Welcome all! In this thread you will get to glimpse into the regular gaming insights of myself and Jay. We'll be bringing you previews and summaries of hot new titles and reviewing them shortly after they release! We will also try to keep you up to date one which games are coming out when and for what systems...Now, as both Jay and myself mainly focus on games coming out for the PC, we will also be inviting some certain CR members to do guest reviews for XBox360, PS3, and Wii games...

Now, as for the rest of you, we just ask that you follow a few guidelines...

1) Please do not post comments on this thread, its purpose is to provide insight into these games, not discussion (there are separate threads for that ---> see NEW Games, Music, Drama Thread Index: http://www.crunchyroll.com/showforumtopic?id=13671). If you post comments, instead of reviews or previews, it will be considered off-topic spam and reported as such to the moderators.

2) If you would like us to take a look at a specific game (to either preview or review), you are more than welcome to send either Jay or myself a PM.

3) Want to post your own review or preview? Well you can! Guest reviews/previews are welcome, but try to follow a similar format as laid out and keep it detailed and objective.

---> Note: Looking for someone to review Mass Effect. My only request is that you follow the general format laid out on the thread or a similar one that is pretty much as easily understood.

4) if you can't find what you are looking for here, try the Video Gaming News thread ---> http://www.crunchyroll.com/showforumtopic?id=386.

5) Any off-topic posts will immediately be reported to moderators for deletion, and you will be asked to edit (within 24 hours) any reviews/previews that are not clear or lacking in depth; non-compliance will lead to deletion by a moderator.

Now, do stay tuned, because guess what! We got Jay's and my reviews of the games of Valve's Orange Box coming down the pipe! And I will also be previewing The Witcher, Hellgate: London, and Tabula Rasa in my next post...

Note, this is a preliminary list of games coming out this year that will be reviewed by me (sorted by release date): Orange/Black Box (Team Fortress 2), The Witcher, Call of Duty IV, Gears of War (PC), Crysis, Unreal Tournament III, and Universe at War: Earth Assault...

Games to look for me to review come next year: Assassin's Creed (PC), Devil May Cry 4 (PC), Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures, SPORE, Far Cry 2, Empire Total War...Maybes depending on release in 2008/9 - Firefly, Black Prophecy, Jumpgate Evolution, Guild Wars 2...

---> Reviews that are coming up in the near future: Assassin's Creed, Mass Effect, The Witcher, World in Conflict, Gears of War (PC), Universe at War: Earth Assault...

---> My reviews and previews will usually range from one every week to one every month (depends on release dates)...

Well, anyways, here goes...

Today's review: Team Fortress 2 (from Valve's Orange and Black Boxes)

Genre: Class-Based Online FPS
Systems that carry game: PC and XBox360
Available: Now (Released 10/9/2007)



Now I honestly have to say that, despite my sucking and pulling just slightly better than a 1-1 kdr, I really did enjoy my first experience with Team Fortress 2...I spent a while last night playing TF2 (about 6 hours), and I have to say that it is probably the best class-based team shooter that I have ever played. Each class lends itself to an entirely different playing style, each often lending themselves to a different type of player. My personal favs are the Scout and the Engineer, but, I'll do a break down assessment how the classes are grouped in the game...

Offense:



The Scout - If you like dodging and running around a lot, this is the class for you. Though the damage potential and the hit points for this class are rather low, a player who takes full advantage of this class' speed and of its weapons in the correct situations, can more than make up for those two disadvantages. This class is also for you if you like being a flag runner on capture the flag maps.

The Soldier - A fairly decent, well-balanced class. The rocket launcher does good damage (especially effective against the Engineer's sentry guns) and the shotgun will usually save your butt in close quarters. Effective use of this class, though, is generally dependent on knowing how best to use your rocket launcher, which despite its range, really is a mid-range weapon, not a long range one (slow moving rockets are easily dodged at long range by most classes and even at short ranges by more nimble classes). Also, rocket jumps, though effective and very useful, hurt...They hurt bad!

The Pyro - This is the class that you really probably don't want to go up against with anything other than a cloaked/disguised Spy, Sniper at long range, or a Heavy at medium range. The Pyro is probably the best class in the game for taking points and also for holding them, as the Flamethrower is very likely the most dominating close range weapon in the game...Being lit on fire is a bitch...Note: Beware of ubercharged Pyros...

Defense:



The Heavy - Do you like tanks? Are you the type of person that likes to take the punches and then beat someone down with your big burly arms when they get too close? Do you laugh maniacally when causing rampant destruction and mass damage to large numbers of people? Well if so, then the Heavy is you...Despite the chain gun being arguably the worst weapon at range in the game (horrible accuracy), it is extremely effective against large numbers (300 health is kinda helpful, but having a Medic to heal or even ubercharge you is awesome) and especially at close to mid-range. You'll hit your stride in choke points and at capture points. Your weakness really is slow movement and the chain gun's spin up. To counter this team up with a Medic and anticipate enemies (start spinning up the gun about a half second before you get a clear shot)...

The Demoman - Think a black, Scottish, one-eyed, Wile E. Coyote-esc madman...That's the Demoman...The grenade launcher is effective against just about any class (only really effective against Scout if you manage to anticipate their movements or catch them unawares), while the sticky bomb launcher is perfect when you are running from some enemies and you just happen to stick some bombs to, let's say, a doorway that they are about to run through...Remote detonation for the pwnage.

The Engineer - This class is arguably my favorite, and it is also one that is vital to the success of a team on just about any map...Building a teleporter entrance (or exit on capture the flag maps) near your base/spawn and its counterpart somewhere closer to the action is generally a very helpful (team oriented) move right near the start of the round. After that you generally are going to be in need of some metal, so grabbing up fallen weapons, or metal at a resupply point is a good idea. Dispensers also can provide you (and other players) with the things you need, whether it be metal, ammo, or health, so its a good idea to get one of these up pretty quick too. And well, the sentry gun is a given...Build it where it will have a good chance of taking out enemies without it getting taken out quickly; also do upgrade it...The Engineer also is decently able to defend himself with a fairly accurate, fast-firing handgun (I found it works best in mid-long range situations) or a pump-action shotgun for you closer encounters.

Support:

The Medic - Everybody's friend pretty much...unless you are the enemy. Once this class gets into the action his ubercharge will fill up pretty quick from healing injured teammates...Beware of the Medic-Heavy and the Medic-Pyro combos...Medics can also poison enemies, which again is useful. This class literally is the lifeline of the team.

The Sniper - Zoom in, aim for the head, and wait for a decent power-up on your rifle, then...BOOM! That essentially is the Sniper. His rifle is VERY effective at long range, especially when powered up and aimed at someone's head.

