Dragon Age 2
Introduction
Bioware’s Dragon Age: Origins was released in 09 and was said to be the spiritual successor to Baldur’s Gate. Origins gained the respect of many RPG fans due to it’s dark sided and mature nature. Dragon Age 2 has finally arrived with many new tricks up it’s sleeve. Does it hold up to the hype? Or is it a letdown? Read on!
You are Hawke, a Fereldan who is fleeing with his Family from a Dark Spawn invasion during the events of the first game. The story is told through a Dwarf named Varric who is being questioned by an unknown party. Spanning over the course of decade, Hawke’s rise to the Champion of Kirkwall is brutal, surprising and harsh.
The Gameplay
Dragon Age 2′s gameplay has been retooled somewhat. You now have the ability to manually attack enemies, and I don’t mean by using talents, you can now actually be the one who swings your weapon. This gives you the feeling of having more control, it doesn’t feel tacked on and is implemented nicely into the game’s combat. Don’t worry the game is nowhere near being a hack n slash. For some SUPER strategic players this could be distracting, but most should find it fair.
You may be one of three classes. The Warrior may use two handed weapons or a sword and shield to tank through enemies. A Mage can attack from a distance using their staff and wide array of magic. Or finally the Rogue, who can quickly attack using daggers or fight at a distance using a bow and arrow. The ability to choose other races is gone, as this game’s story is more focused on the actual tale of a hero. The work you put into Dragon Age: Origins hasn’t gone to waste though, your choices in the first game may be imported to the second and may change the lore of the world.
Now to get into the meat of the game. Dragon Age 2 takes you to the city of Kirkwall where you’ll find all sorts of shady characters. Throughout the game you’ll find party members, they actually have depth and staying friendly with some can be hard if you’re a real moralist. Quests can be found all over in Kirkwall or from members in your group. The game keeps you engaged, there’s usually always a place to go, a person to talk to, a group of baddies to fight, and a new threat on the rise.
Most of the game’s quests and main story do indeed take place in the city, there are plenty of moments however when you most go out of Kirkwall to surrounding areas in order to deal with certain issues. The game’s enemies are varied. In the first game the Darkspawn were the main foe, they’re still hanging around in this one but hardly. Now you’ll fight thugs, demons, even bigger demons, mages, corrupt templars, things from all over the spectrum which helps keep the surprise element there and makes you think of new strategies to fight these new baddies. The game has also gotten a bit more “violent”, allowing you to slice through a group of enemies turning them into puddles of gore.
Talking with and getting to know your companions more is important. The dialogue is interesting and gives the characters background, becoming friends or rivals with party members grants them bonus passive abilities. It may also effect the story in unforeseen ways. Leveling up the characters is strategic within itself, knowing what they’re best in and what attributes to boost up are key to winning tough battles. You may switch the weapons and items that your allies carry, but you cannot change their armor like in the first. Instead you will find items throughout the game that will automatically upgrade your party member’s armor. You can even craft certain items if you have the materials, which may be used to enchant your weapons giving them upgrades like fire or ice damage.
The game has certainly become more cinematic as well. Dragon Age 2 can get a fair amount of AI on-screen fighting while keeping a stable framerate, helping those epic moments feel epic. Key events that happen in the game can be approached differently and have alternate outcomes. Some can only be reached if you’re good enough, really. When you feel like you’re going to encounter a boss fight be prepared the battles can be long, endurance is what can pull you through and when you achieve victory you feel rewarded.
The Atmosphere
Dragon Age 2′s scenery, art style, characters and story truly shine in this game. The scenery and art style are fresh, giving the game a unique look. The characters are some of the most well thought out I’ve seen in a while, each have their own personality, history, and have something to contribute to the overall scheme of things. The Story is……. AWESOME. The choices made and people you associate with all matter, the game will throw curve balls at you and how you adapt to the situations will effect the outcome. You feel like Hawke really does rise up in the world.
The Verdict
Dragon Age 2 is, to me of course, an almost perfect role playing adventure. When you triumph over baddies you feel like a badass, especially when you’ve used one of my favorite strategies “hit and run.” Really though even if you’re not into more story driven RPGs like this, give this one a chance. It took me 31 hours to complete this game, and I didn’t do everything that I could. The people saying it’s too short should stop skipping dialogue or just stop tanking through the main quests. There’s been complaints about the graphics but I’ll tell you they’re fine, I think it’s more of the new art style that people aren’t liking.
CHECK IT OUT! The game is addicting, I beat it and wanted more. The story is compelling and the combat is fun. I really could not recommend this game to you anymore.
Dead Space 2
Dead Space 2 has finally arrived. The first entry caused plenty of scares and tension. Taking influence from things like Alien, Event Horizon, and so on, Dead Space tackled the Sci-Fi Horror genre and came out with a intriguing universe of it’s own. Does Dead Space 2 manage to keep the thrills? Did it lose it’s horror appeal and follow in the footsteps of the Resident Evil series? Read on to find out!
