Ever since the release of Avatar it seems like every big budget title needs to be released in 3D. 3D in the home has also been climbing since the demand for 3D enabled televisions are on the rise and the decrease in price over the last two years. Whether you like it or not 3D is becoming somewhat of a standard in production and will soon see it being offered on some of your favorite television programming. For now however not much is offered and the question is what if you wanted to watch your existing 2D programming in 3D? 3D-Bee Home unit looks to be owners solution for enabling any of their 2D programming directly to 3D especially for gaming. So does it work? We’ve tested many of its features especially for gaming on a Panasonic GT-30 and here are our thoughts.

Hardware:

3D-Bee Unit: Has four 3D enabled HDMI ins and one out.

Remote: Has two 3D depth settings.

3D-Bee is a 2D to 3D real-time video conversion unit . Essentially it’ll make anything your watching in 2D into 3D. You maybe asking the question “well my tv already has a 2D-3D feature” but it is not like this. The unit knows how to correctly bring objects seen closer or solely in nature to the foreground while the rest appears in the background but that is just a quick example. Most if not all built in TV’s 2D-3D conversion mode has some deformity in the picture since the process of making it is not manual, it is automatic. The 3D-Bee while not processing anything either is using a estimation technology for the unit itself to produce a high quality 3D image.

Our testing began with some television programming. We watched True Blood, talk shows and sports. The unit has a great way of keeping things in line and giving you clarity in 3D from a picture that was originally 2D. Even golf which gets tricky with the TV’s built in converter since the grass pans across the entire screen, it seems to do well on the 3D-Bee.

Movies tested well for the unit. We tested Iron Man, Transformers and Kick Ass all on Blu-ray. These seem to do better in object separation and had moments of really coming together as a 3D image when converted. An example is when Iron Man was trying to outrun the jet fighters half way in the movie you can clearly see him as the foreground object while the jets were in the background.

Now our most important test was for gaming and the unit did fairly well as some did better then others. Since there are barely any games in 3D period this would seem like the perfect product to take advantage of. The games we tested were Split/Second, Halo Reach, L.A. Noire and Mortal Kombat. Split/Second and Halo Reach seemed to add depth in areas where you wouldn’t think of but in a good way, while Mortal Kombat added little depth with no real advantage of playing it converter.

The biggest advantage you can get from gaming with the unit is since it’s automatically converting to 3D none of the quality is being sacrificed as all the games that are 3D enabled do. That is because those games need to produce a left and right image for the 3D which is essentially processing the game twice and the 3D-Bee doesn’t actually process anything. Play with your Television’s 3D settings along with the 3D-Bee’s two setting to achieve a depth that suits you.

The unit isn’t without its faults and in most cases things that we would have liked to see in it. First thing to mention is that this is not going to replace content that is native to 3D as it does not compare well to the depth of watching something that is already in 3D. The unit seems to merely give you some depth and while there are two settings to add we wished there were even experimental modes of sorts to play around with. What you would want to pop forward or back for different content.

Since there is different forms of content you would be possibly using it for, it would have been great to see modes complement such. A TV, Movie and Game mode would have been great since they would act different. Gaming for example most the time has a fixed object in the center of the screen like racing and FSP’s. A mode where it would know or ask what it was to really pull forward could rival some things that were actually produced in 3D.

We’ve also found that the set-up for the unit should be done in a particular matter. When plugged in to our 3D enabled receiver it would not transfer all the audio sound from the content? So the best solution was to plug it in after the receiver then into the TV. The sound would also cut out on some of the TV content after you enabled the 3D on the unit but this wasn’t all the time. Since this is a new product some of this can actually be avoided in future models or updates.

3D-Bee is for alot of different people that want to enjoy 3D content they either can’t or that are looking for the best way that isn’t natively supported. I have already played some games and watched some movies in full with the unit on and am pleased with the results I get. The unit is currently priced at $399 which may be steep for those wanting 3D that is better then Tv’s built in 2D-3D converter but not near native 3D content. If your into 3D and have alot of content you would like to see that has no 3D options then this unit might be up your ally. I personally am impressed with it as 2D comes to life with the 3D-Bee like never before. I see myself using the unit for quite sometime and hope more options and features become available soon. For more information go to their official website here.

Duke Nukem Forever is one of those games where hype isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be. Where hype can utterly destroy a games reputation, sometimes before a game is even released. Duke Nukem Forever is a victim of this and while the game as a whole isn’t terrible, you can’t help but notice that if it had a bit more care it would be perceived as a great redemption.

