Bioshock 2 is set ten years after the events of the original. Much has happened since the fall of Rapture and the end of Andrew Ryan. In his place, Sofia Lamb, Ryan’s philosophical opposite, has taken over. Rather than supporting Ryan’s belief of complete independence from the system, Lamb embraces a more socialist view of uniting as one for the greater good. Her daughter Eleanor has been bound to you. As a prototype Delta unit Big Daddy that’s been separated from his Little Sister, the quest to reunite with her takes him through some of the oldest parts of Rapture. Returning to the underwater dystopia feels good and familiar, like a song you used to love or your Mom’s home cooking. My early concerns that this would somehow feel like a cheap cash-in on the Bioshock name were gone within the first few minutes once I realized the world is interesting enough to keep players content with exploring through another ten-hour experience.

Bioshock 2 addresses many of the issues contained in the first. The original was great, don’t get me wrong, but it wasn’t perfect. Everything in the sequel feels much more streamlined. Shooting is vastly improved. Players can now duel-wield between plasmids and firearms, making the combat far more efficient, fun, and open to experimentation. But the shooting overall, the sheer mechanics of aiming and firing, is much sharper. It feels more like a competent shooter which is, I assume, one of the reasons they added the multiplayer component— but more on that later.

As the Delta unit makes his way through Rapture, he’ll come across Little Sisters with their respective Big Daddies gathering Adam, the city’s all-powerful substance that drove people to madness. Players must defeat these “Mr. B” bodyguards and determine how to deal with the Little Sisters. The first Bioshock dabbled with the same morality structure of killing and harvesting them for a lot of Adam or saving the girls for slightly less. Depending on the player’s decision, the outcome this time around is much more than a different movie at the end of the game. In fact, Bioshock 2 encourages the adoption of the Little Sisters as the game’s best mechanic of gathering Adam was easily my favorite part of the experience.

Occasionally, Delta unit is tasked with protecting his adoptive Little Sisters as they gather Adam. During this time, Splicers, the crazed citizens of Rapture, will be attracted to the location, gunning for the girls. Fending them off, setting traps, and utilizing the game’s enhanced weaponry was addictive and, simply put, a blast to play. These horde-esque moments punctuated the action and were a fun diversion from the Bioshock formula. A strategy begins to emerge as Delta unit preps for the next Splicer onslaught, it’s great.

The game shies away from actual boss battles and with good reason. I imagine many would be hard-pressed to find people who absolutely loved the final encounter in the original Bioshock. The closest players will find to a boss in this game are the numerous run-ins with the Big Sisters. If a Big Daddy was the thing to fear in the first game, the Big Sisters are the equivalent. While not as tough as the Big Daddy seemed in the original, Big Sisters are grown up versions of Little Sisters who have taken to wearing a similar set of armor as their former bodyguards.

On the subject of difficulty, I found Bioshock 2 to be a wholly easier game than the first. Playing both games on Normal difficulty was a vastly different experience. I consider myself a moderately good player, nothing spectacular. I was surprised to see the Playstation trophy icon pop up for never using a Vitachamber (the game’s respawn system) as the credits began to roll. Meaning I never died during Bioshock 2. Whether or not other players have the same experience isn’t certain but it needs to be said that perhaps this is a more mass-market design. The game has its difficult moments, that’s for sure, but I was often so overpowered that, by the end of the game, I could take on pretty much any situation without fear of losing my progress.

Exploration has also been given a more streamlined approach. Gone is the ability to travel back to previous areas and while many will see this as a negative, at the very least it keeps the narrative moving forward. One word of advice— be sure to explore all possible areas within a level before moving on as the game moves along a train-track that only goes one way. While it feels inflexible, I myself didn’t have a need to back-track in the original Bioshock unless the game required it. The structure in Bioshock 2 is just as enjoyable. I still found myself obsessively searching every filing cabinet, every corner, and every Splicer for goodies before moving on.

Unfortunately, the environments of the game aren’t as varied to the same degree with which Bioshock fans are accustomed. The first took players to gardens, frozen fisheries, and everywhere in between. The sequel tends to exist within a lot of similar-looking offices, hotels, and apartment buildings. That’s not to say these levels look bad or were lazily conceived, it just didn’t have the same sense of variety. This could be a result of simply being a sequel and some of the magic of discovery is gone.

There are a few issues that went untouched. For the life of me, I don’t understand the need to make me tap right if I want to use a health pack. In a way, I see the strategy involved of waiting until my health gets lower before using a pack and risking death or playing it safe. But the system allows for Eve to be refilled automatically once it reaches zero if the player has a hypo available. It just seemed like an anachronistic design decision I wish had been rectified when crafting the sequel. In addition, the story of Bioshock 2 isn’t quite as strong as it could be and often feels shoe-horned into the experience.

