Monthly Editorial – February 2010

Romance is in the air, can you feel it?

No, I’m not talking about Valentine’s Day. I’m talking about the influx of amazing games that are finally starting to trickle in as this year is just beginning and let me tell you that it’s starting to look a lot like an amazing year for gaming with big titles like God of War III and Bad Company 2 and, yes, Bioshock 2 (we’ll have a review up soon).

With some many great titles coming up, I can’t help but think of the games I wish would be released this year too. Games that I myself would love to see that aren’t real. For example, with Rock Band and Guitar Hero digging up every known band to keep the rocking guitar gaming world alive, why don’t they bring us a game attached to fake band like – my personal favorite – Deathlok? Can you imagine Rock Band Deathlok as Rockso the Rock & Roll Clown is playing a guitar made out of balloons and a button you can press to drop hot coffee on your fans like in one episode of the show?

I’m still waiting for game companies to release games based on more blockbuster movies like Inglorious Basterds (complete with an scalp-cutting and forehead-carving mini-game). If Avatar got a game then why didn’t Up in the Air? I mean, who wouldn’t like to play a wrinkled up George Clooney. Ok, the last one I take back seeing as Tia and Valentina are giving me dirty looks for bad-mouthing George Clooney.

Anyway, we will have new features and more reviews for you. Thank you again for being a part of our family.

Eduardo Zacarias
Editor-in-Chief

 

Mass Effect 2 – Xbox 360 Review

Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: BioWare
Platform: Xbox 360 (also available on PC)
Genre: Role-Playing Game
MSRP: $59.99 US
ESRB: Rated M
Release Date: January 26, 2010

Review By: Tia Tanaka

It’s not rare to see an amazing game franchise to top themselves as Rockstar has done many times with its Grand Theft Auto series but every time it happens we can’t help but appreciate said franchise even more. BioWare is no stranger to topping themselves as well as we’ve seen with Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic and now with Mass Effect. Mass Effect 2 for the Xbox 360 is a direct sequel to one of the most impressive and nearly perfect role-playing games and trust me when I say that this one easily blows the first game away.

A massive adventure that takes up two discs, this sequel once again has you assuming the role of Commander Shepard on a suicide mission for the greater good of the galaxy. You can import your Shepard from the original game or create a new one but, believe me, you’re better off using your imported character seeing as the game does a better job setting up the story based on the decisions you made in the first game and thus effect events that occur in this sequel. Starting anew just makes for a slightly disjoined story, after all, the events of the game find Shepard on his continued quest to put an end to the Reaver threat

The story opens with the SSV Normandy shattered beyond repair and Commander Shepard out of the picture for a few moments, we find that the hero of the story is saved by the pro-human organization called Cerberus. It is this group that tasks Shepard to carry out a operation so risky it’s practically a suicide mission. So Shepard does when he/she does best and that’s take charge of the mission and recruit teammates to help him pull off the impossible. Along for the ride is the lovely Miranda Lawson and the helpful Asari named Samara. Then there’s a Drell assassin named Thane, the Salarian scientist named Mordin and, of course, the viciously crazy Jack (AKA Subject Zero).

The characters are what makes this game one seriously entertaining package because they’re not just tossed together for the sake of mixing up your party. These characters have rich and involving backgrounds as well as their own motivations and reasons for joining Shepard. Once again, the way you interact with each character changes the story so the Paragon or Renegade decisions are back. The cool part is that imported characters, depending on the decisions you made, seem to attract interesting events that are a direct result of your Renegade ways or Paragon leanings. The result is something surprisingly amazing and different. Whether you’re backing Thane or talking Miranda out of shooting a character later in the game, your actions are felt throughout the game.

There’s a bigger emphasis on action in this game and it’s good to see that Mass Effect 2 manages equipment a lot better to the point that you won’t be so overwhelmed by items and armor that you have to reduce them to Omni-gel. The new weapons have various ammo types like the first game and there are even better armor types (side note: the downloadable armor that came with your copy of Dragon Age: Origins is particularly useful and visually striking). The good news is that you can select your weapons from the new Normandy (complete with Joker back behind the helm) via lockers so you can select weapons you think will be good to take on different missions. Speaking of the new Normandy, you can also decorate your quarters.