The game takes place several years after his success from previous adventures and as it turns out everything is being attacked by aliens again!. I will admit I’m not a huge fan of Duke but I had played the games previous and it is undeniable that it had charm like no other. Over a decade later and not much has changed from the prospective of Duke Nukem. He is still as macho and foul mouth as he was then. I personally like the charm and jokes that are within the game and in almost every corner has something new to say. When your either big or small (shrunk), there seems to be a wise crack around every corner.

The FPS mechanics are decent. All the normal options from today’s shooters are here like running and equipping multiple items with the directional pad. What we liked was all of the things thrown around the game like playing pool, shooting hoops or lifting weights which will increase your health bar (ego) so they are worth doing. The puzzle elements lend cues (if not takes them all together) from games seen in the past few years but can sometimes stump you for a good few minutes before realizing what to do. Bosses are some of the games biggest highlights and you even get moments to do sequence button pressing on occasions.

Online multiplayer has death match, team death match, capture the babe (Capture the Flag) and king of the hill. The gameplay seems faster here and with most things at your disposal including the jet pack, players get more bang in a match at play. Most of the time remembering the map and weapon spawns are all you really need to come out on the top.

Some of the games biggest problems has to do with its overall story telling. Nothing on the single player side ever really jells well enough to engage you. Pop ins are pretty persistent and the load times are about some of the worst I’ve seen and am not quite sure why it needs to reload after a death every time!?

This game is not for kids by any means, it is a mature rated game. It’s not even for people that get offended easily, some of the content in the game can seem sexist or just downright crude. From the very start though you know what your getting into and you’ll either want to see it to the end or not. Duke Nukem Forever wasn’t a bad game to me. The problem lies with its obviously long development problems in the past and something that could have been so much more now. The man needs a fresh start so hopefully it’ll be ten times of awesome the next go around.

Overall = 7.0

Rally games, hell racing games are hard to come by these days. Publishers either don’t want to take the risk or others see it as a dying breed. One franchise has proven itself again and again however, Collin Macres Dirt. Dirt 3 is the newest iteration of the series and it does not disappoint. With the added weather effects which brings new thought mechanic to the table, the game will keep you on your toes till the end.

Dirt 3 makes a huge splash delivering some nice added additions since the last. Because there is now rain and snow, car controls are tighter, more responsive and feel great. Night time driving in first person view is intense and should not go without experiencing it. You will be driving through Michigan, Finland, Norway, LA, Kenya, and Monaco which all look and feel authentic. What I love is the many tuning options you have before races, the countries feel different from each other so its important to be prepared with these options.

The main Tour has 4 seasons in it with different racing styles. Not all racing styles need to be proceeded in the same way as you can accomplish plenty if your not to fond of one. Triangle cubes are what drives the style of the games menus but have found myself missing the simplicity of having an RV in Dirt 2. Don’t get me wrong it all looks cool but I felt like I had more presence in the last game. Not to mention the cubes make it all feel linear.

The roster of cars is impressive but how you go about getting them is not. There are an array of different vehicles from old to new which is really cool, some of which you probably never seen before. However there is no currency in the game, cars are awarded by your rank level and sometimes cube of which you are in. It takes the fun out of wanting to unlock a certain car if your not sure what’s coming up next. Replays also sort of lack a bit. It’s cool to upload clips to Youtube but they’re only 30sec clips and sometimes an entire race is the most memorable thing.

Online keeps you involved once the tour mode finishes up. There are some good options like party modes, time trials and 8 player ghost modes. All of them give you good fun and can have you playing for quite awhile.

Dirt 3 is a welcomed addition to the series. We’re glad this franchise grows stronger with each run. Some elements add or change slightly, while some others change drastically but the game always feels like Dirt. The game can be played causally but has plenty of options for hardcore, a robust online mode keeps the fun going when you think it ends. Now if only they get to making Grid 2 then I’ll be a real happy camper.

Overall = 8.6

Rockstar has developed quite a number of different titles. We can date back to the early Grand Theft Auto series but they also had Smugglers Run, Midnight Club, Red Dead Redemption and Table Tennis. This time instead of playing the all out do what you want character, your a cop, a standup cop at that. The game isn’t your typical sandbox game however as detective work and clue finding is the key components here. L.A. Noire will measure how you interrogate witnesses/suspects, find clues and stop criminals from getting away. Do you have what it takes to be the best detective in Los Angeles?

