UG - Deus Ex: Human Revolution Review

Like any of my reviews, this could have what some consider spoilers so read at your own risk. I haven't actually beaten this game yet, I only rented it during a free weekend and I will rent it again during another free weekend to beat it. Overall, the game has been a blast. I am going to start with the things I really like, then move to mediocre, and then to what I don't like.

I enjoy the way they did the side missions so that you can really decide whether you want to do them or not, but all of them actually seem meaningful and made me want to do them. And doing side missions is actually quite rare for me. The other thing I really like is the pay off for exploring while at the same time leaving it completely optional. For example, you can pretty much hack any door code or computer system in the game; however, if you explore enough, there is a chance you will find a pocket secretary (spoiler: the future will have PDAs) that contains a password or passcode for a system you will encounter later. I like the ability to upgrade your skills through Praxis kits that can be found, earned through XP, or purchased with money. Having all the options to add abilities is quite nice. My complaint here is I have done a lot of exploring and found kits and have purchased them and earned them, but I am nearing the end of the game and I still have lots of abilities I haven't been able to add. I would also recommend trying to keep one kit on reserve in case you find you could really use it during a mission. For example, I have gotten to places where the safe fall upgrade would have been really nice to have, but instead I had used my last one on a security hack or something. Lastly, the gun play, movement, and cover system work well, even though the cover system comes up in my complaint section. Lastly, the ability to save your game at any time is always welcomed and I wish more games would continue to offer this.

For the mediocre, I will call out the story so far. The story is entertaining, but predictable so far. Now, that is all said knowing I haven't beaten the game yet, but so far I have been able to predict each part and find myself sitting there yelling at the TV that she is lying only to find my character gets tricked because he is a fool. I believe I know the outcome of the game, but I will have to wait to see if I'm right or not. Another area that is a little weak for me is the conversations where I have to pick what he is to say. I just can't tell if it really matters what I say or not. If it does matter, then I must be awesome at talking to people because I have been getting what I need every time. BTW - the persuasion ability is lame and wasn't worth my one kit to get it and please kill the animation of my character crossing his arms in front of his chest. Every time he does it I wait for him to bust out a rhyme Vanilla Ice style.

For the bad, I don't like the switching between third person and first person view points. The majority of the game is first person, but when you go into cover it switches to third person. Switching in works well, but switching out can leave me facing strange directions and I just have trouble following where I am going to end up when I switch between them. My last complaint is a stumbled on a bug where I was doing a side mission and a core mission that both required me to visit the same place. When I visited that location, they gave me credit for the core mission, but canceled out my side mission and said I failed that mission.

Overall, great game, but I don't see a lot of replay here.

4/5

UG - Call of Duty: Black Ops

I've been playing this game since it first came out, but I had only been playing multiplayer and zombie modes up until last night when I finally beat the campaign mode. First, I know the two zombie modes get a lot of attention and they are entertaining, but I wouldn't consider it long lasting fun. It really just feels like a little break if you are either tired or frustrated with multiplayer (maybe you got owned 3 maps in a row). Both zombie modes are pretty fun, I do like the addition of the arcade mode. But it is just horde mode from Gears.

Multiplayer is, of course, where the game really shines. Multiplayer is fantastic. I would say it is better than Modern Warfare 2, but I think it really only feels better because I was ready for a new game and a change. Trying to look at them overall, I would say they are equal. Now the maps really do feel better to me. I find them to be a great mix of size and layout. The maps feel more intense to me. I can get into the action within a few turns after respawning. I also remember in MW2 that I could always find places to hide for a minute to be safe, but these maps have less spots and I find myself in more intense battles. One change I would like to see is that the RC car becomes less powerful, easy to kill, or a higher kill streak requirement. My main complaint for this is because that damn thing kills me every freaking time. I swear to all that is holy every time I hear an RC car followed by the stupid voice saying one has been spotted in my area, that damn things kills me.

Campaign mode feels like the offspring of a menage-a-trois involving Modern Warfare 2, Assassin's Creed, and Fight Club. I had a blast playing it and the story wasn't too bad even though I didn't quite grasp some parts of the story, but I'm not the smartest peanut in the turd. The character you play has to be the most bad ass soldier ever. I got knocked out and captured and threatened to be killed a few too many times. It did offer about 4 hours of play time, but I did do the easy mode mainly because I wanted to beat it. I didn't buy this game for single player so I just wanted to get through it so I could see the story.

Overall, awesome game. I am even more impressed since I always had a bad impression from Treyarch. However, I think they have really outdone themselves. I am going to continue enjoying this game, especially since there is a growing concern that the next version of CoD could be a monthly pay model and at that point, I am most likely out.

