Gaming on a Budget - How to Spend Your Hard Earned Money

The holiday rush is almost upon upon us and games will be flowing like water. We just had games like Uncharted 2, Demons Soul's and Forza Motorsport 3 launch in the last few weeks and within the next three weeks a good number of top quality games will begin pouring out onto store shelves all over the country. Games like Modern Warfare 2, Assassins Creed 2, Dragon Age: Origins, Left 4 Dead 2 and many, many more! That is a lot of games hitting all at once. So many games, so little time (and in my case, so little money). So how do you decide what to play and when? Do you buy or rent? If you buy, do you buy them all? And if so, do you get them all as they are released or hold off and get one or two at a time? For me it is a combination of all of the above.

Sure everybody wants to get the new game as soon as it's released but that's just not always possible. Yes, you are going to have friends playing these games there is definitely that feeling of envy if your not one of them but unfortunately, not everyone can afford to buy every game (at least not right away). That is where a little planning and common sense will really help you out.

First off, let me say that I like buying and owning games. There is just something about it. I like having a collection and I never trade my copies after I am done. It's kind of like having a movie or music collection. There is a certain pride I take in a good collection of games. That said, I certainly can't afford to buy every game I want to play. So how do we get around this dilemma? Well there are two basic options... Rent a copy or Buy it later (at a used or reduced price).

To buy or not to buy?

Now, while I prefer to buy games I do rent some titles. Especially lately as money is a little tight. Plus, some games are just hard to justify spending $60 on. Generally speaking, games that fall into this category are single player only adventures. Games that offer little more than a 6-8 hour adventure are hard for me to to pony up for right out of the gate. Sure they might be great games but $60 for a few hours entertainment just doesn't seem worth it. Especially when there are plenty of titles out there vying for you attention. So my general philosophy is to let these games go for now and pick them up at a later date once the price drops (or pick them up as a rental). Sure you might not be playing on day 1 but you will still get to enjoy the game later and not feel like you got ripped off after finishing the game in one sitting.

Now some single player games are definitely worth $60. RPG's are a good example. Games that require you to spend 60+ hours to complete and can provide different experiences with multiple playthroughs are certainly worth the money but aside from hype, is there really any reason to pick it up right away? It not like the game is going to go bad sitting on the shelf. Why not pick it up later and save some money? Sometimes it's hard to convince yourself to wait but the game won't lose any of it's charm or quality over time. For me games like this can go either way just depending on what else is available at the time. A little self control can go a long way and if we are going to prioritize our gaming purchases we have to look at more than just value for money. So what is more important than value for money?

Value for money + a multiplayer experience

What I look for in a "must buy" title is a solid gaming experience and the endless hours that a good multiplayer game can offer. And it's not just about being able to play online but it's also about being online early and ahead of the curve. You see, games like Modern Warfare 2 not only provide great value for you dollar (more hours or gaming than I care to admit) but they also have a constantly evolving player base. Gamers that get better and better with every passing day. These are the guys you will be playing later down the road and if you want to be competitive (which I do), you want to get in early and really get to know the game. Not to mention the fact that your friends will be playing and getting better too. Nothing like playing catch up to all your friends because you waited a few months to pick it up. This can actually ruin the experience to some degree. You finally get the game only get get pwned every time you jump in a room. That's not much fun for anyone (except the guy pwning you).

So as I head into this holiday season you can bet that I will be looking at a lot of things before I purchase. And if you are like me and really need to prioritize your purchases the best advise I can give would be to take a good look at the games you are interested in before you buy. Don't just head out to the store because you think a game is going to be awesome. Take a look at the preview and reviews. How long is the game? Is there multiplayer? How long will I be playing this game? Of course a lot of it is personal opinion and how excited you are to play, but I really try to look at the big picture before I walk up to the counter and plop down 60 bones. It might be hard to pass up a really anticipated single player game but in the end you'll be a lot happier with your purchase.

