Xbox One – One machine to change your living room forever?

Posted by Tiberius Jonez
email @ tiberiusjonez@gmail.com
Twitter: TiberiusJonez@GameJonez

Still a box, but a pretty one.

Depending on your point of view, Microsoft's big reveal yesterday meant different things to different people. Early opinions and impressions from around the net seem to range from “Holy Cow, that thing is bad-a$$!!”, to “Big deal!?” to “Where were the games?” and an occasional “Nintendo is dead either way!”. Regardless of your overall opinion of the presentation though, there is no denying, parts of it were pretty darn impressive while other parts were a bit underwhelming. Oh, and while they didn't reveal pricing or an exact release date beyond "later this year", they did show an actual final-design console and controller! Wink, wink.

On Sunday, prior to the big show, I speculated on what to expect from the big reveal and, as is par for the course, I was right about a couple things, and wrong on a couple others.

The name: Virtually everyone, including myself, seemed to think the name was surely going to be Xbox Infinity, but in what I considered to be somewhat of a surprising turn, Microsoft chose to go with the name Xbox One; the stated implication being that their new box is a one-stop-shop for all things games, TV and entertainment.

I found this interesting because prior to the Xbox 360 being released, several game journalists at the time suggested that, even though the console would be only the second offered by Microsoft, the company might find themselves at a competitive disadvantage if they named their pending console without alluding to the number "3" in the name, simply because Sony would surely be following them with their own third-generation console which everyone assumed (correctly) would be named the PS3. Surely, it was suggested, if MS named their console the Xbox2 instead of something akin to the eventual actual name, Xbox 360, the uninitiated (specifically parents purchasing for their kids) might mistakenly assume the MS machine were inferior to the competition simply because the name suggested being a generation behind.

While reflecting on the name Xbox One, it occurred to me the name suggests a couple things; first, that Team Xbox is now self-assured enough in their ability to compete with, and differentiate themselves from, Sony, that they are comfortable allowing their newest offering to be judged solely on its own merits, name be damned. Secondly, they are going ahead with their assertion that the name should be suggestive of the console's feature set, rather than what it may or may not suggest console-generation wise. Judging by the roar of applause from the audience in attendance, the console's name and physical appearance, which were revealed simultaneously, were both a hit.

Regarding the look of the console... I thought the Xbox One's physical design was simple, elegant and functional. However, I was more pleased by the 40 plus improvements they've reportedly made to the Xbox One controller, most notable of which are, 15% quicker responsiveness overall, and triggers that feature programmable levels of feedback. Whether this simply refers to force feedback, or, as many have assumed, something much deeper, such as different levels of resistance (say, for different gas and brake pedals of different cars) was not exactly spelled out. Point being, if they've managed to make significant improvements to what many already consider to be the most functional and comfortable controller on the market, then kudos to them!

Always on required or not: Confirming my expectation, the Xbox One does not require an always-on internet connect to function. However, you certainly reap the machine's greatest rewards by being connected. So, was this point a moot one from the outset? Certainly not. If Microsoft had “forced” consumers to have an always-on internet connection to function, the backlash would likely have been swift and severe, especially in the U.S., where consumers simply don't like being told what they can or can't or should or shouldn't do.

I thought MS demonstrated a keen understanding of the marketplace; by not requiring always-on internet they appeal to the “games only” crowd, while making it clear to those looking for a much more robust experience that if you are always online, then this thing has the potential to truly revolutionize the way you interact with all of your entertainment experiences.

A quick note about the new Kinect-centric Xbox One interface: what was most impressive to me and, judging by the applause, those in attendance, was just how intuitive and responsive it is in action. When Xbox Design Exec, Don Mattrick, in real time and using only his voice, switched between different functions of the Xbox One, going from playing the new Forza, to live TV, to a movie, to music, then to Internet Explorer and back to the Home page, the transitions were seamless and virtually instantaneous. This part of the demonstration made it clear that the Xbox One does indeed have some serious horse power under the hood. It was very slick and impressive.

The final two points I speculated about are so intertwined that it makes more sense to address them in tandem, rather than separately. Entertainment vs Games and Differentiating the Xbox One from the PS4: If you go back and look at much of the pre-reveal speculation around the net, the single biggest question for most people seemed to revolve around whether or not MS would take an approach focused on games and gamers or one focused more on overall entertainment possibilities. Additionally, I speculated that if it were true, as rumored, that MS intended to include a cable box in the Xbox One's hardware, depending on what features it made possible, that it alone could be a real differentiator for MS and possibly an instant game changer with the potential to tilt the field in their favor vs Sony, at least early on.

As it turns out, MS is indeed taking a decidedly entertainment focused approach with the Xbox One. That's not in any way to say it will be inferior to the PS4 as a gaming console, as some have suggested, we simply don't have enough information at this point to make a determination either way. It didn't help that at the reveal, very little actual game play footage was shown, clearly disappointing the crowd in attendance.

When they did show footage, which was clearly not in-game, but more likely replay footage, of the four new Xbox One sports offerings from Electronic Arts (Microsoft exclusives, by the way), the crowd's underwhelmed reaction was evidenced by a palpable moment of silence which hung in the air for a good three seconds. Game-play footage shown from a few other games, including the new Forza and even Activision's Call of Duty: Ghosts, was so brief that, again, it was nearly impossible to come to any conclusions regarding the Xbox One's gaming-only potential.

The one piece of game-centric news that did produce an instant and genuine show of appreciation from the crowd (and myself) was the fact that, of the 15 Microsoft-exclusive titles scheduled to be released within the first year of the Xbox One's launch, 8 of them are brand-new IP's. From the research I was able to do, no other console in any previous generation has debuted so many new, exclusive IP's in it's first year. The fact that the new next-generation Forza would be available at launch was also met with clear approval.

Converse to the underwhelming reaction to what little was shown of the console's games, when it came to overall entertainment, the functionality of the new Kinect-centric Xbox One interface combined with many new functions and features, including a new exclusive partnership with the NFL and real-time integration of fantasy league stats from all the major sports during live TV broadcasts, while providing just a glimpse of this new technology's potential, were impressive and well received.

So, what does all this mean in the early battle for market supremacy between Microsoft and Sony? Is it all just a lot of sound and fury signifying nothing? It's too early to answer that question. According to Team Xbox, we'll have a much better idea in just under three weeks when at E3, much more will be revealed about the Xbox One, specifically, a lot more exciting game-play footage and game related news and information.

