REVIEW: Bioshock 2

Developer: 2K Games | Publisher: 2K Games | Format: PC

Reviewer: Craig Jay Gallagher It’s been 10 years since the events in the original game and Bioshock 2 introduces a very different Rapture. While there is a certain familiarity to the place there has also been one hell of a remodel. After the fall 0f Andrew Ryan, Sophia Lamb took charge and has not only changed the city but also those who inhabit it.

You find yourself awakening as a Big Daddy prototype into a changed Rapture with only one objective in mind, find your little sister with whom you’ve been imprinted. As luck would have it you come to in during a time of political upheaval as a power struggle threatens to tear Rapture apart.

As expected there is a host of new enemy types on offer. Brute slicers who love to charge you down and attempt to help you shuffle off this mortal coil time after time. The biggest addition are the Big Sisters, kinda like a Big Daddy with roid rage. They can bounce around a room while at the same time attack you with both plasmids and weapons. They’re a nasty bunch whom take a lot of effort to take down. Strategy is the key here, a simple run and gun strategy won’t work and given how powerful the Big Sisters are don’t be too disappointed if you find yourself going down time after time.

Collecting ADAM has had something of an overhaul. Rather than the simplistic save em or kill em in the original, part 2 allows you to work with them. You use the little sisters to harvest the ADAM from dead bodies. While they are doing this you must act as their protector ensuring that the splicers don’t get near them.

Many gamers complained about the need to constantly switch between weapons and plasmids in the original. The rejigged control systems makes this far more intuitive with you being able to select which ever one you want without having to constantly juggle between the two. Upgrading of both is also back with this once more done at special plasmid vending machines.

The biggest change to the game is the inclusion of multiplayer. The story driven online mode offers a completely different story and setting as it puts you smack bang int he middle of the civil wear which tore the city apart prior to the events of the original. The traditional modes are all on offer albeit tweaked to the Bioshock style. You can utilise a selection of plasmids, weapons and a whole slew of additional elements such as turrets and a Big Daddy suit. As you level up your character more abilities and options become available ensuring repeat visits.

Once again the sound-scape is superb. the score is atmospheric and the use of period music adds an eeriness to proceedings. The ambient effects are perfectly implemented making for many a hair on end moment. Graphically the game looks pretty damn nice though technically it’s not that better looking that the original. This isn’t necessarily a draw back as Bioshock remains a thoroughly impressive looking title. The superb level design and art design further adds a level of intricate detail which makes the whole experience that much more realistic.

Bioshock 2 is that rarest of thing, a sequel which takes everything that was great about the original and improves on it. With it’s engaging and deep story, superb gameplay, excellent multiplayer and an all round sheen Bioshock 2 is head and shoulders above the competition.

REVIEW: Ninja Blade

Developer: From Software | Publisher: Iceberg Interactive | Format: PC

Reviewer: Craig Jay Gallagher Ninja Blade is if anything a uniquely odd game. It features a truly bizarre plot alongside some of the most breathtaking visually stunning action sequences of any game. One particularly astounding action sequence involves grabbing a bike in mid air as you land on top or a bus which is also in flight due to the actions of a massive city destroying worm similar in appearance to the sand worms in Dune. You race along the bus leaping from the bike as it sails into the open mouth of the worm as you throw a perfectly timed dart at the bikes petrol tank causing it to explode resulting in an explosion big enough to level a city. It’s balls to the wall insanity and all the better for it.

It’s important before playing the game to remember that it is a port of the 360 version and to play the game utilising a keyboard and mouse is asking for trouble. The only way to play Ninja Blade is with a game pad preferably a 360 controller. The in game prompts which decide your fate on regular occurrences were developed for a controller and as such don’t really work with the keyboard/mouse. Unfortunately even with your controller plugged in the keyboard prompts still appear onscreen. While it’s hardly a damning quality it is slightly annoying.

