Reloaded Review: Left 4 Dead (Xbox 360)

Publisher: Valve Corporation
Developer: Certain Affinity
Player(s): Offline 1-2, Online 2-8/Co-op 2-4
Genre: Survival Horror, First-Person Shooter
Release Date: (NA) November 18, 2008 (EU) November 21, 2008
Platform(s): Xbox 360 (also on PC)
Rated: Mature

What couldn't be perfect about a game featuring not only zombies, but also the ability to fight off the hordes of infected with your best pals? Well Valve came pretty close to perfection but sadly didn't quite reach it.

Left 4 Dead's biggest appeal is in it's replayability and that is also what Valve was working on the most. Because of this, L4D doesn't really have a story, narration or cutscenes of any kind and as soon as you start a stage, you get thrown right into the middle of the action.

One of the most disappointing things in L4D was the lack of variety in the weapons. From the start you can use a shotgun, uzi, or a handgun but you can also find strongest versions of these weapons at random places in the levels but really, there is only six in total. Where is my flamethrower or rocket launcher? That would have been awesome.

There is also a very small variety in levels. 4 main stages, each with 5 sub-levels is all you are going to get and it only takes around 30-40 minutes to get through each one meaning the game is going to be over quickly and with a lack of DLC, that is extremely disappointing.

L4D is so full of gore and it couldn't be more glorious. Every time you take out an infected, gallons of blood and chunks cover the screen and since there is never a shortage of infected on-screen at one time just trust me, you'll be bathing in the blood shed. Also, since the graphics are actually really quite good, all of the destroyed flesh and brain matter are shown in great detail.

Aside from the zombies (which all seem to look the same after a while) you also have to face off against "special infected" like a big fat guy known as a "Boomer" that pukes his bile on you which attracts the infected and a steroid-abusing behemoth known as the "Tank" that puts the Incredible Hulk to shame and it will take all your teammates to successfully take him down on the harder difficulties.

Yes I said teammates. Most online games will allow you to go all "Rambo" and run off on your own but not this one. If you try to pull that hero nonsense, you will die. You will get overwhelmed by everything you could possibly imagine which makes teamwork imperative in this game.

Aside from the co-op, L4D also features a competitive multiplayer mode where one team acts as the survivors and tries to make it to the safe room at the end of the stage and the other team acts as the "special infected" which you think would be cooler then it really is. When you're any infected other then the Tank, the game just basically laughs in your face.

Left 4 Dead is one of those examples of a game where if you don't have friends to play with, only give it a rent. The single player campaign is over before you know it and since there are only 4 stages in the game, it will get old pretty fast, but if you have an Xbox Live account or internet access, definitely give the game a shot because it's some of the best co-operative gameplay you are going to find anywhere.

Pros:
- Very intense gameplay
- Every playthrough is different thanks to the A.I. Director
- Gritty graphics and environments
- Tons of replay value if played online
- One of the best co-op experiences on any console

Cons:
- Little replay value if playing alone
- Very small weapon selection
- Not a lot of stages

8/10

Reloaded Review: Super Smash Brothers Brawl (Wii)

Publisher: Nintendo
Developer(s): Sora, Game Arts
Player(s): Offline 1-4, Online 1-4
Genre: Fighting
Release Date: (NA) March 9, 2008 (EU) June 27, 2008 (JP) January 31, 2008
Platform(s): Wii
Rated: Teen

Super Smash Brothers: Brawl takes everything that made the first two entries in the series great and multiplies them several times over in one of gaming's most entertaining fighting games.

What exactly makes "Brawl" one of the best fighting games of any generation? Well name any other title in history where you can see Sonic the Hedgehog battle it out against Solid Snake from the Metal Gear series. You can't think of one can you?

The character selection has been vastly improved over the previous Smash Brothers game with old classics like Mario, Link, Samus, Pikachu and Kirby making comebacks but they also include newcomers like Sonic the Hedgehog, Wario, Solid Snake, Pit, Pokemon Trainer and Zero-Suit Samus and when you see her outfit, you'll see why the game has a T rating. With a roster like that, how could you possibly go wrong?

