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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     Sonic the Hedgehog made a terrific debut on the Genesis in 1991, pitting himself against the rival Super Mario, who released his own epic 16-bit game Super Mario World that same year. While the two mascots were duking it out for the hearts of video game fans everywhere, Sega followed up its smash '91 hit with a sequel a year later - Sonic The Hedgehog 2. It expanded on the basic formula of which the original had established with its immaculate level design, catchy theme music, gorgeous graphics, and of course the most important ingredient: speed! Sonic 2 is bigger, better, and faster than Sonic 1 in so many ways, and has arguably become the best Sonic game to date.

     Sonic 2 features many enhancements over the first game that make the overall package much more engaging and tighter overall. First off, Sonic's controls have been amped up with the "Spin Dash", where you simply hold Down and tap A and Sonic will kneel down and he'll spin wildly in place revving himself up for a terrific dash through a portion of the stage. It was a great addition to the series and would return in some of the sequels to follow as it epitomized Sonic's signature of unfettered speed.

     Additionally, a new character was added to the mix as well. Players were introduced to Miles "Tails" Prower, known simply as "Tails" for short - as Sonic's spunky little sidekick. With this addition, it makes the series 2-player for the first time. However, when playing as 1-player, you obviously will control Sonic, and Tails follows behind you the entire time (until the last two levels or so). Unfortunately, his presence as a follower is marred with some annoying consequences. Generally, he doesn't really effect your gameplay that much, but his AI makes him a total idiot. He constantly dies, falls of cliffs, fails to reach higher platforms, and gets trapped and hung up on the varying spring boards across the stage. When all this happens, sometimes it is funny, but it also can be a little agitating as you are trying to focus on some tough jumps. Seldom will Tails actually help you in a boss fight, as he will occiaisonally hit Dr. Robotnik, but most of the time will get himself killed only to reappear later.

     Many of the levels in this game are iconic. It has about eleven in total, several more than its predecessor. For the most part, the levels are simply brilliant and much more vibrant this time around. They pop and dazzle with some great background designs, great lighting and graphics. The accompanying music is simply wonderful and wholly memorable. Even to this day, I can still hum almost all of this games theme music - it is that good. I would say the first four levels are clearly the best, and I gotta believe that level 4 - Casino Night Zone - had to have inspired the game Sonic Spinball released in 1993 (of which I previously reviewed here on Ethos). The middle levels are also quite good, and they are more challenging than the first few. However, the final four levels are a mixed bag. The Metropolis Zone is perhaps the most challenging, and also the most frustrating as well with some very tedious backtracking moments. The best of the final levels is easily Sky Chase Zone where Tails pilots a plane and Sonic stands on the front hood and battles incoming flying enemies.

     Overall, Sonic 2 is one of the definitive moments on the Sega Genesis and a finer game than the first one in this classic series. The first three Sonic games are definitely the best Sonic games in the hedgehogs lengthy tenure in the video game industry. Never since has the franchise truly recaptured the essence of its first three games on the Genesis. As I said before, Sonic 2 is arguably the best Sonic game ever made, and I highly reccomend it. If you haven't played this iconic game, you simply must.

-Kurt L.

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     Its been two decades since Metal Gear debuted on the Nintendo Entertainment System. Ever since we've enjoyed sneaking though jungles, military outposts, nuclear warhead disposal facilities, and taking out nuclear equipped walking battle tanks. But now, the time has finally come. The end of an epic journey has arrived, as the legendary solider Solid Snake takes on his final mission in Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots.

     Its been the Metal Gear Solid franchise's legacy to continue to reshape, and change the way a player looks at the stealth based action genre. Ever since Metal Gear Solid was released, its tag line has been "Tactical, Espionage, Action" and the series has always lived up to that very statement. Being the final chapter in the Metal Gear Solid saga, Hideo Kojima and Konami games along with the technical prowess of the Sony Ps3 platform have created a masterpiece that will be remembered for years to come.

     Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is set in the near future, in the year 2014...and war has changed. The world has descended into full out proxy wars. War itself has become the global economy, and not even civilians are safe from the growing war machines. As you guessed, it's up to one man and one man alone to set the world straight. The legendary solider Solid Snake is up for this mission and finally put a stop to Liquid Ocelot's reign of terror, but there's a catch. Thanks to some accelerated aging, Solid Snake isn't exactly a young guy anymore. Aged well beyond his years, Solid Snake is now Old Snake. With Snake's current physical condition, his final mission isn't going to be a cake walk. If he is going to succeed Old Snake is going to need a few more tricks up his sleeve, and not to mention a little bit of help from some familiar faces.

