Sack Eli!

For me, college and Madden are completely intertwined. I must have gone from 30-40 seasons worth of gameplay in franchise mode, staying up into the wee hours of the morning playing with whoever happened to pass by my door at 2am. (I scheduled it out so my classes didn’t start until 11am at the earliest. How people did anything else was a shock to me.) Sometimes it was stone cold sober, but other times there were drinking games involved. One terrible night (and an even more horrendous morning) was the result of a drinking game where the player would drink a shot if the other person scored on them. Which is all fine and good, until you remember that game scores regularly went into the 50s.

This is all a big lead-up to this preview of Madden NFL 12 over at Wired. Seeing as there still might not be an NFL season, looks like this might be all the football action you’re going to get this fall. Sounds awesome, still. For example:

Lack of Suction: “Suction” is the term that EA Sports uses to refer to defensive players’ tendency to draw in the player they’re tackling, sometimes making contact from much further away than they should. For example, running backs might have gotten stuck between linemen during in past Madden games and defensive linemen might have been inadvertently “sucked in” by their offensive counterparts.

Madden NFL 12 changes that, using its new engine to create more accurate points of contact for defensive players. Your backs will be able to juke and swerve between defenders on the line just like Chris Johnson or Adrian Peterson might in real life. And your defensive linemen will do their jobs much better — unless they’re the Bills.

Count us in.

Courtesy of ExplicitGamer.com

There has been a hunger for a great western game for as long as I can remember.  So many strong open-world titles have been flooding our consoles that gamers are beginning to look for a new setting, a western setting.  Gun, Call of Juarez, and Red Dead Revolver all tried to feed those desires, but fell short.  With my thirst unsatisfied, my mouth watered over every drop of information that Rockstar gave me concerning Red Dead Redemption, a game that promised to take sandbox and western games to a new level.  Did Red Dead Redemption live up to the hype?  Was my mind blown by the story that Rockstar had to tell?  Was my hunger subdued by John Marston’s revolver?

Yes. Yes, it did.

Story

The story opens up very pretty.  You hop off the train in an old, rugged, western town and are tasked with finding a contact in the town’s saloon. The drunks are getting an early start as they stumble around the room. Your contact has found himself a tasty treat which he quickly abandons when you show up.  Together you ride off on your horse to hunt down Bill Williamson, an old friend you’ve been commissioned to take down. After an unpleasant confrontation, Bill and his posse shoot you and leave you for dead. Luckily a nice rancher girl picks you up and nurses you back to health.

John Marston is someone who seems to have experienced the rugged and brutal hand of western life, and you quickly find out that he’s not one to let circumstances take him down. The eve of this story finds Mr. Marston in conflict with filthy government officials who have kidnapped his wife and child and held them ransom until John finishes his task. Set at the brink of the western world, the conflict between the wild west citizen and an ever-encroaching government is noticed beyond Marston’s circumstances (and is clearly evident in the world around him.) With Marston determined to complete his task despite the casualties, our journey opens up.

Gameplay

In a western movie, there is almost always that character that is well known for the great and/or terrible things they do. Clint Eastwood was feared by many people in the movies he appeared in, and friends flocked to his protection while enemies quivered in his presence.  John Marston is given the same opportunity in his tale.  You will quickly make a name for yourself if you gallop into town slaughtering innocent bystanders, but don’t expect the shopkeeper of the general store to invite you in kindly the next time you roll into town. On the other hand, helping out that shopkeeper who was just robbed will keep the townspeople friendly and on your side.

Herding cattle, racing horses, and saving crops are just a few of the duties that you will tend to when the game starts.  As is expected, Rockstar rolls out the mainline story by throwing letter icons on your map that lead you to characters who need your help.  You may feel tied down to these icons at first, but if you are the type of person who likes to get the lay of the land before you take care of business then you can get started almost right away.  You can ride off into the sunset and help that damsel in distress; or you can take the bandit approach and ride into town shooting every innocent bystander on the way.  

