-Dave

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KEY FEATURES:

• Power-ups that Shock Your Socks off – Drivers will collect and use addictive and intense Power-ups throughout each race, including the ability to blast other cars out of the way with huge bursts of energy, boost speed with Nitros, drop mines and even generate defensive shields to fend off other racers. Players can use each Power-up independently on the fly, or stack three of the same and combo them strategically to multiply the effect on the competition.

• Racing for All Gamers – Blur moves beyond traditional racers by taking genre staples, including licensed cars, photo-realistic graphics and real-world locations and combining them with gameplay designed completely to focus on ‘fun’, featuring intuitive pick-up-and-play controls, a unique and innovative social network style user interface, intense Power-ups, and races where players are always in the pack challenging for the lead from beginning to end. Blur is for all types of gamers, regardless of experience or skill level.

• Social Network Interface – Blur’s new, innovative social network user interface is designed to evolve dynamically as players compete in different races, make new friends, rivals and fans, and connect with other racers both in game and in real life. Gamers interact with one another through messaging, trading opinions, challenges and images, and learn what’s going on in the Blur world, including locating where and when the next big races are happening, rallying their fans for support, and taking up challenges designed to suit their favorite racing style.

• It Wouldn’t Be Racing Without Multiplayer – Blur offers gamers a new kind of racing experience that allows them to race with friends and as part of a network of players in high intensity competition and fun. The game supports competitive and cooperative gameplay, including team and objective based race events, and also features 4 player split-screen for playing with friends from the comfort of the couch. Blur also introduces Custom Groups – where anyone can create unique multiplayer modes based on their favorite ways to play the game. These new modes are then shared through Blur’s social network, expanding the game in ways only limited by the gaming community’s creativity.

• Real-World Cars and Locations – Blur features over 50 licensed cars to drive as players race through visually stunning tracks set in real-world locations ranging from L.A. and San Francisco to the streets of Hackney, UK, to the treacherous roads of Barcelona and all the way to Japan. As players progress through the game’s story, they’ll be able to unlock and purchase multiple versions of the cars, each paying homage to different racing cultures, including Rat, Drift, Smooth and Tuner, and each with their own specific performance pros and cons.

• Cinematic Destruction Meets Photo-Realism – CAUTION! – Racers may experience insane collisions featuring loads of damage and destruction, with panels crumpling on photo-realistic cars as they flip and roll down the track.

Publisher: Activision Publishing, Inc.

Developer: Bizarre Creations

Release Date: Fall 2009

Platforms: Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, and Games for Windows®.

SRP: $59.99 – Xbox 360

ESRB Rating: “RP” (Rating Pending – expected E10+)

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You play as Will, a pilot based out of Nassau, Bahamas, who takes a job from a former lover, Ava, in 1938. While flying through the Bermuda Triangle, you witness a UFO when a freak storm erupts that transports you to another dimension controlled by a race of beings called the Watchers. These aliens claim that the Earth is theirs and that humans are nothing more than a slave race for them. Shortly after crashing, you lose track of Ava and spend the rest of the 14 levels trying to find her, help the shipwrecked humans fight for their lives and stave off an alien invasion of Earth.

Dark Void is your typical third person shooter. Find bad guys and shoot them. The main difference from other games of the genre is the flight mechanics of the jetpack that you receive shortly after losing Ava. Instead of platforming by jumping, you have to use the jetpack to fly around the massive levels. Flying can be a bit tricky and does take a bit of getting used to, but the challenge comes from the “vertical fights.” There are parts where you have to control Will through a series of ledges while fighting the Watchers. Basically, you hang from a ledge while firing your weapons up or down toward the enemy depending on your point of view. While a great idea, which caused a lot of talk last year, there weren’t enough segments in the game that this type of fighting could really cause a WOW factor.

While progressing through the three episodes you meet allies such as Nikola Tesla, a scientist, and Atem, native of Dark Void. They give you information about where you are and what needs to be done to not only protect to inhabitants of the Void, but also Earth itself. As you play, you will pick up six upgradable weapons. Each weapons and the jetpack can be upgrade three levels to increase damage, range, power, etc. The best gun is a Watcher grenade launcher, which can usually kill with one shot, but you will most likely end up using the Watchers rifle due to better odds of ammo drops.