In Dead Space 2 you step back into the shoes of Isaac Clarke who’s been MIA for a few years. After being awaken from a coma-like state, Isaac (you) is thrown right into the fire. The Sprawl which is a city/space station above Saturn, has been hit by the Necromorph outbreak. It’s up to you to found out what’s happening and to make it out alive. But true to form in Dead Space 2, not everything is what it seems.
Isaac is back and is more capable. There’s a bigger arsenal of weapons this time around, but how you use them and upgrade them is what’s going to matter. The game brings back the power node upgrade system, which allows you to up the damage, reload, and ammo capacity on your favorite weapons. The rigs can also be upgraded allowing you to take more damage and dish it back. The power nodes can also be used to open up certain locked doors which contain goodies like ammo and med packs that you may need if you’re in a tight situation. The nodes can be purchased at stores and can be found throughout the game.
The Necromorphs have new tricks up their sleeves also. The new children Necromorphs (The Pack) rely on numbers and try to overwhelm you, others stay at a distance where they can use vomit to slow you down or hit you with projectiles, where others ACTUALLY try to stay out of sight and wait to attack you when you’re not suspecting it. Death sequences are as gruesome as ever and are enjoyable to watch. The Necromorphs are menacing and have been taken to the next level. It’s cool to have an enemy in a game where they really feel like a threat and will literally rip you to shreds!
The game does have some puzzles here and there, but they’re not heavily thrown in. Most require you to hack terminals where all you do is rotate the left stick around to get the terminal to light up blue, hit the action button to get it to “click”, you then repeat that two more times. Others require you to move and replace objects using telekinesis, some even require you to use stasis that way you can get by doors and so on. You’ll encounter a good bit of the puzzles in the retooled zero gravity mode where you can now move freely unlike the first game.
Little quick time events are still around where you may have to repeatedly tap the action button, but this is one game where the speed that you tap the button at DOES matter. The game has added little sequences where Isaac is experiencing dementia making for a few shockers here and there.
Dead Space 2 has now added multiplayer, but how does it hold up? Think Left 4 Dead only without the horde. It’s four versus four, Necromorph players against Human players. There’s four Necromorph classes, each with their own traits. The Pack, the child Necromorph moves fast and is good for causing distractions, The Lurker can climb walls and get to good vantage points where it can shoot projectiles at enemies, The Puker can beat on enemies and use vomit to slow them down, and finally The Spitter can shoot powerful projectiles, he just can’t climb walls. The Human players can choose their suits and load outs before the game and go in with what they have. The Human players must travel throughout each map completing objectives which all consist of carrying an object from point A to B or holding a spot down as a player hacks a terminal by holding in the action button.
Unfortunately the multiplayer feels weak. Everyone spawns too fast, which means sometimes it’s hard for the human players to get out of their own spawn, this issue doesn’t happen with Necromorphs seeing as how they can choose what vents to spawn from. It feels like more of a team deathmatch instead of a “co-op” experience. Objectives that require you to carry things as a Human player are a pain as you’re slowed down greatly, and when you’re fighting enemies that take eight seconds to respawn tops, to complete an objective in a four minute time span, you have something that’s NOT fun! Then when you’re fighting the Humans as Necromorphs, the guys who just role with the pulse rifle’s grenade ability and stasis are going to ruin what little fun you’re having fast. Overall it feels unbalanced, VERY one sided at times, and leaves you wishing that the devs just would have done more with it.
The atmosphere is where Dead Space 2 really shines, it’s story, characters, and environment are all top notch. It all creates a sense of being alone and vulnerable, which is exactly what you want in a game like this. It retained it’s horror element and did not play into the action side much. It looks and plays great, and has a unique artistic direction. Dead Space 2 is definitely a breed of it’s own and is a rewarding experience.
Long story short I loved Dead Space 2. It’s campaign rocks and has a few treats for people who played the first one. I highly recommend the game, but unfortunately I also recommend that you overlook the online and just break into the single player. I like to judge my games as full packages so what I would have given five stars is now four. Don’t let my criticism of the online hold you back from playing this game though, hey you might like it, but definitely play Dead Space 2′s campaign. Be sure not to miss out!
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow
Castlevania is a long running franchise that contains many of horror’s iconic monsters. Vampires, werewolves, mummies, and many others can be found in numerous Castlevania titles. Castlevania: Lords of Shadow breaks away from it’s traditional 2D action-platformer roots and sets out to reboot the well known series. The series now tackles the action-adventure style seen in titles such as God of War and Dante’s Inferno. The question now is, what makes it stand out from the other titles in the genre? Lets keep our holy water and crucifixes handy.
The Plot
You play as Gabriel Belmont, a knight who belongs to a brotherhood sworn to defend the living against otherworldly forces. Gabriel is a man on a mission, if you’ve seen the movie Commando you know guys like that are not to be messed with. Well someone has hit Gabriel’s rage button and now a whole lot of baddies are going to realize something even worse is coming for them. Gabriel’s love, a woman named Maria has been murdered, angered and saddened Gabriel sets out to find the God Mask. The mask is said to hold limitless power and is even said to be able to bring the dead back to life, giving Gabriel hopes of bringing Maria back to life. Gabriel will encounter many trials and characters on his journey, as twists and turns in the story make you question the character you’re playing as.
