EDG Podcast Ep. #51

The Presentation.

The main focus of Heavy Rain is the mystery of the Origami Killer. All the characters you control will play their own roles in the telling of this story, but how large of a role is up to you. The story takes some odd twists and turns but does arrive at a proper resolution in the end, all decided by the decisions you made earlier.

The Private Detective

During Heavy Rain you will have the chance to control multiple characters who all have certain skeletons in their closets and demons on their backs. The game does a good job of revealing insights into characters pasts and thoughts through interesting ways. Ethan Mars was a man that had his whole life in proper order before devastation throws his entire world into disarray. Scott Shelby is a former police officer turned private investigator who struggles to balance asthma, drinking and tracking down leads on the Origami Killer. Stuff like this help separate this game from the usual terrible cliche video game characters who solve every problem with bullets. The burden lies somewhat on the player to truly reveal the characters thoughts and motivations. It’s important to investigate areas as well as remembering to check a characters thoughts by holding down a a trigger. Characters are well rounded enough to be interesting, but the voice acting is up and down. It’s actually distracting to listen as voice actors do a poor job of covering up accents. When it’s good it’s great, but when some of the more cheesy dialog meets up with bad voice acting it can really produce cringe worthy results.

The visuals of the game vary some but usually impress. The characters are beautiful as well as the environments. Some weird lip syncing animation can distract momentarily, but it doesn’t break the deal. It’s key that a game that relies so heavily on it’s story has characters that can produce proper facial expressions. In this way, Heavy Rain doesn’t let you down. Characters move in ultra realistic fashion and the effects impress as well.

Actually Playing The Game

When you get down to the meat of the gameplay, it’s really quiet simple. Onscreen prompts get everything done. Roll the stick to the right to slider a door open, or press x quickly to dodge an incoming punch. Some more complicated prompts show up later that will have you holding down up to five buttons at a time, which can really test your finger dexterity. Although quicktime events don’t seem like fun, when your characters life depends on it, it’s insanely engrossing. It’s the storyline that really matters and the quicktime events are a only a vehicle that the character must use to shape his own fate. One of the best things about Heavy Rain is the knowledge that you can die or be captured at many points in the game, and the story will roll right along. No retry. No game over screen. It’s up to you to make the right calls to keep everyone alive, but it doesn’t require you to do so. Characters might die suddenly (as was the case in my game) or get to live happily ever after. It’s an interesting experience to have to control over little things, such as opening a cupboard, pulling out a box of juice and finally lifting it to your mouth to drink. That simple task can be spread out over 4 different actions you need to fulfill. It’s a unique experience no doubt.

JAY-SON!

The dialog in the game is handled in a somewhat clunky fashion. Options swirl around your head each coinciding with a button press. It’s a little frustrating when you have little time and the option you want is shaking and moving and just generally difficult to read. I think something like the Mass Effect 2 Dialog system could have helped set this game on sturdier ground.

You can also play this game two times and have wildly different outcomes which is fantastic. It’s strange that the game does so many new things but fails at old things. Character movement is horrendous. Characters control like tanks that have lots their treads and randomly decide to take a left when you want a right. Your hands will sweat as you try to nail every button prompt on screen because someones life is usually on the line. It helps everything have a weighty feel, even if the wool is somewhat being pulled over your eyes occasionally. The game also throws in some memory testing sections that really turn things up and should have been a more heavy component in my opinion.

In The End

While the game does present itself as something new, it only delivers on half of the promises it makes. The storyline is interesting, but absolutely filled with plot holes and ham-handled red herrings. The action sequences are intense but cluttered with control and camera problems. For everything the game does right, it does something else poorly. It’s an experiment with mixed results. I would recommend you play it just for the experience, but as a game and a piece of entertainment it doesn’t transcend the medium like I had hoped for.

Another year, another Call Of Duty game released on Veteran’s Day, that’s been Activision’s MO and thus far it has been confirmed to continue on Veteran’s Day 2010.  We know that many Vietnam-era songs have been trademarked by the developers, possibly hinting at a Vietnam based tour of duty.  Fighting Charlie on their own turf, playing the defensive role in trap-laden jungles could provide a much needed shift in gameplay for the franchise, as well as opening up strategy options for the game.  Other rumors have placed the next game during the Cold War 50’s between the US and Russia.  Given the history of the Modern Warfare games, and their ability to weave a story around black ops missions, this could be an interesting step for the franchise.  Granted, the Cold War period would not seem to be as action heavy as the guerrilla tactics of the Vietnam War could be, but it would be interesting to see how a story could be weaved within all of the behind the scenes, tissue paper fragile political state of the Cold War time period.  I’m sure we could agree that either would be a welcome change from the virulent plague that is the World War II setting.

We could speculate forever about this year’s entry, but speculation of the 2011 entry may prove slightly more interesting.  We’ve heard the rumors of a third dev studio entering the COD rotation, and now we have confirmation.  Sledgehammer Games will be handling next year’s Call of Duty game, headed by Visceral veterans Glen Schofield and Michael Condrey.  An even bigger surprise is that Sledgehammer’s draftee won’t be a first-person shooter, but an “action-adventure”.  Scoffers are saying this will be a “Gears of Duty” atrocity, but I would like to think that Sledgehammer will take a page from Alpha Protocol.  Of course it’s impossible to gauge how this move will turn out without more information and knowledge of the setting, but a marriage of Mass Effect/Alpha Protocol depth of story with the Soap MacTavish type exploits of Modern Warfare could be a home run that sails past the stadium and into the parking lot.  Will this be a marriage of a cover-based shooter with the COD universe, or could it lean towards a Sam Fischer/Assassin’s Creed style of stealth action?  The possibilities are certainly intriguing, especially for a company that has taken as much flak as Activision has for bleeding it’s properties dry.  The Call of Duty franchise is carried by it’s multiplayer innovations, which makes one wonder how this drastic change will affect the massive multiplayer base COD already has in it’s pocket.

One thing is for sure, this writer is certainly intrigued by the possibilities of these two new games.  For me, Modern Warfare 2 left a bad taste in my mouth because of the ‘No Russian’ choice, but I’m not counting out the next titles.  Treyarch had a strong entry with World At War, and has a chance to pick up the pace with this year’s game.  Not to mention that, if carried out properly, a triannual sidestep from the first-person space could be the change of pace that makes us re-enlist with Activision in 2011.  We would love to hear your thoughts, either by commenting here, or checking out our forums.  Look for the Call of Duty thread in the Multi-Platform section of the forums, and stay tuned because you can be sure we will be covering all the news that emerges about this franchise!

