The Next :Level 03.29.09
April 13, 2009
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The Next Level
Introduction
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Welcome to The Next Level. Here, I will be reviewing various video games, books, movies and showing off my own community interviews and activities. I hope you Enjoy!
-TEG
Writers:
ThElderGod
Bubba 3032
Crash
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Live Interview with Crash: Ages of War
TEG: So, I here you can Cheeky hobbit are Working on a new forum game?
So, can you tell me anything about it?
Crash: It's probably going to be a Pandemic exclusive.
TEG: Sounds interesting, Anything else?
Crash: Hopefully it will be up in the next week or two
It is going to be a game nothing like what has been seen on pandemic before.
TEG: Well, Me being in the Inside, you came to me to make a banner for your game. I won't leak anything, but is there anything you will?
Crash: Well, I'll give the title of the game...
Ages of War, Which is just vague enough to work. This game is going to have a huge twist right at the beginning that is going to make it way different than what has been seen before.
TEG: Indeed Indeed... The irony Crash, the irony. So, how long has this game taken?
Crash:Wow, Probably almost two months now, and I'm constantly thinking of new ideas that we could tie in to the story line.
TEG: Thought is astounding compared to the 2 week at maximum development we usually see, at least on the Pandemic Forums.
Crash: Well, for one it has been tough for Cheeky and I to be able to work on the game at the same time, but also we are putting a ton of thought into the game to make sure it is the best game it can possibly be. My message box has been near 100% for almost a month now just because of us talking about the game. I have to keep quoting the other messages and deleting certain messages just so I can manage to receive another message
TEG: That is a pain, I hate going through the process of deleting each individual message
Crash: Yeah, it's been really tough, but I finally have gotten it all into one document so that I could clear my message box. I really think this game is going to go really well
TEG: I hope so, I've been waiting on it for a while now. So, Crash how did this game come into the making?
Crash: It's going to have a lot of the gameplay like The Last Stand of Bein Tol. Another Cheeky Hobbit game, which is arguably one of the best games to be on pandemic forums.
I sent a message to Cheeky one day saying I wanted to make a forum game with him
I really enjoyed The Last Stand of Bein Tol and I wanted to play a bigger part in the story of a game like that, and I'm great friends with Cheeky, so it was the best option.
TEG: Last Stand of Bein Tol, I wish I was into forum gaming then.
Crash: It was the first forum game I had ever played actually, because of the gameplay it was extremely easy to jump in and go, which is why we are bringing it back to Ages of War.
TEG: Although I here it was great, I joined Rise of Excrucio and posted twice, you can thank Star Wars: Last Stand of the Jedi Order for that.
Crash:Nice, I was in the beginning of Rise of Excrucio, but some things came up at school and I wasn't able to continue.
TEG: I'll bet that didn't go well for you. Well, now let's discuss your new position in ThElderReview.
Crash: One thing I think people are really going to like about Ages of War is the variety they are given with their characters, they will have a selection that really hasn't been seen before
Before we move on I would like to give one more little hint about Ages of War
Notice that Ages is plural...that's all I'll say
TEG: Always on the edge of my seat. I have an Idea, thanks to a pal of mine.
Crash: It's hard to keep people interested over two months
TEG: I wanna thank you for being here tonight.
Crash:: No problem. And I would like to mention that I am proud to be a new member of your staff and I hope to put out a lot of good articles.
TEG I'm sure you'll do just fine. I only ask the best of the best. Sadly, Canterbury denied a position I offered him. I have 2 more slots open.
Crash: Thank you for allowing me to take a position.
TEG: It's a pleasure. Well everyone, That's Crash and, Ages of War!
Look for it in soon only on the Pandemic forums!
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The name alone inspires awe. This is a game that is destined for greatness. The series has been extremely succesful thus far. God of War I scored a 9.8/10 on IGN and God of War II scored a 9.7/10 on IGN. So this game has a lot to live up to. But I think it's going to surpass even the highest expectations.
I've heard quite a few cool new features about this game, including amazing new special attacks, at least one awesome new weapon, and a unbelievable type of level to fight on. But before I give to much away, maybe you should watch the trailer. It is age restricted though, I believe you need to be 17 or older to watch it. Shortly into the video you will see one of the amazing new attacks, then just a little after that you will see the awesome new weapon I mentioned, and right near the end you'll see exactly what I meant about an unbelievable new type of level. So enough talking, watch for yourself...
