And so the year is coming to an end. I realize it might be a little cocky of me, what with just having started and all, but I feel that it is only fitting that I commend the games that made me smile this past year.
Naturally, I don't have a panel of judges choosing this stuff, and it's just my opinions, but these are all games to check out.
Commendable Achievements
Best Single Player Experience: Modern Warefare 2
Best Multiplayer Experience: Borderlands
Best XBLA Game: Battlefield 1943
Best Indie Game: Beat Hazard
Most Intriguing Game: Leave Home
Best DLC: Borderlands (x2)
Best Main Menu: Dirt 2
Best Loading Screen: MX vs ATV: Reflex
Dubious Achievements
Most Noticable Lag: Borderlands
Most Over-Hyped Game: Brütal Legend
Most Matchmaking Glitches: Modern Warefare 2
Awards That Shouldn't Exist
Best Downhill Snowmobile Chase: Modern Warefare 2
Most Convincing Fake Credits: Borderlands
Best Game of 2009
In all honesty, I don't think that I can rightfully do this one. Besides, who am I to say what the absolute best game is? The best game is the one that you have been playing whenever you aren't reading my awesome reviews, so get out there and play it!
Also, I plan to do this next year as well, and since I'll have a whole year to work at it, I will have more legit categories, as well as more BS ones.
Happy New Year! It's been a good year for gaming, and 2010 looks to have another good lineup already. What are you guys looking forward to the most?
12.31.2009
12.17.2009
Army of TWO: The 40th Day Demo
While downloading the demo for Army of Two: The 40th Day, I remembered how much I didn't like the original. Puting that aside, I booted up the demo and decided to make the best of the experience.
I quickly learned that THERE IS NO SINGLEPLAYER in the demo. Greatly displeased by the lack of any kind of AI assistance, I waited to find a friend to play it with. Once the game started, I was greeted by the TF2 Heavy and a sleazebag version of Wolverine as the two main characters. Pushing past these personal issues, I proceeded to play the game.
After messing with the controls and getting used to them - I don't really care for 3rdPS's - I found the game to be an interesting mix of stealth and crazed action. Most situations can either be solved by tricking the enemy, or just running in guns blazing. Surprisingly, both are equally fun.
Once your character gains his armor, the bad character design seems to fade significantly, though they still feel a little bulky like Gears characters. Luckily, this visual feeling does not carry over into how the game controls, and it feels smooth and responsive.
Combat plays well and feels more like a battle than a lot of games can pull off, and with it being so heavilly geared toward co-op, you want to find a friend for this one. That said, you should try to find a friend online. Same-room co-op is a lot of fun, but half a screen is cumbersome.
All in all, it looks to be a decently solid game, and as long as EA's servers don't add too much lag, pretty fun online. (I didn't play the demo online.)
I quickly learned that THERE IS NO SINGLEPLAYER in the demo. Greatly displeased by the lack of any kind of AI assistance, I waited to find a friend to play it with. Once the game started, I was greeted by the TF2 Heavy and a sleazebag version of Wolverine as the two main characters. Pushing past these personal issues, I proceeded to play the game.
After messing with the controls and getting used to them - I don't really care for 3rdPS's - I found the game to be an interesting mix of stealth and crazed action. Most situations can either be solved by tricking the enemy, or just running in guns blazing. Surprisingly, both are equally fun.
Once your character gains his armor, the bad character design seems to fade significantly, though they still feel a little bulky like Gears characters. Luckily, this visual feeling does not carry over into how the game controls, and it feels smooth and responsive.
Combat plays well and feels more like a battle than a lot of games can pull off, and with it being so heavilly geared toward co-op, you want to find a friend for this one. That said, you should try to find a friend online. Same-room co-op is a lot of fun, but half a screen is cumbersome.
All in all, it looks to be a decently solid game, and as long as EA's servers don't add too much lag, pretty fun online. (I didn't play the demo online.)
12.16.2009
Something a Little Different
I know that this is (will be) a very Xbox-centered review blog, but I felt like doing something a little different. So, today I am writing about an iPhone/iPod Touch game that I've been playing for a while.
The game is called Asphalt 5, and it's a quick little racing game that boasts a considerable library of cars and locations, and easily the best graphics that I have seen on the device.
It's a full 3D game, and is well modeled and textured, with an easy to read and use HUD and menu design. It feels very polished and controls very well. The game supports online multiplayer, though I haven't tried it yet, and races often include police chases, including a few cops-and-robbers game modes.
