Halo: Reach

For the past decade, Bungie has been cranking out exclusive Halo titles for Microsoft since the very first XBOX.  Starting with the original Halo: Combat Evolved (2001), both Bungie and Microsoft saw overwhelming success with their interplanetary first person shooter.  Follow up titles such as Halo 2 (2004), Halo 3 (2006), Halo Wars (2009), and Halo 3: ODST have come in waves over the years, each one adding a different element to the franchise (although I fail to see what Halo Wars added).  Now, at the culmination of the series comes a prequel to the original Halo, Halo: Reach.  Reach seemingly tries to take everything that was good from past games and put it into one game, while at the same time removing those things that infuriated gamers in past titles.  While they may not succeed in making the perfect Halo game (Halo: CE is still at the top of the charts in reviewers' eyes), it is definitely a satisfactory conclusion to the decade long series that has drawn in millions of fans over the years. 

In Halo: Reach you're placed in a group of elite Spartans referred to as Noble Team.  The group is comprised of six members, each with a particular specialty such as heavy weapons, sniping/stealth, technology, etc.  You play as the nameless Noble 6 who rounds out the original group of five.  While no Master Chief, Noble 6 will eventually grow on players as a heroic character and will not only gain favor with gamers, but each player will be able to identify with Noble 6 thanks to Bungie's innovative customization options.  As in past Halo games, players can customize their Spartan to individualize themselves amongst the torrent of online players.  However, in Reach, your character not only looks unique online, but also throughout the campaign.  Immediately, I saw my character in the Reach campaign, the one I created, my Spartan.

The story for Reach is much more fleshed out than in previous games and makes an attempt at character development, however, it falls short due to the short play time.  While the campaign isn't infuriatingly short for a FPS, it definitely isn't an RPG where dialogue options are available, something that really boosts story and character development.  With that being said, some characters are very hit or miss.  Jorge (Noble 5), the heavy weapons specialist, was immediately a character that grew on me with his burly, yet teddy bear like attitude.  Unfortunately, other characters such as Catherine (Noble 2) really drove me nuts and not until towards the end of the game did I appreciate her;  I blame this in part because of the poor character development on her part, not pointing out that she had a biotic arm in place of a real one, something I had to notice myself from video cut scenes.  Another thing that made me hate Cat was her stupidity; the AI at times has to be some of the worst I've seen in a game.  At times, Cat would sit in a Warthog and stay there while I got out to shoot enemies across the map. At one point in particular, we had fought off some Hunters, yet there was still an Elite in the room.  Instead of helping me fight him off, she ran by him and stood at the objective waiting for me.  Other AI would wait in a plane for me while I seized a base, yet would communicate to me that they had my back and were going to "kill all you alien bastards."  This may be because I was playing on Legendary difficult, but regardless, Legendary is when you need the most help.

Graphically, Reach surpasses its predecessors in detail and expansive environments.  Each level is different and unique (with some exception) and really keeps you in awe of the change to the your surroundings due to the relentless invasion of the Covenant.  In some instances you'll even revisit a space that, at one point, was clean and polished, only to return and see its walls charred by flames and its ceilings blown wide open.  Minute details can be seen far off in the distance and as you get closer have a great deal of detail.  The only point at which Reach falls short graphically is its character models.  While they look exceptionally better from past games, they still pale in comparison to games such as Mass Effect 2 and Red Dead Redemption, two games, which in my opinion, have some of the best graphics I have ever seen (not to mention both are in contention for Game of the Year this year).

Despite some of Reach's set backs, who can question Halo's multiplayer experience?  Without question, the Halo franchise has always had a firm grasp on gamers as one of the most enjoyable and most widely played competitive online games.  Reach, by far surpasses each and every online Halo game to date.  With the edition of load outs, each with their own special ability (sprinting, a jet pack, active camouflage, armor lockup, drop shield, evade, hologram), multiplayer brings an element of unpredictability that has yet to be seen in the Halo series.  You never know when an enemy may fly overhead or if the enemy you're attacking is actually an enemy or a hologram.  The leveles are new and refreshing, something that was much needed since Halo 3 has gotten stale.  Gamers have the option of choosing from three different level and game type options at the start of every match.  If none of these options appeal to the players, a fourth option is available to get a new list of game types.  This makes level decision a bit more democratic and leaves the option for vetoing without the fear that you'll get stuck with "fucking Snowbound."  The ranking system is much improved using a points system like that seen in Modern Warfare, which doesn't penalize you for losing, but rather rewards you for winning and less so for losing.  By playing games, players earn points that they can spend on various customization options for their spartan such as armor, voice types, and even special effects that will occur when you die ,such as confetti flying out of your head.

