Borderlands review

 Borderlands is being developed by Gearbox Software and the big man behind Borderlands is none other than Randy Pitchford. With great enthusiasm he knows the world press to convince the quality of Borderlands and he does well before the game appears in stores. PSFocus we have him now met several times and we looked forward to that very Borderlands. Today we can finally evaluate the game and I certainly hope that Randy Pitchford has lied to us and this is just going to be a great game!

Randy Pitchford has also been lied to us once, but he did not deliberately. Two years ago we were invited by publisher 2K Games, the Borderlands GamesCom presentation to attend. Pitchford Randy was the man who would conduct the presentation and everything went smoothly. We saw enough in the game action and the press present was an interesting game, especially because we were told repeatedly that Borderlands looks something like Diablo, but in a shooter jacket. A few months have suddenly everything was different.

When it was announced that Borderlands is very different from going to see. Gearbox Software stepped away from the existing graphics and the game was developed with the look that had made them as artwork. It now seems drawn out, but according to Randy Pitchford is not cel-shaded game. The graphical appearance of Borderlands is now indistinguishable from the dozens of shooters who have appeared on consoles. This combined with millions of weapons and a genre that best describes as a First Person Role Playing Shooter (as Randy Pitchford always tries to describe), will require a new successful franchise Borderlands make.


However, it is doubtful whether a successful franchise Borderlands will be because the game suffers from some problems. Meanwhile, some old problems have been solved with a patch but this patch has not removed all errors. The first thing that strikes me is that Borderlands a fast game, but it seems as if the game can not keep up. If there are many characters fill the screen, along with a large number of enemies, then stripes appear on screen and that can never be the intention. Even if you zoom in and quickly back and forth, then appear again some stripes in the picture. Not always, but just enough to be annoying.

We let the points just beyond annoying ways and concentrate on the story, because if Randy Pitchford wants this as an RPG is going to be seen, it has a good story. Borderlands in the story is somewhat disappointing, but it's fun enough to keep you busy. The game takes place in Pando, one place on earth where no love and peace is found. For years, there is a Pandora's story about a treasure called The Vault. This baby will make you rich, powerful, and especially many women deliver. Hence, everyone in The Vault is out hunting and hunters call themselves Hunters Vault.

When you first start the game, you told more about The Vault, and we get a choice of four Hunters Vault. Roland''The Soldier''is a dark RenderMan so much to see first hand. We can be extrapolated from the number of scars on his face. Roland specializes in Combat Rifles and Shotguns and the type of''shoot first, ask questions later.''Mordecai''The Hunter''is a lean man with a goatee, but also it is no spotter. He specializes in Sniper Rifles and Revolvers, but can also handle a sword.

Litith''The Siren''is intended mainly to have her pretty face and her tight ass. But you better not tell her this, because Lilith is a silent killer, the sneak behind an enemy's back appears to him once then send to hell. And then there Brick simply playing himself. The man is bigger than the Dutch kickboxer Semmy Schild and has numerous scars on his body down. He does have agreements with Semmy Schild, because he prefers to turn his opponents into the ground and keep it especially explosive weapons. It should be clear ... Do not F * ck with Brick!


In the first level you are greeted by an annoying robot that will dance when he was bored. Yet you can not do without him, because it explains a few things and gives you a communication device, which are very useful. In this device, you can directly see which missions you should complete successfully, but also whether your skill points should be divided among the many possibilities. This allows you to select a skill Brick making his punches even tougher and Roland may turrent placement on the floor, automatically firing many bullets at all enemies still move.

In the communication device can also read what weapons you carry with you at that time. That's pretty important, because a limited number of things you can carry with you, but when you progress through the game, you can still take more loot. Loot is a collective name for all the stuff that falls to the ground after the killing of enemies and things revealed by opening crates. Pandora is an open game world and there are plenty of enemies who want to make your life miserable enough crates and distributed throughout the game, so you have an incredible number of weapons to find.