The amount of stages in the game is also so vast that it nearly shames the character roster. You have newly designed stages like a pirate ship from The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Shadow Moses Island from Metal Gear Solid, Angel Island from Sonic the Hedgehog as well as classics from the previous game. I can't even describe how awesome all of this really is but to top it all off, "SSBB" also features a level creator with plenty of options to create some pretty insane maps.

The gameplay modes from the previous games return such as Classic Mode where you fight through an arcade-style lineup of foes, All-Star Mode where you have to battle the entire game's roster with a single life, and even the mini game style modes like theHome run and Survival modes. But unlike the previous games, " SSBB" features a full-length story mode called The Subspace Emissary that is complete with bosses and CGI cutscenes. Is that not enough to convince you? Well the game also features online multiplayer for the first time. Yeah, I fainted the first time too you'll get used to it.

How the developers managed to fit so much incredible content onto a single disc is beyond me but I can easily say hands down that Super Smash Brothers Brawl is the must-own Wii game. Addicting gameplay whether it be single or multiplayer, an absolute ton of content and endless replay value make this one of this generation's great games in my opinion and if you call yourself a fan of Nintendo then this game better be on your shelf.

Pros:
- Loads of content
- Addicting gameplay
- Very large character roster
- Huge amount of stage and item variety
- Epic musical score showcasing every era in Nintendo's history
- Limitless replay value

Cons:
- Online play can be a bit laggy

10 / 10

Reloaded Review: Crackdown (Xbox 360)

Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios Developer: Realtime Worlds Player(s): Offline 1, Online 2 Genre(s): Third-Person Shooter, Sandbox Release Date: (NA) February 20, 2007 (EU) February 23, 2007 Platform(s): Xbox 360 Rated: Mature

Story:
Crackdown doesn't put all that much emphasis on story but there is one, hidden behind the explosive, chaotic exterior. Our story takes place in metropolis known as Pacific City where several districts have been separated from each other through islands. The city is controlled by three crime organizations known as the Los Muertos, the Volk, and the Shai-Gen.

Peacekeepers have been put in place to keep the city under control but their forces were overwhelmed by a sudden rise in crimes. This is where "the Agency" comes into affect. Using cybernetic technology and advanced surgical procedures, they succeeded in creating super-soldiers which you take the role of.

Presentation:
Crackdown is quite a looker in the graphics department. Instead of going with a typical cel-shading look or normal graphics, Crackdown has a comic book style appearance. All the models have heavy black outlines around them giving them a hand-drawn look.

The game also has a very good draw distance allowing you to see pretty much the entire game map when you're at the top of the agency tower in the middle of the city.

Explosions and fire look cartoony but realistic at the same time and the sheer amount of explosive chaos you can dish out with just one grenade is quite impressive. Chunks of vehicle, debris and people will go flying in all directions and it's surely a thing of beauty.

Gameplay:
This is where the game does it's job best without a doubt. Just think about this. You are a super-soldier with the ability to throw cars 100s of feet and jump the length of a football field and that is just with the basic stats. As you progress through the game, you will collect orbs which slowly heightens your abilities such as speed and jump distance, explosive power, strength, marksmanship and driving ability.

The entire map is also built in such a fashion that if you see it, you can climb it which makes it's gameplay very addicting. Similar to any other sandbox-style game is your ability to hijack any vehicle you see (or just blow it up) and you can also pick up the weapons of any enemies you take down and then if you return to a certain section of the map with said weapon in hand, it is added to your storage for use at any time.

Scattered across the map are green orbs that heighten your agility and "hidden orbs" that give you a bit of experience in every category. Another way to collect orbs is to find large pillars of either green or purple light. These indicate a race and if you complete it, you get more experience. As you can see, the game features some RPG elements but that only adds to it's addicting gameplay.

Killing civilians in the game will cause the Peacekeepers to come after you but let's face it, you're a freaking super-soldier, they don't stand a chance.

During the game, you will routinely come across gang leader hideouts where you need to storm in and take out said leader to advance the story. The game doesn't make much effort to tell you where these people are so you end up searching the city until you come across it. I also can't tolerate the driving controls in the game and hitting an enemy with a vehicle is almost impossible.

