As those of you who read this humble blog know, my real job, second job, and family (including a wonderfully energetic toddler) occupy about 143% of my available hours in a normal week. However, a couple of weekends ago, I found myself with that most amazing of things - a few spare hours.
So, when the perfect storm happens - in this case, my wife and son were both asleep and I wasn't on deadline for a review or a proposal - it's very exciting.
For the past couple of months, I'd been playing The Godfather on the Xbox 360. Yes, it's old, and yes, it's a GTA clone with a bunch of repetitive tasks. Say what you want, but I was kind of enjoying it. I'd progressed enough through the story to the point where my guy was pretty badass, and I'd completely taken over the entire neighborhood of Little Italy. So I was on my way to becoming the Don of NYC.
Eager to continue my atrocity-fueled success, I was ready to pop the game back in my 360 and settle in for a couple of hours of mayhem. So I looked around for the game. And looked around some more. Then I went into other rooms, since it was not in my office. Then I went downstairs. Twice.
And a funny thing happened. The game was gone.
Keep in mind, I am bordering on obsessive-compulsive when it comes to keeping track of my games. After all, there are only a few categories of stuff I even own - clothes, video games, video game machines, CDs, iPods, and cellphones make up 97% of all of my worldly posessions. So the fact that every single game I own was in its right place, but the one freaking game I wanted to play was missing was just ridiculous for a bunch of reasons.
So I searched, and I searched. I yelled at my wife, and she yelled back at me. One thing is sure, though: I did not move the game anywhere, because there is no other place in the world where I would be able to play it other than my office.
So, long story short, there is only one suspect in this "crime", and that is the 19-month old boy who inhabits this house along with his parents. I don't know how, but I have to think that he wandered into the office, grabbed the game (like he grabs lots of things) and brought it to some magical place where he stashes all sorts of stuff, and it sits there to this day.
No matter what, though, I can't find it.
After a hopeless 90 minutes of searching, I gave up and decided to start something else. Sifting through my huge pile of unplayed games, I settled on a game I should've played years ago and haven't - Half Life 2 on the Orange Box for 360.
Somehow, I think I'll never see The Godfather again.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Back in the saddle...after falling off
One of these days, I really will learn. Until then, however, I suppose that I am doomed to suffer from history repeating itself - and that history is the Philadelphia Eagles destroying my spirit every single year.
The Eagles lost in the NFC Championship this past week to an inferior Arizona Cardinals team. It literally pains me to talk about it, and that in and of itself is a symptom of a greater problem. Why does it hurt me so badly when a stinkin' football team loses one step away from the Super Bowl? If they don't care that much, then why the heck do I? Why do I now have to avoid newspapers, sports talk radio, and my beloved ESPN podcasts?
Because I am insufferable. The older I have gotten, the better I've taken the in-season defeats. Back when I was a kid (and young adult), the regular season gaffes and debacles would ruin weeks and cause the destruction of many small items around the house. These days, though, I deal with the regular parade of losses very well - especially since I don't want to get yelled at by my wife for acting like an idiot (since she's right).
But this particular defeat set me off like few losses before. Perhaps it's because they really had a great shot at finally winning The Big One; perhaps because they were just 2 or 3 plays away from winning by two touchdowns; perhaps, just perhaps, because I am starting to start my own football mortality in the face. After all, it's no given that any team will win a championship. Every year is a new opportunity to lose in exciting and different ways.
The real issue has nothing to do with me, though. Heck, I am barely concerned about myself anymore. After all, as a 38-year old man who has followed this team his entire life, it's pretty clear that they're not going to win a Super Bowl in my lifetime. Now, though, I have a much greater concern - my little boy. He's only 18 months old, but he's already fallen victim to my Eagles dementia. The day of the game, we were both sporting Eagles jerseys, chanting the E-A-G-L-E-S cheer, and generally chasing a rolling football around the house.
How can I in good conscience pass this horrible, awful disease on to him?
Sure, at this point, he doesn't really know an Eagle from a Giant or a (gasp) Cowboy. When he gets a few years older, I'll likely encourage him to choose his own team without being "forced" to be a Birds fan. I just hope he doesn't follow in his Dad's footsteps on this one. After all, I am tired of this happening every darned year. It's exhausting, and frankly I don't know how much more I can take.
*sigh*
The Eagles lost in the NFC Championship this past week to an inferior Arizona Cardinals team. It literally pains me to talk about it, and that in and of itself is a symptom of a greater problem. Why does it hurt me so badly when a stinkin' football team loses one step away from the Super Bowl? If they don't care that much, then why the heck do I? Why do I now have to avoid newspapers, sports talk radio, and my beloved ESPN podcasts?
