Category: Video Games

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Video Games

Mass Effect

Mass EffectPicking up a used copy of Mass Effect for $15 was one of the better purchases I’ve made in a long time. This game is an amazingly well done sci-fi experience.  The music, graphics, worlds, aliens, and dialog were true to a traditional sci-fi movie.

The decision making that your allowed to make throughout the game makes for a very interested story. There many points where the story can go in completely different directions, with how you want to play it. Some of the decisions are pretty tough, with instances where either decision is a loss.

The voice overs are really well done. Especially with all the different alien races you encounter throughout your travels. If you own a xbox 360 and haven’t already played this already, I highly recommend that you do. After defying the odds and somehow saving the galaxy from the Reapers, I’m very much looking forward to the sequel in 2010.

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Video Games

Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift

Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Secrets of the Grimoire RiftEver since I played Final Fantasy Tactics on the Sony Playstation back in 1998, I’ve been addicted to strategy RPGs. When I heard that Square was releasing Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift on the DS, I pretty much circled it’s release date on my calendar like a third grader.

The game delivered as I expected it to. Tons of characters, jobs, classes, and lots of gameplay. I’m ashamed to admit how many hours this title has taken from me the past couple of months, but I guess that just shows that it is another well made game by the fine folks at Square-Enix. They addition of the seeq and gria races was pretty cool. The moogles are still my favorite, they just look funny to me. And ending every sentence with, “kupo” is pretty cool.

Not sure I ever figured out what a Grimoire of the Rift is exactly, but it was a pretty cool game.

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Video Games

Fallout 3

 Fallout 3
Been addicted to Fallout 3 for the xbox 360 recently. It’s a RPG shooter that takes place in a post apocalyptic Washington DC. It’s easily one of the finest games I’ve played in a while, probably the best game I’ve played this year.

The whole atmosphere of the game is amazing. The graphics, characters, and especially the sound really set the mood. From the eerie silence wandering the wasteland, to the various mutated beings that you encounter it’s very well done.

The control you have over the decisions your character makes throughout the story really add a unique dimension to this game. There’s so many different paths the story can go based on the actions you take.

If you own an xbox 360 or a PS3 and aren’t a little kid then this is a must play.

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Video Games

World of Goo

If you own a Wii then download World of Goo.  It’s a simple, yet addictive physics based puzzle game.  You move little gobs of goo from point A to point B.  Sound pretty basic, but makes for a very fun game.  I also found the humor to be very funny, especially the information superhighway stages.

The most amazing thing to me about this game is that it was made by two guys!  Recently it seems that you have to have at least an 8 figure budget to create a video game.  So to have a team of basically two able to churn out such a high quality game is really exciting to me.  It proves that with new avenues of content distribution it is possible to create and distribute a great game without having  a huge budget behind you.

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Video Games

Mega Man 9

Mega Man 9

My brothers and I grew up on the Mega Man games back on the NES. Unwrapping the latest installment on Christmas Day always brought a good deal of cheer. So when I heard that Capcom was releasing an all new Mega Man true to the original sprite days of the NES, we just had to purchase it via WiiWare.

The game is true to the NES days. It has the same graphics we remembered so well, the 8-bit great soundtrack, and many of the enemies we enjoying shooting so much.  The new bosses are impressive, including Splash Woman, the first female boss robot. A truly great game that stays true to it’s 8-bit roots.

However, let me warn you. This is one of the most challenging games I’ve played in a long time. It’s just down right hard. I’m not sure if I don’t have the same reflexes I possessed in sixth grade or they just upped the difficulty, but it sure is a challenge. Despite the challenge, I do highly recommend you give this game a try. Especially if you played the earlier installments in the late 80’s early 90’s.

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Video Games

Guitar Hero World Tour

 

Guitar Hero World Tour

Just picked up Guitar Hero World Tour for the Wii the other day.  Went with the Band Kit version.  That comes with the game, guitar, drums and a mic.  Figured it’d be cool to get 4 of us going at once, and be very entertaining to hear someone sing off key for a bit.

The quality of the instruments is very impressive thus far.  The guitars seems more natural to hold than previous versions and now includes a new fret bar.  Though I haven’t tried messing around with that yet.  The drums are very nice quality.  They’ve taken a pretty serious beating thus far, and have held up well.  They’ve been very responsive and durable.  

The game itself is very impressive as well.  The 80+ song list is great.  There were only a few songs I wasn’t familiar with, and none that I’ve really hated to play thus far.  Some pleasant surprises have been Eye of the Tiger and On the Road Again just to name a few.

The online and downloadable content are the best I’ve seen on the Wii to date.  I’m very impressed with how they pulled this off considering the Wii hardware and lack of a hard drive.  I wouldn’t think that a third party would be able to make such a slick online experience.

This game is at it’s best when played with four fools.