1940s Los Angeles is a bad bad place. People get away with fraud, robberies and murder. The only thing that can prevent such crimes from going unjust is you. That might be a bit of an overstatement but everyone should be entitled to there own heroism story right? In this open world sandbox game they put in the shoes of Cole Phelps, a cop that’s somewhat of a war hero but is destined to be more. Its not long until you go from being a cop to a full fledge detective, your real cases begin and learning how the mechanics work is key.

L.A. Noire uses new technology called MotionScan, which allows them to completely mo-cap an actor or actress on a character. What you get is a completely new and engaging experience you have never seen before. Everything from eyebrows, lips, eyes and more have a realism because they were actually captured directly from a real person. The best part is that plenty of characters are recognizable to actors you’ve seen in some of your favorite shows today.

The use of the MotionScan technology plays the biggest role in the game as it is your job to interrogate witnesses/suspects for either information or confessions. When you interrogate someone their facial expressions will mostly give away if they are telling the truth, doubtful or lying. With Phelps’s trusty notebook you will have to gather clues in key areas, talk to several people and jotting down important information that can further the case. This will also be key to figuring out if someone is lying to you as you will need to refer to a clue discovered before hand. What I love about this style of play is that even expert players will sometimes have a hard time reading someone’s facial expressions.

L.A. Noire isn’t just detective work though. Throughout the city there are dispatch calls like a regular cop would get which you can take as side missions. If you thought there weren’t enough action elements in the game well this will keep the blood pumping. Most dispatches involve either running after a criminal, car chases or shootouts. There are 40 in total and can be done at any time during your career.

The level of detail in the game is great and aside something like Mass Effect this has some of the best character animations I had ever seen in a game. It truly knows how to bridge the gap closer from videogames and theater cinematic’s. The music also brings out some of the games riches features, enveloping you into the story but nothing is like the voice acting. Some really talented people are at the helm of characters you encounter in this game and it makes a world of a difference to see great work executed so well.

As you progress through the cases it starts to get noticeably repetitive, especially during homicide. Fortunately at the end of it and there after you get a refresher that keeps you going right through to the end. One option that should have been explored is multiple right answers while interrogating. I had sometimes come to my own conclusion as to why they were lying and while my answer made sense it wasn’t the right one since there is only one. While this is an open sandbox game it doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want. Hell the more damage you occur in the city during a mission effects your overall case rating at the end. You will also get occasional drops in frames and technical pop-ins but it’s not enough to really effect the game.

I believe that L.A. Noire is one of those games that everyone should try, aside some of the car chases and shootouts its one of the easiest games to get into. It will challenge new gamers and experts alike. This new franchise has remarkable potential and Rockstar has done a fine job of seeing this to completion. The game isn’t perfect by any means but it’s one of the best experiences you’ll get all year without a doubt.

Overall = 8.9

We’ve watched countless movies where people jump out of planes and free fall back to the ground. I’m sure we’ve all had the idea of how they would land without a parachute, well Section 8: Prejudice is one game that’s taken that idea and put it into a FPS. I mean what better place to put it than in a battlefield on a planet in some galaxy? Section 8: Prejudice is the sequel to the original Section 8 game that was released in 2009. Prejudice comes back this time around packed with a campaign, and multiplayer mode with a few different game types.

In campaign mode of Prejudice you take the role of Alex Corde, a space marine in the 8th armored infantry division. Throughout eight missions that take you through four different terrains that are based off of the multiplayer maps, you fight against the army of the Arm of Orion. If you’ve never played the previous Section 8 game then there really isn’t much to worry about since the game re-introduces you to the game mechanics. Prejudice’s story line wasn’t the greatest but it gives players something to follow, and a chance for players to traverse the multiplayer maps with their hands being held by giving them instructions of what to do.

Gameplay is pretty much one of your standard sci-fi FPS type of play but with a tweak here and there. If you had to compare it to any other game, Prejudice feels like a mix between Tribes and Battle Field. Players have the ability to sprint, but because of the powered armor your character wears, an overdrive sprint allows for boosted sprint to travel across the map at blazing speeds. Along with the overdrive system, players also have jetpacks to assist in getting the upper hand on enemies.