The Sandbox

When roaming around in Marston’s world, things can get hectic, and occasionally you want to kick back and enjoy the fruits of your labor.  Well, Rockstar has made sure that there are plenty of things to keep you occupied while on your travels.  There is a wide variety of mini-games that Marston can engage in throughout the world.  If poker is your thing, then throw on the “Elegant Suit” and play a few hands of poker, the dishonest way.  Or perhaps you want to put your reflexes and memory to the test, if so then “Five Finger Fillet” will make your virtual extremities cry out in agony.  The mini-game list is unprecedented, and makes Grand Theft Auto 4 look amateur in comparison.  Each game has it’s own challenges and unique controls that put your skills to the test.

There is also a vast array of challenges that await you if you find yourself wanting to nitpick the game and find it’s full potential.  When I was flipping through my journal I found that by completing certain tasks like, shooting five birds, or harvesting five of a particular type of plant, I would gain a rank in that respective field.  Leveling these up gives the character a bonus depending on the field.

Back to the Story

At some point you will have to tackle the storyline, and unfortunately it can drag.  The characters are fleshed out well and they make each interaction enjoyable, but being an errand boy is only fun for so long. John Marston happens to be one of the strongest video game character’s I’ve ever spent time with. Seeing his constant struggle to choose between right and wrong, and being able relate to his familial ties are what make Marston stand out above the crowd.  It’s actually what Rockstar does at the end of the story that makes you realize how much you are connected to him.

What may seem right may not always be right here in the wild west.  Just because a man tells you that he needs a ride into town doesn’t mean that he’s just going to hop on to the back of your horse.  Similarly, don’t expect every “damsel in distress” to be sweet an innocent.  There’s a lot of corruption out here, and it will send you to your grave quickly if you aren’t quick on your feet.  But don’t let this discourage you from helping out that lone wanderer who needs you to retrieve his stolen wagon, there’s reward for those who are kind.

Though the end and beginning of the game are strong points in the time line, there are a few bumpy spots in the middle.  During the first chunk of the game I found myself latching on to the personalities of my comrades, but the story and characters quickly lost their flare as the game progressed into Mexico.  There were a few hiccups, and a few quests that became more of an irritation that anything else. But overall the story pulled me in, and thanks to those end game decisions by Rockstar, I was pulled into the setting in a very emotional way.

Controls

To add to the list of strengths, the game handles well enough, and horse travel is a blast.  I ran into a few problems from time to time, especially when playing dangerously close to a cliff and my horse decides to leap when he (or she) should have opted to halt otherwise.  Making quick turns and staying on the beaten path can be a pain, but travel is fun and it’s refreshing to watch the sun set over the plains as you’re parading across the west.  If you ever feel that your horse is a little slow, then don’t hesitate to lasso a wild one up and break it in.  Shootin’ ain’t that bad either; and it shouldn’t be considering it’s a western.  It may not be perfect, but as long as you keep enemies a safe distance away from you then you will have minimal problems while gunslingin’.  Enemies can be overwhelming, and it’s not uncommon to find yourself close to death and surrounded by an army.  Have no fear, Dead Eye is here!  A staple from Red Dead Revolver has returned, and it’s stronger than ever.  When you find yourself in these sticky situations, enter Dead Eye, and tag your enemies while time has slowed.  If done right, you’ll find your overwhelming opposition sprawled out on the ground in a matter of seconds.

Graphics and Sound

Despite some stiff animations and poor character graphics, the world around you is absolutely stunning.  Throw in some killer tracks and on-par voice acting and you’ve got a great experience.  Riding into Fort Mercer and seeing the painted sky over the vast plain offered a great taste of things to come. Likewise, when I finally made my trek into Mexico, I was greeted by the sound of rain beating down on the dirt road while a somber western-esque song played in the background, it was game-changing and embodied the feeling that Rockstar was trying communicate.  And the way they made tall grass rustle in the wind or part upon the disturbance of an armadillo is leagues beyond what some of our most praised games are able to do.  Every second of the game was dripping with sweet stimulation and helped present an enjoyable experience.