The Gameplay
Lords of Shadow has taken the action-adventure approach, Gabriel can dish out a variety of combos with his whip called the “Vampire Killer.” Combos can be purchased and upgraded with points that you earn by killing baddies, this is cool because not only does it add depth but it adds a somewhat strategic element when fighting tough foes, I’ll explain further into the review. The game’s enemies are VERY diverse, you fight everything from werewolves, to zombies, to vampires, to skeletons, and all of them have their own quirks that make them different. Instead of having a rage meter (AKA a whoop ass meter as I like to call it) he has two separate bars of light and shadow magic, with a focus bar thrown into the mix. Each meter does something different when triggered.
The light meter allows Gabriel to heal by beating his foes to death, while the shadow meter allows him to deal out more damage. The meters cannot be simultaneously active and must be refilled by getting magic energy. Magic energy can be gained by defeating enemies or filling up your focus bar, this requires getting numerous hits on enemies without being hit yourself, which then makes your opponents spew out magic energy whenever you land a hit on them. If you’re hit your focus bar will be depleted and you’ll have to make it go up again. Each bar must be filled up separately, you hold in the left stick to absorb magic energy into your light bar, and the right stick for your shadow bar, energy and health pools can be found on every chapter so combat is not the only way to go.
Some combos are only available while in light or shadow mode, and certain weapons such as the dagger and holy water are more effective in those forms. So remember that tactical element I was telling about, it’s there believe me. When you’re getting butchered by a boss you’re going to try and get on your game by getting that focus bar up and absorbing magic energy in order to either heal, or deal more damage to them. You’re probably going to use combos like the chainsaw to land more hits on enemies in order for them to give out as much magic energy as possible before being hit. The game also has a block, dodge, and counter system.
Some attacks from enemies can be blocked while others can break through your defense, this will require you to dodge out of the way quickly. Countering is simple as you only press the block button as soon as an enemy strikes, allowing you to attack them while they’re stunned. The game does retain it’s platforming element. Gabriel can climb walls, use his Vampire Killer to swing from one location to the next, or he can use it as a lever to turn switches and can even bring down statues with it. All of this makes your character feel capable, so when you overcome a boss or a tough spot using all of the skills available to you it does give a sense of satisfaction.
Finally Lords of Shadow has puzzles, these differ greatly and make you think. Some puzzles require you to move at a certain pace, move objects into the right position, match up patterns, and more. You folks who love challenging puzzles welcome to Lords of Shadow, those who don’t, know that most of them CAN be skipped, you will however lose the experience points you would have been given had you completed the puzzle. The puzzles can be fun and are a good change of pace. The game has a lot of elements that keep it fresh, from combat, to traversing levels, to making you use your noodle, it definitely stands out from being just an average beat em’ up.
The Atmosphere
The game’s atmosphere is dark and varied. Lords of Shadow keeps that great dark fantasy feel, it’s art style, epic soundtrack and scale make this game stand out BIG time. The story is LONG and makes you feel like a champ at the end of your journey. Visually Lords of Shadow is very good, no part of the game feels like the devs cut corners, everything looks top notch. It captures what it set out to do in flying colors and immerses you.
The Verdict
I love dark fantasy, I love action-adventure when done right, and I LOVE lengthy games. Castlevania: Lords of Shadow is a treat for those who want something epic and challenging, for those of you who beat this on the highest difficulty I salute you. My only gripe with the game is that sometimes the camera gets a little wild, causing you to sometimes plunge to your death, or setting up for something really dumb to happen. Those problems can be overlooked, and do not hinder the overall experience. I highly recommend this title, and cannot wait to see what the future holds for this series.
Red Dead Redemption
I had never really played a Western video game prior to Red Dead Redemption, partially because of their infrequency and partially because I lacked the interest in a genre that seemed like it wouldn’t hold up as well as the familiar sci-fi and post apocalyptia that dominated the landscape. Compared with the creativity of weapons and enemies afforded by genres spawned exclusively by the artists imagination, more recent American history is far more challenging to make as exotic or compelling with as little effort. That isn’t to say it doesn’t have enormous potential, the Old West is after all the great American mythology, it’s just harder to coax this greatness from the dry fabric of realism and antiquity. However, I’m glad I paid attention to this one because Red Dead Redemption is not only the answer to these challenges, it is the definitive Western experience and one of the most purely enjoyable games I’ve played in a while.
It’s ironic that a setting drenched in blood and heroism in film and fantasy has been largely overlooked in gaming, a medium highly receptive to both, but it’s perhaps it’s seeming disadvantage when compared to other more accommodating genres that have limited it. After all, who wants to ride a creaky old buckboard when they can fly around in a spaceship or tear around in a Warthog, and why would I want to use a six shooter when I can use a gravity gun or a chainsaw bayonet? Any period of history following the sword but preceding the machine gun is in danger of being too mundane or tedious for a conventional shooter. The challenges of creating compelling gameplay aside, Developers face additional obstacles in building the environment since the organic spontaneity of nature is much harder to believably render than the symmetry and steel of sci-fi or the barren wastes of post apocalyptia. In short the unique limitations and challenges of creating a great Western game have always relegated it to near obscurity.
