Video Review:   

  Sorry about the rough transitions in the later parts of the video. Had to cut a few frames in order to make the video under 10 minutes. Also, sorry if audio levels are too low/high. :S      
 
       

[---^What do you think of the banner? Yay/Nay/Redundant? Make more for future blogs? I was inspired by SuperMooseman's banners on his own blogs. :> --- ]

Video Review:

Sorry if the audio is a little too loud... Hope you all enjoy the ending, the audio clips are from Resident Evil and Resident Evil 4. The song that plays was created by a song generator at http://www.sr.se/P1/src/sing/index.htm. It's a little hard to tell what it's saying, but the lyrics are: "You are the master of unlocking..." I know it's really lame, but what do you expect from me? :P

Text-Version of Review:

Resident Evil 5
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
1-2 Players.
ESRB Rating: M for Mature, recommended for ages 17 or older.


For a long time, the Resident Evil franchise had been a perfect example of what the survival-horror genre was. With fixed camera angles, "tank-like" controls and grotesque enemies, scares were easy to be found. With the release of Resident Evil 4, not only were most of these features discarded, but the focus was now shifted to provide more action rather than scary elements. The perspective for playable characters was changed to an over-the-shoulder view, something that would go on to influence many other games. Four years later, Resident Evil 5 has released, compromised of the same core gameplay that was introduced in RE4. Although it lacks innovation and modern-day advancements, RE5 has a good amount of offerings to set it apart from it's predecessor.

After the fallout of the Umbrella Corporation, Bio-Organic weapons started appearing on the black market. Terrorists, guerrilla fighters and unstable state governments were now able to obtain those weapons. With the threat of another incident like Raccoon City, the Global Pharmaceutical Consortium created the BSAA (Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance) to neutralize bio terrorist hot spots. Chris Redfield, an operative of the BSAA, learned of an upcoming bioweapons deal taking place in Africa and requested permission to participate in the operation. Once he arrived, he became partners with another BSAA agent, Sheva Alomar.

Starting the game in single-player, players control Chris Redfield. In cooperative gameplay, one player plays as Chris or Sheva. For solo play, the artificial intelligence of the partner is decent. Obviously, it won't be nearly as accurate as playing with another human being, but for the most part it does a reasonable job defending itself as well as providing aid when players are low on health. Players can command their partner to attack or cover at any time, as well as trade weapons and items with each other. Most locations will have a number of enemies that must be taken out before one is able to progress forward and some areas will feature puzzle-esque sequences that require players to work together with their partner to solve them.

The inventory system seems like a nice upgrade from having to select from a menu while the game pauses as was the case in previous games, but in actuality it can also become a hindrance. While being able to quickly select from four different slots on the fly is good, it can make players vulnerable to attacks when trying to select from a different slot in the middle of battle.

Boss battles in the game seem to be toned down in difficulty compared to some of the grand battles that have appeared in the franchise before. There's little strategy needed to defeat a boss when most of them have glowing weak points that are very prominent and noticeable. All the boss fights feel very underwhelming.

While some sound effects in the game were carried over from RE4 (which is a bit lazy on Capcom's part), the voice acting and presentation are very good. The graphics are also very impressive. Each new area is very detailed and expansive, obviously stemming from high production values. Character models also look fantastic.

The ability to play online co-op is by far the best feature. Being able to play with a friend and help each other take down multiple enemies really boosts the fun factor for the game. Players can easily enter into a friend's current progression in the campaign and also leave just as quickly. In addition to the campaign, the Mercenaries mini-game that is unlocked after completing the campaign once can also be played solo or in co-op. Mercenaries pits players against enemies that continue to appear with the goal of achieving the best score possible until the time counter reaches zero.

Like Resident Evil 4, there really isn't much of a plot in the game, but information collected throughout give more insight to the overall storyline and events that lead up to the current circumstances in the game. Some of the choices made with the plot points may be seen as a poor choice with longtime Resident Evil fans.

For newcomers to the series the controls may be difficult to get used to, so much in fact, that it may be the deciding factor of whether one can enjoy the game or not. Relying on an old configuration and not a modern day control scheme may not be difficult for series veterans, but for people who have gotten accustomed to the controls of other shooters, it may be prove to be more than frustrating.

Resident Evil 5 is certainly not trying to be innovative, it merely builds upon the same formula of it's predecessor. Although there could have been enhancements made to make the game more playable and more modern with today's standards in shooters, it's a solid game on it's own. In a lot of ways, RE5 falls short of outdoing the previous game. It lacks some of the tension and atmospheric elements that made Resident Evil 4 enjoyable. It's also unfortunate that boss battles aren't very difficult and that the story is somewhat disappointing, but it's core gameplay still remains engaging. Having co-op may be a good enough reason to justify the game's very existence, but even the solo campaign is worthwhile. Although it may forever live in the shadow of RE4, it has more than established itself in today's market.

