Final Fantasy XIII on Xbox360 might ship with 3 or more discs

Hey, no big deal, Lost Odyssey had 4 discs. What's important is that more gamers can play the game from across the globe.

Source: kotaku

Price Cut on Xbox360 Elite

We've seen Sony do an amazing move when it comes to bringing down the price of their console in the official announcement of the PS3 slim. Now Microsoft will do its part, but of course it not an Xbox Slim so don't keep your hopes up, but just a price cut to their Elite console.

Source: kotaku

BlazBlue Limited Edition Bundles

You know what I like most about game bundles?, the presentation in the ads of course. It really makes you want to get those items and not just the regular version. Well here's another limited edition game bundle for the 2D fighter BlazBlue, both for PS3 and Xbox360 systems.

Guitar Hero: Metallica Setlist

Guitar Hero: Metallica is just released and here's the setlist for those still deciding if it's worth the purchase. There are also other guest acts besides Metallica but don't expect to find any light music in there, of course they're metal.

Metallica

• All Nightmare Long
• Battery
• Creeping Death
• Disposable Heroes
• Dyers Eve
• Enter Sandman
• Fade To Black
• Fight Fire With Fire
• For Whom The Bell Tolls
• Frantic
• Fuel
• Hit The Lights
• King Nothing
• Master of Puppets
• Mercyful Fate (Medley)
• No Leaf Clover (Live)
• Nothing Else Matters
• One
• Orion
• Sad But True
• Seek And Destroy
• The Memory Remains
• The Shortest Straw
• The Thing That Should Not Be
• The Unforgiven
• Welcome Home (Sanitarium)
• Wherever I May Roam
• Whiplash


Guest Acts

• Alice In Chains -- "No Excuses"
• Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band -- "Turn The Page (Live)"
• Corrosion of Conformity -- "Albatross"
• Diamond Head -- "Am I Evil?"
• Foo Fighters -- "Stacked Actors"
• Judas Priest -- "Hell Bent For Leather"
• Kyuss -- "Demon Cleaner"
• Lynyrd Skynyrd -- "Tuesday's Gone"
• Machine Head -- "Beautiful Mourning"
• Mastodon -- "Blood And Thunder"
• Mercyful Fate -- "Evil"
• Michael Schenker Group -- "Armed and Ready"
• Motorhead -- "Ace of Spades"
• Queen -- "Stone Cold Crazy"
• Samhain -- "Mother of Mercy"
• Slayer -- "War Ensemble"
• Social Distortion -- "Mommy's Little Monster (Live)"
• Suicidal Tendencies -- "War Inside My Head"
• The Sword -- "Black River"
• System of a Down -- "Toxicity"
• Thin Lizzy -- "The Boys Are Back in Town"

Source: Guitar Hero: Metallica Setlist.

Motion Sensing Controller for the Xbox360

The motion sensing controller rumored before for the Xbox360 wasn't a joke as it was showcased today at the GDC 2009. It's called the GameTrak Freedom motion controller. The funny thing here is that Microsoft is really trying to get to Nintendo territory which many gamers think isn't necessary. People are already enjoying games with their ergonomic 360 controller, but imagine playing Gears or Halo with that thing, I'm not sure it will be half as fun. But on the other hand maybe it is just meant for some games and not all which makes the controller an optional hardware purchase which means another lame expenditure for us. And another funny thing is that the same controller will be available for the PS3 too but at a much later date. I mean, come on man, be original. Source: GDC09: GameTrak Freedom motion controller detailed.

Unboxing the Resident Evil 5 Limited Edition Xbox360

You may have heard of this limited edition Resident Evil 5 Elite Xbox360, here's some pics of unboxing the sweet thing. But the first image may really turn you off because it looks like it went through the hands of multiple majinis. Source: 'Resident Evil 5' Xbox 360 unboxing.