In the game you play as Ken Ogawa a member of an elite ninja clan whose mission it is to stop an ever growing worm based virus which is causing ordinary citizens to mutate into grotesque creatures. The insanity on offer is evident from the opening mission in which you skydive into the middle of the pandemic fighting flying monsters as you plummet to earth. After defeating enough bosses and enemies to fill your average game you find yourself betrayed by your team and left to fight on your own. One thing is clear and that’s that Ninja Blade doesn’t skimp on the gameplay.

Similarities are sure to be drawn to the Devil May Cry series and Bayonetta and while Ninja Blade offers a similar style of gameplay it does feel rather less fulfilling that those. While there is a selection of moves to use you find yourself favouring a small few which are more than enough to get you through the game. Where Ninja Blade does come up trumps is with the Prince of a style platforming. You run up walls, across gaps, swing from pole to pole and generally have fun thrashing around buildings as they collapse around you.

Finishing moves are as impressively over the top as one would expect. Buttons flash up on screen and if matched you can pull off a truly astoundingly stupidly impressive death knell. This type of lazy gameplay generally spells the end for a game but with a title as absurd as Ninja Blade it works am,azingly well. There really is no other way it could have worked.

Ninja Blade is the type of game that no one expects greatness from. It’s nowhere near as accomplished as some of it’s counterparts but it is certainly one of the most entertaining experiences on offer of late. It’s the gaming equivalent of a Michael Bay film only with added insanity. It’s thoroughly recommended for gamers looking for something a little different and with the pocket friendly price you really have no excuse not to give it a whirl.

REVIEW: Mass Effect 2

Developer: BioWare | Publisher: EA | Format: 360/PC

Reviewer: Craig Jay Gallagher At last it’s here and like many of life’s most enjoyable thin­gs it was well worth waiting for. With Mass Effect 2 Bioware have delivered one of this generations most impressive titles, one which effortlessly blends elements of numerous genres into a finished product which is head and shoulders above most titles currently available.

Set two years afer Mass Effect, part 2 begins like most sequels do with a rather dark future looming. A new alien race The Collectors are harvesting humans for the Reapers. Shepard and his/her unlikely crew of misfits set off on a suicide mission to try and save the future of the human race. Like all great sci fi, the interaction between team mates is often one of the most interesting and entertaining aspects of the game and Mass Effect 2 certainly delivers here. Given that the group is made up of sociopaths, religious zealots and assassins guarantees that there is near constant squabbling with team mates repeatedly engaging in shouting matches. With all this interaction the biggest let down is that once they board their ship the Normandy the character don’t do anything but wait around the same area. Were they allowed to walk around and interact with one another would allow for a more realistic and enjoyable experience.

The leveling up system has received something of an overhaul. Rather than trying to create a level 60 super soldier you spend more time balancing your team with a varied group of soldiers, techs and biotics. Getting above level 30 in ME2 is pretty much the same as reaching level 60 in ME. It takes a lot of work and dedication on the players part and given that side quests are harder to come by it can be a truly arduous task at times. In ME2 you must actively search out side quests and dong so I s no easy task. You must visit every planet to find an anomaly and once found you are allowed to land and embark upon the quest. It’s no easy task but it is rewarding. The sense of satisfaction one feels upon completing one of these quests makes it all worthwhile.

BioWare have truly delivered a genuinely unique game in the way the missions play out. On a number of pivotal missions such as the instance where you must fight a Thresher Maw alongside Grunt the new Krogan in you squad. On these missions you are able to choose from one of many endings. This choice generally involves the fate of a target or team mate and depending on how you play it the game differs drastically. At the end of the game you are given a number of choices which will ultimately decide your fate in part 3. It is these subtle yet devastating options which truly marks ME2 as one of the all time greats.

