Campaign? Mezmerising.
Special Ops? An amazingly good addition.
Online Competitive multiplayer? Abysmal.

I am, of course, joking. Infinity Ward really has given the two fingered salute to Treyarch, all the time while patting them on the back and whispering "THIS is how you make a Call of Duty game." The graphics are incredibly good, I couldn't believe the difference when I flicked CoD4 back in for a comparison. Its mainly the subtle things, as CoD4 was a good looker too. The audio is ten fold better. Better voiceovers. Better guns. Better explosions. The story accelerates to full speed and then stays there 'till the end, and all the better for it in my opinion. Every mission of the campaign is a complete blast, and it is a testament to Infinty Ward that the only thing I can pick out against the game after (ahem..) 18 and a half hours of total gameplay (averages more than 4 hours a day since I got it. Woops!) is the fact that unless you go over a jump, the snomobiles kinda waterplane along the ice, no movement at all. But they still handled well, and while I'm writing that I cant even remember if it made much of a difference.

The thing is, I thought Call of Duty 3 was a good game. I thought Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare was an excellent game. I thought Call of Duty: World at War was better than 3, but not on the same level as 4. But Modern Warfare 2 simply blows them all out of the water. With an amazing storyline (which if you havn't finished and care deeply about every slight thing, (there will be no major spoilers here) I would suggest not reading the bit under "Campaign"), MW2 just keeps on giving, and the fact Gamespot gave it a 9 is, again in my opinion, ludicrous. I dont think I have ever played a game that has this much variety of things to do. Co-op modes? Tick. 23 different and challenging Special Ops missions. Online multiplayer? You better believe it. It's better than CoD4, and THAT is saying something quite tremendous.

Campaign

Once again, as is the theme with CoD games, you play as a trio of different people throughout the campaign. Private Allen, a US Army Ranger, is told to try out "The Pit". This is like the training section of MW1 when you are told to go around the mock up of a boat and destroy targets. I must say, I think I prefer the pit. Although simpler in layout, there are a lot more targets, and with civillians in the mix to, its a lot more challenging. With a trophy/achievement available for completing it in under 30 seconds (my current best is 32.4), its also a challenging little blighter. Once you have done this with Allen, General Shepard assigns you to a very important task. I won't say what it is, or what happens, but if you google "Modern Warfare 2 Controversy" you'll find out soon enough!

Then we have Roach. He is the first person you control within the lucrative Task Force 141, an elite group of soldiers from around the world, led by our old friend Soap, or as he is now known, Captain MacTavish.

Next up is the Army Ranger you play as after Allen buggers off to 141, Rameirez. You and Sergeant Foley along with Corporal Dunn is certainly a great trio, and the Rangers get up to some of the most entertaining "chatter" on the game.

Last but not least is a cameo appearance as having Mr. MacTavish back as a playable character.

The story itself takes place in a variety of stunningly beautiful locales, my personal favourite of which being the favelas of Rio de Janeiro. With seemingly every hut open and useable as cover or a path up through the hillside town, on veteran mode this is an extremely challenging, but intensly rewarding pair of levels. Siberia too plays host to some amazing stuff, and Afganistan. Actually, I may as well sit here and name every location, as they are all absolutely stunning and fantastic to play.

My personal view on the now infamous airport mission is kinda torn. On one side it gives the game the edgy feel that any 18 rated, FPS should, but on the ohter it is inviting you to mow down civilians... I'm absolutely certain that the majority of comments will be about people not caring and killing as many as they could, and that is all well and good. People and opinions differ. I do not think it was deserved of all the hoo-har that it got in the press. At the end of the day, you have been able to mercilessly kill civilians in lots of games, GTA being the main culpret, the only difference here is that you are invited to do it to people who are fleeing, while you play as part of a terrorist organisation and there are a LOT of people. By the end of the massacre your character seems to be walking a few inches higher as your "team" trudges across the swathes of dead or dying bodies. I suppose that is quite a difference...

There is a fantastic twist nearing the end of the story, and I don't think many will have been expecting it. The last 2 missions are simply incredible, as you and he-who-shall-not-be-named-for-IMMENSE-spoiler-reasons storm an entire base by yourselves on what you had both thought would be a suicide mission. After promptly wiping out the base, then next missions is just as incredible, as you are in an inflatable dingy chasing, err, "someone" down a river, while avoiding gunfire from helicopters and being overturned by rapids. I am running out of superlatives and fast here.