Online 2-player co-op is also available through Xbox Live and is really not much different from single player except now you have two super-soldiers running around. Not that that is necessarily a bad thing.

Sound:
The sound effects in the game are pretty straight forward. When you pick up a car and throw it at anything it tends to make a steel-bending sound that is really loud, people will scream and act like their lives are in danger, and explosions sound just like they should.

The voice acting is pretty minimal but still well done for the most part with the exception of a few of a the crime lords.

The music is..disappointing. It consists entirely of annoying electronica and hip hop-sounding music pretty much and I was really hoping for some variety.

Overall:
Crackdown does a good job of adding some variety and uniqueness to the sandbox style of games. It's fun but isn't without it's small flaws. There is just something utterly satisfying about jumping from rooftop to rooftop at the press of a button.

It may not have as much lasting appeal as other sandbox games like Grand Theft Auto 4, but it is still quite enjoyable.

Pros:
- Great superhero gameplay
- Being able to wreck havoc in co-op
- Polished and artistic graphics
- Still fun after the story is done

Cons:
- Not a lot of music variety
- Lackluster story
- Annoying vehicle controls

8/10

Reloaded Review: Grand Theft Auto 4 (Xbox 360)

Publisher: Rockstar Games
Developer: Rockstar North
Player(s): Offline 1, Online 2-16
Genre: Action, Sandbox
Release Date: April 29, 2008
Platform(s): Xbox 360 (also on PS3, PC)
Rated: Mature

Story:
As you would expect from Rockstar and the GTA series, the stories never seem to disappoint and Grand Theft Auto 4 is no exception. This time, we are introduced to a new protagonist named Niko Bellic.

Niko is a Russian war veteran from some undisclosed country in Europe who has come to the newly modeled Liberty City to live the "American Dream" with his cousin Roman.

As you can already tell however, this doesn't go over so well and suddenly, Niko and Roman are head over heels in trouble with virtually every single person in Liberty City. Nice welcome right?

Presentation:
Remember back on the age of the Playstation 2 where the Grand Theft Auto series was actually a very ugly game? Low-res models and what not? Well no more! GTA4 is one of the best looking games on any of the consoles today.

Every human character is modeled in a very realistic manner, all vehicles are shiny, polished, realistic and when you smash into something, the vehicle gets damaged realistically. Weather effects like fog, rain and wind not only change the look of the city quite drastically but also affect the gameplay.

Rockstar not only did an amazing job at re-modeling New York City but also at bringing the city to live. Civilians will react independantly with each other and you can spend countless hours just exploring the hustle and bustle of the city streets, watching what everyone does.

Another thing that has been improved upon since the last generation GTA games is that this game makes brilliant use of the Euphoria physics engine resulting in all the characters reacting realistically to bullets, contact with Niko or contact with the front end of a truck because that is always a good time.

Gameplay:
Most people who have played any of the GTA series will know exactly what to expect when coming into GTA4.

The story progresses through missions, each blended together by brilliantly created cutscenes. You can steal any vehicle you see and proceed to cause immense mayhem with said steel death machine which results in the police high-tailing it after you. As usual, the game's wanted system is a 6 star meter but this time tanks have been removed from the game, I guess for a more realistic look.

Another new addition to the series is the ability to use and customize a cellphone that you are given near the beginning of the game. This cellphone basically acts as your HUB allowing you to choose options like contacts, multiplayer, cheats and what not. It's a very simple system that keeps you immersed in the game without having to fumble through menus.

You can also enter internet cafes and explore the web, downloading ringtones and wallpapers for your cell as well as finding dates and recieveing emails. It's little things like this that players will barely notice that really sets this game above all other sandbox titles.

Mini games, bars, comedy clubs and even televisions in your safe houses with full length channels (i'm not kidding) can be viewed at any time and can be very effective when you are trying to make a friend like you in the game's new relationship system.

