TheXboxLife

So are you as psyched as the rest of the world for the August 12th release of Madden 09? Considering the game was technically finished in June, but the release isn’t until mid August, there are not to many new features to talk about, but rather, figure out who will and won’t be in the game.

The question on many gamers mind is: “Why isn’t Brett Favre in the game?”. Well, technically he is in the game, but instead of being on any of the NFL Team Rosters, he’s included on the Madden Legends Roster, with a rating of 99 (everyone on Legends is 99). The reason why Favre isn’t currently on any roster is really Favre’s fault, because in 2 seperate interviews asking whether or not he was going to come out of retirement, he declined, stating that he would stay retired. Don’t be to worried though, because from the looks of it, Brett Favre will be a Tampa Bay Buccaneer at the earliest Wednesday (today), which would allow for a simple roster update to get him on the game. When asking EA about what Favre’s possible ranking would be, the answer was “probably mid-nineties”. Not to bad for a guy who does Wrangler commercials, has white hair and sponsors drugs for 40+ year old men.

Other then the Favre questions, one very cool new feature to the game will be the custom Touchdown Dance. Yes, it took until Madden 09, but finally users will be able to decide how their players celebrate their touchdown. Whether it be LaDanians football flip, or the ever popular Lambeou Leap, players will run into the “hot spot” and simply push the corresponding button to the celebration. Apparently there are over 85 celebrations, and each one can be added to any player. Pretty cool huh?

Overall, Madden 09 looks to be the best in the 20th anniversary of the Madden series. Who knows though, considering it’s EA, it’s always possible to be dissapointed. NCAA Football 09 was released 1-2 months ago, and right now that’s easily the best football game out.

So far from the looks of it, Gears of War 2 has a chance at becoming one of the greatest titled games of all time for the XBOX console. For one, the graphics are amazing, as you can see from the images below (thank you http://xbox360.ign.com). Also, the new version is offering a few new maps, guns, game modes and a whole bunch of new enemies to destroy.

From what I’ve read, there are going to be 2 new maps added, which will only add to the blood, violence, gore and destruction of the enemy, and the landscape. One of the maps is called Day One, which resembles a city-type landscape filled with buildings, movie theaters, and other places built for strategic sniping operations. Another new map is called Avalanche, which is exactly what you think, a giant map of snow.

Following these new maps is a brand new game play mode that without question will better your gaming experience. The mode is called Horde, and it allows for 5 human players to join up against wave after wave of AI-controlled enemies. Of course there is still going to be a featured campaign mode for you and a friend to fight through, but the new Horde mode is definitely something that all players of the game will greatly enjoy. With each successful wave destroyed, a new one will emerge with more and more enemies coming your way. It’ll get to the point that once you kill something, another enemy is breathing down your back ready to revenge it’s buddies death. The game play will surely keep gamers at the edge of their seats (and controllers), with more and more bad guys coming your way.

One of the new enemies that your sure to enjoy is called the Ticker, which looks like a funny little white dog with stubby legs, which as it gets closer and closer, by the time it’s at your feet, you hear “tick, tick, BOOM!”. That’s right, this little sucker has a time bomb strapped to it’s back, and when it gets close enough you’ll hear the “tick, tick”, and then it blows. Once you hear it, you’ll be looking all over on the ground to shoot the little sucker before it brings you down with it.

Horde also entertains players with a variety of new Boomers with new armor and weapons. Some feature flamethrowers with gas tanks, others have a shield with an explosive flail, and the last kind are the Mulchers, who carries “Mulcher” guns similar to the gatling gun.

Beyond that there are even more new enemies that are yet to be scene, along with plenty of other features that Epic is keeping under wraps. Good for them, but even better for the gamer, because GoW2 will definitely blow away GoW. Besides, how terrifying do you think it’ll be when you have 20 some odd random enemies coming right at you? Spawning in all different directions, and your only option is blow them all away.

Happy Gaming!

2007 will be a year to remember with all the fantastic game releases including Halo 3, Bioshock, Call of Duty 4, etc…but sadly GTA IV will not be included, as Rockstar has pushed the release date back to 2008. With all the hype revolving around this game, it may not be a bad thing for a later release date around Easter, because the developers have gone all out in the latest addition to this epic series.

The character you will live under is Nikolai “Niko” Bellic, an Eastern European immigrant who comes to the USA seeking the American Dream under the guidance of Niko’s cousin (who’s actually a dead-beat cab driver with massive debt — Niko was unaware of this).

GTA IV features the new world of Liberty City (NYC), and includes the 4 sections of Algonquin (Manhattan), Broker (Brooklyn), Dukes (Queens), and Bohan (Bronx). This is supposed to be the largest city in any of the games, and offers the best graphics seen so far in any of the previous versions. Still, there are some changes to the game.