As expected the combat has been overhauled allowing for a more fluid gaming experience. The way to survive in the game is to study you enemy and learn their tactics. Enemy AI makes this rather difficult but one thing is certain, those who wrote off the original due to the poor combat will more than likely be swayed with this sequel. The role playing elements have been streamlined and simplified. Leveling up is easy as pie which allows more casual gamers an easier introduction to the game. Players are now able to learn new powers from their teammate and the ability to mater a new weapon during the game. You can also purchase upgrades from stores or unlock them. One of the new teammates Mordin is able to mine resources from planets across the Verse adding at least another 4 hours to a game already packed to the brim with gameplay.

Mass Effect 2 is so much more than just a game. It’s an experience unrivaled by any other title currently available. It’s an essential title which even the most casual gamer should invest in. In a word it’s perfection.

REVIEW: Army of Two: The 40th Day

Developer: EA | Publisher: EA | Format: 360/PS3

Reviewer: Craig Jay Gallagher Army of Two: The 40th Day is reliant upon the same cooperative premise which featured in the original, two soldiers working side by side in an attempt to kill hordes of enemy soldiers and save the day. The cooperative nature of the games makes for a rather interesting dynamic. Simple tasks such as opening doors and disarming alarms take on a whole new meaning with one taking the simple task of opening/disarming while the other soldier lays down fire taking our any would be enemy assassins.

As with all sequels there have been a number of tweaks made to the original gameplay. You can now use enemy placements to your advantage, sneaking up and quietly taking out enemy troops is a nice change of pace from the usual gung ho nature of war based shooters. You can also tag enemies which you partner can take down which helps in hostage situations. Bot of these are heavily tied into the new morality system which features quite a lot. Most entertaining of all though is the ability to pretend to surrender to enemies where you fake waving a white flag as your partner takes out the advancing soldier. Bar these few changes the gameplay remains pretty much the same which is no bad thing.

The aggro system is still in place, you open fire on enemy positions so that they concentrate their fire on you while the other soldier sneaks about taking out any enemies. You can order your AI partner around using the d-pad. As you would expect this has it’s fair share of problems and at the end of the day the only way to truly enjoy a co-op game of this nature is with another living breathing human being.

The morality system is something which could turn a good game into a great game. Unfortunately the system is slightly flawed. Take for example one of the more questionable morality moments. You are able to call on the assistance of a small kid to help you in a skirmish or else you can have him seek cover. You then get him through the mission alive before sending him on his way home. When he gets home the kid kinds a group of gunmen keeping his parents hostage, the kid pulls out a weapon and kills the gunmen. It ends up more confusing than anything else. Are the developers trying to say something about the very nature of war or is it just a melodramatic moment meant to illicite an emotional response?

Online and co-op is where the game really shines. Bar the campaign mode there are a number of modes such as the self explanatory Versus, Deathmatch, as well as Control in which you defend various points on the map and Warzone where you protect various people and locations. The last addition is Extraction which involves you mowing down wave after wave of enemy soldiers. While nothing here is what you would classify as original it is a hell of a lot of fun.

Even with the odd morality system Arm of Two: The 40th Day is a thoroughly entertaining and fun shooter offering serious bang for your buck. Best experienced alongside a friend the game still has plenty to recommend for the socially retarded.

REVIEW: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Developer: Infinity Ward | Publisher: Activision| Format: PS3

Reviewer: Craig Jay Gallagher Modern Warfare was the the first in the series to be set in the present day and as such adds a sense of realism to proceedings currently unmatched by any shooter. In the years that have passed the game has gone down as one of the finest shooters ever released, one which redefined the FPS genre as a whole. fromm the fast, brutal realistic single player to the deep, fulfilling multi–player, it was a FPS which delivered on all levels.

Since then we have had a number of superior FPS which have tried to lay claim to the thrown, thankfully Modern Warfare 2 is here and with the unprecedented demand and publicity the game has became one of the most successful events of all time.

While this reviewer would love to heap praise upon the title which he will first we must address the games biggest shortcoming, the way the story is told. The story is also far from original, riffing as it does on Red Dawn and other classic war movies. The pre mission briefing scenes are outdated and really do lessen the impact of the games more important moments. Still the writing is good and as adequate as the story is it does drive the plot along.

