As Colton White, you led the simple life with your father, Ned; hunting on the plains and minding your own business when trouble came a-callin’. Unfortunately, trouble comes a-callin’ pretty darn loud at the outset of the game, and you have to be pretty quick on the draw to stay alive after an attack on the riverboat leaves you minus one dad and full of a whole lot of questions. Along the way through GUN’s exquisitely twisting Western plot, you’ll fight against and alongside Apaches, bring down a ruthless evil Mayor, and gun down more miscreants than Billy the Kid could ever hope to send reaping the whirlwind.

GUN’s action is instantly satisfying, and thoroughly enjoyable, especially for third person shooter fans. Actually, fans of the GRAND THEFT AUTO series may find much to like here as well, as the game features a sprawling free-roaming environment, where just about any task can be accomplished. Want to earn cash by being a bounty hunter? Just read the wanted posters. Feel like joining the right side of the law? Help out the local sheriff in Dodge City and keep the peace. Run delivery races for the Pony Express, or even hone your skills with animals by working as a farmhand, or hunting down wild prey. Just about the only thing they leave out is the roping and spitting. There’s a good bit to do around GUNs different locales, but in the end, it may leave you wanting more Sure, the features they throw in are fun and certainly worth doing, but there really just aren’t enough of them. Still, it is the developer’s first effort for the genre and the style of free-roaming mission based gameplay, so we’ll forgive them this. And if the bullets are whizzin’ by your head too quickly, you can just drop into a first person mode, or pull out your six gun for some bullet time “quickdraw” action, with precision enough to pull off difficult headshots or shoot weapons out of you attacker’s hands.

Action on horseback is even more exciting than wandering around on foot, and a hell of a lot faster, too. PETA activists will surely be up in arms a bit with how you can take out attackers by shooting the horse out from under them, but such is the way of the old West. Plus, Colton doesn’t really run very fast, and the horse adds such much needed speed to your step. Just mosey on over to any of the horses scattered around, saddle or not, and hop on…much like jacking a car. They control much the same Colton does, just a bit higher on the playing field, and with a bit of extra oomph for getting around quickly. You can even trample your adversaries if your shootin’s not up to scratch.

If there’s one complaint I have for the game, however, it’s the length. Even with completing all the side quests and finishing the main story, it only took me about ten hours to complete. Still, there’s a good amount of stuff to do and collect, like mining for gold, or obtaining all the different weapons throughout the game (though I wish you actually got something for collecting the scalps of your defeated foes…sick, I know). There’s also an “Insane” difficulty selection, which amps up the enemy intensity (which makes defeating the main boss Macgruder even more of a bitch).

The game’s real selling point, though, is certainly the story. Flowing like a feature film and written by Randall Johnson (The Doors, Mask of Zorro)and featuring Hollywood voice talent such as Tom Jane, Tom Skerritt, Kris Kristopherson, Ron Perlman, Lance Henrickson and more, the game’s plot is one that really kept me involved in the game. The dialogue just feels Western; the vernacular, the twang, the sheer emphasis behind it all…not to mention the plot twists, arching exposition and general well crafted storytelling just encapsulates a game that screams to be finished, just to find out what happens next. That, coupled with some stellar motion-capture cut-scenes and well done (yet, typically spotty in places) animation, really moves the story along so well, I’d almost like to see a feature film made using the exact script, and hell, the actors as well, but I already know how it’ll end.

For western fans who tire of the limited environments of RED DEAD REVOLVER and might like the idea of GTA: DODGE CITY (though not as big as you may hope), this is definitely one you should pick up. And while the hardcore may find it a bit on the easy side, the narrative and truly old school boss battles will keep things just rich enough. I just hope a sequel is planned with a longer bit of time spent and more to do within the authentic cowboy world.

One Gamer’s Opinion:

WWE’VE RUN OUT OF CATCHY TITLES FOR OUR YEARLY WRESTLING GAMES

Once again, the Create-A-Superstar takes a hold of me as soon as I start up the game. I delve in, taking a full two hours to hone my look, move set, and even perfect the different camera angles for my entrance. Then it’s time to take my crated character into the ring. In my first exhibition match, I decide to take on Triple H. I notice a funny number underneath each of our photos on the match-up. His is a high 96, and mine, a paltry 38. Not sure what this means, so the match starts.