EDG Podcast Ep. #50

EDG Podcast Ep. #49

That’s the idea behind the Good Grief feature. Basically, we look at those really bad segments or decisions in what are otherwise really good games. In the first article, David Lange explored the absurdities of the skull collecting in Halo 3. In the second, I looked at the flag collecting in Assassin’s Creed. This time, we are going to look at a gamplay decision that just jars you out of what is an otherwise immersive experience: the turret sections of Dead Space.

A Game of Precision

If you have read my review of Dead Space, you know I was rather surprised by how much I liked this game, since I am not really a fan of survival-horror games. There was something about the game that just really set it apart. The developers did a great job of setting the tone on the Ishimura, making you move carefully from corridor to corridor, expecting to be attacked at any moment. The atmosphere drew me into the game much more than I truly thought was possible.

The Plasma Cutter is such a precise weapon.

A major part of the appeal of this game is the precision with which you have to play it. Headshots are not the goal of this game. As a matter of fact, many of the enemies in Dead Space adapt rather well if you hit them in the head. The developers called the strategy for dealing with enemies “strategic dismemberment;” since the “Necromorphs” are already dead, you have to remove enough of their limbs to render them harmless. The tools you use as your weapons force you to deal with your enemies with a precision that is almost akin to playing a puzzle game.

As you progress though the game, you become more aware of just what items and methods of attack work for what enemies. You also find yourself in a more precarious predicament: the Ishimura, a planet-cracking mining ship, is drifting into the debris of the planet it was harvesting, and the auto defense cannons that would help eliminate that debris are off line. You find yourself leading Isaac across the outside of the ship, doing your best to take cover when the debris comes your way and deal with any enemies before you run out of air as you make your way to the cannons. Once there, you are informed it will be a little time before the automated system comes back online, and so you have to take manual control of the turret and try to keep the ship from taking too much damage before the system resets. You sit down to take control…

…and all that time you spent getting immersed in the story goes right out the window.

Turret Mini-game? Really?

The first thing you notice upon taking control of the turret is how sluggish the controls are. Gone is the precision of the plasma cutter or the line gun. What you are left with is a lumbering gun that makes it really difficult to actually shoot the debris that is threatening the ship. Add to that how easy it is to overheat the guns and the fact that much of the debris has to be shot multiple times, and you have a recipe for frustration.

Who really thought this would be a good idea?

The horrors don’t stop there, however. You are covering a very wide area with a slow moving gun. You simply cannot shoot debris on one extreme end and then try to swing to the other side and shoot more. After your third or fourth playthru of this segment (I can almost guarantee you will play it that many times through), you learn it’s not a matter of keeping the debris from hitting the ship; it’s a matter of keeping too much debris from hitting the ship. You will learn to not worry about the smaller pieces that are on the extreme ends of the screen, as it is a better idea to let them hit you than miss the larger pieces that can really cause damage. Maybe the designers intended to force you into making this choice. I sure hope not, however. That would almost be sadistic.

To add insult to injury, you are in communication with Zach Hammond, the security officer who is trying to activate the automated defenses, during this segment. He keeps telling you he needs just a little more time, and about the third time he tells you this, you start to think he is a blithering idiot who could not restore the automated defenses if his life depended on it, which it does. What’s worse that making you feel like you are caught in a hopeless situation? Continually giving you false hope that things will be getting better soon.

It seriously took me about ten times to finally get past this segment on my first playthru. I almost stopped playing the game; it just seemed so out of place it what up to that point had been a very enjoyable experience. It did not take long, however, for the atmosphere and return of the precision gameplay to draw me back in.

At least until the next turret section.

That’s right! As if this first atrocity was not bad enough, the developers decided you needed to use another turret to deal with one of the larger enemies in the game. I was so close to walking away from Dead Space when I saw that second turret, but I decided to give it a chance. I was pleasantly surprised to find this segment was not nearly as bad as the asteroid defense section, but it still really does not fit the rest of the gameplay.

Perseverance Pays Off

In the end, I am glad I muscled my way through these two really bad segments of gameplay. If I had not, I would have missed out on what was really one of the more inventive games of 2008. Dead Space’s use of zero-g segments, creepy atmosphere that keeps you on your toes and intense battles make it a game any sci-fi or survival-horror fan really should experience. I am even really looking forward to playing the sequal.

I can only hope the designers will not include any turret segments in Dead Space 2.

Feathers in Blizzard’s Cap

Like colored lions, Blizzard seems to have hand picked features from various existing services and systems, and allowed them to unite into the new service that is BattleNet 2.0.  Let’s look at the good things to come:

1. BattleNet will allow players to create a profile with an ‘avatar(sound familiar) that will be used across all Blizzard games, including World Of Warcraft.  This will track your stats, unlock achievements and allow you to add friends to hook up with during your games.  BN is also slated to provide unlockable items for your profile/avatar as rewards for in-game achievements.
2. Another coveted feature of your BattleNet account is it’s strikingly similar to Steam Cloud service, saving your games on Blizzard’s server and allowing you to pick up your game from any computer you sign into your BN account with.  Nice for single play experiences, especially if you need to reinstall your game for some unforseen reason, but I see some issues with this to be addressed in our next section.
3. Much like Steam and XBL, BN will allow players to access party chat and cross-game chat systems, meaning you can still talk to your friends on their WoW raids while you whittle away at the Terran Campaign on Starcraft II.
4. Similar to the Cerberus Network, for those who’ve played Mass Effect 2, BN will stay logged in, even during Single Player experiences to keep you updated on the latest Blizzard news, features and announcements, for those who value those features.  Not a necessary feature in my mind, but an interesting addition.
5. All Blizzard, and presumably some Activision titles, will be available for purchase on a BN store, much like Valve’s Steam service.  In addition, any Blizzard titles you own will be tracked and accessable from BN, with your serial codes stored.  Presumably, BN will also store games for a downloaded install, similar to Steam, however this portion has not been confirmed.

