If you haven't been following this game, you don't know what you've been missing out on. The latest Brothers in Arms game in a saga that's redefined World War II shooters, Hell's Highway will not fail to deliver intriguing gameplay and stellar graphics in one of the most anticipated packages of 2008.

 

 

Playing as Sergeant Matt Baker, the hero of Road to Hill 30, the player will be engulfed in an authentic atmosphere of Holland, the site of Operation: Market-Garden. This operation was planned by Field Marshal Montgomery in an attempt to severe German factories and bring upon a quick end to the war. Unfortunately and unknowingly, German command had deployed an SS Panzer division, one of their most elite fighting groups with tanks, to this area to pull them off the main lines at Normandy. Thus, the lightly armored Airborne paratroopers were put into a tough fight with some of the enemy's most menacing.

 

If you were caught off guard by the history behind it, the gameplay will outflank you. Using a sytem similar to that of Rainbow Six: Vegas, Hell's Highway has a unique cover system that utilizes a context-sensitive triggering system to move around multiple squads at your disposal. These include bazooka, machine gun, assault, and mortar squads all at your fingertips, ready to subdue the Nazi War Machine.

 

 

 

 

With outstanding graphics, see for yourself in the screenshots and videos, as well as outstanding gameplay and story, look out for Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway, parachuting to you sometime during the first half of '08!

 

 

As you may or may not have known, the Halo 3 Beta is going to be available to all who have been selected, or who have bought Crackdown, next Wednesday, May 16. However, the luckiest people of the bunch, the fewest of the few, were chosen already to test the test, so to speak. I know an old gaming friend of mine, Backdraft123, was playing it last night - showing off his "Playing Halo 3 Beta" status to my envious eyes. He's written a concise article about his first impressions of Halo 3 on his blog, which you can find here: Link.

 

 

However, if you're more a movie person, you can find a multitude of standard and high definition videos on any of the major video game web sites. Personally, I like TeamXbox the most, so I'll link you to their collection of gameplay: Link.

 

 

My opinion? It's looking just like I had hoped it would. It may not have changed drastically from it's predecessor, Halo 2, but it capitalizes on what Halo 2 did right and fixes what it did wrong. The maps seem to be constructed much better. From what I've seen, they are less dense and compact, like Lockout and Midship, and more open--thus allowing larger battles and vehicles. Yay, vehicles! Graphics have also seen a next-generation improvement. Everything is just so sharp...

 

 

Personally, I'm confused as to why some people feel it hasn't met their expectations. I disagree, and would say Bungie's been doing everything right, from how they've released content to information distribution to the mass. No one but the designers themselves have seen the campaign, which I think is great. That way, it doesn't ruin any of the story and gigabytes of the Internet's forum space aren't taken up by rambling threads of those wishing for the E3 2003 demonstration of Halo 2.

 

 

Anyway, sorry if I began to ramble, but this is a blog after all. Have a nice day, and I'll see on the 16th as I use my Rule of Three entry to play! No Crackdown for me!

 

A while ago, Bungie announced that it would be holding a public beta, and simultaneously news of upcoming maps for Halo 2. Indeed it shows Bungie's support for those without an Xbox 360, as well as their support for a 2½ year old game. In the March 30 Bungie Weekly Update, the public was given a few screenshots of maps slated for release on April 17.

 

 

 

And you Brutus? While this line has a different meaning than in Shakespeare's tragedy, it has one definition for Halo-loving gamers--more Halo 3 news! This seven minute long documentary focuses on the Brute race of Halo, showing the viewer example animations, new costumes, and the different ranks in the Brute branch of the Covenant. There are a lot of different mirrors for this video (you have to love the speed of the Information Age).

 

TeamXbox (1280x720 WMV HD)

GamingVideos (640x360 WMV/MOV)

YouTube (Flash)

 

 

I know this news has been posted many times before, but I figure I might as well organize it my way in my blog. Bungie aired a Halo 3 commercial, entitled Starry Night on Monday Night Football of December 3. As always, it left me salivating after I saw the Chief execute a Baywatch-type run to eliminate some unsuspecting Brute squad. There are many posts around the community analyzing the video. I, personally, don't care that much, so I'm just gonna link you to QuickTactical's explanation. The title, and supporting HBO news post, fulfills its legitimacy.

 

The commercial itself can be found more places than I can count on my fingers and toes, but I'll link you to a few of them.

 

High Definition:
TeamXbox (WMV)
GamingTV (MP4)

 

Medium Resolution:
Xbox.com (ASX)
TeamXbox (WMV)

 

Low Resolution:
Xbox.com (ASX)

 

 

Barrel rolling on to the Xbox 360 platform is Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII. The game sports a World War II theme, but drastically differs from other games from this era. Unlike mega hits such as Call of Duty, Blazing Angels takes the player in to the skies above many of the famous battles of the war. Included are a revolutionary gaming experience, a thrilling storyline, and some entertaining sky operations--and some flawed ones.

 

As soon as the wrapping has been removed, you'll find yourself in the cockpit with the hayseed mechanic, Joe, flying a tutorial-type mission. Here the action begins as the game's interface is immediately available.

 

 

A squad control system can be found on the bottom left, where it is possible to order your wingmen in a variety of helpful ways. Tom, "The Shield", will distract enemy tangos closing in on you, keeping them from shooting you. Frank, "The Hunter", will go off on his own to shoot down fighters when given the command. Finally, Joe, probably the most helpful squadmate of them all, will help you fix your plane when you get in trouble, by giving you a 4-button combination to enter.

 

 

Blazing Angels will take you to many famous skies, including Pearl Harbor, Midway, Britain, and Dunkirk. It spans three different battlefields: Europe, North Africa, and the Pacific. Most missions are well constructed, but a few are not. Desert Reconnaissance is one such rotten egg. You take off from a Carrier (the neatest part of this otherwise agonizing escapade) and fly into a desert sandstorm to snap a few pictures of Rommel's army groupings. You're supposed to follow the strength of the German radio conversations, turning when the signal starts to "fuzz".

 

 

However, despite possessing a few lackluster levels, Blazing Angels is a fantastic example of next-generation gaming. With its up-to-date graphics, great interface, and compelling storyline, it's a great addition to this year's Christmas list!