Yoda finally makes an appearance. God save the Empire.

Battlefield: Bad Company 2:

Electronic Arts/DICE. FPS. RD: 2010. ESRB Rating: Mature.
Platforms: PC, Xbox 360, PS3.

Official website.

First of all, I have played only 1 Battlefield game before this, which was Battlefield 2. However from my opinions and the opinions of others, I now know that that game was uncommonly epic.

Bad Company 2 lives up to this standard. In fact, it raises the standard in some ways by adding what it’s predecessor lacked- a campaign.

But onto what really matters! The multiplayer in Bad Company 2 is stellar. To sum it up quickly, you have 4 customizable classes to choose from. Assault, Engineer, Medic, and Recon. They’re all pretty straightforward.

Each team has optional squads. They’re composed of 4 soldiers of any class. There’s really no negative point in joining a squad.

One of the first things I noticed while playing was the ability to spawn ON a squadmate. So, if you die and your pal is still at the target, wait a good 5 seconds and then spawn on them. This a great addition that I honestly have never seen before.

The game modes are all, for the most part, fun. There’s the good ol’ Conquest where you kill the other team and take bases; Rush, where you attack or defend a target, Squad Deathmatch, where you kill the 3 other squads, and Squad Rush, which is a smaller version of Rush.

So here’s the meat.

DISCLAIMER: The game is constantly being patched. Some of these may become out of date sooner or later.

Pros:

• Class customization is good.
• Unlocking… unlocks as you progress is always a plus.
• Squads are great for tactics.
• Campaign is worthwhile.
• Not too much or too little health.
• Vehicles are strong, but not too strong.
• Destruction 2.0 is epic. In every way.

Cons:

• Revive invulnerability(About a second of invulnerability after being revived) is a pain in the rear.
• Hit boxes are a bit too big.
• Back to the unlocks; they stop at about level 25.
• There aren’t really new maps being released; just the same maps on different game modes.

Grade: A (97)

Get it!

Mass Effect 2:

Bioware. Action/RPG. RD: 2010. ESRB Rating: Mature.
Platforms: PC, Xbox 360.

Official website.

Mass Effect 2; ask me about about it, and I’ll tell you: My favorite game ever. By far. This sequel to my previous favorite game ever packed some serious enhancements, including(and not exclusively) an extremely streamlined combat system, very diverse classes, research, insane graphics, an even more compelling storyline than the first(which is seriously saying something.), and better squad management.

The first thing I noticed when I started up ME2 was the movie-like quality. As I watch the intro cutscene, I’m in awe until I realize that this person talking to me wants me to respond. Wait, that’s not a cutscene, it’s actually part of then game? Whoa. Then, later in the game I find out the “secret” of the Collectors, which I will NOT tell you, but know that it is a crazy twist, if you’ve played Mass Effect 1.

More Mass Effect 2 goodness is from the boss battles. They aren’t necessarily “bosses,” but they might as well be. At the end of each mission you’ll face a big baddy, and they won’t be easy. But boy, are they fun. Use your new and improved combat skills to take ‘em down. The combat system in the second Mass Effect includes jumping OVER cover instead of running around, instant squad reaction to commands, and a completely different skill system. There are still 10 points that can be put into skills; however they are 1 point for rank 1, 2 for rank 2, 3 for 3, and 4 for 4. After you reach rank four, your skill “evolves” into one of two major improvements that really can only be chosen based on personal preference.

Items in the sequel are possibly the greatest improvement, although possibly it’s greatest downfall as well. Armor is customized, meaning that you can go to shops around the galaxy and buy different parts. However, there are not that many parts to choose from. I was very disappointed, but I am assuming that Bioware will fix this major problem in a future DLC.

Speaking of DLC, the Cerberus network is a card included in all new copies of Mass Effect 2. What is it? A free-DLC card. When Mass Effect gets new DLC, you do too(assuming that the DLC is included in the Cerberus network). Day-1 DLC was a new party member and two new missions; pretty cool, huh?

On the difficulty side of things, ME2 requires a much more tactical approach than the first, simply because your enemies are smarter(they weave, it’s extremely annoying for a sniper) and much more deadly. Heavy weapons are now included in the game, and let me tell you, they HURT. You can get your own heavy weapons from research at a terminal on your ship. Research is a major part of the game. You scan planets and mine their elements, and use those elements for upgrades to your armor, weapons, and ship!

Okay, I’m rambling. Overall, this IS my favorite game ever, and I can NOT wait for Mass Effect 3. Time to start my fifth playthrough… BUT not until I finish up this review.

