As we head into 2009, we already see some heavy hitters coming our way. With Killzone 2 closing in and Resident Evil 5 stirring up plenty of controversy, we certainly have our hands full for quarter 1. So to slow things down a bit, I took the time to assemble a list of what I feel to be the genre-pushing releases this generation. Enjoy!

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

Nothing satisfies quite like Metal Gear, and with the fourth iteration, that doesn’t change at all; if anything, it’s the most improved game we’ve ever seen, and with all that Metal Gear has to live up to, that’s saying quite a lot. This generation of gaming has yet to produce something as lively and exhilarating as Metal Gear Solid 4 was, though admittedly some games do come close, none have been able brave the splendor that is MGS4.

Kojima set many high benchmarks with MGS4, and proved that games could be considered a viable storytelling medium, while also offering a sizable gameplay experience. We here at Gamer Limit salute Old Snake, for in his final hour, he changed gaming.

Super Mario Galaxy

In 2007, Super Mario Galaxy stirred up quite a lot of hype; it was the exclusive reason to own a Nintendo Wii. Not only did the game mark itself as the greatest Mario title, but served as one of the greatest platformers we’ve ever encountered. We know Mario games have never been known for their storyline, but rather the unconditional enjoyment they produce.

It’s been an odd 27 years since Mario first debuted in 1981, back then he was but a pile of pixels on a mission. Now, after many years of misadventure, he has evolved into a high-poly icon for an entire generation to praise. With Super Mario Galaxy, you can’t help but be enthralled with this lovable little plumber. So, if you have some spare time, two thumbs, and a Wii-mote, we suggest you check this one out.

LittleBigPlanet

It would be a crime against nature to mention Mario without the likes of this platforming masterpiece. LittleBigPlanet was probably the first game exclusive to the Playstation 3 that utterly relied on pure fun. Complete with a comprehensive level editor, strong online community, and quite possibly the cutest 3-dimensional deity man ever conceived… Sackboy.

The premise of LittleBigPlanet boils down to three key elements; play, create, and share. With some 50+ story levels, and 100,000+ community levels, there is plenty of play to go around. Creating is the meat of the game, there’s nothing quite like publishing your very first level for all the other happy gadders. Finally, sharing is what makes LittleBigPlanet so pleasurable, if you don’t have your friend there beside you while you push on through the creative landscape, then what else is there?

Mirror’s Edge

Critics slapped a great big “mediocre” sticker on this one, but despite is luke-warm reception, this game brought about a much needed change in the FPS world. What separated this game from other shooters was the fact that it wasn’t actually a shooter at all. Sure, you had the ability to fire, but in the long run, it was much more a waste of time to actually bother with it, running away proved much more effective.

Now, even I had my doubts about this game prior to its release, and don’t think the thought didn’t run through my mind that a game reliant on running could never be very intense; but how wrong I was! The style of running in Mirror’s edge is based upon Parkour or “Free-running” and frankly, it makes for quite an interesting foundation to Mirror’s Edge’s gameplay. Climbing buildings, jumping off them, then climbing them again… it’s an absolute blast!

Bioshock

It would be fruitless to argue whether this game is a straight shooter or survival-horror, because in the world of Rapture, uncertainty is key. From its initial announcement to the anticipated Playstation port, Bioshock has garnered more acclaim than any other game this generation. Even a year into its lifetime, it still feels fresh, and chilling. While graphically the game may be starting to dwindle, the awe-inspiring gameplay still holds merit.

I’m sure it can be unanimously agreed upon that Bioshock is one of greatest games ever developed. Its mature story and dark premise was since unparalleled by any other game at the time. It made great use of Epic’s Unreal Engine 3, utilizing some of the best video game water effects seen to date. Rapture was bold, and unique, each environment had a inimitable atmosphere; showcasing a wide variety of locations.

