Some of the early speculation and news involving upcoming video game release Mass Effect 3 has been that there will be three different modes to choose from. These include an action setting, story setting and a role playing option. A recent breakdown from BioWare of the modes shows just how complex and improved the game play is expected to be with these new features.

The modes will set options into place as game play begins, letting gamers explore characteristics and meanings ahead of entering the play modes. The options will then be able to be altered after selecting a mode. With a number of options for each mode, it’s clear that BioWare has tried to provide an individual gaming experience for each player.

The action mode of the Mass Effect 3 is said to begin with a default structure, including bits from both the renegade and paragon settings. The action setting is also said to include the ability to float through narratives at a faster pace than a traditional mode, with different personalities and dialogue. In the story mode, reps from BioWare claim that getting through the action and fighting can be done rather quickly, allowing for more focus on the dialogue and decisions. This mode is supposed to include a fast paced feel, with an easier task in defeating any enemies.

The role playing mode for Mass Effect 3 is expected to be the same as the past blending action together. The traditional method of game play for previous Mass Effect releases has occurred in that role playing mode, filled with a blend of regular combat and dialogue.

Perhaps the most exciting news about Mass Effect 3 will be the full additions to dialogue and storylines. Each player will have the opportunity to really tailor their own experience, beginning with the choice of game mode and then moving on into the actual play. Characters will be making decisions throughout the game based on a number of things, including past relationships and life-like feelings.

With the variance of modes, storyline features and settings, ME3 is looking to really develop a unique experience for each gamer. Previous releases in the franchise have certainly achieved great popularity, but the fixes to the options screen and other modes were a major talking point during the two previous games. Of major importance is the fact that the modes and settings will be optional, meaning as an addition to the game, it won’t be hurting any players directly.

Justin Taylor is a creative writer from the University of Texas El Paso. Currently he enjoys writing articles on games he loves such as Mass Effect 3, Modern Warfare 3, and Mario Kart 7.

The latest edition of the ever popular game Call of Duty finally concluded the Modern Warfare trilogy. Modern Warfare 3 maintains the same level of exciting action, realistic characters and thrilling plots revolving around terrorism and military unrest.

COD: MW3 v older versions

Since the beginning of the Modern Warfare series in 2007, COD has more or less maintained its entertainment factor paired with realistic gaming. Although there aren’t many noteworthy differences from the last installment, MW3 definitely competes neck to neck against Battlefield 3, one of the most anticipated games of 2011.

The latest addition to the Modern Warfare series begins exactly where Modern Warfare 2 finished. Exuding a movie trilogy like feel, the previous installment stopped with a cliffhanger where Russia was at war against the US and Makarov still out of reach. This post apocalyptic war game delivers an excellent storyline and finishes up the trilogy in an impressive manner.

Gameplay

The gameplay of Modern Warfare 3 is almost identical to its predecessors where each player carries two weapons of choice in addition to grenades. Unlike other fps games, COD captures a realistic view of the action hero. Instead of taking dozens of bullets, the heroes of COD are injured fairly easily. If the player is hit a few times, it is imperative to hide until full recovery. MW3′s single player campaign lasts an average of six hours and takes you on an exciting journey from the United States, to Germany and Africa.

This short campaign promises excitement and loads of action as a majority of the game is spent on foot. Occasionally, you will get a chance to steer armed vehicles and drones into enemy ground and open fire. The linear gameplay of Modern Warfare 3 starts with a firefight where the enemy has higher chances of spawning than you. This level of the game could get a little frustrating as it is predictable yet never ending. You can also opt to play special missions alone or with a partner. Unlike the main campaign, these extremely short missions come with varying difficulty levels and time limits.

Single player v multiplayer

The single player mode of Modern Warfare 3 is predictable as it is very similar to the campaigns in previous versions of COD. The multiplayer experience however, is worth mentioning. With a plethora of additional customization options, Modern Warfare 3 allows players to create their own class with weapons and other capabilities. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 comes with over a dozens variations of cooperative games while its competitor Battlefield 3 is equipped with only six.