Given the media attention the game received there is no doubt that most are aware of the controversy surrounding one of the earlier missions, in which you must act as a double agent and join a terrorist group as they massacre hundreds of civilians in a busy airport. It;s an exhilarating and refreshingly dangerous move on the developers part and really adds a great deal to the sense of realism. So shocking is the the inclusion of the mission that you are given an option to skip it entirely thought sheer curiosity will no doubt lead to even the most buttoned down game wanting to see what all the fuss is about. I’s just a shame that the rest tof the plot wasnt as well handeled.

AS with all war games story Is secondary to action and in this department Modern Warfare 2 delivers in spades. There is a variety to the missions which is unmatched and the inclusion of more gung-ho back up support really does bring a msile to your face. The Predator UAV allows you to call in a tactical air strike effectively reducing any enemy resistance to a pile of burnt and mangled corpses. Previous games in the series included air strikes but they were ineffective and lacked an adequate boom for your buck. There is also a wider variety of vehicles to use and the cinematic nature of speedign across countryy in a snow mobile whole openign fire on enemy soldires is an experience unmatched by anythign Hollywood has product in recent memory.

Unfortunately the single player campaign is too short, most player swill easily clock it in under 6 hours and while it’s not that much a draw back you can’t help but wish that the developers had thrown in a few additional missions. The addition of a new mode, Special Ops instantly extends the games life spawn and many gamers will spend more time completing these missions than the campaign. The emphasis here is on multi-player cooperative gaming and while they can be completed solo they will take a bit longer. These mission include surviving hordes of enemy soldiers, racing vehicles or utilising stealth to your advantage. For each mission you receive a star ranking in turn unlocking more missions.

Multi player is once again a step up, the sense of scale will leave your jaw on the floor as will just how good it all looks. There are endless months of gaming here making Modern Warfare one of the few games which is not only essential but lives up to the initial hype.

The levels of anticipation surrounding Modern Warfare 2 exceeded those of any recent Blockbuster and that the game is so good really hammers home just how much more gaming has to offer when compared to traditional media. It is an essential purchase and one which this writer doubts will be matched any time soon.

REVIEW: Assassin’s Creed II

Developer / Publisher: Ubisoft | Format: PS3

Reviewer: Craig Jay Gallagher Like all the greatest games Assassin’s Creed II is a game of such immense proportions that you will find yourself returning time after time to complete any one of the numerous side missions or explore the world further., It is a game which the player can become immersed in and unlike the original boredom never sets in. Assassin’s Creed II like all sequels takes what was great about the original and expands upon it creating a whole new experience.

Our hero this time around is Ezio, a Renaissance nobleman turned assassin after the murders of his father and brothers. Ezio finds himself sucked into a shadowy world of murder and Machiavellian plots. As before you also find yourself controlling Desmond Miles whom in 2012 is still begin held prisoner and forced to locate the Pieces of Eden, ancient artifacts that the modern day Knights Templar need. It’s all very cinematic and creates a truly original and thrilling game which like all great stories is best experienced first hand by gamers.

As with the first gamers must utilise their environment in order to go unnoticed. Most titles simply use obstacles and shadows in order to create a stealth environment where as ACII everything is fair game from ledges to rooftops to hiding in plain sight. You can use roaming groups of people to blend in with. All it takes is two people for Ezio to lose himself. As Ezio blends in his clothes and that of those around him will slowly fade out.

There is also not he ability to hire a diverse selection of people including prostitutes to try and distract your enemies. It makes for a rather thrilling and entertaining experience and though initial comparisons to GTA are unfounded the titles do have similarities. The wide open world, array of side missions and the ability to go off on your own accord till you feel ready to once more continue completing missions essential to the plot.

Racing across rooftops is an experience currently only matched by the severely underrated Mirror’s Edge. As you climb up buildings and jump from rooftop to rooftop the sense of freedom is unparalleled in another title. Climbing feels far more refined with a naturalistic yet playful feel to it and given this realistic approach you do feel rather thankful that falling from a height won’t kill you instantly.

