Well today is my birthday. Usually I don't do anything special, but since I turned 18 today I was planning on going out with some of my friends. Unfortunately I felt like crap when I woke up, so that spoiled my plans. As far as presents go, I got a 32" HDTV. For the size of my room it's pretty big and certainly an upgrade over my previous 23" HDTV. Also, my old TV didn't have 1080p resolution but this new one does. I also got Assassin's Creed II so I'll be playing that this week. That's about it for my 18th birthday. Not very exciting, I know. I just had to get sick today, didn't I? Oh well, I'm happy with my new TV and I ate some delicious cake, so today was still alright. Take care everyone.

Hey everyone. This is just a quick blog mainly about how I've started my senior year of high school. Of course they screwed up my schedule so I had to move a few things around. But I'm happy with it now; it looks like this:

1st period: Web Design
2nd period: AP English
3rd period: AP Government
4th period: Spanish 3
5th period: Teacher's Assistant (for my Spanish teacher from last year)
6th period: None (I have modified schedule)

Apparently AP Government is a fairly simple course (damn you Gamespot!) most people say the teacher is great and the majority of his students pass the AP test. On top of that, he doesn't give out too much homework, which is a plus. AP English will be my toughest course but I've never had trouble with that subject, so it shouldn't be too bad. The rest of my courses are extremely easy and I get out an hour early because of my modified schedule, so I'll finally have some time to relax during my senior year.

We had senior sunrise last Friday. I got up at 5:00 AM and went with some friends. At the first sign of the sun people were running to the parking lot so they could go get breakfast. My friends and I were the first ones to IHOP; we ended up being the only ones eating for the first hour. We were finished with our food way before anyone else was even served.

Besides school, I haven't really been playing any games lately, just FFIV for the DS here and there. But I will be purchasing Batman Arkham Asylum next week. Also, I pre-ordered the Beatles Remastered Box Set (comes out September 9th, same day as the Rock Band game I believe). It comes with all 13 of their studio albums with improved audio (the current Beatles CDs aren't very good when it comes to the audio quality, and I'm a bit of a music nut, so that's important to me). It costs quite a bit, $180, but seeing as the Beatles are my favorite band, it's well worth it for me. Oh, and I saw District 9 last week. Here's my take on it: GO SEE IT, IT'S GREAT!

Well, until next time, take care.

Hey everyone. Well, I got back from Hawaii last week and I had a blast.

First off I'd never been on a plane before, so that was interesting. By interesting I mean boring and uncomfortable. But the take off and landing was kinda cool I suppose. We landed in Oahu after a 5 hour plane ride and then took another short one to Maui.

We stayed in this really nice house that we rented from some people. Right outside of the house was a beach, so we walked down there a lot. Other activities included parasailing, snorkling, and going to a luau. A lot of time was spent swimming at the beach which is always fun. The weather there was good - it was very windy at times but mostly warm.

I went golfing when I was there, and during the first 9 holes there was some INSANE rain and wind, easily the worst conditions I've ever played it. Just made it more fun in my opinion.

I would have posted pics sooners but either my camera or computer is having some problems, because I'm not able to upload all of the pictures I took. This means that I can only show you a few pics that turned out okay, and they're not that interesting. Sorry about that, hopefully I can figure something out. Well, until my next blog. Take care.

Pic 1 - Big Beach, where we spent a lot of time
Pic 2 - Big Beach again
Pic 3 - The view from right outside the house
Pic 4 - Pic of the house, with my shadow clearly visible
Pic 5 - Inside of the house
Pic 6 - Inside of the house
Pic 7 - Me in Hawaii!
Pic 8 - Since one pic of Anthony obviously isn't enough, another one of me.

Hey everyone, hope you're all doing well. It's been a while since my last blog, but I had to post one before I go to Hawaii. I'm going on Thursday and very much looking forward to it. I get back on the 21st I believe, so I'll be away for about 2 weeks. So sorry to everyone whose blogs I'll be missing. I'll be sure to take some pics and share them when I get back.

