Bold Statement of the Day -- Mass Effect 2 is the Greatest Game of All-time

I finally finished Mass Effect 2 the other day. Never, in my entire life, have I felt so emotionally connected to a a video game. The storyline and characters are what makes Mass Effect 2 the greatest game of all-time.

I never thought that a game could displace The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time from the number 1 spot on my all-time favorite games list. Mass Effect 2 has done just that. When I finished playing the game, I could not stop thinking about it. I annoyed my friends, excitedly reiterating intriguing parts of the story. I scoured the internet for other opinions on the game, shaking my head in disappointment whenever I saw a dissenting one.

Bioware is my favorite developer. ME2 is definitive evidence of this company's capacity to craft profound, adult stories that immerse players in believable worlds with characters who evoke strong emotional responses from players. As a huge advocate of further integrating gaming into mainstream entertainment, I would argue that the Mass Effect series tells one of the best science fiction stories ever -- I would even argue that it reaches the level of George Lucas's Star Wars films. The fact that you, as a player, are able to control the outcome of this story through your decision-making (which, by the way, does not boil down to simple good vs. evil choices, but also involves moral gray areas), augments the experience by adding layers of complexity that movies or books simply cannot do. Mass Effect 2 made me care about my virtual crew. I wanted to ensure that all of my crew mates survived throughout the story, and this is another great thing about the game -- it makes you feel as if something is at stake. You really want to see the mission through, while at the same time, making sure that your trusted crew members live to see another day.

I haven't even mentioned the immersive graphics and sound effects that complete the Mass Effect experience. Particle and lighting effects are breathtaking. The locales that you travel to throughout the galaxy are varied and intricate. Remember the cantina from Star Wars? The world of Omega pays homage to that famous scene from Star Wars, albeit with a darker and more mature spin. Beautiful garden worlds entice gamers while foreshadowing hidden dangers that linger beneath their innocuous surfaces. The entire game world lives and breathes, and you really feel like you are part of something big -- a mission that will determine the fate of an entire galaxy.

Just in case I haven't made it clear already, Mass Effect 2 is a transcendent experience -- it is a once in a generation game that not only must be played, but must be owned. ME2 is an absolute treasure, one that will hold a permanent spot in my collection.

Graphics: 10/10
Sound: 10/10
Story: 10/10

Overall Score: 10/10 Not only the best game of this console generation, the best game of all-time.

Halo Reach Impressions

So, I dove into Halo Reach beta for the first time this past week. To say the least, I am very disappointed.

First, let me give you a brief breakdown of the changes that have been made since Halo 3:

Improvements:
-The matchmaking menu screen interface has been cleaned up and simplified.
-The graphics are very sharp and really pop.
-The game requires more skill than Halo 3 due to the fact that its main weapon, the DMR, forces you to employ precise aim to dispatch your online hostiles.
-The multiplayer levels are a HUGE upgrade over Halo 3's maps: while they are still intricate, the levels are much better organized (with a number of symmetrical regions) that make them easier to navigate and more enjoyable.

Downgrades:
-The weapons are not very well balanced -- some seem too powerful while others make me think that I would be better off picking up pebbles and throwing them in the vicinity of my opponents.
-Traditions that have existed in the Halo universe have been dismissed in Reach. For example, you lose health when you jump, and the melee attack feels different/removes a different amount of health (so that the pattern of shooting/meleeing that you've grown accustomed to may not work in Reach).
-You have a health bar and a shield. You have to run around the map finding (sparse) health packs to restore your depleted health.
-The armor loadouts are an unnecessary distraction. I would prefer the game to be much simpler, simply focusing on the weapon combat. Adding an extra layer adds more frustration and some of these loadouts slow the pace of the game down immensely (especially the loadout that provides a wounded player with a shield that makes him temporarily invincible).
-It's still Halo, meaning you will have plenty of "WTF?!?!!!" moments in regards to feeling that you got cheated by your opponents.