Also, be on the lookout for the 57 journals of survivors spread out over the levels. These journals tell the story of Dark Void’s inhabitants and survivors such as Amelia Earhart. Collecting the journals gives you a sense of story and an achievement, but other than that, they are useless.

If you are looking for a game that will give you a lot of gamerscore in a short playthrough then consider picking up Dark Void. You will seriously finish this highly anticipated game in less than 7 hours, but at least you’ll have fun for those few hours.

ESRB Rating: Teen
Avg. playtime: 7 hours
One-time playthrough Gamerscore: 805
Replay value: moderate
Multiplayer: no

-Tim Fischer
Managing Editor
Gamertag: porkroll1711

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Bioshock 2 takes us back to the undersea city of Rapture ten years after the end of the first game. You play as a Big Daddy in search of his Little Sister, but not just any Big Daddy. You are the first ever created somehow brought back to life. As the original person to assume the role of the gigantic protector of the Little Sisters, progressing though the 8 massive levels of the game you come to realize that not only is there so much more to who you are, but that the main antagonist, Sofia Lamb, is also not what she seems. Lamb has been kidnapping young girls for years to supplement the aging Little Sister population. You’re ties to her and the Little Sister that you have come in search of becomes apparent as you play through the game.

2K Games spent the last few years expanding on the already spectacular city under the ocean. While none of Bioshock 2 takes place in the locations of the original Bioshock, the developers have done a great job carrying over the feel of the first game. The art deco environments look spectacular even through the entire city is in disarray. Whether you are walking around the slums of Pauper Drop or the supposed glamour of Fontaine Futuristics, you can’t help but wonder how Rapture would have looked in its glory days.

Not only were there new locations created for the sequel, but new enemies as well. All four of the Splicers are back as well as the Big Daddies. They have amped up a bit more on ADAM over the ten years making the Splicers a bit more formidable especially the Spider Splicers. Three new and very powerful enemies make their debut: Brute Splicers, Alpha Series, and Big Sisters. Brute Splicers are tanks with massive physical strength, the Alpha Series are the new Big Daddies without Little Sisters to worry about, and the Big Sisters are very powerful and fast opponents, which will attack without mercy.

The gameplay for Bioshock 2 is pretty much the same as the first game: instructions are given to you over the radio by allies for you to follow and separate exploration of the levels. Many of the missions given to you by your ally, Sinclair, have you disabling transmitters, defeating enemies, or simply finding ways to bypass obstacles. You will also hear from the little sister who is all grown up, Eleanor, on some objectives.

Taking over the role of a Big Daddy also gives you the abilities that gave many players so much trouble while fighting against the Big Daddies in the first Bioshock. You start with a drill and quickly earn the rivet gun. By the end of the game, you will also have a rocket launcher, machine gun, spear gun, and shotgun to choose from for fighting off the Splicers. The Power to the People stations makes a return appearance from the first Bioshock to enable up to 14 upgrades to your weapons. Each weapon can be upgraded up to three times. However, this time there are not enough stations to upgrade every weapon so you have to be wise about how you use the upgrades.

Researching and hacking are back as well. Instead of a one-shot film camera, you get a video camera to capture the bad guys in action to increase your damage against them and earn tonics. Hacking ammo, vending and health machines will ensure that you do not blow through the money you find too fast. Thankfully, the hacking mini game has changed. All you have to do is press a button when a moving needle passes over a green or blue section on a bar. Land on the white and you’ll get a shock losing some health; land on the red and an alarm will go off alerting security drones.

This wouldn’t be a Bioshock game without Plasmids. Those fantastic powers with names like Telekinesis, Incinerate, Winter Blast, Electro Bolt, Scout, and Decoy are back and as powerful as ever. Using Winter Blast to freeze and enemy before bashing his head in or Incinerate to fry off some health will help you fight your way through the game. While you don’t have to have every of the 11 Plasmid in order to advance through the levels, make sure Telekinesis, Incinerate, Winter Blast and Electro Bolt are in your inventory. They help immensely.

You can purchase and upgrade Plasmids with ADAM at the Gatherer Garden machines. ADAM can be obtained by either saving or harvesting the Little Sisters you encounter. However, there is a new twist: since you are Big Daddy, you can adopt the Little Sisters after you defeat the other Big Daddy protecting them. This way they can harvest ADAM from the dead for you. After they are finished, you’ll have the choice of saving the Little Sister or harvesting them. Be aware that whatever your choice is after you take care of the Little Sisters in each level you will have to face a Big Sister. Make sure you stuck up on ammo before she arrives.

