Call of Duty: World at War

 

FPS videogames now dominate the once platformer dominated VG market.  The most popular franchise in the FPS genre, is Call of Duty.  In the fifth instalment," World at War", we see the most recent trip to WWII in the franchise, and the first taste of what was yet to come.  The game had alot to live up to, with the previous installment, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare receiving many 10 out of 10 reviews, and game of the year awards.  World at War has had direct 2 sequels, Black Ops, and Black Ops II, making the Black Ops trilogy.

 

GAMEPLAY

COD: WAW sticks to the basic FPS elements, adding new features such as the ability to wield a flame thrower, and some other weapons that were used in the pacific, by the japanese weapons.  Close quarters combat, can happen at any point in the game.  And cover can be shot through if wooden.  The game take's a more run n' gun style, than other games that require more realistic gameplay, such as Rainbow Six 3.

 

GRAPHICS

The games graphics are not detailed as much as in other games, but the framerate is extremely good, which makes up for the lack.  Character models look great and move very realisticly in campaign, but in online, it could have been better.

 

STORY

World at War follows Pvt. C. Miller in the Pacific, under Sgt. Roebuck. It also follows Pvt. Dimitri Petrenko, under Sgt. Viktor Resnov as they push to Berlin, on the eastern front.   

 

AGE

The game has very bloody images, with some gore if near a explosion.  Strong cursing throughout, including F-bombs.  There's also a whole mode where all you do is kill nazi zombies, more graphic than the normal game.  It's also violent.  The game in it's normal state would be 17+ just like it's rated, but there is a mature content filter, which cut's out most of the blood, gore, and language, which if it's turned on, age 15+.

 

CONCLUSION

This a very a very fun FPS game, and if your looking for fun time in the online mode, you should check it out.  I give this 8.2 out of 10.

 

DETAILS

Call of Duty: World at War was developed by Treyarch, and published by Activision in 2008.  It's rated M for Blood and Gore, Strong Language, and Intense Violence by the ESRB.

 

 

 

Batman: Arkham City

 

When it comes to videogames, a superhero alway's does the trick, for your action/thrill seeking mind.  When it come's to a superhero, Batman is one of the best.  In this sequel to Batman: Arkham Asylum, you'll find alot of action, plot twists, the voice cast from Batman: The Animated Series, and alot of awesome Bat-Gadget's.

 

GAMEPLAY

 I've never played Arkham Aslylum, but from what I've read, Arkham City build's on the gameplay of it's predecessor.  Batman can glide and grapple over all of Arkham City, finding his way to story missions, side missions, collecting riddler trophys and getting into fights with the inmates.  Combat controls work smoothly, and are easy to get the hang of.  When it comes to clearing rooms with armed thugs, the same idea's shown in Batman Begins are used, using stealth, and quick n' silent attacks on isolated thugs.  Different gadgets used by Batman include, batarang's, the batclaw, explosive gel, Detective Vision, and many more.  Upgrades for the Batsuit, and gadget's, are purchased with XP's (experiance points) that you are awarded for being...well...awesome.  Riddler trophy's unlock challenge maps, where Batman, has to complete...challenges.  DLC add-on's (which I have all of) include a Catwoman story mode, the ability to play as Robin or Nightwing on challenge maps, and extra suits for Batman.

 

GRAPHICS

Batman looks very good in this game.  The graphics aren't the best I've seen on the PS3, but their great.  As you progress through the game, the Batsuit, aquires tears and rip's, character models look much less "choppy" then arkham asylum, and the enviroment's look amazing, and have lot's of objects that reference characters and events that happened in Gotham. 

 

STORY

When Bruce Wayne is incarcerated to Arkham City, a Mega Prision made from a closed section of Gotham, with a wall put around it.  All of the Inmates from Arkham were relocated there, that includes the Joker, Penguin, Mr. Freeze and more.  After entering, Bruce learn's of a plot about to unfold called Protocol 10, he then dawns the Batsuit, on a quest to discover just what Protocol 10 is.  On his journey, he runs into trouble with all of the villians, and with the plot's huge twist's, this game will keep you wondering until the end.

