A return to F.E.A.R.
The second installment from Monolith’s hugely successful horror FPS title has at long last arrived. Returning to the city of Auburn where it all began. F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin offers scarier atmospheres, more open environments, and a first person experience that is equally enjoyable as its previous title. From the darkest corners of the nether regions Alma has returned, and she has a bone to pick with Armachan!

Horror 101
F.E.A.R. 2 Project Origin follows the story of Michael Becket, who is a new character to the series and a fresh perspective. A delta squad rookie, Becket is dispatched to the city of Auburn (on a mission to rescue Armachan’s President) just before it was annihilated by the cataclysmic explosion of the previous game. After the big boom is when the weirdness starts. Becket wakes to find that he is Alma’s newest interest as he begins to see her everywhere. As a sort of guide Alma leads Becket through a terrifying journey into the dark history of her past and ultimately to an ending so bizarre that I refuse to spoil it for you.

There is Nothing to Fear but…Alma
Continuing the same type of jarring game play from the previous game, you are constantly jumping between chills, and thrills. F.E.A.R. 2 capitalizes on the classic elements of horror, in which suspense draws you into a scene only to have it completely shattered by jarring action sequences.  This is the bread and butter of the F.E.A.R. franchise and it is something they do well. The transitions from horror to action are a shocking way to propel the game play.

The Atmospheres are eerie, more creative, and much larger then in the previous game. Some levels are large, and that does put a bit of a strain on the game play as you become bored with staring at the same level. You will be exploring the devastated city of Auburn in which you will constantly come across Armachan operatives who have been dispatched there.  Alma becomes your guide as well as your tormentor, as she constantly twists your mind with disturbing hallucinations. Unwillingly forging a psychic bond with Alma you develop the ability to slow down time. The ability is a much needed asset as the AI of F.E.A.R. 2 is advanced.  Enemies will use environments, and team tactics to try and take you down. The bullet time will give you the advantage to dispatch enemies as needed.

The mech suits add a creative element to game play, and are extremely enjoyable to use. Self repairing and equipped with dual guns, and a rocket launcher they are basically gigantic killing machines. The mech suits are very effective in helping you to mow down enemies. You will be able to use them at various times, and surprisingly they work for a game totally unrelated to mech suits.

Multi-player is average keeping the simple modes; such as death match, and capture the flag. So do not expect much more than that from it. It isn’t a bad multi-player by any means, just basic. Campaign mode is another story! It is a rich experience with dynamic environments, and a near indiscernible plot line with more twist than a Shyamalan film.

Fear thy name is Alma
F.E.A.R. 2 continues the formula of its predecessor, and it is an effective one at that. Larger environments, more intelligent enemies, and a continuing theme of creepiness definitely makes this game worthy of your time.  The muti-player could have been better and that is the reason this game falls short of a five star rating, but the campaign alone makes this game worth its price. We give F.E.A.R. 2 Project Origin 4 out of 5 stars.

What to expect from McAfee 2009
At face value, McAfee 2009 seems much the same as the 2008 version but take the time to give it second glance. This year, McAfee has taken huge strides in terms of speed, ease of use, and the number of features - delivering an over all good security software suite for 2009.

Installation
Although this version is slow to install, it is a simple process, and it is has much fewer issues during setup.  What we have heard is that the overall setup process for users is simple. You shouldn’t have any issues during installation unless you are using a beta Internet Explorer.

Interface
McAfee integrates all of its tools into one interface, which is a continuation of previous years. To the faithful McAfee users, this type of interface will cater to you and will no doubt be more than adequate for your day to day use.

Features
McAfee has the most features of almost any security suite out now, including two-way firewall, anti-virus,  anti-spyware, anti-spam, and anti-phishing.  The firewall protection has great user options, the malware protection and anti-spamming is excellent and highly rated.  Lastly, the Shareware trial is excellent and almost a prerogative for any who are undecided on this software and would like a chance to try it out before purchase.

Bottom Line
If you’re a McAfee fan - you’ll want to pick up this version - and if you are still trying to decide what type of internet security to go with, this is a good choice.  The best aspect of this ‘total protection’ software from McAfee would be the features. As stated before, it has the most features of almost security suite on the market now. We give McAfee 2009 four out of five stars.