In other news I got the results of my AP tests back. They were easily thethree toughest tests I've ever taken in my life,and theycertainly tested me. Each one is out of 5, and 3 or above is passing. Unfortunately I got a 2 on US History and Biology, but I got a 4 on the English one. This means I receive college credits and considering I'm thinking about majoring in English I'm very happyabout that beingthe one I passed. Well, until next time, take care everyone.

I'm one of those impatient types who can't stay focused on one game for a very long time (with some exceptions, such as a great RPG), so it's always an accomplishment when I finish a game.

Earlier this week I finished Valkyria Chronicles for the PS3 after a lengthy break from the game, and man am I glad I went back to it. I'm not a big fan of strategy RPGs, but VC is such a unique game that manages to stay fun just about all the way through. Also, it had one of the better stories from a Japanese developer in a long time. I got so attached to the characters and the ending was perfect. I'd easily give the game a 9.5, and it's my second favorite PS3 game after MGS4. I really hope they make a sequel. Next up for me on the gaming front is Lunar Silver Star Story Complete for the Playstation. I bought it a couple of days ago on ebay, so hopefully it arrives this week. Well, until my next blog. Take care.

Man, it sure has been a while since my last blog. Thought I'd post one just for the heck of it. Not much has been going on with me lately. At school we all had meetings with our counselors, and I found out that I'm ranked #3 out of all the juniors at my school. I thought that was pretty cool. We also got to pick our clases for senior year. If I get all the clases I want, my schedule will look like this:

AP Government
AP English
Spanish 3
Forensics
Web Design

The AP clases might be a bit tough, but the other three should be easy A's. I wanted a nice balance there between the AP clases and easier ones, this year has been so hectic. I also decided on a modified schedule, so I won't have a 6th clas (unlike the past few years). [sorry for misspelling clas, stupid gamespot won't allow me to write it correctly]

On the gaming front I downloaded The Lost and Damned GTAIV DLC. I'm about halfway through, and it's been a lot of fun so far. The storyline and characters are just ok, but I love the motorcycles and new weapons and activities. I believe Killzone 2 comes out here this Friday, so I'll definitely be getting that. The demo was good (and very short), but there was something about the controls that I didn't like very much. Hopefully I'll either get used to them or can change them in the game.

Well, that's about it with me. Hope everyone else is doing well. Take care.

This is my first blog of 2009, so happy new year to everyone. Back around Christmas time I asked my dad for a new computer, but he said no originally. So I ended up with $500 for Christmas, but I still have yet to use the money. My dad recently said he'll reconsider getting me a new laptop, and today he went through with it and ordered me one. Now I just give back the $500 and I end up with a new laptop. I'd say that's a pretty sweet deal. It's a HP HDX16t, and here are the specs for those of you who are curious:

Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T9400 (2.53 GHz)
16.0'' diagonal High Definition HP Ultra BrightView Infinity Display (1366x768 )
4GB DDR2 System Memory
512 MB NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT
250 GB 7200 RPM SATA Hard Drive

It seems like I'll be able to play any PC game out there with those specs. I'm not converting to PC gaming though, so don't worry. I just like to play a game here and there on my computer. I'm most excited about being able to play Dragon Age: Origins and not having to wait for the console version at the end of the year. I'd post some more about what's been happening with me over the holidays, but it hasn't been too exciting. Just relaxation and some gaming here and there. Take care.

I've been very busy lately, so I forgot about finishing my list of favorite 2008 video games. But here are my top 3. I wrote this pretty quickly, so my explanation behind each pick isn't that great.

3. Fallout 3

I've never played a Fallout game before, so the whole idea of a nuclear wasteland is new to me, and I think it made me enjoy Fallout 3 more. Coming across items and weapons can be tough, but that just adds to the immersion of the game. The V.A.T.S. combat system is great and can provide some very violent and satisfying kills. I personally can't find too many problems with the game. Sometimes getting to a location can be annoying, and there are some technical glitches (although they're barely noticeable and don't hurt the gameplay in any way). People who weren't fans of Oblivion probably won't like this, but I wouldn't call it Oblivion with guns. For those who did enjoy Oblvion, this is sure to provide loads of fun.

2. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

I'll be the first to admit that the Metal Gear Solid games feature all kinds of cutscenes, and sometimes it feels like a movie. But the story and cutscenes are rewarding if you're interested in the story like myself. I had to play all of the MGS games all over again to truly appreciate the series, and that just added to my enjoyment with MGS4. The gameplay is at its best with a nice mix of stealth gameplay and more action segements. There are some great gadgets and boss fights hold up the the series' standards. The story does a great job of tying up most of the loose ends, and the game features the best presentation I've ever come across. Sometimes it is just like a movie, and I say that as a compliment.

1. Grand Theft Auto IV

Sure, GTA4 doesn't change things up too much. Most of the missions require you to go hunt someone down and kill them. There's some variety every now and then, but it's the same basic formula. But I think this is the best game in the series due to the story and characters. With all of the previous GTA games I would have the most fun using cheats and just killing a bunch of people, but it seems like Rockstar was more focused this time around. Niko is a more relatable character who has done bad things in his past, but he has both good and bad qualities. The actual plot is dark but the game still retains its humor and features some of the best video game writing in my opinion. I found myself playing for hours and hours just to find out what would happen to Niko rather than gunning down civilians and other stuff like that. Add in next-gen visuals, excellent voice acting, a great soundtrack, fun online play and the living, breathing Liberty City, and you've got my favorite game of 2008.

Part one of my favorite games can be found here

6. Braid

I never would have thought something released for the Xbox Live Arcade would be so amazing. The premise of the story is you're out to save the princess, but with a twist. The story has a real-life approach rather than fantasy, and it focuses on human qualities and is open to interpretation. The gameplay is equally unique; you control time to collect puzzle pieces. I guess it'd be categorized as a puzzle platformer, but each challenge really gets you thinking without becoming frustrating. The game looks great and features some of the best video game music I've ever heard. I think anyone with a 360 should definitely download this game.

5. Resistance 2

Despite difficulty problems and the lack of co-op for the main campaign, Resistance 2 is an excellent FPS. I think it vastly improves on the first game with better pacing and a lot BIGGER battles and enemies. The weapons are great again in the sequel, and the story has improved a bit. I love the competitive online play, but the new co-op mode is what I've been having the most fun with. The soldier, medic, and spec-ops are all fun to play with, and when you get a good team, it's easy to have a blast.

4. Valkyria Chronicles

When I first heard about this game, I didn't think much about it because of my lack of interest in strategy RPGs. But after hearing so much positive feedback at the RPG Temple, I thought why not give it a try. I'm so glad I did. Being able to control each of your units in a third person mode adds a twist to the usual SRPG formula and keeps things interesting. One of my favorite things about the game is how you level up an entire clases rather than focusing on individual units, that always bothered me in other SRPGs. The story is great with a cast of likeable characters and artistically this is one of the best looking games I've played. A must own for any RPG fan/PS3 owner.

First off Happy Thanksgiving to all of you who celebrate it. The year is almost over so I thought I'd share my favorite games of 2008. One game that certainly has the potential to make my list is the new Prince of Persia, which doesn't come out until next week. So there's a chance that #10 will knocked off by the end of the year. But as of today, here are my picks for #10-7. The rest of the list will come over the next few days.

10. Patapon

This little PSP game came out early in the year, but I couldn't forget to include it in my top games of 2008. Patapon takes the elements of a strategy and rhythm game and mixes them together perfectly. The chanting of the Patapon is very catchy, and the unique visuals are great. I feel this is the best game the PSP has to offer.

9. Gears of War 2

I wasn't a big fan of the original Gears of War, but the sequel is more polished, more fun...more everything! There's a level of excitement during the single player campaign that I didn't feel in the original, and the Horde mode is a great addition. I've only played the competitive online at a friend's house so far, but I had fun with it.

