Fourth Quarter 2009- My Reviews at a Glance

It's been a another busy holiday season. I have played the majority of all new titles to hit both the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 with the exception of only a few. Here are my reviews at a glance.

5 Star Review
1-WTF!?
2-Working
3-Good. Worth a play via rent from gamefly or blockbuster etc.
4-Amazing! A must play. Vast improvement over the first (if series or sequel). Few flaws but nothing that holds the game back from being great. Decent replay value. Buy to own or to sell on eBay when finished.
5-Epic! Shadow of the Colossus caliber, one for the collection, enough said.

Xbox 360
-Assassin's Creed II ***
-Left 4 Dead 2 ****
-Borderlands ****
-Modern Warfare 2 ***
-Batman: Arkham Asylum ****
-Forza Motorsport III ***
-Halo 3: ODST *
-Dragon Age- Yet to play

Playstation 3
-BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger ***
-Uncharted 2: Among Thieves *****
-Infamous- Yet to play
-God of War Collection- Yet to play

At a glance what's first to notice? Hardly any exclusives. Most titles are cross platform... this is madness and needs to be stopped. And why are we still waiting for God of War III????

The Recipe for Survival- Bioshock PS3

In the midst of another crazy holiday gaming season I managed to pull off a complete runthrough of Bioshock Survivor difficulty on the Playstation 3. I cannot express my love enough for Bioshock. It has to be the best game since Shadow of the Colossus IMO and will go to the grave with me in my "Top 10" of all time.
Just guesstimating here, but I've probably played through it 30 times between Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. And if I had a good PC, you could add another 20x to that. Less than an hour ago I finally netted my Platinum Trophy for completion of Survivor Mode. Giving me 100% on both consoles (achievements/trophies). The timing on this playthrough has been planned with the sequel just around the corner. I'm crackin' out over Bioshock 2... I cannot wait!

Thoughts on Bioshock- Survivor Mode. Tips and tricks.
The hardest part of this mode is Medical Pavilion and getting past the first Big Daddy. Things start to get easier in Neptune's Bounty. Right after you get the camera, get researching and battle Peach Wilkins.

-Save often! I think I was saving every time I turned a corner up until Arcadia. Make sure to save just before and after a fight that you know is coming up or whenever handling a BD.

-Hack and loot everything! The reinforcements help and with Hacker's Delight you can gain Health and EVE everytime you hack something. Helps out alot! Ammo like Electric Gel, Explosive Buck and Heat-seeking RPG's work wonders against BD's. I would hack some camera's and turrets only to destroy them immediately for ammo.

-Health Upgrades at the Gatherer's Garden come first. In Medical Pavilion when you first receive ADAM and when reaching any new level. Some may find this hard to believe but EVE Upgrades are unnecessary. I never upgraded once through the entire game on Survival.

-Research, research, research! As soon as you get the camera get to work!

-Best Plasmids. They give them to you- Electro Bolt and Telekinesis. You will take these to the end. You can opt to skip Electro Bolt 2 if you want and get 3 as soon as you see it. Another must have is Target Dummy. It's cheap and the only plasmid you'll need for the final boss fight with Fontaine. Throughout the game you will get rushed by several enemies at the same time. They also like to rush you during a battle with a BD. This is where Target Dummy is a lifesaver! It helps you deal constructively with each enemy, picking them off one by one in a less stressful manner. Alot of people say that Hypnotize Big Daddy is one of the best... I highly disagree. Hypnotize BD uses too much EVE, it never seems to last that long and you almost always end up attacking BD by mistake, causing him to rip you a new one! Also, it forces you to rescue the Little Sisters for HBD and HBD2. This restricts the gameplay and makes things all that much harder in the beginning of the game. On top of that it's kind of annoying to get around BD when he's by your side. He's always blocking a doorway, shooting turrets that I intend to hack or triggering canisters to explode that either hurt me or prevent me from using them on BD in a more strategic fashion. Go with Enrage over HBD. I feel you can have alot more fun with it as you can throw it at either BD or enemies, it costs alot less EVE which is really important in this difficulty and it wont restrict your game. So Electro Bolt, Telekinesis, Target Dummy, Enrage and Incinerate just for melting ice. Most ADAM spent on health upgrades, tonics and slot upgrades for tonics.

-Camera research is vital and will lower the difficulty immensely the sooner you max it out.

-Don't forget about your wrench! I think you'd be surprised at how powerful it is. Even in the later levels. Wrench Jockey 2 coupled with SportBoost 2... can't go wrong. Ammo and money is sparse in this mode, and your wrench is here to help.

-Power to the People/Weapon Upgrade Stations: I did them in this order: Shotgun Damage, Grenade Launcher Damage, Machine Gun Damage, Grenade Launcher Immunity, Shotgun Rate of Fire, Crossbow Damage, Machine Gun Kickback. Pistol was last as I didn't really use it throughout the game other to get a BD's attention from afar.