Fallout 3

In the spirit of Oblivion IV: The Elder Scrolls, Bethesda Softworks traded in the medieval setting for a post-apocalyptic landscape. With nightmarish creatures wandering a beautifully carved D.C. wasteland, and a breathtaking cast full of colorful characters, it’s quite hard to actually find any flaws with this game. We guarantee it will make even the most stubborn RPG hater wet their pants.

The game has received widespread commendation for its innovative use of environment and exceptional gameplay. It’s a certainty that this game does the RPG genre justice, and then some.

We are still able to find a solace with these definitive games after so long; it’s because of them that were able to keep our nerve in check while 2009 continues to pump out quality titles like petrol. Kudos to the developers of these listed games, you have set the bar high!

Disclaimer: This list was formed in no particular order

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With the slew of great titles being released, I found myself enthralled in some of 2008’s best, but as I look back, I notice that some games just didn’t really sink in. In no way were these games completely awful, but they seemed to get lost in the mix. Please note that this list is of my own, I don’t particularly know how others may or may not feel about those listed, or what they play.

Far Cry 2

Honestly, I truly enjoyed this game for as long as I could; it was incredibly immersive and set a new height on realism. But, to say the least, it was too much realism for me. Travel was irritating, missions gradually became repetitive, and gun jams seemed to occur at the most inopportune moments. Though, what hurt this game the most in my opinion was the fact that there were other, more enjoyable alternatives at my disposal.

Mirror’s Edge

When I first experienced this game, I went ape; it was innovative, immersive, and stylish! However, since then, I find it hard to see how I could ever come across a reason to play it again. To its credit, Mirror’s Edge boasted a marvel single player, unfortunately, it was exceedingly short and its replay value was bare to none. I was let down, and if you’re intent on playing this game, then you might as well wait for it to hit the bargain bin.

Ninja Gaiden 2

Now, I myself am quite mixed on this one, of course, what made this game stand out was the intensity of the gore. And of course, I for one am a complete fan of any title that allows you to disunite any limbs that care to get in the way of your blade. But, I’m certainly not a fan of loose camera angles, and rough controls. So, in the long run, this game really only services to those die hard fans.

I could go on forever with this list, but I wanted to keep it short and sweet; besides, I have a LittleBigPlanet level I must tend to. Also, in a foolish attempt to get the community involved, I would love to hear your lists, of games that you may have adored initially, but you just couldn’t stand another minute.

Other Honorable Mentions:

Wii Fit

Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock

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As you, our loyal readers, have undoubtedly notice, Gamer Limit has been pumping out features like petrol. Well, today I am honored to announce that were adding yet another to the mix. Of course, it’s quite blatantly revealed in the title just what this editorial is about, what if Bioshock had a multiplayer component…

Just recently I wrote Gamer Limit’s Bioshock review, and it’s quite noticeable that I was to some extent disappointed. I praised the game chiefly for its unique art direction, engaging gameplay, and breathtaking sound, but I deeply criticized it for its complete lack of replayability. Now, as I have been given opportunity to write the first “what if”, I felt it best to cover the one thing that could’ve garnered Bioshock a significantly higher score.

These days, multiplayer is a widely adopted feature, and many games that don’t facet this quickly lose value. To me, if a game doesn’t contain a quality multiplayer mode, I’m likely to trade it in immediately upon completion, with the exception of such RPG’s as Fallout 3, which are guaranteed to remain on my shelf for years to come. So, the foremost question is, what would Bioshock’s multiplayer have been like if it existed?

One can only wonder what diverse game types would’ve been available, and while the insipid ones would clearly list the overused deathmatch or free-for all games, I’d like to think otherwise. With Rapture being as unique as it already is, to me it would feel off beam to offer just the basics, so instead I took some time to dream up some possible match types. Firstly, and possibly what could’ve been the most ambitious mode, would require everyone on the map to in a way team up to bring down a big daddy, which would either be AI controlled or player controlled; this all versus one style, especially with a Big Daddy, would be my choice mode. Second, would be my cooperative variation of Gears of War 2’s “Horde” mode, where you, along with others, must fend off wave after wave of Splicers until you reach the end of the stage.