8. Dead Space

A couple of months before the release of Dead Space, I was getting very excited for the game. When I played it I was not disappointed. I can easily say this is the scariest game I've ever played - I jumped up at the title screen. The fact that you have to shoot off limbs makes things interesting, and I like the variety of weapons you can use. Also, the absence of a HUD is a nice touch.

7. LittleBigPlanet

LittleBigPlanet can be looked at as a very simple platformer. You've got your jumping, and you can grab on to things. But what makes the game so special is the creativity behind it. I've never played such a charming game. Each environment is full of vibrant colors, large objects, etc. And I don't use the word cute very often, but it's a perfect description for the sackboy/girl. On top of all that there's a great level creator. I myself am not the most creative person, but I've seen some awesome levels from other people, and that just adds to the longevity of the game.

Hey everyone. This is just a quick blog going over what I've been playing lately.

Since I've never seen a movie that I consider scary, games are where I go for my scares. Dead Space is a very creepy game, I jumped up at the title screen. I love how you have to shoot off the limbs of each enemy, it's a nice twist on the combat. And being able to upgrade your weapons is a great feature. Also, the absence of a HUD is a nice touch. This is one of my favorite games of the year.

I haven't played Far Cry 2 that much since I've been spending more time with Fable II. But I have to say I'm slightly disappointed with it so far. My biggest problem with the game is traveling from place to place. It takes a while to drive to a certain place, and it gets kind of annoying fast. There are bus stops eventually, but they're not very common. I know having a fast travel system wouldn't have been realistic, but I wish different areas weren't so far apart. The combat is great though, and I give props to Ubisoft for making the game a sandbox shooter. Also, I love the African setting. I'm hoping with more time I start enjoying the game more.

I was a big fan of the first Fable even though Peter Molyneux hyped the game a bit too much. I really like the additions to Fable II such as the glowing trail leading you to your quests and the dog (which is awesome, finding treasure for you among other things). I tried out the co-op with my brother, and the camera was slightly annoying. Also, I really wish we could both use our characters instead of being forced to use a pre-made henchman. But the combat is very satisfying and the amount of stuff to do is great. I already have a wife and kid and I live in a nice house. I also own a shop that produces a nice profit for me. Overall, I'm really enjoying Fable II. I'd say it's my third favorite game of the year after GTA4 and MGS4.

Hey everyone. I came home to find my parents had gotten me a digital camera! It's a Sony Cybershot, and I'm liking it. It's got a nice big LCD screen, and pictures come out pretty well. I'm still getting used to using it since I've never had a digital camera. But now I'll be able to use it for my digital photography, and it's a good size, so I can carry it around easily. I took a few pictures and I thought I'd share with you guys.

*Disclaimer - There is a pic of myself in here. So if your eyes melt from horror, you have been warned.

Here is part of my game collection

My Stereo

My TV (watching the Cubs beat the Mets in extra innings)

amlabella in the flesh

I can't believe it's already September. You know what that means, right? A LOT of games will be coming out over the next few months that I'll be wanting to purchase. Just in the months of September and October, I may end up getting:

Spore
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
Rock Band 2
Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood (I have faith in you Bioware)
NBA 2K9
MotorStorm: Pacific Rift
SOCOM: US Navy Seals Confrontation
Deer Hunter Tournament (This is #1 on my list...)
Fable II
Dead Space
LittleBigPlanet
Fallout 3

That equals a lot of money and time. But somehow I always end up getting the majority of the games I want around the last quarter of the year. The only thing I'm worried about is having the time to play them all! Oh, and obviously I was making fun of the Deer Hunter Tournament game. Sorry to the deer hunting video game fanatics out there...all three of you.