Randy Pitchford wants us to believe that there are millions of different weapons in Borderlands to use, but this is now a doubt case. However, there are significantly more weapons in Borderlands, then what game to the PlayStation 3, but this is because weapons are automatically generated. Weapons to change substantive issues such as: storage capacity, speed of bullets fired and how far you can shoot it. In addition there are also such that knife mounted weapons (you can hit it harder in melee) or fire bullets, making the enemies into the flames fly. Enough variety and thus ensures that every weapon picks, to see if this is better than your current weapons.

The RPG element is still very important in Borderlands. You need your skill points to divide property and for this you need experience and you get points by completing missions and killing enemies. This in turn ensures that you will face many weapons, so you soon a lot of weapons to your disposal. This is handy for the ever more powerful enemies to defeat them. This keeps it interesting to level and it automatically works that Borderlands a fun game continues, you more than a few hours to play.


I will also outline how I started reviewing the Borderlands. The first hour I was playing, I soon had a level 12 character and I thought it was time to take a look online. That turned out a big bug. When you go online to play, you can opt for new characters or existing characters and I took my level 12 character line and squeezed all fast (to me) useless text. I was then in company of two much higher level characters, and was soon behind them than I could not play together. The enemies were too powerful for all the weapons at that time I was in control and hit a few balls, my character was lying on the floor bleeding to death.

Back to the single-pass, was therefore a logical step and I took my level 12 character back in my arms to venture outside in Pandora. To my amazement, I was suddenly in the game much further advanced than I liked. I had the missions of the two online players took on me, though I was aware of them. Apparently this is still listed before going online to play, so it was entirely my own fault. However, I do not actually agree, because it should not matter to whom you are playing online. When someone is much further than you, this should just be fun stuff to pick it up, but not missions to communicate.


Hindsight we can say that Borderlands is launched too early. Even though the game is actually delayed because the Gearbox on a wild throw another bow. Graphically, the game is progressing, though many people do not appreciate this graphic style. We have the game two years ago and have seen when they were introduced, it was a graphically outdated game Borderlands. Now it is unique, though the lines that occasionally appear on the screen annoying. The online multiplayer would otherwise be, but it is certainly not bad. With four people playing online is really cool to do!

Borderlands creates a nice atmosphere and this is also due to the music and the voices of the crazy characters you meet in Pandora. I strongly believe that if Borderlands three months later would come, that the game would have been nearly perfect. Yet for many players change the graphics a big disappointment, but Borderlands is far from a playable cartoon. Kickass characters and very nasty enemies, together with an open game world, everyone should be interesting. Add the online multiplayer (read four male co-opted) and add the chance to challenge each and you know that Borderlands will entertain you dozens of hours. See you in Pandora Brick!

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars review

 What you, as you wonder in this translation is that the game has improved technically and whether it has become not a bad game, because the unique Nintendo DS capabilities are lacking. On a logical question, but on the other hand, it is a game from Rockstar and if someone is experienced in making games than they will. Fortunately we have good news like that, because it has convenient solutions to the gameplay that make up the difference and the game is technically improved. But before we really go in depth, it is important to first have a look at the story behind this game to watch. That decision is entirely different and has no connection with other parts.

Huang Lee travels to Liberty City to a sword of great value to the family, to deliver to his uncle. But he has not landed or if he is attacked and left for dead. Not really a good start, while another is also that his father was murdered. Lee Huang is not a coward and is soon to visit his uncle who is quite as cold as a stone block at the bottom of the ocean. His uncle runs a large part of the city, then indeed the underworld, and this is a little empire to collapse. So how annoying it is to Huang, his presence is still very convenient, because soon after the conversation with his uncle, he can go to work for many dirty jobs to restore.