Evidentially, this means I am unable to physically even TOUCH Triple H in a match. He thoroughly STOMPS my dumb ass and sends me packing, with him taking nary a scratch. I then decide it’s time to fiddle with the difficulty level, and see how I fare in season mode. Building of my stats seems like a necessity. And so it goes, through a rather well done story session. Here, you can “choose your own wrestling adventure”, as it were, and decide with whom you form alliances, and who your enemies will be. Still, after a good solid “month” in season time, I still hadn’t won a match.

It’s not that the AI is terribly difficult to beat. No, actually, for once, the skills of your opponents finally seem in balance. Unlike HERE COMES THE PAIN, the AI isn’t so tough where you’ll perform three finishing moves and still wind up stomped in the end. Each wrestler has a stamina meter, and careful monitoring of this will influence how hard you hit and how long you can keep hitting. You can’t just wail endlessly on your foes. Also, more-so than ever, the game practically hinges on your ability to properly time counter-moves. With enough finesse and practice, one could be the superstar they dream of being. I only keep losing because I just plain suck at the game.

Still, that won’t stop me from taking my own created title belt online…but it will keep me from keeping it. The game’s robust online features will be sure to please fans, and the new modes of play for offline exhibitions will also have the regular watchers salivating at all the wrestling goodies within. Hell, who am I to shy away from a Diva Fantasy match?

All in all, the series has come a long way from its humble beginnings on PSOne. And all for the better as well, as this is certainly the best Wrestling game for PS2, and possibly any other console out currently. I should have a look at its PSP brethren in the next week or so, to see how well the portable version stacks up.

One Gamer’s Opinion:

SHADOW OF ITS FORMER GAMES

For starters, the game has some hideous jumping and hit detection. Numerous times I died, simply by misjudging where the edge of a floating rock was. Then, there’s the frame-rate and pacing issues. While the GBA adventures have been fairly smooth running, this title seems to jag along, and even with minimal foes on screen, seems choppy and chaotic. Add to the fact that the little purple dragon just moves SO damn slow…even when dashing, he’s not so dashing.

Then, there’s the touch screen features. What should have made this game interesting, with all it’s newly implemented RPG style features, only serves to drag things from dull to downright yawn-worthy. You have to completely stop moving to initiate any touch screen spells, and many of them are slightly complex in nature, requiring that you draw the icon EXACTLY as intended, otherwise, the spell won’t work.

With so many downfalls, it’s almost a wonder as to how this game ever got released, as everything about it seems slap-dash and added as an afterthought. When the whole game acts as an afterthought, merely to market a popular character onto a new platform, it’s time to look elsewhere for fun.

One Gamer’s Opinion:

YELLOW PANTS

Obviously geared towards the younger gamers, the game pits four players against each other in a competition to win a starring role in a Mermaidman movie being filmed at Bikini Bottom. As you progress through the series of mini games, you build up points depending on how well you completed each task, and at the end, the player with the most wins the role for that particular challenge.

Everything is fairly straight forward, and the controls for each event are laid out for you as it loads. Be it flipping burgers, taking orders from customers at the Krabby Patty, or engaging in a race as you inflate your pants (no, I’m not kidding). The action is fun, and it’s certainly meant to be played with a group of people, though the single player game offers a good deal to do as well, with you teaming up with some AI controlled partners at times. Often, however, they tend to not perform as well as you might, and you’ll end up losing challenges due to their ineptness. Just like on the show, I suppose.

There’s a variety of things to unlock, and at the end of each section, you can view that part of the movie, filmed with whichever character won that series of challenges. This one is definitely for the fans, though, as most everyone else will wonder what the hell is going on.

One Gamer’s Opinion:

For the DS, however, a completely separate game awaits fans that pick up SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS: THE YELLOW AVENGER. Here, it’s straight-forward action-platforming, as Spongebob takes up the mantle of superhero, donning Mermaidman’s utility belt and fighting off the Dirty Bubble’s minions as they try to take over Bikini Bottom.

Here, the action slips from 2D (or 2.5D, as the backgrounds are somewhat three dimensional) platforming on the streets of Bikini Bottom, to 3D rendered exploration (sans jumping) of the interiors of the townsfolk’s homes, such as Squidward and Patrick. The game’s simple premise and easy controls allow for ease of gameplay, but sometimes, the goals aren’t too clear (though you can always check them readily at the tap of the touch screen).

