There are tons of video game compilation packages available out there today - some are better than others. Few are as good in content and affordable as The Orange Box, originally released for the XBox 360 in 2007. By the time I bought it, it was only twenty dollars, which was a total bargain - I believe the original price was no more than forty. In any case, The Orange Box is a great find for 360 owners.

     It contains essentially five lengthy video games for a fraction of the price. One of the most memorable first person shooters from the Xbox era, Half-Life 2 is the real star here. It is featured in HD glory (rendering the original Xbox version looking muddy and ultimately obsolete), and it is still a blast to play today. It also features new chapters in the Half-Life saga in the forms of episodes, entitled Episode One and Episode Two. So if you loved Half-Life 2, you'll surely love the upgraded visuals and the extra content for that game.

     Team Fortress 2 is also included and I frankly don't have too much to say in regards to this game. It isn't something that is my forte particularly, and while it isn't a bad game, its not too compelling compared to the rest of the package. It has its moments, but isn't as detailed as Half-Life 2 or as mind-bending as the other brilliant inclusion, Portal. I would say that The Orange Box is worth getting just for Portal alone! It is one of the most innovative and down right clever games I've ever had the pleasure of playing. It isn't the longest game, but it has a brisk pace that keeps your attention and requires it - since it will keep you involved with its intellectual puzzle solving. You'll meet one of the more interesting characters in gLados, a sarcastic, mocking, yet incredibly fascinating AI that supervises your progress throughout the odd experiment of Portal.

     For such a low price, The Orange Box defines what it means to get bang for your buck. It is absolutely worth your time, even if you just play the original Half-Life 2 or Portal.

-Kurt L.

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    Halo: Reach tells the tale of the planet Reach, before the events that took place on the Pillar of Autumn and Master Chief’s awakening from his cryogenic sleep in the original Halo. Reach is invaded by the Covenant, all human life on the planet is being systematically, brutally executed. Obviously this doesn’t sit well with the super soldier Spartans that call Reach home, and Noble Team is going to fight back, hard.

    For the entire game, players will take the perspective of a rookie Spartan known only as Noble 6. This time around, players will create their own Spartan from the ground up. They will choose either a male or female soldier, and pick from a variety of customizable and upgradeable armor options. Like other Halo games, players will also design their emblems and color palates for their armor. These customizable options appear in full in the game’s amazing cut scenes, as well as online play.

    After players settle on a look for their Spartan, Noble 6 is quickly acquainted with his (or her) new squad mates. It doesn’t take too long for things to turn sour, and Noble Team to discover that the Covenant has indeed invaded Reach when they find farmers have been brutally murdered. Unfortunately for them and the planet, things only continue to get worse from there. As Noble Team progresses through Reach’s darkest days, their true characters begin to show. The formula in how each member of Noble Team is presented is similar to that in Halo: ODST, as Noble 6 will often be partnered up with one of the other five Nobles during each mission. That is where their similarities end however. Noble Teams world is literally being torn apart around them, and each character sets itself apart in the chaos that ensues. In their own way, they tell a story of courage and sacrifice when things are bleakest. Players will have no problem identifying with this cast, as they add a layer of humanity to the super human mystic of the Spartans. This helps concrete Halo: Reach as one of the best told stories in the franchise. For anyone who picks up Reach as their first Halo experience, they will have no problem following the straight forward plot. Hardcore fans will obviously find the experience deeper, as they will notice some of the more subtle moments that foreshadow events to come. There are also plenty of familiar faces that pop up and revelations that occur in reach that will please everyone, but I’ll leave it at that as to prevent any spoilers. This story really needs to be experienced first hand, and its well worth the investment.

    When it comes to game play, Halo: Reach is surprisingly rich. Reach is a culmination of everything that was great throughout the entire course of the franchise, along with some new additions that make those great elements even better. Before I even picked up the controller, Reach was a guarantee to be an outstanding first person shooter, and the first person aspects are indeed rock solid so there is no need to go into too much detail on that. New comers and veterans alike will have no problem popping off headshots with the good old M6G-Magnum pistol. There is also a large variety of alien and human weapons, with each having several new additions like a Grenade launcher or Needle Rifle just to name a few. Unfortunately, dual wielding weapons has yet to return to the Spartans. It is a missed opportunity, although really doesn’t effect the game. Reach’s AI as with many Halo games is spot on when it comes to the Enemy AI. The Covenant are cunning, lethal killers that will stop at nothing to take you down. The fact the Elites are back in action with the Covenant this time around makes them all the better. The human AI, isn’t quite as sharp for some reason although is better than what it was in ODST. The two most refreshing additions to Halo Reach however, is the use of armor abilities, and assassination attacks.

