Grand Theft Auto 4

By Thomas Hodgson

Welcome to America

With much hype, the release of Grand Theft Auto 4 was not a question of whether the game was going to be good, it was just how good it was going to be. In its short lifespan, the game’s lived up to the pre-release hype and within a month’s span is already being hailed as the most critically acclaimed video game of all time.

Niko Belic, a Bulgarian immigrant, has fled his war-torn country and the criminals that chase him in order to find refuge with his brother Roman. He learns quickly that the “land of opportunity” his brother boasted about is all a façade ~ an optimistic pipedream of a 9 to 5 stiff and gambling addict. Niko helps his brother wage war against the criminals coming to collect their debts. He is engulfed into the seedy underground of Liberty City and doesn’t look for opportunity ~ he takes it.

With a narrative worthy of an Academy Award nomination and an expansive world, Grand Theft Auto 4 is the best game from one of the greatest game series of all time. Modeled after a modern day New York City and the four boroughs, Liberty City is detailed gorgeously. It’s tough to elaborate on the levels of realism this game reaches. You’ve seen it all before with the other games in the series, but not quite like this ~ the mannerisms of the citizens, the vast, massive world map (and the GPS you have to use to find your way around it), the gorgeously detailed people and cityscapes, and, ladies and gentlemen, the crème de la crème ~ the multiplayer.

The game has its minor flaws, with the occasional glitchy animation or frame rate dip, but it’s hard to notice them when you’re busy jacking sports cars and running over joggers in high-end neighborhoods.

Grand Theft Auto 4 isn’t perfection, but it’s damn close. Just like city life, there is always something to do. It’s a living, breathing virtual society. It’s a digital playground for your inner criminal, without the real world consequences of jail time. I don’t want to elaborate on what you can expect because it’s something you have to experience.

Grand Theft Auto 4 lets you celebrate life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness however you choose to find it ~ even if it involves running over hot dog vendors. It’s the American dream and you’re awake to play it.

Ninja Gaiden 2

Ninja time

Arguably, one of the greatest action titles ever created was Ninja Gaiden for Xbox. Never in my life had I wanted to drop out of college, buy a sword off the Home Shopping Network, dress in black, and move to feudal Japan more than I did after beating that game.

Brush the dust off those throwing stars ‘cause it’s time to get ninjaed. Ninja Gaiden 2 is out for the Xbox 360, the next-gen installment of a franchise synonymous with greatness since the days of A, B, start, and select.

With the addition of new weapons, blistering new finishing moves, lasting damage, disgustingly difficult enemy AI, auto-healing, and save points, an incredible game has become that much more challenging and fantastic. The graphics are beautiful and showcase the flowing weapon movements and the soon to follow flowing blood. Where Ninja Gaiden erred on the side of caution with violence ~ Ninja Gaiden 2 has you seeing red. Limbs are lost with fluid combos and animations which are aesthetically unprecedented in any other action game. You’re Muhammad Ali with a sword as you float like a butterfly and sting like a bee. The level of difficulty forces you to master the different weapons and combos and, in classic hardcore gaming fashion, rewards you for your skill, not luck.

The only major issue is the constant nursing of the right joystick to find the perfect camera view. Tight hallways and ramps are a jumbled mess of enemies and confusion that often leave you out of sight. But on a huge HD set, it’s practically not even noticeable.

I’ve read a lot of critics’ reviews and could not disagree more. They’re under the assumption that sequels never live up to the expectations set by their predecessors. Those who still think that’s the case after playing this game might require a reevaluation while they work the late-shift at the local fast food restaurant.

The reason similar flaws are overlooked in GTA4 is because the game is so damn huge. It’s so impressive that for each con you find, there will be 10 pros to take its place. Ninja Gaiden 2 undoubtedly has its flaws. It isn’t at liberty to have a massive open-ended world for you to roam around and forget the occasional frame rate hiccup or bad camera angle.

My biggest gripe with the poor reception this game has received is the disappointment critics have in the story, which on a level of stupidity falls somewhere between “I Love New York” and “A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila.” I’m not watching Predator or Commando because they won an Academy Award and I sure as hell am not looking to this game to tell me a great story before I go to bed. A great story with an action title is a novelty and ancillary at best.

Don’t listen to critics rating Ninja Gaiden 2 as a mediocre offering. The game is a ballet of gore and a nod to old school gaming. It doesn’t move up ~ it simply expands upon the premise which it perfected. If it ain’t broke, then don’t fix it, and Ninja Gaiden does just that. It is a must own title for the Xbox 360 and crack for your finger tips. Violence has never looked so pretty.