Multiplayer and replay-value play the largest roles in my decision making but "to each his own" as they say. Find the most important features to YOU and prioritize based on those points. Be smart and do your research. Do that and you'll be all set.

Happy gaming!

Borderlands - Final Verdict

Good news everybody! I was able to get my hands on a copy of Borderlands a few days ago and have been playing it ever since. I must say that this game is a lot of fun, especially in Co-Op. It's not for everybody, but most of you are going to love it.

First off, this is one of those games that just has a good feel to it. It's not too serious and never tries to be. Right from the opening, with its stylized credits and great song choice, I was hooked. From there you are able to pick your character and get started on your quest... for guns! Not really, there is a story line... I think... Oh is that a new gun? But seriously when you boil down to it this game is about Shooting, Loot, Leveling and Guns. Mostly shooting things and guns!

It's not that the other things are not well done, but because the guns are so much fun to collect, swap and sell that you will spend a good deal of time looking for guns. So many variations and something better is always out there. And even more impressive is the fact that each gun feels different and has it's own drawbacks and benefits. You might find some with massive power and some with elemental effects. Each one feels unique and is different from the gun the guy next to you is carrying.

Speaking of the guy next to you... This game offer up to 4-Player drop-in/drop-out Co-Op gameplay. Oh yeah! And this is really the other key feature to making this game as good as it is. The game itself is a little on the dull side. The story and missions are all a little bland and boring after you have done a few. Each one is basically the same. Go here, kill this, collect that and return for your reward. But if you add in three of your friends, all that boredom melts away. In its place is a gang of crazy bandit killin' hombres. Battles are intense and looting is a free for all frenzy. Fortunately, if your playing with friends, you can go over who got what and drop items that are useful for your friends. Playing with randoms might not be quite as enjoyable but still should be an exciting experience.

The rest of the game is solid as well. Take graphics for example. The game is very nice looking. The cell-shaded graphics are clean and the overall art direction really fits with the tone of the game. Draw distance is impressive and the enemies and creatures are varied and original. Overall it is a very enjoyable place to spend most of your free time (and trust me, you will be spending plenty of time here).

Gameplay is also solid. The controls feel very familiar to anyone who is used to a FPS and they all feel right. Also, just as important, the game is fast paced and fluid. Something that is important when combining the Shooter genre with RPG (or any other genre). Shooters by nature are fast paced and you have to keep that feel if you want it to work. Fortunately, Borderlands was able to do just that. The end result is a game that is fun to play and controls the way you want it to.

Oh and there is other Loot too, not just guns. There is a wide variety Equipment Upgrades, Class Modifiers, Shields and Artifacts to collect as well. Frankly, each one is just as important as the gun you carry. The right combination of equipment and upgrades can take your 34 damage SMG and have it dealing 200+ per bullet. Crazy grenades the take damage from enemies and give it to you and your party. Shields the give off a shock wave when depleted and Artifacts that are class specific and permanently increase your player stats and abilities. All of which play a part in making your character the best it can be.

Which of course leads us to the final part of this equation. Leveling your character. Like many RPG's today, Borderlands uses a skill tree with three specific skill sets to upgrade. And like most RPG's you can't upgrade all of them. You will have to pick and choose which set of skills you want to invest in. And there is a lot of cool stuff to unlock and upgrade along the way to the level 50 cap. Fortunately, if you make a mistake or just want to try something else, you can reassign your skill points at any time. Simply find one of the "New-u" stations and for a fee (based on how much you have and it's not cheap) you can reassign the points and try a different path. Frankly, it's a nice addition and works well.

All in all, I really do recommend picking up a copy and giving it a shot (no pun intended). It's a solid game that is a lot of fun, especially with friends.

Final Verdict - 8.0/10

New Left 4 Dead 2 Trailer Leaked!?!?

That's right. We got our hands on the all new Left 4 Dead trailer (thanks Joystiq). Wether or not it was leaked remains to be seen but the important thing here is that it's full of WIN! One of the most anticipated games of the year, just moved up a notch. Check it out for yourself...

