backdraft123's space: Game Reviews

Review: Mass Effect

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 21:30:05 GMT

In my previous entry you can see that I have been enjoying my dose of Mass Effect. Oblivion being my last RPG played, I found that Mass Effect was a breath of fresh air from the normal games I play. A little slow to start, but once when the ball got rolling, it didn't stop.

The storyline of Mass Effect takes you on a wild ride through many planets and systems that will leave you wondering where you will be heading next. Of course the highly touted dialogue system was very interactive and innovative in many ways. Sometimes I found myself handling situations in the game how I would in real life. I tried my best to think of what I would say in certain scenarios and how it would effect the outcome of the game. I picked the closest answer and hoped that the dispute didn't lead to me being shot.

Since the game is pretty open ended and doesn't force you to follow any beaten path, you can be as adventurous as you'd like. Hundreds of side missions kept me very busy and helped me level up my character from a level 1 to level 41. On my first time around playing, I pretty much ignored these and just played through the game. The 2nd time I didn't make that same mistake.I thought it would be best if I explored the worlds a bit and completed some of the more odd missions out there, which then helped me become a better player in the game and create a more dynamic group of allies.

I actually didn't realize just how MASSIVE Mass Effect really is. As you get missions you open up new planets and clusters for you to explore. Which would then lead to more missions on different planets and so on. After getting bored with that, I would just continue the main plot and see where that took me. The fun factor of it all was a pretty steady ride of being excellent, with small dull moments in between which acted as a break from the intense game play.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion has a lot of armors and weapons for you to collect. Mass Effect really reminded me of that and my treasure seeking tendencies that I would sometimes have. Although, you normally have a mission to do in Mass Effect when you go hunting for those things, you will almost always come across something you don't already have. New armors, new ammo upgrades, new armor upgrades, weapons, medi-gel, grenades, and much more. The major problem I had with this is that I would normally only keep the best and turn the rest into omni-gel. Sometimes I'd find very valuable things and sometimes I'd just get ammo upgrades.

What is a storyline without a great environment? Useless, in my opinion. A game such as this needs to make you feel like your truly there in the game. The dialogue system already makes this "your game" but the environment is what adds to the effect of realism. It has very wide range of different habitats that you'll think your playing a different game. You will notice that each planet has it's own unique environment and terrain. I came across a snow covered planet and then moved to a very dry and dusty planet in a matter of minutes. Luckily you have your clunky Mako to carry you around and defend you against enemies.

However,I did find it upsetting that the storyline just ended when you completed the main story. No going back and doing side quests. You can start the campaign all over again with the same character, but it's sort of upsetting that you cant pick up where you left off in your side missions. Oblivion did a good job of this, allowing you to continue to play and make it pretty much a never ending game.

Mass Effect is truly a great game. It might take some time for the more casual player to really get into it, but overall it's a game you'll want to have in your collection.

Pros

Great storyline and side missions
Game play functions are very linear and fun to play with
Character customization is very solid

Cons

Minor hiccups in the graphics
Game play ends when the main plot is finished.
Can the Mako be any harder to control?

Overall Score

9.0/10

-BD

Review: Halo 3

Fri, 28 Sep 2007 13:47:07 GMT

At 11:30 PM on Monday September 24th, 2007 I waited in line for what is the most anticipated game of the year. Wal-Mart was playing Halo 3 videos on every TV screen they had on the showroom. While I stood there, I thought to myself "if this game is less than amazing, I'm going to regret this." Four days later, I have a review ready for the world to read. My opinion may be disputed over by every fanboy from every corner of the globe. Halo 3 didn't meet up to the hype, but it did meet my expectations.

Bungie has laid the game plan down for any developer looking to create a great online experience. Xbox Live is great, but lets not shy away from our roots. Single player campaign is what I'm interested in. I want to learn about a game and a storyline, almost like reading a book. More games are focusing so much on multiplayer its almost depressing to see the campaigns that are out there today. Games like Bioshock and Oblivion that were built around single player action are blockbusters. Gears of War shines in both departments showing off single player, co-op, and Xbox Live multiplayer. The Halo 3 campaign is a long and confusing one for me. I can understand the general idea of the game, but I feel like without doing proper research or reading the books I'm missing the rest of the story.

It's not a very long campaign but in the time it will take you to beat it, you'll look back and realize that they crammed more action into a 10 hour campaign than you can shake a stick at. You really never find yourself in a dull moment while playing, but rather it seems like your being stringed along until the end. Typically you'll have one or two small battles, a medium sized battle, and then a "boss" towards the end of the mission. Repetitive, yes. Maybe I'm being harsh but I felt more obligated to complete the missions than interested in them. I never wanted Bioshock to end. Such a great storyline and a creative one at that. Like I said before, the game was built around that, Halo 3 wasn't.

Introducing four player co-op over Xbox Live or just 4 of your buddies on one screen is what actually made this interesting. If it wasn't for that, I don't really think I would even waste time going through it. I can't really say this is a "ground breaking" feature in the game since it has been placed in games before. Still, it's a great feature and with multiplayer scoring turned on it's still competitive instead of you and a buddy running through killing anything that moves, including your allies.

Moving on from the campaign mode, you'll find yourself a little curious about what's going on Live. This is where the game shines and introduces some great features that pave the way for any game looking to be "the next great online game." Forge, Bungie's rendition of a map editor, the theatre where you can view, edit, and store game clips, game types, and maps, co-op online which was already discussed, custom games, and of course matchmaking. Lots and lots of goodies can be found here. Though, I believe the ranking system is a little hard to understand at times. Unlike Halo 2 where you ranked up according to how many wins you had and not experience. The number next to your name may change after two or three wins in a row but the rank class only goes up after a certain experience point (exp) mark is reached.