Weapons and explosives in the game are pretty much basic with a few altercations to the ammo. Pistol, shotgun, rifle, machine gun, missile launcher, sniper rifle, and plasma cannon round out the guns. The only difference in each weapon is that each gun has different types of ammunition that have different attributes like napalm, rail, explosive, strong against shields but not armor, or vice versa. Armor also has a different attributes as well. Lending from an RPG type of characteristic, players have ten points to upgrade certain parts of their armor. Everything from a stabilizer for gun recoil, more armor, more shields, higher shield and health regeneration rates, stealth, and an increase in bullet damage. Customizing your armor and weapons for battle is always fun, the only hard part is choosing which one will optimize your class for each time you respawn, and respawning is one of the many fun things in the game to do. There’s nothing like being shot out of a airship’s personnel launcher and soaring to the ground like a bullet.

Multiplayer is pretty much what Prejudice was setting it’s aim for, and they did a very good job in hitting their target. Game modes for multiplayer include Conquest, Swarm, and Assault. Conquest mode consists of two teams fighting for capture points scattered across the level, while holding each capture point DCM’s or dynamic combat missions. DCM’s can consist of assassinating or protecting VIP’s, collecting or defending various players or convoys, activating beacons, and gathering or protecting intel. Swarm is your basic Horde mode, you and three friends or bots go up against waves of enemies to defend your base from being taken over. While defending you’re able to set up mini-gun or missile turrets, supply depots, sensors, and even call in tanks, hover bikes, and mechs to aid you in your battle which you can do in all multiplayer modes. Assault mode is your standard team vs team battle, one team defends certain points from attackers till all points are captured then teams switch from defending to attacking. Whichever team completes the attack in the shortest time wins.

Vehicles in the game have been a great addition, that’s if you can get enough money to call them in. Money is hard to come by in multiplayer mode, and is pretty much almost non existent in campaign. The more missions you complete for DCM’s and the more kills you accrue, the better chances you’ll have of making money, but when you get enough funds for vehicles they’re definitely worth the effort. Hover bikes are fast and deadly, while mechs are slow but powerful for defending bases, and tanks have a lot of mobility and on board weapons your teammates can use on the enemy with you. Of course driving each of the vehicles in the game takes some practice, the take controls exactly how a BF2 tank would. Hover bikes feel agile but fragile at the same time especially if you hit parts of terrain that or full of big boulders. Lastly, mechs are big hulks that move slow but in close range can pounce on top of their prey in an instant, and a machine gun arm to fend off soldiers at a distance.

All in all Section 8: Prejudice was a great game to play. There were very few problems that I ran into while playing campaign mode. Unfortunately there wasn’t much options do deal with audio so I had to deal with either loss of sound or no speech from the computer controlled players. Honestly if it weren’t for subtitles I would have not known what was going on in the campaign. The game plays very well, fire fights always feel solid. One downfall of combat is if you don’t carry a knife there is no way to melee enemies in close range, other than that the game isn’t bad. As you level up and unlock more things for your arsenal, the more options you have to make to customize your load outs, which means making your own feel for each character. Prejudice has a lot in a little package, and for the price of $15 it’s definitely a big steal. If you’re a fan of the sci-fi FPS genre, then this game should be one you shouldn’t miss especially with a $15 price tag and an achievement system that will keep you coming back for more. Section 8: Prejudice is already out for Xbox 360 and PC, and will be released this summer for the Playstation 3.

Overall = 8.4

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]

The original Mortal Kombat in 1992 is probably the first M rated game to be released on a console that stirred up controversy. The graphic violence of the 16bit fighter led in part to the creation of the ESRB. The last couple of games had seemed like the series wasn’t moving forward, especially with its release of Mortal Kombat vs DC which had been rated T for Teen. It’s almost 20 years since the original game and it has finally gotten a true sequel to the classics which dare I say might be the best one yet.

I had always personally been a fan of Mortal Kombat but one wouldn’t think so since I think the games after MK 2 had been somewhat of a wash. Going back to its roots co-created Ed Boon and newly formed developing company NetherRealm Studios have given fans what they’ve been waiting for.

For those who don’t know the story of Mortal Kombat need not worry. The Story Mode will let you play out the events from Mortal Kombat 1-3, so those who had forgotten like myself can feel right at home on what is going on. To give it to you in brief, the emperor of outworld Shao Kahn has invaded earth and is tearing everything apart. With the last of earth’s defenders, Raiden sends a message to himself in the past to change the foreseeing future, thus changing history.

