There is little doubt that the majority of us have seen Star Wars at one time or another. Its easily one of the most lucrative franchises in film history, loaded with all kinds of merchandise for devoted fans to buy. Whether it be plastic action figures, Halloween costumes, or reproduction light sabers Star Wars is big business. One of the main products for Star Wars fans has been the franchises branch into the video game realm. Now I know what you're all thinking, that the large majority of Star Wars based games aren't generally that good. Luckily, we're not going to even discuss those games right now. Instead, let's look towards the lighter side of the force with Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic.

  Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is easily one of, if not the best Star Wars game ever created. This choice based RPG allows each player to create their customizable avatar and throws them into the Star Wars universe 500 years before the events that take place in the original film. Each player will be able to choose from a male or female character, three different classes (Scoundrels, Scouts, and Soldier) each with their own special abilities, and numerous different face options to give each character a look that's right for you. The choices you make when developing your character affect your strong and weak areas in Knight of the Old Republic. Even your character's gender will have an impact on the story's development. Creating your soon to be Jedi isn't the only choices you'll be making in this extensive RPG, oh no, not by a long shot.

  From the start of the game, each person will be in complete control of the events that goes on around him or her. The game play is designed specifically around the concept of choice whether it be picking a good, evil, or neutral conversation option, or deciding to kill off a specific character you come across. There are plenty of choices for people to tinker around with as you try to decided what path to take, but remember there are consequences for your actions. Although some are more rewarding than others, it is up to you to travel the path of the light, or succumb to the temptation of the dark side. Either way, I can say with almost complete certainty each player already knows which path they will want to take before they even turn on the game. Its one of the truly wonderful aspects of Knights of the Old Republic.

  Knights of the Old Republic's game mechanics are simply a joy. Although the game's fight sequences are broken down into a turned based action style, it is intermixed with live action decision making. There is no awkward pause while trying to figure out what move to pull out next, as the fight will continue to roll a standard attack as you pick what you want to do. This keeps the fighting experience fluent, with a sense of real urgency that brings a player deeper into the RPG experience. Like the customizable character options, players will have a slew of weaponry and armors to choose from. These vary from the all too familiar blasters and light sabers we all know and love, but those are only the tip of the iceberg. Albeit, for 90 percent of the game we'll all be wielding our light sabers like any good force user should. Its no secret that force powers will also be a huge component in a player's arsenal, and there are countless offensive and defensive powers to pick from depending on what alignment you decide to play on. All force powers are open to the player, but a Jedi on the light side using dark side powers will consume more force points than a Sith lord using the same attack. Once your player learns of the force, with each advancing level you'll be able to add or advance force powers that you already have like the rest of your skills. The only downside to Knights of the Old Republic is you can only level 20 times so you won't be able to experiment with all the force powers in the game...so choose wisely.

  Being an RPG, expect every main character to be accompanied by a group of companions who are willing to aide you in your journey. With the fate of the galaxy at hand, no lone hero is capable of completing this mission and with good reason. As I mentioned before, the choices you made when creating your main character will effect your strengths in the game, and its weaknesses. These side characters will complete your groups package, allowing you access to things you might not have been able to do otherwise. That's not all your group is capable of however. Each character has his or her own back story that can be uncovered by talking with them, which could lead to more side quests. Also depending on their in game alignment, light or dark, they'll be around to chime in to praise, or condemn your actions. With their own unique personalities, you'll find yourself gravitating towards the few you like the most when selecting your group. There's nothing like having virtual friends by your side, but remember another character's skills might be needed for advancement. Try to keep yourself as balanced as possible. Another great feature to these groupies is that even when they aren't being played with they will continue to level as experience is earned. So the old days of having to level each player individually to keep them a viable RPG asset is over.

