Howdy, all,

As a service to my videogaming friends, I do reviews of videogames that I have recently bought or rented. I review for all systems (that I have available)..... PS2, Xbox, Xbox360, PSP, GameCube, PC.

SO, if you're interested in a certain game, and want to hear a gamer's out of the box perspective on it, check out this section.

Respectfully,
Martok2112

VIDEOGAME: STAR TREK: LEGACY
DEVELOPER: MAD DOC SOFTWARE/BEHESDA SOFTWORKS
PUBLISHER: CBS
SYSTEMS: XBOX 360 AND PC (360 VERSION REVIEWED)
RATING: E (EVERYONE for FANTASY VIOLENCE AND MILD LANGUAGE)
NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 1 (2-4 ONLINE)

Graphics: 5/5
Sound: 4.5/5
Control: 3.5/5
Story: 3/5
Endorphin Factor: 3/5
Frustration Factor: 3/5

Scoring system:
Average: 3.6 /5

GAMES IT COULD BE COMPARED TO: STAR TREK BRIDGE COMMANDER, STAR TREK ARMADA

DETAILS: This is the third Star Trek game released from Bethesda and CBS. The first was Star Trek Encounters for the Playstation 2, a very arcadey shoot 'em up. The second was Star Trek Tactical Assault for the Sony PSP and the Nintendo DS; a portable version of Starfleet Command. Now we have what is supposed to be the creme de la creme of the Trek games from this company in the form of Star Trek Legacy, a game which spans all of Star Trek lore, from Enterprise, TOS, TNG, DS9, and Voyager. And I have to say, I'm a bit underwhelmed.

The object of the game is to beat the single player missions with a fleet that you amass throughout the generations. You can switch between individual ships for direct control, or you can command your small fleet to go to a certain point, or engage a certain target.

Graphically, this game is beautiful. The ships are gorgeous and extremely detailed...even moreso than they were on the older PC title Star Trek Bridge Commander (and at the time, those ship meshes were damn sweet!). The nebula and planets look great, and the starbases this time around finally get a good dosage of detail and light. (In Star Trek Tactical Assault, starbases were given minimal detailing). Phasers and photons blaze in this game. And they've covered the gamut of phaser effects from the original series and the Next Generation, right down to the "rapid fire" phasers from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. Explosions are pretty nice. Ships break up, and explode with a small shockwave effect (that incidentally does NOT damage nearby ships....hmmmm.)

Sounds and music are also well rendered. Phasers and photons sound like they should. The voice acting from Scott Bakula, William Shatner, Patrick Stewart, Avery Brooks, and Kate Mulgrew (each playing the captains they characterized in their respective shows) varies from tired to enthusiastic (as a result of reading their lines). The music in this game is the same scores that you may have heard if you owned/played Star Trek Encounters and/or Star Trek Tactical Assault. The musical score is beautiful nonetheless, and varies with the intensity of the action on screen.

CONTROL: Ok...here's where we run into the first real hiccup. Sometimes the controls just DON'T wanna work...and it doesn't matter if you've taken damage from enemy fire or not. They sometimes just WON'T respond. It's rare...but it does happen. The ships handle pretty much the way they should, like slow, lumbering capital ships. (Smaller vessels have a bit more maneuverability.) Speed is handled in one of two ways. By tapping the "B" button, you toggle between full impulse power, and all-stop. By tapping "Y", you can enter warp (and exit warp) if conditions permit. You can also plot where you wish to go (as well as your fleet) on the area map. Subsystems targetting....one word....fuggeddaboutit! Even if you do achieve a top phaser lock, you cannot choose which subsystem to attack on an enemy ship, no matter what the game manual tells you....and that sucks! You can also allocate power between the three power usage systems on your ship(s)....weapons, engines, and shields. You can choose to strike a total balance between the three, or between any two, or just slam all power into one subunit.

Also, getting a photon/quantum torpedo lock is spotty at best. It seems that the torpedo tubes have a razor thin firing arc, and it's often difficult to fire off more than one torpedo when you do get that occasional torpedo lock. The nice thing is, for the most part, the torpedoes that you do manage to fire seem to track pretty well.

In Skirmish mode, (single player deathmatch) the most frustrating thing is that you CAN NOT choose which enemy ships you wish to face. Almost by default, whatever ship you pick for yourself, the computer INVARIABLY picks a battleship from whatever era you choose to fight in. (For example, if you choose to fight in the Original series era, and you decide to play a Federation Miranda Class--a cruiser....and you decide you want your enemy to be a Klingon, the AI will automatically pick the Ravenous battleship. That just flat out bites, because a battleship is the most powerful class in this game.) Hopefully, Bethesda will release a patch that corrects some of the oversights I've listed above.

Online multiplayer mode is interesting, and you run into a wide array of tactical styles. Being that this is a niche game, I am not at all surprised that there were so few players online the first night I tried this. Most of the time, they wanted to run single-ship deathmatches (each player commanding a single ship instead of up to four each.) The small group of players I encountered were pretty cool, and had a great sense of humor....hopefully more in the Trek community of gaming are like that. Occasionally, a player would be dropped from the server, and that proved frustrating (for those of us who were able to continue, as well as for the player in question.)

For all the graphical eye candy, and the desire to command a small fleet of ships in a gorgeous 3D space universe, this game leaves MUCH to be desired, and feels as if it were sent out the door only half completed...despite the two or three times it got pushed back. (Almost like the Tomb Raider: Angel of Darkness game.)

BOTTOM LINE: Trekkers/(Trekkies) will probably enjoy this game. I am a Trek fan, and although it didn't quite live up to the press it was getting, it's still a decent Trek game, and hopefully patches will be released to enhance this game to a better level of stature.

VIDEOGAME: STAR TREK: TACTICAL ASSAULT
DEVELOPER: QUICKSILVER SOFTWARE/BETHESDA SOFTWORKS
PUBLISHER: CBS PARAMOUNT TELEVISION
SYSTEMS: PLAYSTATION PORTABLE, NINTENDO DS (PSP VERSION REVIEWED)
RATING: E (EVERYONE
NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 1 (2 VIA AD-HOC WIFI CONNECTION)

Graphics: 4/5
Sound: 4/5
Control: 4/5
Story: 5/5
Endorphin Factor: 3.5 /5
Frustration Factor: 3 /5

Scoring system:
Average: 4 /5

GAMES IT COULD BE COMPARED TO: STAR TREK STARFLEET COMMAND, STARFLEET ACADEMY

DETAILS: Ok, here's the possible lineage for this game:
Task Force Games (many years ago) designs a table top starship combat game called StarFleet Battles. A few years later, FASA acquires the rights to Star Trek The Role Playing Game, which also has a Starship Tactical Combat Simulator game that is similar to, yet simpler than Star Fleet Battles. Whereas Task Force focused on mostly ships inspired strictly by the original series, FASA focused on everything from TOS up to TNG.

Years later, a PC game called StarFleet Command is released, which is based on StarFleet Battles from Task Force. Now, a few years after that, Bethesda releases a game called Star Trek Tactical Assault for the PSP and Nintendo DS.


For a handheld Star Trek game, this is not too shabby at all. It emulates (in many ways) the PC title of Star Trek: Starfleet Command. Taking place during the Star Trek movie (original crew) era, you assume the command of an ascending line of starships, starting with a Federation Frigate, and eventually working your way up to the Federation Dreadnaught ..and perhaps the Excelsior. You can play two different campaigns in Tactical Assault...one is for the Federation, and you must beat this campaign in order to unlock the Klingon Empire campaign. Ships from the TOS movie era series (including a few that seem to be inspired by old FASA designs (FASA did not design Starfleet Command, I know, but these ships look more like FASA designs than Task Force based designs).

Graphically, this game looks pretty good on the portable. The starship designs are nicely detailed, as are the beautiful backgrounds. Planets even rotate. Things such as starbases and spacedocks actually look more basic, with very little design detail. (I guess they wanted to focus on the ships). Phaser and disruptor shots leave a little to be desired visually, but photon torpedo shots look pretty nice. Exploding starships don't have that "Wrath of God" effect I would expect from a ship that carries a warp core, but the explosions are still pretty nice. Bits of ship fly off in every direction. Also, when taking damage during combat, you can lose a warp nacelle (or two), and you see sparkling plasma trails (ala Wrath of Khan, when the USS Reliant was limping about with one nacelle blown off). (Also, as I understand it, the graphics on this game are a little better than the DS version...but I'd have to see that for myself.) What's really nice is when you begin the first mission on any day you play, you are treated to a cinematic where you walk into the bridge of your ship from the turboshaft. The bridge is wonderfully replicated on the handheld, and you actually feel like you're boarding your starship. Character designs (icons whenever one of your crewmates are speaking to you) are cartoony, but servicable.

Soundwise, well, it's everything you'd expect from a Star Trek TOS title. Phasers sound like classic phasers, photons sound like classic photons. (Personally, I wish they'd borrowed sound effects from Star Trek The Motion Picture, and Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan...this is the movie era we're talking about. :) ) The music is beautiful, and is actually the music from the PS2 title Star Trek Encounters. (And I will even go so far as to say that Encounters is an inferior title to this handheld.) William Shatner lends a brief voice over to this game. There are no other voice overs in this game. Any communications/information from a crewmate you receive are text based...accompanied by that crewmate's/addresser's icon.

Controls are not too bad, and take only a few moments to get used to. There's nothing overencumbering about the control scheme, and it helps the flow of battle quite nicely.

There is actually some strategy to this game. Your best bet of dealing with Klingon ships (there are five races in this game) is to try and maneuver and stay behind them at fairly close range, and concentrate on weakening their aft shields, (Klingons tend to favor forward shields since they charge into battle) then laying into them with your firepower. Klingon birds of prey are easiest to kill this way, since they have no aft weapons...but larger ships do possess aft weapons...so staying too close can be dangerous. Also, knowing when and where to use your emergency power is a nice little challenge. You can overcharge your weapons to do more damage, or you can commence emergency maneuvers, all of which costs a little reserve power each time you use these features....or if your shields are buckling, you can emergency recharge your shields. This is a constant drain on your reserve power, especially if your shields are really really low. Your reserve power does replenish over a long period of time, and if you're not careful with your reserve power, you could really find your self in a pinch.

As you progress through the single player campaign, your ship's attributes (read: Crew abilities) can be increased with upgrade points that you receive, depending on how well you accomplish your missions. You can upgrade damage reduction, ship's speed/maneuverability, phaser recharge rates, photon rearm rates, phaser damage, photon damage, photon accuracy, and several other attributes of your ship. Believe me, the recharge times for phasers and photons are agonizingly slow, so you might want to focus some upgrade points on those aspects asap.

Starship combat is very much a balancing act in this game, and as with any battle, one mistake can cost you the battle...so you really have to apply strategy when taking on the enemy. (Hint, if you have locked on to a cloakable ship, and they start to cloak out, lay into them with your weaponry, because their shields go down.) Sadly, you can only get a lock on an enemy cloaked vessel once they have completely decloaked, and raised their shields. The Federation ships have rechargable shields, all other races do not. Keep that in mind.

This game can get frustrating if you don't know what you're doing. On a couple of occasions, I have lost ships I was supposed to protect simply because I did not rush out to engage the enemy, and keep them out at a distance while the friendlies have a chance to recuperate. Every now and again, you'll have a friendly with some firepower who'll lend you a hand in battle.

You'll never collide with another starship, but you can collide with asteroids, planets, and starbases, so be careful when maneuvering. Although your view is third person forward, you can use the analog stick to look around to see what's around you. If you even graze an asteroid, planet or starbase, it can cost you whichever shield facing is adjacent to that object, and it can potentially damage/destroy your ship....so exercise caution when maneuvering. Know your environment at all times. I've also lost missions where I was careless about my environment...and its even more grating when you lose your ship to a stupid mistake after you've destroyed an enemy ship.

BOTTOM LINE: If starship strategic combat is your thing, this game is a much more worthy stopgap to play until Bethesda releases Star Trek Legacy on the Xbox 360.