Assuming Sony is prepared to show more of the PS4's features and functionality at E3, as well as an actual console, everyone should be in a much better position to start forming some concrete impressions and opinions of both console's relative positioning prior to their respective launches later this Fall.

For now, I would say the only clear winner is E3. With a bit of fan-fatigue setting in recently for the industry's annual blowout, anticipation of what Microsoft and Sony will show there now has gamers around the world once again pumped up for what could be one helluva show, and showdown.

So, what did you think of Microsoft's big reveal? Comment below and let us know. As always, thanks for visiting GameJonez and Game On!!

 

Xbox Infinity logo is fake, the name is not

Posted by Tiberius Jonez
email at tiberiusjonez@gmail.com

GameJonez has learned that the logo pictured below, and featured in a story I posted yesterday is a fake.

The Xbox Infinity logo is fake, the name is not.

Reddit originally posted the image in an article revealing the name Xbox Infinity. This is the second fake "leaked" image of a supposed new Xbox logo. While the image may be fake, the name Xbox Infinity appears to be real.

According to International Business Times: Sources related to development of the new Xbox have confirmed to IBTimes UK that the console, which is scheduled to be launched on 21 May, will be called Infinity.

I consider "launched" to be the wrong term; "revealed" would be a more accurate description of Microsoft's May 21 event. With any luck, all will truly be revealed then.

The console is expected to be released in November with two different prices available. Standard pricing will be $500, with a $300 version available with a two year commitment to Xbox Live Gold at $15 per month. The second option essentially ends up equaling $660.

I have to say, if this pricing structure is true, it's an ingenious move by Microsoft for three reasons. First of all, it almost surely undercuts whatever price Sony will announce for the PS4. Secondly, I suspect for an extra $160 over two years, the vast majority of consumers will gladly make the commitment to Xbox Live, something they're likely to subscribe to anyway, in order to save $200 now. Thirdly, that's $200 more in Microsoft's pockets. After all, where do you think that $200 is gonna go? Duhhhh!!, $200 represents three games and an accessory. Those guys in Redmond ain't no dummies.

$500 Xbox Infinity is $300 with 2 Year Xbox Live Contract

Posted by Tiberius Jonez

email at tiberiusjonez@gmail.com

This logo is fake

According to rumors on several sites around the net, (I'm not linking to them as they are unconfirmed) the next console from Microsoft, reportedly named "Xbox Infinity", is expected to be released in November with two different prices available. Standard pricing will be $500, with a $300 version available with a two year commitment to Xbox Live Gold at $15 per month. The second option essentially ends up equaling $660.

I have to say, if this pricing structure is true, it's an absolutely ingenious move by Microsoft for three reasons. First of all, it almost surely undercuts whatever price Sony will announce for the PS4. Secondly, I suspect for an extra $160 (significantly less if you already planned to join Xbox Live Gold) over two years, the vast majority of consumers will gladly make the commitment to Xbox Live Gold, something they're likely to subscribe to anyway, in order to save $200 now. Thirdly, that's $200 more in Microsoft's pockets. After all, where do you think that $200 is gonna go? Duhhhh!!, $200 represents three games and an accessory. Those guys in Redmond ain't no dummies.

Do you think this rumor is fact or fiction? My vote is fact. It sounds exactly like something Microsoft would do.

So, what do you think about this? Comment below!!

Simple math says Microsoft's next console is named Xbox Infinity?

Gamespot is reporting that the Nextbox will be named "Xbox Infinity". It's hard to argue when this visual shows the Xbox name next to a mathematical representation of infinity.

Yes, that figure eight is the mathematical equivalent to infinity. Normally, I might call GameSpot out for early conjecture, but, all things considered, I'm inclined to think they got it right this time. And I have to say...

I like the name. Infinity obviously suggests an infinite number of possibilities. The question now is, can Microsoft live up to such a name and the lofty expectations that come with it.

What do you think?

Comment below!!

As always, thanks for visiting GameJonez. Game On!!

GameJonez Blog is back by popular demand!

WELCOME BACK!!

Posted by Tiberius Jonez
GameJonez Blog Founder and Editor

Well, hello there GameJonez readers. Long time, no see. I've received quite a few requests over the last several months to write some fresh material and breathe some new life into GameJonez Blog. So, by popular demand, and after an extended absence, here I am, out from under my proverbial rock.

I want to thank everyone who has emailed me encouraging me to resume my participation in GameJonez Blog. After more than a two year hiatus, it is gratifying just knowing someone out there even remembers me or this little gaming blog of mine. As long as you keep coming back and commenting, I'll try to keep finding interesting things to talk and/or occasionally rant about.

So, here we are. The first thing you'll notice is our new look. I hope you like it. I doubt anyone will confuse GameJonez Blog with the IGNs and Gamespots of the world, but considering I'm only using free Blogger tools, I'm pretty happy with the result. I think the new look is more elegant than the old and most importantly, it's even easier to navigate. Each picture represents a story. Simply click and enjoy. All the old content has been preserved, and amazingly, some of it is actually still worth reading. With any luck, I will hopefully give you plenty of new reasons to stop by often. As always, I welcome and look forward to your comments!

So, where to begin...hmm. So much has happened in the world of videogames over the past couple years. In short, with the current console generation coming to a close, Nintendo seems to be fading fast, Microsoft is kicking butt in the sales arena and Sony is hoping to reclaim their previous status as market-leader as we move into the next generation of hardware this Fall. Meanwhile, PC gaming keeps chugging along despite an environment of rampant software pirating and copyright infringement and in spite of the naysayer's seemingly never-ending pronouncements of doom and gloom.

I finished Bioshock: Infinite and Mark of the Ninja a couple weeks ago. Both were absolutely outstanding for different reasons. Bioshock: Infinite, aside from being visually stunning, left me contemplating and discussing with others, it's controversial subject matter and compelling plot for several days after the final credits rolled. Mark of the Ninja was a refreshing take on stealth mechanics and the Ninja approach to combat wrapped in a package of slick graphics and uber-tight controls.

Everyone's favorite annual gaming event, E3, is right around the corner, and with new consoles from Microsoft and Sony on the horizon, it should be a whale of a show. All in all, there's certainly lots to talk about and we will get to much of it, in time. Over the next few weeks I plan to gradually work my way up to once again contributing to the global conversation surrounding gaming on a regular basis. For your part, I would love to hear some suggestions for topics you'd like me to explore or gaming related things that have been on your mind.