More importantly, though, are the missions that are not longer repetitive trips to desolate planets filled with the same-looking station. Rather, you’ll be infiltrating a prison station, boarding a wayward ship or exploring the Citadel again. There are plenty of side missions as well as you explore planets, sending a probe for locating a planet’s natural resources. The interesting aspect of the game, of course, is joining a crew member take care of their personal business. I’ll stop since saying more will undoubtedly ruin the many surprises the game throws at you during missions, including meeting up with some familiar faces from the first game or missions that will inevitably lead to Mass Effect 3.

All is not perfect, however, thanks to a number of bugs and glitches found throughout the game. There are awful crashes that take you out of the game and a few times I managed to get Shepard stuck between a chair and a table and twice I had to load a game after getting stuck in a corridor. Another glitch is sound related as conversations are cut off with characters simply moving their mouths sans voices. Hopefully, these issues will be worked out with a download via Xbox Live.

Mass Effect 2 is also a great-looking game with far better visual effects and backgrounds than the first game. It’s not to say that the first Mass Effect wasn’t easy on the eyes because it was certainly a visual feast but this one is clearly quite stunning. It’s still a blast reducing a Collector or a Krogan enemy into green goo or watching them dissolve before your very eyes when you take them down with your familiar as well as new weapons. The cut scenes are stunning cinematic affairs thanks to each characters detailed facial expressions and realistic movements.

The soundtrack is also amazing, once again, as it gets rightfully intense at all the right moments and picks up when combat breaks out. On top of the great score there’s the voice acting that is still some of the best. There’s nary a character that doesn’t sound like the voice actor is calling it in and when they’re fired up you’ll feel it in their voices. Overall, the visual and audio (with the exception of the mentioned sound glitch) make this a truly cinematic experience.

A massive and unforgettable sequel that’s a vast improvement over the first game, Mass Effect 2 for the Xbox 360 is another impressive and deep role-playing game you will love. Sure, there are a few bugs and glitches but it pales in comparison to all the things that make this game such a brilliant and downright entertaining title that continues to push the genre forward while telling a compelling story you can’t help but want to see to the very end and beyond. Consider this one yet another classic among BioWare’s already remarkable accomplishments.

GAME FRONTLINE RATING

Gameplay: 9.5
Graphics: 9.0
Sound: 9.5
Appeal: 10
Overall: 9.5

 

Army of Two: The 40th Day – PlayStation 3 Review

Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Electronic Arts Montreal
Platform: PlayStation 3 (also available on PSP and Xbox 360)
Genre: Action/Third-Person Shooter
MSRP: $59.95
ESRB: M (Mature)
Release Date: January 12, 2010

Review By: Clarke Kent

If anything, Salem and Rios has redefined the term “bromance” and has taken it to another level altogether as they not only high-five each another over the bullet-riddled bodies of dead terrorists but also cover each another’s back in the original Army of Two. As fun as it is taking down enemies with your best bro in the first game, it just doesn’t come close to the chaotic battleground of its sequel, Army of Two: The 40th Day.

Unlike the first game, The 40th Day doesn’t follow these two mercenaries through various locales and missions but rather focuses on one specific local – in this case, Shanghai, China – as it is literally being blown to pieces by enemies unknown. Within a span of a few days, both Rios and Salem must find a way out of the city as well as find out what the hell is going on around them. It won’t be an easy task seeing as there are buildings and debris falling all around them and there’s enemy soldiers out to get you as well.

Among the chaos of downed electrical wires, unstable terrain, fighter plans falling from the skies and explosions, the game feels like a disaster movie mixed in with a brutal and bloody action flick. Whether you play alone or with a friend (highly recommended), the experience feels far more exciting than its predecessor and even more so seeing as the game managed to fix the original’s little foibles such as the opponent AI as well as the AI of your partner if you play the game solo.

On top of the unstable surroundings, Rios and Salem goes up against some fierce opposition in the game that requires their brand of cooperative combat style. You can still kick the door off a car and use it as a shield as your partner leans against you and fire back at the enemy. You will still need your partner to drag you out of a hotspot whenever you’re brought down by enemy fire. Your partner is the only one who can give you a boost and yes you can still send your bro some manly-kind of love by bumping fists or doing rock-paper-scissors.