There is so much more to GTA then I can really explain but I will say that it has small flaws. Sometimes I have found myself dying just because I fell over on my bike while not moving. That makes no sense to me. There are also glitches that just seem to happen at random like suddenly falling through the ground and appearing beneath Liberty City. They aren't a big deal though because they rarely happen.

How can I forget GTA4's biggest feature? This game now features multiplayer playlists ranging from normal deathmatches to co-op missions and ever an online free mode where you and a whole group of people just wreck havoc in the city at your leisure.

The playlists are so varied that they even give other games like Halo 3 and Call of Duty 4 a run for their money. I would go as far as to say that the entertaining multiplayer would be enough reason to buy this game.

Sound:
I think if any game has perfected voice acting, it would have to be GTA4. Each character is brilliantly and flawlessly voiced with the small exceptions of non-important characters but regardless, the fantastic voice talent makes this more then a game. It's basically like an interactive film.

The music (as always) is great and full of variety ranging from rock to hip hop to pop music and even to talk radio. The music selection is also fairly large so there is bound to be something for everybody.

Every vehicle, weapon and everything else for that matter sounds exactly like it would in reality and if you're playing this with a surround sound system, I promise you will sometimes forget if you are in your home, or roaming around a large city yourself, it's just that immersive.

Overall:
Rockstar really set the bar high with this one and I'm hardpressed to see any other company outdo Rockstar in this category of gaming.

Only one game will probably ever reach the level of quality that GTA4 sports and it will most likely be Grand Theft Auto 5. There is a ton to see and do in Liberty City and trust me, you'll enjoy your stay.

Pros:
- Incredibly realistic setting
- Engaging story and characters
- Some of the best multiplayer out there
- Fantastic graphics in every aspect
- Tons of replayability

Cons:
- Not as much to see or do as GTA: San Andreas
- Occasional glitches and unexplained deaths

10/10

Reloaded Review: Dissidia: Final Fantasy (PSP)

Publisher: Square-Enix
Developer: Square-Enix
Player:(s) 1 Offline, 1-2 Ad-Hoc
Genre: Fighting, Role-playing
Release Date: (NA) August 25, 2009 (EU) September 4, 2009 (JP) December 18, 2008
Platform:(s) PSP
Rated: Teen

Dissidia: Final Fantasy is a game that differs from what your typical Final Fantasy experience would always be, but is that nessessarily a bad thing?

Story:
Dissidia's story centers around an eternal conflict that has been raging on between the god of harmony; Cosmos, and the god of discord; Chaos. Warriors have been summoned since the beginning of time to fight for each side but now the tides have turned in favor of Chaos.

The 10 warriors chosen by Cosmos to battle in the name of harmony must now bring the war to an end by destroying Chaos and his minions of evil.

Presentation:
Dissidia is easily one of the best looking PSP games out there without a doubt. The cutscenes are gorgeous whether it be the CGI scenes or the in-game ones, they all ooze with graphical goodness.

Each fighter is modeled in such a way that they look like they are taken directly from PS2 games which is very, very impressive for a handheld and the arenas in which you do battle are easy on the eyes as well.
Another thing to mention during battles is that the sheer amount of flashy effects that are going on at one time doesn't cause the game to lag at all from what I've seen.

Gameplay:
Dissidia truly shines in the gameplay department. Unlike other games in the series, Dissidia's combat occurs in real time making the action and the battles far more exciting and fast paced.

It features five different game modes including a story mode, arcade mode, quick battle mode, duel colosseum and a communications mode for multiplayer. Arcade Mode and Quick Battle are basically self-explanitory but with Duel Colosseum, you face off against a never-ending wave of opponents collecting items, gold and experience points to use on your desired character. The difficulty in Duel Colosseum is completely your choice which means you're never short of a challenge.

Story Mode can be played in any order you wish using any of the 10 fighters the game offers you. Each story took me around 40-60 minutes to complete so they aren't very long but consider that there are 10 stories plus sub-stories as well. The character roster also stands out as you choose from 20 different fighters (10 in story mode) ranging from the Warrior of Light and Garland from Final Fantasy 1 all the way up to Tidus and Jecht from Final Fantasy X.