I don't really want to discuss the campaign much more here for fear of ruining it for someone, no doubt a few weeks down the line more of this will come to light to everyone. The last point I will make is the fact that the difficulty is very well balanced. Regular is harder than it was before, Hardened is still a stern challenge, but, my most "Phew!" moment was realising that Veteran is no longer simply every enemy infantry lobbing 3 frags at you at a time, forcing you out of cover so they kill you. They certainly still use their grenades, and effectively too, but not to the frankly ridiculous extent of MW1, and WaW was just a joke.

Special Ops

Special Ops was clearly a brainstorming flash of genius in the Infinity Ward offices in the early development. I can imagine much back slapping, hi-fiveing and "Hooah"ing going on that day! Although, on the face of it, a simple idea, it is simply executed so perfectly, as we have come to expect with IW, that it perfectly complements the Campaign and the Multiplayer.

The 23 different missions, all available in two player co-op, both on and offline, are taken from the settings of the MW1 and MW2 campaigns. Chernobyl from "All Ghillied Up" in MW1 is there, with a brilliant take on it and the best bit, short of blowing Zakaev's head off.Some of them are really cleverly thought out too, with a few seeing one player on the ground and the other in the skies, either as the gunner on a Black Hawk using an M-134 Minigun or, even more pleasingly, the return of the AC-130, bombing the living shoite out of the ground supporting your partner down below. All of the missions that I have played are pleasing and fun to do, and offer a lot of challenge when you decide to plump for the Veteran option.

I am very, very happy with the inclusion of this, and I would take Spec Ops over no Spec Ops with a fully co-op campaign any day of the week. It works better than trying to put two people into a campaign that was so fantastically designed for one person.

Last, but definitely not least...

After the good fun campaign, it was the online component of MW1 that people played. And played. And played. Incredibly, I highly doubt that on loading up your CoD4 disc you would be unable to get into a game, and I can 100% see the exact same thing happening with MW2.

Combining all the things that were incredible about the online of MW1 (that'll be everything then) and adding literally hundreds more challenges through at least 10 for every weapon, MW2's online will have people playing well into 2011, and yes I meant to put "11" not 10. I seriously think that Treyarchs efforts are simply games to fill the void between the next uber-game that IW continues to pump out at a simply mind boggling 2 year turnaround.

Despite the online having a few issues with servers and whatnot on PS3 in its very early days after release, now its up and running, it really is up and running. With 16 maps (correct me if that figure is wrong. Its either 14, 16 or 18!) and all of them beauts, it looks set to keep my attention for an awful long time. At present, I have made the decision in my mind to not actually prestige, but to focus on doing EVERY weapon challenge and stay at rank 70. But I can't see that happening once I get bored of getting XP for no reason but scoreboards!

What more can I say. The online is incredible too. Which bit isn't? Well, I'm not the biggest fan of the twirly activison logo, they've had that a while, I think it's due a change. Umm... that'll be it.

I'm looking forawrd to hearing your opinions! Oh and sorry this took a while coming, I've been a bit busy (playing MW2 obviously ).

Overall verdict? I'd say a not-too-shabby 11/10.

Hi all,

First off, I'd like to say welcome back to Will, or ODST-Helljumper as he is now known. Having been banned quite a while back he is now well and truly back on the ye olde radare, but for how long no one knows :/

Now, onwards with the dilema.

Seeing as MW2 is being priced with an RRP of a frankly ludicrous £55 (about $90 US equivalent), I can barely afford to purchase it. However, I have a £10 voucher for GAME from Will still kept safe in my wallet, so maybe is GAME price it in store the same as online (£45 as opposed to £55) then I can get it with no fuss.

The catch is that GAME are offering people to trade in CoD4: MW to get half price off of MW2, which is very tempting, especially if the game is indeed £55 at launch.

What is everyone's opinions on this? I'd rather not get rid of CoD4 if I could so avoid it, but if these things have to be done, then... :/

Help!

Regards, Matt

Ok, to start with, I've put the title in the wrong way around, but I'll keep it for now

Well, its been quitea few months! And I've also seemed to be off school awaiting exam results for twice as long. I hope I do well in these, without some good results I wont get into the next level of education (but I pretty much know I've got there really.. )

I hope everyone is a-ok, I havn't "spoke" with you all in ages and I hope all your families are well

Now, my birthday! I'm excited about this more than last year because (hopefully) I'm getting some Bang & Olufsen BeoLab 4's, a.k.a. computer speakers for my laptop

They are very high quality, and I'm looking forwards to pumping out some choons with them! I'm hoping to add a separate Bose subwoofer for some extra "oomph" if they are not that bassy.