Because I am insufferable. The older I have gotten, the better I've taken the in-season defeats. Back when I was a kid (and young adult), the regular season gaffes and debacles would ruin weeks and cause the destruction of many small items around the house. These days, though, I deal with the regular parade of losses very well - especially since I don't want to get yelled at by my wife for acting like an idiot (since she's right).
But this particular defeat set me off like few losses before. Perhaps it's because they really had a great shot at finally winning The Big One; perhaps because they were just 2 or 3 plays away from winning by two touchdowns; perhaps, just perhaps, because I am starting to start my own football mortality in the face. After all, it's no given that any team will win a championship. Every year is a new opportunity to lose in exciting and different ways.
The real issue has nothing to do with me, though. Heck, I am barely concerned about myself anymore. After all, as a 38-year old man who has followed this team his entire life, it's pretty clear that they're not going to win a Super Bowl in my lifetime. Now, though, I have a much greater concern - my little boy. He's only 18 months old, but he's already fallen victim to my Eagles dementia. The day of the game, we were both sporting Eagles jerseys, chanting the E-A-G-L-E-S cheer, and generally chasing a rolling football around the house.
How can I in good conscience pass this horrible, awful disease on to him?
Sure, at this point, he doesn't really know an Eagle from a Giant or a (gasp) Cowboy. When he gets a few years older, I'll likely encourage him to choose his own team without being "forced" to be a Birds fan. I just hope he doesn't follow in his Dad's footsteps on this one. After all, I am tired of this happening every darned year. It's exhausting, and frankly I don't know how much more I can take.
*sigh*
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
It's the most wonderful time of the year...
...and I don't mean the holidays. Few stretches of time are better for football fans than the 11-day marathon of college and pro games that started on New Year's Day and ends on Sunday.
Between the BCS Bowl games and the NFL playoffs, only 3 of the 11 said days do not offer at least one compelling big-time gridiron tilt. Whether or not you're a long-suffering diehard like yours truly (more on that in a second) or someone whose teams have long since stopped being relevant this season (which, more often than not is me as well), anyone who likes their pigskin served with a heaping portion of talent, drama, and high stakes is in their glory right now.
The College Angle
I was born rooting for the University of Alabama Crimson Tide. Both of my parents graduated from there, and I was born in the shadow of the school. So before I discovered professional football, baseball, or hockey, I already knew Bear Bryant was the best coach of all time and Joe Willie Namath could do no wrong.
As a kid, it was great, since the Tide was always in the mix. When I was 9 years old, they even won a national championship. I just figured that this was normal, and they'd be #1 all the time. Unfortunately, shortly after that 1980 Sugar Bowl win, Bear Bryant retired and died, and other than a miraculous blip in 1991 when Gene Stallings led the team to an improbable National Championship against a supremely talented Miami squad, the Tide has been languishing as an SEC afterthought.
The school went through a parade of average coaches until they stole one of the best in the business away from the Miami Dolphins in Nick Saban. After a rough first year, he had somehow gotten this season's team up to #1 for five whole weeks (thanks in no small part to historically bad losses by USC, Florida, and Texas). Sure, they were ahead of schedule, and really, I didn't think they had a legit shot at winning the championship...
...but yet they did.
Sadly, their 12-0 team got thumped by hated Florida in the SEC title game, but that's OK. Heartbreaking but not entirely unexpected (Florida was a 11-point favorite, after all). Even so, they got an invitation to the Sugar Bowl and a date with undefeated Utah, and a chance to atone for their loss, finish 13-1, and launch themselves into a great recruiting class for the future.
So, Friday night I settled into my easy chair with several adult beverages ready to be consumed. Thanks to the 8:30 starting time, the little boy and wife were both asleep. I was ready to watch my favorite team take it to an inferior opponent.
And then they got absolutely pounded into the ground. By the end of the first quarter, Utah was up 21-0. The Tide made a bit of a comeback to get within 4, but never really had a chance. I don't even remember what the final score was (I refuse to read about it). And my Friday night was ruined.
Sure, they had a great year, finishing 12-2. Sure, they were the #1 team for over a month. Sure, they have a young team that will only get better next year.
But you never know when you'll get another shot at a national championship - and they had one and blew it.
The Pro Angle
My love for the Philadelphia Eagles is a little more complicated. As a youngster, I loved the NFL, but didn't really have a favorite team so much as several teams I liked. I thought the Vikings uniforms were cool, dug the Jets, even had a fling with the Chargers.