VIDEOGAME: SOCOM: US NAVY SEALS COMBINED ASSAULT
DEVELOPER: ZIPPER INTERACTIVE
PUBLISHER: SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT
SYSTEMS: PS2
RATING: T (TEEN for DRUG REFERENCES and VIOLENCE)
NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 1 (2-4 CO-OP ONLINE OR LAN) (2-32 LAN OR ONLINE)

Graphics: 4/5
Sound: 5/5
Control: 4/5
Story: 5/5
Endorphin Factor: 5/5
Frustration Factor: 2/5

Scoring system:
Average: 4/5

GAMES IT COULD BE COMPARED TO: SOCOM SERIES, GHOST RECON SERIES

DETAILS: Zipper Interactive has done it once again with their fourth console entry (fifth total entry) into the SOCOM US NAVY SEALS franchise. The US NAVY co developed this game, but in no way endorses it. However, that does not stop this game from being a slight recruiting tool for the U.S. NAVY, especially it's SEAL branch. It even has a sort of recruiting passage at the front of the game's instruction manual.

Ah, but to the game. Well, it handles just like any other SOCOM game. The controls take a slight bit of getting used to...maybe about 15-20mins of gameplay before it becomes second nature to you. As with previous SOCOM titles, it utilizes a USB headset so that you can voice command your fireteam, or better yet, chat with your buds in online deathmatches and missions.

Unlike previous entries in the SOCOM series, this game takes place in the fictional nation of Adjikistan as opposed to the globe trotting nature of earlier titles.

If you own both SOCOM CA, and SOCOM FT Bravo 2, you will see how the two teams' adventures cross over and effect the other.

The voice command is still pretty quirky. On occasion, even if you speak clearly and crisply through the mic, your teammates might respond with "All due respect, sir, but what the hell are you talking about?" It also doesn't take long to memorize the specific voice commands needed to make things happen. You can even go so specific as to direct a single teammate, as opposed to half a fire team. Of course, if you are not of the voice command bent, you can use the in-game menu with a touch of the "circle" button to bring up available commands for your fireteam. (It's pretty fun using the voice command though....I try using my best Michael Ironside voice during the game...a tip of the hat to Splinter Cell, of which that actor does lend his voice). Also, you cannot give seperate orders for Able and Bravo elements to perform simultaneously, it just doesn't work. I tried to get Able Two (callsign Jester) to restrain one target, and get Bravo element to restrain another. Only one of the targets will be restrained, and you have to reissue the order to the element that failed to carry out your command....or just go restrain the enemy yourself.

Graphically, the game really hasn't improved over the three previous console releases. It does look rather dated now, but it does not detract from the game play. Sounds are nigh perfection. And the music is really good...gets the blood pumpin' for those missions.

You can also use vehicles in this game, in addition to mounting machine gun emplacements. That adds a nice elemental touch to the SOCOM series. I'll be interested to see how this pans out in online (or LAN) multiplayer games.

There is a pretty heavy frustration factor here though...especially in terms of body count clutter. On one occasion, I was using non-lethal weapons to try and capture as many enemy soldiers as I could. At one point, I thought I had four of them lined up, ready to be restrained....but as it turned out, one of them was still armed, and did not show as red in my cross hairs until it was too late....and thus fell Martok. In another occasion, I lost one of my teammates, and accidentally restrained an enemy soldier on top of him, thus I could not lift the body of my fallen teammate to carry home. Arrrgghhhh.

A.I. in this game is also somewhat quirky. Sometimes the enemies are down right stoopid....other times, they can pick you off in seemingly total darkness. (Did the enemy get night-vision capabilities, and H.Q. didn't notify us?)

Sniping is always fun, and you have to pick your targets carefully. Shoot a target that happens to have two or three of his buddies close by, and the stealth goes the way of the dodo. I also like using flashbang grenades on a roomful of enemies, watching them surrender obsequiously to my superior firepower.

This game also features the crosstalk function, which was introduced between SOCOM 3: US NAVY SEALS, and SOCOM Fireteam Bravo for the PSP. Essentially, what you do on one system can effect the way the game plays on the other. Same thing here with SOCOM COMBINED ASSAULT, and the most recent PSP title SOCOM Fireteam Bravo 2. The crosstalk function is pretty fun. You can have Fireteam Bravo on the PSP clear out a crash site, and when Fireteam Alpha on the PS2 comes to that crash site, they'll find fewer enemies to contend with, thanks to the little bros on the PSP. It is also a means to unlock multiplayer characters and weapons, and a host of other things between the two.
A special USB cable is required to make the connection between the PS2 and the PSP.

It would also seem that Zipper has decided to tone down SOCOM for this latest entry. Previous SOCOM titles were rated M because of Blood and Language. For this game, they've toned it down to rated T so that young'n's parents might be a little more inclined to let them in on this exciting game series.

BOTTOM LINE: If you're a SOCOM fan, this latest entry in the SOCOM series won't disappoint. Just expect the usual troubles and tribulations as in past titles.


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VIDEOGAME: SOCOM US NAVY SEALS FIRETEAM BRAVO 2
DEVELOPER: ZIPPER INTERACTIVE
PUBLISHER: SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT
SYSTEMS: PLAYSTATION PORTABLE (PSP)
RATING: T (TEEN for DRUG REFERENCE and VIOLENCE)
NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 1 (2-16 AD HOC--WIRELESS LAN, or INFRASTRUCTURE-- WIRELESS ONLINE)

Graphics: 4/5
Sound: 5/5
Control: 3.5/5
Story: 5/5
Endorphin Factor: 4/5
Frustration Factor: 3.5/5

Scoring system:
Average: 4/5

GAMES IT COULD BE COMPARED TO: SOCOM US NAVY SEALS FIRETEAM BRAVO, MEDAL OF HONOR HEROES

DETAILS: Another nice title for the little system that could from Zipper Interactive. This is the second PSP based title (sixth total title) of the SOCOM franchise. For this gamer, it does not disappoint.

Graphically, the game is about the same as the previous PSP installment, and that is not a bad thing. Sounds are perfectly on par with its console big brother. Controls are a little more simplified, given the limited nature of the PSP's setup, but it still handles pretty nicely. The compromise is that you sometimes have to activate free look, or switch to a scope if equipped to look high and low, and all about...but it's not too bad a compromise.

As with the first PSP title, you can actually lock onto nearby enemies, and then zoom in with your sniper scope for a head shot....and do it with fairly rapid succession.

In a new twist for the SOCOM series, you also get rewarded in Command Equity and Local Influence points in this game for certain actions. Here's how it works: Command Equity points are gained by accomplishing objectives both primary and secondary. You can use these command points to purchase certain assets in the game like body armor, or airstrikes, or other advanced tech to help your missions. You are rewarded in Local Influence if you do things like capture enemy forces as opposed to killing them, or liberating hostages. Local Influence points open up black arms weapons you can use later. I've rather taken a liking to trying to capture enemies...and see if I can get through a mission without killing a single soul. (It's even carried over into my SOCOM COMBINED ASSAULT playing, although there aren't really any rewards for taking disposable enemies alive in that game.)

The crosstalk feature also opens up other options in both Fireteam Bravo Two, and Combined Assault. Extra multiplayer characters, different weapons, etc. What you do in one game can affect events in the other.

Apparently, as with the previous PSP entry, you can also use a special headset that allows you to chat with your buds online, but unlike the console titles, this game (nor the original Fireteam Bravo) allows you to voice command your teammate. (In Fireteam Bravo, you have only one teammate, whereas in the console versions, you have three.)

Context sensitive icons appear whenever you can perform an action, or direct you virtual teammate to carry it out. It's quite fun.

I haven't tried online multiplayer yet, but it oughtta be a blast. I still have yet to see if my headset works online.

Also, like the console cousin of COMBINED ASSAULT, this title has received a TEEN rating as opposed to Mature like past titles. Zipper must be wanting to extend its fanbase considerably, given the popularity of the titles.

BOTTOM LINE: If you liked the original Fireteam Bravo, then this one will be a sure winner in your PSP library.


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VIDEOGAME: F.E.A.R. (First Encounter Assault Recon)
DEVELOPER: DAY 1 STUDIOS and MONOLITH
PUBLISHER: SIERRA
SYSTEMS: XBOX 360, PC (soon for PS3) (XBOX 360 version reviewed)
RATING: M (MATURE for BLOOD and GORE, INTENSE VIOLENCE, STRONG LANGUAGE)
NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 1 (2 - 16 via XBOX LIVE

Graphics: 5/5
Sound: 5/5
Control: 4.5/5
Story: 4.5/5
Endorphin Factor: 5 /5
Frustration Factor: 4/5

Scoring system:
Average: 4.6 /5

GAMES IT COULD BE COMPARED TO: Just about any first person shooter out there...and Resident Evil.

DETAILS: Resident Evil, Silent Hill, Fatal Frame. Those particular titles have been known to invoke chills up people's spines with their moody, atmospheric gameplay. But they're survival horror titles. Before that, a first person shooter like Doom was serving up the scares. Now, the first person shooter genre has done it again with this great game called F.E.A.R.

F.E.A.R. is more than just the intent of the game, it is the acronym for a special unit (First Encounter Assault Recon) which is designed to deal not only with combat threats, but with the paranormal. In the game, you play a point man for the team (although you go in most of the time on your own....and last I checked, there's no "I" in team). Your mission is to hunt down a telepathic military commander who has taken an army of mindless clones, and started waging a war of terror on your city. By mindless, I do not mean that the enemies you face are dummies. It is simply that as long as he is in control, and alive, you face a fearsome force. But there are more than just meatpuppets that you face....you also face ghostly visages and visions, and confront the dark unknowns, sometimes with only your flashlight to guide you. This adds tremendously to the haunting atmospherics of this game.

You are equipped with the standard accoutrements in terms of weapons... a submachine gun and a pistol. But you also have an advantage over most enemies you will encounter...."heightened reflexes". What this translates to is the "slow-mo" button. When you enter into combat, if you are facing a single enemy or a group of enemies, you can hit this button (left shoulder button by default on Xbox 360). You have a short amount of time to bust the moves on your enemies. What happens is, the world around you slows to almost a crawl...and while you seem to be moving slowly yourself, nothing could be further from the truth. You are in fact moving much faster than your enemies, and you can use this limited time to draw a solid bead on them with your weapons, or maybe you can run up to an enemy and kill him with a swift aerial roundhouse kick. You can also stop the slow mo whenever you want, or just let the meter run out. No worries though, the meter refills (albeit slowly) back to full capacity. Basically, it's like your character is rebuilding his reserves while he continues to fight. As you progress through the game, you'll find health and reflex boosts. These boosts permanently increase your maximum health (in 5 point increments), and your maximum bullet-time (in very small increases). But they are worth it. You can also collect up to 10 medkits to keep on hand for when you start becoming a bullet sponge. The medkits I think only restore about 50 or 60 pts of your lost health. If you are cautious, you can really mitigate the health loss with caution, patience, and strategy.

Enemy A.I. is pretty tough in normal difficulty. They will fall back and take cover when they are engaged. They will hurl grenades to try and flush you out (although you can usually escape their grenades if you are quick enough). They can see your flashlight (which I believe is mounted into your helmet) sometimes if you turn it on at an inopportune moment ,or you can turn the flashlight into a strategic element to lure your enemies toward you....but they won't approach so quickly. They will be cautious. The enemies also seem to have outstanding night vision capabilites, because they can even spot you in shadows a lot of the time.

Your F.E.A.R.-some character can only carry three firearms at any one time....and sometimes you will come across other weapons that seem rather hearty...so you might have to make a decision on which weapon you might want to drop to carry the new ordnance. You also can carry a host of grenades in addition to your maximum 3 weapons.

Graphically, this game is gorgeous. Graphically, it is also GRAPHIC in the violence end.

This game is EXTREMELY bloody...I mean, gory to a deep end. When you shoot up your enemies, you get satisfying sprays of blood bursting out of their bodies. If you have a shotgun, (which like in DOOM becomes your workhorse weapon and bestest buddy) you occasionally dismember, or totally discombobulate your enemies. The shotgun is called a VK-12, and looks very much like a real-world FRANCHI SPAS 12 Automatic shotgun. Grenades and mines will do about the same thing. (I even blasted one enemy with my shotgun at short range, and all that was left was his legs from the calves down, everything else was blown hell-west and crooked). Grenades occasionally obliterate your enemies into a nice red mist.

