly the most likable character from the GTA series. He's a funny, slightly charming guy -- who just so happens to go around killing pedestrians. (Awww, shucks, we can forgive him right?) You've been invited over to America by Roman Bellic; his over-optimistic cousin, who promises you a mansion to live in, and women practically begging you for sex, but are ultimately disappointed by a rundown apartment block, and only the cockroaches to keep you company at night.

Now what? Well you earn a living of course! Niko starts making friends and finding work wherever he can. You have a mobile phone as easy access to anyone you meet, and you can ask them for jobs any time. However, as the story progresses, we learn that Niko has come to America for more than just easy sailing in life. (but i won't spoil the secret for you!) My description is poor, but the story (and the dialogue in it) is incredibly interesting and funny. The voice acting is top notch in most cases (although I'm really not sure how accurate the Eastern European accents are).

Undoubtedly the storyline in this game is one of the greatest in a long time. It nicely revolves around Niko, and it moves into his past. There are plenty of twists within the game. As a member of the slightly darker part of society, you will participate in a whole lot of killing, back stabbing, revenge missions etc. and you'll fall victim to them as well. You can never truly know who to trust. The developers also effectively satirise the USA. Just watching the TV, you'll see funny little things like "Republican Space Defenders", and whilst you are playing this game, the governor of liberty city is being elected. You'll hear constant Republican propaganda on the radio, oft accusing the Democratic opponent of being slack on "the War on Terror". I've talked about the political references only, but you get the idea. It's just really funny.

The downside of the story is that, in an attempt to make it feel longer, the developers seem to have padded the whole thing out with missions which seem to be irrelevant. For example, the script will go something like this:

Roman: Good God! You killed the Godfather! We must now go into hiding, or they will hunt us down and kill us!

(Niko and Roman go into hiding)

Roman: Phew! that was a close shave. Ok, now go take my friend, Big Timmy to the cinema...

These moments are severely anti-climatic and generally boring. It's almost as though you want to simply cut to the chase; not deliver a pregnant woman to the hospital when Niko has spare time. Likewise, if Niko wants money, he can carry out chores that will be offered to him by different people. Such as Taxi driving and whatnot. I've simply never had a problem with money -- anything i want to buy, i can buy it. So really, there never is much incentive to do these missions. And let's be honest, there is little entertainment from driving a person from 'a' to 'b'. Roman will also call you simply to 'hang out', and you can do a variety of mini-games such as bowling and snooker, but these aren't particularly fun.

The game play mechanics are vastly improved from previous Grand Theft Auto games. This game now features a cover mechanic, very similar to games like Gears of War and Uncharted: Drakes fortune. Slightly more difficult to maneuver, but a solid system nonetheless. The game also features some nifty melee combat additions, such as the ability to dodge, and then counter your opponent's movements. Driving is also entertaining. The cars always seem a little bit more slippery than they should be, but you'll soon adapt to driving something that has a bit more slide in each turn.

You'll find yourself immersed quickly in this living, breathing city environment. It's a marvel to look at, and it shows some excellent level design. From the architecture, to each individual stairway. You can simply jump on a train, and marvel at the beauty of the city as you pass by.

Overall, Grand Theft Auto IV is no doubt the best in the series. There are indeed many flaws in the game, but at the same time, it captures something that other games don't. One of my biggest gripes with modern video games, is that their developers will spend so much time making the game perfect, that they miss out the key ingredient: fun. Grand Theft Auto IV is a tonne of fun. It's almost as if the developers said: Welcome to Liberty City, go out there and go crazy. The story is both interesting and humourous, the characters are interesting, and the new mechanics of the game (including the feature of online play) make this an excellent purchase.

Wii - Okami - Review

2008-04-20T07:21:00.000-07:00

Okami, originally released for the Playstation 2 in late 2007, was one of the great games that nobody played. And this was partly due to all the other things that were coming out at that time: Playstation 3, Nintendo Wii, God of War etc. etc. etc. Even for those who bought it, the innovation within the game was slightly lost on the Playstation 2. It is only now, that the white wolf has reached the white console, and fortunately, it is a match made in heaven. The game offers gorgeously stylised visuals and an epic tale. The end product being a very exciting adventure.