At the end of God of War II you see Kratos riding on a Titans back while they attack Mount Olympus. What I wondered was how they were going to make a whole game out of it if it started off with the battle with the Gods? What would be left if the great battle was at the begining? But my question has been answered. With the new type of level to fight on there are many possibilities for battles before the great battle. In true Greek Mythology fashion Mount Olympus is unbelievably tall, even compared to the gigantic Titans. So there will be a lot of time on the way up. But don't fear about getting bored on the way up, because you will fight right on the Titans back, as you will have seen in the above trailer. The Titan itself becomes the site of huge battles.
The new attacks add a whole new dimension to the fight. The Titans' backs are covered in small moutains and canyons, which makes you wonder "Isn't there something I could use those cliff sides for?" Well with the new attacks the answer is yes. As seen in the trailer there are now amazing 3-D wall to ground attacks where you can leap onto a wall, into the air and attack your foe from above.
And of course there are also the new weapons. The Gauntlets. These weapons add a whole new style of fighting to the God of War series. You can now fight up close and personal. With the new Gauntlets you have the ability to punch and grapple with the enemy, making all kinds of opportunities for spectacular new moves.
Now that I've talked about it here's an article from IGN that will give an overview of the story, and the amazing quality of the visuals.
"Set in the realm of Greek mythology, God of War III for the last time puts Kratos at the center of the carnage and destruction as he seeks revenge against the Gods who have betrayed him. A single-player game, this final chapter allows players to take on the climatic role of the ex-Spartan warrior, Kratos, as he treads through the intimidating heights of Mt. Olympus and the dark depths of Hell once more to seek revenge on those who have betrayed him. Armed with double-chained blades, Kratos must take on mythology's darkest creatures while solving intricate puzzles throughout his merciless quest to destroy Olympus.
Utilizing a new game engine built from the ground up and state-of-the-art visual technologies, the development team behind God of War 3 have made significant strides in giving players the realistic feel of actually being on the battlegrounds. With texture resolutions being quadrupled since God of War 2, God of War 3 will feature fluid, life-like characters, as well as dynamic lighting effects, a robust weapon system, and world-changing scenarios that will truly bring unmistakable realism to Kratos' fateful quest. Players will have a chance to join battles on a grand scale with many more enemies on-screen and be able to interact with levels like never before."
If after reading all of this you still don't want to get this game then I don't think there is anything that could make you want to play this game. I trully believe this game is going to be absolutely astonishing.
The game is set to be released December 30, 2009
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Star Wars: Battlefront 2
PS2 version
2 player co-op and local
TPS/FPS````````````
TEG
Star Wars Battlefront 2 is perhaps one of the greatest Star Wars games yet. If you have never played this old title, and you have spare time on your hands, I suggesting locating this game. Rising from their previous game, Pandemic really hit the shelves with their second installment in the Battlefront series. The main Campaign, was a bit short, but the gameplay is great.
The Space battles were properly mechanized and there isn’t much difficulty navigating your ship. The new playable Hero Unit increased the fun level by far. By being the best, the worst, or just randomly, you could be granted a hero from the Empire, CIS, Republic, and the Rebels. These heroes ranged from Obi-Wan Kenobi to Darth Maul. Boba Fett to Chewbacca, there’s enough to keep you busy for hours.
The land maps are pretty creative, but some of the space battles really seem repetitive. The “Galactic Conquest“ mode is completely revamped compared to the first Battlefront’s “Galactic Conquest.” Instant action mode is back with more map options for players. This changes the way different people play.
The hunt mode is great, my favorite being on Hoth. My only criticism is taking away with two maps for each planet. Especially the Cloud City maps, (mostly “Platforms” ) they were my favorites.
Graphics- The graphics really aren’t the greatest. Too be honest as a gamer and fan of Pandemic that preordered the game for it’s November release, I was a tad disappointed. The textures were kind of blocky but other than that they were great and really delivered the Star wars feel.
Gameplay- The gameplay was great. I could play the game in first person or third person and still get a great experience as a gamer. The weapons acted like they should and also gave me the feeling of actually being in the game. The Jedi/Sith could have been better. They were based on an odd axis, which gave them the characteristics of being stuck from a top camera view. The vehicles were great, my favorite being the X-Wing.
Overall- Battlefront 2 is a great game, get it. It still has a fair enough fan base that still plays online, but the PS2 online service was poor. Don’t know who’s to fault there. But the Xbox and PC online service was great. This is truly a game for Star Wars fans.
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Final Fantasy X
Single player RPG
TEG
Final Fantasy X is a jewel of a game. I picked it up one day and I was thrust into a new world from the beginning. I couldn’t put my controller down, as I was engrossed into the game. The cut scenes are absolutely amazing, beating even new Xbox 360 cut scenes. The look and feel of the game is definitely original and has earned mine and many others praise.
