Stupid Gaming Season

*Warning. This post sees me getting rather nerdy. If you are allergic to the gaming ghetto, steer clear*

*Also warning. This post has very little optimism. Basically, I’m trying to crush my dreams*

Well, it’s getting to that time of year again. The time when developers and publishers push into overdrive to get a pre-pre-christmas rush in. Although I only have a couple of hundred dollars to spend (which doesn’t exactly get you far in Australia), I’m going to be taking a look at quite a few of the games on offer this season, and see if I can make a reason to support the fact I don’t want them anyway.

Righto, let’s being with a very-lovingly-expected game: Fallout 3.

 

Not actual cover art, but still pretty cool.

Simply put, I can’t wait for Fallout 3. Even though it’s still 9 days away, I feel like I have it already. What really attracted me to the game would be its story and lore. For those of you who don’t know, the Fallout series is set in a post-nuclear-apocalypse America, where for some reason the cheery optimism of the 1950s is still alive and kicking. It creates a rather jarring feel, as you’re essentially looking at a future may have been. Still, Fallout 3 is an RPG, games whihc I tend to say “yippee” to and then forget about after a few hours random wandering. Luckily, though, Fallout 3’s story is looking good, and I’m really interested in even just walking around the wasteland, seeing what I can dig up. Oh yeah, and to all the Fallout whiners. Dude, isometric is so 90s OMGLOL.. *Ahem*.

Now then: Far Cry 2.

 

Not even Official art this time.

Far Cry 2, like its predessecor Far Cry and its spiritual brother, Crysis, looks fantastic. Plus, I don’t think I’ve ever played an FPS set in Africa. You know what? I’m going to say it. I have never played an FPS set in Africa. It makes for a lot of interesting situations, as apparently fire will be a big display of the engine’s technology. As for gameplay…..Eh. Don’t get me wrong; I love Crysis. It looks beautiful. Unfortunately, the sheer options in the game (Or should that be lack of direction?) often left me bamboozled. Many times I was content to simply wander off into an army camp and shoot all the guards one by one. I still haven’t finished it to this day, and my computer is no longer the Pristine “very high” setting Conquerer it once was. Though I should probably remember it isn’t Crysis. It’s Far Cry 2.

Huzzah, Comrade: Command And Conquer: Red Alert 3

 

Not even the goddam game this time.

Just take a look at that picture. LOOK AT IT. BEAR CAVALRY. That’s the sort of game I have to make look bad. I just can’t do it, to tell the truth. Those units aren’t in this game, but let me rattle off a few that are. Bears that parachute into battle. A boat that turns into a fighter jet. A troop transport that uses a “Man Gun” to fire soldiers into battle. OH HELL YES. Featuring the Allies (Americans, I guess), Soviets (FTW) and the Empire of the Rising Sun (Japan), Red Alert 3 is whacky and proud of it. Almost every unit is unique to one specific faction, so the game has a distinctive flavour no matter who you play as. Right. I must stop talking about this now, or I will salivate.

Here’s something to take my mind off: Call of Duty: World At War

 

Not even related. Incidentally, also my new wallpaper.

Hm… I’m ambivalent on this one. On one hand, the Call of Duty series is well known for its wonderful storytelling and incredible multiplayer. On the other… Hm… It’s a hard one to peg. I think I may be a little past COD’s multiplayer. It often seems the concept of “unlockable weapons” isn’t there for the expert players, as it should be, but merely a reward for grinding XP. On the other, at last a WWII game that isn’t about the war in Europe. It should be interesting to see where Treyarch goes with the Japanese enemy and tactics, and of course, Call of Duty’s story and Co-Op campaign.

Wrapping it up, a shambling shooter from the graveyard. Well, not really, but it’s still been Left 4 Dead.

 

Look up your own picture if you want to know what it looks like.

This game, too, looks amazing. I must say, though, that the whole “4″ thing is a bit… hacky. Sort of reminds me of songs called, say, “2 Kool 4 U” by bands called “Sk8″ or “U2″ or some other stupid name. Nevertheless, the game looks pretty good. I only hope my internet holds out for Co-op campaign, otherwise the game is pretty much useless. Oh, and while I’m at it: the Source engine, in all niceness, is starting to look a little… Um… creaky. It’s hard to believe Valve is still running this thing. Still, Half Life 2 and Team Fortress 2 both use it, and they’re both great games in their own right. Still, something to think about, Valve.

EDIT: Just remembered I hadn’t actually said anything about the fucking game. So here it is. Left 4 Dead is a zombie survival shooter that sees four survivors up against a zombie menace (didn’t see that coming, did you?) caused by something similar in representation to the Rage Virus but completely unrelated ’cause that’d be copyright infringement. Oh, and the Rage virus didn’t give some of its victims 20ft prehensile tongues. Which is what this virus thingy does. Thus making it the best virus ever. Anyway, the big drawcard of the game is that it can be played by four human players over the internets. Whilst this could be good (Valve has good experience with online shooting), there’s the inevitable dickery the internet features, which could seriously screw up this game. Still, the game looks and sounds awesome, and I look forward to blasting the undead with 3 living friends. Like, actually real.

Right. Well, that’s it. Geez, so much for keeping the word count down. If only I could submit these instead of essays, I’d just be set. That is, except for the writing quality. Oh well. I might “preview” some more games later on… And also, keep a watch out for my opinion of Fallout 3. Maybe I’ll do some blog entries about it. Anyway, peace.

Tags: 1066 Words, 99 Luftballoons, Jesus Cry-ist Superstar