It’s not a stretch of the truth to say that the latest entry into the Indiana Jones franchise was lacking the character that can be found in the first 3 movies.  It had just as much action and suspense that could be found in the other movies but lacked any likability that didn’t rely on the charm first achieved in the initial installments of the series.  I bring Indiana Jones into this review because the lead character in Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune feels like a better Indy than his cinematic counterpart portrayed in “Crystal Skull.”

Rise of a Rogue

Nathan Drake has the same bad boy charm that Hans Solo, Captain Mal, and any number of smart-alecky rogues found in modern day cinema and television.  Sure they have a tendency to be put themselves into situations that would kill any ordinary man but they are more than happy to quip about it without batting an eyelash.  You’d be hard pressed to find a better example of this archetype than the lead character in Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune.

Stop and Enjoy Paradise

Uncharted has the same pace as a Summer blockbuster movie.  You start the game mid-action seeing what sort of exploring Nathan is accustomed two and are quickly drawn into a story that may not reinvent the wheel but does an adequate job to move you along from set piece to set piece in an interesting way.  These gorgeous set pieces are a perfect example of one of Uncharted’s biggest strength, its art design.  You will be travel through some of the most scenic jungle scenery and ruins ever recreated in a video game.

No Ones Perfect, Words to Animate By

Another way Uncharted sets you up for a thrill ride is through the animations of its lead characters.  Great time was taken to capture the most realistic animations possible and it shows through and through.  You’re drawn into the action as you see Nathan flinching as each bullet hits his cover.  Nate has a tendency to stumble at random which works to make a more believable every day type of guy traversing these jungle ruins rather than some superhuman badass.

Worthwhile Headaches

Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune is by no means a perfect game but it provides an experience that surrounds the player in a believable world and story that tickles the adventurous side of us all.  One thing that I must comment on is how clunky the controls can feel during combat.  Even the simple act of switching between weapons and utilizing grenades makes for a overly complicated situations during the many encounters you have with multiple enemies at once.  While quite realistic in implementation, the fact that Nathan has inertia when moving around the environments makes for accidental deaths or frustrating predicaments.

I found myself overlooking these problems when faced with the excitement galvanized by the story, characters, and pace of the game.  I’m quite excited at the prospect of Uncharted 2: Amongst Thieves, which is set to release later this year.  Thus far the previews of the game all seem to lean towards the Uncharted team once again striking gold once again.

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There was a time when flash games were limited to simple point and click fests that were made to moreso pass the time than actually be enjoyable.  To keep data transfers to a minimum, early flash programmers used graphics that were simplified and were strickly suited for a time when most Internet users were forced to use telephones as their way to the Net.  From these humble beginnings a whole slew of fully realized experiences have been spawned all over the Internet.  No longer are programmers limited to simple interactivity or early Nintendo NES era graphics but are able to fully realize their ideas within a medium that can be limiting but has a breadth that allows for creavitivity.  As proof of this look at the former flash games that can be found on Xbox Live Arcade, the Playstation Store, and Wii Ware.

One Stop Shop

By no means am I saying that all the games out there are works of gaming genius ready for primetime, and in fact many are  a downright chore to play through.  But that’s why there’s sites like Kongregate.com that take the guest work out of finding the creme de la creme of flash games.  One of the biggest draws that Kongregate has is the fact that it has a community that’s a couple thousand strong and growing with just as many games in it’s library to peruse through.  It is free to join the community with the option of “tipping” those developers you feel deserve some monetary reward for their efforts.

Kommunity Focused

I specifically said community because that’s what Kong really is.  It is a community of gamers that enjoy playing games and the site is specifically made to cater to this.  Game developers playing alongside the players each shooting ideas off of each other to one simple end, making better games.  Alongside every game window there’s also a chat window that can be game specific or one that you become a regular in.  I believe all this interactivity allows for a real community to be formed rather than the chaos that can be found in any online console multiplayer lobby. There’s also a level system that has you earning poitns for commenting, rating, playing, and completing challenges within games.  This may seem like a gimmick but it also has the benefit of incentivizing being a part of the kong kommunity which can only enrich the experience for everyone else.

