Preview: Prototype

I have already mentioned this game in my NY Comic Con wrap up but since it is nearing release I will give you all a full fledged preview of Prototype coming to the Xbox 360, PS3, and PC on June 9^th. Prototype is the story of Alex Mercer, a man who wakes up with no recollection of who is he or why he has all of these special powers. He is able to grow claws out of his hands and other blunt objects and these objects are so powerful that they can stop a rocket. He can also glide and surf on bodies. He can jump super high and slam his elbow into an object to crush it. So with all of these ridiculous powers, and more, in hand Alex wants to know who did this to him and why. Mercer can “consume” the life essence of a person killing that person and retaining their memory, he can also then shape shift into that person to fool others. The main story is told through the “consumed” memories of several key people. The army is after Alex, trying to stop him and he will also have to fight off hordes of mutants that came from a virus that was set loose in Grand Central Terminal.

The gameplay is fun and varied, it isn’t too easy to romp through a level but it isn’t too hard to get a feel for the controls. The game is a third person action adventure title and the controls are surprisingly intuitive, if you have played shooters you will feel comfortable even though Alex isn’t wielding any firearms (at least not in this demo). Surfing on people’s bodies and slamming into the ground are really fun and I could have spent tons of time trying to perfect the controls of the demo but obviously other people wanted to play. Another cool element is the “devastator” move that Alex can pull off after he has filled up a meter and he will basically send out a shock wave type thing that will take out almost a city block depending on the situation and the power you have accumulated. But by far his coolest move is a move where you lock onto an enemy then press a certain button (I forgot which) and Alex will pound the ground, spikes will grow out of the ground under the enemy you are locked on to and they will impale him and anyone unfortunate enough to be near him.

The world itself is open and there is a lot that can be done with all of the open space, though it isn’t as non-linear as an RPG it is much more open than normal shooter/fighter type games like Halo. Most objects can be picked up and interacted with (usually thrown but sometimes you can do other stuff) The graphics are impressive especially the pre-rendered cut scene that opens the game, this was on released on Gametrailers.com a little while back and you will be impressed and not spoiled at all so go check it out when you get the chance. There is plenty of violence and gore in the game so it isn’t intended for younger audiences. As I said the game is coming out on June 9^th and should be really cool, I will probably buy it later on because of its vicinity to the release of Ghostbusters but I will eventually have a full review probably in August. By the way if you pre-order the game at Gamestop you will get an Alex Mercer figurine and an “exclusive” map, you know just FYI.

Ghostbusters: The Video Game Update *OXM Review!*

Even more media has surfaced for the new Ghostbusters game as we rapidly approach release. Gamespot has posted an updated preview of the game that can be read but they also have a video that shows some new footage. The preview covers the first three levels and has some spoilers so if you want to stay totally spoiler free keep away but if not its real cool. Here's the link: http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/ghostbusters08/video/6210009/ghostbusters-the-video-game-video-preview?hd=1

Gamespot also has a new galley with some great new screenshots here's the link:http://uk.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/ghostbusters08/images/6209948/1/?tag=thumbs_below;thumb;1

Gamespot also has three new gameplay videos that can be accessed here:http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/ghostbusters08/news.html?mode=all

Youtube has a video with some great new footage and a look at the load screen among other things, the two guys talking are speaking in some other language so this video is really just for the gameplay footage. Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uz8FiKu8DSU

And finally the first review of the game has come in from Eurogamer, the review was apparently released too early and has been taken down but the bottom line is a 9/10 not bad at all. Keep checking back I'll keep this site up to date as much as possible.

*OXM's July issue will have a two page review of the GB game written by Ghosthead Dan Amrich. Subrscribers should have received this copy in their mailbox today but for everyone else it should be available next week. The bottom line is an 8/10 not too shabby*

Review: Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway for Xbox 360

Brothers in Arms: Hell’s Highway is a continuation of the story from the previous BIA games Road to Hill 30 and Earned in Blood. The game is the first of the series on the current generation consoles and it has a much different feel to it than the previous games. The original BIA games prided themselves on being different from the plethora of WWII shooters out there because of its use of tactical military procedures (like flanking enemies) its strong characterization and its feel that you were part of the history of the battle, you play as a fictional character but all of the missions you go on are straight out of history books (like objective WXYZ) The game helped to make you feel like you are in the game by minimizing the time spent in third person mode, you only see your character in a couple of scenes but for the most part you are in first person mode.