The Spy - You could argue that this is really the only class that has ignored class balancing (for the most part)...The cloak and disguises are really the tools that a good spy will use to his fullest advantage, as they allow you to sneak up behind an enemy and backstab him with your knife (one-hit kill), but keep in mind that this will reveal you, and also bear in mind that you have a time limit on how long you can cloak for...

In addition to the game having a great array of unique and balanced classes, it is one of the best and unique looking games around. The Pixar-like graphics and the exaggerated cartoonish nature just make this game all out fun...For example, after my Scout got blown to bits by a Demoman's sticky bombs and I was shown my killer, there was my hat with a big "A piece of you" bubble pointing to it from above. I almost died laughing...Well, not quite, but still you get the drift...

So what are my final thoughts?

Presentation: 9.0/10

The UI is nice, simple, and clean while maintaining that cartoon-like feel.

Graphics: 9.5/10

Did I not already say its like playing a [very violent] Pixar film? Well, it might even be better than that to tell you the truth...Strikingly fun graphics...

Sound: 9.5/10

For some reason you just start to smile when you hear your Heavy laughing over the sound of his chain gun, or hear a Sniper say "God save the queen!" in a perfect Australian accent...The sounds are real and believable, while a bit eccentric and ridiculous (just like the rest of the game). The voice acting is also superb!

Gameplay: 9.0/10

The biggest problem here boils down to the simple fact that the game lacks bots, and well it just isn't all that fun with a small number of people...Other than that the gameplay is virtually everything that you could ask for and more. Fun beyond compare...

Lasting Appeal: 8.5/10

It started to feel a bit repetitive because of the small number of maps, but each map is still a blast...With more maps this score would probably bump up a bit, but still...TF2 is really a game that you can play for hours on end, if you are so in the mood...

Overall: 9.1/10 - Excellent

For more on this game:
Official Site - http://orange.half-life2.com/tf2.html
IGN - http://pc.ign.com/objects/011/011640.html
Wiki - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Team_Fortress_2

Discuss Team Fortress 2 here: http://www.crunchyroll.com/showforumtopic?id=15454

Discuss the Orange Box here: http://www.crunchyroll.com/showforumtopic?id=15914

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Today's previews: The Witcher, Hellgate: London, and Tabula Rasa

First let's start with The Witcher...



Genre: Dark Fantasy Action RPG
System(s) to carry game: PC
Available: 10/30/2007 (Killing monsters the day before Halloween?...Nice... )

The Witcher is an up and coming action RPG, developed by CDProjekt, that set to release later this month. The player takes on the character of a Witcher, a warrior trained to fight the supernatural. Set in a dark fantasy world created by best-selling Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski, The Witcher is said to combine spectacular action with an intriguing storyline...If you like dark fantasy and RPG's this is probably one that you should look into...

For more on this promising looking game:
Official Site - http://www.thewitcher.com/
IGN - http://pc.ign.com/objects/682/682220.html
Wiki - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Witcher_%28computer_game%29

Hellgate: London



Genre: Sci-Fi/Horror Action RPG
System(s) to carry game: PC
Available: 10/30/2007 (Demon-killing the day before Halloween?...Also fitting... )

In this up and coming action RPG it is up to you (or should I say 'your character') to repel the demonic horde from the streets of London. Complete quests, kill demons, and experience the freedom of what is being toted as a very open and flexible system of skills and spells. This game is likely not to get boring or predictable either, as the environments are randomly generated and the degree of customization you are given over your character are probably going to garner interest for a while...Diablo anyone? I am sure that any of you who enjoy killing demons/monsters with a variety of weapons from swords to guns (and even using spells) would probably end up liking this game...

For more on this promising looking game:
Official Site - http://www.hellgatelondon.com/
IGN - http://pc.ign.com/objects/737/737992.html
Wiki - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellgate:_London

Tabula Rasa



Genre: Sci-Fi MMORPG
System(s) to carry game: PC
Available: 11/1/2007

Richard Garriott - the man who brought you the Ultima series, Lineage I and Lineage II, City of Heroes and City of Villians - is back with a new creation, the innovative Tabula Rasa. You will play as an Allied Free Sentients soldier fighting for the survival of mankind against the merciless alien enemy, the Bane - the race that destroyed Earth and humanity as we knew it. Are you prepared for a fight against extinction?

For more on this promising looking game:
Official Site - http://www.rgtr.com/index.html
IGN - http://pc.ign.com/objects/016/016535.html
Wiki - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tabula_Rasa_(computer_game)
Tabula Rasa Wiki - http://www.tabularasawiki.org/action/view/Main_Page

Well, I am going to make this my back-review post...

Guild Wars Eye of the North



Anyways, my assessment of Guild Wars Eye of the North is that it is a wonderful expansion to a fairly decent CORPG (cooperative online role playing game) franchise. Whereas both Factions and Nightfall were stand-alone expansions and did not need the original to be playable, GWEN is an actual expansion and you will need at least one of the campaigns to play it. Personally, if I were someone new to Guild Wars and also wanted to get this expansion then going with the original would probably make the most sense as GWEN's storyline is derived directly from the original Guild Wars.

Presentation: 8.5/10

Great story, which is even better when it is paired with that of the original campaign. And as always the UI functions and layout are among the best in the industry. But there are some little things (and larger ones too) that detract from an exceptional score in this category...The world is instanced and pathed = not a lot of freedom (no jumping while running, no jumping off cliffs, ect) and interaction with only a limited number of players when outside of outposts...Level cap is set at 20 (has not been raised since day 1)...

Graphics: 8.5/10

Graphically it is an improvement over the previous three campaigns, but it is not something that is going to push you PC to the limits (unless you happen to be using one of the PC's at Jay's disposal of course ).

Sound: 9.5/10

Jeremy Soule really outdid himself in composing the music for it...Amazing classical score!

Gameplay: 8.5/10

Fairly good fighting/battle mechanics for a MMORPG/CORPG...Great PvP, good multi-level dungeons, good PvE...All around everything is good, but not much is extraordinary...

Lasting Appeal: 8.5/10

You are really going to only want to play this through this expansion once with each of your existing level 20 characters...Other than that the only reason to keep playing this expansion is for its dungeons. But then again if you were to balance it out with some PVP and content from the other three campaigns, it should be able to keep your interest for a while...

Overall: 8.1/10 - Good

Now for my personal, final thoughts as a MMO player?

Really, Guild Wars Eye of the North has further increased my interest in Guild Wars 2 and I really like the fact that it allows for long time players to register their characters' accomplishment in the Hall of Heroes, which will turn into beneficial upgrades and other things for them in Guild Wars 2.