Modern Warfare 2: Now with Over 130,000 Served

Well the big news the last few days has been the uproar from the PC gaming community over the omission of Dedicated Servers in Modern Warfare 2. This decision has people so upset that an online petition has been started, with over 130,000 members at the time of the article and others are threatening a boycott.

Now, as a console gamer I am largely unaffected by this news but I can see both sides of the argument and I feel it is news worthy. Here is the basic rundown. The term "Dedicated Server" refers to a server that acts as a host for the game. Individuals or Clans can purchase a Dedicated Server for a small monthly fee and then set up private matches using specific settings. Many PC gamers prefer to play using Dedicated Servers as they feel it offers them a good amount of freedom and the ability to play with mods.

Important note: Mods do not always refer to glitching or cheating. Mods also refer to user generated content like maps, weapons or skins.

The benefit here is pretty obvious. I mean we are talking Free Maps, Skins etc... something us Console gamers have always had to pay for and in talking to my fellow PC gamers I found that there is something more. A feeling of ownership and pride in a well run and popular server. One even described it as a feeling of "home" for him and his fellow clan mates. A place they go to and play everyday, using the setting they are used to and a place to meet up with the other members and regulars that have found their way to their server.

Unfortunately, it not all sunshine and roses either. There is a flip side to this coin. One that most notably affects the average PC gamer; One not affiliated with a large group or clan. For this fellow, Dedicated Servers are not as inviting. To find a match you have to search through a long list of servers and seemingly pick one at random to attempt to join. On occasion you might find a good server and enjoy yourself but you also might be headed into a nightmare. Perhaps a server full of cheaters and glitchers, clan tryouts, 13 year old n00bs or maybe a very uninviting clan full of complete asses that are just rude to every random that shows up. You can spend half your night trying to find a match, only to end up walking away due to one bad server after another. And there is really no way to tell until you are in there. Get a bad room and start the process all over again.

Infinity Ward is trying to help the average gamer by taking out the Dedicated Servers and having everything run off IWnet. A system that would turn PC gaming into a very similar model of how Console games work. Gone are the custom setting and mods and in its place is a matchmaking system that puts you into a room with similarly skilled players in a game mode you search for. So the average gamer can simply search for a TDM and instantly get into a room with similarly skilled players. Very simple and streamlined. Plus IWnet also adds a number of features to accommodate larger groups including a new Friends List features and Party System (think Xbox Live) that allows you to keep track of your friends and play as one group. Go from lobby to lobby with all your friends and play against the public. Or you can also start a private match which allows you to change a number of predetermined settings. Things like score limit, air support and even "head shots only" are available to mess with. But nothing outside what the game programmers have already decided.

All in all the only real thing missing will be the mods. This means there will be far fewer cheaters (which is a good thing) but also no user generated content (this is a bad thing). Now many PC gamers are all for Matchmaking and the features IWnet has to offer and for the most part they just want to add the option of Dedicated Servers as well as Matchmaking. This sounds like a fair option but in the end I don't think it will matter. IW has put a lot of time and money into IWnet and despite a online petition with over 130,000 supporters, they are serious about giving IWnet a chance. They want to be able to more closely control the online gaming experience and more importantly (for them) charge for extra Downloadable content. With FREE user generated content out of the picture they can count on more people downloading the extra maps packs. Ultimately, I think that is what it really boils down to, money. IWnet's matchmaking system will make them more money and allowing Dedicated Servers will not.

In the end there is no right side or wrong side. Both sides have valid points and both sides have advantages and disadvantages. The bottom line is how strongly you feel about the issue and whether or not you are willing to pass up one of the biggest games this generation because of it.

So, how do you feel about it?

