HL2:Ep2 Finished

The conclusion from Episode 1 created a lot of questions left to be answer by later episodes. A few questions were answered, but a lot more were raised during the game. As well, the game had an amazing final battle and even greater cliff hanger. Valve keeps raising the bar on themselves and whenever the conclusion to episode 3 comes I will be sure to get it first day. But until then I have a lot of useless accomplishments to complete and many more games to play.

The Traveling Gnome

I have an unfortunate tendency to beat every game I get to 100% completion, or attempt to at least. While playing Half-Life 2: Episode 2 I was looking though their accomplishment list and found one that forces you to take a garden gnome through most of the game just to place it in a rocket ship. This is probably the most worthless / evil accomplishment in the history of games because you have to transport the gnome in a car that is in very poor condition, in which the gnome can VERY easily fly out. Which means that when driving you have to have more control than Jack Traven in Speed! Well, after I beat HL2:Ep2 the first time, I guess I will have to go back and get this done.

HL2: EP 2

Starting listening to the commentary on Half-Life 2: Episode 2 and its really interesting. The really do a lot of play testing to find out what works and what doesn't. Also, it is interesting to hear a lot of the little things that you normally would never notice. For example, at the beginning of the game a bridge with a train on it collapses consisting of more than 700 different objects in perfect harmony. It is amazing how many little things made it into this game that you would never notice unless told.

Zack and Wiki

Well, after reading a few reviews to the game I am getting more and more pumped for this game. I just might switch my mind from just renting the game to straight up buying it. I'm thinking this just because of the reviews and how much IGN team likes this game. A few months ago they were thinking it was just going to be a 7.0 type of game (average), then after they got the final copy of the game, they were blown away by just how great the game is. So I guess I am trying to help fuel the buy Zack and Wiki campaign. (On a side note, speaking of campaigns the great pundit Steven Colbert is going to run for president!) Hopefully, I get a demo or something soon so I can see if this is a buy or a must-buy game.

Near Future

Well, I'm planning on getting a new update every day this week about something or another to make up for the lack of any updates last week.

My top 5 games coming out in the near future

1. Super Mario Galaxy- If Mario's creator is saying that this is going to be the true sequel to Super Mario 64 than you know its going to be good. And from looking at it so far it appears to be to be that and much more. Galaxy is going to push the Wii to its limits with all the physics that Mario is going to have to deal with.

2. Guitar Hero III- I've avoided Guitar Hero for a while because I'm not much of a Sony fan, but since its coming to the Wii I'm pumped. Just looking at some of the songs in this game makes me wonder how many hours I will be playing before the next one comes out.

3. Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles- Resident Evil for the Gamecube was amazing, Resident Evil 0 was pretty good, RE 2 and 3 for the Gamecube not so much, Resident Evil 4 was a level beyond amazing, so I have huge expectations for RE:UC. Since it was first shown there has been an amazing amount of progress to the game and hopefully by the time the game is released it can can have a lot of replay value.

4. Zack and Wiki- I don't really want to own this game as much as I want to play it. Mainly the IGN Wii team has convinced me that this is a must play game. There are supposed to be excellent puzzles found within the game and I like puzzles so hopefully it pans out to beat my expectations.

5. Super Smash Bros. Brawl- Ok, this isn't coming until next year, but this is probably going to be the best fighting game next year for sure, if not game of the year material. I want this game bad!

Half Life 2: Episode 1

Well, I have finally finished the first episode in Half Life 2 and I am amazed at the character detail they used. Alyx is incredible in terms of smooth motions and the amount of detail she contains. As well, Alyx has quite a few jokes in the game that can actually make you laugh out loud, which is very rare for a game especially in this category. Even though Ep. 1 is really short, I don't understand why reviewers frown upon the game so much. The story is very well told and the action is constant and with a purpose. And to my satisfaction Valve did not place any vehicles into this game because Half-Life 2's vehicles went on too long and were no where near the quality of the rest of the game. Over all I think HL2:Ep2 is pretty good and on that note I can finally move on to Episode 2.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Double Update today

Well Sonic, SEGA's most popular mascot, has now been included in SSBB. This will finally put the question of who is the better mascot to rest (or at least for a round). Unfortunatelly, the game has now been delayed until Febuary. Hopefully, this will allow even more major mascots in the game, such as: Megaman, Final Fantasy characters and more. In other words, the game when it drops will be the M3gat0n.

Portal

Well, I have finished the main game of Portal, and its pretty good. The final level is pretty long, but still easy. Personally though, I think the best part of the game is the credits song. It is probably one of the best video game songs of all time, just because it is hilarious. Again, if you don't have the Orange Box, ask yourself "Do you like fun?"

The Orange Box - Portal

Well, the Orange Box has arrived and its worth the wait. Today has all been about Portal and it is pretty easy unfortunately. I am on level 17 out of 19 and from what I have heard the last two are a little more difficult. After I finish these three levels off there is a few bonus levels, which to my knowledge means that the there are restrictions on the levels to make them more difficult. Portal is pretty fun and if another one was made with many more levels and a higher difficulty that would be really fun. So Portal is good, but unfortunately a few steps from great.

Metroid Prime 3 Finished

Well, I finally finished the game, though not at a hundred percent, and agree with professionals that this is the best of the prime series. My only complain really with the game is that the final boss is a little to easy compared to earlier bosses in the game, but it was still an enjoyable battle none the less. Well, this weekend I going to try and finish collecting all the logbook items so I can get the 100% ending, instead of the 75% one. Hopefully the next Retro Studios project is just as exciting as the Metroid Prime games.