Every character in the game can be leveled up and powered up with items that give you attack and defense bonuses. Each fighter also has their own unique attacks and you learn more as you level up, except for Bartz who just copies everyone else's cause I guess Square-Enix didn't like him much.

Story mode is told through a mix of battles, cutscenes and map navigation that plays similar to a chessboard in a way. Each battle has varying difficulty but every single one of them is always enjoyable thanks to the game's simple control system which allows you to pull off attacks and create duels similar to those seen in the Final Fantasy: Advent Children movie.

With each victory, you recieve points that can used in a Museum to purchase icons from past games in the franchise, alternate costumes, music, gameplay bonuses and other nostalgic material that gives the game an unbelieveable amount of replay value.

My only real complaint about the gameplay is that there is no online multiplayer. Are you serious Square? Dissidia had the potential to be one of the best online experiences on the PSP but they had to ruin it by excluding this feature.

Sound:
I'll start by saying that the voice acting in the game is great. Every character is fully voiced and even has characters such as Cloud, Sephiroth and Tidus being portrayed by the same voice actors used in the Advent Children movie and in Final Fantasy X but don't worry, Tidus' voice isn't as bad this time around. The script however, is very cheesy most of the time but it's nothing too serious.

About 95% of the music in this game is redone versions of music from all 10 major entries in the series including some of the most well known scores. It all sounds great and only adds to the game's enormous nostalgic appeal.

Overall:
Dissidia: Final Fantasy is a game that will appeal to RPG fans and Final Fantasy fans. People looking for a fighting game as in-depth as say Soul Calibur or Tekken will be greatly disappointed.

It has countless hours of replayability, simple controls that result in epic battles, and a nostalgia factor only rivaled by Super Smash Brothers Brawl on the Nintendo Wii.

Definitely buy this game if you haven't already because it's more then worth the price.

Pros:
- Some of the best graphics on the PSP
- Simple controls but in-depth gameplay
- Countless hours of replayability
- Unprecidented nostalgia factor

Cons:
- No online multiplayer
- The occasional wonky camera
- Story doesn't last very long

9/10

Reloaded Review: Geometry Wars Retro Evolved (Xbox Live Arcade)

Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Developer: Bizarre Creations
Genre: Mult-Directional Shooter
Release Date: June 18, 2007
Platform(s): Xbox Live Arcade (also on PC)
Cost: 400 Microsoft Points

Story:
There is none. You blow stuff up, enough said.

Presentation:
'GW:RE' comes in two forms when you download it. It comes in both a retro version that was included with Project Gotham Racing 2 back in on the original Xbox. It's a very arcadey-looking game with graphics that aren't much better then those of a regular arcade machine or the NES.

The 'Evolved' version of the game is the version that is the definite must play. The graphics are upgraded with flashy colors, background-distorting explosions and energy beams, and tons of particles erupting from countless enemies. It has very seizure-inducing visuals but on a high-def TV it looks fantastic.

Everything on screen is basically wireframe and have little to no detail. It's simple but effective even though sometimes it gets hard to concentrate.

Gameplay:
In both versions of the game you take control of a ship as you fly around the arena and blow up your foes. You use the left thumbstick to move and the right thumbstick to fire in all directions.

After you have collected a high enough score, you are awarded with an extra life and a particle nuke that decimates everything on screen which comes in handy when you're being surrounded.

The game starts off very easy but as your score grows, so does the amount of enemies on-screen until you don't even have time to think and if you're reflexes are anything short of amazing, you will die.

Sound:
Not much to be said about the sound effects and music. The musical piece is a single piece that just keeps looping which gets a bit droning and the sound effects are delightfully retro and sound a lot like the old school arcade games.

When you set off a particle nuke, the music cuts out and distorts which is also a really awesome effect.

Overall:
While Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved has nothing to offer in the story department, it has truly addicting arcade gameplay with flashy effects and a very high difficulty level. At 400 points, it's really quite a steal and well worth it.