Profanity is also abundant in this game...and it holds nothing back. But it's really funny when you engage your heightened senses and hear an enemy cry out F*** or Sh** like their voices were slowed down.

Another plus on the graphics end are the "Matrixy bullet time" effects on incoming rounds whenever you use your heightened reflexes. You see the shimmering bullet trails ala The Matrix) and you can easily dodge them...although I don't think you bend over backwards like Keanu "Whoa" Reeves. :D Also, when you get into a firefight, dust flies up EVERYWHERE in the bullets impacts. This creates a great "fog of war" element because you and your enemies mutually obscure each other when exchanging fire. And the dust takes a wee bit to settle. Also, when you fire up your flashlight in these dust clouds, the light goes NOWHERE...just like in a thick fog.

Sounds are ambient, spooky, and sometimes downright unsettling. In between the occasional, mysterious laugh of a little girl, or the haunted voices of people recently deceased, you also end up knocking a lot of things around, and that can be quite disconcerting because sometimes you don't know "what was that noise?"! Many objects in the game world can be knocked around, and some even destroyed (like PC monitors, and TV screens). Probably the only sound I find a little askew is your footfalls as you move. There is a strange rhythm to them, and it just doesn't seem natural.

The story seems pretty good for a science fiction/thriller game. As you go through the game, you might find a phone with a flashing red light. This means that there are messages you can listen to that were left between scientists to help you understand just what is going on in the game. You also will find laptops on occasion. Activate these, and your handler will analyze the data, and give you more explanation of what's going on.

Endorphin factor is the bee's knees in this game. From the spooky ambience, to the satisfaction of seeing an enemy go out in a poof of red mist, and getting to know other weapons in the game, this game had me talking to myself all night. Everything from "Ok, I am officially freaked now", to "I love this gun!"

The frustration factor is not too bad either. You cannot save the game's progress on your own. You have to pass through checkpoints. And sometimes it seems the checkpoints are just a wee bit too far apart....but as long as you exercise patience, cunning, and caution, you'll make it to the next check point, no problem. The environments are also incredibly large, and sometimes it is easy to find yourself running in proverbial circles, losing your bearings and wondering where to go next. Well, as with any game of this nature, if you hear the voices of your enemies, encounter a ghostly visage, or see something you didn't see before, you know you're headed in the right direction.

Multiplayer has the usual roster of game types, Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Elimination, Team Elimination, and Capture the Flag. I haven't tried the online element yet. I hope it is as thrilling an experience as the single player game is.

BOTTOM LINE: If you want a first person shooter that really sucks you into its world, and has you telling yourself that you shoulda never played this with the lights out...this is your game. Parents, if you let your kids play Halo, you might want to look into this game a little more in-depth before lettin' the young'n's have at it. :)

The latest onslaught of videogame reviews/first impressions by yours truly, Martok2112 (or Lord Martok, whichever you prefer) :D NOTE: This review is rated T for suggestive themes....so if thine eyes offend thee, click the back button. :D

VIDEOGAME: SPLINTER CELL: DOUBLE AGENT
DEVELOPER: UBISOFT
PUBLISHER: RED STORM/RAD
SYSTEMS: XBOX 360, PLAYSTATION 2 (XBOX 360 REVIEWED)
RATING: M (MATURE for BLOOD, LANGUAGE, VIOLENCE)
NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 1 (2-6 ONLINE/OFFLINE MULTIPLAYER)

Graphics: 4.5/5
Sound: 5/5
Control: 3/5
Story: 5/5
Endorphin Factor: 4/5
Frustration Factor: 2.5/5

Scoring system:
Average: 4 /5

GAMES IT COULD BE COMPARED TO: SPLINTER CELL GAMES SERIES, METAL GEAR SOLID SERIES

DETAILS: Sam Fisher is at it again in this latest adventure, and this time, he's a double agent. A revered hero, and a hunted terrorist. Graphics are servicable, but they look PS2 quality. Sound is spot on, as expected from a Tom Clancy based game. Controls take some getting used to...longer than I'd care for, but not overlong. Michael Ironside lends his familiar voice once again to Sam Fisher. I've only played the first part of the first mission, but it's enough to let me know that this game is highly detailed, very technical, and will deliver a kick ass story of the caliber of a Tom Clancy based movie. Have not tried multiplayer yet, but given the lackluster experience I had with an earlier Splinter Cell title, I am not exactly chomping at the bit to give this one a try as it sounds like much of the same. I would love to see this game in 1080p, however, despite the slightly lesser graphics.

BOTTOM LINE: Fans of this series of games (or even this genre) will not be disappointed....but multiplayer is questionable.


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VIDEOGAME: MEDAL OF HONOR: HEROES
DEVELOPER: EA GAMES
PUBLISHER: EA GAMES
SYSTEMS: SONY PLAYSTATION PORTABLE (PSP)
RATING: T (TEEN for VIOLENCE)
NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 1 (Ad-Hoc Multiplayer 2-8), (Infrastructure Multiplayer 2-32)

Graphics: 5 /5
Sound: 5 /5
Control: 4.5 /5
Story: 5 /5
Endorphin Factor: 5 /5
Frustration Factor: 4.5 /5

Scoring system:
Average: 4.8 /5

GAMES IT COULD BE COMPARED TO: MEDAL OF HONOR SERIES ON CONSOLES, STAR WARS BATTLEFRONT 2

DETAILS: Kull wahad. I am profoundly stirred. This game really delivers on the portable that could, the Sony PSP. The graphics are really good for this console title...perhaps a little more on par with a PS1 MOH title as opposed to PS2, but still, they're wonderful. Sounds, ambience, music, voice acting.....splendid. Control is pretty darned good, either, using the analog stick to move forward, backward, and strafe left and right, while the face buttons (X,O,Square, Triangle) handle the lookabout. Reloading, using, healing, weapons switches and crouching are handled on the d-pad. (Similar to Star Wars Battlefront 2's control scheme). Aiming is done with the Left shoulder button, firing with the right (only natural). The missions are relatively short, with way point arrows on the compass guiding you to where your primary and secondary objectives are. (Very un-World War II'ish in technology, but it does help). There are a variety of WW II weapons in this game, and a ton of unlockables, such as uniforms for multiplayer. And online multiplayer is not bad at all. I strolled in, and scored about 5 or 6 kills...then I lost the network. It also seemed like there may have been a few cheaters....but it also could've been a network failing.

BOTTOM LINE: If there is any one first person shooter you MUST get for the PSP....this game is IT!


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VIDEOGAME: ACE COMBAT: SKIES OF DECEPTION
DEVELOPER: BANDAI/NAMCO
PUBLISHER: SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT
SYSTEMS: SONY PLAYSTATION PORTABLE (PSP)
RATING: T (TEEN for ALCOHOL REFERENCES, MILD LANGUAGE, VIOLENCE)
NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 1 (Ad-Hoc Multiplayer 2-4)

Graphics: 4.5/5
Sound: 5/5
Control: 4/5
Story: 4/5
Endorphin Factor: 5/5
Frustration Factor: 3/5

Scoring system:
Average: 4.25 /5

GAMES IT COULD BE COMPARED TO: ACE COMBAT CONSOLE SERIES ON PS2.

DETAILS: Another nice little title for the nice little system, the Playstation Portable. This game looks and feels very much like its console cousins. Graphics fall somewhere in between PS1 and PS2 (and that's not a bad thing), sounds and combat chatter are good, although some of the characters sound almost "fey". Control is fairly nicely laid out, and I haven't examined all the configurations, but, where I am used to having accelerate/afterburner and brakes on the L2/R2, and the YAW on the L1/R1 buttons of the PS2, it took a little getting used to executing those moves on the PSP's D-pad. Still, the game has that classic Ace Combat feel...and I know once I get used to the configuration, I'll be feeling like I'm back in the pilot's seat again. The controls do lend a little bit to the detracting score of the frustration factor, but not too badly. Have not tried multiplayer, because I haven't found any other locals with PSP's and a copy of this game. I really wish companies would start making more online PSP titles...as it has been proven it can be done. (See my Medal of Honor: Heroes quickie).

BOTTOM LINE: As with the Medal of Honor series, fans of Ace Combat on the PS2 will NOT be disappointed with this powerhouse in a small package.

VIDEOGAME: PHANTASY STAR UNIVERSE
DEVELOPER: SONIC TEAM
PUBLISHER: SEGA
SYSTEMS: PLAYSTATION 2, PC
RATING: T (TEEN for FANTASY VIOLENCE, MILD LANGUAGE, MILD SUGGESTIVE THEMES)
NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 1 (ONLINE MULTIPLAYER, 1-6)

Graphics: 4.5/5
Sound: 4.5/5
Control: 5/5
Story: 5/5
Endorphin Factor: 3/5
Frustration Factor: 5/5

Scoring system:
Average: 4.5 /5

GAMES IT COULD BE COMPARED TO: PHANTASY STAR ONLINE EPISODES I & II

DETAILS: I didn't realize that in some aspects, this game would actually blow away PSO I and II on the Xbox, but it does. Graphically, the game is superior. Controls don't take much getting used to at all. Sounds are nice, and the music is wonderous...and familiar, and there's actually voice acting in this latest title in the series...and it's very not bad. The story seems pretty tight...and there are little satisfactions you get out of chopping critters down with nice little combos with weapons that you can upgrade. (Things do seem a little more complicated this time around as far as advancing your weapons and armor, but I just need to spend more time with the whys and hows of it.) I've gone online with it (you have to pay a monthly fee via credit card....which sucks because it would do better if the company sold prepaid subscription cards.) I haven't joined any online parties yet, but the online experience seems fairly robust. (And you find a lot of interesting player names....Gary Coleman, Chuck Norris, etc. :D )

BOTTOM LINE: If you like this kind of RPG'ing, then pick this title up. I have a feeling it'll be a hit.


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VIDEOGAME: KING OF FIGHTERS 2006
DEVELOPER: SNK PLAYMORE
PUBLISHER: SNK PLAYMORE USA
SYSTEMS: PLAYSTATION 2
RATING: T (TEEN for MILD LANGUAGE, SUGGESTIVE THEMES, VIOLENCE)
NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 1 or 2

Graphics: 4/5
Sound: 5/5
Control: 3.5/5
Story: 3.5/5
Endorphin Factor: 3.5 /5
Frustration Factor: 2/5

Scoring system:
Average: 3 /5

GAMES IT COULD BE COMPARED TO: FATAL FURY SERIES, KING OF FIGHTERS SERIES, STREET FIGHTER SERIES, TEKKEN SERIES, DEAD OR ALIVE SERIES

DETAILS: Generally, I am not a fan of the Fatal Fury games, save for one character, the bouyantly bouncy Mai Shiranui. (Get me in a room with her and Chun Li for just five minutes....and I'll come out one very bruised but happy man.) Ahem....er...I digress. I gave this game a try....the controls seem simple and familiar enough (like Street Fighter's), but on a D-pad, the controls just aren't done justice when it comes to the more frenetic fights (thus the high frustration factor which considerably brings this game's overall score down.) I've only used one character...Mai Shiranui. Any victories I've scored are nicely rewarded with her bouncy boobies. (Gee, could that be a major reason the game has a "suggestive themes" descriptor? :D ) However, as the game progresses in story mode, the controls seem to be really unresponsive as tougher opponents seem to be able to dish out inhuman unbreakable combos. I didn't even go beyond the fourth opponent, I was so frustrated....and I had Mai's moves pretty well down. (booobiieees!) Graphically, this game is a lot nicer than its previous forays into the 3D realm. Sidestepping is sometimes a chore. Sounds are nice...even the voice acting. Boobies are nice too. The game characters can be heard speaking in either English (my preferred language), or the original Japanese. Thing is, I think Mai would sound a helluva lot younger in Japanese than in English, and in English, she sounds pretty fracking young.....but she's got boobies. (And yes, her character is of legal age. LOL!) There are plenty of modes to fight in: Story, VS, Arcade, Practice, and even some mini-party games (which I have yet to try out). I'll delve into this game a little more, but I still have to say (Mai's mamm's notwithstanding), I'll stick with Street Fighter. :)

BOTTOM LINE: Booooobbiiiieeeeesss....gooooooood!