Overall

If I don’t have you convinced by now then I fear there’s not much else I can do.  Red Dead Redemption has set a new benchmark for gaming and offers gamers an engrossing experience and hours upon hours of gameplay.  A few notches made the record skip, but the music was still great, and I will surely come back for more in the future.  Needless to say, there is plenty to admire here, but don’t neglect to take a few moments to give you and your horse a rest and enjoy that sunset every once in a while.

Courtesy of ExplicitGamer

It seems that Top 10, Top 20, or Top-whatever lists litter the gaming world.  We can’t help but compare our likes and dislikes to that of others who share the same hobby of playing video games.  That is why The Guinness Book of World Records has released a “Top 50 Video Game Series” list that is sure to have gamers all over the world griping and complaining about why their favorites didn’t make the list.

In a recent voting poll hosted by the Gamer Edition of The Guinness Book of World Records, 13,000 readers had the opportunity to vote for their favorite video game series of all-time.  The results are in, and just in case you can’t (or don’t want to) purchase that huge book that feeds you a bunch of useless information, we list them here for all to enjoy.

1. Halo
2. Call of Duty
3. The Legend of Zelda
4. Guitar Hero
5. Metal Gear
6. Super Mario Bros.
7. World of Warcraft
8. Gears of War
9. Super Smash Bros.
10. Grand Theft Auto
11. Pokemon
12. Resident Evil
13. Fallout
14. Half-Life
15. Sonic the Hedgehog
16. Counter-Strike
17. Runescape
18. FIFA
19. Kingdom Hearts
20. Final Fantasy
21. Pac-Man
22. Madden NFL
23. The Sims
24. Tomb Raider
25. WWE Smackdown Vs. RAW
26. Rock Band
27. LittleBigPlanet
28. Saints Row
29. The Elder Scrolls
30. God of War
31. GoldenEye 007
32. Bioshock
33. KillZone
34. Skate
35. Left 4 Dead
36. Need for Speed
37. Chrono Trigger
38. Gran Turismo
39. StarCraft
40. Ratchet & Clank
41. Pong
42. Tom Clancy’s
43. Star Wars: Battlefront
44. Battlefield
45. Diablo
46. Lego Batman
47. Mario Kart
48. Burnout
49. Crash Bandicoot
50. Pro Evolution Soccer

There are definitely a few shockers on the list, like Saints Row beating out Elder Scrolls, or Pro Evolution Soccer making the list rather than the much loved Mega Man series. Other than these glaring abnormalities, the list seems fairly accurate.  So do you think Halo deserves the top spot?  Or would you rather have seen Cooking Mama take home the gold?

It has plagued college men since the beginning of time, how exactly do you get the girl to go back to your room?  Lame excuses like “I want you to meet my roommates” won’t get her to go back to your room.  We here at The Campus Throne have been conducting extensive research.  Day and night our  sexual scientists have been up trying to figure out a way to help solve this problem.  But, after months of experiments, our scientists have an answer.

Surprisingly, one of the easiest ways to get a girl to go back to your room is to suggest she play with your Wii!  Wii, for those who have a really dirty mind, is a system created by Nintendo and is all about movement.  Let’s say you’re playing a baseball game and the ball is coming at you on screen.  Swing the remote and your actions will be projected into the game.  Luckily for everyone who buys a Wii, it comes with five free games.  The one resounding thing our scientists have discovered is “Women love the Wii.  They love to hold it in their hands and don’t like to let go.” (no pun intended)  We kid you not.

Here are some games that are sure to have the girl you brought back to your room all over you:

WII SPORTS

This game comes with the system and has five games built in which are baseball, golf, tennis, bowling and boxing.  We noticed that when you mix alcohol in with bowling you are bound to have a good time.  Might we suggest strip bowling: the loser of the frame must take off one article of clothing.  Keep going until someone loses…

WII PLAY

This bad boy comes with a free controller and nine mini games.  Very similar to Wii Sports where you can playfully be competitive and then loose to her.  Make her feel like she is “all that” and then loose to her again.  If she really likes you she’ll start teasing you.  She’s all yours after that.