Spongebob also has all the powers of Mermaidman, as the belt allows him to throw water bubbles and spin attack nearby foes. Though the initiation of these attacks is registered by pads spread around the city, it doesn’t detract too much. Again, another title meant for the younger player, but older fans of the series will still have something to enjoy.

It’s not the finest action game or platformer by any means, but it’s a serviceable adventure that will please fans of the show, or even just folks who’re looking for something a little weird and fun on DS.

One Gamer’s Opinion:

INFECTIOUS

In INFECTED, you play as a cop in New York during a viral outbreak…at Christmas. Somehow, you are the only human whose blood is immune to the outbreak, and as such, are the only one who can save the city. Armed with a viral gun, you splatter every undead creep walking the streets. Of course, you need to soften them up first, as it’s not all “one-twitch-and-they’re-gone” shooting. No, first, you need to lay a little lead into them with your ballistic weapons, (pistol, shotgun, rocket launcher, etc) and when the halo around them changes from yellow to red, only then can the splatter-fest begin.

And what a splatter-fest it is, too. The game is fairly simplistic in its controls. One button for the ballistic weapons, one for the viral gun, another for target lock, and one to toggle special weapons on and off. Fairly simple in its control, but unendingly fun in it’s execution. As you tag the various dead-heads with the viral gun, you can trigger chains depending on their proximity to other zombies. As the red “blood rope” strings foes together, you can splat them all for monster combos, which unlocks even more kick ass weaponry and score totals. The viral chainsaw is a particular favorite.

The levels aren’t all “splat them all” stages, either. Some require you to save civilians, save haz-mat teams, or even collect the non-infected and drop them off at air-lifts to get them away from the undead. Still, all the while, keeping the infection in that particular area in check by laying waste to any zombie you see. Each stage also has a series of goals. Between the stages, the action is peppered with some truly inspired cut-scenes as well as audio dialogues between characters. The humor throughout these kept me playing just to hear and see more of the crazed antics on the news channel, or just hear what idiotic thing the commissioner would say next.

For multiplayer, the Ad-Hoc mode is where the action can truly shine, with splat-tastic fun for up to 8 players. In a series of deathmatch variations (including Mad Cow, where one character is…actually a cow) your own personal avatar can infect your opponents’ game if you win a match. Defeat them in battle and your avatar will infect three separate stages in the single player game until they defeat you, or cleanse those areas of your own personal “infection”. Sadly, the online Infrastructure mode only allows play for 2 players at a time, but you still can spread your sick seed across the internet wirelessly, one person at a time.

While the action can get repetitive, I just can’t seem to put the game down. Its fun, it’s funny, and it’s frantic. Its zombies and guts and glory. And I love it.

One Gamer’s Opinion:

PARTY UP IN HERE

For Gamecube fans, not only is this the first title other than the lat two MARIO PARTY games to utilize their funky microphone peripheral, but also the newly released dance mat. The PS2 and Xbox versions share the dance features as well, as players try to sing and step to the music. The normal game mode of working your way up the ranks of different karaoke notoriety has been replaced with a simple quick-play game, which allows you to unlock more songs and outfits for you newly custom created characters, depending on how many platinum or diamond records you achieve over time.

The duets mode has returned from the previous PS2 outing, as has the medley mode, and the game features about 50 songs in all. Xbox fans will be able to have a bit more, as the game’s Xbox Live compatibility allows for downloads of newer tracks. The PS2 version offers some cool customization features, as well as the ability to see how silly you are singing and dancing, both using the system’s eye-toy peripheral.

While it’s not as single-player friendly as the previous games, that’s probably where the “party” comes into the title, as multiplayer is really where the game gets it’s legs (or pipes, as it were). For fun singing and dancing (drunken or otherwise) this will have you karaoke-ing until the cows come home…just bear in mind the sound curfews in your area.

One Gamer’s Opinion:

YOU OUGHTA BE IN MOVIES

You begin in the 1920s as head of your own studio, in the fledgling business of film making. You hire your actors, directors, crew, studio janitors and extras. Screen writers are hired for the studio to pen your films. At first, they’re pretty simplistic, but as technology advances, your films become better and more advanced. You pay attention to the trends (or have you studio scientists discovering new trends to jump ahead of your rivals) and make what the populace wants to see. As the game continues through the years, you earn awards, build more sets, acquire new costumes, and even gain the ability to “script” you own films using pre-made templates of scene situations.

