Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Duke Nukem Forever Has Gone Gold!

I never thought this day would come.  It has been announced that Duke Nukem Forever is done and gone to print.  Now it is only a matter of weeks until we can play the game that has been over a decade in the making.  There is no way it can live up to the hype monster it has become, but hopefully it's a blast regardless.  I can't wait to receive my Balls of Steel edition in the mail.

On a separate note, I was in a location in which I had no internet for a week (with work as an exception).   Apologies for the complete lack of updates.  I'll be looking to update at least once a week.  Thanks.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Zombie Week Redux: Wednesday - Plants Vs. Zombies

Many of you have probably already played Pop Cap's puzzle/defense game Plants vs. Zombies, but in case you haven't I'm here to let you know a bit more about it.  PvZ is a delightful game available for the iPhone, iPad, and PC/Mac.  The objective is to prevent the hilarious zombie horde from entering your home and eating your brains.  Your faithful friends, plants, are here to protect you.  You acquire sun power to help generate more plants to keep your home (and brains) safe.  The zombie characters are very well done, and the plants abilities and names are well thought out.  This is a game that I thought I would never enjoy, but became addicted to it like crack.  If you don't own it already, pick it up for any platform.  You do, however, get more content in the PC/Mac version of the game.  There are various mini games that you do not have access to in the iOS version.  Though no matter what you play it on, you'll have a blast.

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Steam Sale: EA Games

I know that this is coming late in the week, but EA has been having games on sale all week.  Currently Battlefield: Bad Company 2 is $6.80.  That's less than I spend at Starbucks.  This is an incredible deal if you're a PC gamer.  The new Medal of Honor game is also just $14.99.  If you've got the early May blues, (I have no idea what that even means) go pick up one of these games now.  Why are you still reading this? Go!  The sale is almost over!

Apologies

Life has gotten in the way in the last week.  I have a new computer, new camera, had an anniversary, took engagement photos, etc.  I will be resuming zombie week this week, and will have more to say about the gaming world.  I apologize to anyone who has been following.  There will be more to come, and soon.  Cheers.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Zombie Week: Tuesday - Dead Rising 2

Dead Rising 2 puts you into a world where the zombie apocalypse has already happened once.  You assume the role of Chuck Greene, a man who only has his daughter to live for.  Chuck lost his wife when the zombies came, and lives with the feeling that he could have done more.

The game takes place in Fortune City (a little Las Vegas), and you start off on a zombie killing game show.  The undead have become a part of normal life, but they are contained..... err, were contained.  The game begins with another zombie outbreak (a la 28 Weeks Later).  Chuck is desperate to find his daughter.

The name of the game is very much the same.  If you have played Dead Rising, the sequel will make you feel very at home.  You fight your way though the strip and through casinos to find medication for your daughter, save survivors, and complete missions.  Dead Rising 2 allows you to combine weapons on a workbench to create more durable and powerful weapons.  It doesn't seem to get old slaughtering zombies with a baseball bat with nails driven through it.

You can beat, smash, slice, and chainsaw your way though your foes.  The goal of the game is to keep your daughter alive, and survive 3 days until the military arrives for support.  You can do this all by yourself, or with a friend.  The co-op aspect of the game helps to bring a lot more replayability to the game.  There is also a mode to play the zombie reality show "Terror is Reality".  In this mode you must complete various objectives throughout, and achieve the highest score.

All in all, Dead Rising 2 is a great zombie game.  Since it is no longer brand new you can pick it up on the cheap.  Dead Rising 2 is available for the PS3, Xbox 360, and PC.

Monday, May 2, 2011

Zombie Week: Monday - Left 4 Dead 2

Left 4 Dead 2 is a phenomenal zombie game.  It puts you and three of your closest friends against a world full of the infected.  You fight your way through the American south using shotguns, rifles, sub-machine guns, and an assortment of melee weapons.  You must stick with your friends, or face certain death if you choose to go it alone.  Whether you play the game solo, or online, you have three other players at your side.  Playing the game in single player mode has your friends controlled by the AI, where as online you can play with other living, breathing human beings.  This is where the fun starts.  The game has the ability to make your experience vary each time you play it.  I'll get into that more in a bit.

There are a few different ways to play L4D2.  You can play solo with computer pals, online with friends, and competitively playing the Versus game mode.  No matter which mode you choose, you'll be playing through the same campaigns.  There are swamps, cities, and neighborhoods to fight your way through the zombie horde.  You have between three and five chapters to make it through in each campaign.  The goal of each chapter is to make it to the next safe house.  Within the safe houses are weapons, ammo, and health packs.  Once in the safe house you can not be attacked.  Nick, Ellis, Coach, and Rochelle are the personalities you'll be playing as in L4D2.  Each have their own distinct personality which you'll come to know as you're being overwhelmed by the living dead.

Left 4 Dead 2 has more than just your standard, run of the mill, zombies.  There are "Special Infected" in L4D2. These are zombies that appear to have mutated in some way or another.  These mutations act as unique traits and abilities for the Special Infected.  They consist of the Smoker, Spitter, Charger, Boomer, Jockey, Hunter, Witch, and Tank.  The Smoker has a long tongue that it can use to constrict the Survivors from long distances.  The Charger will pick you up and ram you away from your friends, and pulverize your squishy pink body into the ground.  Oh, and you'll know the Tank when you see him.  While playing the Versus game mode, one team plays as the Survivors, and the other as the Special Infected.  The goal of the Survivors is to make it to the safe house, and the goal of the Special Infected is, you guessed it, killing the Survivors.  Just as the Survivors need to stick together to survive, the Special Infected must attack as a team to succeed.  No one Jockey can take on four survivors alone.

The game now has eight different campaigns to play through.  Each campaign varies in the time it takes to complete.  They last between 30 and 60 minutes depending on the difficulty, and the number of chapters.  The way that the game stays interesting is because of our friend the "Director".  The Director pays attention to how you're playing the game and how well you're doing.  If you're breezing through the game, the Director will throw some more zombies your way.  If you're having a hard time of it, it might back off a bit.  This helps keep the game fresh, and ensure that you never play a level the same way twice.

Did I mention this game has zombies?  Oh, it has 'em alright.  Loads of them.  Zombies as far as the eye can see, and it never seems to get old fighting your way through them.  I highly recommend this game if you enjoy playing with others.  This game is best served with one or more friends, but recommended with a full team of four.  Though you do have the option of finding other zombie slayers, like yourself, randomly online.  If this remotely sounds like fun, pick up Left 4 Dead 2 on the PC, Mac, and Xbox 360.  Check back tomorrow for the next featured game of Zombie Week.  Happy zombie killing.

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Zombie Week Starts Tomorrow

Let this be your final warning.  The zombies are coming.  Protect yourselves and your loved ones.  Board up the windows, barricade your doors, and aim true against your foes.  Tomorrow marks the first wave.  Check back to see the first featured game of the week.  I'm sure I'll sneak in some other zombie related stuff..... like the video at the bottom of the post.  Enjoy!