Then when I was 11 or 12, my Dad got us season tickets to the Eagles.
And so it began.
I immediately got indoctrinated into Eagles Nation, a ridiculous cacaphony of drunken louts, heartbreaking defeats, and an incredibly awful stadium. Over time, the team ownership changed, a beautiful new stadium was erected, and the lowest of the low fanbase got priced out of attending. But one thing has stayed the same for these 20+ years.
They never win the big game.
More often than not, they've been terrible. Sometimes, they're good - just good enough to lose in the playoffs. Twice, they've been great enough to make it to the Super Bow, but not great enough to win it. Invariably, every single season I have rooted for this team, they have broken my heart.
This year, believe it or not, was more bipolar than most. Somehow, some way, they literally backed into the playoffs, thanks to an incredibly fortunate series of events that rarely befalls this team as well as a historic beatdown of the hated Cowboys.
Their first playoff game was Sunday afternoon against the extraordiarily average Minnesota Vikings, and from the moment on Friday it was clear Alabama was getting their butts handed to them, I was hoping against hope that the Birds could save my weekend.
And save it they did - eventually.
After letting the Vikes hang around all day and doing their best to not score any offensive touchdowns, the Eagles pulled off the one big play they had to and the victory was secure.
Yes, I know they likely will lose to the Giants this weekend coming up.
But they're still alive, and they have a chance.
Maybe, just maybe, this is the year.....
Between the BCS Bowl games and the NFL playoffs, only 3 of the 11 said days do not offer at least one compelling big-time gridiron tilt. Whether or not you're a long-suffering diehard like yours truly (more on that in a second) or someone whose teams have long since stopped being relevant this season (which, more often than not is me as well), anyone who likes their pigskin served with a heaping portion of talent, drama, and high stakes is in their glory right now.
The College Angle
I was born rooting for the University of Alabama Crimson Tide. Both of my parents graduated from there, and I was born in the shadow of the school. So before I discovered professional football, baseball, or hockey, I already knew Bear Bryant was the best coach of all time and Joe Willie Namath could do no wrong.
As a kid, it was great, since the Tide was always in the mix. When I was 9 years old, they even won a national championship. I just figured that this was normal, and they'd be #1 all the time. Unfortunately, shortly after that 1980 Sugar Bowl win, Bear Bryant retired and died, and other than a miraculous blip in 1991 when Gene Stallings led the team to an improbable National Championship against a supremely talented Miami squad, the Tide has been languishing as an SEC afterthought.
The school went through a parade of average coaches until they stole one of the best in the business away from the Miami Dolphins in Nick Saban. After a rough first year, he had somehow gotten this season's team up to #1 for five whole weeks (thanks in no small part to historically bad losses by USC, Florida, and Texas). Sure, they were ahead of schedule, and really, I didn't think they had a legit shot at winning the championship...
...but yet they did.
Sadly, their 12-0 team got thumped by hated Florida in the SEC title game, but that's OK. Heartbreaking but not entirely unexpected (Florida was a 11-point favorite, after all). Even so, they got an invitation to the Sugar Bowl and a date with undefeated Utah, and a chance to atone for their loss, finish 13-1, and launch themselves into a great recruiting class for the future.
So, Friday night I settled into my easy chair with several adult beverages ready to be consumed. Thanks to the 8:30 starting time, the little boy and wife were both asleep. I was ready to watch my favorite team take it to an inferior opponent.
And then they got absolutely pounded into the ground. By the end of the first quarter, Utah was up 21-0. The Tide made a bit of a comeback to get within 4, but never really had a chance. I don't even remember what the final score was (I refuse to read about it). And my Friday night was ruined.
Sure, they had a great year, finishing 12-2. Sure, they were the #1 team for over a month. Sure, they have a young team that will only get better next year.
But you never know when you'll get another shot at a national championship - and they had one and blew it.
The Pro Angle
My love for the Philadelphia Eagles is a little more complicated. As a youngster, I loved the NFL, but didn't really have a favorite team so much as several teams I liked. I thought the Vikings uniforms were cool, dug the Jets, even had a fling with the Chargers.
Then when I was 11 or 12, my Dad got us season tickets to the Eagles.
And so it began.
I immediately got indoctrinated into Eagles Nation, a ridiculous cacaphony of drunken louts, heartbreaking defeats, and an incredibly awful stadium. Over time, the team ownership changed, a beautiful new stadium was erected, and the lowest of the low fanbase got priced out of attending. But one thing has stayed the same for these 20+ years.
