• 25Jan 10

  GTA IV 100% completed

  

  If there's a trophy that I'm proud of having it, this one should be included to the list. Completing GTA: IV to 100% requires patience, hard work and full dedication. You can check this link here and see the detailed checklist.

  I decided to work on this game again because I wanted to prove myself that I could do it. I never thought that. For those who might ask, this isn't the platinum trophy. That one will take ages to unlock because of one trophy called "Wanted", and it's for reaching the highest ranking in multiplayer(10). I'm currently at rank 7 with $750.000. Level 10 is $5 M...

  In order to reach that level, I've been playing NOOSE, it's a co op mission and if you play it on hard you can get $4.500.But it isn't impossible.

  • Posted Jan 25, 2010 5:49 am GMT
  • Category: Other
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• 19Jan 10

  The Perfect First-Person Shooter

  First Person Shooter is one of the more explored genres in videogames, only in this generation there are lots of options. A pity that the vast majority of them are generic versions or clones that give us not much fun. What you will see now is a conjunction of cool ideas that need to be a FPS to be unfailingly pleasant and enter that AAA rating. Just note that these elements of each ingredient is important, but the new FPS still need a bit of creativity only if you really want to go down in history of gaming.

  Artificial Intelligence, multiplayer customization and original weapons
  Example: Perfect Dark and Turok

  

  The AI of a game is very important, regarding the genre. Until there are games in today's artificial intelligence very compelling, but only to humiliate them all let's take two examples of older games - Perfect Dark and Turok 2, both for the the N64. Dinosaurs and guards were actually very hard to beat. Another point that can not be left out in a kind of "dream FPS based on good shooters is the personalization - especially in the hours of multiplayer. In Pefect Dark you could create your own avatar. If you want to go further, the customization could be complete as in Fallout 3. But when it comes to unique weapons, Turok simply reigns. The game featured some of the most incredible weapons of all time for a FPS.

  Stunts, real experience in an open world setting
  Example: Mirror's Edge

  

  Mirror's Edge is not exactly a FPS, but it has vision in the first person and has some interesting things, that used with the correct dosage, would be very welcome for FPS that are idealized. Show a hand with the gun is just the basics that every game does, but we must make you feel being "the eyes of the character," and it is not easy. Mirror's Edge does this very well and it would be nice in a FPS can look down when jumping and see the legs of your character. Or make some small stunts as opposed to jump a wall to take the necessary impetus and reach a higher platform.

  Art direction, control, platforms and interaction with objects
  Example: Half-Life and Bioshock

  

  Starting with the art direction - amazing, well built, beautiful and that makes you want to continue playing (something very important, after all if the game does not give pleasure to play, all else fails). Then there is the inclusion of platform elements, you have to walk crawling on the floor, climbing bases, jumping platform after platform. This is really cool and helps diversify the gameplay. Finally, of course, could not miss something in the S.tyle of the Gravity Gun from HL2. We have the best when it comes to interaction with the objects of the scenarios. You can get many forts that are the stage and use them as weapons against enemies, shield or simply to get rid of a trap. Perfect. That's what we want. Nothing can be more satisfying than having the freedom to pick up a rock on the floor and shoot at the forehead of the monster.

  Portions of online multiplayer
  Example: Halo 3

  Add offline multiplayer
  Example: Perfect Dark, XIII, Mario Kart

  

  The single player campaign is essential and therefore should receive special attention by the production team, but it is not the only experience that a player wants to have. The online mode needs to be at least a supplement as solid as the main campaign. And not for nothing that Halo 3 is today one of the most played FPSs on Xbox Live 360. In this case, the online gets to be even more important than the singleplayer. Easy to connect and join friends to play, voice communication, maps, updates via DLC, tournaments, rankings system, various game modes, great maps, etc etc etc. . An ideal FPS must learn from the guys from Bungie.

  The online is very important and all, but we can not forget those who have no Gold on Live or even Wi-Fi access on PSN, Nintendo WFC and other networks. There are many reasons that can cause a person can not make all online content for one game - and unfortunately more and more games these days are leaving aside the old system offline with bots.
  
  Perfect Dark offers a pleasant opportunity to race with friends and even good AI for bots in multiplayer. XIII (Thirteen) is a more current example also appreciate that - you can customize the difficulty of the bots and play Free for All, in teams or in other ways more. Even without a friend nearby, the XIII multiplayer is fun as hell!
  
  And then there's Mario Kart. Ok, not a FPS and not even in first person. But we like to quote you the simple argument that playing with a friend on the side it's still fun, then it is further proof that the offline multiplayer should not be extinguished.