Forge and theatre go together like peanut butter and jelly. Everyone from Halo 2 talked about what they would change about certain maps in the game and now they have their chance to do that in Halo 3. I don't believe enough playing time has been put into the game to jump in and change things right at this moment, but down the road people will eventually get bored with playing the same map and will look to spice things up. Even creating custom games is even more customizable now. Huge bonus! The theatre is really something that grabbed my interest after getting my share of campaign and matchmaking. It will store up to your last 25 games in its library and at anytime you can go in, view the game find what your looking for and edit it. Take a hi-res screenshot and post it on Bungie or take a 10 second clip of you no scoping a guy. Find your file share location and upload them to your network. Everyone who views your file sharing network can now see that sick dome rocker you had the game twelve games ago. Great little feature that I think a lot of people will have fun with.

We'll wrap this up with graphics. I think I'm sort of torn between saying that the game looks great and it looks mediocre. Gameplay rules over graphics, but I believe graphics can make or break a game. The standards now are set ridiculously high that anything less than Oblivion-esque, is considered horrible looking. At times the game really looks great and at other times you might wonder if your playing the same game. It's really back and forth but for the most part, I would say the game looks okay. Gears of War and Bioshock look better, but with the way Halo 3 plays it doesn't really matter.

After its all said and done, Halo 3 met my expectations. It might run away with Game of the Year this year for many people, but it's still in a race with the rest of the great games that launched this year. Thankfully, multiplayer and all of its components will keep this game fresh and not so repetitive for two or three years. I Finished the Fight and now I'm ready to start it all over again. It's been a great journey and a great way to end the series.

Pros

Multiplayer is better than ever before.
Co-op campaign with campaign scoring is fun.
Forge and the theatre are two components that will fuel this game for awhile.

Cons

Short campaign
Game modes in matchmaking need some toning
No Clan Support

Overall Score

9.5/10
--backdraft123

Review: NCAA Football 08

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 03:59:27 GMT

The emotions of college football are similar to the ones you will find when two teenagers fall in love. If you know what I'm implying here, you don't need to read on. If not, I shall remind you.

Every college football fan has "A TEAM" that they love or they play as. For the sake of not being ridiculed I wont mention my favorite team (GO BUCKS!)..ahem...Getting to the point, EA does its best to recreate the atmosphere that you will find on many college campuses. Last year's version wasn't the best version they could have put out and 08 looks like they are inching closer to reaching greatness. If you've been a fan of this series since you can remember, you will notice instantly some of the changes that are for the good and some that will make you groan.
Campus Legend. It's back. One of the key missing features from last years version has made its way back with a revamped mode of play. Bring a player up, starting from high school and land him a spot on one of the 125 schools in the game. Work him up to be the starter and your legend will begin. The meter increases as you make big choices and win even bigger games. Practice will help hone your skills and keep them sharp as you progress through the week all the way up to game day. Evening events, such as pick up games of football and dart throwing may or may not increase your skills. Track your players stats, team stats, top 25 teams in the nation, Heisman hopefuls, and more.
One thing I should mention is the lack of being able to pick your play. I started off a player as a QB and quickly realized that the Head Coach doesn't exactly call the greatest of plays, or mix it up from time to time. I desperately wanted to pass on a 3rd and 5 situation instead I'm stuck with a run and 3 choices to audible to pass. The lack of this feature makes it challenging but irritating at the same time. While I'm trying to win the game, the coach acts like he is on the other team!

Dynasty mode has also made a return. The recruiting tool is much more in-depth than previous years and you can easily get addicted tracking your team as they climb to the top of the polls. Work on getting a certain player in line for Heisman Candidacy or simply be an all around good team and win ALL the marbles. Recruiting will take effect after your first 2 or 3 seasons are in the books as all of the original players are on their way out for the pros.
Also, making a return with a much cleaner interface is the online play. Did you happen to break off a 40 yard run to win the game and want to rub it in the face of your buddy? Save the replay or take a picture of this memorable moment and be sure to pass along for everyone to get a good look at. The game runs well at a smooth 60 frames per second, which has jumped a whole 30 frames from last year. Silky smooth indeed. Id like to call this game more "mature" than last years. The interface, the menus, the music, just about everything says "greatness" on it, but the game doesn't play like it. I do enjoy the gang tackling and hard hits, however the repetitive announcers and the removal of the momentum bar really doesn't make you feel like your in the game. Pick up and play gametypes such as "Tug of War" & "Bowling" will keep it fresh when you need a break from the more serious games.
Fun for awhile, but it will collect dust, just like 07 will when Madden reaches store shelves. 08 had high hopes, met most of them, but is still lacking that WOW factor.

Pros
+++ Looks great in HD. Frame rate runs well also.
++ Campus Legend mode is solid. Addictingingly solid.
+ Dynasty Mode is well rounded and enjoyable
Cons
--- Player animations are still a little corny
-- Removed the momentum meter
- Same repetitive announcing by Lee & Kirk
Overall Score
8.6/10

--backdraft123

Review: Guitar Hero II

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 02:17:01 GMT

Who needs the AIR guitar when you can play a semi-real guitar. Ok ok, so its not even close to a real guitar but it is still loads of fun. I'll admit, I played this game on the PS2 and didn't see the big deal about it. Then again, I didn't know I had to strum to actually earn points. A couple practice sessions on REALLY SLOW and I was good to go.

This game is great for parties. We are all victims of the oh so coveted "air guitar" were we hold up our hands like we are nailing a killer solo. Now the guitar is actually in your hands and the crowd will react to how you play. Play like a 13 year old with A.D.D., and you will not only fail the song you will get booed. Play like a rock god and you will not only be praised, but maybe they will want more. "ENCORE! ENCORE!", is what they will yell. Don't deny your fans, give them what they want and nail a second song. Ok, enough jibber jabber, here is why I like this game.

Practice modes and tutorials are my friend. I didn't really get the game all that well, so I hopped in this first before getting myself in trouble with the career mode and quick play. We were all beginners once and the best way to learn is through tutorials or PRACTICE! Just takes a little patience, and a long the way you'll pick up a few achievements. Hey, I'm not going to argue with that, my gamerscore needs a boost. Secondly, you get to pick any song you want, practice the section you want, pace it the way you want, choose the difficulty, and more. You have to love options like this simply because it helps hone your skills on the parts of the song you struggle with.