The Advanced Scriptwriting office allows you to place scenes based on your set into a film strip grid, and alter costumes, props, and which actors are playing which parts. As you progress through the game, your freedom for design is opened a bit more and you’ll have more things to play with in your scripts. You can even have your studio win awards based on its achievements.

The core of the game remains a “tycoon” style game. Micro management of stars attitudes (whether they need trailers, a raise, or just want to blow off some steam in the bar or by binging on food), maintenance of the studio lot and its facilities and general hiring and firing duties. Oh, and of course, greenlighting scripts and getting productions under way. The simple click and drag interface makes all of this management a breeze, and often you’ll forgo all the micro management stuff just to watch your films being made, or witness the paparazzi snapping photos of your studios high-grossing starlettes.

While a bit more freedom in your scene design might be more fun, it’s still possible to create an entertaining film using the pre-made scenes they give you, and sliders alter the outcome of each particular scene. Actors can emote anger, fear or the like depending on the scene situations, and as technology progress, camera angles can be altered as well. As you progress, you can take your pre-made films to the production office to make quicker cuts and the like, or even add voiceovers and such. There’s even the option to have characters lip synch you words! You can even create your own stars in the Starmaker character creator, separate from the game, but I have yet to be able to import one I’ve made.

With time, you’ll soon be making cinematic masterpieces, which you can then upload to the game’s website, for the whole world to see. The thing that excites me the most with this game, however, is the possibilities of what’s to come down the road with the inevitable expansion packs, such as new costumes, sets and the like. The possibilities to recreate “Clerks” or make your own “Fight Club” sequel simply boggle the mind.

One Gamer’s Opinion:

As some of you may know, the Xbox 360 has already been unleashed unto the world. As a video game reviewer, it is my duty to bring you my thoughts on the newest hardware and software titles for every possible system available. The problem is, this new system isn’t really AVAILABLE, as I’m sure many of you know. Since I’m one of “the little guys” as reviewers go, I have not yet even received my own 360 yet. Yes, I have games for it, just sitting there on the shelf, waiting to be played, and yet, nothing to play them on. I have to wait for my pre-order to come in, just like the rest of the folks who got roped into doing so. It’s not the retailer’s fault, to be honest. No, the blame here falls solely on Microsoft. Instead of making plenty of the system and having them readily available for the holiday sales season, they instead decided to short the US supply by half: sending 500,000 or the intended 1,000,000 units to the UK for a simultaneous launch. Now, to me, this is simply just a dumb move. While they could have had plenty to go around, it would not only escalate sales (simply by being released near the holidays) but also give them a foothold in the “console wars”. Folks would be able to get the system now, and cement their position with Microsoft, so by the time PS3 rolls around, they’d have an established customer base and probably hold their own against Sony. As it stands now, they’ve taken a page from the Nintendo playbook, and make units scarce to come by, and flooded the secondary market with folks willing to sell their Core units for a grand a piece (and even worse, folks willing to pay it since they’re in such short supply). Then, there are the folks who’ve managed to GET the system, only to have it freeze, lock up, or worse yet, scratch games and overheat. While it may seem as though Microsoft dropped the ball here and released a system full of bugs, honestly, these cases only represent roughly 7% of all the units sold so far. These kinds of problems are actually TYPICAL for a system launch (anyone remember the disc drive errors from your PS2, or, even more recently, dead pixels on you PSP?). Granted, they still may have released the system a bit prematurely (I still think the original Xbox has some life left in it) and these errors are nothing that quality testing could have prevented, but they wanted to get some good free press by only making limited quantities of a system and releasing them just mere days before Black Friday. If you were lucky enough to stand in the cold for 12 hours and snake yourself one, more power to you. I just hope yours isn’t part of that 7%. Still, one has to wonder, why were the supplies shorted? Weren’t they giving these fucking things away with Mountain Dew? Like, every ten minutes? Again, Microsoft likes free press. System launches come and go…and I just hope we don’t see a repeat of this mess when the PS3 finally drops.

With that, I bid you all a fond adieu, and I’ll be back next week with even more loads of games. Until then, dear friends.

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