World of Warcraft is a huge online multiplayer game which has been popular for many years.  Its users have continued to grow and grow.   There are millions of users that go online to play this game. So should you buy this game? Well, read this review to find out.

World of Warcraft is a massive online multiplayer game which continues to grow in size.  More and more expansion packs are becoming available.  It is constantly being updated on a day to day basis.

When first installing the game you will have to set up your subscription to the online service and sort out all the payments.  After completion you will be able to create your own unique character by choosing from a variety of different clothes, skins and more. With such a huge online community you need to have some variety and World of Warcraft makes sure that you are able to make each of your characters unique. But the great thing is that you can make multiple characters which is a great feature.  Once creating your character you go out into the massive online world.   There are tons of places that you can go and you basically go around the huge map and train your character up and make them more and more powerful. You can collect items and basically push up your rating and strength. You can face other players around the world and test your ability, or you can join them and form a clan/guild in which you can go round the world as a team training.  However, World of Warcraft is not just about training.  You can have tons of fun, it is a very social friendly game and you can spend hours on this game.

There are a few downsides to the game though.  One is that you have to pay a monthly fee.  Another is that if you want to play with your friends, you will sometimes have to buy an expansion pack to be able to go to a certain area on the map. It is unfortunate that not all of the expansions are built into manual updates. Another bad point to the game is that it is very competitive and addictive.  You can sometimes find yourself playing for hours on end without stopping.

So should you get World of Warcraft? Well, if you are happy paying a monthly fee then I say definitely go for it.  However, I must warn you, the game can get very addictive and it is important that you limit your gaming hours, so be warned when playing the game. This game has many pros, but also quite a few con.  It is important that you take them into consideration before buying because if you add up your costs for the game over a year you will find that it is quite expensive. Take your time.  There is plenty of time to decide before buying.

Super Smash Brothers is back and this time with the new game Super Smash Bros: Brawl. So what is different in this game? And why should you buy this game? Well, you will find out in this quick review.

Super Smash Brothers is an incredibly addictive series in which you can choose from a variety of different characters which are from various other Nintendo games. Such characters consist of Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, Peach, Link, Solid Snake, Captain Falcon, Kirby and even Star Fox. Of course, this is only a small fraction of the characters that you can choose from in this game, and I think that me naming only a few does not do this game justice, because it truly is a widespread game.

In the game you choose your character and you then have to carry out challenges and tasks. Some challenges are very difficult to complete, some are easy to complete, but as you work through each challenge you unlock more and this is great because you are basically enabling yourself more and more variety.

But what really brings out the fun in this game is the Wiimote, you will often find that you will be standing up and interacting with the game even further by making full body movements in order to carry out a move. Especially in the multiplayer mode, when battling each other in the multiplayer mode you can expect to have some real fun with the game. You’ll expect to sweat at points during the game.

But the strongest point in my opinion of the game is the multiplayer.  You can have so much fun with the different modes that are available, and you can turn a session of gaming into much more. With so much variety and different options you can expect to play this game alongside your friends and family for hours on end.

This game is fun, creative and the multiplayer offers so much, I give Super Smash Bros a 8/10. This game is so much fun, when in a crowd you can expect to have lots of fun with the multiplayer mode. But I must admit that when your on your own the single player mode is also very fun, but if you play too much in one go on the single player you may find yourself getting a bit bored. However, it does not ruin the game completely.  So if you’re looking for a game which is fun for both you, family and friends I would strongly recommend Super Smash Bros: Brawl.

Nintendo has once again created a game that is both stunning and impressive. Twilight Princess is another unique title which has been added to the Legend of Zelda Franchise.  So let’s get straight into the review.

But it is the Wii which really brings out the fun aspects of this game.  With the Wiimote you can expect to interact with the game more and more and use your full body to carry out tasks. With the Wii you can expect innovative game-play which really does improve the quality of the game itself. Games are meant to be fun, and when you’re interacting more and more with the game you can expect to be glad you made the purchase.

