Video Top 10: Femme Fatales

GAYmer Guide is excited to bring you our first video top 10. Today's video: Femme Fatales. The baddest chicks from video games that constantly show us how to kick butt and look fierce. Enjoy, gaymers:

To view the youtube page, follow the link bellow:

GAYmer Guide Top 10: Femme Fatales Youtube Video

Dragon Age: Origins

BioWare returns with Dragon
Age: Origins. Arguably the
best game yet from this RPG
tycoon.

Synopsis:

     Dragon Age: Origins takes place in Ferelden, a mythical kingdom populated by three major races: the seedy Elves, reclusive Dwarves and arrogant Humans. Playing as the last of the Grey Wardens, protectors sworn to guard the land from the evil Darkspawn, players must rally together a rag-tag team of heroes to stop the progression of the ArchDemon amid a civil war.

     BioWare and EA Games team up to bring gamers what could easily become the new standard against which all RPG's will be judged. Featuring  engaging characters, an easy-to-learn combat system and oodles of downloadable content, DAO is nothing more than sheer gaming bliss.

Appearance:

When slashing and hacking just don't
cut it, players can try their luck with
a spell or ability.

     DAO boasts little if any CGI cinematics, but its regular in-game graphics and cut-scenes are more than enough to entice fans to keep playing. While traversing through ice capped mountains, characters' breath will show as they speak. While standing atop a breezy cliff, clothes ruffle in the wind -- small, hardly noticeable things that might seem normal to anyone unfamiliar with virtual worlds but are very much appreciated by those who understand just how much work goes into bringing effects like those to life.

     Starting with a character creator that rivals The Sims, players are able to choose every last detail for their hero, from eye and nose placement, to facial tattoo design. Top it all off with a vast array of armor as detailed as the next and it's easy to see why BioWare is the reigning champion of RPG construction. 

During one of the first battles, players
test their might against the strength
of an ogre.

Game Play:

     Players begin the game by choosing an origin story, essentially this acts as a background for each character as well as a prologue for events in the game. While playing through the origin story, characters, locations, and lore might be introduced that will somehow find their way into the latter portions of the game, effectively changing the experience for each player while keeping all other aspects of the game the same.

    DAO introduces a combat system as easy to understand as its dialog screen. While most attacks occur instantly, higher level spells that take some casting time will automatically pause the battle while players choose the prime location to unleash their mage's fury. After selecting the best spot, the battle resumes. While charging, any damage taken by the caster will interrupt the spell's casting meter, taking longer for the spell to be ready. Once the meter is full it's time to stand back and bring on the ooh's and ah's as a tornado of fire burns nearby enemies to ash.

     Being an RPG, characters will earn experience and level up, during which they will have the ability to learn new spells and talents. Some talents such as 'lock picking' or 'herbalism' are only available for use while exploring, while other talents such as 'smash' or 'aimed shot' will only be available during combat.

Players might find themselves focusing
more on the detailed background
than the battle at hand

     Possibly the most enthralling part of DAO is the characters that are introduced throughout the game. At times conversations with other characters in the game become so real, players might find themselves shocked to still be looking at the TV screen and not somehow sucked into the virtual world. Teammates following your hero will be influenced by his actions. Some of the more moral members of the party might cringe at the bullying of a street orphan, while the other, more darker members might encourage the player to go further with it. Each action will earn respect with your teammates or further their disgust for you. Certain teammates who adore you might even be coerced into showing just how far that adoration goes, culminating in some virtual hanky-panky. 

Don't change a thing: 

     BioWare's ingenious idea of releasing an expansive game with even more expansive downloadable content for sale is a win-win worth every penny and megabyte. New armor, quests and even a new party member are all available via X-box live or through purchasing the expansions online. This adds to an already humongous game and provides hours of extra gameplay.

Gamers control a horde of darkspawn
in the downloadable content
Darkspawn Chronicles

     Its always such a drag when games boast an intuitive dialog screen or endless possibilities and don't deliver. DAO delivers. Players who aren't careful and opt to kill everything in site might accidentally slay someone who later turns out to be the party healer, and wont feel the repercussions of their mistakes until farther down the road.