Kreativity Galore

Kongregate has games for just about every taste with a catalogue that expands on a daily basis.  You’ll find everything from shooters, to side scrolling action games, to puzzle games, and even a couple RTS games.  Just as long as you’re not expecting mind blowing graphics: you’ll be treated to a pleasant experience each and every time you spend some time within Kongregate’s walls.  Also, if you’re interested there’s lessons on how to start making your own flash games located right on the spot.  Also monthly sweepstakes for prized as well as a monthly contest awarding the time new games uploaded for the month.  Do I really have to keep typing or are you finally checking out Kongregate for yourself’?

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Now that I’ve had some time with the demo I can happily say that the game is every bit as cute and addictive as Peggle or Bookworm Adventures were.  PopCap games has a way of taking tried and true concepts from specific genres and distilling them until they become deceptively simple with layers of strategy for those that care to delve deep enough.  Plants Vs. Zombies may not revolutionize the tower defense genre but it does provide a highly polished experience that is saturated with the charm associated with the PopCap name.  Waves of varied zombies take turns assaulting your lawn and it is up to you to plant various plant types in an effort to stop their evil plans.

The first few sections had me casually clicking my pea shooters and sunflowers to stave off the zombie horde but the difficulty quickly amped forcing me to act with a more deliberate plan of action.  I loved the fact that PopCap took the time to make both the plant and zombie side of the fight to have as varied casts as possible.  Rather than taking the easy way out of just making harder to kill zombies the player is treated to a inventive mix of characters that will get a chuckle the first time you’re faced with them.

I find it hard to review games from PopCap because of one simple fact…they’re fun.  I have a specific part of my gaming heart dedicated to games that are a joy to play and Plants vs. Zombies is that and then some.  Thanks PopCap for once again creating a game that procrastination from all work like activities.

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The Resident Evil 5 demo that was released a few months back had me feeling a bit wary of what the final product would look/play like.  Now after quite a few playthroughs with the retail copy I’m happy to say that the control problems from the demo are not deal breaks after some time with the game.  The levels are set up so that they provide the player with the utmost excitement without ever letting the “tank-like” control scheme become too much of a hindrance.

Two To Tango

As with any activity. having someone to play with is where Resident Evil 5 truly shines.  While the single player game does allow you to play along side an AI partner having someone sit down on the couch with you or play with online is where the real fun starts.  Staying ahead of the zombies becomes a breeze when you have another human to play along side.  It can be quite satisfying to plan strategies with a partner when facing off against one of the game’s many larger-than-life enemies.

Plain ole’ Dumb Fun

I’m sure there are many die hard fans of the Resident Evil franchise that will love the small throw backs to the series’ prior installments but when it came to me it seemed more like a summer blockbuster action movie plot rather than anything to pay attention to.  While this may be a negative point to some, I feel it’s a perfectly acceptable video game equivalent to a popcorn flick plot that’s just meant as a backdrop for the action that’s happening on screen.

But Wait There’s More…

What really caught me off guard was the fact that there was such a robust end game that was unlocked once you completed the campaign the first time.  There’s money and XP to gather that is utlized to upgrade weapons and to purchase bonus items like costumes, unlimited ammo, and 3d figurines of all the characters in the game.  Along with those features you’re also able to play the Mercenaries mode which puts you and your AI or human controlled partner against waves of infected creatures.

Resident Evil 5 provides an experience that is well worth any of the frustration you may come across while attempting to learn the control scheme.  The variety in locales throughout the game provide a backdrop that keeps the stop and pop pace of the from getting to monotonous.  I’d recommend the game to anyone looking for an exciting experience that is a blast to share with friends.

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As soon as I fired up Peggle Nights I was transported back to the first time I got my hands on the original Peggle.  I had no idea what to expect when I picked up Peggle for the first time and was surprised when my eyes were treated to a cacophony of pastel colored animals all vying to “out-cute” the other.  There was so much about the aesthetic that would have ordinarily turned me off immediately but my love of gaming overruled my machismo laden first reaction and I powered through the first game like a champ.  The simple yet deep game grasped my attention and did not let go until I was privy to each and every one of the Peggle Master’s powers.

