Borderlands

Platform: PS3, Xbox360, PC
Producer: Gearbox
Release: Oct. 20 2009

My anticipated rating: 8

I must say that I’m intrigued with this new title. This has a little bit of pro and con for me, but intriguing nonetheless.

Pros: For one thing, I am a huge fan of the new open world shooter format (i.e. Bioshock, FarCry 2). I’ve heard the analogy that where the old-style FPS (first person shooter) is like a ball of string which unwinds exactly as the designers have programmed it to, while the new open world shooter leaves the element of choice up to the gamer. The question for the gamer then becomes “where do I (or where should I) go next”—as opposed to “where will this hallway take me.”

In addition I am slowly becoming a fan of the convergence of FPS’s and RPG ‘s (role-playing games) into one hybrid genre, as the newest top-titled games have more seamlessly blended the two. Fallout 2, and again Bioshock (which might have just been the best game ever created in my opinion) both come to mind as games that achieved this beautifully and had me hooked. When done well, you end up with an incredibly deep, action packed, character-driven game that plays longer and sucks you into the story more than the average shooter, while packing far more action than the average RPG.

Cons: I’m usually not a huge fan of games that are too cartoon-ish, and this game definitely has an aesthetically animated look to it. Call me a graphic snob, but I got the next-gen console for next-gen graphics, and I’m usually disappointed with any title that doesn’t deliver. But Borderlands looks like it uses the medium artistically, and if done well—mixing in high-end graphic elements—it still could win me over.

My wife’s irritation rating: 5

Gentlemen, this one won’t do you any favors with your girl, but it could be worse. The emphasis on confluence between the FPS and RPG aspects of this game promise to make this a relatively lengthy game in terms of total gameplay hours. From my experience this will win points with me, and lose points with my wife. In addition, a new game engine has apparently found a way to provide gamers with thousands—that’s right I said thousands—of weapons selections. That’s a lot of carnage to unleash, which is sure to have your significant other begging for some kind of human interaction.

On the flip side I don’t see a lot of online multiplayer appeal in this one. For me, this will probably be a single player story game and little more. There is also a co-op story game on this title and a female character, which might just entice your girl to start smoking fools along with you. That prospect alone brings the irritation rating down to a 5, but there’s no guarantee that she’s in. This kind of shooter usually doesn’t play well with the ladies. Good luck with the sell, that one is on you.

Assassin’s Creed 2

Platform: PS3, Xbox360, PC
Producer: Ubisoft
Release: Nov. 17, 2009

My anticipated rating: 9

Those of you fortunate enough to have played the first Assassin’s Creed already know why I’ve included it on this list, and why I’ve rated it so high. The third-person action title which started in the crusade era two years ago now moves into the renaissance.

Pros: Again, the open world format immerses the player in historical cities and allows the player to run rampant across medieval rooftops, scale the tallest spires of Europe and the Middle-East and take on entire battalions of mutton-eating troops.

The first installment of Assassins Creed was probably the most visually stunning game that I’ve ever played. The somewhat historically accurate cityscapes and graphic details of the game environment were nothing short of awesome. I look for the renaissance version to continue right where the crusades left off, only this time probably with a bit more color and detail to account for the time period.

Cons: The controls on this game are not simple, and take a bit of getting used to, but once mastered they are manageable. For instance, there is a lot of holding several buttons while maneuvering quickly through city streets and rooftops, but once you’re sucked in, you’ll find that this actually eliminates a lot of individual button pushing that could have made the game more difficult.

The gameplay in the first version could also be a bit repetitive, especially as you advanced through the story. This was in part due to the lack of weapons throughout the game. The early setting of the game has much to do with this, but on the cover of the first one there was a picture of your character holding a crossbow which unfortunately didn’t exist in the game. I’m hoping that Ubisoft will kick the weaponry up a notch in this one.

My wife’s irritation rating: 6

Again, this one isn’t going to win you any points with your girl, but I didn’t really catch too much flack playing the first one. There was no online multiplayer or co-op mode on the original, but the game itself almost dictated that it couldn’t have either. Unfortunately, short of taking turns, there’s no chance of getting your significant other involved on this one, she will just have to watch. So I had to take the irritation rating up a pinch.

That said, I think that the visual impressiveness of the game almost makes it a bearable spectator sport. My wife actually seemed to enjoy watching the game from time to time, and keep in mind when I played the first one I didn’t even have an HDTV. It really was that impressive. It is a fairly simple game to play once you have the movement controls down, so my wife would actually give it a go every now and again too. Overall, that keeps the irritation rating at a manageable 6.

Super Mario Bros. Wii

Platform: Wii
Producer: Nintendo
Release: Oct. 17, 2009

My anticipated rating: 7

With an emphasis on nostalgia, Nintendo has brought the classic Mario Bros. series out of its war chest and into the 21st century…again. This time it’s back to basics.

Pros: Nintendo went old school on this one, and to a certain extent I think it will pay off. Mario Bros. Wii incorporates the same side-scrolling gameplay as the classics, with a few stylistic changes and some new character abilities to shake things up a bit.