Not only were fans hesitant to accept a sequel could be a good thing, but online multiplayer also didn’t seem to jive with some of the Bioshock diehards. But yet again Bioshock 2 surprises.

Set years before the original Bioshock timeline, the multiplayer has its own narrative, piecing together the civil war that erupted during the Ryan-Fontaine rivalry. Players can enter into a variety of multiplayer staples such as Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, a Little Sister-centric version of Capture the Flag, etc. In addition, the game takes cues from online heavyweights and incorporates a leveling-up system with perks and better weapons.The online is a fun distraction worthy of a long weekend. It isn’t going to replace player’s online standbys like Battlefield Bad Company or Modern Warfare but once players are dropped into a game throwing plasmids and shooting at fellow Rapturians, it can be a lot of fun.

Overall, Bioshock 2 is full of surprises. In many ways, the streamlined structure, improved gameplay mechanics, and faithful double-dip into Rapture paid off. The pacing is pitch-perfect, allowing me to even consider it to be the superior game over the original. While I wish some moments had been retooled to allow for greater difficulty, the game is not without some challenge and the harder modes only encourage the brave to play through it again. I realize I’m probably in the minority when I say that I prefer Bioshock 2 to the original but, story aside, it’s a better game in terms of mechanics and on the whole a far more enjoyable experience.

Upon inserting Final Fantasy XIII, you are immediately transported to the world of Cocoon with some very nice cinematic to start off the journey. With a few minutes of  video introduction, you find yourself onboard a futuristic train as the main characters combat a few guards to break free. As you debark off the train, you find yourself along a big stretch of highway in which you are then introduced to the main characters of the game as well as the gameplay. We give a big thumbs up here to the developers for a pretty sweet and memorable introduction, as well as pretty good information on the game basics, controls and some of the storyline. Of course we don’t want to spoil too much, but the surroundings you find yourself in are some of the most pretty and unforgettable sights to see. The Final Fantasy series clearly prides itself on creativity, and while you may feel that the game has a very ‘Japanese’ feel to it, as it would per the developers, you will still quickly find yourself immersed in a world full of combat, strife, love, friendship and danger.

The combat system which is turn-based alike most games in the Final Fantasy series isn’t too different than what most fans would be used to. Each player has an ATB (Active-Time-Battle) bar, as when it fills up you get the opportunity to use your attacks or magical skills. A little bit of a surprise which upset us as die-hard fans of the Final Fantasy series – you can only control the actions of the one main character in your party. Your other party members will act on their own. You can however tell them to become more offensive or defensive in their skills, but we definitely miss the old days of when you can control each party member for each specific action. This may actually lead to a little more needed strategy when combating foes and bosses. Since you can only fully control the main character you must make sure to do some proper planning and heal when appropriate. We must admit that the combat is pretty fast paced albeit very smooth. Eventually when your characters become upgraded and have developed powerful skills, you will feel a great essence of teamwork in their abilities to work together. Each character will earn ‘crystogen’ which will allow them to advance their skills and levels. This is very reminiscent of the system put in place in Final Fantasy X. Although this doesn’t allow room for much innovation, we assume that it’s probably at least better than an auto level-up system.

As always – Final Fantasy will produce some of the most memorable and connectible characters from any other videos games to date. Most gamers will grow especially fond of Lighting – one of the main characters of this perilous journey. Aside from Lightning, you will encounter Sazh, Snow, Hope, Vanille as well as several others who will help during the course of the game. Throughout the first half of the game or so, each main character will be enticed in their own journey’s and courses of action in little separate factions of the storyline. It isn’t until the second half of the game that the stories will converge. While this is somewhat reminiscent of older Final Fantasy games, we felt that there should have been a little more convergence between the characters and gameplay earlier on in the story. This isn’t necessarily a ‘bad’ thing, but we just felt that it would have made for a better story.

Visually speaking, Final Fantasy XIII is absolutely no blunder and is probably one of the most graphically stunning games to date. We all know that Final Fantasy prides itself on awesome cinematics and fun combat, and you should expect nothing less from this series. The graphics on the Xbox360 were still spectacular despite comments from die-hard PS3 fans. It is also clear that no other game developers can tell a story quite like SquareEnix, as you will truly remember these characters and stories for years after play-through. Aside from the amazing visuals and sound, Final Fantasy XIII’s gameplay does have a linear feel to it. For the beginning couple hours of the game, it may seem like you are fighting, then watching a cinematic scene, then fighting, then watching a cinematic scene, etc. as it is somewhat repetitive earlier on until the stories converge and your characters develop more skills. Be sure to also check every hidden nook for hidden items, which are found in floating metal orbs for your taking pleasure. We were also a little disappointed not to see some other traditional Final Fantasy elements – a plethora of sidequest throughout the entire game, towns and villages to explore, a robust world map with vehicle exploration. It definitely feels that SquareEnix wanted to travel down a little different path for their release of Final Fantasy XIII. In all respect, the game is definitely enticing and fun to play and watch, however, a few missing elements keep it from being the perfect Final Fantasy video game. Final Fantasy XIII will definitely keep fans of the series happy for the most part – the amount of work clearly put into this game is astounding, and the amount of hours needed to complete the game astounding as well. Final Fantasy XIII will keep gamers busy for the months to come and will remain as one of the most memorable game titles of the year.