I’ve found the story to do a good job of piecing everything together from good cutscenes and narrative. One of the biggest appeals to the Mortal Kombat franchise is the violence but past takes of the series had left all but desirable ways on capturing it, until now. The game returns to a 2D plane like the old days while it retains 3D environments and graphics as the past games. I think this style of gameplay suits it much better as we’ve seen from other fighting game revamps. The game engine has been revamped significantly and character movement feels much more natural while staying true to the old school games. If thats not enough there’s even damage over time. Characters will get cuts, bruises and pools of blood will even gush out with every hit.

One of the newest editions to the game is the super gauge bar that can easily make or break a match. It is divided into three sections but can be used in any order. One piece of the bar will allow you to do an EX type move like Street Fighter, it will enhance a special move when you use it. A block breaker can be enabled for two bars and it will stop any incoming move that is being thrown at you in the given moment. When the super gauge is filled then the use of X-Ray moves are enabled. These deal anywhere between 22%-40% of damage depending on player execution and can easily turn the tide of a match. The super gauge bar is a great addition to the game and X-Ray moves are just awesome to look at. Besides the 1on1 matches, tag matches are also in the game and offer different strategies along with them, especially when you take the super gauge bar into account.

What this game is not short on is unlockables and modes. Everything from alternate costumes, art, music and other fatalities, the game can keep you entertained for weeks on end. Modes include Ladder matches, Story, Challenge Tower and other goodies you can unlock. What I like is how everyone has a unique ending apart the Story mode which is really just the story for the Mortal Kombat tournaments.

If all of that wasn’t enough the game’s multiplayer is really a great experience. Local matches with your friends can get competitive and is good fun. While the online multiplayer is divided up in several categories. You can join huge rooms which resemble chat rooms with up to 100 players. You can even bring up a virtual keyboard to chat with people while your waiting or viewing the room. Players can be challenged into a 1on1, tag or even king of the Hill matches. It will keep track of your wins and losses and points repped from Kill of the Hill.

Not everything is perfect in the world of Mortal Kombat however. Some of the biggest problems lies with the games Story Mode. The sheer level of imbalanced difficulty from the Story Mode is somewhat crazy. While I won’t say that it is impossible, it is however excruciating what it can put you through and is even harder then the Challenge Tower. Whether it’s every third or fourth fight that’s 2on1 battles, the bosses that defy the games logic or bosses that you will need to fight with others that are 2on1, it had made me almost quit several times. There is an inability to skip cut-scenes or view them once completed. We had also come across some detection issues mostly involving jump attacks and sometimes how it determines who lands the first hit. At some point as an example I’ve had johnny cage hit me with his nut crusher when I jumped over him, at which point I was already behind him? But this doesn’t happen enough to really get upset about it, just some tweaking it can use. Online can also get a bit laggy to extremely laggy at times which can get frustrating.

Mortal Kombat has exceeded my expectations. It’s amongst one of my favorite fighters to date and it will definitely bring back the nostalgic nature of the originals. X-Rays almost never get old, Fatalities are gruesome, mini games, graphics are great and sound is very impressive. Hopefully a replay mode like we’ve seen in other fighters will make it in at least in the next version and maybe an eater egg of the original game. If this is the direction the series continues to go in they will undoubtfully find success and you can sign me up as well.

Overall = 8.8

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]

The racing game sim is not easy to come by. With the two big names Gran Tursimo and Forza dominating is there room for a third? Need for Speed Shift made a splash upon its debut which not only took a departure of its arcady appeal but it showed that the series could grow new legs and still walk just fine. Dropping the Need for Speed in the title this time Shift 2: Unleashed is out to make all the juices in your body flow with exhilaration at every corner.

Like any other racing sim it starts you off with a set amount of cash to buy a low end model car, D Class for this game. In which case you must build up your reputation by winning races, earning cash and getting new events unlocked. Tutorials are at the heart of every new event before you take part in it which is important. There is an RPG like level system in place for doing things within a race to unlock more features. Driving in the guided line, leading for an entire lap or driving clean races are some of what can be rewarded XP wise. All of this makes you aware of how much better you can be as a driver while racing.

The game would have you believe that this is a true racing sim where in some cases it is and some it’s not. Buying upgrades and tuning vehicles are great features which will let you get the speed and handling that your looking for. You can even tune cars to events whether your doing short track, long track, drifting and other racing types which is great to have so you don’t need to keep changing a cars options. Upgrades can also be sold back so money never feels waisted which is a good thing to have.