For more about Guild Wars Eye of the North:
Official Site - http://www.guildwars.com/press/releases/eyeofthenorthgw2/eyeofthenorth.php
GWW - http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Guild_Wars_Eye_of_the_North
IGN - http://pc.ign.com/objects/896/896299.html

Medieval II Total War Kingdoms



This expansion is really more like four expansions rolled into one, than it is one solitary expansion...The reason for my saying this is that there are four entirely unique campaigns with a slew of new playable factions, in addition to new units, and new strategies and tactics that each force one to adopt...



Well anyways, last weekend, I finally got Medieval 2 Total War: Kingdoms working on my computer and I loaded up the Britannia Campaign last night...I'm a bit of an Anglophile so of course I was playing as England. While I was playing there really was one thing that struck me; the sheer magnitude and complexity of the logistics at the start of the game, especially if you are playing as a country like England that is starting with over 20 settlements and 40+ forts! It is almost a logistical nightmare and a daunting challenge for even some more veteran players...Toss in unrest amongst your barons and three other hostile factions, two of which are your neighbors and well, you'll get the picture...

Similarly, in the other campaigns you will also have to adapt from what you may have learned in previous Total War games and their expansions...For example, playing as the Lithuanians in the Teutonic Campaign, you can choose to remain pagan for a while and reap certain benefits, and covert to Christianity when politics, wars, ect determine that the time is right...Or how about fighting on the side of or against the Crusaders in the Holy Land? Wise use of your heroic general (Saladin or Richard III) and priests/imams is essential...Then of course you have your American Campaign, wherein you can play as the numerically inferior but technologically superior Spanish, or you could play as a faction like the Aztecs...

Presentation: 9.0/10

Simple, easy to use Total War interface makes managing your kingdom rather simple, however not easy...

Graphics: 9.5/10

Just try putting the graphics at their highest setting and then get into a large scale battle with over 15,000 or 20,000 troops and then zoom in close...You'll see why I love the graphics...

Sound: 9.5/10

Music and sounds in the Total War series has always been adequate, but the music in this expansion is superb!

Gameplay: 9.0/10

To put it simply, this is probably the single hardest expansion, or even game for that matter, in the Total War series...Be prepared to get your butt kicked if you are kinda new and you put it on anything other than "Easy"...

Lasting Appeal: 9.0/10

Great diversity among the various factions and all are fun to play = replayability...This expansion will definitely take you a while when playing long campaigns and it has the ability to keep your interest the entire time...

Overall: 9.2/10 - Excellent

NOTE: One thing about this expansion is that it will take up 7.37GB on your hard drive...Add this to the 11.8GB of the original game and you'll end up consuming 19.1GB in total...Just know that you are now forewarned.

For more about Medieval II Total War Kingdoms:
Official Site - http://www.totalwar.com/
IGN - http://pc.ign.com/objects/897/897232.html
Wiki - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medieval_II:_Total_War:_Kingdoms

I'm stealing your format

Portal



Alright I've had plenty of time with Portal and honestly I think it's an ingenious game. You play as a test subject for Aperture Science (who happens to be a competitor for Black Mesa). As a test subject you are given tasks to complete. Some are very easy while some will have you scratching your head for a while. All in all, it's a great time waister for when you just want to do something but don't feel like getting too involved in a story.

Presentation: 8.0/10

There's not much of a story here. It's simple, get the tasks done, no bells or whistles. Every unnecessary thing has been stripped out to give it a true 'lab test' feel. There is no hud, no other weapons and your only enemy's are (awesome) turrets. The lack of a hud only becomes a problem when you get shot by a turret and have no idea how much more you can take before death.

Graphics: 6.0/10

Portals graphics are descent at best. The lab levels are intentionally drab, but they have this dynamic feel to them. Every room has a 'purpose built' feel to it. Not impressive, but when you think about it, full HL2 graphics would do nothing but take away from the carefully controlled lab experience.

Sound: 9.0/10

Portal gets high marks in the sound department not because of it's sound track (although there is one VERY awesome song you must hear). What it's all about with portal is the great voice acting and kick ass writing. At first it's all kinda standard monotone stuff but the computer voice guiding you gets hilarious later in the game.

Gameplay: 8.0/10

Easy at first, but it's all training for the real meat of the game later on. But in general the game play will have you hooked in no time. With more downloadable maps I can easily see this as the next Tetris.

Lasting Appeal: 9.0/10

You will come back. You will beat it over and over. And you will love it every time you find a new way to 'cheat the system' and do something awesome with the portal gun.

Overall: 8.5/10 - Very Good

This game is the perfect time waister when you just want something to do. The developer commentary gives a great incite into the building blocks of the game. The voice acting is different and very entertaining later in the game. The game play never feels too hard to the point where your mad. And you can really have fun in many ways with the portal gun.

Now I am sure that as long as you have been alive and payed any attention at all to gaming over the past several months, there has been one game that you have probably heard about more so than any other...Even more than Halo 3...

That game is Crysis and it will be the subject of this preview of mine...



Genre: Sci-Fi FPS
System(s) to carry game: PC
Available: 11/16/2007 (US/Europe/Australia release)

Crysis is a new highly anticipated FPS developed by Crytek (creators of Far Cry) and distributed by EA that will be releasing this fall.

Background -

Year 2020 - An archaeological research team on an island in the South China Sea goes sends out a distress signal and then goes missing as the North Korean military stakes claims to the site and beings building up a presence. Crysis begins with you engaging the Korean military off and on, while you search for the missing researchers - but you soon find out that the island harbors more than just Koreans As tensions are on the rise the island suddenly begins to freeze-over, and still worse, the global weather system begins to feel the freeze...What the FUCK?!? What is that thing...? <<Commencing invasion>>

Most notable about this game is the fact that it is the prime example of everything that DX10 graphics has to offer...and more (Crytek2 physics engine = amazing physics + fully destructible environment)! Pretty much, if you have not dropped over $2000 in your CPU, RAM, and video cards you can kiss your hopes of playing this game on 'Very High' and getting a decent frame rate goodbye... Still that aside, the game looks great and it plays great! The multiplayer beta is unreal! Being able to customize your gear (armor and weapons) in real time and having to adapt constantly to the things around you makes this one heck of a thrill...Honestly, I can't wait for the game!

If it was good enough to be the consensus number one PC game choice at E3, it probably will be for you too...

For more on Crysis:
Official Site - http://www.ea.com/crysis/home.jsp
IGN - http://pc.ign.com/objects/694/694190.html
Wiki - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crysis

EDIT:

Something that Jay pointed out to me - To play on low settings with DX10 disabled it really doesn't take all that much...Only a NVIDIA GeForce 6800 GT, ATI Radeon 9800 Pro (Radeon X800 Pro for Vista), or better - 256MB VRAM...