If It Ain’t Broke, Don’t Fix It

I am quite glad that Peggle Nights doesn’t mess around too much with what the original game provided when it came to gameplay.  The game is still played very much like a game of pachinko where your ball starts at the top of a level and falls down hitting pegs that eventually are removed from the level.  Your only real goal is to hit all of the orange pegs in the level to progress while racking up points on your way to doing so.  To spice things up a bit you’re also given the ability to use special powers that each of the Peggle Masters possess that can aid you in beating each of the levels.  These powers can range from a Super Guide ability that allows you to see how your ball will bounce when first shot to the eerily accurate Zen Ball power that maximizes any shot you make so you can rack up an even higher score.  The sequel has added the help of a new Peggle Master by the name of Marina who’s power  uses a hefty dose of electricity to help you shock the pegs into submission.

Deceptively Simple

After playing hours of the original and now a few more hours of the sequel I can appreciate the campyness of the Peggle Series and ahve come to view it as one of the integral part of the games.  Simply put, Peggle exudes pure fun out of every corner of the experience it provides.  You’re rewarded visually with little cues that let you know something “awesome” has happened when really all you did was click a single button in the direction you felt would hit the most pegs and hope for the best.  Out of this simplicity sprouts actual strategy that works its way into your shots before you realize it’s happening.  You haven’t experience real fun until you’ve had  “Ode To Joy” blaring from your speakers while a technicolor-ed array of random explosions, phrases, and point totalling that makes you feel like you’ve just solved the meaning of life rather than just shooting a ball at a couple of pegs.

Yes, I sound like I’ve drank some sinister brain washing kool-aid supplied by the folks at PopCap but anyone that’s played the game can attest to the fact that this game is addictive.  Hours can be sunk into just playing through the main story mode and infinitely more if you factor in the challenge modes or perfecting your scores in completed levels.  Both Peggle and Peggle Nights are great games that will immediately pull in anyone willing to give the game five minutes of their time.

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I’m in no way saying that Prince of Persia is not a game worth picking up.  There is quite a lot about the game that is worth the price of admission.  The art style alone will have you stopping to enjoy the vistas that can be found throughout the game.  Couple the grand scale of the environments with the  over saturated color scheme that the world is painted in and you’ll feel like you’re in a kid’s storybook come to life.

Both the wall running parkour elements and combat are simplified allowing for you to feel like a “badass” with a few button pressed at your leisure.  This can both be a blessing and a curse throughout the game due to you never really feeling like you’re in control of the princes actions on screen.  The autopilot-ness of this control scheme had my prince jumping off walls when me not pressing a single button was the correct way to go about the section.  Unfortunately this can also lull you into a sense of laid back ness causing way too many stupid deaths  because you were not alert enough to make your jump at the right time.  But thankfully any mistake that is made is quickly reversed by your companion Elika and her nifty acrobatic magic.

My only real problem with Prince of Persia is that once you’ve been through the first trek through a “corrupted land” with it’s subsequent boss fight there is not really much change to that formula within the dozen or so more times you’ll be repeating that process.  It’s a damn shame that there’s not more variety within the game because I’d have to say that I truly did enjoy the game at certain parts but the sum of it all had me wishing for a few grains of time so I could fast forward past the rinse and repeat sections of the game.  I’d say the prince’s latest romp is worth picking up for a play through but be prepared for some slight frustration between the stretches of entertainment it can provide.

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It’s hard not to think of arcades when I reminisce around my early gaming experiences.  Yes I had plenty of time on everything from the ColecoVision to the NES but there were many a lazy summer afternoon spent in the backroom of hot and smelly bodegas (corner stores in NYC) pumping quarters into whatever machines the owner had that month.  One mainstay of those machines was the rickety old Street Fight 2 machines that always had way too many kids waiting to use them.  The same appeal followed the game when it showed up on the SNES and prompted a whole Summer of kids packed onto my couch all waiting for their turn to play my SNES.