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VIDEOGAME: CABELLA'S ALASKAN ADVENTURES
DEVELOPER: FUN GAMES
PUBLISHER: ACTIVISION
SYSTEMS: XBOX 360
RATING: T (TEEN for BLOOD and VIOLENCE
NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 1

Graphics: 4/5
Sound: 5/5
Control: 4/5
Story: 5/5
Endorphin Factor: 5 /5
Frustration Factor: 3 /5

Scoring system:
Average: 4.3 /5

GAMES IT COULD BE COMPARED TO: CABELLA'S DANGEROUS HUNTS, or any other Cabella's game for that matter.

DETAILS: This doesn't really look like a next-gen title, even though it was developed for a next generation system (Xbox 360). It plays very similarly to any other Cabella's game out there. But this one does seem to have a lot to do in this little package. Taking place in Alaska, you can go hunting, ice fishing, and even dog sledding. I haven't tried the ice fishing or dog sledding yet, but the hunting is just as good as any other Cabella's game out there. You can select your hunter, difficulty, and go out and shoot furry animals. I've only spent a couple of hours with this game, but I enjoy it as much as any other Cabella's based game. Also, with this game (not that it interests me, but it might interest my friend/former roomie) you can get a free one year subscription to Outdoor Life.

BOTTOM LINE: If you are a fan of hunting titles, you can rarely go wrong with any game under Cabella's auspices.


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VIDEOGAME: BULLY
DEVELOPER: ROCKSTAR
PUBLISHER: ROCKSTAR
SYSTEMS: PLAYSTATION 2
RATING: T (TEEN for CRUDE HUMOR, LANGUAGE, SEXUAL THEMES, USE OF ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO, VIOLENCE)
NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 1

Graphics: 4/5
Sound: 5/5
Control: 4/5
Story: 4/5
Endorphin Factor: 3.5/5
Frustration Factor: 3/5

Scoring system:
Average: 4/5

GAMES IT COULD BE COMPARED TO: GRAND THEFT AUTO SERIES

DETAILS: Rockstar has turned out yet another game that could've sparked a lot of controversy, and thanks to the wisdom of one Florida judge, the game has been released...much to the dismay of a self-serving, self-righteous senator who really wanted to put the kibosh on this. Let's get right down to it....this game is a lighter version of any Grand Theft Auto game released out there. The language is raunchy, but not GTA leveled. The violence is strong, but not GTA graphic. The crude humor is what one would expect from a school full of bullies and other academic archetypes at the high-school level. It's fairly open ended, but you still have to do certain things on time, like go to class....unless you can avoid Bulworth Academy's prefects...and they're all over the place. The classes come in the form of mini-games, and passing such classes opens up new opportunities, or perhaps benefits to your character, Jimmy Hopkins. You can choose to be cool to everyone you meet...or be hostile. The fighting system is fairly straightforward, but just robust enough to offer some interesting outcomes. There's nothing in this game that will warp a child's mind (and I still have yet to see evidence that ANY game EVER warped a young mind)....so parents, whilst you might still want to exercise some judicious reasoning on game purchases, you might consider this a viable alternative if your kid is screaming for a Grand Theft Auto game (or any of its clones).

BOTTOM LINE: Pretty fun, and pretty funny.....this game seems to offer hours of mayhem for your mischievous side.



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VIDEOGAME: FAMILY GUY
DEVELOPER: 2K
PUBLISHER: TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX
SYSTEMS: PLAYSTATION 2
RATING: M (MATURE for MATURE HUMOR, PARTIAL NUDITY, VIOLENCE)
NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 1

Graphics: 4.5/5
Sound: 5/5
Control: 3/5
Story: 4/5
Endorphin Factor: 4/5
Frustration Factor: 3.5/5

Scoring system:
Average: 4/5

GAMES IT COULD BE COMPARED TO: CRASH BANDICOOT

DETAILS: It's a platformer based on the raunch hit TV show (one of my favorite shows, btw). It doesn't do too bad of a job delivering the Family Guy motifs either. The game story was written, and the voices acted out by those of the actual series crew and cast. The cutscenes bring out little chuckles, but most of the laughs come from the gameplay. You can play as Stewie, Peter, or Brian, and each one has their own scenario to play out. The scenarios, are slightly interlinked, but come up in turn. It does look like you are playing with the actual characters in their cartoon form as you jump, shoot, scratch, hide, mind control, etc through the game. I've only spent an hour with this one, but it does look like a lot of fun, especially for fans of the show. Also, true to form to the TV show, there are little cut away scenes (called non-sequiturs) whenever someone has a memory of a past event...but these are interactive, and can bring you benefits if you pass the non-sequitur sequences.

BOTTOM LINE: This game kinda hovers on funny, but doesn't always deliver. Your actual mileage may vary.


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VIDEOGAME: DESTROY ALL HUMANS 2
DEVELOPER: PANDEMIC
PUBLISHER: THQ
SYSTEMS: PLAYSTATION 2
RATING: T (TEEN for CRUDE HUMOR, SEXUAL THEMES, STRONG LANGUAGE, VIOLENCE)
NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 1 or 2

Graphics: 4.5/5
Sound: 5/5
Control: 3.5/5
Story: 5/5
Endorphin Factor: 5/5
Frustration Factor: 3/5

Scoring system:
Average: 4.3/5

GAMES IT COULD BE COMPARED TO: DESTROY ALL HUMANS, GRAND THEFT AUTO

DETAILS: Cryptosporidium, that smart-alecky, not always bright Furon with the Jack Nicholson-esque voice is back for another wacky adventure of murder, mayhem, and all out carnage. Having been the President of the US for ten years (starting in the 50's), Crypto discovers that his mother ship has been destroyed by the Soviets. His overlord, Orthopox (or just Pox) has survived as a hologram which gives (often acerbic) advice to the stranded alien. Fortunately (after a little repair work) you still have your flying saucer. To unlock other landing zones, you have to find statues of your god, Arkvoodle, who usually lays out very simple tasks for you to appease him. The game world is immense, and you must make your way around it, zapping, abducting, or mind controlling various humans to accomplish your ends. I've gotten some really good laughs out of this game...much what I'd expect from a DAH game. Oh, and this time, it's set in the swingin' sixties....so flower children and squares abound.

BOTTOM LINE: Of the four games I've reviewed, this one's probably been the most fun. If you liked Destroy All Humans, you'll love this game.

VIDEOGAME: JUSTICE LEAGUE HEROES
DEVELOPER: SNOWBLIND STUDIOS
PUBLISHER: WARNER BROS. GAMES
SYSTEMS: PLAYSTATION 2, XBOX, PLAYSTATION PORTABLE (PLAYSTATION 2 VERSION REVIEWED)
RATING: T (TEEN for FANTASY VIOLENCE and MILD LANGUAGE)
NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 1 or 2

Graphics: 4.5/5
Sound: 5/5
Control: 4.5/5
Story: 4/5
Endorphin Factor: 3.5 /5
Frustration Factor: 4.5 /5

Scoring system:
Average: 4.3 /5

GAMES IT COULD BE COMPARED TO: BALDUR'S GATE, CHAMPIONS OF NORRATH

DETAILS: Snowblind has cranked out a pretty good game here. You get to play as the world's mightiest heroes (at least as far as DC comics are concerned), Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, The Flash, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, Zatanna (and supposedly some unlockable heroes as well).

The game plays a lot like Baldur's Gate, or Champions of Norrath in that it is an isomeric 3D perspective that you go walking, or flying through in various corridors, streets, what not, and you beat up on bad guys with either brute force, your superpowers, or a combination of both. You and a partner (either A.I., or a human partner in 2 player mode) go on your quest to protect the Earth from evil alien invaders.

Graphically, the game is very nice. The characters look pretty much like their DC comics representations, and the voice acting is also quite good. You do get a sense of power as you unleash each character's various super abilities. You can exhaust your powers quickly, but they restore very quickly. Perhaps the only problem I have so far is that Superman can be all too easilly taken down by lasers, punches, explosions, etc. (Perhaps they are all kryptonite laden.)

So far, my favorite character to use is Zatanna, because she can heal herself and her partner, and she also has a power to turn (gradually) multiple enemies into harmless bunny rabbits for a time, so that your affected enemies' health and stats are considerably reduced, allowing you to defeat them almost effortlessly.

Each character has a host of powers, but only start out with two or three. Powers are increased RPG style. As your character receives experience for destroying each enemy, eventually your character levels up. It is then you can increase either the number of powers you have, or increase the effectiveness of the powers you already possess.

Powers and abilities are enhanced by applying points to your skills. The more points you apply to a given power, the more enhancement "boosts" you can give it, thus increasing that power's effectiveness. The powers are also modular, in that you can switch out current "boosts" for each power with others. This allows the character a great deal of flexibility when using your super powers.

I've only played through the first couple of levels, and like Champions or Baldur's Gate, I've really enjoyed this game. I am anxious to see what all characters are unlockable. I will also be picking up the PSP version of this game, because it will have Supergirl as an unlockable. (I just love controlling hot chicks in videogames. :D)

Control is very responsive, and does not take long to figure out at all. In no time, you will be fighting like a real superhero.

BOTTOM LINE: If you are a fan of these DC heroes, you cannot go wrong with this game. Baldur's Gate and Champions of Norrath fans will find much familiarity in the mechanics of Justice League Heroes.

VIDEOGAME: STAR TREK: ENCOUNTERS
DEVELOPER: 4J STUDIOS
PUBLISHER: BETHESDA SOFTWORKS
SYSTEMS: SONY PLAYSTATION 2
RATING: E (EVERYONE) MILD BLOOD (???) MILD FANTASY VIOLENCE
NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 1 OR 2

Graphics: 3/5
Sound: 4/5
Control: 4/5
Story: 3/5
Endorphin Factor: 2.5/5
Frustration Factor: 3/5

Scoring system:
Average: 3.25/5

GAMES IT COULD BE COMPARED TO: N/A

DETAILS: Well, I'll say this for Star Trek: Encounters....it certainly is unique. 4J Studios and Bethesda Softworks (the latter which is responsible for the hit game Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, and creator of the upcoming Star Trek: Legacy) have cranked out a game that is fairly fun to play. It is exactly what the box says: an arcade style starship shoot 'em up.

This game came out fairly low under the radar, which is to say, there really wasn't much advanced publicity, or even advance previews for this particular game. I think Bethesda released it as a sort of short stopgap game for those waiting on Star Trek: Legacy (which looks to be much more in-depth and refined).

The graphics in this game are hit and miss. The backgrounds are stunnnigly beautiful, especially when flying through nebulae. But the ships? Well, in model viewer mode, the ships can be much more appreciated, but they still look rather simplistic...I think we could've gotten a bit more detail out of them on the PS2. In the actual game, you can't really appreciate the designs of the ships that much because when you are moving around and shooting, your ship and the enemy ships are fairly small. Phasers, photon torpedoes, and explosions in this game really rock though.

Control wise, this game is fairly intuitive, and it should be if it is an arcade shoot 'em up. Of course, one never knew that the Constitution class Enterprise was so maneuverable. The control is non-configurable, but it doesn't really need custom configuration because the layout is very conducive to this game's style. It still takes a little getting used to when cycling through the secondary weapons and trying to remember what certain icons represent, so you know you've got the right weapon or system for the job. I don't always like pausing the game just to try and see if I can look up what an icon represents. At least "tractor beam" is straight forward because it simply says: TRACTOR. When maneuvering your ship, sometimes you have to use the "sensor slice" which is controlled by the right analog stick. Sometimes it gets downright tiring when you have to press the right stick in a direction for so long....the sensors kick off once you release the stick...and sometimes, you have to hold the sensors on, otherwise you might run into mines and such. Also, if you score a lock on an enemy vessel, the more damage your weapons will do. And, in some cases, if you lock on long enough, you can cycle through enemy subsystems...this comes in handy if you have to disable a ship, or beam an away team over.

The gameplay in this shoot 'em up varies quickly. One second, you might be blasting a dozen Klingon Birds of Prey out of the stars, the next, you might be having to beam an away team over to either salvage a captured ship, or sabotage an enemy base. Along the way, you can find Star Fleet emblems which represent character cards. For each character card you pick up in the single player EPISODE game, your ship gets upgraded with a 20% boost in whatever subsystem the character might specialize in. (However, I did not know that Dr.McCoy was an engineering expert, as his card reduces incoming damage to your ship by 20%). Also, in traditional, fast-paced arcade action, you have powerups you can pick up to enhance your weapons, recharge your energy, replenish your ammo, or other such things. These powerups come especially handy in the multiplayer modes, of which there are three, under a game called SKIRMISH.