Anyway, a bit of catching up in short then i guess.

I visited some realtives in Canada over the summer, which has to have been one of my all time favourite holidays, it was magic meeting my two older cousins again, and we had such a laugh, including a drunken poker escapde in which I won in my first ever game of poker, netting $40 Canadian!

All sorts has happened basically, and there are 3 games squarely, completely glueded onto my radar:

a) Gran Turismo 5
b) Call of Duty 6: Modern Warfare 2
c) God of War III

I hope all you guys see this, and thanksfor reading as always, Matt

As you might well have guessed from the title, this is going to be a busy blog. Settle down, folks...

First off, my new piece of awesome-ness

This is my Logitech Driving Force GT, a PS3 (and particularly Gran Turismo) compatible steering wheel. I had never used and Steering Wheel peripheral before "The Gadget Show Live" where I tried the big brother of this, the Logi' G25.

Well having got the wheel on Wednesday, I can safely say that it is absolutely awesome. Combines with the vehicle interior view of Gran Turismo 5: Prologue, this wheel is just amazing. The thing that takes this wheel and the G25 apart from most other wheels is that they have Force Feedback. This is where, say for example, you go across some grass the wheel vibrates furiosly, and wheel powersliding it feels like the front wheels are fighting you when you opposite lock it and correct it our of the curve.

This is now the reason that my PS3 comment has changed to "I Can't Wait for GT5!" because I reall, really can't. I own nearly all of the cars that Prologue has to offer now, so it is beginning to get a bit boring, hence two new purchases that I have actually paid for

The first piece of DLC for Killzone 2, one of my favourite games of all time, was always going to be a purchase option. There are two new online maps for the fairl extortionate price of near-enough £5. I do think they could give them away for about £3 because 5 is a tad steep, but nonetheless it was worth it in the end.

There was also an update for it, which provides new ranks. Oh yes. Seeeing as nearly everyone was a General, the highest atttainable rank, Guerilla Games have upped the amount of XP for the highest rank from 2800 to an incredible 100,000! This will surely take nigh-on forever, and only 87 people in the world currently have that rank. I like to think that one day I'll reach the heady height of that rank, and maybe I shall!

The maps, though are both great, and one of them is based on the Cruiser level of the Story mode, which I always personally thought would make a good map. So I shall be playing Killzone 2 more and more again soon, along with...

...that, which I bought brand new for the budget price of £20 (about... $32)! I was very happy with this because I was a big fan of the origional Motorstorm. Well, for me at least it has certainly delivered. It has the same great gameplay as the origional with Monster Trucks and elemental effects thrown in!

The graphics, if anything, have been improved, and after I have played it a bit more I will fully review it for anyone who fancies a read of that.

Yup, its exam time.

The GCSE's are some of the most important bit's or writing I'll do in my life, so naturally over the next week (which is all I've got until my first exam! A FEGGING WEEK!) games will be taking a backseat, along with eating, drinking and sleeping. I have some good grades already, such as an A in the table I made in Woodwork, alongwith an A for the accompanying folder, an A in English Language and an A* in my Geography coursework.

I'm really hoping to do OK in all my final exams, but I am beginning to feel the pressure, especially from my Brother's result page - at GCSE there were 8 A*'s, 2 A's and a B and then at A level he got 5 A's... Hmm...

Also, a sorry for all the blogs that I have missed in the past week or so and that I will be missing in the foreseeable month.

Hope you all enjoy the warm ish weather that'll be rolling in over the next through months!

Matt

Hi everyone, first off I hope that everyone is ok and enjoyed their Easter period (no, not that period...).

Part 1: The Holiday

Well, from Easter Sunday to Thursday I enjoyed myself thoroughly inBarcalona, the second largest City in Spain, and often mistake for the capital. The city is alive seemingly 24/7, and our Hotel, the Avenida Palace (seen here if you want a look: http://www.avenidapalace.com/en/ ) certainly made the stay all the better.

It was located on one of Barcalona's main boulevards, of which there are about 8. These massive, dead straight roads are tree-lined and simply huge, it was really nice to be so central. We were also on one of the cities most expensive streets by the looks of the shops we saw, with Gucci, Marlboro Cl@ssics, Levi's, Prada, Emporio Armani, Dolche and Gabana, I could go on - there were litterally hundreds of the overpriced buggers!