  Knights of the Old Republic is an incredibly cinematic game, and its plot is worthy of the Star Wars title. By now, anyone who is familiar with my reviews knows I won't go into detail about the plot because I hate spoilers. Each player needs to play the game for themselves to learn it's story's secrets, but anyone who turns on Knights of the Old Republic will have a hard time turning it off. This game's story is truly gripping, and filled with twists that will keep the player wanting more. Mix in some established themes from the franchise, and some new ones specifically for Knights of the Old Republic and you have a complete gaming package. Although Knights of the Old Republic is a long game, playing it from start to finish is highly recommended.

  Anyone who has seen a screen shot of Knights of the Old Republic knows it's a graphical wonder. Being a star wars fan, and being disappointed with many of the game's related to the beloved franchise, I can say with absolute certainty that this is the Star Wars game we've all be waiting for. No other Star Wars game has can bestow upon a player the feeling of what it truly is to be a Jedi. Few RPGs can captivate the imagination, and rise to the level of perfection that Knights of the Old Republic has. For fans of the original Xbox, this game is easily one of the best titles released for the system and is a must own.

Written by: RB

Over and Out

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     Lets take a second to set up a scene. Picture yourself alone on an island just off the Alaskan archipelago. The island is home to a dismantled nuclear warhead disposal facility, its been taken over by terrorists hell bent on launching a nuke, and its up to you to save some hostages, and put an end to this terrorist action. If you put all of these elements together in a video game you'll have the crown jewel, Metal Gear Solid.

  For those of you how are unfamiliar with the Metal Gear Solid franchise, it is one of the highest selling game franchises of all time and Metal Gear Solid is the one that started it all for the US market. Back in 1998, most action based games were what you'd expect. Pick up a weapon and let the bad guys have it. That's all good and fine, but Metal Gear Solid offered players something different, something refreshing. Instead of rushing in and letting the bullets fly like a typical action game, the point of Metal Gear Solid is stealth. Playing as highly trained government operative known as Solid Snake, who is a true bad ass if I might add, the player must infiltrate Shadow Moses and stop the terrorists. Sounds simple enough, but since this is a stealth game staying hidden is the key to your survival. You are heavily outnumbered, and if you try to just run and gun your way through this game it will simply spell out an untimely demise for our hero. The fact you start off the game completely unarmed doesn't help your cause either, but I digress. Using stealth skills to sneak up on, or around enemies to avoid large fire fights was a huge change for many gamers, not to mention one of the most rewarding experience you'll ever have in an action game.

  In its time, Metal Gear Solid's artificial intelligence was top notch. Enemies patrolled, listened for sounds, and followed Solid Snake's footprints that he left in the snow. Back in 1998, this made for some challenging game play to stealth/action new comers. But, this is 2009 and for gamers looking to go back or pick of Metal Gear Solid for the first time, the game's AI is very simple compared to many of our modern games. This doesn't mean playing Metal Gear Solid would be a waste in today's day and age, in fact its quite the opposite. To put it simply this game is a classic, and more than just AI earns that title.

  One of the defining elements of Metal Gear Solid is its cinematic quality was eons ahead of its time. With gripping cut scenes, tremendous voice work, and a deep gritty story, it makes it almost impossible to put the controller down once you start. Every character has purpose, every boss is unique, and everything about Metal Gear Solid's plot is down right cool. Now Metal Gear Solid wasn't our hero, Solid Snake, first adventure and the game makes hints of that. For many US gamers, the plot made comments about events that were basically unknown to us. The reasoning behind this was in Japan, Metal Gear was an already established franchise for the MSX with the release of Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake for that system. Although Metal Gear was available to the US market on NES, its port didn't capture the essence of its MSX counterpart. I won't even get into the bastardization of Metal Gear 2's counterpart, Snake's Revenge. Anyway with those comments aside, players who haven't experienced Metal Gear 1 or 2, won't feel in the least bit lost with Solid's story. It explains itself, moves fluently, and leaves the players wanting more.

