Gears of War 2

(4 out of 5 stars)

Marcus Fenix and Dom are back in Gears of War 2 and compared to the first game, Gears 2 blows the previous title out of the water. The story follows on from Gears and puts you right back in the action with some familiar faces and some new blood with hordes of Locust to gun down or rip into pieces with the handy Lancer chainsaw blade. The main campaign's length is probably between 12-15 hours depending on the difficulty level and your gameplay style. Just like you are capable of beating down an opponent who is 'bleeding out' they can also return the favor with vicious head-stomps and other painful execution moves. Gears of War 2 brings new tricks to the table with a heavily tweaked cover system and new weapons. There are some gameplay tweaks to come in terms of balance and several of the weapons, whilst looking great, have the feeling that you're really using a popgun against a tank. Overall though it's fairly solid right out of the box and there are five free maps to download from Epic as well.

Gears 2 keeps the same weapon switching mechanic from the first game and whilst it seems tricky to have to switch to grenades to throw them, you soon get used to it again and with a quick tap of the button you can stick a grenade onto a Locust or slam it against a surface where it primes as a proximity explosive. Epic have added a knock-back value to their weapons design as well, so there's stopping power to a lot of the guns, the shotgun especially. Unfortunately the Locusts will use the stopping power of their weapons to prevent you from closing for a melee kill and it's almost impossible to get a chain-blade kill for the same reason. Gears of War 2 is a good looking game, better looking in lots of ways than the previous title. Epic have pulled out all the stops and it shows, the shadows are deeper, the lighting is better and the graphics engine can handle structural integrity simulation nicely, allowing the player to see visible changes to the surrounding environment as the battle goes on.

Epic's architecture and level design for this game is excellent, they have also taken steps to ensure that every battlefield in Gears 2 provides a fresh set of challenges to constantly keep you entertained. With the new graphics engine it is also possible for Epic to simulate hordes of enemy troops, so Gears 2 has more Locusts to blast than before. There are some truly awe-inspiring moments in the game in terms of battles and cut-scenes. With the Locust AI being better than ever these combats are frustratingly good, as you battle against sniper fire, mammoth new Locust types and incoming mortar shells. On the harder levels it's nearly impossible to get through on your first try. It's not just the single player game that's taken a new look, Epic have improved the multi-player aspect as well, adding scores of new maps, redesigning favourites and allowing a mix of human and AI players across all of the new modes. There are many modes and types to choose from, with an expansive tutorial that lets you get right into the action and learn these game types before you play them against others. Epic have once again proven that they are kings of game AI, since the bots from Gears of War 2 are excellent and provide a solid challenge at the higher levels of play.

Taking a tip from their previous experiences with Unreal Tournament style tricks, Epic have made some of their maps with interactive features. A firm favourite of mine has been Avalanche, where you are safe as long as you listen for the warning klaxon and get under cover before the massive avalanche pounds down on the map and covers everything with ice and snow. Any Cog or Locust caught out in the open is killed and the level's design is altered, since now the snow provides a thick layer to battle on.

With all of this good, some bad did leak in. The game suffered terribly from matchmaking issues with massive wait times for players online. This has been fixed by Epic in a patch over Xbox Live and the game will automatically update when the title is launched. Some of the weapons are a little weak and there are AI issues with Dom in some places within the single-player game. The story from Gears was epic and the story in Gears 2 is even more so, answering questions from the first game and asking even more in this installment, its great fun and deserves to be on any serious shooter fans shelf. It's great to play on your own or in matches against friends.

God of War III

(4.5 out of 5 stars)

The God of War trilogy is coming to an end, and as we all hoped, Kratos is going out with a bang. A destructive, rage filled, blood covered, bang of epic proportions. There's no doubt that God of War III has been one of the most anticipated games for the PlayStation 3, before it was even officially announced, and Sony Santa Monica has easily lived up to expectations in this third and final instalment. It's bigger, better, and deeper than previous games in the series and serves as a great conclusion to a very satisfying franchise. The entire series is very loosely based on Greek mythology.