The story continues gradually between the missions and again by a typical GTA story. It's great, works as a good red line around the gameplay is somewhat interesting to follow. Very shocking story should not be experienced, as we have seen better stories in the franchise. Nevertheless, it is a nice trip to the Asian mafia, and this provides a different approach to the game on. Besides, Huang was quite on the dry side and can be sharp with his comments. Furthermore, the gameplay of this game is virtually identical to other parts. You get missions and characters that range from the elimination of certain figures and works against the triads steal cars, and sabotaging them.

The missions themselves are not particularly, because we've all seen before. These missions continue to somehow still fun to play in this game and they get some kind of value. A good example is that at some point racing cars to steal. This is not just your cock. Look, everyone in the car, but then it started, that's another story. This is a mini game involved and then again it varies by car. Sometimes you need at the right time on the X button if the figure passes by in a series of ten, which are indicated below. Other times you have with the analog stick encircle as screws and then the wires together, so that the engine starts.

The mini games are new to the franchise and give it an extra added value. The missions are fun and playable, because you never really too long doing. The mini games add an extra element to the existing missions, so that you, you will not easily bored. The missions themselves are also good and varied it creates another Rockstar typically part of the franchise that is especially fun to play. However, a disadvantage of the mini games after a while not really exciting anymore. In the beginning you will like them and it definitely adds to what. But if for the hundredth time to do the same if you want to steal a car, you can do some work against. But that is the price that we paid for the port to the PlayStation Portable.

The original Nintendo DS game, came on the handheld Nintendo very good to her right because of the many possibilities for a mini-game to apply. The PSP is just the trigger, the analog stick and d-pad limited. The lack of a touchpad is a pity, but if you've played Nintendo DS version is not unlike the writer of this piece, then you are probably not very long wakefulness. Because anyway, you get a nice game for the PlayStation Portable with many familiar elements, but also really great and new additions.

In terms of gameplay, the game then surely expanded compared to the "Stories" sections. We are in many cases, especially on Grand Theft Auto IV thinking and not because the city is the same, but more the way you play and that's a good evolution. The city itself is also quite large and consists of the rightmost two islands of Grand Theft Auto IV, that if you map from a viewing perspective. This gives pretty much fun and many varied locations. These are visually well mapped. Moreover, it is completely different angle than you're used to from the "Stories" and what parts of the PlayStation 2 and 3 appeared. Something that most probably will know, if not, at this explanation.

Grand Theft Auto 1 and 2 had a top-down view. From the air you actually looked at on an interactive map down and this is the case with China Town Wars. But instead of you looking straight down, this game is different. A direct definition is not, because it contains a top-down view, which effectively 2D but the game itself then 3D. Let's keep it on the game between 2D and 3D. Graphically, the game than their approach differently than the full 3D games, which previously appeared on this handheld. Yet we must say that Rockstar has a very nice game graphically made of.

The game features a day-night cycle, neat-looking vehicle, which I still want to get into accidents verzeilt. In addition, people walk everywhere, which are large relative failure, but that aside. Besides this "living" things should also be noted that the city is somehow a self ambiance. It lives and all that is the game for good. It also looks all very tidy and organized. So was the game on the Nintendo DS still somewhat a bit on the blocky side. On the PlayStation Portable is a lot better, because the handheld is also stronger. The game does not turn, cut scenes, as the "Stories" sections.

The story is told through cell-shaded slides. Here you see the characters constantly engaged in dialogue, it is then displayed via text at the bottom. This is quite a considerable step back and perhaps the highest for the Nintendo DS, but the fact remains that there might be some more effort into could have been. On the other hand there are enough positive things to say about the game, so we do not have to worry about to make. One example is the audio. This is generally nice to call radio stations and especially the sound again as usual. Many choice of stations with various music styles, so nobody gets bored.


Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, a fun game that somewhat goes back to the roots, because the camera perspective. It offers the player plenty of variety and the minigames are a good addition to the gameplay. It's just that they are long term not really up to its promise, but that's mainly the control capabilities of the PlayStation Portable to blame. The cut scenes are really exciting and technically it is a pity that no more work has made. Nevertheless, the game is generally a sound purchase. It looks nice, has great variety and the audio is typically. The game is especially ideal for short play sessions and after completing the single player there is a lot to do. A game that you will keep being busy.

