Singin' the Old World Blues

With 1280 Microsoft Points burning a hole in my account and an ongoing Fallout: New Vegas obsession, I figured it was time to pick up some DLC.

I had heard good things about all three of the currently released expansions, Dead Money being the least popular (though not to say it's bad). Old World Blues seemed like the best choice.

Fallout 3 handled DLC well, in that all items could be brought back to the main world. Only Old World Blues in New Vegas allows this, which is strange. OWB also allows haircuts, facial reconstruction, and skill reset. The first two were available in Fallout 3 without additional content, so I always wondered why New Vegas didn't have them.

Review: Singularity (Xbox 360)

Last week, I was standing in my local Gamestop (one of two that are less than a quarter mile from my apartment), lost in thought.

I had two Russian-themed FPSs in my hands: "Metro: 2033" and "Singularity". Unfortunately, there could only be one.

On a whim, I went with "Singularity."

I was intrigued by the "Bioshock"-ripoff vibe I got. Turns out that vibe was pretty accurate. There are a lot of other influences mixed in, particularly "Timesplitters" and "Half-Life." But "Bioshock" is the most noticeable; sadly, "Singularity" doesn't live up to its pedigree.

Review: Torchlight (XBLA)

Having never played “Diablo” or any of the other famous dungeon-crawling, loot-mongering RPGs, I was intrigued by the console release of “Torchlight” on Xbox Live Arcade. While I very well could have picked it up on PC for much cheaper (and had no problem running it), we all know I’m a console man at heart.

Besides, the console port of “Torchlight” is very well done. The controls are simple and direct, with mapable buttons and triggers for spells. I wouldn’t call the game simple, but it’s a perfect fit for light arcade gaming.

"The Clone Wars" jumps the Hutt

[Disclaimer: this entry contains strong language, both literally and figuratively]

“Star Wars: The Clone Wars” has finally jumped the shark… er, Hutt.

As a long time Star Wars fan, I’ve suffered a few indignities along the way. Sometimes, I find myself agreeing with detractors and naysayers. Yes, the prequel trilogy wasn’t as good as the original. I don’t hate Jar Jar Binks or Ewoks, but I wouldn’t mind them being stricken from canon.

“The Clone Wars” is no different. Ostensibly, it’s a show for children. Just look at all the merchandizing. Older fans like me are mostly invested for the story. But even that is tenuous at best; for every enjoyable throwback to the original films, we’re subjected to the same scattershot crap that plagued the prequels.

GoldenEye: Source OST Review

For the longest time, I listened to the GoldenEye: Source Original Soundtrack on YouTube. I probably stumbled upon one of the tracks by accident. Anyway, I’ve never played the game, which is a multiplayer deathmatch mod for Half-Life 2. But the basic premise is a reimagining of the Nintendo 64 classic using Valve’s Source game engine.

Like the game itself, the soundtrack is also a reimagining. All the classic tracks from the game are here in one shape or form. In some cases, they sound just as good – if not better – than the original. There are also some new takes on everything from the original movie’s opening music (the hilarious “Golden Pie!”) to the music from the watch menu (a funky “Ghetto Remix”).

Ear Force X11 Gaming Headset Review

This will be a short review of the Turtle Beach X11 Xbox 360/PC gaming headset. Why? Because I assume you know how to use Google. Most of the content you’ll find will tell you the technical specs of the product. My goal is to inform you whether or not the headset is worth your while.Turtle Beach makes at least four models of gaming headsets for the PC/Xbox 360. All of them pull double duty as headphones and microphones. It’s a nice feature, especially if you don’t have a decent sound system for your Xbox or need to keep noise to a minimum.

Doing the Cowboy Bebop

I just finished watching the anime series Cowboy Bebop. After watching an episode on Adult Swim by accident, I felt compelled to dedicate several hours of my life to it.

Let's get a few things clear right away. I've spent most of my life holding my nose up in derision of anime. Not just the animation itself, but the culture and fandom that surrounds it. To me, anime fans were pariahs in the nerd kingdom. They made my Star Wars obsession look healthy by comparison.

Engines of Destruction: Blood (1997)

"I live... again."

A fitting line from the protagonist of 1997's "Blood" by Monolith and 3D Realms. While it could be argued that "Shadow Warrior" is the most advanced of the Build engine brood, "Blood" is definitely special in its own way.