Resident Evil 5 was first unleashed on gamers in March of 2009. Almost a year later, Capcom is giving players another reason to re-enter the world of survival horror. Love it or hate it, Resident Evil 5 was a more action-oriented experience rather than a return to the series’ trademark horror stylings. The DLC pack “Lost in Nightmares” is a much-welcomed return to the franchise’s roots now available through the Playstation Network and XboxLive. Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine are back in a creepy mansion, looking to uncover the truth behind Umbrella and it’s founder, Ozwell E. Spencer. The episode is a closer look at a side-story only glimpsed in a cutscene during Resident Evil 5.

The setting is a complete dose of nostalgia. Capcom has taken special care to bring the original game’s Arclay Mountain mansion into the current generation. Every turn creates another feeling of deja vu. It doesn’t feel recycled or lazy in any way, quite the contrary. It feels more like wearing your favorite pair of jeans or eating your favorite meal. Even though you may have experienced something like it before it feels familiar and, for a die-hard Resident Evil fan, it’s good to be back.

Jill and Chris explore the mansion looking for Spencer, running into various puzzles and some recognizable death-traps. It’s not a very long experience, most players will be able to complete the episode in a little more than an hour but it’s a great ride while it lasts. The developers behind Resident Evil have proven they still have what it takes to create a new, horrifying creature. Lurking beneath the estate is a new enemy, a giant monstrosity dragging some kind of large anchor, waiting to impale Chris and Jill at a moment’s notice. While the duo start off with a small arsenal, they are quickly stripped of their weapons, which really heightens the tension.Moves like this- pitting players against these hulking enemies, in a dungeon without conventional weapons, is genius. It forces players to work cooperatively with their partner to trap them. Not only that, it keeps the sense of terror alive in a series where too much firepower has taken away all the scares.

Lost in Nightmares stumbles a bit when players complete the chapter and realize there wasn’t a whole lot to do. The time spent exploring is almost entirely devoid of enemies, in fact there are only about ten or so apart from a boss battle. It felt like there were some missed opportunities. At one point, Chris is walking down a hallway lit by flashes of lightning. Dogs can be heard outside. In typical Resident Evil fashion, I was expecting something to come crashing through the windows but, to my dismay, nothing happened. There were a lot of moments like this where I kept wishing there were more enemies, zombified or not, to dispatch.

As I said before, the time spent in the mansion is short. However, it is spent going through a nostalgia-inducing good time and, for under $5.00, it’s an incredible deal. The DLC also comes with additional trophies/achievements as well as new characters for the Mercenaries mode, Excella Gionne and fan-favorite Barry Burton. Series purists are likely to declare this is what next-gen Resident Evil should have been from the start. While I wish the episode were longer, it’s definitely given me more hope for the next RE installment and I’m eagerly awaiting the next DLC, “Desperate Escape” coming in March. Both DLC packs will also come with the “Gold Edition” of Resident Evil 5, set to release this Spring.
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Many of us have probably seen the Mass Effect 2 advertisements popping up all over our TV, our internet browsers, and our e-mails as BioWare wen’t pretty heavy on the advertising for the game. Mass Effect 2 has also been a very popular topic of discussion on forums and boards across the internet, clearly portraying it’s following by hundreds of thousands of fellow gamers. In a world filled with dozens of races, planets, political alliances and rivalries, it will most definitely be hard to put down the controller at times. The world of Mass Effect sucks you in and there is no other video game like it.

An interesting feature, Mass Effect 2 lets you continue your save from the original Mass Effect, granted that your game saves are on the same hard-drive (Xbox 360 or PC). Choices and decisions that players made during the original run of Mass Effect will have clear implications on the world in Mass Effect 2. When transferring your game, you are given the ability to choose which save you want to use, and the consequences of using it. For those who are new to the world of Mass Effect, you can of course just start a new game and customize your character accordingly. The beginning gameplay will bring you up to speed, and let you know what you missed in the prequel. Mass Effect 2 is so customizable, you can choose everything from your characters facial features, to their combat style. An event early in the game will help explain all of this in some logical context so that you will not feel confused or let down.

