Review: Sins of a Solar Empire

Alas, after several long months we have finally played Sins of a Solar Empire (Sins) enough to formulate an opinion that will do the game justice.  Read more

World of Warcraft Meets Guitar Hero

Blizzard continues to build excitement leading up to the release of the heavily anticipated World of Warcraft MMO expansion Wrath of the Lich King. Read more

Sins of a Solar Empire Universe Grows with 4 Planned Expansions

Kalypso Media has announced they will be publishing four expansion packs for the hit space strategy PC game Sins of a Solar Empire. Read more

Why is Everybody Ignoring Dead Space? Here are 4 Reasons to be Excited

There, I said it.  Dead Space is being completely ignored by the gaming community already.  Why?  Well, for starters it comes out on October 31st this fall, smack dab in the middle of juggernauts such as Resistance 2, Gears of War 2, Little Big Planet and on and on.  True, there are in fact so many highly anticipated games coming out this fall that it’s easy for a new IP like Dead Space to get lost in the shuffle.  Frankly, that is unfortunate for many reasons.

First of all, the game is looking great.  The visuals look amazing and the atmosphere is very reminiscent of the Alien Trilogy (Quadrilogy my ass). If you enjoyed watching Ripley battle aliens in dark corridors against insurmountable odds this game should be on your radar.

Second, the story is almost exactly the same as the now legendary Ridley Scott directed Alien film…and that’s a good thing.  Set on a mining ship that is in, you guessed it, deep space, protagonist Isaac Clarke finds himself up against an alien species called “Necromorphs” that have taken over the ship and killed everybody.  It’s a classic science fiction story and one that perfectly creates a situation where you are completely alone and afraid.

Third, Dead Space is a third-person survival horror game that is very similar to Resident Evil 4 and the upcoming Resident Evil 5.  Chances are, if you like those types of games, this one will be much the same…only with less zombies and a sci-fi twist.

Fourth and finally, this game is a brand new IP from EA, a company that is traditionally very hesitant to take chances and move in creative new directions.  There is far too much money involved these days with developing new IP’s and the fact that EA is taking a chance on a new one is a positive sign not only for the industry but for gamers.  If you are tired of playing sequels and the same games that have been rehashed over and over again, now is the chance to throw your support behind a game that is trying something new.   Lets be honest, new IP’s don’t come along very often because of the financial risks involved. Too often a great new IP will be released that is gains universal critical acclaim…only to catch on too late with gamers. Fans of the amazing PS2 game Okami will agree that the game should have had far more success with the gaming community.

If you are one of the many that has not even seen this game yet be sure to check out the trailer below.  Better yet, be sure to see the awesome developer commentary video. Science fiction fans should be excited.

I think this game is going to be worth taking a “chance” on.  To learn more from someone that has actually played the game, check out a hands-on preview written by IGN’s Hilary Goldstein.

To be clear, I’m not advocating that you should go out and buy this game…yet. But if it comes out and is actually really good I only hope that gamers will give it a chance. Otherwise, all we may have to look forward from EA will be the next iterations of Tiger Woods and Burnout for years to come.

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Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-slick Precipice of Darkness Review

Fans of Penny Arcade have long known that this game was coming…but has anybody else noticed? Released on Xbox Live Arcade and the PC, Penny Arcade Adventures Episode 1: On the Rain-slick Precipice of Darkness (Darkness from here on) manages to create a game that will delight fans of the comics and will make RPG fans stand up (or likely sit down) and take notice. The game follows the exploits of Gabe and Tycho as they try to uncover the mysteries of giant robots, mimes, clowns and hobos. On first glance, the games story seems preposterous…but for Penny Arcade it works. The developers have done an admirable job of creating a world and atmosphere that really let the unique humour of Penny Arcade shine through. While the humour may not be for everyone, for those that enjoy it, Darkness manages to make you laugh, which is the point isn’t it?

