Eddy has written a total of 422,116 words on this site.

I write about samurai girls and space marines. Writer for Smooth Few Films. Rooster Teeth Freelancer. Author of Red vs. Blue, The Ultimate Fan Guide, out NOW!

Review: Gears of War 2

A few years ago, Epic introduced us to the wonderful world of Sera, and its monstrous inhabitants, both human and locust alike. Gears of War was a flagship title for the XBox 360, quickly becoming THE reason to own Microsoft’s next-gen system, and it made its mark in a rather commanding fashion.

For me, Gears of War was the first and biggest “next-gen” experience I’ve felt when playing a game, where I had a moment that made me say “Wow… this is the next gen”. The co-op play, the graphics, the score, everything about it came together to create an experience that was part Predator, part Aliens, part video game and all awesome.

So how does the sequel fare?

Continue reading Review: Gears of War 2

Wired’s 10 Most Disappointing Games Are Befuddling

Confused, befuddled, curious… any of these would describe my feelings after reading through a recent top 10 list. And know, it’s not another one of those infuriating top 10 best games of the year lists. Actually, it’s quite the opposite. Wired recently listed its 10 Most Disappointing Games of 2008 and I have to say, some of them are head scratchers. Take a look:

10. Age of Conan
9. Tom Clancy’s EndWar
8. Too Human
7. Stalker: Clear Sky
6. Mirror’s Edge
5. Dead Space
4. Prince of Persia
3. Mario Kart Wii
2. Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
1. Spore

While I agree with the top few, having numbers 4-6 on the list at all are kind of puzzling, to say the least. What do you guys think?

Source- Wired

VGA: God of War 3 Trailer

Say what you want about the VGA’s, but man, it was cool to see some exclusive new announcements. For instance this teasingly short but tantalizingly sweet God of War 3 trailer, which shows off what looks to be incredible in-game footage. The graphics here are remarkable, and it looks like there will be some familiar gameplay tropes as well as new twists.

Thoughts?

Spike Video Game Awards!

Just putting up a friendly reminder that the Spike Video Game Awards are going to be tonight on none other than Spike TV. Frankly, I’m a little skeptical but actually looking forward to giving this year’s a watch. It’s being put on by Geoff Keighley and GameTrailers from what I understand, and their GameTrailers TV show I find to be very professional and absent of a lot of the things that makes gaming look so lame on TV (X Play, anyone?).

It’ll be on tonight at 8pm Central time, so I’ve got it set to record. There should be a number of exclusive previews like the trailer for Uncharted 2, Grand Theft Auto DLC, and lots more.

Hopefully we can come up with some good talking points for you guys based on what happens at the show. Is anyone planning on watching?

New Final Fantasy XIII Trailer Says Nothing New

So I feel like I’ve been seeing the same Final Fantasy XIII Trailer for 2 years. It’s always the same shots, over and over, and we still don’t have any gameplay to look at. Granted, the same thing was the case for FF XII and that game turned out to be incredible, but even still. Anywho, here’s a new FFXIII trailer.

What do you guys think? Will this game be any good?

First Star Wars: The Old Republic MMO Footage

Speaking of MMO’s making people shirk their responsibilities and fall off the grid, it seems that Bioware’s KOTOR MMO has debuted with its first video documentary. What’s so special about it? Well, it has some of the first actual footage of the KOTOR MMO on it, ready for your viewing.

It actually doesn’t show all that much, which makes sense this early on, but even still, I’m intrigued. Anybody else interested in this?

Nintendo Bitch Slaps the Competition in November Sales

Ouch. I mean, so far this generation we know that Nintendo is first, Microsoft is second and Sony is third. That just seems to be the way of things, even though I think that order should be completely swapped up, with the Wii at a dead last place because of its atrocious games.

So while it’s not shocking that Nintendo came in first yet again in November, the truly shocking thing is the margin of consoles. Nintendo sold 2 million Wiis last month. That’s right. 2 freaking mil. I can’t even fathom how these things are still flying off the shelves that quickly.