You have Head-To-Head, which is just you and a single enemy vessel. You can set the number of frags, and the difficulty of your enemy vessel in 'bot (singleplayer) mode. It's a straight up deathmatch. The first to reach the set number of frags is the victor.

There is Battlefest, where you pick a list set of ships (numbering three from any faction), and you start with the least powerful ship. The object is to try and destroy all the enemy's list set before yours are. In the Federation set, you get the NX Class to start with, then the movie Constitution class, and finally, the Galaxy class. I used the Klingon set in this round, starting with a Bird of Prey. I ended up getting blasted there, and calling up the D7 (my personal favorite, but it got spawn killed-- I'll explain that term in a moment), and I ended up having to go with the Vor'Cha class. I ended up defeating the enemy Fed ships. Now, the Vor'Cha class in the game looks nothing like the Vor'Cha class that most Trek geeks like myself know it to look like. However, it is a very powerful ship.

Then there is Onslaught. This is probably THE MOST arcadey mode in the whole of the game. You pick a ship. (I chose Constitution class). You try to see how many waves of enemy ships (ranging all the way from fighters to capital ships) you can destroy, and survive. You have three lives. Before I lost my first life, I had already scored 1,483,000 pts. On my second life, I reached 1, 700,000. I never did make it to 2,000,000 though, as I ended up getting swarmed by Cardassian Hideki class fighters, and Keldon class attack cruisers. Still, it was fun, especially when I'd grab a cool power up (like QUAD DAMAGE, or INVINCIBILITY), and lay the smackdown on several ships. It's also cool when you manage to get a lock on multiple ships, and watch your phasers go to work.

Sounds in this game range from genuine Star Trek to genuinely WTF! Phasers sound like those from Star Trek The Next Generation, as do the photon torpedoes. Klingon disruptor cannons on the other hand sound more like machine guns than energy weapons. The music is beautiful, and William Shatner provides the voice work as the instructor in this game.

There are a couple of liberties taken with canon in this game. For starters, I didn't know a Constitution class could defeat a Romulan Warbird. Go figure.

There are a variety of weapons in this game. Phasers, Disruptors, Photon Torpedoes, Pulse Cannons, Tractor Beams, Mines. Phasers are probably the best weapons, period. They have good dwell time, and do damage fairly quickly.

There's not really a compelling story in this game. Just a bunch of episodes broken up amidst the various eras (of which all of them are here). You start out in Star Trek: Enterprise, then Classic Star Trek (movie era), Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager, and finally Star Trek: Sovereign (which deals with the Sovereign class Enterprise).

BOTTOM LINE: As stated, this is exactly what the box says: an arcade style shoot 'em up. If you like action in your Star Trek, this game might well fit your bill. It is budget priced (I got mine for 15 bucks at Best Buy), and I frankly am glad I only paid that much for this new game. I don't think a game of this type really warrants a 50 dollar price tag.

VIDEOGAME: TEKKEN:DARK RESURRECTION
DEVELOPER: NAMCO/BANDAI GAMES INC.
PUBLISHER: NAMCO BANDAI GAMES AMERICA
SYSTEMS: SONY PSP
RATING: T (TEEN for Crude Humor, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, --oh, and Violence)
NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 1 (WiFi Ad-Hoc--2 players. Infrastructure for Content Download and Upload only.)

Graphics: 5/5
Sound: 5/5
Control: 5/5
Story: 5/5
Endorphin Factor: 5/5
Frustration Factor: 4/5

Scoring system:
Average: 4.85 /5

GAMES IT COULD BE COMPARED TO: TEKKEN 5, DEAD OR ALIVE, VIRTUA FIGHTER SERIES,

DETAILS: OMG! Those were pretty much the first words going through my mind when I fired this powerhouse of a game up on the little Sony Playstation Portable. This is a sheer beauty to play and watch. Everything from the graphics engine to the sound and control is arcade perfect it would seem. At least, this game looks every bit as good as its Playstation 2 brother, but this game has a lot more features than Tekken 5. Dark Resurrection was released into arcades recently, and now has been exclusively released on the PSP...and does it deliver!

The control scheme is even easily translatable from the PS2's control scheme. Vets at this game will have NO trouble adapting.

Another nice thing about this game (which is an exception compared to the other PSP titles out there), MINIMAL LOADING TIME. That's right, just like it's console brother, Tekken Dark Resurrection keeps the load time to a minimum, and the action to a maximum. Now if only other PSP titles could do the same.

Fighting games have been made before for handheld systems, but none (to my recollection) that were 3D. Tekken Dark Resurrection is the first, and it's already set a high mark of excellence....and can even qualify as one of the better fighters out there, period, regardless of which system you might play fighting games on.

BOTTOM LINE: This game is a must have in your PSP collection. It just proves the power of the PSP as a formidable platform in its own right.

VIDEOGAME: DEAD OR ALIVE 4
DEVELOPER: TEAM NINJA
PUBLISHER: TECMO
SYSTEMS: XBOX 360
RATING: M (MATURE FOR-- BLOOD, VIOLENCE, SEXUAL THEMES, PARTIAL NUDITY)
NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 1-2 on system, Co-op 2 player mode on system, Online multiplayer 2-16, Co-op 2.

Graphics: 5/5
Sound: 5/5
Control: 1.5/5
Story: 2/5
Endorphin Factor: 3/5
Frustration Factor: 0.5/5

Scoring system:
Average: 2.8/5

GAMES IT COULD BE COMPARED TO: DEAD OR ALIVE SERIES, TEKKEN SERIES, VIRTUA FIGHTER SERIES

DETAILS: I don't know why I take any interest in the Dead or Alive series of games beyond the fact that it has some damn gorgeous female polygonal models, and some of the most beautiful fighting environments I've ever seen. This game is the epitome of what I hate in some 3D fighting games. It is a button masher. Nothing more. There is little to no strategy, and the computer, even on easy mode, always seems to be 10 steps ahead of you when you attempt to make a move.

The fighting models look great, and the women are indeed beautiful. The environments are highly detailed, and multileveled, so there are plenty of things to break. However, I do not like the idea of being juggled (a term for being pinned against a barrier in the fighting level, and getting repeatedly hit and kicked, without being able to defend yourself.

The controls are total B.S. Too many times, it seems like the controls don't even respond, which of course opens up a whole slew of opportunities for your computer opponent to juggle you to death, counter any move you might successfully type in, and just flat out make you want to pull your hair out of your head.

Which leads to an even greater frustration factor. I mean, this game jumps from relatively easy opponents, to one's who can cheese you everytime with out fail.

Rumble Roses XX has just as much in the way of beautiful women and cool environments (in fact, it's an all female wrestling game), and the controls actually work. Of course, it's made by a different company I believe.

BOTTOM LINE: If you like to punish yourself, get this game.

VIDEOGAME: JAWS UNLEASHED
DEVELOPER: APPALOOSA INTERACTIVE
PUBLISHER: MAJESCO ENTERTAINMENT /UNIVERSAL
SYSTEMS: PS2
RATING: MATURE (M for Strong Violence, Blood and Gore)
NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 1

Graphics: 4 /5
Sound: 4.5 /5
Control: 3.5 /5
Story: 4 /5
Endorphin Factor: 4 /5
Frustration Factor: 2.5 /5

Scoring system:
Average: 3.75 /5

GAMES IT COULD BE COMPARED TO: GRAND THEFT AUTO (If you were a shark), ALIENS VS. PREDATOR (If you were a shark)

DETAILS: If I were a shark, especially a Great White shark, I would probably think the world my oyster. (Preferably a gigantic oyster with lots of oystery goodness.)

But, I am not a shark, so I shall have to content myself once more with the world of make believe, and take it out in the videogame realm.

If you also possess that fishy, predatory instinct, then perhaps Jaws Unleashed might be your fix.

Yes, you play the star of the show itself..the titular role...that menace of Amity....JAWS.

However, I think sharks have easier efforts in self-control than this game allows. Sharks do NOT maneuver like one would imagine in a 3D underwater realm. This Great White doesn't always turn on a dime, but damn do he have some power behind his fins. Needless to say, the control is far from perfect, but is servicable.

So, what does one do as the title character? Save the girl? Fend off alien menaces? Solve puzzles? Well, only one of the three guesses is even partially correct. If you said: "Solve puzzles", you would be somewhere in the ball park. Yes, there are some puzzles that a shark must figure out to regain its freedom, or get to the next passage.

Otherwise, you do as JAWS himself did in the film....go after whatever looks good on the menu, which includes other fish, other sharks, seals, hapless swimmers, etc. Oh, and you also get to wreak havoc and mayhem on the peaceful tourist town of Amity while you're at it. Not only do you get to eat yummy critters and landlubbers (ok...swimmers, and those you may just happen to knock off a boat or pier...those count as swimmers? Don't they?), but you get to destroy stuff. Boats, piers, cages, eat license plates and other such sea junk...just like the ol' boy did back in the seventies.

And when you take your first bite of human....he/she isn't just mercifully disappeared from the game's map. Oh, no. You leave blood, and body parts behind. (arms, legs, torsos and heads) drifting in your wake.

But life as a shark ain't exactly an oyster full o' pearls either. You have to constantly feed...why? Because you are constantly hungry. And for Jaws, hunger equals danger....and death if you don't see to your consumption of mass quantities.

Ok...now for the good stuff. Graphically, this game is alright...yes you do get a feel for swimming about large bodies of water, and it is a target rich environment when it comes to food. Jaws himself looks pretty convincing, but your victims kinda lack detail. Then again, I guess it isn't really necessary since the average lifespan of a victim in this game is....well....start ticking AFTER Jaws has spotted 'em. :D

Sound. John Williams' score is in this game. Beautiful music. There's even something rather satisfying about the gurgling sounds of struggling humans trying to escape your ponderous maw...whether from a distance, or whether they're already in your mouth. On the bad side of things however, the spoken dialogue of the victims to be is rather repetitive. "GET OUTTA THE WATER!" "WE'RE NEVER GONNA MAKE IT!". Over and over and over....ok...we get the point...you're doomed...you don't need to announce it to the whole world...I have a mouth to feed, dammit.

Sometimes, you can get stuck on a texture in the game, and thus have to wiggle your way out. That's where the frustration factor kinda kicks in. Dammit, a shark pisses where it pleases, and doesn't have to worry about getting stuck, so why should I?!

And yes, sometimes bumping into too many solid things (no matter how destructible they might be) is hazardous to your health. When your health gets low, just go after more food/victims.

You can even pull off some of the great stuff Jaws did in the films. Sneak up under a hapless swimmer and pull him/her under, and drag the victim along the surface. (Remember that poor girl in the first movie? She wasn't surfing of her own accord.) You can also tail whip, body bomb, and stealth along, although the controls take a slight bit of getting used to.


BOTTOM LINE: Not going anywhere for a while? Gotta feed that need? Grab yourself a Jaws Unleashed, and make a little bit of merry mayhem. The people of Amity will thank you for it. No, really. They will.

VIDEOGAME: LARA CROFT: TOMB RAIDER- LEGEND
DEVELOPER: CRYSTAL DYNAMICS
PUBLISHER: EIDOS
SYSTEMS: PLAYSTATION PORTABLE
RATING: T (Teen for Blood, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence)
NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 1 (or 2 via Ad Hoc WiFi mode)

Graphics: 5/5
Sound: 5/5
Control: 4.5/5
Story: 5/5
Endorphin Factor: 4.5/5
Frustration Factor: 4/5

Scoring system:
Average: 4.7/5

GAMES IT COULD BE COMPARED TO: PS2 version of LARA CROFT: TOMB RAIDER -LEGEND

DETAILS: Lovely Lady Lara Croft has made appearances on portable platforms before. Game Boy Color (which kinda limits her adventures to 2D sidescrolling action), and even the Nokia N-Gage, which supposedly did a good job of somewhat recreating the Playstation One experience of playing the first Tomb Raider game from the 90's.