  There are few games that truly stand the test of time, and beckon us to play them over and over. Only a legendary game could make a simple exclamation point, a symbol of the stealth/action genre gamers recognize and love. I can say with absolute certainty that Metal Gear Solid is one of those games, and was easily one of the best titles available for the Playstation platform. Metal Gear Solid pulls those playing it in, and once it sinks its hooks into you there is no turning back. It was way ahead of its time, and worthy of becoming one of your favorites. I know its definitely one of mine.

Written by RB

Over and Out

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     Survival horror is a gaming genre that few manufacturers can pull off successfully. Every element of the game has to be spot on for the player to truly be engulfed in the setting, and feel a sense of dread when turning every corner. Back in 1996, Capcom brought us into a dark mansion filled with zombies and other terrifying creatures in the Playstation hit, Resident Evil. In many ways, Resident Evil set the bar of what a survival horror game should be. However, anyone who has played the original recently would agree although a stable to the Playstation consol, is incredibly outdated and blocky. Luckily, there is an excellent alternative for those who want to duel the undead once again. I'm of course talking about the Nintendo Gamecube's remake of Resident Evil.

  With the lengthy introduction over with, anyone who owns a Nintendo's little fun square probably has Resident Evil to go along with it. The remake of Resident Evil was one of the most anticipated releases for that system, and with good reason. Being a full remake, we for the first time were able to see that dark spooky mansion and all of its zombie goodness in a light most of us never thought possible. Graphically, it is easily one of the best looking games ever to grace the Gamecube. Even in the year 2009, Resident Evil still holds up and with all of the HD quality graphics on the market that's saying quite a bit. There is an excellent amount of detail that was put into Resident Evil, and it truly helps the player feel drawn into their surroundings. Mix in a dark soundtrack, and you have yourself one heck of a creepy gaming experience.

  Being a true remake, many of the themes from the original Playstation hit have carried over to the Gamecube. You pick your path by either playing as S.T.A.R.S members Chris Redfield or Jill Valentine. Although the core of the game is the same, there are variations between the two, not to mention distinct difference in the character's abilities. Chris, being having an extensive military career before joining The S.T.A.R.S-SWAT like unit can take more damage and his shots are more devastating. Jill being a cunningly street smart cop can't take as much damage, but she can pick locks and has more space to carry items. Controls are tight, as were the originals. Any veteran of the Resident Evil franchise will feel comfortable jumping on in. You can also expect all the familiar weaponry from the original to return, such as the 9mm handgun, shotguns, grenade launcher, and of course the trusty combat knife. One major difference is the ability to use defensive attacks when a Zombie, or other creepy critters get their undead paws on you. By using items such as daggers, or grenades to put a halt to their assault was a clever addition to the Resident Evil arsenal, and also added a bit of realism to the experience. I don't know about you, but I'm not about to let a random Zombie just chomp down on my neck...luckily neither will Jill or Chris. Some of the games tricky puzzles have also been revamped or tweaked, but with a little patients aren't overly difficult so the pace of the game will continue to flow fluently.

  For the veteran players of Resident Evil, don't expect a lot of new surprises from this adaptation. The game's plot is virtually unchanged, although the voice work has been greatly improved compared to the original release. That doesn't mean all of the voice acting is perfect, some are still on the tacky side, but it's a minor critique that really doesn't take away from the game's fun factor.

  There were few true hits to Nintendo's Gamecube. With a barrage of E rated games geared towards the Nerds in training (meaning ages 10 and below), it was a welcome sight to see something dark and ghoulish for the mature crowd. The fact that it was an old favorite just made it all the better. Like the countless zombies you'll slaughter through this game, this remake brought the Resident Evil franchise back from the dead.

Written by RB

Over and Out

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     There are few games that are completely polarizing yet rise up to legendary status like Halo: Combat Evolved. Halo has been a topic of many heated debates as far as first person shooters are concerned. Some people love Halo, others can't stand it. Personally, Halo was the first game I got for my Microsoft Xbox and I've been hooked ever since.

