Just for Fun

Overview

Besides martial arts training, some of the other things I like to do is build or work on computers, ride motorcycles, mess around with my R/C Cars, and probably the one I get to do the most is play video games.  I have an X-box 360, PS3, PSP, and my wife and daughter both have the Nintendo DS.  We did have a Wii for a short time but it was more like a novelty than a game system and didn't really fit us. 

Review Chart

The reasons I feel the 360 is the best system are here in the chart, but there are a few things the chart cannot explain.  The ability to play music on the the 360 and PS3 from my computer is a cool feature that my friends and I use a lot.  But the 360 stands above the PS3 with the fact that you can access the playlists you make on your Windows computer, and the fact that you can see the tracks in that list without having to stop the playback.  I must admit I do like the PS3s planet screen saver compared to the 360s screens.  For both the PS3 and PSP in order to see where a particular song is in relation to where you are in the playlist you have to stop music playback.  **Update I have recently found that if you hit the select button you can access your song list.  With my 360 when we have parties depending on the theme, I like to play music while allowing a picture slide show to play.

The area where I prefer the PS3 is in streaming video playback as the PS3 is not as picky as to the media types it can play.  But I do have to say the Microsoft has done a good job updating their system and the 360 is almost as good in that area now.

So I wanted to put out my top 10 games as well.

My Top 10!

Game Reviews

Crackdown - This is hands down my favorite game to date!  An oldie but a goodie.  Crackdown is a 3rd person action/driving game similar to the GTA series.  In this game you are an agent with the mission to take down major gangs.  The fun factor is the searching for agility orbs and leveling up your character.    Driving in my opinion is the weak part to the game but that is a minor problem compared to the overall experience of the game.  The explosions are fantastic in this game.

Marvel Ultimate Alliance - This is a great game that I think all hack n slash players should get.  It is plenty long enough, with so many extras and upgrades for the characters there are hundreds of combinations.  I have been a comic book fan for a long time and to play this game was an absolute joy.  I also liked the fact that they included the history to most of the characters and I consider this game a must buy.  The additional content is ok, not essential to the core game play or for the overall experience.  Here are some Marvel pictures of some of the characters you can use or see in the game.

Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 - The return of this game had me pretty excited.  I played through the first time going against the SRA.  I am currently working on playing the second time being pro SRA.  Compared to the last game I am a little disappointed.  This game is much shorter and seems to not have nowhere near the expanded playability as the first one.  The graphics are certainly enhanced, the story is good and the combinations are cool.  But the last game had a better choice of characters, outfits, and enhancements.  This time you just get two suits, and for the majority the second one sucks (in my opinion.)  If your a comic book fan I still think you would enjoy this game, but it is quite short to play just a single side, 5-7 hours tops.

Halo Series
Halo Combat Evolved - The 1st game in the series.  The graphics for the time are excellent and the story is perfect for the sci-fi fanatic.  It is true there is nothing actually special when it comes to the FPS genre.  But the story is well crafted and I do think the last level is awesome.
Halo 2 - The 2nd game in the series to me is the weak link.  The graphics are upgraded of course, but I did notice that for each movie sequence there is a delay between the image and the bump mapping effects, which for me were a distracting to the overall experience.  The story also much like the Matrix series has a quit abrupt ending.  Which we had to wait a few years for the ending.
Halo 3 - The 3rd and supposedly the final installment to the Halo series.  The story in this games does bring an end to the question we have had.  The graphics for this series are great and the sound and music are excellent.
Halo 3:ODST -

Halo Wars - Well now that I have completed the game.  I give it a 7 out of 10.  The game is fun, and the fact that it is set in the Halo universe makes it fun.  The cut scenes are awesome and make the game worth playing.  I still prefer C&C Tiberium Wars over this game. 

Rock Band - Simply one of the best multiplayer party games I have ever seen.  Single player isn't bad, but for me the real fun is in the Band.