GUITAR HERO/ROCK BAND

Available on all major systems.  Very simple design to this game, you have a guitar with four buttons on it and you try and match those colors up with the ones on the screen.  It’s a great party game or a great one on one game with you new lady friend.  It’s tough to find a girl who doesn’t like guitar hero, and if you do, drop her ass because she doesn’t know how to have fun.

MARIO KART

Who doesn’t know this game? Besides being a fun game and easy to learn, its also made perfectly so you can convincingly throw the game! And here’s the bonus: seeing as this game dates back to the dawn of Nintendo, it’s sure to bring back a sense of nostalgia that no other game on this list can create. Since there are so many versions we are going to recommend the Wii version since it is the most interactive (allowing the most physical contact and excitement).

DANCE DANCE REVOLUTION

This is very similar to Guitar Hero being it’s a rhythm game but instead of a guitar you have a mat with arrows on it.  You follow the arrows as they appear on the screen and move to the beat.  We definitely recommend this with alcohol.  Might we suggest teaching her how to play; get behind her and move with her on the dance pad…let the alcohol do the rest.

Now you know that video games aren’t just for dudes.  They can help you get that girl back to your room.  Just make sure they know what the Wii is before you ask them to use both hands when they play with it.

Heads up: This post was from our buddies at Explicit Gamer

It’s an all too familiar situation. Guy wants to play his game, girlfriend gets jealous at lack of attention and threatens to make his life a living Dante’s Inferno. He has to make a decision. Whichever choice he makes will determine the course of the relationship for the next few hours, days, and possibly eternity. At this exact moment his life flashes before him and nothing is more important than the words that are about to exit his mouth. She stands there, blocking the TV, glaring at him. With controller tightly in hand and a smile of anticipation long gone, he concedes. Who can blame this poor gamer? We’ve almost all gone through this, regardless of who your significant other is or how much they appreciate gaming!

The fine staff here at Explicit Gamer understands how difficult juggling girlfriends/wives and gaming can be, not to mention everything else going on in our busy lives. Who can really blame any guy that chooses girl over game when the pressure is on? We all know what’s at stake. But when do we draw the line? More importantly, how do we just get the chance to play without creating a confrontation? My friends, you’re about to find out!

Let’s start off by discussing every male gamer’s dream girlfriend. The gamer girl! She may like to play as much as you do, or maybe just every once in a while. regardless, she plays. Nothing could be better, unless she is hogging the console, of course. As fantastic as this situation is, there is still doom lurking right around the corner. You’ve been so caught up in the fact that she plays that you’ve let yourself slip into the mindset that she plays for the same reasons you do. You’re very very wrong. Most of the time women are playing to “spend time with you”. So what happens when she doesn’t feel like playing or even worse, you’re playing by yourself? The wrath of what once was the world’s coolest gaming girl manifests itself full force, and decision time has set. Here’s what your options are:

1. Turn everything off and do whatever she wants.

2. Offer to quit your game and play co-op so she can play.

3. Let her play and painfully watch.

OUR CHOICE

Women LOVE naps. Pause the game and suggest a nap or get up and walk away for a minute, sometimes they will get distracted on their own or actually go take a nap. Unless she REALLY wants to spend time with you. Then nothing will maker her happy besides giving in. At least these types are easier to please, they like gaming!

Now what if you have the girlfriend that understands your obsession with gaming, but she doesn’t play herself? This is a bit more tricky. Most likely this type of person doesn’t grasp the concept of why you play or what’s so special about getting a tactical nuke. She probably feels similarly about your inability to grasp her reason for reading books like they’re all disappearing in 2012. Most of the time she seems content to let you play, screaming at the TV whenever the guy you were shooting didn’t die. In return, you pretty much let her do her own thing. What happens when she wants to watch a movie, or go to dinner with you? The majority of the time I would suggest giving in because she lets you play more than most people get to. This time is different though. You’ve got your party maxed out at eight and everyone is finally together and playing like they could own at a MLG tournament. Can’t stop now! She moves to block the TV and you have to think fast! Here’s your options:

1. Quietly, and with a whipped voice, tell your friends you have to get off. Turn everything off.

2. Just turn the console off. Then lie and tell them you got disconnected and your internet was down.

3. Compromise. Beg to finish the match and in return you’ll join her.

4. Tell her to find somebody else to bother, you’re busy. (Warning: continually choosing this option may result in disaster)

OUR CHOICE

Keep telling her you only need five more minutes. If done long enough most restaurants will close and she’ll get tired enough to go to bed. If this doesn’t work, try fake crying at being killed because she was in the way. Mute your mic first.