Official numbers after the jump!
Continue reading Nintendo Bitch Slaps the Competition in November Sales

Play WoW, Quit College

I do my best to stay away from MMO’s. From some of their earliest conceptions (including Everquest), I have seen friends, family and acquaintances taken down by these silent killers. The couple of times I attempted to play were akin to time travel, my weekend having suddenly flown by in a blur. They are truly evil machinations.

Well, according to the FCC Commissioner, it’s worse than we thought. Apparently, they have found that World of Warcraft is one of the leading causes of college drop-outs in this day and age. Not sex, drugs, alcohol or anything of that ilk- but an MMO.

While some might call foul, I don’t find this that hard to believe. Having nobody to dictate your schedule and becoming addicted to a video game in college is a terrible snare to be trapped in, and I remember Counter-Strike sucking away most of my freshman year. These things can happen.

So what do you guys think? Ever had a gaming addiction problem? And how shocking is it that WoW is a leading cause for dropping out of college?

Source- GamePolitics

Fanboy Battle: Most Overrated Games in 2008

Get the boxing gloves out, dudes. We’ve said time and time again that we love lists. We flock to them like they are the life-bread from heaven, glorious nectar from the gods. I’m not sure what invisible quality it is that makes them so addictive, but gamers love them and so does GamerSushi.

Anywho, Fidgit just posted its list of the 10 Most Overrated Games of 2008, and I bet there will be a few surprises on there (eliciting an “oh snap” or two) as well as a few that you would expect. Get ready to rant a little bit…

List after the jump!

Continue reading Fanboy Battle: Most Overrated Games in 2008

Retro: The Console Wars, Circa 1990

Ah, the console wars in 1990. Such a simpler time, for simple consoles. The biggest worry was if you should spend $100 on a Nintendo or not, or hold out for the uber-powerful 16 bit Sega Genesis. But wait! Nintendo’s super system is just around the corner, and it’s just as powerful.

Man, watching this video really shows what has happened to the industry in the last 18 years. Pretty wild.

GameCop Vs LameCop #3

GameCop vs. LameCop is a feature where Anthony and I argue about video game issues, playing the role of either the GameCop or the LameCop as we do so. We switch roles each time. The GameCop has your best interests as gamers at heart, while the LameCop is just what he sounds like: a total loser.

This week, we tackle several issues including Nintendo’s racial epithets in Animal Crossing, gaming companies’ decision to release all of the video games at the same time each year, and releasing buggy games.

Continue reading GameCop Vs LameCop #3

GTA IV PC Review, Minus the Hype

God bless us everyone, and especially 1UP, for what I consider to be a fantastic look at GTA IV several months later, in light of some of the other great games that have hit this year. I’ve been saying since about 5-10 hours into this title that it is one smoldering heap of an overrated game (though still incredibly well made). I can recognize the game’s quality, but that doesn’t mean it’s not still overrated.

What I find particularly interesting is the brief analysis of the characters and the story, but also how other games have given us virtual playgrounds such as Stillwater in Saint’s Row 2 and the Wasteland in Fallout 3 without short-changing us when it comes to our characters. It’s an interesting look at the game that everyone is saying “OMG BEST EVAR” about, and a sobering one at that.

What do you guys think? Is this reviewer and idiot, as some of the commenters have already suggested?

Source- 1UP

Playstation Home Launches Tomorrow

So Playstation Home launches on December 11th, 2008 and… wait. That’s tomorrow. Home is only a day away. That’s right, in just about 24 hours, you can be browsing your own version of Second Life for the Playstation 3, complete with avatars, emoticons, and all the advertising your heart is wet for.

While Sony claims that this is totally groundbreaking and unique, I just don’t know if I can see this thing through rose tinted glasses the way they can. I’m not sure if users will really spend a whole lot of time in it when they could be, you know, playing games.

What about you guys? Any of you excited for Playstation Home?

Source- VG247

New Batman: Arkham Asylum Trailer Has Sizzle

Not only sizzle, but also Akira trails on the Bat pod and “zzzzt” editing effects! Fancy. But even fancier and more fascinating to batfans out there is just how moody and dark this trailer is. I love the design on the Joker, and the shot of Croc at the end is just awe inspiring. Count me excited.