Top Games of February 2009

Top 20 Games Overall, February 2009

1. WII FIT WII NINTENDO OF AMERICA
2. STREET FIGHTER IV* 360 CAPCOM USA
3. STREET FIGHTER IV* PS3 CAPCOM USA
4. WII PLAY W/ REMOTE WII NINTENDO OF AMERICA
5. KILLZONE 2 PS3 SONY
6. MARIO KART W/WHEEL WII NINTENDO OF AMERICA
7. CALL OF DUTY: WORLD AT WAR* 360 ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
8. MARIO KART DS NDS NINTENDO OF AMERICA
9. NEW SUPER MARIO BROS NDS NINTENDO OF AMERICA
10. GUITAR HERO WORLD TOUR* WII ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
11. F.E.A.R. 2: PROJECT ORIGIN 360 WARNER INTERACTIVE
12. SKATE 2 360 ELECTRONIC ARTS
13. LEFT 4 DEAD 360 ELECTRONIC ARTS
14. NBA 2K9 360 TAKE 2 INTERACTIVE
15. HALO 3* 360 MICROSOFT
16. CALL OF DUTY: WORLD AT WAR PS3 ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
17. LEGO STAR WARS: COMPLETE SAGA WII LUCASARTS
18. GUITAR HERO WORLD TOUR* 360 ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
19. MY FITNESS COACH WII UBISOFT
20. FALLOUT 3* 360 BETHESDA SOFTWORKS

for full list: February's Top-Selling Games, Accessories By Platform.

Japanese gamers satisfied with their Xbox360's

According to a Japanese magazine, more gamers in the land of the rising sun are satisfied with their Xbox360's than their PS3's or Wii's. But this report won't really determine who's who in their gaming industry because of the quantity of Xbox360 owners in Japan which is relatively low. I can safely say that maybe those that own an Xbox360 liked their console more than those that own the others and I think this can be attributed with the Xbox's Live service and their good library of games available. For the complete article, check this out: Japanese Gamers More Satisfied With Xbox 360 Than Wii Or PS3.

Resident Evil 5 (Xbox360)

If you can get over the old school controls and the dumb coop partner AI, you'll likely find Resident Evil 5 a great game. The only thing the controls benefit from is to make the player feel like playing the old RE games once more, but good thing everything aside from that is already up-to-date. I really liked the rocket launcher look like the ones used in real life and not that four slotted one that I wonder how the hell a girl as slim as Jill could carry that thing. The visuals too are also amazing that sometimes I get hit because I was distracted by the real-looking scenery. Now for the coop AI part, I wish it could've been better, I hated that Sheva always run ahead just to destroy those crates when I'm trying my best to stealth our way across the enemies. And sometimes she helps me sometimes she don't which kinda sucks as it makes me feel lucky if she'd saved me from an enemy; which brings us now to the online coop part which will definitely make things better because two heads are better than one head with an AI.

The story of course is amazing and for those religiously following the series will finally bring you a nice narrative to what happened to their original enemy. Now regarding achievements, this is an easy 930GS I could say as the only hard part of the game is the professional difficulty, and finishing that nets you the final 70GS for your perfect 1000/1000. The game becomes easier once you have the infinite ammos; and also by finishing it under five hours will give you the infinite rocket launcher, but still even with those bonuses the pro difficulty will still give you a hard time.

Final words, if you've liked the previous RE games then you really should try this one out, and also for those who have yet to try an RE game but liked the RE movies, I'd say this is better than the somewhat off-story in the movies. Resident Evil 5 is available for the Xbox360 and the PS3.

For help in achievements, take look at this link: Resident Evil 5 Achievement Guide.

Xbox360™ Regional Compatibility Guide

Great site that lists Xbox360 games region compatibility.














Link: http://forum.xbox-sky.com/xbox360_regional_compatibility_guide/

Puzzle Quest: Galactrix

If you've played Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlord, a sequel to the game is coming out. Well it's not actually a sequel storywise, just a follow up to the Puzzle Quest IP. It's amazing how they managed to incorporate simple puzzling with RPG elements into one addicting package. I'm just hoping this one is as good if not better than the last. In Galaxtrix we'll see if puzzles and outer space is a good match. Review found here: Puzzle Quest: Galactrix PC Review: Lost In Space.