You can get a copy of McAfee 2009 here

The Return of the Prince
The new title from Ubisoft’s popular platforming series has at long last arrived. Prince of Persia is  completely different from its predecessors, and there was a fair amount of risk that was taken in its development. From the subtle changes in game play, and the not so subtle changes in art concepts, and character design. Prince of Persia is not a fourth installment of The Sands of Time series, it is a reinvention of the franchise. Only 3 years after the release of The Two Thrones, the Prince is back.

The Corruption
The story begins in a desert, in which our nameless protagonist Prince is lost. Searching for Farah, his donkey (that’s right, a donkey) which is weighted down with the booty of the Princes recent endeavors. The Prince seems hopelessly lost until he stumbles upon a women named Elika, who is at the moment being pursued by some guys with sharp pointy objects. Casting their lot together the Prince and Elika flee the pursuers into a great temple in which she claims is the home of Ahriman, the God of Darkness. Elika confesses, that her family comes from an ancient line of guardians, commissioned by Ormazd the God of light to guard a great seal within the temple. This seal has kept the God of Darkness trapped for centuries. Once inside they meet Elika’s very agitated father who in a fit of rage shatters the seal and releases Ahriman.

Finally freed, but weekend Ahriman can only manifest himself as the corruption which consumes any living thing it comes in contact with. As one in a long line of ancient defenders against Ahriman, Elika is gifted with the magic ability to purge corruption. The Prince, who’s only goal in life is to find his gold touting donkey is reluctantly convinced by Elika to aid her. The two unlikely allies work together to free the world of the corruption, thus weakening Ahriman so that Elika may restore the seal and bind him once more within it.

Side scrolling, to 3D, to HD…this franchise has come a long way
This franchise has seen a vast number of changes, and this title may be the most significant yet. The first and most distinct change is the environments which are the triumph of this title. Gorgeous in their design the landscape of Prince of Persia are like living artwork.

Although the core aspects of game play that fans love from this franchise have continued in this title, they have been revamped. Platforming is more fluid and smooth, making the Prince’s acrobatics more realistic. Combat is no longer about button smashing hordes of enemies, it revolves around one on one combat with strategically timed moves, which are enjoyable once mastered. The cinematic sequence are another enjoyable aspect of combat as well. The other highly notable change would be the non-linear, open world type of game play. One of the shortcomings of the Sands of Time series was the linear game play, and developers scrapped that concept by allowing gamers to forge their own path through an open world setting.

Although Ubisoft removed a lot of the drawbacks from the previous serious I am afraid it has also created some new ones. For one, the Prince is not able to develop any new skills, or abilities, or even change weapons. You get a sword, a gauntlet, and a scarf don’t expect more than that.  The dialog in this game is atrocious. I still wake up at night with a cold sweat and hear the Prince’s lame banter in my head (it gives me chills).

The Prince

Although the Prince carries similar mechanics from the previous games such as acrobatics, and combat styles; he is nothing like the prince of the past. Long gone is the noble Prince of the Sands of Time series that fans have come to love. In this title our Prince is more of a frat boy then a noblemen. The new Prince only desires money, women and thick carpets (I’m serious he really likes thick carpets). Over all the deign of the new prince is a fresh new style, but his personality is a stark contrast to his predecessors. Immature, and conceded, but only on the surface deep down he truly cares for his companion, Elika.

Elika emissary of Light

The Prince is perfectly complemented by Elika who is strong willed, and selfless. She not only gives the Prince a sense of purpose, but she becomes essential to his progression through the game. The highly capable AI that is Elika will aid you in almost every aspect of game play.  Since this title is non-linear there are instances when getting lost is easy and if that should ever occur Elika can use her magic abilities to create an orb of light that will guide you on the correct path. If you fall when leaping from one platform to next Elika can catch you and drop you in a previous location. If you fall to an enemy Elika will blind them with a burst of light allowing you to recover.

The one notable drawback to Elika is the fact that she removes a great deal of challenge from the game. If you fall she catches you, if an enemy attacks you she blinds them, making it impossible to die. Despite that one minor flaw Elika is the perfect companion to the prince and a great edition to this franchise.