The thing that that I love most about this game is the magnificent story. In a sort it’s a love story, but in another that is only an element of the story. FFX actually makes you care what happens to the characters. They aren’t just characters that are thrown at you. But they are drawn right in front of you. Your always left wondering, but most you questions will get answered as you play the game. It got rather addicting and I found myself sweaty, hot, and hungry for days straight. It was the first of the Final Fantasy games to appear on the new platforms.
The battles are a bit repetitive around the near end of the game. But getting past that brings you to a very satisfying ending. The leveling up of the characters is rather fun, seeing what different skills and abilities you can use with all the different characters. The overdrives are awesome using creative executions keeping your brain stimulated, and you’ll be prompted to solve puzzles, which are actually very challenging.
Graphics- The graphics were great then, but now they look like an old classic. I recently went back to playing it and they didn’t distract me from what I was looking at. Everything was still gorgeously modeled and created which helped deliver it’s fantastic gameplay. The cutscenes are great, and look better than some modern cutscenes, even Lost Odyssey.
Gameplay- Gameplay ranged from solving puzzles and the old age of Role-playing gameplay with nice models and effects. There is even a sport in the game called “Blitzball” which you can actually go very deep in career such as recruiting your own players in the world and setting positions, skills, and entering tournaments. There aren’t any drops in game but you may find yourself frustrated with all the battles when you want to see what happens next in the story.
Overall: Very fun and Challenging game. I reckon buying this game if your into FF or RPG’s. Even though it was in the last generation of gaming, I’m sure you won’t regret buying this title.
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Top 5 games and endings
The Next Level
Introduction
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Welcome to The Next Level. Here, I will be reviewing various video games, books, movies and showing off my own community interviews and activities. I hope you Enjoy!
-TEG
Writers:
ThElderGod
Bubba 3032
Crash
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Live Interview with Crash: Ages of War
TEG: So, I here you can Cheeky hobbit are Working on a new forum game?
So, can you tell me anything about it?
Crash: It's probably going to be a Pandemic exclusive.
TEG: Sounds interesting, Anything else?
Crash: Hopefully it will be up in the next week or two
It is going to be a game nothing like what has been seen on pandemic before.
TEG: Well, Me being in the Inside, you came to me to make a banner for your game. I won't leak anything, but is there anything you will?
Crash: Well, I'll give the title of the game...
Ages of War, Which is just vague enough to work. This game is going to have a huge twist right at the beginning that is going to make it way different than what has been seen before.
TEG: Indeed Indeed... The irony Crash, the irony. So, how long has this game taken?
Crash:Wow, Probably almost two months now, and I'm constantly thinking of new ideas that we could tie in to the story line.
TEG: Thought is astounding compared to the 2 week at maximum development we usually see, at least on the Pandemic Forums.
Crash: Well, for one it has been tough for Cheeky and I to be able to work on the game at the same time, but also we are putting a ton of thought into the game to make sure it is the best game it can possibly be. My message box has been near 100% for almost a month now just because of us talking about the game. I have to keep quoting the other messages and deleting certain messages just so I can manage to receive another message
TEG: That is a pain, I hate going through the process of deleting each individual message
Crash: Yeah, it's been really tough, but I finally have gotten it all into one document so that I could clear my message box. I really think this game is going to go really well
TEG: I hope so, I've been waiting on it for a while now. So, Crash how did this game come into the making?
Crash: It's going to have a lot of the gameplay like The Last Stand of Bein Tol. Another Cheeky Hobbit game, which is arguably one of the best games to be on pandemic forums.
I sent a message to Cheeky one day saying I wanted to make a forum game with him
I really enjoyed The Last Stand of Bein Tol and I wanted to play a bigger part in the story of a game like that, and I'm great friends with Cheeky, so it was the best option.
TEG: Last Stand of Bein Tol, I wish I was into forum gaming then.
Crash: It was the first forum game I had ever played actually, because of the gameplay it was extremely easy to jump in and go, which is why we are bringing it back to Ages of War.
TEG: Although I here it was great, I joined Rise of Excrucio and posted twice, you can thank Star Wars: Last Stand of the Jedi Order for that.
Crash:Nice, I was in the beginning of Rise of Excrucio, but some things came up at school and I wasn't able to continue.
TEG: I'll bet that didn't go well for you. Well, now let's discuss your new position in ThElderReview.
Crash: One thing I think people are really going to like about Ages of War is the variety they are given with their characters, they will have a selection that really hasn't been seen before
Before we move on I would like to give one more little hint about Ages of War
Notice that Ages is plural...that's all I'll say
TEG: Always on the edge of my seat. I have an Idea, thanks to a pal of mine.
