Bad Company VS Modern Warfare

I'm reviewing these games together as they were released within 4-5 months of each other and as I see it, are direct competitors for the FPS market. Plus I own them both, so a direct comparison is the best way for me to approach them. I'm currently online Lvl 37, 200+hrs on BC2 and Lvl 38, 30+hrs on MW2.

Just to confirm, I am personally biased towards Bad Company. It was the first out of the 2 I owned and it suits my playing style better. However, I will do my best to give an unbiased review (bar the 'gamestyle' review, sorry for that) and comparison as I see it. I am basing my review on the online experience through PSN, without DLC or perk effects.

Explosive Effects

MW2 appears more 'Hollywood' in its rendering and effectiveness of explosives. Explosives in MW2 do more damge to 'you' than in BC2, but leave the environment, barring windows and explosive objects such as cars and barrels, intact and standing.

BC2 has more 'actual' effects on surroundings thanks to its fully destructable environment. In BC2 you can actually knock buildings down, blast away walls and shred undergrowth in a progressive manner, ie: C4 on structural walls will bring a house down. On non-structural walls, they'll just destroy the walls but the house will still stand.

Player Movement

MW2 has more 'realistic' movement, your player tires after running and slows to a jog. Weapons seem heavier and are relative, ie: you can run for longer armed with a pistol or SMG, than with a Stinger Missile or Shotgun. The fact that you can 'run' indefinitely in BC2 can however be justified by the larger maps available but does detract from the realism.

In MW2 you can go into the prone position, something BC2 noticeably lacks and can be most irritating at times, especially if you are used to MW2. Sensitivity adjustment is comparable in both. Player directional control, although relative to the correct settings for the player, is also smooth and tactile in both.

BC2 Vehicles

In BC2, all vehicles are freely available to all players and are usually located in, or close to, the main bases or spawn sites. Depending on the map, different vehicles are available. From Heavy Tanks and Attack Helicopters, to Smaller Tracked vehicles, All-Purpose mini-gun bearing Helicopters, HumVees and similar 4WD type 'cars' with mounted machine guns to Boats with mounted weapons. For a more personalized form of transportation, you can choose from Jetski's and Quadbikes. Unarmed but ideal for 'rushing' the enemy and getting up close and personal, in as fast a time as possible from re-spawning at base camp.

Hosting vs Dedicated Servers

Unfortunately this is MW2's biggest failing. BC2 uses dedicated servers to ensure a smoother and more reliable online experience. MW2 relies on a hosting format, which, if the 'host' player drops out or suffers a connection glitch, means at best, gameplay is interrupted, at worst, the match simply ends. To make the most of MW2 and to overcome 'some' of the problems, ensure you have a good reliable connection, preferably hardwired and invest in the best broadband speeds you can justify. This will overcome some of the 'lag' problems many suffer from. This isn't to say BC2 is perfect, it isn't. There are occasional dropouts and inexplicable difficulties in initial connection and some lag at peak times but on the whole, these happen far less frequently and intrusively than on MW2.

Summary

Overall, it is dependant on your initial ability, own playing style and commitment to the game in question, that will determine which game is more enjoyable for you. There are too many pro's and not enough con's in both games to determine which is best. I happen to prefer BC2 but I recommend you buy or at least hire both if you are interested 'in the dark side', whichever that may be. But for FPS fans, I can wholeheartedly and highly recommend that both games should be part of your collection.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6537815

The Best Assassins Creed : Brotherhood

The online multiplayer for assassin's creed brotherhood is one of the best multiplayer games I've played in a long time. Before playing the multiplayer I was curious to how it would work. Ubisoft have put a lot of thought into the multiplayer and offer game types such as Wanted, Alliance and Manhunt.

This game type is a free-for-all kind of game, where the player finds themselves with a target and a pursuer at the same time. I personally think this game type is quite tricky as you have to stay stealthy to get the most points for an incognito kill but have to be alert and ready to escape from your pursuer.

If you were to enter an Alliance game I would recommend you do so with a friend or someone you know that has a headset because communication is key. Alliance consists of three teams of two, each team being a hunter and being pursued. Before the game starts it will let you know who is your pursuer and who is you target.

A manhunt game lasts 10 minutes, it's separated into two halves. The first half your team will either be the hunters or the hunted, if you're on the hunted team your objective is to stay hidden and survive whilst if you're on the hunter's side your objective is to kill. In the second half of the game the roles switch over. In my opinion this is the best game type as it's easy to lever up because you can gain a lot of experience from having 3-4 to kill.