     That brings us right into Metal Gear Solid 4's game mechanics, which have been completely redone but yet are familiar to veterans of the franchise. The name of the game is still stealth, even though Old Snake can still hold his own in a fight. Anyone who has played Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (previously reviewed here on Ethos), will surely remember the camouflage meter as Big Boss literally disappeared into his jungle environment. The premise of the camouflage meter has returned to in MGS4, but with a futuristic twist. Being dropped into active war zones, Old Snake doesn't have time to be constantly pausing the game to change camouflage outfits, oh no. Thanks to Otacon new design, Old Snake's new Octocamo is universal and changes instantly to match its surroundings. The Octocamo is an essential key to survival in Metal Gear Solid 4. Just by lying on the ground, or pressing up against a wall Old Snake will vanish and the roaming guards will never know you are there. With a quick shake of the Ps3 controller, the player can reset the Octocamo to its original color scheme (even during the cut scenes), which is useful when trying to blend into your surroundings quickly as it saves a few seconds on the transition time. This will come particularly useful when trying to get away from the incredibly tough unmanned war machine called the Gekko. Anyone who has seen a screen shot of MGS4 will also notice Old Snake's high tech eye patch called the Solid Eye. The Solid Eye is an upgrade from Solid Snake's old school binoculars, night vision goggles, and radar system as now they are all combined into one. Although the Solid Eye can't be used limitlessly as it runs on battery power that recharges when the Solid Eye isn't in use, it is a helpful tool when trying to remain hidden. It will help you spot guards from a distance, tell if an enemy is friendly or not and even highlight item locations for you. This same battery power that runs the Solid Eye also effect the use of Old Snake's Ipod which allows the player to use customizable themes throughout the game as their found, and more importantly the Metal Gear Mk. II. The Metal Gear Mk. II is just as its name states, a small Metal Gear designed by Otacon to aide Snake in his mission. This smaller Metal Gear follows around Snake in invisibility mode called stealth camouflage, and can be controlled to stun guards or retrieve items where Old Snake can't get to.

     With all of Old Snake's technological upgrades out of the way, all that remains is CQC and armed combat. Like the camo meter, CQC has survived the Snake Eater mission and returned for Guns of the Patriots. However that too has been completely revamped with an entirely new control scheme for MGS4. Unlike its predecessors Metal Gear Solid 4 does not use the O or square buttons for combat. O simply reloads your weapon, while square has no use at all except for switching your Solid Eye into night vision. Instead, in Metal Gear Solid 4, the L1 and R1 buttons do all the work by utilizing different combination, and pressure sensitive controls between the two. To aim a weapon and fire it, the player must aim with L1 and shoot with R1. To add in first person, the player must hit L1, triangle, then shoot with R1. And all CQC is now controlled with R1 alone. Sounds a bit complicated, but works smoothly. With more CQC moves available, players will have no problem taking out the roaming patrols with lethal or non-lethal maneuvers. Weapons are also highly customizable this time around. Players will be able to outfit Old Snake with a large arsenal of weapons, and attach accessories that fits their needs. For example the Old Snake's starting pistol, a .45 Operator 1911 can be outfitted with a suppressor and weapon light. All of which are optional, but gives the player another measure of control for that "Tactic-cool' experience. Although sneaking in the Metal Gear franchise, Metal Gear Solid 4 also functions as a typical shooter. Players can easily take out any enemy they see in Run and Gun fashion, with excellent combat controls, and advance through the game as they please. With large level designs, there are numerous ways for Old Snake to complete his objectives.

     Story wise, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is more cinematic in nature than many action movies released over the passed few years. With beautiful graphics, and gripping cut scenes, MGS4's plot is possibly the best of the franchise. As I mentioned before, the world has descended into full out war. Thanks to the Patriots controlling the aspects of human thoughts, and ID control through the SOP system, Liquid Ocelot finds a way to take over the system. It's up to Solid Snake to stop him, and put an end to this mindless war. What makes Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots so ambitious is how the story is told. Players will progress through 5 unique acts that will bring Old Snake around the world, and to some old battle grounds. It is an emotional journey as Old Snake is reunited with many of the characters from the previous titles, and all unanswered questions are finally answered. More importantly, we can see the evolution of all the characters featured in the Metal Gear Solid franchise, such as Snake's one time love interest Meryl, or the ever controversial Raiden who has finally come into his own as a warrior (although is still bit of a cry baby.) This evolution of character couldn't be more true than with Snake himself. Ever since his debut on the NES, we've seen the rookie Solid Snake become a legendary soldier. With his never say die attitude, the character is able to over come impossible odds. That same attitude remains in Metal Gear Solid 4, but we now get to see a different perspective. Not only are we playing as the legendary soldier, but an old man whose time is running out. This causing for a gripping, and emotional journey as the story progresses. Although some cut scenes are indeed a half hour long, they flow fluently and are highly entertaining as they tie in seamlessly back into the game play. Players won't mind sitting back, and watching each beautifully crafted cut scene. The cinematic quality of Metal Gear Solid 4 is unmatched by any video game released to date.

