Review: Alan Wake

Alan Wake is not just the title of the game, it is a man grasping for answers throughout his frantic, foreboding search for his missing wife.  As each hour passes by he tries to grab hold of his mind while it derails itself from sanity. He becomes tormented by the inhabitants of Bright Falls, a small town somewhere in the Pacific Northwest where he and his wife decide to take a short vacation. Alan Wake is by no means a horror-game, nor is it an action-game, it’s a psychological thriller with elements of the latter. Wake’s dark tale unravels itself to reveal a satisfying gameplay experience whilst leaving me trembling in terror as I finished each frantic battle with The Taken.

Review: Mass Effect 2

From this point on I’m going to assume Bioware’s original intentions when creating the Mass Effect universe was to completely overhaul video-games and RPG’s alike. The amount of time and effort procured for it is absolutely astonishing. Every corresponding part of the Mass Effect universe holds a substantial amount of importance that will have a significant impact on the way we will conclude this epic trilogy. The first game created the lore’s visual counterparts and built an elaborate story around them; the second, refines the core gameplay and cuts out the useless material. Each mechanic in Mass Effect 2 has been refined into a more focused game. Nevertheless, Bioware crafted the perfect sequel and one of my most exciting experiences of all time.

Review: Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

This weekend I played a theatrical movie, and it’s name is Uncharted 2. Moments in and you get the feeling that there are a plethora of cinematic qualities tucked inside this game that are unlike thousands of others before it. Almost instantaneously after pressing the infamous “start” button your left in the control of the most enjoyable fortune-hunter I’ve ever seen. Nathan Drake has been betrayed and he now sits in a de-railed train car with a bloody wound above his hip. Unbeknownst to him this abandoned train car is a few feet away from sliding off a cliff somewhere in the Himalayas. With Drake now aware of his imminent doom, he begins to assess his options. This is one of the many moments where the game flawlessly converts to gameplay. Immediately the train lurches even further off of the cliff and causes Drake to descend closer to his ominous fall. Luckily, Drake still has enough in him to grab onto the door jutting out from the back of the car. From here you must climb your way near the top of the cliff and eventually make the final life-saving jump. Once you make it to safe ground I guarantee you will breath a sigh of relief simultaneously with the games protagonist.

Review: Halo 3: ODST (Single Player)

Bungie created an innovative and genre-changing trilogy so far. When I witnessed the first announcement of an expansion pack for Halo 3, I trembled in awe. Throughout the months following its unveiling my expectations grew, only to be shot down near the release date. From what was once a $30 expansion, to a full blown game for the usual $60, I staggered at the thought. They needed to jam that disc full of pure joy for my money. Finally, some initial reviews were in and things weren’t looking good. I received my chance to play it and I came to my conclusion. It’s not worth $60.