Some suggestions to put you on the right track for the holidays..
Having problems figuring out how to setup your holiday
list for 2004? This is the third part in a series to help our readers create
a Christmas list worthy of respect. Our first part of the series covered
new movies that can be purchased in time for Christmas [READ
IT HERE], the second part included additional movies that weren't necessarily
new, but still a MUST OWN [READ IT HERE]. The
third part will deal with games this time around. The games listed are not
listed in any particular order and are either for PC or console gaming.
You can purchase any of the games from Amazon just by clicking on their
retail image. All of these games have been released, or will be out before
Christmas.
Always Improve Upon Your Video Game Collection
Halo 2
This has to be the first topic discussed,
as it is the rage of the week. With what has earned Microsoft over
$200 million and going, this game is sweeping communities by storm.
In Halo 2, you get to return as the Master Cheif to
kick some covenent butt. However, there are also some campaigns where
you will be playing as a 'retired' general of the covenent. What this
means is a lot of use of the amazingly powerful Energy Sword. You
can pick up the sword while playing either as the Cheif or as the
covanent. However, the energy sword is obviously more plentiful when
playing as the covanent. The energy sword costs energy points to use
and depending on your attack option, melee or main attack, the energy
sword can be swung at enemies around twenty times. The main attack
causes your character to lunge about ten yards to hit your target;
a truly dangerous weapon.
There are also tons of other features such as fighting in free-falling
structures and being able to perform some impressive arial combat.
There are additional weapons [especially usable covenent] for you
to get your hands on and use. My favorite Halo weapon, the
handgun, does not offer a scope function anymore. However, the new
Battle Rifle, replacement for the AR, does feature a scope this time
around. Duel weapons is pretty sweet too, just takes a bit of getting
used to rotating your weapons properly. My favorite combo was either
two Needlers or two Plasma Rifles. The only complaint I have is how
short the single player version of the game actually is and that Halo
2 felt more like an expansion than a sequel.
CanMag Rating:  
Game Type: Console- X-Box Shooter
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Half-Life 2 with Counter Strike: Source
This is the most heavily anticipated game
on my list. With what looks to be like an amazing shooter based on
an original amazing shooter, I cannot deny myself purchasing Half-Life
2 right when it hits the shelves [I am renting Halo 2].
The action and story in the game looks intense and damn brutal. I
know that Halo 2 had some 'bar-lifting' features, but I think
that Half-Life 2 should be another couple levels above the
Microsoft/Bungie console game.
I have already viewed just about every game play clip from Counter
Strike: Source as well. This add-on has always been pivotal for
Half-Life's continued success. Judging by the changes and
adjustments made to CS: Source, I may be having a lot of
late nights.
CanMag Rating [predicted]:
Game Type: PC Shooter
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Medal of Honor Pacific Assault
Anybody who played any of the original Medal
of Honor games are probably pretty excited about this latest release.
While the game was first released to PS2, it can now be purchased
for the PC. I have recently played the demo and have to say it is
pretty entertaining. I am currently playing Call of Duty,
which I think is somewhat better than Medal of Honor Pacific Assault;
at least at first look.
I know that this foreward will not hinder those who have been waiting
for Pacific Assault's release. What can I say, Medal
of Honor has a strong following.
CanMag Rating:
Game Type: PC WW Shooter
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World of Warcraft
Every Warcraft game, designed by Blizzard,
seems to be better and better. While the original Warcraft games were
RTS, World of Warcraft is more of a RPG where your character
can run around and kill enemies, villains, creatures, and small children.
I don't know about the last part, but it seems to fit.
CanMag Rating:
Game Type: PC Fantasy RPG |
Doom 3
While this game seems to require some
of the greatest computer hardware to run it in its full glory, it
still manages to keep the gore-shooter fans happy. The graphics are
vastly approved upon Doom 2, or any game in general. With life like
movements, textures, and environments, the game has the ability to
entertain and frighten avid gamers.
CanMag Rating:
Game Type: PC Gore Shooter
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The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth
This game looks s-w-e-e-t. However, you
got to be an RTS [Real Time Strategy] fan to really enjoy it. Imaging
playing the entire Tokein map, with all the human, or orc, forces
at your disposal. The design is sweet, and the AI looks to be amazing.
Nevermind the fact that you get to play your favorite skirmeshes from
The Lord of the Rings.
One of the coolest aspects that I noticed for this latest RTS [unlike
any other RTS I have played], is the fact that your troops seem to
'communicate' and will actually show emotion [the 'emotion engine']
during battles. When a giant cave troll approaches your outnumbered
troops, they will back away and even cower in fear; a great addition
to any RTS game. Come on, it has to do with LOTR, which can
never go wrong [I'd hope].
CanMag Rating [predicted]:
Game Type: PC Fantasy RTS
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Rome: Total War
The game has already been 'acclaimed,' it
has already received a grade of an A from GameSpot, why do you still
not have it?
Another RTS style game, but definately has a lot more features including
using special characters to keep your troops motivated and their morale
up.
CanMag Rating:
Game Type: PC RTS
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Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
You can never go wrong with the proven original.
A game that not only allows you to play as a character, with amnesia,
but every choice you make changes the character's future. The game
offers tons of cool puzzles, action, story, and one of the best twists
of a story I have ever seen in both films and games; actually, the
Sixth Sense offers a great twist as well.
I would not be surprised if movies are some day adapted from the story
involved in this game. Update: The game is on sale at Amazon for $18.00!
CanMag Rating:
Game Type: PC/X-Box RTS
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Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2
Bioware, the people behind the original KOTOR,
will not be involved with the creation of the sequel for X-Box and
PC. In there place is Obsidian, a group that seems to have fit in
well by improving on the original KOTOR engine as well as making further
advancements to one of the best console games ever made. Combat will
be more fluid, the story will be just as solid, and expect another
twist that should hopefully knock your socks off.
CanMag Rating:
Game Type: PC/X-Box RTS
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Combat Mission: Barbarossa to Berlin
Probably one of the best WWII games you'll
ever play. While the game plays as an RTS, it is also very different.
You make your 'orders' before your troops go to action. Depending
on the skill of your troops, or the commander they run under, you
will encounter some delays and some poor combat skills. You are allowed
to offer commands every minute. After you issue your commands, while
your game is on pause, you watch what I call your own personal war
movie that can be played over and over again. You make the calls,
the game makes the action.
One of the best aspects of the game is the level of detail applied
to each unit in the game. German tanks are a bitch to knock out, you
will have to figure out some flanking meneuvers quickly in order to
hit these tanks in some of their weaker regions [an upfront assault
is usually suicide]. If you can't figure out fog of war and the concept
of smoke screen, you will not survive.
This game is some of the best twenty bucks you could spend on a war game.
CanMag Rating:
Game Type: PC WWII RTS
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