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Gaming at a Glance: What you should be playing

sarge-ak47 — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:20:03 +0000

I drew this.. really I did!

Hello readers, it has been a while since I’ve gone on a rant. Truth be told I have been thinking of different ideas to write about. I figured since most sites talk about what is out these days and what our dear readers played, I will go the opposite route in a segment called “What you should be playing”.

The idea is to look at whats been happening around us in the wild world of video games and then pull out a title from the past(or future if possible) and tell you why a certain game is worth your time and money.

Take Halloween for example, all the horror movies around you and the constant imagery of ghoulish characters would make you want to play a good horror game right? YES!
Hey I’m not asking you to conform! Just suggesting that with the themes around us what game takes the best advantage of that.

So if Halloween is about scary things (and candy)then a good horror game is due right? Right!
Halloween just passed I thought I would give out my person take on what you should be playing..er..should have played.

Scary games are a dime a dozen these days but finding a good one is a hard task indeed. Fall has always been an odd season in my book, just the dreary atmosphere can be quite suited for staying inside and playing a good game.
What you should be playing this week is a good scary game just because Halloween is over doesn’t mean your scary game quest should be. Here are my picks

1 Dead Space – PS3/XBOX 360/PC- released October 14 2008
This was my game for Halloween last year! Quite possibly one of the most scary games out there.
The graphics and production values are second to none, developed by the fine folks at Visceral games, Dead Space had a crew respond to a distress signal aboard the USG Ishimura – a large interstellar mining ship.

Those creatures are messed up.

You take on the role of an engineer name Isaac Clarke who arrives to find most of the ship abandoned and eerily quite. Turns out most of the crew have been stricken by a virus that turns them into monsters known as necromorphs. this virus has some occult origins and soon enough it is your task to go through this insanely large vessel and reactivating its key functions as well as trying to decipher what went horribly array.
The mood and ambiance of this game is just amazing. Truly playing this alone in the dark (after 1 am) with the sound turned way up is scarier than any horror movie out there. Whats even more cool is that you end up utilizing mining equipment as weapons to take out these truly hideously freaky creatures. Think a head shot will stop them? Think again. Dead Space builds on what Resident Evil 4 started, by decapitating their dangerous limbs you have a better chance of killing them.

Notice how the ammo count is an in game hologram

This is a true Scifi horror game- it almost feels like a dreary version of event horizon. Tons of enemies and an amazing variety of locations aboard the ship will leave you at the edge of your seat. This is survival horror at its best.
You can probably pick it up for real cheap these days since it has been a year old.

Tons of tense momments.

It is all these factors combined with a smart HUD that increases the level of immersion and forces you to be compelled by this beautiful title.
Go get this!

2. Resident Evil 4- GameCube, PS2,Wii edition(recommend) Jan 11 2005 & May 31 2007

Yea I've heard of Lord of the rings, whats your point?

Maybe you don’t want the full blown horror and want a bit of action in your gameplay. Or maybe you just don’t care for futuristic settings and weaponry. The RE series has been the true innovators of horror games and the fourth installment is a series is quite possibly the best. With a new over the shoulder view a better inventory system and some truly interactive environments this is the horror game that inspired a whole lot of next gen shooters.

You know this was actually toned down for the Japanese version.

Would you believe Cliffy B of Gears of war fame was in love with this installment so much that it is one of the games that inspired the critically acclaimed shooter.

It is true, RE 4 was a last gen title that played out like a next gen game. It had some of the most atmospheric environments ever seen in any game, dreary villages, murky swamp lands, Gothic castles, ambient cavers- the list can go on and on. The visuals still hold up today as a testament to the artistry at Capcom. Compared to this, RE 5 is a step backwards. This title had copious amount of gore and horror packed into it and an action packed campaign that lasted almost 16 hours. RE4 is the best Resident Evil in the series if not the genre of survival horror. So why don’t you revisit this gem? Play it again! If you haven’t? Where have you been for the last 5 years? Go now and play this!

Your numbers mean nothing to my rocket launcher

So which version you ask? The Cube version may be the original but I will tell you nothing compares to the Wii edition. Not only does it pack the additional content of the PS2 port of the game (released after the Cube version) It retains the stunning look of the Cube version. Oh and did I mention it uses the IR sensor and revolutionizes your aiming? Well it does!
RE4 is still the gold standard for action horror games

Honorable mentions
Hey those two up there are my personal picks, but if you don’t want to dive into them because they don’t tickle your interest then how about renting Dead Space Extraction for Wii- a co op on rails shooter take on the franchise that isn’t as scary as it is action packed. Not that? Then try out Resident Evil, the remake version for the GameCube (Now out for the Wii as well)This remake takes that old formula and uses some of the most realistic pre rendered backgrounds ever. Truly awe inspiring! Or maybe go with a game that has the autumn theme going for it like Batman Arkham Asylum, it’s one of the biggest and best surprises of this year. Truly excellent title that even has a couple of chilling moments.

Either way GO FORTH AND PLAY!

Make Your Own Bayonetta costume

Josh Salem — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:56:09 +0000

Halloween is almost upon us and for those game fans who want to dress up in the latest gaming fashion (hopefully just for the ladies), Sega has created www.bayonettahalloween.com.

This website provides potential Baynetters tips, hints, and the needs to create the best halloween costume on a budget.

Michael Jackson Film To Hit Silver Screen On Halloween

Ilan Mester — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 13:16:13 +0000

A deal involving Sony Pictures, to acquire rehearsal footage from Michael Jackson’s “This Is It” concert rehearsal is being finalized. According to Variety, the distribution company hopes to give the film a theatrical release this Halloween.

It has been reported that Sony is paying approximately $60 million for 80 hours of rehearsal footage of Jackson. The footage currently belongs to AEG Entertainment, the company responsible for promoting Jackson’s 50 shows in London.

Kenny Ortega will reportedly assemble the movie which Sony plans to released on October 30, according to MTV News. The “High School Musical” director shot the original footage. According to Variety, the rehearsal film will feature “at least three” videos, and one of them could be an alternative version of Jackson’s hit “Thriller.

A slew of distributors were reportedly interested in the footage, but since Sony’s music division owns the publishing rights to the king of pop’s songs, it’s fitting for them to own the rehearsal footage as well.

Rob Zombie Plans New ‘Halloween’ Film

andPOP Staff — Mon, 05 Jun 2006 17:24:06 +0000

Filmmaker and former White Zombie front man Rob Zombie is set to write and direct a new installment in the “Halloween” movie series.

Zombie told the Hollywood Reporter that his contribution to the franchise will take “a totally different approach to make [Halloween] scary again.”

“The look and feel is going to be completely different.”

The “Halloween” movies follow the exploits of masked killer Michael Myers. The 1978 original, directed by John Carpenter and starring Jamie Lee Curtis, brought in more than $60 million US worldwide ? a record at the time for an independent film.

Zombie says he secured Carpenter’s blessing before commencing work on the new film. He also said that his movie will disregard the numerous sequels to the original “Halloween.”

“Halloween started off as a very terrifying concept, a terrifying movie. But over the years, Michael Myers has become a friendly Halloween mask,” said Zombie. “But I think the story and the situation is scary. All it needed was someone to come in and to take a totally different approach to make it scary again.”

Happy Halloween To All Our Visitors

andPOP Staff — Fri, 31 Oct 2003 09:57:26 +0000

andPOP would like to wish all our visitors a Happy Halloween. We hope you enjoy this fun filled day and of course enjoy all the great candy you’ll receive tonight.