“You’re ___ years old, get off there and do something constructive!” It sucked hearing it from your mom, but now from your girlfriend too! These types usually let you play, but complain about it the whole time. Sometimes they try to make you feel guilty by complaining about all the “housework” you’re leaving to them, even though you rarely leave the couch. Other times they take a more direct approach and make fun of you in an attempt to make you feel bad for not spending time with them. This seems to be the majority of girlfriends/wives. They see gaming as childish and a waste of “valuable” time. I’ve hypothesized that “valuable” to them means spending time with them, but honestly, who would WANT to spend time with them?! This generally drives gamers to play even more, escaping reality. It’s okay, we don’t blame you. What do you do when she really gets upset though?

1. As soon as you see her heading for the power button, turn it off and act like you were getting off anyways.

2. Pause the game and go into the kitchen (act like you’re busy) till things calm down. Beware: conversations happen there.

3. Just keep yelling at the TV or people online. She most likely won’t yell over you.

OUR CHOICE

Play her game. If she complains about all the housework, complain about all the insurgents shooting at you. If she complains about working all day and having to come home and work, complain about working all day killing bad guys or brain exhaustion from solving puzzles that never ends. If she complains about you wasting time, complain about all the time she’s wasting by complaining at you. Eventually she’ll get the idea.

Now we move into the last of the girlfriend types. The ultimate in horrible situations. These girls are always princesses to begin with but quickly turn into ball busting bitches as soon as they think you’re stuck with them. These are the kind of women that throw consoles out of windows when they don’t get their way. No person should be in a relationship with them but for some reason people still are. There is no reasoning or compromising with this type. They wear the pants and will make your life miserable if you do anything they don’t like. Even worse for you, they despise gaming. Maybe it’s the “valuable” time wasting, or using the TV when they want to watch Sex and the City reruns. Whatever the reason, they will flip the switch if they catch you gaming when they deem inconvenient for them. No matter what you say or do they won’t change their minds about letting you play. The only time you get some sweet gaming relief is if she is gone for whatever reason, or if she’s asleep. What can you possibly do to get some time for yourself? Here are your choices:

1. Keep doing what you’ve been doing. You’re the idiot that’s been dealing with it, why stop now?

2. Grab the gear and run. Anything is better than that situation.

3. Get some giant headphones to use while playing and ignore her yelling at you. Also, make a steel case with a lock around your console so she can’t turn it off or rip it out of the wall. Same with the TV.

4. Throw some Starbucks gift cards, fashion magazines, and high heels out the door and lock it behind her when she runs after them.

Our choice: Aside from the obvious solution of getting out of the relationship, here is our best bet of surviving this type of insanity. Hopefully you have more than one room in your living space, if not, running far far away is your only hope. If so, purchase a heavy duty door and about 10 types of locks for it. Install door on extra room and add locks to both sides of the door. Always remember to lock the door regardless of what side you’re on. Build the most amazing theater room/man cave you can imagine and spend all your time in it. Don’t forget the sound system to drown out the banging sounds on the door!

Having to choose between the two is never a fun situation. For those of you who don’t have a significant other that puts you into these predicaments, good job and lucky you. For the majority of us, finding ways to enjoy gaming while dealing with life can be tough. To dedicated gamers, playing is more than enjoyment, it’s a way of life. Finding a partner that encourages the pursuit of your hobbies as well as theirs can be tough, but more than worth it. Until then, all we can do is laugh about the unfortunate situations other gamers get themselves into. We all know at least one of them.

