Xbox 360 was first out of the gate in this generation’s console race, but it’s still far from winded. The head start and relatively affordable price are two keys to its success. It’s got a huge library of excellent games — and that library will only grow through 2009…especially since Sony’s lost Final Fantasy exclusivity. Indeed, Final Fantasy XIII will be coming to the 360, a surprise E3 twist from Square Enix that still has Nintendo fans seeing Final Fantasy VII behind their eyelids.
Still, some problems continue to plague the console. Gamers still whisper about the “Red Ring of Death” as if it were some malevolent baby-snatching angel. It’s not as much of an issue for newer 360s, but the problem’s far from resolved.
For 3D platformer fans lonely for the cry of the red-crested Breegull.
Release Date: 11/05/2008
Publisher: Microsoft
ESRB Rating: Everyone 10+
Developer: Rare
Genre: Action
It’s been a long time since we’ve heard a certain honey bear’s twanging banjo. Banjo and Kazooie are back in fine form for more of the 3D platforming you (possibly) loved on the N64. “Imagination is Nuts & Bolts’ centerpiece,” says Anthony Gallegos. “The ability to craft the perfect vehicle for the challenge set before you — a plane, a boat, a submarine, or simply an effective car — provides a constant source of gratification.” No more collecting endless puzzle pieces, either!
For anyone who’s ever wanted to tear ass through Paradise City.
Release Date: 01/22/2008
Publisher: Electronic Arts
ESRB Rating: Everyone 10+
Developer: Criterion Studios
Genre: Racing
The grass isn’t green and the girls may or may not be pretty, but you won’t care. Burnout: Paradise is all about getting into cars and banging ‘em together like some twisted 5-year-old. “Paradise brilliantly reimagines Burnout as a go-anywhere, do-anything open-world adventure in the vein of Grand Theft Auto,” says Shane Bettenhausen.
For anyone comfortable with the fact that a gaming session on Live already proves the world is at war.
Release Date: 11/11/2008
Publisher: Activision
ESRB Rating: Mature
Developer: Treyarch
Genre: Shooter
Call of Duty: World at War wraps up the final battles of World War II. Players have access to tanks, flamethrowers, and, of course, online multiplayer. Thierry Nguyen has some helpful advice about playing World at War on Live: “Play some Call of Duty 3 again: Specifically, the War multiplayer. While COD: WAW includes a number of familiar COD4 multiplayer modes, it also features the War mode from COD3. And I guarantee that there’ll be idiots who don’t understand how War works, and those idiots will tend to lose.”
For the survival/psychological horror fan who needs nightmare fodder besides clowns and zombies.
Release Date: 03/11/2008
Publisher: Sega
ESRB Rating: Mature
Developer: Monolith Productions
Genre: Action
Greg Ford claims that the atmosphere of Condemned 2: Bloodshot descends so masterfully from serenity to horror that one member of the EGM review staff “played a majority of the game during daylight hours with a friend by his side.” How can a first-person action game about Satanic dolls stationed in a dank, abandoned factory possibly be scary? Dolls just wanna hug you. Forever and ever and….
For anyone terrified by the cold empty void of space, or huge horrible tumor covered monsters.
Release Date: 10/14/2008
Publisher: Electronic Arts
ESRB Rating: Mature
Developer: EA Redwood Shores
Genre: Action
In his review, Matt Leone says: “Dead Space is at its best when it does things unique to the third-person shooter genre; the zero-gravity sequences (which feature fantastic audio effects that make you feel like you’re in outer space), the storytelling method (events unfold via hovering video log monitors that you watch as you walk around, rather than through traditional cut-scenes), and the dismemberment system all come to mind.”
For those who need more action, more smirks, more one-liners, and more white hair.
Release Date: 02/05/2008
Publisher: Capcom
ESRB Rating: Mature
Developer: Capcom
Genre: Action
Devil May Cry means lots of guns, glory, boobs, and manga-grade heroes. Devil May Cry 4 doubles your fun by offering both returning protagonist Dante, and Nero, a new (and decidedly grumpier) hero. “Benching well-liked, wisecrackin’ Dante in favor of decidedly emo, hoodie-clad newcomer Nero may seem like a dumb move, but the gamble actually pays off,” says Shane Bettenhausen. “Its gorgeous trappings, addictive combat, and well-balanced difficulty make it the most satisfying DMC in years.”
For anyone who wants to suffer consequences for their actions.
Release Date: 10/21/2008
Publisher: Microsoft
ESRB Rating: Mature
Developer: Lionhead Studios
Genre: RPG
Nobody really wants to own up to the bad things they do — that’s why they usually avoid doing them. But Fable 2 forges your character depending on how many medieval ladies you help across the dirt trail…or shove in front of a runaway horse cart. “Fable 2 is filled with more great ideas than the last 10 years of Final Fantasy combined,” says James Mielke.
For those of us who know in our hearts that it’s never too early to prepare for radiation poisoning.
Release Date: 10/28/2008
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
ESRB Rating: Mature
Developer: Bethesda Softworks
Genre: RPG
In Fallout 3’s postapocalyptic world, you must find your runaway father. He left you and your delicious brain to the mercy of mutant zombies, though, so maybe he should just go to hell. Either way, Fallout 3’s a blast to play. “This is the kind of hugely ambitious game that doesn’t come around very often, and when it does, you’d be a fool not to play it and enjoy the hell out of it,” says Demian Linn.
For the gamer whose idea of an African safari involves conflict diamonds and contract killings.
Release Date: 10/15/2008
Publisher: Ubisoft
ESRB Rating: Mature
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Genre: Shooter
From Thierry Nguyen’s review: “Far Cry 2’s filled with stuff to do, from primary missions where you assassinate police chiefs or search for hidden caches of gold á la Three Kings to secondary tasks like delivering travel papers to locals in exchange for malaria medication, executing contract killings ordered via hacked cell towers, or carrying out favors for other mercenaries.” Nguyen continues: “Far Cry 2’s overall package makes up for any individual flaws — enough for it to be on a short list of best FPS games this year.”
For those who know the gears of war will never truly stop turning — and are pretty OK with that.
Release Date: 11/07/2008
Publisher: Microsoft
ESRB Rating: Mature
Developer: Epic Games
Genre: Shooter
“Gears’ gameplay isn’t mindless warfare — it’s intensely focused, visceral fun,” says Greg Ford. Hey, real war isn’t much fun, so game war might as well be. Gears of War 2 takes place six months after the original title and adds significant polish to one of the best games in the shooter genre. “It’s when you start hacking into the meat of this epic-expectations sequel that you appreciate what an excellent campaign, juiced-up multiplayer, addictive new co-op Horde mode, and new enemies, items, and weapons can add to what still stands as one of this generation’s best core gameplay systems.”
For the prostitute-robbing cop-killer who aims to grow up into a convict, of course.
Release Date: 04/29/2008
Publisher: Rockstar Games
ESRB Rating: Mature
Developer: Rockstar North
Genre: Action
Grand Theft Auto games command a massive audience and hold them in thrall like kids at storytime. Grand Theft Auto 4 has its flaws (you can’t tell your clingy cousin to piss off), but it’s also the biggest, most ambitious game in the series, and its protagonist, Niko, is surprisingly sympathetic. “The city just feels alive,” says Crispin Boyer. “But more than just feeling alive, everything in this world is so integrated.”
