Possibly the last DLC for Black Ops before the release of Modern Warfare 3, the Rezurrection DLC is an all Zombie pack! With this, I tip my hat in this regard to Treyarch for bringing us this map-pack.
Firstly, lets talk about the old maps from WAW.
With new names, Nacht Der Untoten (Night), Verruckt (Asylum) Shi No Numa (Swamp) and Der Reise (Factory) the maps are given a tune up to graphics, the Zombie's movements themselves as well as a new feature, music! Yes, Zombie Classic mode now has its own music! Just look for the radio in each map, shoot it or stab it for a tune! Don't like the tune? Change it with another shot. Yes, this may seem a bit useless, but honestly, at least the guys at Treyarch have decent music! Not only do all the classic weaponry return, but with the help of the mystery box, weapons such as the FAMAS, Galil and all the weapons available in Black Ops are available here.
Nothing more can be said about these maps, so the focus of this review shall be around the new map, Moon. When I first heard about shooting Zombies on the moon, I was quite put off by the idea. But shooting the screaming, mutant, melting flesh creatures in zero gravity is quite fun and entertaining! While the map is large and plentiful, getting lost is quite easily done, weaponry can be slightly hard to find and watch your back, as being cornered happens quite frequently. The graphics are standard for Black Ops, music and audio as well. With a return to The Doctor (my personal favourite) I have had quite the time playing these maps.
While I give my kudos to Treyarch releasing this new map pack, a few more maps would have tipped them in a great corner. But selling pre-bought maps to their audience at a normal price is slightly a dog move by the company. But as I stated, this money is needed for the long, cold months as once again, a Modern Warfare game swamps over their own.
Out of 10, I gave Rezurrection 7/10
Good Points: 5 maps!
Free music! Zero grav slaying is quite awesome
Bad Points: Price is a bit much..... Only one new map? The end of Black Ops?
This is the official announcement of my little competition! Do you want to star in a future episode of Fatman's Gaming Tips? Well right here, right now, this could be your chance! The winner will not only get to star in an episode, but they shall also win 1500 Microsoft Points to spend on whatever they desire!
So far here are the candidates: Noune98 Mostion RIZZA SUPREM 95 Hexagonapus Joepro95 AUSSIE MANGI REPENTUSINNER E13M3NT TR1X AUZZIE CHAO5 EternalxWarfare Zero Gs 22 CRYPTICxPARADOX Stormlight22 MickelTheSlayer
Do you want to win? All you have to do is send me a message through Xbox Live that you would like to partake in this competition and you're in! On Tuesday the 30th, I shall draw a name, and whomevers name I choose is the winner! All that is required to enter this competition is either a Kinect OR a microphone Good luck and I shall announce the winner Wednesday the 31st through Avatar Kinect and post the video on this channel.
This is purely a thank you, for sending me over 800 views. Thank you all so very much. Game on and good luck! FatmanXIX
The second part of my coverage of the Winter of Arcade, Bastion covers a beautifully captured world with a simple yet stylish gameplay. Bastion follows the boy only known as The Kid, finds himself a survivor of The Calamity, a destructive force that has blown his world apart. With no one to help him, he reaches The Bastion, a safe haven for a man he finds on his travels there, Rucks, who also narrates all the way through the game, right from the get-go.
The gameplay, as I said above, is simple yet stylish. B and X control the two weapons you wish to use, RT for your special move and A, of course, being the roll/jump button. With the world's ground appearing from beneath his feet, The Kid travels throughout the world of Caelondia, broken from the wars between them and the Ura. *SPOILERS*
The Bastion is a haven not only for The Kid and Rucks, but also two fellow survivors, Zia and Zulf. To restore their world to what it once was, The Kid travels from place to place looking for Shards to breathe life back into their world.
*END OF SPOILERS*
The audio is quite well done, each enemy having their own unique voice and clear distinction between the two, but what is really a catch is the soundtrack and the storyline.
The music of the game is quite gorgeous to listen to, especially Zia's Song, sung by Ashley Barrett (video below, I seriously advise you play it while reading this!)
The storyline is also very unique; a world that builds entirely from the feet up and brings the world to you, while enemies attack you randomly is a fresh change. With Rucks (voiced by Logan Cunningham) narrating your way through each level, with both seriousness and witty comments, the game is hard to be boring.
Bad points for the game would be only two I have discovered so far: weaponry are slightly hard to find, especially the hidden ones and the game controls can tend to stick.
But with each level being a new puzzle and challenge to defeat tough opponants, the game is in all honesty a great buy. From the people who gave us the iconic game Limbo, the world of Bastion is just an open book begging for a sequel.
Out of 10, I gave Bastion 9/10 Good Points: Storyline is great Soundtrack = gold Imaginative and original
Bad Points: Fighting style becomes sticky Weaponry are hard to come by Supplies drop randomly/not often enough Good Points: Brilliant storyline
In all honesty, I haven't been this addicted to game since Assassin's Creed Brotherhood. Fruit Ninja Kinect, the game originally on the Ipod and Iphone (I might have messed that up, seeing as I've never owned either) has made the leap to the 360. While it has already become the top downloaded arcade title in its first week of release (52'000 on the 4th day), this game has already made such an impression.