I leave you all with an Xbox Live bio I ran across a while back that fits perfectly: “No wonder women hate gaming. They can’t compete with it! A console will never nag. It’s always turned on when you want it to be. It’s compatible with all your friends. If it gets moody or doesn’t do what you want, you can easily trade it in for another one. If what it’s doing annoys you, it is easily fixable by popping in a different disc. It will always reward you (achievements/trophies). It remembers everything you put into it. It doesn’t require attention or affection. And you don’t have to cuddle after you use it!”

If you’re a gamer, you gotta love this time of year.  This is when all the highly anticipated video games arrive in stores.  Before you run out there and snatch up any old game, here’s a quick guide to help you make a “wise” purchase.

V. LEFT 4 DEAD 2

Is it me or does it seem like everywhere you look there are some stupid vampire movie or show?  What happened to the good old days where people were afraid of zombies?  Left 4 Dead 2 answers that question.  L4D2 puts you in the middle of a zombie apocalypse in a town that resembles New Orleans.  It’s up to you and three other people to get out of the town alive.  There are hordes and hordes of undead that are standing in your way of getting out alive.  L4D2 allows players to choose from an assortment of weapons that range from Shotguns to handguns.  For the first time, players can use melee weapons to take down the undead. If you have three other friends, and I hope you do, and you’re snowed in one night, pop in L4D2 and you won’t be disappointed.

IV. GOD OF WAR I AND II

It’s surprising to me to see the amount of people who have never played God of War I or II.  For a game that sold well over 5 million copies I hardly know a soul who has played game of the year for 2005.  It looks like Sony has realized the same thing and has packaged the two games together to be released on the PS3 in high definition.  They also come packaged with trophies so you can up your achievements on your PS3.  Sony is allowing you to catch up on the God of War story this Christmas so you’re ready for God of War 3 due out this spring.

III. SUPER MARIO BROS WII

Who doesn’t know who Mario and Luigi are?  Those two plumbers are back and ready to save the princess again (shocker) in an all new 2D platformer.  This time around you and up to three other friends can race through 8 different levels, consisting of 8 stages, to save Peach from Bowser.  You figured you’d be tired of this story line by now but what it lacks in story it makes up for in action.  Running around the stages with friends brings in a breath of fresh air for a franchise that has done it all.  There’s nothing like shoving your friend into hot lava and watching his character burn as you race to finish the stage first.  Another great multiplayer game that is sure to bring you and your roommates closer this second semester.

II. CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE 2

I bet you thought this was going to be first on the list huh!?  We here at the throne Love Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.  The multiplayer is the best for any first person shooter on any system.  The way you can rank up and achieve new guns to kill your friends is truly amazing.  The graphics somehow got better than they were in the first one.  But, there is always a but, the story line is waaaayyyy too short to be number one on our list.  It will take you roughly about five hours to finish which in our book is waaaayyyy too short…and that’s what she said.  But don’t let that take away from the game itself, the single player is very well thought out and when you start it up you won’t finish until the last bullet is fired.

I. ASSASSIN’S CREED 2

I’m sure you’re probably thinking to yourself, how the hell is this the number one game for the winter?  You probably loved the first one but at the same time didn’t “truly love it.”  It’s like the time you had sex with that chick from down the hall that wouldn’t shut up.  Yea, you liked her, but you told her you loved her to so you could get with her.  Well, I am proud to say that unlike that chick, you will LOVE this game.  It takes everything that was great in the first Assassin’s Creed and makes it even better.  Graphics are improved, controls feel much tighter, that’s what she said, and the story is actually there this time around.  This game has “heart “which adds an element that is lacking in so many games.  You will grow to care about each character you interact with and by the end you’ll be demanding the next one which is slated for next year.

What are you waiting for?!  Stop reading this article and get your hands on it, …that’s what she said… (last one I swear).

Sleeper Hits

If you have time after finishing all the games listed, you might want to try out these two.

DJ HERO

This game is different from all the other music games in the past because of its control.  You feel like your daft punk creating the next big remix.  It’s worth a try but its going to set you back at least a hundred bucks.