For Guitar Hero fans who wanna outplay their obnoxious Rock Band 2 rivals.
Release Date: 10/26/2008
Publisher: Activision
ESRB Rating: Teen
Developer: Neversoft
Genre: Music
Can’t choose between Rock Band 2 or Guitar Hero: World Tour? Don’t feel bad: The two are quite close in quality, says Justin Haywald. “Maybe if I squeeze my Rock Band and Guitar Hero together and leave them overnight in the same case, I can come back the next morning to find that they made an übergame that combines the best of both. But until then, Guitar Hero delivers exactly the things I want out of a rhythm game: great peripherals and fun-to-play music.” If you still can’t decide, buy whichever game your friends don’t buy, and then have music wars that eventually escalate into peripheral-throwing.
For survival-horror fans who managed to rescue 3 and 5.
Release Date: 11/18/2008
Publisher: Valve
ESRB Rating: Mature
Developer: Turtle Rock Studios
Genre: Shooter
Left 4 Dead is a survival-horror first-person shooter built on Valve’s Source engine. Psht, Half-Life 2 was a cakewalk, right? Left 4 Dead wouldn’t scare a baby. By the way, Wal-Mart is having a sale on nightlights. “Left 4 Dead is for serious gorefiends,” says Tina Sanchez. “And in the end, whether running and gunning with friends or killing people with disgustingly crude zombie attacks, what more could a gamer ask for?”
For caped crusader fans who are looking for blocky bat fun.
Release Date: 09/23/2008
Publisher: Warner Bros.
ESRB Rating: Everyone 10+
Developer: Traveller’s Tales
Genre: Action-adventure
Leaving the recent dark Batman films to the wayside, the LEGO Batman game takes a lighter, and blockier, spin on Gotham’s hero. If you liked smashing building block creations as a child, or if you’ve enjoyed any of the other LEGO games — Star Wars and Indiana Jones — then you probably will enjoy living your life as a lighter Dark Knight.
LEGO Indiana Jones is a charming, humorous re-telling of the three classic Indiana Jones movies (no Crystal Skulls here, folks). Like in LEGO Star Wars, memorable moments play out on screen with block-made characters — spoofy reenactments geared for maximum nostalgia. According to Ryan Scott, “It’s easy to dismiss as kids’ fare, but Lego Indiana Jones is a light, enjoyable action game, especially if you’ve got a willing friend for co-op play.”
For anyone who loves karaoke games but wants their own music over a blah in-game selection.
Release Date: 11/18/2008
Publisher: Microsoft
ESRB Rating: Teen
Developer: iNiS
Genre: Music
Lips, a two-player karaoke game that features motion-sensitive microphones (the second player can join in a duet by shaking the microphone at any time), has its own extensive playlist featuring original recordings of famous songs. But just in case you’re tired of other music games ordering you to sing “Take On Me,” you can hook up your Zune or iPod and select “Take On Me” yourself. Fight the system!
Rereleased with added content and features, the sci-fi action of Lost Planet makes a second appearance on Xbox 360 and PC. James Mielke says: “It’s hard to argue with what is the ultimate, feature-packed Lost Planet package for veteran fans and curious newcomers alike. As greatest-hits versions go, this is how it should always be done.”
For the football fan whose love for the game conflicts with his love for the couch.
Release Date: 08/12/2008
Publisher: Electronic Arts
ESRB Rating: Everyone
Developer: EA Tiburon
Genre: Sports
Madden needs no introduction. If you’re interested in Madden NFL 09, chances are good that you’ve been past the 20-yard line before (is that how the kids say it?). And this is a worthy upgrade to the series, says Todd Zuniga: “This is a football game that one-ups the stakes between the sidelines, and it’s so visually impressive that it’s likely to stick in your system all season long — even on Saturdays.”
For the double clutchin’, NOS boostin, big spoiler lovin’ gamer.
Release Date: 10/21/2008
Publisher: Rockstar Games
ESRB Rating: Teen
Developer: Rockstar San Diego
Genre: Racing
Giancarlo Varanini says: “MC:LA is all about fun, breakneck racing that should feel immediately familiar if you’ve played any of the previous games in the series.” He continues: “While MC:LA won’t necessarily wow you beyond its technical achievements — it sticks too close to the feel and formula of preview MC games — it still offers plenty of thrilling (and sometimes frustrating) driving.”
For those who just need to run and jump like hell.
Release Date: 11/11/2008
Publisher: Electronic Arts
ESRB Rating: Teen
Developer: DICE
Genre: Action
Mirror’s Edge is like what Orwell’s 1984 would have been if Winston Smith had worn running shoes and kept his pale ass in shape. Mirror’s Edge involves protagonist Faith finding answers from a corrupt government, and that involves running, running, running, and jumping. It’s even got a human racing component, a “time trial” that lets you go up against your friends. “While some may be disappointed that the time-trial mode doesn’t offer completely new levels, it already feels like an addictive complement to the rest of Mirror’s Edge — something that’ll likely bring you back to the game over and over just so you can keep trying to get that best time,” says Giancarlo Varanini.
For anyone who understands why a fight between the Joker and Scorpion needs no explanation.
Release Date: 11/18/2008
Publisher: Midway
ESRB Rating: Mature
Developer: Midway Chicago
Genre: Fighting
DC’s superheroes and villains gather and face off against the warriors of Mortal Kombat. This is the kind of thing that covered the front of your notebooks when you were a kid. “The best Mortal Kombat games struck a sweet spot between being hardcore fighters and over-the-top button-mashers,” says Garnett Lee. “[MK vs. DC] looks to be aimed squarely at that point.”
After last year’s excellent installation, Visual Concepts manages to hold on to the top spot as makers of the premier NBA experience. “The game shines particularly bright in the Total Team Control mode, which allows you to hook up online with nine other players for 5-on-5 basketball,” says David Ellis. “This mode simulates the experience of playing an actual game of basketball more closely than any videogame I’ve played. In these games, my teammates consistently moved without the ball much like they would in a real game, setting up alley-oops and backdoor screens like perennial NBA all-stars.”
For the NCAA enthusiast who believes college is for basketball, not for studying.
Release Date: 11/17/2008
Publisher: Electronic Arts
ESRB Rating: Everyone
Developer: Electronic Arts
Genre: Sports
For dudes who can’t jump, we have EA’s latest installment in the NCAA franchise. NCAA Basketball 09 features tempo control, an all-new game engine, authentic gameplay –, and, of course, silly round mascots.
Featuring a revamped Dynasty mode, some smoothed-out online features, and some great new multiplayer psych-out techniques, NCAA improves upon its predecessor in every way. Resident sports guy Todd Zuniga says: “This may be the only NCAA football game in town (EA’s got exclusivity), but even with competition, there’s no question this one’s national-championship caliber.”
For gamers who never could decide whether to root for the cop or the street racer.