There Are A Few Flies In The Ointment…

1. While all of these features may sound nice, the number one drawback I can see is the need to be connected to the internet.  Much to the dismay of our beloved Game Devs, high speed internet does not have the install base that they would like to think it does, making for what could be a very problematic experience for those who just want to experience the single player features of Blizzard’s blockbuster titles.  I have played the first Diablo and Starcraft, and have no desire to play those games multiplayer, nor be forced to be tethered to the internet to access my single player games.
2. PC Gamers love our Mods, don’t we guys?  Well, say goodbye to the free mods as Blizzard ushers in the atrocity that is the console DLC delivery system.  Blizzard has already announced that, while free mods will still be available, there will be ‘premium mods’ available to the player for a fee on BN.  From all reports, these seem to be user created mods that Blizzard will now charge for.  Bravo guys, tell me it’s raining while you are just, well, you get the idea.
3. Lastly, and presumably the negative point causing the most furor, is the need to merge all of your WoW accounts with BN.  Personally, I have no experience with this, but quick searches of many WoW gaming forums can unearth a plethora of highs and lows to this forced merger.  I’m sure once all of the mumors die down, the pros may outweigh the cons, but I do know that players who choose to have multiple accounts and characters have not been initially happy with this requirement being forced upon their Azeroth dopplegangers.

Final Thoughts

Of course the jury is still out without more hands on and news leaked, and I have no doubt that Blizzard is trying to both provide the highest level gaming experience to it’s customers while providing protection for themselves from today’s cyperpunk pirates.  That said, I cannot say that I am happy with the need to be shackled to an internet connection to play a single player game, especially in light of what Ubisoft has chosen to do with it’s PC ports.  I can definitely say that even if threatened by a Death Knight, this writer will probably not be purchasing Diablo III or Starcraft II, until I can be guaranteed that these new features will not cripple my ability to enjoy the games sans internet.  First Ubisoft, now Blizzard, it’s going to be an interesting year for PC gaming, and interesting to see if these DRM business models succeed or get overcome by the basement-dwelling mountain dew slurping hordes.

The Story

Returning to the world of Rapture ten years after the events of the first game, you control “Delta”, a first generation Big Daddy with all the skills necessary to handle the wild citizens of Rapture. You have been brought back to life in order to save the little sister you were bound to and the entire world of Rapture is standing in your way. Andrew Ryan’s time has passed and his utopia has slipped further and further into madness and chaos. His life long over, you are introduced to new leaders who have picked up the pieces left by Ryan. Instead of having Andrew Ryan or Fontaine, you have Sophia Lamb, a former psychiatrist and new leader for the abandoned city. She might claim to have different motivation and political views, but it all feels pretty much the same from your boots. Lamb is holding your little sister hostage and you’re going to have to go and get her, but that’s not as easy as it sounds. The remaining non-splicer citizens have taken over sections of Rapture and you’re going to need to get their help to continue your journey.

A New Threat

You get to listen in through audio logs as Lamb and Ryan debate back and forth on the motivations behind each others actions. It sort of feels forced in as you think of how someone clearly so important in the history of this place was never once mentioned in the previous game. It’s obvious why, but still disappointing to know that these characters are being inserted into the cannon of Rapture in order to create more room for a sequel. New enemies pop up but none prove more potent then the Big Sisters. Some Little Sisters that have remained in Rapture have been transformed into these quick moving and deadly enemies. Tools of Sophia Lamb, they are always watching you and show up periodically to give you trouble.

Although the story still managed to hold my interest through its entirety, I certainly didn’t feel any of the shock and awe I experienced when I was first introduced to Rapture and its history. Discovering and diving into the art style and characters was a new and fresh experience in the original and as much as I enjoyed seeing new characters and places, non of it felt as important as when I had seen it first. One thing that has been drastically improved is the ending, which comes off as the strongest part of game, in stark contrast with the first offering.

The Gameplay

Moving along from the disappointments of the story, one thing that this game definitely does better is the gameplay. You still have the interesting powers you remember from the first game but everything has been upgraded. As a Big Daddy, you are given the choice to deal with the Little Sisters in whatever manner you see fit. Harvest her for a quick boost of Adam, or adopt her and go from there. Having the little sister on your shoulders means she can lead you to bodies that have large amounts of Adam for her to harvest. This proves a profitable way of gathering Adam, but it’s not the easiest way. The act of gather the Adam attracts all sorts of unwanted attention, so be prepared to fight as you wait for her to finish her job. Luckily you are provided with more then enough tools to help fight off the evil forces of Rapture. One of the most prominent new features is the ability to dual wield your powers along with your weapons. You can now use your powers to turn the tides in guns fights. Freeze, ignite and shock your enemies mid fight to give yourself a tactical advantage, or use other powers to help use the environment as an ally.

Like the first one, half of the battle is in the plannings. Set up traps for your enemies with weapons or plasmids. Everything from Tornado traps on the floor to the old fashion electrical wires can be used in lots of creative ways. It’s a fresh breathe of air and can really encourage some creativity in a genre that needs it. The shooting feels a little questionable at first, but is greatly improved later on in the game with upgrades. Your trusty wrench has been replaced by the Big Daddy drill, which when used right can cause massive damage to any enemy in the game. Upgrade your guns and Plasmids to the higher levels and you will be pleasantly surprised at the new additions you find. Some of the new powers like “Scout” (the ability to move forward into areas while invisible) really can prove useful once you upgrade it and gain the ability to hack turrets and cameras before entering a room.

Under The Sea.

Nothing has really been changed about the health or gathering system, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The hacking mini game has been changed for the better. This time is doesn’t take you out of experience and kill the pacing. Hack vending machines and ammo stations for bonuses in a quick and neat fashion, but be prepared for trouble if you fumble the hack.

Along with the addition of Big Sisters, new types of splicers show up in the game including the “brutes” who charge at you and throw objects from a distance. You will meet plenty of enemies throughout your journey and have lots of memorable battles. The experience starts off a little slow, but after a few hours you will be rolling along nicely picking up audio logs and smashing splicers with your new powers and weapons. You also get to explore more of rapture as you gain the ability to go outside underwater in your Big Daddy suit. I can’t get into every new aspect of the gameplay because it would take forever. Just know that it’s all been improved and handles a lot more smoothly then the first. Take care in the choices you make during the game because you are forced to answer for your choices in the end.