 

 

AGE

The game has alot of action violence, but that's not the biggest problem.  There's quite a good amount of Language for a T game, also Harley Quinn, and Catwoman have skimpy outfits.  Age 14 and up.

 

CONCLUSION

Batman is a fun game, with alot of variety of challenges, and an all-star voice cast.

It was actually awared the game of the year by one outlet, and no suprise as to why.

The only problem I had, was that the actual story was short, but with the side missions and collectibles, you can get more out of the game.  10 out of 10.

 

DETAILS

Batman: Arkham City was developed by Rocksteady, and released by Warner Bros. Interactive on October 18th 2011.  It's rated T for Alcohol Refrence, Blood, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Tobacco, and Violence by the ESRB.  I'ts available for PS3, Xbox 360, PC, and Wii U. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gran Turismo 5

 

When realisim is wanted from a racing game, the best of the best is Gran Turismo.

The series made it's debut on the original PlayStation in 1997, and has since had a few sequels and spinoffs, and the series motto "The Real Driving Simulator" fit's the bill perfectly.

 

GAMEPLAY

Gran Turismo 5 keeps to the series standard, having a mode called Arcade, with time trials, and grand prix mode, for up to four players.  It also contains a updated version of the classic Gran Turismo Mode, in which the player con pass license test's, buy cars, complete races, and play online.  All 1,083 cars handle exactly like they do in real life, and in GT mode, you can upgrade the engines.  DLC is available for those who want more tracks, and cars.

GRAPHICS

Graphicly, this is one of the best games for PS3, with the same graphical detail, I mean this game is "The Real Driving Simulator".  The cars look amazing, and the enviroments are pretty.  This game is like the difference beetween most games on PS2, and GT 4.

 

AGE

All ages can play this game, but you do need a understanding of how to brake on the curves.  You also need to make sure that smaller children don't click on the buy DLC buttons, because then you'll spend real money from your PSN wallet.

 

CONCLUSION

If your looking for a realistic racing game on PS3, this is the way to go.  With some of the best visuals I've seen, I give this 9 out of 10.

 

DETAILS

Gran Turismo 5 was developed by Polyphony Digital and released by Sony Computer Entertainment in 2010.  It's Rated E by the ESRB.

Uncharted: Drakes Fortune

Ever wanted to be like Indiana Jones and search for lost treasures?  Ever wish he could move like Mario?  Well in this game, you get an action platformer, downright amazing game, that goes to uncharted lands.

GAMEPLAY

The gameplay in Uncharted is like helping a really awesome movie going along.  You have to jump on ledges, and do odd platform tasks, with third person shooting in the mix.  The gameplay in Uncharted is totaly amazing, having a hint of Call of Duty, mixed with Jak and Daxter.  It's actually presented as one huge cutscene, being streamlined without loading screens (with the exeption of when you start).  Sixaxis controls come into effect for, example, when your throwing grenades.  Again as mentioned, the platforming is fun, but it's hard to tell what to climb on, as I am used to more straight foward climbing, like in Mario.

GRAPHICS

The lush jungles you explore detailed, when I first popped it in, I was impressed(it was the second game I popped in my PS3 2 days ago when I got it, the first being Gran Turismo 5), but Uncharted 2 does have much better graphics.  The charcter models do suffer when compared to other games, but the environments do make up for this.

STORY

A modern day tresure hunter, find's a clue to the lost city of El Dorado in a 400 hundred year old coffin.  His search leads him to a small uncharted island, and soon the search turn's very dangerous, with enemies, and exciting plot twists this action game's got it all.

AGE

Uncharted features blood when you shoot people, smoking, some suggestive comments, every here and there, and alot of cursing.  Age 14+.

CONCLUSION

Uncharted is a no brainer for anyone with a PS3, and I reccomend it.  With action better than the average movie, and good graphics, I give thus 7 out of 10.