Crash: It's hard to keep people interested over two months
TEG: I wanna thank you for being here tonight.
Crash:: No problem. And I would like to mention that I am proud to be a new member of your staff and I hope to put out a lot of good articles.
TEG I'm sure you'll do just fine. I only ask the best of the best. Sadly, Canterbury denied a position I offered him. I have 2 more slots open.
Crash: Thank you for allowing me to take a position.
TEG: It's a pleasure. Well everyone, That's Crash and, Ages of War!
Look for it in soon only on the Pandemic forums!
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God of War III
The name alone inspires awe. This is a game that is destined for greatness. The series has been extremely succesful thus far. God of War I scored a 9.8/10 on IGN and God of War II scored a 9.7/10 on IGN. So this game has a lot to live up to. But I think it's going to surpass even the highest expectations.
I've heard quite a few cool new features about this game, including amazing new special attacks, at least one awesome new weapon, and a unbelievable type of level to fight on. But before I give to much away, maybe you should watch the trailer. It is age restricted though, I believe you need to be 17 or older to watch it. Shortly into the video you will see one of the amazing new attacks, then just a little after that you will see the awesome new weapon I mentioned, and right near the end you'll see exactly what I meant about an unbelievable new type of level. So enough talking, watch for yourself...
God of War III Trailer
Amazing right?
Amazing right?
If you have not finished God of War II then the following paragraph contains Spoilers
At the end of God of War II you see Kratos riding on a Titans back while they attack Mount Olympus. What I wondered was how they were going to make a whole game out of it if it started off with the battle with the Gods? What would be left if the great battle was at the begining? But my question has been answered. With the new type of level to fight on there are many possibilities for battles before the great battle. In true Greek Mythology fashion Mount Olympus is unbelievably tall, even compared to the gigantic Titans. So there will be a lot of time on the way up. But don't fear about getting bored on the way up, because you will fight right on the Titans back, as you will have seen in the above trailer. The Titan itself becomes the site of huge battles.
The new attacks add a whole new dimension to the fight. The Titans' backs are covered in small moutains and canyons, which makes you wonder "Isn't there something I could use those cliff sides for?" Well with the new attacks the answer is yes. As seen in the trailer there are now amazing 3-D wall to ground attacks where you can leap onto a wall, into the air and attack your foe from above.
And of course there are also the new weapons. The Gauntlets. These weapons add a whole new style of fighting to the God of War series. You can now fight up close and personal. With the new Gauntlets you have the ability to punch and grapple with the enemy, making all kinds of opportunities for spectacular new moves.
Now that I've talked about it here's an article from IGN that will give an overview of the story, and the amazing quality of the visuals.
"Set in the realm of Greek mythology, God of War III for the last time puts Kratos at the center of the carnage and destruction as he seeks revenge against the Gods who have betrayed him. A single-player game, this final chapter allows players to take on the climatic role of the ex-Spartan warrior, Kratos, as he treads through the intimidating heights of Mt. Olympus and the dark depths of Hell once more to seek revenge on those who have betrayed him. Armed with double-chained blades, Kratos must take on mythology's darkest creatures while solving intricate puzzles throughout his merciless quest to destroy Olympus.
Utilizing a new game engine built from the ground up and state-of-the-art visual technologies, the development team behind God of War 3 have made significant strides in giving players the realistic feel of actually being on the battlegrounds. With texture resolutions being quadrupled since God of War 2, God of War 3 will feature fluid, life-like characters, as well as dynamic lighting effects, a robust weapon system, and world-changing scenarios that will truly bring unmistakable realism to Kratos' fateful quest. Players will have a chance to join battles on a grand scale with many more enemies on-screen and be able to interact with levels like never before."
If after reading all of this you still don't want to get this game then I don't think there is anything that could make you want to play this game. I trully believe this game is going to be absolutely astonishing.
The game is set to be released December 30, 2009
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Star Wars: Battlefront 2
PS2 version
2 player co-op and local
TPS/FPS````````````
TEG
Star Wars Battlefront 2 is perhaps one of the greatest Star Wars games yet. If you have never played this old title, and you have spare time on your hands, I suggesting locating this game. Rising from their previous game, Pandemic really hit the shelves with their second installment in the Battlefront series. The main Campaign, was a bit short, but the gameplay is great.
The Space battles were properly mechanized and there isn’t much difficulty navigating your ship. The new playable Hero Unit increased the fun level by far. By being the best, the worst, or just randomly, you could be granted a hero from the Empire, CIS, Republic, and the Rebels. These heroes ranged from Obi-Wan Kenobi to Darth Maul. Boba Fett to Chewbacca, there’s enough to keep you busy for hours.