Uncharted 2 - Final Verdict

Well I have been spending the past few days playing through this game and I must say, this is one of the best games I have ever played! Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is simply a masterpiece of modern gaming. An almost perfect blend of story, cinematic action sequences and gameplay topped off with some of the best graphics and visuals I have ever seen. A game truly deserving of all the hype and praise it has received. If for some reason you have not had a chance to play it yet, you need to do so immediately. It is a must play for anyone with a PS3. But enough gushing, let's break it down and take a closer look at all the parts that make up the whole.

The game really does feel like an interactive action movie. More so than any other game I have ever played. This is due to several key components... cutscenes, story, pacing, cinematic direction and level design. Uncharted 2 takes all of these things and blends them seamlessly into a video game experience like no other. Let's start with the story. The guys at Naughty Dog really did an amazing job creating a wonderful story and fantastic writing. The Uncharted series has always based it's stories in real historical mystery and the second outing is based around the travels of Marco Polo and the mystery surrounding his return from China where most of his expedition went missing. Our hero, Nathan Drake, sets off to find out exactly what happened and winds up in a story much bigger then he originally bargained for. The story is filled with action, love, betrayal, humor and actually manages to get you invested in the characters and their actions. Something most video games never quite manage. It's obvious that the story was very important to the guys a Naughty Dog and I must say, they nailed it.

A solid story is important but how you present that story is just as crucial. For that we need cutscenes and action sequences. Fantastically written and acted, the cutscenes in Uncharted 2 are a real treat. Which is a good thing because there are quite a few and unlike some games, you never want to skip a single one. The story and scenes are so well done that you are actually looking forward to the next one. Part of that is due to the fact that the voice actors actually act out every scene wearing mo-cap suits. The result is a much more life like performance that is actually happening. Doing it this way really seems to capture the life of the scene and allows the actors to play off each others performances. Couple the solid writing, good acting and cinematic direction and you have a real treat. Not to mention, all the cutscenes and action sequences are seamlessly integrated into the game. No load time, no prompting. They just take over and put you back in control in such a way that you really feel a part of the game.

And speaking of action sequences. OH MY GOD! This game pulls off action sequences like no other. This game has so many "Oh *#%$!" moments it's amazing and they just happen while your playing. Fortunately, they don't require you to do anything. No button pressing to do, no timed events. Just pure action. Usually brief, like having the floor come out from under you and then you are back in control scrambling to climb back up. And while these scenes are pre-scripted, it really feels like it's actually happening while you are playing and never takes you out of the action. It's a wonderful addition to the cutscenes and a key part of making the game as fluid as it is.

Another part of the equation is the level design and the game shines here as well. The level design is fluid and well done. Rarely will you ever find yourself wondering where to go next. It's just intuitive. After a battle, I always found myself going the right direction. A feat even more impressive considering how large and open some of levels are. There is no glowing trail or anything, just good level design that seem to naturally lead you to the next location or battle. Of course, if you do get stuck somewhere long enough the game has a helpful hint system to point you in the right direction. (I only had to use the feature once the entire time playing)

Of course the game isn't all about story and exploration. There is also a whole lot of fighting to be done. It is and Action/Adventure game after all. Once again, Naughty Dog delivers. The fighting and gun play have a great feel to it. Pop in and out of cover, make your way around to flank the enemy and get flanked yourself. The mechanics are great and everything feels very smooth. The AI will flank, change position and even flush you out of you hiding spot with grenades. Your probably not staying in one place too long which add a great deal of excitement to the battle. You'll be pinned down by five or six guys, trying to pick off the Heavy Armor Shotgun guy headed right at you only to be flushed out by a grenade. All of a sudden you are running for your life, avoiding bullets, sniper fire and the Shotty on your tail. Certainly never a dull moment. And there is no auto-aim or "lock on" feature to get in the way. You can blind fire from behind cover or pop up of more accurate firing and you can also "run and gun" which is helpful when you get flushed out.