Moral choices play a larger role this time around then they did in the last game. How you treat the Little Sisters and the “bosses” will influence how much ADAM you get and the ending. Remember that your decisions will influence Eleanor as well. She becomes instrumental at the end of the game.

The major difference between Bioshock 2 and Bioshock is the inclusion of multiplayer. There are 10 levels taken from the first Bioshock like Arcadia and the Medical Pavilion in which you can play Survival of the Fittest (deathmatch), Capture the Sister (capture the flag), ADAM Grab 9kill of the hill), and a few other play modes. The entire multiplayer experience is set in a time period before the fall of Rapture. You are a Splicer who tests the Plasmids and weapons you’ll earn as you level up on other Splicers and Big Daddies.

While you are originally a Splicer, you can find a suit that will turn you into a Big Daddy in most of the matches. You can also hack machines for ammo and eve as well as booby-trap them against other players. One of the more innovative aspects of the multiplayer is researching opponents that have been killed. After researching them, you gain a damage increase against them. This could mean the difference during a head-to-head fight.

I liked my return trip to Rapture. Being a Big Daddy was fun. The story was solid, but not as memorable as the first Bioshock. The environment, while gorgeous, wasn’t as shocking as the first time, but that may be because I was ready for it. Those who have not player Bioshock will probably get more from Bioshock 2, but overall I think it was a solid and fun, if not slightly predictable, sequel.

ESRB Rating: Mature          Avg. playtime: Story -10 hours          One-time playthrough Gamerscore: 760

Replay value: Story –Moderate; Multiplayer -High          Multiplayer: Yes

-Tim Fischer
Managing Editor
Gamertag: porkroll1711

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The story in the game is very simple; aliens are trying to take over your planet and you’re fighting back. As you go from level to level, you will encounter very different types of aliens that become hard to defeat and come in greater numbers. The boss battles get progressively harder, too. The story mode is the full story mode, including the Plutonium Pak, from the original computer game. XBLA didn’t jip us on the good story which was a big plus.

As for the online play, Duke Nukem 3D can get really intense. One of the biggest drawbacks of the online play is that you cannot pick what level or how many people you want to play. However, other platforms had more online game options like capture the flag and tag. For what Duke Nukem 3D has in the way of online play for the 360, it’s still pretty good if you can find enough people to play with online. This game also has and option for system link and online Co-OP

Overall, this is a very good XBLA game. Story mode is very good, but the online play could have been done better.

Genre: First-Person Shooter    Developer(s): 3D Realms (Apogee Software)    Publisher: Take-Two   Microsoft Points: 800

-Jesse Large

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Bayonetta is a stylish action game made by SEGA and Hideki Kamiya. The main story surrounds a witch with powers that are extraordinary.  The enemies in the game are angelic and since you character is a witch, well you kind of see where this is going to go. The game itself is an all out action title with hordes of enemies to fight. There are many outlandish finishing moves which are graceful and awe-inspiring. This game has a pace and speed to it that you have to experience; we strongly recommend that you download the demo and try the game. This game is like Devil May Cry with a little Ninja Giaiden and some Afro Samurai mixed in. There is a commonality between these games that you can understand the similarities.  All in all Bayonetta is a good investment and I would recommend the game.

The combat mechanics and game play are stylish and immersive. Kamiya and his development team should be honored for this great game and their contributions to the industry.

The design and game graphics are very immersive and captivating. This game pushes the upper limits of the XBOX 360 and would be a great addition to any game collection. The audio and sound effects could have been thought out a little better. We think that the sound design for this game could have been more relevant to the genre.

The Bayonetta story is about the balance between lightness and darkness.  Long ago there were two clans, the lumen sages and the umbra witches. These two groups balanced out the light and darkness respectivly. The lumen aligned with the god of Paradiso and controlled the power of light. The Umbra channel their power from the demons of inferno, they watched over the power of the darkness.  There was a time when both clans had respect for each other, but a tragic event caused the two clans to enter into a war. At the end of this war the only one left standing was the Umbra witch: Bayonetta.

One of the most interesting things aspect of the story is how the two clans are portrayed. The Umbra witches are not intrinsically evil as much as they are important for the balance and order of the universe.  Basically, the synopsis of the game is it is about Bayonetta killing angelic hordes and legions. However, the feel of doing such things doesn’t make you feel evil or diabolical. This is what the life purpose of Bayonetta.