Resident Evil 5 Online Versus Mode To Cost $4.99

Resident Evil 5 charges $4.99 for online versus mode. Yes you heard it right, you have to cough up the dough if you want to experience what is commonplace among action/shooter games in the gaming industry. Good thing versus mode in Street Fighter IV is free. I don't know what to think of Capcom if this kind of thing continues in their future releases, I mean come on man, look at Left 4 Dead with their free online modes and their free additional downloadable content. What's up with that? Source: Capcom defends $5 RE5 Versus mode.

Xbox 360 Outsells Wii, PS3 In Japan

- quote -

Xbox 360 Outsells Wii, PS3 In Japan
By Michael McWhertor, 12:30 PM on Thu Feb 26 2009

How did Microsoft manage to sell more Xbox 360s than the competition this week in Japan? With a little help from Square Enix's Star Ocean 4: The Last Hope.

The role-playing game shot the Xbox 360 from its regular second-to-last place showing to third—it was still behind the Nintendo DSi and PSP—besting sales of both Nintendo and Sony's console hardware. The 360 had previously kicked its console competition to the curb thanks to strong sales of Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation, Tales of Vesperia and Infinite Undiscovery.

This represents the fourth week that Microsoft has managed to outsell its competition in Japan.

* Nintendo DSi - 41,839
* PSP - 29,552
* Xbox 360 - 25,334
* Wii - 16,973
* PlayStation 3 - 16,149
* Nintendo DS Lite - 9,975
* PlayStation 2 - 5,029

As you can see there was much to compete with, as weekly sales of the Wii and PS3 were on the lower end of Media Create's numbers. Still, it keeps things interesting in a regularly dull hardware race.

- end quote -

source: http://kotaku.com/5161009/xbox-360-outsells-wii-ps3-in-japan

Is this really happening? Well it just did happen anyway. Aside from that xbox thing, I noticed that the DS and PSP are on top of the list, meaning more people still prefer handhelds over home consoles, which means more gamers are still for past-time gaming than hardcore gaming.

Retroblog: The Last Remnant (Xbox360)

Originally posted: Feb 16, '09

The Last Remnant is a turn-based role-playing game from Square-Enix which uses the Unreal Engine. RPGs have really come a long way with graphics, imagine the old Final Fantasies or Breath Of Fires compared to this game or Lost Odyssey, but don't let me turn you off this game in my next statement because it is still a great RPG if you get past its weakness. Yes, this game has issues with graphics, from first look it's really beautiful and the images are highly defined, but the problem lies when it is loading battles or areas whenever you enter one. It has this issue with texture popups, it's almost always delayed, and at first it's annoying but you can get used to it, and I think another thing that might help is by installing the game to the HDD rather than playing directly on the disc. I really wished they had longer loading times like Lost Odyssey than letting the player see it loading the images themselves. Some say this is the result when a Japanese company used an American technology they are not that familiar with. But look at Lost Odyssey, it's also made by a Japanese company, so I conclude that it's just a lame excuse.

Now that that's cleared up and you get passed that weakness, you'll see The Last Remnant a fun and addictive game. I think I can compare this game with Square-Enix's Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core for the PSP, in the sense that it has only a short story that you can clear maybe about 15 hours if you just stick to it, but aside from that it has tons of quests, though not related to the main story will help you understand tidbits about the world you're in and aid you in leveling up your characters; and I think in this game you really need to do side quests as that is the only way to get huge amounts of money and the experience you need because later in the game bosses really become hard and frustrating if you're not prepared. So yeah, this game is for those who really appreciate side missions, and like to challenge hidden bosses, collect rare loots and anything in between. Now another unique aspect in this game is its leveling system; simply put the higher your level doesn't equate to the strength of your party, power here lies in the stats and skills of your characters and you get them even in between leveling up; so a tip is just to try to get more stat boosts and skills rather than levels because the higher your level also means higher level for your enemies. Also this game has so far one of the strongest extra boss found in today's RPGs, that if unprepared will shred you to pieces, so this is an extra challenge for those looking for some, and did I mention beating it will net you a well earned 200 gamerscore?