We took in some awesome sights while on the holiday as well. Park Guell, with all its Architecture done by a bloke called "Gaudi" who seemingly designs a lot of stuff in Barcalona. We also visited his most famous work - The Sagrada Familia - or "Holy Family" in english.

One of the tallest buildings in the entire city and still under construction despite Gaudi's death nearly a century ago, the Cathedral is so finely detailed that it isn't a suprise that it isn't going to be completed until(an estimated) 2022. You can take a lift up one of the spires as well to have an epic view over the city, which we took, despite most of us feeling a little odd to be so darn high.

The last thing I'll tell you about so as not to bore you is this:

That is, of course, the Nou Camp, or "Camp Now" as thelocals say it. Seating nearly 100,000 and with a Capacity of over 122,000 when standing room was still allowed, the Stadium is a truly epic piece of work. The size of it can't really be described until your there, so I'm not going to try and explain, Ill just leave that picture up there

Part 2: The Gadget Show Live

The Gadget Show is a program on Channel 5 here in the UK which is all about technology and stuff! It's a really good program, with all the presenters matching up and gelling really well with one another and making a really good program that is very enjoyable to watch.

So, naturally, when I got a ticket to it, and so did my dad and my brother all from my tech-loving Uncle, I was very happy to slog all the way up to Birmingham to see it (no sarcasm, but it was a long drive...).

Well boy was it worth the drive. The main show was like an expo, with all sorts of comsumer stands with rows and rows of stuff to buy, it was so tempting at every corner! I really liked seeing the little dancing robot things, and some of the TV's had a simply incredible picture.

It was then that I noticed a stand that stood out to me. What with my new found obsession with Gran Turismo back in full swing, I noticed the "Vision Racer" stand. This family run business have made a matel frame with a racing bucket seat, and a logitech-built steering wheel/gearstick/foot pedals combo, along with a TV mounted right infront of your with a PS3 rigged up behind.

And they had a competition. The prizes were ran daily over the three-day event, and the overall fastest time won a different prize. The daily winner won this (http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/gaming/playstation_3/all/devices/4172&cl=gb,en) and the overall winner won this (http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/gaming/playstation_3/all/devices/131&cl=gb,en). So even though it was the seats that the company made, you could still win either of the brilliant Logitech Driving wheels.

The person who sets the fastest time of that day wins the daily winner prize (see link) and the daily winner with the best time of everyone over the whole 3-day event won the overall winner prize, worth £270!

Now I like to think that I'm good at shooting games, and I'm not bad, but racing games - especially GT - are my real forte. I have never raced someone and lost at Gran Turismo, which says something. Anyway, seeing GT5 there I promtly queued up for my turn. I suppose the queue took about 20 minutes to get through. It was the Ferrari F1 2007 which I would be driving, a car that I have not yet unlocked on GT5, and I'd be using the wheel, which sadly I've never had the chance to use.

The best time of the day so far was 1:55.72. Not bad for 2 laps of the High Speed ring, and at that point I thought "Hmm. I don't think this'll go well." And it didn't go brilliantly, my first go was a 1:56.56, and then I realised that I could do this. Me and my brother are both avid GT fans, and we both kept queueing up, knowing that is one of us got the fastest time we'd have won it and it would be in out house. The next go my brother, Rob, did a 1:54.6, with me (racing alongside slightly after he started) hitting a 1:54.7. We'd done it, and if for the remaining 3 and a half hours of the show that stayed the same we'd have the daily prize.

Well, I didn't like that "3 and a half hours for someone to come along and beat you" bit, so I queued up twice more, the first was a 2:02 disaster but then - I did a 1:53.7! YES! I have the prize secured! Didn't I? I headed into the live how area where lots of very impressive stuff was done on stage by the team, and some clever competitions involving ringing a number before everyone else was there.

When we emerged from the stage it was 5pm, the time that the expo part closes, so we wern't allowed back in, but of course I'd "Left my wallet in the Vision Racer stand, please let me find it, all my money is in there *soppy eyes, sighing*". "Oh go on then - but be quick!" Step 1 complete! hey really keep security tight here

I arrived back at the stand and there two people left queueing, and one of them was a guy in a red-striped jumper who the people running the stand - who me and my brother were now quite friendly with -informed me that he keeps setting times very near to mine. I watched as he stepped into the seat and did a lapthat was eight-hundreths of a second slower than mine. It took a second, but then I realised, I'd actually WON!