Throw 'em all away. Lara has finally arrived in true form on a portable system, and that system is the powerful Playstation Portable. Although the graphics are diminished on this port as compared to the PS2 version, they are only SLIGHTLY diminished. Lara and her environments and enemies look GREAT on this little system that can. The reason I gave the graphics full marks on this is because if you've never played the console versions before, you would be simply blown away at how gorgeous the graphics are on the PSP.

And like in the other console versions, have Lara take a dip...her clothes look wet for a short time, and her skin glistens. It's simply beautiful.
Of course, unlike the PS2 version, you don't see water dripping off her when she comes out of the water..but that's forgivable. It's the same with the Xbox 360 version.

Sound is perfect...and you oughtta hear it through the special "sound rocker" seat that I bought a week ago. Turn up the subwoofer, and BOOM!

Control is pretty intuitive, and actually, if you've played the console version, you will have little to no trouble adapting to the PSP's control scheme, which (despite only having one analog stick) still makes the best use of the available buttons. The camera is pretty good too, and you can correct it to behind your character with a touch of the L button...or you can free look with a combination of holding down the Square button, and moving the analog stick.

Even a lot of her special maneuvers I was able to easily adapt to. Hell, I guessed how to do a swan dive without even requiring instruction from the onscreen prompts. Same with her aerial assault maneuvers. That's just how intuitive the controls are.

I've only played a small portion of this game, but I've played enough to know that this is a damn near-perfect port of an awesome console title.

The reason I've said that the frustration factor is not so bad is because I've played the console version to completion before, so I pretty much know what to expect. Your actual mileage may vary depending on your own past experiences with Tomb Raider Legend on other consoles.

Also for the first time on ANY version of the Tomb Raider series, there is a multiplayer mode. Two players can go head to head in three different game modes, but I have yet to try them out to see how they work. And since it is Ad Hoc, that means I'll have to find another local player with a copy of this game to play in the same room. No Infrastructure (Online) mode was programmed. But still, this is a FIRST for the Tomb Raider series, and I am impressed that it was implemented on a portable system as opposed to a console. I think it lends itself to this platform.

BOTTOM LINE: If you've played the console versions of Tomb Raider Legend, there really isn't a pressing need to play or own this version, unless you simply wish to see just how powerful the Playstation Portable really is, or if, like myself, you like your Lara Croft fix on the go as well. If that's the case, then you cannot go wrong with the portable version of this powerhouse title.

VIDEOGAME: STAR WARS BATTLEFRONT II
DEVELOPER: PANDEMIC/SAVAGE
PUBLISHER: LUCASARTS
SYSTEMS: PSP
RATING: (T) TEEN- for Violence

Graphics: 4.5/5
Sound: 5/5
Control: 3.5/5
Story: N/A
Endorphin Factor: 3/5
Frustration Factor: 4/5

Scoring system:
Average: 4/5

GAMES IT COULD BE COMPARED TO: STAR WARS BATTLEFRONT II (PS2)

DETAILS: Looks like this is a damn good portover of Battlefront II to the handheld realm. Graphically, the reason I gave it perfection is because it is every bit as good as its PS2 based brother. It doesn't flow quite as smoothly as the console version, but it is fast paced enough to not disinterest the player. Starships and fighters look nice on this game, although it is lacking the engine glow found in its console brother. Sound is of course spot on Star Wars quality (sans voices this time except for Wookie growls, Jawa and Ewok squeals, and Gungan whoots.) John Williams' score is beautifully captured on this. (And why not? Essentially a UMD is a miniature DVD anyway.)

Control takes a slight bit more getting used to, seeing as they try to compress the control flexibility of two analog sticks, a d-pad, and 12 buttons on the console down to a single analog stick, a d-pad, and 8 buttons....but it doesn't take too long...and it handles quite nicely.

Although it lacks the story mode of its console based counterpart, Battlefront II on PSP rocks in just about every other area. It also has the hunt mode, just like the console version, where you can hunt down Wookiees, Ewoks, Gungans, Jawas, and others. You start with Gungans (easilly slaughtered), then onto Jawas, and then Ewoks (when you keep hearing their battle cries, you are REALLY pressed to just wanna kill the little furballs.) Wookiees are tough kills, and I don't think I've gotten past them yet.

All the other requisite modes are here. Capture the Flag, Control Points, Conquest. It's all good fun.

Multiplayer is accomplished only in Ad-Hoc (WiFi LAN) mode. There is no online option for this game. Also, you can only take on up to three of your friends, but still, for a hand held version, this would make a nice time-killer.

The level designs are fracking HUMONGOUS. I fought aboard Princess Leia's ship, the Tantive IV, and it is every bit as massive and detailed as the console arena version. (Too bad there's not a Death Star level on here.)

Space combat is fun, although when bombing enemy ships, you can basically dive toward a critical target at an angle, bomb it, pull up at about 45 degrees, do a 180 turn via control combo, and bomb the target from the other direction. Lather, rinse, repeat. Starfighter combat seems to go quite nicely. And it is all done from first person, as opposed to third person on the consoles. You have a large variety of ships to pick from on each side...and they all have special characteristics.

Nothing in this game is token. Every character and ship type serves a purpose.

Frustration factor is not too bad either. And the Endorphin factor is alright. You might not feel quite as enthralled in this as you would in the console version, but your attention will be well kept by the frantic action in the game.

BOTTOM LINE: Definitely a near perfect port-over from the console versions, and you can not go wrong with a killer Star Wars app like this on the go.

Respectfully,
Martok2112

VIDEOGAME: STAR WARS BATTLEFRONT II
DEVELOPER: PANDEMIC STUDIOS
PUBLISHER: LUCASARTS
SYSTEMS: PS2, XBOX, PSP, PC (this review based on PS2 version)
RATING: (T) TEEN- for Violence and Mild Language

Graphics: 3.5/6
Sound: 5/6
Control: 4/6
Story: 6/6
Endorphin Factor: 4/6
Frustration Factor: 3/6

Scoring system:
Average: 4.25

GAMES IT COULD BE COMPARED TO: STAR WARS BATTLEFRONT, STAR WARS JEDI KNIGHT SERIES, UNREAL TOURNAMENT

DETAILS: Well, the boys and girls at Pandemic Studios have done it again, and given us a game worthy of the name Star Wars. This game is a blast to play. So far, the review is based on the Story mode in the game (called Rise of the Empire), in which you play a member of the 501st Clone Trooper Regiment (which is a namesake for a large fangroup known as the 501st--many of whom have their own stormtrooper and Vader, and other Imperial regalia and costumes). The story starts out with you playing around the time of Palpatine's Executive Order 66. Temuera Morrison reprises not only his role as a Clone Trooper, but also Boba Fett, and plays a couple of other characters. The story plays out quite interestingly, as you hear the retired Clone Trooper recount not only the days leading up to the Rise of the Empire, but you hear some small regrets in the trooper as he had to carry out Order 66.

And the cool thing is, the story doesn't stop with the just the creation of the Empire, but so far it seems to carry right over into the original trilogy, as you switch from being the 501st Clone Trooper Regiment, to being the 501st Imperial Strike Regiment, or Vader's Fist. There is even some cross generational combat, seeing Imperial Stormtroopers take on their old enemies, the Trade Federation and the CIS. I am anxious to see if I get to take part in the assault on Hoth, or in the boarding of Princess Leia's Tantive IV. Lots of historical moments in this game.

Visually, the game is a lot like a beefed up version of Unreal Tournament (sans blood and gibs) and even plays similarly to it. The new story mode is actually somewhat mission based, so you get a sense of accomplishment as you progress. The variety of characters you can use to play the game is also greater than the original Battlefront. You are also awarded more advanced weapons, or other bonuses if you accomplish so many kills, or score so many points with one life usage. My favorite Imperial trooper to use right now is the Clone/Imperial Engineer. Why? 'Cause he gotsa SHOTGUN (called a Flechette Launcher.) However, the game has more of a similarity to Halo 2 in that you only carry a couple of weapons per character (in addition to maybe thermal detonators, detpacks, or whatever your character specializes in.) So, if you use the Heavy Trooper, he carries a Rocket Launcher, and a blaster pistol. Scout troopers have sniper lasers, and blaster pistols. And don't just think that these are token characters to play for the sake of variety. They all actually serve a purpose. For example, the Engineer can fix damaged/destroyed ammo and health droids, carries extra ammo and health for other troopers (or himself if the player's greedy), and also apparently can hack into other stuff. The pilot is capable of keeping his fighter in flight (gradual repairs) as his ship takes damage. The scout is a sniper specialist. And so on. In this story mode, you play the Republic cum Empire...but in other areas of the game, you can play Rebels/ Trade Federation or Clones/Empire.

Starfighter combat is also very nicely done, with a variety of ships to use, each having their own specialties as well. Bombers aren't near as maneuverable as fighters, but can inflict much more damage on capital ship shields and hulls. And the nice thing is, in some space missions, you can hop into a fighter, fly over to the other capital ship, and jump back into foot combat....seamlessly.
It's not quite X Wing Alliance, or X Wing Vs TIE Fighter, but it holds its own quite well.

Sound is of course always Star Wars perfect. John Williams' score sets the mood for this game, as it does for all the other Star Wars games.

There are a few "Holy Frak" moments in the game...and sometimes, you find yourself saying "OOOH...I love this weapon!"

Once you get used to the controls (customizable, thank God), the game is pretty much a snap to play. The levels in story mode are actually quite short, but LOADED with action goodness. You can set the viewpoint to third person, or my preferrence of first person. (Starfighers and Jedi usage are third person only.)

Oh, did I mention Jedi? Yes, after doing so well on certain missions, you are given the option to become a Jedi hero/Sith villain. You only have a limited time to use these powerful characters, but the more damage you do to the enemy, that time increases some.

The frustration factor is actually quite balanced in this game. If you get killed, you can select your respawn point (as long as you control that point), and can change your character. You can also kill off the character you are currently using to change into another character type in the middle of battle (again, starting from a selected respawn point.)

The downside to this game is mostly in the load times between levels, but the action in the game play more than makes up for it. I have yet to try multiplayer online, but if it is anything like the original Battlefront, then this game will kick some bantha booty. It is loaded with a ton of gametypes, especially for multiplayer.

BOTTOM LINE: If you own a PS2, Xbox, PC (duh), and you picked up the movie Star Wars Episode III on DVD, you owe it to yourself to get this game. It truly feels like you are in the Star Wars universe, doing these epic deeds. And Xbox owners, if you have not picked up the game, but did get the movie, then you have a special treat, because the DVD movie comes with two complete levels of Battlefront II, playable on your Xbox.

VIDEOGAME: SOCOM FIRETEAM BRAVO
DEVELOPER: ZIPPER INTERACTIVE
PUBLISHER: SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA
SYSTEMS: PSP ONLY
RATING: M (MATURE for Violence)

Graphics: 4/5
Sound: 5/5
Control: 4.5/5
Story: 5/5
Endorphin Factor: 4/5
Frustration Factor: 4/5

Scoring system:
Average: 4.5/5

GAMES IT COULD BE COMPARED TO: SOCOM Series on PS2, STAR WARS BATTLEFRONT II

DETAILS: The SOCOM US NAVY SEALS series on PS2 is probably the ultimate military combat game for that system, and has one of the best multiplayer experiences ever. When I'd heard back before the PSP was supposed to be released that SOCOM was now going to come to a portable, I was intrigued. I thought, if they can take the complexity of the SOCOM series, and manage to format it so that it fit in this powerful little handheld entertainment system, I will be thoroughly impressed.

As it turns out, Zipper Interactive, creators of the three console based SOCOM games have succeeded wonderfully. Graphically and audibly, this game is EVERY BIT as good as its console based brethren. Even the particle effects like smoke and blood spray are magnificently done. Weapons fire is convincing, especially with earphones on.

I really have to give Zipper props on the control scheme. They have succeeded in taking most of the functions of the PS2 versions of the game, and squeezed them down from a dual shock controller which has two analog sticks, a D-pad, and 12 buttons to the PSP's humble single analog stick, d-pad, and 8 button configuration. About the only function I've seen missing thus far is "jump".