So, I mentioned something about an encore. Well, start out your career mode on medium and you can access this feature and unlock some pretty cool songs that you play as your encores. Easy mode just basically walks you through the career and shows you how it's going to be. The store isn't accessible yet while the difficulty is set on easy, but you can still go pack and just rack up points for your career, which essentially is what its all about. Earning the highest career score is something to brag about between you and your buddies. You start earning the cash when you switch to medium which also allows the store to be available to you so you can buy guitars, finishes, characters, songs, videos, and clothing. Rack up the cash and you can buy loads of items all at one time.

The good thing bout this game is the replay value. Its a game that will essentially never get dried up and boring. Granted, there isn't a whole lot you can do outside of playing a guitar. But, beating songs on harder difficulties is always challenging. Plus, with the downloadable content that is on the marketplace this game can be added onto and never subtracted from. Perfect!

The cons....ah, well here's the challenge. I cant really think of any. I guess I could complain about the fact that the guitar isn't wireless, but Guitar Hero III is set to have that locked in. Graphically, it doesn't really matter. They could've put a black background in there with a computerized game of pong while I play the guitar. It doesn't make much of a difference if your hammering down riffs and strumming away. Only the person sitting and watching you play is going to get to enjoy the graphics.

Overall, its one of the better games to be created. Great replay value, a great hit at parties or get together's with friends. Not really repetitive, and lots of options leave this game wide open. Pick up and learn instead of pick up and play really makes this game fun. Anyone can learn this game, it takes patience and practice to become great at it.

Pros

+++Replay value along with DLC makes this game's shelf life unmatched

++Challenging for most people who haven't touched a musical instrument in their life.

+Great song list that just gets more songs added onto every other month

Cons

---Graphics are sub-par, then again who cares?

--Not wireless, but I cant complain. The guitar is awesome!

-Only a few game modes. How about a head to head battle with the computer mode? Battle mode is rumored to be in GHIII.

Overall Score

9.2/10

--backdraft123

Review: Crackdown

Sat, 24 Feb 2007 07:10:48 GMT

Crackdown is a game that really anyone can enjoy. If your a gamer that has a lot of free time, I suggest just renting this game for a weekend and having a go at it. But if you tend to really get your money's worth out of your games, go ahead and pick this one up. I'm sure many of you looked at Crackdown as a bonus gift with the Halo 3 beta. I'm not going to lie either, i was sorta pumped that i could shell out 60 bucks to get a beta and a decent game.

Now its the other way around. I got a great game, and what im assuming to be a great beta. But, im not going to dive into beta details just yet. We're going to take a look at what Crackdown brings to the table. Ask some questions, provide some answers, and heck, we may even see a review in there.

First topic to debate, is this a GTA rip off? I call this a debate, because many people think a game where you can high-jack cars, shoot innocent civilians, ramp cars off of ramps and all that fun stuff is either a GTA game or a rip-off. You can do all 3 of those things in both games, but Crackdown is a lot more different than any other game. First off, your a super-cop. Yes, a freaking super cop. GTA games, your against the law, Crackdown you hold down the law.

Secondly, the ability to level up your characters attributes is rather addicting. I found myself spending 30-40 minutes hopping from roof to roof looking for those little green orbs. Checking each time to see just how much farther that little bar in the top left hand corner of my screen moved. It also gave me a reason to blow stuff up, and blowing stuff up is always fun. Don't get me wrong, i blew stuff up in other games but i never gained anything out of it. The joy and happiness of bodies flying 40 feet in the air was always enjoyable, but i also get these much smaller orbs flying at me every time i do something good. It's like getting rewarded a cookie..

What is one thing that the GTA series is missing? It's got guns, cars, drugs, and hookers. But there always seemed to be something lacking. Graphics are usually below par, but the gameplay made up for that. If your still scratching your head as to what it is, let me give you 3 letters. X.B.L. (Xbox Live for the slow people). Co-op online with a buddy in Crackdown is actually pretty fun. I didn't get to spend much time in it, but its rather cool how you can help out your friend when he or she is need with a gang member or a boss. Or the ability to go anywhere do anything without any restrictions while still in co-op also will get a thumbs up. For not being much into online gameplay, that sure did impress me.

Graphics are something you just have to adjust too. When i saw the gameplay videos and trailers for this game, i found them rather repulsive and thought this game belonged on an Xbox and not a 360. It was like looking at your girlfriend's sister or something and realizing just how unattractive she is. You kinda wonder if she was adopted, then convince yourself that your going to have to deal with it while your with her. Crackdown's graphics are pretty much like that. You start to think this game belongs on an Xbox, but once you start playing and shooting people in their noggins you just adjust to it and it doesn't really matter. I like that.

My "wtf" question is, why-the-fudge are there no motorcycles?? Everyone loves to get on those. I would like to see a motorcycle leveled up like they do with the agency vehicles into a massive chopper type bike kinda like Ghost Riders. Hells to the yeah! Give me a motorcycle and I'll finally have a reason to do the time trials. Vehicles aren't really that important in the game. I use the standard method of jumping from building to building looking for those agility orbs until i get to my destination.

Crackdown delivers in a "this game is fun until i beat it" sort of way. Doesn't really make me WANT to go back and do more things. Even though i still have achievements to get, people to kill, building to climb, orbs to collect, time trial races to race in, and even throw some hookers off a bridge, (Haloaded knows what im talking about). It may sit on the shelf for a bit waiting for the H3 beta, it might be my next addiction. So, that's the lowdown on Crackdown....ready for a break down you silly clown? I'm a rhyming machine...

Pros

+++ Fun, addictive, do what you want gameplay

++ Attribute system is designed well

+ 2 player co-op could be a hit

Cons

--- Short game, ending hinting at something?

-- Not as much to do as the game presents

- graphically boring.

