Splinter Cell Chaos Theory --- Quick review

Rocks!!!

Co-op too cool.

GR2 and Halo2

I know I'll get razzed for this, but I am liking GR2 Live a bit better than Halo2 live. Here are my reasons:
1) Both are FPS games, however, GR2 is more strategic. You can't just run and gun.
2) Co-op - Sorry, I'm a big fan of co-op and missions. I got bored with R6 missions because they were too easy to complete, even on the difficult levels. I've been through the GR2 missions online and have noticed that they are not run and gun. These guys are bent on wiping out your team. So, if you don't work as a team, you can't win.

One of the biggest complaints I hear about GR2 is to take a sniper rifle and you can win. Not true. For your team, you need a compliment of weapons for that mission. You need to have specialists for an area and then protect that specialist until it's his turn. On the flip side, as a specialist, you need to make sure you do your job.

I am patiently awaiting SCCT. This sounds like it will be more strategic than SCPT and I'm looking forward to co-op live.

BTW - What happened to the BIA players? I've been watching, and not too many people are playing? Is it because it's too hard for those run and gunners?

NextBox/Xenon, whatever it's name is

Some interesting view points are coming up from the console game makers. First, Microsoft is putting out a huge box with Xenon/NextBox:
http://xbox.gamespy.com/xbox/microsoft-xbox/594331p1.html
Nice specs!!! Altough, I'm sure that not too many will sell without a hard drive. Kind of makes it silly to be an offering.
But, on the other hand, you have the Ninento guys saying hardware doesn't matter, game playability does:
http://www.itworld.com/App/4201/050311nintendo/
I want both!!! That is why I bought Xbox. I'm sick of these panzy companies developing for PS2 first then copying to Xbox. I give companies like Rockstar some credit because they do a full rewrite of the code to get it to rock on the Xbox. However, their fault is in taking a full 6-8 months to get that code done.

Lockdown delayed....confirmed

There are conflicting reports everywhere. Whilst searching a EB Games to check the release date for Rainbow Six: Lockdown, I saw a new release date of 6/7/05. (maybe)
http://www.gamestop.com/product.asp?product%5Fid=210743

Well, for those of you who have Brothers in Arms, that's good news.
For those waiting for Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory, also good news.
Why? You'll get to play those games longer without conflict of interest.
What does it mean for the 6/1 date? Conflicts: GTA: San Andreas, Medal of Honor: European Assault, Battlefield 2: Modern Combat, and don't forget Fantastic Four.

Brothers In Arms Reviewed

Simple review. For full reviews and ratings see
http://xbox.gamespy.com/xbox/brothers-in-arms/592505p1.html - 5 stars
http://xbox.ign.com/articles/592/592373p1.html - Say hello to the best World War 2 shooter on the Xbox - 9.3/10

Brothers In Arms is awesome. Unfortunately it is stuck under the game radar with the release of Rainbow Six Lockdown and the freshly reviewed Splinter Cell Chaos Theory (highest rating ever by Official Xbox Magazine at 9.9). Personally I list this as one of my top three games on Xbox and expect it to stay there once I get SCCT.

Created by Texas-based Gearbox Software, Brothers in Arms is one of the most realistic and authentic World War II FPS games out there. I look at it as the best of Ghost Recon and Rainbow Six (FPS with some squad control) and Full Spectrum Warrior (All squad control and strategy) combined. It is a cross between the run-and-gun and sneak-and-peak styles of games.
Based on a true story, the game puts players in the role of Sgt. Matt Baker, a D-Day paratrooper squad leader as he leads the squad through eight days of the European campaign, starting with their parachute drop on D-Day. Each battlefield has been meticulously recreated from aerial reconnaissance images, and actual US Army Signal Corps photos and eye-witness accounts of war-torn Normandy. When you see a house, you are seeing the house the battle was fought around.

What makes BIA different that Rainbow Six or Ghost Recon is that you are put in control of several small squads and sent into some of the war's pivotal battles. These are not made up missions either. In fact, some the extras you unlock for completing missions are the actual mission documents the real soldiers used. Of course the weapons are based on the real weapons of the time and the German have the better guns (when you get a chance, pick one up from a dead German). How you move and use your squads is pivotal to the outcome of each battle.

The game's controls are typical of most FPS games, right trigger fires your weapon, X button reloads, Y button switches to your secondary weapon. You can use the X button to perform actions, like planting explosives on enemy cannons, picking up your fallen comrades or foes' rifles, or manning stationary machineguns. You can crouch (push left control or jump (A). The game does not give you aiming reticle, but you can turn it on as an option, forcing you to sight down the barrel of your guns.

To issue commands to your squads just hold down the left trigger and a movable command circle appear showing your squad where to move, attack or suppress enemy fire, depending on where it it placed. To have your squad attack a position, just press the right trigger while highlighting the enemy position with the left trigger. Your squad is also smart enough to realize when it should take cover and shoot back if you send them into a risky position. Later missions you get to command tanks (of course you will be battling against tanks too). One thing to note. The game is fun, but hard. If you get wiped out, try something different. Remember, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting a different result.

Beyond the game play, the images and conversations are graphic. Toss a grenade into a squad of Germans and their bodies fly out of the explosion. I blew up one German, he landed on a fence and he body kept twitching. Your squad mates will describe how they picked of different enemies (no, I won't share that here, get the game).

Multiplayer may be too different for some. 2 vs 2 objective based matches with each player controlling a squad. Team work and strategy is a must.

Overall, this is a great game that will get missed by many waiting for Rainbow Six Lockdown and Splinter Cell Chaos Theory, which is sad. This is a great game to add to your Xbox keeper stash of games. Unfortunately, I am a Splinter Cell fan and will be putting BIA down once it comes out. But, I look forward to getting back to it once I finish SCCT.