F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin

From the creators of Manhunt comes the sequel to the what I feel somewhat under acknowledged game, F.E.A.R. Here is more of the same but with a better engine which may be good or bad depending on what you felt about the first.

Dead Space

When looking at games, I’m often too reserved when it comes to sealing the deal on a game without a number attached to the end. The real reason for this is probably due to the large amount of shovelware being put out on store shelves in mix with the good games and retailers only hope to sell all of them. Sadly, it is also this sort of mentality that created the franchise games like Guitar Hero, Need for Speed, Madden, and other high profile series. While one cannot expect all of the games with a number attached to the back to be extremely fun or engaging (looking at you Silent Hill), the number at least guarantees a certain level of quality that is difficult to find in the “random games” section.

Mirror’s Edge by EA DICE

Mirror’s Edge is one of the two major original IPs that came out of EA in 2008. For those less informed, “IP” stands for intellectual property which translated to “Original plus the ten sequels” as far as gaming goes. On the Mirror’s Edge review, I mentioned there is a new EA which is basically what I’m talking about here. When was the last time EA actually created a high value new IP? They’ve got Madden, Need for Speed, Sims and they buy older IPs like Command ‘n Conquer but the last time they created a new IP, I was still eating Oreos and playing my Gameboy Gray Brick. (I’m now eating Oreos and playing my DS. Gaming… Gaming never changes.)

EA’s new CEO from 2007, John Riccitiello, originally announced his views of the company and his plans to change the company to the better from Big Bad EA to Gaming World Savior EA. Considering games of Mirror’s Edge or Dead Space level require immense R&D time which in turn means a fuck ton of money, I can now say that Riccitiello has made good on his promises… *Insert politicians joke here*