In this game you play as Link, the young boy who lives a normal life in his home village of Ordon. But events begin to occur and more strange things begin to happen.  It is then when Link realizes that it is up to him to save the world from the ultimate evil. The storyline for Twilight Princess is long.  I mean very long.  You will find yourself having fun as well as working through this action packed role playing game. But what is more interesting is the unique aspects of the game.  You will actually see puzzles within boss battles in order to defeat the boss. And the size of the world map is huge.  You will find that it takes you a while to get from place to place. With different weapons and items to collect and use you can expect to have much variety which really does add to the overall fun that this game produces.

This game is simply beautiful; I give it a 10/10 without a doubt. The graphics are not top of the line, but are still good enough to compliment the games interactivity. You actually feel as though you are playing through the game, rather than pressing a few buttons with little effort. With the capabilities of the Wii, you can jump right into Twilight Princess and have hour after hour of fun. And with great replay value I think it is definitely worth the buy. So if you don’t already own Twilight Princess and you are looking for a game which you can get stuck into, then I strongly suggest you buy this game.   It’s fun, unique and will keep you busy for hours.

Unless you have been living under a rock for the past two decades, I am sure that you will have heard of the Metal Gear Solid series. There were many previous titles made for the earlier consoles, but the Metal Gear Solid franchise really expanded when Metal Gear Solid was released for the Playstation. With so many sales and popularity being generated by the game it was only natural that they release a second and third game. But Metal Gear Solid has come a long way, and we are seeing the first Metal Gear Solid game on the new generation of high performance video gaming consoles.

In Metal Gear Solid 4 we return to the storyline which was left at a halt in Metal Gear Solid 2.  We must remember that Metal Gear Solid 3 was a prequel and told the story of events which were set before all of the games before it. In Metal Gear Solid we see the main character Snake as an old man in a world which has changed so much since Metal Gear Solid 2.  With war spreading across the world there has to be something done about the raging war for power. With government conspiracies and more you can expect to get a very decent and interesting storyline out of this game. However, if you are interested and have not played the previous games, I strongly suggest that you go back and play them as it is essential to know the storyline before playing this game.  Otherwise you may find yourself confused.

The graphics are stunning and with an amazing physics engine to compliment them you can expect to get your moneys worth when the game is released. The storyline is the strongest point for this title and with it being on the Playstation 3 you can expect to experience one of the best games of 2008.

Though this game is yet to be released in many parts of the world, I give it a 9/10.  The storyline packs in a good length of game play and you will see the continuation of a very popular storyline. This game will guaranteed keep you entertained for hours on end, there are many challenges to face and you will often find yourself stuck when on different levels of difficulty. But overall, this game is a very impressive game which for the first time allows you to jump into a fully realistic and graphical atmosphere.

Motorstorm is one of the main launch titles for the Playstation 3.  This game really does push gaming forward if you compare it to some of the later games available on the Playstation 2. This game shows the power of the Playstation 3 and really demonstrates that Playstation 3 is one of the most powerful consoles currently available.

The game itself is a racing game and you can pick between various vehicles and settings. When you first play the game you will be simply blown away by the graphics been produced by the console. But not only do the graphics push this game forward, it is the physics engine which really makes this game a pleasure to play. For years now many games have tried and failed to create a unique physics engine which compliments the game and makes it more realistic to play. Motorstorm has an amazing built in physics engine and you can expect.

This game itself like many of the new games on the Playstation 3 is short.  You can get hours of replay value out of this game, but unfortunately it seemed only to be a launch title and nothing more.  I think the purpose of this game was to demonstrate the power of the Playstation 3 console and I believe that they have been successful.

The high point of this game has to be the realism.  With the advanced physics engine built into this game you will see more realistic crashed ,and you will also see more attention to detail with the graphics. This game will draw you in and you really do feel immersed within the realistic yet stunning atmosphere being created.

Overall I give this title a 7/10. The graphics are stunning, the physics are realistic and it is the sort of game you can pick up and play at any point during the day. The single player mode is fairly short, but this is expected of launch titles.  With the console being fairly new it is expected for things to not be up to standards, but it is these sort of titles which are setting the example of where to go next with gaming.  We are already beginning to see some great titles becoming available. So if you want a casual game that you can pick up and play, Motorstorm is defiantly for you.  It is fun and you really do feel as though you are part of the game when playing.

