“Madden NFL 09” &- PS3/XBOX360
With this installment of “Madden,” EA Sports shows that it’s hitting its stride with next-gen consoles by offering enhanced graphics, smoother gameplay and a slew of new features. Madden IQ tests gamers in four categories and uses the results to create a difficulty setting tailor-made to the player’s ability. Franchise and Superstar modes have remained largely untouched, continuing a disturbing trend in the series, and the new rewind feature8212;which allows players to start a play over if they make a mistake8212;is sure to ruin friendships during intense multi-player games. “Madden NFL 09” is more user-friendly than past releases, but a complicated array of pre-snap adjustments will put newbies at a disadvantage.
“Battlefield: Bad Company” &- PS3/XBOX360
In “Bad Company,” the main character is a newly assigned private to B Company, an expendable Army unit comprised of societal rejects that do little more than provide amusing chatter. The most exciting aspect of this shooter is the near-completely destructible environment. Games like “Call of Duty 4” allow sheisty snipers the ability to hide in light barricades, but in “Bad Company” everything is fair game. The destructible environments lend the player countless options for how to approach any battle. A wide assortment of weapons and gadgets is available to keep players entertained, especially when they’re unleashing massive mortar attacks on a small group of unsuspecting enemies. The enemy AI can be a little disappointing, since the opposing soldiers will sometimes mindlessly stand in the middle of the battlefield waiting to be slaughtered. Despite this minor annoyance, “Bad Company” is one of the best shooters of the year, offering COD4 addicts a fun, lighthearted alternative.
“Soul Calibur IV” &- PS3/XBOX360
“Soul Calibur” is arguably the best fighting game available on next-gen consoles. The graphics are absolutely stunning8212;from the detailed appearance of the fighters to the colorful and exotic locales. Character customization is deep and players can create fighters from scratch and deck them out with everything from samurai gear to a silly pirate outfit. Players’ options aren’t just limited to aesthetics with a wide range of skills and abilities available to enhance particular fighting styles. The most notable addition is the inclusion of Darth Vader and Yoda as playable characters. Vader is exclusive to the PS3 and Yoda to the 360, but downloadable content should be available in the future. The fighting itself is highly stylized and newcomers will be pleased with its simple to use control scheme. The only downside to the game is that the story mode is short and contrived.
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