Tech Blog

Well , I'm back for part two of my impressions on the newest entries to the PS3 " Greatest Hits " library . I hope you enjoyed part one where I discussed my take on Devil May Cry 4 , Gran Turismo 5 Prologue and Metal Gear Solid 4 : Guns of the Patriots . Today I'm going to be tackling some more critically acclaimed PS3 games to land in the " Greatest Hits " library , including Army of Two , Battlefield : Bad Company , and Ratchet and Clank Future : Tools of Destruction .

Oh , and in case you're wondering , that's a picture of me in front our new 10 gallon aquarium filled with four neon blue cardinal tetras . After taking this photograph it makes me realize just how reflective those fish are ( just look at the glow above my copy of Ratchet and Clank !)

Well , on to the games ...

Army of Two ( Electronic Arts )

What is it ? A new IP developed by EA Montreal and released on March 4 , 2008 . In the game you fight along side a teammate to become the deadliest TWO man military outfit a government can buy . To survive , players must bring down a vast Private Military Corporation conspiracy -- where the good guys and the bad guys are one and the same .

What do I think of the game ? I've played the demo for Xbox 360 ( there is no PS3 demo , unfortunately ) for an hour and thought this was a pretty good co-op action game with nice textures and graphics , slick presentation , and plenty of Hollywood style moments . The demo I played only had co-op available but the game also has a single-player campaign mode for those who want to gun with a partner AI . The single player campaign is pretty short , clocking in about six hours or so -- not long if you ask me . From what I've see n, the AI can be a little touch and go at times and will sometimes make silly little mistakes like dragging you for long distances before healing you . Where the game really shines is its two-player co-op mode , and you can tell this was the way the game was designed to be played . You can play via split screen if you're on the same PS3 , or you can establish a private co-op game with a friend or a public game with anyone who's online . It's really neat how you can partner for a variety of moves , such as using your friend as a step ladder to reach high areas , dragging your injured friend to safety and healing them , and you can even initiate a mode called Back-to-Back where you stick close and pummel your opponents with lead , turret-style . Finally the game has a nice multiplayer arena , where you can challenge other pairs in one of four maps and three distinct game modes : Extraction , Bounties, and Warzones . Overall , I would recommend this game if you have a buddy to play with you , either offline or online . If you're not one for co-op you probably won't get much out of this game .

ESRB Rating : " M " for Mature

Battlefield : Bad Company ( Electronic Arts )

What is it ? Set in the near future , the Battlefield : Bad Company single-player campaign drops gamers behind enemy lines as part of a squad of four soldiers - risking it all to go AWOL on a personal quest . The game was released on June 23 , 2008 .

What do I think of the game ? This is another game where I've played the demo , putting in about three hours total . The game stars P rivate Preston Marlow , a new recruit to a misfit division of the army known as Bad Company , or as they say in the game " B-Company ". The demo features team-based missions where you must do various missions such as invade a farm , defend against foot soldier s and tank reinforcements , and destroy a pair a communication towers . One major plus the game has going for it is it's go anywhere and do anything gameplay that really keeps the action fresh . Right from the get-go you can select your mode of transportation from on foot , to land vehicles such as tanks and APCs , and you can even fly using a chopper . All vehicles have unique controls , attributes , and firepower and can bring about victory in different ways . Are you invading an infantry squad hiding behind sandbags ? Bring in the tanks or the artillery . Are your tanks being hammered with a swarm of demolition RPGs ? Jump on foot and take them out with a well-timed grenade launcher . Perhaps the most distinguishing feature of the game is the completely destructible environments . I was a little taken back at just how destructible they were , in fact nearly every obstacle , cover , vehicle and even buildings can be blown to bits with the fling of a grenade . One memorable moment during my playtime was when I was hiding behind a row of trees while I occassionally snuck out to fire off a few rounds . The next thing I know a tank rolls in , fires from its large-calibre main gun and all the trees protecting me came tumbling down . Needless to say , I was exposed and in a ton of danger . It's fresh moments like that which makes every game session feel like a new experience . If you're into squad-based tactical shooters , this game is definitely worth the investment .

ESRB Rating : " T " for Teen

Ratchet & Clank Future : Tools of Destruction ( Sony Computer Entertainment )

What is it ? An orphan of the universe , Ratchet has never known anything of his Lombax origins . When an alien tyrant , driven by an unexplainable hatred for Lombaxes attacks Ratchet and Clank ’ s home , the two heroes are thrust into an epic adventure where they discover that Ratchet ’ s past is the key to the galaxy ’ s future . This is the only Greatest Hits in this bunch released in 2007 ( on October 23 ).

What do I think of the game ? This was the game I was most looking forward to picking up after it became a member of the " Greatest Hits " collection . I was a little late to the PS3 party ( I picked up my console just over a year ago ), so I missed out on this game when it released back in 2007 . I figured it would eventually land as a " Greatest Hit " so I've been patient . I picked up the game about two weeks ago and I'm roughly 3 / 4 of the way through the game at the moment .  I`ve been a huge fan of this series ever since it made its debut back in 2002 on the PS2. I really feel that Insomniac Games took all the best features from previous versions , such as great music and voice acting , a whimsical script and story , plenty of platforming , puzzles and action , and an arsenal of weapons that would make the Punisher a little envious . Perhaps the quality I like best is the incredibly detailed and cartoonish looking graphics in the game , it really shows off the power of the PS3 quite nicely and it's a colourful game to behold . The controls are tight and Ratchet has his usual repertoire of double jumps , glides , back flips, and wall jumps . His trusty wrench returns and is used as both a formidable weapon and a puzzle-solving tool . All in all , if you like platform games like LittleBigPlanet , any of the Lego games , or Spyro , you'll really enjoy Ratchet and Clank Future .

ESRB Rating : “ E 10 +” for Everyone 10 and older

Well , that's it for this round of the " Greatest Hits " new additions . Hopefully we'll have more inductees before the year is over . Happy gaming everyone !