The Last Remnant is exclusive for the Xbox 360, though some sources say they'll also release this soon for the PS3 like what happened with Eternal Sonata, but what's the point?, it'll be a year old and everybody else will play Final Fantasy XIII by then to even give this one attention, so I think so far the Xbox 360 is still the home for the RPG gamer. Four out of five stars just because of the texture popups issue. Still a nice game for the role-players out there.

Retroblog: Skate 2 (Xbox360)

Originally posted: Feb 2, '09

Move over Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, here comes EA's Skate. This is the statement that can be said with the first Skate game and it still remains true until now; and the fact that Tony Hawk's Proving Ground doesn't prove anything but just stay with the same thing from 10 years ago did not help either.

I don't know how to say this but EA's Skate (in skateboarders' terms) has more pop in it. You know that this genre must cater to what skaters in real life would like, much like what NBA Live or 2K should do to basketball fans; and the Skate game delivers more in that area. Yes you can do crazy tricks in this game also but it's not like the 360 boneless late flip to nose bluntslide to 360 flip overcrooked to 180 varial kickflip backside smith to inward heelflip to manual to impossible to 180 nosegrind to you-get-the-idea-now in Tony Hawk's games. Tricks in this game are more realistic in the sense that you use your controller's flick stick to pop and drag your board so to accomplish what I've just said in the THPS games it will take you more effort and in the sense removes the fun that you should really experience in this game. I can't explain in words how fun it is for me to do 360 flips in this game (as you know in real life that's one trick I'm still frustrated I haven't landed yet) compared to down, down, square (correct me if I'm wrong) in Tony Hawk's; here the flick motion your doing fells much the same in what you'll do with your feet in real life.

What's new in Skate 2 is that you can now leave your board and walk to places you can't reach so you can get to those really gnarly bone-breaking spots; and you can now move some objects like ramps, rails and barriers to help or hinder you with your tricks. And the Thrasher Hall-Of-Meat doesn't just tell you of how much pawned you are when you bail but is also another aspect of the game to accomplish as it now has bail missions for you to complete.

Another aspect that's great is the career mode where you'll feel like a real skater looking for sponsorship in a wide sandbox city. In here there are no stages, no SKATE letters to collect, no Films, no Hidden Items floating in air, nothing. You just do your tricks to be on the cover of magazines, do what the pros are asking you, and earn money to buy new clothing and accessories, as simple as it can be. And also, no crazy 1,000,000 sick scores to get. The career mode will take you about 30-40 hours of gameplay depending if you'll beat all the pros in their own game, but it's pretty much straighforward, do tricks, get noticed, get sponsored and you're done, much like what it should really be. No even though its that simple there's more to find in this game aside from the career part which is the online mode, where you can freeskate with friends online and play games of S-K-A-T-E, upload and dowload clips, photos and created spots.

Skate 2 is available on Xbox360 and the PS3. I gave it four out of five stars because only skateboarders in real life can relate to some of its craziness and get the most fun out of it (for me of course it's a five star). Go skate!

Retroblog: Tales Of Vesperia (Xbox360)

Originally posted: Jan 20, '09

First of all if you like those high definition full 3D games like Lost Odyssey, then stay away from Tales Of Vesperia, why?, because this game is pretty much anime on every aspect with just simple 3D to add. For me I think those who have played the old Tales games are the ones who will enjoy Vesperia the most. Because this game has stayed to its roots but in a positive and addictive way. If you did had fun on an old Tales game then I'll bet you you'll love this one ten times, but that's not to say newcomers won't enjoy much, I'm just warning you that if you're looking for a good looking 3D game, you might be frustrated with this one. This game is definitely more of a service to hardcore fans than anything else and just to give you an idea for comparison, this game and Eternal Sonata are from the same publisher Namco Bandai, and both of them have cel-shaded graphics, Eternal Sonata came about a year earlier than Tales Of Vesperia, but why does it have less powerful graphics? That's the point, it wants to hold on to the magic it already has. Anyway for me, however it looks, a Tales game is still a Tales game.