I'm not sure if there's another videogame character out there that is nearly as amazing and powerful as Kratos. His rage-filled persona directly influences the gameplay, and as you would expect, it's even more brutal and rewarding than ever. God of War III once again nails the perfect mixture of effective, easy to grasp controls for average players, with a level of depth and challenge that will keep hardcore players coming back for more. The game is accessible and fun to play, yet full of technique and strategy, especially on the higher difficulty levels.

The most obvious change in the mechanics of the game is that Kratos can now switch weapons and items in real-time while in battle. Meaning that you can literally combo in attacks for 4 different weapons, the associated magics and the items by holding L1 or L2 and tapping the correct face button in mid-fight. Not only that, the enemies that you face may be more susceptible to a certain weapon, item or technique, and often being mixed in packs, you have to frequently switch between actions to effectively defend yourself. You can try to simply rely on the blades... but chances are you'll fail miserably, especially at more difficult moments. The gameplay has gained a lot of variety and even more strategy than before.

The God of War series has always excelled in the visual department, and III is another ridiculous example of how talented Sony Santa Monica is. Image quality is pristine, and even if you've played the demo, you haven't seen anything until you've played the real game. The frame rate is slightly variable, but is always smooth during action sequences. There's a subtle motion blur to Kratos' movements that gives it a really polished look. God of War III does things on a really large scale, larger than probably any game I've seen, and fighting a mountain-sized titan is an undeniably awesome sight. It is well paced, with more arena like encounters between puzzle solving, the incredible set pieces and dramatic fights. Kratos is well modeled, from the individual movement of his muscles, to the ash on his skin and scar on his stomach, he looks very good. Enemies are also well animated and quite detailed. For those with a weak stomach, as there are some really graphic scenes in the game.

God of War III is a good length, taking around 8 - 10 hours to complete on Normal or Easy difficulties. The Titan (Hard) level difficulty tacks on a couple more hours in length. The puzzles are on the easy side and usually have fairly obvious solutions, and there are not many difficult platforming scenes either. The boss battles can be inventive and chaotic and very challenging. The same could be said for a handful of the more intense multi-enemy battles that pop up at the most in opportune times. Some of the basic moves and such are the same, and the theme of course has not changed much, however the gameplay has evolved quite a lot when you really dig into it. The techniques and strategies often do not work, and using the same powerful move over and over will usually lead to death, unless you are playing on the easier difficulties in which you can pretty much do anything to get by. It still feels like a God of War game, and that's really the most important part.

As for negative comments, there really isn’t much to say. The camera angles are impressive and dramatic, however now and then, they do get in the way and screw you up. Most of the more popular creatures of Greek mythology have found their way into the game, and in certain areas, it still felt like the game was lacking in terms of enemy variety. I'm still not convinced that God of War III will be the last instalment of the series though only time, and sales figures, will tell.

Assassin's Creed 2

(4.5 out of 5 stars)

If you’re like me, you were very disappointed with the results of the original Assassin's Creed. The first hour or two was great and then it just got painfully repetitive. I am happy to say that I was wrong to have low expectations about AC2. The plot of Assassins Creed 2 is better developed then it predecessor. It does a great job of tying up the loose ends from the original and gets the story moving early on. Assassin's Creed 2 picks up right where the original left off with Desmond locked in his room at Abstergo Labs. The games action gets started right away as you have to escape from your captors with a group of present day assassins who need Desmond to access another of his ancestors’ memories from the 15th century named Ezio.

The environments and animations are all beautifully presented. The animations are still excellent, and Ezio's body realistically adjusts to his environment as he climbs and vaults past obstacles. You never get tired of watching Ezio scramble up and over historical buildings or dash across the roof tops with ease. Early in the game you’re introduced to the incredibly functional free running system that allows you to climb over nearly every surface in the game. Your run speed has been given an upgrade allowing players to navigate through towns much quicker.