Many gamers will end up mistaking Darkness for an adventure game. Even those who download the demo may not get far enough into the story to realize that Darkness is in fact an RPG, and a very good one at that. RPG fans should take notice. The battle system in Darkness utilizes real time mechanics but adds a turn based flavour (Final Fantasy fans may yawn at this point…but there’s more). As you select commands for your group you are also responsible for blocking enemy attacks, which actually is a game in itself. Timing a block takes practice and it will keep you on your toes throughout the game. Like any good RPG, each character has a special attack that charges over time and can be unleashed after completing a successful mini-game. In action, the battle mode is at the same time frenetic but also very strategic. It needs to be experienced to be truly appreciated.

Technically, Darkness looks and runs great. The cartoonish animations and comic panel approach give the game an authentic comic book feel that works incredibly well. Add in some Mass Effectesque dialogue trees and the game does well to immerse you into its crazy world and ridiculous story. Darkness is easily one of the best looking XBLA games to-date.

Of course, there is some bad with the good. The cost of entry for Darkness is a bit high at $20, making it the most expensive stand-alone XBLA title so far. This wouldn’t be so much of a problem if the game was a bit longer…most gamers will be finished with Darkness after 7-9 hours. Unfortunately, Darkness doesn’t lend itself to multiple playthroughs, so once you are done, you likely won’t be replaying it. In addition, despite being relatively short the game still manages to require a fair amount of backtracking which may turn off some gamers.

The Good:

+ Fantastic battle mode mechanics
+ Refreshing humour (if you like Penny Arcade especially)
+ Graphics and presentation are great

The Bad:

- A bit short at 7-9 hours of gameplay
- Some backtracking
- High cost of entry

The Verdict: BUY IT

Penny Arcade’s first game manages to overcome a high price tag with a game that will win over RPG fans and Penny Arcade enthusiasts alike. For those who are on the fence, at the very least you should try the demo. For me, I’m already looking forward to the next episode. Let’s just hope they don’t make us wait too long.

If you want to see the game in action, check out a clip here:

Sins of a Solar Empire (PC)

Ok, when I first set up this site I anticipated that I would keep the content console specific (hence the name). However, since I am a gamer with no allegiance to any one system or platform, I also have a gaming rig setup to allow me to play the occasional PC game.

To help fill the void as I await the imminent release of Grand Theft Auto IV I started looking into games the PC currently has to offer. Immediately, Sins of a Solar Empire caught my eye. I was a huge Master of Orion fan back in the day and Sins was getting some stellar reviews – check out IGN and 1UP’s reviews for more details.

Sins is not your traditional 4x game: eXpand, eXplore, eXploit, eXterminate. Instead, Sins is a RT4X game that blends those elements with real time strategy. Essentially, Sins is a combination of Master of Orion and Homeworld. Published by Stardock, the ones who brought us another Master of Orion clone in Galactic Civilization, Sins allows you to take control of one of three very different races (the Trader Emergency Coalition, the Advent or the Vasari) and has all the elements that keep that “one more turn” mentality going. Those of course being building and managing massive fleets, developing planets, engaging in diplomacy, fending off space pirates, researching new technologies, fighting real time space combat…and I could go on.

To see what I’m talking about, check the official trailer for the game below.

Put simply, this game blew me away. It is really fun and once you learn how to play (be prepared for a steep learning curve) Sins becomes one of those experiences that will suck you in for hours on end. I have only played through 3 games so far (all on small maps and they take about 3 hours each) and have yet to even think about diving into online multiplayer. This is one of those games that will take countless hours to master and the depth of the game is incredible. For only $39.99, it’s a steal if you have a computer with the specs to run this game. Even better, developer Ironclad is releasing a constant stream of updates to the game and there are already hints that expansion packs are on the way.

For anyone who loved Master of Orion or is a current Galactic Civilizations junkie, this game is a must buy.

Check out some of the screenshots below and a video of some of the space combat (yes, it really is this awesome).

For more information, be sure to check out Sins official website here.