You’ve probably heard very little about this game; so let me explain the basics. You play as the Sun Goddess: Amaterasu, who has finally woken up from a century long slumber. There is a lot of background story, which I will not spoil for you. Basically though, a seven-headed beast named Orochi (that you had previously sealed away for eternity) has finally been unleashed, and you have been awoken, with the task of restoring light and colour back into the world. The Storyline sounds basic, but it is enriched beautifully by a lot of cultural context, and derives from traditio

nal Japanese mythology.

Amaterasu is one of the most important Gods from the Shinto religion in Japan. According to Wikipedia (which must be true!), it literally translates into ‘Illuminates Heaven’, because she is the Goddess of the sun. This is one of the many examples of Japanese mythology, which the game is based on, and in a sense makes the game feel more meaningful.

Moreover, the characters in the game tend to be charming and likable, and in some cases, funny. Ameterasu is silent, but her companion called Issun does enough talking in her stead, so we needn't worry.

So now that I have explained a little bit about what the game is about, let me quickly give you a warning. Do not go into this game expecting something similar to Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, because, like most games on the planet, it will be outclassed. If we were to go along comparing every game to LoZ:WW, we would be disappointed a lot. Just because the developers talked about how they were "inspired by LoZ:WW", it doesn’t mean that we should treat Okami differently to other games - got it? I did, and I was unfortunately disappointed. However, the game still has a lot to offer, and you will have a fantastic time playing it.

Firstly, the graphics in this game are not cell-shaded as such. In fact, as I looked at this game for the first time, it was really surreal. The game does not attempt to capture the clean cartoon-ish look that other cell-shaded games go for; it tries to capture the nitty-gritty brush strokes of traditional Japanese painting. And of course, it achieves this beautifully. Every mountain, tree and flower is gorgeous but somewhat imperfect. It’s great for the Wii, because the game doesn’t need a lot of hardware to still look excellent. So basically, what makes this port different? The game now appears in 480p and 16:9. With Okami's already awesome graphics, and a new option for widescreen, I'm sold.

It makes me shudder to compare Okami to The Wind Waker, when I've already told you not to.
but in this case I am being naughty. Okami plays a very similar sound-track, with slightly synthesized tunes rather than a full orchestra. This kind of decision has been criticized in the past, but I love the simplicity. The music totally fits the mood and atmosphere of each individual environment, and it's so catchy that often, you'll find yourself humming along with it.

The combat mechanics are great in some ways and poor in others. You have your celestial brush, obviously, as your most destructive weapon. This is great, as you can swiftly slice up your enemies, or throw a bomb right at their feet. Drawing each combat move is intuitive and just fills you with a feeling of expertise. Now the bad: shaking your hand like a spastic (and 'spastic' is a politically correct word i'll have you know!) in order to do normal attacks, can be a nightmare. Sometimes it can be unresponsive, and trying to dish out successful combos is generally a futile task. Heck! it's all fun nonetheless.

There is another problem with the controls, and that lies within the nun-chuck. If you have read any other review, they will tell you that Ameterasu only dodges in the right direction half of the time. I would like to verify this: There is no 'knack' or 'technique' to the dodging. It's just plain crappy dodge mechanics. To be honest, this isn't a problem, if you want to dodge you generally just jump. But still, if the developers want to include it, they might as well get it right. Regardless, i'd choose the Wii controls over the PS2's any day. The Wii remote allows you to actually feel like you have a paintbrush in your hand, and that is what is important.

The game isn't necessarily challenging, but the gameplay is so varied that it really is a marvel to play. You can fight, you can create stepping stones across a body of water, you can blow up walls and the list of things to do really doesn't stop there. If you haven't played Okami before, you really owe it to yourself to get it on the Nintendo Wii. It's one of the best titles on the system, and a real pleasure to play. Take my word for it: it will be money well spent.