A Multiplayer Experience?

Maybe one of the most questionable steps taken by Bioshock 2 is the addition of a competitive online multiplayer mode. No one seemed to mind that the first was lacking this mode because of the strong single player experience. The main worry is that time taken away from the single player and dedicated to the multiplayer would negatively affect the game as the whole. That just isn’t the case. The multiplayer feels almost shockingly well rounded. As is the same with so many other games, a experienced system has been integrated in helping to encourage you to keep coming back. Customize your load outs and choose from a number of game types to suit your fancy.

Classic Deathmatch

The classic deathmatch and team deathmatch areboth present along with some variations on other popular game modes. Capture the flag has been turned into capture the little sister, with one side on defense and the other on offense. The gunplay feels a lot faster than the single player in a good way, and the ability to hack and use the research camera also makes an appearance in the multiplayer. Scan the the bodies of your victims for a damage bonus or hack turrets to help fight for you in gun fights. Maybe if you’re lucky you will find the randomly appearing Big Daddy suit and put the hurt down on those lowely splicers.

Add it all together and you have a completely competent mutliplayer experience. It doesn’t do anything particularly groundbreaking, but it does check all the boxes you would hope for. I’m not sure how long it will keep players interested, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it managed to carve out a small dedicated group of players that really find something they enjoy. They event went so far as to try and write the entire multiplayer mode into the cannon as experiments in plasmid research. It’s a little charming and a nice touch when you enter your apartment to customize all your load outs and outfits.

The Verdict

Despite the negative feelings you may have about creating a sequel to Bioshock, their is no denying that this game is great. It looks beautiful and it plays fantastic. 2K Marin gave it a real shot and I feel like they succeeded in drawing me back into the Bioshock universe. The new additions are all welcomed as the game takes the abilities of the players to new levels and really lets you customize your own play style. The overall level of action is just better. You no longer have to fight with the controls and can take full advantage of the gifts you have been given. Combine that will an incredible ending and you have a game that manages to hold it’s own ground when compared to the original.

Additional Thoughts by Patrick Adams

Being that the original BioShock is at the top of my “favorite games of all time” list I was a little skeptical when I heard that Ken Levine would no longer be the man behind the series. I was afraid that the BioShock franchise was going to be ruined but yet I still stayed faithful. I did have low expectations going into the game but only because of what other people were saying (without having even played it). I must say that BioShock 2 has exceeded my expectations  and in my opinion is the best way they could have done a sequel. The story is still interesting, the gameplay has improved to what I would expect, and the final product feels great. Maybe it’s because I have a daughter but I really enjoyed the interaction with the Little Sisters. To be honest, BioShock 2 is really just more BioShock, and to me that is definitely a good thing. I’m excited to see what 2K Marin can come up with for BioShock 3. My suggestion is that they bring us into Rapture when it was at its peak, before it’s downfall, whether it be by playable flashbacks or actual present time.

EDG Podcast #48

I happen to be one of the few who doesn’t live in a highly urbanized area, therefore my online gaming and connectivity is limited-something you know if you listen to the podcast and have heard me rant(or break up for that matter…lol).  It’s not only Xbox Live and the Playstation Network that require internet, it’s become an increasingly frustrating problem for PC gamers, which I typically represent.  We have Games For Windows Live, which is the PC’s version of the Playstation Network(no, that’s not a typo).  Imagine popping your favorite new game in the drive, only to see there’s an update, or heaven forbid, some new free DLC available that you must install before you can launch the game.  Not unfamiliar, you say, but not having a stable connection can drag that process out much longer than needed.

Even a game such as Dragon Age, with no online multiplayer, needs to sync up with a profile you have created online for the game – especially if you have any of the DLC for the game installed on you PC.  Your game can be played and saved locally, and then synced with your profile when you get back online, until you reach the points in the game that place you in the DLC missions.  From that point on you are not able to access your saves and progress through the game unless you are logged in online to verify the DLC and your saves. Luckily the Mass Effect 2 Cerberus Network worked well, although it is another need to be connected.  I have not reached the DLC portions of either of theose Bioware hits, but as of yet you are able to play without being connected, which is a bonus.  It is mind boggling how many games in my library are nothing more than coasters without online connectivity, or worse digital coasters on someone else’s servers that I cannot tap into.  It’s like having a gorgeous new Ferrari, that the dealer cannot find the keys to!  It makes you question how dependent we have come to be on the internet and those little lights flashing on our modems.

As if Bioware’s approach isn’t bad enough, let’s look at the two-pronged stance Ubisoft is taking with the PC port of Assassin’s Creed, due out March 16th this year.  Not only have they taken a page from Infinity Ward’s book by raising the price of the game to $59.99 but they have also added high speed internet to the system requirements.  Not for initial installation and validation, but the game’s requirements specifically say that the connection is required “to play this video game at all times and to unlock exclusive content”.  Call me crazy, but I say this is overstepping the line on  a system that already has major issues with poor sales of ported console games.  I’m sure the price hike would have gone over with much grumbling on the gaming forums, but like Modern Warfare 2 has proved, PC players will pay for it.  I dare say that the requirement of being online to play a SINGLE PLAYER game will affect the sales figures negatively, and it is an unfortunate trend that shows no signs of changing.

Granted, a lot of you out there are not PC gamers, but I’m sure you can sympathize with my plight.  Unless your XBOX or PS3 remains free of internet connections, we are all accosted by the need to download and install updates or lose our online features periodically.  It has not been until the inception of Xbox Live, furthered by the connectivity of the 360 and the PS3 that these features have been so integrated, almost ingrained in the gaming that we do.  We have seen leaps and strides in what online gaming and communities can do, but what price do these features come at when the modem lights go out?  For me, as a PC gamer this is further complicated by the need for online authentication and digital distribution via sites like Steam, Impulse, Gamers Gate and Direct2Drive.  The holiday sales those sites all ran were mind-blowing, amazingly cheap and hopefully a new trend that will continue.  Except, that once you’ve made those purchases and finalized your transactions, all have various requirements for being connected to the internet.  The most frustrating of which can be Steam’s online save feature, Steam Cloud, which will back up your game’s progress on Steam’s servers, not just your own PC.  Sounds great right?  Until you launch a game when you are not connected to the internet and your new save wipes out the copies of your old saves on your computer AND the ones saved via Steam Cloud.  Whoops.  As I mentioned, this is an increasing problem with the PC because of the need for even brief online authenticity to activate a game.  Yes, Steam can run in offline mode, but if and only if the game you want to play has already run and been verified with an active internet connection.