The newest game type is quite an interesting game, here you will find yourself in a game with two teams of three or four players defending or capturing the chest. The protector's compass leads them to the hunters but not the chests. The hunters compasses lead them to all three of the chests. To capture a chest the hunter must stand within a circle that's around the chest, the more hunters within the circle the faster they capture the chest. When a protector is around the chest their compass de-synchronises therefore you'll be forced to use you observation skill to work out who are the hunters and who are the AI.

As far as the story mode goes for this game I think it's truly awesome! I've personally only completed the first Assassin's Creed, I gave the second one a chance but I become easily annoyed as I tried to chase Ezio's brother I kept auto sitting on a bench and continued to lose the race so therefore gave up on that one. I've yet to finish the story mode but so far so good! I'm not quite sure what's going on in the game as I've missed a huge chapter by not completing the second game but I will update this once I've completed it.

Comments about Assassins Creed: Brotherhood

Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood is the third game in the AC canon despite the fact that Ubisoft is reserving the actual numeral 3 for the next iteration of the franchise. The game picks up where Assassin's Creed II leaves off, so if you haven't played the previous titles, you may be better off starting there. Just in case though, here's the breakdown. Desmond has been recently liberated from the Abstergo Company who, by using a device called the animus, forced him to relive his ancestors' memories in the search of information on the whereabouts of a long hidden artifact that is itself the key to world domination. Desmond and his rescuers find a secluded place to set up their own animus to further probe his ancestors' memories- in this instance, one particular ancestor: Enzio Auditore da Firenze. Yeah, I know. It's complicated.

When we last saw Enzio at the end of the 15th century, all kinds of crazy stuff went down, and the end result is a Rome run by the Borgias. The previous game's villain, the Spaniard Rodrigo Borgia, has secured the artifact, the Apple of Eden, and has become Pope. The Templars, now backed by the Papacy, launch an attack against the Assassins and Enzio, and his few surviving allies are forced into hiding out in the city of Rome to bide their time and rebuild.

Much of AC: Brotherhood's single-player experience remains faithful to AC2, but a few new dynamics are thrown in that prove to be a positive addition to the already tried and true Assassin's Creed gameplay. For one, Enzio can recruit new assassins into the order. Once you have liberated a district from Borgia rule, you can rescue citizens fighting the guards and train them to become assassins. You can then send them out on contracts in exchange for cash and occasional items. If not out on a contract, the assassin can be called out to assist in battle, to silently take out a guard in Enzio's path, or if Enzio has been busy recruiting, have them rain arrows down on a patrol or guard station.

In addition to the rebuilding effort, you'll also be tasked with assisting the other guilds allied with the assassin order (namely, the consorts, thieves and mercenaries) on several missions, and an old friend will call on you to recover some stolen schematics. All the while Enzio will be making his play to recover the stolen apple from the Spaniard. Throw in the usual flags, feathers and various treasure chests to hunt down, and the single-player campaign will easily last you a good 35+ hours if you're a completionist.

A Warhammer 40,000 Legion:Space Wolves

In the futuristic, dystopian, war-torn universe of Warhammer 40k, in the year 40,000, the Space Wolves are a force to be reckoned with. Originally Led by the Primarch Leman Russ, they form a quasi-invincible army of the most loyal soldiers in humanity's army.

The Space Wolves are the VI Space Marine Legion, a unit destined for Leman Russ, one of the twenty genetically-engineered sons of the Emperor of Mankind. Stolen soon after his conception in the Emperor's gene vaults, he was spirited to a distant world by the Powers of Chaos, and raised by a tribe of semi-sentient wolves. Eventually, he was adopted by the fierce human colonists and learned the ways of man, discovering that he was more human than wolf, and yet superior to both. When he rose to fame and the Emperor recognized in his actions the quality of a Primarch, one of his genetically engineered sons, Leman Russ was given the command of the Space Marine Legion destined for him, and he renamed it the Space Wolves.

The Space Wolves themselves, as Space Marines or Adeptus Astartes, are bio-engineered warriors enhanced with the Emperor's own gene-seed. Harsh training and conditioning allow them to survive where others would die many times over. Not all Space Marine recruits survive either the training or the genetic enhancements. And those who do survive are still threatened by mutations caused by the Imperial gene-seed. A successor chapter of the Wolves, the Wolf Brothers, fell victim to rampant mutation and was disbanded.

