It's Going to Be a Long Year

So I've been keeping an eye out on new content on Xbox Live, just because of the fact that there has been quite a lot of new stuff getting released lately (like UFC Undisputed 2009 demo, Red Faction: Guerrilla demo, Left 4 Dead's Survival DLC, more on all of that sooner rather then later).

For starters, the UFC Undisputed 2009 demo.

I'll admit that I was hoping there would be a demo for this, because I was curious to see what THQ had in store for the MMA giant's return to the gaming world. And since THQ has been doing pro wrestling games for over a decade now, I had a sort of doubt that maybe they were rehashing their work from Smackdown vs Raw and just slapping on some MMA fighters' bodies.

And after playing through the demo numerous times through, I can safely say that it is absolutely nothing like the Smackdown vs. Raw games. Hell, it plays unlike anything I've picked up before. There are no special move gauges, no finishing moves or anything like that. The fight, depending on what types of hits you're landing and where, it can all be over in matter of sheer seconds.

What surprised me was the depth in these fights, which easily exceeds any wrestling game. In wrestling games, you press certain button combos and you can strike to hell or slam your opponent. In UFC Undisputed, yes you can strike down your opponent. You can take them down to the mat and pound them mercilessly or go for a submission. But it isn't as easy as it sounds as there seems to be quite a lot of counter moves to these situations. Needless to say, I expect the fights won't be as fast as they were in the demo. Or at least the fighters will actually get in there with the intent of knocking your damn head out to the third row.

If nothing else, the demo only boosted my overall interest in this title. But hey, isn't that the point of the demo? Still, I am glad that this game is looking like it can live up to any hype that is thrown it's way.

The second game demo I encountered was Red Faction Guerrilla. The only thing that really caught my eye and locked up my attention here was the devastation you can unleashed. Unlike a lot of games, Red Faction Guerrilla allows you to destroy entire buildings. Hell, you can take down walls and all sorts of things. I was just having a blast just ripping through buildings as I "escorted" my hijacked walker back to the truck.

And kind of like Assassin's Creed 2, Red Faction Guerrilla is promising a ton of missions. So, using my brain power here, I think I can assume that there will be a whole lot of real estate to be demolishing throughout the course of this game.

The only thing left that I can saw about this game is this: Where and how do I sign up?! I'll tear Mars apart, one building at a time!

One last thing here that I feel a need to write about here and that concerns a little game called Left 4 Dead.

Now recently there was the Survival Pack DLC, which essentially gives you the Survival mode and some other multiplayer options (now I think all 4 scenarios are playable online). As I don't venture into online play too much, I opted to try out the Survival mode with my girlfriend.

Let me just say this: I do not see how it is possible to survive this without actually playing with four human beings. The AI for the other survivors is just ridiculous to say the least. They are so stupid! They are even less helpful here then they are in-game! I think our longest survival time was barely past 4 minutes and that was with a lot of pipebomb tossing just out of the gates.

I admit that I am a little sad by this, because my thought was this mode would have been something more like Gears of War 2's Horde mode. But alas, it is not...

Oh well! If nothing else, I am at least grateful that the DLC was a freebee or else I might actually be pissed off about it.

Dood!

I was surprised to discover this game while browsing though IGN the other night. The first thought that popped into my head was exactly what the title stated: Can a Prinny really be the hero of it's own game?

Considering how they've been the tail end of the comedy stick in the original Disgaea game (and anime), I can just imagine the type of insanity that may ensue in a game of their very own. I also expect a great deal of explosions, too.

Against all rational thought, I picked up Left 4 Dead today. Thankfully though, I managed enough trade-ins to avoid having to pay anything for it. On second thought, considering the number of games I've traded in, I suppose I still end up being the village idiot. Duh!

Something I am still working on getting used to about Left 4 Dead is the infected rush. These undead bitches just pop up out of nowhere and rush you like you were a Nintendo Wii during Christmas time (or at least how things were last Christmas)!

Last little tidbit of useless information, I think I am finally nearing the end of Fable 2. After being side tracked with marriages (yep, I went for more then one!), jobs, side quests and just outright killing stuff, I am nearing the end at last.

I think I may end up replaying Fable 2 another round or more, just to try out life on the dark side of life. Speaking of which, that has also been a reason why I've taken longer to progress through the game. I've been having more and more outbursts of ill will and so I've gone on all out rampages against the innocent people of Albion.

Besides that, damn folks Thanksgiving is here already and Black Friday should be a bitch! Best of luck to anyone who dares to brave the flood of humanity coming to damn near every store that'll open up. I tried to ask my girlfriend if it was alright if I pretended to be in a zombie game and just beat up anyone that gets to close to me/runs at me during this period.

I was being serious, she wasn't amused though. Huh.

Really though, best of luck and happy hunting to whom ever decides to dive into this insanity that is Black Friday. It will be a busy weekend folks, I know I'll be up to my ears working at both of my jobs this weekend and all indications point towards pure crazy.

Left 4 Dead Demo

Even while I had downloaded it a while back, I just got around to trying out the demo for Left 4 Dead (which I didn't realize had also been recently released).

And damn it all, I think I might actually like this one.

This game is creepy as hell, maybe not on par with some of Resident Evil's scare moments (Tyrant, how I STILL hate you), but the zombies in this game just pop in almost out of nowhere. And there is almost no such thing as safe. I mean you could be looking down on them and if they realize you are above them, they can and likely will jump up to you. I've even watched these things rip doors apart and then flood in.

In some ways, the tone of the game (and the nature of the zombies) remind me somewhat of those zombie-like creatures from "I Am Legend." You make a noise and they will be on your ass in a heartbeat.

Anyway, blah... I suppose I could add this onto my list of games for next month (joining Chrono Trigger, The Last Remnant, Prince of Persia and something else which is escaping the reach of my brain right now).

What makes me sad this holiday season is the lack of a new Final Fantasy game. I mean FFXII took a while to get here, but it sure looks like Final Fantasy XIII is going to go the distance and really take it's time on getting done. I just hope that this extra time improves the game and not end up as being a huge negative for it. Guess only time will tell now...