First, the RPG style that was offered in San Andreas has changed dramatically. You won’t be able to waste your days working out or doing other useless things like getting haircuts and becoming fat. Instead, the developers paid more attention to the actual control and realism of the game. Your car will be supplied with a GPS, allowing for much easier navigation, and hopes that players will actually learn there way around the city, because every street has a unique name. Along with the GPS addition, your character will now be able to hail cab drivers to get around the city faster (yes, cabbies get you there faster!). Though you’ll have to dish out some money, you won’t mind once you complete your missions faster. Of course you’ll still have the option to steal cars, but smashing the window, breaking the steering column and then hot wiring the car will take longer then in the past. This will give more of a chance to you getting BUSTED!

As for the police, the developers really want the player to make use of the radar, and when trying to escape from police this will be especially important. In order to get your wanted level down you will have to get out of the red perimeter shown in your radar. This red circle represents where the police are searching for you. Even when you are within the red circle you won’t always be seen. Now there is more of a “cat and mouse” option to the game, where if the police are not looking directly at you, they will not be able to see you. The high speed chases will prove to be more intense (as usual), because the amount of damage your car can take has definitely dropped to a more realistic level. You will still be able to have those massive gun battles (though they are much more limited now), but be careful because your enemies feature much more accuracy in this game. Accompanied by this you now have the option to cover and “blind fire”, though it will be interesting to see this in action.

For your ammunition you will no longer be able to go see your favorite gun dealers in the city. Instead, you make a phone call to your Rastafarian gun dealer who drops off your weaponry at whatever location you desire. With this, you will also have a cell phone, being able to contact anyone by the touch of a button. There is a high level of technology used in this game, where missions include using the internet is some way or another.

The violence, of course, was improved in all areas. There is much more realism in the game, and the cock-backing of the head from a point blank bullet was proof enough. Not to mention the amount of blood squirting from the wound, the graphics are very realistic.

Overall, I’m extremely excited to see this game, and am not surprised by some of the changes made. Especially in regards to the RPG style of the game, I was never a big fan of it.

If people thought Guitar Hero was fun and addicting, just wait until the new Rockband is released in November 2007. Accompanied by not only a guitar, you and your friends will have the ability to actually create a full-fledged Rockband with the additions of the Drum Pad, Microphone and Bass (maybe). Yes, Rockband will be available for up to 4 players, which will bring the level of gaming enjoyment to a new high. No longer will you have the ‘one person’ in your group of friends who’s the ultimate Guitar Hero player. Instead, you and your posse will be able to have your own Rockband. The only thing to fight about will be who plays what.





The game is also featuring downloadable tracks, which was an addition the public often waited for from Guitar Hero (but never came). Users will be faced with up to 4 lanes on the screen, each assigned to a different instrument. Yes, you will actually have someone on vocals, as long as you have the microphone.





In short, Rockband is going to revolutionize parts of the gaming world, especially ones in relation to reality. Not only is the game-play extremely fun and entertaining, but the song lineup is unbeatable:



* “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” – Jet[4]
* “Black Hole Sun” - Soundgarden[26]
* “Blitzkrieg Bop” – Ramones[27]
* “Brainpower” – Freezepop[28]
* “Celebrity Skin” – Hole[16]
* “Cherub Rock” – Smashing Pumpkins[4]
* “Creep” – Radiohead[4]
* “Dani California” - Red Hot Chili Peppers[26]
* “Detroit Rock City” - Kiss[26]
* “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” – Blue Öyster Cult[13]
* “Enter Sandman” – Metallica[29]
* “Epic” – Faith No More[4]
* “Gimme Shelter” – Rolling Stones[4]
* “Go with the Flow” – Queens of the Stone Age[29]
* “The Hand That Feeds” – Nine Inch Nails[4]
* “Here It Goes Again” – OK Go[4]
* “Highway Star” – Deep Purple[4]
* “I Think I’m Paranoid” – Garbage[16]
* “In Bloom” – Nirvana[17]
* “Learn to Fly” – Foo Fighters[29]
* “Main Offender” – The Hives[13]
* “Maps” – Yeah Yeah Yeahs[16]
* “Mississippi Queen” – Mountain[13]
* “Paranoid” – Black Sabbath[17]
* “Reptilia” – The Strokes[29]
* “Sabotage” – Beastie Boys[4]
* “Say It Ain’t So” – Weezer[17]
* “Should I Stay or Should I Go” – The Clash[4]
* “Suffragette City” – David Bowie[13]
* “Tom Sawyer” – Rush[29]
* “Vasoline” – Stone Temple Pilots[29]
* “Wanted Dead or Alive” – Bon Jovi[29]
* “Wave of Mutilation” – Pixies[16]
* “Won’t Get Fooled Again” – The Who[17]





Considering The Who, The Clash, Beastie Boys, Sabbath and Weezer (love that song) are all listed on the game, Rockband seems to be extremely promising and far better then Guitar Hero.