Spartan: Total Warrior - Total Pwnage

Spartan: Total Warrior - 8/10
First thing I must say about this game is that the combat is wondeful and satisfying. The main focus of this game is on the combat and it does it well. Each level presents hordes of enemies like real army battles and it is not uncommon to see your total kill count at the end of a level exceed 200. The controls are simple to understand and present a quick learning curve. The weapons you use vary from two-swords to the Spear of Achilles, and their variety allows for you to find at least one favourite if not many. Each weapon has two Godly Powers that you can use and each weapon has the same two kinds, one for a single opponent and the other for clearing rooms. The powers themselves are quite useful, but you also have a two Rage Attacks that can be used when your rage is full, the two attacks per weapon follow in the same catagories as the godly powers. Among all these attacks that completely own your enemies, you have your basic attacks and when used in combination with special moves can form a very symbiotic relationship that will see you through a battle with 200 guys without a scratch. That is what I mean by Total Pwnage, aside from already having powerful attacks at the end of each level you get tokens that are used to improve your character.
Although you can wade through armies without to much fear initially, progression through the levels of the game will present tougher enemies and more dangerous environments; therefore you never feel like a win was handed to you on a silver platter. Every level is a battle, and every win is a war...when you fight the bosses you will know what I mean.
The games length is not very long as I finished today after starting yesterday. Though the game offers continued play in a number of arenas. In the arenas you fight wave after wave of small armies until you finally fall. Each wave is more difficult, but playing through the game allows you to unlock items which can be placed in the arena to help you win. Aside from this you can play an chapter individually once you have played through it already. This allows you to go back to those battles you loved and own the armies you hate.
The graphics in the game are relatively nice, the particles effects are great, and the character models are ok, but the gameplay more then makes up for it. The audio is also another great part of the game.
The story of the game is not bad, but you may find yourself looking to skip cut-scenes and and anything else that would actually tell you the story aside from your objectives in each level. The voice acting was well done, but the script was not great. It was clear that the goal was to make a very fun and epic RTS/RPG rather then anything really in-depth in terms of story.
Aside from the negatives I give this game a thumbs-up as I really enjoyed it and I will probably return now to play an arena battle.
Until Next.

Next Update: Conker: Live & Reloaded (kinda old I know)

You love, I love, We love Katamari, and other things

We love Katamari - 9/10
I recently succumb to curiosity and sheer popularity craze and bought the now probably well known Katamari Damacy game. I was only able to procure the sequel as the original was discontinued. Though this may be a good thing as I hear the first was not as good. Anyways on to the review. We love Katamari is a delightful game that is quite unique. The amount of unique non-violent games currently on the market are few and in between and most do not execute their ideas as beautifully as this game. The art of the game and the feel are both similar to what one would see on a major drug trip, but it makes the game all that more fun. I will explaint he basic premise of the game as I have had the same question over and over, "what do you have to do?" Well as the prince you must roll a giant ball, gathering things onto it as it grows. The larger the ball the larger the items you can pick up with it. Some levels have restrictions of on them as to how big you can make the ball, having to do it in a certain amount of time, or having to pick up certain objects. Each level presents its own set of unique challenges, but the most enjoyable level is one in which you must make your katamari as big as possible in a large amountof time. It is really quite fun starting in one small neighborhood, rolling out to small to pick up much and returning large enough to pick up the entire town. The game is quite simple and pleasant and never had me throwing a fit because a "bug" threw off my game plan. Everyone should love this game because of its innovatives, but what is also great is the fact that their is 2-player head to head. In the mode you can pick up your opponent, quite fun. Finally, I recommend you pick up this game, but alas it is only for PS2, if you dont have a PS2 go and get one and buy this game.

Lookin' For the Good Stuff

I recently came across a game that I had seen little of besides a single commercial and a reference from a friend. I had lost track of it among my school work, but have rediscovered it and I would like to share the press release for the game with you.