To see the minimum system requirements, please go here: http://www.crysis-online.com/Information/System%20Requirements/

The next two weeks are going to be FILLED with completely and utterly amazing FPS madness! ...Seems time for me to do another preview, huh?

Well guess what! I got a treat for you...Another double header preview post!

The games being previewed? Call of Duty 4 and Unreal Tournament III...Yes...Two games that, like Crysis, are among the most anticipated games of 2007!

*Note: I am not to be held responsible for any drooling or "other" thrills that might result from the following previews...

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare



Genre: FPS
System(s) to carry game: PC, XBox360, PS3
Available: 11/05/2007 (US release - Australia -> 11/07/2007)

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is the new flagship of Infinity Ward's venerable Call of Duty (also affectionately known as Charlie Oscar Delta) series. One could very well say that CoD4 is one of, if not outright, the most anticipated [multi-system] FPS games that is releasing this year, and really its only competitor for that title is none other than Unreal Tournament III...

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is set in a world not all that unlike the current...Unrest and military action in the Middle East with a re-emerging Russia that is hellbent on regaining face that it lost after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The relationship between these sources of tension (Russian nationalist by the name of Imran Zakhaev + Al-Asad + coup d'etat + nuke) is the most immediate background for the game that will pit you (American Force Recon in Middle East / British S.A.S. in Russia) against new enemies (no more Nazis - YAY! / Sorry...) and throw you into a whole new slew of challenging environments.

Graphics and gameplay for CoD4 are amazing (I played the demo), and do note that this is still a DX9 game with a largely indestructible environment (vehicles are destructible, buildings and landscape are not), but despite that it still looks as good as (and sometimes better than) a lot of DX10 games that are out right now...

It should also be noted that, unlike Crysis, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare won't be so roided out that you worry it'll nuke your system...

Mininum Requirements:
Intel Pentium 4 2.4 GHz / AMD Athlon 64 2800+ processor or any 1.8Ghz Dual Core Processor or better supported
512MB RAM (768MB for Vista)
NVIDIA GeForce 6600 (or better) or ATI Radeon 9800Pro (or better)
8 GB of Free Hard Drive Space

Recommended Requirements:
2.4 GHz dual core or better is recommended
1024MB RAM (2048MB for Vista)
NVIDIA GeForce 7800 (or better) or ATI Radeon X1800 (or better)
---> 3.0 Shader Support recommended
8 GB of Free Hard Drive Space

For more on this promising looking game:
Official Site - http://www.callofduty.com/
IGN PC - http://pc.ign.com/objects/902/902593.html
IGN XBox360 - http://xbox360.ign.com/objects/902/902590.html
IGN PS3 - http://ps3.ign.com/objects/902/902587.html
Wiki - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Call_of_Duty_4

Discuss Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare here: http://www.crunchyroll.com/showforumtopic?id=12772

Unreal Tournament III



Genre: Sci-Fi FPS
System(s) to carry game: PC, XBox360, PS3
Available: 11/19/2007 (US release - Europe/Australia -> 11/30/2007 - XBox360 release TBA 2008)

I find it so fitting that this game was created by Epic Games (the creators of the UT series - BTW I love Epic and Midway)...Why? Because, frankly, it is EPIC! Really it is...Even though I haven't gotten a whole lot of game time on the demo of it, what I did was absolutely amazing! Think of how good sex is and then translate that into game form...I'd say its a pretty good analogy...This game is a must have, not only for Unreal Tournament fans, but for ANY serious FPS gamer...

As always the online multiplayer is amazing - Pure and simple, the Unreal Tournament multiplayer is really and truly the best there is, has been, and will likely be for a while...

Note: At release, Unreal Tournament III will not have inter-system online multiplayer available (ie if your friend has a PS3 or XBox360 version and you have the PC version, you won't be able to play with each other), but Epic Games did announce that it would enable that feature after a couple of months...

Expect to see a lot of vehicles and weapons from the previous Unreal Tournament and Unreal Championship games, but also take note of the new skins and new vehicles...

Now, unlike the previous games in the series, this game almost hearkens back to the days when it was just Unreal and Unreal II...It actually has a story-driven single-player mode! I know...Amazing! Now that being said, the story revolves around the Necris invasion and your seeking revenge for your clan - one of the first to be slaughtered. And how do you go and do this? You join up with [the legendary tournament champion] Malcolm and his mercenary gang, and then you proceed to kick some Necris ASS!...

Graphically UT3 is pure DX10 eye candy and the Unreal3 physics engine is one of the two best out there (Crysis' Crytek2 engine being the other)...

Minimum Requirements:
Windows XP SP2 or Windows Vista
2.0+ GHZ Single Core Processor
512 MB RAM
NVIDIA 6200+ or ATI Radeon 9600+ Video Card
8 GB of Free Hard Drive Space

Recommended Requirements:
2.4+ GHZ Dual Core Processor
1 GB RAM
NVIDIA 7800GTX+ or ATI x1300+ Video Card
8 GB of Free Hard Drive Space

For more on this promising looking game:
Official Site - http://www.unrealtournament3.com/
IGN PC - http://pc.ign.com/objects/746/746632.html
IGN XBox360 - http://xbox360.ign.com/objects/746/746631.html
IGN PS3 - http://ps3.ign.com/objects/748/748505.html
Wiki - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unreal_Tournament_3

Now, the only question left to answer is which one will win Game of the Year?

Todays' Review:

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare



Genre: FPS
System(s) to carry game: PC, XBox360, PS3
Available: Released (11/05/2007 -> US release - Australia -> 11/07/2007)

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare...Oh where to begin? I played the demo on the PC and then played through almost half of the actual game on my friend's 360, and now I am going to be buying this game as soon as I can make my way over to EBGames! Infinity Ward's new flagship title for the venerable Call of Duty (also affectionately known as Charlie Oscar Delta) series has got to be one of the single greatest shooters I have ever played! And if it isn't the greatest, it is at least the most realistic! I think that it is a game title that actually deserves the Game of the Year title, but we'll see how it stacks up against those that still remain to be seen in released form, namely Crysis, UT3, Assassin's Creed, and a couple others...But at this moment, it is in my honest opinion that I believe this to be the best shooter released yet this year!

Presentation: 9.5/10

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is set in a world not all that unlike the current...Middle East, Russia, Al-Asad, nuke, you get the idea...Hell, just refer back to my preview! Anyways, the story is just pure gold. Unlike many shooters, where the story is just kinda there to allow the game to show off a few cool features, CoD4 has a gripping storyline that will keep you in your chair gaming for hours on end! Clean interface, also got rid of damage meter in single player - replaced with a cool-down function...The down side with this game is that despite having an amazing storyline, its length (~6-8 hours on Regular) leaves you wanting more...