-Dealing with Big Daddy's: First, save before attempting. Plan ahead. Aim for the back if you can. This is a very vulnerable spot on a BD. Look around for explosive canisters and plant a few Proximity Mines around them (without hitting them of course). Fire at BD and lure him over. Hopefully you been working on camera research as this would oppose the only threat for not being able to take them down with ease. Electro Bolt to stun, Frags, Heat-seeking RPG's, and the incredible power of Electric Buck and Shotgun rate of fire equals pawn-age!

-Final Boss fight with Fontaine: Ready up Target Dummy and the Chemical Thrower. Round 1: Stand still and use Electric Gel, dance and reload, Electric Gel. Round 2: Electric Gel, Target Dummy, dance, spam Proximity and or Frags, Target Dummy. Round 3: Target Dummy, dance, Proximity, Frags, Heat-seeking RPG's, Target Dummy, RPG, Trophy!

I harvested the first little sister for max ADAM so I could buy the Health Upgrade and Armored Shell. I then rescued the next 3 Little Sisters so I could get Hypnotize Big Daddy. Only to find out it wasn't working all that well for me on Survivor difficulty. Harvested the remaining Little Sisters. I sacrificed gifts for saving LS's like Armored Shell 2 and Prolific Inventor for an easier game earlier on and I'm glad I did. I was never low on ADAM. I was able to purchase health and track upgrades quickly. The last two BD's I brought down were so easy one would think I had changed the difficulty. They couldn't even get a shot on me. Five frags and a few pumps of Electric Buck and they were toast. I ended with $462.00 and 650 ADAM left over. Here are the Plasmids and Tonics I ended up with for end game and what I ultimately would recommend for anyone playing on a harder difficulty.

-Plasmid Track: Electro Bolt 3, Telekinesis, Incinerate! 3, Target Dummy, Enrage, Hypnotize Big Daddy.
-Physical Tonics Track: EVE Link 2, Medical Expert 3, EVE Saver, Sportbooster 2, Security Evasion 2 (replaced Natural Camouflage), Hacker's Delight 3
-Engineering Tonics Track: Security Expert 2, Speedy Hacker 2, Vending Expert 2, Hacking Expert 2, Clever Inventor, Alarm Expert 2
-Combat Tonics Track: Armored Shell, Static Discharge 2, Wrench Jockey 2, Damage Research 2, Electric Flesh 2, Human Inferno 2 (replaced Photographer's Eye 2 when research was maxed)

Forza 3- Solid Gold Achievement!

Finally! Forza 3, Solid Gold Achievement... mine!! I have been working at this hard since last Friday which was about 9 days ago. And I didn't just play a few hours everyday, it was a painstaking 16-18 hours a day. I have had Assassins Creed II in my possession since the day it came out and have yet to touch it simply because I wanted to get this game over with. It was the last achievement I needed.
Race time in total was 117 hours, 26 minutes and 33 seconds. 90-100 of it had to be the stretch for Solid Gold. This has to be the most time consuming and tedious achievement I have pursued to date.
Here are my final stats for Forza 3:

Percentage complete- 100%
Level- 50
Experience to next level-0 XP
Total winnings- 8,385,239 CR
Online winnings- 0 CR
Current credits- 2,575,948 CR
Distance driven- 11,160 mi
Average speed- 95.0 mph
Number of victories- 1,060
Number of podiums- 1,070
Number of races- 1,070
Total repairs- 39,583 CR
Number of cars in garage- 120
Parts value- 3,401,250 CR
Garage value- 41,135,250 CR
Time driven- 117 h 26:33
Top speed- 226.7 mph
Distance jumped- 148.8 ft
Time spent in menus- 52 h 54:20
Time spent upgrading- 1 h 16:20
Time spent tuning- 00:41
Time spent editing designs- 19 h 00:03
Time spent in auction house- 1 h 12:47
Time spent in storefront- 6 h 11:07
Time spent test driving- 04:14

100,000 GS November 16, 2009

100,000 GS... It was my goal to reach 100k by the end of 2009 and I did it. >:] I've been pushing hard the past 3 or 4 weeks, managing to completely finish 12 games from start to finish and clean up on about 8 titles that just had a couple achievements left. Out of all of these games, the game I probably spent the most time on and still have yet to complete is Halo 3: ODST. This game is just terrible. One achievement left and I have to admit I haven't even tried just because this game is so boring. The campaign is dull. Firefight sucks! I mean is that the natural way to present more fun for the consumers... horde? Bungie couldn't think of anything else exciting to give Halo fans? ODST is garbage, don't buy it!
Anyway, I just got home from Gamestop. Picked up my reserves for Assassin's Creed II and Left 4 Dead 2 and I'm pumped!