Overall 9
Graphics 10
Sound 9

Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City review

 Grand Theft Auto IV is next Tuesday, exactly two years ago. The game is to this day much, but if you have not done recently, then you now have an additional reason for you to travel back in Liberty City. The two exclusive episodes for Grand Theft Auto IV, which appeared earlier on the Xbox 360, are now available for the PlayStation 3, which means that we both like Johnny Klebitz Luis Lopez to experience an adventure!

For a reasonable price, you get to Liberty City Episodes From a pair of games, which in terms of gameplay or shorter than Grand Theft Auto IV, but a lot more fun. You play in the Lost and Damned Johnny Klebitz. He's a biker and for some time been the leader of the motorcycle club The Lost, because the real boss in prison. You enter the game when the real boss returns to the club. However, there is a difference between the two. Johnny is someone who is tough, but the club have kept running without too many people to them. The real boss, Billy, is more the butt face of the fright and not back from two heavy guns at the slightest provocation.

This difference allows for a gradual split between the two and that will eventually break. The result for us as players in an interesting story that is more interesting than the ones we know from the regular game, so with Nico. The adventure consists of twenty missions run by the story primarily revolves around Johnny and Billy and since they are bikers get the game (GTA IV is) a completely different face. Where you are as an immigrant Nico the brutal thief and hang yourself reprocesses, Johnny is a respected person within the club and the way of approach is also different from the Lost in a Luis Nico or the case.

We will not go too deep on the story of The Lost and Damned go. The only thing we have to lose like substance that is very strong and it fits together for a special dimension in Liberty City. Johnny beside you in Episodes From Liberty City to work also in The Ballad of Tony Gay, but as Luis Lopez. He is a tough guy who has the right of the nightclub owner Tony Prince. Tony is gay man and the owner of two trendy clubs in town and Tony is in itself a great comic character, but despite that he is an art that he has two successful clubs have been set up, because really useful, he is not .

Behind Luis, Tony some matters that are not really smart. Tony is too cumbersome to solve this yourself so you can pay for it as Luis. This in turn produces different and varied missions and the best thing is of course the movies you get in between. Here are the most backward past figures, highlighted by Amir Yusuf. This guy will often double up with laughter and leave to set the right tone of The Ballad of Tony Gay. This expansion is more a humorous variation on the dark gray and The Lost and Damned. Both episodes fits well with the current GTA IV and the different personalities and style of play is extremely entertaining.

Both episodes show you Liberty City from a different perspective and what Rockstar has once again get together for a fantastic atmosphere. Each part in the franchise has a good atmosphere, but these episodes are still jumping above it, especially The Ballad of Tony Gay is great. Just to the story, the many dialogues and the atmosphere is worth it, despite being a bit late. The nice thing about these episodes is that they occur in parallel with the story of GTA IV, Niko so. This culminated in a mission that you play three times. Have you played GTA IV? You know the mission established by the museum in the park yet.

This mission is quite broad because what you do in the first instance with Niko experienced this mission you will play with Johnny again and again with Luis. Additionally you get the necessary characters to which you previously in other games already have been displayed. Because all parallel Rockstar knows a special experience to put down. Everything is alright and with each other and once you start then you're the world of GTA IV is particularly ingenious in terms of storytelling. Broadly there is also precious little to notice these extensions. One positive aspect is that at least more worthwhile than the story of GTA IV, so that in itself says enough.

But this is not the only, because in addition to a storyline that both episodes have been there to do the necessary zijmissies. If you like Luis to work with you as a thief with some old mates here and there disturbed drug shipments and transfers. If Johnny can participate in rough motorcycle, where weapons are not avoided. Also, the simple things like take a measure to different locations to entertain yourself not forget, you can play darts, bowling, pool, golf and even play Air Hockey. Through these things, combined with the trophies to achieve, you quickly each episode one hour or twenty to thirty working, especially if you are someone who likes 100% on the screen.

