Consider this gaming's greatest tragedy. Mafia had one of the great gripping and riveting storylines set in a fascinating setting of the 1930s big crime mobster era, in an open sand-box style reminsicent of Grand Theft Auto III. Originally a PC game, Mafia was ported to the Xbox and Playstation 2 consoles - sounds like a winner, huh? The legacy of this game is a sad and forgettable one as this piece of gaming lore is sullied with some of the most busted and hideously executed gameplay ever in a modern video game. It is indeed one of those games that "could have been" - and it surely could have - stood with the likes of GTA 3.

     Mafia had that potential. It had the story: a classic tale of a fictional Depression era big city named Lost Heaven about a cab driver named Tommy Angelo who slowly but steadily gets his life turned inside out as he is sucked into the disillusioned life of crime in the Salieri family. You readers out there understand I'm sure, that this has that "could have been" game...but what went wrong? Well, for starters, apparently the original PC version of the game was actually quite good, with far better visuals and gameplay, but I've never personally played it, only the ported version here for Xbox. And a word about "ports" for a moment; I feel many critics only seem to use the word "port" to describe a game that was transfered poorly, I just get a negative vibe when I hear that phrase, and you know what...it couldn't be more negative here.

     While Mafia does many things very well, even when it was ported, there is pretty much no way to overcome the horrendously mangled control. Punching or beating an enemy street-tough with a bat works well enough, but aiming any sort of gun is a mess. It's like having a death wish! You use the little black button on the controller to aim your weapon (which is awkward unto itself), but it doesn't work, it sort of just straightens you out, but doesn't actually make your enemy the focal point, as it claims to do! So what's the point of it then?! It doesn't do anything!

     Even if you're lucky enough to get a good shot off, I doubt you'll actually kill the enemy. On one of the missions, I snuck in the back of a motel to save my partner in crime. Having played this mission before at a previous time, I knew there was a goon hiding in the bathroom, so I swung open the door, and took a shot, but...nothing happened. I shot him again, unloaded almost a whole clip, and this enemy didn't flinch! What's going on! Why don't he die?! The hit detection in this game is despicable! It doesn't even exist it seems! So, ten bullets later, he's finally dead, but I almost am too. Then other bad guys heard our leaded exchange, so they come running and I was ganged up on. And I already am down to like 51 Health - after fighting just one typical bad guy. Aiming from a distance is just as annoying, and ultimately you'll realize your pistols are total gahbidge. Stick to the Tommy Gun, it fares a little better, otherwise, it's over.

     I can't tell you how many times that I've been down to 4 Health and still had plenty of mission to go; it's a bad and frustrating place to be. Many of the missions aren't terribly hard, but the gameplay mechanics are so butchered, the odds are so stacked against you, you can barely get through it! Also, Health packs, rarely seen, only replenish 30 health! Why such an odd number? Not 50? Or all of your health? But 30. So, when you're down to 4 Health, or up to 34 with a useless health pack, picking off mobsters from a distance is a total disaster - it's a chore!

     These simple fundamental gameplay mechanics of aiming, and hit detection continue to plague Mafia until the very end. But also, the animation is fairly stiff as well. I was playing a mission and I got shot once by a bad guy and it drained 18 health! What game does that? 18 for one shot! Was it a headshot? I couldn't tell, the characters move so stiffly you can't tell where you are hit, or tell if ever hit at all!

     Many of missions are very long also - too long for their own good. Just when things seem like they are over, there's another part to it to complete, and it's annoying. Also, too much driving. Too much driving in this game! I know this game wanted to push a sort of car culture, which is admirable, but there's too much in this game. You'll spend ALOT of your time just getting from Point A to Point B, and then because all the missions go on forever, Point C and D, E, F, G...X, Y, Z. And would you believe it, there are TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS?! That's right, you could get pulled over by a cop in this game if you run red lights! You could out run them, but why do we need to do that at all?! It's absurd! They ticket you and you pay them off, but there isn't any money in this game anyway, so what's the point of it? It's just time consuming. Again, an admirable idea that wasn't executed well. That is a continuous trend in this game, good ideas gone bad.