For today though, I want to briefly talk about my favorite past-time and, I assume, the reason you're here...playing games! Specifically, playing older console games on your PC. So, please, read on to the next post. And, as always, thanks for visiting GameJonez Blog. Game on!!

Alpha Protocol - hit or miss?

I can't lie. Alpha Protocol looks extremely overrated, but what do I know? That's why I rely on you, the GameJonez Reader to determine whether or not this game is a diamond in the rough or cubic zirconia. So tell me, is Alpha Protocol legit or illusion? Please comment. THANKS!

UPDATE 5/28/10: Apparently I wasn't far off with my first impression of Alpha Protocol. Gametrailers.com is less than impressed with the game. I doubt I'll even rent this one. RPG games that try to be shooters don't seem to work unless their name is Mass Effect.

Video Games | Alpha Protocol | Review HD

XBox 360 | Playstation 3 | Nintendo Wii

What's wrong with DLC?

by Tiberius Jonez

There's been a lot of debate during this console generation regarding downloadable content, or DLC as it's commonly known. Some people love it, others, not so much. I've always been of the opinion that DLC, like most anything, is great when done properly and useless, even insulting, when done wrong.

DLC falls into three general categories for me. First is expansion packs. To me, an expansion pack is new content that adds significant value to an existing title. New levels or missions in GTA IV or Elder Scrolls: Oblivion are good examples of expansion packs. I would even consider the map packs for Modern Warfare and Gears of War to fall into this category. These kinds of new content add potentially tens or even hundreds of hours to the original game's playtime. At $15 or less, I consider these to be decent to excellent values.

Next is original stand alone games like Shadow Complex from Xbox Live Marketplace or Pixel Junk Shooter on PSN. In fact, these are probably the two best examples I can think of of games that could easily be sold at retail, but are perfectly suited for sale as DLC. Again, at $15 or less, these games represent fantastic value for the gamer and a great source of revenue for publishers who maximize profits by eliminating packaging and all the infrastructure required to get products to brick and mortar retailers. By the way, if you haven't played either of these games, do yourself a favor and check them out - you won't be disappointed. These are two of the 20 or 30 best games to come out in the past two years in any format.

Finally, we have micro-transactions. This last category is where things get more dicey. This includes everything from new outfits for your Xbox Live/PSN avatar or Mii, to individual cars for Forza Motorsports 3 or EA's "unlocks" - such as paying $10 to unlock all the courses and equipment in Tiger Woods Golf without having to play through the game to "earn" them. Some of these, such as the EA unlocks, can represent a significant value. If I want to play Tiger Woods online competitively but don't have the time to invest 40-50 hours of offline playtime to level up my golfer, then the cash to unlock my character's levels and equipment would represent a decent value to me. However, offering me Horse Armor (pictured) for my Oblivion steed for 200 MS points is just silly. EA's offering to sell me the NFL Jersey of my favorite team for my avatar and charging $5 (400 ms points) doesn't represent a good value to me either when I can go to Walmart and buy a real Miami Dolphins shirt on sale for $7.

What actually bothers me more than the items offered as DLC is the way two of the three console makers price their offerings. Microsoft sells items on Xbox Live using "Microsoft Points", which are offered in 400 point increments. Each 400 MS points is roughly $5 real money. Microsoft recently changed the pricing structure of their DLC in response to complaints from customers. Previously, most items for sale on Xbox Live Marketplace were structured in such a way as to insure you were always short 100 points or had 100 points left over. It was basically a way for MS to force you to either forfeit that extra 100 points or buy 400 more points so that you could buy some other item. Nintendo uses their own "Wii points" price structure similar to Microsoft's points. 400 Wii points is also roughly equivalent to $5 real money. Fortunately, Nintendo does not seem to price items in the same way MS used to.

Why is it Sony is the only console maker with enough sense to simply offer their wares for actual real currency? It is simple, when I add $5 usd to my PSN wallet, I know $5 usd is coming out of my bank account and this simplicity actually seems to have the affect of encouraging me to buy more software rather than less. Plus, they price many of their micro-transactions under $1. I bought a cool hat for my PSN Avatar, and it cost me 38 cents. I thought it was a fair price and gladly paid it without hesitation.

I find the points systems used by Microsoft and Nintendo to be insulting. There's just something about the points systems that makes me feel dirty. I never feel like I know what I'm actually paying for any given item with those pesky points, and honestly, 1200 Microsoft Points just feels like more than $15 dollars to me, which may be part of the reason why I don't buy much add-on content through Xbox Live Marketplace.

As DLC becomes more prevalent, and eventually (a decade or more) all software is purchased via electronic delivery, it would be nice if all three console makers would just get into the mode of offering good values for real money. As the industry continues to expand their customer base, conventions like these "points" systems will only confuse new customers and potentially turn them off from DLC completely.

DLC can be a great tool for publishers and developers to increase revenues and extend the shelf-life of the games they create, while (hopefully) offering gamers more fun experiences at a good value. But, for DLC to reach its potential, console makers need to make the pricing of DLC simple and transparent.

Ubisoft ignoring Assassin's Creed 2 audio problems

by Tiberius Jonez

I was very excited to receive Assassin's Creed 2 last night. Unfortunately, after 5 minutes or so of playing, my excitement quickly turned to irritation and finally, complete disappointment. From the first cut-scene on, I experienced audio issues ranging from skipping dialogue to overlapping dialogue to a complete freeze of the game at one point. No, my disc is not scratched and my Xbox 360 Jasper Elite is working perfectly, thank you very much!

I really wanted to enjoy the game, but after an hour or so, the problem was so bad that it was impossible to follow the plot due to all the lost dialogue. The game is simply broken.

I researched around the net today, and sure enough people are complaining about similar issues with both console versions of the game. On Ubisoft's own forums, people are complaining and apparently Ubisoft's response is simply silence. There is no mention of a fix or upcoming patch to fix the problem. You can complete a work ticket on Ubisoft's forums, but no one has reported any progress or even an acknowledgment of the problem from Ubisoft.

The fact that Ubisoft, one of the most respected game developers in the industry, would release a game as big as AC2 with this kind of severe problem is fuel on the fire of gamer's reticence regarding the industry's move toward more PC-centric game development. Five years into this console generation and we still have game companies releasing games that require patches to correct problems that should have been addressed prior to release.

