Saturday 13 June 2009

Update: E3 Stuff for the Xbox 360

Yeah, I'm a few weeks late with this one. Anyway, here goes I'll mention what stood out to me.

- The Beatles Rock Band: Looks like a pretty unique music game, huge set list is impressive. Would definitely buy if I was a Beatles fan.

- Alan Wake: Sam Lake himself turned up! That man is a legend, and with Remedy having made the Max Payne games, and with them worked on this game for absolutely AGES now, I can only expect good things. Game world looks massive.

- Assassin's Creed II: The first game is based on a killer concept that didn't turn out all that amazing. This looks like everything could be made up for. Exciting stuff.

- Project Natal: Fuck the nay sayers. This isn't the Wii. This is at least 10x the Wii. Scanning, recognition, so many new features and the approval of Peter Molyneux. Could be gaming perfection.

- Tony Hawk's Ride: I was a huge fan of the PS1 Tony Hawk's games, this one looks a lot different. With the board 'controller' it may end up with little variation and small possibility of intense tricks/combos. Looks risky.

- New Fallout 3 DLC: Point Lookout: Always happy for a new Fallout DLC. This one seems to be the size of the first two, but liking the Western theme. Can't wait.

- Halo 3: ODST: Didn't show anything I didn't know already, still looking forward to it. More Halo is good Halo.

- Halo: Reach: They didn't show us anything! I can make an educated guess at what it's based on but still clueless on the game in general.

- Facebook and Twitter on Xbox Live: Kinda useful I guess, but I do have a computer for that kind of thing, just 5 metres away...

- Modern Warfare 2: I'm going to save myself the disappointment...

Fallout 3 DLC (PC and Xbox 360): Broken Steel



















The third DLC is yet another of Bethesda's attempts to do justice to the incredible Fallout 3, and unlike the first two, this has been really very enjoyable. Instead of it requiring you to take a detour from your current position and exit the Wasteland, this follows up from the somewhat abrupt ending to the main storyline. It is based on capitalising upon the Brotherhood's capture of the purifier and wiping out the rest of the Enclave.

This may make it sound like Anchorage, in the way it focuses on FPS-type gaming, and has you fighting with an army beside you. I assure you, though this is the case, it is pulled off a LOT better than it was in Anchorage. You're now free to use your own weapons and armour, you're not stripped of your gear, and as it remains in the Wasteland it remains in full Fallout style. With the Brotherhood fighting at full force around you only makes it more intense. The scale of this is slightly bigger, more side quests are available and the achievements add up to 150g, not 100. I was done in about 4 - 5 hours, and in my opinion it's the best they've made. There aren't a lot of new weapons, but 4 new enemy types are now included, a new Super Mutant, Radscorpion, Feral Ghoul and Enclave trooper. All the new ones are elites and are very tough to kill, the Feral Ghoul often requiring the Fat Man to do the job. A fun and challenging experience, with such variety leaving little to criticise.

Once you see the huge, satisfying explosion at the end marking the demise of the fascist Enclave, you'll look back and see an overall successful DLC. It fits perfectly with the rest of the game game, maybe except for the lack of total free roam of the new area. However, with the Level Cap raised to 30, your new skills and perks make it only more exciting the whole way through. I strongly recommend this to any Fallout player; if you buy one of the three current DLCs, this should be the one. 8/10.