What I'm Playing

Many gamers, including myself, find it very difficult to lay down upwards of $60 for a single video game now a days. While some games like Heavenly Sword, Infamous, Red Faction: Guerrilla, and Prototype might be fantastic games in their own ways it is hard to purchase a game that is only going to last a few hours before it runs out of steam. Gamers want to know if a game is long enough in its single player component, or at least has some way of extending gameplay, and if the multiplayer is any good. I figured since its always nice to hear about games you might be inquisitive about from people you know I'd go ahead and give you my opinion on the three games I am currently playing.

I recently bought a PS3, with the newly dropped $300 price tag I suggest that anyone tempted to buy one should do so immediately, and have been finding it amazing. The first and only game I have bought so far is Killzone 2. This is above and beyond one of the most engaging experiences I have had with a first person shooter in a long time. The disgusting grime of each battlefield you step on to fills you with a sense of awe and disgust all at once. Helghan, the alien planet you fight on, is covered in clouds of smoke and industrial rubble. Each battle is covered by an overcast of electrical storm clouds that leave the player with an uncomfortable feeling about the whole planet.

The games disgusting planet side is only outshone by the glorious and dazzling guns in the game. Your revolver that gleams in the light, the machine guns that feel heavy and bulky, the assault rifle that feels light yet effective. Both the incredible design of these futuristic ballistic weapons along with their incredible feel combine to make a shooter like no other. Each shot feels like you are actually pulling a trigger to one of the many guns in Killzone 2. I have only made it about three or four hours into the campaign and I am deeply enticed to continue. There really is not much of a story but the characters you encounter have some characteristics that make it easier to care about them then in some first person

shooters. Not to mention that Helghan's emperor, Visari, is voiced by Brian Cox who does an incredible job of bringing this insane dictator to life. There is also a Team Fortress 2 esque multiplayer component to Killzone 2 but I have yet to delve into it. From my understanding the more you accomplish in the multiplayer the more classes and weapons you can unlock. The game is very polished and provides players with a great atmosphere and tight controls that should be experienced by all PS3 owners.

When I'm not swamped with school work or playing Killzone 2 Dirt 2 has been slowly becoming a bit of a mainstay in my gaming time. Racing games have never been a huge part of my library but there is something special about Dirt 2. There are definitely options for those gear heads who want to tinker with every last piece of the car to get it just right. Personally I found the mechanic portion of the game, which is completely optional, to be overwhelming and uninteresting. What makes Dirt 2 so much fun is its accessibility. Dirt 2 has a multitude of difficulties that will either have you breezing past your enemies or buying a new controller after each frustrating race. The game balances risk and reward well with higher difficulties granting you higher amounts of cash rewards. There is no penalty for choosing to race on a medium difficulty but then lowering it for a specific race because it is just too hard. This feature is nice to have around if there is a certain race that is bugging you and you just want to get it out of the way. I've played Dirt 2 for probably six or seven hours and the races are varied enough that I never feel like they're being recycled. There are point to point races, rally races, truck only races, and many more race types that keep each new trip to the track feeling fresh. I've also grown fond of driving in the cockpit view because so much work has gone into making it feel spectacular.

Dirt and water splash up onto the windshield and the wipers turn on to get them out of your way, temporarily blinding you. This view has the potential to lead to many race ending crashes but the games new rewind feature. Dirt 2's rewind feature allows players to watch their crash and then rewind to a spot where all was well, from there players can retake control of their vehicle and hopefully change the outcome of the race. Some racing enthusiasts would call this feature unfair and unrealistic but it is a video game after all and the rewind feature is completely optional. Dirt 2 is a slick and stylish racer that allows players of varied experience levels to grab a hold of the wheel and race. I highly recommend checking out Dirt 2 if racing games have always seemed a bit too "car heavy" to you. Dirt 2 focuses much more on the basics of speed and racing rather than fine tuning your car to perfection, although that is a completely plausible part of the game as well. Check it out if you get the chance.

The final game that has been becoming less of a time sync as time goes on is Batman: Arkham Asylum. This is one of the most astonishing games I have played bar none. The graphics, atmosphere, voice acting, character models, sound design, level design, and gameplay all come together to create a once in a lifetime experience. I won't bother going into detail about the story or whether or not this is the greatest Batman/Crossover game of all time but I will say that it is a great game in and of itself. Both the combat and stealth based gameplay share fantastic elements of tight controls and intuitive action. Combat is easy to learn but complicated to perfect and the stealth gameplay will have you drooling with anticipation, wondering how you want to take out a room full of baddies with your new toys. Batman is rewarded with new gadgets as the game goes on and this fleshes out the game by adding new aspects to the gameplay. Where before Batman had to quietly knock out a room full of villains with only his fists, now he can detonate remote charges for distractions or destruction.

Each combat situation feels like a new challenge, and that doesn't even include the incredible boss battles. Besides maybe one boss battle that I found to be a letdown the game is chalk full of great encounters with Batman's greatest villains. The game is paced so well that you almost don't want to put the controller down at any given time. Even when it is all said and done you still want to glide around Arkham Island in all its rendered beauty and collect every Riddler Trophy and collectible possible. Don't waste your time wondering if Batman is worth your hard earned money, just go out and buy it regardless of your love or hate for the caped crusader.