Review 1 : Gears of War PC

Ok. Obviously I played the 360 version beforehand. The very first time, I wasn't too impressed with the game mechanics. This occured just after playing Rainbow Six : Vegas where I was truly impressed at how easy it was to run for cover, get behind cover and aim from behind cover so I wasn't too sure about the whole " press X to get behind cover " thing...

...but I eventually got around that and truly started enjoying what a great game GOW is. And thankfully, that translated insanely well into PC. Granted, the PC version has some slowdown issues where the game seemed to freeze for about 1 or 2 seconds but that only occured ( at least on my system ) when entering new areas, as if the game sort of " preloads " the upcoming level in advance. That works well because I suffered no slowdowns DURING a heated firefight, where you want your system to be stable and not freeze while you're getting your arse handed to you or when trying to snipe a running target, for instance.

My PC can't run at optimal resolution for this game but regardless, the graphics were pretty damn comparable to the X360 version even at 1024x768 ! Gameplay is always more of a concern than graphics for me so the game looking so good ported to PC was an added bonus.

The game itself should define a new standard for straightforward no-holds-barred first-person shooters : the cinematic feel and atmosphere was captivating, the voice acting was intelligent and incredibly well done, the motion capture is just incredible and the general pacing of the game keeps you on your toes long enough not to get comfortable.

Marcus, Dom, Baird and " the Cole Train, baby ! " made me wanna be the fifth protagonist. An awesome ride.

/10

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Review 2 : Call Of Duty 4

I started playing that game yesterday so it's still very fresh in mind...and I honestly cannot stop thinking about it. This game is everything I loved about Battlefield 2 combined with new elements I cannot push aside.

I'm also running this game at the default settings so I have no idea what resolution it is at currently. Probably 1024x768 as well. All I know is that the gameplay is so awesome, I haven't cared to notice the graphics. There aren't enough such well done tactical shooters out there for me and this game just hits the spot.

Regardless of whatever rating Medal Of Honor : Airborne got, it redefined the genre for its simple " parachute anywhere and play then and there " ( which, for the record, despite reviews saying it was damn near impossible to drop where you wanted because you'll get killed almost instantly, I've done it countless times in MOH:A and in fact enjoyed the extra attention I was getting as I was sniping germans while being shot at by squads and tanks while lying in a spot where I wouldn't get hit. Yes people, surviving in games is based on hiding from your enemy...especially if they ALL saw you parachute on that rooftop ) mechanics. No, obviously you CAN'T attempt this in COD4 but my point is, it's incredibly immersive ( AND FUN ! ) to sprint through an open field where your squad is engaged with an enemy one and flank them going through houses and corridors and drop the hammer from behind.

And again, some reviewers complained about poor NPC A.I. in your squad. Hm. I must say, only 2 games come to mind for good to excellent friendly A.I. behavior and that's THIS game and Rainbow Six : Vegas ( who's A.I. is so well done, you can actually send your squad in and they'll clear an entire room of 15 enemies themselves without your assistance ). Of course you get the occasional " GET OUT OF THE WAY !!! " situation where a squad member gets in front of you as you're zooming to pick an enemy off.

Here's what I think : players should stop being so damn fussy. If you bring it into context, REGULAR HUMAN BEINGS are also known to get in your line of sight from time to time. Why ? Because, like our computerized counterpart, we don't have eyes behind our heads. So while being prone, aiming and just moving a few inches on either side, it's possible you'll unvolontarily block the view of ANYONE standing behind you.

I'm assuming it is pretty difficult knowing your entire squad's positions while you're trying to stay behind cover to aim and snipe 3 guys unloading full automatic rifle clips at you and 2 taking positions to fire their respective RPGs at your sorry arse behind the remnants of a once gloriously strong and protective brick wall now being slowly reduced to rubble to enemy fire.

Go fight any war and try that for yourself and see if you have the nerve not to get in a team member's line of vision while REAL bodies are flying everywhere and you can actually do something no game can make you experience : smell the mixture of dirt, blood, guts and brain starting to cake on your uniform as you squatting down behind cover, soiling yourself and praying for a miracle.

All in all, that game kicked so much unbelievable @$, I feel dirty I *cough cough* " borrowed " a copy of the game and am probably going to purchase this one to play online.

Yes. It is THAT GOOD.

