BioShock is an underwater single player only 1
st person shooter that you should immediately purchase. It incorporates some simple but effective puzzle solving and introduces “plasmids” which turn the traditional shooter on its head faster than a bully on the new kid. Plasmids enhance your genetic structure with some seriously fun outcomes; telekinesis, flames, and a swarm of bees that make locust cower. The game does not revolutionize the shooter but it integrates and distills it down to a high blend brew. It’s also pretty scary until you habituate to the atmosphere and the shock of “splicers” dropping on you from the ceiling. They say the freaky things. Most of the cannon fodder AI sounds depressed and many of them have dark father issues. They need a good psychotherapist. The “little sisters” and “big daddies” are a fun and creepy addition too. The visuals are stunning and the artwork the best I have seen. I thought it would take longer for a game to top HalfLife2 in that respect but BioShock does it beautifully. Finally, it has an interesting story. The story is creative and has two outcomes which depend on your in-game behavior. If you have a decent computer, go buy it.
Enemy Territory: Quake Wars came out the day after I finished BioShock (which took me over a month to finish). I have purchased every Quake game released because inaugural release started my love affair with games and was the impetus for my interest in computers. Go figure. The Strogg and Human Defense Force teams are very unique, which does not always happen in this type of game. What that means is that their weapons, vehicles, and classes are different enough to make the experience feel special on each team. Yet, game play balance is maintained very well. The game runs very smooth. ET:QW is a fun squad based shooter. There is a lot to be happy about here but in terms of squad games there is nothing new here. There should have been something new. Unless the next rendition of the game is “classic” in nature I may stop my fan boy behavior and snatch BioShock2 instead. It is definitely a fun game but currently there are other greats on the scene. Enter, stage right, The Orange Box.
The Orange Box (Team Fortress 2) by Valve comes with five, yes five games. You get the original Halflife2 with Episode 1 and the long anticipated Episode 2. You also get a fantastic single player game called Portal. It’s a 3D puzzle game that just has to be played in order to understand it. Watch this video for details. Finally, you get Team Fortress 2. I have been unable to pull myself away from TF2 long enough to explore the other games. This team based shooter is amazing. It feels like a Pixar movie. They took a chance and created cartoon-ish models and environments. This worked for Blizzard with WoW and it hits the mark like a sniper in TF2. There is a strong 1960s James Bond theme (in cartoon) which is nailed down by fantastic music. The various classes (Heavy, Soldier, Medic, Sniper, Demonman, Engineer, Scout and the Spy) are remarkable especially when used together in the right way. My favorites are the Medic and Engineer. The VoIP is a bit annoying at times but it’s nice to have if you want to talk strategy. The bottom line? This is just plain old fashion computer game fun online. It is addictive, challenging, fast paced, and offers enough variety to stave off habituation (yes, I used that word twice in this post). This review compared Quake Wars to TF2. It is written on a site that has a strong history of fuzzy Quake love and they ranked the game at 83%, a lower than expected value. They also mentioned that TF2 feels too boxed in and linear. I disagree that this perception is a criticism, which it was levied to be. Instead I think it is refreshing, and harkens back to faster paced games of old that required more skill. Today game maps are monstrous in size and rely on squad-play. The tighter maps also can rely on squad play but add to the mix a necessary knowledge of the map and the ability to think and fight on your feet. There is tremendous replayability in TF2. If the Orange Box had only TF2 I would highly recommend the game. A new player can pick up HalfLife2 and have all the expansion packs, plus two new games. It’s an Orange Box Shmorgishborg for a bargain. Go buy this game and set aside a few hours for blissful media gluttony.
Fin.
Only the Orange Box will weather upcoming powerhouse games like Call of Duty 4, Unreal Tournament 3, Crysis, and [maybe] HellGate:London (not to mention SPORE in 2008). With high replay ability and massive options The Orange Box looks to challenge the continuing wave of great games at the end of 2007.
BioShock is an underwater single player only 1st person shooter that you should immediately purchase. It incorporates some simple but effective puzzle solving and introduces “plasmids” which turn the traditional shooter on its head faster than a bully on the new kid. Plasmids enhance your genetic structure with some seriously fun outcomes; telekinesis, flames, and a swarm of bees that make locust cower. The game does not revolutionize the shooter but it integrates and distills it down to a high blend brew. It’s also pretty scary until you habituate to the atmosphere and the shock of “splicers” dropping on you from the ceiling. They say the freaky things. Most of the cannon fodder AI sounds depressed and many of them have dark father issues. They need a good psychotherapist. The “little sisters” and “big daddies” are a fun and creepy addition too. The visuals are stunning and the artwork the best I have seen. I thought it would take longer for a game to top HalfLife2 in that respect but BioShock does it beautifully. Finally, it has an interesting story. The story is creative and has two outcomes which depend on your in-game behavior. If you have a decent computer, go buy it. 
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