Rock Band 2 - This is a good sequel, but I must admit that if you are happy with the original then I am hard pressed to recommend this sequel.  The 1st game has better music by far, and all the downloadable songs can be played on either game.  I choose Rock Band over the sequel.

Guitar Hero World Tour - In my opinion this game is much better than RB2.  Mainly for the superior song selection out of the box.  I have come to notice the times when I enjoy these kinds of games the most is when I can play songs I know.  Even with the new RB Track Pack I do not think they have better songs than the GHWT game.  I still prefer the RB look and game play but I have to say GHWT is better the RB2.

Guitar Hero: Metallica - This game is a lot of fun.  I have grown up with Metallica songs and to get to play them is a blast.  The graphics are good, the song selection is great, of course there are always a few more different people would like.  But overall I really like the game.

Gears of War - I still think to today that the visuals in this game are some of the best.  I just played the entire game again recently and the graphics engine doesn't look at all old.  I like the story, even if it is cut short.  And even though there are a lot of people that do not really care for the characters, am Active Duty Military and to me they fit.

Gears of War 2 - WOW!  We finished the game last night and the story this time is much better this time around.  The game is a little longer, and the Horde mode is a blast.  Online is awesome once again and the graphics, physics and destructible environments make this game all the better.  Playstation fans eat your heart out.

Need for Speed "Most Wanted" - I just plain like this game.  I have been an arcade racing game fan for a long time and with the exception of Project Gotham Racing 2, I think the way EA has mixed up the race types and given some customization to the cars makes this game a favorite.

Need for Speed "Undercover" - I know I cannot get these reviews out as fast as the big websites.  But I do feel I bring a different perspective to the gaming reviews.  As to this game, I do like it better than the past pew NFS games.  The style and going back to the Underground and Most Wanted style I think was a good choice.  There are a decent amount of different types of races.  When it comes to racing games there isn't much need to race.  So taking the story into consideration isn't something I take very serious. 

Call of Duty Series
COD 2 - Great launch title for the 360.  Multiplayer is fantastic.  The story is good, and the graphics are better than most games.  I think the smoke in this game is better than what I have seen in most games, even today.
COD 3 - This one was no where near as good as #2.
COD 4 Modern Warfare - Great game, fun multiplayer, awesome online and weapon upgrade system.  The thing missing to me is the fact that the game lacks any form of coop play.
COD 5 "World at War" - I am playing through this one now and compared to COD 3, which is the last one not done by Infinity Ward I have to say I am really impressed.  I like the missions, the graphics are great, the action is intense, and the Zombie bonus game looks to be really cool.  I am looking forward to getting to try it.  Also I am a sucker for Coop games that you can run through the actual story and the fact that you can do it online or split screen makes it all the better to me.  I enjoy playing a game with a friend right there you can talk to that either might not have that particular game or a Xbox.  So I appreciate the fact that some developers out there are still incorporating those features in this online only world.

Rainbow Six Series
RSV -
RSV2 -

Assassin's Creed - One of the best looking games I think is out there with a really great looking world where the character controls are fluid.  The many different attacks and abilities are just fantastic.

Mass Effect - Well honestly I just finished this game.  I logged over 30 hours into the story and side missions.  The amount of detail that went into this game is just incredible.  Also I like the voiceovers and the choice to have the codex information read to you.  Finally I have heard that this is a trilogy game and I really hope it is, the amount of information and history this game has leaves so many possibilities.

Lego Star Wars
Episodes 1-3
Episodes 4-6

Lego Indiana Jones -

Lego Batman -

Command and Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars - For an RTS game on a console this is just about as good as they come.  The graphics are good, the story is fun, the units are diverse, and the game play is decent.  There were certainly times or levels that if I had the trusty old mouse and keyboard I could have easily defeated the computer AI but with the controller it took a few extra tries.  While this was frustrating at times the enjoyment to play a newer RTS game and on my 61" HD TV was worth it for me.

