Game Reviews, System Reviews, and more....

[Delvyr]

OK here is the deal... I've started this thread as a "review thread" where people can post reviews to games they own and enjoy or tell us about what system they use and why they like it and some of the perks that come with it. Basically, this will help people who are interested in buying games or systems and want some fist hand accounts they can trust. So whenever you get a new game or system or hear about something cool going on in the gaming world, post is here to give other people the heads up. Prospective buyers may feel free to ask any questions that they have and hopefully someone will be able to help. I hope that this thread becomes useful to everyone and sparks some interesting conversation.

*IMPORTANT*
REMEMBER to have SPOILER warnings if you are posting ANYTHING OTHER than PURE SPECULATION!

A good game review site that I use is www.gamespot.com

[Delvyr]

Halo 3 and Halo Movie!

I think I'll break the ice

Halo 3 is due to come out sometime in early 2007. This is a big deal for long time Halo fans who have been anticipating this finale to the Halo trilogy since the release of Halo 2 in 2004. This action packed series has been number one on many gaming sites since Halo: Combat Evolved was released in 2001, and has been named numerous times "the best first-person shooter ever made". Two trailers have been released so far, the latest one giving us a glimpse into Spartan 117's (the Master Chief's) past. You can find these trailers at Gamespot, Youtube, or IGN. I will post a link to the trailers at the end of this post.

Along with the announced release of Halo 3, Microsoft has also told the public about their plans to make a "Halo movie". The project, directed by Peter Jackson, was supposed to be released in 2007, however; Universal pictures backed out of the project due to the huge expenses necessary to make such a movie. Do NOT despair, Microsoft has no intention of dropping the idea and are currently looking for someone to help back the project, they hope to release Halo the movie in 2008.

Hope this was interesting, if anyone knows anything more or finds something that contradicts what I have said, please post a message.

Feel free to post ideas about how Halo 3 will end or what the movie will be like. (please remember to have a spoiler warning if you are posting anything other than pure speculation)

Links to Halo 3 Trailers: www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/halo3/media.html
media.xbox360.ign.com/media/734/734817/vids_1.html

Link to Halo 1 and 2 reviews:
www.gamespot.com/games.html?type=bc&platform=1029&page_type=games

[dgan]

Good stuff, Delvyr.

I've been a Sony guy for life, so I haven't been able to make myself switch to the XBox. Mainly because I have all those old games I still like to play. But now with the PS3 upwards of $600, and Halo only being on Xbox of course, I have just about been pushed into it. I'll probably get the 360 and just hang to my PS2 to play my old games.

I'll post some of my favs a little later - get me on sports or video games and I will go on forever! (Actually...get me on any topic at all and I don't shut up...kind of like now...)

[Delvyr]

Gears Of War

Released by Epic games in collaboration with Microsoft, Gears of War holds all the promise of the Xbox's next big time shooter. In the month that it has been out, GOW has become one of the most played games on Xbox live - second only to Halo 2. I was lucky enough to be able to spend a couple hours playing it over the past few days. (I don't have an Xbox 360, but I'm going to buy one in Alberta after Christmas. NO PST WOOT ). The following is my MY experience play GOW at my friends house.

Gears of War is different from most shooters, because you play the game in third-person. It is sort of a mix between Halo and a Tom Clancy tactical shooter in the sense that you have to find cover behind anything you find. Rocks, rusty cars, pilers, walls, anything. If you aren't behind some cover, you usually end up dead pronto (especially on the harder levels). You can carry four weapons at a time:
-a type of grenade (smoke, frag)
-two "heavy guns" (assault rifle, sniper, etc)
-a personal weapon (pistol)
The levels vary from underground caverns to speeding trains, and every three levels or so there is a boss to fight. These bosses can't be killed by your primitive futuristic weapons, so you need to find an inventive way to give them their one way ticket to hell. All in all the campaign is exciting and unique, and although it is a bit short, the graphics, sound and online play make up for it threefold. Not to mention the promise of at LEAST two sequels.