Pros:

• Flawless combat system. No more overheating, replaced with “ammo.” Cover sysem is enormously improved.
• Story is incredible. Great twist.
• Dialogue is, like the first, revolutionary.
• Armor customization is a great addition.
• Inventory is massively improved.
• Classes are extremely diverse.
• Characters are very in-depth. Party members are lovable.
• Side quests are much more significant than the first.
• Enemies are smart. And your squad is, too.
• Best replay value out of any RPG I have ever played, I mean it.
• “Boss battles” add more challenge.
• Much more linear than the first.
• Graphics are sick gnasty! The environments are beautiful.
• Soundtrack is amazing. Epic.
• NO MORE MAKO!
• Save-game import is revolutionary, your choices in the first DO affect the second. Yes, even the little tiny choices.
• Character development is streamlined, no more useless skills. Renegade/Paragon affects your appearance, but not too unrealistically. (No halos or horns, thank God.)

Cons:

• Scanning. Sucks.
• Armor could potentially have more upgrades, although they will most likely include this in DLC.
• Less side quests than the first.
• Once again, much more linear than the first.
• Uh… that’s it.

There you have it, people.

Grade: A (99)

BUY. THIS. GAME.

(Translation: Bethesda and Obsidian present the new Teaser for Fallout: New Vegas… YES)

I’m going to split the notes I took into sections so you can read them better :
–COMBAT–
Better Cover System
Better Storming System, storm longer
No more grenades, basically Heavy Weapons
Replace heat sinks(basically cartridge)
Find heat sink “ammo” as you go
Bonus powers from your ME1 choices
Bonus powers from who is loyal
Bonus powers from playing through a second time
MOST LIKELY you CAN fall into chasms by powers, you CAN by rockets.
Loadout from Normandy
Item duping inside Normandy
Sometimes you CAN sometimes you CANT pick up certain weapons
no training with non-class weapons
Sentinel has a falcon punch
Choose casual clothing
Each skill still has 10 available points but EVERY level has bonuses, but spend 1 point for lvl 1, 2 for lvl 2, etc. At lvl 4 you “specialize”
Leveling up has more incentive
Removed non-combat skills
No more charm/intimidate as skills, replaced with paragon/renegade
hacking/decryption isn’t a character skill, its a PLAYER skill
Mix and match peices of armor
Changes color and patterns of armor
–STORY:–
Better Acting
Reapers are in ME2, story is about Reapers
If you die, you can NOT import your character
After game, if you survive, you CAN still explore, etc.
Shepard is still a Spectre
There is content from the books
–PARTY–
Never required to recruit all members
Original party members that survived WILL be in ME2. Not all will be in your party, however
At most 30% of game is recruiting party
–IMPORTING SAVES:–
Imports decisions: Wrex, Rachni, etc.
Imports appearance
If in ME1 you can start a new game based on a previous ME1, you can use the original in ME2
If you lost your ME1 character, you can not choose your background
Game is not easier because of ME1 playthrough, basically more tools, not more power
e.g., high lvl characters WILL get a bonus but nothing will make game too easy
–XBOX and PC:–
Only major differences in controls, feel more natural now
–Mass Effect 1 to 2:–
Experience points for objectives
Level squad before and after missions
50% more content in 2
One example: 100 hours w/o DLC
Sidequests more guided, no roaming pointlessly
Acheivement rewards from ME1 do NOT affect ME2
–MUSIC–
Composer Jack Wall, worked with Casey Hudson very closely
more thematic music
more event based
“to fit the mood better”
–ENGINE/GRAPHICS–
Same Engine (Unreal 3)
Graphics greatly improved, including less glitches in textures
No texture popping
30 FPS
–DLC–
“may be more in the future”
Free DLC card
Never have to re-buy
–NORMANDY–
upgradable
story changes based on your upgrades
new fuel system, must refuel to stay in space
there are fuel depots
if you run out of fuel, you get towed basically, no fee or penalty
Some areas of ME1 are back, some arent.
Planets are NOT just shoot people, more civilized areas
MORE POPULATED AREAS
–MULTIPLAYER–
none
–DIALOGUE–
new interrupt system, based on paragon/renegade status
you gain the ABILITY to interrupt at different times and different ways through status
–CHARACTER CREATION/PERSONALIZATION/DEVELOPMENT–
More appearance creation options
sharing character creations with others
–VEHICLES–
Hammerhead: You land in Hammerhead. But, you run in Hammerhead you don’t drive.
–RACES–
More genders in more races in Mass Effect 2
–ME3–
Similar Release Schedule

And, there you have it! It was a great session, a HUGE thank you to Jesse Houston, Bioware, EA, IGN, Vivox Voice, and Direct2Drive!

Ask any questions you want!