After playing through the game you will come to the conclusion that she is one of the coolest female characters.  The game highlights her sexuality at every opportunity possible moment.  There are some areas of the story that certainly do leave room for improvement, like the plot. The story is kind of all over the place and at times it feels like a loose translation from some Japanese manga story versus a well crafted interconnected sequence of storylines. Other games like Modern Warfare 2 and Mass Effect have a much better conceived storyline and perspective.

The combat system is that of any typical action game. The face buttons control punch, kick and fire.  The right trigger button controls causes Bayonetta to dodge in any direction. This is seriously an important feature to master when playing the game.

Learning the timing to dodge attacks is important. This will help your survivability and overall mastery of the game.  There is a feature called witch time and it is implemented very well. It enables the user of witch time to move Bayonetta at incredible speeds while your enemy is trapped in a sluggish modality.

Bayonetta also has some nasty tricks up her sleeve.  The witch can equip weapons on her hands and feet as well giving her a propensity for maximum damage. There are awesome weapons to discover going through this game like the, demonic katana, clawed gauntlets and ice skates. The glow from the katana is cool and the overall flexibility of the game is a joy to play. There are a mega amount of combos and at first they might seem overwhelming. It does take a few rounds of gameplay to settle on what would for your style of playing. Just pounding one button will work, however, not at the advanced levels.  My favorite types of attacks are the Torture attacks. Depending on the type of angle you use these kinds of attacks on will result in many different outcomes.  I also like summoning a Guillotine and pulverizing angelic opponents (just kidding, god forgive me).

The replayability of this game is very high as you earn halos to buy items and weapons at the ingame shop called “Gates of Hell”. There is plenty to buy in Bayonetta from the dealer Rodin, he is the demonic arms dealer. There are restorative lollipops and battle accessories that make sense of the combination moves in the game.

There is a far share of boss battles in the game as well. All of which are most entertaining. Bayonetta will not only face bosses that are her own size, but she’ll also go up against “Cardinal Virtues”, agents of Paradiso. These are agents that represent the most powerful extensions of divine will and authority.  These showdowns are not only entertaining, but also demonstrate Bayonetta’s amazing finishing moves. In some of these moves she summons the demons from inferno to end the battle. These climax events are similar to the attacks employed on lesser angles, but they occur on a much grander scale.

<Spoilers!!!!!!!*************************************************************>

It is very much worthwhile to point out that the final climatic moments of the game are very well worth all of the necessary achievement whoring.  I have played thousand of video games and I truly found the end boss battle extraordinary. By the closing sequences if you are not a advocate then you need a personality transplant.

I enjoyed my time with Bayonetta and would recommend the game to anyone who liked Devil may Cry, Ninja Giaden and or Dead Space.

Key Game Features:

• String together deadly combos and special attacks to bring down angelic enemies, including small minions and gigantic behemoths
• Rely on Scarborough Fair, a collection of four enchanted guns, plus shotguns, bazookas and fiery claws
• Retrieve a variety of other weapons from fallen enemies
• Fill up the Magic gauge and unleash your powers to banish enemies to hell
• Use linked combo attacks and Bayonetta‘s hair to call demonic forces to your aid in battle
• Transform into a panther, bat or other life form depending on the circumstances
• Employ the Iron Maiden, Guillotine and other gruesome devices to finish off monstrous foes
• For 1 player

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The Bible’s Book of Revelations tells the story of the end of the modern world brought forth by the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse with the breaking of seven seals, which then leads to a holy war between Heaven and Hell. Sounds like the making of a great video game.

Vigil Games has taken this prophecy and given it a twist: What if all but the last seal were broken and one of the Four Horsemen was blamed for the resulting war? Welcome to Darksiders. Human population 0.

You play as the character War, one of the Four Horsemen, who enforces the edicts of the Charred Counsel, a neutral body that pretty much sets the rules between Heaven and Hell. When the apocalypse occurs on Earth, angles and demons are fighting in the streets before War arrives without being summoned. This leads to the annihilation of the human race at the hands of one called the Destroyer.

After War returns to the Counsel he is blamed for the destruction and stripped of most of his power. He is then sent back to Earth a century later to avenge the premature war and the destruction of civilization. The Watcher, a sprite bonded to War by the Counsel, is sent with him to ensure that he follows the order. He also acts as a guide when you do not know exactly what to do next.