Hell’s Highway changed a lot of these things and not for the better; the historical accuracy of the battles was taken away, while very basic stuff stayed (like in the game Eindhoven is bombed and it was in real life but the game is very loosely based on this actual event) Another thing that is gone from this game is the constant first person perspective, when you are actually playing you will be in third person a lot because there is a new cover feature that puts you in third person. So now instead of looking down the sights of the weapon you use crosshairs which takes away something from the game itself. (It should be noted that this is only when you are in the cover system, if you aren’t you look down the sights like normal) The cut scenes are also meant to be more cinematic but this means that you see Baker (your character) more often and this makes you feel more like you are stepping into his shoes as opposed to being there yourself.

However the game is not bad, there is a good use of weaponry, the cover system is solid with destructible cover (if you hide behind a fence it will become Swiss cheese within seconds from German fire) and the cinematic approach might not be in keeping with the other games but for what it is it is impressive. The facial expressions of the characters and their movements are quite impressive. The story is very fleshed out with a large focus on something that happened in the first game (without spoiling anything I’ll tell you that it is about Allen, Garnett, and Leggett.)

The story also delves into a growing emotional issue with Baker and his grief over the loss of people he has served with and the haunting truth of the story of Allen, Garnett, and Leggett that he has kept from everyone else. The emotional issues are so strong that he begins to hallucinate and have classic PTSD symptoms, it is an interesting approach because in most other games you kill and watch others die with very little emotional impact, your character is very callous towards death, but in this one death haunts you like it would in real life.

The basic gameplay has not changed in terms of strategy, find the enemy, fix the enemy, flank the enemy, finish the enemy. This is the core of the game and if you try to “Rambo” too much of the game you will get killed. There are some new features and one of these is the action cam where if you pull off a headshot or use a tank or bazooka to take out a position it will zoom in on the hit and show you all gore you will ever need. The explosions and the affects are pretty realistic (limbs will come off, skulls will get crushed, etc) The game is definitely a “Mature” rated game.

The graphics are impressive with very little framerate slowdown and crisp backgrounds. The characters look great although it is difficult to recognize most of the squad members other than Baker, Red, and Mac. The game is not bad but it is a departure from some of the things that I loved about the first two BIA games. The story and the gameplay are still gripping and fun and even though it isn’t as good it is still a solid game.

Gameplay: 7

Story: 9

Replay Value: 7

Graphics: 9

Overall: 8

Ghostbusters: The Video Game Update

Yesterday marked the one month point until Ghostbusters: TVG is released in North America. Some new media has surfaced and the game is looking even more incredible.

Teamxbox has a hands-on preview which includes two new videos of Slimer and Stay Puft. Also if you click on the screenshots there are some awesome new screens. Here's the link: http://previews.teamxbox.com/xbox-360/2317/Ghostbusters-The-Video-Game/p1/

A new trailer has been released that focuses on the multiplayer and it has some great footage, here's a link: http://www.gametrailers.com/video/exclusive-multiplayer-ghostbusters-the/49139

Finally another new trailer, similar to the Alyssa Milano trailer, has come out but with Annie Potts aka Janine Melnitz. Here's a link: http://www.giantbomb.com/ghostbusters-annie-potts-speaks/17-597/

I'll keep you up to date on Ghostbusters news as we approach release and I'll let you know as soon as the demo is available on Xbox live and PSN 2-3 weeks from now. I'll be posting a review of Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway soon, I finally got a chance to play through the whole thing .