Pros:
- Addicting gameplay
- Simple yet dazzling visuals

Cons:
- No story whatsoever
- No variety in game modes

8/10

Reloaded Review: Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)

Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo EAD Tokyo
Player(s): Single 1, Co-op 2
Genre: Platform
Release Date: (NA) November 12, 2007 (JP) November 1, 2007 (CA) November 14, 2007 (EU) November 16, 2007
Platform(s): Nintendo Wii
Rated: Everyone

Story:
Do I really need to explain this one? What has the plot been for a Mario game ever since the very first game? Bowser decides to rip Princess Peach's castle right from it's foundation and carry it off into space where he plans to use the power of the Grand Stars to create his own universe with his own newly created sun at the center of it all with Peach by his side.

As Mario, you must travel into space collecting these Grand Stars to power up an observatory you are traveling on and make your way to Bowser.

Does it really get more epic then that? Bowser is seriously never going to learn.

Presentation:
I'll start by saying that if Super Mario Galaxy is not the Wii's best looking title then it's a close 2nd. It's graphical polish and colorful visuals even match wits with some of the games on the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. Now that is saying something.

Each planet and galaxy you explore is unique with it's own distinctive look and feel which keeps all of the visuals and environments from getting old.

Most of the enemies you will see in the game are new with the exception of a few like Goombas and that annoying wizard..thing which are a Mario staples, they honestly have to be there for it to be Mario.

Boss battles are nothing short of spectacular. They may not be enormous creatures like you'd see in games like Resistance or Shadow of theColossus, they are epic in their own right.

Gameplay:
Super Mario Galaxy plays out the same way all of the other Mario games have. You enter a stage (which are now signified by galaxies) and finish whatever objective it tells you to do and then you get a star. Typical Mario game but that is exactly what fans wanted. Once you have collected enough stars, the galaxy's boss will be available and defeating it will grant you a Grand Star.

Throughout the game you will also collect tiny colored objects known as "Star Bits" by running your cursor over them or touching them. These bits are used to feed hungry stars you find throughout the game and once you've given them the amount of bits they required, they fly into the sky and explode, transforming into a stage which you can play, beat and collect your star. The bits can also be fired at enemies to stun them allowing Mario to boot them to death.

The biggest difference in Mario Galaxy is the new gravity mechanic. You can now run in basically a complete 360 around any object you happen to be standing on unless there is a black hole nearby waiting to suck Mario inside it.

The controls are fantastic until you go upside-down and then they suddenly become reversed on you which can be really frustrating if you're trying desperately not to fall.

Mario's abilities make comebacks such as the fireflower which is used to burn enemies or ignite torches and the star that makes Mario not only invincible but also turns him to the "Flash" causing him to speed up immensely. New abilities also make appearances such as a spring item that turns Mario into a human slinky and an ice flower that freezes the water below your feet and also turns enemies into ice blocks. Not only that, but you can also find mushrooms that turn Mario into a bumblebee and a Boo (the series' trademark ghost).

The biggest problem in the game is the utterly pointless multiplayer function. If you happen to have two Wii-remotes, the 2nd player can collect star bits and shoot them. Sounds fun right? I have no idea what Nintendo was thinking when they put this in there.

Sound:
Music is another one of this game's best features. You get all the ambient and peaceful music you'd expect from a Mario game but then during the battles with Bowser, you get full-on orchestral pieces with a chorus and everything. It's some of the most epic music I've ever heard and when you have that blasting your ears while duking it out with one of gaming's most notoriousvillains, you know you're in for an experience.

As you would come to expect, Super Mario Galaxy has no voice acting with very few exceptions. 95% of the dialogue is said through text and yes, not even Bowser has a voice and after the annoying assault on the ears we faced with his voice in Super Mario Sunshine, I applaud Nintendo for making the change.

Overall:
It's a Mario game. Need I say more? If you own a Nintendo Wii then you probably already either own this game or have played it through completely.

It's the same amount of immensely high quality you come to expect from a Nintendo game featuring their mascot and it's undeniably one of the funnest and most entertaining gaming experiences out there. Own a Wii? You better own this.

Pros:
- One of the Wii's best looking games
- Incredibly fun gameplay and stages
- Fantastic musical score
- Loads of variety in the level design

Cons:
- Controls can be frustrating at times
- Worthless co-op mode

10/10