The Final Fantasy Saga has been a long time favorite among many gamers.  The Final Fantasy’s first MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role playing game) has done quite well and is very popular among gamers.  Recently, the third expansion to this MMORPG has been released… Final Fantasy XI Online:  Treasures of Aht Urhgan.

In this third expansion of the ever so popular game, players search to uncover facts about the Aht Urhgan Empire.  This is done across an entirely new continent with over 40 new areas.  These areas include 2 new lands:  Mount Zhayolm and Halvung.  Theses new lands are full of new and deadly enemies including: Cerberus, Trolls, and Black Puddings.

Treasures of Aht Urhgan is jammed packed with new features and aspects.  It is said to be the best expansion yet.  One of the best new features is that you now have a choice of 3 new jobs.  First is the Blue Mage. The Blue Mage has a curved sword for close combat, magic spells to attack from afar, and the ability to learn enemy skills.  Second is the Corsair.  The Corsair is a pirate with a multi barreled gun called the Hexagun.  The Corsair has a “Card” ability.  Cards are drawn similar to Blackjack.  The cards drawn decide on special attacks and bonuses to aid in battle.  Finally is the Puppet Master.  The Puppet Master has various types of “pets” that it controls and the ability to fight in hand to hand combat.

The next new feature is that there are 2 new battle modes.  Assault mode allows players with high levels to jump in and play without having to assemble a huge party.  After the mission, players get assault points which can be used for gil, items, and experience.  Mercenary ranks will also go up.  Besieged mode allows players to defend a town under attack by beastmen.  Both new modes offer new challenges that are both fun and rewarding.

A feature that many people were hoping to be included is that you can now raise, care, and breed Chocobos.  You can also race your Chocobo in a racing circuit.  This offers up a nice change when you want to relax after the toils of battle.

The last couple of new features that Treasures of Aht Urhgan has are smaller by comparison, but nice.  First is the Coliseum where you can watch monsters go at it.  Next is the Mog Locker.  The Mog locker allows you to store more items for a fee.

Expect the same great musical score and breathtaking graphics as you found in the previous parts of the Final Fantasy XI saga.  The controls are the same as well.  If you haven’t played the rest of the saga, you can still jump right into the expansion since it includes the previous versions.

Final Fantasy XI Online:  Treasures of Aht Urhgan is available for your PC or for Playstation 2.  Like all MMORPG’s, you can play it online for a monthly fee.  The game has an ESRB rating of T for teen.  This is because it features mild language, violence, and animated blood.

Metal Gear Solid 3:  Snake Eater was a huge success.  Because of this, an expanded version was released, Metal Gear Solid 3:  Subsistence.  This version is packed with extras!

There are so many new features I don’t know where to start.  First off Metal Gear Solid 3:  Subsistence includes Snake Eater along with the original Metal Gear and Metal Gear:  Solid Snake.  The game play and story is relatively the same.  Snake still uses stealth and deadly weapons to get the job done.  This includes hiding in boxes, covering himself with camouflage and snaking through grass, sneaking past guards, etc.  Weapons include:  guns, rocket launchers, and of course… close quarters combat (CQC).

Next, there are tons of multiplayer modes available online.  Death match and team death match are quite fun.  Capture involves a game like capture the flag, only with a frog piggy bank.  There is also Sneaking Mission where 1 player plays as Snake and 7 play as guardians of a particular item.  Snake has to get the item without being caught by the others.  Lastly, there is Cargo Rescue.  One team must protect and deliver cargo while the other team tries to destroy it.

Some other extras include new levels in the mini game:  Snake vs. Monkey.  There is also a Dual Mode that allows you to battle all of the bosses.  Finally, you can watch all of the game’s movies in the Demo Theater Mode and you can watch some “special” scenes in The Secret Theater.

A new third person view camera is one of the biggest changes as it makes the game quite easier.  No longer must you stop and look around before proceeding.  You can now see your entire surroundings.  The control configuration is still the same as it has been in all of the previous Metal Gears.

The graphics are excellent to look at and the environments are quite detailed.  The soundtrack is also engaging.  Voice acting is superb and the dialogue is actually pretty funny sometimes… if you pay attention.

Metal Gear Solid 3:  Subsistence is available on Playstation 2.  Up to 8 people can play it online.  The game has an ESRB rating of M for mature.  This is because it contains intense violence, sexual themes, blood, gore, and language.  This means you little “kiddies” out there can’t play it without the permission of mommy and daddy.

The Burnout series has done well on a scale of epic proportions.  The newest in the series, Burnout:  Revenge, is meeting with the same stunning success.  This version is the sequel to Burnout 3.  It is all about revenge and destruction, not just winning the race!  It is available on several consoles, but the XBOX 360 version has the best perks.

In Burnout:  Revenge, you need to drive downright dirty!  Every car is suitable for you to destroy.  Cause massive accidents during rush hour, bump your rival racers into a wall, and always remember not to dodge traffic…crash into it!

Burnout:  Revenge rewards you for your notty and destructive behavior.  As you play, a revenge meter rises and tracks your progress so that you are suitably rewarded.  You get to choose you vehicle based on 3 car classes:  race, muscle, and crash.  Each car has different specs and capabilities.  When you are rewarded, your car gets stronger and literally transforms!

