From the moment my character woke up in the world of Mafia II, I was swimming in rich ambiance. 2K Czech did everything to put you directly into the life of Vito Scaletta. Waking up in your boxers and 'wife-beater' shirt, your buddy Joe is calling you with your next 'job'. This gives you an immediate sense of who you are that really draws you into this character. This is further supported by great narration and a robust storyline, but that is only a part of what happens in Mafia II. Let's talk about everything else. Read More...

At E3 2009, when 2K Games made their announcement about making a sequel for Mafia, I was excited on the idea. That excitement grew after playing the demo for the first time at PAX East in Boston. I wanted to play more. A year later, once again 2K Games is showcasing Mafia 2. This time with a much longer hands-on demo of the game. The demo began with you playing as Vito. You are making your way towards the phone as it's ringing off the hook in a '50's house in a typical suburban surrounding. Read More...

Red Dead Redemption is Rockstar San Diego's newly released sandbox genre game. Despite many delayed release dates, reports of troubled working conditions, and an overblown development budget making profitability unlikely, the game has come out to much critical acclaim and rightly so. Red Dead Redemption is a sequel to the 2004 XBox and PS2 release Red Dead Revolver. Red Dead Redemption stars outlaw turned government agent John Marston. The Clint Eastwood-like spaghetti western plot revolves around Mr. Read More...

So what is this game then if it isn't the next IP for the Jurassic Park franchise? Pretty much another dinosaur shooter style game with one major twist that others do not have. What would this twist be? Not that you are another space marine traveled through time and space and ends up in a jurassic era, but that you are a "normalish" adventurer and weapons master. That and you have been transported back in time with loads of ammo and weapons to hunt and kill the monstrous and angry dinosaurs of the jurassic era, via the Bermuda Triangle. Yep, that's right. Read More...

There have been more open world, sandbox style adventures in recent memory than ever before. Non-linear gameplay is fully embraced and every videogame genre has felt its influence at one point or another. The ability to turn off, or flat out ignore mission objectives is a must in today's titles and the unlimited access to a living, breathing game world is embraced without reservation. How often, however, have we allowed that freedom to take the place of a well crafted and well explored story? Grand Theft Auto is usually quoted as a landmark franchise for the ability to blend an open and emergent gameplay with a dedicated and evolving storyline. Read More...

Earlier this month at THQ's Gamery Day '08 event, THQ debuted three new Saints Row 2 trailers featuring wild man himself, Gary Busey. Each trailer showcases new features in Saints Row 2 and has Uncle Gary bringing you along for the ride. Warning to those not familiar with Gary Busey, he is a great actor, but a freaking nut job. So enjoy the trailers and the antics of Sir Busey. Read More...