No Death, No Time Travel, No Problem
Despite Prince of Persia’s minor draw backs it is still an enjoyable game, and a much needed breath of fresh air in a stale franchise. Although death has been abolished, the dialog is poor, and there is ZERO skills or weapon changes for the Prince; this game is still worth getting. With lush environments, enjoyable game play, and an absorbing plot laced with a hint of romance (between the Prince and his own reflection) this game is a great edition to the Pop Franchise. We give Prince of Persia 4 1/2 stars out of 5.

The Dead Walk RUN
The creators of Half Life Valve, have brought us the FPS survival horror title Left 4 Dead. Within this four person co-op title you fend off oceans of the living dead, who certainly don’t drag their feet when the dinner bell rings.  There are many reasons why this game stands alone from other survival horror titles, and why it is most likely going to become one of the greats within the genre. Today, Left 4 Dead infects the store shelves (Nov. 18th), and the survival horror genre in a big way.

The Infection
The story begins within a city completely annihilated by a zombie infection. You will have the option to play as four separate characters. Bill the Vietnam Vet, Louis the IT guy, Zoey the college student and horror film fanatic, and Francis the bar brawling biker. Each has their own unique skills that aid one another in their survival. The Infected (which you can play as as well) are the living dead creatures that have ransacked the city. They consist of the Horde (your basic zombies that accumulate in large groups and attack any living thing), and then the mutated zombies, such as the Witch (big claws and completely crazy), the Boomer (don’t shoot this one up close), the Tank (which is basically a Mack truck with arms), and other types as well.  The game’s plot line is  surprisingly simple. The goal is to survive, and the only way to achieve that is through teamwork.

Three Four is the magic number
As said before there are four major characters within the game who progress as a team to survive. Each teammate has a colored outline that it visible through walls that changes status to indicate danger or injury so you are able to know where your teammates are at all times and whether they are in need of help. Your teammates will assist you in gunning down zombie, healing your injuries, and helping you recover from attacks. You will want to do the same for them because if you loose any member of your team you will loose firepower. The game is primarily a first person shooter in which you fend of a droves of zombies. The monotony is broken up by the mutated zombies each one with their own unique abilities that are potentially devastating to your team; for example the Hunter which can pin you or anyone one of your teammates. In this instance when mutated zombies attack you or your team you must act quickly or you may loose a teammate, or be killed yourself.

There are four basic phases of the campaign mode of the game; No Mercy (urban Setting), Death Toll (suburban setting), Dead Air (air port), and Blood Harvest (a rural setting).  Each has it’s own challenges, and obstacles, in which teamwork is required to survive. The unique thing about Left 4 Dead that sets it apart from other survival horror games is the “AI Director”, which adjusts intensity and frequency of zombie attacks according to your performance. The “AI Director” will change themes, ambiance, and moves zombies, and ammo to different locations within the maps so each mode of the game is never the same when you replay it.

The versus mode will allow up to 8 players; in which you will be able to play as the four survivors, or as four of the infected. Playing as the infected in this mode will allow you to play as the mutated zombies each one with its own unique ability.

Here’s the Deal!
The four person co-op is one of the best aspects of this game. I personally believe this is one of the few games within the survival horror genre that has capitalized on it.  The other and most unique aspect is the “AI Director” with this you will never play the game the same twice. These are the two strongest pillars of this title and the reason why it is truly great. If you are a fan of FPS or Survival horror you will want to pick this game up you will be getting hours of enjoyment from it.  Valve has given us a great title in the survival horror genre. We give Left 4 Dead an A+ rating.

The Lich King Rises
The second expansion from Blizzard, the long awaited Wrath of the Lich King has finally arrived. The Lich King has awakened and established his throne in Northrend, and if the Alliance and Horde factions to not  act maybe all of Azeroth.  Here is our review for the Wrath of the Lich King Expansion.