Just a quickie...

2008-04-09T08:05:00.001-07:00

In case you were wondering about the outcome of my previous post:

'Blizzard Customer Service: Sucks, or none-existant? You be the judge!'

I finally recieved an email from Blizzard telling me that one of my addons was using 'third party exploiting software' or something lame like that. And despite a letter to Blizzard, their automated letter abruptly refused my message. Saying that 'another detailed investigation has been carried out, and the previous conclusion verified' (As if!)

Fortunatley, nothing much changed on my account. So i'm back to playing WoW!

Let this be a lesson learned: MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHAT ADDONS YOU ARE DOWNLOADING!

New PSN Store Layout.

2008-04-05T22:20:00.000-07:00

Sony have finally decided to give their store a revamp. Given what we have seen, and given how it looked before, I think the idea is great. It's made slightly more modern, with some cool reflections at the bottom of the screen, larger pictures, and it certainly plays into the sort of silk background that is the default wallpaper on the PS3.

Sony are continuously improving their work and I respect it. This is one move which is very much, in the right direction.

(Previous PSN layout below)

Wii - Super Smash Bros. Brawl - Review.

2008-03-29T07:01:00.000-07:00

Super Smash Bros. Brawl: probably the most anticipated game amongst Wii owners for 2008. And for good reason too! The game puts all of Nintendo's iconic characters (and a few third party ones too, in this edition), and throws them into a chaotic arena; filled with crazy items, which can cause untold damage to anyone. This game franchise has had countless hours invested into it from all corners of the globe, and is arguably the greatest series of party games, ever.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl, is no different. However, this is part of the problem. Whilst the developers stick with the simple philosophy of "If it ain't broken, it fix it", it fails to bring anything new to the series which will dramatically improve the game's entertainment value.

Melee, (which was the first SSB game I played), was possibly the most fun I've had playing on the Gamecube (bar LoZ: Wind Waker). Once you have engaged in countless battles with friends, collected nearly every trophy, unlocked every character, there’s only so much fun one could have with the game. Brawl, I thought, would be a way of renewing the entertainment value of playing Super Smash Brothers. To an extent, I was wrong.

What’s changed? You have a few more characters, touched up graphics and each character has their own special ability (which usually allows them to dominate opposition). I can't help feeling that I'm more or less playing the same game as melee in most aspects though. The character power mode seems seriously under-utilized. It only lasts 15 seconds, and some character's abilities are rather lacklustre in comparison to others. Ike tends to deliver a powerful series of slashes with his sword, before hurling his opponent out of the arena. Lucas, on the other hand, seems to call down an electrical blizzard. Sounds cool right? Not really. If you stand in the right place, you can avoid his attacks entirely.

Don't get me wrong, when these special moves are pulled off successfully, they are incredibly satisfying, to watch as well as execute. It adds another level of fun to the game; as the Smash Ball comes flying into the arena and each player struggles to reach it first. Somehow it captures the real essence of the game, a pure and chaotic... well.... brawl!

The introduction of new characters (and more importantly, third party avatars) is a serious step in the right direction. I have a serious soft spot for Snake, from my experiences on the Playstation. Sonic may be a dying name; but a legendary one nonetheless. Even the introduction of the slightly mischievously named: Zero Suit Samus offers another, interesting character to play with. (Not a particularly effective suit, I might add, when it’s literally blown off with a powerful blast of her cannon!)

Single player is a bit of a drag. Other may disagree, but I think that Super Smash Brothers was made for people to play with and against friends. When you don’t have anyone to play with (like me =( ), it’s all a bit awkward. It’s just having some kind of drunken button mashing fest, without the trash talking. Online has been a nightmare to get into so far (for me, anyway). Regardless, it doesn’t make too much difference. Online merely offers the ability to play against a slightly smarter enemy. Brawl really needs a bunch of friends together: screaming at each other, punching each other when they get killed and simply communicating.