Author bio: Annabelle is a writer by profession and likes to blog about her varied interests. She represents Cheap BB Guns and BB Guns UK online store.

So, ever heard of this game? No? You should, this game looks to be my dream come true. It’s all of my favorite things I loved about MMO’s, but in a single player setting. What I’ll call ‘Reckoning’ for short, is a single player open world role-playing game, but with awesome combat. When I say awesome combat, it’s the kind you have to see to believe. Its set in a massive open world, riddled with hundreds of handcrafted dungeons, steeped in 10,000 years of history and most importantly awesome loot.

The Back Story

The setting of the game takes place in a sliver of history called, the Age of Arcana. Magic is in its infancy. It’s untested. It’s unstable, and oftentimes untrusted. Your character, oddly enough, starts out dead. You wake up on a pile of bodies to discover you’ve been unexpectedly resurrected. In a world where fate is predetermined by Fateweavers, where the future of the world is filled with War and death, you are the lone exception. You have no fate. You have no destiny. What you do with your character is up to you and for you to discover. You’re forever altering the course of history.

Classes No More

Most role-playing games we’ve played in the past, you start off by picking a name, race, religion and a class. From there on out, you’re stuck with that class whether you like it or not. Reckoning sought to change that. They’re striving for a more forgiving new Destiny System. You begin the game as a blank slate. As you level up, you spend points in three ability trees – Might, Finesse and Sorcery. As you spend points on abilities from these trees, you are rewarded with Destiny Cards. These cards are classes you can equip. The game analyzes how you are spending your ability points and gives you destinies that augment your play style and choices. There are 40 possible destinies you have access to, all of which are viable classes that you can play effectively. There’s even a destiny tree for those who like to spend their points everywhere, called Jack-of-All-Trades.

Unbelievable Combat

The combat system is something Big Huge Games is extremely proud of. I have to say when I first saw it, I was blown away. The chakrams are amazing to watch and the faeblades just look plain killer. It’s not your typical strategy of pull nearby mob, spam your attack button until it’s dead, loot and repeat. It’s much more challenging and engaging. A typical battle might be a pile-driving ass-kicking ettin (ogre-like creature), two wolves circling you while alternating sneak attacks and a boggart who’s picking at you from a distance. Which do you hit first? If you’re not fast on your feet and comfortable with your skills and weapon choice, you’ll be back on that corpse pile before you know it.

The Minds behind the Game

Curt Shilling, famed Boston Red Sox pitcher and founder of 38 Studios, has brought in the best-of-the-best. He’s recruited the New York Times Bestselling Fantasy Author, R. A. Salvatore, the creator of Spawn, Todd McFarlane and the groundbreaking game designer behind Morrowind and Oblivion, Ken Rolsten. So pretty much my favorite author, comic illustrator and game designer all involved in making my favorite type of game. Needless to say, I’m pretty stoked about this game and if you’re a fan of SRPG’s, you should be too.

More Information

Read more about Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning on my blog where I have posted all the details, pictures and videos about this game.

Release Date: February 7th, 2012 (US) and February 10th, 2012 (Overseas)
Developed by Big Huge Games
Published by EA Games
Platforms: PC, XBox 360, Playstation 3

Patrick Dunkley
RPGReviewer.com

Battlefield is a pioneer in its genre, known for its gigantic maps, surplus of vehicles and extensive destruction scenarios. The last battlefield game was released 6 years ago and fans had been eagerly awaiting the updated version. Battlefield 3 comes in two parts on separate discs, which makes it feel more like two games than one. The multiplayer delivers an exciting challenge to players while the single player campaign leaves most fans disappointed.

Multiplayer

The multiplayer has six modes, which entail different strategies. Conquest and Conquest Large modes challenge the teams to control positions for as long as possible. Rush and Squad Rush modes focus on defending and destroying. Team death match and squad death match aims at killing as many opponents as possible. There are nine maps to play on, the layout of which gets altered according to the damage done. This makes the atmosphere and environment of the battlefield very changeable. Each player’s smaller contribution to the team is rewarded by bonus points. The multiplayer game has no prescribed story and offers freedom with a highly competitive environment.