Of course gun play isn't your only option. The game also features hand-to-hand combat and stealth kills. Quite often when you enter an area occupied by baddies, you have the element of surprise. You can survey the situation and plan your attack and many times you have the opportunity to pick off several bad guys by sneaking around, grabbing one at a time. You also have the ability to run up and beat the crap out of them too although, it's usually best to do when there is only one or two guys left. Otherwise you could find yourself full of bullets. Still, it is very satisfying. I found myself running in for a quick beat down when ever I got the chance. The animation is solid, varied and just all around fun.

And that brings us to the graphics. Not much to say but WOW! The game is gorgeous. Wonderful locations and lush colors and textures are everywhere. But the real kicker is the amount of moving objects on the screen at one time. Particle effects in the air, dust rolling through, bushes and flags moving in the wind, water dripping from a leaky pipe etc... So many details and objects are moving about that the game really comes to life. The city in Nepal is especially impressive to me. If you see this game in motion, you would hard pressed to Not be impressed. A truly jaw dropping experience.

Put all the above things together and you get one of the best gaming experiences ever made for any console. Don't get me wrong, the game is not perfect. There are a few things here and there... like popping in and out of cover can be a bit tricky and the AI seems particularly oblivious before the fighting starts. Why the patrolling bad guy doesn't seem alarmed when his fellow guards go missing is lost on me. They will even walk right past dead bodies and think nothing of it. But these are minor issues and completely overshadowed by the game as a whole.

All the pieces are solid on there own, but it's the way in which Naughty Dog was able to put it all together the makes the game so special. The graphics, animation, pacing and story all come together in a way that sucks you in and doesn't let go until the credits roll. So fluid and well paced that you feel you are constantly moving forward and action so good that you would almost swear you just played through a 10 hour movie. This game is truly amazing and the sets bar in which all future Action/Adventure games will be measured.

And that just covers the single player adventure. The game also features a solid Multiplayer game mode that will have you playing long after the credits roll.

Final Verdict - 9.8/10

Borderlands?

For those of you who follow video game news and information, you are probably aware that a new IP is dropping tomorrow. And which game would be? Why Borderlands of course and this game look to have a lot of promise. The question is, What do we expect? and Will it be any good? Today we are going to take a look and I will give you my opinion.

Let's tackle these one at a time. First off, What do we expect? To answer this, lets start off with the basics. Borderlands is FPS/RPG set on a wasteland planet (think Mad Max). You play as one of four customizable classes and shoot your way through the badlands in search for a mysterious treasure. Gameplay itself is much like a standard FSP with heavy Roll Playing elements mixed in as well. You can upgrade everything from your personal stats to weapons and armor. And possibly best of all, the game supports 4-player drop in/drop out co-op.

The game also features a very interesting look. With unique art direction and cell shaded graphics there is no doubt that this game definitely looks unique. In a good way? Personally I think so although I am a fan of unique art and feel more games need to embrace a less realistic look. Too many game out there try to look photo realistic and most fall just short. I feel you are much better transporting your audience to another world with fantastic characters and animation(Bioshock anyone?).

All in all this is a game with a lot of potential but will they pull it off or simply fall flat? For that we have to look at the second question posed above. Will it be any good? This is a much harder question to answer, mostly because it doesn't hit stores till tomorrow. So find the answer we have to look through all the previews/reviews we have seen so far. And from all accounts, the answer is yes the game will be good. Tons of customization, good gameplay and a decent amount of depth. Borderlands also features a unique content generation system allowing for near-endless variety in missions, environments, enemies, weapons, item drops and character customization. I mean the game boasts over 200,000 guns! Will it be prefect? Almost definitely not, but it has the potential to be quite good and very enjoyable. Especially with friends and I am always down for some co-op, if done correctly. This is definitely one to keep an eye on.

So, is it worth buying? Not sure, but it is definitely worth checking out. If I get my hands on a copy I will let you know my final verdict.

Demon's Souls - Why do I want to play this game?