If you get over the initial looks of the game, you'll find Tales Of Vesperia a well-told, action-packed RPG. The story is compelling, voice acting good and with some humor to boot, and the whole experience is what will keep you coming back for more. Character development is also good but it doesn't pay that well because you can only use one character in battle. Yes you can switch characters while in battle and do some AI stuff for those you wouldn't control but you'll mostly be using the main character in your adventures. This game is long if you do all the side events, and it somehow sucks that there are definitely plenty of missable items/events in this game, so for every story event you do, you pretty much have to check back on some older towns you've already visited so you won't miss out. Aside from that, it also has plenty of dungeons for you to scour and lots of towns with NPCs for you to interact with. Like other Tales games, this one is divided into three parts, like three chapters, and each one will take a lot of time to finish, so you'll mostly clock out 80 hours just to finish the game the first time, but don't worry, if you have the patience to play the game again, it is possible to do it in less than 12 hours. With the EX mode unlocked after finishing the game one time, all items and weapons will be carried over to the new game so playing it again will be a breeze. Now you're wondering why in hell will you play a long RPG the second time around. Well, let's just say there are plenty of bonuses and if you're the completionist type of person, there are things you can only accomplish on your second playthrough.

Now with those plenty of things to do in this game, the one thing you'll need more of is more time to play this game as it's easy to get hooked on this one. And just as a bonus, there are lots of surprises and cameos on this game but I won't go much into detail so as not to spoil the fun. If you liked the previous Tales games or anime based RPGs then this one's for you. Tales Of Vesperia is only available for the Xbox360.

Retroblog: Lost Odyssey (Xbox360)

Originally posted: Jan 20, '09

This review is a little bit overdue as this game was released at about the same time today last year, so a year has passed already but I still feel compelled to do because this game is my favorite JRPG in the Xbox360. I already completed the game December last year but it's only now that I found the time to write a review, so here goes.

I just made a bold statement that this is the best JRPG for me in the Xbox360 and I tend to clarify the prefix "J", which means Japanese, which is different from the other half which are the WRPGs, "W" for Western. So how does the two differ? First JRPGs are made in Japan and WRPGs from US or Europe. But that doesn't end the differences; for one mostly JRPGs are turn based or if not it still has some element of it but somehow mixed with a little action and also you're travelling with a party; while mostly WRPGs are hack-and-slash based and most of the time you are alone wandering. So for me it's unfair to compare those two sub-genres of RPGs. Now that that's cleared I'm gonna tell again that so far for me Lost Odyssey is the best JPRG in the 360 closely followed by Tales Of Vesperia. In the future we'll see if Final Fantasy XIII will take the crown or maybe The Last Remnant if I find time to finish it.

What made me like Lost Odyssey so much is that it really feels like the old Final Fanstasy, purely turn based, black magic, white magic and learning skills through weapons. The only difference is the lack of summons, but the gigantic bosses pretty much make up for it if you just want to see huge monsters covering up your screen. The story as you'll expect is dramatic, the sounds amazing, the character graphics feature big sprites similar to Final Fantasy VIII but of course much better 3D rendering now. The background rendering and 3D cinematics are also top notch and paired with the best voice acting you'll see in years makes playing this game really a breathtaking experience. The game is also long, with estimated time to finish around 80 hours if you complete all the side quests (and just to give you an idea, the game houses four, yes that's four dual-layer DVDs); and it also somehow eliminates level grinding as the experience the enemies' give becomes 1 if you reached a certain level in a specific area; but good thing every level only requires you 100 experience points, but still grinding for only 1xp per enemy is not fun. There's also another aspect of Lost Odyssey that is amazing which is the "Thousand Years Of Dreams" which chronicles the main character's past; as this one gets you more depth into the story but only if you really like to read as it shows only texts.

