The lights are on
I'll be up front: if you're in need of a game to play with three friends, go out and buy this game for 20 dollars RIGHT NOW. Even if you don't have fond memories of the YDKJ games of yesteryear like I do, you'll find plenty to keep yourself and a big group of friends laughing for hours.
The original Fable wasn't without its share of flaws and broken promises, but it was a solid, enjoyable game. Fable II improved on its predecessor in almost every way, and while it still isn't perfect, it is still one of my favorite games of this generation, warts and all. But with Fable III, Peter Molyneux and Lionhead seem to have put the franchise on cruise control in almost every way, and actively applied the brakes in others.
I loved, loved, LOVED Rocket Knight Adventures on the Sega Genesis. And while I was a little bit disappointed this wasn't a port or remake of the game I have so many fond memories of, this sequel has managed to (mostly) stick with what works and give it a shiny new 21st-century sheen.
Thanks to those nine zeros you have to take into consideration when talking about Infinity Ward’s sales numbers, it’s become nigh-impossible to talk about Bad Company 2 without gazing at it through Modern-Warfare-2-colored glasses. But that’s alright, because BC2 stands up to (and sometimes even surpasses) MW2 in nearly every area.The single-player campaign doesn’t rely on cheap shock value (I’m looking at you, No Russian) to keep players engaged, instead giving us four funny, friendly soldiers who wouldn’t be out of place in a buddy flick. Sarge, Marlowe, Hags, and Sweetwater are constantly riffing with each other and other NPCs (“How can you be a g--d--- pacifist?!?”), and keeping the player engaged in the story. Not to mention the constant bird-flipping in Infinity Ward’s direction (“Those p---ies with heartbeat sensors”).As for the multiplayer...well, it’s not a game-breaking glitchfest, first of all. So that’s nice. Dice has taken back the skill-ranking and unlockable system that Infinity Ward stole from them and perfected it. The perks and weapons come at a great pace, and the class-based warfare means you’ll always have more to unlock.Dice has successfully created a viable competitor to IW’s juggernaut. It holds its own and even triumphs over MW2 all over the place. Most importantly, they’ve managed to create a great game without resorting to gimmicks or stupid controversies (No Russian, Fight Against Grenade Spam, killing player characters every other mission, etc.)
If there was a ever a game that could make gamers go crazy for collecting, this would be it. Always on the lookout for one...more...better...gun...you and your friends will never want to stop searching all across Pandora for the biggest and best loot. Of course, it doesn't hurt that the game itself is super-fun to play. Nonstop action and humor make this one of the most memorable games of the year.
Had Bungie not forgotten to tie their shoes before walking out the door and avoid the words "expansion pack" regarding this game's release, I don't think anyone would have balked at the full-price tag on ODST. Sure, the campaign is shorter than any of the others, and yes, the Halo 3 engine is certainly showing its age (thank God they're retooling it for Reach), this is probably the most enjoyable campaign of them all...thanks in no small part to the fact that it doesn't require a PHD in Halo mythology to know what's happening. It's just a simple tale of a squad separated and fighting their way through enemy territory to reunite. The removing of nearly everything that makes a gamer feel invincible as Master Chief (heath regen, dual-wielding, blatant disregard for the laws of gravity) serves to make every victory harder-earned and sweeter.
I was certainly apprehensive towards this game at first. The first AC was enjoyable enough, sure, but I could never shake the words "15-hour tech demo" from my head while I was playing it. And while the sequel doesn't offer too much variation on the original, almost all of the problems the first one had are fixed. The pacing and rate at which the player is awarded new abilities is much better, missions are more varied, and the inclusion of the monetary system gives it an RPG-lite feel. It's something else to see your hometown actually evolve and change around you as you pour more and more money into it. Not to mention that there are only 108 achievement related collectibles instead of over 400...that was the most welcome change.
I'll certainly say this...The Saboteur gets the job done. For once, we have a WWII game that doesn't just involve "I'm in ur G3rmany, killin ur doodz". Striking visuals, a good-enough revenge plot and one heck of an awesome soundtrack elevate the otherwise only-decent gameplay. And it's hard to get tired of climbing up a Nazi lookout tower to throw the poor schmuck at the top to his death a hundred feet below.