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When I played the Halo 4 campaign I had that feeling. Halo 4 has changed drastically from the Halo I grew up with. The campaign is eerily reminiscent of Call of Duty. The first in game breaks in which Master Chief pushes a button seem out of place. In a way its glorifying a lackluster action that can be overlooked. The sole purpose of the first person actions is to make it more cinematic and Call of Duty-like.

The Call of Duty theme comes up time and time again. Halo 4 sports the same interactive gameplay elements that Call of Duty made popular. Remember climbing the glacier in Modern Warfare 2? Youll see those elements here. While its not bad, it just doesnt feel like Halo. I feel like Im playing a Call of Duty spinoff. This feeling is worsened by a change in the Needler inflicts damage. Every time a needle hits you, there is virtually no damage inflicted. The damage is only inflicted after the needles explode. While this seems trivial, it drastically impacts gameplay. I dont always realize when Im getting shot with a Needler and die seemingly randomly.

The story behind Halo 4 would have had me in tears had my roommate not been breaking my immersion every three seconds. I think it might very well be the most emotional game Ive ever played, at least the most emotional Halo game. Cortana has gone rampant, and the interaction between Master Chief and Cortana is incredibly well done. My only gripe is that it was too short. I miss Halo 2s long campaign. I completed Halo 4 in only about six hours. There was so much missed potential between Chief and Cortana due to the campaigns brevity. I would have loved to see their interactions play out for a longer period of time before the credits role. 

The story also ties in perfectly to the Forward Unto Dawn short films. The new characters have unique personalities, although Master Chief doesnt have long lasting relationships akin to his relationship with the Arbiter or Johnson. The new faces fade as soon as they come. One of the most interesting characters is a female O.D.S.T. although she only appears in two or three scenes. Shes the perfect candidate for a series long partner. The story however is a solemn tale of the struggles between two close friends, so I can understand why they didnt introduce that many new characters. The narrative focuses beautifully on Cortana and Chief.

While it feels a lot more like Call of Duty than Halo, Halo 4 is still not to be missed for its narrative alone.

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Comparing the new game Judgement (or judgment if you prefer) to the older titles was inevitable, for a series that has such strong roots this new game fails to live up to it's predecessors in the most simplest ways, what went wrong?

1: The story. 

Sure Dom is dead and Marcus saved the day (Carmine survived as well!) so that part of the story is done and dusted, but fans of the series deserve better than the simple offering coughed up by People can fly. What about E-day? Surely fans deserve the horror of that first hole in the ground opening up and spewing forth a bunch of monsters? The first reactions of the COG and Gorasni soldiers as the darkness descended? The series has a wealth of back stories to draw from so why do we get a simple chase down the monster and blow it up story line? 

2: The Characters.

Baird isn't an unlikable character is the first 3 games, his wise cracking, smart arse comments (an obvious way to relieve the tension of their predicament) endeared him to many a gamer, he got the job done and was a pain in the arse to all those around him, a genuine character. Augustus Cole played the perfect side-kick for Baird, the books flesh out a relationship between the pair starting back when the Cole Train first enlisted, they looked out for each other and helped each other through the good times and bad, none of which is portrayed in the new game. There is no interaction between the pair on any other level apart from the obvious dialogue to drive the narrative. For a franchise that built such a strong bond between the main characters of Marcus and Dom it seems strange not to capitalize on this again, we know Baird and Cole are buddies but show us why! Give us the background to establish the connection. The new characters are similarly shallow, very little interaction during the game and horrid writing in the cutscenes (why are the character models worse than the previous games?) trickle feed us tiny tidbits of story in which we are supposed to fit all the pieces together in order to work out what the hell is going on. They could have focused purely on Baird and Cole and gave you random COG soldiers to help out, the additions of 2 new characters dilutes the already weakened story.

3: The settings.

A whole planet they have to work with and we get the same settings? Ambling down yet another back alley/burnt out building/industrial warehouse would be fine but we have been there and done that 3 times already! The lack of vehicle sections in the game (didn't notice that did you?) means the confinement of your surroundings gets tiresome very quickly. Why confine the game to just one city? Why confine players to suburbia when you have a whole planet at your disposal, open fields, sun drenched beaches, nasty swamps and dark holes in the ground? Oh and they used the same lost cat picture on the walls...we know you ate him.