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/gaming/playstation_3/all/devices/4172&cl=gb,en

That little baby should be here by Wednesday! I'll take some pictures of it when it arrives and try to put them up here, but if I can't figure that out then I'll tell you guys all about it.

Sorry that this has been so long, and good-bye!

Hoo-ray! The 2 week period over easter has had its first week (nearly) and now roll on the second!

Me and my family are headed to Barcalona for 5 days, so that should be really fun. Whatsmore, I made a gaming purchase that is relavent to it!

This clever little thing cost me a mere £4, so I thought I just have to buy it. There is a guide in it which tells you good places to visit, and each attraction can be pinpointed with their "Interactive City Guide Map" which you use L to zoom out and R to zoom in, and the analogue stick to look around.

However the most important feature is the "Phrase Book", as that actually speaks the spanish for you! All you do is scroll through the menu - which must have well over 1000 phrases, seriously - and look for what you want it to say in english, then it converts it to spanish and plays it out of the speakers.

Sure, you'd feel like a bit of a spack walking up to a random Spaniard, shoving your PSP in their ear and hoping they can help, but for finding what you need and trying to say it yourself to them, I think its quite clever.

It is amazingly difficult to find an image of the map or even the menu's of this fairly unknown game, so sadly I can't.

------------------------------------------------------

The holiday itself starts at half past 3 tonight, as our flight is at 7 in the morning... *scrubs eyes in vague attempt to see*

We are going to fly from Stanstead Airport, which is nice as it is usually much less busy. Also, a flight to Spain from the UK, about 2 and a half hours, right? Well, I hope so, cba with a long flight...

My brother should be arriving back from Norwich soon and then we are off to Ipswich Town Football Club, not the best team in the world, but my dad's company has season tickets ina nice and plush room up there where you get a nice meal before the game and sit in the Directors box during it! Also, last time I went one of the other company owner's daughter went, called Sasha- completely clueless about football, but absolutely smokin' Hopefully I'll be able to sit next to her again while distracting my brother with thoughts of his girlfriend lol. I think she's about a year older than me but she is large in all the right places and wears expensive silk low cut dresses... *starts imagining fuc..* ANYWAY Sorry about that...

So yeah after that I should be back by around 5 then I'll have some dinner and probably go on GT5: Prologue (for some reason I'm obsessed with it at the moment, I havn't played aything else all week and I absolutely CANNOT wait for GT5, hopefully with two ommisions, however - 1) No "Performance Point" system, its crap 2) None of them stupid penalties for putting half of one of your typres on the grass on the OUTSIDE and getting a 5 second no acceleration penalty, Polyphony - THEIR BOLLOCKS!) for a little while and then I'll go bed nice and early.

However going to bed nice and early will require me to be tired or else I won't sleep... How could I get tired during the day... Oh Sasha.......

Anyway, sorry that its a bit long (thats what she said ) and I hope you had time to read it all,

See you all soon, and I hope all have a very Happy Easter! Hopefully she intends on making mine perfect

Sorry about that guys, I got banned for a week for apparent "racism".

I called the Section 8 team "dirty b*stards", but apparently by using the word "dirty" I was saying that they were Black or Asian.

Whatever, I'm back now anyway, so sorry if I missed blogs, and sorry for not replying to your comments on my last blog. Also, I hope that you enjoyed my Review

See ya, Matt

A big thank you to anyone already reading this

I've took blooy ages writing this one, far, far longer than with any other reviews I've written.

I'd just like to say as a prior warning to reading the review, make sure you've got a bit of time on your hands because its 3,700 words ish.

Apart from that, sit back, read and enjoy (+ agree if you too own the game )!

Thanks again; Matt.

Hi all,

Sorry about being pretty inactive of late, I've had a hell of a lot of schoolwork to be doing, which is taking up a lot of my time, the rest of which is filled with playing games rather than reading about them!

I hope I havn't missed too many of your blogs as well.

Now then, onto the business of this blog - Tom Clancy's Endwar. My friend has it and despises it, and seeing as I gve the demo about 2 minutes of my time, I'm going to borrow it from a friend. Having played Halo Warsa a week or two back at Spooges (and loved it) I have faith again about console RTS'. If I like it he said I can buy it for £7.50, which is $10! What a deal!

Even if I'm not a massive fan I'll probably get it to try something a bit new and for some easy trophies!

In other news, the reason my Killzone 2 review isn't up yet is because it's absolutely frigging massive. I'm writing it an a word document at the moment, and its tipping the scale at about 2,500 words, and I've just started talking about the online features.