  Now before all you Halo haters start chiming in, Halo: Combat Evolved although a tremendous first person shooter isn't exactly "evolved". In many ways, its what you would expect from the genre. Halo starts off with a genetically engineered super soldier known only as Master Chief being woken from a cryogenic sleep when the star ship he is being transported on falls under attack by a nasty breed of aliens called the Covenant. As you can gather, it doesn't take long for the bullets to start flying.

  There really isn't any huge surprises in Halo's game mechanics. You're essentially a one man army, who is outfitted with a nifty set of armor that is equipped with power shields, can use any weapon he finds whether it is human or alien, and drive any vehicle in the galaxy. Not exactly ground breaking, these are all elements we've seen before, but Halo has refined each individual element to perfection. With tight controls, the intense action flows fluently. Players will be able to start getting headshots on those nasty aliens with only one level of practice, or get into a tank and chase ET back to the mother ship without a hitch. There are a large variety of weaponry for the player to tinker around with as I mention before. With a mix of alien and human weapons you'll quickly learn if shooting good old fashioned lead from an assault rifle or a blast of plasma from an alien side arm is the right tool for the job against the enemy you're currently going head to head against. By no means will players be getting bored with experimenting with each weapon in Halo. The AI system in Halo isn't exactly perfect, but for its time was ahead of the game. Master Chief is often surrounded by fellow Marines that help engage in some seriously epic firefights and are great to have around, but don't be surprised if some of those Marines wander into your line of fire from time to time. Do your best to not get to trigger happy against your brothers in arms however, if you kill to many of them expect a little pay back...they are Marines after all.

  Halo isn't a mindless run and gun experience that doesn't have any merit however, albeit there certainly is a lot of running and gunning. Halo is a very story driven first person shooter, and its plot is high quality. I won't go into too much detail, so each player may uncover the story for his or her own self, but Master Chief's mission to stop the Covenant from activating the super weapon Halo will keep you wanting to advance deeper and deeper into the game. Mixed with some great voice work and a legendary soundtrack, Halo's story is one Xbox fans won't be forgetting any time soon.

  For an early Xbox game, Halo's graphics are surprisingly good holding up to later releases near the end of the system's lifespan. Character design was unique, level designs were often large and had great amounts of detail right down to the blades of grass, and cut scenes were truly cinematic. A bit of a side note with the graphics, if you plan on playing the game on your Xbox 360 instead of an original Xbox, the graphics will be much clearer on the 360...not that they needed any help on the original system.

  Unless you've been living under a rock since Halo's release, there is no denying its popularity with the Xbox fan base. The franchise has continued to grow and flourish over the years, and there is countless hours to enjoy playing as the Master Chief. Halo: Combat Evolved is a game I frequently return to, and for all those Halo haters out there you have no idea what your missing out on. Halo: Combat evolved deserves a spot in any Xbox collection.

Written by: RB

Over and Out

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     There are few franchises that touch the hearts of millions world wide like, The Legend of Zelda. Ever since the franchise debuted on the Nintendo Entertainment System, back in the late 1980s, Zelda and Link have become household names. With that kind of popularity, the Legend of Zelda has appeared on every single Nintendo system to date, ensuring that we won't ever have a shortage of epic adventures. Undeniably, the most well received addition to the Zelda family, was Ocarina of Time for the Nintendo 64. I think I can speak for a lot of us when I say it changed the way we look at video games, but there is a forgotten N64 Zelda that never truly got the recognition it deserves. I'm referring to, The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask.