Should have Spent More Time on:

     The only thing BioWare should have spent more time on is giving us more loot, levels and side quests. While the armor, weapons, quests, and zones are as plentiful as they are amazing, they leave players starving for more. Those feeling the Origins hunger pains need not wait long. Between all the downloadable content, the expansion DAO Awakening already on the shelves and the sequel Dragon Age 2 set for release during the first half of next year, its obvious BioWare anticipated the mass success of the Dragon Age franchise and has responded accordingly.

Just how Homo:

No online membership required to
fully enjoy all DAO has to offer

     With the ability to create just about any character imaginable, players can duke it out with the forces of the ArchDemon as their ultimate incarnation of a sexy lead hero. Those who opt to make their character too hot might spend more time in the character viewing screen than in actual gameplay. 

     In addition, BioWare has chosen to add a savory Elf to the game who eventually joins the team. With his tan skin, blonde hair, and Antonio Banderas accent, Zevran quickly becomes a teammate gaymers want to get to know better. With enough influence and the right amount of moxie, players can steer the conversation in the right direction eventually convincing the swarthy Elf to a tussle in the sheets. While BioWare chose to show none of the "good stuff", the few images of the two male heroes mixed with the voiceover work is enough to make any gaymer want to shut the door and be alone for a little while.

Buy it or Rent it:
     Buy it. DAO is the kind of game that's never far from a player's console. After beating the game, which is quite a feat in itself, there's still massive amount of post-game downloadable content to work your way through. There might be times where gamers feel the need to take a break from the world of Ferelden but it wont be long before they're back in full swing, hacking at darkspawn and terrorizing (or saving) villagers. In short, buy this game. It may be the best purchase your nerdy little wallet ever makes.

September 21, 2010

Hey to all you gaymers and gaymettes. A sincere apology for the lack of review today but as the good book tells us even the big guy upstairs had to take a day off every once in a while. GAYmer Guide will be back in full swing tomorrow, bringing you the truest and honest guides for all of you who live proud and game hard! 

As it stands, the next couple reviews are to include Dragon Age Origins, StarCraft 2, and GAYmer Guide's first ever video 'top 10' list. 

Make sure to check back every day to get the latest updates. Thanks a million for your support and fandom!

Keep it real, GAYmers,

GAYmer Guide.

Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2

Ultimate Alliance is back and
while some grievances remain
it far surpasses its predecessor

Synopsis:

     Enlisted by S.H.E.I.L.D. commander Nick Fury, four of Marvel's most popular heroes are sent to Latveria, former ruling place of Dr. Doom now governed by prime minister Lucia Von Bardas, to investigate Fury's suspicion that Von Bardas has been funding super villains and sending them to the US. After learning that Fury's hunch was right the heroes destroy Von Bardas's castle, destroying her research and seemingly crushing the corrupt prime minister in the rubble. All's quiet until a year later when Von Bardas returns to take revenge on America for what was done to her, her vendetta is quickly foiled but not before she does a sizable chunk of damage to New York. Learning that the Latverian strike force was not sanctioned by the US government, talks begin in the senate about limiting superbeings ability to run amuck by forcing all American superhumans to register with good old Uncle Sam. The final straw takes place when a scuffle escalates in a Connecticut neighborhood, killing over 600 innocent residents and forcing congress to pass the Superhuman Registration Act. With the act in place, heroes are given two options: register with the US government, or be considered a criminal. 

     Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 is Activision's second crack at a decent superhero game, featuring up to 28 playable characters, surpassing both its predecessor and any competition to have been mustered from the DC universe. While technically UA2 is a sequel, players wont have the play the first game to understand what's going on. If anything, playing the first game, which ended with Galactus setting his sites on earth, will only confuse players as to why the heroes are fighting each other rather than repelling Galactus, who doesn't make an appearance throughout the entire sequel. 

     Based loosely off the Marvel Civil War storyline, UA2 will have players eventually choosing which side they wish to join: Iron Man's fight to force all superhumans to register, or Captain America's rebellion to protect the rights of super powered beings. Packed with cameo's, comic book references, and uber-corny Spiderman jokes, UA2 is a game any fan of Marvel will want to get their hands on.

Developers definitely took their time
with graphics, which is sure to make
players and fans alike very  happy.

