It’s my birthday!!


Well today is the day I received the veteran edition of XBOX 360 game

Call of Duty : Modern Warfare 2

Now this features the game, in a steel case complete with hardback art book, a downloadable version of the original Call of Duty, and most importantly a brilliant sculpture of character ‘Soap’ McTavish.  Here’s a pic of the statue – pretty sweet if you ask me!  My usual first-impressions of the game will be following soon!

Thanks go out to all who gave money / vouchers towards the purchase of this collector’s item and also many thanks for birthday wishes and cards etc!!!  I’m having a great day and it can only get better!!

Soap-Statue

Whilst waiting for GTA4


Well until the great day arrives, with the imminent arrival of Grand Theft Auto 4, which is pretty much guaranteed to kick all sorts of ass, I am revisiting some games in my collection I’ve allowed to gather dust.  They are namely: 

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess 

Metroid Prime 3: Corruption 

Assassin’s Creed

between online bouts of Halo 3 and Call of Duty 4, oh and trying to progress in Zack & Wiki.

To be honest, I am mainly playing Zelda…which is a fine game and probably next to Super Mario Galaxy, a gem for the Wii right now.  It just pulls me in once I take the time to concentrate on its well polished but devious gameplay.  I also hope to progress a little further in Metroid also, as last time I played it, I recall getting well and truly stuck.  Grr. 

Assassin’s Creed on the other hand, despite superb graphics, just feels a bit boring – maybe I’ll trade it in, along with Rainbow Six Vegas (which I have completed) and perhaps Project Gotham Racing 4 – which just feels rather tiresome too…yes its pretty, but doesn’t grab me like Test Drive Unlimited did (and still does).

…roll on Grand Theft Auto 4 due out in the UK on 29 April 2008

Answering the call


cod4pic2.jpg

I just had to write a few words of apreciation for what is undoubtably one of the finest experiences I have yet had in a videogame.  Infinity Ward’s exceptional Call of Duty 4 is one of the best designed, most stunning looking games on the 360 so far, and is packed with intelligent, mature real-world warfare gameplay topped with a glossy Hollywood action movie sheen.  The creators of what is easily the best war series available (not including COD 3 or any other COD spin-off not made by Infinity Ward), this latest entry jumps from the previous World War 2 settings to moden day action, and it gives the series a breath of life…and a polish & immediacy that I admit to being surprised by.  To think I had hesitated buying this game with reports the single-player campaign was too short. (for me it lasted just the right amount of time, with 3 acts and over a dozen varied missions, that warrant several replays just for their stellar experience alone (a fave being ‘All Ghilled Up’) .  Add to this an addictive, and deep multiplayer experience, that is surely the most fun I have had on XBOX Live thus far (even if I do rubbish!), with an Arcade Mode for high score retreads of your fave missions to brag to friends with – this package has the lot.  Not since Half-Life 2 have I come away from a game so satisfied. 

What it does right:

Variety – not every mission is the same

Story – unlike some war games, you’re not recreating famous battles – u have a POINT and you are a specific character (in this case, two characters).

Maturity – some shocks and twists will knock you sideways.

Presentation – Infinity Ward should get a stack of awards for one of the best looking & sounding games yet.

What it does wrong:

Linearity –  sometimes you can feel a bit ‘lead by the hand’ – not much room to make your own path.

Difficulty – Some missions seem too easy on default setting – to the point you can sometimes feel your squad are doing all the work for you.

Longevity – some missions could be longer.