DETAILS

Uncharted: Drakes Fortune was developed by Naughty Dog, and released by Sony Computer Entertainment in 2007.  It's rated T for Blood. Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Tobacco and Violence by the ESRB.  

Ford Vs. Chevy

When it comes to racers, I'm picky, and game like Ford vs. Chevy are the reason why.

GAMEPLAY

Ok, so take a racing game, and water it down, that means....

Dumb AI, teamates that don't help you, and a poor overall set-up, if your looking for fun, don't play this game!!!

STORY

Two guy's that were rivals, bought cars, one a Ford, one a Chevy.  After a while, they started to street race, and some others joined in, and voila-you've got the premise of the game.

GRAPHICS

Mediocre at best, not even good for 2005.  It's supposed to be realistic, but not when compared to Gran Turismo 4, or Need for Speed.

CONTENT

Unless you consider two old men having the Ford or Chevy argument violent, there nothing offensive in this game

CONCLUSION

If your in the mood to play the one of the worst racing games for PS2 and Xbox, then this one is for you.  With a lot of flaws, including the premise(we all know Ford is better), I give this one...

 3.5 out of 10.

DETAILS

Ford Vs. Chevy was developed by Eutechnyx and released by 2K Games.

It's rated E by the ESRB.   



Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies

I've never really loved simulation games, but if there's a shining light in the genre, Ace Combat 04 is one of them.  This was the 6th or 7th PS2 game I purchased (I got 2 at the same time, this one, and Sly Cooper). 

GAMEPLAY

Ace Combat is a flight simulator, so it mainly involves flying around the map, shooting down enemy planes, and bombing targets.  The levels are decently sized, open area maps, in which you can fly around freely to your objectives.  Most of the missions take 15 to 30 minutes, and there are 18 of them.  My personal favorite mission involved stopping missiles in the artic.  There's also a 2 player split screen mode, which involves 1 on 1 dogfights.  You can replay any of the missions after you've defeated the game, so that feature adds the replay value.

GRAPHICS

The game worlds have realistic terrain, Mountains, desert canyon, urban cities etc.

While the environments aren't that detailed, you can easily tell what's going on.

STORY 

The game takes place on a fictional version of earth, on the continent Usea.  After a mega astroid crashes into Usea in 1999, 500,000 people are killed and many are left with nothing.  The continent became occupied eventually and a war started.  Now during this, a young boy, was riding his bike to school, when he see's a dogfight going on above him.  After watching a plane marked Yellow 13 shoot down a fighter, it crashes into his family's house, killing his parents, leaving him orphaned.  After moving into the city with his drunken-bum uncle, the boy meets a bartenders daughter, and eventually begins to hangout with her, at their bar.  The Bar ends up being the hangout of the yellow sqaudron.  He l befriends, Yellow 13, and begins spying on him for the resistance.  During the game, you play as Mobius 1, an ISAF fighter pilot, who is top ranked, and eventually shoots down Yellow 13.  The games cutscenes are a long letter from the now grown boy to Mobius 1.

AGE

While rated E, there's surprisingly cursing in the game.  There is violence, but it only involves shooting down other aircraft, and is mild.

CONCLUSION

AC04 has a very interesting story, that kept me hooked, and great gameplay.  I recommend this if your looking to find a airplane/combat game for your PS2.   

Even with the outdated graphics, it's very much worth playing, and especially since it can be found for under $5.

7 out of 10.

DETAILS

Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies was developed by Project Aces, and released by Namco in 2003.  It's rated E for violence and mild language by the ESRB.          

  

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell

Being a spy is a dream of many people, so I'm guessing your one of those people.  This game is like a window into a awesome world of espionage.

 

GAMEPLAY

In Splinter Cell you sneak around, your equipped with a gun, nightvision goggles, and a bunch of other gadgets.  In the game, you actually don't have to kill any one, you just need to knock them out.  The guns can kill, but are there for you to shoot out lights and cameras.  Light and dark are principle of the Gameplay.  There is some jumping, that kind of comes across as platforming to me.  After you shoot people, they don't disappear, so you have to hide the body's in the shadows.  Lockpicking, extracting top-secret computer files, and disarming bombs is all a normal day in this game.