There is a lack of adult orientated action games, in fact excluding God of War and Devil May Cry, the Assassin’s Creed games are the only other non shooter action games aimed as at adult audiences. Assassin’s Creed II is the best adult orientated action title currently available and one which offers more enjoyment and repeatability than any recent title.

REVIEW: Left 4 Dead 2

Developer: Valve | Publisher: EA | Format: 360

Reviewer: Craig Jay Gallagher Gamers everywhere are well aware of the campaign to boycott Left 4 Dead 2 over the decision by the developers to release a full priced sequel instead of the promised download content. Rather than discuss this issue further this review will simply look at the game on it’s own merits.

Zombies have long been one of the most beloved of horror creatures, from the stumbling brain dead ghouls in the classic Night of the Living Dead to the cheesy 80s variant so popular in Italian exploitation flicks right up to the faster, more vicious undead in modern films such as 28 Days Later. Left 4 Dead embraced these newer variant and delivered a fast paced team oriented shooter which to this day remains one of the most entertaining and enjoyable multiplayer experiences around. L4D2 remains quite faithful to the original, again 4 survivors must band together in order to try and survive in post apocalyptic New Orleans.

Perhaps the most pivotal change in the game is the introduction of melee weapons which add a whole new level of violence to the endeavour. Grabbing a chainsaw you can now lay waste to hordes of the undead as well as utilising weapons as diverse as guitars, swords and a whole host of others. The greatest aspect of this is that ammo never runs out of a baseball bat so you can keep swinging till your hearts content.

As well as these new weapons the game also introduces a host of new zombies to deal with. The three new breed of special infected add new layers to the experience. The three new breeds are the Spitter who vomits green slime, the Jockey who jumps on your back controlling your movements and the Chargers who with one deformed arm who pick you up and repeatedly try to smash your brains in against the walls or floors.

Graphically the game has improved with zombie damage now looking far more realistic, weapon damage is also far more entertaining given the added bloodiness of it all. There’s just something immensely pleasing in watching blood and body matter paint the walls. Perhaps most impressive of all the new locale really does result in a richer gaming experience. Moving from the dark of the city to the bright streets and swamps allows for a more visceral experience.

As with all multiplayer sequels there have been a number of new modes added. The best of this allows for four players to play as the infected and take on four humans. This actually makes for a more realistic experience as your team mates are not highlighted meaning danger may come out of nowhere leaving you on your own to deal with it. The ability to shoot friendly members may see a number of players causing trouble but thankfully the ability to kick players out of a game using a vote system means that any trouble can quickly be rectified.

Left 4 Dead 2 is one of the most entertaining and enjoyable gaming experiences around and while the full price tag may put many off the game more than makes up for it. Grab some friends, a few beers a copy of the game and you’re in for one hell of a time.

REVIEW: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Smash-Up

Developer: Game Arts| Publisher: Ubi Soft | Format: Wii

Reviewer: Craig Jay Gallagher Hard to believe but it’s been 25 years since the birth of the heroes in a half shell. 2009 marks the 25th anniversary of the Teenage Ninja Mutant Turtles and to mark the year there has been a renewed interest in everyone’s favourite time traveling, ass kicking green men.

The turtles has a long history in the gaming world having featured in one of the best side scrolling beat em ups ever released way back in 1989. It was in 92 that they had their proudest moment with the still fantastic Turtles in Time. In 94 they made the transition to fighting games with the fun but flawed Tournament Fighters. Given that the characters lend themselves so well to fighting games it is surprising that it has taken so long for them to feature in another.

The first thing which you notice is just how similar the game is to Super Smash Bros. Brawl which may have something to do with the fact that developers Tokyo based Game Arts were also behind Smash Bros. While initial thoughts may lead you to believe that the game is a blatant rip-off you soon find yourself being drawn in by the sheer playability of the game. Now don’t get me wrong anyone who has played Smash Bros. will know exactly what to expect every step of the way.