    Armor abilities are special items that are either issued at the start of a level, or picked up in the field. They allow your Spartan to have key skills that can give you the upper hand against those nasty alien invaders. The armor abilities are used with the LB button, and players will begin with the basic Sprint ability. Sprint obviously allows your Spartan quick bursts of speed, which can either save your life or thrust your straight into the heat of combat. Possibly the most interesting part of these armor abilities is there is something for every play style. Stealthy players who want to sneak up on enemies will probably want to use Active Camouflage the most, more aggressive players might enjoy a drop shield or Armor Lock that will protect them from incoming damage. All of these Armor abilities change the scope of game in Halo Reach, and each player should spend some time experimenting with which one they like best because these abilities now transfer into other modes of play.

    Easily the most entertaining addition to Halo: Reach is the use of assassination attacks. In every Halo, players have had the ability to give an unsuspecting grunt a good swift pistol whip to the back of the head. Alone, this was highly entertaining. Bungie has finally decided to develop this a bit more, and add a flashy animated kill to those who sneak up and take their enemies out silently. This seems like such a simple addition, but feels right at home in Halo. Its actually hard to believe that stealth kills are just finally showing up now this late in the franchise, but I digress. There is one draw back to these stealth kills. Players will still take damage, and can possibly be killed themselves while trying to pull this off. So choose when you want to sink that knife into an alien wisely, especially in firefight or online play!

    It goes without saying at this point, that Halo: Reach has extensive multiplayer options. The campaign can support up to 4 friends to join in either through a LAN network or Xbox Live. Although I can’t verify this myself being the game is still new, the campaign will apparently adjust its difficulty to the number of players that join into your game. So heroic or Legendary difficulties will remain just that. Firefight mode has also seen a dramatic revamp from its introduction in ODST. It is much more customizable, and features different equipment kits for players to choose from. In terms of the fights themselves, they feel much more dramatic and live up to the full potential of what this mode can be. I can say with absolute certainty Reach’s Firefight mode will get seriously more play time than its predecessors. And then there is of course the competitive online scene, where players join one another to see who really is Top Spartan. Many of the usual match ups remain the same, although they are on a much grander scale. Anyone who has played Halo online competitively will tell you it is incredibly addictive, and the quality of play hasn’t changed at all in Reach. One downside is, that several of the multiplayer maps players already have from the other Halo games have been recycled in Reach. There is nothing wrong with this per say, although it does feel kind of cheap. This isn’t just something that is tied to Halo however, and is something that is becoming common in all franchise that feature competitive online modes.

    Graphically, Halo Reach is one of the best looking games I’ve seen on the Xbox 360. The attention to detail is superb, whether in character and weapon design, or level design. Reach is truly a beautiful looking game, although there is a flaw. Yeah, you read that right, a flaw. Throughout my play time, I noticed a problem with motion blurring. At first, I though it was a problem with my TV or possibly my 360 which has had issues in the past. Fortunately, and unfortunately neither one of these was the cause. It is in fact an issue with the game itself. From time to time, Reach’s beautiful graphics are marred horribly by this motion blurring that resembles the “Ghosting Effect” from LCD/Plasma TVs that aren’t really designed for gaming. Although when this motion blur does occur it is rare, it is noticeable and shouldn’t have even made it into the finished copy. Hopefully, Bungie will issue a patch to correct this. If so, I will make comment on it at a later time in this review. Finally we come to one of my favorite aspects of the Halo franchise, which is sound. Excellent sound effects, and musical scores are a staple to the franchise. Halo Reach only continues that legacy with some of the best effects and music featured in any Halo game.

    Halo: Reach is a game that truly rewards its players. Everything you do in game helps earn you points to unlock new gear, and rank. With many ways to play, players will undoubtedly be spending a lot of time on the planet Reach and with good reason. Bungie pulled out all the stops in their final moments in the Halo universe they delivered us nearly a decade ago, and now they’re going to move onto new things. With that said and done, they once again delivered perhaps one of the best Halo experiences in the franchise. Anyone who has the ability to get their hands on a copy of this game owes it to themselves to do so, as it could contend for one of the best titles of this year.  Halo: Reach, reached for the stars and it paid off big.