Overall Score

8.3/10

--backdraft123

First Impression: Gears of War

Fri, 10 Nov 2006 13:20:43 GMT

The most anticipated game for the 360 has finally graced my console. Me and a buddy bought the game at 4:15 PM on Wednesday. We played 7 hours straight into the night beating the campaign on the games "normal" difficulty. So, if your one of those outsiders who is still hesitant about the game, let me give you some insight on what it has been like so far.

First off, let me say, this game is stunning. It looks good, sounds good, and plays good. This is coming from someone without an HDTV. The guys at Epic considered what its like to play on the Tube TVs and still made the game look beautiful. Moving along, the game seemed to have a lot of pacing too it. A few gripes i have with that, you start watching the action instead of being in it. Cut scenes make the game longer than it should be by not allowing you to play through the level. Which isnt bad, we still got to see a lot of cool scenes that we couldnt remake if we tried.

The campaign mode was sort of a breeze to get through once when we learned the controls and the main object of the game. Duck and cover gameplay is how GoW was intended to play. Use lots of cover, and fire when you dont have a good shot. Some teamwork is involved in order to complete some of the tougher missions. We walked through each level with relative ease and enjoyed the challenges that presented themselves at the right time.

One big issue i started to notice was the frame rate. Games like this need to maintain a constant fram rate so it wont mess up your shots or what your initial plan is. I didnt notice it until later on in the game, so maybe it was due to running my 360 hard for about 3-4 hours straight. We did take breaks every now and then just so we could rest up ourselves to avoid those "gaming headaches". I'll be keeping a look for a solid frame rate during my run through the campaign on single player.

After we finished the campaign mode we took the game online for a bit. Initially we had trouble hopping in a game. And to get something out there to some of my readers, if you sent me a party invite last night to join up with you, i was probably in campaign mode with my friend. We vowed to take the campaign out on Day 1. Anyway....online play. Once when we did find a room we found some pretty good gamers to play against.

We got walked over, stomped on, chain-sawed, you name it, it most likely happened. This game, i can assure you, is not "newb friendly" like Halo 2 was for its online play. You have to be an experienced player to win consistently and utilize teamwork. The guys we placed had one simple rule. Stick together. When they are running in packs of 4, its hard to take them all out one by one. So what they would do, is wait for close quarter combat and run up on your with the chainsaw. It probably took me 4 games to figure out their gameplan, so we came back wtih one of our own. We camped and waited for them to come to us. With them spread out, we used our rifles from a distance and picked them off. Eliminating their close combat skills, eliminates them entirely.

I was hoping this game wouldnt be one dimensional. We left their party after having some good games and joined up with another group. I was wanting to see if my one dimensional theory was correct. These guys played a bit differently, splitting up into 2's and taking us out. After getting smacked around like a red headed step child, i finally came back for our final game with a round score 8 kills, 2 knock downs, and 1 revival.

I'll be getting more online play in, testing out the game to see how it holds up. There was only slight lag for about 10 seconds and then it went away, so it looks as if lag is not an issue. My final review will probably come when i beat the campaign on all difficulties so dont expect it sometime soon. But from what i've played so far, i like it. Does it live up to the hype? Not quite. Still, they delivered a solid game, not quite a system seller, but solid nonetheless.

First Impression Pros

+++ Well thought out, sounds good, looks good, plays good

++ Online play is a treat when you get the hang of it

+ Campaign is great, not the best i've played, but loads of fun.

First Impression Cons

--- Frame Rate During Co-Op session

-- A possible 1 dimensional online; chainsaw gun is the only necessity

-- 1 driveable vehicle in campaign...weak.

First Impression Grade

9.6/10

Review: Madden 07

Wed, 25 Oct 2006 03:13:44 GMT

Good:

Stunning graphics

Franchise

Bad:

A.I

Superstar mode

Madden 07 has been out for a little under 2 months now. I've played nearly 40 hours of this game and probably a grand total of 50 games. This is not the best football game i have ever played but i am impressed with the 2nd installment for the series on the Xbox 360.

Making its debut with Madden 06 for the 360, was rumored to be the worst football game ever conceived. How does EA bounce back from something like that? By delivering a revamped gameplay, graphics, and a more integrated Xbox Live feature. It certainly isnt worth throwing 60$ down for.

Franchise mode is what im currently hooked on. Mainly because, there isnt much else to be hooked on. Its pretty solid from top to bottom. Minor tweaks here and there, but overall good. Track your teams stats, player stats, career stats, franchise stats, league stats, and much more. See your standings in your conference, your win-loss record on turf, grass, dome, outside, road, or at home. If you wanted a statistical break down of the players salary, you can get that too. There are more stats here than the stock market (exaggeration). But, the stats do not make up for the horrible A.I.

Oh geeze, i have no idea where to begin with this. I've settled myself into the All-Madden throne and have spent nights where i just wanted to pound my head against a brick until i broke either my skull or the brick. Lineman miss blocks, defensive players intentionally get blocked, coverage gets blown downfield, QB wont throw the ball, the list goes on and on. Your teammates actually try and LOSE the game for you than they do win it. So its basically 21 players against yourself. What frustrated me more than anything was having to mash the buttons down to get a reaction out of my controlled player. Jumping to intercept the ball gets turned into me yelling "what the (insert curse word here) are you doing??!!?"

Superstar mode is close to worthless. First off, your stuck in this crappy "in your face" camera that makes it try and feel like your an actual player. Up until you get into the actual game, you spend a good hour trying to figure out what your character wants to be. Then when you play your first game at that position and see that its pretty difficult to play with the camera like that, you'll try another position until you eventually find out that this mode is pretty much crap.

So, this years Madden 07 doesnt make the cut for a quality football game. But, i need my feeding of football so im forced to play it, im forced to scream stupid crap because the AI doesnt react how its supposed and i eventually just power down the console. If you just want to play some games of football in HD glory on your 360, buy the game. If your looking for an addictive, fun, and never gets old type of football....pass it up and wait until next August.

