26th Entry - Borderlands

If you're not aware by now that Poke and I are big fans of co-op games, then you're obviously new or you just don't pay attention. Either way, when we heard about a 4 player co-op shooter, i was instantly on board. AND it's post-apocalyptic!? Yessir.



Borderlands - Xbox 360

Borderlands is a post-apocalyptic shooter/RPG abomination (the good kind of abomination) that takes place on desolate Pandora. You're a merc in search of the Vault, a treasure trove of alien weaponry. This is essentially the whole story. The gameplay is all this game has going for it, and fortunately, it's quite fun.

Now, there are four classes to choose from in Borderlands, with a level cap that goes to 50 (61 if you bought the newest DLC).

First is the Soldier, Roland, specializing in shotguns and assault rifles. His special ability is a turret that not only blows away enemies, but it can also eventually drop ammo, fire rockets, refill health, and even resurrect fallen allies. Roland can effectively fullfill a CQB/DPS role, running in with high damage shotguns, or he can fulfill a healer role through a talent that heals allies when you shoot them. This is also the class yours truly played as.

Next is the Hunter, the sniper named Mordecai. He specializes in sniper rifles (durr) and pistols. His special ability is his pet hawk, Bloodwing, which can attack mulitple targets for reasonable damage. Mordecai has talents that emphasize making enemies drop extra loot (whee) as well as making it much easier to one-shot your enemies. Mordecai eventually can learn a talent which allows his sniper shots to skip shields entirely, often causing lethal damage. Poke played to 61 with me as this class.

Brick, the Berserker, specs in launchers and, um, his fists. Brick's talents revolve around pummeling things with his hands harder, faster, and more efficiently. They can also make his launcher skills go through the roof. Brick generally fulfills a tank role, in which he runs in punching things while his friends pick everything else off.

Lilith, the Siren, is an odd mage-esque class that specs in SMGs. Her talents revolve around causing elemental damage, i.e. melting, incinerating, electrocuting and detonating her enemies. Her Phasewalk ability has a fast cooldown, and can be used to inflict huge damage through damage over time (DOT) abilities. She can essentially go full melee or SMG/melee, though i recommend suing SMGs, they are my favorite gun type.

Ah yes. Guns. Borderland's claim to fame is their eleventy bazillion gun types throughout the game. Basically, no matter what, there is a gun for you in this game. Indeed, this is where the game truly shines.

I've found rocket launchers that shoot mortars, assault rifles that fire all forms of fire, acid, lighting and explosive rounds, shotguns that fire rockets, sniper rifles that have a explosion radius, shotgun pistols, an SMG that functions more like a flamethrower, and weapons that fire bullets that bounce off walls as well was weapons that fire curving rounds. Some of the most fun you will have in this game is by experimenting with what you do and don't like. Poke and I thoroughly enjoyed tossing out guns and trying new and different setups until we found out what we really liked.

The game is truly fun all the way through, and though it lacks a complex story, unless you're a Final Fantasy person with no soul, I doubt you'll care.

Aside from the story aspect, little else is wrong with the game itself. There were few if any bugs to be found. The controls can feel a tad loose at times, but it's only a tad bothersome at first. Not much about the game sticks out as bad, honestly.

There were several DLC packs released for Borderlands -

The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned - This is definitely the best DLC pack. Basically you just kill zombies, as well as a few other goofy creatures, and harvest their brains. Some ridiculous guns to be found in this DLC pack. Ned's undead, baby. Ned's undead.

Mad Moxxi's Underdome Riot - This DLC pack sucked pretty hard, even if it was Borderlands. The whole thing is a goddamn grindfest, and each tournament takes 2-3 hours of work. Don't buy this, although it does add the in-game bank system, which is important for keeping a collection of guns you like.

The Secret Armory of General Knoxx - A great DLC pack with lots of Crimson Lance to kill, as well as midgets. Lots of midgets. Poke and i had a blast with this one. Enjoy looting the secret armory, it's a bunch of fun.

Bottom line - Borderlands is fun as hell - the more the better. Grab a copy and jump in.
9/10

25th Entry - Modern Warfare 2

Yep it's a older game, and this isn't a new review. I have neglected this for a very long time now but I'm back again to keep this alive.