The single player is that despite all this shows is definitely worth it. It's fun, gives a different face to the city and is particularly pretty extensive. Certainly something that initially a simple extension. If only there were more of these extensions, but hey, that aside. Besides an entertaining single-player game, this course also multiplayer. This multiplayer is a bit on the single episode of the set, at least in the Lost and Damned. So you get in The Lost and Damned the possibility of motorcycle racing which involved weapons. This is a fun mode and the one where you must flee your engine while another you from the air with a helicopter to crash into the afterlife. The Ballad of Tony Gay is not special modes, such as The Lost and Damned are thus in that respect it is a shame.

The fact remains that in the multiplayer of The Ballad of Tony Gay also plenty to offer. All in all, it's a disc full of funny material, and perhaps it would have been nice if there is a special The Ballad of Tony Gay multiplayer mode, but we can live with that. What is annoying is that both episodes have a private online area. If you're in The Ballad of Tony is gay, then you may close it and The Lost and Damned before you start the special modes of that episode to play. This means you constantly change, especially if you're an avid player and multiplayer which is unfortunate.

Ultimately Episodes From Liberty City if it were something you should get GTA fan instantly. Newcomers, we recommend this, because both stories are fantastic, the whole market is huge and the atmosphere is above all very entertaining. The cost of the package are not too high in proportion to the number of hours gameplay is, it was all worth it. Want to see more of Liberty City, then you got to see in GTA IV, then this will be an additional reason for Episodes From Liberty City to purchase. Believe us, despite what it may appear earlier, it was twice over your hard-earned money.

Bayonetta review

 ttention: This review was made with the PS3 patch that fixes the framerate and adds HDD option to my 320 GB HDD. Release date January 28, 2010.