When moving, your character looks along a single plane...but if you wish to freelook, you can tap right on the d-pad, and your character now freelooks about the environment. If you wish to move in freelook mode, you need simply hold down the L shoulder button, and the character will move with the analog stick, and continue to look in the last place you aimed. There is also a nice "target lock" feature with the R shoulder button. When hostiles are visible (and in range) holding this button down will allow you to lock onto a target. Many of the buttons in this game serve a dual purpose. Tapping a certain button might do one action, while holding it down may do another.

Sniping is a snap. If an enemy is close enough, lock onto him with R, and then zoom in with up on the D-pad, and go for a headshot. Actually, if the enemy is close enough, the lock on is almost always a headshot by default. Changing stances with the Triangle button increases your stability when firing if you go to a prone position.

There are context sensitive actions you can have your onscreen teammate perform when you reach certain objectives. You can have him clear a building, place a charge, kill a specific target, and other things whenever the context action caption pops up.

I do have to say...right now, I am playing the game in Ensign (easy) mode (higher difficulties are Commander, and Admiral), and most of the enemies in this difficulty mode are aparently as (to quote Peter Preston in the Wrath of Khan) "blind as a Tiberian Bat", and about as deaf as a dead man...which is what the target will become if you sneak up on him for a CQB (Close Quarters Battle) kill, which is accomplished by knife (if you come up from behind), or rifle butt if he catches you approaching from the side.

The story is the same, real-world oriented stuff we've seen in previous SOCOMs. And the cutscenes are excellent...done with the same meticulousness as SOCOM 3, right down to foreign languages.

This game also features Ad-hoc (LAN) for 1-10 players via Wi-Fi and Infrastructure (Online) multiplayer modes for 1-16 players. There is an optional headset that you can buy so you can voice chat with your teammates during battle (and apparently on three different channels.) I have yet to try multiplayer in any form on this, but so far, it looks like multiplayer will be a blast. Unlike the console versions, where you can use your headset to command your other teammates in single-player mode as well as use it for multiplayer chat, this game uses the headset ONLY in multiplayer.

Also another function that is apparently used with certain missions is a "crosstalk" function, which works with SOCOM 3 US NAVY SEALS. By connecting this game to a PS2 via USB 5 pin to USB A cable, the data that is stored on both games actually affects certain aspects of the other game. You might do something in SOCOM FTB that will affect how a mission is played out on SOCOM 3, and vice versa. Or you might unlock weapons, maps, characters, or other goodies in either game.
Very nice.

BOTTOM LINE: Zipper Interactive seems to have another big (little) hit on their hands with this latest offering that holds up to its console brethren without breaking a sweat, and more than that, this game really shows the versatility (and future applications) of just what the PSP will be capable of. Way to go, Zipper!

Respectfully,
Martok2112

VIDEOGAME: SOCOM 3: US NAVY SEALS
DEVELOPER: ZIPPER INTERACTIVE
PUBLISHER: SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA
SYSTEMS: PS2
RATING: M (Mature) for Blood and Violence

Graphics: 3/5
Sound: 5/5
Control: 4/5
Story: 5/5
Endorphin Factor: 4/5
Frustration Factor: 4/5

Scoring system:
Average: 4/5

GAMES IT COULD BE COMPARED TO: SOCOM and SOCOM 2, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six

DETAILS: This is a preliminary review, and I've got to say that SOCOM 3 has thus far scored serious points in a major way. With prior SOCOM installments, if you fracked up a mission, or ended up dead..dead..dead..you had to start the mission from scratch. With SOCOM 3, a checkpoint system has been implemented, so that if you frack up a mission element, or end up dead...dead..dead...you can restart from your last checkpoint. However, if you still long for the realism of doing the whole mission over, that option is available. With the implementation of checkpoints though, the frustration factor eases off considerably. (Ever spend 45 minutes on a mission from the start, and all is going smoothly, until one little faux pas costs you a vital mission objective? Or worse, your life? And then yo think: "FRAK, now I have to start the whole mission over!!!") Those days seem to be gone with SOCOM 3.

Graphically, the game is marginally better than previous SOCOMs. I think the game actually sacrifices some graphical power in order for the game play to be spot on. Having the opportunity to consult with Navy Seals, Zipper Interactive always manages to deliver powerhouse performances, wrapped in taut stories of potential real-world scenarios.

Sounds. The game is perfection with sounds. No sensationalist gun blasts, or explosions like in the Rambo movies. Things go BANG quickly and sweetly. The dialogue and voice acting are also very convincing. Jester, with his Southern drawl, has the funniest voice in the game. And the use of the Arabic, African, and other foreign languages is beautiful, and adds to the realism.

The use of vehicles takes a little getting used to, as does the voice command. Sometimes, it just doesn't seem like your team always wants to listen. Of course, if you tell the team to hold fire, and they are already in hold fire status, you get a quizzical, and sometimes (respectfully) sardonic response. "Respectfully, sir, but, what the hell are you talking about?!"

Weapons configuration is much more in depth with SOCOM 3. For example, if you pick the SR-25 sniper rifle, you have the options to add on a bipod, your choice of scopes, and hopefully suppressors later in the game. You can outfit your entire unit uniformly, or individually by trooper.

Another nice touch to the game is visual waypoints this time. Instead of constantly having to consult the map (during first or second runthroughs) to determine where waypoint Able, Bravo, Charlie, India, etc are, you can now see the waypoints appear (with distance in meters) on your screen, so you always know in which direction to go.

There is still the sweet effect of shooting through two bodies if you have them both lined up in your sniper scope. That is just a priceless moment right there. The game has plenty of "Holy Frak" factor to it, especially when you pull of slick moves like the double kill with a single sniper round.

I am anxious (after a bit more practice) to see how vehicles figure into the multiplayer game. SOCOM 3 also supports up to 32 players online....a sharp rise from 8 players with SOCOM, and 16 players with SOCOM 2. I bet the online games are frantic. You also have the respawn options so that your SOCOM games have more of the traditional deathmatch feel.



BOTTOM LINE: If you are a fan of the SOCOM series, this game will not disappoint. Some new aspects take a little getting used to, but with minimal training, you oughtta be anti-terrorizing like a pro in no time. A must buy.

I will post a follow up later on when I've gotten through more of the game.

Respectfully,
Martok2112

VIDEOGAME: RESIDENT EVIL 4
DEVELOPER: CAPCOM
PUBLISHER: CAPCOM
SYSTEMS: PS2
RATING: (M) MATURE for: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language

Graphics: 5/5
Sound: 5/5
Control: 4.5/5
Story: 5/5
Endorphin Factor: 5/5
Frustration Factor: 4/5

Scoring system:
Average: 4.75/5

GAMES IT COULD BE COMPARED TO: RESIDENT EVIL 4 on GAMECUBE, GAMECUBE VERSIONS OF RESIDENT EVIL and RESIDENT EVIL Zero.

DETAILS: Capcom rolls out another hit in the Resident Evil series that actually seems to promise to revitalize it. This game is FRACKING BEAUTIFUL!!! You take up the role of Leon S. Kennedy, who was one of two main playable characters in Resident Evil 2 (PS1, Sega DreamCast, Nintendo 64, Nintendo GameCube). The other character was Claire Redfield (younger sister of Chris Redfield from Resident Evil and Resident Evil: Code Veronica. I hope we get another game with Claire (besides Code Veronica).

Anyhoo, Leon has moved onto bigger and better things since his one-day stint as a Racoon City police newbie in RE2. He is assigned to a Presidential Task Force, and his first mission is to find the President's missing daughter, Ashley. He happens upon a village in some Euro-Latino country, and it turns out that the villagers do not quite feel like giving him a warm welcome (unless its his own warm blood gushing out all over the place.) He starts out armed only with his standard issue automatic pistol, and it would seem that all weapons in this game are equipped either with laser sights, or deadly accurate scopes. He procures other weapons along the way, either by finding them in various buildings, or by purchasing them from a mysterious merchant who seems to have a lot of weaponry to offer. You also collect Pias (the currency of this country) along the way which allow you to buy these weapons off the merchant. The first thing you should buy is the treasure map, as it points out many valuable objects you can pick up to sell to the merchant, scoring even more money for weaponry, and weapons upgrades. Yes, in this game, you can actually upgrade your weapons (even moreso than what the rest of the RE series offerred before.)

The environment seems much more interactive, and it is shown from an over the shoulder view of Leon, or whichever character you control at certain points in the game. (Ada Wong, also a side character in RE2, appears again in this game, and apparently there is a five chapter mission that you can unlock for her after you beat this game with Leon.) You also have the ability to perform context sensitive actions when the correct button appears. For example, you might be able to walk up to a waist high fence, and the prompt appears, permitting you to jump the fence. Or jump out a window, or climb/throwdown a ladder, look, check, etc. There are still some barriers that you cannot cross (uber thick foliage, and the like) but the environment is still pretty much worth exploring. There are also sub-missions you can pick up along the way.

Graphically and soundwise, this game is sheer perfection. Having never seen the GameCube version before (which I understand is still slightly graphically superior to this version), I give this one full marks. The characters and environments are beautifully rendered. The sounds, which includes music, dialogue, gunshots, blood spatters, heads exploding, etc are the best of ANY RE game I've ever played. And whaddaya know, the voice actors really sound good in this game. (Although I did like the voice acting in RE2, RE Code Veronica, and the GameCube remakes of RE, and it's prequel RE:0.)

The controls are very intuitive, and although they're not quite what I am used to in a Resident Evil game, I can usually deal out some good firepower and zombie kicking.

It also seems to have other RPG'esque elements to it....such as being able to increase your maximum health through the use of herbal medicines. This game introduces the Yellow herb, which doesn't do anything on its own, but when combined with a green herb (or a green/red combo) increases your maximum health in addition to healing you.

You can also break open certain wooden boxes and barrels which may or may not hold some goodies, and/or a surprise or two. You can use your knife (always on hand) to bust these boxes/barrels open, but just be careful. That's all I'll say.

Sometimes when you kill the local villagers (who are NOT zombies, but they are possessed by some powerful drug which seems to make them willing killers of complete strangers) they will drop goodies like health herbs, ammunition, or even money.

I just got through my first boss fight, and that was interesting. (Veterans of the GameCube version of this game know of what I speak...but I'll spare any newbies from spoilers.)

The game restores the haunting essence of the Resident Evil series line, and even takes it over the edge. Very moody and atmospheric, and you are always wondering if there is an enemy around the next bend, or in the next room. Is your ammunition well stocked? How's your health?

If you've never played RE4 before, and have a PS2 or a GameCube, I recommend the PS2 version far over the original (since it seems to have come with a ton more bells and whistles than its GC brother.) I am glad that I held off until the PS2 version came out.

BOTTOM LINE: Resident Evil is back. And it's bigger, badder, and bloodier than ever. Why haven't you picked this masterpiece up yet?!! Git goin'! Git!! Git!!!

Respectfully,
Martok2112

VIDEOGAME: KILLZONE
DEVELOPER: GUERILLA GAMES
PUBLISHER:SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA
SYSTEMS:PS2
GENRE: FIRST PERSON SHOOTER
MULTIPLAYER: YES, ONLINE BROADBAND, or 2 PLAYER SPLIT SCREEN
Graphics: 3.5/5
Sound: 4/5
Control: 4/5
Story: 5/5
Endorphin Factor: 4/5
Frustration Factor: 3/5

Average: 4/5

GAMES IT COULD BE COMPARED TO: Halo, Red Faction

DETAILS: This game was hyped to be the Halo Killer, or at least the equivalent of Halo on Sony Playstation. Alas, I think the SOCOM: US NAVY SEALS title holds that honor. However, this game is very immersive, and has some very interesting environments to play in. The tightly written story of the game focuses on a future in Earth's history when a renegade faction (The Helghast) have split away from mother Earth to form their own colony....and after a time have decided to come back and conquer it. It falls on one Captain Templar of the ISA to recover vital information, to explain how the Helghast defeated Earth's orbital defenses to gain planetfall, and reveal a traitor in our midst. As the game progresses, he comes upon two other soldiers, and a Human/Helghast spy. Templar is a well rounded soldier, knowing how to operate all equipment with ease An honorable and noble warrior, he is quick to try and keep the peace in the motley squad he has assembled along the way. Rico is the ISA Squad specialist, whose prowess lies with very heavy and destructive weapons, and is not given to trusting people very quickly, especially Hehkha. Ruger is one tough lady who is a Shadow Marshall (fancy title for assassin) who specializes in stealth, sniping, and good ol' fashioned Black Op-ery. Apparently, she and Templar had a thing one time, and she tries to forget about it. Very pragmatic and mission focused, she is my favorite character to play. And then there's Hehkhar, the Human/Helghast hybrid spy who has been able to discern much about the Helghast organization, and reluctantly joins the team He has a very acerbic wit about him, when pressed by Rico. He can elude sensors, drones, and bypass mines. As the story goes on, there are very amusing moments between Rico and Hekha as they constantly antagonize each other. You really get to like these folks as the game progresses, and the story itself is worthy of at least a Direct to DVD movie on its own.