DRAGON AGE ORIGINS

From the developers at Bioware, these dudes created games like Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and Mass Effect.  Just from their past you know this game is going to be good.  It starts off a tad slow, but it picks up and before you know you’re hooked.  Be warned though, these kinds of RPG’s are not for everyone so maybe a rental first is a good choice.

It’s that time of the year again folks.  It’s when the leaves begin to change colors and the air gets a little crisper.  It’s that time when the sweaters come out and Sam Adams Summer Ale disappears until next year.  This is the biggest time of the year when it comes to video games and movies.  This is when the hottest titles of the year come out just in time for the holidays.  We here at Campus Throne think this is the perfect time to get you up to speed with the hottest items this fall//winter.

Video Games

Guitar Hero 5 (9/01/09)

The fifth game in the series promises to improve on last year’s disappointment.  Additional modes, new songs and Kurt Cobain could make Guitar Hero 5 the best of its series.

Beatles: Rock Band (9/09/09)

Rock Band has decided to dedicate their new game to the Rock legends known as the Beatles.  You follow the Beatles as they rise out of Liverpool and make their way to stardom.  Just about every hit the Beatles every came up with is included in the game. This might be the best music video game this year.

Halo 3: ODST (9/22/09)

Halo 3: ODST takes place a couple of weeks before the events of Halo 3.  You control a shock trooper who has new weapons which will help you reveal some of the secrets not told in Halo 3.  We are hoping Bungie created a gem but we are a little skeptical about it.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (11/10/09)

Back are those nights where you wasted hours shooting up terrorists in an attempt to keep the world safe.  COD: MW 2 promises to bring new multiplayer elements and a brand new story line which has you riding vehicles and battling Russians…what else do you need in a video game?   This is our pick for game of the year.

Other Notable Games

Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 (9/15/09)

Brutal Legend (10/13/09)

Tekken 6 (10/27/09)

Assassins Creed (11/17/09)

Gran Turismo (Q4 2009)

Movies

Who doesn’t like going out to see a movie during the fall/winter?  Hollywood stockpiles movies and releases them through the fall and winter season.  Here is an up to date list of all the big name movies that you’ll find yourself going to.

Zombieland (10/02/09)

Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day

Other Notable Movies:

Saw VI (10/23/09)

2012 (11/13/09)

Blu Ray/DVD

If you have been living under a rock for the past two years, Blu Ray is the new form of technology which has emerged.  It can display movies in full 1080p (depending on your TV) and has sound quality that can’t be matched by DVD.  Just about every movie listed will be released in both DVD and Blu Ray but if you have the extra cash, we recommend you getting the movie in Blu Ray to experience the movie the way it was meant to be.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (10/20/09)

Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Collection, The (1/03/09)

Star Trek (11/17/09)

If there is one thing a video gamer knows is that comic book games that can be considered good are very tough to find.  Most of the comic book games, besides Marvel Ultimate Alliance, are garbage and don’t deserve your attention.  When Batman: Arkham Asylum was first announced I was very skeptical.  I thought to myself, here is another video game company trying to turn a buck off the Bat.  But, to my surprise, I was completely wrong.  Batman: Arkham Asylum can best be phrased as “the best comic book video game of all time.”

The game starts off on a rainy night as Batman has just caught the Joker and is taking him back to Arkham Asylum to be locked up for the 100^th time.  Geez, I’ll never understand how these guys keep escaping but that’s another discussion.  Just as you arrive at Arkham, a mysterious fire breaks out and the Joker manages to free himself from the Bat with help from Harley Quinn.  The Prince of Clowns then gains control of the penitentiary and releases all the inmates.  Just about now is when Batman shits his pants and realizes it’s up to him to gain control of Arkham and put the Joker and his friends away again.

Arkham is exactly how you would picture it to be.  It’s dark, gloomy and has plenty of maniacs running around trying to burn and kill everything they find.   The visuals in Arkham Asylum are terrific.  The characters look like you’d imagine they’d look like.  The Joker doesn’t look like Heath Ledger’s Joker, but looks more like the one from the animated series.  There is danger at every turn with just about every Batman villain you can think of up to no good.  Poison Ivy, Two Face,  and Scarecrow are just some of the villains to name a few.