With Red Dead Redemption, Rockstar has overcome these hurdles with solutions that include an impressively simulated, thoroughly engrossing environment, and gameplay and story elements that fully realize the unique potential of the Old West. It’s clear that the developers examined the issues at hand and understood what needed to be done. It was crucial that the individual qualities that make the Wild West legendary in our minds and so appropriately suited as fiction, be the foundation of any game that attempted to do it justice. Rockstar accomplishes this neatly and as a result, Redemption is not simply a dull Westernized clone of every other shooter, not simply old ideas transplanted to a different time and place, but a game that captures the spirit and experience of the Wild West. It delivers on the promise of it’s setting and it’s greatest success is how completely it fulfills that promise.
Following the exploits of ex-outlaw John Marston, the game accounts his attempts to end his old life and begin a new one. In order to do so he must hunt down his former brothers in arms in exchange for clemency for himself and his family from Government agents who’s ruthless tactics and callousness come off as more sinister then the relatively simple motives of the men he hunts. The story itself is less dramatically told or cinematic then say Mass Effect 2, but is a lot deeper than it’s candid delivery at first appears. It’s layered in a way few stories are. It’s depth is in many ways informed by the wealth of Western mythos inherent in our cultural subconscious but it’s Rockstar’s talent for satire and social analysis that give the lengthy story and characters genuine integrity. The understated comparisons between the forces of good and evil are one example of this underlying poignancy and the story’s methodical discernment of characters and motivations is deeply philosophical. Nothing is forced which is why the story seems fairly unassuming but there is a quiet nobility to it’s arc as a sensitive elegiac commentary on society and history.
The various personalities you’ll encounter are all very well done. Each is a Western caricature in their own way, brought to life with great writing, superb voice acting and some theatrically impressive mo-cap. Most of them have a charismatic eccentricity that makes them comedic and memorable and the more serious individuals fill their roles with appropriate gravitas. Rockstar continues to assert itself as a master of character design.
Nothing is wasted here and when I spoke of Redemption as the definitive western it wasn’t simply because there are so few to compare it with but rather because it’s a fulfillment of practically any Western fantasy you can imagine. Everything from the host of interesting and eccentric characters to the various missions, mini-games, challenges, side quests and multitude of locations have been designed to showcase the unique variety and range of the Old West as a time and place as well as a legendary realm of adventure and bravado. The missions read like a thrill seeker’s wild west to-do list and players will take part in everything from defending stagecoaches to boarding moving trains, robbing banks, assaulting fortresses, dueling with gunslingers, hunting buffalo, searching for treasure, cheating at poker, lassoing criminals, riding with posses and everything in between. Even agrarian chores such as herding cattle and breaking horses are accounted for and like everything else you’ll do, they’re fun and satisfying.
The ecology of the world is equally varied. The map itself is massive, (it has to be one of the biggest ever in a game) and, as with the activities, the diversity of the Old West is fully realized across it’s impressive acreage. Players can explore the great plains, shadowy forests, snowy mountains, arid canyons, bleached deserts and red mesas. Everything is stunning. The game looks as good and better, in fact, then most linear games, with a host of environmental effects and subtle touches, combined into one of the most impressively lifelike worlds in any game. High end tech like Grass, brush and vegetation that respond to your character’s movements are ubiquitous and more common effects such as footprints, dust and particles are masterfully implemented. Lighting is also top shelf, with dynamic shadows and impressive sunrises and sunsets. I’ve literally stopped on more then one occasion just to watch the last glimmering rays disappear beyond the horizon.
The world is populated by an impressive selection of region specific wildlife all of which can be hunted for valuable meat, feathers and pelts. In addition players will encounter the believable traffic of everyday life as, travelers, townsfolk, and campers all inhabit the landscape attributing a constant flow of activity and further enhancing it’s effectiveness as a real world setting. Everything is impressively rendered and animated thanks to Rockstar’s Euphoria engine, which gives humans and animals, a fluidity of movement often missing from other games.
It’s the fidelity and level of detail that’s unrivaled in this type of game that truly makes this such a unique experience. The world and it’s inhabitants (the day night cycles, weather patterns and ambient effects) seduce you with their realistic majesty and picturesque splendor. The ebb and flow of nature surrounds you as you explore and it’s easy to lose hours to the enchanting embrace of the wilderness. This natural quality also provides moments of almost poetic serendipity, such as the time I pursued a black stallion into the twilight of a misty forest as a gentle snow began to fall. Rarely does a game surprise you with moments that transcend the act of simply playing it. The quality and believability of the environment, it’s ability to captivate the player and function as an entity all it’s own, was an essential component in creating a great Western sandbox and Rockstar absolutely nails it here.
Continue on to page two for the rest of the review.