Vehicle AI’s act cautiously but are smart in their actions as to give you a good challenge. We did notice that as you progress through higher classes and events further the level of difficulty can someone spike. AI seem to not drive with cation anymore and are almost to aggressive. For a game that promotes respecting a racers line they seem to want to drive right through you to get ahead? Upgrading is no longer the only thing you can do, sometimes you will need to perfectly tune a certain car to come close to winning.

While tuning your car is great it should be noted that the games vehicle physics are exaggerated. They are loose to the point where if you don’t tune the car a certain way some seem immensely difficult to play on most of the tracks with. Which make invitationals or races that give you loaner cars that much harder to do since you cannot tune those cars yourself. Also forget about fishtailing someone, it’ll only result in your loss and them laughing as you spin out.

The game has plenty of modes that you will go through. Standard, Elimination and Driver Duels are some of our favorite. While others can get somewhat annoying to get through. Time attack modes can get very tedious to do. Events can easily turn 20-30 minutes to part take in if you don’t restart. Drifting also doesn’t seem to fit very well with the games default handling. You will need to tune cars specifically to your liking if not the mode can be a chore to play at times. Autolog makes its return with most intact. Spawning from Need for Speed Hot Pursuit, gamers can keep track of their records and friends records. Lap times, complete races, recommendations and gallery are some of the options you can see, it all works very well.

Some of the newer introductions to the series is night driving which give you a totally different feel while racing. When playing the game from the inside car camera the cabin lights up in different shades and angles depending if a car is directly behind you or if you are passing street lamps. Another thing you notice about night racing is how scary it can be, sometimes lights are not on corners or on some parts of the track period which make it hard to know where to turn. Also having your driving cabin light up because of cars at your rear gets downright nerve racking but can keep you on your toes.

The games biggest introduction is the new Helmet Camera which tries to literally put you in the shoes of the driver. As you race the camera tends to blur, turn in the direction of a corner and even brace for impact like a real driver would. This gives a new sense of speed and precision that has never been done in a racing game. In all honesty if you are not playing this game on the helmet cam view or the inside cabin view then your not really playing at all. The feeling becomes sensory overload and should be experienced by all.

Car models look good but not quite up to par with other racers of the genre, however the overall package is note worthy as it delivers great textures all around. Vehicles have full car damage now and look pretty sick if one takes a mean spill. Vehicles also sounds ferocious and add to the games sense of speed. I’ve never wanted to own a Z06 Corvette more then I do after playing this game. Replays have some good camera angles, can be saved and liked how some stages have this slow down camera in certain corners, it’s slight but appealing. Music can get repetitive quickly as there aren’t many songs, I do however like the different variations of single tracks within the game. There are menu and sometimes two different replay versions of the same song which adds some style. Would have been nice to get an option to play music while racing too.

Online multiplayer also works as expected. The leader can choose races according to class, car and even camera angles. Championships can also be done earning you crowns if you won and other accomplishments..

Shift 2: Unleashed if played properly takes you to a place where no other racing game has gone before. It takes what you know about racing sims and throws it out the window to experience what they have envisioned through their eyes. The game engages you and makes you learn how to really make a winning machine. The game could use a bigger assortment of vehicles, have more options and while we wish some of the imperfections could be addressed they are only obstacles that racing fans can overcome and are not actual roadblocks. The Helmet Cam view is a great addition and hope to see more of it in the future as the series in itself is not to far from its predecessors and headed in the right direction of true racing sim.

Overall = 8.6

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]

When Portal was released back in 2007 it was part of the Orange Box package and served as almost a tech demo for this kind of gameplay. Not treated as a traditional FPS the player was given a gun that could open one portal on a wall and another portal anywhere else that would serve as its corresponding tunnel. This intuitive gameplay mechanic responded well with gamers and opened infinite possibilities on how puzzles could be solved involving them. Alongside the mechanics was a humor filled story and a sadistically charming facility robot named Glados. Vavle has alot to live up to on making the sequel to such a hit and it looks like they’ve done it again in a much bigger way.

Portal 2 puts you in the shoes of the same character from the original game. Set after the events of the first game, Chel has now awoken after being in cryogenic stasis for … a very long time. Wheatley (voiced by Stephen Merchant) which is the robot that is responsible for the test subjects comes to your aid from a facility about to hit critical melt down. One of the immediate things you realize about this game is the structural change it has undergone since the last. Broken down areas, rust and plant fruition have taken over. It also guides you through how the facility came to be. The use of space is also a big thing to note as you will find yourself in tight corners to massive multilevel areas.