While certain positive aspects can be expected of a new Halo game, such as a magnificent score and addictive online play, Reach brings new elements which are not only exciting and innovative, but breath life into a game that has plagued the XBOX for ten years.  Reach ties in the beginnings of Halo well, but at the same time makes you feel as though you're playing something fresh and new.  Customization puts you in the driver seat of not only your online character, but how you see yourself in the campaign as well.  While there are certain drawbacks like the disappointing friendly AI and the enemy AI who seemingly never runs out of ammo, the anticipation for Reach will not disappoint audiences.  The campaign is engaging and sucks you in from the beginning (I should know, I completed the game in two days); the multiplayer will have you addicted not just for competitions sake, but because there are so many more elements to it, such as a multitude of customization options and online Firefight.  Halo: Reach, much like its predecessors, is a game you won't be able to put down for months once you start and is, without doubt, a must buy for every XBOX owner.

Battlefield: Bad Company 2

Battlefield: Bad Company 2, released just this past March by EA DICE, is the much anticipated sequel to the original released in 2008.  With a returning cast of characters that include Sarge, Sweetwater, Haggard, and Preston Marlowe, gamers could expect to have a serious FPS accompanied by the humor and wit that was seen in the first Bad Company.  Added to the mix is a little more comic relief in the form of a pacifist, hippie helicopter pilot named Flynn.  The game starts out a little unexpectedly, placing you in Japan on an extraction mission just a few hours before the atomic bomb is dropped on Hiroshima.  That being said, the player is placed in 1945 as opposed to modern day, which only livens up the overall game.  EA DICE manages to toss in some older guns to keep the time line straight, but then afterward, the players returns to modern times standing amongst Bad Company as Preston Marlow.  The story line of the game, while well done, isn't nearly as fun as the first game.  In the first it is a lot of fun to go AWOL and search mercenary camps for gold, knowing that while you're in the army, they just sort of drop you and pick you up as needed.  In the second, the story line is much more heavily based on a sort of weapon of mass destruction that Special Ops has recruited you to find.  This makes the story line much more straight forward, but Bad Company is much less the "runt of the litter" that it was in the first game.  However, in the second game, the antagonist is much more sinister and plays a bigger role than the one in the first game did.

Graphically, the series has improved significantly.  The various landscapes in which you're placed are much more varied than in the first one ranging from blizzard torn tundras to lush green jungles riddled with trip wire explosives.  While the campaign of Bad Company 2 is significantly shorter than Bad Company, these creative environments help to spice up the single player experience and make it just as enjoyable.  Certain things are a bit choppy such as shadows that seem overly pixel-like, which tends to distract from the incredible textures and lighting on the guns and various other elements in the game.  Ground textures for the most part are pretty good especially in the snow and desert, but the jungle environments consist of flat leaves and twigs plastered to the ground.  The character figures in the game are more or less the same, but look a little sharper than their predecessors.  Certain things still feel a little off, but nevertheless it isn't a huge issue.  Visually I didn't run into any glitches like I did in the last game, I never saw my team mates flying through the air or anything of the sort.

The controls in Bad Company 2 are much more friendly than in the first release.  The controls have adapted to what is more common nowadays, placing the melee attack with a click of the right joystick and making use of the "Y" button to switch weapons.  On that note, the weapons system has had a huge change.  Where in the first you were limited to a set of weapons, either containing an assault rifle with a grenade launcher, a sniper with a pistol, a light machine gun with grenades, etc., in the second you have something called supply crates.  Every so often when you come to a check point there will be a supply crate which is filled with every gun you have yet to find in the game.  Furthermore, you are allowed to take two weapons with you, no matter what they are, enabling me to carry around my sniper and assault rifle combo.  The gadgets in the game have taken a step down and aren't nearly as common or numerous as they were in the first game.  Gadgets are also only provided to you when they are needed, as opposed to always being at your disposal.  While this makes the game slightly less interesting, it also makes it more challenging.

Destructive environments still play a key roll to Bad Company's game play, but the feature has been upgraded from two years ago.  Where in the first game basic structures such as supports, roofs, and the like were the only things that could be left standing, now even those basic elements can be torn down.  If you wait too long undercover of a house being bombarded with explosives, be sure that the roof will eventually collapse on top of you and kill you (In fact, there's an achievement in online multiplayer that you receive for getting twenty kills in such a way).  As in the first game, with destructive environments comes great sound, which has also been upgraded to Dolby Digital in Bad Company 2.  Sound is incredible making your every movement life like and making every situation, whether it be fleeing from an aerial drop or slowly creeping down a jungle river, that much more intense and suspenseful. While the sound effects have gotten better, unfortunately, the music has taken a hit and, while still impressive, isn't nearly as fun or creative as in the first game; it just ain't got no flava.