As you progress through the story you come to realize that things are not as they seem. Finding out who the Destroyer is and how to stop him is not necessarily as straight forward as you think. This is Heaven and Hell we are talking about. Things can not be taken at face value.

Darksiders is an action/adventure game (with some puzzle thrown in for good measure) in the same vein as The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (exploration of different connect lands) and Devil May Cry (combo moves and purchasable upgrades). You progress though the levels earning back your strength and power by finding chests which contain items, defeating boss characters and using Volgrim, a vendor of items that can be purchased with the souls of defeated enemies and by selling 27 artifacts that are scattered throughout the world.

War can acquire powers through Volgrim. These four wrath abilities can be upgraded through Volgrim for a price. Blade geyser (ring of swords), immolation (fire) and affliction (poison) are all great for crowd control. The Forth wrath ability, stoneskin, increases durability and offensive damage.

Being that War is a being of rage and vengeance, he does come equipped with the means to smite his enemies. Chaoseater is War’s sword and only weapon at the start, but you can buy a scythe from Volgrim and find the Tremor Gauntlet while playing. All three weapons’ power can be increased up to four levels simple by using them to strike enemies. There are also enhancements that can be assigned to each weapon giving War abilities such as increased damage, more souls per kill, increased armor, and other talents.

Also be on the lookout for equipment that you will need to progress though the levels. There are a total of six pieces of gear that you will need to find. Two, the crossblade and Mercy, are weapons. The other four, the Abyssal Chain, Voidwalker, Earthcaller, and the Mask of Shadows, either help you to progress through levels or see objects that were hidden before. With every new piece of equipment you find you are going to want to go back to previous levels to see how the new ability helps you find chests.

Overall the game is what I would consider average. The story which is compelling at first, turns into the predictable “It’s all for the greater good” scenario, but if what you are looking for is a solid action game to occupy you for about 15 hours give Darksiders a shot.

ESRB Rating: Mature       Avg. playtime: 15-20 hours       One-time playthrough Gamerscore: 810       Replay value: Low       Multiplayer: No

-Tim Fischer

Managing Editor

Gamertag: porkroll1711

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As the player, you will have to choose which side you are on. Whichever side you choose will change how Act 2 is played out. While the game officially has 51 levels, you will only play 39 after making your choose of sides. An additional playthrough on the opposite side will be required to play the other levels.

Just like the original Marvel Ultimate Alliance, you earn experience points to level up your heroes by defeating enemies. All player-controlled powers are maxed out by level 60, but the support abilities will take a bit longer since they require collection of orbs to update. Instead of being able to choose which powers you like to use as you did in the first game you are given four powers that can only be upgraded and not switched out.

Although the four-man fighting style is primarily the same as it was in the first Ultimate Alliance, Vicarious Visions incorporated powerful combination attacks for each character to perform with one another which they have dubbed fusions. There are three types of fusion: clearing takes out an ever growing area from a central location, guided gives you control of the heroes as they run around the room doing damage, and targeted which focuses on only one enemy, but is by far the most powerful. There are almost 300 fusion attacks that can be used with any combination of characters. Using fusions will make the many boss battles easier.

Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 has 21 playable characters that can be unlocked throughout the game, but you should also be on the lookout for collectable audio files, power-ups, and character unlocks. With the collection of 5 of each character unlocks (Asgardian Runes, M’kraan Crystal, and Gamma Regulator) you will gain three additional and very powerful characters. HINT HINT

Multiplayer can played over Xbox Live or on the same system through the same three acts as the single player mode. However, remember that teamwork is the key. Fusions can not be performed with a desired character if that character is being controlled by another player unless both players press the button to trigger it.

The trivia game and simulation rooms from the first game make an appearance. But instead of each character having their own simulation there are only 12 types like protect, destroy, survival, etc.

One playthrough on legendary takes about 15 hours since you will have to play the game at least twice to get all the collectables and levels. Expect a gamerscore of approximately 670 for both playthroughs. Overall, I have you give high marks to Vicarious Visions for creating an enjoyable game.