Release Date: 11/17/2008
Publisher: Electronic Arts
ESRB Rating: Teen
Developer: EA Black Box
Genre: Racing
In Need for Speed: Undercover, you’re an undercover cop who enters street races in order to infiltrate a crime syndicate. Well, if you’re going to die with a thousand mob guns firing at you at once, you might as well have some fun before you go. According to Shane Bettenhausen, “Undercover signals a return to the fast-and-furious ways of yesteryear, complete with oodles of police pursuits, more crashing and banging than an anger-management convention, and heavy doses of style. Indeed, the game’s central mode works harder than ever to make us think we’re in the midst of a movie.”
For the Mountain Dew chugging, masochistic hardcore gamer.
Release Date: 06/03/2008
Publisher: Microsoft
ESRB Rating: Mature
Developer: Team Ninja
Genre: Action
Ninja Gaiden 2 picks up where its predecessor left off, dropping the player into the game with minor instructions and forcing you to perform perfectly timed combos and counter moves lest you be hewn in twain by your enemies. It also cranks up the gore as Ryu carves limbs off his opponents as if they were Thanksgiving turkey. Make no mistake, Ninja Gaiden 2 is aimed strictly at that old vanguard of gamers who were raised on the classic “die a million times until you’ve mastered it” school of gameplay.
For those who’ve longed for their prince to come home.
Release Date: 12/02/2008
Publisher: Ubisoft
ESRB Rating: Rating Pending
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Genre: Action
Ubisoft promises that Prince of Persia will return to its royal roots — less action and more puzzles and acrobatics, like in Sands of Time. Matt Leone says it looks like Ubisoft might make good on this promise: “With the changes, the new game feels a bit more fragmented than previous titles, but the series has never had combat that’s this satisfying.”
For the Little Drummer Boy (or Guitar Boy or Bass Boy) inside you.
Release Date: 09/15/2008
Publisher: MTV Games
ESRB Rating: Teen
Developer: Harmonix Music Systems
Genre: Music
How do you improve on a work of party genius like Rock Band? You make it bigger, louder, and funner (which isn’t technically a word, but it’s got a grand sound that fits Rock Band 2). “Rock Band remains the ultimate party game and a karaoke killer,” says Robert Ashley. “The real attraction here is the game’s Sticky Fingers-like bulge of music.”
For the jaded GTA fan or anyone who’s ever dreamed of spraying pedestrians with sewage (seek help).
Release Date: 10/14/2008
Publisher: THQ
ESRB Rating: Mature
Developer: Volition
Genre: Action
Saints Row 2 manages to pull off a great feat in that it junks the idea of a serious plot or realistic gameplay in favor of making sandbox games fun again. While you won’t be leaping over buildings a la Crackdown, your character is a powerhouse who can manhandle pretty much any enemy he comes across. Filled to the brim with car chases, explosions, and low brow, goofball humor, Saints Row 2 wants you to just have some fun.
For fighters who have soul but aren’t really soldiers.
Release Date: 07/29/2008
Publisher: Namco Bandai
ESRB Rating: Teen
Developer: Namco Bandai
Genre: Fighting
Soul Calibur 4, according to James Mielke, is accessible to both hardcore and beginner audiences thanks to improvements to the series’ fighting core: “Balanced and feature-rich, SC4 improves on the groundwork of core fighting mechanics laid in the series’ previous iterations while giving players a virtual fighting sandbox.” The character creation mode is also detailed enough to make you feel like you might be offending God with your detailed constructs. Awesome.
For the Star Wars fan who always wanted to force throw a Tie Fighter into a lowly stormtrooper.
Release Date: 09/16/2008
Publisher: LucasArts
ESRB Rating: Teen
Developer: LucasArts
Genre: Action
While it’s certainly not as great as many were hoping, Force Unleashed offers exciting moments and relatively clever force powers while spinning a mostly acceptable tale about Darth Vader’s secret aprentice. The gameplay is straightforward and uninspired but the visuals and style of the game are solid and well done. Giancarlo Varanini says: “The environments feature tons of detail, and the high level of interaction’s equally impressive: The massive fungal trees on Felucia sway back and forth after you let loose with a Force push blast, and even smaller details — like the way doors fold and break under the power of the Force — are pretty darn cool.” So while it won’t blow anyone away, Force Unleashed is a solid choice for Star Wars fans looking for a little distraction before having to choke down whatever awful piece of half-baked trash George Lucas greenlights next.
Looking for a good Japanese role-playing game? Vesperia heeds your call.
Release Date: 08/26/2008
Publisher: Namco Bandai
ESRB Rating: Teen
Developer: Namco Bandai
Genre: RPG
Though its English localization leaves something to be desired, the game’s action-based combat, character customization, and easy-to-use menus make this entry into the Tales series a memorable one. According to Andrew Fitch, Tales of Vesperia “manages to recapture — even if only for fleeting moments — some of those elusive intangibles that led to lost RPG weekends on the Super Nintendo and PlayStation 1.”
For golfers who want to be Tiger Woods but are realistic about their personal flaws.
Release Date: 08/26/2008
Publisher: Electronic Arts
ESRB Rating: Everyone
Developer: EA Tiburon
Genre: Sports
Joe Rybicki found last year’s Tiger Woods PGA Tour to be underwhelming, but thanks to some tinkering and aligned planets, finds this year’s Tiger Woods to feel just right. “The issues with swing sensitivity are answered with a swing feedback meter, which clearly illustrates any deficiencies in your swing,” he says. “The instant feedback does wonders for those wishing to learn proper technique.”
For anyone smart enough to know that whatever gets dead in Vegas, stays dead in Vegas.
Release Date: 03/18/2008
Publisher: Ubisoft
ESRB Rating: Mature
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Genre: Shooter
“Although a narrative sequel to the original Rainbow Six: Vegas, Vegas 2 doesn’t tackle the job by simply picking up where the previous game left off,” says John Davison. “If you were expecting immediate resolution…then you’re going to have to cool your jets.” At the very least, you won’t be bored on your way to digging up answers. Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 “boasts changes and enhancements all over the place.”
Lara’s back, which isn’t a surprise. Picking up where Tomb Raider: Legend left off, Underworld offers gamers the opportunity to return to the things that made Tomb Raider so much fun — and also shoot sharks in the face. “Underworld looks to be a repository of scaled-back, accessible gameplay culled from hardcore sources,” says Robert Ashley.
For anyone who likes to bust open pretty animals and harvest their guts.
Release Date: 09/05/2008
Publisher: Microsoft
ESRB Rating: Everyone
Developer: Rare
Genre: Simulation
If you were into the first Viva Piñata and still think about those carefree paper animals romping through an Eden of your own creation, here’s some good news: Viva Piñata’s back, and it’s tastier than ever. “The handful of annoying and tedious actions from the previous game were rethought and streamlined, making everything smoother — and a lot more fun,” says Anthony Gallegos. Just don’t take a stick to the cat expecting Tootsie Rolls.
For fans who can’t wait to jump back into the ring.
Release Date: 11/09/2008
Publisher: THQ
ESRB Rating: Teen
Developer: Yuke’s
Genre: Wrestling
Michael Donahoe, our resident wrestling connoisseur, says, “Lots of improvements and upcoming downloadable content make SVR09 this year’s grapple-game champ.” With the ability to create your own finisher, record and edit in-game clips to make your own highlight reel, and play through seven different compelling storylines, it’s easy to see why Donahoe says this year’s game is “an awesome package any fan will surely want to grab.”