     With excellent graphics, story telling, and game play Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots has reached the pinnacle of perfection. It is an epic conclusion to a franchise many of us have grown up playing. Not only does it continue the Metal Gear Solid legacy of quality gaming, it sets the bar of what a video game in general can achieve. I could think of no better send off for such an influential character in the video gaming community, so this one is for you Solid Snake. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is an instant classic, and will be played fondly for years to come.

Written by RB.

Over and Out

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*2009 Ethos Critic Pick for Game of the Year*

     What was old is now new again! New Super Mario Bros. Wii is the new ultimate experience for the classic Mario Bros. franchise. For the first time since 1991, Mario is back in a side-scrolling platforming game, and he is back with a vengence. While some great and revolutionary Mario games have been released in that 18 year gap, most notably: Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (1995), the legendary Super Mario RPG (1996), Super Mario 64 (1996), Paper Mario (2001), and of course Super Mario Galaxy (2007), just to name a few, this new entry in Nintendo's flagship franchise harkens back to the days of the good-old NES and pays its most homages to my favorite game of all time - Super Mario Bros. 3. This is a game that I've been waiting for, and finally it has arrived on Wii, and better yet, it is a classic Mario game for an entirely new generation of fans to enjoy that provides a new outlook and serves as a history lesson on some of the greatest video games ever created.

     Mario Bros. Wii is a pure blast to play. It embodies everything that made Super Mario a household name in the first place: it has supreme level design, the memorable, retro sound effects, catchy music with new themes and ones from the yesteryear, and terrific visuals. This classic take on the franchise has been retrofitted with some new, welcomed additions. First off, the most obvious revamp was that of the graphics - we see a nice 2D/3D engine that was first seen on the somewhat similar DS game New Super Mario Bros. - but on Wii, which clearly has a lot much large graphical palette, the visuals are very well-fleshed out and look amazing, popping with some vibrant colors and make the case that 2D games can still impress and wow in this modern era of 3D powerhouses.

     As I alluded to earlier, this game harkens back to Mario 3, and it does so in numerous ways. When I played through it for the first time, I noticed so many nuances that referenced either Mario 3, or Super Mario Bros. 1, Super Mario World, and even Super Mario 64. From secret warp zones, to the Bowser battleships, to the classic themes, to the flagpole at the end of every stage, to the inclusion and triumphant return of Yoshi, this game encompasses everything that is Mario! It's just such a great experience.

     As expected, the control is top notch, as you simply turn the Wii remote sideways and it acts as an NES controller. You could also plug in the nunchuk attachment and play that way, but, it is actually easier to manuever with such the remote by itself. Initially I was hoping you could use the Wii's Classic Controller attachment, since it closely resembles a Super NES controller, but it doesn't work for this game - but after the first few stages, you just forget about all that and become completely entrenched in the wonderful experience of this game.

     One of the newest, and perhaps even revolutionary, concepts to appear in this game is the debut of the simultaneous multi-player feature. For the first time, you can now play side-scrolling Mario action at the same time with other players like you couldn't do before. In the past, 2 players would take turns and only one player could be on screen at a time, either as Mario or Luigi. In this game, you can play together, and Mario and Luigi can run about the screen wreaking havoc as you please. You can play up to four players at once (the two other playable characters are two differently colored Toads - yellow and blue respectively). Playing with just two players on screen is hectic enough, but, it is so much fun. You can pick up your friend and carry them through the stage, you can throw your friend into other enemies, jump on their heads, or work together and finely tune your teamwork - either way, it is a pure blast! For this aspect alone, the game is worth its weight in gold, but couple it with everything else, and it is an instant classic.

     The only thing missing in this game is an online option. And that is really my only gripe with this game. These days, most games are online, in fact, it practically is a staple for them to be so. Unfortunately, Mario Bros. Wii is not, and that is a shame because this would be an ideal game to play online with friends. This, and this reason alone, is why I gave the game a 4.8 out of 5.0, otherwise, this game deserves a full-blown 5 out of 5. I just found it a little strange because Nintendo seemed to really emphasize their new brand of multi-player action with this new game, but yet, didn't even include the multi-player intesnive online feature. In any case, this game still rocks, online or not.

