LOCK-ON: A BIOSHOCK BARGAIN

LOCK-ON WITH PETE HOGAN: EXCLSUIVE TO RONTHINK

BIOSHOCK fans rejoice! The game you know and love is back and back big time. BIOSHOCK INFINITE is a winner. Even better, it’s now it’s available at a reduced price. See “Editor’s Note” below for more info.

BIOSHOCK is one of the greatest first person shooters of all time. BIOSHOCK 2 had a big shoes to fill and wasn’t as great as the original. Still, the sequel avoided the dreaded sophomore slump of most game franchises by delivering a satisfying experience. BIOSHOCK INFINITE takes everything that was great about the original and multiplies it by a 1000!

The third chapter in the BIOSHOCK saga is set in 1912 in Columbia, a floating city launched by the US government to promote “American values.” The city was soon turned into a twisted religious utopia by it's founder Zachary Comstock after he claimed he received a prophecy about the future and began referring to himself as "The Prophet". You play as Booker Dewitt, a private investigator from New York City with a checkered past. He is transported to the floating city with one mission:  "Bring us the girl, Wipe away the debt."

The girl in question is Elizabeth. She also happens to be Comstock’s daughter. He refers to her as "The Lamb" and has kept her captive in the city for most of her life. Comstock claims she is the savior of the city and, by confining her to it, he will keep her safe from a “false shepherd” who wants to kidnap her and bring about the downfall of Columbia. Elizabeth has the ability to open tears in reality, each of which lead to an alternate universe. This “super power” becomes a crucial factor in the game play.

After rescuing Elizabeth from her prison, Booker intends to return her to New York City. Of course, things don't go as planned and the pair soon find themselves in the midst of a civil war for control of the city. To avoid any major spoilers, this is as much of the story as I’m willing to give away. Unlike the protagonist from the first game, Booker has a voice. His conversations with Elizabeth reveal more snippets of back story as you play the game.

The city of Columbia is the real star here. Unlike the dark and dreary underwater city of Rapture from the first two games, Columbia is an expansive, multi-level metropolis that is a joy to behold and explore. It's upper levels are a colorful “steam punk meets Main Street USA” confection, complete with bright marquees on shops and barber shop quartets. The lower levels range from a factory to a shantytown.

I spent my first hour or so with the game just exploring the city; watching the citizens go about their lives and listening to their conversations. It is during this exploration phase that you soon realize Columbia is anything but a utopia.

Statues of the Founding Fathers litter the city. Here they are worshipped as saints and referred to as "Father Washington, Father Franklin,” etc. There is also a healthy dose of racial segregation and prejudice hanging in the air but it is crucial to the story and is not handled in an offensive way.

BIOSHOCK fans will be able to jump right in and have no problem with the combat. It remains unchanged from the original. Plasmids are replaced by Vigors but function in essentially the same way (tonics you drink that give you special powers). There are more weapons to chose from in this game, everything from pistols to machine guns, but it’s all pretty standard stuff. The vending machines from the original game are also back. You can use them to buy ammo, health kits etc. They’ve used the same sound effects and voices for the machines from the original game, a nice touch.

The one addition(and its a great one) is the skyhook. You use it to connect to the skyline, a roller coaster-like track that connects sections of the city to one another. You can also use the skyhook as a melee weapon, breaking people's necks with ease and, in some instances, decapitating them. Still, it’s all done without being overly gory. New players will find the combat easy to learn and a lot of fun.

Elizabeth is essentially your AI sidekick throughout the game, opening tears in reality and pulling in ammo, med kits and cover for you to use during combat. You'll find all of this essential as the battles in this game are fierce! Even playing on medium difficulty, I found myself close to death quite often and in need of her help. An even bigger plus: Elizabeth can take care of herself. There is never the added burden of having to make sure she stays alive while you beat back the next enemy. The interactions between Booker and Elizabeth are a great addition to the game and there is a pretty big twist at the end that I didn't see coming.

If you loved the original BIOSHOCK, you won’t be disappointed with BIOSHOCK INFINITE. If you’re new to to the franchise, I have no doubt you’ll find this game a blast to play. Even better, the first two installments cover a separate story so there’s no need to play them first. Give BIOSHOCK INFINITE a spin and let me know what you think!