  Incentive for exploration, stealth and close combat
  Example: Metroid Prime and The Chronicles of Riddick

  

  Metroid Prime uses very well the exploitation factor. This is important because it helps eliminate the problem of linearity of most FPS and does not leave you stuck to the mechanics of just "kill, kill and kill." Riddick is another good example of originality that could be used. The game has great stealth sequences - you can get the guy behind and, without realizing it, breaking his neck. And because it is a prison, still has a lot of fist fights and knife. It is a proof that an FPS can merge shooting and exploitation and yet not leave the shooter less exciting than it should.

  Identity and charisma of the character
  Example: Duke Nukem, Gordon Freeman and James Bond

  

  Most of the main characters in FPSs nowadays are "ghosts". Sometimes we know the face, sometimes not even that. But very few times that the player identifies with "the guy behind the gun," is the charisma or "life story". Duke Nukem, Gordon Freeman (Half-Life) and James Bond - especially those games with Pierce Brosnan - praise that could get done. In the case of Duke, in particular, it is the Schwarzenegger mixed with Kurt Russell. It's irreverent, controversial.

  Good sound, gameplay, gadgets and cheats at will
  Example: GoldenEye 007

  

  The first James Bond game on the Nintendo 64 was one of the coolest music ever seen in a game of this genre, then another example of sound quality was Perfect Dark on the same console. But there was more. The game still had great gameplay. You see, you could throw a hand or foot of Natalya Simonova which was a spot of blood in place and she still complained of pain in the spot that was hit. You could even see one in the headshot soldier and miss by a whisker, making the hat from his head to fly away. A good FPS also need to gadgets - you know, those legal items, usually futuristic, breaking the ice of infinite sequences of shooting and shooting. GoldenEye is also a great example to be followed, for after all this time he has items to other side: watch full of functions, various types of bombs, key cards and passes, knives etc... Cheats? GoldenEye was champion again: Who does not remember the code for the golden gun that killed with one single shot? Good times, good times...

  There's no Call of Duty, Killzone, Resistance, Gears of War, etc... Which proves that older games can still be fun to play. What is missing for a recent FPS to be perfect? Or the perfect FPS exists?

  • Posted Jan 19, 2010 11:24 am GMT
  • Category: Editorial
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• 8Jan 10

  MW2: Single Player Impressions

  In short...short. Like the prequel, Modern Warfare's single player campaign is short like a die hard FPS fan like me. Enjoyed every explosion, cut-scene, abundant action, stunning graphics, what I haven't enjoyed was the although intense but short SP campaign. Nonetheless, it was worthy.

  The main story does feel a bit short, but it's so packed full of action that it doesn't disappoint. Each mission contains so much variety and it means that no level feels out of place or boring. Not only is there a lot of satisfying first person shooter sequences, there are also stealth segments and vehicle chases. So in essence the campaign's length feels just right. Not to mention that the story can be played through higher difficulties to make the game a little more challenging.

  Rookies of the 'First Person Shooter' genre and perhaps even seasoned players will have their moments of frustration during the campaign. Not because of cheap AI or glitches, but because of the shear chaos during many of the missions. Modern Warfare 2 immerses you in combat and expects you to strategize and improvise your tactics in the blink of an eye. Enemies will constantly flank and out maneuver you to stay one step ahead. Cover will only save your sorry hide for so long when most is destructible or can be penetrated by weapon fire forcing you to advance. You and your squad never seem to have the high ground and are almost always outnumbered and surrounded by what seems like 10 to 1 odds or worse. It is fast, frenetic, insane, and man is it fun. Few games this generation can come close to matching Modern Warfare 2's intensity for one level let alone an entire campaign.

  Environments are massive and extremely varied. You will find yourself frostbitten in the snow, sweating under the sun in Rio, and seemingly everywhere in between. Dozens of enemies and allies are on screen simultaneously as walls crumble and windows shatter from gunfire. Vehicles explode in a hail of debris as gunships streak overhead. Garbage, dust, rain and shrapnel details are constantly assaulting your senses. All this polish and detail with zero frame rate drops. I am still in awe and would love to see this graphic engine utilized elsewhere in the future.

  
  I am currently on my veteran playtrough, after beating the game on regular and hardened dificulty. I am just waiting to enter the real MW 2 world: Spec ops and the cherry on top, multiplayer.

  • Posted Jan 8, 2010 3:22 pm GMT
  • Category: Games
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