Another problem that arises from jumping down to street level without looking is you never know who you’re going to fall on. Falling on people is rather suspicious behavior and will immediately alert guards who witness it. The hiding places from the first game are all back like the hay bales, benches, and roof gardens but this time Ezio can turn a few quick corners and then simply stand by a group of citizens or dive into a body of water to hide from his pursuers.

Sometime you will be required to enter an area without arousing suspicion and in AC2 your options are greatly improved over those of the original Assassin's Creeds “walk with the monks” method. In AC2 there are several groups that you can pay to assist you in distracting guards. Thieves, mercenaries and courtesans will all use different approaches to accomplish these tasks. The services of these groups are all the same so pick which ever distraction you like best and go from there. As a player you can also simply throw money on the ground and cause a bit of distraction yourself as guards and other citizens scramble for the coin.

If you would rather fight then you’re in for a real treat. AC2 combat system has been greatly improved. You now have a weapon wheel that you can use to quickly select between all your new tools. As you progress though AC2 you can purchase new swords, hammers, daggers, smoke bombs, throwing knives, dual assassination blades and a little ace you keep up your sleeve courtesy of Leonardo da Vinci. In addition to the weapons you purchase from vendors for your collection you can temporarily take weapons from your adversaries to use against them. In addition to the armed combat you can now use unarmed combat. This allows you to disarm your opponents and even daze groups of enemies by throwing dirt in their eyes.

There are a number of changes brought about by the addition of a monetary system. Ezio earns money for completing missions, finding treasures, and can even pickpocket citizens. Much like real life money can also get you out of trouble. You are able to bride town heralds to not mention your actions thus lowering your notoriety.

The money you earn doesn’t just go to purchasing armor, weapons or paying hush money though, you have a Villa in serious disrepair that you are expected to upgrade and doing so will increase your income in the form of taxes collected. By upgrading and repairing shops and locations in the Villa you increase the money you collect from taxes and the scenery improves as you clean up the disheveled location. The Villa acts as a base of operations for Ezio, in addition to being the place he comes to turn in feathers he finds along the way. One of the best additions to AC2 though is the travel stations. They allow instant access from city to city which is a real time saver, making the gameplay a lot more fun.

AC2 does a great job of having multiple things to collect like weapon sets, armor sets, treasures, statues, feathers and truths without making it feel like the task was thrown in as an afterthought. To complete this game, it took me about 18-20 hours of game play making this title definitely worth the money. The game is so much broader than the first instalment in pretty much every single aspect.

NHL 10

(4 out of 5 stars)

The first thing I noticed about NHL 10 is that EA Sports was so proud of NHL 09 that it put "NHL 09: Winner of Twelve Sports Game of the Year Awards" in the corner of this season’s box. Of course, NHL 09 is in a smaller font, so you immediately see the big words “Winner... Sports... Awards,” maybe in an attempt to convince people that this season is just as revolutionary.

NHL 10 does improve upon the esteemed NHL 09 season by getting more physical, especially in two key areas. First, when a fight breaks out on the ice, the camera shifts into a new first-person perspective and the player’s initially transparent body disappears completely. You’re left with two fists, controlled with the right analog stick, and the ugly and uncomfortably close mug of your opponent. To dodge his swinging arms, players can use the left analog stick to block, but the blows are difficult to avoid and it’s easier to flick the right analog stick up and down to get off as many punches as possible. While not revolutionary, when compared to the fighting styles of previous NHL seasons, these brief moments of first-person hockey are an entertaining switch and a little more personal.

More integral to all three periods in a hockey game is the addition of all-new board play. The Y button allows players who possess the puck to shield it with their body and to kick-pass it to nearby teammates. While on defense, this same button pins the puck-carrying opposition against the glass in an attempt to steal or at least rough up the offense in the process. At any time, players can let go of the Y button to back away from the glass, making this new control mechanic feel similar to a third-person shooter’s cover system. Although borrowed from a very different genre, this gameplay addition feels natural, looks natural and is a whole lot of fun to perform.