While I'm sure Ubisoft's board of director's will be happy with their stock prices next quarter, they may be whistling a different tune if the next Assassin's Creed is released to disappointing sales due to their complete disregard for their benefactors - namely us, the gamers.

If you've experienced audio issues with AC2, let us know by commenting.

Tritton AX 720 Gaming Headphones Review

by Tiberius Jonez

“The Unfair Audio Advantage.” That’s what Tritton technology’s website declares on the product page for their AX 720 Gaming Headphones. After using these headphones in Modern Warfare 2, can I honestly say it’s a fair statement? Read on and find out.

There are two major players in the Gaming Headphone space, Turtle Beach and Tritton. Turtle Beach seems to be the better known of the two; likely due to their long-standing availability at Best Buy stores across the land, but Tritton’s products are now also available through Best Buy and other major retailers. This, combined with the quality of Tritton’s product line could be giving Turtle Beach legitimate cause for concern.

Being Christmas time, I was given $100 to buy something for myself and I’ve been in the market for some decent gaming headphones for a while. I couldn’t stand the idea of buying another crappy Microsoft headset or some other junk from Madcatz or Nyko, so I started researching. What I found initially was that Turtle Beach is well-reviewed around the internet, with only sparse mention of Tritton. So, I ended up buying a set of X31’s from Turtle Beach for $99.99 plus tax.

I chose the Turtle Beach product because for $100, the X31’s are wireless and are supposed to do a decent job of mimicking surround sound with a stereo headphone. I got the X31’s home and at first glance, they seemed kind of cheaply made to me. They were light, which is normally a good thing in headphones, but they seemed a little TOO light – like they’d break easily under any kind of strain or abuse. I’m a hardcore gamer, so whatever I buy is going to take some abuse – there is simply no way to avoid it.

Once I got the X31’s setup and running, my impressions were mixed. On one hand I thought they were comfortable and the ability to adjust your chat volume independently of game audio was a very nice feature (the Tritton AX 720's also have this feature). Unfortunately I found the “surround” capabilities of the X31’s to be sorely lacking. While playing Modern Warfare 2 on the Xbox 360 I could hear that enemies were somewhere near me, but I had no idea what direction they were coming from. Worse yet, I experienced severe popping noises whenever either end of the cord attaching the headphones to the controller got jostled. For $100, I was very disappointed.

So, I headed back to Best Buy to exchange them for a pair of Tritton’s AX 720’s. At $129.99, the AX 720’s are $30 more than the X31’s and they are not wireless, but I had read a few reviews that gave the Tritton’s extremely high praise for their sound quality – which is always better with a wired product VS a wireless one. Unpacking the AX 720’s, the first thing I noticed is the build quality – these things just feel well made. They are larger and a quite a bit heavier than the X31’s but they look really nice and feel very sturdy.

Setting up the AX 720’s is a bit of a process. The unit comes with its own Dolby 5.1 amplifier that connects to your Xbox 360 Elite via the optical input. The amplifier is quite small and should easily fit in most peoples setups. The amplifier has it’s own power supply, so you’ll need to have a free outlet available on your power strip. Xbox 360 owners must have an Elite model to take advantage of Dolby 5.1, as it requires the optical input. By the way, the AX 720’s can be used for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC and will work great with any BluRay/DVD player or other audio/video component with the requisite optical output. PC users can use the included standard 3.5 MM connection for stereo sound as well, but you will miss out on the surround sound goodness. The cord running from the headphones to the amplifier is 12 feet long and should be sufficient for the vast majority of players.

I did have one hitch with the setup. The manual is less than comprehensive, and at first I had other players in my game complaining about a very irritating buzzing sound coming from my mic. My wife and I searched the internet for a solution and nothing suggested fixed the problem. Then I started messing with settings on the AX 720’s amplifier and stumbled on the answer. For Xbox 360 users, make sure you select 5.1 Dolby, headphone mode, and game mode. Setting it like this eliminated the buzzing being heard by other players. Now it was time to get to fragging.

Before I even started a game, I noticed the sound quality difference over the Turtle Beach X31’s. I have my dashboard set to the water effect. Low and behold when I turned on my 360 I heard water sounds and at first couldn’t figure out where it was coming from – then it hit me – it was the dashboard effect. I had never even heard it with the X31’s or from my TV's speakers.

So, I joined a game of Modern Warfare 2. I took a couple of seconds to adjust my chat volume and game volume to a nicely balanced level. This is accomplished with an inline volume control on the cord running from the headphones with independent volume controls for chat and game audio. There is also a mute button so you can speak to someone in the real world without annoying other players in the game.

Once the game started, I was instantly blown away. I heard a chopper fly in from behind me and then I started taking in all the ambient sounds in the game; bullets whizzing by, explosions near and far, and people scurrying about. I could not only hear all these sounds, but I could tell exactly where they were coming from – both the direction and distance. Explosions were full and powerful and every sound in the game was crystal clear and beautifully recreated.

What you want to know is, did wearing these things make me a better player? Normally, I'm a solid player in MW2, but I absolutely dominated with these things on. It was so easy to find a comfy camping spot and just listen for enemies to approach. This was especially effective inside of doorways. I would simply setup inside a doorway and wait for someone to approach, then just as they were about to enter the door I’d leap out and knife them.

The second match I played was on Karachi. Here I didn't camp, and I can't tell you how many times I avoided a death because I heard someone approaching from behind and was able to wheel around and take them out – much to their chagrin. Once the dust settled I was the top player in the match by a large margin. going 25-4; my best single match score ever. Oh my, the sweet gaming goodness. I couldn't wipe the smile off my face.

A significant side affect of using these is that it seems to make the game's graphics better. That's not to say the graphics are literally improved but it is astounding how much easier it is to spot enemies – especially distant ones, when you have audio cues pinpointing the direction you should be looking in.

This is truly something that cannot be adequately explained – you simply have to experience it for yourself to appreciate the added sense of immersion true surround sound adds to your gaming enjoyment. Not once did I find myself wondering where a shot or approaching footfalls were coming from – it really lent a sense of confidence to my playing that I would never give up now.

To be plain – if you enjoy first-person shooter games and don’t mind ponying up the $130, you will not regret buying the Tritton AX 720’s. I give them my highest recommendation.

PS3 Slim is a game changer?

by Tiberius Jonez

The worst kept secret in gaming is now officially outed. Sony announced the PS3 Slim to day; a smaller, lighter, more efficient and cooler PS3 with all the same features as it's predecessor. Using a third less power is a good thing, let's hope they improved the blu ray drive's reliability.