30 Reviews in 30 Days, Day 23: Marvel VS Capcom 2
So we are into the final week of this series. Have you noticed that I have been taking the time to review all the the games in my top ten? If you have, then the fact I am reviewing Marvel VS Capcom 2 should come as no surprise. Since the 360 and PS3 version just came out, I think it makes more sense to review that one then the old Dreamcast version, even though it is based on that model.
It may not have started where you think it started
Do you remember where the whole Marvel characters appearing in Capcom fighting games got its start? Many of you may be thinking X-Men VS Street Fighter, but there was one before that: Marvel Superheroes. This game pit several of the major characters from the comics against each other in an attempt to stop Thanatos, who was in control of the Infinity Gauntlet. That was followed by the aforementioned game, and things eventually lead to Marvel VS Capcom.
Marvel VS Capcom brought a cavalcade of characters into play, with you picking two to work in tag team battles throughout the game. It was heralded by many people to be one of the most interesting fighting games out there, and the crowds it used to draw would have rivaled the Street Fighter 2 games if the arcade hadn’t been on the downturn. Before the local arcade really hit its end, however, Capcom released the the sequel, and people were just blown away.
Though it can be a little frantic, Marvel VS Capcom 2 is an excellent game.
Marvel VS Capcom 2 did the unthinkable. Not only did it once again pair the Marvel and Capcom worlds together, but it brought 56 characters into the field. This game was just about pinnacle of the 2D fighting games, so when news came out that it was getting released for the Xbox Live Arcade and PSN, gamers like myself rejoiced.
The only concern was whether not not game would live up to our expectations. Thankfully, it does more than that.
Tag team insanity
At first glance, one might think that Marvel VS Capcom 2 is a more simplistic game than its predecessor. After all, the game does remove two of the attack buttons, making it easier to play for those not as used to the Street Fighter button layout. The other two buttons are replaced with assist buttons, which allow you to call in your teammates for help.
That’s right, I said teammates. Unlike the first game in the series, Marvel VS Capcom 2 lets you select three characters, not 2. Not only do you get to call in your partners for assist attacks in the middle of combat, but when you select your characters, you can choose what type of assistance they are going to give, which may include capture attacks, projectile, anti air or others. How you choose to use these assists can determine just how well you perform in the fight; in the later stages, it is crucial to know how to pull them off.
You can switch from among your characters at anytime during the fight, with characters who are not currently fighting being able to regain some of their lost health. You have to be careful, however. If your character loses all it’s health, you cannot use it the rest of that battle. On top of that, characters who are coming in for assists can be hurt. So when it comes dow to it, you really have to know how to use your characters well.
56 characters, assists and team super combos make this a game you need to play.
So who do you choose? The answer to that question generally stems from what kind of player you are. With 56 characters to chose from (all the unlockable characters are unlocked from the beginning for 360/PS3), there are fighters to fit anyone’s style. The main thing you want to keep in mind is what characters will complement each other well. For example, you probably do not want to choose three melee fighters or projectile players. Sure, you may do well against certain teams, but a well balanced team will be able to take you out.
Special attacks
Of course there is more to the game than just your normal attacks and combos. As was the case with the games before it, you can build up your combo meter, which will allow you to unleash major attacks on your opponent. What is nice is every character has at least 2 of these special attacks, and some have more, even if they are only slight variations. You can build up to 5 levels on your combo meter, which not only allows you to use multiple super attacks back to back but also do combined supers, calling in your teammates to do even more damage. Of course, each additional character you bring in uses another bar of your combo meter.
There is one other type of special attack in the game. If you can time it right, you can knock an opponent off the level, forcing your opponent to use another character. That character you just knocked out will be unusable for a time, which can be really strategic, forcing your enemy to use a character he would rather not have to use against you. If you can do it twice in a row, you can force your opponent to use just one character for a time, which can be very advantageous. This attack will use one bar of your combo meter, but it is more than worth it.
So any bonuses for the new version?
With the tendency to add new graphics or other things to the new versions of games being released on Xbox Arcade, you would think Capcom would add something to Marvel VS Capcom 2. Sadly, that is not the case. Other than having all the characters unlocked up front, this is the same game Dreamcast fans have had for a while.
Of course, there is the online play. You could maybe argue the ability to play over Live or PSN is a new addition, since it does bring in Player, Ranked and Custom matches, but in the end it is not much of an addition. Even the graphics are the same, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. Though it would have been nice if Capcom had added something this this game, It really did not need it in the end.
So if you were a fan of the original game or just like 2D fighters, Marvel VS Capcom 2 is a must own game. Though it may have its issues, the game still holds up very well, and it is more than worth the price. Marvel VS Capcom 2 gets a 5 out of 5.
OverAchiever – Point Hunter Field Guide
So you eat sleep and breath achievement points? You’re a man of strictly numbers. A man who scoffs at others jealous of your numeric stature and their petty “observations” that most of your achievements didn’t require any real skill. Their “logical” arguments are made simply out of insecurity of their own Gamerscore. Ignoring such quibbles you only point with satisfaction to the massive stockpile of (utterly useless, completely ambiguous) points you have accumulated and smile with pride. You can’t do anything with them, many require no talent to achieve, and some can even be scammed out of the game but that doesn’t matter, because you have a lot of them. Good news my friend. Christmas has come early and I’m here to bestow a wealth of (practically) free achievements to all the good boys and girls. If your bad please don’t read any further.