Don’t get me wrong, there are lots of bonuses and great things that online functionality has brought to gaming-XBL, stat tracking and digital distribution are all amazing new additions at gamer’s fingertips.  As we all know though, serious gamers definitely live and breath on the online functionality of their games–and let’s not forget that many of these features were available long before the internet became the crutch on which gaming now rests.  It can just be maddening when the lights on that modem go out, and it makes us realize just how much of a crutch the internet has become  for today’s gamers.  It’s definitely something we take for granted when it works and curse when it doesn’t, but what will this mean for the future of gaming and the future hardware generations?

The Story

Just to recap a little, Torchlight is a hack-n-slash dungeon crawler by Runic games, the same masterminds behind the first two Diablo games and the Fate series, and it builds upon the elements started by those monumental titles.  The player picks one of three classes, a Destroyer, a Vanquisher or an Alchemist.   It takes place in the mining town of the same name, where mining of Ember has corrupted people and brought a Blight upon the land.  As a new traveler coming to Torchlight, you initially begin helping a female character by the name of Syl, whose companion has chased some of the foul blight monsters back to the depths of Torchlight’s mines.  Taking that first step draws you in to not only helping vanquish the monsters and attempt to save Brink, but solve the bigger problem of stopping the Blight, containing the Dark Ember threat, and even cleansing yourself from the taint of Ember.

The Gameplay

While all of that sounds like an interesting plotline, the story is a fairly vague backdrop to the amazingly tight gameplay Torchlight offers.  You start by creating a your character, and choosing and naming a pet Dog or Cat to accompany them.  Your pet not only acts as a pack mule to open up your inventory, but can also be taught spells to use in combat, when instructed to take an “aggressive” stance.  Also, by fishing at specialized location in-game, you can find fish that, when fed to your pet can turn them into a variety of creatures or apply boosted stats and effects for limited times.  The action comes hard and fast, even on the lower difficulties, which can be  rewarding depending on customizations made to unique skill sets.  The skill sets do much to offset the cookie cutter classes of the Vanquisher and Destroyer, creating endless possibilities for mixing melee and magic abilities that are not always available to these classes.  It is this customization in the hands of the player that can take a second or third play-through with that class and offer you to play as a vastly different character, based on the skills you choose to accentuate. As a point and click dungeon crawler, Torchlight offers only a few innovations to the controls, which need not be updated.  Left-click attacks, right-click can be bound to any of your inventory items, abilities or spells, two spells can be alternated by hitting the ‘Tab’ key for on the fly change during combat.  The main dungeon offers 35 levels, but a town NPC who portals you to various dungeons, dungeon portal maps you can obtain, and and endless dungeon after the game’s completion take the longevity of the game far past those main 35 levels.  Runic has nailed the gameplay, crafting a highly addictive “one more level” allure that engulfs you for hours when you may have only intended to jump in for twenty minutes.  Dungeon levels are like Pringles, there’s no way to stop after just one.  Characters can also be retired following the completion of the game, allowing you to pass along one item of your choice, with boosted stats for future characters to use. Loot, Loot, Loot!  Let’s talk about that loot!  Tons of weapons abound as the enemies fall, including pistols and rifles.  Items and armor vary from being normal, enchanted, rare and unique.  Also included are unique sets of gear that offer further stat bonuses for each piece collected and equipped together.  One last accolade, Torchlight has entered a crowded PC market of high system requirements and managed to submit a game that outperforms them on any system, even offering a Netbook Mode, to allow smooth play on most netbooks.  It’s refreshing to see a game such as this emerge among the squabbling over increasing system requirements and prove that it is not necessary to have top of the line hardware to experience an amazing game.

A Word About Mods

While not part of the original game, I felt this element deserved a mention in the review.  Many mods have become available for Torchlight, offering new character classes, new pets, new skins for both, new skills, new items, new monsters and various tweaks to the gameplay.  Merchant mods change up the town merchants and make items available only through item drops now something you can simply purchase from a town merchant.  In Torchlight, you are limited to carrying a maximum of 20 potions, scrolls or items in a stack, however that can be modded to a whopping 200 to free up some much needed inventory space.  While Runic cannot be held accountable for problems with mods, or the content created, the simple fact that they have opened up an already amazing game to be tweaked and retooled by the players is very commendable.  I’m sure some ideas could be latched onto for future iterations, or the rumored MMO component that they may or may not be adding to the game. Best of all, unlike the DLC delivery system offerings, Torchlight’s mods are completely free!

The Verdict

Torchlight is an amazing game, worth every penny paid for it.  I was lucky enough to grab it at a 50% off sale online, but I dare say it is a game I would gladly have paid full price, or more to play and walked away completely satisfied.  The longevity of the game carries far beyond your initial playthrough, and the addictiveness cannot be paralleled.  Torchlight stands head and shoulders with it’s competitors, some it may not have intended to compete with, coming out far ahead.  I dare say they have raised the bar for not only future hack and slash dungeon crawlers, but for even the coveted Diablo III.  I tip my hat to thee, Runic, and await your future quests.

EDC Podcast Special: mass Effect 2

PixelJunk Shooter is a game in where you control a spaceship that flies underground in caves trying to rescue workers and collect gems. Along the way you are faced with the elements of water, lava, ice, flammable steam, and magnetic matter. The elements are used in unique ways throughout the game making you think before just going in guns blazing. The workers can die really easily so you have to do some planning first. To switch up the gameplay you are also presented with suits that change the way your ship acts. For example you can obtain a suit that shoots water or lava instead of your regular missiles.

The third world

Your default weapons are regular missiles which you can fire non-stop or homing missiles which are more powerful but heat up your ship. Your ship can get overheated by getting shot by enemies, getting too close to lava, or shooting homing missiles for too long. Your ship will cool down eventually but if fly through water you will cool down instantly.

