8. Ratchet & Clank: A Crank in Time
yet another brilliant platforming game from insomniac and the now iconic R&C series.
continuing with the future aspect (time travel, etc) we see more of a clank plot-driven game, after his capture at the end of the last game.
gameplay wise, although its the same sort of thing you got in the last 6 games, its still as fresh and brilliant as the first time you got to use the RYNO.
Half of what makes R&C fun is the messed up weaponry you get to hurt stuff with, and new weapons include The Rift Inducer 5000, the big daddy of the Rift Inducer from Up Your Arsenal (think a black hole opening over your enemies with tentacles coming out); The Spiral of Death, which fires a spiral at the enemy, causing... death; and the RYNO V, the motherfucker of all RYNO's, its now twice as large, about 4 times more rapid, about twice as destructive (it kills the second final boss in one shot), and it plays classical music as you shoot it. Also of note is the Chimp-O-Matic, much in the same vein as the Quack-O-Ray of old, which if you didn't guess turned enemys into ducks.
Reoccuring items of fun include the Grooveitron (if you know what it is you know how awesome it is, google it if you dont), and Mr. Zurkon, the personal floating bodyguard of death.
graphics in the game have improved (its hard these days for a game in a seires to go backwards in this area, but it has happened), its alot shinier than previous installments and the worlds you visit take advantage of the PS3 with huge amounts of roaming and great backgrounds.
the other half of R&C fun is the plot. Those who have played this series before know what i mean. Plumber makes his return, along with lots of older inside gags such as Rusty Pete and Dr. Nefarious. Sadly Qwarks crayon-drawn plans do not make an appearance, but the man himself does have a few scenes, including being mauled by a giant dog-type thing, which he names Bubbles.
Overall its another fantastic Ratchet and Clank edition, and we're seeing with each installment that its getting better and better. Hopefully Insomniac makes another series, as this game was the last in the Future Trilogy.
Score: 9/10
Thursday
Wednesday
Top 10 Games of 2009: Part 2
9. Tom Clancy's EndWar
Tom Clancys first foray into RTS paid dividends with this gem, taking the original RTS formula and turning it into a war itself.
Voice recognition is used by players to command their army of up to 8 units (1 unit could be a helicopter, or a battalion of troops for example) against computer or human commanders on real time maps. the look and feel of the game makes you feel like you really are in command, giving orders and watching them do your bidding with conviction.
It would be all well and good if the game had awful mechanics, but it doesnt. The units actually have common sense, taking cover and not running madly into danger. they also listen to commands dilligently, not running into walls when you tell them to go behind something. the voice recognition works brilliantly, understanding pretty much every accent, even ones you put on yourself. There are some RTS games, realistic ones in particular, that have that weird confrontation where a solider brings down a tank with his rifle, and thankfully Clancy seems to have rectified this now staple attribute in games these days.
as is often the case with war games the online mode is what makes the game what it is, and this game doesn't dissapoint. You feel like your actually pitting yourself against an enemy commander in a dark room in a lean back swivel chair with giant screens everywhere.
Its like Command and Conquer on steroids.
Overall Score: 8/10
Tom Clancys first foray into RTS paid dividends with this gem, taking the original RTS formula and turning it into a war itself.
Voice recognition is used by players to command their army of up to 8 units (1 unit could be a helicopter, or a battalion of troops for example) against computer or human commanders on real time maps. the look and feel of the game makes you feel like you really are in command, giving orders and watching them do your bidding with conviction.
It would be all well and good if the game had awful mechanics, but it doesnt. The units actually have common sense, taking cover and not running madly into danger. they also listen to commands dilligently, not running into walls when you tell them to go behind something. the voice recognition works brilliantly, understanding pretty much every accent, even ones you put on yourself. There are some RTS games, realistic ones in particular, that have that weird confrontation where a solider brings down a tank with his rifle, and thankfully Clancy seems to have rectified this now staple attribute in games these days.
as is often the case with war games the online mode is what makes the game what it is, and this game doesn't dissapoint. You feel like your actually pitting yourself against an enemy commander in a dark room in a lean back swivel chair with giant screens everywhere.
Its like Command and Conquer on steroids.
Overall Score: 8/10
Tuesday
Top 10 games of 2009: Part 1
10. PES 2010
i dont care if its a football game, considering how awful PES 2009 was, and FIFA's rumblings over the past 3 years, this is a VAST improvement, and easily the best sports game of the year.
Master League has taken a massive overhaul, now including youth teams, imporved transfer system and better league structuring. Champions League returns, and now Europa League makes its debut. Ligue 1, Serie A and Eredivisie are fully licensed, with most La Liga teams licensed, and Manchester United and Liverpool are also included.