The gameplay in this dark, creepy world breaks down into three main portions — fist fighting, attacking from the shadows, and exploration. As you move from room to room chasing Harley or Commissioner Gordon’s kidnapper, you’re going to run into bad guys.  Lots of times, you’ll find a crew milling about or the Joker will spring a trap with handfuls of guys who are ready to kill you. This is when you’ll make use of your straight hand-to-hand moves.  The more bad guys you “knockout,” note: Batman doesn’t kill anyone, the more xp you get.  You can spend this xp to upgrade your bat suit and become even more powerful.

One of the cool things about the new Batman game is they got everyone from the animated series to voice the characters.  Mark Hamill is the Joker, Kevin Conroy is Batman, and Arleen Sorkin is Harley Quinn.  But don’t think for one second this is anything like the animated series game, no, this Batman is a very dark, twisted and dangerous world and deserves its Teen rating.   Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn look like they belong in a porno with their scandalizing attire.  Villains scream  “ass” and “bitch” and threaten to rip off a doctor’s head as you try and stop them.  This Batman game is a nothing like any Batman games you have played in the past.

There is plenty to keep you coming back for more once you completed Batman: Arkham Asylum.  There are 240 different Riddler challenges to complete, 16 challenge rooms, and achievements/trophies to unlock.

Batman: Arkham Asylum is the greatest comic book videogame of all time. This is an adult Dark Knight story that is well-told, packs some truly fun gameplay elements, and has topnotch voice talent.  This could be made into a movie it’s so good.  Do yourself a favor and stop reading this review, go down to your local game store, pick up a copy and see what I am talking about.  You will not be disappointed.  Batman fans, no, video game fans rejoice, there is a reason to turn your Xbox 360/PS3 again.  The Dark Knight has returned.

Final Score: 5 Stars out of 5

The summer is known for its action movies with very little story but big explosions. The video game industry is no different from this trend. It’s a very rare thing when a game comes out during summer that’s worth noticing. That game is Infamous and its available now for the Playstation 3.

Super Powers you say? Yea you heard me right but you’re not shooting web from your hand or have the un-godly ability to talk to “fish” like some super heroes. Cole has the power of shooting electricity from his hands. He will fry bad guys or grind on electric rails. Cole lives in a city where he can either use his new found powers for good or he could use them to enslave those around him.

Pros: Different ways to play the game; Ability to run around where ever you want; Shocking someone never seems to get old.

Cons: The graphics look a little dated; Main story is only about ten hours long – wish it was longer

The Campus Throne gives this game a 4.5 out of 5

Origins of Punch Out

Little Mac is back! Everyone’s favorite underdog from the 1980s gets reborn with the remake of one of the most popular titles in gaming history, Nintendo’s Punch-Out was released on May 18th.

It all started with Mike Tyson’s Punch Out for NES, the original Nintendo.  (Back when Mike Tyson was the best boxer in the world, and didn’t have to bite his opponents to win a match).  Many of you might not remember the original, but have played the Super Nintendo version, Super Punch Out.

They are bringing back all of the old characters, and even adding a couple new ones.  They added a two player mode, where you can knock the living Wii shit out of one of your friends.

Why it’s a Campus Throne Pick

• Bad ass theme song from the video-game heavens.
• Sweet underlying story with the whole underdog prevailing kind of theme.
• Originated the first person boxing game, which helped pave the way for today’s top boxing game Fight Night.

The reason we like it because of the new interactive play that was developed by Nintendo Wii, making the game even better to play.  Great game to play with some friends, even better to watch hotties kick some ass.  Perfect party game, or good excuse to invite the campus hottie back to your dorm.

Check out the Trailer Below:

Recap:

Some critics are whining about how it doesn’t have online play, blah blah blah.  Who cares, I never thought in my head that this game needs online play.

This game is going to be awesome, and revive one of the greatest titles ever made.  Fun game worth getting off your ass and feeling like you’ve taken on the world.

Campus Rating: A

Must Buy.

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