New to the sequel is a deeper customization option that goes beyond the first game’s addition of a better scope for your sniper rifle or a different paint job for your mask and armor. This time around you can mix and match various options for your loadout weapons. Ever wanted to show how manly you are by rushing into a gunfight with a pink AK47 or a rainbow-colored combat shotgun, well now you can do just that. Also, if you ever wanted to add a screwdriver to a rifle to drive it into an enemy’s skull you can do that too. The mix-and-match options are nearly endless and add more fun to the weapons.

Also new to the series is a morality feature that allows you to be bad or good depending on the choices you make during key moments in each level. This is an interesting feature that could have been better if each bad decision you make in the game carries over to the next level. Sadly, it doesn’t and your partner responds as if nothing had happened in the last level. Still, it’s an interesting feature seeing as you see the outcome of your good/bad decision through quick comic book-styled cut scenes. Whether or not you enter a situation with guns blazing hoping not to hit a civilian hostage in the process or take the silent (albeit dangerous) route and reassure a safe hostage rescue is up to you.

In the battlefield, you can even pretend to surrender to the enemy as your partner – hiding in the corner – waits for you to open fire in order to spring his surprise attack. As I mentioned, the opponent AI has improved but not enough that you will overlook the fact that they will wait for your partner to patch you up before firing at you again. Even your AI-controlled partner seems to turn into a superman whenever you go down, thus making you wonder why he isn’t always this good on the field.

The combat is more fierce and fun in this game as well, allowing you to go Aggro on the enemy much like in the first game. Again, taking down enemies raises the Aggro Meter up so you can push forward dishing out heavy damage on the enemy. Popping heads off enemies just seems cooler in this mode and even more so thanks to your customized weapons. The addition of a tactical GPS is also a big help since it highlight enemies and their position.

There’s an online multiplayer mode as well that allows up to 12 players can take each another on in a number of interesting maps. You can team up with friends in Co-op Deathmatch mode or Control where you are tasked with holding a specific area from the opposing team. Extraction is one of my favorite modes of the bunch mainly because it keeps the match mode simple adding only four players to each match.

The 40th Day is not bad on the eyes either with the environments and the destructive chaos all around you being visually stunning. Rios and Salem also look a lot better in this game thanks to some little graphical touches and realistic gestures and movement. There are some cut scenes that have a comic book style to them and it works Ok for the most part. As for the soundtrack, it’s still cool but it’s the sound effects and the voice acting (with some funny lines by Salem and Rios) that steal the show.

Army of Two: The 40th Day is a fun shooter that will not fail to show shooter fans a good time, albeit a rather short one. It’s bigger, louder and slightly better so it’s everything you can ask for in an action game that looks like an big blockbuster action film. So grab a friend because games like this were made to be shared with a friend who would like nothing more than to help you survive the onslaught.

GAME FRONTLINE RATING

Gameplay: 8.0
Graphics: 8.5
Sound: 8.5
Appeal: 8.0
Overall: 8.0

 

Valentina’s Adventures in Bad Gaming – January 2010

It was a beautiful morning with the birds chirping merrily and the neighborhood kids tipping their cute little caps in a friendly hello as I poked my head outside. There was a package waiting on my front door and suddenly the world turned sour. Birds bombed my car I had just washed the other day, the elderly joggers gave me the finger and I stubbed my toe on the way inside.

See, this is what happens to me when I get one of these boxes filled with crap and when I opened it I found myself groaning. First, the accompanying Atari 2600 console smelled like placenta (and I should know because I helped deliver a cousin’s baby once) and the controller was just so dorky. I was glad I was a product of the Super Nintendo days but I have to say that the console did have that sweet retro vibe.

There were other games that were for newer consoles but, you can already guess, they won’t win any awards anytime soon.

Jaws: Unleashed ( Xbox)

Did you know that sharks can swim backwards and can actually fly a little? I didn’t either until I started playing Jaws, a game based off of Steven Spielberg’s 1970s shark movie of the same name. I loved the idea of lunching on scuba divers and horny teenagers but it’s hard to get into a game when the controls are so awkward that it like controlling an underwater Panzer tank. It’s a miracle why the dumb humans in this game don’t make tuna out of Jaws when the Great White is this big and bulky.