As aforementioned, most if not all of the quirks in the original Mass Effect were corrected in the release of the sequel. Thank you BioWare for listening to us gamers! It often boggles us that the video game manufacturers do not often read critics and gamers reviews to help to fix and make the appropriate corrections. BioWare has, and events such as never-ending elevator rides, the receiving and hoarding of dozens of useless weapons and armor, and the uncontrollable driving of the Mako (your terrain exploration/combat vehicle) have all been corrected in some way, shape or form. We don’t want to give away any spoilers, but the inventory management system, planetary exploration systems, and elevator rides are a bit different than the original Mass Effect gamers may be used to. Definitely all for the better, as these were most notably the biggest three complaints from the previous game. On another note, we were also a little disappointed to the fact that Mass Effect 2 is simply a one-player game. It would have been nice if some sort of multi-player gameplay mode or battle mode was entrenched within the game.

Mass Effect was strongly built around the relationships of the world it was set in. From love triangles, to political alliances, to earth-shattering enemies, Mass Effect had it all. As with the prequel, you will be spending a lot of your time in dialogue with your crew members and other members of the Mass Effect world. We must stress that it is pretty imperative within the game to ensure that you have comforting relationships with your crew members. We know that sometimes it can get pretty extensive, but you really should spend the time to talk to each character and person especially in between game missions. This game may not be for those who just like to battle it out and shoot ‘em up, please remember that this is a Role-Playing Game, and you must spend a good amount of your time talking to other characters, exploring other worlds, and hunting around for secrets and easter eggs – not just shooting up the bad guys. Each of the in-game characters and NPC’s have their own distinct backgrounds, personalities, strengths and weaknesses. It is truly interesting to explore each one, and see the pros and cons that come along with each. Certain characters may not talk to you or give you different responses depending on whom is in your party. Sometimes your own teammates may quarrel, and as the leading Commander, you are going to have to step in and do what’s right (or wrong).

Mass Effect 2 isn’t for the light-hearted and for the younger aged children. The content has been rated mature by the ESRB. There is plenty of graphic violence in combat, drug references, sexual content, and strong language used. With that said, the average teenager gamer and above will probably enjoy this game immensely due to its galactic realness. Any and all Stars Wars and especially Star Trek fans will love this game, as it is strongly reminiscent in many ways of the Star Trek legacy.

With the enhancements made in the release of Mass Effect 2, the gameplay modes have strongly adapted towards a ‘shooter’ game, instead of strictly being an RPG. Yes, Mass Effect 2 is classified as an RPG game, but the slightly enhanced gameplay mode does make you feel like you are playing an FPS game. When you shoot an enemy with one of your many weapons, body parts may fly off, blood may spatter, but after some time, the bodies do disappear such as they did in the first Mass Effect. As with most RPG games, you will be able to pause the game anytime mid-battle to make inventory, weapon and ability changes. Shot accuracy also plays an important role as it does in most games, with head shots inflicting the greatest damage while body parts will inflict less damage. Cut scenes also often depict important events within the beginning, end or middle of a mission, overall adding to the cinematic effects of the game which are truly outstanding.

In conclusion, the Mass Effect world is nothing but ordinary, and with the launch of the sequel, Mass Effect 2, gamers will be undoubtedly happy with almost every element of the game. The graphics are nothing but incredible, the soundtrack nothing but enthralling, and the combat and gameplay mode have been enhanced enormously to add not only more realism, but more dramatic and coercive elements to the gameplay. The following for Mass Effect has been so huge that comics and novels are even now in production which will further iterate stories and scenarios that will go beyond the video game. One thing is for sure is that the dynamics of Mass Effect combine for an outstanding gameplay experience for all. Make sure you pick up a copy of Mass Effect as soon as humanly (no pun intended) possible. Your friends and family may not see you for the next few weeks, but hey, its definitely worth the $59.

As a proprietary division of MTV Networks, the 2009 Video Game Awards were estimated to be viewed by almost 100 million people, in over 175 countries. MTV’s decision to let SpikeTV brand the show over the years was a notable move. Not only does it bring notoriety to SpikeTV, it also helps emphasize the target market of both brawny and geeky gamers alike. Interestingly enough, the VGA show does not only pay tribute to video games, but also artistic performances and developments, new technologies, and even the music that help shape the video games we play today.

As the years progress, more actors have been willing and able to lend their off-screen talents to the creation of video games. Most notable was Hugh Jackman who won the award for the best performance by a human male for his role in X-Men Origins: Wolverine Uncaged Edition. Furthermore, presenter Zachary Quinto, who most of us know as the new Spock in Star Trek has announced that he will lend his vocal skills to the creation of the next Star Trek game. In retrospect, this can only help an actor’s career, and even more so help solidify their lifetime roles as characters like Wolverine and Spock accordingly.