Interview: Ironclad talks about Sins of a Solar Empire Entrenchment – The company came out of (nearly) nowhere with their first game earlier this year, the space strategy title Sins of a Solar Empire. Published via Stardock the game’s excellent reviews and its lack of a traditional copy-protection scheme … Sins of a Solar Empire Expansions UK Release Confirmed – To be released this year. News: Sins of a Solar Empire to get 4 add-ons – Kalypso Media has today sent out an announcement that they’ll be publishing no less than 4 add-on packs for [FLURL=@game_detail?name=Sins-of-a-Solar-Empire&id=2789]Sins of a Solar Empire[/FLURL] with the first getting released still …

Call of Duty 4: Top 5 Multiplayer Annoyances

Ok, so everyone knows that Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is an awesome game. It continues to sell at a breakneck pace and has established one of the largest online communities since its release in November of 2007. Now that everyone has been playing online hardcore players can agree on one thing, some things in multiplayer can really piss you off.

I won’t even go into the inevitable encounters with online idiots that you are guaranteed to come across. Those would be the racists and the little kids whose voices haven’t cracked and spend most of the match squealing like spanked pigs.

This list is about in-game multiplayer annoyances and the people that use them to maximize the frustration factor for everyone else.

Without further ado…

Number 5 – Idiot reaches level 55 and decides not to enter “prestige mode”…ever

We’ve all experienced it. You get into the lobby, check the rank of everyone in the lobby and notice that 5 players are all at level 55. Ok, so they’re good. Then, you get into the match and they absolutely own you. I’m talking you die almost as instantly as you spawn. They know where you’ll be, they have insane proficiency with every weapon in the game and they let you know it. Clearly, they are “prestige mode” material. Then, after you get your ass handed to you at your meager level 30 rank, they decide to call you out for sucking. Good times. Real cool. Man up and make the game a challenge for yourself by entering “prestige mode.” Pwning noobs doesn’t prove anything to anyone. It only confirms that you are a jackass.

Number 4 – This automatic shotgun will go great with my martyrdom perk!

Again, we’ve all seen it. These players constantly sprint around the map flying into rooms with the finger on the trigger and using about as much skill as it takes to blow up a balloon. Then, when they inevitably die, they drop their grenade (thanks martyrdom perk) and hope that their “tactics” were enough to take someone with them. Bonus jackass points awarded to the players that employ this strategy in tiny maps.

Number 3 – Spawning into an air strike or helicopter attack

Ok, this one can’t be blamed on players, so much as on Infinity Ward. Yes, the attack choppers and the air strikes are a cool idea. However, where the game breaks is when you are playing in a map like “shipment” and a helicopter attack kills everyone and everything. The map is so small that you have no chance of shooting the chopper out of the air before someone else takes you out. The result, non-stop sprinting for cover until the chopper is gone. The frustration: in a map as small as “shipment” you can bet those choppers will be out for almost the entire game as elite players rack up 7 kills over and over and over. Spawning into random chopper fire “hilarity” ensues.

Number 2 – Hey, I have 3 frag grenades, I better use them all within 2 seconds of respawning

You can bet that almost as soon as players reach the level to unlock these babies they will be clipping an extra 2 frags to their belts. And why not? You can throw a grenade anywhere and some sucker almost always accidentally stumbles into it. I wish COD 4 kept stats on how you get killed. Was it a sniper rifle? Was it a handgun? Or was it another damn grenade. I spend most of my time navigating the minefield of grenades, especially in smaller maps.

Number 1 – Juggernaut, the second chance for those who can’t get the job done without it

This was easy. Who hasn’t shot a player point blank in the chest after getting the drop on them, only to have them suddenly realize you are there and somehow kill you instead. It happens every game. Its happened to me. Its happened to you. It will happen again. Juggernaut is like the perk for players that accept the fact they need need a handicap to compete online. I have simply lost count of the number of times I’ve heard players scream into their headsets when they get killed by a player with this perk. It happens every game.

Phew. Well that’s it. I know there are other things in there that annoy people so if I’ve missed your personal pet peeve let me know in the comments section.

Now that I’ve got that off my chest, I’m heading back online. Because lets face it, despite these annoyances, Call of Duty 4 is damn fun. Thanks Infinity Ward!

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