Anywho, I'll try to be more active on GS and comment on more of your blogs.

Sorry again, Matt.

Oh yes.

I'm going for the top 1% in the world on Killzone 2 online, and even though I used to think this was an impossible dream, I think I might just be able to do it...

I am currently 31 Thousanth in the world, which this Sunday (if nothing changed) would comfortably qualify me for the top 6&, and I went up 8000 places tonight. I'm reall beginning to think that I can do it!

Once I've done that the only tricky things left will be completing the game on Elite!

Simple, right?

Well, I'm now a Colonel in Killzone 2, the rank just before you reach General, which is the highest rank in the game, and I really love this game a hell of a lot online.

All of the modes seem to be so well thought out, the badges are damn brilliant and the maps are better than that of any online FPS I've previously played.

I think the Saboteur is a clever idea as a badge, but I think that the "disguise" thing should last longer while you begin firing, as its hard to get the real sense of suprise.

And now my only complaint, (The above about the Sabby is just a comment) and its about 4 of the trophies. The Valour Rank things. There is a gold for being in the top 1%, a silver for being in the top 3% and a bronze for being in the top 6&, and another bronze for being in the top 10%.

These silly choices for trophies have really, REALLY alienated people who like to get Platinums, as I will never, EVER be in the top 1% of the world, as I simply do not play games for long enough. I havn't got 2800 for General yet, and I've played 11 hours, going on 12. I'm sure some of you will now say I'm just crap at the game, and maybe I am, but the worlds best player has 56000 points. FIFTY SIX THOUSAND!

I will simply not ever get that close to the leaders to achieve it, which is a chame, because the "War Hero" Platty is probably the one I always thought I'd strive to get, and now I cant

Well, my once pride and joy gets taken away unceremoniously by some tit on a motorbike tomorrow - yes, its the day of my PS3 exchange.

In many ways, there is only more to look forwards to - new console, can play for as long as I like when I fancy - but at the same time -

I hope some people know what I mean.

Ciao for now!

Well, here we go.

I'll start off with the graphics, seeing as that has been somewhat of a focal point for the game thus far. We always thought that they were going to be amazing, and by god are they. I think the moment that the VC5 Arc Gun was "reloaded", if you like made me giggle with excitment like a little girl. I've really never seen anything like it, anything CLOSE TO BEING like it. The textures are beautifully detailed, so much so that I stood staring at a piece of reflective, and then rusty in other places metal for about 5 minutes, and these textures are made all the better by one thing: They can all be obliterated. There really is nothing else quite like Killzone 2's primeval "Oh SH*T!" moment when your behind cover with bugger all health and you see chunks of your concrete (I thought that stuff was strong???) pillar being blown away and bullets whizzing past your face.

Alpha Squad: (l to r) Garza, Rico, Sev, Natko

And just when your recovering from the visercal gaming mecca of graphics that has just been presented to you, you realise that if you've got a surround sound system (Like me ) then you might be in for a bit of a treat. Are you? Well, yes frankly. My Bose system goes up to 100 for volume, and let me tell you this, listenging to it on 50 is mre than ample for TV. So yeah, the introduction video sounded pretty damn sick bouncing around my room while the speakers read "80". My god does this game sound good. As the M82-G Interplanetary Strategic Alliance Assault Rifle fires round after round into Helghast scum, the muzzle flash syncs perfectly with the sound. There is also a world first in games (for use with Surround sound only) in that if an enemy is directly infront of you, instead of just his gun coming from all 5 (or 7 ) speakers it comes from the speaker closest in correlation to where he is standing, and if you turn your back to him you hear him gradually fade out from one side of you and fade back in behind you.

The gameplay sets a new standard for FPS games in my opinion. Not only is the pace of the game fluctuating constantly, the game's feel fluctuates constantly too. One minute you'll be out in the open, firing single rounds seemingly miles away to distant targets, next minute your searching for an SMG as you head into tight urban corridors. The variety on offer here is really incredible. Sev, your character also feels like no other gaming character. He feels like he has real weight behind him, and this frustrates for the first 10-20 minutes. In a game which we have all played like CoD4 your character turns and jumps without your crosshairs being drastically affected, at first it'll feel like your shifting the ground beneath his feet as opposed to Sev. Jumping doesn't allow you to fire while airbourne as well, an irritating feature of CoD4 online. No, as you jump you gun comes up as you press it to your chest and then, thump you land back on terra firma with a thud.
Aiming as well, although difficult at first, becomes natural after an hour or so of play, so thats not a problem either.