The strategies and tips mentioned here will work in the long term for dedicated achievement hunters but can also be used to nab some fast achievements for those looking to quickly boost their score higher than a buddy’s so they can lord it over them. This is not a guide for completionists or those looking to tackle the toughest achievements. Because the only thing you get out of that is personal satisfaction and that’s not good enough for us. Only a ridiculously inflated Gamerscore will make us happy. But let’s get right to it. You didn’t come here to waste time reading. There’s points to be had!
Play Often. Play Cheap.
The real trick is to concentrate on rentals. It’s the best way to maintain a steady flow of points with easy games and simple achievements without shelling out a fortune on multiple games or being stuck with just a few to labor over the tedious ones. This way you will also have access to a number of games that ordinarily would not be worth your money (certainly not $60!) or time but offer simple achievement supremacy. The best solution for dedicated point hunters are online game rental programs. Subscription services such as Gamefly or GottaPlay offer programs similar to Netflix and allow you to rent unlimited games per month a set number at a time. The services can seem a little pricey, especially when compared to similar DVD rental programs, but they’re generally cheaper than renting them at a local store. The only real drawback is the delay for shipping them back, having a new one sent, and receiving it (generally 3 days or more) but the available selection of games and reduced price vs. that of your average retailer makes up for the slight inconvenience. It should be noted though that games in high demand such as newer or more popular titles may take longer to ship.
In store or online, either way, if points alone are your prize then renting is an essential strategy because while 100% completion is often a time consuming challenge most games offer a variety of simple achievements that can be acquired during the natural course of the game and require little additional effort, special skills, or practice from the gamer. These points can be grabbed over the average rental period and the game discarded (ahem…returned) when the going gets tough. For instance Halo 3 and Call of Duty 4 offer achievements simply for completing levels on most any difficulty setting and there are some games that even reward failure, while harder achievements, such as finishing the game on the toughest difficulty setting require a greater investment of skill and patience. This is why maintaining a steady flow of rentals is a key strategy for point hunters. It allows them to score a lot of the basic, easy points and move on when the achievements demand to much time to be worth it.
Sigh…More Reading
Research is an important part of a successful point campaign as well. It pays to know which games will reward you the fastest and most liberally and to plan an efficient course of action for playing them. Websites such as xbox360achievements.org and easyxbox360achievements.com are great resources that provide lists of the easiest game achievements as well as guides and community forums by and for fellow point hunters. Xbox360achievements.org has a comprehensive listing of achievements and tips and Easyxbox360achievements.com even categorizes a handful of easy games by approximately how long they take to max out the achievements as well as lists of “time consuming” and “hard games.” It’s easy to google specific games and achievements and youtube.com will typically have walkthrough videos for pretty much any.
Being aware of achievement ‘habits,’ if you will, is helpful as well. High profile games (Mass Effect, Fable 2, Halo 3…) and accomplished publishers (Epic, Valve, Ubisoft…) typically balance the achievements and their difficulty very well, spreading the challenges throughout the experience in order to strategically extend the lifespan of the game. This can make accumulating the individual achievements more time consuming, often requiring multiple playthroughs. The ratio of time spent vs. points gained generally becomes skewed more towards time spent.
This doesn’t mean that hard work won’t pay off in many cases, however. Call of Duty 4 offers a stiff challenge for completionists (particularly if you want to join the “mile high club”) but hardcore gamers will find that, because of it’s brief campaign and absence of stubborn online achievements, with a little effort it is actually one of the quickest ways to accumulate a large cache of achievement points. It’s also one of the best games on the console which means the process is also very enjoyable (fun, remember?) This is where research can pay off in finding the games with the best balance of achievement points and entertainment value. It might be worth the extra effort if you’re actually enjoying the experience.
Crap Pays
Sadly it does indeed, and the best place to score huge amounts of points fast is with smaller publishers and games licensed from movies, comics or other media or games designed with kids in mind. Typically these games are lazy attempts by corporations simply to cash in on popular brand names or non video game characters and franchises. On a scale of crap to 10, let’s just say these games generally aren’t anywhere near 10. Since gaming greatness isn’t what motivates these games’ unnecessary existence, there is usually a minimum of time put into their design as companies rush completion to coincide with a movie debut or simply capitalize on a popular franchise quickly with minimal effort. Quality isn’t a necessity since the brand name will sell the product regardless.
This sad but successful corporate cycle consistently produces some of the worst software abominations in gaming history (Superman 64, E.T., Iron Man. The proud tradition continues…) but more importantly it has now finally begun to pay gamers back for the years of abuse inflicted on those niave enough to buy them or unfortunate enough to receive them as gifts. The small consolation now offered to 360 owners comes in the form of easy achievements. The lack of thought put into the actual game design means they are generally pushovers for points.
