Creepers

Yes, creepers are a pain. A huge pain. Anyone who has ever played Minecraft for any length of time would know that. The picture above pretty much sums them up... Really, I just wanted to share this picture with those of you who haven't found it already.

Battlefield Bad Company 2: Vietnam Review

The Vietnam expansion to Bad Company 2 is a huge addition to the amazing multiplayer. It isn't really an addition though, but more like a whole new game. It has its own section on the main menu, with a new background and new music, more oriented to Vietnam of course. In the actual game, pretty much everything has changed but kept the same feel as regular Bad Company 2 multiplayer. New guns (FLAMETHROWER!), new gadgets, and of course new maps. The loading screen is an rehaul of the original, but with an older map and radio briefing. Its the little things like this that add to the experience.

Overall: 38/40 or 47.5/50


Gameplay: 9/10
The gameplay is much the same as regular multiplayer, which is definitely a good thing. The maps feel different as they have fewer sections, but each section is much different from the last. You can be clearing caves with a flamethrower one minute and be sniping a burning wasteland the next. A few things take away from the experience, like getting stuck in the landscape and having small ledges stop you from sprinting away from an enemy with a flamethrower. Everything is just as balanced as it was before, maybe even more so. The only questionable element I noticed was the flamethrower. I absolutely love it, it is great in close quarters and sucked in the open. Using it is being like a suicide bomber though. Run into a cave and light everyone on fire then get killed as they burn, then gather your kills. As long as only a few people use it, it is great. But with more than a few, the battlefield just turns into a blinding mass of flames.

Playability: 9/10
Very easy to get used to the changes made, like no attachments for the weapons and such. Adapting to the maps is very easy as well. But still lacking is the ability to go prone, which could be useful in many situations. Also, Vietnam feels faster than the original multiplayer experience. This is both good and bad depending on the situation. Otherwise, no real complaints.

Story: N/A
Its multiplayer, though a story counterpart would have been really nice.

Graphics: 10/10
Pretty much the same, which is amazing. Some new elements are introduced, such as fire, and are done beautifully. The burning wasteland mentioned earlier is dreadfully gorgeous. The muddy water, in some sections is a little lacking in... cloudiness. It just looks like brown water. Maybe its just me though. All in all, amazing graphics.

Sound: 10/10
One of my favorite things about Battlefield is the sound. From deep explosions to crisp sniper fire, it never ceases to amaze me. The new voices fit the new maps, style, and era much better and I are less frequent as well. Also of course, the ability to listen to the radio in vehicles is back, with music suitable for the battle.

Overall: 38/40 or 47.5/50
I guess the only thing that need really needs changing is just some refinement in the gameplay. Less little glitches with the movement around the beautiful landscape and I will be even more satisfied than I am right now. For $15, this a must buy for anyone who enjoyed Bad Company 2.

Top 5 Games this Holiday Season Under $30

So, as the holiday season is fast approaching, I'm sure many of you are wondering what great deals there are for either you or your family. I have compiled this list to aid your wondering thoughts. So, lets begin here:

5. Blur (PS3, 360, PC)

Blur is an action packed, arcade racing game. With several tracks and a very engaging online experience, this game will keep you interested for hours on end. Filled with power-ups, online leveling system with upgrades, unlockable cars, and action packed multiplayer, Blur is most definitely worth the near $25 deal.

Available online from several stores: Click Here

4. Singularity (PS3, 360, PC)

A time twisted, brutal shooter, Singularity will amaze you through many playthroughs. Once the TMD (Time Manipulation Device) is put into your hands, you will feel the endlessly awesome power of aging enemies until they die or the opposite. Upgradeable weapons and time powers are obtained by searching for E-99 tech, scattered around the game's setting. With several endings and a very thought provoking plot, this game will keep you interested for a long time.

Available online from several stores: Click Here

3. Split Second (PS3, 360, PC)

Another racing game, Split Second is more realistic than Blur, however it does lose the arcade combat. Instead, this fine tuned racer includes many game or race changing moments where the track is altered in some way and the drivers must react in a split second, hence the name. This creates very intense moments and will either make you scream in despair or rejoice. Either way, this addictive, graphically enhanced game will have you coming back for more every time.