The lighting, althoug usually concerned under "graphics" really deserves it's own section here. As you move throughout the vast, open levels it almost becomes second nature after a while to be suddenly in brighter light thanks to lightning overhead, or a flickering lamp. The lighting and shadows, then are truly immense, there is no other word for it. One thing I;ve personally never seen in a game before happens here as well in that when you reload the shadow mimicks the reloading action, instead of showing a soldier holding a gun. Explosions add light, muzzle flash for gods sake adds lighting. Being in a dark room with a Helghast and killing him is truly a pleasure, watching his perfectly illuminated death until firing ceases and he slips to the floor to bleed out unbeknownst to all around.

This only leads me onto my final section: The Warzone. I mention this franchise for the third and final time now. Call of Duty. CoD4 truly re-invented online multiplayer FPS', and now Killzone 2 is doing the same again. With 8 maps and more coming in DLC (confirmed, find the article on GS somewhere :S), along with 5 perfectly implemented modes, Killzone 2 has it all. up to 32 players can battle for glory in one match, and this sounds crowded, doesn't it? (COUGH Resistance 2 COUGH) Nope. The maps are simply vast, there is no other way to describe them. They are brilliantly designed, stunning to look at (easily the match of Single Player, no loss of quality (apart from destructable environments )) the game doesn;t dissapoint in any area. And then there is the absolutely meticulous statistic page. There are about 20 medal to get. You get a medal by collecting 8 ribbons, and the medals correspond and affect how much stuff your badges will do. Naturally, collecting medals within the badges will also allow you to combine your badges, for up to over 100 different character combination possibilities.

The options at your disposal for this game are nigh on limitless, and the online mode could be sold as a standalone title in itself, and I'd still play another £40 for the story. As far as I see it, Killzone 2 delivers on every single front. Online to get me off CoD4 and 5, Campaign better than most, graphics, sound and gameplay better than all and more maps along with a near certanty of co-op coming in DLC. All for £33. Best purchase I've ever made. Dont miss this for the world.

Well, I took some pictures with my Laptops camera just now, and I tried to c & p them in, but I havn't even taken it out of the celephane as I write this.

My resolve and pure mental energy making me type this, instead of play that, is currently unreal.

4 years...

GOODBYE!

Well, just two days from slapping down on my doormat now is Killzone 2, and I can barely wait any longer. After 4 years of waiting, the fact that this Thursday I'll be playing the full title is going to mesmerize me somewhat, as I simply cannot wait. The last week seems to have gone so slowly, what with my PS3 breaking, Half Term being here and whatnot, but now...

http://www.psu.com/New-American-Killzone-2-ad-perfects-war--a006503-p0.php

There is the link to the North American TV Advert, and I think it's pretty cool. The gun sound sounds more like a sniper rifle of some sort, but apart from that its awesome.

I'll probably play the story first, just to see what that's like. I'll find that its damn well incredible, and probably play it again, this time on Elite. Then I might even play through it once more, just to scoop up any extra trophies that are available.

After that, my luck will be tried online - for MONTHS.

The Badge system in online is frankly genius. I love how I'll be able to be an invisible sniper who could call in Air Support, or a Medic who can set up auto-turrets, or just a bog standard dude who can set spawn points. The potential depth of online is unreal, I think the amount of different possible badges is about 100, then there are over 100 statistics, kept constantly updates on the www.killzone.com website to be checked up by everyone.

2 days.

2

More

Days.

/

Blimey, maybe they arn't biased after all!

Any of you who "keep with the times" will know that I am indeed talking about Halo Wars' amazingly low review score. Since announcement of this ttle, I knew one person who'd buy it - the late monsiour Spooge - but I thought that, after a couple of looks around previews and stuff, that it looked like a damn solid title, whereas before I;d merely thought of it as "What else could we do with Halo?".

The graphics are really good IMO, and the terrain detail seems to be one of the games best features, along with the detail of the individual units. I like RTS', and Dawn of War 2 will be my next purchase on this front, but If I had an Xbox 360 I think I'd still get this, if only because I like most (careful where you go after ODST Bungie...) things Halo. Maybe the lack of Bungie producing Wars' is the reason for its low score.