In conclusion, MTV Networks and SpikeTV have done an outstanding job during this years performance. This will help ensure viewership for the years to come. Video games have begun to be intertwined with the movie and music entertainment industry, further solidifying its role for the years to come. As a cliffhanger, we are always left with video game previews for the 2010 year. Several of these games will surely make their way to the top over the course of the next year, and we are sure to see them again during SpikeTV Video Game Awards for the year 2010.

2009 SpikeTV Video Game Award Winners

Game of the Year – Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Studio of the Year – Rocksteady Studios

Best Independent Game – Flower

Best Xbox360 Game – Left 4 Dead 2

Best PS3 Game – Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Best Wii Game – Super Mario Bros. Wii

Best PC Game – Dragon Age: Origins

Best Handheld Game – Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars

Best Shooter – Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Best Fighting Game – Street Fighter IV

Best Action Adventure Game – Assassin’s Creed II

Best RPG – Dragon Age: Origins

Best Multi-Player Game - Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Best Individial Sports Game – UFC 2009 Undisputed

Best Team Sports Game – NHL ’10

Best Driving Game – Forza Motorsport 3

Best Music Game – The Beatles Rock Band

Best Soundtrack – DJ Hero

Best Original Score – Halo 3: ODST

Best Graphics – Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Best Game Based on a Movie/TV Show – South Park Let’s Go Tower Defense Play

Best Performance by a Human Female – Megan Fox as Mikaela Banes

Best Performance by a Human Male - Hugh Jackman as Wolverine

Best Cast – X-Men Origins: Wolverine Uncaged Edition

Best Voice – Jack Black as Eddie Riggs

Best Downloadable Game – Shadow Complex

Best Downloadble Content (DLC) – Grand Theft Auto IV: The Ballad of Gay Tony

Most Anticipated Game – God of War III

We of course had to purchase the Prestige Edition of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, complete with lots of cool extras, most notably the limited edition Night Vision goggles. We must say these were pretty cool looking goggles, which took us about 20 minutes to pear out of its box. While they can only see up to 50 feet, they are definitely a cool little memento for the Call of Duty series. Also included in the Prestige Edition is a hard cover metal case, with a limited edition art book and of course the game itself.

Upon inserting the game, the first thing we were asked to do was fine tune the picture on our screen. We’ve never seen this on any other video game before; We are sure that this was part of Infinity Ward’s plan to make sure the Call of Duty experience was as perfect as possible on everyone’s television screen. Besides adjusting the brightness, you are also asked to set the height and width of the screen to make sure to maximize your gameplay experience.

As with all Call of Duty games, basic training promptly stars to get you used to the controls and any changes in the game. You are first instructed to show the new army cadets how to fire your gun, and how to use grenades – pretty simple if you have played any other games in the series. Once completed, you are asked to run across the base camp you are located in, disturbing your fellow soldiers in a basketball game, as you then end up at the training course. The course is decently fun, and worth a couple tries as you may need to unlock the Hardened difficulty if that’s your cup of tea. For beginners of this came, we strongly recommend the normal game mode as the Hardened difficulty is much more challenging. Once you get up to Veteran mode, you best know the game in and out. This is probably as realistic as any shooter game gets – one shot one kill.

During initial setup, you are also asked if you want to skip several missions that be disturbing to some viewers. Maybe the developers were trying to stir up some controversy here, as some of these optional missions will truly be disturbing to any lighthearted individuals. The game clearly states that there are no achievements and trophies for these missions, so feel free to skip them if you are the anti-violence type. The first of these missions includes you joining the villains, in an attempt to swell into their organization for some information as you gain their trust. The initial missions opens you up in a mall setting, in which you are instructed to slay down slews of innocent civilians. By acting as a terrorist, you may feel uncomfortable at first, but please remember this is only a video game. In any case you will be open for a big surprise at the end of this chapter that we don’t want to spoil.

Graphically and visually, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is nothing but superb. The gameplay gunfights, sceneries and mission strategies are probably the best we’ve seen on any realistic FPS to date. It’s easy to tell that Infinity Ward and Activision aimed to take the best elements of all the Call of Duty series to collaborate into the best game of the franchise. While we loved the older Call of Duty series that took us back to the lines of battle in the past wars of our world, we find the Modern Warfare series much more appealing for several reasons, mainly due to the lack of limitations. While the other games in the series sought to emulate past wars, weaponry and mission gameplay, the Modern Warfare series has looked towards the future of combat. With tons of weapons to chose from, a plethora of combat missions, special modes, and the use of advanced technology, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 truly puts you on the front line of Modern Warfare.

The storyline and game setting is probably the weakest point of this game. If you are truly a die-hard fan of the Call of Duty series, you will probably easily enjoy the games storyline. For those not accustomed to Call of Duty’s gameplay and stories, you may find yourself completely lost. The campaigns and missions seem to jump around a little bit, and a lot is left unexplained. Between each mission, you will find yourself jumping around from one European nation to another, with short stints of radio sessions from your commanders. Even more so, we also felt that the campaign mode was relatively on the short side. Each mission will only take about 20-30 minutes to complete, while the entire campaign mode will only last around 5 hours or so. While this is decently sufficient, we would have loved to see the campaign reach 10 hours of gameplay.