The planet Fenris, where Leman Russ, Primarch (founder) of the sons of Russ grew up, is a prime recruiting ground for the VI Space Marine Legion. Harsh, inhospitable, and inhabited by humans whose existence is centered around survival against both the upheavals of the planet and each other, Fenris only allows the strongest and the best to survive, and only the best of those become Wolves recruits.

To the inhabitants of Fenris, the Wolves are known as the Sky Warriors, living in their high polar island above the unstable archipelagos of the planet. Leman Russ kept Fenris as the headquarters of the Space Wolves. The planet is situated at the end of the Warp rift known as the Eye of Terror, and thus form the first line of defense of the Imperium against the Forces of Chaos. The Wolves stand guard against raids and incursions into Mankind's realm through the rift.

World of Warcraft: Blood Elves

An expansion game for WOW is called Burning Crusade. Within it players can choose from a variety of races including the Blood Elves. With the Burning Crusade Blood Elves, players are taking control of a long standing, proud army of stoic warriors.

The Blood Elves' history is steeped in slaughter and bloodshed, hence their name. Born of the High Elf kingdom, these noble creatures were once a powerful part of the now lost land of Sunwell. When the mad Prince Arthas invaded their land and resurrected the Lich Kel-Thuzad, he decimated their people, nearly destroying the entire race.

But not all were killed. The survivors were hardened by this harrowing experience and thus became a darker version of their former selves. Learning from one of the last remaining of the royal bloodline named Kael, they began descending into an even darker escapade of their history. They began tapping into the mystic energy of demonic origin and are now shunned by most of their kin.

Much before this changing of their nature, the high elves were considered outcasts from the Alliance and left their original homeland in search of something else. Thus began the dwelling in Sunwell.

They were determined to create a life for themselves, a new beginning.

Their power and influence grew as they settled into their new home, drawing much power from the Sunwell's mystical energies. They fed on this power, using it to develop their powers to defend themselves from many of the harsh inhabitants of the world around them.

But this hardship strengthened those that survived, making them the powerful Burning Crusade Blood Elves they are today. This is an army worthy of commitment while playing the game of Warcraft. It is a proud history and one that should be thought of with reverence and honor.

Blood Elves are a race that requires a bit more finesse than the hard changing orcs for example or the slowing but relentless undead. Use their powerful magic to your advantage. Whatever party you join in this huge sprawling multi-player world will benefit from your skills.

There are many classes available to Blood Elf players. Choose one that fits your style of play as you will spend many hours in this WOW: Burning Crusade.

Illidan -- You are not Prepared!

I'm sure Illidan is one the most powerful and attactive role in Warcraft 3 and World of Warcraft, at least he is my favorite role. In the official novels, his charecter is so vivid. We know he is so loving Tyrande and talented, but he doesn't end well. And he was gived a name -- the Betrayer. Who does he betray or was he betrayed?

Illidan's story arc was basically done when Arthas nearly killed him at the end of The Frozen Throne. Ever since then I think Illidan has devolved into a broken spirit, he failed his masters, and from what we know about patch 2.4, it appears that Kil'Jaeden had no real interest in trying to use Illidan again, as he seems to be putting much emphasis on the Blood Elves still loyal to Kael'thas to help him return to Azeroth.

Yet, Illidan's withdrawal from magic had taken it's toll on him. He left his companions and warned Azshara of Malfurion's plan. Malfurion and his allies soon attacked the Well, and in the midst of combat, Illidan procured an amount of the Well's water and disappeared. The Well was ruined, and the earth was ripped apart.

Illidan had powerful feelings for Tyrande Whisperwind, a novice priestess in the Sisters of Elune. Illidan so desired to impress Tyrande that he often acted without thinking, in particular in magic; he never realized that these displays weren't quite what the priestess was looking for in a mate. But while Illidan struggled to win her heart, none of them realized that the battle was over soon after it had begun; Tyrande had chosen Malfurion almost from the beginning. Xavius knew of this and used his power to darken Illidan's thoughts, convincing him that if Malfurion were to die, Illidan would no more have a rival for Tyrande's love. Finally the sight of Tyrande in the arms of his brother Malfurion shattered his final ties to the defenders.

But as a WOWer, we can know that his role ended in Black Temple. As far as Illidan's arch goes, remember, Illidan is THE demon hunter the same way his brother Malfurion is THE druid. Illidan is also the reason for the well of eternity and therefore considerably accountable for Azeroth's most recent confrontation with the Burning Legion. Kil'Jaeden leads the Burning Legion for Sargeras and is the lore's most powerful demon.