For the aspiring supersoldier who’s totally rad for “Rad.”
Release Date: 08/13/2008
Publisher: Capcom
ESRB Rating: Mature
Developer: GRIN
Genre: Action
The original NES Bionic Commando taught children their patriotic duty: If you see Hitler walking down the street, by god, you’d better blow up that fat head of his. Grin’s Xbox Live Arcade remake brilliantly pokes fun at the original game’s camp while still managing to provide an intense action game. “Rearmed is unquestionably Bionic Commando,” says Jeremy Parish. “It retains the classic level designs, which were brilliantly crafted all those years ago to provide an optimum challenge to a hero with no jump button.”
For those of us who think deep thoughts when we play Mario games.
Release Date: 08/06/2008
Publisher: Microsoft
ESRB Rating: Everyone 10+
Developer: Number None
Genre: Action
Barreling through Koopas without asking questions is good enough for some people, but for anyone who wants to explore the deep “why” of platformers, there’s Braid. This doesn’t just provide plenty of run and jump: It’s got puzzles and deep questions worth discussing over tea. “Excellent but intellectually limited as a puzzle-platformer, Braid is made truly divine with emotional depth and a bittersweet humanity — a monumentally relevant game that speaks highly of its creators and their potential audience’s tolerance for new ideas,” says Nick Suttner.
For anyone who needs proof to assure others (and themselves) that Duke Nukem exists.
Release Date: 09/24/2008
Publisher: 3D Realms
ESRB Rating: Mature
Developer: 3D Realms
Genre: Shooter
“This game was like a brother to me — a brother that cursed a lot and shared his porn collection,” says Eric Neigher. “And that’s why it’s so awesome to see the Dukester back in action, with a new generation of degenerate teens to corrupt.” Indeed, Duke’s blood-splattering, boobie-showing shooter goes back to a more innocent time, when moms and dads really knew nothing about videogames beyond Super Mario and Pong. “Spouting lines ripped off from your favorite ’80s movies, Duke boots alien invaders in the ass with abandon through four single-player chapters.”
For anyone who thinks arcades of the past were lacking in big noises and shiny things.
Release Date: 08/20/2008
Publisher: Namco Bandai
ESRB Rating: Everyone
Developer: Namco Bandai
Genre: Action
Galaga Legions combines old-school gameplay, thumping techno music, and neon-glowing graphics into a package that’s so hypnotic that you won’t notice your cat throwing up on your lap. Ryan Scott says: “With extremely high-quality games like Legions and Pac-Man: CE, it’s a wonder Namco Bandai hasn’t just flat-out established a retro-gaming imprint.”
For the wary student who doesn’t believe geometry can be both fun and genocidal.
Release Date: 07/30/2008
Publisher: Activision
ESRB Rating: Everyone
Developer: Bizarre Creations
Genre: Shooter
“How do you make a worthy sequel to a $5 twin-stick shooter that single-handedly defined the Xbox Live Arcade service and ensnared a generation of Achievement junkies?” asks Nick Suttner. The answer is Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2, which packs in more content, challenge, and character than its predecessor — all in the name of good fun. “The original Retro Evolved was a great early example of how much fun XBLA could be, and Retro Evolved 2 is a very clear picture of where the service stands now: It’s not sure where it wants to go, but it’s always, always entertaining.”
For people who want to choreograph monkey-in-ball death races.
Release Date: 12/12/2007
Publisher: Sidhe Interactive
ESRB Rating: Everyone 10+
Developer: Sidhe Interactive
Genre: Racing
“You’d be horribly remiss in thinking that GripShift is just another mediocre Live Arcade racer,” warns Nick Suttner, “mostly because GripShift isn’t really a racer at all — at least, not the best bits of it.” An XBLA remake of a PSP game, GripShift’s pedigree owes a lot to the likes of Super Monkey Ball and Marble Blast Ultra. Playing the role of a car (which sounds like a Choose Your Own Adventure book), you must race your way through treacherous courses. “GripShift is an excellent puzzle game that’s exponentially more entertaining in practice than description (and looks and sounds great, besides), and it needs you to really sink some time into it to understand the appeal.”
For anyone who feels that guns and beauty belong together.
Release Date: 04/09/2008
Publisher: Sega
ESRB Rating: Everyone
Developer: Treasure
Genre: Shooter
Ikaruga has a bit of history behind it — it was initially released in Japanese arcades before it hit the Dreamcast and GameCube, meaning a lot of gamers have overlooked it until now. “The twist,” says 1UP’s Ray Barnholt, “is that you’re able to change the color of your ship (and its bullets) between black and white and then absorb enemy bullets of the same color or hit enemies of the opposite color harder.” Sometimes beauty’s more than skin deep. “Changing colors and building combo chains doesn’t sound like much on paper, but adding a simple gameplay layer did a lot for a genre that wasn’t innovating very often.”
For the closest thing to a time machine you’ll ever get.
Release Date: 09/22/2008
Publisher: Capcom
ESRB Rating: Everyone
Developer: Capcom
Genre: Action
Ryan Scott says: “You’ll wanna break your controller in half at times, but clearing an arduous section’s extremely gratifying — and after every hard-won victory, subsequent trips are almost like riding a bike. MM9’s relentlessness molds you into a real expert by the time you reach the final chain of endgame stages, and you definitely need those skills to conquer the evil (spoiler, I guess, if you’ve somehow never played a Mega Man game) Dr. Wily’s fortress.” He continues: “MM9 is an unapologetic nod to one of gaming’s greatest eras. It might’ve been made especially for nostalgia-crazed dorks like me, but it’s something that any challenge-seeking gamer can dig.”
Despite its humble origins as a free Flash PC game, N+ manages to rise above the crowd and offers one the most fun, frenetic, and challenging experiences on XBLA. “With an aesthetically minimalist presentation, a lovable stick-figure-ninja protagonist, and some of the most engaging platformer physics ever, it quickly became one of the most beloved work distractions in memory,” says Nick Suttner. “There’s a fantastic amount of content to tackle with a friend, and it’s almost universally excellent.”
For those who know when to hold ‘em, when to fold ‘em, and when to make ‘em colorfully explode.
Release Date: 02/06/2008
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
ESRB Rating: Everyone
Developer: Void Star Creations
Genre: Puzzle
In retrospect, combining poker with falling-block puzzle games just seems so obvious. Somewhat less obvious is taking that simple brilliance, giving it lag-free online play, versus modes, and 55 challenge levels. You’re more than getting your money’s worth.
For anyone who wants another chance to pour sugar in GlaDOS’ gas tank.
Release Date: 10/22/2008
Publisher: Electronic Arts
ESRB Rating: Teen
Developer: Valve Software
Genre: Puzzle
Portal was one of 2007’s most well-received titles. Now players can return to the sterile grey hell of Aperture Science, take on 14 new challenge maps, and do what they must because they can. “By making the game available to a broader audience and including several excellent challenges (along with all-new Achievements), Portal isn’t merely alive — it’s stronger than ever,” says Andrew Hayward.
For anyone who missed their first chance with Rez (all of you).