Graphics: 9.5/10



As for the graphics and physics for CoD4 - simply amazing...I can guarantee you that you never thought DX9 could look so good! Do note though that it is still a largely indestructible environment (vehicles are destructible, buildings and landscape are not), which although it is not a big deal in and of itself, it can be a bit annoying when you actually get to spots where you wish you could blow a hole in the wall with your C4, or when you are using the 105mm on the gunship and you don't see buildings get demolished, ect...

Sound: 10/10

It doesn't get any better than this! It is a real war in your own house!

Gameplay: 9.5/10

Whether it is a mission involving Sergeant John "Soap" MacTavish - 22nd SAS Regiment or Sergeant Paul Jackson - United States Marine Corps 1st Force Recon in the present or Lieutenant Price - 22nd SAS Regiment (in a flashback), you are always having to grapple with tough, realistic situations that will actually challenge you! I can almost guarantee you that most of you will play the storyline through more than once! Furthermore, the multiplayer is an intense, fun-filled, enjoyably frustrating ball of fury...Definitely one of the greats! - My only problem with the multiplayer is the seemingly random spawn locations; it is not your traditional spawn-in-a-base type, rather it always seems to spawn you immediately in or near a firefight... >.<

Lasting Appeal: 10/10

The single-player story is interesting enough to entice you to play this game more than just once or twice... Sure there will probably be equal and even better shooters to come out in the near future (namely Crysis and UT3) but for now Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is king, or at least until another proves it can be beaten!

Overall: 9.7/10 - Outstanding!

For more on Call of Duty 4:
Official Site - http://www.callofduty.com/
IGN PC - http://pc.ign.com/objects/902/902593.html
IGN XBox360 - http://xbox360.ign.com/objects/902/902590.html
IGN PS3 - http://ps3.ign.com/objects/902/902587.html
Wiki - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Call_of_Duty_4

Discuss Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare here: http://www.crunchyroll.com/showforumtopic?id=12772

Guys, sorry about the delay on the UT3 review...

Todays' Review:

Unreal Tournament III



Genre: Sci-Fi FPS
System(s) to carry game: PC, XBox360, PS3
Available: Released (11/19/2007 -> US release - Australia/Europe -> 11/30/2007)

My latest Unreal experience began with its demo on the PC - a sparse three maps with only the options of Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, and Vehicle CTF. Despite this sever limitation, my hopes were very high while I waited for the actual game...I am now glad to say that I was a bit disappointed, but not entirely. That said, Unreal Tournament III still ponies up right alongside the best of them and is definitely one of the top five shooters for any system this year....It is definitely worth the buy, but I am not about to call it perfect.

Presentation: 8.5/10

The single-player storyline is weak, but then again isn't that the case for most shooters? Layout, user interface, and options panels are pretty much standard UT fare. Does not have the plethora of difficulty levels like in previous UT's - only 4 this time (Casual, Normal, Hard, Insane)...

Graphics: 9.5/10



Honestly I was amazed to see how good the graphics and physics in Unreal Tournament III could be. In fact, I would be so bold as to say that they could very well be as good as those in Crysis (in other words close to as perfect as today's tech can get), except in one regard. Lighting - some of the maps lighting actually made it annoyingly difficult on you as a player, either due to an odd hue or low light conditions (forcing you to turn up the gamma).

Sound: 9.0/10

As always, UT sounds do not disappoint. No gun sounds out of place - they all sound like weapons right out of a science fiction movie, and ambient music effectively gets you into that special pwning mood. The announcements as, always, are a plus - UT Announcer: Double ki- Multi kill! Mega Kill! ULTRA KILL!!! M-M-M-MONSTER KILL! LUDACRIS! HOLY SHIT!...Dominating!

Gameplay: 9.5/10

Unreal Tournament III lacks the true depth of gameplay of some other shooters, namely Call of Duty 4 and Crysis, especially in its single-player campaign. That said, it more than makes up for its single-player shortcomings when you look at its multiplayer. Easiest way to put it is that it is sickeningly addictive if you are a FPS fan - think of how addicting crack is and you get the idea.

Lasting Appeal: 9.0/10

The multiplayer - still arguably the best there is - will be the thing to keep you playing this game, but don't be expecting to feel like you have to play through the single-player campaign again, because let me tell you something - you won't.

Overall: 9.1/10 - Excellent

For more on Unreal Tournament III:
Official Site - http://www.unrealtournament3.com/
IGN PC - http://pc.ign.com/objects/746/746632.html
IGN XBox360 - http://xbox360.ign.com/objects/746/746631.html
IGN PS3 - http://ps3.ign.com/objects/748/748505.html
Wiki - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unreal_Tournament_3

Review on Super Mario Galaxy
Genre: Platforming
System: Wii
Released:(jp) November 1, 2007 (us)November 12, 2007 (eu) November 16. 2007 (aus) November 29, 2007


Finally Nintendo fans everywhere can rejoice! The true sequel to Super Mario 64 have hits store shelves around the world and we couldn’t be more happier. This game has everything- recognizable characters, familier stages and good old fashion platforming fun.
There‘s nothing new in the plot- Bowser kidnaps Princess Peach, Mario chases after Bowser, Mario then whips Bowser’s ass and save the Princess. But this time he get to do it by traveling to different galaxies

Presentation: 9.0/10

The game has Wiiconnect24 support and coop play. For coop play the person who will play with you get to use an extra Wiimote. He/she will be able to help you on your adventures by collecting starbits (by pointing at the starbits with the Wiimote), shooting starbits, make Mario jump and spin and even do something that a single player can’t do....a powerful jump Nothing really special about the menu. It’s almost exactly the same as Super Mario Sunshine.

Graphic 10/10

This is truly the best looking Wii game yet. This is proof that developers have been lazy in creating a good looking game for the Wii. The moment that I started playing the game I was left speechless. I have never seen Mario and company looked this good in my life. It runs in 480p 16:9 widescreen.

Sound 9.5/10

No voice acting...again but the orchestrated music makes you forget that Nintendo dislikes voice actors.

Gameplay 10/10

It’s a Mario game so you know that the gameplay is going to be awesome. The platforming is as great as ever. The levels designs is incredibly creative. Power-ups are back. You’ll be able to transform into bee Mario, boo Mario, ice Mario and for the first time since Mario gone 3-D, fire Mario. * drools* The only drawback to the game is that it’s not overly difficult for those hardcore gamers.