They never win the big game.
More often than not, they've been terrible. Sometimes, they're good - just good enough to lose in the playoffs. Twice, they've been great enough to make it to the Super Bow, but not great enough to win it. Invariably, every single season I have rooted for this team, they have broken my heart.
This year, believe it or not, was more bipolar than most. Somehow, some way, they literally backed into the playoffs, thanks to an incredibly fortunate series of events that rarely befalls this team as well as a historic beatdown of the hated Cowboys.
Their first playoff game was Sunday afternoon against the extraordiarily average Minnesota Vikings, and from the moment on Friday it was clear Alabama was getting their butts handed to them, I was hoping against hope that the Birds could save my weekend.
And save it they did - eventually.
After letting the Vikes hang around all day and doing their best to not score any offensive touchdowns, the Eagles pulled off the one big play they had to and the victory was secure.
Yes, I know they likely will lose to the Giants this weekend coming up.
But they're still alive, and they have a chance.
Maybe, just maybe, this is the year.....
Friday, January 2, 2009
Holidaze
I am not a "bah humbug" kind of a guy - far from it. I legitimately enjoy Christmas and New Year's, especially with a little one now in the picture. Heck, next year he'll be 2 and a half, and will actually start to "get it" with Santa, presents, and so on.
But I am also not going to kid you. I am glad that the holidays are over. It's simply too busy too much, and I don't even do the shopping! Between furiously trying to make sure work is covered, packing up and going to all the different places we have to go, and meeting all the obligations we have, Christmas and New Year's are exhausting. So while I love 'em, I'm also glad that I am heading back to work and a normal schedule in a couple of days.
I have been able to take a little time and play some games over the past month or so, though, which has been a nice bonus. With so many games in my backlog, it's been exceedingly hard to figure out which ones to choose from. Luckily, I had one choice made for me due to a review. So here's the rundown:
Call of Duty: World At War (PS3)
I've played plenty of CoD's, and they're almost always terrific. Modern Warfare was a particularly high watermark in the series, and to be honest I was not exactly clamoring to jump right back into World War II (especially after spending November in Brothers in Arms). However, World At War takes all of the things that make CoD great and puts them together in a package so polished, gritty, and complete, I was blown away.
The single player campaign was simply tremendous, especially the Russian campaign into Berlin. Full disclosure: I am a big WWII buff and my favorite battles have always been Stalingrad and Berlin. The developers did such an amazing job with the final battles in Europe that I was stunned. The final levels, putting you in the shoes of the Russians storming the Reichstag and planting the Soviet flag on the roof, were just incredible. I can see how some people might not "get it" - it's just another level in another linear shooter - but damn it to hell if I didn't love every second of it.
Yes, it's hard. Yes, it's another WWII game. But it looks amazing, sounds terrific, controls perfectly, and you get to get yelled at by Keifer Sutherland. What more do you need?
Assassin's Creed (Xbox 360)
This one had been sitting on my backlog pile for over a year, and I finally decided to give it a whirl. Man, it looks good. But that can only take you so far. About 3 or 4 hours in, after caling the same tower about 5 times, and committing the same assassination 3 times, I decided I was bored. As an added "bonus", none of my Achievements were saving. While I know that shouldn't matter, it was the straw the broke the back, and I put it back on the pile.
I don't have time to play games that I don't like, after all. And there's nothing wrong with that.
Godfather: The Game (Xbox 360)
This one had been sitting on the backlog even longer. I'm not exactly a Godfather fan (hell, I never even saw the movie front to back) but I had always wanted to spend some quality time in the universe that EA created.
Remeber all that complaining I did about Assassin's Creed? You know, repetitive missions? Doing the same thing over and over? Well, take that, and add in the fact that the games looks ass ugly, and that's Godfather.
However, and this makes no sense, I'm enjoying it immensely. It's basically a GTA clone with lousy cars and an ordinary story, but I am getting a big kick out of taking over neighborhoods, advancing up the Corleone family ranks, buying properties, and taking over gambling and prostitution rackets. I also like the RPG-esque character upgrades; I have dedicated all my skill points to shooting so far, and with fantastic results. My dude can take out a kneecap at 50 yards no sweat, which comes in very handy when you're trying to eliminate a couple of dozen rival family thugs.
So that's where I am on New Year's 2009.
Happy New Year everyone!
But I am also not going to kid you. I am glad that the holidays are over. It's simply too busy too much, and I don't even do the shopping! Between furiously trying to make sure work is covered, packing up and going to all the different places we have to go, and meeting all the obligations we have, Christmas and New Year's are exhausting. So while I love 'em, I'm also glad that I am heading back to work and a normal schedule in a couple of days.