The missions themselves are filled with lots of surprises and fun gameplay. The storyline will definitely take some twists and turns as you run through the missions. You may find yourself running from house to house avoiding sniper fire, and in the next mission be snowmobiling down a terraneous mountain while trying to shoot down cohorts on your treacherous ride. Of course you will also experience those ever-fun assault missions as well as those stealthy sniper missions. The array of combat and vehicular gameplay in this new installment of Call of Duty makes for some incredible fun and realism into the face of battle.

Besides the campaign modes, Modern Warfare 2 offers several fun new extras that add incredible replay value to the game. Special Ops mode is comprised of 5 different sets of short missions, each with different death-defying objectives. Comprised of Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta and Echo, each set of missions includes 5 missions for a total of 25 Special Ops missions. You must achieve stars on each mission to unlock the next set of missions. Completing them on Hardened and Veteran difficulty will earn you more stars to help you expedite the unlocking process, although in reality it make actually take you longer due to the difficulty. The Special Ops missions are especially fun with a partner, so be sure to grab a relative or friend to experience the fun together.

Lastly, the final and probably most notable element of the game is the Online Multiplayer mode. This is where Modern Warfare’s replay value goes through the roof, as it has quickly become the most popular and most played online FPS there is. As popular as Halo was back in the day, as aforementioned, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 offers the realism that is unrivaled in many other FPS games. With probably the most enormous gun and weapon selection we’ve seen on any game, and with a strong collection of stages and modes to battle it out on, Modern Warfare 2 takes it to the next level with online play. As with all other online games, a strong ranking system is involved which helps match you up to players of similar skill and abilities. As stated in our previous post a few weeks ago, there was a debacle over the use of Infinity Ward’s servers as players themselves are unable to host their own LAN parties over the net. While this has been downplayed somewhat, the new system seems to be working just fine for the moment. Regardless, gamers and Call of Duty addicts alike will continue playing to achieve higher rankings to boast their talents and skills. You can unlock a cool array of abilities, guns, skins and skills as you increase your rank from game to game. Even if you die a lot, you will gain some experience which will allow you to advance the ranks ever-slowly. For example, once you accomplish 200 headshots (which is sure to take a while), you will receive a cool skin to attach to your gun. This should surely intimidate any ‘Call of Dutier’ who is in your way.

In conclusion this game is nothing but superb. Although the campaign may have some slight downfalls in it’s production, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is well worth the purchase. While the campaign mode will provide tons of fun and action, the replay value remains really high with the addition of the Special Ops mode and the extraordinary online play. While the Xbox360 and Playstation3 versions are excellent, you will definitely notice better graphics on a PC if you have a high-end graphics card that supports any absurd resolutions and anti-aliasing. Although the Xbox360 and Playstation3 both offer 1080p output, PC’s still have the edge here in regards to the visuals. We observed the difference closely, and while it definitely wont ‘Wow’ you, there is a noticeable difference. Many true hardcore PC games also prefer mouse/keyboard combo over the console controllers. While the efficiency of the console controllers have improved dramatically over the years, many still feel that aiming with the mouse/keyboard offer for a much better experience. Of course whichever console or computer you are using to play on, all others have the same advantage/disadvantage playing with you, as there is no cross platform for the multiplayer sessions.

So we finally got our hands on a copy of DJ Hero, and we have to say that it’s probably one of the most fun and interesting video games to date. The cool, new, innovative DJ turnable, complete with a hard-cover carrying case, a copy of the DJ Hero game, an exclusive Eminem & Jay-Z CD, and some little extras, truly complete the special edition Renegade version of this game. Four screw-on legs are also included, which turn the hard-cover case into a stand for the turntable. While the $199 may be a little steep for this version of the game [Renegade Edition], the extra $50 is probably worth it for the hard carry-case case, the stand, and the endorsements of Jay-Z and Eminem.

Set-up was relatively easy, everything was included in the hard-cover box. All that was needed to be done was to attach the four legs to the stand, insert the disc into the console, and insert the batteries into the turntable. Other than that, we simply turned our console on, synced the turnable to the Xbox360, and we were ready to start DJing! First things first, since this game and concept are relatively new, we strongly suggest taking the beginner and advanced tutorials to find out what DJ Hero is all about. The tutorials are only a few minutes each and will really teach you all the neat tricks and rules of the games, one lesson at a time. Although it may get a little annoying since they play the same song over and over for each tutorial, it’s still well worth the lessons.