Lasting Appeals 9.0/10

There’s over 120 stars to collect in over 40 different galaxies, each one is unique and bursting with creativity. You’ll also be able to send your progress to friends via Wiiconnect24 which is kind of useless to me And like I said earlier you’ll be able to play with your friends through coop mode.

Overall 9.5 close to perfection

For more on Super Mario Galaxy
Official site-http://wii.nintendo.com/site/supermariogalaxy/
IGN Wii-http://wii.ign.com/articles/833/833298p1.html
Wiki-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Mario_Galaxy

Well this is the post that you have all been waiting for - my review of Crysis! ---> Merry Christmas all!

Crysis



Genre: Sci-Fi FPS
System(s) to carry game: PC
Available: 11/16/2007 (US/Europe/Australia release)

My first experience with Crysis began with the multiplayer beta and that only whetted my appetite...I pre-ordered the game and picked it up on release day, but due to certain circumstances it ended up becoming a Christmas present for me...Well, Christmas is finally here and I had it installed by about 11am this morning, and now after a day of about 10 hours of gameplay, I can finally bring you this review!

Presentation: 9.5/10

Ever play Far Cry? Great game right? Well think of Crysis as a polished up version of Far Cry. I mean there are so many things that are so similar (the binocs that "hear" as well as see, the aggro system, the nice simple HUD, ect), but those similarities end pretty quick. Crysis throws a few new things into the game to make things interesting, and boy oh boy are they interesting! The on the fly customization is probably the most notable as it impacts the game in almost ever manner imaginable. Whether you are customizing a gun on the fly or switching modes in your suit, it allows you to find the perfect combination for any situation...Oh and on a slight side note, if you thought Far Cry was hard, Crysis on "Delta" makes Far Cry on "Realistic" look easy...

Graphics: 10/10



Sure, there are other games out there that might look nice, but Crysis easily takes the cake...Pretty much it is so good that if God made a video game, it would probably look like Crysis...DX10 graphics at their best and a fully interactive/destructible environment...Me likes...





Sound: 9.5/10

Even though it is nothing new, using sound aggro in addition to visual aggro, its still great. Also, Crysis has one heck of a variety of sounds and music tracks that will definitely keep the hairs standing on the back of your neck and maybe even the shakes in your arms...

Gameplay: 8.5/10

Being able to customize your gear (armor and weapons) in real time and having to adapt constantly to the things around you makes this one heck of a thrill, but the story and the AI could use a little help - I mean, sometimes the North Korean troops are just flat out morons (but still they might get you from time to time)...

Lasting Appeal: 10/10

Do you want a game that will last you several upgrades of your gaming rig? Do you want a game with a great single-player and an exciting multiplayer that will keep you asking for more? Do you want a new addiction? If so Crysis is the game for you! Hey, if it was good enough to be the consensus number one PC game choice at E3, it should be for you too...

Overall: 9.5/10 - Outstanding!

For more on Crysis:
Official Site - http://www.ea.com/crysis/home.jsp
IGN - http://pc.ign.com/objects/694/694190.html
Wiki - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crysis

Anyways, after much deliberation I am finally going to give my considerations of 2007 Game of the Year for the three major systems out there: PC, XBox360, and PS3 (no Wii because it is kinda obvious which was the best game for it this year).

Let's start with the PC... ---> Note: After replaying the top contenders for the title I was forced to reverse my decision.

PC gaming is my personal forte. I spend approximately 1/3 of my current life on my computer and probably 75% of that is gaming. That said, I spend a lot of time gaming (and also a lot of money during a year)...So what were the games that I was struck by this year as being potential candidates for my 2007 PC Game of the Year award? Well here's a list...*Note: No expansion is included in this list.*

---> Lord of the Rings Online - I have been with this game since the second week of Alpha testing back in August 2006, and I can honestly say that it is probably the single best MMORPG out there at the moment. It takes everything else that is great about so many other MMO's, wraps it all up in Tolkien lore and makes creates a feel that you are actually questing as a hero in Middle Earth.

---> Bioshock - When this game was getting ready to come out I played the demo and I thought that it would be a great game. But it just didn't strike me as the Game of the Year for the PC, nor did it interest me enough to go out and buy it...

---> World in Conflict - This is the game that I am currently still kicking myself for not buying...I played the 10-day multiplayer trial and I was on for a ridiculous amount of time...Personally I love the game and I mean LOVE! It is one of the best RTS games I have ever played and considering that RTS and 4X games consist of one of my favorite genre of games, that says a lot...World in Conflict has a stunningly realistic feel and grips you in a way that you feel like your tactical decisions will influence the very survival of your nation - couple this with stunning graphics and an amazingly fun multiplayer, and you have one hell of a game!

---> The Orange Box - If I was to actually put this in the running for Game of the Year, I think it would be a little unfair...Why? Because this collection virtually blows everything else out of the water! It consists of five absolutely outstanding games, from the innovative Portal to the intense Half Life 2 Episode 2 to the amazingly fun Team fortress 2...The Orange Box is the best collection of games that has ever been sold as one package, but sorry, I just can't put in it the same category for GOTY...

---> The Witcher - This game is the RPG of the year and there is no argument to that. But is it the Game of the Year for PC? My answer to this is no...It just doesn't have the graphics nor the gameplay (despite its innovative characteristics) to contend...

---> Gears of War - Gears is nothing really new for the PC. It still is a fun third-person shooter and probably still one of the best, but when scripted over to the PC the sprint/hide function is still annoyingly scripted to the same key, and the only actual new content was a somewhat disappointing fight with the Brumak...

---> Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare - Now let me just say this..Call of Duty 4 was one of my two finalists for deciding my Game of the Year for PC. It had an absolutely amazing single-player, but it was too short. The multiplayer was good, but there is better. The graphics and sound were really nice and rather realistic, but there are better graphics out there and the fact that the physics engine was not designed with a destructible environment in mind is a real pain...An absolutely amazing game, but sorry...Its not my GOTY title either...

---> Unreal Tournament III - If only Epic had just remade UT2k4...Well I guess Gears made them want to add a single-player storyline, but if that was the idea, they should have just rewritten to fit the UT universe...Why? The UT3 storyline is awful. It will bore you to no end and the only reason why you will stick to UT3 is because it still has arguably the best multiplayer out there and it does indeed have very good graphics and physics...

---> Crysis - Well now we are talking another game that is Game of the Year material...Why? Well, it has probably the best single-player storyline out of any game other than CoD4. It is very engaging, fun, and unique. The game will keep you on edge for hours and then once you get done with the single-player, there is always the multiplayer. Crysis' multiplayer in my mind is better than CoD4's and on par with UT3's - in other words it rocks...

So which game do I give my 2007 PC Game of the Year nod to?