The land maps are pretty creative, but some of the space battles really seem repetitive. The “Galactic Conquest“ mode is completely revamped compared to the first Battlefront’s “Galactic Conquest.” Instant action mode is back with more map options for players. This changes the way different people play.
The hunt mode is great, my favorite being on Hoth. My only criticism is taking away with two maps for each planet. Especially the Cloud City maps, (mostly “Platforms” ) they were my favorites.
Graphics- The graphics really aren’t the greatest. Too be honest as a gamer and fan of Pandemic that preordered the game for it’s November release, I was a tad disappointed. The textures were kind of blocky but other than that they were great and really delivered the Star wars feel.
Gameplay- The gameplay was great. I could play the game in first person or third person and still get a great experience as a gamer. The weapons acted like they should and also gave me the feeling of actually being in the game. The Jedi/Sith could have been better. They were based on an odd axis, which gave them the characteristics of being stuck from a top camera view. The vehicles were great, my favorite being the X-Wing.
Overall- Battlefront 2 is a great game, get it. It still has a fair enough fan base that still plays online, but the PS2 online service was poor. Don’t know who’s to fault there. But the Xbox and PC online service was great. This is truly a game for Star Wars fans.
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Final Fantasy X
Single player RPG
TEG
Final Fantasy X is a jewel of a game. I picked it up one day and I was thrust into a new world from the beginning. I couldn’t put my controller down, as I was engrossed into the game. The cut scenes are absolutely amazing, beating even new Xbox 360 cut scenes. The look and feel of the game is definitely original and has earned mine and many others praise.
The thing that that I love most about this game is the magnificent story. In a sort it’s a love story, but in another that is only an element of the story. FFX actually makes you care what happens to the characters. They aren’t just characters that are thrown at you. But they are drawn right in front of you. Your always left wondering, but most you questions will get answered as you play the game. It got rather addicting and I found myself sweaty, hot, and hungry for days straight. It was the first of the Final Fantasy games to appear on the new platforms.
The battles are a bit repetitive around the near end of the game. But getting past that brings you to a very satisfying ending. The leveling up of the characters is rather fun, seeing what different skills and abilities you can use with all the different characters. The overdrives are awesome using creative executions keeping your brain stimulated, and you’ll be prompted to solve puzzles, which are actually very challenging.
Graphics- The graphics were great then, but now they look like an old classic. I recently went back to playing it and they didn’t distract me from what I was looking at. Everything was still gorgeously modeled and created which helped deliver it’s fantastic gameplay. The cutscenes are great, and look better than some modern cutscenes, even Lost Odyssey.
Gameplay- Gameplay ranged from solving puzzles and the old age of Role-playing gameplay with nice models and effects. There is even a sport in the game called “Blitzball” which you can actually go very deep in career such as recruiting your own players in the world and setting positions, skills, and entering tournaments. There aren’t any drops in game but you may find yourself frustrated with all the battles when you want to see what happens next in the story.
Overall: Very fun and Challenging game. I reckon buying this game if your into FF or RPG’s. Even though it was in the last generation of gaming, I’m sure you won’t regret buying this title.
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Top 5 games and endings
| QUOTE (Cheeky Hobbit) |
Top Five Games 1. Perfect Dark 2. Goldeneye 3. Pro Evolution Soccer 4 4. Oblivion 5. Diablo 1/2 Top five endings: 1. Gladiator 2. Leon 3. Braveheart 4. Forrest Gump 5. The Truman Show |
| QUOTE (Khamul) |
Top Five Games 1. Call of Duty 5: World at War 2. The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion 3. Grand Theft Auto 4. Star Wars Battlefront 5. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Top Five endings 1. The Lord of the Rings series 2. Blues of Brothers 3. Planet of the Apes (Tim Burtons) 4. Planet of the Apes (Original) 5. Star Wars: Both Trilogies |
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Halo Wars
Halo Wars
By Bubba 3032
Overview- Halo Wars is an RTS (Real Time Strategy) game that takes place in the Halo Universe. You are allowed to fight as the UNSC or as Covenant forces. All of the events of Halo Wars take place prior to 2552, when the original Halo: Combat Evolved occurred.