Release Date: 01/30/2008
Publisher: Q Entertainment
ESRB Rating: Everyone
Developer: HexaDrive
Genre: Simulation
Sam Kennedy describes the original Rez as “one of the most critically acclaimed games of all time that nobody played.” This overlooked classic blends on-rails shooting and music into one of those delightful life-affirming experiences that never seem to come our way often enough. Rez HD adds style to style: “With its minimalist wire frame and vector graphics now free of any jagged edges, Rez HD looks spectacular — with not even a hint of date or flaw.”
For your inner child — the child who still loves stuffing shaped blocks in holes.
Release Date: 06/04/2008
Publisher: SouthPeak
ESRB Rating: Everyone
Developer: SpiderMonk Entertainment
Genre: Puzzle
Roogoo’s concept is simple: Rotate discs so that differently shaped objects can proceed through them unabated. But much like the Rubik’s Cube of old, it’s just not that simple. This is a hefty challenge that’ll torment puzzle lovers: “Its bright and cheery art style, adorably cute characters, and challenging play make this one of my favorite XBLA titles to date,” says Anthony Gallegos.
Street Fighter II Turbo: HD Remix has been a long time coming, but it looks like Capcom and Backbone have applied the last loving touches to those lingering drops of blood. It’s the action you remember from those summers you wasted in arcades and in front of your Super Nintendo — but with high-definition goodness. “HD Remix is deliciously retro…and we’re loving everything about it,” says Ryan Scott.
Games to avoid
Golden Axe: Beast Rider
Hack-and-slash action games are fun up to a point, but unless they’re really innovative, they quickly become button-mashing slogs. Like this.
Hellboy: The Science of Evil
Hellboy looks good for a soldier from the pits of hell, but that’s about all he’s got going for him in The Science of Evil.
The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon
Spyro games are usually filed alongside Crash Bandicoot games in the “I didn’t realize these franchises were still active” folder that we keep in the cabinet of over-extended analogies.
NFL Tour
“Budget buyers, beware: This half-assed rebranding and rethinking of the NFL Street series is one of the limpest sports experiences I’ve played in years,” says Todd Zuniga.
Pirates vs. Ninjas Dodgeball
A pirate walks into a pub with a copy of Pirates vs. Ninjas Dodgeball strapped to his crotch. The bartender says, “Buddy, you got a videogame stuck on your mast,” and the pirate says, “Arrr, it be driving me nuts.”
Too Human
“The game is simply schizophrenic; it attempts to be all things to all people and never succeeds in executing any of them well,” says Giancarlo Varanini.
WALL-E
We have a dangerous situation here. WALL-E’s a bland adaptation of one of the best animated movies in decades — but the game still features WALL-E’s lonely saucer eyes.
In keeping with the tradition, a weekend of power shopping fueled by countless irresistible offers follows the Thanksgiving binge on turkey and football. Even as the economy continues to flounder, the videogames industry has been going strong and publishers are counting on big sales numbers this season. Retailers are doing all they can to help by breaking out freebie filled flyers for the perfect retail storm we call Black Friday. So, whether you choose to brave the brick-and-mortar stores or hit Refresh constantly for some online shopping, we want you to find the best prices to save a little green. By scouring all the advertisements we could find and online sources like Cheap ass gamer, we’ve put together a collection of the best deals in hardware and software that you can expect this Friday.
Keep in mind that everything listed here is while supplies last, and for particularly cheap or rare items that’s not going to be very long. Game consoles are arranged by price, so you can find the least expensive deal right at the top of list. We’ll be updating this list regularly throughout the next few days to keep you updated to any new deals we discover. And if you see anything missing please call it out in the comments and we’ll get that included ASAP as well. Happy shopping.
Microsoft Xbox 360
$199.99 - Arcade Holiday Bundle with 20GB HDD and Wireless Controller (Circuit City)
$199.99 - Arcade Holiday Bundle with Rock Band 2 (game only) (Dell)
$199.99 - Arcade Holiday Bundle with Guitar Hero 3 and Wireless Guitar (Wal-Mart)
As it currently stands, Sony’s PlayStation 3 is available in a $499 160GB and $399 80GB setup, each of which packs the functionality of the now-discontinued 40GB package. How or why the console has arrived at these configurations is a matter best left to an accomplished novelist. The important point to note is that, to date, Sony has only officially enacted one price cut for its flagship console, which came in August 07.
Into the new year, however, PS3 pricing may be in for a change. Over the weekend, UK-based gaming site D+Pad reported on a number of Sony-related items allegedly leaked by an attendee of the publisher’s Staff Annual Briefing in London. The conference covered a number of topics that gaming enthusiasts would fall over themselves to know, including a paraphrased quote from Sony Europe president David Reeves that the PS3 “will be getting more competitive in price from March 2009 onwards.”
Microsoft may have officially taken the wraps off of Halo 3: Recon at the Tokyo Game Show last month, but information beyond what GameSpot sleuthed out shortly before this year’s E3 2008 has been in short supply. As reported then, the game will be a spin-off that resembles “a cross between Ghost Recon and Gears of War,” one that reportedly tells a “less cartoony” and “more bloody, violent, and grim” tale of a battle between UNSC forces and the pan-racial religious empire known as the Covenant.
That information was corroborated in part by Microsoft’s reveal at TGS, where the publisher said the game would feature a new hero and campaign. The game will apparently serve as a prologue of sorts, seen from the eyes of a UNSC shock trooper marine who has crash-landed behind enemy lines.
Now, the next wave of substantive information appears to be on the way, courtesy of the December issue of Game Informer. As reported by fan site Halo.Bungie.org, the magazine, which will hit newsstands shortly, has a 10-page spread devoted to the game.
While devoid of actual gameplay footage, the cover story does shed a bit more light on Microsoft’s carefully worded billing of a “new Halo 3 campaign experience.” Namely, Bungie design lead Joe Bertone says the game is “a three to five-hour expansion pack,” with cinematic director Joe Staten saying “we do not view this as a $60 title.” The article also claims that the limited-release Recon Armor will also be available to anyone who completes the Vidmaster Challenge achievement series.
Halo 3: Recon is currently slated to arrive exclusively on the Xbox 360 in fall 2009. For more on the game, check out GameSpot’s previous coverage.
Well I promised a follow up and here it is. Following the server rebound I signed in to make sure everything was on the up and up for tomorrow’s release of the expansion. Imagine my surprise when I found out that several of my Auction House posts had disappeared. If anyone plays WoW the way I do, they know that farming is an important part of making the gold you need to purchase those must needed armor pieces and weapons for raiding and questing. Well, when I started a ticket with the game masters for Blizzard, I was hoping to have a sure and swift resolution to this is headache. What I got was a deleted ticket and six hours of hard work lost. I have since sent a second ticket in to hopefully obtain some sort of justice. Whether or not this happens still remains to be seen. I CANNOT stand by and let these so called “game masters” ignore what is a genuine problem because they think maybe this guy is just looking for a gold handout. The truth of the matter is, I would be more than happy to receive the stacks of herbs back to resell on the Auction House. One can only hope that Blizzard, after realizing that their update has messed with countless WoWheads, will do the right thing and send not just me, but all those members that were screwed after this insanity, their deserved payday.
