Looks like I’m going to have to put out some extra cash for Capcom’s upcoming action shooter. Famitsu just put out the word and it’s all good! Here’s a transcript:

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Extremely impressive throughout, from the real-time-rendered opening cutscenes to the impossibly huge enemies. Effects like snow and explosions are wonderful. Top-rate action shooter. The constant tension throughout as well as the balanced difficulty levels are on par with Capcom’s greatest. Battles are way intense! Score: 9

 

Brings to life a strange planet with powerful graphics that take full advantage of the Xbox 360’s capabilities. Gameplay stays true to its action roots, with nice learning and difficulty curves. Everything a great game should be. No complaints. Highly recommended. Score: 9

Great mix of action and shooter gameplay elements. Requires offensive and defensive strategies and strategic use of terrain. Plenty of depth. Snow and ice effects rendered beautifully and are a joy to look at. However, the action lacks a bit in the speed department, and the thrill or satisfaction is a little thin. Difficulty is a bit steep. Aimed at action game fans. Score: 8

The overwhelming size of the giant creatures along with the beautiful outdoor locations that are clear as far as the eye can see are truly impressive. The visuals are the high point, but the story lacks. The online multiplayer mode, where you go battle on foot or in giant walking machines, promises a lot of great fun. Score: 8

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After roughly four years of constant label disputes (and amazing mix tapes), sibling rap-duo Clipse and the Neptunes are finally back to reclaim hip-hop with the return of rhyme-based rap (stupid chants and uninspired, derivative rap FTL) with unbelievable production to match. Malice, Pusha T, and the ‘Tunes are back in true form. Perhaps the best hip-hop album in many years, every single track is excellent. Once again, the Neptunes are sort of experimenting with their beats with the Clipse as their platform, although I have to wonder: what happened to Chad Hugo? Sure, the Neptunes are listed for the production of every song, but Hugo’s name is nowhere in the liner credits.

Anyone that’s ever been turned away from rap for its recent lack of creativity and talent needs to listen to this.

My picks: Ride Around Shining- Typical subject matter with super-atypical rhymes, in true Clipse fashion. Never have the ill-gotten gains of coke money been rapped about more effectively. The ringing beat is sparse and ominous, certainly a bizarre step away from the Neptunes’ norm.

Keys Open Doors- Clever pun, eh? The strange, melodic beat makes this easily the best song on the CD, with Pusha T and Malice dropping metaphors and looping in and out of the melody effortlessly.

Mr. Me Too- Everyone should know this song by now, as it was the lead single. If not, it still isn’t old for me. The Neptunes drop what is easily one of their greatest beats ever, and Pharrell and the Clipse cleverly rap about their riches in an almost lethargic manner. Probably the most refreshing money-oriented rap single of the year.

Wamp Wamp (What It Do)- The second single. Again, everyone’s probably heard this already, but the flawless rhymes over the syncopated drums cannot be stopped. Slim Thug’s hook is kind of weak, but the brothers more than make up for it.

Buy this CD. Support good rap.

…and I play nothing but my Xbox 360.

Rainbow Six Vegas, Gears of War, Call of Duty 3, and NHL 2K7 trump anything that’s on my Wii and PS3.

And what, you say, do I have for Sony and Nintendo’s next-gen consoles?

Well, not much. I’ve got Resistance for the PS3, which 2 levels in is a very pretty yet terribly derivative shooter that you’ve played about seven million times before.

The Wii is a different story – at Thanksgiving, my family and I had about 45 minutes of fun bowling and playing baseball. But my hectic schedule and review requirements have prevented me from even pretending to think about putting Zelda (the only Wii game I have bought) into the console. Cash (or lack thereof) has prevented my from downloading old school titles, but since I’ve already bought them before, why exactly should I do it again?

I sound like an angry gamer, but I’m not. I’m merely questioning why I spent gobs of money on two consoles that I’m not playing.

Yesterday, the Wii. Today, the PS3. For a year, the 360.

My next-gen/new-gen/whatever-the-hell-the-marketers-want-to-call-it collection is complete. I now have a fully connected, functioning PS3, Wii, and 360.

Gawd, life is good.

Of course, I will be spending the next 6 months paying for them, so that when a certain *big event* happens next July I will not have to worry about those bills anymore.

Did I spend a small fortune? Hells yeah.

Was it worth it? I hope so. My G-N and G-R coverage will go a long way in determining that.

Pics of my rig later.

YAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Scooped up my Wii last night at midnight, and while I was too weary last night after waiting in line for 9 hours (14th out of 60, bitches!) to appreciate how cool it really is, I woke up and just sat there in awe of its awesomeness. The fact that the Wii had huge lines in even a smaller city such as mine is what I consider a testament to the success that Nintendo will have. It was a long time, but it was great to hang out with new people and talk about games as we braved the cold. Noone I know around here really plays games that much, so I was basically all alone (although a few friends did come by to mock me throughout the night :p). I hooked it up to the internet this morning and downloaded Mario 64 immediately. Needless to say, it’s Mario + Retro Controller = awesome; I don’t even need to reiterate the glory that is Zelda.

If you were lucky enough to obtain a Wii, send me your friend code so we can all have huge Mii parades!

As for the PS3, Ridge Racer 7 is really satisfying me the more I get into it, even though it really is more of a Ridge Racer 6: Director’s Cut. It just seems more smooth and well-done than the 360 version, and I really like the extra touches added to the old courses. The music is really, really good as well.

Next gen is officially here as of today!