Does a smaller box and a much needed price drop make this a game changer for Sony? I doubt it. It certainly will boost sales this year, especially during the all-important holiday shopping season.

Microsoft needs to get Project Natal named and released sooner rather than later. From what I've read and seen, Natal is legit and if used properly, it could render the Wii obsolete overnight; at least in the minds of those gamers falling into the "XBox or PS3 for sure, and a Wii if it was a gift" crowd.

Blu Ray is becoming less of a draw for Sony as standalone Blu Ray players continue to come down in price. There have been no announcements of release dates for any Natal titles but all indications point towards a late 2010 release - holidays 2010?

If that is the case, Sony needs this year to prove most fruitful for PS3 sales. They could fuel that success by releasing more games designed to draw on the 360's success like Mag and Infamous.

I've been pondering a new PS3. This makes it more likely I'll have it sooner rather than later. I am super excited about Project Natal and a slew of good games coming to stores over the next 12 months. Next up, Forza Motorsports 3 and Modern Warfare 2.

This next year is going to be a good one for gamers everywhere.

A salty Brit's take on E3

by Brendan Rose

With E3 wrapping up, I thought I'd talk about some of the new games I think looked cool, as well as the games I think seem crap or that I'm indifferent towards as well as the new motion controls for the PS3 and Xbox.

Okay first up, Mass Effect 2, now I think this looks really cool. You can bring your old character over to the new game, and if you die you don't get to bring them over into the third game. It's supposed to be darker than the first Mass Effect, which is cool because it was kind of lame. I just sat around waiting the entire game for the lesbian sex scene with the blue alien girl, but it was a lot of fun, and I really liked the psychic powers. They've revamped the graphics and the combat, and you can now wound and cripple the enemy. It looks cool

Alright next we've got Bioshock 2, it seems really neat from the footage I've seen. Everybody knows this time around you get to play as a big daddy, with the proper drill. Slower this time, more lumbering, more powerful, and they've got the big sisters there to set up some good dynamics. It looks ok.

Heavy Rain, seems really cool. It's got the branching plot lines. If you die as one character you just switch to one of the others and the plot adjusts, and it just looks like it's got a lot of potential. I'm not a fan of those stupid quick-time events where you have to press a certain button fast enough to keep the scene going. I hate that. But it seems interesting enough for that not to matter.

Dead Rising 2 is going to be awesome. God of War III seems pretty good from the footage I saw. Everyone's pretty hyped about that game. I never played the God of War games, but I'll definitely try it out. Then there's Final Fantasy XIII and now XIV which will be online. Not much to say about that. I like the look of the new game, and VS sounds awesome.

Flashpoint 2 seems to be rolling along well and looks cool, if they ever release it. Left 4 Dead 2, looks exactly like the first game, which isn't exactly bad, I'll buy it, and some new maps would be fun. Then there's Halo ODST, I'd like to play another Halo. Looks ok.

Assassin's creed 2 seems neat with some new features, better assassinations. It looks like it could be fun. Brutal Legend seems kind of funny. Jack Black... Probably a stupid game, but I'll buy it just to have a look. New AVP, could be fun, if they get it right. Batman Archam Asylum is something I will take a look at later along with Crackdown 2.

Now moving onto the intermediate games there's MAG which seems interesting with 250 or so players. Dark Void just keeps floating around. Some Knights of the old republic game, others liked the earlier one. And then Lost Planet 2 which has fancy graphics and lots of neat action and open areas and big scary monsters to fight but I just look at it and I feel nothing. I feel dead inside.

Then the games that just look like festering shit. First, Uncharted 2. My god, can someone please kill the hype surrounding this miserable looking tomb raider thing. It looks so boring and stupid it makes me want to barf on a child. Modern Warfare 2, I have no interest in...none. I understand people love the first Modern Warfare, but I've never understood it. So, go ahead and let the flaming begin.

The Beatles Rockband will probably sell a lot of copies, but not to me. No way in Hell. And then there's some fucking Metal Gear thing going on... Some stupid shit... Looks like Metal Gear on Xbox. I really don't care

Then finally, these new motion controls, which I hope will strangle the last gulps of life out of the Wii like a boa constrictor on a stray duckling. First the PS3 has a motion controller set for 2010 release that looks at least as good as the Wii motion plus. And then the Xbox has this.... Magic thing....Project Natal. They just showed a weird trailer. If it lives up to the trailer it could be cool. No controller required. It scans your body with two cameras and tracks your movements in 3D, and it responds to voice commands. Could be cool if it works I guess. So the Wii has no power and no games at all, and whatever the Wii control once offered, is now available on a better system with real graphics, If they get it right.

So anyway that's what I thought of E3. Kind of cool. Like a nerd mecca.

TJ's Flashback : Xbox 360 vs PS3

by Tiberius Jonez

TJ's Flashback is a look back at unedited comments I've made online about gaming over the past decade. Sometimes they are amusing, sometimes I take pride in their accuracy, and once in a while they are a bit embarrassing.

What I thought at the time...

May, 2007 on 1UP.com

I liked it (my PS3) the first couple weeks I had it. The GT demo and Resistance kept me occupied for a little while. But then they got old, Motorstorm was utterly disappointing and anything else worth having (LAIR? blech!) won't be out until at LEAST 2008.

At that point it actually made me angry to look at the PS3 console everyday. This mammoth black box sitting on my desk taking up space without delivering anything to make it worthy of it's place next to my Xbox 360. I bought one Blu-Ray movie - Invinceable. Honestly it didn't look much better than regular DVD. Not enough so to make it a selling point, that's for sure. So, I listed on EBAY, sold it for $800 with the games and movie and put the money towards a new gaming PC.

Holidays 2008, when (if) the PS3 finally has some compelling software AND a significant price drop, I will consider buying one then.

But right now, you have to be a major Sony Fanboy or Sony Drone or just plain stupid to think the PS3 is a better gaming system than the Xbox 360 RIGHT NOW and for the remainder of 2007.

Beyond that we'll see. But right now Xbox 360 is the clear best of class. The Wii doesn't even count...it's not in the same class as either the PS3 or 360..

What I think now...

April 2009

If a friend asked me today which console to buy if he can only buy one, my answer is still Xbox360. When it comes right down to it, it's about the games, and in that respect Xbox has it hands down on the PS3. While Killzone 2 helps to give the PS3 some legitimacy, Sony has a long long way to run to catch Microsoft in terms of quality game library.