E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (Atari 2600)

Speaking of Steven Spielberg, did you know he helped destroy Atari in the 1980s? It’s true because he gave his approval to this mind-numbingly boring game. Having never seen a console this hokey before since I picked up that clunky ColecoVision last month, this one had some retro charm to it. Yet when it is more fun to slam a bulky cartridge into the console than playing the E.T. game you know something is wrong. Now, I never seen the movie but the game is simply moving this brown freak through the same environment while avoiding what the game manual says are government agents. Five minutes of playing the game you will want to lobotomize this space alien too.

Hooters Road Trip (PlayStation)

I once went to a Hooters with a group of male friends who brought me along hoping that I would end up kissing all the waitresses there because that’s what guys think girls love to do when we go to Hooters. I liked their little outfits and the way they talked to the guys but those spicy chicken wings had me in the bathroom for hours. I had to drink gallons of Tang to get that flavor out of my mouth. This is the same feeling I had when I played Hooters Road Trip, a game that’s much like the food at Hooters … greasy, unsatisfying and bad for your health.

– Valentina Del Toro

 

The Project Natal Wish List

By Eduardo Zacarias

Yesterday, a friend of mine was skipping through the exhibit halls in the Las Vegas Convention Center during their annual Consumer Electronics Show or CES. He mentioned that Microsoft was seriously pushing Project Natal, which is Microsoft’s answer to the Nintendo Wii hardware. With the wave of your hands, you can manipulate objects on screen and interact in ways that the Wii Remote can’t compete.

While nothing is confirmed, there are already rumors (or wishful thinking in part of gaming journalists everywhere) that EA and Activision are already building something around Project Natal’s technology. Again, these are just rumors and nothing else but these same “sources” seem to be indicating that the titles might be familiar fare.

Since it’s fun to dream, we thought of the possibilities and make a prediction of our own if the rumors are indeed true that Activision and EA are working on projects for Project Natal. Here’s what we came up with:

EA

It’s more than likely that the first game for use with the Project Natal technology will be games with movement as it has done with a familiar franchise already on the Nintendo Wii. The other, well, we are hoping that they will definitely consider.

TIGER WOODS PGA TOUR

This one is a no-brainer considering that Nintendo Wii has made the motion-sensor technology work for this series. Just imagine a virtual fairway that require you to swing away as if you were holding a real golf club in your hands. Imagine talking smack to Tiger (e.g. “How’s married life treating you?”) while putting for Birdie. This will certainly breath new life into this franchise

FIGHT NIGHT

It’s a new round for the series and you just had to see this one coming because – let’s face it – the Fight Night series was made with Project Natal in mind. Imagine trading uppercuts with Mike Tyson, Sugar Ray Leonard or Oscar De La Hoya by mimicking a real boxer. This will also make a great workout title for Project Natal as gamers will work out a sweat training then going up against boxing legends and superstars.

Activision

The unconfirmed rumor is that Activision has two games in mind that will use Project Natal and you know these two genre will show up eventually. One is a first-person shooter and the other is an adventure/puzzle game. We’re excited about the prospect of an adventure/puzzle game that has you solving puzzles by manipulating objects on screen.

It’s too bad that the Wolverine: X-Men Origins movie didn’t come out in the time of Project Natal. Imagine slice away at enemies by mimicking Wolvie’s claw slashes. There definitely should be a Wolverine game using this technology.

WHAT WE’RE MORE LIKELY TO GET

Do you remember Seamen for the Sega Dreamcast? Of course you don’t, but if you do you will probably recall how promising that technology was and what it could have meant for the future of gaming. Then the Dreamcast disappeared from our lives and nothing came out of the technology. In the end, all we have to show for it is bitter memories of being insulted by the ugly Fishmen of your virtual fish tank.

So, if this turns out to be another Seamen, this is what we’re likely to get for Project Natal:

TOMMY AIR MANUEL’S AIR GUITAR HERO

Watch your air guitar avatar grow a mullet or awful heavy metal hair as you rock out air guitar style to bodacious tunes from the likes of Joe Satriani, Dick Dale and any group that put out a song you can’t help but pick up an imaginary guitar and rock to when nobody is watching. Designed for those who are too lazy to even want to pick up a fake Rock Band or Guitar Hero guitar.

NATAL BAR GAMES featuring DWARF TOSSING

Let’s face it, you know you want to do it ever since you saw Aragon toss Gimli in Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. Ok, maybe it was just me but no bar game is truly complete without somebody tossing a little person (safely, of course). Project Natal was made for this, admit it.