I like to say more things about this game, but I want you to experience it yourselves, bring back the hardcore gaming of your childhood; and also just a little bit more of encouragement, the game was developed by some guys that left Square-Enix to form a new company Mistwalker, so you're assured of the Final Fantasy quality if that's what you need to know; but for everybody else that's a JRPG fan or an RPG fan this is really a good game to try, heck if you're really an RPG fan I'm mostly sure you've already played this.

Lost Odyssey is exclusive for the Xbox360. I'll say it again, best JRPG for me in the 360 and I'm still looking for a game to beat it, I'm looking at you Final Fantasy XIII.

Retroblog: Prince Of Persia (Xbox360)

Originally posted: Dec 22, '08

Prince Of Persia is an amazing game, it's what you call a full gaming experience, if only games have a standard to follow, this game's a good one to set it up. The visuals are amazing, sounds good, gameplay not that frustrating but at the same time still challenging, good for hardcore gamers and newcomers alike.

The plot is simple, you come from out of nowhere looking for your lost donkey and the next minute the end of the world is imminent, then you've discovered a beautiful lady, Elika, that seems to be the key to all that's happening around and she'll be your companion throughout the rest of the game. Fights are a little bit easy as every time it will always be a one-on-one battle if not two-on-one in your favor because Elika is always beside you and she's one form of your attacks. The only thing left now is the environment; yes there are plenty of jumps and acrobatic moves as what you'd expect from a Prince Of Persia game, but it's all manageable and not the least bit frustrating, as every time you fall to your demise (if you'd call that death because Elika saves you everytime you fall, but in the sense of the game that is what death is) you'll just be back to the last platform you stood at, and then you can try again as many times as you want until you succeed. I say the learning curve is about 20 minutes and then your set to one hell of an experience.

For the visuals, its really a refreshing treat to look at, imagine 2D characters on top of 3D background, the blending is amazing and never felt awkward, some might say Assassins' Creed's graphics is better as it's full 3D but for me I like this one better, it's like something fresh for the eyes, but anyway both those games are made by the same people at Ubisoft Montreal so there's no point really in comparing, I just really think what they did for this game's visuals is a good step for the Prince franchise instead of keeping it in the old style.

To finish the game, I think it only takes around 10 hours, so I can safely say you can finish it in a day, but I did it in 2 days as I have other things to do than gaming (I eat and sleep too just like you :lol:). Even though short it is still worth it and you can still extend your playing time by trying to collect light seeds around the sandbox, just like flags in Assassins' Creed; and not only that, you can try to play the game and do the "die less than a hundred times" achievement. This game is an easy 800 gamerscore as most achievements will come your way without even trying. As a final note, I recommend this game to anyone out there with an Xbox360, a PS3 or PC, a great game you should really experience, and since it's vacation time you really have no excuse not to play it.

Retroblog: Fable II (Xbox360)

Originally posted: Dec 7, '08

There's something about Fable 2 that feels at home when you play it; yes it's a new game but while playing you feel that you've already known each other for so long, not in a bad way but this is something that games should make you feel.. at home. Fable 2 is a Western RPG, meaning hack-n-slash and not turn-based; its locations are divided into regions but it still has that sandbox feel to it. The story is quite short but do a lot of side quests and it becomes lengthy as what a role-playing game should be. Some exciting sidequests are the usual collecting of items, owning of properties, doing jobs, raising a family, raising another family beyond the first, yes you heard it right, etc. this is as open as an open world game should get.

