Gears of War 3

Logan 7/10
The Gears of War series is famous for reinventing how the shooter genre is supposed to be (more or less), that being said, I enjoyed my time with this game. The gameplay feels more smoother than its past games, the graphics still take the top, and it also has suprisingly very good music. However, where Gears of War 3 fails is that nothing new has changed, quite honestly, there's really no huge difference between it's past games. It tries to have a more sensible storyline and while at times are not bad, I found myself bored and not focusing on character developement, it's gameplay hasn't changed either, aside from a couple of new weapons, and its biggest flaw, the characters are still as annoying as they ever were. But if you're a fan of the Gears of War series, then you will enjoy this game.

Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception

Landon 9/10

I loved the first two Uncharted games, and this third installment is definitely no exception. This game is more of what was already great and then some. You're set in the deserts of the Rub' al Khali as Nathan Drake seeks the fabled Atlantis of the Sands with his good pal Victor Sullivan. The narrative and writing is pretty smart and witty, but it's the relationship between Nate and Sully that makes it so good. Plus, the scenic vistas and animation is incredible, it's filled with sweet stylized action stunts from only the best action movies, and gun-play that's a little frustrating at times, but ultimately satisfies. Even though the game is a tad too short and some of the first few chapters drag a little bit, how could I complain when the rest of the game is this good? A more than welcome addition to the Uncharted franchise. Awesome

Batman: Arkham City

Logan 9/10
Batman Arkham Asylum was the very first superhero game to be game of the year worthy back in 2009. Does the sequel hold a candle to it? Not really. However, it is still an incredible experience, and much like Super Mario Galaxy, the second game wasn't very different but it was a step in the right direction. What Batman: Arkham City differs from the first one is that it has a much darker tone and storyline, the atmosphere matches completely well with its setting, you get to see more villains that you didn't have a chance to see in the first game, and the music is extremely symphonic, just perfect for the Dark Knight. The gameplay is extremely well paced and feels very smooth, and the AI is very smart and gives you a challenging effort. Batman continues to show us that even superheroes have a chance at the game of the year title, a must buy for anyone that has an Xbox 360 or a PlayStation 3.

inFamous 2

Logan 8/10
Even though inFamous 2 didn't really add much from the first game, it's still a better game. This game has some cool elements that has really improved, such as the combat, it was swift, challenging, and all around fun, the story is also very good and engaging, even though it did have a couple of annoying characters, and the world that is offered to you is filled with excitement. The design and concept of the game is well-thought out, and the side quests are opportunities that you don't want to miss out, although they can be a bit repetitive. The AI in inFamous 2 can be really dumb though, as civilians may interfere you in the middle of a fight, and sometimes the enemies can be a bit annoying. But with some really cool power-ups, and a satisfying ending to boot, inFamous 2 is a game that is worth playing through.

Killzone 3

Logan 7/10
Killzone 3 I guess is a stereotypical type of shooter game, it takes place in a war zone, it has some varied gameplay, and you get to explode stuff. That being said, Killzone 3 is a good game, it has fun gameplay (though sometimes confusing), top notch graphics, and awesome sound effects, however it is not without its flaws. First off, character development is poor, they try to get you to make a connection with the characters but ultimately fail, and much like Bulletstorm, the dialogue is riddle with corny lines and a hint of immaturity, thankfully it's not as bad a Bulletstorm. Secondly, The story itself was actually uninteresting and I find myself uninterested, also the music can be good, but it is mainly hit and miss. Overall, it's a good game, no more, no less.

Landon 7/10

"Killzone 3" is the return to the fairly acclaimed Killzone franchise and did a fairly good job of it. The graphics are stunning and the gunplay is loads of fun. The gameplay itself gives you run for your money. You'll be sniping, you'll be using stealth, you'll be using a jet pack, you'll be using tanks and destroying giant warfare. The game, for the most part, doesn't totally bore you. However, it has an abrupt and unsatisfying ending, combat can get repetitive at times, and the story is half-good, half-bad. The evil Empire factor of the narrative is incredibly cool, but regarding morale issues with the game's heroes is very annoying. This is not at all a bad game. In fact, I'd recommend it to almost anybody who is a fan of first-person shooters.

Bulletstorm

Logan 6/10
In some ways, Bulletstorm is an enjoyable game when it comes to gameplay, it has some creative gameplay mechanics that are fun to use, and the graphics, like any other Xbox360 game, is very well done. So what was wrong with Bulletstorm? Everything else. One thing to name, the dialogue is terrible, it is very corny, over-the-top toughness in their voices, and is full of profanity that really doesn't suit the situations and the character's positions. The story is also forgettable and I found myself being lost at time, their are a lot of moments where the game felt rushed, especially at the end, and finally, it has little replay value. I suggest that you rent Bulletstorm before you make the decision on buying it.

Steve 6/10

So I would just like to say I don't know exactly what to think about this game. It has some really good things going for it but it also has some really stupid and annoying things about it. first of all why are you going to spend so much time making the colors and landscapes so good if you're going to make all the characters look like they were drawn by a high school kid with a sick sense of humor? The only 2 things this game really has going for it is some hilarious dialogue and very fun gameplay. But I am going to say that most of the dialogue is horrible, it sounds like all of the dialogue came from a conversation between two very mentally disturbed boys from middle school. The story is very forgettable and the parts where the developers wanted you to be like "omg" and "wtf" made you throw up a little in your mouth because of how bad they were presented. Overall I think that this is something you shouldn't waste your money on but if you're still bent on playing it I would recommend renting it.

Landon 6/10

Going into this game, I had no idea what to think. Epic Games are the creators of the one of the greatest third person shooters of all time (Gears of War). So I expected that same kind of push in "Bulletstorm." Did I get that? Not exactly. That's not to say Bulletstorm isn't fun, because it is. Mindless gunplay with a killer point system is the highlight of the game. However, Epic also has a reputation of flat stories and ugly dialogues. And "Bulletstorm" is as bad as it gets. I found myself incredibly annoyed countless times. It also doesn't help that the graphics / style is unnappealing, the ending is completely unsatisfying, and it constantly tries to throw you the "wow" factor (and fail). This is not a bad game at all. But compared to "Gears of War," it's an incredibly huge step down.

Dragon Age II

Steve 9/10
Let me first start off by saying Wow! This game is surprisingly good especially since I didn't really think there was anything left for the story to go on. The game play is dramatically improved and the feel of the game just feels so much smoother. "Dragon Age 2" also brought in the dialogue wheel from "Mass Effect" with a fully voice acted main character which is always a plus in my book. Some of the things that bothered me were some weird glitches that happened during some of the quests which caused the quest to (once you got to a certain point) not allow you to continue or before you even started not exist which would cause you to have to reload from a previous save point. I also had a problem with the ending it seemed hurried and to just promote the sequel rather than make the game feel complete but still leave you wanting more from the franchise. All in all a great game if you are a fan of "Bioware" you should definitely treat yourself to this wonderful game.