Hot New Video Games
By Benny Cummings
Christmas is a-comin' and it's a good time to be a gamer! Let me guide you through the latest in time-wasting excellence.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II
source:http://www.dasgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/modernwarfare221.jpg
This is the obvious blockbuster hit of the year, and possibly any year. Initial sales were expected to break all records (most of which were previously held by Grand Theft Auto IV last year), and the analysts were certainly not disappointed.
Modern Warfare 2 is by far the least traditional of the series, with the core package broken up into three main pillars of gameplay. Single-player fans have their main campaign, if you're down for more co-op gameplay either locally or via online connection you've got the new Spec Ops mode, and Modern Warfare's groundbreaking multiplayer is back, and truly better than ever. source:http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/104/1043697p1.html
Any fan of the shooter or war genre has been salivating over this release for months now. If that's your bag, this'll keep you entertained until CoD:MW III (for short) is released.
Assassin's Creed II
source:http://thegamershub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/assassins_creed_1080_3.jpg
This is the big question among the S@Y Radio hallways: "Modern Warfare 2 or Creed 2?" 2009 is clearly a year for huge sequels, and homework and production has been way down as a result. This sequel to 2007 unanimously-praised hit takes what made the original such a unique and exciting experience, and ramps it all up to 11. It picks up right where "A.C.1" left off, and uses the same historical fiction and Dan Brown-esque liberties, to create a terrific followup.
The game received a 9.2 IGN rating, which is a vast improvement over the 7.7 of the original, meaning if you liked the first one, there's no reason you won't love the further adventures.
Left 4 Dead 2
source:http://whengamessuck.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/left4dead-mar1st.jpg
Another sequel! The video game industry is starting to become Hollywood, with their neverending sequels. The difference in video games is the sequels are almost always big improvements on the originals, rather than cheap cash-ins.
Left 4 Dead 2 (too many numbers) is no exception to the above rules, once again resulting in a game that is better in every way to it's predecessor. L4D2 continues the storyline and gives you more interesting ways to dispose the hordes of undead. It's scarier than the original, and much funnier as well. If you like zombie shooters, you probably own this game already.
Band Hero / LEGO Rock Band
source:http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/104/1041639p1.html
For those of you who think that Guitar Hero and Rock Band have too much good music in them for you, Activision offers Band Hero: a collection of sugarpop and weak tunes aimed towards a younger crowd.
If you've played Rock Band or any "Hero" since World Tour, you've played better versions of this game. If your kid wants to play but you don't want him/her hearing songs about drinking and sex, this is your goldmine. They even bleep the word "whiskey" from Don McLean's American Pie!
source:http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/104/1041378p1.html
On the topic of kid's rocker games, MTV and Harmonix are not to be outdone by those bastards at Activision, and have teamed up with the ubiquitous yellow characters from LEGO, to create LEGO Rock Band. It's Rock Band, with LEGOs. That's it. The songs are more family friendly and the rockers are blocks. Take it or leave it.
Brutal Legend
source:http://techcrown.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/brutal-legend-game-bits.jpg
This is something new: a game about music that doesn't feature plastic peripherals that are too easily broken if you've been drinking! Tim Schaffer, the genious behind Grim Fandango, Day Of The Tentacle and the classic Curse Of Monkey Island, joins hilarious forces with Jack Black to create an action/adventure game in mythical, heavy-metal worlds. It's awesome, hilarious, raunchy and graphically amazing. If you like to laugh, and have no sense of decency, go get this game.
I hope this helps in your neverending quest to waste time and avoid reality. This year allows for some good ole gory fun, and the odd family-friendly rock game as well. There's something for everyone! Happy hunting.