Over the past several months, I have become smothered under an avalanche of games to play. There were so many to play this year that I’ve missed out on several top games in many people’s Game of the Year debates, like Dead Space, Fable 2 and Fallout 3 (which is in the mail). Here are some quick thoughts on some games that I’ve recently finished and other that are in rotation:
Gears of War 2. I’ve finished the single player story – loved it, want to marry it and have its children. With an improved storyline from its predecessor and beautiful graphics, Epic Games delivered exactly what fans wanted in a sequel. They took what worked in the original and turned it up to eleven. I plan on returning to Sera with a few friends and take on the Locusts on the highest difficulty. Speaking of friends, facing Horde mode was a lot of fun. We’ve completed all fifty levels on a lower difficulty, but I don’t know if I need to go back and do it some more. There are only so many multiplayer hours in a week.
Left 4 Dead. I’ve made it through two of the stories in this game and sadly that means that I’m halfway through the game. In my opinion, I would recommend playing through the game first by yourself in order to appreciate the experience of traversing through this zombie apocalypse. Valve’s AI director does a great job of mixing up where and when the zombies show up (except for the ending set pieces). Each playthough should give you a different experience each time. I’ve only played the Story mode online and have yet to try the Versus mode. I would imagine that it would be fun playing as a super zombie and grief on your friends online.
Lego Batman. 100% completed. Collected all of the memorabilia. Unlocked all character and suit upgrades. This game is what you expected from a Lego video game – cute characters breaking things and building other things. The increased longevity of this title for me is that my 5-year-old son is really addicted to this game. Just like Marvel Ultimate Alliance, my son is learning about Batman’s greatest villains and allies and loves every minute of it. There are a few tough puzzles for him, but when I tell him to spend more time and try to figure it out, he usually comes through on his own. He’s even figured out where to start looking for those hidden collectibles.
Little Big Planet. I’ve only scratched the surface on this one, but what I’ve played, I’ve really enjoyed. The graphics and physics engine are incredible and at times the TV screen looks like a high def photo of my kids playroom. Sackboy is very adorable and my kids love to watch me play. I’ve been kicking around some ideas of my own levels to create, but I’m sure I won’t be able to post them online due to Warner Bros. and DC Comics copyright infringement. It’ll be fun anyway – and that’s really the point of this game.
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. I bought this game when I bought my PS3, but I think I’ve watched The Dark Knight on Blu-ray more than I’ve started up this game. The graphics are amazing and the gameplay looks like the cinematics, but the controls feel like no other game I’ve recently played. The shooting scheme seems a bit off to me and since it’s not as easy to get into that mode, I’ve decided to play it as intended –a stealth game. It’s been in a lot of people’s discussion on best game of the year and they’ve talked about its memorable set pieces, so I think I need to get back into it – I just need to remember to put the disc in the console.
Prince of Persia. I love the art style of this game and it would kind of be cool if this game’s graphics engine could be used in future comic-based games, like how Ultimate Spider-Man was. While I like this game a lot, I’m finding it very similar to Ubisoft Montreal’s other project, Assassin’s Creed. The free-running style of this game makes the orb hunting a lot of fun and I don’t mind the fact that you’ll never have to start a level over because your character died in a boss battle. 
The only thing I find truly frustrating is the flying part with your partner Elika. While flying between the gold plates on walls, you’ll be zooming near building, under and over arches and even though you’re on a rail, occasionally you’ll have to adjust up, down, left or right depending on the object approaching. My issue is that you don’t know which way around a column or arch Elika’s planning on flying, so if you pick the wrong way, you end up smashing into it like a bird hitting a window and you’ve got to start that section over again. Despite her inept flying skills, Elika has become my new virtual girlfriend. Lara Croft and Alyx Vance have got nothin’ on her…
