Gaming Fall '08: A Review
Monday, December 1, 2008
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The last few months of 2008 have been amazing for gamers. Some of the most anticipated games in years all miraculously decided to come out at the same time. Whether you’re a console gamer or a PC gamer, a Microsoft lover or a die-hard Sony fan, this has been a great time for you. So if you’re looking for the perfect gift for that special gamer in your life, or just trying to find a way to spend that extra Christmas dough you scored, I’ll be here to help you find your way.
Rock Band 2/Guitar Hero: World Tour (PS2/PS3/360)
Who doesn’t love getting together with a group of friends and playing great songs on pretend instruments? These two games, which both came out around the same time, do exactly that. They play pretty much the same way, the only real difference being an extra pad on the drums in Guitar Hero. Guitar Hero also has a song creation feature, which can be very deep if you want to put the effort into it. You can download and play songs other people have created, which makes up for the lack of official downloadable content offered. Rock Band 2, on the other hand, puts out at least three new songs each week (which you still have to pay for, of course), and almost all of the songs from Rock Band 1 can be transferred and played in Rock Band 2 for a small fee.
Warhammer: Age of Reckoning/World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King (PC)
If you’re a fan of PC online role-playing games, these past few months have doubtless held much joy for you: a new expansion for WoW fans, and a brand new game for those who’ve grown tired of WoW. Both of these games have been talked about and anticipated for years, and both managed to live up to the hype.
Dead Space/Resistance 2/Fallout 3/Left 4 Dead (PC/PS3/360)
First-person shooter fans never had it so good! With a slew of sequels, and some new franchises to boot, every system has something to enjoy. Whether you like killing zombies, aliens, mutants, different aliens, foreign governments, or aliens, there’s a new game out there for you. Some other new shooters to come out recently are Gears of War 2, Far Cry 2, Call of Duty: World at War, and Brothers in Arms: Hell’s Highway.
Valkyria Chronicles (PS3)
Another visually stunning game, Valkyria Chronicles is a strategy RPG that introduces several new innovations to the genre. During a fight, you view an overhead map of the battlefield, showing ally and enemy positions. When you want to move a unit, however, you zoom in to a third-person view and take direct control of how they move around the battle, setting up firing positions and then moving to a first-person view to actually line up and fire your shot. You then move back out to the overhead tactical view and start the process again with your next unit. Set in a 1930’s-era fantasy world, the game feature tanks and machine guns in a conflict between two nations. With a good story, nice music, and truly innovative gameplay, Valkyria Chronicles is a great game for both fans of strategy RPGs and newcomers to the genre.
Mirror’s Edge (PC/PS3/360)
Remember that opening scene in Casino Royale where Bond is chasing a guy up buildings, across rooftops, and through construction sites while he pulls off some amazing jumps and stunts? That’s what’s known as parkour, and that’s what Mirror’s Edge is all about. Played from a first-person point of view, the idea is to get from one place to another as quickly and efficiently as possible, accomplished by hopping fences, ducking under pipes, sliding down cables, and jumping off buildings. It’s hard to describe the visual beauty of this game, as well as the fast-paced movement aesthetic involved. I really recommend checking out the trailer, which can be seen at http://mirrorsedge.com.
Fable 2 (360)
Fable 2 is an action RPG that takes everything done right in Fable 1 and makes it better. Featuring a huge environment to explore, the choices you make throughout the game have real, tangible effects on the world around you. You can use smooth talking, powerful magic, or brute force to get through tough situations. You can opt to help those in need and be good, or raze everything in your way on the path to evil. You also have a dog that travels with you. This faithful canine companion is at your side from the start of the adventure to the end, helping you to find treasure and to defeat your enemies. With a game world that really sucks you in with humor and fantastic voice acting, this game is good for fans of the original and newcomers to the series alike.
LittleBigPlanet (PS3)
Calling this game a multiplayer platformer doesn’t do it nearly enough justice. Designed with player creativity in mind, this imaginative game has unlimited potential. You and up to three friends make your way through the stages, avoiding obstacles and collecting points, with fully customizable characters. If you’re feeling particularly creative, there is a very deep, detailed level creation system, where the possibilities are literally endless. Re-create your favorite scene from a movie, make a racetrack to challenge your friends on, or build a level from a different game. Within a week of the game’s release, people had already designed ways to compose music and built a calculator that actually works. And the best part about it is you can share your levels online, or download levels other people have created to try out yourself. If you enjoy exploring creativity, either your own or that of others, this game was made for you.
This has been just a sample of the games that have come out in recent months. With so much to choose from, ‘tis the season to be a gamer. For more information and reviews on games, check out http://www.gamerankings.com, a site that complies ratings and reviews from other websites to provide an overall average score for every game.
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