Single Player Campaign

Battlefield 3’s single player campaign is unfortunately the segment of the game that can be overlooked. It is structured as flashbacks of battle memories that St. Blackburn narrates to his superiors. The game has a script with a planned beginning, middle and end. Even the final destruction is predetermined and happens without warning. There are only a limited number of buildings to blow up and few vehicles to destroy. The graphics are commendable but it comprises of 6 hours of gaming, which is far too serious, making the experience monotonous and heavy. However, the script is dramatic and provides a movie like military feel.

Frostbite 2 Engine

The frostbite 2 engine is the highlight of Battlefield 3. It makes the entire game more real and takes graphics in gaming to a next level like, when a building blows up, the dust and smoke makes it impossible for you to find your way around. Every weapon and machine looks realistic and is not artificially attractive.

Battlefield 3 is one of the best of its kind. The multiplayer game, which has brilliant graphics, is a pleasure for a gamer. All details including the lighting, wind blowing, debris, buildings going up in smoke are extremely realistic making it impossible for the player to pull away. It is not a game meant for everyone though – it requires coordinating, experience in shooting and knowhow with the vehicles. The single player campaign on the other hand is easier and a delight for shooters.

Author bio: Annabelle is a writer by profession and likes to blog about her varied interests. She represents BB Guns and Airsoft Guns online store.

With a long list of predecessors, the Mario Kart franchise has long been one of Nintendo’s most popular multiplayer focused games. Dating back to the Super Nintendo and Original Release days, the franchise has always been a staple because of its simple mix of racing and revered characters from the Nintendo universe. As 2011 winds down, Nintendo prepares to release its next installment in the series with Mario Kart 7. With a strong focus in online play, tracks and customization, expect Mario Kart 7 to be one of the premier Nintendo 3DS games of the year, as well as a popular holiday gift.

Within the actual game play of Mario Kart 7, it’s clear that the developers have given a supreme amount of focus to deepening the online portion of the game. Nintendo has seemingly put more effort than all previous occasions into the online availability of MK7.

One of the primary features of the online video game play for MK7 will be the community mode for users. Gamers will have the ability to dream up their own racing groups, as well as an availability to define the characteristics of each community. Among the characteristics that can be chosen within these communities are skill settings, items and racing rules. Individual communities can have about 10,000 members. Of course, races won’t be able to have that many participants at once, but the groups should be rather interesting.

Another one of the new online features will be the availability to race against players from around the world. The world feature will allow the opportunity to go up against gamers from around the world who have similar levels of skill. The online features will also include a friends option, as well as a local game mode. In this category, users can take part in standard game play against other players who are playing the same area.

There will be a great combination of classic tracks, as well as brand new track experiences for long time MK players. There will be 16 new tracks for this installment, as well as 16 classic designs. Some of the preview trailers have shown new tracks such as an underwater course.

The characters will also add in some new blood along with the mainstays of the Mario Kart franchise. The classic figures such as Mario, Luigi, Yoshi and others will be included, along with a list of almost 10 unlocked characters for use. Gamers will also be available to use the 3DS Mii creator device to play as a number of other popular characters or as themselves.

The itemization and power features have always been a popular mainstay of the MK franchise and Mario Kart 7 continues that tradition. There are all the classic items, as well as a couple new additions such as a Lucky 7, which allows drivers to choose from seven different items including shells and bananas.

Mario Kart 7 will certainly have a number of other great features such as new availability for cart customization and power ups as well. With heavy attention on the online play specs and a devoted group of longtime MK players, expect MK7 to be a strong release for Nintendo this winter. The company seems to finally be putting more attention in online play, which is encouraging for future games and franchises under the Nintendo umbrella.

After watching the Batman: Arkham City trailers and seeing the released pictures I am filled with the kind of glee that teenage girls get when they watch the latest Twilight trailer. With the multitude of villains that the game boasts, including the Joker and his main plot line, it looks like it will be easy to get lost in the newest Batman game.