The Legend
Long ago the land of the ancient wars, Northrend was part of a single continent until it broke free and drifted to the north.  Separate from the rest of the world Northrend was ruled by the Nerubians who grew in power, and strength. Though the Nerubians had ruled for ages they soon were cut down by the Lich King who was given power by the demon lord Kil’Jaeden to command an army of the undead. Resurrecting an ancient race the Vrykul from beneath the ice of the Northrend the Lich King soon laid waste to the Nerubians.  Arthas met the Lich King in battle and shattered his frozen thrown and  took his sword.  Not knowing the enchantment placed on the blade by the demon lord, Arthmas’s soul was forever merged with it making him the new Lich King. Arthas soon after disappeared into the frozen wastes falling into slumber until he was awoke by Kil’Jaeden to command the undead army and conquer the land of Azeroth.

Game Play
Unless you have lived under a rock for the past few years you know that like the Burning Crusade, Wrath of the Lich King is an expansion not a separate game.  So you are getting the same type of game play you always had with WoW, but evolved.  You will still get the standard quests such has “go kill these guys,” and “gather these mushrooms,” but they are few, over all the new quests are much more creative, and the majority of them are tied into the main plot witch was rare in the last expansion.  Also the enemy encounters are much more creative, and realistic then ever before.

The content that has been added through this expansion is vast, and should keep fans at bay for a time. The first and most notable change is the new land you are able to explore, the Northrend; which includes such territories as IceCrown, DragonBlight, and Storm Peaks. All of them beautiful in design and unique to the World of WarCraft universe. Northrend is great addition to Azeroth and is new and unique realm to explore. The new realm will have enemies above level 70, giving you the ability to level up to a cap of 80, good news fro those who have conquered the Outland. The second must notable addition is the new class the Death Knights. If you are more of Horde kinda guy the pull of these new characters will be nearly irresistible, and very enjoyable. You will get to pillage, plunder, and reek having to your little black hearts desire. The other notable pieces of content added would be the siege weapons, which are accessible during…you guest it sieges, and very from catapults, to ballistas.  More barbershops which will allow mullets now (very popular for the 80′ hair band fan’s), and the new achievement system in which your achievements will be visible for all other players to see.

Long Live the King
If you are a long time Wow addict you have probably already pre-ordered this title, but if you have recently  gotten out of your WoW rut, this expansion is more then adequate to push you right back into a new one. Blizzard has evolved their universe, and designed a new realm of game play that is sure to keep the dedicated fans satisfied, and bring wayward ones back. With new content, evolved game play, and a vast new realm of adventure to explore Wrath of the Lich king is sure to satisfy your WoW fixation.  We give the Wrath of the Lich King an A+ rating.

Quick Reference:
Northrend - land of ancient wars and current kingdom of the Lich King
Nerubians - dominate race of Northrend
Vrykul - ancient race of giants that existed before the Nerubians
Kil’jaeden - the demon lord, the Lich Kings master, and source of power
Arthas -  the Lich King
Azeroth - the collective known world of World of WarCraft
IceCrown, DragonBlight, Storm Peaks - individual realms of Northrend

From side scrolling to 3D

Originally Prince of Persia was developed in 1989 as an MS-DOS side scrolling adventure, the series was revitalized in 2003 with the release of the Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. As a continuation of the series the release moved the game into the 3D realm and firmly established the series as one of the greatest in the action adventure genre. Originally released for Play Station 2, the game was later released for other consoles, and also for PC. Though the PC version has a few minor drawbacks it is the easy choice for die hard PC gamers and a matter of personal preference for console junkies.

And then there was sand…

At the beginning of our story we find our hero, the Prince of Persia on a journey through India with his father King Shahraman (say that three times fast), on their way to Azad with a small battalion of men. During their journey they come across the palace of the great Maharaja of India, and with the aid and safe passage of the Maharaja’s back stabbing Vizier they storm the palace. When the siege is complete, the spoils, which include the Maharaja’s daughter (Farah), an hourglass, and the dagger of time; are all collected and divided amongst the victors. Upon returning to Azad the Prince is tricked into placing the dagger into the hourglass smashing it and releasing the sands of time. When the sand is released it baths the palace of Azad, and turns all its inhabitants into undead sand creatures; leaving only the Prince, the evil Vizier, and Farah immune from its curse. The prince soon after forms an alliance with Farah and must track down the evil vizier to collect the sands of time, and use his dagger to fend of the deformed sand creatures.