Leveling up in Fable is different, as your skills are divided into 3 groups, strength (melee), skill (range) and will (magic). In this game you do not get from one level to another, only these 3 categories do, so always doing melee means you only develop your melee skills and you'll leave your long-range skills behind. So the best tip is to use all of them equally so you'll be a more robust adventurer and ready for any obstacle the game puts in front of you. Anyway, it's possible to master all the skills available in the game, so you do not have to hold back at it. Next, when it comes to the gameplay, I can say it's somewhat similar to Elder Scrolls Oblivion (and any fantasy RPG I think is done right) where you'll go to deep forests and dungeons fighting bandits, goblins and the undead. Another unique aspect this game brings to the table is its expression wheel which you'll be using to interact with NPCs. You can laugh, flirt, annoy, tease, etc. with them which has different outcomes depending on what that certain person wants. This game also has the morality alignment thing that some games have; the option to choose between good and evil, while it seems going the good way is the always correct choice, some items and stuff in Fable 2 can only be unlocked by going the dark side, so always think ahead, by the way there's a way you can immediately go 100% good from 100% evil so it's sometimes good to go bad.

There's still plenty of things you can experience in this game but I'll leave it to you to see for yourself. So if you're looking for a good fantasy role-playing experience this holiday season, look no further than Fable 2. This game is exclusive for the Xbox 360.

Retroblog: Fallout 3 (Xbox360)

Originally posted: Nov 26, '08

Although I admit it feels like Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion in the first place, it is a completely new experience for the true RPG fanatics. Its free world to roam, a devastated world at that, with guns instead of your common sword, axe or bow from traditional RPGs because of its futuristic plot is what made Fallout 3 a legend on its own. First, in this game you are free to create the look of your own character, so it's really something that bonds you to your character's development; next is the stats where you are also free to create your own build, be it melee or long range, stealth or all-out, and anything in between. Another thing that adds to your stats are your perks, these bonuses really determine what your character can do. And lastly the VATS, the Vault-tec Assisted Targeting System, which make Fallout different than your average shooter; with the help of VATS, you can easily plant bullets inside your enemies' bodies without them interfering, but be careful on this because after the VATS animation, you are back to the FPS or 3PS view. There's nothing more I can say about character development aside from the fact that your level caps off at 20, so better put skill points on what you really intend to use.

On to the gameplay, when it comes to your menu, you have the Pip-Boy 3000 which is a cool looking gadget attached to your hands but its true purpose is it serves as your all around menu, from your stats, items, weapons, armor, quests, etc. it displays all the information you need. Then there's the basic sneak mode, lockpicking, hacking and dialogue, which you may already be familiar with if you've played Oblivion, and you know that these are important skills to level up. Also here you have the choice to be good, bad or neutral, which most RPGs now incorporate to fit the game style and personality of everyone who plays the game. Next, when it comes to side quests, Bethesda (this game's creator) really let you feel that they are important individual quests on their own, and sometimes even better than the main storyline, and best of all you can do them in any order you see fit aside from ones that open up after finishing certain ones, which I think in this game are only a few. On to combat, when you first start the game, it's not that fun because you can easily get butchered by enemies; but when you got the cool weapons, the minigun or missile launcher for example, then that's what really bring excitement to the game, seeing your enemies head explode, their bodies turn to dust or melt, it's sometimes rewarding.

You can finish this game at about 15 to 20 hours if you only play through the main quest, but to do every achievement it took me 50 to 60 hours, and if you plan to explore every nook and cranny, I think it will take you over a hundred hours. But even though you can finish it under 20 hours, there's still replayability on this game, because you can try becoming bad in your next gameplay if you finished it before on good and vice versa, and see different results. The game's audio and visuals are amazing and really captures the feel of the game which is sometimes creepy but sometimes funny. This game is a must play for any RPG fans out there, it is available on the Xbox360, PS3 and the PC. This is my vote for any Game of the Year contest that will come out this year ender. This is the true hack and slash RPG game, because you literally hack (well.. computers) on this one. Ten out of five stars. Okay just kidding, maybe 9.5 out of five stars. Go play it!