ICEWIND DALE

PC

I had to get this game since I had a good time wasting a summer in NYC with the classic Baldur's Gate. The really cool feature about Icewind Dale is that you can just replace members of your party whenever you want, but since the fights are rigged for the hacks and power mongers you really can't replace characters after they get past 3rd level or you will find yourself screwed. I'm I the only PC role-player who uses characters with stats under 10 and a positive armor class? Because all these so called RPG's make first level characters fight Ogres at 1st level which back the 1st edition D&D days meant a quick death for the whole party. But I didn't write this review to discuss RPG ethics (or did I?) on to the game.

Basically Icewind Dale is the best computer RPG I have played so far. Yes even better then the over hyped Neverwinter Nights. There are enough spells to make things interesting and tactical. The animations and graphics are quite good considering this is a few years old. There are a buttload of different monsters to do battle with, each with its own tactics and battle plan. The level designers did a nice job of designing the encounters to be somewhat challenging, but honestly anyone with some battle tactics can walk through about 75% of the encounters with no hassle what so ever. And I'm guessing the battles I did have a tough time with were because I don't have super stats in my party and that I don't save before I level up for max hitpoints.

The other nice thing is the plot twists, every time I expected a cliché type plot turn; they threw something unexpected at me, for that I applaud the scriptwriters. Overall I have no complaints about the well designed and enjoyable Icewind Dale. Honestly I can't wait to finish it off so I can get on to Icewind Dale 2.

Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor

PC

Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor is a great game if you like fighting red orcs, then blue orcs, then green and yellow and afterwards having to fight all the same color ogres who use the same orc 3d model. It's also a great game if you like fighting the same zombie and skeleton models like a million times just with different names. The plot and story are almost non existent. You get +3 weapons and armor at first level. This game is really a mockery of the classic Pool of Radiance ( if I could find my code wheel I would play the old one just as much)
Hell the stores don't even remember what you sold to them before, that's when you can find one to sell all the +5 weapons that you get from killing a rat. It's basically a hack and slash or as we called them in the old days a Monty Hall RPG.

War of the Monsters

PlayStation 2

What metalhead doesn't like monster movies?? When I heard the guys that made Twisted Metal: Black were making a giant monster movie combat game it was enough to make me drool. I was also afraid that they would finally fumble after having such a great record with games like Twisted Metal, Twisted Metal 2, Critcial Depth, Rogue Trip and Twisted Metal: Black

But they once again again proved me a pessimist and came out with a GODLY game. This same is fun in single player mode, its fun in multi player mode and its fun thinking about it on the shitter! Every building can be destroyed! Every peice of debris can be used as a weapon. Every automoblie can be used as a weapon! Every tiny little person can be flattened like a pancake under your monterous foot! What more do you need in a giant monster game! I only wish they would have made the monsters large in comparsion to the buildings but they with the smaller and faster giant monster idea then the lumbering slug concept of the Godzilla game also out.

This game is an epic success and anyone who loves fighting games or giant monster movies will love this game. Granted the combat is kind of simple but the computer AI is smart enough that you can just button mash to win. You have to use stragey to overcome the computer (especially on the harder settings)

The Video game gods have blessed us feeble mortals with this one!

Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven

PlayStation 2

I have fond memories of playing the first Tenchu on the PS1. So I couldn't wait to see what the PS2 version would be like.
Tenchu was doing stealth before stealth was trendy in the game world so I have a lot of respect to the franchise. In the new one you can play as a male or female ninja, plus there appears to be on you have to unlock. Both main characters look awesome. During my rental I played as the female.

Let me tell you the levels are just awe inspiring and unlike the earier Tenchu there are more then enough enemies to put you in an early grave if you aren't sneaky and careful. The stealth kill animations are just awesome and there is lots of blood and gore! =-)

This time they made undead enemies that you can't kill without the right weapon so you can't hack and slash your way through a level, plus it adds an element of fear that you generally don't get with stealth games since if you get caught you can always whip their ass. They also added a new feature that if you get 10 stealth kills on a level (which isn't to hard if your patient) you can unlock secret moves and attacks. This reward system really makes it worth being smart and patient.

They even made each level have like three different map layouts so that you can replay levels and not have them memorized after the first time. The bosses all have different persoanlities and combat tatics which really helps with the games realism. Even though the bosses are not super tough the fact that you have to start at the beginning of the level (ahhh the good old days when not just any moron could beat a game), makes you think and not just charge into battles.

Overall I have to say this one of the best PS2 games I have ever played and I look forward to spending a good chuck of change buying it in the future. That says alot from a cheapo like me!

GHOST RECON

PlayStation 2

This game has a buttload of hype with it and after playing it I don't see why. Sure the graphics are good, but what First Person game doesn't have good graphics anymore (beside NIGHTLIFE)?
The major reason this game sucks ass is cause the AI is retarded, enemies just stand there when you shoot them with a rifle grenade and you miss, they don't even notice the big explosion (i played on both Elite and Newbie settings and it happened on both) With AI that dumb why crawl or be steathly just walk in and shoot. With AI that dumb why play?? As realistic as a wet dream and no where fun or exciting. Save your 5 bucks and rent a Jackie Chan movie!

RED FRACTION

PlayStation 2

Having never played the first one but hearing about how you can blow away walls and doors instead of finding the red,yellow and blue keys made me check out the new version. It's your basic First Person Shooter really except for the fact that you can blow up CERTAIN walls and doors.The level design still kind of herds you the way it wants you to go. The AI of your enemies is above average but the game kind of makes you feel like untouchable like Rambo since the levels are so short and there are enough heals and ammo. The levels where you can shoot the Tank cannon, gunship turret and use the mini mech are really cool and visually awesome, but like I said all the levels I got to (and I did alot), they were too short so it wasn't too challenging. But over all the graphics and neat vehicles make it worth checking out.

NBA LIVE 2003

Electronic Arts

PlayStation 2

KINGS FIELD:
The Ancient City

Agetec

PlayStation 2