Alyx Vance

When it comes to female companions, the videogame industry often struggles to get the formula correct. If the AI's perfect, the poor girl will have a waist smaller than an oreo and breasts the size of Kilimanjaro. If the looks perfect, then the she'll no doubt be shooting at the wall and getting caught on objects. Or, and this ones the most common, a look that would make feminists froth at the mouth and the intelligence of a dead shrew. (Oh yes Sheva, I'm looking at you)

However, with Alyx Vance, I feel Valve finally did it. She's good looking, but in a normal everyday sort of way. She's witty, she's intelligent and a genuinly likeable character (again Sheva, I'm looking at you. Hang your head in shame girl) but most of all she actually helps. Valve are masters of AI as we all know, and Alyx was certainly the pinnacle of this evolutionary cycle. She knows when to shoot, she knows when to run away from danger, she knows when you need to take care of a problem and she needs to hang back, and when she needs to be right by your side. In all honesty, I actually enjoy the sections when you're with Alyx (Episode one especially) and find them quite entertaining. You know, unlike some games.... (Run Sheva. Run far away) 

Three Games I Should Really Finish...

1) Crackdown

See, I would finish this straight away, but the thing is... well It's one of those games where you're REALLY enjoying it but then another game takes over and you just never go back to it.  You know? What do you mean "Lazy Gamer"?

2) Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

Ok, so I never finished GTA4 either but I enjoyed this one much MUCH more than Rockstar's latest installment. However, this reached a point where it was harder than a Rhino's door (wow... worst analogy ever 0.o) and I just gave up. Well I say gave up, like Crackdown I gave up for another game. Hey don't look at me like that! It was Age of Conan! 

3) Metal Gear Solid 4

Hey! Don't look at me like that! I just, stopped... no... no... 

*jumps out window*

Prepare to be Informed

Regular visitors (Hai Friz!) may remember that I bought the Orange Box for the PS3 so I could finish Half Life 2 on a console. Well I can tell you now, that I never finished it on the PS3, but I'm pretty close to finishing it on the Xbox! OK, so it isn't my copy it's a friends, but I'm still enjoying it a lot more. Especially with..... *sighs*.... with the achievements....

In other Valve related news, I've been playing a lot of Team Fortress 2 on the PC as of late what with the announcement of the Sniper / Spy update last week. I'm actually not sucking as much as I normally do as the spy, but come next week everyone will be a spy so.... Yea. PYRO :D

Finally, me and a Friend finally finished Gears of War on co-op on Hardcore. Fantastic game, but I thoroughly enjoyed the final battle with General Raam, mainly because of my mate having about a five minute long planing session before hand, about how we use the Torque bow, long bow then repeat. I just ran on the Troika and mowed him down within seconds. I lol'd. 

Gentlemen

No where was I? Oh yea Dj Hero! Wait...... I haven't blogged in almost two weeks! Woah what happened? Did I black out or something? Oh wait no, I've had A-Level exams as of late and just haven't had the time. Foolish of me huh? To neglect such a noble duty that is the "blog". Or maybe I was just busy and stuff. Well who knows. A conundrum for a later time. 

Tomorrow I'll post something more complete, but I can't not post the epicness that is the Meet The Spy. I actually consider this a landmark in video game advertising. It truly is incredible.

Dj Hero Controller Revealed

Anyone else finding this.... monstrosity hard to comprehend? I must admit, it's purty but the whole idea makes me nauseous. Eugh.

I have no clue what the "tracklist" is for DJ Hero, but I doubt it'll appeal to me as much as Guitar Hero did :P

Call of Duty Vietnam

Forget the deadly Swine Flu! If the latest Internet rumours are true, and the next Call of Duty game will be set in Vietnam, then it will seriously affect out great nation. Another crappy shooter set in a jungle environment... with flamethrowers...

Ahhh hell. Just someone give me Modern Warfare 2 quickly before I rage, kay? 

Bank Holidays Ftl

OK so the reason I haven't been blogging since... well last Wednesday is because of the Bank holiday. You know it to be true.

Lately I've been experiencing the original Gears of War on co-op on Hardcore (Difficult) and Gears of War 2 single player on the same difficulty setting (Too hard D:). I'm enjoying both, especially the first one because I never finished it, but I'm really being pushed. I'm such a crap gamer!

I've also discovered Race Driver Grid. I'm enjoying it, but that's a blog for another time :P