     There has been a lot of talk of this games challenge as well. And yes, it definitely has a good, strong challenge, but it is surmountable. The game definitely isn't too hard, nor is it too easy either. It is the right blend of vintage challenge that I was, and still am used to with the NES and Super NES Mario games. The levels challenges ebb and flow throughout, and culminates with an utterly thrilling showdown with Bowser. In fact, the final battle with Bowser is perhaps the most thrilling fight you'll ever have in a Mario game - simply brilliant. The ending is actually quite challenging indeed, and I wonder how much more difficult (but also fun) would it be to fight Bowser with other players simultaneously!

     New Super Mario Bros. Wii is an instant classic, and one of the definitive reasons to buy a Wii console today. Indeed, Super Mario has made history once again as he has ushered in a new era of side-scrolling action that I hope continues to flow through Nintendo's veins for generations to come. It is a new classic, and ranks up there with some of Nintendo's untouchable elite. It is my personal Ethos Critic's Pick for the 2009 Game of the Year - try it for yourself and see why. It simply further cements Mario's indelible impact on the game industry and why he is such a icon of gaming. New Super Mario Bros. Wii is surely a game that I will be playing and re-playing for years to come. All hail the King of Gaming - Super Mario!

-Kurt L.

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     This game has gotten a bad rap over the years since its Nintendo 64 release. Cruis'n USA was the 64's first racing game and one of the first games released for the system back in its debut in the Fall of 1996. The N64 came out of the gate strong with the revolutionary Super Mario 64 as its flagship game. It followed with some other memorable titles such as Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire. It was in December of 1996, on Christmas Day, that I receieved the Nintendo 64 as a Christmas present, and what a present it was! I still have it to this day, and it works as flawlessly as it did the day I got it (compliments to Nintendo's quality design). It was on that faithful day where I received the aforementioned games, and of course the one I will review today is Cruis'n USA - as to reflect upon one of my many cherished Christmas memories.

     As I said before, this game gets a bad rap. It generally was a critical dissapointment at its time of release, and time itself has not been particularly friendly to its already damaged reputation. I say now that I disagree with the consensus that this game has garnered and appeal to you, the reader, to judge for yourself. Cruis'n USA is a fine, enjoyable - albeit basic - racing game. What began as a coin-op arcade racer became a port to the N64, and apparently the transition wasn't the smoothest. Nintendo edited out some of the more mature and supposedly vulgar elements of this game. From what I've read, the original arcade version had some brief sequences where you could hit farm animals on the road, and the ending of the game had the President of the United States in a hot tub with his wife - and these certainly did not appear in the N64 version. In any case, these omissions are irrelevent and don't effect the game whatsoever.

     I hinted that this game is quite basic, but that's ok - it is pure fun. You get a choice of four cars, and as you progress through the game, new colors become available, and with the new colors, the cars upgrade with better acceleration and higher top speeds. In addition, there are some secret cars like school buses and police cars that can be unfurled with a button-sequence code. The gameplay itself is rather straight-forward, you simply race your car against seven other computerized opponents, or you can compete against a second player via good-old split screen action. There aren't any wacky jumps or stunts in the game, nor any significant power-ups that can be acquired mid-race, no Nitro boosts and whatnot either. If you like those sorts of things, than by all means, there are a plethora of fine racers out there.

     The graphics, which seems to be the most targeted area of critic's complaints, is one that I don't have much issue with myself. Sure, the graphics now look rather dated, but for 1996, they were just fine. They stumble here or there, but overall, hold up fairly well, and don't hamper the experience. In fact, I say that for the time, it was one of the better looking racing games out there - only to be supplanted by future releases (i.e. the sequel, Cruis'n World, amongst others). Of course, in contrast to some of the other debut titles, like the great Super Mario 64, this game paled in comparison. Aside from that, the game is easy on the eye.

     The sound is another area of criticism, and I can agree to an extent that the music isn't particularly good in the game. The opening theme is silly, but fun to listen to. The in-game music can be switched any time via the pause-screen menu, but the selection isn't the greatest, with really only one or two out of the many being listenable. The sound effects for the cars though are pretty cool.