CLICK HERE for the Machinima-exclusive “Beast of America” BIOSHOCK INFINITE trailer.

PETE HOGAN IS AKA SKUNKAPE30 ON XBOX LIVE.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The price of BIOSHOCK INFINITE has been reduced drastically since it was first released in March at a $59.99 price point. It is currently available used for under $30 and new for under $40 on both Xbox 360 and PS3 platforms. The price of a new version of the game has fluctuated quite a bit on Amazon in the past week. It’s been as low as $29.99 and might be worth tracking on a Wish List for a few days before you buy if you want to save a few extra bucks. Click icons below to order.

LOCK-ON: THE “MUST HAVE” GAMES

BY PETE HOGAN – EXCLUSIVE TO RONTHINK

Going through my catalog of 60 or so games, I started thinking about which titles I would never trade or sell. Here’s the list!

The games that made the cut are those that I have the most fun playing and find myself constantly returning to. If you haven’t yet experienced these games, they are definitely worth your time. If you are new to console gaming, these titles should be among the first you add to your library. Either way, they are all back catalog options which means you can get them at a great price. Give them a shot and let me know what you think!

NOTE: CLICK ON ANY IMAGE BELOW TO ORDER FROM AMAZON.

Yes, it got a ton of bad press, so curse me all you want for having THE FORCE UNLEASHED on my list. No matter! Being a STAR WARS fan, I find myself popping this game back in my Xbox whenever I want my SW gaming fix!

The story takes place between REVENGE OF THE SITH and A NEW HOPE. The action revolves around Starkiller, Darth Vaders’ secret apprentice, whom you control. Things obviously don’t go as planned while you are jerked around between the light and dark sides of The Force…yadda, yadda. The story is actually pretty inconsequential and landed with a resounding critical thud.

What is important is that you have a freaking lightsaber and Force powers (yes, even as a Sith)! There’s just something oddly cathartic about using Force lightning to fry a stormtrooper or Force choking someone then lifting them in the air and tossing them to their death or lopping off a persons’ arm (or head) with a  lightsaber! All the Force powers are here and they are extremely well done. The game is also impressive graphically and uses the original film score, which any STAR WARS fan knows is a must.

THE FORCE UNLEASHED does have its flaws. The levels get somewhat repetitive and there is an extremely frustrating Star Destroyer sequence. If you’ve played the game you know what I’m talking about. Those annoyances aside, there’s just something about this game that keeps calling me back. 

THE FORCE UNLEASHED II is also available but the game is so short it should have been a DLC add-on rather than a full release.

PLATFORMS: XBOX 360, PS3, WII, NINTENDO DS, PSP, PC & MAC

In RED DEAD REDEMPTION you play as John Marston, a former outlaw who is now seeking, you guessed it, redemption. This is a massive open world game from the makers of the GRAND THEFT AUTO series. It’s an absolute blast to play because there is so much to do.

The main campaign will take you 30-40 hours to complete and there are tons of side missions (including cattle rustling, duels and poker games). The combat is very easy to pick up and the "Dead Eye" feature, which essentially slows the environment down and lets you target multiple people at once, is one of the gameplay highlights.

RED DEAD REDEMPTION also integrates a very cool honor system which goes up and down based upon the choices you make while playing. This also causes the AI to adjust accordingly. Ride into town with a low honor rating and people run and hide, shops close, etc. Make positive choices and people are much more forthcoming and helpful. This feature increases the replay value of the game because you can change the outcome of events every time, depending on the mood you’re in!

If you’re a fan of open world games, check this one out.

PLATFORMS: XBOX 360 & PS3

In BIOSHOCK you are Jack, a guy who discovers the underwater city of Rapture after crash-landing in the ocean. Built by tycoon Andrew Ryan, Rapture was supposed  to be an underwater paradise. That plan went horribly awry thanks to the discovery of ADAM plasmids. These little beauties give people superhuman powers. Unfortunately, they also fry brains. A whacked out populace eventually results in Rapture becoming a dangerous wasteland. Your mission: escape from the city.

