Game-a-Thon

Disclaimer: Most of this was a post I made elsewhere, but I wanted to put it here.....just because. Don't whine, it's not like you were going to read this anyway. *smirk*

So far, November seems to be the Great Month of Gaming for me (Best Buy had a pretty slick deal going on-buy two, get one free, and I finally caved and bought some new games. Hence:

I'll start with Brutal Legend. I was looking forward to this game all year, and it totally delivered on all the preceding hype. I will be fair here, though, and say that if you buy this game, you are really buying it for the infusion of Jack Black into the digital realm. The gameplay is a little hit or miss, but satisfying overall. It's a unique blend of hack n' slash and RTS. On paper, that looks great, but RTS games are not ideal for something controller-based. The world is based around everything heavy metal. So much, in fact, that you'll hear some familiar voices-many a rockstar lent their time and talent (and honestly, I've never heard Ozzy so lucid. O_O) to the project. It's a must-buy game if you even remotely enjoy rock.

Rock Band 2.....there isn't overmuch to say about this game. It's essentially the same as the first game, but with some desperately added tweaks. What bothered me most about Rock Band 1 was the inability to use the same character for different instruments, and thankfully, they've fixed that this time around. They've also added in some single player challenges, as well as a more extensive band tour. If you bought the first, you simply must have the second.

And finally....Batman: Arkham Asylum. Now, I'm about a third(ish) of the way through this game, and already I can tell this is one of the best games that I will play all year. Assassin's Creed set the bar (for me) in terms of fluid free running and combat, and Batman leaps right over. It really feels like you are Batman, and the inclusion of his, and The Joker's voice from the Animated series just sells it all the more. Even beyond the gameplay, the game wins from an artistic standpoint. The atmosphere is perfect. Dark, creepy, and moody. Standing atop a building, and looking out at Gotham City on the horizon is a thing to behold. Finally, a pure superhero game that doesn't suck.

Upcoming games to be played include: Borderlands, Assassin's Creed 2, Dragon Age, and Grand Theft Auto 4.