Retro Review: Star Fox 64

Star Fox for the Nintendo 64 was one of its best games and it holds up very well even today. Star Fox is a flying game based around the premise that an evil scientist named Andross is attacking planets in this star system and Star Fox and his team are sent to stop Andross. Depending on how you complete each mission (more on this later) you will take a different path but all roads lead to Venom, Andross’ home world.
The first thing that people who have played the SNES Star Fox will notice is the graphics, they are much better and more elaborate. The control scheme is great, responsive and tight, no unnecessary motion. Clicking the right trigger twice will send Fox into a barrel roll and this can deflect enemy fire. The “B” button will deploy your bombs and the “A” button fires your laser. You can hold on to the “A” button to charge the laser for a larger blast and this will automatically lock on to any enemies in the vicinity. Pressing “C left” will put you into a temporary boost of speed and “C down” will slam on your breaks.
The other three members of your team are Peppy, Falco, and Slippy. Slippy may be the only bad thing in this game, he is just so annoying (and yes that isn’t a typo Slippy is a guy) from time to time they will need help and they can save you sometimes. If they take enough damage they will duck out of the fight and they won’t be available for the next mission. For every 100 enemies you destroy you get an extra life. There are a wide variety of combat zones; terrestrial planets, oceans, space stations, an asteroid belt, and the solar system’s sun to name a few. Regardless of what route you take you will have one level where you need to use a vehicle other than the plane and these levels are meant to add variety but they are usually pretty annoying to complete, especially the level under the ocean.
The back story is actually pretty involved and if you read it your battle with the “4 aces” will make much more sense. The use of animal characters is interesting and something different; the personalities of each character are also laid out very well so they work well as a team. One of the most interesting aspects of the game, that adds to the replay value, is the ability to take different paths to the same end. You will play through 7 levels regardless of what route you take and Venom and Corneria will both be on the list regardless but the other 5 will vary based on certain things that you do within the level. Some levels have warps where you have to pass through a certain number of rings to warp to another level; some levels will have special tasks to complete if you want to go on a different path. (for example on Corneria if you fly under all of the arches on the water Falco will lead you to a different objective) Other levels will require you to destroy a certain number of enemies or defeat the main boss quick enough. The alternate paths are harder than the main path so they are obviously for the more advanced player.
For the most part this game is great, the only slightly annoying things are the levels where you aren’t in an arwing and the fact that Slippy even exists but those are easily dismissed because of the incredible elements of gameplay and story that this game brings to the table. This game is an absolute classic and if you have an N64 you must have this game in your library.
Gameplay: 10
Story: 10
Replay Value: 10
Graphics: 10
Overall: 10

Sony to Publish Ghostbusters in PAL Territories

In a surprise move Sony has struck a deal to publish the PS3 and PS2 versions of the upcoming Ghostbusters: The Video Game in the PAL territories (Europe and Australia) to make it a timed Playstation exclusive, so the Xbox 360, Wii, and Nintendo DS versions are being delayed indefinitely. This news does not effect American publications of the game but I can't help but get a little worried about this. We are so close why can't they just leave everything alone? I'll post more as it comes out.
*Update* This has been confirmed to be only for the PAL territories the NTSC territories will still get the game for all formats on June 16th*

News: Ghostbusters, Batman, and Ninja Turtles

Since I last reported on the subject some new media has been released for Ghostbusters: The Video Game. The first is a new trailer that is on gamespot.com, it features an introduction by Dan Aykroyd and it is meant for Walmart.com. If you head over to gamespot you can see the trailer, it is listed as “Official Movie 2.”

GTTV had Ghostbusters related material on both of its last two shows, two weeks ago they showed the opening cinematic for Ghostbusters:The Video Game and you can see that in HD at Gametrailers.com. Then this past week they had a short interview with Dan Aykroyd and they revealed some new footage and a new boss, I won’t spoil it for those of you who want to wait until release.

Also This Week in Geek posted a video of their tour to Terminal Reality which includes an interview with lead artist Glenn Gamble and an all new cinematic with Ray, Peter, and the rookie in the elevator at the Sedgwick. This video can be found at protoncharging.com/gb

In other game related news Batman: Arkham Asylum has been officially delayed and will gear up for a late summer release.

Xbox live will be getting a remake of the classic game Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time, the game has been updated and made 3D however many of the elements of the original (like the music) will remain the same. This is sure to be a hit on the marketplace and right now it is part of the Turtles “party van” that is traveling the country to promote the 25^th anniversary of the original comic series.

My 10 Favorite Games of All Time

For this list I have decided to countdown my 10 favorite video games of all time, this is not a “10 best” list because I only want to cover games that I have actually played and there are some classics that I haven’t touched (like any of the Zelda games) But the games are in order and they cover everything from the Atari 2600 to the Xbox 360 (one per franchise) so here we go.