Villains, Villains, Villains

The roster list of villains is huge in this game: The Penguin, The Riddler, Mr. Freeze, Harley Quinn, and Two-Face, plus The Joker (of course) just to name a few. While there are so many different villains I thought that it might be possible for the Joker and the main story to be overshadowed.

Thank fully Rock Steady’s marketing game manager Dax Ginn tried to put those fears to rest in a recent interview with Playstation magazine. “Every aspect of the game is character driven.” Ginn goes on to explain that even though there are a lot of villains, they aren’t all flung at you at once. You are left to explore Arkham City and deal with each bad guy at your own leisure. The battles with the other villains in the story look like they fall somewhere between main plot and side quests. Again, reassurance is quickly dealt out, with Ginn explaining that none of the side quests are irrelevant fluff, which will be awesome.

Familiar Places ( So stoked!!)

“We didn’t set out to make the biggest open-world game ever made, just the most detailed…” Ginn states. Littered across the map are locations that are not only relevant to the game play, but taken right out of the comics, finally. I love when they bring games back to the original comics. Even Crime Alley, the spot where young Bruce Wayne saw his parents murdered (as if I had to tell you), is there.

The game is definitely set up to deliver for fans, complete with melancholy music to set the somber mood, each villain is said to be given not only their own time against the Bat, but awesome plot lines, dialogue and scenarios that perfectly fit the villain. No cameos where the enemy is just mindlessly attacking, each villain not only has their own tailor made set of tactics, but they also boast armies of thugs and minions to do their bidding.

Combat

I am really excited to see the combat system they intend to implement. Not only are the villain’s combat rumored to be amazing, but Batman’s has improved as well. While many of the same abilities are still around from Arkham Asylum, there are plenty of new additions with the expanded area; including bringing a flight option to the game. Not the traditional sort, but gliding, giving you the ability to dive bomb foes and cross the map pretty quickly- with practice I am assuming.

The game even includes multiple player characters including Robin, which is currently only available with the Best Buy Pre-Order package; as well as Catwoman, moving with the feline grace that she deserves. With her familiar sexy cat suit and love-hate relationship with Batman, the inclusion will prove to be something interesting.

Batman: Arkham City is determined to be an improvement on its successor, and from everything that’s been released so far, the game will surely be Game of the Year material. Get ready for the release date on October 18. Anyone want to camp out for it? I have a costume ready!

This is a guest post by Tim @ Coxcabledeals.org | @timlcooley

5. Dead Island

I think that this game will be a winner with many RPG fans who want to try something different instead of fighting dragons and surviving after an apocalypse. The graphics of this game are of a high standard and the storyline is very well written. The game is set on the fictional island of Banoi in a hotel called Palms Resort. You can choose between 4 characters: Xian Mei, Logan, Sam B and Purna. From reading reviews I would play as Logan as he is the leader of the group and renowned for his strength.

4. Madden 12

I am looking to play something different at the moment so I thought I might get Madden 12. It’s a game about American football and you basically play against other teams. It’s a bit like Fifa but with a different sport. They also have the Hall of Fame edition where you get some extra All Star characters. Overall I think the graphics look good and this is a very good game. I do think eventually that I would lose interest in this game and I will be trading it in for something better.

3. Gears of War 3

I think that this game will be one of the most played games coming out this year, as everyone with an Xbox loves Gears and I really enjoyed playing 1 & 2. This new one has amazing graphics and really cool new guns especially the gold retro lancer you get when you pre-order. But I highly recommend buying the Gears of War 3 Epic Edition, as you get lots of artwork and a Marcus Fenix statue which I would love to put up in my flat. I will definitely get this game and probably never sell it and play it all the time.

2. Modern Warfare 3

This game is going to be a big hit with all platforms because everyone loves Call of Duty (COD. Many people have said that Call of Duty is dying out but I disagree with that statement. I will never stop playing COD. Anyway I think the graphics for this game are excellent and look really realistic. The game will start where Modern Warfare 2 finished off. At the end of Modern Warfare 2, Russia was invading America and the two main characters Soap and Price, were running from the American government. I would recommend Modern Warfare 3 to anyone who has played the other Call of Duty games and thought they were really good and enjoyed them.