Written by RB

Over and Out!

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     Limbo is one of the most unique games I have had to pleasure to play in quite some time. In addition to that, it is also one of the eeriest and mysterious of games to boot. It's a brilliant achievement and should be experienced first hand by any gamer. In this newest Ethos Video Review, I take an in depth look at Limbo - available currently on the Xbox Live Arcade. Check out the newest Ethos Video Review by clicking the link below. Thank you for watching!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmwLHNxY504

-Kurt L.

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     There is no denying the success of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, and everything it has done for FPS genre. With great graphics, story elements, and a killer multiplayer mode, its no wonder it has become a staple of Next Gen gaming. When news of Modern Warfare 2 hit, well needless to say gamers around the world went through the roof, myself including. Call of Duty has been a staple in all of my gaming rotations for years, and being a proud member of the Modern Warfare multiplayer community, I was psyched to get my hands on a copy of the sequel. So, did Modern Warfare 2 live up to our expectations?

     I am happy to report, that yes, Modern Warfare 2 brought the proverbial A game. Well, at least for the most part, but we'll get into that in a bit. In true Call of Duty fashion, Modern Warfare 2 has all the elements of the franchise we've come to love. There is a story driven campaign mode which jumps between the perspectives of numerous characters, an extensive multiplayer mode, an all new Spec Ops mode, and some of the best looking graphics offered on the PC, Ps3, and Xbox 360 platforms. This makes for plenty of gunplay, and gamers will undoubtedly be spending hours of their lives playing Modern Warfare 2.

     Most players will jump right into the game via the campaign mode, which continues on with the story from Modern Warfare 2. I won't go into too much detail over the main plot, but the world is in a sad state of affairs. The United States and Russia are at war, and things are getting messy not only on the foreign front but the home front as well. That's right, the US has been invaded. While playing as the Army Ranger, Pvt. James Ramirez, you'll be fighting the war in our own backyard while making headway to the White House. During the other portions of the game, you will assume the role of Task Force 141 member, "Roach" under the command of Captain "Soap" McTavish from Modern Warfare 1. Roach's plot bring the players on the more traditional Call of Duty path, by trekking around the world and fighting in exotic locations. Overall, the campaign mode is filled with intense action worthy of the Call of Duty brand, but unfortunately is where the game takes a hit. For starters, Modern Warfare 2's plot is incredibly unrealistic. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but at times it seems like every clichéd action movie scenario plays out at one time or another. What truly great moments the campaign mode has, seems overshadowed by the lack of creativity, but there are some really awesome moments none the less. To make matters worse the campaign mode is very short, even by Call of Duty standards. In my experience, playing on the Hardened difficulty setting, I was able to complete the game in just about 4 hours first time through. Now take into consideration I am very experienced when it comes to playing Call of Duty, so your mileage my vary from mine. However, that still shouldn't excuse such a short campaign. Fortunately, improvements to the game's mechanics do make for a fun gaming experience. No longer will players be stuck firing at countless waves of respawning enemies until players advances forward, and the artificial intelligence is top notch as to be expected. Your fellow soldiers AI is worthy of their real life counter parts, and add a depth to the game that wasn't expected. The do their part in the battle, and are good to have around as their input actually has value. When they call out enemy locations, or warnings, heed their words. Enemies are tough this time around, and use the environment to their advantage. It isn't uncommon to see snipers trying to pick you off from 3^rd story windows, or trying to flank your position. Upon completing the campaign, players will unlock the all new Spec Ops mode.

     Spec Ops mode is a welcome addition to the Modern Warfare franchise. Spec Ops isn't just a simple mini game, but a full section of the game with its own unique sets of challenges. Spec Ops mode is down right fun to play, and there are plenty of scenarios to work through. These scenarios vary from completing a basic training mode, to evading enemy detection, or sniping waves of oncoming enemies just to name a few. Spec Ops can be played alone, or with friends. Although Spec Ops functions fine as a solo player experience there is no doubt that it will truly shine when having a friend back you up. There are many of hours of intense action in Spec Ops to be had, not to mention each scenario has tons of replay value.