I have been able to take a little time and play some games over the past month or so, though, which has been a nice bonus. With so many games in my backlog, it's been exceedingly hard to figure out which ones to choose from. Luckily, I had one choice made for me due to a review. So here's the rundown:
Call of Duty: World At War (PS3)
I've played plenty of CoD's, and they're almost always terrific. Modern Warfare was a particularly high watermark in the series, and to be honest I was not exactly clamoring to jump right back into World War II (especially after spending November in Brothers in Arms). However, World At War takes all of the things that make CoD great and puts them together in a package so polished, gritty, and complete, I was blown away.
The single player campaign was simply tremendous, especially the Russian campaign into Berlin. Full disclosure: I am a big WWII buff and my favorite battles have always been Stalingrad and Berlin. The developers did such an amazing job with the final battles in Europe that I was stunned. The final levels, putting you in the shoes of the Russians storming the Reichstag and planting the Soviet flag on the roof, were just incredible. I can see how some people might not "get it" - it's just another level in another linear shooter - but damn it to hell if I didn't love every second of it.
Yes, it's hard. Yes, it's another WWII game. But it looks amazing, sounds terrific, controls perfectly, and you get to get yelled at by Keifer Sutherland. What more do you need?
Assassin's Creed (Xbox 360)
This one had been sitting on my backlog pile for over a year, and I finally decided to give it a whirl. Man, it looks good. But that can only take you so far. About 3 or 4 hours in, after caling the same tower about 5 times, and committing the same assassination 3 times, I decided I was bored. As an added "bonus", none of my Achievements were saving. While I know that shouldn't matter, it was the straw the broke the back, and I put it back on the pile.
I don't have time to play games that I don't like, after all. And there's nothing wrong with that.
Godfather: The Game (Xbox 360)
This one had been sitting on the backlog even longer. I'm not exactly a Godfather fan (hell, I never even saw the movie front to back) but I had always wanted to spend some quality time in the universe that EA created.
Remeber all that complaining I did about Assassin's Creed? You know, repetitive missions? Doing the same thing over and over? Well, take that, and add in the fact that the games looks ass ugly, and that's Godfather.
However, and this makes no sense, I'm enjoying it immensely. It's basically a GTA clone with lousy cars and an ordinary story, but I am getting a big kick out of taking over neighborhoods, advancing up the Corleone family ranks, buying properties, and taking over gambling and prostitution rackets. I also like the RPG-esque character upgrades; I have dedicated all my skill points to shooting so far, and with fantastic results. My dude can take out a kneecap at 50 yards no sweat, which comes in very handy when you're trying to eliminate a couple of dozen rival family thugs.
So that's where I am on New Year's 2009.
Happy New Year everyone!
Monday, November 17, 2008
In the Game Room - Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway
Full disclosure - I am an unabashed Brothers in Arms fan. Ever since its seminal first offering Road to Hill 30, I have never stopped praising the good people at Gearbox for having the guts to introduce smart, tactical gameplay into a genre that cries out for innovation. I've met Randy Pitchford (Gearbox CEO) and Col. John Antal (the game's military consultant) at two different E3's, and were always struck by their passion for the franchise and excitement to deliver something truly different to the marketplace.
So what if the multiplayer kinda stunk? The single-player campaigns were always magnificent. What's more, I've completely changed as a gamer over the past few years - I don't even play online multiplayer anymore except on rare occasions and only then with people I know. Maybe it's because I'm older, or because I'm a Dad, or just because I have so few hours a week to play, but I love me a good single-player mode now more than ever.
And Brothers In Arms: Hell's Highway delivers that in spades.
I played HH over the course of almost 2 months, spending an hour or so a night a few times a week. The more I played it, the more I realized that's probably the right way to go. Simply put, HH is so intense and demanding that you become exhausted after just a level or two. And it's also hard - really freaking hard. But not hard in the "we're just out to punish you" hard, just "you have to think about what you're going to do then do it and not abandon smart tactics when things start to fall apart" hard.
Hell's Highway is an apt description; taking place during Operation Market Garden, you're placed in the (familiar to those who've played earlier versions) shoes of Matt Baker, who's dealing with all sorts of issues surrounding the events of his squad's earlier forays in Europe during D-Day. He and his regiment are dropped right into the center of the Market Garden mess, from the initial heady moments all the way through the painful defeat. Blistering setpiece firefights, house-to-house squad combat, tank battles, and haunting solo excursions all make up a surprisingly varied and satisfactory game.