While the graphics are still standard, there's a certain charm and realism to them. Maybe due to the different colouring and shades to the fruit, but its still too early to tell. Audio is also standard, but used well with the game. What is also a great plus is the choice of customisation. From your background, to your swords, to your very own shadow! Challenges are just as such, challenges, but in doing so, you unlock achievements, swords, and other unlockables, as well as your score going up against the rest of the world. In less than 4 days, I am currently coming 300th out of fifty one thousand people for Zen Mode! You could be the next to achieve even better.
For those thinking about the achievements, they do not come for those who work hardest. In fact, they come for those who wait. Patience is the key to getting these achievements. For example: Triple Stack requires you to slice the 3 special banana's all at once. So far, that has happened once. Enter The Dragon requires you to hit the rare fruit. From what I've discovered, it comes around about the time you achieve at slicing 1'000 fruit. It comes randomly so keep an eye out!
The game does have co-op, but the game does have some kinks. The game gets confused slightly when shadows are crossed, even more so when blades are. What is also a dissapointment is the lack of online multiplayer. While there are still some rare Kinect games that has online multiplayer, it was a shame to discover this game does not.
But either way, Fruit Ninja Kinect is an addictive, enjoyable game. For any gamer wishing to act like a ninja, this is truly your moment. Channeling your old karate lessons as a kid helps too.
Out of 10, I gave Fruit Ninja Kinect an 9/10
Good points: EXTREMELY addictive Fun mini work out Fruit facts are interesting
Bad points: Co-op still has few bugs Lack of Online Multiplayer .....future DLC?
While the series is still new to the gaming world, Red Faction Gorilla was set in the world of Mars, being completely destructable. Red Faction Armageddon pushes this further by increasing your abilities in game and the dynamic of each battle you fight in.
Firstly, the games' predecessor had created a decent reputation in which the sequel could rest its shoulders. However, Armageddon had changed its view on its gaming experience set more on horror more than the original theme: rebellion. Although this time around, the antagonist is the rebeller and your protagonist, a simple man trying to redeem his unfortunate mistakes. Gameplay runs smoothly...enough to make it enjoyable. While the audio and soundtrack isn't anything to boast about, it serves its purpose well when a dramatic swell approaches. Voice acting is quite ingenious for each situation, whether the angry tones of Mason or the chill, monotone of S.A.M.
The gameplay was once all about destruction, but it seems the more focused area would be the horror impact, which unfortunately, will not turn many heads. Players of F.E.A.R or Dead Space will not be frightened easily. While there are some moments where the story shall take you and make you jump, most of the moans and growls will just inform you to where the enemy is hiding (unless you make the upgrades to S.A.M.) Credit where its due: destruction is still a favourite way to kill the locals of Mars, two of the community's favourite weapons being the Magnet Gun (Shoot one enemy into another, rock into wall, anything you please) or my personal favourite, Mr Toots! A unicorn that fires a rainbow from his bum!
While the game lacks in some ways, the game itself is still enjoyable. While the acting may be, at some times, mediocre, and the online gaming may be buggish, Armageddon is a decent game that will entertain any gamer. With a mix of aircraft fights, boat fights and just straight up fights, this game isn't too unworthy for no attention.
Out of 10, I gave Red Faction Armageddon an 7/10 Good points: New weaponry/ways to kill Continued storyline Decent battle system
Bad points: Not a great horror game Online experience lags......frequently. Storyline seems rushed
I just wanted to say thank you all so much for watching me, reading my reviews and giving me the chance to put my voice out there for the gaming community. Over 600 pageviews. That's 150 more in a month. Thank you all. Please, tell your friends, spread the word, I'd really appreciate it. I am on my way to buying a video cam so I can record a few more tips, instead of doing Avatar Kinect. I'm trying to keep it fresh with some dumb jokes but I will get there. I just have three things I need. New laptop: Check. Retrieve my Sony Vegas Pro video editor from my old laptop: Working as we speak Camera: Saving up.
For me, its 11:30pm and I need some sleep. I just got Fruit Ninja Kinect so that shall be on my "To-do" list next, then Bastion then the rest shall follow.
Again, thank you so much for all your support. See you later! Al Fatman
Quickly becoming a very popular series, while also reinventing the horror genre, Dead Space created a side story DLC (If you will) from their previous title. This also is an extention from that DLC. Severed continues the story of Gabe Weller, a member of the security team from the Ishimura, and his wife Lexine. Being a part of the Ishimura when the Necromorphs started to take over, Lexine was part of the surveyed members of "patients" to see how the Marker had affected the human gene. While she was Weller's wife, he and the members of his security team made sure that no harm or torture came upon her like so many of the other patients (Stross, "Patient 2" and Issac to name a few) had succumb to. This story is adjacent to Issacs', his own story beginning about half way through the DLC.
