Ravaged

titleWhen 2 Dawn Games contacted us about doing a review on their first title, Ravaged, I was both excited and nervous.  Excited because I really enjoy indie games and playing stuff developed by small game companies. Indie companies are not restrained by being too large. They are able to listen to their fan base and give players what they want (to an extent) and it often leads to some really cool and enjoyable features in game. I was also nervous however because Ravaged because my experience with class based shooters has been very polarized, they are ether amazing or a total flop. Let’s hope that being an Indy game will help Ravaged be one of the great games. With that being said, I head into the post-apocalyptic storm ravaged world that is Ravaged.

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Borderlands 2

titleBorderlands. While most people know what the game is now, not many had heard of it before its release in 2009. It quickly became a smash hit and a household name with its clever writing, enjoyable gameplay, and its bazillion guns. With the sequel launching on September 18th this year, I saw my entire Steam friends list switch to Borderlands 2 only moments after its launch. Gearbox has done it again, I have only managed to quit playing the game long enough to write this review.

 

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LanOC Preview: Medal of Honor - Multiplayer

MOH_ShotRecently, the folks over at EA and Digital Illusions CE allowed PC gamers to participate in open beta testing for the multiplayer component of EA's upcoming first-person shooter Medal of Honor (MoH). One of LanOC's editors was among these participants. His identity has been concealed for security purposes... Okay, it was Tim.

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LANOC Breaks Down the Engie Update

Engie_Update_LogoHowdy partners, circle the wagons, light a fire and I'll spin ya a tale of science gone mad. Of course I'm speaking about this past weekend's latest Team Fortress 2 update: The Engineer Update. Join LANOC's Tim Ashdown as he breaks down the latest update to best multiplayer game going.

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Bioshock 2 - PC

BioShock2_2010-04-03_13-40-09-32_lanocfrontWhen the first Bioshock was released back in 2007, one may have considered it a sleeper hit. At least at first. It wasn't long before the title became immensely popular, even to the point of spawning perhaps one of the most substantial phrases in the current gaming era. Bioshock 2 has since enjoyed the limelight its predecessor had acquired, being one of the most anticipated games of 2010. Several weeks after it's release, and some fresh DLC, I take a look back on the title. Would you kindly join me?

 

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Trine - PC

Trine_LeadHaving the opportunity to play a game that hasn't gotten a lot of press is a chance to make known the truth about something most people may not have tried. It's kind of like when a new flavor of energy drink comes out. I mean you don't want to waste your money on it (FYI, RockStar Cola sucks). Hit the jump as I take you through the world of Trine and let you know what makes it good, what makes it bad and most importantly why loin clothes are making a comeback.

 

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Altitude - PC

Altitude_TitleAltitude is best described as a mish-mash of everything people like about multiplayer games. Seeing as how all of the editors here at LanOC Reviews have put many hours into the likes of Call of Duty, Team Fortress 2 and myriad of other multiplayer titles we all decided to give Altitude shot. Here's what we thought.

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Dark Void - PC

DV_Nvidia_screen055_bmp_jpgcopyCapcom's much anticipated foot-and-air hybrid finally released on January 19th, developed by Airtight Games on the Unreal Engine 3. Airtight has created a mix of on the ground first-person action  with aerial thrid-person flight and combat, Dark Void was a title we were anxious to get our hands on I finally get to sit down to reflect on my experience with the latest title from Capcom.

 

 

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LanOC Preview: BioShock 2

bioshock2dteaThis past Friday our Managing Editor Tim was lucky enough to participate in a media conference call with the developers at 2K Marin, the development studio behind BioShock 2: the highly anticipated follow up to 2007's BioShock. Here's what LanOC Reviews found out about 2K's upcoming shooter.

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Left 4 Dead 2

l4d2_pc_box_sm_One of the most surprising announcements at last year's E3 was that Valve's zombie-survival thriller Left 4 Dead was already getting a sequel. The game would only have been out for exactly one year from Left 4 Dead 2's date of arrival, November 17, 2009. The gaming industry was swept with a broad range of emotions, from excitement to enough resentment to incite a boycott. Left 4 Dead 2 (L4D2) has been out for a few weeks now, and we've sat down with it to see if it not only has deemed itself worthy of a full core game, but helped to heal the wounds that a rocky launch left behind.

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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 - PS3

MW2PreviewCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is not only one of the most anticipated games of this year, it is also one of the most anticipated games of all time. With so much hype surrounding a game it can be difficult to keep a clear head. Today I do my best to ignore all the bru-ha-ha and give Modern Warfare 2 an honest try.

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Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 - Xbox 360

MUA2_Iceman_1 Play as a team of your favorite superheroes in Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2. Play as Spider-Man, Wolverine, Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Daredevil and many others as you fight your way through a story inspired by Marvel's Civil War comic books. MUA 2 picks up the story right where the first game left off. Vicarious Vision has added some fresh ideas and re-vamped some of the old mechanics. Did the developers listen to fans and create an ultimate sequel or did the changes ultimately ruin the game? Read on to find out what I thought!