Fast forward to 2009, and up until Street Fighter IV I really had not gotten into another iteration of the series since, yes I made a brief foray into the Vs. series of games but even then I lost interest quickly.  It seemed like the series thrived to reinvent itself and I was left to the wayside while tournament players and change mongers got their fill of flashy counter moves and other technical features that seemed to force a player to adapt or move on rather than encourage mastering the game.  Street Fighter IV on the other hand is a return to form that I am glad Capcom had the guts to make.  The game itself still remains as deep as ever but a lot of the fat from past iterations in the series have been trimmed away leaving the essence of Street Fighter still in tact

One of the most interesting choices Capcom has made in regards to the game is art style.  Many of the character models are based very closely on their Street Fighter II dopplegangers with stylistic changes being made here and there to give SFIV a unique almost water-colored look that still feels very much like the SF of old.  Another choice that was made that seems a bit baffling is how the player is forced to complete certain tasks to unlock quite a few characters in the game which seems like an antiquated restriction only tacked on to falsely elongate what is already a fairly deep game.  There is a lot to the game, including LIVE functionality that allows Vs. play so the inclusion of this limiting unlocking scheme seems a bit convoluted and a bad choice in general.

Regardless of the headaches unlocking items can be this game is addictive beyond all belief.  My first experience online had me cheering as my behind was beat around 5 times in a row, not because I’m some masochist that loves being whooped but because it only made me try harder each consecutive time.  Sure this could never duplicate my times spent at the arcade with a quarter on the glass marking my next turn but it does a really good job of coming just short of it and I have no complaints about that.  Street Fighter IV is a game made for fans of how the series used to be but still advances the 2d fighter genre a few levels in the process.

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Never have I felt as on edge while playing a game as during my late night play sessions with Dead Space.  EA’s Dead Space was originally a game that was under my radar due to the simple fact that it was surrounded by so many top tier games when it was first released during holiday season of last year.  I had vowed to eventually bring it back to the forefront and I’m thankful that I did because it has blow me away from start to finish.

With a generic name like Dead Space one would think that this is simply another space marine FPS game cast from the same mold as Halo 3 and Gears of War 2.  But you’d be sadly mistaken if you were to make that assumption because Dead Space’s world has more in common with Bioshock than either of those two games.  Both Bioshock and Dead Space adhere to an eerie ambiance that permeates every moment of the player’s experience.  Whether it’s the story or the world itself you’re immersed in a experience rather than playing through one like you would in the former two games.

Survival Horror Done Right

In Dead Space you’re put in the shoes boots of a ship engineer (glorified custodian) named Issac that is tasked with slowly activating the various areas of a huge ship that you’re currently stuck on.  Along the way you uncover a huge conspiracy that may or may not be the cause of the ghastly creatures hellbent on throwing a wrench into your plans.  Since you’re an engineer you’re equipped with weapons that are pretty much futuristic tools that work perfectly to lop the lim

bs off of your would be assailants.  You will also be outfitted in a suit that can be upgraded and has the handy features of being able to pick up items using a telekinesis type power and slowing down enemies or machines (which sorta kinda makes sense in weird way while dealing with the huge engines on a spaceship).

Dead Space achieves what many survival horror games attempt to and that’s the simple act of being scary.  It does so by making sure the player is as immersed as possible in the game by limiting the amount game-yness that can be experienced at any given time.  Your health, power, and ammo can all be seen just by looking at your character.  All your in-game menus are also shown in teh form of a holographic display that appears in front of your character but only has depth when you look at it the hologram is paper-thin if you rotate the camera around your character which is a really slick effect.  You’re also constantly surrounded by moans and groans as you move throughout the levels which keeps you on edge even as you’re sitting in a room that’s obviously empty.

There’s not much else I can say about the game really.  It’s a fantastic ride that can be predictable at some points but utterly satisfying during others.  I loved the fact that about a quarter of the way into the game I had learned to hold up my gun whenever entering rooms which saved me being caught off guard like I suffered through the early parts of the game.  My constant vigil only helped immerse me into the game and made the experience all the more enjoyable.  I’d suggest Dead Space to anyone that is looking for a truly satisfying action horror game, also I’d suggest checking out the animated movie they released in tandem with this because there’s a lot of back story that may not be a necessity to enjoying Dead Space but does help flesh out the story.