1. Skyrim

I think Skyrim will be one of best games coming out this year and will look really good and everyone will love it. It is not a direct sequel to Oblivion as many people believe. Skyrim is a new chapter in The Elder Scrolls game series and the beginning is similar to Oblivion as you start off in a prison cell. I have read some reviews and magazines that have stated that Skyrim will feature a skills tree with special extra skills and you will level up in a similar way to Fallout. Skyrim is the game I am most anticipating the release of this year as I am a big fan of the Elder Scrolls Series. I would recommend Skyrim to anyone who loves RPGs.

Liam is a legendary gamer looking forward to Gears of War 3 and Modern Warfare 3.

The PlayStation-exclusive Yakuza series is probably well known to some of you, as gamers have praised the first two games for their innovative gameplay and deep storylines. Yakuza 3 quickly drew in even more fans to the series, and it made the PlayStation 3 an even more attractive choice for lovers of action/adventure games. And even though it has some quirks and a few things still need to be polished out, according to most players, it’s still widely acknowledged to be the best game in the series so far.

Gameplay

The game uses a different writer for its story than the first two, and it’s quite noticeable in some aspects – the story is darker as a whole, and instead of placing the character in the same town environment as before, it transports the story to a new location, the Ryukyu Islands. You’ll find a lot more character development in the game as a whole, and there’s more emphasis on their relationships than in the first two games of the series.

The gameplay is very diverse and it will take you a long, long time if you’re planning on seeing the entire game – there are several modes to choose from, and to give an example of the diversity we’re talking about, just one of those modes offers over a hundred missions – and we don’t mean short ones, either. There are some mini-games as well, which is common for Japanese titles – for example, collecting coin lockers, which can award you with trophies in the PlayStation Network. There are dozens of trophies for you to obtain, including a platinum one, so make sure you explore everything you can, even on your first playthrough!

Graphics and System Requirements

A major aspect of the game’s presentation comes in its graphics – we know that the PS3 packs quite the powerful hardware beneath that plastic cover, but sadly not many games have made impressive use of it so far. Yakuza 3 takes a step forward from mediocrity – actually, forget steps, it takes a huge leap. The developers of the game were so proud of their work in the visual department that they’ve actually released a specification sheet containing some details about what the game offers, which includes very high-resolution textures on both the world and character, and plenty of polygons for the models.

Another interesting aspect of the engine is its automatic lyp synchronization – developers didn’t actually have to model the characters’ facial movement for their dialogues, as that’s automatically generated by the engine based on their speech recordings – truly impressive.

It runs pretty smoothly, and we only noticed some minor slowdowns during more crowded battles, but then again, that can be said for many not-so-impressive looking titles on the platform.

Other

Should you ever get bored of this game – which we doubt, considering the amount of time it’ll take you to see everything – there are several DLC packs for your consideration, which will offer you even more content, mostly in the form of more game modes.

Conclusion

A really impressive title which absolutely destroys all competition in the action/adventure genre – Yakuza 3 is something you’ll keep playing for a long time.

It’s rare for a game based on a movie to achieve the same level of popularity as the movie itself, and even rarer for it to actually surpass the movie. But in the case of X-Men Origins: Wolverine, this is pretty much exactly what happened – the game not only lived up to the great expectations the gaming crowd held for it, but it also turned out to be a highly innovative title packed full of interesting gameplay and a solid storyline.

Gameplay

The game puts you in the role of Wolverine, as you go through a plot which closely resembles that of the movie, which also reveals a lot of new information about the character which you can only see in the game. It’s mainly an action game with some elements of adventure and exploration – but the main focus is placed on combat in all its glory. You’ve got several types of attacks, all of which attribute to a “rage” meter – when filled up, you can temporarily attack your enemies in much more vicious ways, taking care of entire groups at once.