The AI of the game is a lot better than in the first game.  Stealth is much easier without super soldiers lurking around every corner in a tank.  In several instances you actually have to sneak up behind someone and take them out without anyone noticing.  The best example of this is a moment when the squad comes upon a sniper post outside of a military encampment.  After silently taking out the sniper, two of your squad mates approach the camp masked by darkness, rain, and thunder.  As they approach, you use your sniper to take out all the guards in their way.  However, in the dead of night, a sniper is something that makes a lot of noise. "Sarge: Time it and use the thunder to mask the sound of your sniper shots.  Sweetwater: Is it bad that I wish I had thought of that?  Sarge: Yes."  AI still has some difficulty, however, in concerns to your squad mates.  I understand that while playing on hard I am supposed to receive less help from them, but I expect them to at least run to cover.  Several instances placed me under fire, waiting for my squad members to reach a me because they had decided to walk instead of RUN.  This wasn't a particular issue throughout most of the game, but was a bit of an annoyance at times.

The multiplayer experience is much more polished than in the first, making everything seem a bit more organized and structured.  There are four classes players can play as, Assault, Engineer, Medic, and Recon, all of which have their own unique weapons, upgrades, and special abilities.  This style combines the cutomization of the Modern Warfare 2 online multiplayer with a load out system much like can be seen in Team Fotress 2 or the upcoming Halo: Reach.  Multiplayer maps are just as huge as the first, pitting you against several players in various missions which either involve planting bombs, capturing locations, or just killing everything in sight.  The server also seems to be relatively smooth seeing as how I have experienced little to no lag at all, even while my computer is hooked up to the internet and downloading things.

Overall, Battlefield: Bad Company 2 is a worthy successor to Battlefield: Bad Company.  Although it doesn't have everything players loved about the first game, such as music and play time, it manages to suck you in just the same.  The members of Bad Company are just as loveable if not more so than in the first and really make you feel like you could just go out and have a drink with them.  Graphics are a little choppy in areas, but overall are stunning.  The sound, as always, is incredible and simulates each and every beautiful environment to a "T."  While the campaign is short (and also less difficult) than the first, the multiplayer is something that is sure to suck you in with its immense maps and epic battles.  Bad Company 2 is a game I highly recommend to anyone who loves first-person shooters and, as the hype has said time and time again, is a worthy competitor to the Modern Warfare series.  In conclusion, I would like to leave you with my favorite quote from the game: 

"Sarge: Hags, come on now, if you leave, no more T-Bone steaks, now.  Preston: Yeah, no more buying AR-15 ammo at the mall.  Sweetwater: No more shootin' trespassers on your porch. Sarge: No more biscuits and gravy.  Sweetwater: No more Super Bowl Sundays... No more Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders.  Haggard: Shiiiiiiiiiiiit.  That's terrible.  Get outta my way!  Gotta save me some cheerleaders." 

Battlefield: Bad Company

"Capitalist pigs, very nice"

Battlefield: Bad Company, released in 2008 by EA DICE, is a first-person shooter (FPS) that places you as a soldier, Private Preston Marlowe, as the fresh meant to a squad called Bad Company.  First off, let me say, thank you for finally making a war FPS with lovable characters, a solid story line, and a main character that you actually feel connected to.  Now, don't get me wrong, in the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare franchise, there's a solid story.  However, the story gets complicated and a little muddy, especially in the second one.  Not to mention that you could give two shits about whether or not your character dies.  In BF: BC, you genuinely care about the character you play as.  Not only that, but you probably care more about your three squad mates: Sweetwater, Haggard, and Sarge.  Because of this unique cast of characters, each has a distinct personality, which makes the dialogue great as well.  One of the first examples of this is a cut scene early on in the game that causes you to pass out.  While looking at a black screen, you hear this: Haggard: Oh look. New guy's dead. Sweetwater: Already? I was just about to learn his name. Haggard: I think it was probably Joe. Usually is. Sarge: His name's Preston. Preston Marlowe. And he's not dead. Right, soldier?  Later on in the game, you get separated from your squad and have to figure out what their location is.  Without them, the entire mission feels incredibly lonely, especially without Haggard yammering on about who would win in a fight: Truckasaurus or a tank.  One of my favorite conversations goes as follows: Sweetwater: Sarge, Haggard's running away again! Sarge: Hold on, something ain't right. Sweetwater: I know, look at him, he runs like a girl. Sarge: No, not that.  I'm talking about something else.