     So, yes, Cruis'n USA was not a great game, not a bad game, but a solid one. It may not have the big frills and nuances of a newer racing game, but bottom line, it is simple, good fun. If anything, it harkens back to the days of the simpler racers like Top Gear, or even Rad Racer, but, I'd say this one is better, because it has the more modern look. Hunting down a cartridge of it today is pretty easy, and won't cost much either, as it was a pretty prevelant game back in its time (sold over a million copies). However, it is also available on the Wii's Virtual Console. I would check it out if you haven't already, and if you like racing games, I don't think it will disappoint. I recommend it. Happy Holidays everyone!

-Kurt L.

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     I must say that I was very excited to play this game for a long time. I have the original SimCity for the Super Nintendo, which was a great game with timeless, never-ending fun gameplay. Then I got wind of SimCity 2000, a futuristic version of the classic franchise. That game intrigued me so much, just by the cover art on the box alone - it conveyed an imagintive glimpse into the unknown future, a new frontier of city building and creation. Let's just say it, the box looks awesome and you just can't wait to play it! Well, I did, at long last. I was able to get my hands on a Sega Saturn console and I acquired the ever-elusive SimCity 2000. The verdict? Well, just read and see.

     It's a mess. A colossal, frustrating, and fleeting mess. For starters, the game itself takes forever to load - and I never thought using a hyperbole would somehow be an understatement. The game moves frustratingly slow throughout, essentially rendering it unplayable. If you have some pateince, emphasis on "some" because you may need more than that, you may actually be able to enjoy it. It's a tease because the game has some genuinely strong potential, but it's so busted in so many different areas that it makes it a chore - something a game should never be! I was taken aback at how slow the game moved in comparison to the original SimCity on the SNES - that game moves fluently, efficiently, and is a blast to play. Though, I have read that SimCity 2000 plays a lot better when playing it on the PC, and that makes a heck of a lot of sense because a properly equipped computer can handle essentially any game. So, if you are interested, I would suggest that. Additionally, Sega Saturn was one of the earliest of disc-based systems, and slow loading times is not entirely uncommon, but here it is just horrendous!

     While the SNES SimCity had some appealing easy visuals, this Saturn game had some appalling blurry visuals. Yes, again, Saturn was a young disc system, and some games for it were blurry, but then again, some had some pretty stellar graphics as well with some nice full-motion video. However, SimCity 2000's visuals are bad and will make you question your own eyesight.

     The gameplay is very much like that of the original SimCity, however, there are a lot more options in this game, but that doesn't always make it better. I apologize for beating this point into the ground, but the slowness of the game hampers the gameplay all too often. With a terrible tag-team combo of bad graphics and slow control, coupled with equally agitating load times, it makes for a greatly substandard playing game.

     Needless to say, I was disappointed by SimCity 2000 on Sega Saturn. I had such high hopes for it too. Perhaps it was my own fault, because I anticipated the game so much that it just didn't live up to my imagination. But, the game really was that deflating. I still want to give it another chance, I want to hunt down a copy of SimCity 2000 for the SNES, perhaps it is better...perhaps it will salvage the game for me, as there was a basis of a good game there somewhere in the Saturn version, I just never found it - lost in an abyss of poor execution. Once again, the PC version of the game is apparently considered the best incarnation, so I would reccomend that then, though, I personally have not played it. However, I still hold out some hope for the SNES version.

-Kurt L.

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     How can you possibly rate and review one of the greatest and perhaps the single most important game in the entire history of video games? Super Mario Bros. is the single most iconic game in the modern era of games. How can I even begin to tackle this game? Can I point out any of its flaws? Are there any flaws? It is perhaps one of the most storied and beloved games ever made, so where to begin?

     While this was not the first iconic game to hit the market, Super Mario Bros.' impact on the industry is indelible. Not only did it spawn the supremely great Super Mario franchise, which still continues to today with the release of the excellent New Super Mario Bros. Wii, but it re-invented the entire industry as a whole. Prior to Mario's release in 1985, the gaming market was over saturated with games and systems. There was the stoic Atari 2600, and the Collecovision, the Intellivision, the Intellivison II, Atari 5200, the Magnavox Odyssey, and so on and so forth. There were simply a ton of game systems out there, and also a plethora of games. There were indeed some legends prior to 1985 like Pong, Pac-Man, Pitfall, Space Invaders, Missile Command, Asteroids, Donkey Kong (which featured Mario, then known as "Jump-Man"), Plaque Attack, and Breakout, just to name a few. However, these games didn't and surely couldn't have the technical prowess of Super Mario Bros. While these older games were generally limited to one screen of action, Super Mario had eight varying worlds of excitement.