The story begins with Weller discovering that the Necromorphs had followed them back to the Titas Station. Telling his wife to make a run to their personal ship and he would meet her there. Then begins the carnage! Gameplay is quite like the main story but slightly stronger. In this sense, seeing as Weller starts right in the tunnels, he is in the middle of all the horror thats heading his way. With weaponry, Gabe has more of a kick than Issac alone but the waves of Necromorphs can be challenging, especially to those who are overwhelmed easily. The soundtrack does add that little bit more horror to the more dramatic moments and the voice of all the characters comes in clearly. As you play through the DLC, you will notice that to get through some areas, you must destroy some equipment. This explains why Issac has to work to get through some areas. For example, in the mining room, Weller must destroy three control pannels to short out the energy through to the door he must get through. Issac will be in this room at a later time to do the opposite. With this, Gabe must fight through not only the Sprawl, but also anger and betrayal from his long time friend Victor Bartlett (With whom he had fought with in the Resource Wars) had decided to follow Director Tidemans orders (To kill all test subjects AKA Gabe's wife) instead of helping him.
(WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD)
With Gabe moments away from being reunited with his wife,Victor Bartlett (Gabe's long best friend) had released the pin on his grenade, Gabe tries to throw it away from them both but it blows off Gabe's leg and puntures his suit and helmet, killing Victor in the process. With the hangar bay doors locked, Weller decides to sacrifice himself for both Lexine and his unborn baby. He kills the Necromorphs that start to surround his dying body, shooting the locks and the ship is sucked out into space. Gabe dies due to his blood loss and as his wife screams his name, we hear the final, faint sound of his RIG flatlining and then the roll of credits.
End of spoilers
Sadly the DLC isn't much different than normal gameplay, and may be seen as it should have been a freebie. But the play is quite brilliant, stalkingly if you will, and if you have an hour or so to kill, this would be perfect for any veteran DS gamer or even a new fan-to-be. Out of 10, I gave the Severed DLC an 8/10
Good points: Follows Issacs' story Newer challenges
Continuation of original games' DLC
Bad points: Much too short Should be more of a freebie (Note: 800 MSP for normal XBL, 560 for Gold sub) Killing off British guy = uncool
Yes, finally! I have the time to write the review many people have been asking for!
The first game in HISTORY to be considered a movie, L.A. Noire pushed the envelope from gangbangers, loner mercenaries, cowboy's set in a dying era and now, a police officer barely after the escapades of the Second World War.
Of course, this review shall start of the glorious, utterly beautiful, undeniable stunning graphic works. Rockstar Games, in association with Team Bondai Sydney, worked on the project firstly in secret, capturing every actor, every extra and every slight movement on 32 individual cameras, all connected to sensor metal balls with recorded each movement of the person's face, neck, right down to eyebrows and even Adam's Apple. With this brilliant graphic work, the game was given a lively feel that I truly believe very rare games give. In this modern age, the only true way to touch a persons' heart is with a brilliant story or even just placing them in the moment. L.A. Noire does both. Not only was the graphic detail fantastic, the voice acting on many of the characters, especially our protagonist Cole Phelps, was quite utterly fantastic. Raw, brutal and very, very convincing. While some acting points and some characters were not as great as they could have been, but they sufficed for the storyline and pushed it forward, as many once great gaming titles has failed to do. The audio, while only heard during dramatic moments and while driving, adds a nice classic touch to the game (Not also including the option to turn the game into black and white!) placing the game right in the middle of 1947. Also a great mention is the clever writing for the game especially the little gems you find at the end of a case. For example: "Get a life Phelps. Next you'll be calling Richard Nixon a crook!" Lastly, sound effects are perfect, right down to the ring. The sound of each weapon was just....perfect. There are no more words to put it as. Despite now showing me what type of weapon I was using when I picked up an enemy's gun, just by the sound of the bullet, or the clatter of the chamber, the weapon was revealed to me as an M1 Garand or even a Thompson.
Sadly, this brings me to the small bad points.
While the game's graphics are sublime, there can be a few hiccups. While playing online campaign, glitches were more prone and dying became more often, even when just standing still. Missions also became slightly repetitive; while the nature of each mission was different, how to solve the case and such became very repetitive. DLC's were a fresh change of pace for the game, but collecting evidence in a new way would have been great. Lastly, while this has no complaint from me (as I thought it was quite touching) many gamers believed that Rockstar are killing off characters to make it seem interesting. This did stop a small few from buying the game, others to be turned away from the series and even handing in their game for another copy. While I believe that the ending was slightly predictable, but still great, the only part that bugged me was the game was three discs long. While this is no problem for the PS3 players (Blu-ray being compatible for just one disc) it makes me glad that the future Xbox will be Blu-ray compatible. I don't mind getting up and changing a disc, but when the game has taken you so long to try and get through a particular mission, it definately discourages continous gameplay. Add the loss of memory for installing the disc to avoid scratches and it slightly annoys more as you slowly run out of room.
However, credit were its due: L.A. Noire was definately a shot in the dark for both Rockstar and Team Bondai, and while this game has caused them both to depart from each other, what they have created together is an excellent game that deserves at least a look at. With an excellent storyline, graphics to be rivaled at Mass Effects' engine, it will be easy for any gamer, newbie and veteran, to be loss in the year of 1947 and the story of Cole Phelps and his search for redemption.