 

GRAPHICS

Splinter Cell has good graphics for the time window it was released.  The light coming from a certain points, rather than from nowhere, adds a very bold, realistic feel.  The best graphics for the game come on the PS3 remastered version.



STORY 
Former U.S. Navy Seal Sam Fisher has been recruited by the NSA, to find 2 missing agents in the fall of 2004.  He eventually becomes a Third Echelon operative, and operates missions all over the world.  With his trusty Silenced Pistol, and Nightvision goggles, he perfects his missions, leaving no trace of being there.

AGE
The game has no blood, besides one part in a morgue.  There is violence, and a very deep plot, that I can't fully follow.  Some cursing, so age 13 and up.

CONCLUSION
Splinter Cell is a great stealth action game.  Combining a witty plot, with inovative gameplay, this is a game you don't want to miss (actually since your reading this review in 2012+ you've already missed it).  I give this totally wicked game a 9.7 out of 10 

DETAILS
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell was originaly devloped by Ubisoft Montreal and released by Ubisoft in 2002 for Xbox, and has since been ported to PS2, Gamecube, Windows, Mac, N-Gage, Mobile Phone, GBA, and been remade in HD for PS3.  It's rated T for blood and gore, and violence by the ESRB.

Blinx: The Time Sweeper

 

Every console has a family friendly mascott, Nintendo has Mario, Sega has Sonic, Sony had Crash, so shouldn't Microsoft have one two?  This review will tell you why they don't.

 

GAMEPLAY

So Blinx has basic platforming, mixed with the ability to control time.  The time controls don't add ANYTHING to the gameplay.  The other thing, is that you can't jump on enemies, you have to suck stuff into your vacuum-gun thingy, and shoot it back at them.  The only collectibles in the game are the cat medals, which there are three of in a stage.

 

GRAPHICS

The graphics are quite cartoonish, and are very detailed, they might actually be the only thing good in this game.  But just because the graphics are good, dosent mean that there's no problems, the camera get's in the way to much.

 

STORY

Besides that Blinx is a time sweeper, cleaning up time crystals, and saving the princess from the evil pigs, that's it story wise.  Throughout the game, there's only 2 cutscenes, one in the beginning, and one at the end.

 

AGE

No offensive content, ages 4 and up.  Despite this, they're most likley the only people who will like the game.

 

CONCLUSION

If your looking for a bad game, you've found it here.  I don't think anyone would enjoy this game.  I give it a very bad 1.9 out of 10.

 

DETAILS

Blinx: The Time Sweeper was developed by Artoon, and released Microsoft Game Studios in 2002 for Xbox.  It's rated E by the ESRB.  It was followed by a sequel, Blinx 2: Masters of Time and Space.

 

 

Burnout 3: Takedown

 

Street Racing, is a major subject in VG's, Burnout 3 is one of those games.

 

GAMEPLAY

Burnout's gameplay involves, going around the track, and being the first to cross the finish line.  But Burnout rewards you for being stupid, by giving you "Boost" for your stupidity, and the game state's Risk=Reward.  By supid, I mean, wreckng (TAKINGDOWN) your rivals, and barley missing traffic.  The damage is over the top in Burnout, instead of no damage, you get over the top, fun, cartoonish explosion's, and of course, cars flying way up above your head.  The best way to see the damage is, Road Rage mode, in which you try to takedown as many of your rivals possible, until your car explodes.  There is also a Crash mode, where you drive into a intersection, and try to cause as much damage as possibe.

 

GRAPHICS

The Graphics are extremly well for the PS2 and Xbox, and unlike other games, the Frames don't slow down with a ton of movement.  Very excellent for it's time.

 

AGE

Burnout 3 has street racing, and one curse word, that on the screen every now and then.  Age 10 and up.

 

CONCLUSION

Burnout 3 is a very fun, fast paced racing game.  It's more of arcade style, when compared to NFS: Most Wanted.  This is fun, destructive, title, that would be great in your collection.  8.2 out of 10.