The orange box is a brand new game which has come out recently; however, I should not say game as this is a package which comes with 3 different games. On the disc you get three games.  These are broken down into 5 games, but really it comes down to three individual games. The first game being Half Life 2.  This had previously been released on various consoles, but on this one you get Part 2 which is the continuation from where Half Life 2 ended. With the improved graphics for the Xbox 360 system you can expect to receive hours of replay value out of this game.

The system also comes with an interesting game called Portal, this game introduces a new and unique style of playing, in this game you create portals in order to solve puzzles. This cleverly laid out game is not a full blown game, but the levels that you do get are fun as well as challenging. You can expect to sit playing for hours on end with only one objective in your mind, to beat the game. This game is addictive but short, so don’t expect a full blown title.  However, what you do get is very impressive and addictive.

The final game in the set is Team Fortress 2.  This game has been long awaited and truly is the king of role-based online multiplayer games. Team Fortress 2 really does utilize the power of the Xbox 360 system and pushes out a daring new art style as well as an incredibly addictive multiplayer mode with nine different roles to choose from. This game is more advanced than the first, but it really does stretch the boundaries compared to the first game and you can expect to have yet more hours of fun playing through the main game and then the multiplayer mode.

Overall I give the Orange Box a 10/10. This set of games really are fun to play and with so much replay value you can expect to be playing these games for hours on end, especially Portal.  Its puzzles become more and more challenging as you go along and you can be playing for hours on end. But overall the set of games creates a new type of gaming as well as bringing a classic title back for a continuation. Have fun with The Orange Box!

Halo 3 has been hyped up so much over the years during its production. But now that this game has finally been released, is it actually worth the buy? Well, like many people I am sure that you have heard about the game.  It has been advertised nearly everywhere, and Microsoft even released a Halo 3 limited edition Xbox 360 system.

Halo 3 is the next in the Halo series.  It continues on with the storyline and I must admit, after playing this game I was happy with the results. My only dig was that the game was quite short.  Although I do not want to excuse this problem, it is becoming very common amongst many games today.  I think that because of the improved graphics, it requires a lot more time to bring in a long story also.

You play as the Master Chief who has been the main protagonist in the previous games, but unlike Halo 2 you will only play as the Master Chief unlike two separate people. The game-play itself is superb.  The game’s designers have worked hard on the physics engine to create a game which makes you feel immersed within the game. You simply cannot imagine what it is like until you play it yourself.  The realism being portrayed simply is mind blowing, exploding grenades, gun shots all sound real and if you have a good HDTV and speaker system it can only enhance your experience.

The campaign mode is not the strongest point in the game, but it does pack in an experience which you will remember for a long time to come. The online multiplayer is what really improves Halo 3 as a whole.  There are many levels to choose from and you can play for hours and hour without even feeling any boredom towards the game. The online community for multiplayer is huge and you cannot go wrong.  If you become a better player and would like to test your skills against better players you could always form a clan and have clan matches with others around the world.

Overall I give Halo 3 a 9/10. It is not a perfect game, but it packs in an explosive amount which will is great for replay value. You can have fun for hours with the multiplayer mode and since the game is so open-ended you can expect to get the bang for your buck.

Xbox360 isn’t the fastest gaming system out there, nor is it the cheapest.  The games are not the most recognizable, and in fact, the vast majority of Xbox360 games are offered on other platforms, often in a more beefed up form. Many people wonder just what it is, exactly, that keeps the Xbox360 from crumbling like the Dreamcast, or other systems like it that are just out of their league. 

The only answer seems to be the amount of extras that come with Xbox360’s games.  There are downloadable levels, characters, mini-games, and even larger full-scale games available for download through Xbox Live.  There is a nearly unlimited supply of these extra downloads, no matter what game you purchase, and the extras seem to be a draw for many gamers, especially those who appreciate a fuller gaming experience.  However, if you want to take full advantage of this service, you have to pay a monthly fee on top of the money that you’re already spending for new games and for the system itself, which seems prone to manufacturing failures given the number of gamers who’s systems have failed.    