Campaign- Halo has always had strong stories with their campaigns, and Halo Wars sticks with that tradition. 3 major characters stick out on the UNSC side, which is the only side playable on the campaign… for now. These characters are Captain James Cutter, Sgt. John Forge, and Professor Ellen Anders. Cutter, a veteran ship captain commands the Spirit of Fire, a UNSC colony ship converted into a planet assault ship. It is armed with a MAC gun, as well as a fleet of Albatross Heavy Lift dropships. Sgt. John Forge is an ambitious, funny, and mysterious soldier. He has been promoted due to valor in combat 5 times, but in addition to that, has received 3 demotions. He once struck a superior officer, and as a result, can never become a commissioned officer. Anders is an experienced scientist who worked under Dr. Catherine Halsey, the founder of the SPARTAN-II project. The two remember each other with less than kind feelings and so Halsey is rarely mentioned.
The story of the campaign begins on Harvest, the UNSC planet where first contact with the Covenant occurred. (Detailed in the novel Halo: Contact Harvest). Alpha base was destroyed by a Covenant attack while Forge was on a Recon mission, observing The Arbiter, but not the Arbiter we know. This Arbiter hates everyone, including his fellow Elites. Forge rallies stranded Marines and retakes the base. While there is a separate tutorial, this first level is pretty much a practice round. The second level, which involves rebuilding Alpha, starts in tutorial style and about midway through you are set free to test your skill. There is very little story telling during this portion, which is meant for getting a grip on the console controls.
During your missions, you must search for two things. Mysterious Black Boxes, which I believe unlocks new data on your Halo Timeline, which is accessible from the main menu. They are located in hidden, or out of the way areas on each level of the campaign. Any type of unit, including air units, can scoop them up. Skulls are a bit trickier, but once you get the idea, they can also be easier. They are the classic emblems of hidden Bungie Easter eggs, and Ensemble happened to keep that going. You must first complete a secondary objective, one that is NOT required for completing the mission. Once you complete the mission, usually killing a designated amount of a certain enemy, a flare appears on your screen. It only lasts for a few seconds, and if you weren’t expecting it, you might not even notice. But it is important. For those few seconds, it is showing you the location of that level’s skull. You must send a unit there to retrieve it, and occasionally, only air units can access its location. Once retrieved, the skull gives you an added bonus during gameplay. You can turn it on whenever you please, but once it is on, it doesn’t come off for the rest of the round. Some are essentially for fun, such as the Wuv Woo skull which makes Scarabs shoot rainbow beams of pure love, while others increase enemy hit points or damage. The one’s that benefit a foe, give you additional points at the end of a game, where ones that benefit the player, decrease your score. But if you are stuck on the campaign and really need a way through, these can come in handy.
Skirmish- This is the standard gameplay mode, where you, and however many AI you choose up to 5, fight it out in a customized battle. It kept its Age of Empires 3 title and has the same concept behind it. You can use skulls here, just like in the campaign, however, you cannot find any skulls. You choose to play as either UNSC or Covenant, each with their unique bonuses. I will detail these later. The battles can range anywhere from 10 minutes to hours. But unlike other larger scale games, it won’t take days or weeks to complete one game.
Accuracy- The game stays very true to the Halo Universe despite not being created by Bungie. The distinct sound of warthogs driving, or MA5C’s shooting rings through the air during combat. The models look just right to be accurate to their FPS counterparts. Plus, despite the fact that your team color overrides almost ALL color detail, it fits surprisingly well. Ghosts, Wraiths, Warthogs, even Scorpions, all look almost perfect in their solid team color, when they are the default team color. The UNSC is colored a deep green, while the Covenant is given their classic purple tint. Only a few units, such as Pelicans and Hornets seem at all odd in their color scheme. The story also stays in line with the events in Halo: Contact Harvest, as well as Fall of Reach. They also reverted to using Spirit Dropships, which impressed me. Phantoms were not yet invented, therefore their appearance here would have been disturbing to Halo fanatics, but Ensemble wisely swapped out the dropships.
Civilizations- There are two playable civilizations in Halo Wars. The UNSC, and the Covenant.
UNSC- The UNSC has a lower population cap than the Covenant, but their units are more effective. This too is accurate to Halo stories, because the UNSC usually won ground battles, but were defeated in space and the planet would be glassed from orbit. The UNSC had a few new units introduced for the game. These would include the Hawk, the Grizzly Tank, and the Vulture Assault ship, none of which have been seen in the Halo Universe before.
Covenant- The Covenant has additional slots for troops, and can use that very effectively by creating their Über Unit (Yes, it is actually called that) the Scarab. Each Scarab takes a whopping 20 population, where the UNSC equivalent, the Vulture only takes 6. In this case the Covenant unit has by far more supremacy on the battlefield, and with a max upgradeable pop cap of 50, the Covies can pump out 2 of these behemoths to nearly ensure victory. They too had some new units introduced, such as the Vampire and the Locust. The Vampire keeps with traditional naming of dark mythological monsters (Ghost, Spectre, Wraith).