There is little more to say for this one. Brawl is a wonderfully constructed button-masher, but not a lot more. If you haven’t been introduced to Super Smash Brothers yet: you are going to love this game. It’s a must buy. However, if you have played the series a lot before, you are going to be disappointed that you can’t look upon this game with fresh eyes. Even then, I would really recommend you purchase it. It’s just too legendary a title to miss.

Tag ;-)

Blizzard Customer Service: Sucks, or none-existant? You be the judge!

2008-03-21T21:42:00.000-07:00

So recently I log onto my WoW account to be greeted with the following message:

This made me pretty confused... like this:

Why? You ask. Well because I honestly have no clue as to why I was suspended! So I check my emails to see if WoW has sent any information. Indeed, they had! There was a nice email in my junk mail with the subject title: FINAL WARNING. (Quite ironic, because I have never received a warning before.)

Now, this is where I REALLY start kicking myself. As I move the cursor to click "Mark as Safe", I accidentally click "Mark as Unsafe". So any chance of finding out why I have been suspended remains, a mystery. This is when I do a little bit of research.

What do I know so far? "FINAL WARNING". So I check out what that means. I visit 'The Penalty Volcano'. It says this about the "FINAL WARNING":

"Final Warnings are applied when a player needs to be removed from the game for an extended period of time or the player has repeatedly violated policy in a relatively brief period of time. Placing an account under review for possible closure is quite rare, and only occurs in the case of particularly serious policy violations or excessively repeated policy abuse. The following are true of Final Warnings:

Extremely serious account penalty
Quite rare
Extended service interruption, with a possibility of permanent revocation"

Now, if I may draw your attention to the last six words of the final bullet point: This seriously scares the crap outta me. I have put countless hours into the game, and quite frankly, to lose it all based on... god knows what... is a rather terrifying thought.

This brings us back to the first question. "What the hell have I done?". I decide to email Blizzard asking for some clarification; stating that I am certain that this is all one big mistake. And with a swift click on the Send button, I take a deep sigh and sit back in my chair. Waiting for an apologetic email from Blizzard saying:

"OH LORD THIS IS ALL A HUGE MISTAKE WE APOLOGISE AND HOPE THAT NO INCONVENIENCE HAS BEEN CAUSED!"

To which I would reply:

"Its ok Blizz. Glad we got everything cleared up."

However, this email never came. All I did receive was an automated message saying:

"While we will attempt to address all concerns as promptly as
possible, it may be several days before we are able to respond
depending on the total inquiries we receive."

So, this is by some considerable margin, the largest MMORPG that the world has ever seen, earning countless millions each year of pure, disposable income, and this automated tells me that it will take "several days" before I get a single email. Well, to that I merely say: Why don't you do the smart thing and use some of that money on hiring... more staff! The maximum suspension (other than account closure) is 72 Hours! I am going to have to wait longer than that so I can tell Blizzard "actually, there is nothing wrong". Kinda crazy, huh? Some people actually do break the rules, and have to wait a shorter amount of time than I will. It's been 24 hours since I sent that email.

Furthermore, why is the only way of contacting customer service through email? Don't most successful businesses use a live customer chat service? I don't want to talk to a person through email. I don't want to try arguing a robot. I want a human being to talk to. Blizzard, do not have this option.

In most cases, customers control a business, but when you have a game that is so loved and addictive, it's the other way round. I don't know. But this has been very frustrating. Blizzard customer service is, at total best, crap. Does it even exist? You decide.

The Most Overrated Games of All Time

2008-03-14T05:18:00.001-07:00

I'm feeling in a rather negative mood today. So I thought that I would talk about some things which really annoy me. One of which is this:

Over-hyped, overplayed and overrated games/game franchises.

You go to a friends house, hope to enjoy a few beers on the couch, then they suggest "Lets play some [Insert lame, but loved game here]." Then you have to spend a couple of hours playing something which you really aren't enjoying. So these are the games which I think are immune from the criticism of reviewers and gamers a like. Starting at number 5:

5. Ninja Gaiden Franchise:

I purely wont go into much detail with this one. I find the whole thing particularly boring. Lets just summarise: It's some angry ninja on a rampage to achieve.... God knows what, and he manages to mutilate the bodies of other angry people on his way. Lots of blood and killing. Anything else? not really. The story line is bland at best, and the concept is dull and uninteresting. Why people spend money on this thing is a total mystery to me.