     Last but not least, we come to the multiplayer mode. This is where the heart of Modern Warfare 2 is held, as undoubtedly this is where most fans of the franchise will be investing the majority of their time. Anyone who has ever played Call of Duty online knows what to expect from Modern Warfare 2. There are numerous game modes, including team death matches, free for alls, search and destroy, the list just goes on and on. As players progress through the online mode, they will level up, obtain custom class creations, which are all staples of previous Call of Duty installments. However, the biggest change comes in the form of how customizable Modern Warfare 2 online really is. As you progress through the new online mode, players will still have to obtain new weapons, and perks, but now will also be rewarded call signs and Emblems. These new Call signs and emblems are your new signature in the Modern Warfare universe. Every time you make a kill, or so something important like draw first blood in a match, your call sign and emblems are displayed with your name. These call signs and emblems are completely customizable, and are unlocked as you complete challenges and objectives while playing the game. Although they don't do anything other than look cool, they set each player apart as an individual which ultimately adds to the overall online experience. Players are no longer stuck between picking a long gun and hand gun combination. There are plenty of new weapon combos to fit each gamer's play style. For example, one player may prefer using a UMP45 sub machine gun and have their secondary weapon be a shotgun. Or a sniper my back up his long range assault with a machine pistol incase things start to get too close for comfort. Even kill streak rewards have become customizable, which causes players to never know what's coming next, just like on a real battle field. One area of Modern Warfare 2's multiplayer mode I did find lacking was the map designs. They are by no means bad, but their design feels much more constricting in terms of game play compared to other Call of Duty installments. Players seem to follow the same routines within these maps, whether it be sniping on cliff sides, camping out near stair ways, or simply using grenade launchers to clear out underground bunkers. The map designs have forced these predictable events, being maps are either too open, or too enclosed. Regardless of this flaw, Modern Warfare 2's multiplayer continues to set the bar on what a FPS online mode should be.

     When it is all said and done, Modern Warfare 2 is an outstanding game. There are no two ways about it, if you like Call of Duty you are going to love Modern Warfare 2. Despite coming up short in a few areas, its flaws are minor at best. Anyone who loves first person shooters needs to get their hands on a copy of this game. It looks and plays great no matter what platform it comes on. Modern Warfare 2 was easily one of the best releases of 2009.

Written by RB

Over and Out!

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     For the most part, its safe to say that many comic based games are mediocre. Not exactly bad, but not exactly stellar either. But for some reason, the gaming community continues to get sucked in to these comic based games in hopes of finally getting the chance to truly feel what it is like to be their favorite super hero. Over the years, like many people I have been mislead down the path of comic gaming. With many hours, and money wasted on repetitive and unimaginative game play I was skeptical when I first heard of a new Batman game being released for the 360 and Ps3 platforms. As time went on, and the release date of Batman: Arkham Asylum came closer and closer a legitimate sense of excitement started to swirl around the Dark Knight. There was something different about this comic game. It looked graphically impressive, had a dark and eerie setting fitting of a Batman adventure, and the Joker causing mass havoc with the help of many other infamous Batman baddies. Despite my history with comic games, there was no possible way I was going to pass up playing Arkham Asylum, and you know what happened? The game turned out to be outstanding.

     Similar to the reboot of the Batman movie franchise, Arkham Asylum is the rebirth of the Dark Knight into the gaming universe. Filled with twisted, and mature themes Arkham Asylum is a gritty game developed for an older audience. Batman: Arkham Asylum begins with the Dark Knight speeding through Gotham streets in the Bat-mobile shortly after apprehending the Joker who is babbling insanely in his incapacitated state. After arriving at Arkham, Batman escorts the security team as they bring the Joker deeper into the heart of the facility. Before you know it, all hell breaks lose when the Joker is freed and all of the psychopaths held in Arkham are liberated. With control of Arkham in the Joker's hands, its up to Batman to put an end to the violent and deadly uprising...and believe me it is deadly. Unlike all previous Batman games, Arkham Asylum is filled with horrific murders, foul language, and a sense of danger that has never been captured in a comic game before.