 

DETAILS

Burnout 3: Takedown, was developed by Criterion Games, and Published by Electronic Arts in 2004.  It's rated T for Mild Language, and Mild Violence by the ESRB.

      

 

Medal of Honor: Vanguard

 

Medal of Honor is as mentioned, a very succesful shooter franchise.  The later games in the series generaly have really dumb AI, this game is not a exception.

 

GAMEPLAY

I thought that Vanguard would be a very fun game, because of the paratrooper segments.  I was wrong, the paratrooper drop moments are short, and really don't add anything to the core FPS game.  Vanguard, is very simular to European Assault, with the exception, that the health meter is swapped out for the blood on the screen thing, brought about by Call of Duty.

 

GRAPHICS

The game has the same graphics as European Assault on the PS2 version, so pretty bad.  I'm not sure about the Wii version, but I personally think that Rising Sun had better Graphics.

 

STORY

You are one of Americas first paratroopers in WWII, under the 82nd Airborn Division.

You participate in missions set during: OPERATION HUSKY (invasion of Sicily), OPERATION NEPTUNE (Airborn element of D-Day), OPERATION MARKET-GARDEN (attack on the Netherlands), and OPERATION VARSITY (crossing of the Rhine).  There is a total of 10

missions.





AGE
MOH: Vanguard is a T game, but does include some blood and language, so age 12 and up.

CONCLUSION
This game was very dry, and had me saying, "I want my money back!".  With stale gameplay, and bad graphics makes this one 3 out of 10.

DETAILS
Medal of Honor: Vanguard was released in 2007 for Wii, and PS2.
It's rated T for blood, language, and violence by the ESRB.

Star Wars Battlefront

Star Wars is a huge media franchise, the movies spawning cartoons, comics, audio dramas, books, and even video games.  One of my favorite Star Wars games is Battlefront.  The game allows you to be a soilder in the classic battles.

 

GAMEPLAY

Battlefront is literaly a battlefront, in which you can do anything from driving a speeder, or a x-wing.  Or choosing what classes of infantry you want to be, including plain infantry, snipers, pilots, and more.  The most amazing thing about the game is how much is going on at one time, all the other AI units continue the battle even after you die.  When you die,  it takes you to a class selection screen.  Each faction has 5 different units, each with thier own special weapons.  The game does not allow you to pick up weapons, so when you respawn is the only time you can change.  There are 3 different type of droids scattered through the map including: the ammo droid, the health droid, and the vehicle repair droid, they give you exactly whats in their names.  The maps are all based on places shown in the movies, such as Naboo, Geonosis, and Endor.  They are pretty big and basicly free roam, letting you do whatever it is that want to during the battles.  Also spread out accross the maps are Command Post, points at which you capture, or respawn at.  The core gameplay (yes i'm just now there) is to win the battles for the faction that you choose, by capturing all the CPs and holding them for 20 seconds, or wiping out the enemy forces.  There is a historical campaign which lets you play the battles in order, a galactic conquest mode, in which you choose your faction an capture the galaxy, and instant action, which lets you play any battle, when you want to.  The factions have to be in a time period against each other,so you can play in the Clone Wars (clones vs. droids) and the Galactic Civil War (Rebels vs. Empire).

 

GRAPHICS

The game has good graphics for 2004 on the systems it was released on, but even when compared to graphics seen on the same systems in 2006, they are pretty average.  Graphics really don't bother me so... it's all good.

 

AGE

While Battlefront doe's feature shooting, theres no blood, and it's no worse than the movies.  Age 9 and up.

 

CONCLUSION

If you have a system that this game is on, go get it, it's great!  If you love Star Wars, and are looking for a deep, unforseen plot, this game has no real story, so The Force Unleashed would be a better choice.  With many different ways to play, this ones a classic, which I give a 8 out of 10, may the force be with you.

 

DETAILS

Star Wars Battlefront was released in 2004 for Xbox, PS2, and PC.

