The Button Presser

Although this edition of the Hitman Franchise is available on the PS2, Xbox, and PC, I really enjoyed it the most on the 360. Why do I think it's a Next Gen Gem? Read on to find out!





Hitman: Blood Money in my personal opinion is the best of the Hitman games. This one allows you to fully be in disguise and you no longer have to worry about walking or running when around guards when finding your way to targets. The Visuals have been drastically improved and thanks to the Xbox 360, achievements that are worthy to have on your gamercard.

The Story in Blood Money involves a reporter interviewing a former agent as they discuss the assassinations Agent 47 has been involved with over past few months. Without giving too much away, it tells how notorious Agent 47 really is as the reporter finds out about the behind assassinations and cover ups surround the Cloned assassins.



Gameplay in Blood Money involves the typical targets to kill, although this time Notoriety and Money comes into play. After each mission, you have the option to bribe the local police and witnesses in order to stay undetected on missions.



The cool thing about Blood Money is a newspaper that describes how you killed the targets and any other people that got in your way. So for example if you choose never to lower your Notoriety, every one will know who you are at the beginning of missions and will attempt to kill you on sight. It's a great feature, and makes Blood Money more replayable than previous games.



The weapons you receive are pretty diverse, and the custom weapons allow for some great ways to play the game. You can silence guns, add accessories to make bullets pierce walls, and even different types of bullets to the various guns you will receive.



As Agent 47, you have more freedom than ever to play a mission the way you want to play. The new and unique feature to Blood Money was killing the enemy in ways that make it look like accidents. You can push targets over balconies, Poison foods, and tweak the valve on propane tanks to explode a certain target that loves to cook in his room. There are many more, and all are so much fun to do.



This game should be around the $20 dollar price tag in most places, and it's a great game to "kill" the time away. 4/5

+ Greater freedom than previous games
+ Impressive visuals and a another great soundtrack by Jesper Kyd
+ Great Story that leaves you wanting more time with Agent 47
- Not too many negatives in my opinion, I just Hope the Next game has some sort of Cool Multiplayer feature.

Is this truly a classic, or a game meant to stay in the past? Check out my review of the Dreamcast hit, Shenmue.





Shenmue is a mash up of different types of genre's that come together to create something unique and special. As one of the most expensive games to be made, it captivated those who played it, including me. In my opinion, it truly is a classic.

The plot for Shenmue starts out basic enough. Your Father is killed by a man named Lan Di, and Ryo Hazuki decides to track him down and avenge his father's death. Finding Lan Di won't be easy, and you'll need some information. Make that a LOT of information. The game allows you to interact with almost every person you come across, so find info shouldn't be too hard, but it will take a while. Most people in the game will try to help you out, while others may not have a clue, but they all speak and have something to say.

Gameplay consists of lots of traversing areas and asking the people for help, fighting when you have no choice but to, and plenty of side quests and mini games to play while you wait for the next chain of events to occur. Say for instance a man might know something to help you, but he might want something in return or ask you to wait and meet him somewhere later. So in the mean time, you can go to the arcade, do odd jobs for money, or ask more people for help. This may sound kinda boring and unoriginal, but at the time of it's release, Shenmue had more content than many games out there.

The fighting when it happened was a lot of fun too, and this may be because the Virtua fighter team developed the game. After completing Shenmue, you even get a cool little mode where you can take on 100 men in an all out battle, which was always a lot of fun.

Another great aspect of the game was just it's atmosphere. You feel like you're in a living breathing city, and the great sound effects and music helped at to the immersion.

Shenmue is a great game, and the game that truly showed off what the Dreamcast could do. 4.5/5

+ Great Game Now, Truly Amazing when it first released
+ Incredible Atmosphere, Soundtrack, and Visuals
+ Solid Fighting Engine and Story
- Lots of Waiting at times for the next event to occur
- More Adventuring then Action for Some
This Should Be: An Xbox Live Arcade game!

Ever Wondered what it would be like if Geometry Wars had Zombies in it? Check out my review and see what I thought about Zombie Apocalypse.






Zombie Apocalypse is a twin stick shooter for Xbox Live Arcade that incorporates the elements that we would expect from a twin stick shooter: Precision is key, racking up points is fun, and multiplayer is a nice addition to the game. Besides using the left and right analog sticks to move and shoot, Zombie Apocalypse also uses the triggers to control a chainsaw, and the bumpers throw zombie bait to attract the zombies to a location preferably away from you. Hilarity ensues when this occurs, because the bait is a talking teddy bear that says things like "I'm, Full of Love...and C4!" It only has a few lines, but every time I hear it, it always makes me laugh.