My pick is Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare...

As for a better game for graphics and physics, nothing beats Crysis - true - but when was the last time that a FPS actually had a good storyline? When did you ever feel like you just wanted to play the single-player campaign over and over again thinking that you could never possibly get tired of it? Answer? Not in a REAL long time. CoD4 is a blast of fun and one hell of a heart-pounding action thriller that will make you feel like you just got dropped into the middle of a war zone...It is a must have for any FPS enthusiast and a recommendation of mine to any gamer just looking for a good game.

Look forward to next time when we post the Game of the Year nominees and winners for the 360 and the PS3...Until then, see y'all around and keep on gaming! Oh and do remember to celebrate Wintereenmas with all of its gaming glory!

Game review: Jericho

Genre: Supernatural-horror, first person shooter
Systems that carry game: PC, Xbox 360 & Playstation 3
Available: Now (Released October 23rd, 2007)

Game Story In no way, does anything written reflect my personal views on any occult or religious belief.
You are (supposidly) Captain Devin Ross, Jericho Squad Leader.
Before the creation of Adam and Eve, God created the firstborn in his own image. This being was neither male nor female, dark or light, and both beutiful and terrible. God was so devistated with His creation that He banished it into the Abyss. There, to be forever forsaken, forgotten and unloved. God then created Adam and Eve, but gave them flaws, so they would not be as powerful as the firstborn.
The firstborn, that was even too powerful for God to keep from breaking into the mortal realm, made several attempts to escape the Abyss. Each time, bringing a bit of our world into the Abyss.
The Department of Occult Warfare was created in 1930's to combat supernatural and unexplained. People that would in the olden days be burnt as witches and wizards, are now fighting the wars against evil in secracy, so to protect mankind. Thus The Jericho Squad was created. They have now been sent to Al-Khali to prevent Arnold Leach, a member of the Nazi Germans research team that did research regarding the supernatural. To stop Leach from opening the breach and unleashing the Firstborn upon mankind once again.

My Personal Thoughts: *SPOILER WARNING*
Each of the 7 members of The Jericho Squad have a different supernatural ability, this is the whole reason as to why they fight the supernatural. Because they, themselves are part of the supernatural. Captain Devin Ross is a physic healer, so is Father Paul Rawlings. Then there is Simone Cole who can slow down time (how this is considered "supernatural" I don't know, because she does it with her mini computer on her arm.), "Billie" Church is a blood mage, meaning she can cast a blood ward and a fire ward to keep enemies at bay. Frank Delgado, has no right arm. Instead, he has a protective cover, contained within is Ababinili. A parasitic flame spirit Frank sacrificed his arm for, in return for Ababinili's power. Abigail Black has psychokinetic powers. Last, but not least there is Xavier Jones, he is skilled in astral projection and empathy.
There is a somewhat complicated story to the game, and it is somehow not really detailed as to WHAT exactly is going on.
As a hardcore gamer, I enjoy somewhat difficult games. Difficult, some how does not describe Jericho. Is it good? Yes. But confusing? Um, YEAH.
Lets just say the first hour and a half, you're thinking "HOLY @#@$. This is cool." Then, when all of a sudden the "main character" (Jericho Squad Leader, Captain Devin Ross) DIES. Yes, he DIES. You basically die, an hour into the game. You go "wtf." Now what? You, Captain Ross, some how posess Sergeant Frank Delgado right after dying. That's right, you go into his body, and you basically control him now. I went "WOAH. Cool." With being able to control him, comes being able to control his special ability, Ababinili. A parasitic flame spirit that Frank is able to summon after offering his arm as a sacrifice. Now, this is all pretty cool. But then, when you have SIX other team members you can later control, by jumping from one to the other, it gets EXTREMELY annoying. In order NOT TO DIE constantly, you have to memorize the person's name, special power, and weapon. Otherwise, you'll basically die in combat, because each person has a different advantage when fighitng. Now, I don't like having to REMEMBER stuff in order to play a game. I mind as well get a quiz and a grade on it then! So if your memory is bad, this is really not a game for you...overall though, it is a good game with an interesting type of "in your face" movement I have never seen bad guys do before in a game. You are shooting them from far away, when all of a sudden they run up to you and you are fighting them up close.

Overall ratings?

Graphics - 10/10 (for the gory details when you're forced to be up close and personal)
Gameplay - 5/10 (the constant dying because you can't remember who is who and what power they have. The game is simply too complicated due to the fact your going back and forth choosing who you want to be between 6 people.)
Sound - 7.5/10 (good dialogue while fighting, bullet sounds, the bad guys screaming, no music as I recall however.)
Overall? - 7 or 8/10 (interesting background story, maybe a bit too complicated, but overall, the game is alright.)

Personally, it's not worth buying. I would rather borrow it from a friend. However, because I am a gaming freak, owning as many games as possible is a MUST for me. (Even if the games aren't 10/10's)

Be warned, my English isn't all that great. Also this review does not follow the format in this thread, so if a mod has to erase it because of that, thats ok by me.

Zack & Wiki



The Wii had an incredible first year. Wii has already surpassed 360 in sales, worldwide. Despite the fact that Nintendo has been struggling to meet demand. Sadly, Nintendo has also struggled with getting good games on store shelves. To make matters worse, Smash Bros was delayed. Not all hope is lost though, Wii still had 3 big games last holiday season; Mario Galaxy, Metroid Prime 3, and Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure. With Smash Bros out of the picture, it's more reason to buy Z&W. Sure Z&W probably won't be as good as Smash Bros, but it's still one hell of a game. I would say Z&W is like Myst, Zelda, Pirates of the Caribbean, with the difficulty of a Rubik's Cube from hell.

As far as story goes, it's similar to Pirates of the Caribbean. Jack & Will.... I mean, Zack and his flying monkey Wiki are the newest members of the pirate crew, The Sea Rabbits. While they're being shown the ropes, they're shot down by a rival group of scallywags, lead by the beautiful Captain Rose. Fortunately our dynamic duel make their escape, and are also lucky enough to stumble upon the skull of the cursed pirate Barbaros. Barbaros offers Zack a deal he can't refuse. Barbaros agrees to give Zack his ship, but in return Zack must find the missing bones of Barbaros. So Zack & Wiki set off on adventure, to search the globe for treasure and the bones of Barbaros.