The brand new Battle for the Cup mode is also a little genre-bending, as it brings storylines to what was once your typical, dry multi-game Playoffs mode. This isn’t just about selecting best of 3, best of 5 or best of 7 rounds anymore. The announcers know that if it goes to a Game 7, everything is on the line and they’ll recall the exciting events that occurred earlier in the series. The game is also aware of the who’s who of injuries and will ask if the team will take revenge on the offender. These dramatic build-ups bring the television presentation of the always-thrilling playoffs to the game, making the presentation of past NHL video games resemble the dullness of watching the often-lifeless regular season broadcasts.

Other standouts like the stats-heavy Be a GM feature and 30-person (one friend for every team) multiplayer season mode prove to be in-depth for hockey fans. But, NHL 10’s modes won’t do much for casual players who aren’t obsessed with playing this sport as a simulation title. There aren’t any mini-games and there’s certainly no arcade play. That’s never been what EA’s hockey series has been about. NHL 10, like its predecessors, puts the emphasis on realism instead of trying to grow its base and provides a couple of physical improvements for existing fans.

Battlefield Bad Company 2

(4.5 out of 5 stars)

Since the beginning with Battlefield 1942, DICE's Battlefield series has been hugely influential of all other multiplayer shooters. For years, DICE focused on this concept, bringing game after game to PC, something that changed with the release of Battlefield: Bad Company. For the first time, the Swedish developer brought a game exclusively to consoles, and focused on delivering a strong single player component to support the multiplayer, which was scaled back dramatically from the typical PC instalments. Now, with the sequel, the developer decided to continue the Bad Company series to include a more robust multiplayer experience, spreading it past consoles and onto PC as well. This choice seems to have worked out for them, since there's little doubt that Bad Company 2 has a lot more to offer than the prequel.

DICE went out of their way to keep a lid on details involving the single player campaign for this sequel, only revealing one bit of information prior to launch. The full squad from the original returns in the sequel, on a mission much more serious than they are used to. Storylines from the first game, involving stolen gold and the Legionnaire, are dropped entirely. Instead, the security of the nation rests in B Company's less than capable hands, and it's up to Sweetwater, Haggard, Redford, and Marlowe to save the day from a mysterious weapon. It’s a more linear and serious trek than it was before, and while obviously taking a back seat to the multiplayer offerings this time around, Bad Company 2’s story is still an entertaining ride from beginning to end.

Visuals are impressive, with massive, beautiful vistas populating the singleplayer, and large, open levels giving plenty of variety to the multiplayer. It might not be able to stack up with the likes of MW2, but it has some remarkable environments, and I cannot complain about how Bad Company 2 looks or sounds. Or plays, for that matter, as the sequel enhances the game in every way. Everything, in general, feels greatly improved over the original. DICE really nailed the controls this time around, meaning the console version should play as well as the PC version. The largest technical enhancement comes in the form of a more realistic war environment, seeing buildings collapse entirely when enough damage has been dealt.

Without question, DICE has managed to outdo themselves with Bad Company 2, making their best game yet. In fact, they’ve outdone just about everyone. There are few games out there as addictive and rewarding, making it impossible to stop playing. It has been done in the past, with different developers trying their best to find a way to organize the chaos that is massive battles. DICE has done it perfectly this time around, and the multiplayer mayhem needs to be experienced by all who considers themselves fans of the series.