It's a fair question if you know anything about the game. I first heard about this game two days ago when I came across a review from IGN. Demon's Souls is and RPG designed and developed in Japan that has just recently been released here in the USA (PS3 Exclusive, sorry 360 guys). However, it would seem to be more like a western RPG in design. A dungeon crawler if you will as opposed to the Final Fanitcy JRPG type of game. I like both, but generally I prefer Western RPG's from a gameplay stand point. Anyway, back to the point...

From all the reviews I have read (which are all good by way) this game seems overly difficult but somehow that's a good thing. The game is apparently very deep and very rewarding. At least in the sense of accomplishment and if you make it through the difficult moments early on most reviewer say the game clicks and becomes one of the best games you have ever played.

Sam Bishop from IGN had this to say and I think it sums it up pretty good.

"Just how punishingly old-school is Demon's Souls? That's something that's rather hard to quantify without actually shoving a controller in your hands and just letting you play it for yourself, but nearly everything about the game's no-nonsense approach to delivering the action can be summed up in one very simple example: you can't pause the game. Ever. If you're in the middle of a pitched battle against enemies that can and very often will end your life in just a single hit or two, you'd better hope that whatever weapons or restoratives you have in your inventory are already mapped to the d-pad slots, and even then it'll take a bit of luck to get through some encounters."

And to make things worse, if you die, you lose all the souls (experience/money) you are carrying, the monsters reset and the games difficulty actually gets harder! That's right, die enough and the game gets harder! But Sam goes on to say the following...

"There's no bank, no second chances, no way to put off the inevitable. You will die in this game. When in this soulless form, you'll be permanently stripped of a chunk of your life meter. You will lose all of your cash, and you will hate that every once in a while it's because you got pushed (okay, you accidentally rolled) off a cliff. But you'll keep coming back because the game is quite simply one of the best on the PlayStation 3. "

So, why would I want to play this game? Honestly, I have no idea but something about it is very intriguing. Maybe it the old school gamer in me that wants a ridiculous challenge. Maybe it's the thought of the satisfaction you get with actually beating the game (or one of it's incredibly hard bosses). Maybe I'm just mental. But a game described as being so difficult and frustrating, yet pulling out scores of 9/10 (and higher) has me officially on the case.

Not sure when I'll be able to pick up a copy (I'm not made of money) but I'll follow up with my personal impressions as soon as I get a chance. In the mean time check out the screens below and IGN's review, it's a good read -http://ps3.ign.com/articles/103/1033437p1.html

Uncharted 2 is Available Now!

Uncharted 2 has been officially released and is in stores now! Go buy your copy immediately! "But Interseptor, I don't even own a PS3?" I don't want excuses, I said NOW! Buy a PS3 if you have to, do what ever it takes. Seriously, why are you still reading? Get out of here...

I'm just kidding of course, but if you have a PS3, you really do need to check this game out. From what I have seen and played so far, this will be one of the best games of the year. It also has the potential to be the system seller Sony has been looking for. I'll do a more in depth Hands-On review in a few days so stay tuned.

UPDATE: The Demo has been taken offline with the launch of the full game (10/12/09).

Dragon Age: Origins/Mass Effect 2 Armor

Well it seems as if the FREE DLC thing is really taking off. Yesterday I reported on a Free DLC car pack offered with Forza 3 if you buy a new copy of the game. Today, Bioware announced a similar offer with the new Blood Dragon Armor. Which, by the way, is completely bad ass! (And FREE when you buy a new copy of the game.) Like the Forza deal, a code will be packed with the game. Head to the Marketplace, enter the code and there you go... new Blood Dragon Armor. (Yeah!)

Now here's the twist, when you buy a new copy of Dragon Age: Origins (and get the Free armor), you also get to unlock it in Mass Effect 2! Tweeked a bit to fit the look of the game but bad ass all the same.

Details are a little scarce as to how you actually unlock it. Saved game data? Who knows? But you do get it for both games. Sweet! Check the video below to see both in action.