     Being that Batman is greatly outnumbered, he has to use all of his skills if he has any chance of surviving and putting an end to the Joker's reign of terror. To do this, Batman must rely on stealth, the usual array of nifty gadgets, and of course putting the beat down with hand to hand combat. The combat mechanics work together flawlessly to finally allows players to feel what its like to be in control of the Dark Knight himself. Utilizing stealth is rewarding, as the player can skillfully take out all of the patrolling guards one by one, freaking out the remaining thugs left conscious as they begin to wonder if they're going to be next. Stealth is made easier by using Batman's Detective Mode which allows the Dark Knight to see through walls and locate enemies around his surroundings. This will let less confident players get a better jump on their enemy, and allow them to better plot out where the best place to set up an ambush might be. The detective mode is also used to help solve the Riddler's puzzles that are hidden throughout all the maps. These puzzles unlock numerous different game modes in Arkham Asylum's challenge mode, and the puzzles actually fun to figure out. Being Batman is a master of unarmed combat, fighting hand to hand has its own distinct feel and rhythm to it. Arkham Asylum eases players into the combat by starting the game with unarmed thugs, and progressing into armed and more aggressive opponents. This allows the player to get a good feel of fighting in the game, and before you know it, you will be able to string together seamless attacks against multiple armed and unarmed thugs for a truly cinematic in game experience which is highly addictive.

     It's no secret that no matter how great game play is, a game is nothing without equally great story. As I mentioned earlier, Batman Arkham Asylum is a much darker telling of a Batman adventure and is geared towards mature audiences. Although Batman Arkham Asylum's story is highly entertaining with great moments that won't be forgotten, there are just as many moments Bat-fans will see coming. Luckily, all of those moments are cast into the shadows as the story flows well and is mixed with unforgettable voice work. Anyone who grew up in the 1990s will surely remember the hit, Batman the animated series. For Batman Arkham Asylum, Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill have reprised their rolls from that series as Batman (Conroy) and the Joker (Hamill). For many people, these are the true voices of Batman and the Joker, and didn't disappoint with their outstanding work in Arkham Asylum. They deliver top notch performances, especially Hamill's rendition of the Joker. I can say with absolute certainty, if either Conroy of Hamill wasn't involved in Arkham Asylum, the game just wouldn't have been the same level of greatness it turned out to be.

     Arkham Asylum was a huge step for comic gaming, and with out a doubt the best comic based game ever created. With its entertaining game play, and outstanding voice work Batman Arkham Asylum was easily a contender for the coveted title of Game of the Year for 2009. It doesn't matter if you have a Ps3, or an Xbox 360, Arkham Asylum definitely needs to be part of your game collection.

Written by: RB.

Over and Out

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  Before Left 4 Dead 2's release, there was a lot of concern over how the game only took a year to be made. Fortunately, most of those concerns have been laid to rest. Left 4 Dead 2 takes all the great game elements from the original, and has refined them for an even more gore filled experience. Graphics have been slightly improved, there is more weaponry to choose from, more bosses, expanded multiplayer modes, and a smarter A.I. fondly known as the "Director." They overall length of each scenario the survivors will have to overcome to make their way to safety have also been lengthened, which was one complaint many had about the original Left 4 Dead only taking about two and a half hours to complete.

  Aside from the initial upgrades to Left for Dead 2, the game play is essentially the same. You kill thousands of zombies in some intense first person action, with the emphasis on both ranged and melee weapons. With an easy to learn control scheme, players will be popping off headshots in no time. There are loads of weaponry to choose from this time around, in both ranged and melee categories, allowing each player to find a specific weapon that fits their play style. My personal favorite combo is an M16 assault rifle mixed in with dual pistols, but whacking some zombie heads with an electric guitar is also a welcome addition to any arsenal. There is also plenty of ammo drops through out each stage to ensure you'll always be able to find that special weapon you had in mind. Regardless, the blood will continue to flow effectively no matter what weapon you choose, and trust me...there will be blood. Left 4 Dead 2 is incredibly realistic when it comes to the gore level. Zombies react properly as they're being shot, and nothing is sugar coated. Disembowelments, loss of limbs, bodies being literally cut in half are all frequent sights in this game. So players with a weak stomach might want to look elsewhere.