Battlefield: Bad Company 2 isn't good. It's great. There’s little doubt that DICE has secured its game a spot as the best shooter of the first half 2010. The multiplayer manages to feel completely fresh, making the dual-shotgun wielding Modern Warfare 2 look like a fantasy game by comparison. The story might not be as impressive as some hoped, failing to match the humor of the prequel, but the multiplayer goes above and beyond the call of duty, providing the best competitive gameplay in recent memory. DICE has helped redefine the online shooter, and should provide fans of the genre a plenty of fun for some time to come.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

(5 out of 5 stars)

Infinity Ward returns to their marquee series with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Taking place five years after the events in Modern Warfare, the newly formed multinational antiterrorist unit Task Force 141 has been given the charge of dealing with emerging threats in this new world. Its sights are set on Vladimir Makarov, a Russian terrorist and former comrade of ultranationalist Imran Zakhaev, who is wreaking havoc across the globe. You will take on the role of a soldier within Task Force 141 as they hunt down Makarov, as well as soldiers within other units as they deal with the repercussions of the manhunt.

It’s difficult to mention any particulars of the story without giving anything away. There are several twists and turns along the way, as well as the type of shocking moments that made the original so memorable. Your tour of duty as one of several members of the armed forces will send you all over the world, from the slums of Brazil to the frigid wastes of Siberia.

In an effort to be more grand than realistic, many non-combative action elements have been added along with several vehicle-based portions. The vehicle-based segments, some more successful than others, include the snowmobiles as seen in early trailers, the use of predator drones, and a high-speed chase between armed boats in addition to ice-climbing, slides down slopes, and a camera that is in general more reactive to the player’s movements. Everything is done to heighten the sense of tension, keep the momentum up and the player on their toes.

As enjoyable as the campaign is, however, it doesn’t manage to surpass the original. At just under six hours on hardened difficulty, the story wraps up just as it kicks into high gear. That’s a really busy six hours, but a bit more could have done wonders to get at the characters’ motivations and provide reasoning for the settings where the story takes place. It is encouraging that there has been some progress, because things are much improved over World at War – for one, it no longer rains grenades. Despite the controversial “No Russian” level, the game is actually pretty tame and on par with Modern Warfare; it’s much more like a late 1990’s action movie with a touch of modern sensibility. I still had a good time with the campaign and highly recommend playing through it, but unlike the original, I don’t foresee myself playing through it again.

Playing through the story unlocks the new Special Ops mode. Comprised of a five-mission set of time trials that score based on a chosen difficulty level, you will defend areas, hunt fugitives, and take on hordes of militia. Each of the three difficulty levels add a new twist, and better yet, the feature offers cooperative play with a friend, which comes in handy when tackling the tougher objectives. Successfully completing a level will award you with the star of the chosen difficulty level (one to three stars for regular, hardened, and veteran respectively) for up to a total of 69 stars, with new missions becoming unlocked as you progress. The 23 missions will take a while to get through, much less complete on veteran, and offer some great replay value.

Special Ops might occupy you for a while, but the real longevity is in the traditional multiplayer mode. Similar to the campaign, little has changed this time around, but what’s there is even more intense and addictive than before. New to the series, and a huge plus for those with poor Internet connections, is the ability to multiplay via splitscreen and local area networks and still be able to gain experience and rewards. The traditional experience-based system has been carried over from Modern Warfare and is largely the same, just with much more of it.


Killing and completing objectives earn experience that goes towards unlocking new weapons, perks, ranks, emblems, and callsigns. Unlocked emblems appear next to your name while callsigns appear whenever you complete an objective or take someone else down, which consists of a pop-up box displaying a kitschy background and title. Earning new ranks unlocks additional features, the biggest being the popular create-a-class ability. Customization for created classes has also been increased with new weapons and equipment, including additional secondary weapon and equipment choices. Both success and failure now have their own perks with kill and death streaks. Kill streak rewards dominate your enemy with new equipment and abilities at different counts, with some becoming available at three kills and others at nine. While it depends on your style of play, the general rule of thumb is that the perks that require more kills to unlock are the ones you’ll want to use.

Perks have also been beefed up as well, with ‘pro’ versions that are unlocked through use which add abilities in addition to the base perk. Each addition has numerous options that go on and on, with each working together to create a really engrossing system. Infinity Ward somehow made Modern Warfare’s multiplayer even more addictive.