SPOILER: Click to show

The Gears of War story line is based around soldier and traitor, Marcus Fenix. You begin the story in prison, but the enemy has begun to over run the stronghold and all the prisoners have been pardoned. You are saved by your best friend - Dominic Santiago (Dom) - and you are given the choice to have some training or get right into the fight. After being airlifted from the prison you are flown to see the other members of Delta squad. You are then ordered to go save Alpha squad, who have been pinned down by the Locust -an underground race that has been taking over your planet for 14 years. Alpha squad have "the resonator- a device used to map Locust tunnels, enabling the humans to blow them to smithereens. You begin as a private in a squad of four in search of this "resonator" and the survivors of Alpha squad.
for more information on the Gears of War story line go to:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gears_of_War

The online play for Gears of War is amazing, playing as the COG or the Locust a player can have three different unique game types.
-Warzone is your typical which ever side gets eliminated first wins
-Execution when you are shot in GOW online you have the opportunity to save yourself by keeping your heart pumping (a button). In execution a player must killed a player by curb stomping them, chainsawing them, sticking them with a grenade, or a point blank shot while the opponent is down.
-Assassination is the most interesting game type. Players must defend their leader, while they attempt to kill the enemy leader. If a player kills the leader, he becomes the leader of his team.

What is special about co-op play in Gears of War is that you can play split-screen or online. This enables players to finish the harder missions with help from friends even when they can't come over.

In conclusion the graphics, sound, game play, uniqueness and pure fun make this game a must try for every console shooter lover. Although it can get a bit gory (chainsawing enemies with you chainsaw gun causes blood to splatter on the scree, and grenades tend to dismember enemies) it is very well done and could well be the next Halo trilogy popularity wise.

9.4/10

[Delvyr]

for pictures and videos of Gears of War game play you can go HERE

Edited to make link better!

[dgan]

My understanding is that the single player campaign is only about 8 hours, so it is the online play that puts this game at the next level. Definately is one of the best graphically developed console games I have ever seen.

[Daae]

I just bought myself a PS2 and I'm currently playing through the Kingdom Hearts games (I actually played the second one first because I had a ridiculous time trying to find the first one). They are excellent games with great graphics and characters, and the best part is, you don't have to worry about little kids accidently seeing or hearing something they shouldn't. Definately the mark of a good game if it's kid friendly and still really fun for someone my age to play.

[CynanMachae]

My brother bought a share of a Wii with his housemates, and, being the big Zelda fan that he is, bought Twilight Princess. He claims that it is the greatest game ever invented for any console. With supposedly over sixty hours of playtime all told, he said that it has become a daily tradition to play it at his house.

I don't know much about it because I've not seen it, but according to him it's awesome. I'm looking forward to playing it on my next visit down there.

[Daae]

Heh, I think Final Fantasy XII could give Twilight Princess a run for its money. Maybe it's because I happen to be playing it at the moment, but holy crow what a game. I won't say much about the plot, because I can't really without spoilers, but the graphics are gorgeous, and I love the characters. Especially Balthier...mmmm, sky pirate with a British accent...and he could totally kick Link's butt.

[Delvyr]

Halo 3 release is being set back to late 2007!

However, you can get all the information you want about Halo 3
HERE

Edited to make link better!

[Delvyr]

NHL 07 for Xbox 360:

First off I'd like to apologize for neglecting this thread for the past couple months. I've been traveling around visiting family and trying to stay on top of school work at the same time. But I'm back ;D so no worries


NHL 07 is a sport simulator that simulates... you guessed it... HOCKEY!

Good Points:
-Every NHL team is well depicted with accurate players and jerseys
-Dynasty mode is very well done and simulates a real hockey season quite well
-New shootout mode
-EA Tournament mode lets the player play set up a tournament with either NHL or International teams.
-Skill Stick is AMAZING! Really gets you into the game and makes for much nicer goals.
-Many goals are more realistic then past years. Instead of having to do a one timer to score you can score a variety of different ways including shots from the point and breakaway goals.
-Xbox LIVE is very helpful in updating rosters and team performance.
-Games on Xbox LIVE are intense and fun, especially if you are in contact with the person you are playing.
-Multi player is still as cool as ever.
-Graphics are exceptional!!
-New salary cap helps teams be fair.

Bad Points:
-No create a team
-Load times can be tedious
-Goalies tend to make big mistakes which causes really disappointing goals
-Every third shot goes off the post or crossbar
-International jerseys are nothing like real life
-Games on Xbox LIVE can lag a lot and there have been problems with the games glitching back to last face off for no reason.


All in all NHL 07 brings you the game of hockey in a fresh new exciting way. The skill stick is one of the major reasons I love this game so much. It really feels like you are in control. GREAT GAME!

8.7/10

for more information on NHL 07 click HERE