Along the way you gradually learn what happened to Rapture and encounter the Little Sisters, young girls infected with the ADAM plasmids. They are protected by the Big Daddies; essentially men in diving suits on steroids. These baddies are well armed, with weaponry that runs the gamut from giant rivet guns to flamethrowers and a really big drill. Take out a Big Daddy and you then have a choice to make: save the Little Sister or harvest their ADAM, which kills them. Your decisions will dramatically change the way the story ends.

Combat is pretty standard, at least as far as weapons go (pistol, tommy gun, flamethrower, etc). What makes the fighting extremely fun is injecting yourself with different plasmids. Doing so gives you a range of additional powers; everything  from being able to set people on fire to putting things into a deep freeze. You will also need to arm yourself with specific plasmids at specific times in order to gain access to key areas and progress through the game.

Graphically, BIOSHOCK is stunning. The underwater city has a cool “Art Deco meets Captain Nemo” feel to it. This is a must have for anyone who enjoys a great FPS. You won’t be disappointed!

PLATFORMS: XBOX 360, PS3 & PC

I collected comic books growing up and BATMAN was one of my favorites. Unfortunately, most superhero videogames fall short and end up being little more than thrown together tie-ins for the next summer blockbuster. BATMAN ARKHAM ASYLUM is that rare exception. It is easily one of the greatest superhero games ever!

The action begins after the capture of the Joker. Batman delivers his nemesis to the Arkham Asylum only to discover that the Joker wanted to be captured all along. He takes control of the facility and sets the inmates free, a number of whom were put there by Batman himself. Now trapped inside Arkham, with the inmates literally running the asylum, Batman must fight to restore order using everything at his disposal. Weapons include his own fists as well as a host of great gadgets in that famous utility belt.  Everything from the grappling hook to various Batarangs are at the ready.

Gameplay is incredible. You can use a grappling hook for a climb to the rooftop and then go into "Detective Mode" via a filter on Batman’s cowl. This allows you to assess the movement of bad guys before attacking. You can then use your cape to jump and glide for a surprise landing behind thugs.

Facing down multiple enemies in hand to hand combat is also a blast. You can string together attacks with the push of a button and take the baddies out. It makes the combat seamless and gives the proceedings a movie-like feel.

BATMAN ARKHAM ASYLUM looks amazing. Particularly effective are the levels where Batman is injected with a hallucinogenic drug by The Scarecrow. What pushes this game over the top is the amazing voice talent of Kevin Conroy as Batman and Mark Hamill, who steals the show as The Joker! Both did the voices for the animated BATMAN series and it was great to see them brought into the fold for the videogames.

The sequel, BATMAN ARKHAM CITY, is also worth mentioning here. Given a choice, ASYLUM is the hands-down winner. ARKHAM CITY is more open world and, while a great game in its own right, loses something by getting so big in scope.

PLATFORMS: XBOX 360 & PS3

ALAN WAKE is the closest thing to video game version of a Stephen King novel. You play the title character, a successful horror novelist. During your vacation in the town of Bright Falls, WA your wife mysteriously vanishes. While trying to find her, you discover that the unfolding events are actually the plot of a novel you don’t remember writing. The town, some of its citizens and the local wildlife have been taken over by “The Darkness.” It’s a nasty predicament which renders those affected both insane and almost invincible.

Armed with a flashlight and various firearms, you must first burn the darkness away with the light. Only then will you be able to attack and kill your enemies. Sounds simple, right? Wrong! The flashlight runs on batteries and will go dead if you don’t keep your eye on the power meter and make a quick change to a fresh set. Not doing so means a pitchfork through the head or some other ghastly demise. This flashlight/weapon combo elevates simple combat into an immersive and nerve-wracking experience.

There are numerous twists and turns along the way. Given that most of the game takes place at night, there are also some genuinely creepy moments. The action is divided into six episodes, each with end credits and a “previously on ALAN WAKE” opening. There are also TV screens placed randomly throughout the game which, when turned on, show episodes of a show called “Night Springs." It's no coincidence that this the same show Wake was a writer on at the start of his career. The TV sets make for a cool pit stop and welcome respite when you need a break from being attacked by possessed town folk!

ALAN WAKE was critically well received but, initially, didn’t perform that well at retail. The fact that it was released day and date with RED DEAD REDEMPTION, a strategic blunder on the part of Microsoft, gets the lions share of the blame. Slow start aside, the game has amassed a major cult following and spawned AMERICAN NIGHTMARE, a recent DLC “sequel” that is worth buying! 