Appearance:

     Like most console games, UA2's graphics are directly related to the television its being played on. HDTV owners will have nothing bad to say about the in-game graphics, while those playing on a tube-style television might beg to differ. Still, players will appreciate the time and detail spent on superheroes and their costumes. While experiencing the close-up dialogs players will take a few seconds to admire their character's detail before responding to a question. Like its predecessor, players will be able to unlock alternate costumes for their characters, only this time around its only one alternate per hero. Still, as the old saying goes, its better to have two highly detailed costumes than five sloppy ones.

Captain America's forces preparing
for what turns out to be a trap

     Despite the game's detail, the storyline rather conveniently hides some of the shortcuts taken by developers. Both factions have identical looking robots and soldiers, only with different color schemes. This is glossed over quickly by the mention that many S.H.E.I.L.D. units have defected over to Captain America's side, calling themselves the White Star in honor of Cap's shield. While it is likely that the turncoat troops would keep most of their original armor and weapons, its still noticeable if not confusing when fighting a room full of soldiers that look exactly the same as the ones fighting alongside the heroes.

     UA2 features only a handful of cinematics, none of which as impressive as the in-game graphics. Aside from wondering why Tony Stark's hands are as big as his head, players will also wonder why Vicarious Visions didn't just opt to have the whole game done with the in-game graphics engine, rather than waste time on the phony and sloppy looking cinematics. 

     New to UA2 are the mission briefing cut-scenes, short three to four minute scenes getting players up to speed on their next destination and new mission objectives. Narrated by different heroes from each respective faction, the mission briefings begin to be seen as a reward for completing a mission more than anything else. Players will find themselves looking forward to the next briefing cut-scene all because of how well they've been made. 

Game Play:

Characters such as the Green Goblin
and Venom aren't available right
away, but rather become unlocked
as the story continues

     Like its prequel, UA2 is an action-adventure RPG featuring a mostly top down view and the ability to have up to four cooperative players at the same time. Those heroes not being controlled by a player will fight along side the others, attempting to lend their talents to help take down bad guys but ultimately not doing a very good job of it. Computer-controlled heroes make a better human shield than a human wrecking ball. 

     Being an RPG, players will be able to level up their heroes through experience gained from defeating foes. Once leveled up, a hero will regain full health and energy and will receive a talent point to either spend on new abilities, or increase the strength of existing ones. Players will also receive credits as they traverse through the game which can be spent on upgrading heroes' passive abilities. Each hero starts out with two passive abilities, while two more become unlocked after choosing which faction to join. Each faction unlocks two different abilities, encouraging players to play through the game again to increase the full potential of their characters.

     Deciding to throw out the ability to equip items all-together, developers have added a new award system. After defeating bosses or completing required achievements, players will have the ability to pick up award bonuses. Only three bonuses can be in use at a time, while the others can be sold for more credits. Award bonuses range from added frost resistance to high critical hit percentage. After completing the game the first time, players have the ability to traverse back through on high levels of difficulty to obtain new rewards and further level up their heroes. 

Thor and Human Torch seen combining
their powers to better take out foes.
At first, its cool but after seeing it 50
times, gamers might lose interest.

     While many changes have been made to this newer version of UA, developers left untweaked the one thing that needed the most revamping: gameplay. Once a player finds a hero ability they like, almost all of UA2 can then be completed by pressing the same two buttons. Although shielded foes must be made vulnerable before they can take any damage, its a simple matter of mashing the "X" or "square" button then zapping them with your favorite super power to take them down. One of the biggest boasts the Activision made while developing UA2 was the ability to combine two heroes' powers into one gigantic attack. At first, this can be somewhat enjoyable, but after seeing the same power over and over, it loses its appeal. By the end of the game power combinations have about the same appeal as the "bomb" ability on space invaders: it can't be used all the time and it pretty much destroys anyone on screen.

Don't Change a Thing:

     Developers of UA2 have created a game admirers of any Marvel series are bound to love. With the ability to parade around as a superhuman bulldozer, fans are going to find that this game is a dream come true. As an added bonus for fans, developers have included a cameo of the master of comics himself. Stan Lee appears as a senator in need of assistance during a terrorist assault on DC. After rescuing him, players are treated to a small conversation with Lee. Seeing a digitalized Stan Lee's face and hearing his voice is more than enough to make any comic-geek smile if not wet himself on the spot. those who aren't fans of Marvel will still appreciate the well-made mission briefings and detail to character design. Both add to the game and allow players to forgive some of the shortcuts taken during development. 