UG - Mobile Games and Mobile Gaming Devices

First off, I must give credit to pg as him and I talked this out so some of the ideas are his as well. Whether he actually wants to claim credit for this crazy talk is up to him.

This started out as an Angry Birds for Android review, but as I started ranting it changed into what it is now. I will say Angry Birds is an entertaining game, drains my battery, but it is great time-killing game. However, I think at times the Android community goes crazy for anything that gets ported from the iPhone community and thinks it must be the greatest thing ever. I downloaded the game to see what all the talk was about and I have played it quite a bit since then. Like I admitted at the beginning, the game is fun. But, it is just a game where I slingshot birds around, this is nothing ground breaking, this isn't God of War. This thought path got me thinking about all the mobile game talk and the fights between Nintendo, Apple, and Sony.

There are lots of articles out there about mobile gaming and the iPhone is always at the center of the attention, mainly because it does sell a lot of games and Steve Jobs chants about it any chance he gets and always compares it to the PSP and Nintendo DS. While the numbers show the iPhone does sell lots of games, I would like to create new categories for these games. The iPhone (and Android and Blackberry, and Windows Phone 7 …) is really good at time-killing games. These are games I want to play while sitting on a toilet, or waiting in a doctor's office, or waiting for my plane to begin boarding, etc. The PSP and Nintendo DS games are different. These are more involved games that are long and draw the player in and really do have superior graphics and do require more controls. These are games I want to play at night while on my couch and my wife is watching a TV show, or while I am actually on a long flight, or while I am on a long road trip, or while I am visiting my in-laws, or getting a prostate exam (some doctors really like to take their time). Anyways, my point is that there are different game categories in my mind for the mobile arena. You sure as hell couldn't try to sell Angry Birds to a PS3 or Xbox 360 gamer.

Now, what I would really like to see is a mobile phone that by default would include the time-killing games, but let it also have the capability to do true mobile gaming. There have been rumors about a Sony upcoming phone that will include a PSP capability. This sounds awesome to me, but I immediately think of the issues like cost, controls, size, screen resolution, battery life, storage capacity, and all other reasons it shouldn't work. So pg and I were talking about some of this and sort of came up with what I would love to see in a device like this. BTW – there will be no image of what I am describing because I am not breaking out Gimp to mock this up. Please, use your imagination.

So first there is the phone and it is a touchscreen device, something in the 4” range and it runs the latest version of Android. It also needs to have some kick-ass hardware specs and screen resolution. It will need to include all the other normal things like front/rear camera, b/g/n wireless, and all the other tech in current devices.

For the PSP capability, I say go with a case for it. The phone will just slide into the case in landscape position. The case will include all the gaming controls (pg really wants two analog sticks) and it will hold a battery inside it to help with battery life while gaming. Sony and third party hardware makes can even sell different types of cases. Some cases can offer bigger batteries, or more storage, or a UMD reader (awesome idea pg), or theme them out, and anything else people can think of. People might complain about carrying something else with them, but the times I want to play a PSP would be when I was traveling with things already like luggage or at least some sort of bag that I am sure could handle the extra case.

This device could be marketed to both gamers and non-gamers. That is where the hardware and screen comes in outside of games. There are people who won't care about gaming, but will want the phone because it is one of the best hardware devices out there. And then gamers will want the phone because they will want real gaming. The phone can be sold separately or in a bundle with a case. I think this design can take care of most of the issues that could be presented by this except for the cost. In the end, the price will be high, but if it could truly be this great of a device and let me do it all, I will pay for it.

Update: This isn't what I was hoping for.

pg - My Journey from PS3 to XBOX360; A Comparison

I'm tired of all these stupid exclusive games coming out that I couldn't play because all I have is a PS3. (I have a Wii, but that doesn't count. The Wii is more like a DS trapped inside a console with a wrist twirling wandy-thing for small children and creepy adults. Unless, you're bowling with friends - but then you have to drink beer to make it not seem so gay. )

I'll cut to the chase.

UG - Halo: Reach Review

I have played all the other Halo titles except for ODST. I have always enjoyed the series, but I haven't been a die hard fan. I find them to be fun, but that is about it. Well, the same friend that came to visit who brought some really dumb games, also brought this game. We played co-op and beat the game in a day and I had a blast doing it. The game is in line with the rest of the series for fun and entertainment. While the game is fun, there were a few issues that I think would be highlighted harder in other reviews if it weren't a Halo game that gets it a free pass. The fact that I can shoot a wall and there is no damage is pretty weak. If another game didn't have this graphic effect, it would get panned. My other complaint is the co-op isn't drop in or drop out like Gears of War made popular. That should be a standard feature for games like this. However, overall the game was a complete blast and I enjoyed playing all of it.