This review is based on the 360 version. The game is also available on the PlayStation 3.

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Special note: In the review, I mention the fact that the glowing weak points on bosses are annoying, but that didn't bother me for bosses in Lost Planet. The difference being that Lost Planet is an original game, but implementing this into a game that's part of a big franchise that has never had it before bothers me. I don't know... Maybe I'm just crazy.

Note: Some of the audio may be a little low/rough. Meh. As always, comments, criticisms and/or suggestions are appreciated.

Text Version of Review:

MadWorld
Publisher: Sega
Developer: PlatinumGames
1-2 Players.
ESRB Rating: M for Mature, recommended for ages 17 or older.

Shigenori Nishikawa, who previously worked at Capcom as a planner for multiple games, makes his first debut as a director with MadWorld. With comic book inspired graphics, over-the-top violence and adult comical satire throughout, MadWorld aims to be a unique experience not found anywhere else. If one can look past some of it's problems, there's an enjoyable game to be found.

On Jefferson Island, a terrorist group known as the "organizers" have taken over, trapping the residents and cutting off all means of communication to anyone outside the island. With no chance of escape, citizens are forced to compete in the violent and deadly sport called DeathWatch or risk dying without a chance. While these people fight to the death, the audience places bets on who will win. Each kill earns a number of points for the participants. The winner of the games will obtain fame, fortune, and the right to continue living. On the third night of the games, a new challenger appears to compete, and his name is Jack.

Players take on the role of Jack Cayman, a highly skilled ex-marine whose main weapon is a chainsaw attached to his right arm. Jack starts off in Varrigan City and progresses elsewhere once he's defeated each boss in every area. Players will always have two lives at the beginning of each area and if they die they can choose to continue right from the spot they were killed at. If players run out of lives, they will have to restart from the beginning of the area. In order to face each area's boss, players will have to earn enough points to open up the boss challenge. Meanwhile, they will unlock new weapons and also open Bloodbath challenges. Bloodbath challenges are short, timed trials where players will defeat as many enemies as they can using new environmental objects presented to them.

The game really uses the motion control functions of the Wii, but not so much that it becomes bothersome. Basic attacks don't require much emphasis with the controller, and it makes sense to require more force when quick time events occur. Overall, the controls feel nicely balanced out.

There are a few issues with the game. For starters, the game relies heavily on canned animations, most executions for enemies will be performed exactly the same way for other types of enemies. The announcers, who provide comical commentary throughout the game, can get really repetitive and this is especially apparent during Bloodbath challenges. The default audio settings are also not the best, it's hard to hear the announcers with the music and sound effects being just as loud. The game itself can also become a little mundane, but this is usually broken up with new segments like areas that require a bike [motorcycle] to traverse forward. It would have been nice to have some more variety for executions, such as having more weapons available or more stylistic finishers.

MadWorld has a comic book inspired art style, using black and white tones throughout the game. Some sound effects appear on screen as text and comic book panels are used in cut scenes. There's enough contrast between the colors to make it easy on the eyes. The soundtrack for MadWorld is completely original, consisting of hip-hop beats and lyrical forms. The music really fits the atmosphere and presentation of the game.

MadWorld is relatively short, but it flows well and it's pretty entertaining in it's entirety. Although there are some issues that almost make the game unenjoyable, there's enough substance to keep it from falling too short in it's offerings. As the first game to be directed by Nishikawa-san, this is certainly not a bad start. For Wii owners who are interested in mature-themed games, MadWorld is definitely worth checking out.

See Prince of Persia Review. Warning: Spoilers for the ending of Prince of Persia are within this review.

Text Version of Review:

Prince of Persia: Epilogue
Platform: PlayStation 3
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Publisher: Ubisoft
1 Player.
ESRB Rating: T for Teen.

There was no doubt in anyone's mind that there would be a continuation of the storyline from where Prince of Persia left off, but only when Prince of Persia: Epilogue was announced did everyone realize it was not coming in the form of a sequel, instead it would be released as downloadable content (DLC). With the asking price of ten dollars and the short amount of time it takes to get through it nothing more than calling it a "rip off" can be used to describe it.

The Epilogue continues where Prince of Persia left off, with The Prince carrying Elika away from the temple that Ahriman has escaped from. Shortly after, the two work together to escape from the corrupted land while Ahriman sends servants to try to stop them. Once again players go through each area by jumping, running across walls and passing obstacles that block the way forward. New abilities include being able to sprint and clash with enemies during battles, a new power plate for crossing through areas, and a set of alternate skins for The Prince and Elika that players can select.

When there is combat, it is with identical enemies that were in the game before. It quickly feels like battles are becoming a chore to get through when they appear so often. This really wasn't that prevalent of a problem with the game before because it was nicely spaced out in the duration of the game, but with the Epilogue being so brief, it's far more noticeable.