More Top 10 Lists: Pirated Games of 2008

Hey, EA, quick question: How’s that Spore DRM working out for you guys in piracy land? Oh, the DRM is very effective to stop all those dirty pirates, you say?

Well, other sources are saying something different. According to TorrentFreak, here are the top 10 most pirated games of 2008:

1. Spore / 1,700,000 / Sept. 2008
2. The Sims 2 | 1,150,000 | Sept. 2004
3. Assassins Creed | 1,070,000 | Nov. 2007
4. Crysis / 940,000 | Nov. 2007
5. Command & Conquer 3 | 860,000 | Mar. 2007
6. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare | 830,000 | Nov. 2007
7. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas | 740,000 | Jun. 2005
8. Fallout 3 | 645,000 | Oct. 2008
9. Far Cry 2 | 585,000 | Oct. 2008
10. Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 | 470,000 | Oct. 2008

I know how we all love to talk about top 10 lists, so sink your teeth into that one. Curious that several EA games are on there, despite the DRM. You know which top PC gaming company doesn’t have any on that list? Valve. I guess if you don’t handicap your users when you give them a game, they’re more inclined to actually pay for the damn thing.

Source- TorrentFreak

GamerSushi Asks: Best Gaming Moments, 2008

Over the next few weeks, we’re hoping to put together a couple of features regarding “best of” for 2008, but we still have a few other questions we’d like to hit you up with. This week’s question: what are your favorite gaming moments from this year? It can be something that happened in multiplayer, a moment in a story from a single player game, anything.

For me, I’d have to say that the opening of Fallout 3 really blew me away. I know a lot of people got bored with the childhood thing, but after Oblivion I honestly wasn’t expecting a story. To have the game open the way it did, bringing me into a world that I felt immersed in, and having the character born into it, was just a creative and cool concept. Also, I’d have to throw some Left 4 Dead moments in there, because those just rule.

What about you guys?

RTS Goodness: Dawn of War II Trailer

I haven’t played an RTS in a while, but Dawn of War always tempted me. Dawn of War II looks to be just as epic, just as space-ish, and just as awesome, if not more so. The new trailer shows off tons of cool units and lots of gameplay. Did any of you guys play the first one?

Ludacris Says to “Press the Start Button”

This is one of those things that needs almost no description. You just have to listen to it for yourself. I’ll still attempt a brief summary, though. In the new Ludacris album (the Netherlands release), there is a song called “Press the Start Button”, in which he raps about nearly ever freaking video game on the planet. Not quite, but close enough.

See how many references you can catch, because when he started dropping Contra and MGS bombs into the mix, I was shocked and/or awed.

Edit: By the way, this is totally NSFW.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVm3UEamHRM[/youtube]

Microsoft Wants Crackdown Part Deux

I find Crackdown to be one of the most underrated games of this generation, and a testament to pure platforming bliss. While the open world could have had a few more options and the story was lacking, the gameplay was addictive and the agility orbs could weaken even the strongest man’s resolve.

That’s why it’s exciting to hear several dudes including XBox Live’s Major Nelson talking up the possibility of a Crackdown sequel. Unfortunately, Realtime Worlds immediately began work on the MMO titled APB, which is essentially an MMO version of GTA, in a sense. I guess nobody knew that Crackdown would take hold like it did, despite the packaging of the Halo 3 beta. Go figure.

I can’t wait for a Crackdown 2. What do you guys think? Did any of you play the first one? Am I on the crazy bus?

Source- VG247

TIME’s Top 10 Games of 2008

We all know what the end of the year means… Sure, there’s that celebration where we get presents and eat lots of food and it gets colder (at least here in the States), but there’s also that other special factor: “best of (insert year here)” lists! It’s when everybody starts listing off what was cool about the year before, and it’s addicting as hell to read them.

Heck, even TIME has put together a best video games of 2008 list, and the results are about par for the course, I’d say.

Breakdown is after the jump:

Continue reading TIME’s Top 10 Games of 2008