Tim Fischer
Managing Editor
Gamertag: porkroll1711

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Dan Akroyd and Harold Ramis wrote an original script for the game which takes place two years after Ghostbusters 2. The Museum of Natural History in New York is about to open a section on Gozer, the big baddie from the original movie. But of course, it does not go as planned. Someone or something causes a spectral explosion which releases ghosts into New York City. Thankfully, the Ghostbusters, now government approved, are on-hand to take care of the mess throughout the 7 stages. The story pulls heavily from the first movie plot and, to be honest, I think it would have made a better sequel than the second movie.

Bill Murray, Dan Akroyd, Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson reprise their roles as Peter Venkman, Ray Stantz, Egon Spengler, and Winston Zeddmore respectively. You’ll also hear the voices of some of the other original movie cast which help to immerse you into the story.

But every good story needs to have the gameplay to back it up. And Terminal Reality really hit the nail on the head. Even with a few questionable functions (press B to run?) the gameplay was more or less intuitive. It’s not easy to hit a target, but that’s part of the fun. Most of the environment can be destroyed and will be because capturing the ghosts takes patience and timing. This is not a run and gun game. You have to wear down your enemy before throwing the trap out.

The game starts you with the proton thrower. But you earn three other weapons during the course gameplay. A shock blaster, slime blower and meson collider make up the progressively more powerful weapons. Each one has a second function which you will find handy and all weapons can be upgraded with the money you earn from capturing ghosts.

You also get to use the trusty PKE meter to find and scan ghosts and objects in the environment. But, except for the few achievements that coincide with it, the PKE meter is useful only when the story tells you to use it.

Multiplayer is where you really get the feeling of being a Ghostbuster. You get to hunt ghosts in either four campaign modes or seven job modes. Basically, all you are really doing is hunting down and capturing ghosts even in the survival mode. But with the new ghost types and communicating with up to three other players about tactics you truly get the feeling of what it would be like to hunt the living impaired.

I had a lot of fun with Ghostbusters the Video Game. The campaign is very short with a less than 8 hour completion time, but the multiplayer more than makes up for that. One playthrough on the experienced difficulty garnered 730 in gamerscore. Give this game a shot even if you are not a fan. At the very least, you’ll rack up a lot of gamerscore and get a good laugh from a fantastic story.

-Tim Fischer

Managing Editor

Gamertag: porkroll1711

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The campaign starts with your ODST squad preparing to jump into New Mombasa before the slipstream rupture that occurs in the first half of Halo 2. While falling to the city, your team is diverted from the main objective and scattered. The Rookie is the first person you control in the darkened city. Throughout the 10 levels you will jump back and forth between him and the other members of you squad as the story relays what happened to them after the slipstream event. Each squad members’ tale takes place at a different time of day in the game with the Rookie having to find the clues to what happened to them all.

Keep in mind that whoever you are playing at the time is human; you are not a Spartan. Your melee is not as powerful and you can not duel wield like the Master Chief. Run and gun is not for ODST. Stealth is a huge factor in this game. Sometimes it is best to let the patrols stroll on by.

While the other squad members’ levels take place during the daytime, the Rookie is mostly at night. This is when the Visr becomes handy. Instead of an onscreen map like the other Halo games, this time you have a night vision type visor that relays information in colored outlines. Red for Covenant forces, green for allies and yellow for stations you can interact with.

Your weapons do not vary much from the other Halo titles except for the suppressed SMG and the hand gun. Halo 2 and 3 weakened the hand gun so much it was usually tossed by most players as soon as possible. Now the gun is your go to weapon. It’s accurate and powerful. Keep it handy and you will destroy the Grunts and Jackals.

As you progress through the game you have to discover why the Covenant is still in New Mombasa. There are stations that will glow bright yellow when you have your Visr on. These stations will give to one of 30 audio downloads that tell the story of a young girl named Sadie who is trying to find her father during the attack. Without giving away too much of the plot Sadie discovers the other reason the Covenant attacked Earth. Do your best to find the audio downloads. It really does make the story that much better.

The multiplayer mode Firefight is kind of like Gears of War 2 Horde mode. Four waves per round of Covenant attack up to four players. What makes ODST different is that the skulls from Halo 3 become active as each wave is defeated. Even on easy Firefight can become very difficult in the later rounds.

One playthrough on normal net me 535 gamerscore and took almost 8 hours to complete. It’s not a long campaign, but testing yourself in legendary and in the Firefight mode will guarantee you play this Halo 3: ODST for a long time.

Tim Fischer

Managing Editor

Gamertag: porkroll1711

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