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A Boy and His Blob - Wii

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Forget dogs. Everyone knows that a boy's best friend is his blob. Especially when it's a jellybean-eating blob who's comes to Earth from his distant home world of Blobolonia in search of help and maybe even a friend.Play through over forty stages in this wonderful re-imagining of an NES classic on your Nintendo Wii.

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Halo 3: ODST - Xbox 360

haloBungie has been working hard in expanding the Halo universe, and with such a following the game has accumulated over the years, it hasn't been that hard of a task. Granted, those fans were earned from the enormous success of Halo: Combat Evolved, which all credit will be given that's due, was truly a great game. From there, Master Chief has seemed to take on the role of Mario, spreading to all types of media beyond video games, including books, illustrated novels, animated series, and a rumored movie (hopefully it works out better for him than our plumbing friend). Not to place all their eggs in one basket, or perhaps to make the basket that much sweeter when it comes around, the latest two installations in the series (Halo Wars and Halo 3 ODST) have strayed from the protagonist, focusing on other pivotal moments and characters in the tale.

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Dead Space: Extraction - Wii

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Grab a plasma cutter and try to make it out alive in the latest survival horror game that is ripping up the Nintendo Wii! Use the Wii Remote to aim with pin-point precision as you try to escape the USG Ishimura with your mind and body intact.

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Mini Ninjas - Xbox 360

Mini_Ninjas_1_Original_Resolution Join Hiro as he embarks on an epic journey to restore peace to a world on the edge of chaos. Using magic, Ninja tools, and superb training mighty Hiro must save his friends and the world from an army of evil Samurai. From snowy mountaintops, to lush forests, Hiro fights hordes of enemies and several boss Samurai culminating in the ultimate fight against the Evil Samurai Warlord. From the same company that brought us the gritty Hitman games, comes a non stop, 3D, Ninja adventure that's a blast for all ages.

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Prince of Persia - PS3

When the Prince of Persia was born in 1989, it began as a simple side-scrolling platform game. At the time, the graphics were beautiful, and the gameplay put a refreshing twist on the genre that Mario had set not too long before. After a few sequels and several years, PoP saw new life from Ubisoft, where it evolved from a 2-D scroller to a 3-D adventure title. And again, the graphics looked great on the current generation of console, and the gameplay took the breath of many gamers, myself included. Of course, the Sands of Time was followed by two more sequels, ending in 2005. With a new wave of consoles at their disposals, Ubisoft has revived the old franchise, and again it has seen many changes.

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Soul Calibur 4 - PS3

When I first started playing Soul Calibur 4, I was convinced it was going to be simply an upgraded version of the previous titles. The main menu screen presented several familiar options- single player, versus, character creator, and the museum. Anxious to see how the new installment ran, I jumped straight into the classic Arcade mode. Like everyone who bought SC4, Star Wars fan or not, I was curious to see how the new guest characters performed. Since I had the 360 version, my special character was Yoda, a fighter whose height often gives him an advantage parallel to that of Oddjob. While in the previous SC games one could select from several costumes and weapons, the only customization available was between two appearances. So I chose one at random and began my first match. The screen that reveals which two characters will be matched up has been upgraded; a black background with the character striking some battle poses now introduces each side. And, of course, the on-stage character intro that allows for some trash talking and taunts still exists, and even seems to posses a higher CG quality than the actual gameplay, similar to a cut scene.

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Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots - PS3

The vast majority of individuals who put their MGS4 disc into their system had been waiting for it since Hideo Kojima announced it as the final chapter of Solid Snake. Being the first in the series to be on the current next-gen systems, expectations were all the more elevated. There are few sequels that actually deliver on such prospects, especially when carrying on a storyline that has spanned over seven titles. Guns of the Patriots is really nothing new; same Snake, same stealth action, same particularly loud sound blip to let you know that yes, they’ve seen you. Which is one of the most impressive aspects of the game: its still an unbelievable experience. In an era of sequels, developers attempt to pull gamers back to a series by introducing some new aspect of gameplay, which usually ends up second-rate. MGS4 may not revolutionary, but fans of the series didn’t necessarily want something new. Besides, the series has already established itself as leader in the stealth genre. The only two features that have seen some adjustment are the camera view (Guns of the Patriots takes a more first-person view) and, of course, the graphics.

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Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare - PC

How many games can you be shooting a 105mm gun from a plane one minute, and the next adjusting for the curve of the earth so you can take someone’s head off from 1500 feet? Ok maybe that’s a bad example, but how many games can do that while having amazing online game play and a level of detail that can bring all but the best video cards to their knees? Infinity Ward answered that question with one of 2007’s best games, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare.

large_gold_star.pnglarge_gold_star.pnglarge_gold_star.pnglarge_gold_star.pnglarge_gold_star.png 5/5

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