I understand that these “modes” of mine are really just variations of other multiplayer games, but if they are precisely implemented to Bioshock’s setting, the overall experience could be that much stronger. With the splendor of Rapture, there really is no limit, and I for one am quite surprised that multiplayer wasn’t realized from the very start of development; it would’ve had so much potential.

Plasmids are one of the high points of the singleplayer campaign, and if Bioshock did include multiplayer, I can easily see how they would service action in the same way. Not only would it completely alter your game style (depending on the plasmids you choose) but it would also adds a significant tactical aspect, for instance, if you knew the current map had buckets of water spilling everywhere drowning the level, then you may prefer to equipped something a bit more…shocking. Although, in a map abundant with ice, you may rather have incinerator, to gain access to areas previously “iced in”.

Well, you may notice that I have been somewhat melodramatic about this topic, and I admit that; but I treat these thoughts of mine as a brainchild. I can only hope that 2K is listening in, too, because these may just be what Bioshock 2 requires.

What do you think, what type of multiplayer would suit Bioshock?

Bioshock, released over a year ago for the Xbox 360, has since then been applauded for its dark tenor and terrifying gameplay. Now, with the rather recent Playstation 3 port, we’re ready to give the final word on this widely acclaimed first person shooter. But is this port the frighteningly good game we’ve all come to love, or will it be shocking a disappointment? (pun intended)

By now, every avid gamer would have at the very least, heard of Bioshock, let alone play it. For those who haven’t discovered the remarkable deity that is this game, undoubtedly overlooked one of the greatest experiences of this generation. Not only does Bioshock possess the makings of a breathtaking horror game, but it recognizes just how those elements need to be employed. From its terrifying gameplay to its first-class storyline, there isn’t actually much to criticize here.

To begin with, you’re immediately thrown into the action with a beautifully rendered plane crash, of which you are the only survivor. No more than a hundred feet away you discover a seemingly abandoned building, inside of course though, is a Bathysphere, leading directly to Rapture. Without delay, you are contacted by Atlas, who from the get go, tells you exactly what you need to do. As marvelous as the introduction is however, it’s intimidating to be thrown straight into the action within the first five minutes without any explanations as to why you are there. The speed in which the game progresses doesn’t leave much for a learning curve either, but it still maintains a glowing appeal.

Gameplay is undeniably fun, and scary! You’ll find yourself sleepless and disturbed by its scare factor, yet attached to it as well. There aren’t many weak spots we can notice in the gameplay, you’ll find Rapture’s environment is exceptionally varied, allowing for large replayability. Along with that, you’ll frequently find yourself often trapped between a herd of Splicers or an enraged Big Daddy. With each situation you are forced to employ new tactics, utilizing both your plasmids and weapons. This brings us to the sensitive subject of munitions; the weapons manage well with Rapture’s atmosphere, but the minuscule selection will leave you unsatisfied. However, the wide range plasmids will service in a pleasurably opposite way, allowing for demented yet enjoyable fatalities.

It’s no secret, judging from the widely praised Xbox game, that Bioshock looks amazing, while it’s not up to par with some of the more recent titles; it still holds a true next-gen feel. The Playstation 3 version expands on graphics only slightly. Only a handful of textures were upgraded, beyond that though, the difference between the two goes unnoticed. Minor graphical errors do exist throughout, including pop-in textures, which sad to say, is quite abundant. This does nothing to particularly distract from the game, being as immersive as it is, but it’s certainly an annoyance worth noting. The lighting, while handsomely directed, isn’t anything too different from what we encountered before in previous versions of the game. All the same though, the distribution of the lights remains an accomplished task, aiding in the trademark scare factor. While graphics do play a rather large part in the game, and the developer’s effort is fairly clear, it’s only the primer to this wonderfully painted masterpiece.