  Playing off of the success of Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask was a sequel to the smash hit. The adventure begins when the Hero of Time, Link, has left the land of Hyrule in search of his fairy companion who left at the end of Ocarina of Time. With a sword, shield, and Ocarina in hand, we see our sleepy hero drifting off while on horseback in a foggy forest. Then shortly after he is ambushed by a Skull Kid wearing Majora's Mask and two fairies. Link loses his ocarina and horse, and the story takes off from there. The one thing is certain, The Legend of Zelda franchise knows how to make things dramatic and Majora's Mask is no different. This game's story is a diamond in the ruff, and in its day was dismissed for its light hearted nature. Now I understand that those of you who have played Majora's Mask are saying to yourselves right now, "Light hearted nature!? A moon with a face is dropping down on the world in three days time!", and you're completely correct. I'm referring to the brilliant tactic of covering up such a dark, apocalyptic plot with the light music themes that get more frantic as the clock ticks closer and closer to doomsday, and the often bright color schemes that you wouldn't expect in a game about the end of the world. Instead of making Majora's Mask overly dreary, and believe me on further examination this game is dreary, Majora's presentation is something even young children can enjoy.

  If you played The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask's predecessor, Ocarina of Time, then you will have no problem picking up the controller and jumping right on in. The control schemes are identical, although are slightly more responsive in my opinion. Even learning how to play those lovely tunes on Link's fairy flute is identical to Ocarina of Time, so any N64 Zelda veteran will feel right at home. There is one element to Majora's Mask that might throw some a curve ball. Unlike any previous Zelda installments, Majora's Mask isn't a linear experience. Instead of just going from start to finish, never worrying about looking back, the biggest aspect to this game is your doomsday clock. That's right, you are on a time limit, an in game 3 days time limit. If you fail to stop the moon from dropping in those 3 days, game over man. But, its not as difficult as you might think. Being a Hero of Time and all, Link has the ability to go back to the first day at his leisure, thus resetting anything you have accomplished before warping back. This makes Majora's Mask feel like something out of a Quentin Tarantino film, it's a very bilinear experience and adds a measure of depth I've never seen in a game up Majora's release. But, traveling back in time isn't the only addition to the franchise Majora's Mask offers. Link also has the ability to change his form by putting on different masks you acquire throughout the game. The acquisition of these masks is yet another dark event as the spirit of the form Link is about to change into is absorbed by the mask, not to mention the creepy cut scene when the actual shape shift begins. You will also have to help out the towns folk in their time in need, and many of their situations are dire. Their side missions are very rewarding, however no one will remember your good deeds by the time you travel back to the first day. Being a hero is such a thankless job.

  I could continue on for hours and hours about how great Majora's Mask truly is, but in the end it is something each player must discover for themselves. It was a refreshing adventure, and Link's darkest one yet. Although I can understand its bilinear nature can be complex at times, try to think of it as a waltz through time. You have to know the steps to the dance, or you'll lose the beat. Pace yourself, explore and learn the game's patterns, and your patience will be reward with a gaming experience like no other.

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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  For many years, most good 007 games have been first person shooters and there isn't a problem with that. James Bond is just one of those characters that can be easily adapted for the first person, and lets every kid on the block pretend they're an agent under fire. But what if, just what if, we had a game where James was in the third person and voiced by Pierce Brosnan? Wouldn't that be Everything or Nothing!?

  Alright, that's enough of the tacky segues I promise. In February of 2004, EA games decided to give the gaming community a glance of 007 himself in Everything or Nothing. In a refreshing twist to the genre, this game would be featured in the third person instead of the typical first person perspective. At the time many felt Everything or Nothing could easily turn out like Tomorrow Never Dies for Ps1, which I hope I don't need to remind you all of that piece of trash. Anyway, luckily for us that was not the case. EA successfully transferred James Bond into a new perspective, and was able to add plenty of new game elements to an otherwise redundant shooter.