It's not the most engaging story, but it does have the charm of a Saturday morning cartoon. Especially considering the graphics are cel-shaded, so the game does look like a cartoon. Which isn't a bad thing, the cel-shaded style still looks pretty snazzy and clean for the most part. Also the characters have a lot of personality and can be pretty funny. For example, when Zack gets really cold he chatters his teeth, like a cartoon character would. It's always cool to see little details like that, and it adds to the whole cartoony vibe. The music also fits in pretty well with the atmosphere. You probably won't go around humming music from Z&W, but it does its job. When the level calls for something spooky, you'll get music that will give you the heebie jeebies. But there is one problem, there isn't much voice acting going on. Zack and a few of the other characters will shout stuff out here and there, but you won't hear anyone actually talking. Some voice work would really put the presentation over the top.

Don't let the cutesy style throw you off. You're not any less of a man if you play this game. You're more of a man if you're able to beat this game, because it's hard as hell. The game is a point and click adventure, with some puzzles similar to the ones you would see in Zelda. Each level starts off with a treasure chest in plain sight. There will be plenty of puzzles you must solve first, before you can take the treasure and skedaddle. The levels are filled with tools that will help you reach your goal. The tools you use will have you flipping, twisting, dropping, and even throwing the Wiimote to solve puzzles. But if you're not careful or if you're stupid, you'll fall in to a booby trap, and get yourself killed. Not everything is obvious, some puzzles will have you stumped for a couple of minutes to an hour, depending on how smart you are. If you're an idiot like me you'll get stuck for an hour or 2. Don't let this frustrate you too much. Once you figure things out, it become a very rewarding experience.

At the end of each level you're scored on how well you did. So this gives you more incentive to go back and replay levels. You can replay to up your score, for fun, and to find even more treasure. There are even multiple ways to beat some levels. And to top it all off, the game last about 15 hours, so there is plenty of lasting appeal. Different theme stages will keep you interested the whole time. Some levels will put you in the middle of a ship battle. Other stages will have a stealth theme that will make Sam Fisher eat his heart out. The different themes will keep the game fresh for all 15 hours.

Z&W does have its problems though. The frame rate did drop a couple of times on me. More Voice acting would of been nice. The Wiimote didn't always work flawlessly, a few times I got a bit frustrated because of that. And the difficulty might turn people off. Besides from those small problems, the game is worth every Penny. It's only 40 or 30 dollars, and it's one of the best Wii titles available. Z&W is funny, challenging, and the puzzles are very satisfying. It's especially fun taking turns with a girlfriend or boyfriend(by the way, I'm looking for a girlfriend. So if you're interested we can play Zack & Wiki together. Send me a pm). If you're a Wii owner, go pick this one up.

Gameplay 9.5
Graphics 9.0
Sound 8.5
Presentation 9.0
Replay Value 8.0
overall 9.

~ deleted spam

GTA4 Review

The most anticipated game for this year is out, and you may be asking "Does it live up to the hype?" To put it simple, NO, it doesn't live anywhere close to what this game is given credit for, and now allow me to finish my review having said that.

Story: You play as Nico Belic, former army goer now come to America in search for things I wont say as to not ruin the story at all for people who will still think the story is good after what I said. That being said, this is the greatest GTA story by far, which is also like saying this is the best piece of crap I have ever eaten. While the main character this time is less generic, the people he interacts with are still the same I'm-in-the-mob or I'm-from-da-hood and don't stray to far from this, minus Mr.Creepy steriod addict who is more annoying then interesting. The story allows you to make desicions that can change the way things happen, but do not really make THAT big of a difference, no matter who you kill, it doesn't change anything drastically, or lead to truly anything different in the gameplay, all this being said, the story is not that good, but its not the reason your playing this game anyway, your playing for the

Gameplay: Has been improved, shooting mechanics are much better then previous versions, but still sort of slow and as always, could be much better. These ok controls wouldn't be so bad, if this game wasn't focused on shooting sh*t. But you only get to shoot sh*t after you have wasted time driving to your mission, because mission progression is A)Drive way to much to get somewhere B)shoot sh*t, and sometimes your lucky and instead you get C) deliever sh*t instead of B, and sometimes your even MORE special because A is all that you get, just a bunch of driving. Of course your still able to do task like waste in game money sleeping with hookers then getting it back, but it would actually just make more sense to sleep with a REAL hooker for the 60 bucks you used to buy this game, because then at least you wont be a virgin anymore playing in your moms basement. The driving mechanics are improved over previous versions, and I really have no complains with this, except that the game has me driving TO MUCH, if I wanted to play a game where I spend all my time in a car crashing into things, I would go play burn out, which looks alot like this game, because this game lacks in its

Presentation: I'm going to tell you right now if you are using a SDTV don't even bother buying this game because it will look like a PS2 game with better lighting, and unreadable text, get a cable for your monitor for a hd solution or something, but do NOT play this on a SDTV. With that out of the way, GTA 4 looks ok, not good, leaning towards bad, but its not the best looking game "EVAR!!!1!" or anywhere close. Actual character models are improved in this game a lot, but again that is saying its just a prettier looking PoS. The characters have static face's and do not express any emotions, and from a next gen standpoint are bad, REALLY bad. When going out on the town you will notice that tree's are cardboard cut outs, but I will forgive this because they aren't that bad looking of cardboard cut outs. The pop up issues have been mostly fixed although the game will still throw things out at you sometimes, and the animations for the characters are still pretty ugly. The euphoria physics engine (yeah I put it in the presentation part go screw yourself) is really noticed only sometimes when character's are hanging onto there cars for dear life in a desprate attempt to you not getting away with jacking there sh*t. This is one of the good things in the presentation, because draging people 20 feet is always fun, but in the end the engine is nothing special and there are much better engines out there (of course console goers most likley don't know that harharhar) Really this game deserves a horrible score, that is if it didn't have on saving grace witch is the

Multiplayer: The best part of the game, with many diffrent modes to choose from, ranging from cops and robbers (or crooks same sh*t) to blow-crap-up-in-a-city-with-your-friends-for-as-long-as-you-want-without-a-crapy-camera mode. There is plenty to do here in this mode, but the appeal can run out quick once you realize that it gets really repetitive after a while and the weapon selection isn't exactly impressive, also, just a note if you have xbox live, don't bother with a mic, but because it has no strategic value, it just results in 12 year olds calling you a "jew nig*er" for 10 minutes, which is not very appeasing. So in

Conclusion: This is a solid game...if you had ADD and like your games extremely shallow, so if your into those kinda things, more power to you, pick up this game, but if your like me and actually care about quality, don't buy into the hype.

Presentation 7/10
Gameplay 7/10
Story 6/10
Multiplayer 8/10

Overall 7/10, if you really MUST play this game, go out and rent it first so your not disappointed, its a average game among ton's of average games coming out right now that get SUPER high scores because reviews are paid to give them such, I on the other hand, am getting no money from Rock Star, and don't care who flames me or tells me I'm wrong, I will tell the game like it is, AVERAGE.