7.1/10

--backdraft123

Game Review: NCAA Football '07

Tue, 01 Aug 2006 05:03:28 GMT

College football is in the air. You can smell it when you step outside. Summer vacation is wrapping up, mini-camps are opening at football fields around America. School is just around corner for most kids. Some of us are still in our years of High School, others are now attending their first semester of college. I cant explain the emotion that is involved in college football. So much is riding on the line in nearly every game. 1 Loss could cost your team the chance at a National Title. These are not overpaid players who do endzone dances. No, these are the talented kids that come from high school and make themselves legends in the NCAA. Its the phenomenon. So many traditions, every year we look forward to them. Oh yeah....did i mention there's also a video game?

Lets start off by discussing some of the stuff i like about the game so far. I am in love with the tackling system. It has never looked as real and sounded so real in any other game i have played. Very good tackling animations and sounds are a key part to the immersiveness of a game. Use the "Hit Stick" to really lay a hit onto a player.

Graphically the game looks pretty good. Helmets, jerseys, stadiums all look fantastic. Fans look good from a distance, get up close, they look horrible, but they look very realistic when playing during a game. They react pretty well to in-game things such as touchdowns, sacks, INTs, etc.. I had some minor glitches while playing as Ohio St. After i got out of the loading screen before the game started, i could see what looked like the pixels that would turn into the fans. Not sure what you would call it, but the fans did not look like fans anymore. Just a minor hiccup that eventually fixed itself when i scored a touchdown. Just quit game and try again.

Dynasty mode is pretty decent. Im not too impressed with it by all means, but its good enough to have some fun in. I really miss having "hype" build around your team with articles and magazine covers you used to be able to read in game. Now, they kept it very basic. Top 25 polls, Heisman Watch, conference standings, and the Coca-Cola Players of the Week. You can also take a look at your team schedule and the stats for each game that you played, as well as the national schedule. Awards will be handed out at the end of the season and the bowl games will be selected.

Speaking of bowl games i was pretty dissapointed in not being able to see the "hype" leading up to the National Title game. The announcers say some things like "this is what all the hard work comes down too" just mentioning that it IS the Nat. Title game. I was hoping that it would be a lot more cooler than what it was. At the end, you see no reward ceremony or anything. And since im talking about awards, there is no option to see the hard-ware that you won. I liked to check out all the trophies i earned in previous games, but not this one. No idea why they took that out.

Online play looks pretty good from what i have played. I only played one match and easily won. Im not a fan of online sports games mainly due to the minor lag that is in most games. I run a timing specific offense and defense and it messes with the flow of the game. So, it kinda throws me off and i cant really play "my game" the way i want it to be played.

Mini-games are the new option in this years NCAA Football 07. There are only 3 to choose from, but they are fun none the less. If your not in the mood to play a game of football play some mini-games by yourself or with a friend. Im not 100% positive if you can play those online or not.

This years NCAA Football 07 was not up to par with last years. But since it is on a next-gen format, i will grant that excuse to EA. That means the next NCAA Football has to step up and make a name for itself. The key thing that is missing in this years version is the fact that there is no depth. Who has time to play 60 years of dynasty? There needs to be more options and deeper gameplay. Sometimes your defensive backs are a little hard to manage and hard to control. I seem to give up a lot of deep yardage passes simply because the guy i chose did not perform the action i commanded him to do.

So, if your REALLY REALLY craving some college football, pick this game up. Looks great in HD, but gameplay is missing from this one. If your more of a "gameplay over graphics" type of person pick up this game for the Xbox not the Xbox 360.

Overall Rating

8.1/10

--backdraft123

Game Review: Fight Night Round 3

Wed, 24 May 2006 15:39:17 GMT

Without a doubt, the Fight Night series is one of the best sports series out on the market today. So, how does a game like “Fight Night Round 3” introduce itself into the next generation of gaming? By, being one of the best for the Xbox 360.

Of course, by now, most of you have heard about OXM giving out its first ever score of “10”. With games like, Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2, Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory, Forza, The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, Call of Duty 2, Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter, and even The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion that where all given pretty high scores, how does FNR3 beat out all these historic titles? It is a truly a next-gen game.

Game play is a crucial point to a game. If it doesn’t have solid game play, the game will not sell. PERIOD. You’ll notice there is something wrong as soon as you start your first fight. There is no health bar, fatigue bar, round, or round time. It has been completely removed. It gives you the feel that you are standing in the ring watching the two men battle it out.

The career is a great thing to play. I like the ability to customize your fighter with certain types of ring attire, tattoos, taunts, and even illegal blows. The training mini-games within the career mode are pretty fun to play and sometimes you’ll actually look forward to trying them out.

Controls, I had to toggle with. I wasn’t too big on the whole “hit stick” thing. Mainly cause I was so used to using the buttons in the original Fight Night. Though, the hit stick is a great concept, I am a lot more fast on the buttons than I am on the stick. I wont deduct a point for that because it still gives you the option to switch to the type of controls that fit you best.

I really didn’t have much of a chance to get a run on the online play. My good friend TormentX, gladly pounded my face in a few rounds, but when I rent or even buy this game again, I think it might change. (Yes, I’m calling you out Torment!) For the most part, it is silky smooth during fights. Minor lag only happens if your sending a message, listening to music, in a private chat, and trying to fight at the same time. Other than that, you’ll be good.

Pros

True next-gen game play
Great career mode
Graphics, character motion, features, and physics are all superb

Cons

$700,000 for a pair of boxing shorts! (Id like to seem them add in real life prices)
No online lobby for you and your buds
The announcer is a little TOO excited about the fight

I really wanted to see a game lobby, similar to the one that you will find in Dead or Alive 4. I think the ability to wait in line while watching your friends face off is a great thing that nearly all game should have. Cheering on your friends chanting for a knockout could be a lot of fun. Fight Night Round 3 still delivers a TKO, without a doubt.

Final Score

9.4/10

--backdraft123

Game Review: King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie

Thu, 18 May 2006 16:35:07 GMT

King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie, is one of those games that you rent for a 2-5 days to get the gamerpoints. You cannot honestly answer saying that "I rented it because it looked sooo cool!" Sure, you could be honest and say "i rented it for the easy 1000 points, and plus it doesnt look that bad of a game." Anyway, back on topic.