Anyway, onto a selection of games that I've been playing a lot recently:

God of War: Chains of Olympus
Killzone: Liberation
Midnight Club 3: Dub Edition
Pro Evolution Soccer 6
Pursuit Force
Pursuit Force: Extreme Justice
Star Wars Battlefront 2

Ah, the majority of my PSP games have been used an awful lot this past week, as I still pine at the proverbial window of my broken PS3 (check me out ).

The game that was the cause for my previous blog has been drawing most of my playtime, equally I suppose with Extremem Justice. When 'm in the mood for something more serious, I play CoO and when I frankly just want to jump 30ft through the air while accurately shooting at an excaped prision convict, land perfectly on the back of his car and then drive off in it I play EJ.

They are both brilliant games, and the PSP is a brilliant system.

However I have reason to belive that its being neglected. So many of the big names seem to ignore it. Call of Duty 4 MW went to the DS (WWAHHHHT?) and not to the PSP, Guitar Hero has gone to the DS and not to the psp, yet there is no reason why a little add-on like the DS' one couldnt be plugged into the USB 1.0 slot at the top of the console, is there?

I really hope that more devs choose to go all out on the PSP, as its a great console which just need a bit of TLC

Matt

Really hard!

Oh yes. I hadn't exactly forgotten about, but I hadn't used my PSP in quite a little while.

Now however, the reason why has faded away. Playing a number of my small games collection on it yesterday was something to do, and today I visited my local large town and found an utter bargain at Curry's Digital.

For just £10 I got Pursuit Force: Extreme Justice and so far I'm delighted with it.

I was a massive fan of the origional. It was just plain fun, what I thought, and still think, portable gaming is for. It's all well and good settleing into your sofa for a good story driven title, but on the train through headphones? Nah.

I have only played the game for the sum of (wait for it) the first level, but it seems to have been a solid buy. The only complaint, and et the biggest improvement, are the graphics.

It might just have been a while since I played the first game (which it is, and in a big way) but I swear the graphcs on the usual gameplay are minorly, and this is a tiny difference, worse? But I'm doubting myself now, and hey, its fun so screw it. The Cutscenes however have had a massive spike in quality, looking more like PS2 cutscenes than the first game's similar-to-the-actual-gameplay feel.

This time around I can already tell that its going to be slightly more team and co-op based than before. I have already been vigourously introduced to my team; the player, the guy on the bike riding it, the players wif-to-be (in the opening cutscene they are about to get married when the "Convicts", one of the enemy groups, smashes through the entire reception, ruining it) an attractive stereotype who mans in the chopper, a black guy who is the heavy weapons go-to man, another woamn who does Special Ops, and finally a full of himself prat who drives really, REALLY fast.

I like this new idea, and I like the new game.

Seeing as it was so cheap, even after my PS3 has been replaced, I think I'll be getting a budget PSP title every 2 months or so, and I'll report back on what its like when I do.

Thanks, Matt

After 18 months of joy, and pure happiness that I held on and got a PS3, after 18 months of playing online in classic moments with mates, after 18 months of great games, good games, and some shoddy games (I'm looking at you Genji DoTB) It's broken.

I suppose I played it a lot, but I bought a PS3 to avoid exactly this.

Whats's worse is that there was an offer on at my time of purchase for an extended warranty for just another £10, but I left it, thinking I'd made the right choice.

Nope, and now I have to fork out £145 that, really, I havn't got. My bank account will have to stomach this, and thats money that could be put to my first car in another 18 months time.

It just doesn't seem fair.

Even though I have a 60gb replacement guarranteed I'll never start up my PS3, whichever one I end up with, again with the same confidence that I had before. I'll always have that heartstopping "Crap is it breaking?" moment again when it freezes, wereas before I'd have just cursed at my loss of progress and restarted it.

My confidence has been lost, and although I'm not even considering getting a 360 instead (my games collection is too expansive now) it would have been a serious consideration 6 months back.

I hope I havn't affected anyone elses faith with Playstation, or indeed their own console, but for me a Sony product breaking is frankly a revelation. TV's, music players, computers, laptops, more TV's, this household has had them all Sony, and not one of them has even faultered. My PS2, 6 years old, is sat now set up on my old Sony CRT TV, both fully working.

Gah. I'm so annoyed.

Not good news I'm afraid.

Well, seeing as my PS3 was purchased at the very end of August 2007/1st or 2nd of September 07, I'm out of Warranty.

Having rang Sony and explained the problem, they do indeed think that it's a faulty machine.

They then proceeded to offer me a 60GB replacement....

For £145, money I just do not have at the moment, and probably wont have until August.

So here is my problem. What the bloody hell do I do now?