Rumor has it a legitimate ALAN WAKE sequel is coming with the next gen Xbox console. I hope this is true and can't wait to see where the story goes!

PLATFORMS: XBOX 360 & PC

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LOCK-ON: ELECTRONIC ARTS SHARTS

IS ELECTRIC ARTS THE WORST COMPANY IN AMERICA? NO, BUT…

Times are tough at ELECTRONIC ARTS (EA) these days. CEO John Riccitiello, not what you would call a fan favorite out there in gamer land, ankled in March. The company is still without a CEO and, today, confirmed that it will be gifting an unspecified number of employees with pink slips.

In between those tragic bookends, EA also managed to get itself voted “Worst Company in America” in an online poll by Consumerist. This is the second year in a row the company has achieved this dubious distinction. Does EA deserve the “honor” bestowed upon them? Not really. In the grand scheme of things, there is no shortage of companies far more deserving of the crown. Just take a look at numbers 2 – 4 on the Consumerist list: Bank of America, Ticketmaster, and Comcast!

As a gamer who has owned an EA title or two, I can certainly understand why people have piled on. Personally, I’m a console guy who doesn’t venture into the world of PC gaming. Still, it doesn’t take a keyboard jockey to understand the epic fail that was the launch of SIMCITY last month.

The PC-based franchise re-launch was plagued by massive server issues that caused crashes, long load times and loss of saved game data. The requirement of an “always on” internet connection and prohibiting offline play, didn’t go over well either. On the list of “Top Ways To Royally Piss Off PC Gamers,” EA didn’t miss one. To make matters worse, the company seems incapable of learning from the mistakes of others. Similar problems plagued DIABLO III when it was released in May 2012.

EA continues to nickel and dime consumers at every turn, requiring in game purchases in order to enjoy a game fully. They also have a woeful track record of “been there, played that” development.

For example, I’m a sports fan and have owned installments of both the MADDEN NFL and TIGER WOODS PGA TOUR franchises. An exclusive licensing agreement with the NFL has convinced EA that they can release pretty much the same game year after year with only minor improvements in game play.

It’s a cynical mindset that assumes those who want the “true” NFL gaming experience will line up like lemmings and shell out $60 for the privilege. Well, this lemming stopped nibbling in 2010. That was the last year I purchased a MADDEN NFL title. Maybe if EA spent more time on game development and less time on silly contests to determine which player would make the cover of the game, I might consider purchasing again.

TIGER WOODS PGA TOUR 14 does offer some definite improvements in game play, such as the addition of the Masters Tournament, flashback play on historical courses and the ability to play as or against PGA legends like Arnold Palmer or Jack Nicklaus. Of course, this being an EA product, getting to the good stuff still requires in game purchases of DLC to unlock courses, etc. Not only does this bring things to a grinding halt, it essentially drives the price of the game from $60 to north of $100 when all is said and done.

Botched launches and technical glitches are easier to forgive when you don’t feel like a company forces you into “highway robbery mode” in order to enjoy the most immersive levels of game play. This is the thing about EA that most gamers take issue with. I own many titles for my Xbox 360 and EA products are the only ones that consistently require additional in-game purchases in order to get a full experience. DLC on most titles is a stand alone enhancement which adds things like extra missions, levels, and avatar gear but, is not required in order to enjoy the game you purchased.

In his official resp0nse to the results of the Consumerist poll, Electronic Arts COO Peter Moore  did acknowledge fumbling the release of SIMCITY and admitted the obvious: “We owe gamers better performance than this.”

Rather than stopping there, Moore couldn’t resist playing a few rounds of the blame game, pointing his fickle finger of “not our fault, theirs” at some interesting targets. His rebuttal listed everything from online mailing lists urging people to vote against EA because they disagreed with the choice of cover athlete on MADDEN NFL to a flurry of post cards and emails from hate groups protesting the ability to create LGBT characters in their games. While I don’t doubt things like this happened, I’m pretty sure these weren’t the reasons EA received the majority of votes in the Consumerist poll! CLICK HERE to see how Consumerist responded to Moore’s missive.

Continuing to ignore real problems, like releasing poorly developed games or use of blatant DLC money grabs, positions EA for a three-peat, with a return to the top of the worst list next year.