4: The weapons.

There is an old saying that "If it's not broke, don't fix it", why then have they reduced your load-out to 2 weapons? Pistols are pretty much an afterthought here, why swap a primary weapon for a sidearm? What exactly was wrong with swapping weapons on the D-pad? We all knew that you can't bash something with a lancer, only rev it up first and slice your way to victory, why then make this an option? If you wanted to bash something like a ticker you had to swap weapons first, it wasn't broken but yet they fixed it, apparently. The chainsaw takes so long to wind up now it's pretty much useless as a melee weapon unless the hapless victim is crawling across the ground. The new weapons are OK but players will carry a lancer from start to finish, none of the new additions do anything special to warrant dropping the COG standard. What happened to the iron sights on the Locust rifle? 

5: The AI.

It's broken to say the least. The rush tactics of the locust seem to be a simpler AI version taken straight from horde mode, you friendly AI is no better. In previous installments a Theron guard with a torquebow was an enemy to be feared, now he's happy to rush into the front line and get shotgunned at close range, they display none of the tactics from previous titles and rushing seems to be all they know. Halo showed us how dangerous decent AI can be, Gears wasn't far behind it but it's missing here, the simplified actions and tactics used by both sides is broken, it's not uncommon to see friendly and enemy AI units running around in a little circle together, amusing to watch, disappointing to endure. Larger enemies have adopted the COD routine, fire at you and only you unless your hidden, then they wait untill you pop out for another shot, Reavers are a classic example of the single minded nature of the AI enemies. 

6: The multi-player

This will be short! It's missing everything that made this game series what it is today, limited load-outs, missing game types, omitted locust vs cog matches, none of it's here. Why produce a new game and then strip away everything that gave it longevity? When the short campaign is done you only have the multiplayer right? Why remove massive sections from the players? Where's horde mode? Where's beast mode? Where's locust vs cog deathmatches? Where's wing-man? The multiplayer is so lacking in content it's not even remotely funny, you would complain if it were DLC but in a full game is inexcusable.

All in all the game is a let down, missing content, broken AI and generic settings do nothing to attract new followers to this once great series, if anything it will turn them away. Fans are disappointed and I even heard one gamer remark that this was the "Jar jar" of the series, a mighty insult indeed. GOW3 wasn't that long ago, some of us were still happy playing horde and wingman or co-opping it through the campaign on insane, was there really any need to bring out this new title so quickly? and so lacking in content? Like angry star wars fans we are bitter, we deserve better than this, the Gears universe deserves better than what's being offered here. A recent article on GS stated that cynicism was killing the industry, can you blame us? We pay our hard earned dollars for products that are giving us less and less, games that rely on big names to drag in unsuspecting consumers to watered down products. We already know studios are in the game to make money, we don't like it, however, when we are taken for granted. We vote with our wallets and rubbish like Judgement is an example of how not to retain your fan base, rip them off, give them less, change the product and then tell them how good it is.....or was.

Cheers....Damsog. 

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Allot has changed since last time. New music taste, new hobbies, etc". I stopped gaming during the summer, but now that it's winter. I'm back into my man cave.

Hopefully, I'll get back to writing reviews. And eventually I want to make a new music blog.

But for now! I just wanted to let you guys know I'm alive. And, post a couple of my resent drawings to show I'm still doing well in my School/Carear.

This next drawing, is of Mitch Lucker. I drew it out of respect of his death.

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Old Classic Spyro was taken over with a shame-full new "Skylanders" look

So? whats the big deal? top notch graphics are good, and Cod is amazing? I can see where people may say things like "COD IS AMAZING!?" or "whata mean games arn't getting better? Look at Maddens graphics!" But all these things are small details that should be apart of a bigger picture. Why is it every year the only new thing we get in cod is some new wepons, a new " Lower than Average" story and some better looking graphics? Why is it that every Street fighter that comes out only adds a couple new charectors and some small new mechanics? Some may say "well it still doesn't matter, games are getting better its not hurting anything" But thats where the gamer is wrong. Do any of the Old Ps1 gamers still remember the game Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver? Cause I had to go online and search up "soul reaver" cause I couldn't even remember the Main charectors name.