The artificial intelligence is a rather… troublesome issue in my eyes. While some may argue that the AI is near perfect, I would only respond with “it’s good at what it does”. What I mean by this is that Splicers (your common enemy) do just about one thing, which is to run at you screaming, weapon in hand. This isn’t very advanced, while it gets the desired job done, it’s nothing special, particularly because we’ve already experienced such games as Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, which now showcase some of the best videogame AI we’ve ever observed.

In the end, the splicer AI is nothing to really be impressed by, as its quite simplistic, on the other hand, the AI that of Big Daddies and Little Sisters is more than enough to cloud out any other issues. They have the ability to scavenge dead bodies and travel via the pipelines seen throughout levels, and when angered, they reply with deadly force. The only concern with this is that when you do anger a Big Daddy or Little sister, their behavior can be compared to that of the Splicers, which, while it adds to the difficulty, is again, nothing impressive. I was made to expect that the AI was shining, but I was slightly dissapointed, if the enemies had a more complex range of activities, I would’ve been much obliged.

Sound is one factor that excels above all in the game. The score is very original, keeping the old nostalgia setting true while also expressing the terrifying mood. The voice acting is superbly done, notably by Armin Shimerman for his breathtaking role as Andrew Ryan. His performance pulls the story together; he creates a believable character and portrays him just right, as do the other actors, but Shimerman truly stands out.

If you happened to miss the original game, then consider this port a must-buy, though it may be riddled with small problems, these are insignificant enough to be graciously ignored. Ultimately, you should only have ask yourself one question beforehand…

…am I ready for Rapture?

There are always reasons when it comes to playing games; fun, stress relief, or perhaps you’re in the mood for some intense Mario action. Whatever your reason is, it always boils down to the same generic endgame. So here are a few other uses for videogames that will both entertain and satisfy.

Distract your ‘Friends’

Ever have a friend that you don’t really like, but refuses to leave your side? Well there is one easy answer, videogames. Just slide in some Gears of War and the next six hours are completely your’s. For maximum results though, let them borrow it! You may be deprived of your favorite shooter, but if the following weeks have anything to say for it, it’s undeniably worth it.

End a Relationship

First-rate girlfriends are always hard to find, but telling the awful ones you just can’t stand them often ends in what was recently their drink now soaking your face. So instead of you breaking up with them, let them break it up with you. Of course the option of acting just plain repulsive is always open, playing games non-stop is the choice way to go! Not only does it do the job swiftly, but it’s certainly healthier than eating food off the floor with your bare hands.

Build a Fort

Ever wanted a place to stay alone with your thoughts? Ever have plenty of empty game boxes and oodles of duct tape? Well then, put those materials to good use; build yourself your very own fort. You won’t just have a dark hole to hide in either; you’ll also have all your favorite videogames surrounding you! If that doesn’t assimilate you, then build a mailbox to go with it!

Pretend you’re a Ninja

It’s inevitable that we’re going to play some dreadful games in our life, and while it may seem those particular games are completely worthless, there are a few things you can do, pretend you’re a ninja for instance. Due to the fact that game discs can so easily be compared shurikans, you can actually put these games to good use. Now, where did I put Lair, I feel like scaring my sister!

Act like a Rock star

Ever since you were a kid, you’ve aspired to be a rock star; don’t deny it, we all did. And with all the great rhythm games today such as Rock Band, Guitar Hero, and Singstar, that out of reach goal has never been easier to accomplish. As long as you don’t mind your friends laughing at you in the process, this is one use for video games that we recommend taking advantage of.

Don’t think for a second that videogames have but one purpose, because with a bit of creativity, you can find a way to do just about anything with the help of videogames. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go read a magazine in my new fort.

Around a week ago, The Gamer Limit announced its first habitual feature series, the ‘Weekly NitPik’. Now, after Call of Duty: World at War has had its torment, it’s time for CoD’s sister series, Battlefield, to bravely step up onto the chopping block! It’s time to NitPik.

Before we begin, I would like to remind everyone that this feature article is made to deduce the negatives of a game; this is why we have chosen games which have scored relatively high in our reviews for them. This logic may seem ridiculous, but to every story there are two sides, and this is why we feel it’s necessary to indulge you with the juicy details of the appalling, the horrific, and the dim-witted.