PixelJunk Shooter is a great game for the series. My only complaint is that it’s too short and a little too easy in the first two worlds. It’s not until you get to the third world that it starts to get challenging. This is what I want more of. As with all the PixelJunk games there should be an “Encore” pack released eventually that will have more levels. I am looking forward to that because I haven’t had my PJ Shooter fill yet. I want more!

And yes, that will make sense after you listen to it.

EDG Podcast Ep. #47

Fallout: New Vegas has been officially given a “Fall 2010″ release time frame. Here is the game summary taken right from the press site:

Experience all the sights and sounds of fabulous New Vegas, brought to you by Vault-Tec, America’s First Choice in Post Nuclear Simulation. Explore the treacherous wastes of the Great Southwest from the safety and comfort of your very own vault: Meet new people, confront terrifying creatures, and arm yourself with the latest high-tech weaponry as you make a name for yourself on a thrilling new journey across the Mojave wasteland. A word of warning, however – while Vault-Tec engineers have prepared for every contingency,* in Vegas, fortunes can change in an instant. Enjoy your stay.

Here is the official teaser trailer:

Words with Friends looks and plays exactly like Scrabble. You have 7 letters which you are to use to make words on a board. As you use your letters you are given new letters. The object of the game is to have the most points at the end of the game. The game ends when all of the reserve letters run out and both players use all of their letters. Words With Friends is played with only one other person. You can either play online against someone you know, online against a randomly selected person, or on the same iPhone by passing it back and forth.

I'm losing

So far I’ve only played against random people over the internet and this is the reason why I have become so addicted to Words With Friends. This game is perfect for when you are on-the-go or even sitting in the office. I love the fact that you can start more than one game and with push notifications you are notified when it’s your turn. So for example, I’m sitting at my desk, working on something, my phone vibrates letting me know it’s my turn. Most of the time the games are slow, this is why it’s so great that you can start more than one game. Usually I have at least 5 games going and I’m just doing everyday things while playing this extended game of Scrabble. Some games I’ve completed in less than an hour, some games have taken almost 2 days.

At the time of writing this review I am currently addicted to Words With Friends. It was everything I was craving in a word game. I don’t suspect it will get old either because it’s not something overwhelming, it’s just a simple game of Scrabble played online or with a friend and you can play it at your own pace. This is why Words With Friends works so perfectly on the iPhone.

The Story: A New Threat

The Collectors: The newest threat to the Mass Effect universe.

After a dramatic intro to the game, Mass Effect 2 drops you back into BioWare’s universe two years after the fateful battle at the Citadel. Human colonists in the terminus systems are being abducted by an alien race known as the Collectors, and no one seems to know why or how to stop them. Cerberus, a shady entity with a pro-human agenda, seems to be the only group willing to do anything about the Collectors. Its leader, known only as the Illusive Man, hires Shephard and provides him/her (your choice) with a new and improved version of the Normandy, believing Shephard is the only person who can assemble a team capable of dealing with this new threat.

As Shephard, you must recruit the best of the best, whether human or Asari, biotic or soldier, in hopes that the collective skills of the crew you assemble will give you a chance against an enemy that outnumbers you and has much greater technology. Along the way, you will run across your old friends and enemies, along with several new characters who make the story truly come to life. The voice acting in this game is absolutely top notch, with sequences that will rival any movie being made in Hollywood. Add to that a plot that completely changes everything you thought you know about the universe created in the first game, and you have what is easily one of the most engaging storylines in gaming.

While it is impossible to talk too much about the story without spoiling it, one thing I can say is to pay attention to the decisions you make. Not only will they affect the game itself, they can affect the loyalty of your crew, and you will need all of their loyalty to make it though the end of the game in tact.

After all, in case you did not know this, it is possible for you to beat the game and yet still have Shephard die.

The Gameplay: BioWare Listened

As good as the firstMass Effect was, there were some things that drove gamers absolutely crazy. A poor inventory system, quirky combat controls that looked like a shooter but really did not play like one, cookie cutter side missions with the same buildings and caves over and over and those darn elevators tended to drive even the most ardent fan of the game insane. BioBare had said going into Mass Effect 2 they were going to improve all of those things, and they delivered in that promise.

• Inventory: There basically isn’t an inventory system in the sequel. As opposed to having multiple weapons of a particular type and all the various upgrades, you find various items you can research to improve your weapons, armor and even the Normandy itself. What this means is you are never having to decide what useful item you were going to have to turn to omni-gel just so you could carry more stuff.
  

  The new cover system is a welcome addition to the gameplay.

• Combat: Mass Effect 2 plays much more like a third person shooter with RPG elements, as opposed to its predecessor which did the reverse. Gone are the feels of the die rolls; there is much more emphasis on aim and headshots in this game. At the same time, you have a much better squad command system and the ability to map three biotic/tech powers to buttons on the controller on top of your standard time pausing target selection process. The game also forces you to rely on cover; you are usually outnumbered and outgunned, and if you try to run headlong into battle, you will not last very long.
• Side Missions: There is no such thing as a cookie cutter mission in this game. Every side mission takes on its own life, with unique settings and additions to the storyline. Some side missions actually unlock others as you beat them, giving the missions a depth that was never really there in the first game. I never felt like I was just going through the motions of the side quests in this game. On the contrary, I quite enjoyed them.
• Elevators/Load Screens: The first time I entered an elevator in the Normandy, I could not help but mockingly brace myself for what was coming. Instead of spending forever in the elevator just spinning the camera around to waste time, I was rather pleasantly surprised to see myself zooming out to a schematic of the ship, giving me an overview of where the elevator was taking me. Other load screens are handled in this same style, showing anything from your shuttle departing from the Normandy to land on a planet to whatever path the planet side transportation you are using is taking. Its a nice touch that never lasts as long or gets as frustrating as the first game’s load screens.

While BioWare has made signification changes to the gameplay, the best element may be a slight refinement to what was already one of the series’ most distinctive features: the conversation system. Conversations flow much more naturally in Mass Effect 2, with characters actually moving around and reacting logically to the flow of the dialogue as opposed to just standing there as you talk. Little touches, like a character standing up to pace a bit before answering or moving closer or further from you as you converse, make the dialogue seem more real.

Your team is your lifeline. You will need all of them to make it through the final mission.