Hey everyone. Tomorrow starts my junior year of high school, so my vacation has come to an end. It was just a relaxation time for me, didn't do anything too special. I've got some tough AP classes this year. Here's my full schedule:

Analysis/TrigAP

US History

AP English

Spanish 2

AP Biology

Digital Photography

So needless to say, I'll be busy. I'm going to try to change this year; I'll actually do my homework when I get home! I usually waited until 8 at night, but now I'm going to try to get it out of the way sooner. Whether or not I stick to that is a whole other story. I probably won't be around Gamespot as much, but I'll still try to drop in every day, so I won't be a stranger. And now that I have Digital Photography I'll soon be getting a digital camera. So for anyone curious about what I look like, you may soon find out. Don't get too excited though, trust me. As far as gaming goes, I've been playing some games I've already played before. I beat Shadow of the Colossus, beat MGS4 a second time, and finished my third playthrough of BioShock. But I recently got God of War: Chains of Olympus and FFIV, and I've totally been ignoring those games. I really need to get back them. Oh, and I always downloaded that Xbox Live Arcade game, Braid. I have to say, that's one of my favorite games of the year now, beautiful, unique, and challenging without being frustrating. And the story is pretty interesting as well which I like. I'm a sports junkie, so I may get the new Madden, and after that my next purchase will probably be Too Human. Guess that's about it. Take care.

I went to see The Dark Knight today, and it did not disappoint. I'm not a fan of the old Batman movies, but when Christopher Nolan took over as the director and made Batman Begins, I started to like Batman as a character. Up until then I didn't like Batman that much, but it was great to see how Bruce Wayne became that character. Overall, that movie was great and I loved it. But the Dark Knight surpasses that in every way. I didn't really think of it as a superhero movie, it was more than that. I feel it's as good as any of those award contenders that came out or will come out this year. And I have to say, Heath Ledger as the Joker was an incredible performance, definitely one of the best I've seen. He's my vote to win Best Supporting Actor at the Oscars. Batman fan or not, The Dark Knight is a movie that shouldn't be missed.

Hey everyone. Been a little while since my last review, but Soulcalibur came out for the Xbox Live Arcade last week, so I downloaded and played it. I'm not a big fan of the Soul Calibur series, but I did enjoy the original and this is a solid port of the game to the Live Arcade. Here's my review:

Soulcalibur Review

Part 1
Part 2

Here is the third and final part of my feature that covers the best games from 2000-present. The first two parts can be found in the above links. Just a quick note about the Best Director category: all five people were nominated for different reasons - they weren't nominated for making the five best games of the 2000s. I've put the reason for each nomination below. Also, there are 10 nominees for the best picture category because I couldn't narrow it down to five, there are just too many great games Now without further ado, here are the three big categories for the best games from the 2000s.

Best Screenplay (Best Story/Writing)

Nominees:
Chrono Cross
Grand Theft Auto series
Mass Effect
Metal Gear Solid series
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

And the winner is...Chrono Cross

This was a tough decision. The Grand Theft Auto series features some great writing that is often hilarious, the stories in Mass Effect and KOTOR were very interesting and captivating, and although complex and sometimes confusing, the Metal Gear Solid series always managed to be bold with its story. But Chrono Cross' wide range of interesting characters and inclusion of two alternate dimensions was intriguing and fairly original at the time. There were also some twists and turns along the way that kept things entertaining. I was always playing on for hours straight wanting to know what would happen next.

Best Director (Best Lead Game Designer)

Nominees:
Dan Houser (Grand Theft Auto series) - For creating a game featuring sandbox gameplay that allowed the player so much freedom.
Hideo Kojima (Metal Gear Solid series) - For taking the presentation qualities of movies and incorporating them into his games, and for helping popularize the stealth action genre.
Shinji Mikami (Resident Evil 4) - For drastically improving on what I thought was a very overrated series.
Fumito Ueda (Shadow of the Colossus) - For taking the risky move of making a game with only bosses and very little dialogue, and making it work.
James Ohlen (Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic) - For allowing the player to become good or evil and putting the Star Wars franchise to great use.

