Video Game Reviews
Starcraft: Heart of the Swarm: I really love RTS games, so I was excited to pick up the latest Starcraft game last week. I’m able half way through it, and so far have really had fun with it. I am not a multi-player guy – I figure I’ll get slaughtered, so I just stick with the campaign. Blizzard has done a really good job of mixing things up so every mission is different. No longer can you just build up your forces and overwhelm your enemy every time out. I also like the new leveling system and heroes they’ve incorporated. I’m a big Warcraft 3 fan, and am glad they brought some of those features into the Starcraft universe. I don’t think anyone does RTS like Blizzard, and am already anticipating the final installment (if they ever release it).
COD: Black Ops 2: I haven’t played the campaign, and probably never will. COD cames are all about the multiplayer. I love the COD series, but I do feel like they keep digressing a bit. The changes they made to the upgrade and leveling system are good, putting more tough choices in the hands of the player, but really these games are all about the maps, and unfortunately I just don’t love any of the maps. I recently purchased a new map pack and actually like the map pack better then the original maps. Overall, COD is still a high quality game, but they release new titles so often, and then several map packs for each game, that it’s easy to see why the maps aren’t as good, game-to-game, as they used to be.
XCOM: Enemy Unknown:I don’t know why I got this game, and it was a mistake. I was just looking for something to play and this seemed interesting. I think it would work much better as a RTS on the PC (maybe it is already?), but on the XBOX as a turn-based strategy game, it is slow, boring, and often times nerve-wracking. I don’t know how this has such a high metascore. Maybe it’s the multiplayer, which I haven’t attempted yet. Whatever the reason, this game just didn’t work for me.