As every WoW player knows, Tuesdays are the bane of our existence. Each Tuesday, the servers go down for their weekly maintenance, usually taking between six and seven hours. This Tuesday, however, when the servers went down, they never came back up. That’s right folks. With less than 13 hours before the release of the Wrath of the Lich King expansion, World of Warcraft has been plagued by server issues no doubt relating to preparing for the launch. According to the in-game message system, the problems began with the mail system and then spread to the PvP system. As of right now, there is no estimated time for the servers to be up again. One can only hope that once these bugs have been alleviated, tonight’s launch will go off without a hitch. Should these problems persist, more updates will come as the information is made public.
Last month, Midway revised its estimated earnings for the July-September quarter, predicting its losses would almost double. Today, the company submitted its final earnings report–which revealed a shortfall even worse than last October’s grim estimate.
For the three months ended September 30, the company posted a deficit of $75.9 million, or $0.83 per share, on revenues of $36.7 million. That’s more than twice the $33.5 million, or $0.37 per share, the Mortal Kombat maker bled out during the same period a year ago. The larger loss includes undisclosed charges related to the cancellation of several unnamed but underperforming games based on licensed IPs.
Matt Booty, the troubled publisher’s recently installed permanent president and CEO, exuded determination in a statement. “During the quarter we executed on a series of strategic and financial moves that reinforce our commitment to developing games that meet clear profitability and scheduling goals. While some of those steps negatively impacted earnings, they were necessary to ensure we are better positioned for long-term success,” he said. “More importantly, we launched three high quality games, and completed the final touches on our highly anticipated fourth quarter releases.”
Midway believes its holiday lineup will slow its financial hemorrhaging. The company expects a per-share loss of $0.20 on $105 million in annual revenue. For the year, that figure increases to a whopping $1.78 per share on $210 million in revenue. If accurate, that annual per-share shortfall will be more than four times the current value of Midway stock, which ended the day at $0.43 on the NASDAQ.
One person who won’t be around to see Midway’s annual report is Shari Redstone. The daughter of medial mogul Sumner Redstone (who partially owns GameSpot parent CBS) resigned on Friday from her position as chairperson of the publisher’s board. She was appointed to the board in 2004, after her father’s company, National Amusements Inc., bought a controlling stake in the publisher.
When Halo 3 arrived in stores last year, Microsoft went all out with the collector’s editions. The publisher prepared three different packages for the game, the most extravagant of which cost $130 and came packed with a scaled-down replica of the Master Chief’s Mjolnir Mark VI helmet.
Microsoft today announced the details of its Halo Wars launch–including a February release window–and the Xbox 360 exclusive’s rollout is planned to be a bit low-key by comparison. The real-time strategy prequel to the first-person shooter franchise will arrive in standard and limited collector’s edition packs that cost $59.99 and $79.99, respectively.
For the extra $20, gamers who pick up the collector’s edition bundle will also get the upcoming Halo 3 Mythic Map Pack add-on of three new multiplayer levels, an extra in-game vehicle (the Honor Guard Wraith), six cards describing the game’s leaders, a “Spirit of Fire” crewmember patch, and the Halo Wars: Genesis graphic novel. Featuring the talents of Phil Noto, Graeme Devine, and Eric Nylund, the graphic novel tells the story of one of the earliest confrontations between humankind and the alien Covenant. Those who preorder either version of the game at select retailers will also receive a code for a downloadable in-game Warthog vehicle sporting flame decals.
Halo Wars is being developed by Age of Empires outfit Ensemble Studios. In September, Microsoft announced that it would be closing the studio after the completion of the project. Some of the core team members will go on to form their own independent studio, the first project of which will be to support Halo Wars after its launch.
Barack Obama to be America’s first black president
Historic victory for African-American senator as networks call election after record turnout at the polls
* Ewen MacAskill and Suzanne Goldenberg in Washington and Mark Tran
* guardian.co.uk,
* Wednesday November 05 2008 04.12 GMT
* Article history
Crowds gathered in Grant Park, Chicago, to await Obama’s speech
Link to this video
Americans tonight entrusted their fate for at least the next four years to Barack Obama, who made history by becoming the first African-American to win the US presidency.
Scenes of jubilation broke out among Democratic supporters as the US TV networks declared that the inexperienced but inspirational Democratic candidate had been elected president at around 4am GMT, after a momentous day that saw voters turn out in huge numbers.
As one state after another fell into the Democratic column, Obama clinched a transformational election, comparable to Franklin D Roosevelt’s in 1932, John F Kennedy’s in 1960 and Bill Clinton’s in 1992.
In an early blow to John McCain’s hopes, US television networks projected that Obama would win Pennsylvania, where the Republican badly needed to win to stand a chance of capturing the White House.
In another big setback for McCain, the Fox News network projected that Obama would win Ohio, the state that ultimately decided the 2004 race between George Bush and John Kerry.
No Republican has won the White House without Ohio. With Ohio and Pennsylvania in his pocket, Obama would be well on his way towards an overall majority.
Piling on the humiliation for the Republicans, Obama was projected to win Virginia by Fox News, the first time the state has voted for a Democrat in a presidential race since 1964, when Lyndon Johnson took the state.
Obama was projected to hold on to all the states the Democrats took in 2004, and win half a dozen or more of the battleground states that had been held by the Republicans.
The Democrat was also projected to win New Hampshire, Connecticut, Delaware, Washington DC, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts and New Jersey.
McCain was projected to win Oklahoma, Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia and South Carolina.
Despite the encouraging early results, the Obama campaign team urged caution, fearful that a late surge of voters casting their ballots on their way home might yet cause upsets in key states, as happened to the Democratic candidate, John Kerry, in 2004.
Fears that many white voters would fail, in the privacy of the polling booth, to vote for a black candidate appeared to be unfounded, suggesting that race is becoming less of an issue in the US.
Americans voted in record numbers throughout the day as they finally got the chance to turn their backs on eight years of George Bush and choose a new president after America’s longest and costliest election campaign.
From the eastern shores of Virginia, across the industrial heartland of Ohio, and on to the Rocky mountain states of Colorado and New Mexico and beyond, poll workers and voters reported long lines and waits of several hours in the most eagerly anticipated US election for half a century.
Turnout was at levels not seen since women were first given the vote in 1920. Election officials predicted turnout would come close to 90% in Virginia and Colorado, and 80% in Ohio and Missouri.
Exit polls gave Obama double-digit leads in states that had been bitterly contested, and on which the outcome depended. The odds had been stacked against McCain from the start, linked, as he was, to President George Bush, with his near-record low popularity ratings, hostility towards the Iraq war and an impending recession.
But McCain managed to hold his own until mid-September, when the Wall Street crash saw Obama open up a commanding lead.
The next president will inherit horrendous economic problems that will limit the scope of his ambitions. Obama, in his final rallies, was already tempering his early promise of change with warnings about how he would have to curb some of his more ambitious plans, trying to lower expectations that he would be able to move quickly on health care and education reform.
The stock market experienced its biggest election day rally in 24 years on expectation of an Obama victory as the Dow Jones industrial averages surged 300 points, or 3%, to close at 9,625.28 points.