  As a single player experience, Left 4 Dead 2 is a fun game. The artificial intelligence takes control over the 3 other survivors in your party, and does a decent job of watching your back. On occasion, the A.I. will cause a survivor or two to pop into your line of fire, but that isn't uncommon with many FPS. When playing with a computer, its bound to happen from time to time. That's one of the main reason, Left 4 Dead 2 doesn't really start to shine into you look deeper into its multiplayer options. Left 4 Dead 2 is truly optimized for online play with up to 4 friends, and is best played with voice communications. Playing with other people brings a level of fun and excitement as a zombie horde comes rushing out of nowhere few games are able to capture. By working together, the game play becomes much more enjoyable. When playing with less then a full group, the computer will once again take control of the remaining survivors. This is where the A.I. does take a bit of a hit. The CPU controlled survivors seem to get frequently confused of who to follow, or even who to help if both human players get incapacitated by either a smoker's tentacle or a jockey riding on another player's back. This has lead to a few deaths while playing with fellow reviewer Kurt L. when testing out this game. Luckily, that is the only place the A.I. seems to lack in Left 4 Dead 2. With the help of something called the "Director", Left 4 Dead 2's scenarios offer something different every time they are replayed. The A.I. is capable of judging how well a player is doing, and throw new obstacles in their way making every level feel like new. Although the setting may be the same, the variation in the game's challenge guarantee's hours and hours of fun to come. There are also different modes of multiplayer, such as versus mode, scavenger mode, and for those who want some extra challenge there is realism which makes Left 4 Dead 2 incredibly challenging. For those interested in some unlockables, some of Left 4 Dead 2's achievements come with a few customizable options for your Xbox 360 Avatar.

  There is no true story to Left 4 Dead 2. Player's assume the role of a survivor and play through a scenario. Aside from some simple communications between the survivors, that's about it. The lack of plot doesn't exactly take away from the experience either, just gives the player less to focus on as they're hacking away at some mindless undead. Each scenario plays out smoothly, and players won't have a hard time figuring out to go. However there is a bit of a pattern to the game where you'll be running through zombie hordes to turn off triggered alarms, which is possibly the only repetitive aspect to Left for Dead 2.

  If you were a fan of the original Left 4 Dead, adding the sequel is definitely recommended. They're pretty much the same game overall, but Left 4 Dead 2 filled in all the gaps from the original. Left 4 Dead 2 is a better game, but still keeps true to the series. So anyone looking to slaughter some undead with your buddies, hook up that Xbox 360 headset and start playing online. You won't find many games like it.

Written by RB

Over and Out

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     What do you expect out of a great RPG? Do you want the freedom to choose your own path, to be the hero or villain? Or do you simply want an unforgettable story? Since Bioware entered the video game scene with Star Wars: Knights of the Old republic, Bioware's name is synonymous with all of these things. When Mass Effect hit the shelves in 2007 players expected nothing less than an unforgettable choice based RPG for the "Next Generation" Xbox 360, and Bioware did not disappoint.

  Mass Effect like Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic has to do with futuristic space travel and mingling with alien life forms, but that's where the story similarities end. You begin your adventure by creating your Commander Shepard, making the character male or female, picking one of six military classes (either Engineer, Adept, Soldier, Infiltrator, Sentinel, and Vanguard) which I'll go into more detail later, and finally customizing your appearance. These character customizations are offered in many RPG genre games, but Mass Effect takes it one step further by allowing the player to pick his or hers story background. This adds depth and uniqueness to the game, insuring that each player's Shepard will be that more original. From there, the rest of your character's fate is up to you. You'll be in control of every action and choice Shepard will face, that includes being good or evil.

  Unlike many traditional RPGs, Mass Effect's combat flows like an action based game. Players will shoot, use cover, and give command to party members. The action flows smoothly and is often intense, but depending on which class you decided to play as will force each player to use different approaches on how they fight. Engineers for example can hack and disrupt many of the mechanical enemies that you'll face, but they can only use light armor and pistols. Soldiers on the other hand use any weapon available, and can wear heavy armor to outlast their opponents. This allows Mass Effect to adapt perfectly for each individual's play style, and returning players will have a new game experience each time they create a new character. Mass Effect also allows gamers to advance through the story at their own speed. Since you are in control of Shepard's ship, the Normandy, you can go anywhere in the galaxy as you please. If you aren't ready to advance the next part of the core story, feel free to do some exploration or side quests. You will probably notice that many of the planets you can land on look alike, despite the fact some are supposedly made of ice or molten rock. They're all mountain ranges, and void of any real distinguishing features. Its on these planets you will scan rare minerals, find artifacts, and recover downed space probes by engaging the proper button sequence when prompted. Overall, there is plenty to explore but the constant repetition of scanning objects can be a bit redundant. Progressing through the main story and side quests is much more entertaining.

