The gameplay is totally different than the rest of the series.  If you played the first few, you remember sneaking around rooms, pulling bodies into dark corners, and frantically picking locks as the guards patrolled closer.  But Conviction has Sam as a determined killer; out to get the guys who took away his daughter.  The game hasn’t turned into a run and gun shooter yet, and stealth is still important, but it doesn’t have the same tricks of the trade that old Sam Fisher used to have up his sleeve.

One of the new features of the game are the interrogations that Sam will sometimes put his foes through.  Overall, the interrogations seem to both hit and miss.  The first few may be kind of exciting, but overall, they’re few and far between, and don’t get any more exciting or feel as fresh and interesting as the first.

But, that shouldn’t draw away too much from the game.  The sound track is pretty amazing.  It weaves you in and out of the story by adding to it, rather than becoming part of the game itself.  It builds suspense when you need it, and is fairly unnoticeable otherwise; the way a good soundtrack should be.

The length of the game was a little too short for my taste as well.  Since most companies are focusing on building the replay value, they often neglect making the first play through exciting enough to want to play it again.  Gamespot has the correct idea when it said that the first play storyline isn’t challenging enough, but the co-op is what really brings the game to life.

Supreme Commander 2 XBox - SupCom2

From visual problems to bugs in the software, the first version of Supreme Commander for the X-Box 360 rightfully tanked when it came to hardcore gamers. Luckily, the game developers actually listened to the players and what we have as a result is a much more playable RTS game for the X-Box 360 console.

The sound in Supreme Commander 2 for the XBox 360 still isn’t the greatest, but that’s okay for most people. As with the original Total Annihilation that the game is based on, it’s all about the gameplay. And that’s where Supreme Commander 2 for the X-Box 360 really shines.

The graphics aren’t the greatest, but the level and location design is really well done, letting you get into the battle as you feel a part of the surroundings.

As for the user interface, it’s said to be very easy to get used to if you have even a little experience with the X-Box controller. If not, a little work and you may like it more than playing Supreme Commander 2 on the computer.

In this game you still gather resources, but it’s more about the major battles and moving your troops around, which most people like.

Thoughts on Supreme Commander 2 for the X-Box 360? We’d love to hear them.

The improvement in how levels are structured in this game creates a free and more customizable playing experience. Instead of a linear storyline, each level has a hub world that allows you to explore and solve puzzles at your own pace and in whatever order you like, creating a much more expansive sense to the play that really increases the overall enjoyment of the game. Stuck on a difficult puzzle? Just skip it and come back later without getting frustrated or hopelessly stalled.

Other improvements include the new importance of currency, requiring the studs you collect throughout the game to purchase items to solve later puzzles. Each new character you control has special skills that allow for plenty of variety in game play, keeping the action fresh instead of repetitive. Crack Indy’s whip to hang from ceilings or even drag around enemies, control a character who has a wrench to fix broken items, or have fun just blasting things to pieces with a bazooka. What’s more, the ability to build your own customized levels is a fun bonus feature. Sure, there are weak elements – vehicle controls in particular are complicated and frustrating – but the overall experience of the game is a puzzle addict’s dream, and we think you’ll be sad when the action is over.

A bad script and even worse voice acting strips any sense of magic from the plot line, instead leaving you with an overlong, fairly basic first person shooter game. In Na’vi mode, you can use a variety of melee weapons that offers some entertaining combat options. However, in RDA mode, the completely lack of interesting choice only points out the technical glitches the game is prone to with even more stark clarity. AI characters often make moves that offer no logical sense, and even you can end up stuck in weird positions.

The scenery, although impressive at first, quickly becomes about as humdrum as the game, offering little but monotony and distinct sense of deja vu. It might be helped by decent vehicle play, except that when you’re in a vehicle the camera bounces so violently that all you’ll want is the monotony of walking through the jungle back. While the 3D aspect of the game is a nice feature (if you have a hi-def TV, anyway), it certainly doesn’t make up for the variety of ways in which the game fails to be anything interesting.

Xbox Elite Console

As the Holiday Season continues, many people might still be trying to decide which gaming console to purchase as a gift – either for the full family or just a single person. That’s one of the things you should consider when choosing what type of gaming system to purchase. Should you get the Nintendo Wii? The Playstation 3? Or how about the XBox 360? It can all be a little confusing until you take a look at the gaming systems.

Nintendo Wii for Families

While not necessarily just for families, the Nintendo Wii makes a great gift for an entire family, with games that will keep them entertained (and in shape depending on what games you get – the Wii fit is a good gift.) That’s not to say you can’t get a Nintendo Wii for a single person, but it makes a terrific group gift on your holiday list.

Playstation 3 for Roleplayers

If you’re getting a game station for someone who is into role playing and strategy games, the Sony Playstation 3 might be the best game system to purchase in 2009. With a great selection of games (of all types), the system is made for solitary gamers who occasionally like to get online to challenge others.

XBox 360 for Halo

Xbox 360 online is a hit with many people who are really into gaming, making this system a winner for them. With a lot of great online games that will keep them busy for hours, the Microsoft Xbox 360 might cost a little more, but it’s worth it. If you can, go for the extra storage. There’s a lot of great deals out there this year.

The Winner?

Well, that’s up to you. As mentioned, these game consoles are good for anyone really, because they have such a wide selection of games. Do you disagree or agree with our generalized look at gaming consoles circa Christmas 2009?

Let us know
in a comment below!

However, if different gameplay modes are right up your alley, Guitar Hero 5 definitely delivers. Quickplay offers the option of creating finite playlists, while the impressive and fun Party Play mode allows people to join and leave the game completely casually, without interrupting the flow of the game for other players. A jam session option allows you to rock to your heart’s content without any limiting rules to follow. The rather self-explanatory Career Mode allows you to progress in difficulty of songs and venues, all the while unlocking bonus features of the game that can be either fun or just ridiculous. Bonus challenges allow you to accrue three extra stars on each song, which you can use to unlock new equipment, cheats, and even new playable characters in the face of rock legends like Johnny Cash or Kurt Cobain.

If there’s a downfall in Guitar Hero 5, it’s the import songs option. While you are able to import a few of the songs from World Tour, it’s not even half of them and what’s more, you actually have to pay 280 Microsoft points to do it at all. While it’s disappointing and irritating, especially after previous versions of the game, the varied modes and the vastly improved music studio still make Guitar Hero 5 easily the best game of the franchise so far. Do you agree? Leave a comment and let me know.

For the people who just like to pick two fighters and go at it, the game controls are sensitive and the response to any given move can have a huge number of potential outcomes. The visuals are impressive and the sounds are even more so. You can even make yourself a character by uploading a few pictures and spending some time tweaking their appearance on the game interface.

The legacy mode offers even more variety, combining matches that you choose and set with training, working your way up the stats, and securing your title once you have it. Complete with strategic ways to spend points you earn during the fights and interesting (if a little difficult) minigames that help build your character’s stats, it’s easy to see why trying to become a boxing legend can be so addictive.

For even more fun, try the online gameplay, which has an Online World Championship mode, ranking you against every other player with a profile in the online game. Here, your strategy can really shine while you enjoy the solidly responsive controls and consistently impressive sound effects. In the event that you get matched with someone who’s really willing to put some effort and thought into play rather than just pummeling you mindlessly and leaving prematurely if they lose, this game can shine.

Leave us a comment below and tell us which feature you liked the best about Fight Night Round 4.

Loosely following the plot of the summer blockbuster, the game offers two different campaigns, each with their own set of maps and missions. The graphics are detailed enough to let the Transformers really shine and bonus challenges and unlockable goodies keep things interesting where the gameplay could otherwise give you a distinct sense of déjà vu. Admittedly, the voice acting is a bit of a turn off, but then again, who really buys these sort of games for the plot line? The online multiplayer function offers some great chances for strategizing with other gamers on how best to coordinate your special abilities to defeat your enemies.

Unfortunately, the game controls can be a bit unwieldy and hard to manage, especially when switching between your three forms: robot, weapon, and vehicle. Don’t expect the smooth transitions that wow us in the movies, because until you get the hang of switching back and forth it’s more likely that you’ll be careening into a building than striking a cool pose as you transform. Of course, once you manage to get the hang of it, there are some truly awesome moves you can use to devastate your enemies.

Really, this game just lets you imagine what it would be like to be a transformer, and the awesome abilities eventually outweigh the irritating adjustment period. In the long run, it manages to be fun for both the old school fan and the newcomer while offering some pretty dun features and gameplay.

Michael Crabtree, formerly of Texas Tech University, graces the NCAA Football 10 Xbox 360® cover. A top 2009 NFL Draft prospect and two-time recipient of the Biletnikoff and Paul Warfield Awards, Crabtree is a highly recognized wide receiver who led Texas Tech in a close race for the BCS National Championship up until the final weeks of the 2008 season. Texas Tech’s victory over Texas in Lubbock is considered one of the defining moments of 2008.

The Playstation 3 cover features University of Utah’s former quarterback, Brian Johnson. In 2008, under Johnson’s leadership, the Utah Utes became the only undefeated NCAA Division I team, boasting a 12-0 record heading into the 2009 Sugar Bowl. In that game, #7 Utah upset #4 Alabama to finish the season with a perfect 13-0 record. Johnson was named the Most Outstanding Player in the 2009 Sugar Bowl.

The PSP  (PlayStation Portable) version of NCAA Football 10 will showcase University of Southern California’s former quarterback, Mark Sanchez. In his only season as USC’s starting quarterback, Sanchez led the Trojans to a near perfect 12-1 season, narrowly missing the opportunity to compete for the 2008 BCS National Championship title. Sanchez was named the Most Valuable Offensive Player in the 2009 Rose Bowl.

University of Texas’ former defensive end, Brian Orakpo, is featured on the PlayStation®2 cover. In 2008, Orakpo was unanimously selected as a first-team All-American and named the Associated Press Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. In his final season with the Longhorns, Orakpo won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, the Ted Hendricks Award and the Lombardi Award. Under Orakpo’s leadership, the Longhorns were one of the most dominating teams in the college football last year, defeating numerous top 25 teams including eventual Big 12 Champion and BCS National Champion contender Oklahoma in a memorable Cotton Bowl confrontation.

Familiar faces indeed.