Right from the beginning your in a boat on your way to Skull Island. The graphics were not really mind blowing. The framerate was a little choppy at times, and at other times it was great. It doesnt follow the storyline, word for word, but its like they took the deleted scenes from the movie and made them into a game. There where some parts in the game, from the movie, but for the most part it was just deleted scenes.

Gameplay wise, the game is just fun. Its not boring and its not spectacular either. It has a little Laura Croft feel to it because of some of the puzzles that you have to figure out. They are not mind boggling, but still, they are puzzles and they make you think of what you have to do to get to the next area.

Controls are pretty simple to get used to and are pretty easy to use. I would like to be able to carry more than more weapon at a time. I did like the fact that i went through an entire level with no weapon at all, and i was basically in survivor mode using spears and stuff to kill enemies.

Pros:

Best Rented Game Ever!

Good gameplay

Gameplay Music
Cons:

Framerate

Questionable Graphics

Cannot hold more than 1 weapon at a time

Overall Score:

7.9/10

Be checking in next week for reviews of "Fight Night Round 3" and "UNO!"

--backdraft123

Review: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

Mon, 03 Apr 2006 03:26:18 GMT

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is undoubtedly one of the greatest games i have ever played. This game is the reason why I love my Xbox 360. It has everything that i could possibly imagine, and then some! Bethesda did a great job, and worked 4 years straight to get this game out to us.

When i first picked this game up, i was more excited than Michael Jackson at a day-care. I sat down for about 8 hours straight playing Oblivion, until my thumbs actually started to hurt. That is not a joke.

So, lets begin with graphics. Oh boy, the graphics in this game are just stunning. Everything in it is just so well lit and beautiful. I actually stopped and looked around for a good 10 minutes just to take in the graphics. Now remember, im playing on a standard TV that is using an S-Video cable for more crisper gaming. No fancy, LCD or Plasma and the game is graphically great!

Now moving onto the game engine. Oblivion uses the Havoc Engine which is widely known for being used in Halo 2. Everything you touch basically moves one way or another, which makes the game so more realistic. If you bump into a table that has plates and stuff on it, those plates will move. The character movement is a lot more smoother than Morrowind, which makes for some good battles and cool looking fights.

Fightin in Oblivion has taken a major upgrade. Back when Morrowind was so popular, one of the main complaints was two or three basic moves that you could do and that was about it. The fighting now is very responsive and it makes you feel like your in a real battle. If you hit someone in the leg with a sword or a bow, it will show blood coming from that exact spot, which i think is just awesome.

One major thing that makes Oblivion such a great game is that it is nearly endless. The world around you is constantly changing, there are probably well over two-thousand things for you to do while your playing. The replay value on this game is so high, that in my opinion, i dont think any other game can match it. In three to four years when we start rolling out the entrance mat to the next "next gen" gaming console, i will still be playing this game.

Though there are some minor errors here and there in the game, they will most likely go unnoticed. Load times, are a killer and the frequent loading while your running in the woods can bug you at times. The frame rate will drop from time to time, which can cause for some major lag in the game for a good solid 30 seconds.

Pros

+ The best game for the Xbox 360 graphic wise

+ Never ending gameplay

+ Story line, main quest, side quests, NPCS

+ Cities and towns are just great looking.

Cons

- Loading Times

- Frame Rate drops

- Minor glitches

- Frequent "loading.." while running in the woods

The pros heavily outweigh the cons by a large margin, but i thought it would be best just to name a few pros and a few cons. I'm going to go ahead and say that this game could possibly be Game of the Year of 2006. Yes i know, we still have the next Splinter Cell coming up, along with Gears of War, but Oblivion is just so fascinating and amazing. It's going to be a tough competition. Now, for the final overall rating....

Rating

9.7/10

--backdraft123

Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter review

Sun, 19 Mar 2006 01:30:59 GMT

Let me start off by saying that I only rented this game for 1 week. I do not own the game currently, but my review is still an educated one....for the most part. Moving on!

One of the most anticipated games for the Xbox 360 was Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter. The 5th game in the Ghost Recon series, was by far the best i've played. Ubisoft did a great job at the overall gameplay of the game with accomadating us with tons of weapons. Variety is definately good when it comes to artillary.

The storyline, in my opinion had some holes here and there. I thought it could be a bit more intense but it still had it's shining moments. No, im not going to say the ending, but i thought it was a bit lacking. So dont be surprised if your dissapointed in it.

When it comes to these squad based games, controller scheme is huge. If you cant command your crew better than a blind man, then these games are worthless. Luckily, GRAW is not like that. The controls are pretty basic and easy to learn. Right from the start you are playing in basic training so its not like your going in there blind. I suggest playing training twice to get a good feel for the game. But if your a veteran of the GR series, then no worries.

The cross-com display is especially cool. I like how you have a sort of mini-screen (see picture above. Top left hand corner) and you can see what your teammates are looking at. You can control your team by using a 3D map by simply pressing the back button. You can also control the drone with the map. It comes in very handy in some of the tougher missions.

Pros

+ Good Overall Gameplay

+Looks great graphically

+Online Play is a blast

Cons

-Characters some time glitch.

-Screen issues

-Dodgy online play

The cons can easily be fixed easily by a patch. The characters will sometime shoot at enemies while behind a wall but not really look at them. During one of my sessions, my screen went really dark. I thought someone set off a black smoke grenade or something like that. All i could see was the outline of a tank in front of me and a car along side the road. It eventually went away when i wasn't being attacked. The online gameplay can be great at times, but horrible at other times. I've noticed trouble with hosting a room of more than 8 players during a campaign mode. It seems that someone will always get dropped from the game either from the start or within 5 minutes of the game.

Also, finding matches that are not already in play is a pain. The matches that you do find that are not started yet only consist of 3 players and they are waiting for more players. I would like to instantly hop in on the action without waiting 10-15 minutes. For now, i would stick to playing with your buddies in a private room

The campaign on hard is really not that hard at all. Some might point out that i dont have all the missions completed, so it must be sorta difficult. If i had more time i would've had them all done. I will admit i got stuck a few times but within an hour i was moving on. It is nowhere near as difficult as Call of Duty 2 on veteran.