Although Ubisoft Montreal promised that this content would enhance the experience for fans, it really boils down to nothing but more of the same with a few small additions that barely change anything. For such a short span of content it becomes far too repetitious. Although the difficulty of obstacles is a bit more complex and tougher to get through, it isn't enough to justify the cost.

The ending is abrupt, like a sharp artificial halt that was created on a whim rather then thought out well enough. It's incredibly disappointing where it leaves off, because the prior ending was a great way to end the game.

It's hard not to feel ripped off when PoP: Epilogue is incredibly short and feels more repetitive in the short time frame than the entirety of the full game beforehand. With the content being released only three months after the game's launch, it's pretty obvious that it could have been included with it. The continuation of the story should have been created with a sequel instead of the additional slap piece of content they are charging money for. Unfortunately this kind of DLC appears to be on the rise for future videogames and one can only hope it doesn't get too far out of hand.

This review is based on the PlayStation 3 version. The DLC is also available for the Xbox 360.

Comments, suggestions, critiques and criticisms are always appreciated. I changed my review format a little bit, can you tell? I also got a new headset, so I'm not sure if mic volume is better or worse.

Text Version of Review

Killzone 2
Platform: PlayStation 3
Developer: Guerrilla Games
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
1 Player, supports up to 32 people in online multi-player.
ESRB Rating: M for Mature, recommended for ages 17 or older.

When the first Killzone debuted in November 2004 on the PlayStation 2 it was met with high expectations but ultimately fell off most people's radar when it turned out to be an average game. Despite it's good qualities, it did nothing special to stand out from the crowd of other First-Person Shooters on the market. With the announcement of a sequel in the works much doubt was placed on the same developers to provide a quality game. However, most players will find that their expectations have been exceeded as Killzone 2 has an engaging single-player campaign and a substantial online multiplayer component.

Killzone 2 takes place two years after the events of the first Killzone, with the ISA (Interplanetary Strategic Alliance) continuing the war that the Helghast started. This time they're taking the battle to the enemy's homeland, planet Helghan, with the goal of capturing the Helghast leader: Emperor Scolar Visari. Players take on the role of Sev, a veteran of the ISA Special Forces unit and a dedicated soldier who follows orders without question. As a part of Alpha squad, Sev travels with three other team members throughout the game.

It doesn't take long before players are thrust into the first battle, using this time to provide a quick tutorial to get players accustomed to the controls. From there, players will move from one objective to the next until the very end. The default control scheme isn't the same standard used by other first person shooters, so it may take players a little while to get used to. The game takes a realistic approach when it comes to handling weapons. Similarly, friendly fire is also integrated into the campaign, which can lead to some unintentional damage being targeted towards allies. Players can heal squad members if they are down, but never have to worry about them completely being killed, as they will automatically revive after a short period of time. The same does not hold true for players though, once down, they will restart from the last save point they passed.

Quite a selection of different weapons are available to pick up throughout the game, each having their own unique sound and variation in firing power. In close-quarter situations, melee attacks come in handy. Taking cover is also an important aspect, providing protection against oncoming gunfire. There isn't very much variety in the types of enemies but that doesn't mean they can't be difficult, especially in large groups, which is how players will normally stumble across them. The music and sound effects really add to the atmospheric pull that the game produces, though the voice acting and dialogue is generally nothing special.

The major weakness of Killzone 2 is it's storyline. Players aren't given much information about the enemies they're fighting or the squad members they're fighting with. The game prefers to place players in situations with minimal details and seems to rely on constant enemy barrages to distract players of the minimal plot lingering in the background. Luckily the game provides plenty of action to keep players occupied, with very few slow points in between.

In multiplayer, each match contains up to five different modes to play. Each of these are smoothly transitioned from one to the next without forcing players to back out into a lobby. Although players don't usually need to partake in completing each mission, they can still continue to just take out enemies on the opposing side. By continuing to play matches, players gain experience and earn ribbons that unlock certain abilities, weapons and different classes for future use.

For the most part, Killzone 2 maintains a smooth 30 frames per second even in intense online matches. The only real problem that can be found with the graphics is the character animations being awkward at times, most notable between non-playable characters during dialogue sequences that are not in cut scenes. This is only a small annoyance though, transitions between cut scenes and gameplay are usually seamless. It's also rare to find a glitch in the singleplayer campaign, proving just how polished the game really is.

Killzone 2 is not without it's flaws. However, the single-player campaign is a satisfying experience and the multiplayer has a lot to offer. Although the storyline leaves a lot be desired and the campaign is relatively short, it's presentation is done extremely well. With three difficulty levels to choose from and another one unlockable if players feel the need to be challenged further, there's a lot of replay value to be found here. For fans of shooters, this is definitely a worthy title to have in their collection.