The last time I played the Beta was a week before it went offline. After getting screwed over royally by glitches and lag on numerous occasions, I angrily turned my Xbox off in the middle of the game, and refused to play it even once more before the beta period ended. Now, I understand that this is a beta, but, the game feels so cheap, so unpolished, that I'm angry with myself for reserving it (even though I cannot deny that I'm going to buy it simply because it's Halo). Hopefully Bungie will clean up the major issues with the game by the time it hits store shelves. As of now, I feel like I'm going to be getting more playing time out of Halo 3 than Reach...we shall see.

P.S. I believe that Halo 2 provided the best multiplayer suite of all three online Halo games...if Bungie released a game with Halo 2's engine and perfectly crafted multiplayer maps, I would be content. All of the so-called "upgrades" that Bungie throws into their games seem to merely water down the experience (I'm referring to power drains, regenerators, weapon loadouts...you get the picture). Bring back the simplicity of Halo 2, and cut all the extra fluff out of the package, and I will be happy.

Developers, Stop Trying to Make the Game of the Year: It's Already Out

Lately, I cannot stop playing Mass Effect 2. I find it to be one of the most incredible experiences in the history of gaming. Everything about the game -- the story, graphics, audio (especially the voiceovers), animations -- is top notch. Bioware consistently overwhelms me with their ability to tell intelligent stories with such emotion and sincerity. If Mass Effect 2 were a movie, I would consider it one of the best science fiction films of all-time. This really speaks to the game's ability to draw players in with convincing characters and a profound, relevant plotline.

At this early point in time, I would have to argue that Mass Effect 2 will undoubtedly be Game of the Year. I don't foresee any of the anticipated games in the pipeline even coming close to the quality of this Bioware masterpiece. If you haven't tried this or the first game in the series, go out and pick them up. They are truly treasures of gaming. I would rate the first game 9/10 (stupid driving missions put a damper on the experience), while I can't give the second one anything less than a 10/10 (at least up to the point I've reached, which is about 22 hours in). I believe that, by the time I complete Mass Effect 2, it will be second only to The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on my all-time favorite games list.

The Ghostbusters Video Game (360)

BUSTIN' MAKES ME FEEL GOOD

I picked this game up the day it came out, and couldn't put it down till I defeated the final boss. The writing, storytelling, and humor is some of the best I've experienced in a video game and the game serves as an excellent tribute to the movie. The controls are very tight, and there were no issues with the camera. The characters are accurately represented, complete with voice overs from the real Ghostbusters.

If you enjoy shooters, you'll probably appreciate the twist that this game presents on the traditional shooter. The game is in the third person perspective, and you usually work alongside one or more of the other Ghostbusters. The game has you stun, slime, and slam ghosts using a unique control scheme that, as a comparison, might mirror a fishing type game, where you struggle to reel one in. Similarly, in Ghostbusters, you grab a hold of a ghost, and wrench it back and forth until you fatigue it enough so that you can capture it in your ghost box.

The graphics and sound effects in the game are very well done. The environments throughout the game are nicely varied, and the story really wants to make you keep playing. The game lasted a good 10 hours, however, you should take into account the fact that I take my time with games, and many of you would probably beat it in less time. By the time I finished the game, I was really wishing that it would be a bit longer, although I felt that the game did its job by providing an excellent tribute to the Ghostbusters series. Completing this game really whet my appetite for a new Ghostbusters movie, and hopefully a sequel to this surprisingly immersive experience that truly throws you right into the middle of what feels like a third Ghostbusters film.

Check out the note at the bottom of this review for multiplayer impressions (I only spent a couple hours online in the game).

+ Couldn't ask for a better tribute to the movie
+ Excellent graphics & sound effects that really capture you and make you feel like a Ghostbuster
+ Great voice overs from the actors from the real movies
+ Story is intriguing & feels like the third film
+ An expansive arsenal of guns that are all fun to use

- A bit too short

Note: I only played the multiplayer for a little while, and the mode I played was sort of a take off on territories. It involved guarding a beacon from ghosts that were featured in the single player mode with about 3 other online teammates. Essentially, the goal of the gametype was to accumulate the highest score by taking down the most ghosts. The mode was fun, but not something I could see myself playing regularly with games like Halo 3 and COD around.

SCORES:
Gameplay: 9.5/10
Graphics: 9.5/10
Sound: 10/10
Multiplayer: 6/10

OVERALL: 9/10