Shadow Complex was released while I was out of town with no Xbox 360 in sight so I had plenty of time to read all the hype before I got a chance to sit down with it. Going in with high expectations is always a bad thing. This isn’t the case for Shadow Complex however, it definitely lives up to the hype.

In case you live under a rock Shadow Complex is a downloadable title from Xbox Live Arcade. It’s 1200 MS Points which totals $15. SC is probably the best looking XBLA title I have downloaded to date if not the best overall game. The visuals are top notch and the environments are very detailed. SC is a side-scrolling shooter which means you can only go up, down, left and right on a 2D plane even though the environments tease you into thinking you can move in a 3D plane. Even though the movement is from left to right, you can still shoot enemies that are located anywhere in the 3D plane. Confusing right?

The gameplay in Shadow Complex may be a little slow in the beginning until you get familiar with how it plays. In the beginning I was taking my time, exploring it all but then once I completed the first area I found myself flying through the rest of the game, kicking butt and taking names. I think the game was built like this on purpose. Another reason SC is so enjoyable is the fact that you never have to find ammo for your gun, it has an unlimited supply of ammo. This helps shift the focus of the game from being stressful to being fun. The items that you are to search for throughout the game help give the game depth. Finding items is crucial to your success in the game as well. These aren’t just items you have to find to get achievements, these are items that increase your total grenade count, your total health, your armor, etc. By the time you’ve collected all the items you are indestructible. The one thing that stuck out for me about Shadow Complex is that I never wanted to put it down, it was so easy to just keep playing. Even once I finished the game I didn’t want to stop playing it so I went back and collected all of the items I missed. In case you were wondering, I completed Shadow Complex in 8.5 hours so it is a pretty lengthy game for an XBLA title.

I’m hoping that Chair has plans for some DLC in the near future because I want more. With the game doing so well I can almost guarantee a sequel will be in the works very shortly. Overall Shadow Complex is an amazing game. It looks great, it plays great. I highly recommend downloading it. I would even go as far as to say it may be very close to my top 10 favorite games of all time. Yes it’s that good!

Does that sound a little strange to you? Maybe you think there just isn’t enough good game music out there to make you want to buy a soundtrack. If that is the way you feel, let me challenge you to listen to the games you play. Notice how the music adds to the experience, much like a good score adds to a great movie. Think about the driving sound of the battles in Gears of War, and the great relive you felt as the music changed and dropped out, your audio clue that the battle was over…for now. Remember the haunting music that plays in the wraith mash in Fable 2, setting you on edge as you looked around each corner, trying to spot the banshees before they spotted you. Good music adds to the atmosphere of the game; we just tend to be so wrapped up in making sure we don’t die that we tend not to notice.

So maybe you’re considering starting a soundtrack collection of your own, but you have no idea where to begin. The following list, while in no way comprehensive, might help give you some ideas.

Video Games Live Vol 1

If you have no idea where to begin, consider picking up Video Games Live Vol 1. Video Games Live is a series of live performances of music from some of the most well known video games ever. The first CD is a compilation of fantastic video game music, including greats like Kingdom Hearts, Myst, Medal of Honor and a rocking rendition of the Castlevania theme that is a definite crowd pleaser.

The great thing about this compilation is not only is the music masterfully performed by great orchestras and choirs, it will give you a chance to experience music from multiple games. After listening to this compilation, you will hopefully get some ideas for some other soundtracks you may want to consider. Just remember that the older games aren’t going to quite sound as good as they do on this compilation.

There is one other good reason to buy this CD. It contains a suite from a game that has made several people decide that video game soundtracks may just be worth buying:

Halo

It doesn’t matter if you are a fan of the series or think it is overrated, one listen to the main theme for Halo will have you geared up to play. The combination of classical and rock influences make this score, composed by Martin O’Donnell and Michael Salvatori, one worth owning.

