Well... what can I say? It was anything but a good start for the season. The Eagles were shut out at the LINK last night 17-0. So, rather than discuss this very disappointing start, I thought I would talk about what I'll be doing instead of watching the Eagles pave their way to the Super Bowl... Video Games!
State In Gaming...
I was poking around IGN the other day, and it became startlingly apparent to me that the next few months hold a lot of promise for PC Gamers. My bank account will be weeping when it sees the number of games set for release in September and October. That being said... lets look at some of the titles that will command my life over the next few months.
First we have BloodRayne, a 3rd person shooting title that was originally released on console several months back. The game premise is probably more like that of the upcoming film Underworld than anything else, though there is a BloodRayne movie, based on the game, in the works. You take control of a female Dhampir (product of a human mother, raped by a vampire --- Where have I seen this before, oh yea BLADE... or well... sort of) as she slashes, hacks, shoots, and sucks her way through demons and other horrid beasts to prevent the rebirth of the Nazi nation through supernatural means. So I guess it is sort of Buffy meets Blade meets Underworld meets Wolfenstein. Either way, I am intrigued, and will be picking it up shortly as it was released yesterday. The best and worst part is that because it is essentially a console port, BloodRayne will be cheaper than post PC game (around $19.95) - however, this also means a less than breathtaking gaming experience. Need I remind anyone of the horror that was 007 Nightfire for the PC (link to my review).
Next up, every geek's wet dream. No, not a William Shattner and a Karaoke machine, I'm talking about Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy. Slated to be released on September 16th, this latest offering from LucasArts looks to be the Star Wars action shooter everyone has been waiting for since the original Dark Forces. With Knights of the Old Republic released for the RPG crowd, action gamers will hopefully be able to contend with this new action packed title.
September 22nd has two expansion packs in store for two EA (Electronic Arts) titles. The first is for the latest from the Command and Conquer franchise Command & Conquer Generals. This expansion pack entitled 'Zero Hour' will be a must have for most die hard C&C fans. Though I was excited for the release of Generals, I'm not so sure I will be snagging this expansion, as I have become weary of the title, though I continue to play Command & Conquer Red Alert 2 (RA2) - maybe because it is the greatest Real-Time Strategy (RTS) title ever created. The second expansion is for what I consider to be one of the greatest First-Person-Shooters (FPS) ever released. I speak of course of Medal of Honor: Allied Assault (MOHAA). Details pertaining to the exact contents of the new expansion are scarce other than the fact that it is called 'Breakthrough', but it really doesn't matter, I'm going to buy it anyway. Just like I bought the last expansion 'Spearhead'. Helps funnel some money back into the company that will release the next 'all new' Medal of Honor title Q1 2004.
The tale end of September has two treats for PC FPS fans. The beloved XBOX title HALO will be released for PC on the 30th, along with Half-Life 2 which is slated to be the next revolutionary 3D Action title. I can't really speak for HALO, the console version was ok at best, but we'll have to wait and see. If you could only buy one game on the 30th, I would have to recommend Half-Life 2. The original Half-Life was revolutionary, and the sequel is looking like more of the same. The Half-Life series has always been hailed for its intricate and fascinating story lines. The depth of the game play is what always made the original shine. Now it will be getting a nice cosmetic upgrade. With any luck, we can expect more of the same gaming brilliance exhibited in the original, and extended by the success of spin-offs like Counterstrike.
These are just the releases for THIS month. October will bring many more exciting titles including XIII, Silent Hill 3 for PC, and the sequel to Max Payne. I'll try discussing those at greater length in a future post.
... I guess I should end this post here... but I wanted to let ya'll know that this summer term was 4.0 term for me. 18 credits of A make me, my GPA, and my parents VERY happy. This should allow me to weasel my way into the Drexel Honors Program. More on that later… now I’m off to spread 40 Bags of cedar mulch!
In regard to games HALO and Star Wars: Jedi Academy...
Be forewarned Paul! Jedi Academy is addictive and my coworker has already beat it despite the fact that he only got it this past Monday. Even more disturbing is that HALO is even MORE addictive. :0
I think ill stick with my current music obsession and avoid the GPA plunging path of gaming that threatens to ensnare my conscious.
merry gaming...
Posted by: Raja | Saturday, September 13, 2003 at 12:29 PM
HALO ROCKS!!! p.s i dont own an xbox..i own it on computer and HL2 SUCKS HALO IS BETTER!!!
Posted by: Master Chief | Tuesday, September 28, 2004 at 06:56 AM