     The only saving grace in this game is its story and its cinematics. They are engaging and very entertaining. If you can muster the energy to play through the actual game itself and get to the cutscenes, I applaud you. It's a laborious game because of the busted gameplay mechanics. A game shouldn't be this frustrating. In the end, Mafia is a mess, and it's a shame. It could have been great, but to its credit, it has a few good qualities, but you'll be hardpressed to find them, I know I was. Mafia is rated M for Mature, but it's more like it is rated M for, "Man, this game is a chore."

-Kurt L.

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     Around the time of its release, few people ever heard of the Elder Scrolls. When most people think of RPGs, they're first thought is usually the Final Fantasy genre, which is respectively (yet arguably) role playing perfection. But, being Final Fantasy are story driven linear experiences where the player is confined to simply taking on the role of a predetermined character. This is where the Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind makes a drastic change for RPGs. The Elder Scrolls III is a completely immersive role playing game. Each player begins their adventure by creating their own unique character from a decent list of races with their own unique abilities, choose skills that cater to the player's liking, and then players are free to do whatever they please in a truly beautifully crafted open world environment. Quite a big change from the constricting design of most RPG's, no?

     The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind is a very story driven, yet free roaming game. Upon completing the character creation process, the player is given the start of the main chain of quests that will advance the story. One could complete this main story from start to finish, but it would be a difficult task being your character wouldn't have gotten the chance to level up. This is where the unique quality of the game truly shines. Instead of simply playing the game's main story, the Elder Scrolls III encourages players to explore the world they've been literally thrown into. Players can join guilds such as a Fighter's Guild geared towards melee combatants, Mage's guild that favors magic users, Thieves Guild for stealthy rogues, and even Assassin's Guilds for those with a true blood lust. Each of these guilds has their own story line, and numerous quests to complete. These quests bring you around the world, help you earn gold, and season your skills so you can advance your level. These guilds aren't a requirement, players can freely roam the world and still progress their character, and there are plenty of other side quests to tinker around with. The concept of choice is really the main focus of the Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind's play style. The game is yours, and its progression is completely up to you. If a quest is too hard, or you don't care for the guild you've associated yourself with, the player can simply move on to something else.

     Another interesting twist to the Elder Scrolls III is the game mechanics. The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind successfully combines two gaming perspectives, a third person view and a first person view. By pushing in the right thumb stick, players can switch between the two. While roaming the world someone might prefer staying in third person but quickly switch into first person perspective for combat. Both third person and first person views have their own pros and cons. Combat is much easier in first person, but the player misses out on some character animations. The opposite can be said for third person, combat is tougher, but you have the character animations. Although admittedly, the character animations are a bit on the blocky side. Character movements are stiff while walking and running, and combat animations basically just stick to hacking and slashing. It is a stark contrast to how detailed and truly beautifully rendered the environment of Morrowind is. In terms of setting, and background graphics the Elder Scrolls III is easily one of the best looking games offered for the Xbox. The attention to detail and variety of landscape are impressive. The land of Morrowind itself is also very large. The Elder Scrolls III is by no means a short game. Players could easily spend hours exploring their new world. Getting lost in Morrowind isn't uncommon, although it can be frustrating at times, is part of what makes the game so fun. The Elder Scrolls III has an in game map to help players find their way, but the game is also packaged with a hard copy of the map that shows Morrowind in complete detail. It actually comes in handy when trying to find locations that you haven't uncovered yet, and is a time saver when trying to complete quest.

     The game's voice work is dare I say, hit or miss. Although there is voice acting in the Elder Scrolls III, it is incredibly limited. Only a few main characters have fully vocalized lines, while the majority of the NPCs players will encounter will only have a few lines at their disposal. Only one male and female voice is available for each race, so when a character does speak there isn't much in the way of variety. Overall, players will be reading their quest objectives and character conversations. This is by no means a bad thing, in fact I feel it gives The Elder Scrolls III a more novelistic quality, but undoubtedly some gamers may be turned off by the lack of voice acting in an Xbox game.