Up today is Battlefield: Bad Company, which I myself reviewed not so very long ago. Though the game managed to scrape together a respectable 8.6 out of 10, there were some minor and a few major flaws with the game that I found to be infuriating. From its atrocious singleplayer component to the irritating glitches, this game is about to receive some bad company (pun intended).

First and foremost, singleplayer, the joyful experience airtight with repetitive goals, mediocre gameplay, piss poor AI, and a laughable health system. Although I did cover these issues in the review, I felt I could give more insight into how annoying they really are. First off, repetitive goals, essentially this is what you’ll find yourself doing most of the time: Shoot aimlessly, blow something up, find gold, watch a cutscene, and find more gold. Even though they may dress up each new task, your excitement will only go so far until you realize “hey, didn’t I just do this?”

“…mediocre gameplay…” truer words were never spoken. This sort of ties in with the repetitive goals, since that is the key reason the gameplay is well over par. Beyond that though, you just won’t stay interested in it. The first two missions seemed engrossing to me, but after that my admiration radically changed from the original “Awe!” to the unappealing “Meh.”

Drones, mindless drones; there are few other words capable of describing the idiotic Artificial Intelligence. Enemies may shoot straight, but cover to them is nothing important, and once you destroy it, they fail to unearth a new safer location, whether it is the dumpster beside them, or the next room over. Not much can be said for your teammates AI either; it seems they are incapable of actually shooting the targets in front of them. Rarely do they actually kill someone, let alone aid you in desperate times.

Oh, and the health syringes, what is it about you that has the god-like power of instantly healing gunshot wounds? You read correctly, instant curative power, all at the fingertips of the military’s least competent assault unit. Not only is the health regeneration system childish, but it’s also completely unrealistic, and that right there goes against everything Bad Company is about, immersive realism.

Phew… Now that we’ve covered singleplayer, we can move right on over to multiplayer. Bad Company has quite possibly the best multiplayer of any game this year, and yet it is riddled with bugs, unbalanced gameplay, and the smallest selection of game modes in history (to my knowledge).

Though most of the glitches in the game were fixed with the most recent patch, they still tormented us weeks on end since release. One very noticeable bug was the time it took to be able to shoot after sprinting. Before the patch, which supposedly fixed this (it’s still not perfect though), sprinting meant you weren’t expecting to engage anyone anytime soon, seeing as it did take an excruciating number of seconds before you would even be able to retort back at the enemy fire. Most of the time, these situations led to disappointing deaths, which would then force you to wait agonizingly for the respawn timer to run out before you could rejoin the fight.

And who could forget the invincibility bush? This bug is pretty famous now, and those who took advantage of it will be disappointed to know that it was in fact fixed in the patch. This glitch was one of extremity for me, to put it simply, if you hid behind any foliage, you would be effectively invincible to any bullet or knife wounds. I was ecstatic when I learned of the upcoming fix to this annoying quandary.

One thing DICE was striving for in Bad Company was balanced gameplay; unfortunately this is one aspect they failed miserably at. From the nigh indestructible tanks to the frustratingly difficult to control helicopters, this is one criticism that no patch can fix. The main cause of the imbalance is the vehicles and how diverse they are between the two teams. Diversity is in no way a bad thing, but for one version of a vehicle (which is often only readily available to the opposing team) has a large advantage over another (the heavy and light tanks for instance) it offers only discontent.

As stated in the review, the two modes available with the game are great fun! But two is a frightfully low number, compared to most other games which offer up to 16 different modes (such as Call of Duty 4) it undoubtedly belittles the game; which to any knowledgeable gamer is a very bad thing. If DICE releases more free game types in the future, the value of its already grand multiplayer could skyrocket, but until they take initiative, this remains a problem.

We know it may feel very contradictive of our positive review, but these issues are existent. We also don’t expect these NitPik’s to affect anyone’s decision to purchase the game, nor do we expect that these issues be fixed (though some already were); but neglecting to mention them, whether or not they’re in the past or still in the present, would be an affront to gaming.