This ain't your typical Brothers In Arms game either; sure, there's plenty of fix-flank-fire strategy, but there're also a healthy dose of vehicular and corridor-shooting levels to mix things up a bit. At no time will you ever be comfortable - which is exactly what I'm sure Gearbox was going for.
Unfortunately, Hell's Highway does have its share of problems. The cutscenes are shockingly jumpy, with texture changes and awkward movements. The story is also a bit of a wreck, even to fans of the series who know the characters well. The good news here is that it does a better job near the end, as opposed to the first few chapters, where I couldn't tell what the heck was going on. Even better, there's a clear indicator of yet another BIA title on the way, as "To Be Continued" precedes the ending credits. Evidently, Baker and friends will be heading to Bastogne and the Battle of the Bulge next time. And that sounds freaking awesome.
Unlike some WWII shooters, Hell's Highway also spares little expense in gore. One of the, um, hallmarks of the game is the Action Cam, a mechanic that shows you your best kills in super-slo-mo, such as exploding heads for good sniper shots or dismembered bodies flying through the air when you time a grenade just right. Maybe it was happenstance or just bad timing, but half the time I got the Action Cam I didn't seem to be in the right place, as my camera angle was blocked or at least partially obscured. On those occasions when I had the right line of sight, though, it was more than a little disturbing to see chunks of Nazi arms and heads flying through the air in slow motion. I'm not sure if I hated it or not, but it's not completely necessary and isn't executed particularly well.
Even so, Hell's Highway remains one of my favorite games of the year. Unfortunately, it looks like it's getting buried in the holiday avalanche; who knows if it will even sell enough to get its clearly-alluded-to sequel even made. No matter what, I'm glad I played through it and despite its bevy of problems, I had a heck of a good time. It's strongly recommended to anyone with an Xbox 360 and a penchant for a thinking man's military game.
So what if the multiplayer kinda stunk? The single-player campaigns were always magnificent. What's more, I've completely changed as a gamer over the past few years - I don't even play online multiplayer anymore except on rare occasions and only then with people I know. Maybe it's because I'm older, or because I'm a Dad, or just because I have so few hours a week to play, but I love me a good single-player mode now more than ever.
And Brothers In Arms: Hell's Highway delivers that in spades.
I played HH over the course of almost 2 months, spending an hour or so a night a few times a week. The more I played it, the more I realized that's probably the right way to go. Simply put, HH is so intense and demanding that you become exhausted after just a level or two. And it's also hard - really freaking hard. But not hard in the "we're just out to punish you" hard, just "you have to think about what you're going to do then do it and not abandon smart tactics when things start to fall apart" hard.
Hell's Highway is an apt description; taking place during Operation Market Garden, you're placed in the (familiar to those who've played earlier versions) shoes of Matt Baker, who's dealing with all sorts of issues surrounding the events of his squad's earlier forays in Europe during D-Day. He and his regiment are dropped right into the center of the Market Garden mess, from the initial heady moments all the way through the painful defeat. Blistering setpiece firefights, house-to-house squad combat, tank battles, and haunting solo excursions all make up a surprisingly varied and satisfactory game.
This ain't your typical Brothers In Arms game either; sure, there's plenty of fix-flank-fire strategy, but there're also a healthy dose of vehicular and corridor-shooting levels to mix things up a bit. At no time will you ever be comfortable - which is exactly what I'm sure Gearbox was going for.
Unfortunately, Hell's Highway does have its share of problems. The cutscenes are shockingly jumpy, with texture changes and awkward movements. The story is also a bit of a wreck, even to fans of the series who know the characters well. The good news here is that it does a better job near the end, as opposed to the first few chapters, where I couldn't tell what the heck was going on. Even better, there's a clear indicator of yet another BIA title on the way, as "To Be Continued" precedes the ending credits. Evidently, Baker and friends will be heading to Bastogne and the Battle of the Bulge next time. And that sounds freaking awesome.
Unlike some WWII shooters, Hell's Highway also spares little expense in gore. One of the, um, hallmarks of the game is the Action Cam, a mechanic that shows you your best kills in super-slo-mo, such as exploding heads for good sniper shots or dismembered bodies flying through the air when you time a grenade just right. Maybe it was happenstance or just bad timing, but half the time I got the Action Cam I didn't seem to be in the right place, as my camera angle was blocked or at least partially obscured. On those occasions when I had the right line of sight, though, it was more than a little disturbing to see chunks of Nazi arms and heads flying through the air in slow motion. I'm not sure if I hated it or not, but it's not completely necessary and isn't executed particularly well.