4. Super Mario Galaxy:

Perhaps I'm being harsh with this one. And i doubt that this is the 4th most overrated game 'of all time'. Considering however, that it's relatively new and current, I will comment on it. I enjoyed Super Mario Galaxy. In fact, I think I would have enjoyed it more if there hadn't been so much hype around it. The thing is, with all that thing about it being "T he second greatest game of all time", I was expecting something which would quench my thirst for a superb platform. Unfortunately, this game is only 'very good' in my eyes. I can't bring myself to see it as excellent.

3. Elder Scrolls: Oblivion:

Needless to say, this game is totally dull. I'm so amazed by this, I mean, it has everything! You can pick up almost every object! You can wear a million armour sets! The character customisation screen allows you to change nose size (Michael Jackson would be proud)! This game, however, is just boring. The colours in the game are monotonous at best. The gameplay is totally mediocre: Slash, Block, Spell, Repeat. It's an interesting concept, but unfortunatley one that never works out. In fact, this game does almost nothing to engage you in it.

Furthermore, there are just too many glitches. For example, you will walk into a city, and listen to people talking with the wrong accent: Old women with young voices, young women with old voices! Another problem is that if you accidentally hit a civilian, the armies of the world will be unleashed, screaming: "Then pay with your blood!" or something lame like that. It's hilarious, ill grant it. But similarly, pathetic.

This game is definitely overrated.

2. Half-Life 2:

After a game which probably revolutionized gaming: People were going crazy about this one. Even me! This game promised everything: Storyline,Graphics, Gameplay, Online, Everything. In nearly every aspect, it delivered. However, the game focused more on creating a creepy atmosphere, rather than creating something which is fun. Even now: people are buying HL: Episode X (Just take a look at The Orange Box)

It's old and worn, get over it.
Disagree with me if you wish. But this game is plain overrated.

1. The Halo 3 Franchise:

Needless to say; this franchise makes me confused. Perhaps I'm lost! What can everyone else see that I can't? Whenever I pick up a controller to play Halo, my heart sinks. What is so special about it? All i can see is a good, but not great; interesting, but not innovative First Person Shooter (FPS). Where did it go right? Difficult question to answer. My guess would be that is that when Halo: CE was initially released, it gave something that everyone wanted but nobody got:

An epic story line with some shiny graphics and an all out, free for all, kill fest.

The problem is in this day and age: What puts it above any other FPS? COD4, Crysis,Team Fortress 2 and the continuous 'etc.'s. Am I confused? Is there some hidden magic in the game which I am totally blinded to? Maybe. Nonetheless, when a game has its own soft-drink: You can probably guess that it's over-hyped and more importantly (you guessed it!) : Overrated.

Welcome to Tag N' Frag

2008-03-13T03:15:00.000-07:00

Hello new readers!

Welcome to Tag n' Frag; a blog which is dedicated to gaming. Here is where I will be posting reviews, news and opinions. I enjoy video games immensley, and currently, there is no one website which truly satisfies my desire for more information. Too often I will buy a game based on its review and be dissapointed. I'm not one who buys into hype unless it's deserved, and I hope to truly and accuratley give all and any info possible about both consoles and games.

I am an owner of a Sony PS3, Nintendo Wii and a good PC. So those will be the key systems that I will focusing on (don't worry Xbox 360 owners, I play all your good games on the PC). Jokes jokes! well... sorta.

So expect to see more to come. The website is still in construction so please be patient. Any advice or support would be very much appreciated. (Spam, on the other hand, is not.) Please send it to Tag.n.Frag@gmail.com

With that, Tag n' Frag is still open.

(oh. and by the way. If you are wondering where the name comes from: My favourite weapon on Resistance: Fall of Man was the Bullseye. You can work it out from there.)