Conclusion- Already, I have nearly 24 hours worth of pure gametime (It keeps track of time spent in game, so that at 24 hours you get an achievement), and I have yet to beat the challenging campaign. The accuracy is stunning, and the cutscenes between campaign levels are beautiful. I have to say it is a wonderful installment to the Halo Story, and should get more people to go back to the novels such as Contact Harvest. The only real problem I see with it isn’t so much a problem now that I have it. It is a 360 exclusive, and will not even be released on my favorite system, PC. But they did a brilliant job of integrating simple controls. And in addition, with Xbox LIVE, you don’t have to sign up to Gamespy or any other Internet system to play an Online RTS. That was a relieving thing that made me accept the 360 only stance.
I think it deserves a generous 10/10 on my scale, I saw essentially nothing wrong with this great game. A must-buy for any RTS fans or Halo fans.
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Interview SWLSotJO Khamul and Bleachking
Greetings everyone. I recently took up a part in a great fan series: Star Wars Last Stand of the Jedi Order. Now, in this forum game we have many conflicting sides. The Story is huge by scale on it’s own, and it replaces LSotJO : II. Now, over passing it’s predecessor, let’s see what fans of new and old have to say. First off, my Co-partner who I went to personally to help me with this forum game, BleachKing04.
Bleachking04=Bleach
ThElderGod=TEG
TEG:So, Bleach, I wanna start this interview off by asking some questions.
Bleach
k, shoot.TEG: The Gap of Last Stand of The Jedi Order and our version: Last Stand of the Jedi Order: Revelations, how do you feel we are filling those in?
Bleach:I think that even though Jonny, the genius behind the original game isn't there with us, me and you, as players of the last game could fill in those gaps. So far, I think we are doing well. We have had a couple of events, and the players keep coming back for more. 30 pages in one day is quite a lot.
TEG: In Last Stand of the Jedi Order’s ending, greatly constructed by Jonny and Khamul, most the characters we loved were left dead. What characters lived, and Who’s back?
Bleach:Well, The Hood of course lived, Darth Hult, and also another character, people will have to read to find out who exactly. BIG surprise.
TEG: How is it having new original Characters in the series?
Bleach:If I have to be honest, a little weird. I loved the original cast of Leo Pistro, and Slayer, and all the others that made the first game as EPIC as it is. We managed to get some of the SW vets into Revelations though so that is good. And the newer players, I have no problem with yet... they are actually doing a great job.
TEG: How do you feel we differ from Jonny and Khamul’s direction? I personally love the route we took. We gave the players what they want, for some reason, Jonny took away many of our freedoms in his sequel.
Bleach:Yes, I agree. I love the route we are taking, and the path still seems a little unclear even for me, but the is the fun part of the game. I think that giving the freedom to the players in choice of weapons, factions, and the amount of times they can change their alliances is important for keeping the players happy and thinking on their own, instead of just following what out events say to do.
TEG: TEG: How long do you think our version will last?
Bleach: I am shooting for the stars TEG. I would like to have our game be as successful and long lasting as Jonny's game, if that is even possible.
TEG: Last Question. What brought you to do the third installment? Any certain inspirations?
Bleach:Well... when you came to me with a PM telling me that our fans are hungry for another SW: LSotJO, I was extremely surprised, but very happy as well. This finally gives us the chance to show our side of the story, and to add on more to the saga that started all that time ago. Also, I missed using Darth Bain
TEG: Thanks for your time BleahKing04.
Bleach:Thank you TEG, its been a pleasure.
TEG: This is ThElderGod out, you can expect more surprises in Star Wars: Last Stand of the Jedi Order III: Revelationsin the near future.
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Well that interview went well, now here’s my next interview with Khamul.
TEG: Good evening Khamul, I want to discuss Star Wars Last Stand of the Jedi Order III with you.
Khamul: Sure.
TEG: We’ll start with some questions. After the highly successful LSotJO what happened to the sequel?
Khamul: Well, it went down really well, but the flood of... Err... Noob's kind of ruined it. It was banished from history ( Via Delete ). Feel free to request a name change from Stevurn.
TEG: What do you think about LSotJO III?
Khamul: It's brilliant. Great stories, although the True sith part isn't exactly true to the lore.
TEG: Now, I know we can never compare the first of the third, but how do you think we are doing showing our vision of this next installment?
Khamul: I'm really glad you made it, and your vision is spot-on, from what I can see.
TEG: What do you think will happen after the ending of LSotJO III?
Khamul: I think that someone will die near/at the end...