Graphically and visually, DJ Hero provided from the start a pretty pleasant experience. The graphics were pretty on par with the rest of the Guitar Hero/Rock Band series, although we felt the presentation was a little nicer, although more eccentric on DJ Hero – which is fitting for the genre. Flashy lights, hip-hop MCs, and lots of ‘funkiness’ are some things you can expect from DJ Hero.

Music and audio selections are great throughout DJ Hero. With 93 tracks to choose from, and a large array of playlists, you’ll have plenty of tracks and modes to DJ to. Daft Punk, Jay-Z, Eminem, Jackson 5, Blondie, MC Hammer, David Bowie, Queen and Third Eye-Blind are just some of the many artists available to choose from in the game. Furthermore, there is sure to be some downloadable content and additions for DJ Hero in the near future. For the most part, the track selections are set up into different playlists. Most have to be unlocked at the beginning stages. By completing the beginner and advanced tutorials, you can unlock a few different playlists. For example, there is a Jay-Z Mixtape playlist which included four tracks featuring Jay-Z. An important concept to understand throughout the game is that each track incorporates two songs. With the use of the mixer, you are able to switch and sample between the two songs throughout the track to masterfully blend them together.

There are basically three concepts to understand in order to play the game correctly. First and foremost, you must chose whether you want the turntable buttons on the right side of the disc, or on the left side. Make sure to set your preferences accordingly within the game settings. Simply enough, just like in any other Guitar Hero/Rock Band game, you must push the green, red or blue button accordingly as they appear on the screen. Where the game takes a twist is with the use of the mixer on the left. Throughout each track, you will be see the green and blue lines stray to the right of left sides. You must flip the mixer switch in sequence with the moving lines. To keep things simple, the mixer switch should always be centered. If it’s not, you will see it burning in red on the bottom right and left of the screen if its out of position. If the green line moves to the left, you must flip the mixer switch to the left in sync with the music. The same goes for the blue button as you must flip the mixer to the right when the line strays off to the right. This can get a little tricky to get used to, especially if you’re jamming along to the music. As in all these games, it is important to feel the beat of the music and maybe tapping your feet to it may help. Essentially the flipping of the mixer enables you to change from one track o the other.

The third element of the game includes a few little extras that can help you get higher scores. If you see an elongated green or blue line, you must hold down the button and skip the disc back and forth, probably the most popular DJ move there is. If you see an orange line hover over one of the buttons or the entire track, you can turn the knob right above the mixer to the left or right. This is a fader, which if you turn all the way to the left incorporates heavy bass, and if you turn to the right, incorporates treble over the bass. Moreover, if you see two green rewind arrows during the song, simply spin the disc around, and the track will rewind back a few seconds. This is imperative to get high scores in DJ Heroe, as you are essentially adding more time and more buttons to the track. Lastly, as in all the games of this series, you can get star power by hitting the highlighted blue notes in the sequence order. This will allow you to double your multiplier, and achieve higher scores than before possible. Simply push the button to the left of the fader which will light up when ready.

Although DJ Hero is a great game overall, there are some downfalls in its production. DJ Hero definitely provides a unique gaming experience, especially for music lovers, as some will find this game very addicting. Most people can’t argue that this game isn’t fun, as it is truly a unique concept that can provide entertainment for all. One thing we thought was a little strange was that you cannot fail song. Even if you miss every button and disc-skipping, the track will continue going even if you don’t earn any points. On another note, although the music selection is decently large, many of the songs may not appeal to you depending on your liking.

Overall DJ Hero is a great game to buy, and will provide lots of hours of fun for you and your friends. While the game will take some time to master, it will truly become more fun as time passes and as you unlock more levels and bonuses. The more you play, the more rewarded you will feel! Go out and buy a copy, or split it with your frat brothers so you can throw a DJ Hero mixer this weekend!

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Although many can argue that EA Sports has held the crown for most of the other sports franchises, 2k definitely takes the crown in regards to basketball. With its almost-perfect in game simulation, plethora of options, and many old-school easter eggs, NBA 2k10 is the best basketball video game out to date. For veterans of the franchise who’ve been playing 2k8 and 2k9, you will definitely notice a few subtle differences in gameplay. The on court action is still pretty fast paced as you would expect from all the NBA greats. The face models, moves and shakes, and even tattoos, are all copied in such great detail it is often outstanding the craftsmanship that goes into these games. The arena’s as well are lined up to the realest touch – seating, signs and posters, and of course the wood court and leather ball.