     It was the success of Super Mario that reinvigorated a slumping video game industry after the infamous "crash of 1983" which almost led the gaming world into oblivion. As Mario has always saved the day in the Mushroom Kingdom, he indeed saved the day for the game industry as we know it. He redefined what a game can be, and defined what the side-scrolling platformer would be, and laid the foundation for what any game would become. It is likely because of Super Mario that we were able to play such great games like Mega Man, Metroid, Contra, and Kirby's Adventure for the NES - and countless more. Super Mario is also embedded in our very culture as a society, as he has become a household name. Anyone can hum the wonderful Mario theme, and everyone knows the fantastic sound effects when Mario spits fireballs, and gets power-ups, gains invincibility, or pounces on a Goomba or a Koopa shell - it's just become a part of American culture, nay, the entire world!

     I could go on and on about how much this game has helped shape the landscape of pop-culture since its release twenty-four years ago, but, so much has been said about it already. Let's shift gears, and talk about the game itself. Super Mario Bros. has some of the best and tightest gameplay the NES had to offer back in the day. While it may have served as the model for platformer's to follow, not many lived up to its perfect implementation and execution. The controls are easy to learn, but the levels themselves take practice to master. One could quite easily take their time through the finely crafted levels, or blaze through them in a so-called "speed run" - either way, it is a blast to play this game. Again, it's no wonder why it is such a classic after two decades.

     The graphics are quite simple, but were a technical marvel in 1985. Sure, they look quite dated by today's standards, but that only adds to the charm of the game. If anything, the game only garners more prestige and respect over the years because of its perfect simplicity. Though, one could argue that it isn't necessarily all "simple" in Super Mario Bros. While this game may be rather old, another reason it has such staying power because it has a strong challenge at its core. Certainly, Level 1 is quite familiar to all, and very beatable, but of course, still quite fun. However, as the game progresses, it presents the player with some formidable challenges - just try and cross King Koopa at the end of Level 6 with all those hammers and fireballs flying about! And speaking of hammers, the Hammer Bros. are some of the trickiest enemies you'll encounter because of their tough hammer-throwing patterns. Some castles stages at the end of each level are actually mazes and require some trial and error. Furthermore, Level 8 runs Mario through the gauntlet as you aid him in his quest to save the Princess. With these epic challenges, the game is pure fun, from beginning to end, and there is no doubt that you'll come back to it again and again over the years.

     From it's great gameplay, fantastic challenge, catchy, memorable, and very well-known and beloved theme music, to its charming presentation, Super Mario became a pop-icon for a reason. It is indeed the most popular video game in our history, and surely one of the best, and most influential. Super Mario Bros. is a classic. Need I say more?

-Kurt L.

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  As I mentioned earlier, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is set during the Cold War era, more specifically after the Cuban Missile Crisis and the assassination of JFK. Now those who have been following the MGS franchise closely, this will raise a bit of a red flag as to the time frame doesn't add up. You might think to yourself, Solid Snake wasn't even born when these events took place, and you'd be 100% correct. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is not a direct sequel to the events that took place in MGS2. Snake Eater features a different Snake, Naked Snake to be more specific, and gives a different perspective of the Metal Gear franchise's deadliest foe...BIG BOSS before he was actually Big Boss. In a sense, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is actually a bit of a prequel to the MSX/NES game Metal Gear, although there is still a large gap between the events that take place in MGS3 and Metal Gear.