The Basic goal of the game is to last 55 days against the horde of zombies you will face, with some days being chainsaw only, or some where the lights are turned out except for your flashlight while you frantically move around the area. Don't expect a new location every day in the game either, because there are only about 10 environments that rotate with nothing changing in their layout. Each level has unique traps and hazards for you to utilize, but you'll mostly depend on your default assault rifle and random weapon pickups to get you through the game.



Nihilistic Software, who developed the game, must have played Left 4 Dead, because it's inspiration is all over this game in my opinion. There are 4 survivors to choose from: Three guys and One girl, and three of the four reminded me instantly of Bill, Zoey, and Louis. Plus there are special infected zombies that get introduced throughout the game. These zombies are different from the ones in Left 4 Dead, but a few have similar abilities that may remind you of Valve's undead shooter. This is not a bad thing, because just killing the typical zombie type for the in-game 55 days would get boring really fast.



800 Microsoft Points or 10 bucks is a good price for a full and simple game to me, and if you're unsure it is, check out the demo which does a good job of showing you what to expect. Overall It is a fun Arcade game, and Zombie and Twin Stick shooter fans should give it a look.

+Simple Controls and Online Play
+Nice Visuals and Sound Effects
+Variety of Zombie types to defeat

-Nothing too original here to add to the twin stick genre
-Wish they're were more environments to survive in
3/5

I just got this game for $5 at a Movie Gallery Sale, and wanted to Review it. I've always been a fan of the Silent Hill games and never played this one until now. Check out My Review! Ma, I'm Coming Home:

Silent Hill Homecoming is the 6th title to bear the Silent Hill name. It incorporates elements from the previous games, but includes a few new tweaks and enhancements to reach a bigger audience. This franchise in my opinion has always had an appealing feature to the gamers that loves horror games, due to its usually vulnerable characters, disturbing creatures, and the infamous foggy town of the game.



Homecoming strays a little bit from that original formula, and features some exciting and drastic changes. For instance, Alex is an soldier that is more experienced in combat that previous games, so the game then becomes more action adventure then the original survival horror feel. Some fans of the previous Silent hill games may not like this, but the heavy combat in the game was probably to spread to a wider audience. This is an American developer taking on Konami's Franchise, so this is probably why these changes were made.



The game's story involves Alex Shepard returning home from medical leave from the army, and he discovers some disturbing things about his hometown. First he finds many of the towns-folk missing, and then we he greets his mother, Alex discovers his brother has been missing and his father is also no where to be seen. Along the way for his search for his brother Josh Shepard, Alex must face the truth about his situation while battling some familiar Silent Hill enemies, and few new disturbing ones. The game has 5 various endings depending on the choices you make toward the end, so there many ways the story in the end can change.



Since Alex is a soldier, guns play a more prominent role in Homecoming as well. The camera is now a traditional third person mode, and when aiming, the camera zooms in for some over the shoulder action. You'll face a steady flow through the entire game, so having a nice gun with bullets will help a lot. There are still puzzles to solve, but there drastically less than in other Silent Hill games.



The visuals are a nice plus in this game as well. Silent Hill has always been a nice looking game on the PlayStation, PS2, and Xbox, but the Next Gen version is able to represent the town of Silent Hill better than all previous versions. Beating the game with the different endings also unlocks new weapons and outfits, so this game has a little bit more re-playability as well.



Overall this game fits nicely into the Silent Hill Franchise, and shows that American Developers like their Horror games with a bit more action.




+ Nice Visuals and Great New Storyline to Silent Hill
+ Fun Combat and as always awesome Music
+ Multiple endings and secret weapons to unlock

- Some Fans of Silent Hill may not like the new changes
- Frustrating Moments sometimes
- Not as scary and engaging as previous games

Resident Evil makes it Next-Gen debut and first time outing on Microsoft's Console. The first feature that drew me in was the game's impressive visuals. The power of the PS3 and 360 definitely help bring the environments and creatures to life in this game. First things first, the story still revolves around a virus that could possibly destroy humanity and it's up to Veteran Chris Redfield to stop it. But he'll have some help. You!



This time around players are put in the shoes of Expert Chris Redfield and Sheva Alamar. That players is no typo, Resident Evil is now a fully Cooperative experience and can be played via splitscreen, system link, and online. The game shines when there are two real players taking on the many infected in the game, although it still is fun to play alone if still want that classic Resident Evil experience.