Command and Conquer 3 Kane's Wrath - This expansion is impressive in my opinion.  I enjoyed a lot of the new units and it gives the player a better reason to acquire the enemy structures than before.  I also like the fact that the price tag is a little less.

Command and Conquer Red Alert 3 - This one for the X-box 360 I didn't really like as much as I thought.  I really didn't like the yellow highlight they chose to put around your active units.  I think it takes away from the graphical looks, and makes the game look to much like a cartoon.

Soul Caliber 4 - Decent game, very short for the actual story.  There is a good selection of fighters and each has a decent set of moves.  The customization of the characters is awesome.

Project Gotham Series
#2 - Personally I think this is one of the best racing games I have ever played
#3 - I didn't really care for this entry in the series.  Yes the graphics were updated, and there were more cars to pick from, but compared to number 2 there was simply something missing.
#4 - Next to PGR 2, this is my new favorite.  The bikes are hard to handle, but they are fun to try.  I still prefer the cars and chose them when I can.

Resident Evil 5 - This game is really good.  Just as long as you try a bit and get past the odd control scheme it is worth it.  The graphics are fantastic, the story is good, and the sounds are encompassing.  I would recommend  this game to a friend in a minute.

Star Wars Force Unleashed - Where to start, I am a huge Star Wars Fan.  I am not even going to try an deny it.  Every Star Wars game that has come out for a system that I own I have purchased and completed, and with this game I can say Lucas Arts has done a great job.  The story is compelling, the cut scenes are awesome and the main ending fits with the movies so perfectly that it just needed to be done.  Force powers are great and the ability to combine them make it all the better.

Street Fighter IV - Well we just picked up this game and I must say that it better than I was expecting.  The moves and controls are spot on, the character animation is actually pretty cool (this is where I thought I wouldn't really care for this game.)  The new characters are not great in my opinion, but they are not bad either.  If you were ever a fan of the series, or are looking for a new fighting game then I would say check this one out.

Tom Clancy's End War - This game could change the way RTS games will be played.  The ability to call commands into the headset and how fast the game responds is impressive.  Even if the game may be to easy as some other critics the only real complain, I think the only issue I see is the lack of units to use.  There are only a few to pick from.  Other than that I think this is the future of RTS games.

Frontlines Fuel of War - I have been looking at getting this game for a long time and last weekend I caught it on sale.  I got it for $15 at Block Buster and I am really glad I did.  The story while short, I did enjoy.  I felt it was plausible and decent.  The missions are not to varied but I was not bothered by this.  The use of the UAVs and other vehicles I thought was great.  I especially liked the mini helicopter.  The weapons were varied and plentiful, my only two real complaints were the lack of achievements for the single player campaign and the fact that during the missions when the next segment loaded they removed your previous weapons.

Bionic Commando - This is a great remake or update to a game I loved as a kid.  The controls take some getting used to, but once you do it is a fun game that reminds me of Spider-man meets Half Life.  I did think the story was decent and enjoyed the characters and weapons.  But the grapple hook hand made this game worth playing, and I hope there is a sequel someday.

Batman: Arkham Asylum - They finally got Batman done right in this new comic book game.  I have never really been a fan of many DC characters.  A few have been cool throughout the years, and Batman has been one of them.  This game certainly hits on all eight cylinders.  The detective mode is cool and some say you could play the whole game using it, but the graphics are great and it would be a shame to not admire the character and level designs.  The fighting is dead on from the more recent movies, using the newer style called the Keisi Fighting Method.  The style and combat flow really well.  I think this is one of the best games this year!

** Promising Upcoming Games **

Crackdown 2 (CAN'T WAIT)!!!

Call of Duty "Modern Warfare 2"

Champions Online

Splinter Cell: Conviction

Tekken 6

My favorite sites to see what's coming up or to get news about the systems.

Apple's iPod vs Microsoft's Zune

Recently I got the Apple iPhone and now have the chance to compare the iPod, Zune, and iPhone to each other.