/10

Some of you I bothered with these books and those of you not in the know, I will explain :

The first 3 Halo books published a certain time ago. I'm not a big fan of reading books. Not because I dislike it but because I can't find anything interesting enough to read.


About 2 years ago, I was walking around randomly at the downtown Indigo library and found these books on the shelf. Having just completed Halo 2 with my good buddy Stéphane, the storyline was still fresh in my mind. A bit convoluted though : try starting, going through and completing an entire video game in about 6 pot fueled sessions on for size. But I'm nowhere near a fan of fiction books based on a video game or superhero universe.

I read the back cover of the first book of the 3-part series and was intrigued. Paperback books are generally cheap so I gave it a go.

And I was hooked. And blown away.

I finished the book and went back to buy the 2 last ones. I witnessed the calculated birth, upbringing and some of the most extreme missions John-117 ( aka Master Chief ) went through in his existence.

So I'm currently playing through Halo 3 and the saga continues. But I also found out today that 2 NEW books are out, one in april ( which flew over my head apparently ) and one that was released Oct.30 2007.

Needless to say, I will have to buy these two books very soon as the first trilogy rocked my world and made me still believe in reading books. Eric Nylund, who wrote most of the first trilogy, just astounded me with his literary style so I cannot wait to read Ghosts Of Onyx.

I am installing Gears Of War as we speak, I just hope it runs ok on my PC, even if I have to lower the resolution, I don't mind. The gameplay is just incredible, after getting a taste on the 360.

Speaking of which, my friend Ricky might just sell me his 3o buying the Elite. I don't need all the extra stuff so I'll manage with a regular 360. His price is just unriveled. Let's just say it'll be under 200$. Pretty f**king sweet. I should mention I have NO next-generation consoles yet.

And I'm still looking for a Wii despite the good news...

Started playing F.E.A.R. Perseus Mandate. After playing Timeshift. Bad mistake.

Why ? Well, F.E.A.R. Perseus Mandate lets you slow time to gain an advantage on your enemies. Problem is, you slow down a bit too. Timeshift gives you the possiblity of slowing, stopping and even REVERSING time. Not only that but when time is slowed or stopped, you still move fluently at regular speed ( while everything else around you is either slow or stopped entirely ).

There is something REALLY satisfying in STOPPING time before you enter a room with 2 enemies talking to each other, go through the door, kill one of them, back up to the previous room, restore time and hear the remain guy go " Wait ? What ? How did THAT happen ? ".

The fun part lies on the fact that the game producers considered that time HASN'T stopped for the guys. One minute they're engaged in a conversation about being assigned to " check on a bunch of pipes deep in these godforsaken sewers " then in an instant, one of them becomes bloody and falls dead where he stood. Just plain awesome.

FEAR on the other hand, is a bit dated so only timeslow is available and the overall game, so far, is pretty bland. Even the levels are incredibly bland. You'd think they'd be able to polish it up a bit in the full year it took to create Perseus Mandate but no. At least, not so far.

I've played about 45 minutes yet and BARELY anything scary so far...which is what the game should be about.

I'm kinda disappointed, honestly.

I'm getting Gears Of War PC. Now THAT I'm looking forward to.

Indeed. I haven't recently heard anything more terrifying than this.

What, you ask ?

Have the poles finally melted ? No but we're slowly getting there. Is Britney pregnant again ? Dear God no but it would be scary indeed. Is the government finally going to invest money in the health care and educational system ? No, that's not terrifying, it's damn near impossible.

No, people. It's much worse : the XBOX 360 OUTSOLD the PS3 in Japan last week.

I still can't believe it. I'm in shock. I can't honestly wrap my head around that concept. The world is at war ? Fine. Eco system's going to Hell ? It was to be expected. But Microsoft, an american company selling more consoles in Japan than a Japanese one ? That's nonsense. Utter nonsense.

At this point, I'm expecting anything to happen. Unbelievable.

On a lighter note, I'm currently downloading F.E.A.R. Perseus Mandate and if the previous add-on and game is any indication, it'll be awesome.

I'm currently looking into getting Gears of War and Call Of Duty 4...if my cpu can handle it.


Oh and by the way, I'd like to take a minute and congratulate everyone who reads this blog : you officially are the most bored people in existence. With the vastness of the almighty internet today, if you choose to spend a few minutes here every now and then, either you should seriously have your head examined or you are the bestess and coolest peeps I know. Or both. Yeah. Probably both. And I thank you for that.

