Wesker

War has changed. So has the Metal Gear Solid franchise with its fourth installment. Thankfully, it's all for the better, culminating in one of the best games ever.

Metal Gear Solid 4 has been the most highly anticipated game for the Playstation 3 since before the console was even announced. All over the internet and magazines, plenty of gamers and MGS nerds wondering when we will see the next installment in the famed franchise. Luckily, in June 2008, it is finally here. Even better, what is here is perfection.

The graphical presentation of MGS4 is top notch. Never before have I spent nearly the whole game with my jaw gaping, virtually drooling at every cutscene and gameplay sequence. The character models are beautifully detailed. Snake's age is a hot topic in the game, and the graphical poweress shows off every jeriatric detail of him. All cutscenes are done in real time, which makes it all the more amazing. There were moments in the game when I had to do a double take and make sure that I was watching a game, and not a real movie.

Control issues have been a touchy subject when it comes to the MGS series. Luckily, there isn't anything to worry about when it comes to MGS4. The configuration has been streamlined to be more along the lines of a good third person shooter, even taking a few tips from that 'other' stealth game. You're only a button press away from an over-the-shoulder view and just one more for a first person view. Any of these views can be used at any point in time and really gives Snake the edge when it is needed most. There are plenty of moments in MGS4 that need very precise and concise gunplay and this new control scheme delivers on all fronts. Sixaxis motion control is rarely used, but what is there, works well. Also, if you are a lucky owner of the Dualshock 3, it is utilized very well, and is a staple all its own in the immersion factor.

Without spoiling anything, the story is very well done and shows off the masterpiece that Hideo Kojima has created. Snake's brother, Liquid has harnessed the power to ultimately control the world and it's up to Snake to stop him. Several characters from past MGS games are here to help or kill Snake, and it's up to you to help Snake along the way. Snake is showing his age and it is displayed prominently throughout the game. He's also a chain smoker, smoking nearly every couple of minutes in a cutscene. MGS4 is presumably the last game in the series, and it is all handled very well. Every loose end is tied up, nothing left unsaid. During my playthrough, even a few tears were shed, and that is something no one would have expected to hear about a video game, I assure you.

MGS4 will only take about 18-20 hours to complete on the normal difficulty, but can probably be defeated within 5-10 hours when skipping all cutscenes and codec sequences. The question as to why you would do that is beyond me, but for those speed runners, and for those who can't understand the story, the option is there. The cutscenes can be rather lengthy, but they are acted and directed so well that skipping just one would be a crime. This is a game that is just as important to watch as to play.

Metal Gear Online heads MGS4's plethora of extras. A full online mode taking the gameplay from the single player game online pitting you against 16 of your most dear friends is at your disposal. Yep, you can even kill your opponents with a Playboy magazine from across the country. It is slightly unfortunate that there are only a few maps to choose from, but there will be more downloadable later as this is only billed as the 'Starter Pack' for Metal Gear Online. A few of the other extras include downloadable camoflauge and ipod songs. They are all nice touches to an already perfect game.

Metal Gear Solid 4 is easily the greatest entry in the MGS series, sporting a refined control scheme, excellent story and superb extras that will keep you coming back for more. It deserves nothing less then a perfect score. It's okay not to believe the hype, but believe me when I say it is well deserved and worth buying a Playstation 3 over. Buy this game.

It's sad that, even in 2008, we still have to put up with this amount of sheer mediocrity.

Haze has been looked at as an interesting first person shooter since it was first announced. Coming from the developers of TimeSplitters, expectations were a bit high. It's also garnered plenty of attention from being an exclusive PS3 game. Unfortunately, for every step Haze takes forward, it takes 5 steps back.

The graphics in Haze are nothing special. While it doesn't look bad necessarily, I expect more from games after playing through the powerhouses like GTA IV and MGS4. This game would have looked superb back in 2005, but in 2008 it does not cut it any longer. The 'Nectar' effects look nice, but as with the rest of the game, nothing special.

As you already know, Haze is a first person shooter, and it plays just like any of the rest. Haze plays akin to the original Halo, nothing more, nothing less. The gunplay feels okay, but is stiff at the same time. There were points in the game where I was desperately trying to shoot an enemy, but failed because the cursor on screen decided it wasn't going to do what I say. It makes for several frustrating moments that made me want to turn my Sixaxis into a bullet so I could shoot myself with it.

One of the 'features' of Haze is the Nectar system. Nectar is billed as a 'performance-enhancing pharmaceutical drug that grants the user enhanced speed, accuracy and strength'. It really is nothing more than a mind controlling hallucinogenic. What this means in-game though, is that you will be able to see enemies more clearly, bodies will vanish as to drown out images of death and destruction, reduces recoil, and allows the player to zoom in further while scoped. An overdose of Nectar is dangerous, with loss of mental control and death being possible side-effects. A lot of what Nectar does is nothing really special, and is really nothing more than a gimmick.