Battlefield: Bad Company…You’ve just been NitPiked.

On November 21st 2004, the Nintendo DS was launched to a very welcoming standing ovation, not only did this mark the start of gaming’s seventh generation, but it also set in motion a revolutionary change in games themselves.

Gaming trends don’t often see much change with the transition into newer generations, but with today’s latest consoles, the technological boundaries are loosening, allowing much more flexibility during development. The common goal of creating a realistic title is easier than ever before. Although, these strives towards realism come not only with graphical enhancement, but with gameplay enhancement as well. These changes are most prominently seen in the recent epidemic of first person shooters, which have all made baby steps towards that final equable target.

Now, as you’ve probably already gathered from the title, the denomination of classic health bars dropped significantly this generation, the inauguration of this new trend was by none other than the Halo franchise. The game was the first of its kind to introduce a regenerative health system, and although the method didn’t spread like wildfire then, Infinity Ward’s Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare brought about a gaming craze like no other. Suddenly every major shooter franchise rushed in to bring clones of Call of Duty 4’s innovative designs. Most heads up displays nowadays no longer facet health bars, the work of which is now often carried out by visual effects such as motion blur, color saturation, or the outline of blood along the edge of the screen.

As with the disappearance of health bars, medical kits have also seen an abrupt demise. Shortly after the release of the Playstation 3 and Sony’s hit launch title, Resistance: Fall of Man, Medical kits mysteriously ‘went out of style’. Many shooters afterwards allowed for health to only be regenerated by means of simply waiting, med kits were of no further use. Though several splendid games such as Bioshock retained a classic health system, these were titles released before any major fads were started.

Before these many new “rules” were carved in stone as this generation’s common-ground, many weapon systems in shooters allowed for the player to carry a near limitless number of weapons, regardless of size or weight. Though there are exceptions to this routine such as the old SOCOM games, many of the classic shooters ignored regular Human boundary and let players hold as much as they wanted. Not only was this completely unrealistic, but the task of cycling through the many weapons to find the one that perfectly matched the situation was too time consuming, and quite often, you would even switch past it without knowing. The introduction of weapon wheels (such as those found in the Ratchet & Clank series) did make the switching faster, but it was still regarded as very improbable.

In today’s games though, the amount of gear that is at the player’s disposal has been severely restricted. Most games allow only two weapons to be carried at any time; usually a heavier primary weapon (assault rifles and such), and a lighter secondary weapon (pistols or grenades). This latest system offers both a realistic alternative to the older method and balances the gameplay better. Admittedly, the aged technique of older shooter games did tender a larger variety of gameplay styles due to the number of different weapons available at one time, but this also led to a cluttered experience.

Another common appearance in ripened games is the inclusion of automatic doors, whether or not it makes sense in the setting. Take for instance Goldeneye: Rogue Agent, where a majority of all entrances are controlled by automatic means. While during some of the settings in the game, the high tech doorways are perfectly logical, but others, such as the Japanese mission, the addition of automatic doors was nonsensical, let alone bizarre.

In conclusion, the current generation of games has truly brought innovative ideas to the table, and while previous generations did have an authentic appeal, they pale in comparison to today’s standards. These new advancements could even be signs of what is to come, what could be on the horizon for gaming? Of course at the moment it’s impossible to foresee what will happen, but we can be certain that whatever the future may hold, it will be great!

Battlefield: Bad Company is the newest installment in the ongoing “Battlefield” franchise. It boasts 90% destructible terrain, and for the first time, a single player campaign. But is this a battlefield worth fighting on?

In the new story mode, you take the role of Preston Marlowe, a competent and alert rookie with the odd ability to sprint full speed through water. Though the single player campaign is a new and appreciated feature in the series, its relaxing comic relief and unique storyline is crushed by robotic AI, brainless teammates, and repetitive objectives. Though it is entertaining to make a crater in the ground or demolish a wall, you’ll get an overpowering feeling that it is all scripted; you’ll feel you aren’t actually tearing a hole in the frame of the building, but rather your really just forcing out preset pieces of it. This is still a unique and useful system, but the fact is that destructible environments are more or less just building blocks that you can push out of place.