The big change in this one is that it brings Mario into the multiplayer age, allowing several players to take on levels online together, or competitively. Let’s face it, Mario Bros. is a classic, and the brand itself might just be reason enough to buy.

Cons: With nostalgia comes the risk of redundancy, and I can’t help but think that I’m not looking forward to this game as much as I should be because they haven’t shaken it up enough. Sure, everyone loves the Mario Bros. games and you don’t want to ruin a good thing by trying to make it too flashy, but come on Nintendo, 20 years later and this is as much as your going to spice it?

Unfortunately it doesn’t look like Nintendo is really taking advantage of its platform with this one either. You don’t buy a Wii for the graphics, it’s no secret. You buy it for the gameplay. The major difference between the new Mario Cart and this game is that one takes full advantage of the platform, and the other just seems to ignore it. Any game that doesn’t exploit the Wii’s incredible motion-sensing technology gets taken down a peg for me, and tragically that’s going to hold what should be an instant classic to an unimpressive 7.

My Wife’s irritation rating: -9 (You might have to pry the controller out of her hands)

I’m not kidding. I mean -9 in a good way, as in it’s the kind of Christmas present that she gets for you and won’t let you touch cause she’s all over it.

Nintendo has completely dominated the female demographic with the Wii, and this game should keep that trend going. This sort of simple nostalgic game usually plays well with the female audience, and Mario Bros. Wii will hit that target. Not a bad gift idea for your girl, either. Let’s be honest, she will probably want to play it more than you.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Platform: PS3, Xbox360, PC
Producer: Infinity Ward
Release: Nov. 10, 2009

My anticipated rating: 9.3

Saving the highest marks on both fronts for last here. After returning to WWII in Call of Duty: World at War, Infinity Ward dives back into modern combat to follow up on the resounding success of its 2007 Modern Warfare game. Widely regarded as the bar-setter for multiplayer shooters, this highly anticipated title looks poised to impress.

Pros: To say that COD’s multiplayer is addictive is a massive understatement. It is akin to digital heroin. It sucks hours out of the day like a Dyson on steroids. If you look at each player’s total time played at the top of the world leader boards, it can be measured in months…seriously. If you look at your own total time played, you’ll be ashamed of yourself. Then you look at where you fall in the worldwide standings, and depression sets in. You’ll wonder to yourself how you could possibly have spent so much time playing a game, and still suck comparatively. You’ll justify it to yourself by saying that those ranked higher than you must be 12-year-olds with no lives, while the voice in the back of your head reminds you that the only difference between them and you is the age… It’s a natural progression.

To say that its multiplayer is popular is laughable. Microsoft reported that it actually had to update its Xbox Live server infrastructure after the release of the first COD Modern Warfare game, because of the massive influx of new users who joined to play. I was one of them. For the first few months after each new COD game is released, when online traffic is at it highest, the total players online can reach 1 million on Xbox Live.

All things considered, I would say that the COD series has the best online multiplayer that I’ve ever played. Everything about it is solid, earning the game a dominating 9.3.

Cons: Because the COD series has become so massively popular in the multiplayer realm, it seems that the single player campaign game almost gets left by the wayside. It has almost become an afterthought. No real emphasis on story and not a lot of creativity to be honest in the general layout of the single player missions, and the overall feel of the campaign. I’m looking for this to improve though, as early reviews of Modern Warfare 2 are noting impressive steps forward in the single player campaign.

Gameplay, on the other hand is fantastic, the single player is just lacking in charisma. It doesn’t really suck you in the way that great single player games do.

So, if your looking for a great single player game, and your not interested in online multiplayer (or you don’t have an online account for your console), then this might not be the best pick for you. If that’s your thing, wait for Bioshock 2 in February ’10.

But if you talk to people who play and love the COD games, no one cares. A lot of people who buy this game will never even touch the single player. I usually don’t get around to the campaign until a month or so after I’ve bought it.

My Wife’s irritation rating: 8.5

Ouch. Yes, that’s very irritated. The COD series has incurred countless rolled eyes on Saturday mornings as my wife comes down the stairs to the clamoring of automatic weaponry. I was thinking about scoring it higher, but since this is a 1 to 10 scale, I figured there’s no way I could get away with playing these games as much as I do if it were to have scored any higher.

Truth of the matter is, once you’re hooked, the COD games are damn near impossible to get away from. If you’re on a roll, there is no way that you’re going to end that hot streak. Not going to happen. And if you’re getting stomped on, you will become bent on furious revenge, and you will likely refuse to leave your console until you mercilessly obtain it (just for the record, I am a loser).

Before you buy this game, work on the following phrases: “Just a minute honey, let me smoke this friggin 10-year-old and I’ll be right there.” “You would be pissed too if you just got owned by a pre-pubescent child.” “That’s crap; I just tagged that dude right in the face.” “I’m sorry, babe, I didn’t know the kids were right here.” “What do you mean you shouldn’t have bought me this game? Look how much use I’m getting out of it.” And so on.

The saving grace of this game—and probably the only thing holding it to a disastrous 8.5 on the irritation scale—is that the multiplayer rounds are fairly quick. Good luck with not starting a new round, but if necessary you can get in and out of the multiplayer games quickly. That fact alone makes this one just barely tolerable for your significant other.

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