Since Burnout:  Revenge is literally about destruction, I suppose I should talk about that.  First off, there are hundreds of cars for you to trash.  An all new “car deformation” system has been integrated with 3 times more deformities than the previous edition of the series.  This includes:  paint scratches, tears, dents, dings, and turning cars into flaming balls of steel.  Each level has multiple paths, jumps, choke points, and new open-ended crash junctions…all to provide you with more chances to cause some destruction against other unsuspecting commuters or racing rivals. 

Crashes involve gorgeous cinematic cut scenes.  You will want to cause crashes again and again just to see them.  There are literally hundreds of ways to do this!  It is never the same game twice.

The graphics are just awesome and the soundtrack is as well.  Many real world locations look authentic, such as:  Rome, Detroit, and Tokyo.  The controls are also extremely easy to learn.  You will feel right at home on the road to destruction!

Burnout:  Revenge is newly available on XBOX 360.  The XBOX 360 version has all the new and cool stuff added to it.  Online play is great to play against your friends (or enemies) through XBOX live.  The XBOX and Playstation 2 versions are just as cool without the added features.  Burnout:  Revenge is rated E 10.  This means that the game is suitable for anyone ages 10 and up.  This is because the game features some violence.  (Hello!  Massive car crashes)!

If you enjoy the fun a quirky RPG (role playing game) Atelier Iris then you may enjoy the next in the series, Atelier Iris 2:  Azoth of Destiny.  This second installment features a brand new story on a completely different planet, Eden.  Eden is a land where the inhabitants coexist peacefully and use a magic known as Mana.  They can wield the Mana with the help of alchemists. 

You play with 2 main characters, orphans named Felt and Viese.  One day, earthquakes devastate the world of Eden.  It is up to the orphans to figure out what is wrong and save Eden before it is too late.  Felt gets a hold of a mythical sword called “The Azure Azoth.”  Felt is then called “the Chosen One” and sent to an alternate world called Belkhyde that seems to have some influence on the problems of Eden.  Viese stays on Eden and tries desperately to save it.

During Atelier Iris 2, you alternate between both characters on both worlds.  One is good with the sword while the other is good at synthesizing items.  Both characters have a single item pool so that you can share items between them.  If Felt needs to upgrade his sword, Viese merely needs the materials and instructions to synthesis the items needed and pass it on to Felt.  You no longer need to visit a shop in order to do this, unlike the first Atelier Iris.  This is a very nice change.  Item synthesis is needed to upgrade weapons, create equipment, make potent healing potions, and more.  Travel on both worlds is also nice.  You merely click a point on the map and you are there.

The battle system is different than in the previous edition of Atelier Iris.  Atelier Iris 2 features the new Action Cost Time Battle System.  Here, there is a gauge on the screen.  The closer your character is to the right side on the gauge, the sooner he gets to attack.  Attacks include:  charge attacks, devastating combos, break attacks, and special skills that are executed when the skill gauge rises.

The graphics of Atelier Iris 2 are simple yet colorful. The character models are highly detailed and look quite a bit like anime or cartoons!  The music is different, yet catchy.   Lastly, the controls are easy to master.

Atelier Iris 2 is available for Playstation 2.  It has an ESRB rating of E-10.  This means the game is suitable for any one ages 10 and up.  This is because the game features fantasy violence, mild language, mild suggestive themes, use of alcohol, and use of tobacco.  A strategy guide is available for those of you who want to see all that the game has to offer.

One of the most popular MMORPG’s (massively multiplayer online role playing games) on the market is Guild Wars.  The release of Guild Wars came with such stunning success that the second in the series was recently released, Guild Wars:  Factions.  This game is sure to be a success, just like its predecessor.

Guild Wars:  Factions takes place on a different continent than the first game.  It is an Asian inspired land called Cantha.  You don’t need to have the first Guild Wars in order to play Guild Wars: Factions.  But it is nice if you do have it because you can travel back and forth between Cantha and Tyria (the land in the first game).  You can play with your previously created character from the first game, or create a new one.

The story takes place 200 years after the Emperor of Cantha is murdered by his supposedly loyal bodyguard, Shiro Tagachi.  A battle ensues after the Emperor’s death and Shiro soon faces his own death.  It is said that his death wail was so full of anger and hate that the sea turned to jade and the forest became petrified.  Now, 200 years later, Shiro’s angry spirit returns to create havoc on the land of Canthu.

The land of Canthu has 2 factions that are at war between each other:  the Kurzicks and the Luxons.  The Kurzicks are highly religious and conservative.  They are made up of artisans and crafters.  The Luxons are a nomadic type people that are always on the move.  They used to dwell in the sea, but since it has been turned to jade, they travel across it on huge walking machines.  They believe only the strong survive.  You must decide which faction you wish be allied with and be at war against the other.

There are many new additions in Guild Wars:  Factions.  First, there are two new professions:  a deadly assassin and a ritualist who can summon dark spirits.  Second, there are over 300 new skills, including 90 new elite skills.  There are also 100 new creatures, 50 new locations, new pets, new weapons, new items, new armor, new guild halls, and new customizable looks for your character creation.

Guild Wars:  Factions has the same controls as the first game so if you have played it before, you will have no problem.  The soundtrack is quite nice to listen to and not too repetitive.  All of the lush environments are highly detailed and colorful.  This is to be expected because of how great the previous game looked.  Expect to be playing long hours for many months.  This game is sure not to bore you.

Guild Wars:  Factions is only available for your PC.  It has an ESRB rating of T for Teen.  This is because the game features the use of alcohol, violence, and suggestive themes.  A strategy guide is available for those of you who need a bit of help.