In 1971, scored the band Led Zeppelin a huge hit with the song "Stairway to Heaven '. It sings singer Robert Plant, the sentence:" And she's buying a Stairway to Heaven. That's all well and good, of course, but after we Bayonetta have but we think there suddenly very differently. In the game you play because of a witch, as the title suggests, is called Bayonetta and her memory is lost. Hundreds of years, she sat in a box and is now awake, but without memory. Searching for answers, she is haunted by angels, in contrast to what we are told that angels are anything but peaceful. We accompanied her on the quest for answers and now have the review for you!
Before we elaborate on issues such as: the gameplay, audio, graphics and play like we can already say this. Yes, the game has some technical problems, but if you have a PlayStation 3 game and want to buy? Do not be frightened by what critics do not all say about the PlayStation 3 version of the game, because some tiny dots after it is still a great experience. Anyway we obviously have to explain why the game is so good and that is exactly what we do. Get ready for a game like you've never seen before and show that you have in your dreams will follow! Each game starts somewhere, however, so we just go off to the story to.
Bayonetta is set in the fictional city called Vigrid, this city is not entirely fictitious. As you probably know Bayonetta has a lot to do with mythology and the name of the city is not simply chosen. Vigrid is because from the Norse mythology, it represents the battlefield where the gods fought the giant black Sartre. The fictional European town Vigrid looks like a battlefield between giants and gods. Some own more than condominiums. Although they themselves do not exactly know Bayonetta is a member of the Umbra Witches, an old women from existing clan. They have magical powers which they draw from the Mon On the other hand, the Sages Lumen clan, a group of men who draw strength from the Sun
Together they hold a treasure called "The Eyes of the World '. One clan is "The Left Eye ', the other course," The Right Eye. " Light and Darkness, Day and Night, you understand that these are in balance. Naturally things go wrong and on and treasure the days disappear and a war breaks out between two clans and kill each other. To make matters worse, Bayonetta and her partner Jane have also been attacked by so-called 'Angels' that appear to come from heaven. Fighting on a broken piece of church introduces the game with your story and your character. After a wild roller coaster ride was suddenly dark and starts the game in modern times. Bayonetta hundreds of years appears to have sat in a box and has already been twenty years among us, now it's your turn.
A fairly early so hectic and one you will not soon forget. Bayonetta is a third-person action game where the concept of 'action' more than present. The control of the game is pretty simple on the surface, but as you get more moves and weapons unlocked quite deep. The game can be played off by just button bash, but gamers looking for but the hottest and coolest moves weapons can very deeply with Bayonetta. Of course, you buy weapons and moves to something and that you are called halos. These are the large gold rings that float above the heads of angels, only here you chop their heads off and take you into the halo. Then you visit your good friend and arms dealer who Rodin at the gate of hell is waiting for your halos.
Not everyone will just visit the gates of hell, but we've already told you that Bayonetta is a devil? Lumen The Sages are namely the gate of heaven, the Umbra Witches are those of hell. Got it? Good, then we can continue our Bayonetta Devil. The witch has a good range of moves and weapons ready to help you and not even close. When it has weapons on its limbs, both her hands to her feet as she guns. There are also weapons like a sword, a spear, an ax and so on. The most dangerous weapon of hers is still the alluring black hair and that's no joke. Were you always curious why its so good care of their women? We have the answer here!
Bayonetta is because her shiny hair transform into disgusting creatures such as giant fists, boots and a number of creatures including a dragon and a giant bird. As she does we see something remarkable and that is that the black suit that also has to Bayonetta locks is made! The genitals are just mind, but she is practically nude sample of a three storey banging into each other, action was never this good. In addition to these weapons is also a very cool feature and the "Torture Attacks. If Bayonetta namely a number of enemies defeated without being touched there is a full bar, at some point, the player the triangle and circle button and may be performed Torture Attack.
These attacks are very diverse and different enemies will also appear special. Thus Bayonetta a gallows where she calls her opponent bonjourt or a box full of spikes where an angel is depressed. There are about a dozen different Torture Attacks and they are all equally fun. Of course it is even more fun when it different enemies can exert Platinum Games deserves praise for creativity and imagination! Itself at the very end of the game, the player still new enemies, they all have different names and characteristics. So you have enemies that can fly and have a spear, a large kind of lizard that fire balls shooting, flying rays with pointed tails, flying creatures as big as buildings with traditional chiefs, and so on.
Of course there are plenty of bosses back at the end or midway a chapter reports should be. It all starts with one being about as big as a house and from there it is just bigger, stronger, narrower and more difficult for the absurd to it. The best trick is the fact that first you are very impressed by the first boss, but then you just fight against three at a time in a little later in the game and then again overwhelmed by a still greater being. So you see the progress as a player that you and your character books. If a being a bit too strong, but it is slow then you also have the opportunity to "Witch Time" to use. Indeed if the player evades an attack just in time with R2, then slows down time here and you're faster.


Make no mistake in Bayonetta, because it's not like you go from one room to the other enemies to run a cup size. You will have many hurdles to overcome, and these vary from running over a waterfall to the running of a church while it falls down. This may sound crazy, but wait till you play the game and we seem suddenly not so crazy. As we previously said, Bayonetta is a spectacle from start to finish and gives you little time to rest. Because the steering is so nice smooth keep you busy and you are motivated to overcome every obstacle again. Some obstacles, like in slow motion of a falling wall to another falling wall jump, are just too much for our human Bayonetta. Therefore this kind of situation can also further transform into a panther or a crow. The panther is very fast and the crow can fly over unfathomable depths.

Bayonetta is typical of the sexual undertones that contains the game constantly. Each time you back here to laugh at a crazy move at a critical moment. So she suddenly pole dancing with a giant hatchet, or is it deliberately with legs spread right in the picture. And we have not even had the lollipop, always has a lollipop in her mouth Bayonetta her any extra energy. The way they do thing, however, to keep it clean, consuming to say the least challenging. Platinum Games in the men do like a touch of humor. The game certainly has a serious undertone, but the seductive Bayonetta makes it often very funny. The other characters sometimes take a naughty joke.