Getting started is as easy as pie. You choose your hero in half shell, pick a stage and then beat your enemy till they can no longer stand. The easy to pick up control system is perhaps the games biggest asset. Rather than rely on the overtly complex button layout of modern fighters the game prefers to utilise a few buttons allowing you to select from a variety of controller layouts.

Back to the Smash Bros. comparison and bar a few small changes the games are pretty much identical to all but the most hardened Smash Bros. Fanatics who may notice some slight differences.
The big differences is the more traditional approach to winning a fight. Empty an opponents life gauge and you win, simple as. The other difference is that unlike Smash Bros. You can hang off walls and climb upward in doing so utilising wall based attacks,

The games biggest crime is the lack of character selection. There are 16 players on offer, 3 of which have no relation to the Turtle franchise whatsoever. Many fan favourites such as Bebop and Rock-steady are nowhere to be found. The lack of trophies is also a big drawback. With only 12 to collect there is a noticeable difference when compared to the 540 on offer in Smash Bros.

Smash Up is a lot of fun to play with some rather fine graphics and a sense of fun. While it lacks the polish and re-playability of Smash Bros. It remains a fun filled experience for any Smash Bros. fan looking for something else to fill the time between entries. Turtles fans on the other hand will come away disappointed.

VIDEO: Joe Madureira Interview

Here we have an interview with Joe Madureira Creative Director of Vigil games on their upcoming game Darksiders.

REVIEW: Need for Speed: Shift

Developer: Slightly Mad Studios Publisher: EA| Format: PS3

Reviewer: Craig Jay Gallagher The Need for Speed franchise has been a great money maker for EA with each new entry selling enough copies to kick start a small countries economy. The initial games in the series were focused on the world of illegal street racing and were all the better for it. There’s something deeply satisfying from racing through city streets at break neck speeds, it’s a felling that racing around a fixed track can never match. Unfortunately for those out there who enjoy breaking the law the increasing pressure of PC groups resulted in the franchise embracing legal street racing in Pro Street and in doing so the franchise lost much of what made it so much fun. EA then followe,d this with a return to the franchises roots in what was quite a low point in Need for Speed history. With Shift EA have taken the franchise in a whole new direction, resulting in a game which is more at home alongside Forza than any previous Need for Speed title.

Shift as has been mentioned all ready is a drastic departure for the Need for Speed franchise given that is now more racing sim than arcade game. While this will no doubt result in many long term fans jumping ship given how much the ante has been upped it will also see many new fans coming over. The control system has been updated given that the more realistic nature of the game calls for greater precision and timing in order to ensure you don’t go spinning into the nearest wall at every corner. Even with the more realistic approach to handling the game has retained much of it’s arcade feel. Eliminator and Time Attack both feature in mode selection and like every racing sim these days the game has a slew of online modes.

Going in this reviewer wasn’t expecting much from the changes made to Shift but overall they really do enhance the gaming experience. Unfortunately the games biggest flaw once more reaps it’s ugly head. The lack of challenge on the single player means that completing each race is a breeze. This really does hurt the game and makes extended playing a chore. Thank goodness then for the superior multiplayer mode. Shift really should be enjoyed with a few friends or against others online. It makes for a far more challenging and fulfilling experience.

Graphically Shift is stunning, the cars look realistic and the small touches such as clouds of smokes left by cars spinning in front of you. Nor is it uncommon to see clouds of dust throw up by cars speeding around corners and it is these small touches which really separates the game front the pack. With that in mind one can’t help but feel that were the game to embrace it’s past the possibilities for realistic yet fun illegal racing would be too much to pass up.

Need for Speed: Shift takes the now classic franchise and ups the ante considerably. Granted this will alienate many of the games core audience but those who give the game a chance will discover an authentic and fun filled racing sim. While it’s no Forza it;s certainly a lot of fun.

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