All you need to do is listen to the main theme to see what I mean. It starts with an ethereal chorus, building up to the first strings of electric guitar. Before long, you are completely drawn into the music.

If you are looking to build a video game soundtrack collection, Halo is a great one to pick up. Some might even argue that the soundtrack outshines the game. Might be a bit of a stretch, but it is rather well done. It’s not far fetched, however, to argue this soundtrack was what made many people actually start considering the possibility that game scores could be on par with movie soundtracks.

Gears of War

Forgive the pun, but an epic game deserves and epic soundtrack. Gears of War definitly delivers. Composer Kevin Riepl is a veteran of gaming soundtracks, with credits ranging from Twisted Metal Black to the Unreal series. For Gears, he took a more movie-like approach, writing a score worthy of any war drama.

The theme sets the tone early, with a driving tempo and militaristic feel that fits the game perfectly. This is followed by the haunting overture “14 Years After E-Day,” adding the eerie feel the to the background of the story. Other tracks are also reminiscent of some of the major battled in the game, like the high pitched and fast paced “Miserable Wretches,” the overpowering “Running With Boomers,” and the powerhouse “Train Ride to Hell,” which builds to the finale, leaving just a hint of more to come in Gears 2.

Mass Effect

Anyone who played the game knows just how good the music of Mass Effect is. Jack Wall, Sam Hulick, Richard Jacques and David Kates combine to create one of the most unique soundtracks in recent memory. Borrowing heavily from the older electronic sounds of 80s Sci Fi, this soundtrack ranks up there as one of my all time favorites.

Just lietening to the theme will be enough to remind fans of the great atmosphere of this game., complimented by tracks like the powerful “Spectre Induction” or the uptempo “Uncharted Words.” With 37 tracks, there is plenty of music for fans of the game to enjoy.

None of the tracks on the CD are as good as “M4 Part II” by the Faunts. I remember listening to this song as it rolled with the end credits of the game, just being amazed by the fact Bioware found a song that actually fit the game. As a matter of fact, I found myself almost sad once the credits were over because it was that good. Of all the tracks on the CD, I have listend to this one the most.

So far, all of the soundtracks I’ve been recommending are from the last couple of generations of consoles. While gaming music has really come into it’s own in these generations, there are great soundtracks from earlier consoles worth purchasing.

Metal Gear Solid

I bet that if you are a fan of Metal Gear Solid, you probably have the theme playing in your head right now… or at least a clip of it with someone screaming “SNAKE!”

The music of MGS really helps set the tone for the game, and the soundtrack brings some of the more memorable set pieces of the adventure to mind. Just try not to remember franticly trying to find cover while taking out Sniper Wolf when you hear “Duel,” or lining up shots with the missile launcher while avoiding the attack of the “Hin D.” The soundtrack even includes the soulful “Mantis’ Theme” and sorrowful “Enclosure” (plays after you kill Sniper Wolf), which remind you of the serious undertone of the game.

Metal Gear Solid is definitely a great example of a soundtrack worth picking up from an earlier generation of consoles, but it’s still a CD based game. Earlier games relied upon midi synthesizers and other programing tricks to make music. It doesn’t mean these earlier game soundtracks are not worth tracking down, however. As a matter of fact, my favorite game soundtrack comes from the pre-CD consoles.

Chrono Trigger

If you have been listening to the podcasts, you should have seen this one coming. I was lucky enough to find the Chrono Trigger soundtrack a few years ago at Bookmans, and I have never regretted the purchase.

Composed by Yasunori Mitsuda, Chrono Trigger is considered by many to be one of the best soundtracks done on the SNES. Beginning with “Premonition,” it is clear that Mitsuda was able to get past the musical limitations of the system in a way most could not. Each area in the game has its own unique music, and yet they all blend together to make a great CD.

I’m not the only one who likes the music of this SNES RPG. In fact, the next Video Games Live CD is going to have music from the game in it, and those of us who preordered Chrono Trigger on the DS got a CD with fully orchestrated versions of music from the game.