10. Goldeneye 007
I know what you’re thinking “why isn’t this higher on the list?” well it hasn’t held up particularly well even though back in the day it was the coolest thing out there. Its multiplayer was revolutionary, paving the way for games like Halo. The graphics were also impressive for the 64 bit system and it had a lot of cheats to make it fun (all guns, invincibility, invisibility, etc) if you didn’t have a Game Shark this game was a reason to get one.

9. Mass Effect


This RPG for the Xbox 360 and PC is one of the best games I have ever played because of its massive open worlds, tons of objectives, and great storyline. For an RPG it is a little short (unless you count surveying minerals but seriously who wants to do that?) but it makes up for that with memorable sequences and some great side missions. The environments are varied but the bases and research facilities on different worlds are very “cookie cutter” so it could have been better but that doesn’t stop it from being a tremendously fun romp through the galaxy, can’t wait for Mass Effect 2.

8. Half Life 2


This game is incredible and if you haven’t played it I would suggest picking it up as soon as possible. It has great FPS elements and one of the best storylines I have ever seen in a game. It works well with the episodic content although I would have liked the episodes to be a little longer, especially episode one. The driving is my only nitpick about this game but other than that it is just so much fun to play, I played it via The Orange Box, which was a port to the 360 but I’ve been told it is even better on the PC.

7. Sonic and Knuckles


This game is grade A awesome for many reasons, not the least of which is the awesome music. (Seriously listen to it its good stuff) The game keeps the sidescrolling speed element of the previous games while adding an awesome set of 3D bonus games and a new playable character that could climb walls and glide. Knuckles seriously trumped Sonic in all departments and I rarely pick Sonic over Knuckles. The gameplay is awesome, the variety is there, and it is just something that you can go back to even today and have a good time with.

6. Halo 3
This is one of the best FPS’s that I have ever played, it has a fantastic single player mode and an even better split screen multiplayer. The use of the vehicles, the weapons, the story, and the fluid gameplay mechanics make this a must buy for any Xbox owner. It really took off from Goldeneye and improved on the winning formula. I haven’t played any game’s multiplayer element so much and that is saying something.

5. Street Fighter II


Oh boy, we’re getting into some super good ones now. I technically have the “Special Champion Edition” but it is pretty much the same as the original Street Fighter II. This game (along with Mortal Kombat) revolutionized the fighting game genre and it is still a blast to play even today. The characters each have their own little back story that is spelled out in the manual and they all have special moves that are not too ridiculous to pull off.

4. Pac-Man

Originally titled “Puck Man” American arcade owners were afraid that vandals would change to the P to an F and we all know what would happen there. This game was one of the biggest arcade hits and it is so addicting. I recently played it online in flash form and I stayed up until about 4 in the morning playing it. If you haven’t played this game then I don’t know what to say other than PLAY IT. It established arcades and will go down in history as one of the greatest games of all time.

3. KOTOR


This game is the first RPG that I ever played and the first time I played it I hated it. I didn’t realize what it was and when the action didn’t start up right away I stopped playing, but after playing through KOTOR 2 I wised up and played the first one and man it is great. Not only does it have extensive upgrades and mini-games, it also has one of the biggest shocks in video game history. I, unfortunately, had it spoiled but it was still pretty awesome to see that shot of Darth Revan taking of his mask and it being your character. Even though the framerate goes to hell in action sequences and it has annoying turn based combat it still is one of the most gripping and fun games that I have ever played.

2. Pitfall

David Crane’s classic Atari game is one of my favorites because it is the first real memory I have of playing video games. I used to play it on my dad’s Atari in the spare room in our house in NY and it was so much fun. I remember thinking that the campfire looked so realistic at the time. The gameplay is solid and the graphics are actually really great for the Atari.

1. Gears of War 2

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, this game is incredible. It is the best game out right now and I can’t imagine picking any game above this (until Ghostbusters comes out of course) The story is gripping, the graphics are out of this world, gameplay mechanic is perfect, the replay value is through the roof, and the multiplayer has been vastly improved since Gears 1, especially with the introduction of the Horde mode.