  Snake Eater is a dramatic revamp of Metal Gear Solid's game mechanics. Stealth takes on a whole new form in MGS3. Being set in an outdoor, jungle environment the tactics previously used to remain hidden go out the window. For Naked Snake to succeeded in his mission behind enemy lines, he'll have to rely on the use of camouflage. There are no walls to hide behind this time, players will literally have to disappear into their environment to avoid enemy detection. To do this, players will have too keep a close eye on the camouflage meter that gauges how well you're blended in to your surroundings. The higher the number, the better you are hidden. Another large, but simple change in MGS3 is stalking your enemies by using the good old D pad. Walking and running are a very noisy activity in the jungle, by using the D pad, Naked Snake will move nice and slow minimizing sound. This is particularly useful when trying to pull off all the new CQC, or close quarters combat, maneuvers that have been introduced. Players can now do more than just choke out patrolling enemies. Being that Naked Snake is a highly trained soldier, he can use a large variety of moves like knocking out enemies with a single hard throw, push them forward or backwards onto the ground and shake them down for goods similar to MGS2, interrogate for useful information, or simply dispose of a guard with a knife to the throat. It's a given that the enemy AI has been upgraded from Metal Gear Solid 2's roaming elites, and on the harder settings really can be formidable opponents. They are much more sensitive to sights and sounds, on occasions if your smoking a cigar, even smell. Players will have to be clever, and pay attention to patrol patterns to remain hidden and advance. For those who aren't as fortunate, and get discovered, Naked Snake may take a few injuries like bullet wounds, broken bones, shrapnel burns, and will need away to keep himself healthy if he wants to retain optimal fighting performance. That's where the new CURE feature comes into play. As Snake takes damage, the player will use the CURE screen for some in game health care. It is here you will mend those broken bones, stitch up some nasty cuts, among many other things. Throughout the course of the game, players will also gather food items either by hunting the many prey items found in the jungle, or taking rations off of guards. These food items do not effect Snake's health when used, but work to replenish the Stamina gauge. When Snake's stamina gets low, he will become less effective in combat, and even fall asleep until enough stamina has been recovered. Hey, no one said being alone in the jungle was going to be easy. To mix things up, players can enjoy a silly but entertaining side game called Snake Vs Monkey, where Snake has to catch monkeys throughout different maps in the game. Completing the mini game will earn some extra goodies, and is just one more element that makes Snake Eater unique.

  It goes without saying that MGS3: Snake Eater's story is nothing short of epic, it is after all another Hideo Kojima game. I will not go into too much detail of what the story involves, but for the first time we really get to experience the human side of Big Boss before he turned into a villain in Outer Heaven. The game begins with Naked Snake going behind enemy lines to find a scientist who has created a nuclear equipped tank called the Shagohod, and the plot only thickens from there. With the threat of a full scale nuclear war looming, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is full of plot twists, betrayal, and love. All of the hardships Naked Snake will face sculpt the character into what he will ultimately become. All of the flaws that were in MGS2's story presentation have been completely erased, and the game has true cinematic quality. Returning as the voice of Snake is David Hayter, and he gives yet another top notch performance. All of the voice acting in MGS3 is excellent quality, as Kojima continues to find the best in the business. It doesn't matter if you are a long time fan of the franchise, or new to the Metal Gear universe, Snake Eater is nothing short than riveting.

  Since Metal Gear Solid was released for the original Sony Playstation, Snake Eater was the biggest step forward in the franchise. It offered something new to the genre, and is the definitive Metal Gear Solid experience on the Sony Playstation 2. Everything about Snake Eater is fined tuned, and it is a classic installment players will be returning to years to come.

Written by RB 

 As of 2006, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater Subsistence edition was released. Although the core story and game elements were unchanged, players now had access to full 3D camera angles and a second disk filled with game extras including the original Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake MSX games. With the upgraded camera angles, the scope of the game was enhanced raising the game's rating to 4.9 out of a possible 5.

Over and Out

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     Its no secret that I am a huge fan of the Metal Gear and Metal Gear Solid franchises. Ever since I got my first taste of some "tactical espionage action" on the Sony Playstation there was no turning back, I was hooked. Then when I learned Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty was going to be released for the Sony Playstation 2, I got the system just for the occasion. There was mixed reaction upon completing MGS 2: Sons of Liberty for the first time, but there is no denying the gaming experience as a whole was nothing short of awesome.

  Being one of the Sony Ps2's flag ships, almost every element from the original Metal Gear Solid has been expanded on and fined tuned. Infiltration is still the name of the game, as our returning hero Solid Snake is called back into action. This time around however, Solid Snake has many more moves at his disposal. On top of everything that could be done in Metal Gear Solid players will be able to use diving rolls, shoot from the first person perspective, hang from ledges, and even walk stealthily through corridors with pressure sensitive controls. In some situations, failing to utilize this simple walking feature will alert the enhanced AI of the patrolling guards to your presence, and the player doesn't need to give the AI any extra chances to discover them. The guards are much smarter than their predecessors in Shadow Moses. They will listen for foot steps, follow wet foot prints, search for their fallen comrades, and even look for shadows as you come near a corner of the hallway. All of these elements combined to make a sense of realism that will keep players hooked as they actively continue to find new ways to remain hidden. An added bonus to MGS2's enhanced stealth mechanics is players can now hold up wandering guards to shake them down for dog tags, and other items by pointing a weapon at the guards head. Collecting all of the dog tags is an amusing yet difficult challenge, but not necessary to completing the game. Mix in its great graphics, I can guarantee players will be returning to MGS2: Sons of Liberty after the beating the game, because its just down right great to play.