And the winner is...Hideo Kojima (Metal Gear Solid series)

I know a lot of people don't like the Metal Gear Solid series, especially with the amount of cutscenes and how long they are. But I appreciate the fact that Kojima does that with every game in the series. I feel like he pushed the boundaries of video game storytelling with the top notch presentation. Now I'll admit, sometimes Kojima does a little too much with the story and excessive cutscenes to the point of almost being like a movie, so I'd like to see him go in a different direction with future projects. But for now, I think he did a great thing with the series. Also, he made the MGS series one of the premier franchises for Sony, and the focus of the game is to not kill every enemy!

Best Picture (Best Game)

Nominees:
Call of Duty series
Chrono Cross
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
God of War series
Grand Theft Auto series
Half-Life 2
Mass Effect
Metal Gear Solid series
Resident Evil 4
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

And the winner is...Chrono Cross

Out of all those games up there, Chrono Cross is probably the least known, but it's certainly my favorite. I already mentioned how much I enjoyed the story, and the huge cast of characters was really appealing. Also, it didn't feature the usual turn-based combat system, which I really liked. I guess I couldn't really find a weak spot with the game; I loved the story, characters, gameplay, music, visuals, and it wasn't a short game. That about covers everything.

Part 1

This is part 2 of my feature recognizing the best games from 2000-present. Part 1 can be found in the above link. This part focuses on the great voice acting in games, and the actual people who did the voice work. Unfortunately I could not include a best leading female category since I haven't played many games where the main character is female. Anyways, hope you enjoy part 2.

Best Supporting Actress (Best Voice Acting - Supporting Female)

Nominees:
Linda Hunt as the Narrator/Gaia (God of War series)
Kimberly Brooks as Ashley (Mass Effect)
Marina Sirtis as Matriarch Benezia (Mass Effect)
Lori Alan as The Boss (Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater)
Jennifer Hale as Bastila (Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic)

And the winner is...Linda Hunt as the Narrator/Gaia (God of War series)

No one will ever narrate a game better than Linda Hunt. Her voice as the narrator (Gaia) in the God of War games is as good as it gets. That dark and powerful voice perfectly fits the tone of the game, and really hooks you in so you want to know what happens to Kratos and what he's been through.

Best Supporting Male (Best Voice Acting - Supporting Male)

Nominees:
Samuel L. Jackson as Officer Frank Tenpenny (Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas)
Michael McGaharn as Jansen (Lost Odyssey)
Fred Tatasciore as Saren (Mass Effect)
Patric Zimmerman as Revolver/Liquid Ocelot (Metal Gear Solid series)
Raphael Sbarge as Carth (Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic)

And the winner is...Frank Tatasciore as Saren (Mass Effect)

A great villain can look evil, but they also have to sound the part. Frank Tatasciore's voice over work as Saren helped create that great villain in the game and conveyed his emotions perfectly.

Best Leading Male (Best Voice Acting - Leading Male)

Nominees:
Terrence 'T.C.' Carson as Kratos (God of War series)
Young Maylay as C.J. (Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas)
Ray Liotta as Tommy Vercetti (Grand Theft Auto: Vice City)
David Hayter as Snake (Metal Gear Solid series)
Michael Ironside as Sam Fisher (Splinter Cell series)

And the winner is...Terrence 'T.C.' Carson as Kratos (God of War series)

Terrence Carson knew what he was doing when he voiced Kratos. The character of Kratos is the ultimate badass, and Carson made him sound like one with that gruff and sinister voice. He also really made Kratos seem like an antihero, which helped add to the greatness of the character.

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The final part of the feature will include the big three awards: best screenplay, best director, and best picture.

This little feature stems from my boredom last night around midnight. I was thinking about what games I've enjoyed from 2000 until now (Why I was doing that, I'm not really sure). So I decided to do a little awards feature, with the categories being taken from the Academy Awards, which translate into a certain video game award. Obviously this is all based on opinion, and I haven't played every game from 2000-present, so don't freak out if you don't see Crysis nominated for best graphics since it's considered the best looking game by many. This will be in three parts throughout the week, with part 1 today. I guess I had too much time on my hands. Hope you enjoy it.