TEG: How do you like the new cast of characters? Who do you miss?
Khamul: I really miss everyone from the first game that hasn't came to the game yet. I was a little iffy with Knockhimout in the beginning, but now I don't really mind the newer players much. They seem to be doing well.
TEG: We all loved the ending to the first game. What are some pros and cons on LSotJO III?
Khamul: I loved the ending too. After all: I did make most of it! About the pro's and Con's, though... Well... There are barely any cons apart from the shortage of original players, but for pro's, the story is great, and I hope I can help make it awesome along side you and Bleach to make it at least as good as - Or even better than the first.
TEG: Well, thanks for letting me interview you Khamul. It was a pleasure
Khamul: No problem, TEG.
TEG: And that was the last interview on LSotJO, now time for the Preview on Empire Total War..
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Crash
Book Teaser
Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows
*Warning, if you have not read the first six Harry Potter books then the following preview contains spoilers*
Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince couldn’t have ended with more intensity. Dumbledore, dead. Snape, finally revealed as a loyal Death Eater. Voldemort stronger than ever. How can the seventh book possibly top it? Well in reality the sixth book ended like a soap opera cliffhanger. It gave hundreds of possibilities for what would come next. There is Bill and Fleur’s wedding, horcruxes to collect, and mysteries to solve. For one, who is R.A.B who left the letter in the fake horcrux, and how was he/she able to get the horcrux in the first place? What will Harry do? He said he would not go back to Hogwarts next year, he plans to find the horcruxes, but how? And what of Snape? He killed Dumbledore apparently, but why did Dumbledore trust him so much? And what is the Deathly Hallow? Is a place? A group of people? Or maybe it’s something that can help find and destroy the Horcruxes. The only way to find out the answers to all of these questions and more is to read Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows.
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Crash
Book Teaser
Brisingir
*Warning, if you have not read the books Eragon and Eldest then the following preview contains spoilers*
Eldest left off with Katrina kidnapped by the Ra’zac, Murtagh being revealed as a dragon rider and Eragon’s brother, and a world at war. Now begins Brisingir, what can we expect to see? What will Eragon do now that he has lost the dragon rider’s sword Brom gave him? Why is the title the magic word for fire? How will Eragon and Roran retrieve Kitrina from the Ra’zac? And who will be the new dwarven king now that Murtagh killed Hrothgar? And will Eragon finally face off against Galbatorix? The only way to find out is to read Brisingir.
Preview
Intro:
Empire Total War looks to be a promising addition to the Total War Series. All you Revolutionary war Fanatics Get Ready for a bumpy ride! In the new title "Empire: Total War" Take part in large-scale Naval and Land battles. It has a new improved Ranking system for online play and has been out since March 4 2009.,
Synopsis
Command the seas, control the land, forge a new nation, and conquer the globe. Empire: Total War takes the Total War franchise to the eighteenth century Age of Enlightenment -- a time of political upheaval, military advancements, and radical thought, captured in stunning detail in Empire: Total War.
Empire: Total War introduces a host of revolutionary new features, including true 3D naval combat. For the first time in the Total War series, you will be able to intuitively command single ships or vast fleets upon seascapes rich with extraordinary water and weather effects that play a huge role in your eventual glorious success or ignominious defeat. After pummeling your enemy with cannon fire, close in to grapple their ship and prepare to board, taking control of your men as they fight hand-to-hand on the decks of these wooden behemoths.
In addition, Empire: Total War will see further enhancements to the Total War series’ signature 3D battles and turn-based campaign map. Real-time battles will pose new challenges with the addition of cannon and musket, challenging players to master new formations and tactics as a result of the increasing role of gunpowder within warfare. And the Campaign Map -- for many, the heart of Total War -- introduces a variety of new and upgraded elements, including new systems for Trade, Diplomacy and Espionage with agents; a refined and streamlined UI; improved Advisors; and a vastly extended scope, taking in the riches of India, the turbulence of Europe and, for the first time, the untapped potential of the United States of America.
Factions
France
Great Britain
Spain
Austria
Sweden
United Provinces
Prussia
The Ottoman
Russia
Poland
Dev Diaries
Land Battles in the Old Regime and the early Enlightenment
Wars of Empire Total War
World of Empire Total War
Screens:
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http://www.youtube.com/v/zzZhgqeD0SM
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Posted by ThElderGod. Posted In : Issue
Hello everyone. I am ThElderGod, Co-Admin here at Halo Haven. A while back on a neighboring website, The White Tree, formerly know as Conquest Mania. I decided to have a magazine. Since then we have had three name changes and we've finally found the one with. "The Next :Level". Stay tuned and read our reviews!
