split/screen co-op

music by ~kariannphotography on deviantART

When I was in highschool, I wasn’t a gamer. I never owned a gaming console before the PS2 I got almost toward the end of the system’s lifecylce. Pre-uni, my encounters with PC games were few and far between, and invariably on somebody else’s computer.

I had two main pastimes back then. One was reading books, the other — listening to music.

Never both at the same time, you understand. No, reading would interfere with the serious business that listening to music was.

Almost gotten to the middle of the game and have enjoyed playing so far.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine — Uncaged Edition could be bought for almost every platform currently out there — Playstation 3, Xbox 360, PC, PSP, PS2, Nintendo DS, Wii, Cell.

More about my impressions of the game after the jump.

Halo: Reach

Genre: First-person shooter

Platform: Xbox 360

Release date in the USA: September 14, 2010

Story:  In the year 2552 in the Reach colony humans are battling the alien aliance, called the Covenant. Reach is the main hub for the military forces of the United Nations Space Command (UNSC). The events in Reach are occuring shortly before those in Halo: Combat Evolved. Players assume the role of Noble 6, a member of an elite supersoldier squad, rather than that of Master Chief. In Halo: Reach your goal is to help Master Chief escape the Reach colony.

Hit the jump to see the rest

I’ve never played any of the Parasite Eve games but I have of course heard about the series and know it has a cult following. (Come to think of it: is there any game series without a cult following?)

Belatedly I watched this trailer for the upcoming PSP title The 3rd Birthday and mean to tell you what I thought about it. Hit the jump to find out.

Kratos sculpt by Mark Newman

The Extra Credits bunch over at The Escapist have a fantastic new episode about the narrative successes and shortcomings of the God of War trilogy, entitled No Redeeming Value. Their conclusion: the games are a blast to play, the characterisation is outstanding but the story as a whole has no redeeming value. As always, their case is solid and enlightening and, as a big fan of story myself, I cannot help but nod along. With one exception.

I take issue with the claim that Kratos “is one of the most fully realised characters in gaming today”. I don’t think that is true and I don’t even think Kratos is any good as a character. To me, the characterisation of Kratos is the biggest failing of the God of War trilogy.

There will be spoilers from here on, so hit the jump at your own peril.

guilty by punchyninja

Hit the jump for some text and stuff.