Not long ago, I finished the fight…or so I thought. This September, I started it. While this ordering may sound a bit unusual to non-Halo fans, I’m talking about Halo: Reach, Bungie’s final heartfelt love letter to the fans; potentially the last “true” Halo. Considering the series’ massive popularity and rabid fan devotion (myself included) it’d be downright naive to think this the case. Reach is a fantastic and fitting end to the series under their direction (let’s not count ODST, travesty as it was) and an inspiring beginning to an accessible, easy to digest sci-fi saga that will entice you with tales of an epic narrative and keep you playing with solid multiplayer action through Xbox Live. It’s hardly perfect, but it’s very much Halo; noticeably tightened, nipped, and tucked. Its multiplayer mode will be remembered – and played – for years to come, as with the previous titles in the saga. But is it the conclusion series loyalists deserve?
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Impressions: Halo: Reach
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Review: Mafia II
I’ve spent plenty of time with Grand Theft Auto, inFAMOUS, and other similar excursions — except I’ve done nothing but harm innocent pedestrians, wreck countless cars, while racking up an indeterminable amount of property damage. As a result, I didn’t bother to finish them.The reason Mafia II works for me was because it was nothing like the go-anywhere-and-do-anything romp I assumed it would be. Like its predecessor, Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven (one of the few similar games I did complete and a fantastic play), it’s a scathing, disturbing, and at times decidedly stereotypical look at the lengths one man will go to make money, a better life, and most importantly, a name for himself.
Review: Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days
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Kane and Lynch 2: Dog Days is a strange monster. It’s a miracle that it even exists, considering Kane & Lynch: Dead Men’s chilly reception. It certainly wasn’t crying out for a sequel, despite being a decent shooter. It wasn’t a stand-out or must-play game at the time, and it was overshadowed by ridiculous controversy that should never have influenced sales in the first place.
Impressions: Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light
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Though I grew up in Miss Croft’s heyday, I have to say I was never her biggest fan. Through my affair with the PlayStation, I obtained several of her adventures, tried my best to brave them and see them through to the end, but I ultimately decided they just weren’t for me. As Lara evolved over the years and had her share of disappointments, it was a surprise when Crystal Dynamics announced that her latest adventure would be a completely different departure. Having dropped the Tomb Raider moniker entirely, it was revealed as an isometric action game that would put the spotlight entirely on Lara and a completely different adventure. I knew I’d have to give this differently-designed Croftian adventure to the test, and thus dove into Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light.
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Impressions: Ys Seven
The Ys series, a venerable and long-running RPG franchise from developer Falcom, returns to Sony’s portable darling with Ys Seven, the latest numerical sequel in a long list of releases, most of which haven’t made it Stateside. This entry found its way to gamers in Japan last September, while North American experience point junkies had to wait about a year for a followup to the brilliant Ys VI: The Ark of Napishtim. Ys chronicles the adventures of one Adol the Red, or Adol Christin to those not acquainted with the swordsman, as well as the companions he meets along the way. Entries in this series have appeared everywhere from the MSX2 to cell phones, and it shows no signs of slowing. The latest addition was released in Japan last year and thanks to Xseed Games, lucky non-Japanese fans can now enjoy the latest addition to the stalwart RPG series keeps players comfortable and coming back for more.