     I could continue on for hours about the Elder Scrolls III being there is so much to cover about this outstanding example of what an RPG can be, but in the end each player must do as the game intended and explore it themselves. The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind received over 50 awards, including a game of the year title. It is by no means a game that should be forgotten. The Elder Scrolls III is nothing short of epic, and is easily one of my favorite games offered on the Xbox.

Written By RB

Over and Out

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     It didn't take long for Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic to become one of the best titles offered for the Microsoft Xbox. With its great choice based game play, and unforgettable plot, KOTOR was nothing short of a legendary RPG. Needless to say, when Bioware announced that there would be a sequel to the smash hit, the proverbial bar was set pretty high. Fortunately, Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 2: The Sith Lords lives up to its predecessor's legacy but by no means surpasses it.

     Taking place 5 years after the events that took place in Knights of the old Republic, the Sith Lords tells the tale of a new Jedi Knight that served as a commander during the Mandalorian Wars, and was consequentially lost his (or her) connection with the force. If that wasn't bad enough, our new Jedi Knight was exiled from the order upon returning to face the council's punishment...ouch. Anyway, the Exile begins the path of drifting through the Galaxy until his ship is attacked by Sith, and he meets up with his new Mentor in the ways of the force.

     Unlike the original Knights of the Old Republic, players will start off wielding the force shortly after their first level up which is a welcome change of pace. Veterans of Knights of the Old Republic will feel quite comfortable jumping into this new adventure, as the majority of the game mechanics are virtually unchanged. Control schemes, combat, skill and force upgrades remain the same, but this time around players can equip ranged and melee weapons and switch between the two at command. This is a huge improvement that keeps game play moving, as players will no longer have to pause and search through a slew of weapons to find the right tool for the job. However, like the original KOTOR, once the player receives their light saber....odds are that's the only weapon they'll be using. Another huge improvement to Knights of the Old Republic 2 is the level cap has been completely removed. This allows players to become as powerful as they choose, and for those looking to put a good amount of time in one could actually master all the in game force powers although it is doubtful anyone would really want to considering the sheer size of the task.

     Being that the Sith Lords is a game revolving around the aspect of choice between the Light and Dark sides of the force, players will have the opportunity to delve deeper into the very concept that made KOTOR famous. The choices the players make throughout the game, have a stronger impact on the galaxy and are much more rewarding than in the original. It isn't very often where a player taking the path of the dark side can use a Jedi mind trick to convince an unlucky alien to give them all their money, then jump off a cliff. Anyway, I digress. Perhaps the biggest change to Knights of the Old Republic 2 is the ability to impact not only your force alignment, but the alignment of your team members as well. Through conversing with your team members, and having them see your actions (whether they be light or dark), their alignment will begin to shift. If the teammate you are trying to influence is on the light side, and you are traveling the path of a true Jedi, your resolve will echo through them and they will look to you for knowledge and guidance. However, if you are a Sith and that same teammate disagrees with your actions, it will become much harder for you to bring them to the dark side...that's not to say it can't be done by corrupting through making them question their own believes in some seedy conversations. Whether your alignment is light or dark, the overall experience is much more rewarding.

     The Sith Lord's story is an excellent one, although doesn't quite live up to the legendary story from Knights of the Old Republic. Depending on your alignment in Knights of the Old Republic, your actions will affect major parts of the plot in the Sith Lords such as if Revan became the Jedi's savior or if he left the galaxy in ruin. This is a good concept that gives continuity to the series, but doesn't answer many of the questions that were presented in Knights of the Old Republic 1. The voice acting in the Sith Lords isn't exactly of the same caliber as the original as well. Some performances are excellent, while other just come up short. Despite the feeling that everyone was indeed trying their best, some of the voice talent's emotional transitions just come up flat. Given that, The Sith Lords plot and voice acting still exceed many of the games that were released around the same time.

     If you are a fan of the series or never played Knights of the Old Republic before, The Sith Lord still has a lot to offer. With the same great game mechanics, and pretty good story, Knights of the Old Republic 2 is still one of the best titles offered on the Xbox. True it doesn't quite live up to its predecessor, but its still one heck of a good game.

Written by RB

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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     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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     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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