Forza 3 - Legends Car Pack

A new car pack announced before the launch of the game? Hell Yes! But will we have to pay for it? Not a single dime. The Forza 3 Legends Car Pack will be available for download on day 1... for FREE! That's right, ,the good folks at Turn 10 didn't think the 400 cars and 100 tracks were enough, so they are giving us more. How much more? Take a look for yourself...

CARS:

· '65 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA
· '64 Aston Martin DB5 Vantage
· '81 BMW M1
· '60 Chevrolet Corvette
· '69 Dodge Charger
· '57 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa
· '80 Fiat 131 Abarth
· '67 Lamborghini Miura P400
· '71 Nissan Skyline 2000 GT-R
· '65 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe

TRACKS:

· High Speed Ring
· Sidewinder Proving Ground

Not bad at all. The above list of cars and tracks will be available at launch via a code packed in every new copy of Forza 3. Can you say Dukes livery? Oh yeah!

Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising - A Closer Look

Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising releases today on the 360, PS3 and PC to a number of eager fans. For those in the know, this game promises to be one of the best, but unfortunately games like this often get overlooked in the wake of super hyped games like Modern Warfare 2. In light of that fact I thought I would shine a little light on this gem and let you know exactly what to expect and why you should look at buying this game.

OF:DR is a tactical military first person shooter but unlike MW2, Dragon Rising shoots for hyper realism and unscripted events. Dragon Rising put you in command of a 4-man USMC (United States Marine Corps) fireteam. You insert with your team set forth on missions in a very open and unscripted enviorment. And by open, I mean OPEN! Dragon Rising takes place on the fiction island of Skira (based off of the island Kiska located off the coast of Japan).

The environment boasts over 100 sq miles of traversable terrain. Codemasters (the games developer) took painstaking effort to copy every inch of the island giving the player a real environment to play in, not just some generated levels. Skira is a volcanic island with a variety of terrain. At one end is a large volcano, 5.3 mi × 4.0 mi in diameter at its base and 4,010 ft high, and at the base of the volcano is a section of low lake lands. A ridge of 1,000+ foot mountains runs down one side of the western portion of the island while the other side is generally flatter with numerous lakes and small waterways.

You can go anywhere you want and approach each mission from any angle. Go in full force? or send two of your guys to flank the enemy location? The choice is yours and Codemasters claim that each mission will play out differently depending on how you approach it. Furthermore, the damage and destruction is persistent. If you destroy a building in one mission, it will remain destroyed throughout the game.

Speaking of destruction, how about bullet damage? Remember the hyper realistic part? Well, a single well placed bullet can drop you dead and one in the arm can kill you if left untreated. That's right, you can bleed out from a single wound if you don't get it field dressed. The result of all this realism is a game that is much slower paced but also more fulfilling when a well executed plan goes off with out a hitch.

And possibly even more exciting is when things go horribly wrong. Send those two guys to flank and they get spotted early. Now you in the middle of a fire fight with an entrenched enemy and your not in position. What do you do? Provide cover fire and allow your troops to retreat? Stay down and try to get a better position while you team takes fire? Call in an air strike on the village and use up a precious commodity? The choice is yours and you better make it fast. And really, that is the brilliance of this game. The ability to make your own decisions and carry out the mission how you see fit.

Add to all that the ability to play 4-player co-op via Live or PSN and you have a real treat. The entire campaign is 4-player co-op enabled. Each additional player takes the place of one of the AI controlled characters. If you can get three of your buddies to join in and put on some headsets your in for a real treat. There are also multiplayer options and every vehicle is drivable. From Jeeps, to Tanks, to Choppers. If you come across it, you can drive it.

I should have my copy in a few days and I can't wait! If you haven't checked this game out by now, you really need to. It has what looks to be one of the best gaming experiences this year. Especially co-op.

New Modern Warfare 2 Trailer

Oh, yeah! More Modern Warfare 2 goodness. And this time America is burning. Take a look see what kind of goodies you can glean from the video.