I know there are a lot of other sites out there that review this stuff but hey I pay for this site so I can review it I want to.  Let me start by saying that after having a chance to experience the iPod and the iTunes software that I think a lot of the hype around the Apple products is greatly over rated.  I also have noticed that the sound quality in the Microsoft products are better than Apple's.

iPod Nano 4GB - I wasn't really impressed with this device, it has a very small screen and there really isn't much new or exciting about it.

Zune 4GB - This is an ok device for someone wanting a small lightweight media machine, but I prefer the 30BGB or higher.

iPod 60GB - My sister-in-law has this device and I was excited to try it out and see what all the fuss has been for so long.  I wasn't impressed at all.  I like the ability to change my background, or watch movies using a large screen.  Also the navigation system Apple uses is not for me.  **I will say the device do seem well constructed though.

iPod Touch -

Original Zune 30GB - This is the one I currently own, the Halo Special Edition for Military members and I would say minus the color I am very satisfied with my Zune.  I have now upgraded to the Zune 3.0 software and I am really enjoying some of the new features.

Zune 80GB - My best friend has this, so I have had a lot of time to check it out, just not the funds to pick one up for myself.  But I really like the new Zunes and the slide/push button is much better to me than the Apple navigation system with rolling only.  The slightly bigger  and brighter screen than my 30GB is very nice as well.  My friend has a ton of music and movies on this thing and there is still plenty of room for more.

Zune 120GB - Well I just got the Gears of War 2 120Gb Zune and I absolutely love it.  It has more than enough room to hold the movies, music, pictures and now games that I want to take with me everywhere, and I have at least 15 full movies on it and plenty of room to spare.  The GOW stuff is pretty good, I wish they would have included the original GOW tv commercial and the song used on the device.  But the pictures are great and I am getting used to the control system on the new Zunes compared to my 30Gb generation 1 Zune. 

Zune HD -

Apple iPhone - Overall a very nice piece of equipment, but not without its flaws.  Battery life and missing MMS messaging are very hard to overlook.  But Apple makes up for this in other areas such as the Apps store with the ability to download directly to my phone.  Also the internet is fantastic in my opinion.  The camera pictures look really good, now if they would just add video to it.  I am pleased with my new iPhone and would recommend it to a friend.

Apple's iTunes Software - I have been using the iTunes software for about two months now, and I still do not really care for it.  I think it is slower to respond on my dual core, 2Gb RAM machine than my Zune software.  I only use it now to sync essentials to my iPhone now.

Microsoft's Zune Software - Zune 3.0 is a nice upgrade.  Microsoft is listening to the public and delivering with each new Zune and the free updates to the devices and their software.  If you are converting over from iTunes to Zune it might be a little confusing at first just like anything, but give it a chance and I think in a short time you will realize it is well worth it. 

Xbox Experience

Well the Xbox Experience is out and it is awesome!  The avatars which I was expecting to be actually quite stupid, turned out to be quite fun and my kids and wife really like them.  To see the different creations my friends have come up with are also really cool.  I also got onboard with Netflix when I heard about the partnership with them and Microsoft.  Again I am really impressed with the partnership.  The Xbox and Netflix deal is awesome.  Netflix is constantly adding new movies and TV series to the system.

Netflix vs. Block Buster

Well I have had a hard time over the last couple years trying to figure out how any company could keep up with Block Buster when it came to the movie rental service.  Both online or in store rentals, the coupons and finally the ability to take your online rentals to the stores to exchange them for in store videos.  I had a few friends that used the Netfilx Service and at the time I tried to get them to switch over to BB as I didn't see the reason not to be with the better service. 

However after this partnership with Netflix and Microsoft I now have a hard time recommending Block Buster to anyone.  The online movie experience is fantastic and the fact that you can now view the videos on my TV with minimal effort.  The ability to chose new movies and such and view them within seconds. 

I think Block Buster needs to step up the game and find a partnership with someone to compete Microsoft and Netflix or I think Microsoft has won this round.  Then Sony and Nintendo will have to wait until the next round to compete.