The original F.E.A.R. was very well received when it hit the market in 2005. It boasted impressive graphics, a unique slow motion effect, a variety of hand to hand combat options, and an incredibly eerie atmosphere and frightening plot. The much anticipated sequel, F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin, didn’t quiet live up to the hype of its predecessor when it was released in 2009.

When you first launch F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin you are presented with a menu system that is so poorly rendered and aliased that you’ll think you wasted your money. While the in game graphics are unquestionably better than the menu, they have not improved much from the original F.E.A.R. which is now six years old. It doesn’t look bad per se, but it certainly doesn’t catch the eye like the original did.

Unfortunately the quality of the graphics is fairly indicative of the rest of the F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin experience. The slow motion effects that were en vogue in 2005 are still present but very play out. The ability to quick save has been replaced by a checkpoint system. The hand to hand combat still exists but is dumbed down and unnecessary. Most of the weapons are either the same as the original or are incredibly generic. The level design is spooky but boring. The music is ok. The voice acting is ok. The entire game is… just ok.

The one thing that shines in F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin is the developer’s ability to scare the player. Parts of this game are uncomfortable to play alone in a dark room, and that’s the feeling that every horror action game tries to capture and usually fail to deliver. The effects are so well done that they even extend to certain peripheral devices like flashing the lit keys on the Logitech G series keyboards. The unnerving effects, the positional sounds, and the occasional cheap scare are what this game does best.

Fans of the original game will be disappointed. Players new to the series will find seven to eight hours of potentially confusing story driven action with no real replay value. Multiplayer modes are included but much better options are available if online competition is your goal. If you’re looking for a scare buying F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin on sale isn’t a decision you’ll regret, but it’s probably not a decision you’d recommend to your friends either. F.E.A.R. 3 has been announced and seems much more promising. Maybe save your money and hope for a bundled deal on the series.

7 bone chilling mushrooms

Amazon has Kirby's Epic Yarn (Wii) for $19.99. Free shipping if you spend $25 or more.

Alternatively, Best Buy also has it for $19.99 with free in-store pick up.

If you own a Wii and have not played this game yet we highly recommend it (review is forthcoming). What the Wii lacks in graphical capability this game makes up for with absolute creativity.

Thanks to SlickDeals.net for the deal!

Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath one of the most unique games you’re ever likely to encounter. It is created by Oddworld Inhabitants, a developer known for its wondrous and engaging storytelling, detailed and surreal graphical landscapes, and unforgettable characters. Originally released only for the original XBOX this game was recently ported to the PC giving non-console gamers their first chance to experience the fascinating adventure.

The underlying concept of Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath is fairly exceptional; it’s a hybrid of third person action and first person shooter. The player controls the Stranger, a wild west like bounty hunter, as he brings local outlaws to justice. When navigating the landscape the character is seen from a third person view typical of console action games. This view makes navigation quick and easy as you’re able to see more than a first person perspective allows. Once the shooting starts the player can switch to a first person perspective to more accurately aim at the opponents. The concept works extremely well, and makes the player wonder why this approach isn’t more widely used.

The Oddworld series of games excel at presenting extremely compelling, original content unlike anything else on the market. While the graphics are dated (this was originally a 2005 release) the world of Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath manages to be bizarre and fantastic while maintaining a sense of familiarity. The characters are vivid, hilarious, and incredibly human which an amazing feat since they are all chickens, squids, and other unidentifiable animals. The Stranger uses a crossbow that fires tiny insects rather than bullets, each with their own advantages. Like his ammo, everything in the Stranger’s world is different enough to be distinctive, but still identifiable.

Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath is not all roses. As previously mentioned it was originally developed in 2005 and has not been updated since. As with most games that suffer a porting process there are technical problems and control limitations. Most notably trying to run the game on newer systems without vsync enabled will result in glitches that cause the player to lose control of the character. The developer has been pretty good about trying to correct the problem, but players should not expect a completely polished experience.

If you are willing to play an older game and put up with porting related problems, Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath offers about ten hours of unforgettable adventure. It has fantastic writing complete with several great plot twists, and a great budget price even when it’s not on sale. It is indeed an odd world, but one that is almost impossible to walk away from.

8 incredibly odd mushrooms

The EA Sotre is offering 33% off it's RPG titles until April 24th. This includes the Dragon Age and Mass Effect series. If you haven't played these titles now is a good time to devote some time and money to the cause.