They may not be the most enjoyable gaming experience but you typically don’t have to play for very long since they usually offer quick and easy ways to cash in on the 1000 points offered. After that you never have to look at them again. Avatar and TMNT (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) as well as movie games (primarily child oriented) such as Cars, Wall-E, Kung Fu Panda and Pirates Of The Caribbean: At Worlds End, are good examples of this. King Kong will award you with 1000g simply for completing the main quest (approx 5-6 hours) but not only that there are cheat codes such as “God Mode” that you can use and still score the achievements! Avatar, however is the Grand Pubah of easy achievements. With only five, all based on hit count, it’s actually possible to score 1000 points in just a few minutes. No joke.
Odds and Ends
Sports Games should also be mentioned as a viable source. You’d think securing all the achievements in a genre structured and honeycombed with a variety of statistics would be a tedious exercise but the EA and 2K sports franchises, mainly the NBA and NHL, feature some fairly lenient entrees, though primarily in the ’06 seasons (in truth EA learned with time and the achievements in each subsequent season have gradually increased in number and difficulty). Most of the achievements are pretty basic, but if you have trouble you can usually play as both teams in a game. This should make things considerable easier since you’re bound to be a far more forgiving opponent.
One of the final things to consider when selecting games is access, or lack there of, to Xbox live, as some that feature multiplayer will orient many achievement points around online play. Just like offline achievements these can range from simple accomplishments such as finishing one match (“Player Match Debut” Guilty Gear 2) or be so difficult or time consuming only players who eat sleep and breath the game will ever complete them (“Seriously” Gears of War – 10,000 kills online). If you don’t have a Gold level subscription you can’t even begin to think about scoring those points no matter how easy they are, though a silver membership would allow you to access XBL Arcade for a handful of achievements in downloadable games. A few gems can be found but these little gaming nuggets are not cost effective enough to purchase for the points alone.
A successful achievement campaign involves research, planning and preparation. Skill really should have been in that list somewhere (we are talking about “achievements” after all), but alas, incompetent gamers rejoice. If you play your cards right, even hopeless noobs can attain achievement greatness. Using these strategies and a Gamefly membership, in theory it would actually be possible to rack up around 3000-4000g during their 10 day free trial alone and probably average 500-600 points a week thereafter. So stop wasting precious achievement time reading! Get out there and earn some points! Just remember the cold, sad truth is that while everybody admires their own achievements nobody cares about yours but you. Happy hunting!
EDG Staff Impressions on the New Xbox Experience
Thomas Pine:
Once downloaded the first thing that you’ll come across is the custom avatar screen. I have to be honest – I first knocked MS for blatantly ripping off Ninty’s Mii idea, but after spending some time with this new feature I was surprised at the level of depth involved. Don’t get me wrong it’s still XBL’s equivalent to Miis, but that doesn’t take away from the fun of it. I still have a problem getting my character to look like me though?!? There are other more impressive features with this new update. What I appreciate the most is the new group chat feature where you can gather together a group of friends and talk about whatever. It’s a nice experience that only adds to the community aspect of live. I expect to spend a lot more time group chatting with friends. The other feature that I feel is well implemented is the ability to now download your games to the 360′s hard drive. This still requires you to have the disc in your 360′s tray in order to play, but now you won’t have to worry about the added stress from the constant spinning of the disc (and let’s face it the 360′s not exactly notorious for build quality). Also with this added feature you can now worry less about scratched discs, and at $60 a pop that’s a nice quality. All of this will inevitably push those who have not upgraded to the 120g HD to now do so. The only negative thing that I can see with this dashboard update is how the blade system is now handled. By pushing the guide button on your controller it will, for the most part, bring up everything that was available with the old dashboard. The problem is that it just doesn’t look as nice to me as before, and almost seems to be displayed in a lower resolution. It’s a minor criticism for an otherwise beautiful build. In all, I really like the new dashboard, and the features that it’s included. While I haven’t had a chance to mess with Netflix yet, I look forward to doing so. With a price tag of free what is there to complain about? It’s just another example of how MS really has a lock on the online gaming experience.
David Lange:
When I first saw the concept for the NXE and it’s Avatars I was…skeptical. Since the runaway success of the Wii, Microsoft has suddenly developed an interest in the, apparently profitable, casual market (another ship to plunder). They began launching adds imitating Nintendo’s own, with a similar play-together theme aimed at the casual crowd. Though these me-too blurbs died down, the NXE, I believe, is a continuation of this trend and Microsoft’s intention to expand the Xbox audience, with a tamer user friendly aesthetic more approachable for the non-gamer. The Avatars are a ripoff of the Mii’s and the expanded community features of the interface are an attempt to channel peoples’ attention and interest into Microsoft’s new ‘all inclusive’ online community. However, regardless of corporate agendas, I would have to say that after my first “experience” I was fairly impressed, though mostly with the polish, ease and style of the aesthetic (I haven’t delved deeply into all of the features yet.) The uber-slick, Hi-Def visuals and character models make Nintendo’s cutesy Mii’s and their cut-out features look like kindergarten art projects and the Wii’s sparse interface, might as well be DOS by comparison. Old features are improved, new ones have been added, including a simplified but functional Netflix interface (we’ll talk about that later), navigation is easier than ever and overall the environment is far more appealing. It may not attract the casual revolution Microsoft needs to compete in the same ocean as Nintendo (the real hook is the motion control after all) but it’s a stepping stone for the next generation. As XBL evolves with each cycle, so too will the breadth of it’s community. It signifies the reshaping of the industry and things to come.