Should Have Spent More Time On:

     While it would have required revamping the game, and possibly the game engine, entirely, Activision could have put an end to the button mashing and brought players a game that requires thought and finesse. Also, developers would have done well to throw out their attempted cinematics entirely and narrate the entire game through dialog and cut-scenes. While they are vital to the story line, the graphics in UA2's cinematics are laughable, and a staunch opposite to both the detailed movies of its predecessor and the detailed graphics during gameplay.

Just how Homo:

Developers must have thought it
necessary to include a bulge in
Juggernaut's uniform. We're not
complaining.

     With the option of choosing some of Marvel's hunkiest heroes, gaymers might be able to live out some of their more G-rated superhero fantasies. Activision has done a smashing job of making sure the three dimensional characters in the game resemble their 2-D comic book selves, bulging muscles and all. 

Own it or Rent it:

     Rent it. While it is most certainly a must-play for any fan of Marvel, UA2's monotonous gameplay also makes it the kind of game most players will beat and never touch again. Activision's ingenious idea of having players choose sides doesn't hold up when players play through a second time only to realize the both factions' missions involve the same exact levels, only with different objectives. While most gamers will anxiously await the arrival of a third UA, this installment is ultimately not worth the money.

X-Men: The End. Book One, Dreamers & Demons

X-Men the End. Dreamers
and Demons is the first in
a must-read series depicting
the end of our gifted heroes

Synopsis:

     Its been roughly 10 years and things have stayed relatively calm for the X-Men. With Mr. Sinister disappearing from sight, no sign of Apocalypse, and only the hateful ramblings of the Purity League to deal with, our favorite band of mutants have finally gotten time to get hang up the spandex and lead normal(ish) lives. That fragile peace ends with the re-manifestation of the Phoenix, and plans that have long been in place are set in motion, all of them with the potential to vanquish the children of the atom once and for all.

     With stories as convoluted as soap operas and villains that flare up more than cold sores, X-Men: The End provides a much-needed finale for our seemingly immortal heroes. Dreamers & Demons is the first book of the three book series, focusing primarily on Aliyah Bishop, daughter of part-time X-Men Lucas Bishop and full-time alien renegade Deathbird. Featuring an artist/author team as dynamic as the X-Men themselves, Chris Claremont and Sean Chen bring their talent and skill to our mutant cohorts as writer and artist respectively.

     As with most stories that leap 10 years into an unexplained future, readers might find themselves wondering what happened. Its best to just power through and continue reading, most questions should be answered as the book goes on. Reading a book titled The End, X-fans should be prepared to see their favorite outcasts take a beating. Dreamers & Demons is only the first book in the series so the hero bloodshed is minimal, but still present. Ultimately, the book ends with a pretty massive cliff hanger, leaving fans rushing to the book store to buy the second installment.

Appearance:

Jean Grey's new phoenix
costume pays tribute to
her original, while still
showcasing her change

     Sean Chen lends his talented pen to Marvel once again to bring The End to life. Having spent years doing artwork for popular titles such as Iron Man, Electra, and Wolverine, Chen is no stranger to the world of Stan Lee's superheroes. Fans will appreciate the believable decade of aging the X-Men and their uniforms have gone through: Gambit now has crows feet, Cyclops has smile lines, and Cable is seen sporting a bit of a salt and pepper beard. While still in tip-top shape, all of our caped crusaders now dress their age.  Emma Frost, notorious for showing more cleavage than a professional cheerleader, no longer parades around in her caped stripper's outfit, and even the iconic Phoenix costume has be re imagined to suit an older and more radical Jean Grey. Any fan of Chen's artwork will revel in Marvel's decision to include a brief couple of pages of concept art depicting his early ideas for some of the stories more prominent characters.

Don't Change a Thing:

     Dreamers and Demons lays the ground work for the must-have collection of X-Men graphic novels to come out in a decade. Special attention should be played to just how well our heroes have evolved to what they are seen as now. Relationships statuses have been effected by the ten year leap forward, including several of the super-powered couples now having children with just as much attitude as mommy and daddy.

Alternate cover for the
first book of the series

     First published in 2005, Dreamers might be misconstrued as an out-dated end to the X-men. This could deter some readers from ever picking up the book, but it should be viewed as any other X-men offshoot series: this is merely a possible ending to it all, and not the bona fide "el fin". Besides, with Marvel's history of killing off and reviving characters, its still highly likely that this is how the X-men will finally bid us Bon Voyage.