No discussion of the conversation system would be complete without discussing ME2’s interrupt feature. During conversations, you will often be given the chance to interrupt the character in either a positive or negative way. Paragon interrupts, activated by hitting the left trigger when prompted, will result in positive actions, such as giving medi-gel to an infected Batarian or helping someone focus. Renegade interrupts, activated with the right trigger, lead to more negative results: shooting someone’s bodyguards, head butting a Krogan, etc. This feature draws you into the game even more, making you pay extra attention to the conversations in the game, often wondering what would have happened if you had chosen to use an interrupt, or if you hadn’t.

And then there is the character import system. BioWare obviously wanted to reward those who had played the first game, and while it may have seemed the company down played this feature, you will be amazed at what a difference it can make. You will run across several characters who were influenced by your actions in the first game, giving fans a chance to truly see the difference they have made.

Mass Effect showed how cinematic an action/RPG can be. Mass Effect 2 improved heavily on its predecessor, making this an almost flawless game.

The Verdict: Not Hyped Enough

As I just mentioned, Mass Effect 2 is an almost perfect game. There are some issues with the cover system where you will find yourself suddenly vulnerable to attack, an odd choice to have you fly manually between solar systems not containing Mass Effect relays and some game glitches including but not limited to a complete loss of sound in the game that keep it from being perfect.

In the end, however, I found these few negative points just really did not bother me. BioWare has built an absolute masterpiece of a game that manages to more than live up to its hype. Every character is multi-dimensional, even Subject Zero, who could easily have been just the archetype bad girl. Players of the first game will love the references to characters and events in it. Even more impressive than that is the the fact BioWare did with this game what I thought would be next to impossible: creating an ending even more epic than the first.

Every now and then a game comes along that forever changes your perspective on just what is possible in this medium we enjoy. Mass Effect 2 is that kind of game. I cannot stress enough just how much of a joy it is to play, and though I have beaten it, I am already planning my next playthough. An early favorite for 2010’s Game of the Year, Mass Effect 2 gets a 5 out of 5.

Guerrilla Bob is the game I’ve been waiting for. It’s a dual-stick shooter in where you are to get from Point A to Point B while shooting enemies along the way. You’ll even encounter a boss or two along the way. The great thing about dual-stick shooters is the fact that you don’t normally have to worry about ammo, this is the case in Guerrilla as well. Once you pick up a weapon it stays a part of your arsenal the rest of the way through the game.  There are 8 levels total. Once you complete a level you are given an A, B, C score based on how well you did.

While GB is exactly what I’ve wanted in an iPhone game I still have some complaints. First of all, it takes some time to get used to the controls. When I first jumped into the game I was a little put off by how sensitive the controls were. This made the game a little harder because the automatic rifle fires at such a slow rate (but improves a little once upgraded). My other complaint if the fact that the setting never really changes all that much. It’s basically just desert the whole time. I like when games switch up the environments.

Other than those minor complaints Guerrilla Bob is an awesome game. It’s the kind of game I’ve been wanting ever since games arrived on the iPhone. I hope to see regular updates to GB because this is a game I can see myself following closely. Guerrilla Bob is currently $2.99.

In 2005, the Kaiser Family Foundation surveyed 2032 children from grades 3 through 12. This survey is just a minuet part of the on going research trying to find a link between media violence and more aggressive behavior.

Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a problem here. For years, there has been much debate over whether a direct correlation between forms of media violence, I.E. video games, and more aggressive behavior. So, where does the problem lie? In order to find the problem, we have to dig deeper through the research. First off, what is media violence. Well it is simply the violence found in Television shows, Movies, Video Games, etc. Politicians, parents and even some Psychologists will argue that playing such games as Grand Theft Auto, will lead to more aggressive behavior in the player.

The first part of the problem comes from the fact that much of the research is inconsistent and therefore inconclusive.  In previous surveys that have been conducted, one survey showed that teens reported more self involvements in physical fights after routine play of “M” or Mature rated games. However, another survey showed that players showed less aggression of gameplay of Mature rated games. So, what is the deciding factor? Well, the people in the first survey also admitted to having an aggressive nature to begin with. As you can see, the research

so far does not see, to support each other. Then why is it, that video games get such a bad rap? Well, video games are probably one of the most misunderstood forms of media out there.

Another piece of the problem is the fact that we focus too much on violence in video games. In fact, over sixty percent of television shown in primetime contain some form of violence. The fact is, there are far more violent choices then there are non-violent. Many people will argue that by playing violent video games, you become more violent. However, I believe these games are helping not hurting. The Virtual Psychology Classroom Journal talked about something known as the Catharsis Theory. The Catharsis Theory disputes the link between media violence and more aggressive behavior. The Catharsis Theory essentially states that the player takes out their aggression on a video game, something which is virtual and causes no harm to anyone. This seems like a positive, so why are the “side-effects” still such a controversial issue?

There are many aspects about video games that many people still do not

understand, we will address these in a later article. Many people make a one-sided argument about media violence. The media has constantly attacked video games, well it seems to me that the media attacks what it does not understand. Dr. Douglas A. Gentile argued that if all you research is the negative, that is all you will find. He argued how we always hear this conflicting reports about video games. He argued that instead, media violence has both positive and negative effects. Our goal here at Everyday Gamers, is to show by the end of what will be a  total of three articles, that :

1. There are many aspects of video games that are not understood.
2. Video Games are just like any other form of media
3. Video Games can affect you in positive ways and correlate back to real-life.

EDP Podcast Ep. #46

Expect our impressions of the iPad in a future post.