So that’s my list of video game soundtrack recommendations. It is by no means all inclusive, and I intend on getting many more soundtracks to add to my collection, but hopefully reading about these soundtracks will get you thinking about some of your favorite gaming music. You might even think about tracking down a soundtrack or two for yourself. You might be surprised by just how good they can be.

So as you can probably imagine, Gears of War 2 had some awfully large shoes to fill. Fair or not, it was going to be compared in my mind to the game that made me decide which of the next gen consoles I was going to buy.

Fortunately, Gears 2 does just that, and so much more.

Story: It takes no time for Gears 2 to separate itself from it predecessor’s rather lackluster story. The opening cinematic, voiced by the mysterious Queen of the Locust whose voice was the last you heard in Gears, leads straight into a discussion among Marcus, Dom and Anya about the rather unusual attacks by the Locust as of late. This discussion  helps you understand that the infamous twosome of Delta squad aren’t just mindless warriors; they are soldiers who understand the weight of what lies ahead. This really becomes evident as the story of Dom’s wife Maria unfolds throughout the game, giving you not only insight into his character, but also a chance to see Marcus as not just a disgruntled war veteran, but a true friend who actually cares about his squad mates.

Marcus and Dom aren’t the only characters who get a more humanized treatment in this game. Anya becomes more than just a voice on the other end of a comlink, actually finding herself in some rather difficult situations throughout the game and showing real concern for Delta squad. Then there’s Tai, a tough as nails character with a rather unusual disposition whom I couldn’t help but like instantly. Baird is still whiny, but he does get the job done when you need him, and Cole, well, he’s just Cole. Even Carmine, your fresh out of boot camp rookie, reveals more about himself and is much more useful than his brother from the first game (did anyone else catch the inside joke….he’s a sniper!).

Now don’t get me wrong, the story is not going to win any awards, nor does it compare to games like Mass Effect or Bioshock in it’s depth, but it’s nice to see that Gears 2 is not a great game were the story is an afterthought. There are even a couple of points in the game that will sting you emotionally, and no, I’m not talking about the inevitable death of Carmine (come on, that shouldn’t even be a spoiler).

One other decision made by Epic in terms of story was nothing short of brilliant. Remember the COG tags from Gears? Well, the idea of collecting items is back in Gears 2, but this time what you are collecting helps fill in the gaps in the story, whether you are finding journal entries from other COG soldiers or newspaper headlines recounting the events in the Gears universe. In other words, finding the items not only gives you achievements, it helps you gain more insight into the world around you.

One word of advice: do not skip the end credits.

Gameplay: As I’m sure is true with many of you, the gamplay of the original Gears of War really set the game apart for me from the rather crowded market of sci-fi shooters. The idea of transitioning from cover to cover, active reload, and a refined over the shoulder camera that allowed you to move seamlessly between firing from the hip and down the sights worked better than ever expected. The only real complaints were that it was rather easy to end up moving to cover you never intended to get behind or finding it hard to remove yourself from cover.

Gears 2 has managed to take what was great about the original game and refine it just enough to make the gameplay even more enjoyable. Transitioning from cover to cover is much more intuitive; I never really found myself looking to the images that showed me where I was going to move, I just did it. You can separate yourself from cover much more easily now, which means that in those times when you do manage to get behind the wrong wall or shield, you can move away much more readily. You now also have options on how you choose to shoot from cover. Instead of being forced to shoot over it, you can lean to the side and shoot from there. You can also just barely peak over cover, which will keep you more protected but will make it harder for you to target enemies.

Weapons have also been tweaked in Gears 2. The Lancer is still the mainstay, but you may find yourself switching up your other weapons much more often depending on what situation you are in. For me, the Scorcher became my weapon of choice when dealing with wretches, whereas the shotgun was my favorite when dealing with them in the previous game (the chainsaw on the Lancer works great as well). The Mulcher, a portable turret for lack of a better explanation, became my favorite way to take on Reevers and other large enemies, while the Mortar was perfect for taking out hordes of Locust from a distance. Every weapon has its place in Gears 2; you even have to think about what pistol you are carrying, because that is all you can use if you are using a Boomshield or taking a downed Locust hostage to shield your advance.

