Another update

Hey so  I haven't written in here in a while due in part to lack of time, but more so I just forget I even made this blog.  I've tried and bought some new games so here it is...

For Xbox 360, I bought Rainbow 6 Vegas 2, and I really like it.  The game looks beautiful, and plays as smooth as glass.  There's great weapons, and the enemy A.I. is actually pretty tight.  They play just like humans, by getting cover and shoot at oportune times.  The blood looks great when you shoot the enemy, which I really do think makes a difference.  

I've been really into my PSP lately.  I figure if my girlfriend bought it for me, I should buy some games for it.  Makes sense right?  The first game I tried out was NHL 07, and liked it so much, I bought it.  It was only $8, so it would have been dumb to pass that one up.  It's a great game for anyone who enjoys hockey, or anyone just looking for a game to pick up and play.  A lot of fun, and really strong graphics.  I have to say though, the load times can be BRUTAL, but other than that, everything is great.

The other is God of War: Chains of Olympus.  The game is great.  If you've played either of the two titles on the PS2 and enjoyed them, you'll love this one.  I read that it's actually a prequal of the original.  The graphics are amazing for the PSP, and the cutscenes will blow your mind.  The controls are great, which makes the game much more enjoyable.

That's it for the updates for now.  I'll try and update this more as time goes on.

-Matt

Update

So I've decided to just use this as a personal blog, and not gaming news like I had originally intended, because well, you can go to any game site for that.  So this is an update much like the ones I do on my Youtube account, which basically tells you what I've been playing, or what I've recently purchased.

The first game I picked up was Grand Theft Auto IV for the Xbox 360.  At first, I was a little worried about it, basically because I wasn't a huge fan of Vice City or San Andreas, but since it was back to Liberty City, I had to be excited.  When I first popped in the game, I was blown away by the graphics being presented.  I don't think I've seen a game look so real.  It literally looks like I'm watching a movie.  The city looks amazing, and really looks like you're driving through New York City.  For you unfortunate readers that have never been here, that's pretty much what you would expect visiting the 'Big Apple'.  The gameplay and storyline is just perfection.  At first I was a little upset that you weren't working for Italian mob bosses or anything like that anymore, but rather Eastern Europeans, which gives a nice breath of fresh air into the main GTA series.  I really would have to give this game a 10/10.  It's pretty much gaming perfection for me thus-far into the game.  It may very well be my new favorite 360 title (former COD4).

The other game I was able to pick up was Killzone Liberation for the PSP.  I basically picked this up because I need more games for the system, since I had my girlfriend buy it for me a few months back.  I'm really enjoying the game thusfar.  It's the third shooter I've tried on the PSP (Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow, and Rainbow Six Vegas are the other two), and maybe the best.  The cool thing about it is that you control it in sort of a 3/4 over-head view, much like The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past for the SNES.  Although it's a cool concept, it sometimes makes walking difficult.  It's hard to know the dimensions of the ground your'e walking on, or the elevations.  The controls are pretty fluent, other than the analog stick sometimes makes it hard to aim accurately.  I really believe they designed that thing to make games harder.  Other than those two gripes, I've had a really good time playing it, and for $20, it's well worth a buy, or at least a rent.

I also rented the Orange Box for the 360, but I wasn't that into it.  Team Fortress didn't grab me like I thought it would, and I got stuck in Half Life, and just got frustrated and fed up with it, so I turned it off to play GTA.  Although it did seem like a really strong game, I think the reason I didn't like it as much was because I really wanted to play Grand Theft Auto.

That's all for now.  If you read this, please comment me so I know someone is reading.

-Matt

New Bill Wants ID Check for Mature Games

Nothing better than politicians with too much time on their hands making video games their top priority.  With a war going on, and gas prices going sky high, why not worry about how to stop kids from buying video games right?  

Democrat Jim Matheson and Republican Lee Terry have proposed a bill that requires people to present identification when purchasing a 'Mature' or 'Adults Only.'  If the retailer fails to do this, he or she can face up to a $5000 penalty.  This proposed bill will be called the Video Games Ratings Enforcement Act.

Although I cannot disagree with this act, because there are games out there that aren't suitable for younger kids, but I put that responsibility on the shoulders of the parent.  They should know what types of games their kids are buying, and whether or not they are okay with it. 

Ever since the days of Mortal Kombat, the government has tried to keep video games down, and this is just another chance for them to do so.

Top 5 Nintendo Wii Games

Since I made my Top 5 list for the Xbox 360, it's only fair I share my favorite Wii games as well.  So here it goes:

5.  Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition- This game is on multiple platforms (Gamecube, PS2), but really thrives using the Wii controller scheme.  The easy point and click aiming system gives the player a more immersive experience, and who doesn't want that when killing mutated Spanish people?  The gore in the game is great, and the storyline is even better.  With a very low retail price (around $30 new), compared to others out there, this is a must have for any Wii owner.  And hey, it's rated Mature!