Exit polls nationwide provided an early suggestion that it was going to be Obama’s night showing that the top concern of 62% of voters was the economy, the issue on which voters said they trusted him more than McCain and blame much of the financial crisis on the Bush administration.
Other early exit poll figures also appeared to be good indicators for Obama, with 57% saying they felt Obama was more in touch with them than the 40% who said the same about McCain.
Reflecting the intensity of the campaign, Obama and McCain put in a final burst of campaigning after casting their own votes. Obama made a final dash from his home in Chicago to neighbouring Indiana, which was Republican in 2004.
Reporters travelling with him reported that the candidate was in a subdued rather than celebratory mood, perhaps reflecting the news of the death of his grandmother on Monday. Obama told them that whatever happened, the campaign, the costliest in US history at over $1bn (£629m) as well as the longest, had been “extraordinary”.
Early expectations were of record turnout levels, with the morning bringing long lines at polling stations. However, exit polls later in the day saw voters under 30, the target demographic of the Obama camp, voting at about the same levels as in 2004.
That would be a disappointment for the Obama camp which had been hoping that young voters would buck the tradition of showing enthusiasm for a candidate and then failing to turn out on the day.
Exit polls did chart a rise in African-American turn-out.
CNN, based on the exit polls, projected that Obama would win Vermont, no great surprise as it is traditionally Democrat
Independent election monitors reported sporadic instances of delayed openings of polling stations, broken voting machines, ballot shortages, voter confusion and occasional abuse in a number of battleground states including Florida, Ohio, Colorado, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
The McCain camp raised separate its own charges of irregularities accusing Black Panther activists holding night sticks of standing outside Philadelphia polling stations in an attempt to intimidate white voters.
McCain also accused out-of-state Obama volunteers of casting votes in Florida, and of voters casting multiple ballots in Florida.
In the battle for Congress, the Democrats picked up four seats to increase their majority in the Senate to 55 out of 100 seats. Democrats were hoping to win a Senate majority of 60, the magic number to override blocking tactics by Republicans. In the House, the Democrats were looking to tighten their majority to 261-174, from 235-199.
This November, the Xbox 360 will turn three. So far, it’s been a profitable and successful system for Microsoft, capturing the attention of developers, snatching exclusives away from the PlayStation 3 and gaining lots of street cred from hardcore gamers.
But in spite of this success, Microsoft has chosen to make an aggressive, totally unprecedented step. They’re completely overhauling the Xbox 360 firmware with a free update called the New Xbox Experience (NXE) that hits consoles on November 19th. Functionally, it’s hiding at least one killer app. Visually, it’s a bigger jump than Windows XP to Windows Vista. Given that NXE is a mandatory update for anyone on Xbox Live, it’s a good thing we really, really liked it.
Navigation
The NXE Dashboard looks entirely different from the old sliding blade system. In fact, it looks a lot more Apple than Microsoft, with sharp image-based navigation and a subtle icon reflection on the Cover Flow-esque surface where 360 content sits.
And you’ll notice immediately, it’s fast. Animations are very smooth as you flick through content, with little to no noticeable caching. Those occasional hiccups from the old blade interface have been burped out.
You might not understand how to get around NXE at first glance, but after a moment the system sinks in. Despite all those pretty icons on the right, the primary folder navigation can be seen on the upper left. It’s a simple vertical list. Up and down changes your folder. Right and left selects the content from that folder.
• My Xbox is your home base, leading to your games, profiles, media libraries and settings.
• Friends shows all of your friends and their avatars.
• Inside Xbox links you to Microsoft-sponsored 360 videos, games and previews, from gaming tips to movie trailers.
• Events houses all of the scheduled 360 online events, like family play nights, “Gamerchix” girl nights and game-specific marathon play fests.
• Welcome introduces you to the main features of NXE, and it can be removed when you’re done with it. It’s the only folder that can be removed on NXE.
• Spotlight is sort of a mix of My Xbox and Inside Xbox. It’s actually completely superfluous given the other categories, as well as misleading because it looks so much like My Xbox with your avatar there. And yes, icon two is a Subway commercial—or any ad Team Xbox wants to serve up.
Get ready to once again plunge into the world of Azeroth with the soon to arrive second expansion for World of Warcraft! The improvements as appear in the beta are massive. Here are a couple of quick points:
The most famous weapon in Azeroth, the Ashbringer, has its story continue in the Death Knight opening sequence. Hopefully, this is a sign of things to come.
Most agree that certain key elements of the Burning Crusade lore were at times, fairly ludicrous. Based on the beta, putting the action back into Azeroth’s backstory has been instrumental in adding to the lore that was sadly lacking. Further exploring the mysteries surrounding the Kirin Tor, Dalaran, the fallen Nerubian empire, avenging blue dragon Malygos, and Ner’zhul himself is a lot more captivating than killing eels for mushroom men in a purple swamp!
Changes in itemization include the merging of spell critical and haste boosts with their physical counterparts. A lot of nice options are now available for the few classes capable of meaningful actions in both catagories. Death Knights, Shamans, and Paladins have the increased ability to take advantage of all of their class features now that focusing on one aspect of their abilities in talents and gear is less damaging to their other facets. This, however, could have PvP balance implications at higher levels.
Developers say they intend for Warriors, Druids, Paladins, and Death Knights to be fully capable to be main tanks, with only minor advantages among them for certain encounters. This helps raiders, as only the highest-end guilds have the ability to precisely pick their class loadout for any given raid.
Healers and offensive spellcasters will be taking a second look at their gear due to the consolidation of the attirbutes that grant additional spell damage and healing into a single bonus. With this change, playstyles for healing classes have opened up. Dedicated healers will have a much easier time soloing and assisting the damage-dealers in PvP combat. Now a healing-capable player can choose to focus on firepower with his talents and gear in order to throw down some reasonably effective heals in a pinch. The danger in this, however, is that hybrids like elemental Shaman and balance Druids could get a little bit too powerful in PvP. Its a little too early to tell, but for now it is a great boon to primary healers in that soloing and farming is vastly less painful.
Blizzard Entertainment is just over two weeks away from releasing the second expansion pack to its genre-dominating massively multiplayer online role-playing game World of Warcraft, Wrath of the Lich King. And despite increased competition this year from the likes of Funcom’s Age of Conan and EA Mythic’s Warhammer Online, Blizzard has managed to continue to stave off WOW fatigue to usher in that expansion’s arrival.
Today, the Irvine-based developer said that its worldwide subscriber base had exceeded 11 million. Adding a little color to that number, WOW’s citizenship would rank just higher than the total population of Greece, according to the Central Intelligence Agency’s World Fact Book.
As revealed in Blizzard parent company Vivendi SA’s recent financial reports, World of Warcraft has been on the cusp of hitting 11 million subscribers since July. Today’s milestone comes just over 10 months since Blizzard touted WOW’s 10 millionth subscriber in January.
As Blizzard uses a variety of payment plans in different countries, the publisher defines “subscriber” thusly: “World of Warcraft subscribers include individuals who have paid a subscription fee or have an active prepaid card to play World of Warcraft, as well as those who have purchased the game and are within their free month of access. Internet Game Room players who have accessed the game over the last 30 days are also counted as subscribers. The above definition excludes all players under free promotional subscriptions, expired or cancelled subscriptions, and expired prepaid cards. Subscribers in licensees’ territories are defined along the same rules.”