When comparing yourself and enemies you’ll find damage is very unrealistic. Three shots or more in an enemy’s shoulder and it’s a straight kill, while six shots to the head will merely bring you to the verge of death. Beyond this, the new health regeneration system, which involves jabbing a syringe of god knows what into your chest, comes off as a cheap gimmick.

The campaign was a significant letdown, and by DICE’s standard, it’s disappointing. What’s worse is that I really wanted to enjoy the single player component, but rather it felt like an unrewarding task; a tedious one at that.

Don’t think for a second though that all is bad with this company. The controls are intuitive, easy, and very well mapped out to the controller, and the multiplayer is a riot!

The Bad Company multiplayer consists of two modes and various large-scale maps; and believe us when we say large! The maps are similar in size to many open-world games to give you an idea. Despite the fact that only one multiplayer mode was available at launch, it makes up for it in addictiveness and fun factor, this mode is called “Gold Rush”. It consists of two teams, Attackers and Defenders, each trying to protect or claim as much gold as they can, while the attackers attempt to capture the crates by blowing them up (the logic is silly but it makes for interesting gameplay) the defenders attempt to deplete the number of reinforcements the attackers have.

The second mode, which was released free of charge after Bad Company came out, is entitled “Conquest”. This mode was a popular addition to past Battlefield games, and was ported over by popular demand. In Conquest, either team must capture various flags around the map. These flags act as spawn points. Obviously if the opposing team captured all flags, you would be incapable of respawning, resulting in the loss of the round. The mode also includes the reinforcements feature, adding a second path to victory (exhaust the enemy’s spawn count). Two game modes may seem like a small selection, and therefore no value, but on the contrary, the modes will offer hours upon hours of indisputable pleasure!

Players can also easily define their Gameplay style by which weapon kit they choose. The kits are similar in style to Call of Duty 4’s classes, but differ in their mechanic. First of all, the player chooses a kit which has different weapons available. Players must then choose between individual weapons in that kit, each one with a different ability or attachment coupled with it. This customization is handy and useful; it also applies a tactical perspective to the gameplay.

The ghastly health syringe can also be found within the multiplayer (tied to the assault kit once you’ve unlocked it) but in this hectic battlefield, it is a necessity. Destructible environments are also borrowed from the singleplayer, though still useful, it doesn’t work as well when online. It takes several seconds for it to register. For example, you may have shot a grenade at a wall, but in the split second that follows you could have been shot to bits and your planned escape route through the newly constructed door doesn’t open up until it’s far too late. The destruction also seems to only work effectively with under slung grenade launchers. Fragmentation grenades won’t leave a mark and tanks barely scratch the surface. It seizes from the immersion, but with all that is going on throughout this virtual battlefield, you may not even notice.

Battlefield: Bad Company is saved by its near flawless multiplayer, enough to warrant a purchase. Though it may not be the first person shooter of the year, it enters the ranks of Call of Duty 4 and Resistance: Fall of Man, which by standard, is saying quite a lot! So for those searching for an enjoyable multiplayer experience, or a side-splitting storyline, this game should be one of interest.

Reviewer’s note: The Playstation 3 version was tested for this review

The Stealth Action Genre made its debut appearance 20 years ago when gaming god, Hideo Kojima, released Metal Gear for the MSX2. Since then the series has spawned many knock-off titles including Splinter Cell, but none could live up to the Metal Gear legacy. Now, as the series comes to a close, you can’t help but bask in its reflective glory. Is Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots really the revolution we’ve been waiting for?