4.  Super Paper Mario- If you don't like Mario games, then you should stop reading right now because he and his friends dominate the rest of the list.  Super Paper Mario is the game I purchased with my Wii, and loved every minute of this adventure/RPG.  The dimensions of the game are fantastic.  Most of the game is played as a 2-D side-scroller, but when need-be, you can switch to 3-D mode.  Another great feature of the game is that most of Mario's companions are featured in the game.  Peach, Luigi, and even Bowser assist you in saving the world from Count Bleck.

3.  Super Smash Brothers Brawl- Yes this is only number 3.  Where to even start on this game.  It's a great "fighter", and includes everyone from Mario, Link, Samus, and DK, to Sonic, Snake and even Pit from Kid Iccarus.  This edition of SSB even incudes a story mode, which allows you to team up with all the characters to fight off a team of bad guys from every game involved in SSBB.  The reason most people were looking forward to this release is for the online play.  I can only speak for myself, but I did not enjoy the online experience.  It was hard to even notice you were playin with others, and not just playing the computer.  The game is still a must have for any Wii owner.  

2.  Super Mario Kart Wii- It was hard to put this game number 2, but I had no choice.  This game delivers on all levels.  The Grand Prix mode is great, and has plenty of unlockables which keeps you wanting to win ever CC.  The game itself came with a Wii Wheel, which works flawlessly.  Every motion you make with it is reflected perfectly onto the screen with your character.  The tracks are great, and include 16 new tracks, while bringing back 16 classic tracks dating back to the one that started it all on the SNES.  Unlike SSBB, the online play is INSANE.  Before every game, you can check if you have any friends online, and then pick to either play Regionally, or Worldwide.  Once you decide, you get to see where your opponents are playing from, and even their Miis.  Like every other game on this list, you're not a true Wii fan without having Super Mario Kart Wii.

1.  Super Mario Galaxy- Need I say more?  The game looks beautiful, sounds beautiful, and utilizes the Wii control system nearly perfect.  As always, Princess Peach has been kidnapped, and it's your job as Mario to get her back safely.  This game is much like Super Mario 64.  You need to collect Stars, and beat different galaxies.  Once you reach 60 stars, you can earn the right to fight Bowser and retrieve Peach.  Although I did say that the control are close to perfect, they aren't PERFECT.  They can sometimes be a little difficult to handle, and also the camera angle can be very poor at inoppotune times, but other than that, everything works great.  

Honorable Mentions- Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, Batallion Wars 2, Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles, Crash of the Titans, Mario Strikers Charged

My Top 5 Xbox 360 Games

5.  Gears of War- The first game I played for the 360, and I was blown away from by the next-gen graphics and just the gameplay in general.  I've never had that much fun playing a Third-Person shooter.  Everything was great about the game, except the fact that the campaign was fairly short.

4.  NHL 2008- Although I'm sure a lot of you who may be reading this are not hockey fans, I myself, am.  The graphics and just all-around realism of EA's hockey game is fantastic.  There are happy expressions on the players faces when they're happy, and mean ones when they're not.  The crowd is great and the announcers' dialouge is very believeable.

3.  Halo 3-  Yes Halo 3 is in the MIDDLE of this list, and not at the top of the mountain.  Although I do really enjoy this game, I just don't believe it it's the best game on the console.  The campaign is just epic, and the online multiplayer just adds to the total experience.  One of the strongest features the final chapter of this great triology has is that you can team up with a friend via Xbox Live and play through the campain, which is something other games should have.  The graphics are great, and the character development is even greater.

 

2.  Rockband- Although I don't have this game, I still love it.  Whenever I play at my girlfriends house, we all just have a great time.  Whether you're playing lead guitar, bass, drums, or even singing, everyone has a blast playing this game.  This is what party games were made for.  The master tracking rather than lame covers makes the game that much better.  Who better to sing a Black Sabbath song than Ozzy himself?

1.  Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare- Do I really even have to state the reasons why this tops my list, and many others around the world?  The graphics are phenomenal, and the sound may be even better.  This is the first game that makes me feel like I'm fighting a war myself.  From the dirt shooting onto the camera lens, to the branches being broken by bullets, this game just has it all.  Although the campaign mode is somewhat short, the online multiplayer makes up for it.  With many differernt modes to chose from like deathmatch, capture the flag, and others, it will be difficult for players to get bored with this title.

Honorable Mentions- Bioshock, Tom Clancy's Ghost Reacon: Advanced Warfare 2, The Darkness, Condemned: Criminal Origins, Call of Duty 2