Should have spent more time on:

     While the story is narrated perfectly, switching between a faceless narrator and throwbacks to the Destiny Diaries, readers might still find themselves confused as to team allegiances and motives. This could have been solved with a brief prologue page or miniature prelude comic book. Even hard-core X-geeks will have trouble knowing exactly why things are occurring the way they are. It should be noted that this doesn't take away from the enjoyment of the book. Dreamers still provides a great deal of entertainment to readers, from novice fans to die-hard comic book collectors.

Just how Homo:

Openly gay superhero
Northstar carrying
Cyclops to safety is a
scene fan-boys have only
ever dreamed of.

     Its hard to find a gay nerd who isn't a fan of X-Men in some respect. The very idea of receiving persecution for the way they were born appeals to most gay readers, and is a story almost all can relate to. Dreamers is no different, only this time readers have some middle-aged eye candy to look at. While sporting some more facial lines, the aged X-Men are a reminder of just how sexy middle aged men can be, animated or not. Throw in an appearance by Marvel's own gay superhero Northstar and you've got a comic book that could double as a literary Pride parade.

Own it or Rent it:

     Rent it. While it might provide a nice reference when reading the other two chapters, it's not imperative to own Dreamers to enjoy the rest of the series. Although its artwork and concept art are enjoyable to look at, most readers will get their fill the first time around.

Transformers: War for Cybertron

Transformers: War for Cybertron
what fans have been waiting for
but might not be enough to
grab younger gamers.

Synopsis:

     After learning how control the fabled energy source known as dark energon to corrupt the machines of Cybertron, all-around baddie Megatron decides its time to begin his crusade of crushing the Autobots and conquering the robot world in the name of the Decepticons. With the aid of the loyal Soundwave, Megatron first leads a battalion of soldiers to a maximum security science station in low orbit. After being confronted by the decorated Autobot Sky Commander Starscream and besting him, Megatron recruits the skilled warrior and his followers to the side of the Decepticons. With their new found strength, the Decepticons steamroll straight into the heart of Iacon, the capitol city of the Autobots. Its there that Megatron defeats Zeta Prime, the Autobot leader and learns the secret obtaining the key to Cybertron's core in order to corrupt the whole planet with dark energon. With the death of Zeta Prime, the Autobots turn their hope to Optimus, a promising warrior and skilled leader, who rallies the demoralized forces and assumes temporary command until the Autobot Council decides who will be the next Prime.

     Over 25 years after Transformers The Animated Series was first broadcast over the airwaves, Hasbro and Activision have teamed up to give now grown-up fans an chance to relive what happened before our favorite robots in disguise crash-landed on earth. Featuring two campaigns, players will be able to play through the ransacking of Cybertron as the Decepticons, then make an about-face as they command the Autobots in their desperate fight to save their planet. With such never-before-seen moments as Starscream's conversion into a Decepticon and Optimus receiving the mantle of Prime, War For Cybertron will have most fans geeking out just based on storyline alone. The nostalgia experienced by fans playing the game is enough to forgive the fact that Activision took every shortcut possible, and any success generated from the game will be due to the fact that they are riding some Cybertronian coattails.

Appearance:

Artist sketching of Megatron. Even
the concept art is dark and shadowy.

     Developers of WFC worked closely with Hasbro to create entirely new looks for the Transformers that would pay homage to their traditional appearances while still showing that their vehicle modes were not yet influenced by Earth. For the Autobots this works out perfectly, Optimus becomes a bad-ass cybertronian truck, while BumbleBee transforms into what could very well be a slug-bug from the 22nd century. However, for our dastardly Decepticons, it gets a little sloppy if not all-together lazy. Starscream and his brigade transform between cybertronian jets capable of space flight and similar versions of their cartoon selves, albeit a great deal stockier. While despite having robot modes that mirror their originals, Megatron and Soundwave's alternate forms are a tank and a truck, respectively. Fans of the cartoon series will remember Megatron's ability to transform into a handgun, while Soundwave could assume the shape of a cassette player. There are obvious reasons for the switch in vehicle mode, the strongest of which being the need for balanced play in multiplayer maps, but balance still could have been achieved without a "copy and paste" feel to both teams' transformations. It becomes painful when players realize that the Decepticons suddenly have a truck in their arsenal, just as the Autobots have somehow acquired a tank.