 

Bayonetta – Xbox 360 Review

Publisher: SEGA
Developer: PlatinumGames
Platform: Xbox 360 (also available on PlayStation 3)
Genre: Action
MSRP: $59.95
ESRB: Rated M
Release Date: January 5, 2010

Review By: Tia Tanaka

I have to admit that I’ve been on the fence whether or not I would like a game like Bayonetta when I say it during E3 2009. I love the Devil May Cry games and I love a good hack-and-slash-and-shoot action game just like everyone else but one look at the protagonist and I thought this was going to be just another stereotypical hyper sexualized heroine who is devoid of any real meaning or purpose other than to get guys to fall for her GI Joe’s Baroness-like good looks and killer body. Oh, boy was I wrong.

From the very moment the game begins you know you’re in for something that’s spectacularly unique in both the visual presentation as well as the gameplay. Yes, the main character is over-the-top sexy in the most over-the-top ridiculous sort of way but you will not help but love her and her seductively dangerous moves. She’s more than just a curvy frame but rather a character who does things her own way and does so with a saucy wink of her eye.

Having been awakened from her 500 or so year slumber in her underwater tomb, Bayonetta – a member of the Umbran Witch clan – sets out on a journey to find something called The Eyes of the World. Her search takes her to a city called Vigrid where she discovers the shocking truth behind what happened to her clan as well as piecing together the fragments of her lost memories. She also goes up against the angelic forces of Paradiso whose God controls the power of light. Seeing as Bayonetta is aligned with a demonic force, she goes on a stylish angelic killing spree.

Stylish is exactly how Bayonetta does it as she moves around the city of Vigrid solving a few clever and not-so clever puzzles and getting into many a skirmish with angels and the impressively massive bosses (more on them in a bit). Our girl has a nice array of attacks that include punches, kicks (in high heels, mind you) and, of course, her gunplay. Again, there’s an emphasis on style because Bayonetta pulls off punches, kicks and fancy gunplay with her own unique personalized touch seeing as she straps two pistols on her legs. You can even obtain new weapons to use aside from your guns such as a samurai sword, clawed gauntlets and ice skates that are used for more than just gliding around the environment.

There’s just something satisfying about leaping into the air while blasting angels to ribbons and landing the jump only to slaughter the remaining enemies with you high heels. Our girl’s movements are swift, acrobatic and easy to pull off combo attacks perfectly thanks to the game’s controls. The controls aren’t perfect, mind you, but they’re still manageable enough that even the casual hack-and-slash-and-shooting gamer will be able to pull off impressive and creative attack combos with ease and believe me when I say that you will not help but be wowed by the craziness of her moves. This is certainly an action game that doesn’t take itself seriously and that’s actually a good thing.

Even more interesting are the boss battles that will not fail to not only offer quite a challenge but also have you making good use of Bayonetta’s arsenal of weapons, moves and Umbran Witch abilities such as the ability to slow time down. You also be glad that you have the witch-like ability to make different concoctions such as health items that come in the form of – what else – lollipops. You’ll need them seeing as the boss battles are of a grand scale that makes the battles a real highlight … particularly the final boss battle that will leave you wondering why nobody does boss battles this good anymore.

On top of this, the level design is quite impressive as well, taking you through a number of places complete with environmental puzzles. The game even adds a number of fun surprises, including the use of an ultra cool looking motorcycle. There are even collectibles scattered throughout the levels and a visit to a barkeep who is a capable enough fellow that can upgrade your guns.

Bayonetta isn’t without its problems such as some minor slowdown and somewhat long load times, this issue is more of a distraction on the PlayStation 3 version of the game but it isn’t bad enough that it cripples the gaming experience. Still, for my money, I would go with the Xbox 360 version of the game. Having played both versions, the Xbox 360 is just faster otherwise the visuals and gameplay are identical. The fact that the game isn’t very long can also be seen as a negative, although there are a few reasons to want to come back for more.

On the visual side of things, Bayonetta is simply a visual feast whether we’re talking about the interesting artistic backgrounds and flashy visual effects. The characters and enemies are great to look at as well, although most of the attention is clearly placed on our girl who is simply a treat to watch. Watching her literally breakdance her way into a killing frenzy or confidently stride into a battle is just fun but watching her pull off crazy moves while avoiding environmental hazards only to land a move in a glamorous pose simply does not fail to impress or at least put a smile on your face.