The graphics of this game are pretty good, although there is a lot of draw in from objects in the distance. It utilizes the tried and true fog system, somewhat similar to the Silent Hill (survival horror genre) series of games, although with a considerably longer field of visibility. However, in some cases, when you walk up to certain objects, or even characters, the details of the character might be blurry, and then all of a sudden snap into sharpness. This can be mildly distracting. I guess, in their efforts to make this game a true contender for HALO, Guerilla games tried to really push the processing power of the Playstation 2, and kinda fell short. In some reviews I've read, apparently there were also framerate issues, but I have yet to encounter them. Some of the characters' faces look alright, but Ruger (the femme fatale) is not really much to look at, especially up close. Her accent though is very sexy, and reminiscent of Lara Croft. (or Liz Hurley) The character is voiced by Jennifer Lawrence:D

The sound on this game is very good. Gunfire sounds unique enough between some weapons, although there isn't really anything to make you say: "HOLY FRACK, I LOVE THIS WEAPON!" The music is top notch, performed by The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus, and conducted by Adam Klemens. The music is very epic, right on big screen motion picture quality. I have yet to hear this game on a surround system, but the stereo mix on two speakers is effective enough. Played through headphones, the sound in this game really rocks, and makes it easier to locate enemy sounds and gunfire. The voice acting, for the most part, is top notch, although Rico (played by Tom Clarke Hill) sometimes sounds so cartoonishly tough, it's laughable. The game also features an impressive array of Hollywood actors for its voice cast. Brian Cox (X Men 2, Rob Roy, and Braveheart), Ronny Cox (Robocop, Total Recall), and Steven Berkoff (Rambo: First Blood 2, Beverly Hills Cop, Children of Dune).

Sometimes the levels are singular, but so frustrating that when you get to the end (after several frustrating replays) you think "Wait a minute! This level was pretty short, but damn! I had to go through all that, just to get to this level's end? SHEESH!" Other levels have checkpoints that you reach, because they are so mission focused that I am glad the developers chose NOT to make you start at the beginning of the entire level when you get killed.

Apparently (on normal mode) your fellow soldiers are immune to friendly and enemy fire, although they do bleed heavily when hit by weapons fire. This, I suppose, is to emphasize that every member of your team is expert enough and veteran enough in their respected fields that they are always by your side, and even help you take down a few bad guys...although sometimes their aim is about as expert as a TOS Cylon Centurion's. (And that ain't sayin' much.)

BOTTOM LINE: Not quite the Halo Killer, or even Halo Heir Apparent (more like Halo Heir Presumptive), but this game does hold its own as a fun entry into the massive First Person Shooter market. I'd recommend it for a buy, especially now that it has made Sony's Greatest Hits list, and is available for 20 bucks at Wal-Mart and other more dedicated video game stores.

VIDEOGAME: GRAND THEFT AUTO-LIBERTY CITY STORIES
DEVELOPER: ROCKSTAR
PUBLISHER: ROCKSTAR
SYSTEMS: PSP
RATING: (M) MATURE for: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Stong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs

Graphics: 4/5
Sound: 5/5
Control: 3.5/5
Story: 5/5
Endorphin Factor: 5/5
Frustration Factor: 2/5

Scoring system:
Average: 4/5

GAMES IT COULD BE COMPARED TO: GRAND THEFT AUTO III, GRAND THEFT AUTO VICE CITY

DETAILS: Rockstar has made a nice new story to go with very familiar territory from Grand Theft Auto III. You once again play Toni Cipriani, a thug who has returned to Liberty City, only to find that he has been handed off to a mob-world underling for whom he must reluctantly work.

Keep in mind that, as with all games I've reviewed, these reviews are from an early impression of the game....not based on a complete go round with it. I don't have that kind of time like professional game reviewers do....so take my reviews with a grain of salt.

Graphically, the game looks almost exactly like GTA III on PS2...and that is saying something too. The only reason I did not give the graphics a 5/5 this time like I gave Star Wars Battlefront II, is because the graphics on this game are more reminiscent of the older GTA III, whereas on the consoles, the GTA series has received some graphical tweaks and advances. But that does not take away from the enjoyment of this game.

Open endedness is the order of the day on this game. In between missions for Vincenzo (your underling mob boss), you can do all manner of mayhem. You can beat up on anyone you choose, and sometimes it pans out money for you, or it may result in a heap of trouble (either in the form of law enforcement pursuit, or fellow gangstas coming to snuff you out in the process.) You can jack a car. If it is a specialized vehicle like an amulance, or a taxi, or a police car, there are special side missions you can choose to accept.

There is even one point early on in the game where a car dealership says that they are looking for good car salesmen. You can go to the used car dealership (which isn't but a block and a half away from your digs, provided to you by Vincenzo) and try to sell cars to prospective customers. Each car you try to sell has a specific feature that the customer is interested in, and you do your best to show off that feature to the customer. If you succeed, you get some decent dinero for your trouble.

Various shops and services will open up throughout the game as you progress. AmmuNation, a gun and ammo store, provides you with your ordnancial needs....and as you progress, more and more effective weapons come available. The next weapon on my list (which has yet to come available) is the mini-Uzi.

Basically, if you've played GTA III heavily in the past, you should be able to make your way around Liberty City, with little problem. The story is brand new though, so you are not exactly playing a GTA III portdown.

Sounds on this game are exquisitely well done. You even have radio stations you can listen to while travelling by car, or motorcycle...with a variety of choices to pick from: pop rock, classical music, rap, reggae, the list goes on...and the DJ's of these stations are a riot to listen to. I have gotten many rip roaring laughs from listening to the classical station DJ...and the callers who dial in to give commentary. The music is not quite as extensive as it is on the console versions, and in fact, the only recognizable music I heard was in the classical station. There is plenty enough music to keep things from going stale anytime soon though.

Parents, be warned, this game is NOT for younglings. It has very strong language, and acts of violence, and other things you might want to shelter your children from. (See the ratings advisory above.)

Although I haven't done any stunts yet, I am sure that they will be worth pulling off when you reach the appropriate areas.

One can definitely get a rush out of this game with all the varying things you can do in the course of your adventures. Drive by's, carjackings, random acts of violence (which sometimes actually yields you a good citizen bonus if you nail the right people), hooker tricks, etc. I am amazed at how much freedom one is given on this handheld version. Simply amazed.

I have yet to try multiplayer to see how it pans out in the game. You can take on up to five other mob underlings with similarly equipped PSP's via Ad-Hoc (WiFi LAN mode) in the same room.

The controls in this game (as with any portdown of a console title) take a slight bit of getting used to, but in no time at all, will become second nature to you. (Advisory though. DO NOT play one version, and then the other within an immediate time frame of each other, as reacquainting yourself with different control schemes can be confusing.)

The frustration factor in this game is somewhat high...because as you think you're about too pull off the perfect mission, something very random could occur that fraks it all up. (I was just about to complete a sale on a fast car to a customer, and was on my way back to the dealership, when a random vehicle just dings me from outta nowhere, prompting the customer to say "I like it, but she's banged up." thus requiring you to make repairs...and if it occurs as the clock is winding down for you, you may as well just give up.)

BOTTOM LINE: If you need your Grand Theft Auto fix on the go...then Liberty City Stories is your medicine in a small plastic electronic box. Grab this up! You won't be disappointed.

Respectfully,
Martok2112

VIDEOGAME: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA
DEVELOPER: WARTHOG
PUBLISHER: VIVENDI/UNIVERSAL
SYSTEMS: PS2, XBOX
GENRE: SPACE ARCADE COMBAT
NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 1

Graphics: 4/5
Sound: 5/5
Control: 4/5
Story: 5/5
Endorphin Factor: 5/5
Frustration Factor: 2/5


Average: 4/5

GAMES IT COULD BE COMPARED TO: Colony Wars Series, Star Trek: Invasion, Star Wars Jedi Starfighter

DETAILS: There are those who believe in free will, and there are others who believe in destiny. That is the beginning of the opening narrative to this game which is, in every respect, worthy of the name it has been bestowed. The story (which as a result of some last minute mandates by Universal itself) is a mixture of the Classic Battlestar Galactica series from 1978, and the current ongoing series. Set 40 years before the events of the current series, players take the Viper seat in the person of Ensign William Adama, fresh out of the academy, and ready to prove his mettle to Commander Magus (the commander of the Galactica then). Also in Blue Wing is Lt. Cain. The game takes place during the Cylon war that is mentioned in the mini-series. However, the motif of the game as far as appearances, sounds, and overall effect is very much rooted in the classic series. (Although, like the new show, there are no centons, microns, yahrens, or daggits.)

This game flows smoothly with very lovingly crafted graphics, and framerates. Many of the ships in the game (as well as the robotic Cylons) seem to be based somewhat on the redesigns of Tom DeSanto's (prematurely axed) Galactica. The CGI cutscenes are sheer beauty, and a reminder of what could have been if the DeSanto project had been able to go forward. There truly are some big screen moments out of the CG renders, and the Big G has never looked better. The in-game engine is also very well done, and the capital ships are strikingly well detailed. (I enjoy taking my Viper in the first mission and just flying all around the Galactica.) To give you an example of the scale in this game, one can fly their Viper through trench-like structures in the Galactica's engine housing. I mean, the capital ships are fracking GINORMOUS. (Ok..perhaps using a size-related adjective that starts with GINO might not be such a good idea...but it fits.) They are huge! You truly feel like a tiny spec in the universe when you fly near and around these mamoth polygonal vessels of war. The Cylon basestars, just as big. My biggest beef is probably the redesign of the original Raider, which in the game looks more like a flat, flying banana. The Vipers themselves (there are four models) are really nice. You start with the Mark I, which is the basic Viper with smaller missile armaments, and original series laser sound FX. The Viper Mark II is an upgrade with a little bit more of everything. Then there's the Mark III, more powerful all around, but loses the original series sound FX in favor of something unrecognziable. The Strike Viper is the creme de la creme of the Vipers. Faster, more heavilly armed, and has the largest missile delivery of any of the previous Vipers, including fire and forget missiles. You also get to pilot a Cylon Raider (in the most boring mission in the game), and a Cobra-class Colonial bomber. Also, one gets to man the mighty guns of the Galactica in a couple of capital ship combat missions. In flying the ships, you have four points of view: Long range chase, close chase, cockpit, and first person view.

Sound-wise, this game captures Classic Battlestar Galactica almost perfectly. From the orchesynthesized arrangement of Stu Phillips' magnificent score, to the familiar laser sound FX of Vipers and Raiders, and turbo effects. The stereo effect is beautifully rendered. And the voice acting is top notch, and features a variety of talent. Robin Aitkin Downes (Babylon 5) is Ensign Adama. The delicious Kristanna Loken (the Terminatrix from T3) is Iphegenia, Adama's friend, and daughter of the Galactica's Commander. Dwight Schultz (A-Team, Star Trek: The Next Generation) is impressive as the voice of Lord Erebus, the Cylon Imperious Leader. The game also features the voices of original series cast members Richard (Apollo) Hatch, and Dirk (Starbuck) Benedict. Dirk starts out the game in the opening movie sequence as Capt. Lukas of Red Squadron, and Richard Hatch plays wingman Rylo. They perform these brief roles exsquisitely. (When you unlock the code to have Apollo and Starbuck as wingmen though, their voice acting kinda suffers. In their efforts to convey some sense of enthusiasm for revisiting these roles, they sound as if though they are reading straight from the script, and going through the motions.)

Control is a breeze. The setup may sound complicated, but becomes quite intuitive after just a few minutes of play. After a few minutes, it also becomes quite clear that missiles are the key to success, and high ratings throu