E3 2009 - PS3 fighting Xbox at home

by Tiberius Jonez

It's that time of the year again, when, fueled by energy drinks, gamers gorge themselves on reams of hype and participate in reckless speculation about everything and anything related to video games..it's E3 time.

The Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) is arguably the Superbowl of the gaming industry. If you're a developer introducing a new IP or a sequel to a beloved franchise, then E3 is where you want to make that presentation...and the stakes are high. Succeed, and you're guaranteed six months to a year or more of passionate free publicity from game magazines and bloggers from all over the internet. Blow it, and you're guaranteed at least that much negative press and badmouthing, a marketing blow too damaging for many to overcome.

Leading up to E3, I will be looking for interesting tidbits of news and information pertinent to E3 and all that it represents.

So, I was thinking to myself after reading some previews of Sony's upcoming games, that they were games I would expect to see on the 360. Then I stumbled upon an excellent article on how Sony is taking the development game to Microsoft on the PC giant's home turf.

If Sony would come to grips with their need to emulate Xbox Live, they could potentially swing market momentum in their favor. The timing is good for such a move as Microsoft is presently waging war in Europe, possibly leaving themselves vulnerable to a flanking maneuver by Sony.

InFamous and MAG both show a lot of early promise, but it remains to be seen which they will end up being compared to more, Killzone 2 or Stormrise. Read the full story here.

PS3 losing UK race vs Xbox 360

Slow and steady wins the race, right? Sony hopes so, as the PS3 continues to struggle in the UK.

According to UK retailer Game, Nintendo's Wii remains number one in terms of console sales with 4.9 million units sold. The Xbox 360 is a strong second, having moved 3.2 million units, while Sony continues to pull up the rear with 1.9 million PS3's sold in the UK since it's release a little more than two years ago.

Those numbers absolutely pale in comparison with those of Nintendo's DS. The big "N" continues to print money with the touch screen sensation, having sold a staggering 8.8 million units.

The PS2 is still alive and kicking in the UK as well, having just passed the 10 million mark in the UK.

These numbers lend credence to Microsoft's declarations earlier this week that they intend to once again turn their strategic focus to Europe, following up on an earlier UK push back in 2007. Microsoft this week declared victory over the PS3 in the U.S. and said it was time to focus resources and regionally targeted marketing strategies in an effort to essentially end the battle for the UK market.

Springing Gaming Forward

By Tiberius Jonez

It's April. The birds are chirping, warm breezes are blowing and here in Minnesota, people are spending more time outdoors and less time on their couches playing video games. Of course I'm not most people. Sure, I'm enjoying the Spring weather with plenty of time on the basketball court or playing softball, but I'm still getting my daily recommended allowance of gaming. With its predictable lack of new releases, Spring is a good time to catch up on games you've missed previously, and like a good multivitamin, your daily gaming diet should include a variety of nourishing ingredients.

I've been playing a smorgasbord of different games lately. I recently started playing Call of Duty 4 again after my best buddy recently bought an Xbox 360. He is addicted, and I am happy to feed his addiction with a steady diet of Headquarters and Hardcore Search and Destroy matches via Xbox Live. After a six month hiatus from the game, the truth that there is no better first person shooter on the market has been reaffirmed in my mind.

The Last Remnant has seen considerable time in my PC-DVD Rom drive and I am thoroughly enjoying it's beautiful scenery and lively combat. TLR's story is quite enjoyable too, but I really keep playing just so I can see the beauty of the next unexplored area. Honestly, this is the most fun I've ever had with a Japanese style RPG.


Fable II rounds out my big three of the Spring so far. I know the game's been out for a while, but when you play as many games as I do, you don't always get to try EVERY new release right away. In truth, I'm glad I had to wait this long to play Fable II. While I've been looking forward to playing it for a while, I did have some reservations about it. I have a long and star-crossed relationship with Peter Molyneux games, beginning with the original Black and White and continuing with Black and White 2 and the first Fable. Prior to their respective releases, I had huge expectations for these games, partly due to Molyneux's own marketing promises, and partly due to the hype propogated by my fellow game journalists. While I enjoyed all of them to differing degrees, I was also disappointed by each of them in different ways. So, while I was sure I would enjoy Fable II, I expected to be disappointed by it
on some level.

After five days of playing it, I can honestly say I've thoroughly enjoyed Fable II with very few downer moments. My only real complaint with the game is the menu system. Some actions require too many repeat trips into the menus, which tend to open a bit slowly. Other than that, the action, story, graphics and music of Fable II are all top notch.

The graphics deserve an extra mention. Walking through the world of Albion is a treat for the eyes at every moment. Aside from the occasional drab cave, the environment is stunning. I love that the game features day/night cycles, I only wish they were longer. An Albion day passes in five real world minutes, which is too short when you are enjoying a particularly beautiful sunset over Bower Lake.

The combat is greatly improved over Fable I, as is the overall story. If you haven't checked out Fable II, you owe to it yourself to play it.

I have other games on the back burner biding their time to get some time in my 360 or PC and I recently got Metal Gear Solid mobile which I've only played long enough to get through the VR training. I will have an update, and full review posted in the next couple weeks for MGS mobile.

Enjoy the warm weather and keep on gaming!

The Last Remnant PC review

By Tiberius Jonez

Final Fantasy; unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past ten years, you know it is widely considered the crown jewel of Japanese style role playing franchises. Personally, I never really enjoyed it until the release of Final Fantasy Crisis Core for the PSP. I always found the stories utterly clichéd, the combat tedious, and the graphics to be less than stellar, except for the cut scenes. And I’ve never personally understood the Japanese penchant for creating male heroes that look like 12 year old girls. Never mind the endless grinding and random encounters.

So, imagine my apprehension when I read that The Last Remnant, the latest attempt by Microsoft (the game first appeared on the Xbox 360) to tap the Japanese RPG market, was created by Final Fantasy developer Square Enix.

The Last Remnant makes a very good first impression; the opening cut scene is dramatic and full of excellent eye candy. In this scene, we witness the kidnapping of our hero, Rush Sykes’ sister, Irina. Of course, the kidnapping is just the tip of the iceberg of a much broader reaching political intrigue in which our hero will eventually find himself deeply embroiled.

The story is alright. Though it never quite reaches the level of fine literature, it does have some dramatic moments, some touching moments and the occasional plot twist that might actually surprise you.