*Note: When the Grand Theft Auto series is mentioned, that's not including the first two games since they were released before 2000. The same goes for the Metal Gear Solid series and the first game.

Best Sound Editing (Best Sound Effects)

Nominees:
Burnout series
Call of Duty series
Grand Theft Auto series
Half-Life 2
Metal Gear Solid series

And the winner is...the Call of Duty series

The Call of Duty series has always managed to make you feel like you're really part of a war. It immerses you in the game world, and the sound effects are a huge part of that. From the firing of an assault rifle to explosions destroying the battlefield, the series has always had top notch sound effects, and that's important when it comes to war games.

Best Original Score (Best Original Music)

Nominees:
Chrono Cross
Final Fantasy X
God of War series
Mass Effect
Metal Gear Solid series

And the winner is...Chrono Cross

I don't remember the name of the track, or exactly what part it's from, but there's one piece of music in Chrono Cross that gives me chills because of how good it is. As a whole, the score is excellent, whether it be upbeat pieces or the more somber tracks. Yasunori Mitsuda handled the score for Chrono Trigger with Nobuo Uematsu, famed Final Fantasy composer, and it seemed to have helped him grow as a composer when you listen to the Chrono Cross soundtrack.

Best Art Direction (Best Graphics - Artistic)

Nominees:
BioShock
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Okami
Shadow of the Colossus
World of Warcraft

And the winner is...Shadow of the Colossus

I'm a big fan of a great artistic design, whether it be vibrant colors or the dark shades of gray in a darker world. In this case, Shadow of the Colossus' stark colors impressed me the most. The world of Shadow of the Colossus is deserted with the exception of the Colossi, and this is represented through the dark hues that fill the screen. Despite this, the game manages to have a beautiful look about it, and the wide open lands are really something. Oh, and did I even mention the colossi? They're huge! But they also have a unique look, adding to the wonderful artistic design.

Best Cinematography (Best Graphics - Technical)

Nominees:
BioShock
Gears of War
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
Resident Evil 4
Uncharted: Drake's Fortune

And the winner is...Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

When I played Uncharted last year, I thought I'd seen the best the PS3 had to offer...and then I played Metal Gear Solid 4. Every face is life-like, each environment is popping with great detail, and the cutscenes are incredible. The amazing thing is that they're not rendered through FMVs, so the transition from a cutscene to the game itself is so natural. Also, no other game tops the animations seen in the game; a lot of the scenes make you think you're watching an intense action movie.

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The next part of the feature will highlight the voice acting of games from 2000-present.

Have you guys ever watched a movie or listened to an album and hated it, but then you revisit it later and end up realizing your love for it? That's happened to me quite a few times, and I think that may be happening with Metal Gear Solid 4 (actually, the series). I picked it up a couple of days ago, and I've finished 3 of the 5 acts. I always say that I'm not the biggest MGS fan, even though I've played and finished the previous three games. But now here I am, playing MGS4 and loving it. Now obviously there are big improvements, especially with the weapons, gadgets, and combat. But the stealth part of the game hasn't changed a whole lot, and I'm even enjoying that part of the game. So after I finish MGS4, I'm thinking about revisisting the series and playing the games again. I mean, the last time I'd played an MGS game before a couple of days ago was Metal Gear Solid 3 back in 2005. So maybe if I play them all again, it will miraculously become one of my favorite video game series...you never know. As far as just MGS4 goes, the game is incredible. I already mentioned it's an improvement over the previous games, and the presentation is out of this world. Sure, it's kind of like a film with the lengthy and frequent cutscenes, but the way they're handled is amazing. The game honestly beats plenty of movies in terms of the presentation and storytelling. (This has always been the case with the series; really makes me appreciate Hideo Kojima) The wide selection of weapons is awesome, and overall the combat is great. When I read the reviews at first, I thought I would think the game is overrated, but that's not the case anymore. Obviously it's not for everyone, and that basically goes for the entire series, but it's my GOTY now, even surpassing GTAIV, and I really love that game.