The soundtrack is equally fun in a campy, retro and occasionally head-scratching sort of way that only comes when playing a Japanese action game. There are also some great sound effects in the game that add to the visual craziness, although I have to say that the voice acting alone does just that. Bayonetta is not ashamed of making comments that border on the naughty side and all the guys in this office love her sexy British accent that makes these lines work.

Bayonetta is the kind of game that is wildly unique despite a familiar formula and has enough style and action to be very rewarding. Sure, said actions are actually outrageous enough to be absurd but it’s a good kind of absurd, making this game a fantastic walk on the utterly outrageous but addictively enjoyable side. You really have to buy this game right away if you’re a fan of fun action games.

GAME FRONTLINE RATING

Gameplay: 9.0
Graphics: 9.0
Sound: 9.5
Appeal: 9.0
Overall: 9.0

 

Greetings from the Frontlines – January 2010

It’s times like this that we’re glad to be a gaming enthusiast and game journalist.

Together we’ve seen games evolve right before our eyes and push the hardware to its very limits to bring us unforgettable titles that strived to do something different. These bold new steps have given us even great joy whether it was returning to our favorite stomping grounds of Liberty City or trying to survive the horrors of the Capitol Wasteland. Each year has been better than the last and 2010 will not be any different.

We are looking forward to jumping back into the Wild West in Rockstar’s Red Dead Redemption and we will be glad to pal around with La Cosa Nostra with Mafia 2. Who doesn’t want to guide the sexy siren of Bayonetta or give a manly nod to Kratos in God of War III? We’re dying to be somebody’s Big Daddy in Bioshock 2 and tearing through thousands of zombies in Vegas in the sequel to Dead Rising. We can’t wait to feel the Heavy Rain or live out our fantasies with Final Fantasy XIII. We-

Oh, you get the picture, right?

We will be actively covering the games on our side so expect more news, review and features right here. We’re just getting warmed up here, fellow gamers, and we’re happy to do a lot more in the coming future. You see, we’re not afraid to get our hands dirty and work our hardest to be a different kind of site. Plus, we love console and handheld gaming just as much as you do, believe me.

So we’re happy to be a small part of your life and would like to thank you for your kind words of encouragement. It’s great to hear from all of you who are giving us a thumbs up and telling us to get our asses moving to bring more of everything. We will definitely do just that.

 

2K Games Announces Mad Moxxi’s Underdome Riot, a Villainous Downloadable Addition to Borderlands, Available Now

2K Games announced today that Mad Moxxi’s Underdome Riot*, the second game add-on content developed by Gearbox Software for the highly acclaimed Borderlands, is now available from Xbox LIVE Marketplace for the Xbox 360 for 800 Microsoft Points. Mad Moxxi’s Underdome Riot will be available for the PlayStation Network beginning January 7, 2010 for $9.99 and Windows PC in early 2010. The explosive excitement of Mad Moxxi’s Underdome Riot further enhances Borderlands’ reputation as one of this year’s best role playing shooter experiences.

Mad Moxxi’s Underdome Riot presents fans with new gameplay features that expand upon the popular Borderlands video game in dangerous and exciting ways. The all-new Riot Mode challenges players to test their weaponry against hordes of menacing antagonists, thirsting for carnage in tournaments where the rules of warfare are constantly changing. Mad Moxxi’s Underdome Riot also offers several new game features, including the ability to earn two more skill points making player’s characters an even deadlier lethal weapon, and an all-new bank feature that provides extra storage capacity for weapons of devastation.

“Our fans loved Borderlands because it was addictive gameplay at its best with over the top action that satisfied their appetites for destruction,” said Christoph Hartmann, president of 2K. “Mad Moxxi’s Underdome Riot expands upon the original Borderlands universe by taking the co-operative mayhem that gamers loved about the original game and amplifying it.”

Complete with extensive co-op integration seamlessly blending the single-player and multiplayer experiences, Mad Moxxi’s Underdome Riot allows players to freely join or leave each other’s games at any time for collaborative mayhem or the freedom to enjoy the game in full single-player mode. It also includes the groundbreaking weapon generation system that offers more than 16 million weapons from which to choose.