My favorite part of the game is the combat. The Last Remnant's battle system is unique, though it will likely be several hours before you truly appreciate its intricacies. Rather than controlling individual party members during combat, you recruit leaders and soldiers, and group them together into unions. Although each unit has his or her own stats, equipment, and arts (the game's versions of spells and combat skills), you issue union-wide, turn-based commands on the field. Whereas in most RPGs you choose very specific actions, such as casting a particular spell or using a particular item, in The Last Remnant you choose broader commands. These may include healing unions that need it; performing mystic arts (though you can see which arts the units will use, you can't micromanage them on a unit-by-unit basis); or summoning Rush's awe-inspiring, beautifully designed Cyclops to assist in battle. It should be noted that the combat feels most comfortable with a gamepad, especially an Xbox 360 controller. While the combat is certainly functional with a mouse and keyboard setup, it is clear the system was designed for a gamepad.

Another thing I could never quite get used to, and one that is common to JRPGs is how, even though you are traveling with a large group of people, you only ever see your own character while exploring the world. Your allies are only apparent when engaged in battle. You've just completed this epic battle, and a split second after it ends, here you are all by yourself. I find this design choice to be slightly jarring.

The battle system is quite deep, and the graphical effects and animations are all very well done, and never become boring. The same can’t be said for the repetitious one-liners that Rush utters before each encounter. After a while, I desperately wished for a way to shut him up and just start the next encounter.




The world presented in the game is stunning to look at, and considerably larger than that found in the Xbox 360 version. While you will travel through many varied types of terrain, they all feel connected and reasonable within the game’s “reality”. There is the occasional texture pop-in, but overall the game's visuals are vastly improved over its Xbox 360 counterpart. Frame rate drops are very rare. One problem, and this is nitpicking, is the animations of some of the characters during in-game conversations. Some of the body language is just plain strange. It’s hard to explain, but you’ll know it when you see it. It’s not enough to detract from the overall enjoyment of the game, but it does occasionally end the suspension of disbelief that is the hallmark of any great game, film, or book. I do have to consider it a slight hit to the game’s otherwise excellent presentation.

The Last Remnant is a very long game, even if you don’t choose to explore every side quest and nook and cranny. Thankfully, the music is excellent throughout. Every area of the world has its own theme, and the music in battle is always rousing and never gets stale. The voice acting is generally very good, but there are occasional awkward moments.

Overall, the technical improvements Square Enix made to the PC version of The Last Remnant render it far superior to its Xbox 360 cousin, and make it one of the most enjoyable RPG games around, and one that any fan of the genre should make a point to experience.

Presentation (8)
Graphics (9)
Sound (10)
Gameplay (9)
Lasting Appeal (7)
Overall 8.6

Halo Revisited

by Tiberius Jonez

In November of 2001, Microsoft released the original Xbox, and the game touted as the console's "killer app" at launch was Halo. Halo was a trend-setting game in many respects, such as the auto-recharging shield, which has been adopted by virtually every major shooter since, in the form of auto-regenerating health systems like those used in Gears of War and Call of Duty. It was also the first major game to limit you to carrying two weapons at a time. Another first was the Warthog, Master Chief's favorite armored 4X4. Halo was the first game I can remember to present driving in a shooter in an accesible, fun and satisfying way.

At the time of its release, the Xbox was far superior, technically, to the Playstation 2, and Halo showed us exactly what the new-kid-on-the-block console could do; and the results were stunning; no game had ever looked this good. The first time you emerged from the drop ship and stepped into Halo's ring world is a moment permanently etched in the minds of many gamers. The Xbox was the first console to include a hard-drive, and as such, programmers were able to stream information from the hard-drive, lightening a considerable load for the processor and RAM. The ability to stream from the hard-drive allowed Halo to become the first single-player game to offer an entire game world free of loading screens, so there was nothing to pull you out of the experience; an absolute technical marvel at the time.

While Halo was a trend-setter, it was also just plain fun. It was the first console game to spawn a serious LAN party following; something previously reserved for blockbuster PC titles. In fact, before Xbox Live was even born, loyal players had already figured out a way to play Halo online using their PC's and "tunnel" software. I admit, I used the Xbox Tunnel software to play Halo online with my brother. Even though it was a less than smooth online experience, when it worked it was great fun, and it gave us a taste of things to come.

Sure, it took PC veterans a while to adjust to using a controller in a shooter...but Halo proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that a console shooter with a gamepad control scheme could work, and work well. Seven years later, I now prefer an Xbox 360 controller over a mouse and keyboard anyday.

I recently installed Halo on my PC to see what I thought of the game today, and somewhat to my surprise - it holds up amazingly well, even by today's graphical standards. The animations are excellent, the textures, while not high-res by today's standards, are bright and crisp, and the environmental effects like flying dirt, smoke and muzzle flashes still look very nice.

What made Halo the complete package was its story. Bungie crafted a legitimate sci-fi masterpiece that told an imaginative and well-written story using strong dialogue and the occasional plot twist. It didn't hurt that the game's voice-acting was universally strong...for once voice acting didn't make you cringe - quite the opposite - even today, Halo's voice work sucks you in and keeps you there for the duration.

Some may say the end portion of the game is cheap by virtue of the fact that you essentially play the game's levels in reverse. But in reality, it sticks with the story - you have to go in deep to complete your objective, and you have to get your ass back out of there in one piece to escape.

Another area in which Halo excelled was enemy A.I.. Few games today can match the cunning and unpredictablilty of Master Chief's many foes.

Aside from the weak story, many Xbox fans consider Halo 2 to be the better game, but not me. Sure, Halo 2 had it all over the original in terms of online play, with its fantastic matchmaking and bazillion game types. But the original Halo set the stage for that game and Halo 3 as well as virtually every other online shooter released since on any platform, both in terms of gameplay and presentation.

More than seven years after its original release, I enjoyed Halo as much today as I did then, and in some ways I enjoyed it more now, mainly due to the new respect and admiration gained with the perspective of time. If you've been living under a rock since November, 2001 and have somehow never played Halo, please, do yourself a favor and play it now. I guarantee you will have some fun, whether you play it on the Xbox, Xbox 360 or the PC.

Left 4 Dead at a glance

by Brendan Rose

The surprise hit of 2008, and an instant classic for me, was definitely Left 4 Dead by Valve software, makers of the archaic masterpiece Half Life. Half Life spawned games like Team Fortress 2, Counterstrike, Half Life 2 and eventually the evil and draconian Steam, which often refuses to let you play a game even though you’ve already paid for it.