Optimus vehicle mode concept art

     As far as graphics, there's not too much to say. In-game graphics are on par with most games released around this time, however developers could have lightened it up a bit. We get that the game is supposed to be a bit darker than the Transformers we're used to, but does that mean literally as well? There get to be moments in the game where players might attempt to adjust their TV brightness to be able to see what's going on, this just turns dark shadows into gray spaces and doesn't help in the least.

     With most of the story being told through loading screens narrated by the talented Steven Blum, who does an impressive job of sounding like the show's original narrator, Activision saved themselves quite a bit of work in developing additional cut scenes. While the laziness of this choice ultimately shines though, fans will appreciate hearing that all-too familiar voice before each mission. WFC features about 5 CGI cinematics, none of which as impressive or exciting as the extended CGI trailer shown before the main menu each time the game is turned on.

Game Play:

     While fault could be found with button layout and vehicle mapping, WFC is a first-person action-adventure that rivals the excitement and gameplay of some of the best games on the market. At times players might begin to get overwhelmed while battling ground and air units as deadly-accurate snipers rain down fire from untouchable locations, however its nothing that can't be overcome by finding some non-destructable rubble to hide behind and strategically pick off opponents one-by-one. As players near the end of each level, monotony begins to build after fighting identical looking robots at every turn, but right as players begin to grow bored a new level has started and objectives have changed. Through the use of an objective arrow visible on the screen, players can speedily make their way to the next location, or at least figure out what has to be destroyed before being allowed to do so.

Don't Change a thing:

     By incorporating veteran voice actors such as Peter Cullen, the voice of the original Optimus, Activision has chalked this game full of nerd nostalgia that's sure to make every fan of the series stroll down memory lane and squeal with excitement.

Should have spent more time on:

     Piggybacking on Transformer fame wont be enough for any younger generations who only know Transformers as the large robots in Michael Bay movies who hang out with Shia LeBeouf. It seems like developers made basic modules for the different types of vehicles and adjusted them here and there to fit the desired character. After fighting through hordes and hordes of identical Autobot tanks that look like unpolished versions of Megatron, younger gamers are likely to get bored and opt for something else.

     The WFC storyline seems to have been the last thing they came up with. While it works, and is more than enough to make fans smile, its lazy. After realizing that dark energon can magically do everything Megatron wants it to do and still be rendered exactly the same, gamers will begin to sarcastically ponder: "that's convenient..."

Just how homo:

Despite his digital improvements
Optimus is still just a robot

     While Optimus is sporting some broader shoulders than usual, unless robots become the next big fetish WFC holds no hunky heroes that would keep gaymers awake at night. Fans of fashion and design might enjoy the limited "create-a-transformer" available in multiplayer but not enough to keep coming back for more.

Own It or Rent It:

     Rent it. The game has little if any replay value, as well as enough grievances to make players want to chuck the game out entirely when finished with it. While the online play can be fun, players are better suited to get their group-gaming jollies from other more popular titles known for such. While WFC is definitely a must-play for any Transformers fan, not much can be obtained from owning the game that renting it can't supply, save maybe a couple headaches and overdramatized eye-rolls.

Halo Wars for X-Box 360

Halo Wars: The first, but
hopefully not the last of
the Halo-themed RTS's.

Synopsis:

     Halo Wars begins on the once-flourishing planet of Harvest, a hospitable planet belonging to the UNSC Alliance.  Players find themselves towards the end of a 5 year campaign to liberate the ravaged world from Covenant occupation. After detecting strange Covenant activity on the planet's surface, the Spirit of Fire, a UNSC warship, has decided to investigate further. Spear-headed by Sergeant John Forge, the lovable if not handsome hero of the campaign, the UNSC forces make their way through to find that the Covenant have uncovered a Fore-Runner star map pointing to a human colony world currently under siege. After utilizing the planet's top-secret Spartan Soldiers to aid in the defense, the crew of the Spirit of Fire finds themselves on a wild goose-chase with the Prophet of Regret to stop him from activating a dormant Fore-Runner fleet that would spell the end of humanity.