The vehicle controls in Haze are primitive, to say the least. It only utilizes one stick to steer, and it just doesn't work. Remember the M35 Mako from Mass Effect? Now try to steer it with enemies all around you shooting you every second that there is. Now watch yourself die a lot, as I did. As much as Haze took notes from other games, they forgot something very important, vehicle control. I find it to be rather embarrassing that vehicles can still be controlled this way these days.

The story in Haze is nothing special either. You and your squad of insecure idiots are sent out to find a rebel group called "The Promise Hand." Only to find out later in the game that everything that has been said about the group is wrong. The game is very gritty in regards to the story, and takes nothing into account when it comes to dialogue. There were plenty of moments during cutscenes where I was wondering why certain things needed to be said. Some of the dialogue felt so out of place that I just shook my head and turned it off, being disgusted by it all. In a day in age where he have great games with great stories like GTA IV and MGS4, we still have hundreds of throw-aways like Haze.

After finishing the single player campaign, there isn't much to come back for. Haze has an online multiplayer mode, but doesn't fix any of the problems as far as controls, so it is not worth your time. Not to mention, every game I was able to get into was extremely laggy, making it unplayable. Haze also has a Four-Player Co-op Mode that went unplayed by myself. I could not torture myself through the same bad campaign again.

Haze had potential. I'll admit, I was curious to see where Free Radical was going with it. Unfortunately, it turned out to be nothing special. Haze may be worth a rent if you can get past the awful control and laughably terrible story, but should be strictly avoided otherwise.

Rainbow Six Vegas 2 comes hot off the heels of its predecessor, Rainbow Six Vegas from late 2006. The first Vegas game was highly regarded as one of the better shooters of this generation with plenty of praise from critics and consumers all over. Does the sequel stack up? Yes, very much so.

Rainbow Six, as a series, has never been the benchmark for graphical power, and Vegas 2 is no exception. It doesn't necessarily look bad by any means, it's just nothing to gawk or drool at. As with most Unreal Engine 3 games, it has quite a bit of jarring pop-in textures. The character models look great and the environments are lush and full of life, showing off Sin City in every beautiful detail.

Thankfully, Vegas 2 controls wonderfully. Everything feels great, being able to pop off enemies with relative ease. Grenades are thrown with just a simple touch of a button, as is cover. To cover, just walk to a corner, press the L button and you are behind cover. From this angle, you can see enemies coming in order to give you the advantage, and you can also shoot from this angle, either by leaning out from cover, or blind fire.

The story of Vegas 2 can be quite confusing. It begins as a prequel to Rainbow Six 3, with Bishop at the helm heading to a science observatory in France. From then, it advances five years in the future to Las Vegas. There are plenty of twists and turns in the story that will keep you guessing what is going to happen next. Each of the characters has their own unique personality and traits to differentiate. You play as Bishop, the leader of the Rainbow team, along with Knight, Gabe and Logan.

The campaign can be played solo or online with one other player. Unlike Vegas 1, you can play the entire campaign online. The co-op is instantly accessible from the single player campaign. Whenever you need help, just invite a friend straight to your location and you've got instant assistance. The co-op is very much appreciated due to the AI of your squad mates having the mind and attention span of a drunken door knob.

While the campaign does nearly everything well, the meat of Vegas 2 is the multiplayer. Team Leader headlines the plethora of modes with plenty of variety. It allows for up to 14 players online, along with supporting a robust P.E.C. (Persistent Elite Creation) mode allowing you to customize your character with a lot of different equipment. Each kill awards XP, allowing players to rank their characters up for more equipment and camo. It should also be noted that this time around, XP is earned in every game mode, not just multi player. This allows for easier ranking to ease the grind.

P.E.C. is even more robust than Vegas 1. It has an 'ACES' (Advanced Combat Enhancement and Specialization) system with different rewards based on how you play. It is divided between Marksman, CQB, and Assault. Assault awards for explosive kills, CQB awards for close quarter combat, and Marksman awards for headshots and long range kills. The P.E.C. system, along with ACES makes the game very fun and addictive. I always want to come back for just one more game to get to the next rank.

The maps for Rainbow Six Vegas 2 are all highly detailed and well designed. Each one has its own unique playing style. In Villa, you're given more options as to how to play as it provides both a close quarter environment, and a long range environment. With a map like CQB Training, you're probably better off with a long range weapon like a Sniper Rifle or Assault Rifle. Having a good variety of excellent maps helps, and I can't single out one map that I don't enjoy.

In conclusion, Rainbow Six Vegas 2 is a great shooter. It compiles everything that was great in the first Vegas game, and improves on almost every level. The single player campaign can be completed within 10 hours, while the multiplayer will last quite a bit longer. The multiplayer alone, along with P.E.C., is worth the price of admission, and really pushes the limit of addictiveness.