Available online from several stores: Click Here

2. The Saboteur (PS3, 360, PC)

The Saboteur is an third-person, action stealth game that takes place in WWII. You play as an Irish man in Paris and the surrounding areas who is part of the resistance against the Nazis. There are literally thousands of free-play events scattered throughout the massive map. These events require you to do one of a few things like: blowing up a guard tower or assassinating a Nazi general. In addition to all this, the engaging story and many weapons, enemies, and vehicles make this game very worth it this holiday season; especially for a mere $15.

Available online from several stores: Click Here

1. Battlefield: Bad Company 2 (PS3, 360, PC)

Though already almost a year old already, Battlefield: Bad Company 2 is still sharing the throne with the Call of Duty series. It offers an immersive singleplayer story with jaw-dropping cinematic moments as well as the ability to make you chuckle at your ungrateful squad bickering. Beyond this, BC2 offers a very refined multiplayer experience. Crafted gorgeously with realistic physics and combat situations all taking place in huge maps that offer a variety of tactics. Customizable classes and squad systems will let you play how you want, but still be important to the team. This game is a steal for its price (varies for systems). Also in consideration is the soon-to-be released Vietnam expansion pack. (December 21st)

Available online from several stores: Click Here

Fallout 3: Broken Steel DLC Review

As I'm sure many of you know, the Fallout 3 DLC, Broken Steel, came out on Thursday. I, after much anticipation, downloaded and played it as soon as it came out. So, I finished it last night and decided to review it, so here goes my first review.

Broken Steel is basically the way that Fallout 3 should have ended... or really, not ended. After you get Broken Steel, you need to do the last quest of the game. After you activate Project Purity, you fall over unconscious, but with Broken Steel, you wake up two weeks later at the Citadel. You are then informed that the Enclave is still somewhat strong, with several communication posts still set up. You go and assault the first one with Liberty Prime by your side, but he is sadly blown to pieces by an orbital strike. You get some info from the base, telling where the sattelite launch was triggered. You bring it back to the Citadel and are given your next quest: go to Olney Powerworks and get a Tesla Coil. You work your way through Old Olney, fighting off Enclave Soldiers and Deathclaws. You get the Tesla Coil and bring it back to the Citadel so they can make you a Tesla Cannon. You are then ordered to perform a one man assault on the Enclave base. You go there, Tesla Cannon in hand and kill everyone, launch an orbital strike at their own base and fly back to the Citadel. 

It is a much better ending in my opinion, but it is still definitely worth the ten bucks. A few of the other additions to the game are: Enclave Hellfire Troopers, Hellfire Armor, Heavy Incinerator, and the Feral Ghoul Reaver, along with the raised level cap.

Gameplay: 9/10

The gameplay is still relatively the same, a few harder enemies are out in the wasteland, but it still plays the same way. It would get a 10/10, but VATS takes some of the fun away. Don't get me wrong, I love VATS, but when you get to level 30 and have all the good perks, VATS makes it almost too easy.

Playabilty: 10/10

Almost anyone that has ever played a game before, can pick up Fallout 3 and play it. Great game physics and easily navigable menus really do make this game better.

Story: 7/10

The Broken Steel story is very... bland. Ya, there are three more quests, but they seem very long for what you are doing. First quest: assault an enemy base. Second quest: retrieve a Tesla Coil. Third quest: take out the enemy base. Its very fun, but it really doesn't add much to the story.

Graphics: 9/10

Same as the game. Very good, but too grey sometimes. Along with the occational glitches in both animation and the game itself.

Sound: 10/10

Voiceovers are just as beautifully done in Broken Steel. Everything sounds the same, and the new powerful hiss of the Heavy Incinerator is amazing.

Overall: 45/50

Basically, the quests needed a little more depth, but the finish up the story in a great way. Also, with Broken Steel, the game doesn't end and you can get to level 30. The new enemies and weapons are great as well, so this is very much worth the ten bucks.