It's rated T for Violence by the ESRB.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Call of Duty 3



Historical first person shooter games are very common, and Call of Duty has some of the best ones.  The series, has sinces shifted it's focus to the Modern Warfare franchise, but the "classic" Call of Duty games are still very good.  The third entry in the series, Call of Duty 3, is the last "classic" COD game.

GAMEPLAY
Like most other FPS games, the main point of the gameplay is to shoot people, in this case, Nazi soldiers.  The main thing that makes COD 3 fresher from earlier titles, are the moments in 1st person when you're in close quarters combat, driving a jeep, or lighting the fuse on a bomb.  There are 14 missions in COD 3, including some requiring you to drive a tank, and some that are stealth based.  This is the overall best WWII shooter for PS2, and Xbox, and a great game on newer consoles.

STORY
The game takes place during the Normandy breakout campaign, and is set in France.  You play as 4 differnt soldiers in the American, British, Canadian, and Polish armies.  All of the missions take place in a real battle, and backed somewhat by fact.

GRAPHICS
The last gen versions look very good, and are some of the best games visually on the Xbox and PS2.  The PS3 and Xbox 360 versions feature better graphics, with enhanced textures.  The Wii version is somewhere in between.

AGE
Call of Duty 3 has violence (obviously), a bit of blood when you shoot someone, but its mainly used to see where you hit the guy, as it disappears.  The bodies do lay after you shoot them, but no gore.  There is quite a bit of cursing, for a teen game, but it's mainly in the cutscenes.

CONCLUSION
Call of Duty 3 is one of the best FPS games around, and well worth your time.  I have not, played online, so I can't tell you how that goes, but the campaign is solid.  I give this 9 out of 10.

DETAILS
Call of Duty 3 was released in 2006 for Xbox, Xbox 360, PS2, PS3, and Wii.
It's rated T for Blood, Violence, and Language by the ESRB.
     

Super Mario 64

Platform videogames are some of my favorite games.  The 3D platformer sub-genre can have 2 turnouts, good or bad.  Super Mario 64 was probably the first one to be good. 

 

GAMEPLAY

Super Mario 64 mixes the classic Mario jump n' stomp, with 3D enviroment's.  You have to guide, Mario through the course to find Power Stars.  Power Stars are collected by completing platforming challenges, defeating bosses, and by acompishing certain tasks.

Courses are opened, by jumping into paintings on the wall's, in the calstle's many room's.

Mario collects different kinds of cap's, which grant him a special ability for a short time, rather than the mushrooms and flowers of the earlier games.   Blocks contanin coins, 1up mushrooms, caps, and sometimes Power Stars.

 

STORY

Mario recives a letter from Princess Peach, saying that she has baked a cake for him and that he must come to her castle.  It turns out that Bowser has kidnapped Princess Peach again, and the letter is a fake.  Bowser also stole the princesses power stars, which are required to open most doors in the castle.  Mario must find all 120 power stars, defeat Bowser, and rescue the Princess.

 

GRAPHICS

When Super Mario 64 was released for the N64 in 1996, nothing really compared at the time.  Now, in this day and time, the graphics aren't that great, but can hold up compared to other 3D games released in the 1996 period.  The DS version is a complete remake, sporting better graphics than the N64 version, more maps and stars, plus a bunch of mini games that use the touchscreen.

 

AGE

Mario has no offensive content, though you would need to know how to read, because the story is not spoken, but written.  I think you should at least be 7 to play Super Mario 64.

 

CONCLUSION

When speaking of classics, there is not a game more classic than this.  Super Mario 64 has great gameplay, fun challenges, and the pudgy plumber himself.  If you have a system that has this game, you can's miss it.  I give this 8.4 out of 10.

 

DETAILS

Realeased in 1996, for N64.  Has been re-released in 2004 for the DS, and later for the Wii Virtual Console.  It is rated E by the ESRB. 

 

 

  



Donkey Kong for NES, Arcade, and Wii

As mentioned with Galaga, the early 80s saw some of the best arcade games ever.  One of these was Donkey Kong.  