     Set 20 years before the events in the first Halo, Halo Wars should be viewed as less of a real-time strategy and more as the ultimate peace of fan-boy gaming for any fan of the earlier incarnations. As if throwbacks to The Pillar of Autumn and the ability to command a squad of Spartans wasn't enough, players find that one of the main antagonists of the campaign is a ruthless and hate-filled Arbiter, the predecessor to the one introduced in Halo 2. Even without the multiple nods to previous versions, Wars is well equipped to hold its own. With the introduction of several new characters including a stern yet caring captain, an independent and adventurous female scientist, and a comical if not all-together bitchy Artificial Intelligence, players find themselves falling for the new crew just as they did for Master Chief and Cortana, if not more so.

     To add to the sheer rapture that Halo fans already experience while playing, Wars includes a timeline of events that becomes more compiled as levels are completed and achievements are met. The timeline chronicles the events the precede both Wars and the original Halo and becomes more of an in-depth look at the history of the UNSC and The Covenant. Fans could easily spend hours compiling the timeline and reading through its events.

Appearance:

     As the first real-time strategy for the series, Wars introduces many never-before-seen buildings and vehicles for both factions while still maintaining the overall look and feel of each respective race. All covenant buildings are rendered in the traditional rich purple while the UNSC all boast their armored grey that fans have come to know. The architecture of both factions' respective buildings also pays tribute to what previous Halo players are familiar with. In short: all buildings look like they have been a part of Halo's designs all along.

     It seems like only recently have the makers of the Halo franchise started to realize the importance of CGI cinematics to gamers. What would have originally been told through cut-scenes is now depicted though a fully-rendered cinematic after each level. After unlocking all the cinematics in the review page, players can watch them seamlessly played back-to-back, making for a nice miniature movie sure to ignite a smile, maybe a laugh, and ultimately: maker players cry like a baby.

Game Play:

     Its rare to see a note-worthy RTS on a console. Many have tried their hands but so many times do they drop the ball and leave us wishing we had just bought the PC version instead. Wars, however, has stayed true to its original design of being a game meant specifically for X-box 360. While the controls might confuse extremely novice players, anyone who knows their way around a 360 controller will find that Ensemble Studios really thought out the command-to-button layout. Like any decent RTS, players can adjust cursor scrolling sensitivity to better suit their playing style, as well as select all units, all units of a specific type, and all units on the map by simply pressing the right button, seemingly minute touches that make the game all that more smooth.

     The campaign focuses on the crew of the Spirit of Fire, meaning that The Covenant are only available in multiplayer. This may prove to be a drag for some but ultimately its a treat to play as the Covenant at all, even if there is no campaign to back it up. While playing against the computer or online, gamers will have one of three "heroes" to choose from for both factions. For the UNSC, the hero provides specific bonuses such as improved Rhino Tanks or the ability to increase team economy while the Covenant hero acts as a unit on the battlefield, providing some extra firepower. Covenant heroes can also be upgraded at the temple, allowing for some impressive improvements. This often throws off the scales of a battle quite a bit and might frustrate some players; improved tanks are nothing against the Prophet of Regrets cleansing beam that he can call down from his orbiting ship. However, its hard to argue with the enjoyment of taking out a battalion of enemy forces as the permanently-cloaked dual-weilding Arbiter. 

     

Don't Change a Thing:

     The storyline, the characters and the sheer unit/structure architecture of Halo Wars are enough to recommend this game to anyone. Add in the fact that players get to live out almost every Halo dream imaginable via the multiplayer levels and you've got yourself a chunk of nerd bliss. 

Should have spent more time on:

     Being a Halo game and therefore involving the [spoiler alert] Flood, it would have been neat to be able to don the controller and run rampant as those crazy bastards, rather than just fight them in the campaign. 

     The Covenant are almost too well groomed to just be a side dish and not one of the main courses of the game. Its obvious by playing the Covenant in the multiplayer maps that Ensemble Studios spent a large amount of time tweaking and perfecting the alien race, not to mention the idea for a hero unit.  Perhaps Ensemble intended on having a Covenant campaign, or perhaps they're saving that one for the second Wars. We should be so lucky.

Just How Homo:

It's no wonder why Sergeant Forge
doesn't follow the Halo trend of
wearing a helmet to cover his face.