Mad Moxxi’s Underdome Riot is available now on Xbox Live Marketplace for Xbox 360 and will be downloadable on January 9, 2010 for the PlayStation Network for $9.99 and will also be offered for Windows PC users in early 2010. Borderlands, rated M for Mature by the ESRB, was developed by Gearbox Software and is currently available for Xbox 360, the PlayStation 3 and Windows PC.

* Requires standalone Borderlands product in order to be played.

For more information, please visit www.borderlandsthegame.com.

 

The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks – Nintendo DS Review

Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: Action/Adventure
MSRP: $34.99
ESRB: Everyone 10+
Release Date: December 7, 2009

Review By: Clarke Kent

Five minutes into playing The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks I was reduced to that giddy kid who couldn’t believe such joy could come from a bulky cartridge I crammed into my NES and my mind drifted to the various sequels that appeared on different consoles and even handhelds. Once again, The Legend of Zelda series finds itself on the Nintendo DS after having made a great DS introduction with The Phantom Hourglass and believe me when I say that Spirit Tracks is yet another reason people will think somebody Crazy Glued your DS to your hands.

Taking place 100 years after the Phantom Hourglass, we find ourselves taking control of a newer Link in a Hyrule filled with familiar faces … or rather the descendants of familiar faces like Linebeck. Of course, there is Princess Zelda who still remains just as lovely and youthful until certain dastardly circumstances change that. You see, after the defeat of the cruel demon king Malladus and his banishment to the Tower of Spirit’s the dark demon king is stirring again and this worries the Princess who asks Link to take her to the Tower. Unfortunately, as the events unfold, Zelda is ripped out of her body and becomes a disembodied spirit companion to Link.

Aside from being an interesting story twist, Zelda early demise and spirit form makes for the game’s most interesting element … a companion with the ability to possess the armored guardians from Phantom Hourglass (plus other different Phantoms) you can actually control. In fact, switching between Link and Zelda’s spirit form isn’t simply a gimmick but rather a useful puzzle-solving action. For example, in the armored Phantom form, Zelda can withstand the fire in the Fire Temple area so Link can pass unharmed. Fortunately, the puzzles in the game are actually wonderfully challenging and inventive.

As the title suggest, the Spirit Tracks are actual train tracks that pass through a majority of the map that makes up Hyrule. Replacing the boat of the last DS Zelda game, Link’s recent job as a train engineer allows him to travel via train. Travel is actually quite entertaining and I don’t mean because you can blow the train’s horn (to frighten livestock grazing on the tracks) but you can also use a cannon to fire at attacking enemies scattered throughout the area. The great news is that you can upgrade the train to run more efficiently. There’s some ground to cover in the game, making Hyrule a continuing grand place to explore.

In true Zelda fashion, Link has an assortment of weapons and items at his disposal in this game. The whip makes a comeback, using to not only grab items from your opponent’s clutches but also to cross chasms. Once again, you also get a boomerang, bow and an item called the Spirit Flute that requires you to blow into the DS’ microphone. There’s another neat tool in the game but it’s something you really have to see in action yourself.

There are a nice assortment of dungeons each with their own hazards and plenty of enemies to go up against so you’ll be glad that the combat aspect of the game is handled well. For the most part, Spirit Tracks does improve many of the few issues that Phantom Hourglass possessed so there’s less backtracking in this game and the pacing has improved considerably. The boss battles are even more exciting and fast paced so you’ll be quickly switching between characters or quickly using different weapons to take the boss down. There’s really no shortage of things to do or places to visit even with the fact that you’ll be constantly returning to the Spirit Tower to obtain new maps that open up different areas within Hyrule.

There’s also multiplayer for up to four players you can play against each another (sorry but this time there’s no online action via WiFi). The multiplayer game runs smoothly and offers a competitive and frantic race to collect Force Gems in various different dungeon maps complete with its own environmental hazards and enemies. Half the fun is to thwart your competition by flipping switches and pulling levers that will activate traps that will cause your competition to die and therefore drop all their Force Gems for you to pick up. This is definitely a mode well worth sharing with a group of friends.