Fallout 3- Character Build

I recently created my own "Character Build" for Fallout 3. This build mainly focuses on small guns and stealth. Also on utilizing the Chinese Stealth Armor and "infinite head armor". I also took full advantage of probably the most "underrated" perk in the entire game, Rad Regeneration. If your like me and hate getting your limbs blown off then this is the perk for you- Keep your rads just above 400 and your limbs gain the ability to regenerate if blown off :) You get this perk from meeting certain requirements early in Moira's quest. This build includes use of all DLC including the latest, "Mothership Zeta". This is also a Nuclear Anomoly build opposed to the easier build involving Almost Perfect.
Here is the build, what perks I took at what level, beginning/ending stats, and when I grabbed Bobbleheads and any unique gear and weapons. The tag skills in this build are also aimed at getting the associated achievements necessary for 100%. Have fun!

Level 01- ST 6, PE 7, EN 5, CH 1, IN 8, AG 9, LK 4
Tag Skills: Lockpick, Small Guns, Speech

Level 02- Intense Training (LK 1)
Alien Blaster

Level 03- Black Widow

Level 04- Educated
IN Bobblehead
Ledoux's Hockey Mask

Level 05- Comprehension (Started "Operation: Anchorage!")

Level 06- Toughness

Level 07- Bloody Mess (Completed "Operation: Anchorage!") (My Megaton House)
Covert Ops, Power Armor Training
Strength Bobblehead
Chinese Stealth Armor, Winterized T-51b Power Armor,
Sheriff's Duster, Sheriff's Hat, Lucky Shades
Gauss Rifle, Jingwei's Shocksword, Trench Knife

Level 08- Commando
Lucky Shades, Three Dogs Headwrap

Level 09- Strong Back (Started "The Pitt") Auto Axpert, Pitt Fighter
Laborer Outfit, Filtration Helmet, Metal Blaster Armor,
Bombshell Armor, Leather Rebel, Tribal Power Armor
Infiltrator, Steel Knuckels, Man Opener, Metal Blaster,
The Mauler, Perforator

Level 10- Finesse (Point Lookout)
Workman's Coveralls, Confederate Hat
Blackwater Rifle

Level 11- Gunslinger, Superior Defender **Note: Other perk to consider here is Intense Training EN. Depending on when you do Moira's quest.

Level 12- Silent Running, Rad Regeneration
Bobblehead- Perception, Bobblehead- Endurance,
Bobblehead- Charisma, Bobblehead- Agility, Bobblehead- Luck
Hat of the People
Blackhawk

Level 13- Intense Training (EN) Compensated to get the most out of Rad Regeneration. Keep Rads just over 400 and enjoy! ^^ (Started "Mothership Zeta")
Shady Hat, Winterized Medic Armor, Spacesuit,
General Chase's Overcoat
Alien Atomizer, Alien Disintegrator, Drone Cannon,
Paulson's Revolver, Shock Baton, Captain's Sidearm

Level 14- Robotics Expert

Leval 15- Cyborg, Xenotech Expert
Atomic Pulverizer

Level 16- Sniper (Finished "Mothership Zeta". Hit 16 as I blew up the Mother Ship)
Repair Bobblehead (100 Repair), Small Guns Bobblehead
(100 Small Guns), Lockpick Bobblehead, Sneak Bobblehead
(100 Sneak), Explosives Bobblehead, Speech Bobblehead
Reservist's Rifle

Level 17- Action Girl, Survival Guru (3% Crit), Wired Reflexes
Unarmed Bobblehead, Lucky 8 Ball
A3-21's Plasma Rifle, Tri-beam Laser Rifle


Level 18- Better Criticals
Science Bobblehead, Melee Bobblehead, (100 Lockpick)
Xuanlong Assult Rifle

Level 19- Concentrated Fire, Ant Sight
Barter Bobblehead
Lesko's Labcoat
Victory Rifle

Level 20- Grim Reaper's Sprint, Barkskin

Level 21- Ninja (Geared Traders)

Level 22- Puppies!
Energy Weapons Bobblehead
Lincoln's Repeater

Level 23- Intense Training (Strength +1: 7-8), Hematophage
Vampire's Edge

Level 24- Intense Training (Luck +1: 7-8), Punga Power!, Ghoul Ecology
Big Guns Bobblehead
The Dismemberer, Microwave Emitter
Desmond's Eyeglasses

Level 25- Intense Training (Luck +1: 8-9)
Button's Wig
Sidney's 10mm "Ultra" SMG

Level 26- Intense Training (Endurance +1: 7-8)
Ranger Power Armor
Eugene

Level 27- Intense Training (Endurance +1: 8-9)

Level 28- Intense Training (Endurance +1: 9-10)
Col. Autum's Laser Pistol
Colonel Autum's Uniform

Level 29- Nerves of Steel
Fisto!
All-Nighter Nightwear, Lag-Bolt's Combat Armor, Lag-Bolt's Shades

Level 30- Nuclear Anomoly
Tesla Cannon



Final Stats: ST 8, PE 9, EN 10, CH 2, IN 9, AG 10, LK 8
With Gear: ST 8, PE 10, EN 10, CH 4, IN 10, AG 10, LK 10