  Mass Effect's main story line is exactly what you would expect from Bioware. I will not go into too much detail, as stories are up to each player to uncover, however I will say it is top notch. For most RPG fans, the story is what brings them back time and time again to their favorite games. With the mix of excellent voice work and great plot, I'm sure Mass Effect will be one of those favorites.

  One of the features that peaked a lot of gamer's interest was Mass Effect's graphics. Mass Effect is easily one of the best looking games on the Xbox 360. Few games have the attention to detail as Mass Effect, especially when it comes to in-game characters. The only problem that I've experienced is that on some occasions textures take a few seconds to calibrate themselves, especially after a loading period, but they should reappear quickly. A minor flaw, and one that's easily overcome by installing the game onto your 360's hard drive.

  Few games give such freedom to the player such as Mass Effect. Although some might not feel it's the panicle of choice based perfection like Knights of the Old Republic, Mass Effect isn't a slouch by any means. No Xbox 360 owner should not be without this game, and it deserves to be replayed again and again.

Written by: RB

Over and Out

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 Over the years, gamers have played countless first person shooters. The first person shooter is a staple in the action genre, and when done successfully will allow each player to feel even more involved with a game then any other gaming perspective out on the market. No game does this better than Call of Duty: Modern Warfare.

  Any fan of the Call of Duty franchise will no doubt know that every Call of Duty to date has been based in the World War II era. There isn't anything wrong with that, since every Call of Duty to date is a stellar example of what a first person shooter can be, but how many WWII games can we honestly play without repeating key battles? Luckily, Activision's Infinity Ward has decided to move on from the Nazi slaughter and bring us back into the present with Modern Warfare. This is a refreshing twist to the Call of Duty franchise, one possibly their best addition to date.

  As Modern Warfare's title states, its all about present day war. You'll find yourself playing the perspective as a British SAS operative, and a US Marine. The intermingling stories work well in establishing an all to familiar war with the Middle East, while allowing Infinity Ward to take some liberties and develop an original story with unique events. This makes for game play that feels like its right out of the news reels, with a twist of Hollywood storytelling and bravado. Don't get me wrong, Modern Warfare doesn't glorify war by any means. In fact its quite the opposite. By the end of the game, you'll leave with the experience that war is truly hell...especially if you've been playing on the toughest difficulty setting.

  Call of Duty veterans may feel the shell shock coming from the WWII front, and jumping into a modern battlefield. Although the WWII settings were by no means a piece of cake to beat, Modern Warfare gives a very realistic interpretation on how war has evolved. Weapons are more devastating, bullets can easily penetrate objects and cover that you'd expect a bullet would be able to pass through, enemy A.I. has greatly improved although at times they spawn continuously until you progress deeper into a level, and at times even your surroundings play a role in how a fight will progress. An excellent example of this is one of the earliest missions that takes place on a freighter sailing in violent seas. You'll have to compensate for the strong currents bashing the ship around like a toy if you want to shoot accurately. A small feature, but one that adds a sense of realism that few games have ever come close to capturing. Another key feature to Modern Warfare is your teammates artificial intelligence. Like most Call of Duties, you don't control your allies. Instead they roam freely throughout the battlefield in the direction of your next objective. In previous Call of Duty games, this lead to many of buddies untimely end as that mindlessly ran straight into enemy fire. This is not the case in Modern Warfare. More often than not, your brother's in arms will out perform the player and come to your aid. They are a true depiction of their real life military counterparts, and if we were in direct control of their actions we'd probably just end up getting ourselves killed. Each unplayable character is also unique in personality, which adds another measure of depth that greatly pays off in the overall gaming experience. They'll watch your back, and you'll watch theirs.

  For those of you who don't trust artificial intelligence, and want nothing more than to bring their best friends into the foxhole with them, Modern Warfare also features an excellent multiplayer mode. You can play through the campaign mode, or hook up to the internet for some ranked multiplayer mayhem with countless game modes to choose from. With each victory, you'll earn experience that will allow you to level up and gain new and better perks to help you survive the multiplayer experience. There are countless hours of game play to enjoy with your friends, and I doubt people will get tired of Modern Warfare's multiplayer any time soon.

  Modern Warfare is easily the most advance first person shooter to date. With a stellar single player mode, intense multiplayer, realistic game play, and excellent graphics this is game that truly delivers an unforgettable gaming experience. Whether is for ps3, Xbox 360, or PC any platform you own Modern Warfare is a must for any collection.

Written by: RB

Over and Out

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