One of the things they expanded on was the story. You instantly fall in love with the characters and on how entertainingly witty the entire thing is. If there is a future where robots can be this funny then I’m in! While the main undertone that is played is about trying to kill you, you can’t help but be smiling the entire way through. Another really cool thing was a Commentary mode which little speaking nodes are set up in each stage and developer dialog can be heard on concept, character and level creation. Our only big complaint was since the story was a big focus this time around on single player it seems to be a bit on the shorter side and with no other modes of difficulty or challenges their is no real reason to return to it aside the Commentary mode.

It’s important to note that the puzzles is its strong suit and it certainly delivers. Ranging from solvable puzzles that are in plain sight, to others that’ll leave you scratching your head for sometime, the game never feels overwhelmingly difficult but tests your ability of somewhat pressured situations. New elements keep the gameplay fresh and alive at all times. From gel that’ll make you bounce really high, gel that can propel you at high speeds and other goodies while using portals to intertwine them is just a marvel. Graphically it’s just an update to the Source Engine used more then half a decade ago but it still manages to use it well with everything going on. This all changes however when you experience the game with someone in Co-op.

The Co-op is where the game really shines and breaks out of the mold of its past. The dynamic completely changes once you play with someone else and its nothing but a treat. Valve knows a thing or two about Co-op gameplay from their popular FPS Left4Dead series so making gameplay elements with the use of portals and two people would seem is not a hard task for them. When working with four portals it is important that teammates work together to figure out how to make it through. You can watch what your teammate is doing with a button on the controller and even use a ping tool on where you want a portal to go. You can even time a sequence with a countdown that can be desplayed. This is also very helpful for those that don’t have mic’s for communication so no one is stranded in the cold.

Portal 2 was a delight to witness and a breath of fresh air. The story is endless laughs and so is the co-op. Being a fan of the original I knew that Valve had their work cut out for them to please loyalist and they delivered. However right when you think you can play it forever it feels over in a snap. We’re sure they have plans to expand areas with DLC but we also hope that the world of Portals isn’t closed just yet after this. With one of the best end sequences I’ve ever seen in a game this is truly an unforgettable experience that no one should miss out on.

Overall = 9.1

The smell of fresh cut grass. The distant sounds of birds chirping. Flowers budding, sprinklers watering lawns, and digging shorts out of the closet. It’s almost springtime, which means only one thing; it’s time to play ball!

The beginning of Major League Baseball’s spring training also marks the release of MLB 11 The Show. The Show’s dominance in the baseball gaming genre is once again unchallenged with the release of their latest installment.

The Show’s developers could have hung their hat on their past accomplishments, but they made an already great game even better. Along with fine-tuning the graphics, there is a laundry list of new features in the 2011 title:

• Pure Analog Control System – Finally The Show incorporated the use of the analog stick for hitting, pitching and fielding. While batting, the right analog stick is used by pulling back to “load your swing” and pushing forward to swing. This creates more of a focus on timing and concentration. For pitching, the analog stick is pulled down and a meter fills up, similar to the classic meter, but the analog stick must then be lifted to match the correct release point in order to insure precise location. In the field, the analog stick acts as a representation for which base you would like to throw to: right for first, up for second… As in older versions of The Show, the longer you hold the analog stick, the harder, and sometimes less accurate, the throw. A new feature that is available with the analog control is the ability to perform fake throws to try to catch runners off guard.

• Co-Op Mode – Now players can play in 1 vs. 2, 2 vs. 2, or 2, vs. CPU multiplayer co-op games both online and offline. In the co-op mode, each player is given options to which roles to have on the team. The online games allow two consoles, with two players on each to play a game with two players on each team. I found there to be a little degree of difficulty batting while online, when the game lags a fraction of a second, the pitch timing is thrown off substantially, but it is fun none the less.

• Road to the Show – The flagship feature of The Show returns for the fifth installment and just like the other four, it is extremely deep and keeps the player coming back for more. For those who don’t know how the RTTS mode works, you create a player, assign attributes, equipment, positions, etc… then either enter the draft or chose a team’s association to join. Once a part of the organization, you are sent to the minors and begin your journey to make it to the Major League team of your organization, aka The Show.