Resident Evil 5 expands upon the phenomenal gameplay that was in Resident Evil 4. Over the shoulder third person action is still here, along with a few tweaks although you must still stop to shoot. Those who played and enjoyed RE4's style will be right at home here, although it would have been nice to totally control the camera and shoot the way Dead Space controlled. That may be a turn-off for some, but Resident Evil 5 is still a great game to play.



The replayability comes into RE5 with the extra content you can unlock after completing the game. Upgrading a gun to it's full extent will give you the option to have unlimited ammo, and also purchase more expensive and powerful weapons, and collecting emblems throughout the game will unlock alternate costumes for Chris and Sheva.



The Fun and Addictive mode Mercenaries returns, and adds some co-op and online play. There are about 8 levels to play in and players can also unlock new characters that carry different weapons. This mode also adds leaderboards so you can see how you and a friend stack up against teams around the world. This mode could actually be an Xbox Live Arcade game thanks to the fun and replayability contained in it.



Upcoming DLC will also add multiplayer to the game and will feature modes supporting 4 players. This content has been talked about negatively and positively as it will cost 5 dollars when it arrives on PS3 and 360.

Overall Resident Evil 5 does a good job representing the Resident Evil Name despite not evolving in a way Resident Evil 4 did.









+Easy to Follow Plot
+Vast Weaponry and items to collect
+Online Co-op Play
+Lots of Replayability
+Upcoming DLC

-Hit & Miss A.I. Partner in Single player
-Less Inventory Space than previous games

Fallout 3 is an epic game that contains a great story, world, and addictive game play. It makes you feel like you are in a world that has been devastated with war and you are just an survivor living in the aftermath of a nuclear war. You start off in Vault 101, one of many vaults that promised protection of the nuclear battle that was going to take place on the surface. As soon a you start the game, you pick your race, sex, appearance as you begin life as a baby. You quickly grow up in the vault and must eventually leave, as your father as left the vault, something no one has ever done. Once you leave everything is up to you. Do you look for your father, traverse the vast wasteland looking for things to do, its all up to you.





The game keeps track of your moral behavior, which includes Good, Neutral,and Bad Karma. Also, whenever you reach the next level, which is accomplished by completing quests and defeating enemies, you gain new perks to improve your character. Some can improve your resistance to radiation, strengthen your existing abilities, and one can even allow you to eat corpses. Yeah you can be a cannibal in fallout if you want. Choices are a key element to Fallout 3, and all seem important in one way or another.




Combat is a great element in Fallout as well. You can use guns, melee objects and other tools to allow you defeat any one who gets in your way. V.A.T.S. is also something very important to combat. This targeting system assists you in combat in order to specify areas of an enemy to target, and also displays your chance of succeeding. This system is great for all players and can be upgraded as well. I wont talk about the story too much, but it is definitely something that makes this game special. Must Buy for Rpg fans, and anyone willing to give it a shot.





+ Amazing Story and Freedom
+ V.A.T.S works as advertised
+ You will get your money`s worth
+ DLC down the line

Mirror`s Edge is a breath of fresh air among the barrage of games out this fall. It`s an exhilarating ride that provides highs and lows that show that doing something different can be rewarding, but also can come at a price. You play as Faith, an experienced "Runner" that's transports material for clients around the city. You'll mostly leap around on rooftops and high areas, as you outrun and jump pursuing cops and soldiers. In order to keep the player focused and on the right track, certain objects change to a bright red which works most of the time. By the pressing the B-button, players are also shown where they need to ultimately end up being to move on.



The game`s cinematics are presented in animated cut scenes, with a few in-game 1st person shots that briefly explain what to do next. Most objectives are delivered via Mercury, Faiths mentor and boss who communicates through a headset faith wears. What I like about the game is that you really feel like you are the main character and that you are pulling off amazing actions which feel smooth and exhilarating. This is what the game does best and mostly keeps this feeling alive the entire game.



The length and combat frustration are the main negatives for me about this game. You can complete the campaign in around 5 hours and have a complete experience. There are time trial leader boards and speed runs to complete, but these may not be enough to warrant a purchase in my opinion.



Next is the combat. Sometimes Faith will have no choice but to fight and these situations definitely bring down the game. You can do cool kicks and punches, disarms and take downs, but the overall combat isn`t as fun as just running around and jumping over buildings. Faith will usually die after a couple of bullets and melee attacks, no matter the difficulty you are playing on. Overall it is a nice break from killing aliens, Nazis, and robots, so I would still recommend it for at least one playthrough. If there is another Mirror`s Edge, a few tweaks here and there would make this game a must buy.