Let's try this game -- warhammer 40K

If you aren't new to Warhammer 40k, chances are this has happened to you. When it happens, usually it takes any number of styles, whether it be the army no more grabbing your eye, or how the inspiration that motivated you to begin the army is no more there.

Other forms include playing and finding out an military is not suited to your play style, as an example a Chaos Marine player being too fond of death or glory style assaults might find themselves moving onto an army more expendable troops.

It may simply turn out that you find your army no longer unique, with everybody else collecting it, or worse yet, all of the above.

Certainly this is what happened with my Space Marines, and it's the cost incurred, or rather wasted, that inspired me to write this cautionary tale.

I got into Warhammer 40k through the Dawn of War video games, and the Dreadnought was my favorite unit in the game, after all that which is not cool about a huge robot piloted by an undead hero? So I went with my heart and played Space Marines to use Dreadnoughts.

So that is what I did, collecting Dreadnoughts, building every possible combination that I could, before long I had 4, and adding other Space Marine forces made sense, tactical squads, assault squads, even a battle force. But these models, yet great they looked (not mine), captured my imagination the way Dreadnoughts did.

Flash-forward a few months and my friend was getting back into Warhammer 40k, starting with the Assault on Black Reach set, collecting Space Marines. Avoiding the same army battle provides the excuse to move onto Chaos Space Marines, who being the Uber-villains of Warhammer 40k captured my imagination in a way Space Marines could not. Finding many Space Marine players at my local Games Workshop encouraged this desertion, and it is unlikely I will bother with a Space Marine army again.

This is not to say I'm off Space Marines absolutely, I still think the models look great, to put it accurately there exists an unpainted Dreadnought on my shelf currently. Even looking at them in White Dwarf, reading about them in the books, or seeing an army on a web site, sets me thinking of what I could cope with them. Just last week I got a perception for a White Consul army after reading Dark Creed by Anthony Reynolds, but while I might attempt the odd display piece, if I think about it, I know such army would be lucky to check out the tabletop.

So I continue to refrain from buying any more Space Marines, beyond the occasional part for a conversion, or indulging myself with a Dreadnought. As for what I already own, I am selling it to clear space. Hopefully reading this will ensure you never find yourselves in the same position.

the Addictiveness of Diablo 2

The grade of addiction that Diablo 2 creates on whoever plays it, is beyond any thing you may have ever imagined. Now with some new Diablo 2 items it can be even more addictive. Many avid game players have been waiting for the release of this new version since Blizzard announced the sequel to the much acclaimed game Diablo. Although the wait was long, we can say it was worth the while; we are finally able to play Diablo 2 and you ought to get your agenda well prepared, as you will need to spend many hours of your time, playing this game.

This new version of Diablo has new distinct characteristics. In this version, we will be qualified to play with two new characters, named Necromace and Amazona, also to the original characters in the previous version by the names Barbaro, Mago and Paladin. Some other new features in this new version of Diablo are the new abilities the characters will have and also some new Diablo 2 Items. Another interesting feature is that every time you pass to the next level, you will manage to make your character more specialized in something.

This game has four different Acts in all of which you will be going after Diablo and all its demonic brothers. You will need to complete certain missions and tasks in order to advance to the next level and you will need to use some of the spells and tricks that you may have learned. Every little thing you do through out the game will make your character either stronger or weaker. If you intend to defeat the diabolical demons then you ought to be really prepared.

Diablo 2 has several games modes, all of which will make your heart jump out. Playing this game is rather thrilling and you will spend many hours entertaining yourself when playing it. The new D2 items that are in this version are simply incomparable. They will make your gaming experience much more interesting and joyful. There are many items to pick from and all of them will give your character more probabilities of defeating the devil. You can either purchase some of these items or earn some by playing. The items are not quite expensive and they will add a lot more excitement to your favorite game. If you love playing Diablo 2, then some of these items is just what you need and getting them is particularly easy.

You can visit a Diablo item store online and get some of them for your game. This is a good idea because it will be like playing a absolutely new game every time you add something to your character. Whatever item you select to get, it will surely grant you many new options and Diablo 2 will become even more addictive than it already was. By playing this game only once, the probabilities of you to become addicted to it are enormous, nonetheless it truly is worth taking the risk.