But many gamers are wondering…just when is the Xbox360 going to step up and deliver something unique? 

Unfortunately, without these downloadable extras, Xbox 360 has no tangible advantages over other next-generation systems.  It only costs about $100 less than the new Playstation3, and offers a nearly identical gaming experience, albeit with far less built-in graphical capability and no blu-ray player.  It has nothing on the Wii, which is more unique, offers a greater variety of titles, and costs only $250. 

If Microsoft is going to continue competing in the console game sector, then they will really need to step it up a notch or two with their next release.  Xbox360 is another adventure in mediocrity for this company, and it does little for their corporate image to be releasing very sub-par gaming systems like they have been.  As soon as the other systems begin to create more depth with their online components, the new Xbox will be left in the dust.

If you’re experiencing difficulty playing your Nintendo Wii this Christmas season, then you might want to check the decor of the room you’re playing in.  If there’s a Christmas tree present, or if you have your Wii positioned near ouside Christmas lights, then you might notice a bit of a buggy gaming experience. 

What is happening to many gamers is no fluke, it is simply a result of the technology that Wii uses for controlling the game.  Because many Christmas tree lights emit infrared light, which coincidentally is the same thing that the Wiimote, Nintendo’s new controller, picks up, the Wiimote is sending confusing signals to the console, making it appear as though it is in two places at once.  The Christmas Tree is acting as a second sensor bar for the Wiimote!

Instead of being hampered by the holiday season, many Jewish families are benefitting from the Wii’s interesting holiday behavior.  There are many videos on Youtube showing a Hanukkah Menorah being used in place of a sensor bar on the television, which is what the Wii normally requires to handle reading data.  

In addition, you could consider removing the sensor bar from the television and pointing your Wiimote at the Christmas tree itself.  This actually works fairly well if you have a steady, bright Christmas tree in your home, although it will not work very well if you have blinking lights.  Your tree will need to be fairly bright as well, though there are a few homes who can manage it.

Fixing this buggy behavior is simple: turn off the Christmas lights, or move the Wii.  Either way, the system will begin working fine just as soon as you’re out of the way of the tree.  While it may not be as festive, at least you’re able to keep on gaming!

When the Playstation3 was first released, it’s hefty $600 price tag scared away many gamers, and seemed obnoxiously high given that the majority of consoles the previous year were selling for around $250.  While the technology of the Playstation3 is very advanced, one of the most interesting aspects of the console has nothing to do with gaming at all, it is the blu-ray player which is included with the console. 

Blu-Ray is Sony’s answer to HiDef DVDs, and making it a standard on the Playstation3 is a quick way for them to integrate their technology into the marketplace.  The main problem with the Blu-Ray is it’s prohibitive cost.  Even after a recent price drop, a regular Blu-Ray player costs almost $500.  Thus, when you factor it in with the cost of the new Playstation3, it doesn’t seem so bad. 

In fact, Sony admitted that they lose money on each system sold.  They intend to make that money back in the sale of games, controllers, and Blu-Ray movies which are, of course, sold separately. 

However, Playstation3’s built-in Blu-Ray player has a few unexpected issues.  First and foremost, if you attempt to go from gaming to movie, it is a difficult transition, requiring multiple menu changes and often a botched loading.  Most Blu-Ray movies are not properly identified with the system, and some will appear with incorrect titles, details, or artwork, although the movies themselves play fine. 

It is often better to simply restart the console and insert the disc anew.  When used in this manner, the Playstation3 is a very good player, loading quickly and not having any difficulty with the movies. 

Another thing that many users will find annoying is the need to control the Blu-Ray player with the standard PS3 controller.  No wireless remote controls will work for this system, which means more remotes, and requires you to be tied down to the system. 

The Blu-Ray player does offer a lot of added value to the system, however, and is essentially included for free with the rest of the system.  Since most families will find Blu-Ray’s price tag prohibitive, this allows them to get a hi-def experience without the necessity of yet another $500 piece of equipment.