Health is handled in a regenerating system, which was to be expected, considering the nature of Wolverine himself – so it’s a perfect opportunity for the developers to utilize this concept. You can see your wounds heal in real time as you go around the levels, and the visual effects associated with that are very good-looking (more on that below).

Also, combat isn’t only limited to ways you can strike your enemies in – you can make creative use of your environment to aid your cause, for example throwing enemies at large spikes and watching them die a bit slower.

Graphics and System Requirements

Yet again we see the Unreal Engine 3 in action (not for the mobile versions, of course – those are powered by the Hybrid engine). YOu can expect the standard level of eye candy associated with games on this engine, such as high-resolution textures, lots of dynamic lighting and realistic shadows, and highly-detailed models. Some of the scenes are truly breathtaking, and capture the feeling every movie-based game should have.

The developers have done quite a few alterations to the base engine, and sadly the game’s system requirements have gone up as a result – so you’ll need a slightly better computer than what your average Unreal Engine 3 game requires. Still, it fares well enough on older machines, and if you’re able to run other UE3 titles comfortably, you should at least get a playable experience from X-Men Origins: Wolverine if you turn down some of the graphics settings.

Other

The game has a PS2 version – surprisingly. However, the experience is somewhat different there, as the game utilizes a more simplistic combat style, as well as a different system for character development.

Conclusion

X-Men Origins: Wolverine is a shining example of what movie-based games should be like – that is to say, even if it didn’t come with the fame of the movie, the game would still be very well-received and recognized.

Ever wanted to see Kill Bill turned into a video game? Well, even though there isn’t an official one with the KB brand, WET is as close as it gets, and trust us, after just a few minutes in this game, you’re going to forget every other action you’ve recently touched and the chances of you becoming addicted to WET are quite high. You’ve been warned!

Gameplay

The player takes the role of Rubi, a woman with near-superhuman agility who packs two pistols and a sword, and whatever else is at hand for disposing of the huge waves of enemies thrown at her. We mentioned Tarantino’s Kill Bill above for a very good reason – the amount of gore in this game is tremendous. We’re not talking about a few corpses lingering here and there with open wounds on them – your screen will be drowning in blood just as soon as you’ve entered your first (and more basic) fight.

Controlling Rubi is very easy and intuitive, and you can use both her weapons simultaneously – as you’re aiming one, the game automatically locks your secondary crosshair on a close enemy, allowing you to fire at different targets at once. Using your sword opens up the way to the most amazing acrobatic stunts you’ll see in an action game for quite a while – you can jump around like crazy, bouncing off walls and even enemies, sliding on your knees, spinning around and generally delivering justice in extremely brutal ways. Being a girl, you can also use your powers of seduction to confuse your enemies for a few seconds – which, in most cases, is more than enough to deliver your final volley of attacks and finish them off.

Graphics and System Requirements

When it comes to WET’s graphics, we’re a bit split. Sure, the game lives up to your expectations of the bloody, gory fest you’re probably imagining upon hearing Kill Bill – but even the copious amounts of blood and limbs can’t hide the otherwise dated engine used for the game. The graphics are of a bit poor quality in places, especially when it comes to the resolution of textures – and let’s face it, as pretty as the heroine is, the style she was designed in is kind of… off. It goes for the general art style of the game, too – some environments clash with each other far too much to be believable, and despite the tremendous work put into animating the characters, combat can still feel slightly clumsy and stiff at some points.

At least there weren’t any technical issues – the game runs equally smoothly on both platforms, and the experience is more or less the same regardless which console you choose to play it on. You may notice some slightly longer loading times with the Xbox 360, but nothing that takes away from the gameplay experience for sure.

Other

A notable aspect about WET is its music – it’s very dynamic and perfectly fits pretty much every situation it’s used in, and the composer deserves special praise for his work on this title. It’s curious how the video game industry has spawned some of the most creative composers of today.

Conclusion

WET is the perfect experience for lovers of over-the-top gore and action, and a must-play for any fan of action games in general.