Left 4 Dead is a Co-Op zombie shooter modeled on a movie theme. The zombies are kind of like those from 28 Days Later, really wild and crazy running at you slavering and screaming for blood, trying to rip your throat out when they notice you, and just standing around staring off into space when they don't.

L4D features 5 boss zombies. The Boomer, a bloated fat zombie barfs or explodes, sending a hoard of lesser zombies to kill you. The Smoker, like the licker from Resident Evil, constricts you with its tongue and drags you away to eat or strangle. The Hunter moves quickly and dives at you to tear you to shreds with his hands. The Witch cries until she's startled and then rips you apart. The Tank slaughters everyone half the time; you really need to stick with your team or you'll find yourself swarmed, restrained, and dead pretty quickly.

All the monsters and most items are placed randomly by the AI director, ensuring that every outing through the four chapters of screaming infected, each containing five levels, always feels fresh and new.

The game also features a versus mode where two teams face off as either the Zombies or the Survivors.

There is no way to express the joy of ditching your three stupid friends as they die in a hoard of zombies, overcome by their own dumbness, while you escape unscathed. Left 4 Dead features crisp live voice chat (or garbled gibberish on 360), swarms of enemies, and is really one of the most fun games of the year. I bought it twice, so I can easily recommend that you buy it once.

Far Cry 2 at a glance

By Brendan Rose

I wasn't particularly excited about Far Cry 2. It was released along side a slew of other more interesting titles and it was one of the last that I picked up. I played through the start, wasn't really impressed, got frustrated hunting diamonds, and gave up. That was it for a while. But after sitting down with it, sometime around the point I'd just wiped out an enemy unit and blew up a fuel tank which set fire to the grass that spread all through the area as I drove away, I realized, I love this game.

The graphics are rich and colorful; the African landscape looks great, ranging from dry plains to lush green jungles. It's a very pretty game. Not as pretty as Crysis, and I was disappointed that destructible buildings didn't make it over for instance, but at least it doesn't abuse and debase your computer like Crysis does.

Sure the story is crap, and it's just repetitive shooting and driving from place to place, but it's fun. The action is solid and the graphics are pure and beautiful. It’s one of the nicest looking games I've played, and it looks even better on the PC. The fire physics are the best I've seen in a game so far. It's also just plain cool to see your character pull a bullet out of his leg with a knife. It's a well rounded, polished, balanced and fun action shooter. The landscape is detailed and full of color and life, and it's funny to run over a gazelle.

Far Cry 2 is said to be a sequel in name only. It carries over none of the story or mutant powers of the first game. You are dropped into an unnamed African nation in the middle of a civil war and your mission is to track down and kill the arms dealer supplying both sides. The plan goes sideways as you're overcome with malaria and you have to start doing missions for either side for diamonds to buy weapons, and help the underground for malaria pills.

The AI is passable but nothing to scream about and there is the issue that you will be fighting the exact same enemies, time after time for the rest of the game. Most of the variation centers around your choice of weapons, and there's plenty. the game also includes a map editor.

There's not much depth to be found in Far Cry 2, but what it does, it does well. If you like first person shooters, it's worth a look.

Watch the video below for a taste of Far Cry 2's eye candy.

Fallout 3 - Game of the Year

by Brendan Rose

Fallout 3 is the next in line of the classic series of games from the nineties that allowed you to wander a post apocalyptic wasteland and lose much of your soul in the process, pillaging and tormenting survivors. With it's over the top violence, prostitution, drugs, pimping your wife for money, and killing little kids that throw stones, the game quickly gained cult status among fans. They were warped and deformed by the game forever, and hid in damp caves until the release of Fallout 3. Many of them were frightened and hateful towards the new game, but most have now come to accept it.

After the developer tanked, the licence was picked up by Bethesda, makers of the classic Morrowind, and the tripe Oblivion. Oblivion was a terrible game, but it's barebones engine provided the perfect framework for the new Fallout.

A lot of people thought it was just Oblivion with guns, which was true, but far more importantly, it was Oblivion with decapitation and dismemberment, and they fixed the damn level scaling, and the guards don't attack you everywhere for crimes in one city.

But that is just nerd history. The game starts you out being yanked out of your mothers vagina and told to decide the sex of your character. Your father (Liam Neeson) then has you sent off and you begin a series of milestones in your characters development in the underground vault where you decide your stats and skills which have an important impact on your character. You can also choose your appearance.

The game tries hard to give you the option of pursuing whatever interests you and still being able to get by. If you want to play it like a shooter, you can put your points into perception and weapons. If you want to use stealth, or melee, or focus on speech, the game will accommodate you.

As you level up you are able to receive perks depending on your stats and level that bulk up and customize your character in often unique ways. You can kill most of the people in the vault eventually, not all though. You can kill almost anyone in the game actually, which is nice. One of the first choices you're presented with is whether you want to destroy a town (Megaton) or save it. Your choices have some effect on the story and the ending is dynamic based on a few variables.

It's a very polished, fun game, with lots of depth. The wasteland goes on for miles and it's rich and full with beautiful graphics and plenty of detail, and it's just nice to be able to wipe out a town.

There's also a lot of depth to most of the characters, with a nice variety of dialogue choices, which makes it a lot more fun to blast their head off. The game uses a system called VATS to freeze time and line up attacks against different body parts and then watch all the violence in flashy slow motion. It's a nice throw back to the original isometric game. Strangely, watching limbs and heads go flying off, does not get old over time. The only problem is the regular FPS style fighting feels a bit clunky, you really need to use VATS.

Also available for the PC version is the GECK, which with a simple PHD in Quantum Physics, you can design and build your own levels, and the rest of us can try vainly to place one NPC that immediately runs away from where we placed it.

You can follow the main quest or just explore the wasteland, doing side quests, of which there is an abundance. There are also other characters you can recruit depending on your alignment.

There's a nice variety of enemies to suit different points in your development, ranging from Raiders to Supermutants to The Enclave, and plenty of random monsters like the Deathclaws. It's a nice nod to the spirit of the original games, and the next logical step for the series. The ending, however, is terrible...just terrible.

The main story lasts about 20 hours, and if you like exploring weird vaults and caves full of monsters, there's a lot more beyond that to be experienced.

It's my favorite game for 2008 and definitely worth a try.


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