+ Innovative 1st Person Action
+ Great Music that fits the Game`s Atmosphere
+ Fresh Break from blockbuster titles and shooters

Mortal Kombat Returns and it brings along familiar faces in MK vs. DC Universe. How can this be? Don`t worry, all is explained in the game`s story mode which splits into two versions of the same overlaying plot. You'll see Batman fighting Scorpion, Raiden taking on Superman, and any and all combinations you could want in a game where universes collide. The roster clocks in at 20, ten for each side, with a few secret characters to unlock. The story is well written and understandable, but is also pretty short. Both the DC and MK sides last only a little bit over an hour and Completing the Arcade mode with each character can also be beaten pretty quickly as well.

What has always been appealing to Mortal Kombat games were the fatalities, finishing moves that were violent, crazy, funny, and over the top. Mostly violent though. They are still in MK vs. DC, but are toned down in order to maintain a T-Rating. Toned down isn't a bad thing in this case, as this allows the Super heroes to have finishers of their own. Named "Heroic Brutalities" for the good heroes, these moves still require quick and precise button presses in order to successfully pull a finisher off after a match.



The Fighting engine is quite good in this game as well, even more defined than past popular Mortal Kombats. Gone are the weapons and styles of the PS2 and Xbox games, and now include traditional punches and kicks, along with a variety of special moves to perform. Playing online was fun too, with lag barely noticeable for me. What was an issue was finding a match and also finding someone with an equal skill to compete against. I was mostly matched up against players who had win streaks of 20 or more, and players far better than me. It was still fun to play with friends, but at least for me, quick matches always turned up with advanced players which might turn off beginners like me to hop online.



Overall this is a great fighting game with familiar superheroes to choose from and many classic Mk characters. The game has a few problems here and there including no option to choose a level to fight on in multiplayer matches and has less extra options than other fighting games, which may decrease the time you have with the game, especially since there are so many new games to play. But if you love The MK series, this is a great addition to the fighting franchise.






+ Great Variety in character selection
+ Storyline explains how DC characters can meet the MK fighters. They're not just tacked in
+ Solid Fighting Engine and Online Mode
- Short Story Mode. Both can be beaten in a couple of hours
- Toned down krazy violence from past Mortal Kombats. Understandable though as it is T- rated
- Matchmaking can be slow to connect. Not enough online options

Fable II is set 500 years after the original. Everything in Albion has changed, for the better and worse. Heroes are mostly a thing of the past and the guild which trained them all in gone as well. You begin the game as a male or female child alongside your sister. Your first quest is to collect gold pieces which also in a way acts as an tutorial. Shortly after becoming an adult, the story and game truly begins. You will be free to plow right into the main quest or take your time and explore everything the new Albion has to offer.



There's many things you can do, and all can reward you in many different ways. Gameplay consists of combat, exploration, and interaction. The combat is something that is done very well in fable 2. You use X for melee attacks, Y for Ranged weapons, and B for an assortment of magic. Holding down these buttons or rapidly pressing them will charge and chain attacks that help keep the combat simple and deep at the same time.



Character interaction is also a big feature in fable 2. Even more so than the original, thanks to your loyal dog. The dog can attack downed enemies, alert you to dig spots and treasure, and gain its own set of expressions. It can also react to expressions you perform as well which people around the towns will notice as well.



Fable 2 overall is a great RPG, but also has its faults. Lengthy load times break up the freedom and exploration in the game and the Co-op game play at least to me, doesn't seem like a reason to buy the game. You feel like there are invisible handcuffs or something as you must stay on one screen together, even on Xbox Live. I was hoping for something more like Saints Row 2 where you and a friend can venture across Albion, but the co-op isn't all bad. Since you can't both be your unique character, one plays as a henchman, who is able to gain gold and experience for their main hero.Fable 2 is overall a must buy for Fable 1 fans, even though Peter Molyneux came short of exceeding every expectation he announced. Still, I really enjoyed the game.




+ Well Done Main Quest line
+ Same great atmosphere as the original game
+ More of Albion to explore
+ Character interaction and Co-op play
+ Simple yet fun Combat System

- Lengthy load times. To shorten this, Install to hard drive
- Can't be Unique Character in Co-op. Also must stay together on one screen even on Xbox Live
- Few technical problems here and there.
- Shorter main quest than other Rpg`s