Spoiler: You die in the end :).

UG - Mass Effect 2 Review

I will admit it from the start that I am not a fan of RPG and really my tastes stick to FPS, sports, and action games. I had a friend recently that visited and introduced me to Mass Effect 2 to see if maybe I could be converted to at least appreciate RPG style games. After playing it for a bit, I have to say, this game sucks. Here is what I got out of the game:

•  My character, among others, talk like a computer similar to something from xtranormal.com
•  I have glowing scars so whatever they fixed me up with is probably running down a battery that must be in me somewhere
•  The conversation is choose your own adventure style where the character actually doesn't say what I tell him to say
•  The cut scenes are long no matter how fast I push the buttons; I'm here to play a game, not watch a movie (didn't anybody learn anything from the last Metal Gear Solid)
•  I still don't like RPGs

Thanks, but no thanks, I will stick with good games.

UG - Madden 11 (Full game)

Ok, EA ended up getting my $60 for Madden 11. I have played it a few times and I am happy with my purchase. Some of my complaints from the demo are fixed like the replays at the end of quarters are actually good plays. The running is still awesome, but the passing can get a little weird with some receivers watching the ball go right by them while others grab passes about 5 yards too far. The jerkiness/parkinson's disease still exists when players are in the huddle and quarterbacks can still get off amazing passes no matter how much pressure I hit them with. But overall, the game feels like a greatly enhanced version over past years. Now, I just hope for easy ways to update rosters in my franchise mode when Brett Favre signs and he is added to the Vikings roster.

UG - Madden 11 (Demo)

Don't call it a comeback, I've been here ... just the other week ... saying I would be back ... screw it. Like my previous post said, I was going to compare the demo of Madden to NCAA to decide which one I would want to buy. I have now had the chance to play both and must say that NCAA has proven to once again be the red-headed stepchild.  Even with NCAA receiving improvements, Madden still just feels like it is further ahead in mechanics, graphics, attention to detail, and on and on.

The first thing that scared me was I found out that Chris Collinsworth is one of the announcers and my first thought was holy schnikes, I hate that guy. After playing many games, I came to the realization that I might have been too quick to judge and I changed my mind about him...I despise him. However, the other announcer (some new guy) spoke the most often and he wasn't that bad so I will call this an improvement over previous years; however, I will still mute them.

The graphics are improved again with better use of lighting and shadowing to give a more realistic feel, but if you read my previous post you will know how I feel about graphical improvements (hint: those are supposed to happen). However, there were some issues with the graphics still. For example, when your players are in the huddle and they have their hands on their knees, they look like they have Parkinson's disease with their hands being all jumpy and vibrating.

UG - NCAA 11 (Demo)

Now mind you, this is just a review of the demo. Yes, I know the full game is out and this demo was released awhile ago so you might be thinking it is retarded of me to review this demo, well I'm going to do it anyways so shut up. See I am cheap and I only want to buy either this game or Madden and the Madden demo isn't released until next week. So I thought I would check out this demo and then that demo and then choose.

The graphics looked pretty good in the game and the new lighting effects do help make the characters look more real. Overall, every aspect of the game feels improved from last year; however, that is what I expect. If it wasn't improved, why the hell would you release a new game. The tackling felt much better and the running game is improved. I think they give too much credit to quarterbacks though and rushing the quarterback is a little too easy. In some of the games I played, I was able to get to the quarterback about 75 percent of the time, but only ended up with a few sacks and even when I crushed the QB as he was throwing it, his throws were still excellent. This got a little tiresome after awhile. And just because it is improved, I don't think that should instantly give the game a higher ranking than the same game last year or make you think you have to buy it to replace last year's version if you are happy with it. These are the sort of improvements that always makes me think of the Chris Rock skit where he talks about the father that brags about taking care of his kids and Rock yells, you're supposed to take care of your kids, what do you want, a cookie. And that is my sentiment on this as well, I don't see bragging rights in making minor improvements during the one year of coding time.

UG - Assassin's Creed II

What better way to write your first post then to review a game over eight months old.

Ever want to be an assassin?? Ever want to be an assassin who looks like he could be part of new kids on the block?? Did you play AC and enjoy it and think, damn I wish I could play that same game over again, but with a new character? Then this game is for you. Here is my spoiler alert on how the game goes. Track down someone, kill them, cut scene saying that you were wrong or you don't know the truth ... repeat.

Wait I forgot about the other cool missions. One of them involves a city that you try to rebuild. To do this, there is a chest that collects money as the city makes a profit and then you spend that money to rebuild the city. The awesome thing about this chest is that it can only hold a certain amount of money. What a magical chest? I would love to go buy a whole new entertainment system and have the cashier tell me it is free because their cash register is full.