A couple well-noted additions, include the offensive play-calling system, enhanced turbo mode, and a little more realism to the gameplay. The offensive play-calling system allows you to call moves and sets which allow for much greater expansion on offense play. Just imagine being Kobe Bryant at the top of the key, waving your finger around to call Derek Fisher or Lamar Odom, or of course Pau Gasol to set up a pick-and-roll or alley hoop play. In this game, the impossible is now possible. The turbo for your players is also a little different, as there is a new system incorporated for the use of turbo and sprinting your player. Each player has a certain amount of ‘sprint’ they could use. The better and more athletic the player, the more they have to use. You must be careful not to use all your ‘sprint’, as indicated by your player’s action bar. Once that goes it starts to deplete your players stamina, which will result in overall careless play and missed shots and passes. Even more so, this new element in gameplay as well as other factors make it harder to drive to the hoop and dunk on every single player. Although I know some will feel this takes a lot of the wham-bam out of the gameplay and some fun, this obviously adds more realism and respect to the game of basketball. More play calling and more skills will get you to win the game.

Overall there are a few nice touches that have been added to the game for its 10th anniversary year special. Lockdown defensive has returned to the game, with some improvements from the past. this allows you to play heavy defense on the person you are controlling, and can often lead to increased steals and blocked shots. This may take a little momentum out of the game, as we have also noticed that our players are missing more open jump shots than in previous installments of the NBA 2k franchises. I used to play daily with my friends at college, and they would often pick Kobe Bryan, LeBron James or Dwyane Wade and literally sink jumper after jumper after jumper. As long as you were open, you would pretty much hit the shot, especially with the momentum rolling in your direction. This seems to be a little decreased in this year’s version of the game, which once again, make take out a little of the fun, but definitely adds more realism to the gameplay.

The My Player feature also offers a big new addition for this years installment. You can create your own player, have him drafted, and have him rise to be a big star in the NBA. This is definitely a great touch to the game, and will allow for much more interaction, fun, and many more hours to spend checking out all the new features. The menu systems have also been refined and allow you to easily access all the modes, including online play. On a little down note, we still see some sloppyness from the computers AI and partial slowdowns in gameplay. This is a little disturbing at times, especially when you’re in the heat of battle and a small computer glitch may take some of the poppyness out of the game.

On a closing note, NBA 2k10 includes an amazing experience for all NBA fans, all 2k fans, and all those just trying to get as close to Kobe Bryan as they possibly could. The gameplay is definitely revived, and sucks you in to get all the experience it’s worth. Even when the game gets down to the wire, you even see the fans getting out of their seats, and the noise level is noticeably louder. The soundtrack as well provides a grateful experience, with some greats beats to play basketball to. With a few small quirks, this game is not perfect, but overall a defienite buy, especially with the cool extra’s included for the Anniverary Edition package. Who knows, maybe we’ll see you in the Gold Room someday – if you got an invite!

Even more so, added only for the Nintendo Wii is the Wii Motion Plus™ – an accessory that promises to make the Wii Remote™ more sensitive and accurate to human movement. With the addition of the accelerometer and added sensor bar, the Wii Motion Plus™ truly adds another level to the Wii’s gameplay. The simple turning of the wrist a few degrees will make your golf ball hook, so be sure to take some practice before you play on Bethpage Black! Also worth mentioning is the noticeably improved grip. The remote now has a similar feeling to a tennis raquet and/or golf club, further adding much comfort and realism to Wii’s gameplay.

With this said, this game us a must buy for any Nintendo Wii owners. While the game performs wonderfully on the Xbox360 and PS3, the realism of swinging the Wii Remote™ truly adds immensity and realism to the gameplay. Being bundled with a Wii Motion Plus™ for FREE further makes this game must buy for Wii owners, as there will be an increasing number of Wii Motion Plus™ games on the market shortly. You can always buy the added accessory for an additional $25, but why waste the money when you can get a taste of the Tiger! Upon inserting the disc into the Wii, we must note that the loading times were pretty short on average. At the welcome screen, you are given several options of gameplay, which include Quick Play, My Career, and several other fun modes for Mini-Games which are great for playing with friends. If you are looking to do a round or two of golf with a few friends, Quick Play lets you get into the action relatively quickly. This game offers great multiplayer features all-around, allowing you and your friends to be entertained for hours.

Career mode quickly starts you on the hardest golf course known to human-kind – the infamous Bethpage Black. Living on Long Island, we know Bethpage Black well, and everything was emulated perfectly, from every tree, to fairway to green. Even the Bethpage Black warning sign was clearly posted throughout the course.

During gameplay, you are also given several options to choose from, both on drives and on the putting green. You are given the ability to change to an All-Play Swing, which will show you the trajectory of the ball you are about to hit. This should only be used for those having difficulty playing the game, as it does take some of the skill out. While putting, you are giving two methods to chose from, either Classic or Advanced putting. All in all this game is truly a showpiece for the entire Tiger Woods PGA Video Game franchise, as well as Nintendo’s Wii Motion Plus. We rated this game an overall 9.0 / 10.0 and recommend it with two thumbs up to even the most avid golf and video game players.