In the gameplay department, the AI now understands the concept of running into space, jockeying and why i want to press super cancel. The TeamVision system implemented last year was recived by weeping, but now you actually see it working infront of you. The Tactic Slides are also incredably useful, you can turn them on and off to suit your particular playing style, and fine tune your team to perfection.
Graphically FIFA still has nothing on PES, so what if they look cooler turning around, at least in PES Rooney looks like Rooney, and not Shrek.
My favourite addition has to be the boots. With over 40 starting boots, and about the same again added through downloaded content, you can fine tune individual players to give them that edge over everyone else. You can give Fabregas his CTR360's, or even give them to your become a legend player. Each boot has its own individual strengths and weaknesses, including shot power, acceleration and swerve.
Overall Score: 8/10
i dont care if its a football game, considering how awful PES 2009 was, and FIFA's rumblings over the past 3 years, this is a VAST improvement, and easily the best sports game of the year.
Master League has taken a massive overhaul, now including youth teams, imporved transfer system and better league structuring. Champions League returns, and now Europa League makes its debut. Ligue 1, Serie A and Eredivisie are fully licensed, with most La Liga teams licensed, and Manchester United and Liverpool are also included.
In the gameplay department, the AI now understands the concept of running into space, jockeying and why i want to press super cancel. The TeamVision system implemented last year was recived by weeping, but now you actually see it working infront of you. The Tactic Slides are also incredably useful, you can turn them on and off to suit your particular playing style, and fine tune your team to perfection.
Graphically FIFA still has nothing on PES, so what if they look cooler turning around, at least in PES Rooney looks like Rooney, and not Shrek.
My favourite addition has to be the boots. With over 40 starting boots, and about the same again added through downloaded content, you can fine tune individual players to give them that edge over everyone else. You can give Fabregas his CTR360's, or even give them to your become a legend player. Each boot has its own individual strengths and weaknesses, including shot power, acceleration and swerve.
Overall Score: 8/10
Brittany's amazement at metal bands who come from outside America, Europe or Australia
remembered the Taiwanese black metal band i mentioned at Ashlyns house
ChthoniC
and while i'm at it:
Jewish/israeli metal band Orphaned Land
Iranian prog metal band Kahtmayan (instrumental)
my new favourite Swiss band Eluveitie (check out Thousandfold and Inis Mona)
Scottish Pirate metal band Alestorm
Finnish metal band Turisas (BATTLE METAL!)
Havn't listened to the first three yet, but Metal Hammer put in good reviews, and they have a fair few fans on the internets.
The last three are well known/from Europe but i just thought i'd include them anyway, they're a bit different but they're pretty good
Ok, to be honest Alestorm arn't that great, they are no Swashbuckle
ChthoniC
and while i'm at it:
Jewish/israeli metal band Orphaned Land
Iranian prog metal band Kahtmayan (instrumental)
my new favourite Swiss band Eluveitie (check out Thousandfold and Inis Mona)
Scottish Pirate metal band Alestorm
Finnish metal band Turisas (BATTLE METAL!)
Havn't listened to the first three yet, but Metal Hammer put in good reviews, and they have a fair few fans on the internets.
The last three are well known/from Europe but i just thought i'd include them anyway, they're a bit different but they're pretty good
Ok, to be honest Alestorm arn't that great, they are no Swashbuckle
Wednesday
Monday
The Old Republic
For those that didnt know, i heart Star Wars, especially the video games.
After the craptacular Galaxies and the awful Battlegrounds remake Empire at War, Force Unleashed was a decent attempt at getting back on form.
But its about to get better, from my favourite series Knights of the Old Republic comes a new online game, simply titled The Old Republic.
Insert awesome:
http://www.swtor.com/media/trailers/deceived-cinematic-trailer
After the craptacular Galaxies and the awful Battlegrounds remake Empire at War, Force Unleashed was a decent attempt at getting back on form.
But its about to get better, from my favourite series Knights of the Old Republic comes a new online game, simply titled The Old Republic.
Insert awesome:
http://www.swtor.com/media/trailers/deceived-cinematic-trailer
Friday
I has a sad
In Flames are confirmed to be collaborators on Pendulum's new album Immersion, on the song "Self Versus Self".
WRRRRRRRYYYYYYYYY
in any case its In Flames so it'll be epic regardless.
:D
the album also features Hayley Williams (supposedly) and The Prodigy.
WRRRRRRRYYYYYYYYY
in any case its In Flames so it'll be epic regardless.
:D
the album also features Hayley Williams (supposedly) and The Prodigy.
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