  One of the biggest elements that was added to Everything or Nothing was the chance to effectively use stealth. Now I know there are plenty of stealth based games out on the market, Splinter Cell, the Metal Gear Series, and to tell the truth Everything or Nothing doesn't come close to their level of sneakiness. But, now that Bond has some stealth kills to add to his arsenal it just makes the player feel that much closer to being an international spy. If trying to stealth your way through a level isn't your thing, you can also go the more straight forward approach and just blow away anyone who wanders into your sights. There is a large range of weapons for people to choice from, as there always are in a Bond game, and when the bullets fly the game play isn't ground breaking by any means. Another cool feature added into Everything or Nothing is the chance to use "Bond Moves". Bond moves are pretty much self explanatory, they're moves you'd see James use if this were a movie. They're triggered by engaging different things on each level, and overall are very clever.

  Just because 007 usually works alone (hot lady friends and Q aside), that doesn't mean you have to. Everything or Nothing offers a Co-op Multiplayer mode, that has it own unique side story. Although you can't play as Bond himself, you can pick from 4 non-007 status agents. The Co-op mode offers everything the main game does in terms of action, and I have to say its very satisfying see a friend stealthily taking care of an enemy that you might have missed. The Co-op missions are very entertaining, and on occasion you might even get a glimpse of Bond in action.

  Speaking of Bond in action, I mention before Pierce Brosnan does 007's voice work, and he does them well. Brosnan isn't the only star lending their voice for the cause however. Everything or Nothing was designed to act a Bond film, and was able to attract talents such as Heidi Klum, Judi Dench, John Cleese, and Willem Dafoe as lead characters. Everything of Nothing even brought back Richard Kiel's image as Jaws, and it was satisfying to fight old metal mouth again. The voice work is solid, although at times it sounds like Willem Dafoe is way to far away from the microphone. Character's in game likenesses are also outstanding. Every character looks as they should, which adds a deeper cinematic feel to Everything or Nothing. The game's story shouldn't be much of a surprise to people either. Dangerous villain plotting against good, and old 007 has to save the day. Other than that, I won't go into too much detail. If you want to find out more about the story, well you'll just have to play it for yourself.

  Ever since Goldeneye was released for Nintendo 64, we have seen an onslaught of Bond inspired games. Some are better than others, but many just leave us wanting more. Luckily, EA games provided us with a chance to see Bond in a whole new light and reinvigorated our dreams to be an agent with 00 status. Although nothing about this game is ground breaking, or overly original, Everything or Nothing is an excellent shooter with a touch of stealth.

Written by: RB

Over and Out

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            The original Castlevania for the Nintendo Entertainment system, released in 1987, was a terrific, taut thriller of a game. It had a wild cast of horror's favorite monsters: mummies, Frankenstein's Monster, the hunchback Igor, bats, and of course, vampires. You play the role of Simon Belmont, the legendary vampire slayer, equipped with his trusty whip known as the Vampire Killer.

            This is certainly one of the true classic games for the NES; one of many great titles made during that era by acclaimed game studio Konami. What makes it so classic is its atmosphere of Count Dracula's infamous castle and its frightening inhabitants. Simon Belmont is also an awesome protagonist, who fearless plunges into the castle, as epitomized by the brief opening cinematic.

            It may not be the longest game, but it is notoriously known to have an intense difficulty. Even after twenty plus years from its original release on the system, the game is still quite a challenge, but definitely not at all a chore - it is fun! Also, it is worth noting that after some effort and a few attempts, you'll feel at one with Mr. Belmont and his whip, as you too will fearlessly venture through the castles' evil halls.

            Of course, with "challenge" comes some frustration. Some of the enemies' patterns are often tough to master (i.e. Medusa heads and the hunchbacks that crawl and jump wildly). Definitively, the biggest hindrance in the game is when Simon gets hit. He gets blown backwards or forwards depending on what side you were struck, and this too often can lead to your premature death. You could be in perfect health, but fail to time an upsweep of a Medusa head while standing moderately close to a pit, and it's over. Though, there are special weapons that can help deter this problem like the stopwatch, and they can often prove critical to success.

            With those critiques aside, Castlevania is a fantastic game. It was surely one of the early, more epic games for the then-youthful NES, and also one of its enduring classics.

-Kurt L.

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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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