Finally, the overall score. This game is a keeper if your a hardcore shooter fan. If your like me and fly through the campaign i woud rent this game every other week or so, just to hook up with your friends online. To me it was not that convincing to keep it, but it is still a very solid game.

Overall Score

9.1/10

My Review: Marble Blast Ultra

Sun, 26 Feb 2006 20:53:55 GMT

Marble Blast Ultra

This is an amazingly addicting game. You can battle your way through 60 levels. Difficulty levels ranging in Beginner, Intermmediate, and Advanced. Each level gets tougher as you go along and a little bit more addicting. You will quickly find a level that you really enjoy and have trouble leaving that level.

The pros and cons for this game are very well balanced. The game itself is probably more addicting than Geometry Wars, which in my opinion, is saying a lot.

Pros

Fun, addictive gameplay.
60 levels of marble fun!
Battle it out with friends online.

Cons

10 multiplayer levels. Needs maybe 5-8 more.
No co-op play. Would be a great use for people struggling on tougher levels.
Camera is a bit sketchy.

For the pros, i could probably list four to five mroe good things about the game. You can select 35 different marble variations! The easter eggs are really fun to try for. I recently just got my last one, and it was quite a challenge. The achievements are fair and anyone can get them. They dont require a ton of time to complete, just some patience and overall knowledge of the game.

There are not really that many complaints for the game. The 10 multi-player levels are kind of picky. Most of the maps, i dont really like for the most part. I'd like to see them add in some more maybe with content download via Xbox Live Marketplace.

Me and a friend discussed the Co-Op play, and we both agreed that it would definately be worth it. If your struggling at a level, a friend could possibly help you. Maybe even add in some extra levels that require team work.

The camera can be very frustrating when your trying to collect eggs that are in hard to reach places. Even though you can move the camera yourself, i would like to be able to adjust the height of it at any given time.

Overall Score

8.3/10

My Review: Dead or Alive 4

Wed, 15 Feb 2006 18:57:46 GMT

If your a rookie to the series like myself you better have some form of mental help to guide you through the game. I had no idea what to expect out of a Dead or Alive game so i was going in, pretty much blind. What a wake up call i got when i first started playing.

I got my butt kicked around a ton. You can read my rant from a couple of days ago here. At the time i posted that i was clearly upset and just frustrated. Nothing seemed to work for me and i thought it was only going to get worse.

So, after a couple of day of complete playing ( i played all day Sunday the 12th) i was finally starting to get the hang of it. Be prepared to get your butt beat a good 100 times before you actually start to block and counter because thats just how it is. Now for the review.

Single Player modes

I was pretty impressed with the overall single player of the game. If your a newb head straight to sparring mode where you can learn the basics of the game. You can set your opponents difficult level according to stage (1-8) and even do an exercise drill where you perform the moves it shows on the screen. When your done with that, give the story mode a try.

There are 16 (excluding the bonus character) characters you can play as in story mode. The stories overall, are not that great. It's good enough to keep you playing but not very deep in plot. Afterall, it is a fighting game. There 8 stages that you must complete to finish each story line and after each character's story is done it goes to a little mini film.

There is also Time Attack mode where you play as a character of your choosing and complete 8 stages in the fastest time possible. Its pretty difficult unless your a vet of the game, i seem to die at least once when i get to the 5th and 6th stages.

If your not digging that, there is also Survival mode. The rules are simple, dont get beat. Versus mode is basically 1v1 and then Team Battle is 2v2. Those are pretty fun if your just looking for ways to improve your game.

Online Play

I haven't really ventured out into the online play too much. Just met up with some friends to get a lesson in butt kicking 101 (A.K.A Cru kicks my face in 101) For the most part though, it does look very solid. There is some lag here in there but you will always find that in any game. The online game lobby is very neat. It works great if your trying to talk to friends but hate switching chat rooms to talk to each one individually.

So overall, this game is not for newbs. The learning curve is very difficult and if your looking to buy this game, GIVE IT TIME. I know from experience how frustrating those first couple hours are of play. Heck, i still have urges to start pounding my controller on the ground.

Pros

+ Tons of stuff to unlock

+ Visually it looks stunning

+ Lots of game modes to choose from

Cons

- Lacking in story line

- Very difficult on normal setting

- Controller Scheme

Overall Score

9.0/10

--backdraft123

Geometry Wars & Zuma--My Reviews Pt. 4

Thu, 26 Jan 2006 18:58:30 GMT

When you think of arcade games, you usually think of games like Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man, Pong, Street Fighter, Mortal Combat, and games like that. But does it ever cross your mind that there are actual games like Geometry Wars and Zuma that are now possibly the most addicting games ever to be given to mankind? Ya, i didnt think it did. ONTO THE REVIEWS!

Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved

The above photo doesn't even justify the craziness of Geometry Wars. Somewhere hidden in that photo, is a little white ship. That ship is your life and you must protect it. It's possibly the most addictingly frustrating game ever created. I sometimes get so frustrated with the game, that i actually want to break something, such as my Xbox 360......but, i take a deep breath, calm myself, and start playing again. Then I pretty much repeat those steps.

Pros

Everlasting fun
Nice techno beat
Anyone can play it, but it takes skill to master it.

Cons

Frustrating beyond belief
No Co-Op mode
Techno beat gets annoying after awhile

Final Score

8.1/10

Zuma Deluxe

Do you enjoy watching frogs spit multi-colored balls out their mouths? Well if you do, Zuma is the game for you. This challenging puzzle game is just as equally frustrating as Geometry Wars, but it has a more relaxed feel to it. It doesn't come with non-stop action, but it can be fun once when you get in the higher levels. I, of course, would not know, because i suck at it. Still a great game either way.

Pros

Simple...kinda
Leaderboards
2 modes of gameplay

Cons

No difficulty settings
Gets extremely challenging quick
Kinda boring when you get really good at it.