Here’s how the bracket style polling shook out. CLICK HERE or on the graphic below to read full coverage of the entire polling process from Consumerist.

LOCK-ON: TOMB RAIDER

EDITOR’S NOTE: THIS IS THE DEBUT OF LOCK-ON WITH PETE HOGAN, A NEW REGULAR FEATURE. LOCK-ON COVERS EVERYTHING GAMING; FROM NEWS AND REVIEWS TO PREVIEWS AND SNARKY OPINION. PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING PETE TO RONTHINK. -RJH

TOMB RAIDER (REVIEWED ON X-BOX 360. ALSO AVAILBLE FOR PC & PS3.)

I’ve been a fan of the TOMB RAIDER franchise since the first installment was released in 1996 for the Sega Saturn, PC and the original PlayStation (my console of choice, back in the day). The gameplay combined the best elements of a shooter with challenging puzzles. TOMB RAIDER could keep you stumped (and engaged) for hours, running from one room to the next searching for a hidden lever, etc.

Though Lara Crofts’ boobs got bigger with each successive installment, elements that made the first game great, unfortunately, began to fade into the background. Each new chapter started feeling more like a rehash of the one before. Same game, different locale. That’s why I was excited to learn about an overhaul and reboot of the franchise when it was first announced in 2010. The road from development to release took a bit longer than expected but, it was worth the wait. The new TOMB RAIDER is easily the best in the series since the original.

Developer Crystal Dynamics decided to make this installment an origin story and it’s the breath of fresh air the franchise desperately needed. Once a heroine with basketball-size boobs and bravado to match, Lara Croft has been re-imagined as her younger, more vulnerable self. Not only does she bleed and cry, the character actually shows a full range of emotion! The make-over also replaced the the comic book-esque proportions of her upper body with something far less salacious.

Without giving too much of the story away, the game begins with a shipwreck that leaves Croft and her traveling companions stranded on a mysterious island. Of course, they’re not alone. Croft gets separated from her group and is captured. She eventually escapes and is thrust into the dual odyssey of learning to survive on her own while also trying to reunite with her ship mates.  As the game progresses, we are with Lara Croft during her gradual transformation from terrified victim to hardened survivor. Being part of this personal evolution is what makes TOMB RAIDER such a blast to play.

The first hour of the single player campaign is pretty much dedicated to a tutorial of the basic game controls and allowing players to get familiar with the lay of the land. Both are executed in clever ways so that neither process ever gets boring

Things really start to heat up fast just as you’re getting acclimated to the world of the game. The combat system is easy to use. At any given moment you have several weapons at your disposal but, the bow and arrow is where it’s at! You’ll have so much fun silently stalking and dropping enemies with a well placed arrow to the head,  you’ll never want to use a gun! 

The single player campaign took me 10-15 hours to complete and there are plenty of optional achievements to extend your playing time and amp up the replay factor. 

The game is wonderfully presented and one of the best I’ve seen on the Xbox 360 platform. The lighting and fire effects are particularly well rendered. Camilla Luddington (GREY’S ANATOMY, TRUE BLOOD) does impressive voice work as Lara Croft. The rest of the cast, not so much, though it’s a negative that never detracts from the game.

TOMB RAIDER is billed as open world but, it’s not on the same level as FAR CRY 3, for example. Though there are side missions and tombs to raid, these are completely optional and don’t affect the outcome of the game. In all honesty, I didn’t find the puzzles challenging, making this the only disappointing part of the TOMB RAIDER experience. I give them a pass on this simply because  the origin story is the real focus here and it’s so well done!

Given the record-breaking sales of the game, the re-boot appears to be a commercial success. I’m hoping the next installment will spend more time on the tombs and the puzzles. Still, if you’re a long-time TOMB RAIDER fan like me,  you should be quite happy with the state of the franchise. If you’ve never played a TOMB RAIDER game, this is a perfect way to start.

The tagline for the new TOMB RAIDER is “A Survivor is Born.” Thanks to the care and creativity of the TOMB RAIDER team at Crystal Dynamics, it’s also safe to say that a  franchise has been reborn!

PETE HOGAN IS AKA SKUNKAPE30 ON XBOX LIVE.

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