Game play

The Game consists manly of three types of game play; combat, puzzles, and acrobatics; all of which are extremely enjoyable. The Prince is light and very agile giving him the ability to run along walls to avoid traps, and dodge enemies quite easily. You not only are dependent on the prince’s physical strength and agility you must also rely on the Prince’s dagger to progress through the game. The dagger gives you the ability to rewind time; so if you fall in combat or are captured in a trap you can rewind ten seconds in time and undo the mishap. Not only do you need the dagger to push back the icy grip of death; it is also the only defense against the sand creatures; since they are immune to mortal weapons. The game is completely linear though you are trapped within the cursed palace and can only progress from room to room through a pre-determined path.

PC or Console - Apples or Oranges

For console gamers the first and major draw back to the PC version of Prince of Persia is that it is not compatible with a game pad, but the mouse and keyboard controls are easily adaptable. The other draw back is the PC version did not include any of the bonus materials the console versions had; which for any die-hard P.O.P. fan is a definite drawback. The good news is the PC version has the smoothest looking graphics; the atmospheres are smooth, and natural; not blocky. If you can get over the fact that the Pc version is not game pad compatible it is the easy choice when it comes to graphics.

In the Beginning…

In 2005 Gamecube released its blockbuster survival horror smash hit Resident Evil 4. The game was hailed as the best in the Resident Evil series and the best in the survival horror genre; winning multiple awards including game of the year. Originally the game was exclusively a Gamecube title, but later that year it was re-released for PS2 and recently released for PC. There are glaring contrasts between the console version and the PC version of the game; such as the loss in atmosphere and ambience and the change in game controls, but the PC version is definitely worth the price for a truly great survival horror game.

The Skinny

The plot is a based on a US special agent named Leon S. Kennedy (no relation to JFK) who is sent on a mission to Europe to rescue the president’s daughter from a religious cult known as the Los Iluminados (the illuminated ones). Leon’s journey takes him to a secluded Spanish village, where a group of hostile villagers await him. The plot thickens as it becomes apparent that the villagers are highly aggressive almost to the point of madness; chasing you with axes, sickles, and my personal favorite the chain saw. As you progress through the game you eventually retrieve the President’s daughter, Ashley from the cult and soon discover that the there is a much more sinister force than the Los Iluminados (which has made an appearance in every Resident Evil Game since its conception); that’s right everyone’s favorite evil organization Umbrella is back. Your journey takes you through wonderfully dark and creepy atmospheres, dilapidated villages, musty caves, and secret research facilities. As you progress through the game the atmospheres become more and more frightening.

Console vs. PC

There are a few distinct differences between the console version and the PC version. One change is graphics; the PC version’s artwork is not as rich as the console version and with a game that is known for rich atmospheres it is a definite deterrent. Second and possibly biggest draw back is the controls; the combat system is based on using laser guided weapons to hit targets and since the game is not compatible with a mouse it takes away from the enjoyment by forcing you to use your keyboard. There are also action sequences in the game where you will have to hit a number of random buttons to escape traps and trying to remember the correct keys on your keyboard for those scenes can become complicated. You will definitely want to buy a PC controller for this game because it is really the only way to enjoy the game adequately.

The PC version has its pros as well as its cons. One is the bonus material; there are extra weapons you can acquire that are not available on the Gamecube version, such as the P.R.L. 412 laser cannon (anything with the word cannon in it has sold me). You also have an alternate version of the game in which you can play as Ada Wong, a second special agent that gets tangled in Leon’s mission. Another huge positive is the PC version was released at $20 and now sells below that mark while the console version was still selling in the $50’s.

My 2 cents

If you prefer PC games to console, RE4 is a good investment; you will be getting hours of enjoyable game play. My advice; is to be sure and buy a game pad for your PC if you purchase the game especially if you prefer console games because without it the transition will be near impossible. The bottom line is that the PC version is a remarkably fun game; despite a couple small draw backs.

The Resident Evil title almost sells itself; it is a game with an awesome plot line, a remarkably fun combat system, and lots of cool creepy atmospheres. I would recommend it to any gaming or Resident Evil fan.

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