  The Metal Gear Solid franchise is known for great, gripping stories, and Metal Gear Solid 2 is no different. The game's creator and director, Hideo Kojima knows how to tell a story, plain and simple. But, Metal Gear Solid 2's story presentation isn't perfect and is where the game takes a bit of a hit. Although the plot is excellent, full of memorable moments and twists, at times it feels like the games developers got a bit lazy. Fans of Metal Gear Solid will be familiar with the Codec, it is where a screen pops up and a conversation appears as Solid Snake speaks to whoever he is talking to on the other side of the screen. There is nothing wrong with the codec, but in Sons of Liberty's case it is over utilized. Instead of using cut scenes where one should have been, the games developers opted to use the Codec, making it easier on them. Although the games voice acting is the best in the business, the over use of the codec robs the players from some real emotional and gripping moments. By the end of the game, players will be sick of the codec. There is no other way of saying it. On another note, Metal Gear Solid 2's story offered a ground breaking and controversial element to the franchise. This is possibly the only spoiler I will offer in my reviews, but I hate to break it to you folks, Solid Snake isn't the only playable character in Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. In the second half of Sons of Liberty, we are introduced a rookie in the special operation unit FOXHOUND named Raiden. Raiden is a platinum haired, frail looking character that is more agile and ninja like than Solid Snake. After MGS2's debut, Raiden became the topic of many heated debates throughout the gaming community. Some loved the character, and other hated the whinny rookie. Either way, Raiden played a pivotal roll in MGS2's story and single handedly elevated Solid Snake status from a lone hero to a legendary soldier.

  Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty is a perfect example of what a power house the Sony Ps2 can be. It was a technological marvel at its release, and continues the Metal Gear Solid legacy with a game that just can't be beat. Although, it was is a few notches from perfect, no Ps2 owner can go without Sons of Liberty.

Written by RB

  As of 2002, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty Substance edition has been released for the Sony Ps2, Microsoft Xbox, and Windows platforms. MGS2 Substance features extended gameplay from Solid Snake's perspective of the big shell, although doesn't have any voice work added to it. There are also several other mini games including skate boarding. The added mini games are nice, but don't really add anything major to the overall experience. Only hardcore fans of the original version might be interested in rebuying the substance version of MGS2. Rating remains the same.

Over and Out

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  Let me just start off by saying that Constantine stays true to the movie to game adaptation legacy, its just another weak game, which is unfortunate. While assuming the role of John Constantine, players will exorcise demons with a large variety of weaponry and spells, cross between the realms of earth and hell, and follow through the concepts of the film. Constantine could have been a decent action game, all of the right elements are present, but they're just poorly executed.

  Constantine is essentially a pretty straight forward third person shooter. The player will advance through each level by unleashing some holy weapons on some pesky demons. There is nothing really wrong with that aspect of the game, and adding some spells Constantine can cast when prompted to complete the proper button sequences has some pretty decent effects. The problem with Constantine lies within the action itself. Enemies are ridiculously slow, even on a harder difficulty doesn't really represent much of a challenge. The possibility of having some addicting game play was constantly being undermined by the game's poor animations, and lack of excitement. In the end, the only way to sum up the game play is just boring. Players also have the option of using melee attacks in the game, but they are completely useless. Also, trying to pull off a 180 turn by pressing and holding in the left thumb stick is yet again painfully slow to respond. By the time the turn registers, the player will already have taken damage that could have been avoided otherwise.

  Graphically, Constantine is a mess. With flat textures, and poor animations Constantine is painful to look at. Besides some of the cut scenes, Constantine looked like a late Playstation 1 game instead of a late Xbox release. Areas in the game that could have been something interesting to see, like the hell stages of the game, are simply vacant and void of distinguishable texture. Constantine's animations are incredibly blocky, and lack any imagination.

  Possibly the worst aspect to the game as a whole is sound. Constantine's sound, especially when it comes to the voice work, is just terrible. The never ending raising and lowering of the televisions volume to compensate for the varying sound quality through out the game was down right annoying. While playing through a level, sound is more reliable and doesn't vary as often, but the voice work is frequently hard to hear and sounds like the actors are miles away from the microphone. This was a poor attempt to capture the mediocre monotone presentation from the film, and just fails entirely.

  Unless you're a huge fan of Constantine, whether it be the graphic novels or the film, Constantine really doesn't have much to offer. If you're looking for a fun action game, this definitely isn't it. With a little more effort, Constantine could have been something better. I can guarantee this game is going to be exorcised from my gaming collection.

Written by RB

Over and Out

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