Even so, Hell's Highway remains one of my favorite games of the year. Unfortunately, it looks like it's getting buried in the holiday avalanche; who knows if it will even sell enough to get its clearly-alluded-to sequel even made. No matter what, I'm glad I played through it and despite its bevy of problems, I had a heck of a good time. It's strongly recommended to anyone with an Xbox 360 and a penchant for a thinking man's military game.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Too many games? Only for suckers (or kids with nothing better to do)!
It's that time of year, when all the game publishers release a year's worth of top-notch titles in a two-month period. All of this could be so stressful, and yet I am utterly unconcerned that I am missing out on a bevy of ridiculously entertaining games with every passing day.
Years ago, the situation would be completely different. As my buddy Mark can attest, back in the halcyon days of 2002 or 2003, I'd happily walk into a game store at lunch, ask what the latest releases were, and plunk down $100 or more sight unseen for whatever happened to catch my fancy. Times were good back then - I had money and time to burn. Ah, the folly of youth.
These days, life is actually better, but both time and money are in dramatically less supply. Thanks to a demanding job, a less-demanding but time-consuming second job, and an awesome little boy whose daily antics keep me happy and hopping, I have about 95% less time to devote to "just for fun" gaming. But, really, not only is that OK, it's actually awesome.
Why? How could I possibly not be fretting that I am missing out on Fallout 3, Little Big Planet, Call of Duty: World At War, Gears of War 2, Resistance 2, or Fable 2, just to name a handful of the blockbuster titles that've release in the past 4 weeks?
Three reasons, really:
1) They'll be there in a few months if (when?) I get around to them. It's not like it used to be, where I spent lots of time online in the latest shooters with all my friends. There is no sense of urgency anymore to keep up, because for the most part we've all grown up and moved on. And I like it that way. Sometime next year, I'll amble into a Gamestop and see Fallout 3 for $30 or $40, and I'll probably pick it up. Or not. Who knows?
2) I've still got a backlog from hell of great games I haven't gotten to. Between Mass Effect, Assassin's Creed, and Godfather, that's probably 100 hours or more of top-notch games I own that have not had the shrink-wrap broken. That also doesn't count GTA IV, which I stopped mid-game, or Oblivion, or....well, you get the point. Why keep adding to the pile of shame?
3) I am happily playing 1 game "for fun" and getting a lot out of it. For the past month or so, I've been able to spend quality time (3-4 hours a week or so) with one game - Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway - and take it at a pace that I want to. There's no need to try and rush through it, or get frustrated when I die a lot (which I do - it's a hard game!). Once I've finished, I'll decide what's next, then play that for a month or two. And that's just fine with me.
Not to mention, I keep playing games on the treadmill too, but those are always sports games. Between the need to really concentrate and turn up the sound so I can hear what's going on, it just doesn't work to try and play anything else. On the other hand, I've spent gobs of time in NHL 09 and NBA 2K9, both of which are totally awesome and both of which I totally suck at. But that's why God invented the reset button!
Lastly - and speaking of that second job - here are links to the last reviews I've written for GamesRadar. As the economy falls apart and my freelance opportunities dry up, these may be the last ones I do for awhile. Considering that it frees up 8-10 hours a week, though, that's not too bad of a situation in the short term.
NBA 2K9: http://www.gamesradar.com/ps3/nba-2k9/review/nba-2k9/a-2008100914485412048340/g-20080611141448749075
NBA Live 09: http://www.gamesradar.com/xbox360/nba-live-09/g-2008060914457722077
NBA 09: http://www.gamesradar.com/ps3/nba-09-the-inside/g-2008091015312151087
Enjoy!
Years ago, the situation would be completely different. As my buddy Mark can attest, back in the halcyon days of 2002 or 2003, I'd happily walk into a game store at lunch, ask what the latest releases were, and plunk down $100 or more sight unseen for whatever happened to catch my fancy. Times were good back then - I had money and time to burn. Ah, the folly of youth.
These days, life is actually better, but both time and money are in dramatically less supply. Thanks to a demanding job, a less-demanding but time-consuming second job, and an awesome little boy whose daily antics keep me happy and hopping, I have about 95% less time to devote to "just for fun" gaming. But, really, not only is that OK, it's actually awesome.
Why? How could I possibly not be fretting that I am missing out on Fallout 3, Little Big Planet, Call of Duty: World At War, Gears of War 2, Resistance 2, or Fable 2, just to name a handful of the blockbuster titles that've release in the past 4 weeks?