In a game like Gears 2, it is really easy to find yourself doing the same thing over and over again, though at heart you are, the pacing and diversity of the game makes it feel different. One minute, you are dealing with a handful of rather tough enemies; the next, you are facing wave after wave of locusts and looking frantically for more ammo. Or you may be trying to deliver a bomb to blow open a locked door, using only one hand and a pistol to fend of wretches. Or you are shooting everything you have at an advancing Brumak. Even the driving sequences, so often an afterthought in games like this, are much more polished in this game, especially the final “vehicle” you get to drive. And if you think the Brumak is the biggest thing you have to deal with in this game, think again. It’s not even a close second.

Criticisms: Gears 2 does have it’s faults. In one of the early driving sequences, you are having to take out “mortar” fire from Seeders that threatens to tear apart the rig you are riding. Problem is, the mortars can be hard to hit, and since it only takes a few hits to take you out (try 2 on insane mode), you might find yourself repeating the scene over and over. The Locust can now revive downed comrades as well, which, while it adds a new gameplay element, can frustrate the heck out of you as you find yourself killing the same grub several times. There are other times where you need to hear what your teammates are telling you to know how to deal with a certain enemy, but the ambient noise of the level around you makes it very difficult to hear that crucial piece of info.

Then there’s the final boss. Remember how hard the battle against Raam was in Gears? Well, no such luck this time. The only thing that offsets that is how much fun the part leading up to it is.

Conclusion: Gears of War 2 delivers on the promise of it’s designer Cliff Bleszinski. It is bigger. It is better. It is even that word I do not intend to use in thus review. Yes, it has some minor problems, but they do not take away from what is truly a magnificent game. This one is well worth the money.

And that’s just the campaign. Multiplayer is another matter entirely.

“Epic Makes a Good Move But Comes Up Short” – Additional Comments by Jody Driggers

After much waiting we finally get to play Epic’s Gears of War 2.  Before the release I was reading a lot of different news on this game and one thing that caught my eye is the fact that it was going to have a language filter included in the game.  Being kind of new to games I’m not sure if this is the first game to offer this or not but I was excited about the option.  I love the new games coming out but the language in games like this is a little unsettling.  First of all I have to wait for my kids to be asleep or not around for me to play.  Also if given the option I personally would like not to hear all of the foul language.  Don’t get me wrong the language wouldn’t stop me from playing it but given the choice I could do without it.  With that said I went to the midnight launch, got home put the game in and while waiting on my buddy (who I was going to play co-op with) I decided to put the language filter on.  After playing awhile I got to a part and I started to hear words I thought the filter should have filtered out.  So I went to the options and made sure I had the option for language filter on and I did.  A while later I started to notice that some words were bleeped out and some were not.  The funny thing was that the same words would be beeped out once and let go the next time.

After doing some reading it appears that Epic filtered out the “strong language”.  From what I heard it was filtered so that if it was a movie it would be rated PG-13.  I was very disappointed.  I give props to Epic for doing something but why not take it all the way.  I mean if someone takes the time to turn the filter on in the first place then they probably want all the bad language filtered out.  I wish they would have at least put some sort of slider in that you could pick some bad language or all bad language filtered out.  My biggest problem with this is that kids will now get this game because their parents will think that they can just turn on the filter and stop the bad language.  I know it has an M rating but how many kids do you play with online?  I know I have many kids under 17 that I play with on Live and many of them have Gears of War 2.  Once again I don’t want to seem like I’m slamming Epic because they did make an effort to put this option in the game I just wish they would have taken it all the way.

what really grinds my gears by ~yuoma on deviantART