Review: Brutal Legend (360)

+'s

-Fantastic writing (very witty)

-ridiculous attention to detail and level of creativity (obvious love of the subject matter by the creators--visuals and sound match the game perfectly)

-every game mode is great fun

-outstanding campaign

-great level of content (took me about 11 hours on normal difficulty and I completed all the side quests, but I'm still working on all the collectibles for 100% completion)

-multiplayer is a fantastic blend of action and strategy (NOT a standard RTS--action and aggressiveness are rewarded more than methodic thinking)

-'s

-minimal control issues (window selector for guitar solos can be frustrating)

-Neutral

-the ultimate Heavy Metal influenced game (this will likely have a great impact on your enjoyment of the game)

Brutal Legend is much better than I expected. It takes things I loved from Burnout Paradise (and some from No More Heroes) and places it in an outstanding story-driven adventure game with great action-based strategic multiplayer, and all based on Heavy Metal lore. It's as if Tim Schafer handed me a gift. An outstanding game worth every penny and more.

Review: Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (PS3)

+'s

-improved graphics, story, and sound

-does things that have never been seen in video game before

-fun multiplayer and co-op

-witty, realistic dialogue (even better than the first game)

-nearly every character is likable in some way

-great mix of shooting, platforming, vehicle sequences, and puzzle-solving(the puzzle solving is interesting and changes the pace just enough without being annoying)

-'s

-Sully isn't in the game much

Neutral

-Shooting hasn't been improved much (I thought it was fine before)

-no campaign co-op

Overall, this isn't just one of the best PS3 games this year, or even since release. This is one of the best games this console generation, and one of the best action adventure games I've ever played.

Points Addict: 37,000

I passed 37K while playing Brutal Legend tonight.

Trophy Hunter: Level 7

Today I reached Level 7 while playing Batman: Arkham Asylum.

Review: Batman: Arkham Asylum (PS3)

+'s

-great graphics and sound (everything is very stylized and well done. The art-style even reminds me a bit of BioShock)

-great control

-excellent voice acting

-'s

-limited replay value (the Riddler challenges and challenge modes aren't extremely fun)

Neutral

-challenge modes aren't terribly interesting

-campaign will take about 10 hours (it's probably best to play on hard and complete the challenges as you go)

Overall, this is one of the better games I've played all year, and the best video game based on a comic book I remember playing. It absolutely needs a sequel and absolutely should be played.

Review: Halo 3: ODST (360)

+'s

-best character development of any Halo game made by Bungie (I didn't play Halo Wars)

-great use of the HUD and much better level design than previous Halo games (I didn't get headaches figuring out what I was supposed to do like the first two Halo games and didn't get lost like I did once or twice in three)

-length of campaign feels just right (plenty of variety and great pacing)

-Firefight mode is great fun

-'s

-limited graphical updates (character models in the cutscenes look like something the PS2 or Xbox could handle, but the lighting and textures, especially in-game, do look a bit better than Halo 3)

Neutral

-only 3 new multiplayer maps may or may not be a good value depending on if you already bought the previous maps

Overall, this was the most fun I've had with a Halo campaign, and I hope Bungie continues on this path.

-