I wish I had some dirt or anger to let out but I don't. I'm too tired and I'm going over to my friend's house later today so I got nothing but love, w33d and the prospect of video game playing to look forward to later today so it's aaaaaaaall good.

I should post more, I know. I'll try too. See y'all soon.

P.S. : I've recently discovered, downloaded and have on my video-capable MP3 player a slew of Code Monkeys episodes. That show unbelievably rocks, it's insane. Check it now if you are half the video gaming geek I am. I'm seriously addicted. More on that later.

C YA kidz.

It's been around for as long as man's existence.

Violence. For eons, man has resorted to violence to resolve issues. Look at all the wars we've been through. Look at the war in Iraq. Look at Israel and it's perpetual quarrel with its neighbors. Look at what happened to Jesus 1974 years ago.

Nowadays, it's an acceptable media figure. You see it on CNN as we're shown a constant stream of video clips of american soldiers shooting semi-automatic weapons at Iraqis, local news with an endless daily stream of first-degree murders and car accidents, magazines about weaponry and huge billboards of movies where actors are seen in glorifying gun-wielding poses.

But all that's acceptable. All of the above are shown constantly regardless of age and public exposure. Violence-glorifying movies get a PG-13 at best. Movies with nudity get a PG-18 rating. Worldwide television newscasts of suicide bombers, crashed planes and execution-style shot middle-eastern soldiers get no rating whatsoever.

Now, people get all riled up over violence depicted in video games. Manhunt 2 is already banned in the UK and Katie Couric made an eye-rolling entry about it on her Notebook show.

Ok so let me get this straight :

VIRTUAL video game violence where the protagonist escapes from prison and inflicts bodily harm on other equally demented VIRTUAL rapists, serial killers and other various scum : BAD.

REAL innocent lives lost, violent spouses, high-school or university killings and exploded buildings in foreign countries with bodies littered all over the place and family members crying over the loss of their loved ones : GOOD.
Or at least, acceptable.

I'll start blaming video games for our kids being violent when parents get their f___ing priorities straight. Most of them bitch and moan about that game setting a bad example on their kids while they go deer hunting, range shooting and collect guns. But these past times are absolutely NOT RELATED and are fine, of course. As long as you go to church every sunday and you use your guns on other human beings ONLY to protect your family as dictated by the Second Amendment.

Shifting blame on Rockstar Games does NOT excuse parents' lack of control and interest over their children.

It's time to put your pants on people and stop shifting blame on others. Do your f___ing part as a parent and restrict your children's access to certain information. It is NOT society's job to educate and keep a watch on them FOR you. The rest of the world WON'T get involved in your kids growth or education so stop pointing fingers at everyone around you for your failure as a parent.

There is a reason your kids don't talk to you and this conduct of yours plays a big role in this.

Don't believe me ? You parents could actually LEARN something from watching the South Park movie. Yeah, I don't know what's worse : watching the South Park movie or LEARNING something new. Phew. Tough choice.

So by all means, stop blaming canada.

I'm not sure I understand how this whole RSS thing works. I opened a Feedburner account, got my RSS feed to go through there and finally tagged the little icon on the top right there to work. I don't understand what Feedburner can do for me aside from showing me my feed traffic with nifty graphs and such.


If anyone knows and can explain this to me in lament's terms, please comment, e-mail me or whatever, I'd appreciate it. Thank you.


My friends bought Hellgate London, a game set in 2038 London where the forces of Hell are unleashed upon Earth. Yeah, massive flashbacks of Doom here but it's in the future ( big f--king difference, I know ). Not my type of game but I could be mistaken. I'll look into that and talk to them a while.



Me, I'm going to try Timeshift soon, it appears to be a very good game. More my style : a first-person shooter with added perks like time slowing, accelerating and downright stopping. There also seems to be some puzzle solving using these skills which I think is awesome since it doesn't set back those abilities as being just mere " gadgets " but NECESSARY functions of the game.


I'll keep you posted on that game. Tried a couple Portal user maps yesterday. Meh. Ok but nothing groundbreaking.

Tomorrow, I'll be starting Halo 3 at my friend Stéphane's house. I am psyched ! Honestly.

" I need a weapon... "