Video Game Reviews by Jeb Haught

Thousands of game developers, journalists and vendors descended this past week upon Los Angeles to attend the largest video game convention in the world. Dubbed E3, Electronic Entertainment Expo, the June 2-4 event was the best place to get hands-on experience with future software and experimental hardware.

"Why should I care?" you may ask. Well, according to the Entertainment Software Association, computer or video games are played in 68 percent of U.S. households. This impressive number proves that while not all Americans are the same, the majority enjoy regular trips to cyberspace.

Unfortunately, not all games are worth the purchase price, so here is a list of the more impressive software on display at E3:

"Just Cause 2" (Xbox 360, PS3, PC) — This awesome open-world third-person shooter published by Eidos tosses realism out the door in favor of pure fun as the protagonist uses his parachute and grappling hook to perform outrageous stunts while dispatching enemies. Players can hijack helicopters, zip from vehicle to vehicle, attach items and/or enemies to each other, and much, much more! New weapons and gadgets can be purchased on the Black Market, and they can also be upgraded to increase their usefulness.

"MAG" (PS3) — Short for "Massive Action Game," this is the only online first-person shooter to support a whopping 256 players at once! But instead of creating pure mayhem, Sony has rigidly structured each side using squads and platoons with their appropriate leaders. These leaders not only give squad mates bonuses while fighting near them, but they can also call in artillery strikes, unmanned aerial sweeps and cluster bombs, as well as create objectives on the fly. There is even a separate audio channel for officers to use.

"Ratchet and Clank Future: A Crack in Time" (PS3) — Sony's popular and visually stunning action platform series returns with the final installment of the Future series. On a hunt to find his lifelong buddy Clank, Ratchet teams up with another Wombat to explore new environs and blast the heck out of anything that gets in his way. New abilities include handy hover boots that let Ratchet quickly glide along the ground and jump over objects as well as Cryo Mines that temporarily freeze enemies in their place.

"Operation Flashpoint 2: Dragon Rising" (Xbox 360, PS3, PC) — Codemasters sequel to the popular first-person tactical military simulation eschews realism at every turn as players lead a small squad of soldiers to capture the gigantic island of Skira. More than 60 authentic military weapons ranging from pistols to giant bombs are at the player's disposal, and they all act and sound just like their real-life counterparts. Several vehicles can also be commandeered which can come in handy when facing the advanced enemy AI.

"Alan Wake" (Xbox 360) — Billed as a "psychological action thriller," Microsoft redefines horror by placing famous fiction writer Alan Wake at the center of the story and surrounding him with a dark, malevolent force. When Alan begins searching for his missing wife, he discovers that his latest supernatural masterpiece is slowly becoming reality. Something is turning the residents of Bright Falls into horrifying creatures that can only be dispatched by first removing their "layer of darkness" with light. Now Alan's flashlight becomes his most effective weapon as he continues to uncover the mystery behind the disturbance.

"Warhammer 40,000 Space Marine" (Xbox 360, PS3) — Set 40,000 years in the future, THQ's third-person action RPG follows the exploits of a futuristic Space Marine as he and his comrades battle the seemingly endless Orc army. Budding Space Marines get to experiment with and upgrade all sorts of cool equipment like chainswords, two-handed hammers, and heavy bolters.

When the going gets rough in this ultra violent title, players can quickly travel short distances by using the versatile jet pack.

"Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2" (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii) — Activision's sequel to the 2006 action RPG improves upon its predecessor by incorporating open, detailed environments and allowing players to choose their group from 24 heroes and villains. Due to the Mutant Registration Act, a new line has been drawn that teams heroes with villains, and the player gets to decide which side to fight for. New Fusion attacks between two characters add a vast array of welcome moves that not only look impressive, but also devastate the enemy.

"Tekken 6" (Xbox 360, PS3) — The King of the Iron Fist Tournament returns as this fighter incorporates the full arcade version of "Tekken 6" along with exclusive features. New to the arena is the "rage" system that fills characters with extra power when their health is low. Also new is an enhanced adventure mode that lets players fight off hordes of enemies, most of them game characters, alone or in online co-op. Forty characters are available in both fighting and adventure mode, with six of them making their debut.

"Mass Effect 2" (Xbox 360, PC) — Commander Shepard returns in EA's robust sequel to the popular interstellar RPG, but this time he's on a suicide mission. In fact, the developers expect the main character to die in this game, which sets the player's progress back considerably. Nine new weapon classes are available, and projectile combat is promised to be more like traditional shooters. In addition, psychic powers can be hot keyed and used on the fly or the player can pause the game to activate them like before.

"Borderlands" (Xbox 360, PS3, PC) — Likened to a Wild West adventure in space, 2K Games sci-fi first-person shooter incorporates heavy RPG elements as well as an ample amount of style. Skill trees let players customize their character with various surreal abilities while an elaborate system randomly generates weapons such as a sniper rifle that catches enemies on fire or a shotgun that heals the player. More than 20 main missions and 130 side missions ensure that players will not see the light of day for weeks at a time.

"Dark Void" (Xbox 360, PS3, PC) — Capcom's third-person futuristic action title takes gaming to new heights as the player fights the enemy while on land and in the air. In addition to traditional shooter action, a new "vertical combat" feature lets players fight enemies from behind cover while ascending to higher platforms. On top of that, a powerful jetpack propels players around like an airplane, letting them blast opponents and hijack enemy spaceships.

"Assassin's Creed 2" (Xbox 360, PS3, PC) — Ubi Soft addresses the complaints from the last year's stealth game, "Assassin's Creed," and vastly improves the game play for the much-anticipated sequel. The rigid structure of investigating each target has been replaced with story elements to keep the player interested. New weapons like pole arms can be used, and the new protagonist has a hidden blade on each wrist that lets him perform dual stealth kills.

"Super Mario Galaxy 2" (Wii) — Nintendo proves they haven't abandoned core gamers by announcing the sequel to last year's most popular game on the Wii. Similar to it's predecessor, "SMG2" lets players hop and bounce their way around various planets while collecting fun power-ups. Mario will be able to ride on Yoshi's back and use his tongue to swing across gaps. Yoshi can also eat different fruits that give useful power-ups like the ability to float.

To find out more about Jeb Haught and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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