Metal Gear Solid is known for its inventive gameplay style, but of course, 10 years of the same mechanics can get boring and tedious. In MGS4’s case, it’s easily noticeable that Kojima kept every aspect of his tour de force refreshing and new. What really strikes this game, what really makes it notable, is how it shifts mechanics throughout the game. One minute you may be sneaking around the war torn Middle East, and next you’ll be tracking down someone in the jungle! The sudden transition between the Gameplay styles may seem daunting, and this is true in a sense, but it also adds a sense of urgency, which may seem like a sudden put-off, but in fact it is quite the opposite. The adrenaline kick acts like an adhesive, you simply can’t stop playing!

Of course, as most of you readers know already, MGS4 is filled with cutscenes, some of them even nearing the one hour milestone. Nonetheless, the scenes are attractive and riveting enough to keep your attention, especially the remarkably long, yet incredibly good epilogue. Some may be turned off because of this, but I encourage you to stagger through every one of them. Trust me; you won’t want to miss them! Nearly every plot point from the franchise is tied up and explained with incredible detail. The scenes also exhibit a high level of interactivity, allowing you to zoom, change the camera angles, or watch small subliminal style flashbacks when prompted. In respect to the flashback sequences, they are a great addition, especially to those who have not yet played any previous games, or those who have just forgotten them.

Another worthy gameplay mechanic is the use of Drebin points, or DP. These points act as currency in Drebin’s (the arms dealer) shop. You can fully customize your weapons using the different pre-determined amounts. The mechanic works well and isn’t overdone or confusing, it also allows you to really go in depth and edit your play style according to the weapons you choose or customize.

Sadly, the game is not perfect in every sense. The installs do cause minor annoyances after each act, not to mention the small loads every 15 minutes between areas; though these aren’t enough to put anyone off the game, it certainly is a pesky occurrence. Also, during the last two acts, the action increasingly depletes, although it keeps it’s genuine charm, it feels like more story and less game as you near the finale. The cutscenes get longer, and the game time gets shorter, and in comparison to the first three acts, it certainly breaks the fuse to what could have been the perfect ending to the gameplay (you don’t have to worry, the story still ends magnificently).

Overall, the gameplay is a brilliant accomplishment in terms of modern gaming. It’s never repetitive and constantly innovates as you play. Along with that it’s padded out with cinema worthy cutscenes, beautiful camera transitions and a moving score by Harry Gregson Williams.

MGS4 is easily one of the best looking games of the year. You’ll have a hard time looking for pixilated textures or low-poly models; it even challenges you to find a flaw by allowing the zoom function during cutscenes (which are rendered by the in-game engine). Everything is brilliantly detailed, from the gritty walls to the wrinkles on snakes face. Though it’s more comparable to the style Call of Duty 4 rather than Crysis, MGS4 makes a bold statement in what the PS3 is really capable of!

MGS4 comes fully packed with Metal Gear Online, the standalone multiplayer component set in the Metal Gear Solid universe. But unfortunately, MGO doesn’t live up to its single player counterpart. The communication is confusing and hard to grip; especially when it comes using Bluetooth headsets (still don’t know how to get them working). The small selection of maps doesn’t help the game either. Most of the maps come from its predecessor in Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence and most of the others are directly from story maps within MGS4, this leaves an uninspired impression on the game. Unfortunately, as much as I hate to say this, it makes Metal Gear Online a mediocre title at best; you can’t help but feel it was more of an afterthought.

The controls are certainly worth noting. They have been refined from their original, uninspired roots. They in fact, are easier to grasp and all around better to use and get used to than almost any game on the market. Now, instead of shooting when releasing square, R1 has been designated as the main attack button, with L1 to aim. Another new feature to the controls is a much appreciated reload button. Many newcomers will be easily drawn in by the simplicity, but fans may find it hard to get used to the new scheme of things.

All in all, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots redefines the stealth action genre; it brings a new meaning to the word “sneak”. Calling this game a Masterpiece would belittle it; it’s nothing short of revolutionary. To even attempt at comparing it’s magnitude to another title would be impractical, considering it dwarfs any challenger it may come across. In all honesty, the realm between game and art is blurred by its integrity, because this isn’t just a game, it’s an experience!