The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition Review

If there’s one thing that developer LucasArts is known for, aside from bringing George Lucas’s far, far-away galaxies to game systems near you, it would have to be the gaming gold mine of witty and whimsical adventures that the company produced in the nineties. A winning formula of clever puzzles, memorable characters, and sabre-sharp writing has ensured these games a place in the most hallowed sanctuaries of interactive classics. Among these was the Monkey Island series, which was comprised of four entries in its initial glory days from 1990 to 2001.
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The Most Anticipated PC Game of 2010 – Starcraft II

In 1998, Blizzard Entertainment released StarCraft, a real-time strategy video game that depicted an epic battle for supremacy set in the 26th century. Players could choose to fight for dominance as one of three species: a group of humans exiled from earth known as the Terrans; an insect-like species known as the Zerg; and the Protoss, a humanoid race that was advanced in mental and technological capabilities. The game focused on harboring resources and building settlements that could support an army and a fleet of vehicles and airships strong enough to destroy any enemies in the vicinity.
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Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence

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.

Burnout: Revenge

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)!

Atelier Iris 2: Azoth of Destiny

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.

Guild Wars: Factions

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.

Kingdom Hearts II

Fans of Kingdom hearts will be glad to know that the second in the best selling game series has been released.  In Kingdom Hearts II, Disney elements are combined with Final Fantasy elements to make a truly excellent game!

The story starts one year after the events of the first Kingdom Hearts in a place called Twilight Town.  You follow the actions of a young and troubled boy named Roxas.  Sora, Donald, Goofy, and more characters return.  This includes appearances by many Final Fantasy characters, along with many Disney characters that were not in the previous game.  Visit old and new locations from Disney movies including:  Mulan, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Beauty and the Beast.  Sora must look for clues as to who the Heartless are and what is behind Organization XIII.  The plot is very well written and will leave you guessing until the end… when all is finally revealed.

Kingdom Hearts II has adapted many changes.  One is an all new combat system that is probably one of the most thrilling of any game.  There are new summons, limit breaks, new combos, co-op attacks, and the ability to perform devastating attacks with the right timing of button pushes.  And yes, Donald still has hilarious tantrums and Goofy is just as dumb as ever.

Some other changes are that the new transportation system allows you to ride among famous Disney theme park attractions.  The camera system has also been redone.  The last change, Sora can now use the “Drive” ability, but you will have to play to see what that is.

The voice acting is very well done.  The musical score is also excellent, but you should expect that from anything made by Square Enix!  The character models are also very nice to look at.  The Disney characters look like they came right out of the cartoon!

The only downfall to the game is that some parts are repetitive and repeated from the last game.  One instance is that of boss fights with the same enemies.  But other than that, it is a great game and highly amusing.

Kingdom Hearts 2 is available on Playstation 2.  It has an ESRB rating of E-10.  This means it is suitable for anyone age 10 and older.  This is because the game features blood, use of alcohol, and violence.  A strategy guide is available for you cheaters out there!