SEGA
Spartan: Total Warrior™

Platform: PlayStation 2; Xbox; GameCube
Category: Action/Strategy
Developer: The Creative Assembly (a SEGA development studio)
Release: Fall 2005

The first console title from The Creative Assembly, the developer of the million-unit selling Total War PC series, Spartan: Total Warrior lets players lead epic and cinematic battles as a fighter known only as The Spartan. He’s an elite soldier blessed by the Gods, immersed in titanic clashes between mighty Roman battalions and mythological monsters. Using the steel of his blade and powerful magic, The Spartan bravely rallies his countrymen to liberation. Brutal combat meets epic warfare on the war-torn fields of the ancient world as you fight for your life, your freedom and your honor. A richly detailed saga of fierce combat, Spartan: Total Warrior runs on proprietary software that makes it possible to present more than 160 detailed warriors simultaneously engaged in pitched combat. Players can wade into the thick of battle using a wide range of moves, including multiple melee and missile attacks, combos, blocks, shield charges, and evasive stances. These battles take place in massiveenvironments, from arid wastelands to full-scale cities, through dungeons over rugged mountains, and finally to the ultimate showdown in the Imperial Coliseum in Rome.

Features:
• Beautiful cinematic environments feature a wide variety of sweeping vistas,
weapons and foes that truly push the power of current generation consoles.
• More than 160 warriors merge and attack on screen simultaneously, making for
the most grandiose battles ever seen on a console.
• A wide variety of units include Roman soldiers, skeleton armies and classic
mythological creatures.
• Players can acquire new, more powerful weapons and armor, and earn favor and
powers from the gods.
• Varying mission structures present multiple objectives, including escorting,
capturing, destruction, discovery, and survival, keeping the gameplay fresh.
• Arena mode allows players to test their skills against an endless stream of
increasingly difficult foes.

I don't know about you but those features would get me hyped not to mention the videos and pictures at the main site for
Spartan: Total Warrior
Until Next, when hopefully I will have a review for you.

Giant Bugs, and Wanted Criminals

The giant bugs involve Starship Troopers, and Wanted criminals are from the latest addition to the Need for Speed line up.
The former is everything a fan boy could want from a book/movie adaptation. I was actually quite surprise at how it was pulled off since it was not crappy like many movie games. The reason could be that it followed the story of the book and not the movie. The game itself is a relatively standard fps with an array of weaponry and surface coating of storyline, but that is where the similarities end. It is quite obvious that the developer desired to bring the hordes of bugs observed in the movie to life in the game. The kill count you can obtain in any one level is more then most fps I have seen to date. The bugs really do come in swarms and their variety is both interesting, believeable, and deadly. The graphics are relatively decent, but the lack of much of any physics engine, destructible environments, or a competent save feature do play against it. This is where the cheats come in. The game employs the usual god mode and ammo refill cheats, but it includes others of which I believe is the best cheat I have ever encountered. The cheat is called EvilEye, and what it does is kill any bug you stare at, I know cool! Believe me at times you will use it and the bugs still manage to get close to you. Certain bugs with specific weak points do not die from the cheat, but I found this forgiveable.

Finally, Need For Speed: Most Wanted. I have to be honest, I have never played any other game in the series, but if I had to choose this would be the best. It is a quite appealing game with beautiful visuals and stunning cars complete with customizability. Couple of big winners with me. The story is thin, but the journey through is skill testing, every race challenges to improve further. The campaign involves you, the player, climbing the "black list", a list of the top rated street racers, and at about rank 9 I started to say, "Oh my god, I can't believe it will get harder." The game will have you constantly wheezing for air as you cross finish lines with only seconds to spare ahead of your rivals, or make daring escapes from police car pile-ups. It cannot be argued that this is not an adrenaline pumping game. If sometimes you just want to cruise in the car you have proudly built, you can and you can enjoy it with the rich environment. Just try and keep it legal or you'll have caops trailing you in no time.

That's all for now, So Until Next.
PS: I should note that I had to get Starship Troopers shipped from England, as it is not sold in Canada.