08:57 - Default boot scheduled to finish in 71:23:18
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In the world of online first person shooter warfare the Battlefield series has always played second fiddle to the Call of Duty series. Players loyal to the Battlefield series will swear that their experience is the best available but it’s never been enough to capture the majority of players. Battlefield: Bad Company 2 was released in early in 2010 amid a flurry of fanfare, but was it enough to finally capture the lead?

Battlefield: Bad Company 2 is really two games in one. It has a single player campaign and an online multiplayer mode, both of which are good enough to stand on their own. Most players buy the Battlefield games solely for the online experience, but the single player campaign is surprisingly good. It’s not very inventive, but its six hours of story driven adventure is highly polished and very entertaining. It has quality voice acting, good pacing, and likable characters. DICE could easily have phoned the campaign in and simply focused on the online content, but instead they delivered a real bonus worth investing some time in.

With as good as the single player campaign is, the online multiplayer is really where Battlefield: Bad Company 2 shines. There are four “classes” to play, each with their own special abilities that help the entire team; Assault provides ammo, Medic provides health, Engineer can repair vehicles, and Recon (sniper) can make enemy positions known. The action has RPG like elements where the player earns XP that unlocks new weapons, new abilities, and new options. The next unlock is never far away which helps provide continued interest even once you’ve memorized the multiplayer maps. The classes and unlocks are pretty balanced which means new players aren’t at too much of a disadvantage versus seasoned pros.

Unlike many online FPS games Battlefield: Bad Company 2 requires a slow and tactical approach to combat. It only takes a few hits to be killed, so moving under cover and working as a team is crucial. New players who take the “one man army” bunny hop approach will become very frustrated. The team that out flanks and out maneuvers their rivals will win every time. It’s this more realistic approach that has kept the Battlefield series from gaining the fan base that Call of Duty owns: only serious mature players will succeed.

The action in Battlefield: Bad Company 2 multiplayer focuses on squads of four. The player has the option of joining a squad or going solo but bonuses are given for helping your squad mates. When you die you can respawn at any point controlled by your team or you can spawn directly to a living member of your squad which again is a huge perk for team play. Keeping one member of a squad alive is crucial for capturing well defended points.

Part of the hype during the launch of Battlefield: Bad Company 2 was that it supports dedicated servers. This was a direct slap in the face to Call of Duty : Modern Warfare 2 which took a more controlled approach to its online component and alienated many of its fan base in the process. Dedicated servers means the potential to encounter cheaters exists, but with so many servers to choose from players will quickly find some good favorites. If you get bored quickly there is also the Vietnam expansion pack, the newly released Battlefield Play4Free, and the forthcoming Battlefield 3.

In the end Battlefield: Bad Company 2 is probably not a Call of Duty “killer”, but that’s ok. The people who play it are generally of a higher skill level which makes the competition more intense and more meaningful. It’s a well balanced, low priced, graphically rich, highly polished game that gives you top notch single player and multiplayer with staying power. The lack of a health bar and the need to time melee attacks will turn some people off, but if you love online FPS competition you need to give this title a try.

9 gold squad mushrooms

First person shooters are usually about run and gun action, but Valve proved that the first person perspective could be used with puzzle based games as well when they released their massive hit Portal. Despite Portal’s amazing success other developers have been slow to follow suit until independent developer Teotl Studios released The Ball.

The Ball was originally developed as a mod for Unreal Tournament III, but was reworked so it could be released as a full retail PC game. The action follows a faceless archeologist who becomes trapped in a dormant Mexican volcano. While seeking an exit he stumbles upon a giant stone ball that he can attract or repel with an ancient gun. As the game proceeds the player must navigate the ball through a series of puzzles to advance, encountering giant animals and undead warriors along the way.

The nearly six hours of campaign mode are enjoyable in spite of mediocre graphics and a throwaway storyline. The Unreal engine continues to show its age, but the puzzles are inventive and challenging and include a guilt free hint system to aid with some of the less intuitive tasks. Some of the levels are bit long and seem to be built to showcase the massive environments rather than keep the player engaged, but most of time it’s pacing is spot on.

If a six hour campaign isn’t enough to entice you The Ball also includes hidden secrets to collect throughout the campaign as well as four survival maps that pit the player against hordes of incoming enemies. The survival maps are pretty easy but add a few hours of extra play time to this budget title.

It’s no Portal, and it definitely shows its roots as a mod, but players looking for something a little off the beaten path will be content with both the experience and the price point that The Ball has to offer. It’s doubtful it will win any nominations for game of the year, but any player considering buying it should give it a try.

7.5 giant undead gorilla mushrooms