     Wars spares no pains in feeding our inner-most nerd desires by delivering on the gorgeous hunk of virtual man that is Sergeant Forge. From first glimpse at the CGI stud, gaymers will instantly wonder two things "Who is he, and how do I see more of him?" Luckily, Forge is playable in almost every level and appears in almost every cinematic so be prepared to take notes on what a real man looks like. With his chiseled face, buzzed hair, and playful yet protective attitude, it would come as a surprise if Ensemble didn't anticipate a gaymer following for the sergeant.

Own it or Rent it:

     Own it. With its massive replay value, engaging story line, ingenious layout and its ability to double as a Halo encyclopedia and mini-movie, this game is worth every single penny. At times players might put it up on the shelf for several months, but all are guaranteed to take it down eventually and replay what could very well be the best thing to happen to Halo games since the first one was released.

Final Fantasy XIII

FF13 is a new favorite for fan everywhere

Synopsis:

    FF13 starts you off in Cocoon, a utopian city where citizens who have been exposed to beings known as l'Cie are being "purged" and sent away. You begin with the main protagonist, a woman by the name of Lightning, attempting to stowaway on a train carrying citizens to be purged. After some intervening by the second character, a bandana wearing, fist fighting man named Snow, Lightning finds herself begrudgingly making her way on foot with a very unlikely companion. Its hard to really continue from there without spoiling anything. Needless to say, the game holds up to the habit of its predecessors by throwing you into the action right away. After about 5 hours of playing you begin to understand what's happening.

     Like all Final Fantasy games, players of FF13 will find themselves compelled to continue the story and develop the characters. New to this installment however, is the introduction of the Crystarium leveling system, a role-based mostly-linear process of obtaining new attributes and abilities through the use of CP obtained after defeating foes. Another neat feature is the ability to level up and eventually upgrade your equipment by using components obtained via battles or through exploring the map.

Appearance:

     Square Enix has always had a flair for employing the best graphics available and this time they continue that trend. With a game like FF13 being more video than gameplay, good graphics are a must. At times it becomes difficult, if not impossible, to tell what is a cut scene and what is a full blown CGI cinematic. While the game still holds the traditional Final Fantasy look, its obvious they revamped it for the better consoles. 

Game Play:

     Its hard to criticize Final Fantasy gameplay because everyone knows what they're getting themselves into. Its a turn-based role playing game, only this time its been tweaked.  Merging the battle ideas from Final Fantasy 12 and the earlier incarnations all opponents are visible on the world map while walking around, only this time its apparent when a battle has begun. Much like FF12, the battle no longer halts and opponents swagger back and forth while waiting for the player to make a move. If you set down the controller and go to the bathroom without actually hitting pause, chances are you will die.

     Also different than most FF's is that the player only has control of one character in battle. Eventually the player will play through all characters multiple times, but who that character may be is dependant upon the story. Players will have the ability to assign different roles to the non-playable party members, but as far as telling your healer to heal you, it can't be done. This never became a bother while playing, however. Its simple to switch characters from one role to the next with a couple quick button presses. The new Paradigm System, as its called, requires players to be a little more attentive to what's going on in battle and actually makes it more fun and less monotonous than previous Final Fantasy's. 

     True to any RPG, players looking to go into the final boss battle with guns blazing and max stats will have to do a significant amount of grinding.

Don't Change a Thing:

     This is the first FF game to feature a female lead character, and one who kicks some serious booty. The character development is amazing, and by the end will have most players on the verge of tears. The voice acting is diverse, timely, and at times pretty funny. Overall there's much more good to this game than bad. 

Should have Spent More Time on:

     Despite the ability to equip different weapons or upgrade existing weapons into entirely new models, all of the characters in the cut-scenes are seen with their original gear. This isn't too much of a drawback but can be kind of lame when you just upgraded their weapon to the next model and want to see how it looks outside of battle. This could have been overcome with a more detailed equipment menu that could have allowed item viewing. Really though, this is the only grievance with the game. Turn-based games might not be every one's thing, but we always seem to make room in our hearts for Final Fantasy.

Just how homo:

     For those who find anime hot, this game might be the ultimate turn on for you. While Final Fantasy has long been a  muse for erotic art on hentai sites, overall the game has no generally appealing characters who would work their way into our fan-boy fantasies.

Own it or Rent it:

     Rent it. The replay value of any Final Fantasy game is minuscule and while the game will take hours to beat, its nothing that can't be mastered in a couple weeks with a Gamefly membership.