This year, while creating your player, a slider menu helps chose your players mannerisms; power vs. speed, good arm vs, gold glove, contact hitter vs. slugger… which help set your initial limits as well as the direction of your advancement goals as you proceed through your career. Also revamped is the fielding. With previous versions, the game would start you off in the right direction when the ball was hit toward you, however, this year, if you make a step in the wrong direction, you better hope you can catch up to where you need to be or else you won’t make the play. A good fix from an issue of previous versions was the logic of your organization or manager. Prior to this year, your player would be subbed for or sub in on random parts of the game, not making any sense to the game situation, as well as promotions, demotions, or trades that didn’t make any sense to the team’s overall goal. This year, those issues were tweaked and the AI really showed a great improvement.

• Stadium Specific Camera Views – Anybody who watches enough Major League Baseball on TV knows that there are different camera angles for each stadium. Many of them have the generic center-field viewpoint, but other stadiums have unique camera angles based on the uniqueness of the building.

• Weather – Although baseball games don’t happen in the rain and it doesn’t snow during the season (except when Colorado made it deep into the playoffs…) but every once in a while, it will rain just light enough to play through. This year, every few games will be affected by the weather like that. Strong winds, soggy field conditions, temperature all factor into player performance.

• Playstation Move Compatible – For the first time, you can use the Playstation Move controller to truly swing for the fences in Homerun Derby mode.

• 3D Compatible – For those fortunate enough (or silly enough) to have a 3D TV. (I’m silly enough)

Overall, once again, The Show took their already successful franchise and made it even better. There are many other features that were added to the overall gameplay that make this the most authentic feeling sports game, not just for baseball, but for all sports. It may not have the hype that Madden or NCAA Football has, but this game is a major player in the sporting world. And it easily is one of the best Playstation exclusive games left.

Overall = 8.8

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]

The game starts you off as a valet who day dreams of living the high life and is abruptly woken up to only be fired for it. Your given a second chance however as the person that got you fired gives you the opportunity of a life time. Get her to the studio as fast as you can and be entered into the Solar Crown event. Winning races will earn you money and sometimes vehicles. This will also allow you to buy property across the island to place your cars in as well. You will have to get class licenses to progress to higher difficulties and luxurious cars.At this point you should know how this story plays out from here. This all takes place in the open island of Ibiza which is about double the size of the original Test Drive Unlimited island.

While the races for these events sets the story in motion as you progress it doesn’t make it the foreground of what to do. Where TDU 2 shines is that it takes almost everything from its predecessor and doubles it. There is twice the amount of land to race on, twice the amount of challenges and a slew of new features. Cars can now be fitted with decals and all types of customization options. Characters can not only be customized with clothes, hair cuts and accessories but you can seamlessly interact with other players online with the avatar you created.

The online for the game is also some of the best integration there is. Essentially taking the entire island and making it online (of course when you are actually online) and will bring the nearest eight players in your view to interact with. Like the first game I’ve met great people by just exploring the island and coming across a group that were together. You can also challenge players online into a head to head by flashing your headlights at them. The games audio is also above average featuring its own radio stations and a good amount of tracks from different genres.

TDU 2 throws a ton at you and that’s where some of the problems come into play. The game doesn’t know how to manage all the game modes and types of play it has in it. At times it will literally seem like your the most popular person on earth with your cellphone constantly ringing off the hook for new missions that are separate from each other. Making decisions on whether to buy that nice property off the coast or get the car for that next license are only some of the things that will leave you scratching your head on which to do first. The games character models are also not great and while shouldn’t be a big focus, the fact that it does become a representation of yourself (or however you want to make them) along side other online players could have been worked on.

The game has also been experiencing some issues and while being addressed, it shipped with players not knowing if they should continue their play through in fear of errors. Overall it does feel overwhelming at times and while not all games should hold your hand, a good run down of everything one by one could have been a big help. The games story is also not very engaging as its only real means is to advance you in the game itself. With that said when the game is at its best it’s a hell of alot of fun. Racing others, getting together with a car crew, talking trash or just exploring the island feels great.

With a game as big as TDU 2 it’s easy to overlook some of its faults on execution. There is so much to do that it’ll have you busy for a long time. Other racing devs should take note that the starting point on features should start here and not to be light on them. For those that are into racers will feel very much at home but at the same time might find frustration on its downfalls. Others will have to take caution but keep an open mind on how different this game is to other racers.

Overall = 7.7

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]