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I may be in the minority but I played the original Gears of War strictly for the single player experience (Coop Campaign included).  Whenever I attempted to take my play online I was constantly met with players that were far superior and would be able to 1 hit kill me without me getting a single bit of enjoyment out of the experience.  The single player though was a nonstop thrill ride that was just pure dumb fun to play through that got way too much criticism because of it’s balls to the wall ridiculous story.

Gears of War 2 ups the ante in ways that absolutely had my jaw dropping as I moved through the single player campaign.  In many ways the game feels like you’re playing the original but I soon realized that this was not a bad thing.  I instantly fell back into the stop and pop state of mind needed to play the game.

Bigger Badder More Bad Ass (Actual lead designer quote, thank you Cliff!)

There’s no time wasted when it comes to dropping you into the action in Gears of War 2.  You’re almost immediately put through events that far surpass any of the firefights you experienced within the original Gears of War.  You’ll be poised with fights against creatures that were bosses in the original game yet are mere side enemies whose only purpose is fodder for your turret gun. Brumaks, Corpsers and hundreds of Locusts surround you at all times and this happens within minutes of starting the game.

The game continues to move you through dynamic environments that range from underground caverns to wasted cityscapes.  There’s even a level plays like an old 2D action sidescroller game (ala Contra) that takes place inside a huge creature with all the blood, viscera, and muscles shown with almost nauseating realism.  Your adventure also leads you underground to the Locust’s (main baddies in the game) home turf where you duke it out with literally hundreds of their kind.  Yes there is a lot that is reminiscent of the original but there’s certain sections that are gorgeous to look at which can be a headache when you’re caught off guard by an enemy that’s caught you sightseeing.

I’m sure that I’m not the only gamer out there that felt the original Gears of War’s story was a bit laughable and its sequel sometimes follows in its footsteps. This doesn’t meant that the game is devoid of worthwhile story arches but these sometimes truly dramatic sections are  juxtaposed to expletive laden action sections that are littered with great one liners like, “We’re gonna whup your mamma’s ass. Whoo-!”  If you’re willing to take it at face value you’ll soon see that Gears of War 2 provides you with exactly what you would want in a summer action movie and that’s a simple story line that has just enough realism strewn through  to ground the outrageousness that the rest of the ride gives you.

Multiplayer

While the Gears of War matches are for the most part the same but there’s two modes that I’ve played the most since I purchased the game a few months ago.  Those two were Meatflag and Horde modes.  In Meatflag you play a game that is Epic’s version of Capture the Flag and basically plops a living person as the flag and each team is attempting to dispatch and carry this “meatflag” to their side of the map, this mode can be fun but eventually can get tiresome.  The real part of multiplayer that has legs is the Horde mode which  puts you gets against waves of enemies that get progressively harder.  These two modes alone are what have made the Gears of War 2 multiplayer far superior to the original game’s by far.

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Rumble Massage

Use the rumble to

release the stress, don’t forget

the happy ending!

This has to be one of the most interesting uses of the rumble functionality in game I’ve seen thus far.  You’re able to set the pulse and strength of the rumble and there’s also a setting that allows you to control someone else’s controller’s rumble for interactive massaging that can be done over Xbox Live or while in the same room .  It blows my mind simple yet inventive this game is because it has functionality that spans not only massages and stress relief but could also function as a way for adults to have some personal fun which is quite innovative.

RC-AirSim

Fun RC plane sim

that gives you a backyard to

perform your tricks in.

This game is fairly simple but is definitely a fun time waster.  You get to choose from a good sized list of RC Airplanes and you’re immediately thrown into a huge backyard to fly your plane in.  While the game will most likely grown stale after an hour or so of play it is well worth the 200 Microsoft Points price tag (about $2.50).

Groov

Groov-y  tunes created

from the shooting I’m doing

and I’m loving it.

I’m glad to say that the gentleman that made this game is a member of the boards on 1Up.com and I have to say that he did an amazing job on this game.  Yes it is a bit of a throwback to Geometry Wars and Everyday Shooter but at the same time it has its own flavor that is a fun experience.  Groov is a game that could easily be on the regular Xbox Live Marketplace and is an absolute steal for 200 MS Points.

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