Raziel From the Classic ps1 and dreamcast game "Legacy Of Kain: Soul Reaver"

These days we have games like "Uncharted 3" Sitting on the throne for Best Game Story Ever. This is not true, of course, if you have ever played through the entire Legacy of Kain series, you would know that is not true. Legacy of Kain is a perfect example of how modern day gamers are Loosing memory of Classis master pieces such as this. If I showed a modern day gamer a picture of Raziel they would NOT know who it was. Why? Because once the gaming media realizes FSP are the new "COOL" they throw all laws of old gaming in the trash and head for the gold. It doesn't surprise me that so many game developers are making copies of other games. They look at COD and say "Wait? people actually buy into that stuff?".

When was the last time you played a GOOD platforming game? was it uncharted 3? infamous 2? I dont count those as platforming games, when they aim more toward action/adventure. When i think of modern platforming games i think of mario, and lets face it, if there is one person whome stands for the word 'remake' its MARIO. (and link) So where are all the 3D platformers? As of the modern day i can't think of any that are currently out? Sure there is Assassins creed but thats more Stealth/Action. Sly cooper: Thieves in time, Heard of it? If you have not, then I hope you click the name and read up on it, If you know anything about sly cooper, he was one of the three kings of the ps2 Era (the other two being ratchet and jak).

A poster Of sly in the new "Sly: Thieves In Time"

The new Sly game is a great showing of how developers are going back to the basics. This could end up 2 ways, first the game could be a total wreck and most people would see this and be like "This is why we should stick with COD!" Or the game could be a complete and total master Piece, this would show everyone that the platforming era doesn't have to be over, and we can go back to basics. Now you might say "wait? you said we Should try NEW things? why are you using a remake of an old game as an example for something new?"

My point isn't really to throw out the entire recipe. The idea behind it all is to try something That isn't the exact same as every video game of that Console era. Sly Cooper May have been the same as every other game in its First time around, but as it re-enters the stage it provides something new to players who never experienced or never even hear of Sly Cooper. Basicly Keep your mind OPEN sure COD is a great series and if FPS went exctinct for 10 years im sure i would be begging for a new MW but thats not the case. Games like Dishonered or Sly provide newer and fresher ideas.

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The Yu-Gi-Oh! brand would find itself into stores as a video game, known under the subtitle "The Duelists of the Roses". I had no clue what to expect. On one hand, I was a kid and thought, "ZOMG YU-GI-OH! VIDEO GAME!!!!" (Insert more druling) Then, on the other hand, I was like, "What? Roses? Whyyyyyyyyy????" None of it added up, and to this day, it still doesn't, and this game with ruin your love for the TV series and the card game, as it did with me. I played this game to death, loved it at times, and hated it at others! It took Yu-Gi-Oh!, and tried to make it into a medieval times kind of game, and the two are so far apart, it leaves this gaping hole that had no way of ever closing! Hence forth, you see where my interest in the entire Yu-Gi-Oh! brand simply died. Yep. Death incarnate.

If you were, or maybe still are, looking for a way to kill your obsession on this brand, play this game. It will do just that for you, and for me, I am forever grateful. This game attempts way to much, and if it had just been a simple card battle game minus the HORRIBLE looking monsters, I think fans would have appreciated it much much more.

#4: Yu-Gi-Oh! The Duelists of the Roses

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I wanted to write about this subject last week, but I had so much work to do on my Master's research.

I know that this subject will cause a lot of controversy. Please remember that this is my opinion, you may like and you may not, either way let me know what you think.

There are a few games and franchises, which I think are overrated or over-hyped. I am going to list them alphabetically and will state my reasons as well.

1- Bayonetta: Totally overrated. Weak story, poor graphics, and ugly voice acting. The action in this game is so fast that sometimes I had no idea what was happening on the screen. I didn't like it at all.

2- Brutal Legend: Poor graphics, tedious gameplay, annoying sound track and an unbelievable story. Totally overrated.