The story places you in Bad Company in Eastern Europe to do some final missions before Sarge retires.  After your first mission, you stumble upon a solid gold bar the was smuggled by the mercenaries you have been fighting.  Haggard, being the maniac he is, instantly gets gold fever and starts firing his gun in the air in a neutral zone looking for the gold.  After you manage to get him back, the army informs you that they've dropped you and you will not be able to be extracted.  With this news, Sarge decides that Bad Company may as well go AWOL and search for the gold.  The rest of the story bats you back and forth between working for the army and trying to find the gold.  Outside of the single player campaign, although I have yet to play it in the first one, the multi-player is incredibly fun with large scale maps and several enemies, as is common to the Battlefield name.

The controls for the game are a little different from what a lot of people are used to, such as melee attacks with the knife being switched to the Y button and switching weapons being changed to the right bumper.  However, basic controls such as firing and aiming being placed to the right and left triggers respectively remain the same.  There's a vast assortment of weapons that can be found throughout the game and are considered "Collectibles;" finding  five, 50%, and 100% of them will each earn you an achievement.  One downside to the weapon system is that you are forced to swap out both your primary and secondary weapon upon switching weapons.  Most assault rifles will come with a secondary of a grenade launcher and snipers will come with a pistol.  I typically like to keep a sniper on me and an assault rifle if I can, however, in BF: BC, this isn't an option.  They manage to make up for it a bit with giving you special items, or gadgets, such as the MRTR-5, a GPS transmitter which can lock onto any area, enemy or otherwise, within a certain range and send a barrage of missiles to that location.  This is incredibly useful, but makes certain parts of the game a little too easy, even on hard.  

However, while playing through the game, I was incredibly grateful to have it because of the artificial intelligence (AI).  The AI seems to be either incredibly stupid or the best soldier that has ever lived.  Some enemy soldiers will be standing right on top of you and do nothing, whereas others, especially tanks, will be able to spot you among trees from a mile away and pick you off no problem (making a stealth approach to the game nearly impossible).  This is especially infurating if you have a long ways to go until your next save point.  If you die, you re-spawn at your last save area, which is useful if you're put right outside of the action, however, other times it will put you miles away from the enemies without a vehicle. Other times, the save points will literally spawn you side-by-side with an enemy, which can be easily frustrating seeing as how half the time enemies are much quicker with their instant kill knife attacks than you are.

The graphics of BF: BC aren't incredible with today's standards, but are still pretty impressive.  The whole game seems to be in sort of a grainy film, giving everything a very rough texture, which is distracting at first, but eventually you get used to it.  Human models look relatively accurate, although the facial features, especially the eyes, seem a bit odd.  However, with your character from the FPS perspective, everything seems spot on.  Grenade throws are heavy, it takes an effort to reload, and when swimming, you can see your hands stroking the water in front of you.  One innovation that helped BF: BC tremendously graphically is their destructive environments.  Nearly everything in the game can be knocked down, save for basic structures of buildings, rocks, etc.  Entire houses can be blown through, forests can be demolished, and even the ground you walk or drive on can have giant craters blown into by a tank that is trying to hit you.  This aspect, while incredibly realistic, is also incredibly fun.  Several times I would know an enemy was in a building, but instead of risking going through the front door and him having the upper hand, I just took my grenade launcher and blew a hole in the wall (Click on the image on the left for a better look at what I'm talking about).  

With all the destruction around you, the sound is also incredibly well done, further emphasizing the war time feel.  Everything sounds incredibly realistic from the shuffling of your boots to trees falling over; from enemies shouting out to their comrades to a nearby gas tank exploding behind you.  This game truly benefits from a surround sound system and really makes me happy that I shelled out to get a good one.  Not to mention that the soundtrack of the game is a lot of fun and manages to keep a light hearted feel to the game, even though you may be at the brink of possible destruction.

Here's the theme song to the game.  Swanky, huh?

Battlefield: Bad Company, although a couple of years old, is an incredibly satisfying game.  In fact, I bought the second, released this past March, before I bought the first.  After playing it a bit, I realized that the story was good and I should buy the first one.  Luckily, I found it for only $10 at a Blockbuster that was closing.  I have to say it was one of the better game purchases I have ever made.  Going through on hard right now I have already spent about ten hours playing and just got to the final mission of the game.  While there were a few visual glitches, such as things flying high into the sky and my squad mates essentially flying to a vehicle from yards away, most of them were minor.  The real problem in BF: BC is the AI.  However, this problem is overshadowed by the incredible sound, the great cast and storyline, as well as the superbly executed destructive environments.