We'll start off with Modern Warfare 2, the much anticipated sequel to Call of Duty 4 - Modern Warfare.

I, like so many others, enjoyed COD4's single player and multiplayer very much, and was quite eager to play the sequel.



Call of Duty - Modern Warfare 2 (Xbox 360)

Anywho, when I sat down and popped this in, I was hoping for an awesome single player experience, above all else. I was not disappointed.

The story, even though it may be convoluted and a little goofy at times, is fun and engaging, much like the original Modern Warfare.

There are lots of improvements, such as more weapons and more epic battles. Even on Veteran, I never got too frustrated at dumb level design or something of the like.

Unfortuantely, there is a lot to hate about the single player as well. The AI is mentally retarded, both enemy and friendly. The enemies stand directly out of cover and run into walls fairly often. I don't know what this is a byproduct of, but it's quite distracting. The allied AI runs in front of you at all times, blocking shots fairly often. The so-called "controversy" on the Russian airport level was over-hyped and quite ridiculous, honestly. Aside from these issues, though, the campaign is fun to play.

The Special Ops mode is really awesome, and Poke and I thoroughly enjoyed beating most of it. There is a point where it just gets too damn hard, and this is pretty much where is stops being fun. It goes from holding down a elevated position with sniper rifles and claymores to fighting off 3 juggernauts at a time with only grenade launchers to protect yourself. ON VETERAN. Same issues here though, stupid AI, though at least my co-op partner isn't retarded and can actually play the game.

And multiplayer. Alas, so much to say about it. At its core, it is a well designed operation. Lots of customization and player choice, as well as a fun leveling system. However, the game has been plagued with hacks, updates, errors, server suckage, and general douchebaggery.

First there were the akimbo Model 1887 shotugns, which had the range of several times any other shotgun, and you'd run into jerk-offs every damn game running around and sniping you cross-map with them. Eventually this was patched, but IW dropped the ball and players discovered that adding the FMJ attachment reverted them to their pre patch status. IW eventually patched this too, but months later.

Then there was the care package glitch, in which a player using the Commando, Marathon, and Lightweight perks would pull out the care package killstreak marker, and for some reason it made them run blazingly fast. In this state, players would run around knifing people for entire games, in effect totally breaking what is commonly called the "Knifing" or "Runner" class. Eventually this was patched, but not before it had a long run in online play.

Next was the Danger Close/Javelin glitch, in which a player was able to force the Javelin missile to explode after death, generally killing several people in the process with the resulting explosion. This was a heavily frustrating glitch that was again, patched very late.

Then came the other care package glitch, in which a player was able to call in unlimited care packages, giving them an obvious advantage if left unchecked. After reporting everyone I saw doing this for cheating, IW finally patched this as well, but not before nearly every player on Live had exploited it.

There are no dedicated serves for MW2. This simply sucks major cock, and lag and host transfers are commonplace. IT is also not uncommon to simply be dropped from a game. Massively frustrating.

As for general douchbaggery, the once mature community of Modern Warfare 1 has been overtaken by every asshole with a internet connection. These people are generally identified by having clan tags like WEED, W33D, DANK, HASH, JEWS, and things of the like. These people are also the morons who use titles like High Command, Blunt Trauma, So Baked, Joint Ops, and Pineapple Express. Then there's the people from Halo 3 who think calling everyone in the game room "gay" or a "faggot" is still funny, and still there's the children of about age 13-14 telling me to "fuck off". I'm only sad to see one of my once favorite online communities has been ruined by the general populace.


This all said, I still manage to enjoy the game by playing with my I'm sure little known clan, [IRON]. Look for us online.

[IRON] Go0fyT0oth
[IRON] d4p0k3
[IRON] tehNarwhals
[IRON] McDuck67
[IRON] moarzors
[IRON] Nazg0ul89
[IRON] Trollfus
[IRON] Jeeves 1080
[IRON] RisingAngel


At the end of it all though, if you're a gamer, you basically should own Modern Warfare 2. Simple as that. 9.5/10