3- Call of Duty (franchise): Don't get me wrong, I loved Modern Warfare when it first came out, but since then, every call of duty is the same. The same engine, the same mechanics and even the same plot over and over. What bothers me the most, is that reviewers use COD as a standard for comparison. Every FPS is compared to COD in some way, and every time COD has to win. I am telling you COD is not even that good. Many FPSs were underrated because of it, andthat is wrong. I know the game has a massive multiplayer mode, but that's it. Battlefield and Medal of honor are better franchises in my opinion.

4- Dead Rising (franchise): Poor concept, repetitive gameplay. You kill zombies and save civilians. That's it. Overrated.

5- God of War (franchise): This franchise is so overrated and over-hyped. I know, I know, God of War III was a technical achievement; the graphics, the scale, but that's it. The other games in the franchise are the same, the only difference is the boss encounters. Why would reviewers compare every action game to GOW, I have no clue. Why is it considered as a standard, I have no clue either. In my opinion Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, and Dante's inferno were better than GOW3. Both were compared to GOD3 and then underrated.

6- Prototype: Where do I start? I don't think this game belonged to this generation of consoles. It should have been released on the PS2 and the XBOX. The concept of the game is very good, but it was delivered poorly. Graphics belong to the past generation, gameplay is tedious and confusing.What really bothers me is that inFAMOUS was compared to it in many reviews, while there is a huge difference between both games.

I would like to continue, there are many gmes that I would like to mention but Idon't wantthe blog to be long and boring. If you liked this blog and would like to read more about overrated games,please let me know.

Please remember, this is my opinion. Some of you will agree, many will not. Either way, please let me know what you think and why?

Are there any overrated "over-hyped" games that you would add to this list?

Thank you for reading.

Peace!

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(i s*** you not, that is exactly what happened to my car.)

okay, so we begin, this afternoon...

i get a call from my neighbor and he want's to buy some of those bamboo fence roll things, that roll out, and did i mention that they were fences, they roll out too (exciting) soooo...

he want's to atract panda's, but these damn jugalo's keep showing up.

i take my jeep over there, and we have to drive really far, and we don't want to go on the parkway because there is all this construction going on, so we take this really long route through all these towns, and we had to go over all these bridges..

but there is still road construction all over the place, so we see this detour, and it takes us around the part of the street that was already repaved, and the road is covered in dirt at this spot, and i see coming out of a drive way on the left, it's a red 97 subaru forrester (i know my cars) and she drives right into the side of my car....

and i was like FFFFFFF****************!!!

(mother f***er got me caught on the power lines)

and my car slides across the road, because of all the dirt the car can't grip properly. Which ended up saving the car from too much damage, but the two driver side doors are damaged and the rocker panel below, so i will have to get these replaced, and the passanger door on that side is bent..... but there is good news, the windows which i haven't been able to open for months, now magically the buttons work.

So, thank you woman who hit me, my windows now work.

so thank's for reading (unless you scrolled down to the bottom too see the review score.) (and i got the new playstation, and i find out that my 640gb hardrive that was in the old PS3 is also broken)

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Peace

Drewby

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Remember back when you actually got the whole package for the price you paid. There was none of this stupid DLC business. That's the biggest issue I have with next-gen consoles. Due to their online markets, different companies can exploit their loyal customers by releasing overpriced DLCs for games which usually aren't even worthy of the initial retail price.

For example - we all know that Activision are abusing this facility as they specifically release Call of Duty games with minimal maps, and then they hope to gain large revenue through the various map packs, usually consisting of 4 or 5 poorly designed maps. The worst thing is that people are actually prepared to go ahead with the purchase.

So overall, I think DLC is just pointless. The only case where I think it's good is if the game at hand requires DLCs (i.e. World of Warcraft) to extend the experience. Map packs don't extend the experience. You're just getting perhaps an extra hour of freshness, and soon you're interest span will decrease, rendering the DLC useless.

Very few games have got the DLCs right: GTA IV, World of Warcraft (also known as expansion packs rather than DLC) and Mass Effect. The DLCs actually added pretty substantial stuff to make the game much longer.

So what's your opinion of downloadable content? Is it just another gateway for big corporations to milk our wallets dry or do these so-called extensions actually promote themselves as being viable pieces of software?

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