15. 2079 Tilt! – This game has to be the closest game on the market to the XBLA title Geometry Wars. It’s a very simple but impressive dual-stick shooter, and it’s only $0.99 so that’s awesome. iTunes Link

14. Sudoku Unlimited – I was never really into Sudoku until I got an iPhone. This version is one of the best I’ve played so far. I like how you can customize the look by changing the background. This game will run you $2.99. iTunes Link

13. Touch Hockey: FS5 - This is a simple but very polished air hockey game that lets you play vs. a computer, another person on the same phone, or another person over wi-fi. Oh, and it’s free. iTunes Link

12. Harbor Master – Maybe it’s a rip-off of Flight Control (with ships) but it’s a pretty great rip-off. With regular updates this game doesn’t get old. Direct the boats to their ports by drawing a line. Harbor Master is a steal at $0.99. iTunes Link

Flight Control

11. Flight Control – I think everyone knows about this game. You direct the airplanes to their landing strips by drawing a line with your finger. The object is to make sure they don’t crash into each other. FC is only $0.99. iTunes Link

10. Modern Combat: Sandstorm – This game is kind of like Modern Warfare on your iPhone. It’s the first FPS that really caught my eye out of the whole bunch. MC:S is currently $4.99. iTunes Link

9. Sol Free – This is a simple solitaire app that is free, hence the name. It’s the best looking and playing free solitaire app that I’ve seen so far. iTunes Link

8. Stone Loops! of Jurrassica – Even though it’s temporarily unavailable due to a copyright complaint it’s the best match-three zuma clone in the appstore. It’s very polished and quite lengthy.

7. Peggle – I’m sure you’ve played Peggle on just about every gaming console you own but this is the most intuitive version. The touch controls work great and the screen resolution makes the game look super sharp. Peggle on the iPhone is the cheapest you’ll see it on any console at $2.99. iTunes Link

6. Eliss – I can’t even explain this game but it’s one of the my favorite because it breaks the mold of your typical iPhone game and brings multi-touch into the picture. Eliss is only $2.99. iTunes Link

5. Edge – I would consider Edge to be one of the classics but it still outshines so many of the current iPhone games out there. The object is to roll the cube from point A to point B in a certain amount of time. It’s not as easy as you think. Edge is temporarily unavailable due to the stupid “edge” name copyright issues.

4. Labyrinth 2 – Labyrinth 2 is probably one of the most polished iPhone games I have come across so far. With the option to download user-made labyrinth levels as well as create your own this game really brings the concept of a labyrinth to the next level. Labyrinth 2 is $4.99. iTunes Link

iDracula

3. iDracula – Minigore? I don’t think so. iDracula is easily the best survival game on the iPhone. It’s full-featured and highly addictive. This is the only game on the list that made me sweat while playing it. It’s currently $2.99. iTunes Link

2. Star Defense – I’m a sucker for tower defense and Star Defense is the best TD offering on the market if not one of the best TD games I’ve ever played. Forget Fieldrunners. Star Defense is beyond a steal at $0.99 (originally $9.99). iTunes Link

1. N.O.V.A. – This was an easy pick. NOVA is a Halo clone for the iPhone and it’s easily the best game available. If you want a solid, highly-polished FPS that isn’t a struggle to play then NOVA is the way to go. It’s also great for making your non-iPhone/iPod Touch friends jealous. NOVA is currently $6.99. iTunes Link

Honorable Mentions: GTA: Chinatown Wars & Guerrilla Bob – At the time of this writing I hadn’t had a chance to play either of these games. I did play the DS version of Chinatown Wars so I know how great of a fit it would be on the iPhone. As for Guerrilla Bob, it’s the dual-stick shooter in where you have to get from point A to point B. GTA is currently $9.99 while Guerrilla Bob is $2.99. GTA Link. Guerrilla Link.

There you have it, my 15 must-have iPhone games. Don’t agree with the list? Think there is a game that I forgot? Express your opinion in the comments section below.

http://www.dsi-xl.co.uk/dsi-xl-nintendo-website-contest/

15. TV Forecast – Just add your favorite TV shows and this app will tell you how many days until the next episode airs. If you have trouble keeping track of days this app is perfect.

14. The Weather Channel – This app is the one to download if you don’t think the included weather app is enough. It gives you an hour-by-hour, 36-hour, and 10-day forecast.

13. YP Mobile – This is the official Yellow Pages app. Anytime I need a number for a store I just open this app and I am ready to go. It also gives you direction to the place just by tapping on the address.

12. Movies – This app shows you the lastest movies currently showing in theaters as well as upcoming movies. Watch trailers, rate movies,  list movies you want to see and share them with people on Facebook.

11. IMDb – I’ve been waiting for this app for a while and it’s finally here. The complete Internet Movie Database on your iPhone. Search by actor, film, etc. This is a must-have for any film buffs.

10. Shazam – Here a great song on the radio or in the store? Just open Shazam and it will tell you what the song, artist, and album is. It even let’s you buy the song off iTunes if you’re that impatient.

9. Facebook – This app is a mobile version of Facebook. You can’t do everything that you can do in the browser version but I wouldn’t be surprised if you could by the time the next update comes out.

8. RedBox – RedBox is a rental service where all rentals are $1. This app let’s you reserve the movie right from the phone, then all you have to do is pick it up at the designated redbox.

7. Awesome Note (+Todo) – This application is the ultimate notes and todo list app. Categorize your lists, pick different paper styles, font styles, add photos, etc. This app does it all.

6. Newsstand – Don’t be tricked into buying any other RSS reader. Newsstand is the best. Just trust me and go buy it. At the time of this writing Newsstand is currently not available in the appstore.

5. Giant Bomb – As you already probably know Giant Bomb is the Wikipedia of video games. If you love video games as much as I do then you need an app like this on your iPhone.

4. TextNow – My current texting plan has a limit of 200 texts a month so this app really comes in handy for me. If you are in the same boat as me I’d suggest you check this app out, it’s the best alternative texting app I’ve seen so far.

3. Amazon Mobile – I am addicted to Amazon.com. It’s the only place I ever buy anything these days. This app is a mobile version of it which makes it easy to spend more money than you currently have in your bank account. My advice: Be careful with the one-click purchasing.

2. Bible – This Bible app by LifeChurch.tv is by far the best Bible app on the market. You can read the Bible in any translation you want. Tap on a verse and you can email it to a friend, bookmark it, and even tweet it. You can also start a reading plan like I have which makes it very easy to stay on top of reading the Bible everyday. The app even syncs with the browser version which is located at http://youversion.com.

1. Tweetie 2 – I hate to have to put this one before the Bible app but the truth is, I am checking this app the most throughout the day. Tweetie 2 is in my opinion the best Twitter application for the iPhone. There are a lot of choices out there and I have tried them all. I was using Twitterrific for a long time but decided to switch to Tweetie 2 after learning about all the awesome features.

So there you have it, my top 15 must-have iPhone apps. Do you agree? What are some apps that you think should have made the list? Let your thoughts out in the comments section below.