World of Warcraft subscribers hail from a number of countries and regions, including North America, Europe, China, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Chile, Argentina, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau. Most recently, WOW was launched in Russia and Latin America.
Fallout 3 begins with your character’s literal birth and ends with…well, that’s up to you. It might never end, should you opt to hit the (metaphorical) pause button on the role-playing game’s main quest.
What happens in between, from your formative years in the shelter of Vault 101 and well beyond your eventual escape into the irradiated, postapocalyptic Wild West outside, evolves via a nice mix of guided narrative and player choice. Help a townsperson kick his drug habit and you’ll earn good karma; feast on the corpses of your enemies in broad daylight, on the other hand, and people might think you’re a little weird. How you deal with the challenges of the Capital Wasteland affects what nonplayer characters will fight by your side, where your early quest-hub town is, and also some details about the game’s final chapter.
But it’s not just wanderlust and the search for your on-the-run scientist dad that compels you forward in Fallout. Like any RPG, character advancement is both a means and an end. While the leveling system in developer Bethesda’s previous game, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, was built on an arcane combination of attributes, skills, skill perks, specializations, and multiple class templates, Fallout 3’s mechanics are far simpler and far improved. You allot your attribute points at the beginning of the game, and when you gain a level, you earn a certain amount of points to spend on skills (Speech, Lockpick, Energy Weapons, etc.) and one perk of your choice. Perks range from practical stuff such as Life Giver (+30 hit points) to oddly whimsical abilities. Mysterious Stranger, for example, occasionally summons a trenchcoated, .44 Magnum-armed dude who kills your target and disappears, spaghetti Western guitar riff resonating in his wake. Spend skill points and pick perks accordingly and it’s easy to create anything from a plasma-rifle-slinging do-gooder to a computer-whiz cannibal.
Whatever path you take, peace and love have no place in the Fallout universe; a whole lot of mutants are gonna die. The Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System (V.A.T.S.) — pause time, target specific body parts — is fun and works well despite the severed limbs and decapitations served up in horror-porn slow-mo (and that’s without the aptly named Bloody Mess perk). And of course, assuming you don’t sink all of your skill points into Science and Barter, you’ll see real improvement in weapon accuracy and effectiveness as you level up.
You can only carry out so many actions at once in V.A.T.S., though, so some real-time combat in between V.A.T.S. attacks is inevitable. Here, Fallout 3 feels very much like Oblivion; it’s less precise and polished than a dedicated first-person shooter such as Call of Duty 4. Distractingly bad character animations — I’m talking man-on-the-moon jumps and running that looks suspiciously like ice skating — and occasional camera problems, especially when you have an A.I. companion, make third-person view an option for Fallout series-nostalgia fetishists only (of which exist plenty).
Fallout’s heavy emphasis on wholesale slaughter combined with a relatively small variety of enemies makes for combat that can get a wee bit predictable at times. The ubiquitous Super Mutants and Feral Ghouls both suffer from the same brand of chemo brain and love to charge into melee range. Until I picked up a plasma rifle and became a one-shot headshot machine, I’d start most indoor battles with some long-range plinking and then duck down a corridor, kicking in V.A.T.S. again for a point-blank shotgun blast or three at whatever bumbled around the corner. But then it does depend on who’s holding the controller, too — I watched other players around our office adopt a more Rambo-esque attitude, and while they lived and died from health pack to health pack, at least their finishing moves were more varied than my signature shotgun-to-the-face.
But it’s best not to get too hung up on the intricacies of gunslinging. It’s the world of Fallout that sticks in your mind when you turn off the game. The Atomic Age educational film iconography and paranoia-humor (see also: BioShock). Your first step into the big world, that seminal Oblivion moment when your irises adjust to the glare and you look out to the horizon and understand that you can go there, or there, or over there. And especially the quests, which sometimes push against the “that’s just too f***ed up; I’m not doing that” boundary and can shock and surprise you with unexpected or uncomfortable outcomes.
Fallout 3’s world can be a lonely world, too — and not just when you crest a hill and look out over a shattered, hardscrabble vista of sun-baked rock and burned-out cars. Sometimes you feel it when you’re the one pushing the boundaries and get an unwanted glimpse behind the curtain, like when I headshotted an NPC not just to watch him die but also to see what his bodyguard would do. The bodyguard continued standing there as though nothing happened. I had to shoot him, too.
If you seek to break the world, you’ll occasionally find a way — which is understandable, given the limits of time and tech — but it does pull you out of the otherwise broad and engrossing experience. Faults be damned, though; this is the kind of hugely ambitious game that doesn’t come around very often, and when it does, you’d be a fool not to play it and enjoy the hell out of it and look forward to the day (next-next-gen?) when the fidelity of open-world RPGs takes another big step closer to the uncanny valley’s far side.
Wii Fit has already sold more than 8.7 million units worldwide and has maintained a shockingly high sales run rate of about 225,000 units per week for the last few months.
At the same time, Take-Two Interactive Software’s Grand Theft Auto IV has dropped off the best seller lists with about 10.6 million copies sold, which means that Nintendo’s Wii Fit should surpass it in sales.
What’s driving this? Women. Nintendo realized that there was an untapped audience of “women and moms” (their words, not mine) that would allow it to expand the brand. This is counter to the traditionally male-dominated world of video games.
A blockbuster franchise for nearly a decade, Grand Theft Auto’s fantasy world of antisocial behavior has helped solidify a stereotype of gamers as 18-34 males, but the market has expanded far beyond that sector. Wii Fit’s success is the most prominent, emblematic example of that shift. And an ironic one at that: Every edition of GTA has aroused complaints over its portrayal of women. Yet this year, it’s women consumers who will help steal Grand Theft Auto IV’s thunder.
A number of casual game makers I have spoken with told me that their audience is primarily women. Maybe Nintendo has cracked the code for an emerging market.
Reports are popping up on 2K Sports’ NBA 2K9 forums that customers who have bought NBA 2K9 for the PC are having trouble because the Steam codes that are needed to activate the game were not included in the packaging. Our news guys are currently looking into the story but, if it turns out to be true, this is pretty much a disaster for the inagural PC version of 2K9. We’ll keep you posted as more information becomes available, as well as a news of any work-arounds or fixes from the 2K Sports side of things. Stay tuned…
[UPDATE] According to a post on the 2K Sports Web site, they’re aware of the problem:
If you recently purchased the NBA 2K9 PC title in North America, 2K Sports is aware of the issues with the Product Keys and is working hard on a solution.
Check back here for answers by end of day today. We appreciate your patience.
Stay tuned for more as it becomes available.
[UPDATE 2] According to the above posting, a solution is on its way:
If you are having issues installing NBA 2K9 for the PC, please know that a solution is forthcoming within the next 24 hours - likely much sooner - to alleviate any installation issues involving a Product Key. This solution will be downloaded automatically and seamlessly when you install your product.
Golden Axe: Beast Rider
Hellboy: The Science of Evil
The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon
NFL Tour
Pirates vs. Ninjas Dodgeball
Too Human
WALL-E