GAMEPLAY
The gameplay of Donkey Kong, is to guide Mario, to the top platform.  The ultimate goal of the game is to save Pauline, a damsel in distress.  The 3 levels include some platforming, but sadly they loop, and you keep playing the exact same levels.

Level 1
is the slanted frame of a building, at a construction site.  Donkey kong is trowing barrels down the frame.  Mario must climb ladders, and successfully dodge the barrels to reach the top.

Level 2

Mario must reach the platform closest to Pauline.  This stage includes a pully system, which you must time the jumps just right for, or die. Other challenges include seperated platforms, fires, and a jumpy thing that can hit you. 

Level 3

You must walk over the yellow squares, while dodging the fires.  Once all of the squares are gone, Donkey Kong will fall to the ground, leaving you and Pauline safe.

AGE

Donkey Kong has no offensive content.

CONCLUSION

Donkey Kong is a great arcade game, in which I really do love.  The graphics are not that great, but it is 1981 here.  The only bad thing I have against the game is the Mario was a Carpenter, not a plumber.  I give this classic 8 out of 10.  And remember that when you pop this game in, it's not just on, but "it's on like Donkey Kong".



MLB 09: The Show







Baseball is one of the most popular sports in the USA, and like most sports, it has been turned a video game.  The Show stands out from the majority of these adaptions, as it is a PlayStation exclusive title.

GAMEPLAY
The Show retains the classic baseball gameplay we all know and love.  It has all the rules of the MLB, and complete player rosters.  The way the game plays is way better than the MLB 2K series.  If you have a PSP, PS2 PS3, or PS vita, this is the way to go for baseball.

GRAPHICS
The PS3 version has the best textures, and the PS2 and PSP versions are toned down a ton.

MODES
This incarnation of baseball includes modes such as exhibition, manager, road to the show, season, and homerun derby.  It also includes access to the MLB rosters.

AGE
Any age can play this game, but as with football, you need to know the game.

CONCLUSION
MLB 09: The Show, is a great baseball video game.  If you have any PS console, I would also suggest that you get a version of this game.  I give it 8 out of 10.

 

Sly Cooper and the Theivius Racoonus

The classic platformer, is like a little bit of heaven.  When you've been playing shooters non-stop, the shooting genre gets boring.  That's where Sly Cooper comes in, one of the most fun games on PS2.  It's one of three big franchises in the platform genre, made by SCEA, the other two being Jak and Daxter, and Ratchet and Clank.  Since it's 2002 release, it has been re-released on PS3 in 2010, for a collection entitled "The Sly Collection", which also includes Sly 2: Band of Theives, and Sly 3: Honor Among Theives.

GAMEPLAY

The game core relies on stealth, simular to Splinter Cell, sneaking around, staying out of the light, sneaking past lasers, climbing on ledges, and taking on enemies from behind.  The other aspect is Mario Bros. style jumping around and coin collecting.  There are five sets of levels, simular to Mario's worlds.  Each is set at one of the members of the Fiendish Five's hideouts.  Inside the hub area of the hideout, you can select a level.  The levels revolve around getting keys, to unlock the door to the boss.  Collectible items for each level include green bottles, which unlock a move from the "Theivius Raccoonus".  It only takes one hit with your cane to kill a enemy, but it also only takes one hit to kill you, unless you have a magic horseshoe. 

STORY

Raccoons are master thieves, well... if your born in the Cooper family you are!

The Coopers only stole from other master thieves, and wrote everything down in their ancient book the "Theivius Raccoonus", well on the night that Sly was to inherit the book the Fiendish 5 came and ransacked the house until ,they found the "Theivius Raccoonus".

Sly, who was left all alone, (they killed his parents) was dumped at the town orphanage.  There he met Bently and Murray, his best friends, who later become his crew.  Powered by determination, He and his friends set out to defeat the Fendish 5 and claim back the "Theivius Raccoonus".