As for the gameplay itself, Asphalt 5 plays very much like a Ridge Racer game, with less emphasis on drifting through corners. The boost system forces the player to hold on to their boost and use it when they can gain the largest advantage, adding a layer of strategy to the game. Points are awarded generously through a flashy graphic and are converted into cash, which the player is hardly ever low on and can be used to purchase and upgrade the various cars.
Since it is both mobile, and full 3D, battery drain is a concern, though the game seems not to use too much juice. The battery won't last for more than a few hours, but waiting for an appointment or class to start shouldn't cause any problems. That said, playing the match online will drain the battery faster, but as I said before, I haven't tried the game online yet.
Over all, the game is a very well-polished iPhone racer that has a good set of features that makes it worth the $4.99 USD.
The game is called Asphalt 5, and it's a quick little racing game that boasts a considerable library of cars and locations, and easily the best graphics that I have seen on the device.
It's a full 3D game, and is well modeled and textured, with an easy to read and use HUD and menu design. It feels very polished and controls very well. The game supports online multiplayer, though I haven't tried it yet, and races often include police chases, including a few cops-and-robbers game modes.
As for the gameplay itself, Asphalt 5 plays very much like a Ridge Racer game, with less emphasis on drifting through corners. The boost system forces the player to hold on to their boost and use it when they can gain the largest advantage, adding a layer of strategy to the game. Points are awarded generously through a flashy graphic and are converted into cash, which the player is hardly ever low on and can be used to purchase and upgrade the various cars.
Since it is both mobile, and full 3D, battery drain is a concern, though the game seems not to use too much juice. The battery won't last for more than a few hours, but waiting for an appointment or class to start shouldn't cause any problems. That said, playing the match online will drain the battery faster, but as I said before, I haven't tried the game online yet.
Over all, the game is a very well-polished iPhone racer that has a good set of features that makes it worth the $4.99 USD.
12.15.2009
A Second First Post
I was tired last night and didn't explain this blog very well. So, now I'm going to do so.
This blog is going to be comprised almost entirely of Xbox game reviews that I write myself. Many of the reviews may be based on the demos of games, since I don't have that much money, but I will make it obvious that I am talking about the demo, not the full game.
A good number of these posts will also be about Xbox Live Arcade games or Indie games. I've noticed a considerable lack of reviews about these games, and I am seeking to fill that void as best I can.
Perhaps most importantly, you may notice that THERE ARE NO SCORES in the reviews. A number is very limiting and doesn't explain what was bad or good about a game, and (particularly with Indie games) some games might not be worth a purchase, but worth a look. Basically, I'm not going to use a score because games deserve a more nuanced rating system than 9/10.
Hopefully, this will be the last introduction post and the rest shall be reviews, but if you really care about me personally, follow me on Twitter. (@Takarias) Also follow me on Twitter if you want to know when there's a new post on the blog.
Also, it's snowing now. Darn.
This blog is going to be comprised almost entirely of Xbox game reviews that I write myself. Many of the reviews may be based on the demos of games, since I don't have that much money, but I will make it obvious that I am talking about the demo, not the full game.
A good number of these posts will also be about Xbox Live Arcade games or Indie games. I've noticed a considerable lack of reviews about these games, and I am seeking to fill that void as best I can.
Perhaps most importantly, you may notice that THERE ARE NO SCORES in the reviews. A number is very limiting and doesn't explain what was bad or good about a game, and (particularly with Indie games) some games might not be worth a purchase, but worth a look. Basically, I'm not going to use a score because games deserve a more nuanced rating system than 9/10.
Hopefully, this will be the last introduction post and the rest shall be reviews, but if you really care about me personally, follow me on Twitter. (@Takarias) Also follow me on Twitter if you want to know when there's a new post on the blog.
Also, it's snowing now. Darn.
And so it Begins...
So, this is the epitome of bullshit posts, really. I have nothing, if anything, interesting to say, and will be going to sleep shortly.
However, welcome to the blog. If you've been following me on Twitter (@Takarias) then you can expect similar, though much larger, game reviews, with an emphasis on Indie and Arcade Xbox 360 games.
And with that, I now end my first blog post.
However, welcome to the blog. If you've been following me on Twitter (@Takarias) then you can expect similar, though much larger, game reviews, with an emphasis on Indie and Arcade Xbox 360 games.
And with that, I now end my first blog post.
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