Visually speaking, Spirit Tracks also shares the art style of Phantom Hourglass and that’s not such a bad thing really seeing as both games are delightfully colorful and able to pull off some impressive visual effects such as whenever you use the Spirit Flute or watching Zelda’s spirit take control of a Phantom. Sadly, there’s no voices in the game seeing as the dialogue is downright charming and well written. There are plenty of grunts and laughs as well as other sound effects in the game but it’s the soundtrack that steals the show and you won’t mind hearing it played continuously.

The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks is not only one of the best Zelda games on the Nintendo DS so far but it is also one of this year’s best Nintendo DS games. Even if you’re not a long time Zelda fan like myself you will come to appreciate the game’s charming world and thoroughly entertaining gameplay. Consider this one a real winner, folks.

GAME FRONTLINE RATING

Gameplay: 9.0
Graphics: 9.0
Sound: 9.0
Appeal: 9.5
Overall: 9.0

 

Valentina’s Adventures in Bad Gaming – December 2009

Call it fate or call it the luck of the draw but I, Valentina del Toro, was elected by the editors of this gaming enthusiast site for this little monthly experiment I call Valentina’s Adventures in Bad Gaming. You see, each month I have the privilege and honor to receive a box filled with deliciously bad games that nobody would like to touch or would ever consider putting into their favorite consoles or handhelds.

Sure, I’m excited about games like Bayonetta and Red Dead Redemption and I would love to get my hands on Heavy Rain. Yet there’s just something about bad games that has me so tickled that I can’t help but love them. I completely disagree with fellow reviewer Jerry Zacarias who gave Rogue Warrior such a low rating. We need a hero who isn‘t afraid of telling a Communist: “@#*&! you, commie @#&! eater. @#$%! and the commie horse you rode on!” That’s the game for me.

So, to my delight, my first box arrived with a few choice titles I will comment on below. Let’s begin this project, shall we?

Smurf: Rescue in Gargamel’s Castle – ColecoVision

The console that came in the box smelled like mothballs marinated in cat urine and you should see the controller that looked like something you would get if a calculator and a television remote control had a love child. I swear, this is the most uncomfortable piece of hardware and even more so thanks to the old school telephone wire that connects to the console itself.

The game itself was vexing because I don’t know what a Smurf is or why a balding version of my perverted Uncle Beto wants to boil them in a pot and eat them. So these little blue freaks get together to rescue a few Smurfs caught by Gargamel in his creepy castle. The game is quite challenging seeing as the Smurfs you control can’t even successfully jump on a platform without going splat. If you die you have to start all over again from the beginning of a level so damn you Gargamel.

Mary-Kate and Ashley: Magical Mystery Mall  -  PlayStation

Oh my God, finally a game about going to the mall without ending up killing zombies with a mop or shooting terrorists. Leave it to Mary-Kate and Ashley to show girls that only shopping and trying on dozens of hot shoes is a much better way to save the world.

Mary-Kate and her scary skinnier twin takes you to a magical mall where the real mystery is why guys like Lance Armstrong want to date them so badly. Sure, they’re twins and who doesn’t love twins, right? Yet they’re so bland and this game captures their personality so well thanks to their bad voice acting.

Still, who can say no to a Magical Mystery Mall? I know I can’t, which is why I spent several hours trying on so many cute outfits. Leave it to two dyslexic twins to show you a really good time doing absolutely nothing useful.

Jonas – Nintendo DS

A few months ago I spent $275 dollars taking my niece to a Jonas Brothers concert and it was just so amazingly awesome despite the shrieking/crying hysterical girls that surrounded me. Reminds me of me everytime I catch an episode of Saved by the Bell and Screech appears on the screen. The show was amazing despite the fact that the songs all sounded alike and contained no rhythm whatsoever. I heard better tunes come from my infant niece’s Sing-A-Long Elmo doll.

Playing Jonas for the Nintendo DS, I almost wish I was back in that packed stadium with my ears bleeding. It’s a music game featuring the brothers so Jonas Brothers but after an hour of playing this game even my niece felt great anger.

“Why would my Jonas Brothers put their name and likeness on this steaming pile of digital crap? Do they even care about their fans at all?” She asked me.

“Well, you see, honey,” I said.  “Sometimes bad things happen to good people like when your mommy married your daddy. Then bad things happen to people that deserve it because they wanted to be famous so badly that they blindly sell their soul to Disney. Once you sell your soul to Disney they control you like meat puppets. Pray for the Jonas Brothers, sweetie, they have no souls.”