Aside from these new race modes are road rules, these are rules, or challenges so to speak that you set-up for whatever road you are on (example: set a certain speed record, set a damage record, etc.). Your friends on-line are presented with these rules as they come on-line, so its an instant and open challenge to anyone on your friends list.
There are no more crash events, but the road rules are one of the reasons. There may not be a specific crash event, but a crash event can be activated no matter where you are. You can set off an explosion anywhere in the world, as long as you can keep the meter going you can continue to rack up damage points.
They also have billboards scattered about the world, and you need to crash in to each one of them, presumably for an award or achievement of some sort. Another change is the way new cars are unlocked, which is basically by beating it in a race. But once it is unlocked you still need to take it down before you can use it. So you could be in a race somewhere and then see a new car, at that point you may decide to leave the race and take him out!
They've also added other cool social-type features to the game, such as mug shots, and smug-shots. Whenever you are taken out, and you have a camera connected to the PS3 or the Xbox 360 it will take a snapshot of both parties, this gives you the opportunity to save a picture and capture the moment. I can imagine seeing some pretty entertaining shots with this down the road.
That's about all I have for Burnout Paradise, but as you can see, I don't have much to say about it that isn't good. I think Burnout (and NFS) fans are going to be happy about this new version. Burnout Paradise will be released on January 22nd for the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3.
Army of Two - Impressions
Army of Two is a very impressive looking title, and while its the second game listed on my list, unfortunately I don't have much commentary on the game itself. The fact of the matter is, I've seen the game two times now, but on both occasion I didn't have the chance to get hands-on time with it. At the first event there was just too much going on, people would get hands on time with the game and not leave (that says something right there). At the second event however, a much smaller and more casual affair, the team for Army of Two didn't seem interested in speaking to me about the game. The people in the Army of Two game area just kinda sat there playing Tetris on the DS, I'm thinking they think they already have enough good press about the game.
Fortunately, I know enough about the game to let you know it will be something you may want to consider picking up, especially if you like a good co-op video game experience. If you have an on-line account you can team up with a friend and complete the co-op missions, or you can play with the Partner AI (PAI). I've at least seen it, and from what I saw it looked superb, and the AI did actually appear to be intelligent.
That's all I have on AO2, but rest assured I will have much more once the game is on store shelves. Army of Two will be released in the first quarter of 2008 on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.
Mercenaries 2 - Impressions
Perhaps you've played Mercenaries, then you already have an idea what Mercenaries 2: World In Flames is about. Basically, you are a mercenary roaming about Venezuela at a time when a power hungry tyrant and an oil supply issue creates plenty of new clients for your occupation. Sounds a bit familiar. Well, I asked, and in fact the Venezuelan setting is just that, a setting. It has nothing to do with the current political situation in Venezuela.
Mercenaries 2 is also set in a free roaming world, so it is another sandbox type game, and honestly, I got the impression that it was a cross between GTA and Crackdown. Not a bad mix at all. The build I played (Xbox 360) was about six months old, so it still had quite a few rough edges graphically and some glitches within the mechanics of the game, but overall it looks like it is going to turn out very well.
So here you are, perhaps one of the biggest selling points for the game - on-line multi player co-op, how much more would you have played the original Mercenaries if it had this? Well, its finally coming. Mercenaries 2 is definitely going to gain some new fans, and attract all of the old ones as well with this additional element.
The one main thing to point out about Mercenaries 2 is that you can do what you want, when you want. With the addition of co-op game play there are a ton of new options. Like having an on-line partner drop a tank off on an island where it would otherwise never be able to make it to. The destruction in the game is done really well, especially considering the early nature of the build I was playing. Its all about destruction, devastation, and making money as a mercenary.
The bottom line for Mercs 2, if you enjoyed the first one, you'll love this. It combines what was good about the first version, and adds in more vehicles, more weapons, and more time to spend blowing stuff up with friends. Mercenaries 2: World in Flames will be released in the first quarter of 2008 on the PS3, Xbox 360, PS2, and PC.