GRAPHICS

For PS2, the graphics are nice and vibrant.  The animators did a very good job with the sprites for...everything, and the game has a noir feel, which adds to the funny cartoon like premise.  The PS3 version boasts updated graphics, and trophy support.

AGE

Sly's backstory is not detailed but, might be scary for younger kids.  The third set of levels is set in a Hatian jungle, while your looking for a Voodoo practicing alligator named Ms. Ruby.  Age 7 and up.

CONCLUSION

Sly Cooper and the Theivius Raccoonus is a game I would recommend to anyone.  The game it self only takes 12 hours to beat, so some might consider short. 
I give this 7 out of 10.

Galaga for Every Console

 

Back when game's were simpler, the and the Arcade era was at it's peak in 1981, alot of gems were released, such as Donkey Kong, Ms. Pacman, and Galaga.  It never gets old shooting those alien spacecraft.  If your wondering why the screenshots look weird, it's because their from the NES version.

 

 

GAMEPLAY

The gameplay involves shooting at alien spaceships that are flying in circles.  After the whole fleet assembles. they start to attack you, so you must dodge them, and shoot them at the same time.



There are three different types of alien ships in Galaga, the blue ones, which fly in circular patterns, the red ones, which fly straight down, and the green/purple ones, which take 2 hits to destroy, come as a mix of both and will try to capture you in thier tractor beam.

GRAPHICS
The graphics were decent at the time of it's release, but when your playing a classic, does it matter?

AGE
Back then, arcade games, had no offensive content, so anyone can play this game.

CONCLUSION
If you have never played Galaga, go play it, it's one of the best Arcade games...ever.
It's also on every platform availible, and in most arcades, so go now!  I give this 8 out of 10
 

Need for Speed: Most Wanted (2005) for Xbox, PS2, Xbox 360, PC, PS3, PSP, DS, GBA, and Gamecube

 

Racing games have been around since the creation of arcades.  The Classic arcade style of racing met with realisim in The Need for Speed, a mid 90s racing game, and the first in the popular NFS series.  9 games later we have Most Wanted, which is one of the best racing games released for 6th generation consoles.

 

GAMEPLAY

You can expect the core of racing video games, to be in every single one, you can drive.  But in NFS: MW you take that and add it to an open city, where you can drive around, ram into cars, smash signs, take on challenges, evade the police.  I did start to wonder where all of the citizens of rockport were, because the streets were empty!  Yeah sure, there are civilians driving thier car to and fro, but none are out walking on the sidewalks.  Also when you start a race, you can only do laps in the course, there is no freeroam aspect.  The civilian cars also disappear when you start a race.  As for the cops, you need to look out for them, if they see you, they'll start pursuing you.  The more they chase you, the more heat is on your car, so you'll have to change the color at "The Shop".  The most realistic part of the driving, is that you must brake to take on sharp turns.  For each racer on the blacklist, you must complete a set number of races, and challenges.  There are 15 sets of challenges on the blacklist.  The gameplay of the portable versions is different.

 

STORY

You, A hot shot racer, come's to town, and gets challenged to race.  The other racer sabotages, your car and wins, leaving you to be arrested.  When you are released, you find out that the other racer used your car to beat the entire blacklist.  You set out to work your way up the ladder and claim title that should be yours, Most Wanted.

 

GRAPHICS

Now for the PS2, Xbox and Gamecube versions, the graphics are quite phenomenal, looking very realistic for thier time, and as always, not as good as thier modern counterparts.  The PS3, Xbox 360, and PC versions, the graphics are realistic, with superb textures.  If you have ever played any racing game, on whatever console you have, you'll probually be able to guess what it wiil look like.  The cutscenes mix live action, with CGI effects, and are still good compared to newer games.

 

AGE

This game, is rated T, but there is some content that is not for younger players, women are displayed in a manner that is suggestive, and the cop chases are violent.  Ages 11 and up.

 

CONCLUSION

Most Wanted is a very fun racing game, and is on almost any platform, so that can open up the possiblility of it's availablility for you.  Anyone that loves a good racing game should have this game, and I give it a 8 out of 10.