Final Score

7.8/10

Look for more reviews as soon as i get some more games. If anyone would like to send me $62 so i can buy DOA4 please post a comment saying so and i'll give you my mailing address.

--backdraft123

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06--My Review Pt. 3

Wed, 25 Jan 2006 06:41:50 GMT

______________________________________________________________________________

Visuals

I was a little optimistic about this game when i received it for Christmas. I put it in, played for 10 minutes and turned it off. At first, i didnt like it, I could tell that since i was not playing on an HDTV that it was not going to look that great. Which i did end up being wrong. It still looks good on a regular tube t.v. BUT, its not like this game would not run like that on the original Xbox.

Sounds
The sounds are still great and it makes you feel like your right there in the game. The club striking the ball, is as crisp and clear as ever, and even the 3 wood sounds different from your driver, unlike in previous TW games. Outdoor noises such as birds and even a crowd that you can actually see is still great. I like the guy that screams "IN THE HOLE!!" after I attempt a putt.

Customization

Customization is now a huge factor in this series, and i must say it is not AS good as the 2005 editiion of Tiger Woods. Maybe its because im not that far along to unlock all the goodies but i have a good portion of them unlocked. The player skins and facial features kind of all look the same no matter how hard you try to customize them.

Online Play

I ventured into the online play only once, only to find myself lagging a lot. If your like me, and the online play has to be smooth like the single player, in order to do good, you will not like this. Like many sports games i play, i get so use to the smoothness of offline play, that when i take it online and i even sense some lag, it throws off my timing and everything. But i promised myself as soon as my character is good enough to play with online, im going to give it a whirl. Wish me luck!

Single Player

It features a ton of mini side games for every golf course that is available for play. Then when you are ready to take it up with the pros, head to Q-School and qualify for "THE TOUR". Once when your immersed in the PGA Tour Season there is no turning back. The pros actually put up more of a challenge this time around. Bring your "A" game if you want to sweep every tournament. Im still looking for my first major win.

Overall, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06 is still a must buy for any hardcore golfer. If you cant go outside and enjoy the wonderfull game of golf, due to a rainy day, then TW is for you. But for the casual golfer, you might want to give this one a rent when your in the mood to blast the crap out of an innocent little white ball.

Final Score

8.4/10

--backdraft123

Perfect Dark Zero & Kameo Elements of Power--Reviews Pt. 2

Mon, 23 Jan 2006 08:00:40 GMT

Pefect Dark Zero

PDZ was certainly my most played game before Christmas, but it has recently started collecting dust after i got my haul of games. It started off as a hit, and quickly became not so fun.

Pros

Lots of weapons, all of them have a secondary fire
Online Co-Op and Bots
Joanna Dark in a leather outfit...need i say more?

Cons

Lacking in Storyline
Lacking in maps for online play
Got old quick

To be completely honest, the Pros do outweigh the cons for this game. I loved the Co-Op mode and the bots where always fun to play with. The storyline was just lame and didnt have that much to it. Only 2 driveable vehicles was kind of dissapointing but i guess the massive amount of weapons makes up for it.

Final Rating

8.3/10

Kameo: Elements of Power

To me, this game looks like it should go straight to the KiddyCube (GameCube) but i took a risk and actually used my Christmas money to buy it. I was surprised by how much fun this game was and how much i liked it. The lighting, characters, sound affects, graphics, storyline, and just about everything was great. All the characters had their own unique ability and you actually had to use them as a team to complete the game.

Pros

Great Storyline
Pretty massive levels
All the unique characters

Cons

Not a real long RPG, story wise.
No co-op online play (yet)
Can get confusing at times

I still have not beaten the game yet, but i am close. Everything else was simply brilliant and i think this game could be enjoyed by all gamers.

Final Rating

8.9/10

I still have 1 more game and 2 more arcade games left to review. Be checking in frequently and PLEASE leave comments if you see something wrong. Thanks!

--backdraft123

COD2 & PGR3---My Reviews

Fri, 20 Jan 2006 23:54:37 GMT

Project Gotham Racing 3

This game is extremely enjoyable. If your more of a "realistic" racer and love fast cars, PGR3 is for you. The online play is pretty solid and even the Solo Career is very challenging and fun also.

Pros

HDTV + PGR3=beautiful (great graphics)
Car details
Online Play

Cons

Cant tune your cars
Kind of weird orchestra music
No customization

The cons for this game, are very low. I can pretty much deal with all of them and they dont really have an impact on the game at all. One of the greatest racing games i've ever played.

Final Rating

9.6/10

Call of Duty 2

If your like me, then you are probably very tired of seeing all of these WWIIFPS's. For you non-1337 gamers like me, that means World War 2--First Person Shooter. Call of Duty 2 has now taken this genre to its potentially maximum height. Instead of online play being the key feature in this game, its the single player campaign that is possibly the best I have ever played.

With more intense action than Rambo (all 3 parts put together), Call of Duty 2 is the pinnacle of WWII FPS's. Every aspect of this game is brilliant. The AI is probably the toughest I have ever faced, the buildings, the noises, the people, everything is just so realistic and will have you immersed in no time.

Pros

brilliant single player
great attention to detail
very difficult on Veteran

Cons

multiplayer needs some work
Your squad is not the brightest of them all
No multi-player achievements

Final Rating

9.3/10

--backdraft123

backdraft123's space: Game Reviews

Review: Mass Effect

Review: Halo 3

Review: NCAA Football 08

Review: Guitar Hero II

Review: Crackdown

First Impression: Gears of War

Review: Madden 07

Game Review: NCAA Football '07

Game Review: Fight Night Round 3

Game Review: King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie

Review: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter *review*

My Review: Marble Blast Ultra

My Review: Dead or Alive 4

Geometry Wars & Zuma--My Reviews Pt. 4

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06--My Review Pt. 3

Perfect Dark Zero & Kameo Elements of Power--Reviews Pt. 2

COD2 & PGR3---My Reviews

Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter review