Gaming has evolved so much over the last few decades of its existence.  We have seen many incredible developments from different companies and we are seeing competition pushed to the limit. Many have dropped out around the earlier stages, but now we are starting to see the main competitors battle it out. We are seeing interesting new ideas, new concepts and new styles of playing. These innovating ideas are leading the way and those with the best ideas that appeal to the wider audience will always get the majority of the vote. But what can we expect to see of gaming in the next few decades with the competition continually growing? Read on to find out.

Obviously as of now we can only speculate as to what could happen, but based on the current situations we can generate a few scenarios which could lead the way forward towards the future of gaming all together.
Graphics

We can see already on consoles that the graphics are rapidly improving.  We are seeing more and more detailed graphics by the day, and with more people jumping onto the gaming ladder we are seeing more and more talent coming into the gaming world. I believe that within the next few decades we will see some interesting new developments in terms of graphics.  I believe that we may see some form of face tracking on people so that we can create controllable and realistic characters. This would not only make production of games quicker but it would also make it a lot cheaper. I believe that we could see this fairly soon, with various camera and capturing techniques rapidly improving I would imagine that we can see a major step in graphics development.
Gameplay

Gameplay at the moment has taken many steps forward, especially with Nintendos Wii console; this brings user interactivity to its best. There have been many similar creations in the past, but they have not succeeded as well as the Wii has. What is good is that the Wii has set the bar high and it will hopefully allow the competition to flow inwards and push the competitors to improve on the idea and maybe even develop some more user interactivity with the games. This could be interesting as we move on into the future because I believe that we may eventually see games leaning towards the virtual reality area, because even though games are fun we can see how they are slowly leading towards a virtual reality type game in which we can fully interact with the game and its environments.
Storylines

With the next generation consoles only recently being released we are starting to see some high graphic games but shorter storylines. I believe that since the introduction to better graphics the game designers have been putting more effort into creating the best graphics, and since it takes longer their is not always time to dedicate to a big full blown storyline. As time goes by I would imagine that storylines will improve a lot.  The reason for this is that given time the game designers will have had a chance to adjust to the new level of graphics and get them created a lot faster thus leaving time to create a long and full blown storyline. I believe we can expect this to develop over the coming years as the designers get used to the graphics and can easily create them. In a few decades I believe that we will see some really great games coming out.  The reason I believe that these games will be so great is because I believe they will have huge storylines which make the playing hours of the game much longer than what we would see today. This would enable much more replay value out of games and really expand our views on a game.  It would be more challenging and overall a lot more fun to play providing the storyline is a good one.
Conclusion

Overall, I believe that the future of gaming is bright if we manage to take the right path.  Currently we are set on a good path, and though there are some things we could improve on I still believe that given time we could really see some big changes in the gaming industry. With the current demand continuing to grow I can not see a reason why we wouldnt see some of the above being introduced within the next few decades. All we can do as for now is wait and see.  After all, if the demand stays high then we can expect to see gaming get even bigger. Maybe one day we will see a fully interactive virtual reality.  It is definitely possible, but as for now we need to take small steps to achieve little goals and move up towards better and more enjoyable gaming.

 

Crackdown was released quite some time ago and has proved to be a very enjoyable and successful game.  Its inventive style of gameplay has really introduced a fun style of playing. Many people may not appreciate the style of gameplay, but it is down to personal preference at the end of the day.

The graphics like most Xbox 360 games are very impressive; I would go as far as saying that the graphics on this game are stunning. With such a huge environment to explore you would expect the graphics to have been dropped in quality, but no, in this game you get a huge fully detailed and lush environment to explore. The detail put into this game, the characters and the environment around is extremely impressive and it is always a pleasure to play the game when it has such good graphics.

This game is very similar to the Grand Theft Auto style gameplay, but I actually think that this is better than any of the Grand Theft Auto games. You can free-roam around a huge city and as you complete missions you can gain points and stats to build up your character. With this you can improve your super abilities. This is actually very fun and when you can free-roam the city using these super powers you can feel free to cause chaos. It is a lot of fun and general free-roaming will keep your busy for hours.

The storyline is very similar to that of the Grand Theft Auto series; however I do think that with the missions you have you could easily get this game complete. There is plenty to do and there are many side missions that you can do if you wish.

Crackdown is fun, unique and has a lot of replay value.  I could go on and on about how good I think this game is, and that is why I am going to give it a 9/10. This game is not perfect.  No game is absolutely perfect, but it delivers an experience which will keep you happy and excited for literally weeks. Though the main storyline may end quite fast, you still have a huge playground to destroy and do as you wish in. I would go as far as saying that this is a Grand Theft Auto killer. I strongly recommend you check this game out.

 

Call of Duty 3 was released quite a while back now, but since it is a very good game, I believe it is important for all of you to read my review to see for yourself because this game is one of the best games I have played in a long time. Read my review to make your own judgement on Call of Duty 3.

Call of Duty 3 is set back in the days of the world wars in which you carry out various missions in campaign mode, the missions are usually very self explanatory and you will often find that you can easily move through the game without much difficulty. There are some points in which you may get stuck, but you can replay it over and over until you get past it. This first person shooter was one of the first games for the Xbox 360, it showed that the Xbox 360 was the way forward.

The graphics for this game are very nice.  They really do compliment the Xbox 360 console and show that it has much potential for future games.  The high quality graphics make playing the game a pleasure.

The gameplay is very simply for the Xbox 360 controls.  Its simple but great if you are either a casual gamer or a hardcore gamer. The realism of the gameplay itself is very impressive and it helps you immerse yourself further into the game. This first person shooter will have you not only addicted but also enjoying every moment that you are playing the game. Call of Duty 3 has an excellent multiplayer mode for all those interested, this really is one of the best aspects to the game and you will find yourself playing for hours on the multiplayer, whether it be online or with friends locally.

The storyline is actually quite a good storyline.  It is fairly basic, but it suits the style of gameplay. The graphics really do bring this storyline to life. However I do feel that the story is a bit too short, but I think that with the high end graphics it was only expected that a short storyline would have been added.

Overall I give Call of Duty 3 a 9/10. Its style of gameplay is classic and you can enjoy the storyline when playing in the campaign mode.  Its self explanatory to play and looks absolutely stunning.

The Super Mario series has been big across the world and has exploded in terms of popularity and franchise. With a main game being released every so often on one of the main platform consoles it was well overdue for one to be released upon launch of Nintendos Wii system, but that did not happen.  There were launch titles, but we had to wait a few more months for the next instalment to the series of games. The game that I am going to be reviewing is Super Mario Galaxy.  I will be taking a look at how it has improved compared to its previous games and I will also be discussing some of the features as well as a rating at the end.

The graphics for this game have improved a lot and you can tell as soon as you start the game.  The graphics look more defined and a lot sharper than what they used to be.  It is very surprising considering that this was released for the Wii in which the console didnt have any major graphical improvements.

The gameplay in this game is excellent; you are introduced to a completely new style of playing with the Wiimote and with the new additions to the game and the huge map to explore you are sure not to go wrong with the game itself.

The storyline is not the best.  It is fun yet slightly childish like most of the Mario games, but still it manages to keep you going and pushing forward through the game. The graphics and the gameplay really do make up for this downside to the game, but even still you will find yourself enjoying the story and game, no matter how childish it is.

Overall I give this game an 8/10. This game is a big improvement over the previous game on the GameCube. The overall experience is much better than previous titles, you can have fun with this game for hours on end. The game offers tons of replay value and you can expect to enjoy this game a lot more than any of the previous titles. Nintendo have taken a big step and finally produced a game which works in producing both a fun experience as well as an objective gameplay. I definitely recommend Super Mario Galaxy to you.
 

Many of you gamers will be familiar with the Metroid Prime series. And if your not, here is a brief background on the game itself. The series is based around the main protagonist of the game called Samus Aran.  She is a bounty hunter who ventures the universe going after her targets. These games are set in space and are very typical to the Sci-Fi genre. In the first two games we saw the storyline develop as well as much mystery added as they proceeded. With a twist at the end of each game it was only natural that a third was made for the series. In this mini review I will be taking a look at Metroid Prime 3: Corruption for the Nintendo Wii.

Metroid Prime 3 is the continuation of the original Metroid Prime games which were released on the Wiis predecessor, the GameCube. With the introduction to the next generation consoles we see the new Metroid Prime game being released.

The game is very similar to the previous two.  The graphics have been improved slightly and you will notice that there are some additions to game play as well as upgrades in the game itself. With this game being released on the Wii console you can expect the game to be very interactive and with the use of the Wiimote you can expect to get more involved. The storyline continues from where the second game ended.  You will see the story develop and you will see the new style of playing coming into action to help you solve puzzles and defeat enemies.

There overall is not too much to say about this game without ruining the storyline.  It is the continuation to the Metroid Prime series and it is a great game. You really do have to go out and play the first two games before playing this game since you have to immerse yourself in the storyline as it is the strongest point to this series of games.

Overall I give Metroid Prime 3: Corruption a 9/10. This game offers a whole new style of playing with the Wiis remote control playing style. You really feel involved in the game now that you can take more control of the character; the graphics have improved slightly but not by much since the Wii console did not focus solely on improving graphics like the other competitors. With this game you can expect to receive a full blown storyline which will drag you in and get you hooked on to what happens next.  If you want to play this game it is recommended that you play the first two Metroid Prime games for the GameCube since you need to know the original storyline in order to understand the events of the third game.

 

When the Playstation 3 was first released it came with two main launch titles which are widely known. Once of these launch titles was Resistance: Fall of Man. This game was a suitable title for the Playstation 3 launch and definitely helped when it came to selling the Playstation 3 units. In this mini review you will find out more about the game and whether or not it is worth the buy.

The graphics in this game are exactly what you would be looking for in a launch game for the Playstation 3 console.  They truly do demonstrate the power of this system, and with such detail it just demonstrates that the Playstation has a lot of potential.

The gameplay is a typical first person shooter, it is very self explanatory. One interesting point to note is that this game utilizes the new six axis controller for the Playstation 3 by allowing full interactive use of the controller. For example, if an enemy jumps onto you, you would have to shake the controller in order to get the creature off of you. It is fun and really adds a bit more of an involved atmosphere to the game. Maybe not as much as say the Nintendo Wii, but still it is a big improvement over previous games in the genre.

The storyline for this game is not the best.  It is okay but at times can be quite weak and predictable.  You can follow the storyline fairly easily but I often find that it is very predictable and obvious. I personally think that it is the storyline which lets down this game the most.  It is also very short and it makes me think back to how much of a launch title this game really is.

I would say that Resistance: Fall of Man is a great game, but I would not buy it as a separate game.  I would only buy this if I were part of a Playstation 3 bundle unit.  The reason for this is that I only see it as a launch title, nothing more, nothing less. That is why I give this game a 7/10.  It is a good game, but it will always remain as a launch title.  It is not the best game out there but it could definitely of had some improvements.

Ratchet and Clank has been an extremely popular game series on the Playstation 2 system.  With the new generation consoles pushing forward we have seen many new games coming out, and like most games we are seeing sequels to games which were on the Playstation 2. Ratchet and Clank has now taken that step and there is now a new Ratchet and Clank game which has come out for the Playstation 3. Ratchet and Clank: Tools of Destruction is the latest instalment and this mini review should hopefully show you what is included in this new game.

The graphics for a start in this game have improved a lot. In previous Playstation 2 titles we saw very basic graphics; they were good, but not the best for their time. In this new game you will see extremely impressive graphics which brings the Ratchet and Clank series to life.  The attention to detail is visible and you can see how much effort was put into making the environment and graphics overall.

The gameplay is the same as the original Ratchet and Clank games. With this game carrying the role playing game genre you can expect to have lots of fun completing challenges, mini games and overall contributing towards the end of the game. This game sticks to the storyline whilst also letting you have a lot of fun. There are many side quests that you can do also which only adds more fun to the game.

The storyline for this game is surprisingly good.  It is not a continuation on any of the previous games.  It is simply a new storyline. This storyline combined with these great graphics and excellent gameplay really does make the perfect combination.

Overall I give Ratchet and Clank: Tools of Destruction a 9/10. With its high level graphics and incredibly addictive gameplay you can expect to play this game for days without getting bored. There are many side missions which you can play through if you want to get your overall completion to 100%. This game is such a huge improvement over the other Ratchet and Clank games.  The storyline will keep you busy and amused and I can guarantee you that this game will not disappoint. So if youre looking for an RPG which can offer good graphics and a fun style of gameplay then I strongly recommend Ratchet and Clank: Tools of Destruction for the Playstation 3.

 

Halo 2 was first released on the Xbox and was very successful, many people enjoyed it and thought it to be a very successful sequel to the first Halo. We did see the first Halo released on the PC, it was very successful amongst the online community due to its online multiplayer and people demanded Halo 2 to be taken onto the PC. After much demand and time Halo 2 has been released for the PC. It has so far been very successful and I want to tell you a little bit about the PC version as well as some reasons why it is better than the Xbox version.

Halo 2 for the PC has its strongest point, of course you can go online with the Xbox version of Halo 2 using Microsofts Xbox Live, but going online with Halo 2 on a PC is a completely new experience. If you have a good graphics card and overall setup you can expect to experience some high quality graphics which will really pull you into the game. When mixing this with the online play it really does enhance your overall experience with the game. With thousands of players online you can expect to have hours of fun on the multiplayer maps.  You can even edit multiplayer maps.  This is great and really offers a new twist to the overall gaming experience.

Another reason as to why Halo 2 for the PC is much better is not only the high performance graphics over the PC, but the amount of things you can do to tweak the game. There are many downloadable modifications that you can get off of the internet.  These are really fun to try out and there is no risk of breaking the game since you can always reinstall it if an error occurs. Many modifications really make the game much more fun to play as well as bringing the community together to create user content.

Of course, the only real disadvantage to this game is that you have to adapt to PC controls, but if you are a hardcore PC gamer it is likely that you will have a gamepad in which you can assign the buttons to each command. However, if you are not too keen on the PC controls I would suggest you stick with the Xbox Version.

Overall I give the PC version of Halo 2 an 8/10.  The reason for this is because it has opened up so much for the community of online gamers, just like the first Halo on the PC did. There is much potential and the game itself has been allowed to expand as a result of releasing it on the PC.

 

The Battlefield series is widely known by many PC gamers.  It has always been a PC only set of games but has been moved onto platform consoles in recent years. One of the most popular Battlefield games is Battlefield 2. In this mini review you will get a taster of the game and learn why it offers such an enhanced online experience.

Battlefield 2 is set in the modern day world and based around modern day war and battles. The weapons and vehicles are suited to the modern day age.  Even though this game was released many years ago, it still manages to be a very successful title which remains dominant and one of the top games in the online gaming charts. This game is a first person shooter and you will be part of a team facing another team, there are many different game settings to choose from but the overall objective is to run down the opposing team and take over their base by capturing the higher percentage of bases.

This game does have a single player mode, but it is primarily an online game.  You can go on the single mode and have lots of fun.  You can gain points and eventually unlock new weapons and more. However, it is the online multiplayer which really enhances this game.

The online multiplayer mode offers many different maps to choose from, more than the single player mode in fact, but all the single player mode maps are included. With such a huge online community you can expect to have fun for hours on end with this game. You can join clans and have clan matches with other clans. You can play with a huge amount of players online and if you have a high performance machine you can expect to feel immersed into the game. The graphics on highest are very impressive if you look at when the game was first released, the detail that has gone into this game really does help add to the overall atmosphere to the game.

So if you are looking for an online multiplayer game which can offer you literally months of fun then I definitely suggest Battlefield 2, I give it a 10/10. This game performs well and truly has grown since its release, with its growth you see more and more members of the community adding to the games overall experience. You can really have fun with this highly detailed game, its fun, addictive and great to play.

 

Battlefield 2142 is one of many Battlefield games for the PC. The Battlefield games have been very successful over the years that they have been available, and Battlefield 2142 is the latest addition to the Battlefield collection. It is not a continuation, but more of a different approach to the games.   This game is set over 100 years in the future in which the world has been struck by the effects of global warming. The northern hemisphere is almost completely covered in ice and countries are fighting over land.

In this game you will be provided with a range of different weapons to choose from when fighting. You will be fighting in first person view and using a variety of weapons to help you to hold back the opposite team. The basic objective in this game is to take over bases around the chosen map and hold the majority of the bases for the longest time.

This is a single player game, but its main popularity comes from its online multiplayer section. Single player follows more of an arcade style of game-play and is great for just casual offline play, especially if you want to train. There is also a cooperative mode which is very similar to the standard mode of game-play.  Though enjoyable it is not the most popular game mode. You can play both offline and online with this mode. The online multiplayer mode allows you to play with a huge amount of other players and when playing it can feel so real that you may even feel nervous. If you like online team battle games then you will enjoy Battlefield 2142.

Overall, this game is very fun to play, but if you want to get into the online play I strongly suggest that you train and practice because you need points to unlock some of the better weapons. A good suggestion is to join a clan as you will be supported by your clan members and you then have the opportunity to improve and unlock more weapons and features. I suggest you get this game.   It’s fun, addictive and when you have a good pair of headphones you sometimes fall into the war themed atmosphere which really adds to your enjoyment.