Three reasons, really:
1) They'll be there in a few months if (when?) I get around to them. It's not like it used to be, where I spent lots of time online in the latest shooters with all my friends. There is no sense of urgency anymore to keep up, because for the most part we've all grown up and moved on. And I like it that way. Sometime next year, I'll amble into a Gamestop and see Fallout 3 for $30 or $40, and I'll probably pick it up. Or not. Who knows?
2) I've still got a backlog from hell of great games I haven't gotten to. Between Mass Effect, Assassin's Creed, and Godfather, that's probably 100 hours or more of top-notch games I own that have not had the shrink-wrap broken. That also doesn't count GTA IV, which I stopped mid-game, or Oblivion, or....well, you get the point. Why keep adding to the pile of shame?
3) I am happily playing 1 game "for fun" and getting a lot out of it. For the past month or so, I've been able to spend quality time (3-4 hours a week or so) with one game - Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway - and take it at a pace that I want to. There's no need to try and rush through it, or get frustrated when I die a lot (which I do - it's a hard game!). Once I've finished, I'll decide what's next, then play that for a month or two. And that's just fine with me.
Not to mention, I keep playing games on the treadmill too, but those are always sports games. Between the need to really concentrate and turn up the sound so I can hear what's going on, it just doesn't work to try and play anything else. On the other hand, I've spent gobs of time in NHL 09 and NBA 2K9, both of which are totally awesome and both of which I totally suck at. But that's why God invented the reset button!
Lastly - and speaking of that second job - here are links to the last reviews I've written for GamesRadar. As the economy falls apart and my freelance opportunities dry up, these may be the last ones I do for awhile. Considering that it frees up 8-10 hours a week, though, that's not too bad of a situation in the short term.
NBA 2K9: http://www.gamesradar.com/ps3/nba-2k9/review/nba-2k9/a-2008100914485412048340/g-20080611141448749075
NBA Live 09: http://www.gamesradar.com/xbox360/nba-live-09/g-2008060914457722077
NBA 09: http://www.gamesradar.com/ps3/nba-09-the-inside/g-2008091015312151087
Enjoy!
Monday, September 29, 2008
Coming soon - an actual blog!
This is the obligatory "Hi everyone I just started this but don't have time to actually, you know, put anything here yet while I get this together while also doing the 438 things on my to-do list" post.
Trust me, actual (moderately?) interesting blogs about my occasionally humorous adventures will be coming shortly.
In the iterim, though, here's a mini "What I've Got Going On" post:
Now reviewing: Nothing (thank goodness, since the basketball games are all coming very soon)
Now playing (for fun): Brothers In Arms: Hell's Highway (more on that soon)
Now playing (on the treadmill): NHL 09 "Be a Pro" mode
Now reading: Harry Turtledove's "Drive To The East"
Now watching: Sopranos Season 3 (slowly)
Now not watching but have on DVR ready when I get a few hours (ha!): Season premieres of The Office, The Simpsons, Family Guy, and American Dad
Lastly, for your reading pleasure, here are my last couple of GamesRadar reviews - all pucks, all the time.
NHL 2K9 for the Wii: http://www.gamesradar.com/wii/nhl-2k9/review/nhl-2k9/a-20080915172519879045/g-2008061216247488033
NHL 2k9 for the 360/PS3: http://www.gamesradar.com/xbox360/nhl-2k9/review/nhl-2k9/a-2008091210252860879517/g-2008061216229675013
Trust me, actual (moderately?) interesting blogs about my occasionally humorous adventures will be coming shortly.
In the iterim, though, here's a mini "What I've Got Going On" post:
Now reviewing: Nothing (thank goodness, since the basketball games are all coming very soon)
Now playing (for fun): Brothers In Arms: Hell's Highway (more on that soon)
Now playing (on the treadmill): NHL 09 "Be a Pro" mode
Now reading: Harry Turtledove's "Drive To The East"
Now watching: Sopranos Season 3 (slowly)
Now not watching but have on DVR ready when I get a few hours (ha!): Season premieres of The Office, The Simpsons, Family Guy, and American Dad
Lastly, for your reading pleasure, here are my last couple of GamesRadar reviews - all pucks, all the time.
NHL 2K9 for the Wii: http://www.gamesradar.com/wii/nhl-2k9/review/nhl-2k9/a-20080915172519879045/g-2008061216247488033
NHL 2k9 for the 360/PS3: http://www.gamesradar.com/xbox360/nhl-2k9/review/nhl-2k9/a-2008091210252860879517/g-2008061216229675013
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