Graphic Bayonetta has a special and magical style. The game has very nice lighting effects and the characters look convincing. Although the game is something of a character like stijltje conservation. The eye care environments, and with much attention in the game process. They come at you a magnificent Colosseum, a large church, an underground maze or a paradise in cheerful colors. The game is generally well cared for, but unfortunately we can not ignore the problems around the PlayStation 3 version entails. Now and then have absolutely no frame rate drops and load times at the oddest places. This is the momentum of the game not as good and even the start menu includes a loading screen can even be frustrating.

Load times can be found everywhere in fact Bayonetta, whether you pick an item, want to load the start menu or simply anywhere wraps around the corner. Not that every corner you have a loading screen, but sometimes it just happens that a few seconds to load while being chased by a lava flow. That does not mean that the game has become a great experience. Partly due to the beautiful sound of the game. The music has a feminine elegance, but can sometimes care for a serious undertone. Platinum Games wanted a female character is also female accompaniment of music, something that they certainly succeeded. The sound of rain, falling rocks, lava, water and tunes as you pick up such a sacred object are excellent.

As a final remark can perhaps be called the camera a tad annoying to do, but fortunately you have the opportunity to R3 with the camera quickly to place the butt of Bayonetta. Overall the game is just well cared for, it looks good, sounds good and plays well. Unfortunately the present loading times so that it can be frustrating. It does not spoil the experience, but after playing the 360 version, we had to conclude that PlayStation 3 version is clearly inferior. There are also very occasionally some of the previously mentioned frame rate problems.
On whether we hit the first of 2010 I have with a resounding: yes. Bayonetta certainly has agreements with Devil May Cry, but has chosen to simultaneously complete a separate identity. With a great character, a beautiful world and large numbers of enemies present, this is a game you played as a fan of action games should be. Yes, the game has some problems, but what would it if you can fight against monsters that are greater than your own home? So you have a PlayStation 3 Bayonetta and you want to play? Do not be stopped by the equations you found on the Internet, because the Sony console Bayonetta is a game of epic proportions. Hideki Kamiya may again be proud of himself and his team!

Valkyria Chronicles review

 I completed the game a few days ago and instantly felt compelled to play it through again. My gut reaction was to give it a five-star review but I hesitated, read a few of the negative reviews, grudgingly admitted they made a few good points and convinced myself to give it a four. This game certainly deserves the praise it has received.

I don't think it can be said enough. The game is absolutely beautiful to look at!

The story, although a bit slow to start, had me fully engaged and concerned for the characters after 7-8 chapters. Like a well-made movie the villains are given adequate back story and reasons for their behavior...you just have to wait a bit for it.

Game play is fantastic. Valkyria chronicles perfectly blends the classic turn-based RPG style with a third person shooter for what I thought was a unique experience. Each level presents the player with two general options or strategies. There is usually an obvious "brute force" method of clearing the level and a more "strategic" method. The brute force method will often take you more turns, drastically lower your score, but provide you with an enjoyable experience. Blasting away at enemies with your tank is sometimes worth the lower score. The more strategic method isn't often that strategic. It is a matter of figuring out which particular hoop the designers want you to jump through. This is usually accomplished by replaying the level once or twice after an untimely death, by luck, or sometimes by design. "By design" is listed last because it is nearly impossible to predict which hoop the game will ask you to jump through before starting the level. The pre-game map is mostly uninformative and you just have to figure it out after positioning all your troops. I could not overlook this flaw and is my main reason for giving the game four stars.

Overall this game was a lot of fun. The game requires a little patience as you start playing. If you are expecting Modern Warfare you will probably be disappointed, but I expect most people know by now what they are getting into when they purchase a game like this. Thus the overwhelming numbers of positive reviews which I think the game deserves.