Patrick Adams:
Microsoft has truly achieved a great thing with NXE. Now more than ever I feel like I am hanging out with my friends, playing games, even if they are playing different games and playing them across the country. With NXE it feels like it’s just one big party. No other console has this effect on me. When I sign on to my PS3 I usually can see maybe one or two friends on but it’s nothing that feels “alive.” As for the Wii, it feels like a total dead zone. Anytime I turn on my Wii and play something I feel like I am playing alone and missing out on the Xbox crowd. This is definitely a positive thing for Microsoft and with the release of NXE it feels like a whole new console. Everything (except for a few minor things) seems to run a lot faster and smoother. The menu’s are very organized and have a sharp look and feel to them. I have to admit when I first saw NXE I was kind of dissapointed. Especially with the new avatars but these feelings have all changed now that I have gotten some hands-on time with it. I am very satisfied with the change. I am also looking forward to the avatar options to expand. Hopefully they will be releasing more and more things for your avatar. How cool would that be to have a L4D t-shirt?! The one thing that I think I enjoy the most is the menu button, it does everything that the original 360 design did and it does it a lot better. Overall I really like NXE and am enjoying all the new features. I can’t wait to see some more Community Games as well.
Eric Bouchard:
I have been looking forward to the NXE for quite a while. Granted, I could take or leave the avatars, but I was looking forward to seeing how well the Netflix streaming would work and testing things like installing games to the hard drives. What have I learned since the download? I like the avatars more than I thought I would. The Netflix streaming is impressive, with the only real downfall being having to pre-queue your movies. The party system is better than advertised, giving friends a chance to keep in contact over multiple games and battles. The hard drive instalation is a bit of a mixed bag right now; while it does not improve a game like Gears of War 2, it makes a huge difference while navigating menus in Fable 2. As more games are designed with this feature, it will be more than just something that keeps you from wearing out your DVD Rom drive. What has impressed me more that anything else is just how clean the new interface is. After using the blades for more than a year, it is taking a little getting used to, but I think NXE is a major step in the right direction for Microsoft.
Geometry Wars: RE 2
Bizarre Creations has finally brought us the true sequel to XBLA’s first great shooter Geometry Wars. Geometry Wars 2 is the sequel that all Geo Wars fans have been waiting for. With 6 games modes and up to 4-player co-op this game is definitely worthy of being called a “sequel.”
GW2′s new modes are great. They all bring something very interesting to the plate. The first of the modes is Deadline, Deadline is similar to what you are used to playing in the first GW but this mode is timed. You have 3 minutes to score as many points as possible. You also have unlimited lives. I really enjoyed this mode and it is really fun to play. The next mode you will unlock is King. King is one of my favorite modes. In King you are given safe zones, basically all they are is circles that you can enter but enemies can’t. You can only shoot when you are in these circles and the circles will disappear after a certain amount of time. I relate this mode to holding your breath. You get in a circle, start shooting enemies to clear your path and then “hold your breath” until you get to the next safe circle. I enjoyed this mode a lot because I found it was very clever. It was also one of the most intense modes for me. The next mode you will unlock is Evolved. Evolved is your basic GW right down to the core. Just survive as long as you can. After that you will unlock Pacifism. Pacifism is one of the hardest modes. You can’t shoot in this mode and you must make your way through the “gates.” These gates will explode and kill any enemies around them. You must survive as long as possible while going through gates to kill enemies. I did not have an easy time with this and my top score shows it.
The next mode is Waves. Waves is probably my favorite mode right up there with King. Waves is just like the names sounds, waves of a rockets will glide across the screen. Once that wave gets across the screen a new wave will appear. Some waves span the whole length of the “arena” and some only span half. The key is to destroy the wave before the next one comes or they just keep stacking up and then it gets hectic. Waves is a really fun mode and my wife also really enjoys it. The last of the game modes is Sequence. Sequence gives you 30 seconds to destroy all the enemies on the screen. If you do this then you are moved to the next sequence where you must destroy all of those enemies within 30 seconds. This continues for 20 levels. If you lose a life you are automatically moved to the next level. This mode is fun but is one of the harder ones. I don’t usually get very far as it gets difficult very fast. You can play all of these modes cooperatively or competitively. A new addition to GW2 other than the modes is the presence of “Geoms.” Geoms are dropped by enemies which you then collect to increase your score multiplier.
Lastly I must say Geometry Wars 2 is a work of art. Watching this game is just as fun as playing it. With all of the colors and shapes combining and moving across the screen you will never find a dull moment. It is absolutely beautiful. GW2 is a great game, it has all of the things the hardcore love about it while still catering to the newer and less hardcore crowd. With 6 new modes this game has a high replayability and will bring you back time and time again for that quick adrenaline rush. Geometry Wars 2 is truly worthy of being called a sequel.