It's a jam-packed edition of Replay Couch, so let's skip the usual formalities and get right down to it. Hit the link for the full reel.

Welcome to the White House
The concept of the Japanese Xbox title Metal Wolf Chaos comes from a what-if scenario. What if America's Vice President carried out a coup d'etat, evicting the President from the White House? What if the President jumped into a powered battlemech and began to take back his country, one state at a time? What if the game had dialogue such as, "Nothing is pointless, and the reason is.. because I'm the President of the Great United States of America!"

What if I wasn't making this up?

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Here's a quick summary of all this week's feature content, followed by some of the more prominent news items, in reverse chronological order.

Features:

• The Shacknews Opinion Section
  Shacknews' guest commentators give their expert opinion on the state of the industry.
• Turok Multiplayer Hands-On Preview
  I checked out the multiplayer mode in Propaganda's reimagined Turok (PC, PS3, X360). It had facial stabbing.
• Draglade NDS Review
  The Shack's own Chris Faylor reviews Banpresto/Dimp's rhythm-based fighting game. It's weird.
• Dark Sector Impressions
  Shacknews editor-in-chief Chris Remo takes a new look at Digital Extremes' ambitious third-person action title, Dark Sector (PS3, X360).
• Replay Couch 7: Lit Fuse
  Nick Breckon invites you to join him once again for another installment of Replay Couch--the greatest collction of gaming videos on the Internet.
• Omega Five Hands-On Preview
  I took Natsume's throwback horizontal shoot-em-up Omega Five (X360) for a spin. You can play as a samurai (with his magic dog).
• Ninja Reflex First Impressions
  Chris Remo took a first look at Sanzaru's reaction-based party game, Ninja Reflex (Wii, NDS).
• GripShift (X360) Hands-on Preview
  I checked out the newest and best version of Sidhe Interactive's GripShift (PS3, PSP, X360), coming soon to Xbox Live.
• Pirates of the Burning Sea Impressions
  Cap'n Nicholas Breckenbeard took a stab at Flying Lab's pirate-themed MMO, Pirates of the Burning Sea (PC).

News posts:

• Activision and Blizzard Owner Vivendi Games Merge
• Acclaimed Blogging Organization Shacknews, Ltd. Launches First Official Blog
• MS Restricting Access of Free Xbox Live Content
• Microsoft Intentionally Sabotaging HD DVD and Blu-ray, Claims Director
• Rock Band PS3 Patch Adds Guitar Hero III Controller Support
• GameSpot Details Gerstmann Situation; Claims Termination 'Unrelated' to Advertiser Pressure
• EVE Online Update Cripples Windows XP, Developers Urge Caution
• FASA Founder Regains Rights to MechWarrior, Shadowrun, Crimson Skies
• Guitar Hero 3 Wii Mono Sound to be Remedied with Free Remastered Discs

This week, with their permission, we devote an entire page to the work of Lit Fuse Films, one of the few machinima groups worth following. Also: Crysis physics insanity, and drumming to make all Rock Band players jealous. Click through for the full deal.

The Ballad of Black Mesa
One part Apple, one part STOMP. Created using an all-green box map within Garry's Mod--the Half-Life 2 equivalent of a green screen--this audio-visual composition is one of Lit Fuse's defining achievements.

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This week is a bit of a grab-bag, with a little Assassin's Creed tomfoolery, some Crysis strangeness, and a fantastic TF2 tutorial. Click through for the full show.

Impossible Video of the Week (link to this video)
This is one of those gaming challenges that I knew would be ripe for the internet masses. Displaying stunning accuracy and quickness, okaay10 runs through the target house of Call of Duty 4's tutorial so quickly that even the announcer gets confused.

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Here's a quick summary of all this week's feature content, followed by some of the more prominent news items, in reverse chronological order.

Features:

• Indie Adventures: PixelJAM and Dino Run
  Chris Faylor chats with indie developer Richard Grillotti to learn about PixelJam's cool-ass retro-looking web games.
• Crysis Review
  Chris Remo built an entirely new PC so he could review Crysis. It's awesome, but you may have to do the same to play it.
• Kane & Lynch: Dead Men Review
  I played through Io Interactive's much-hyped squad shooter. It's got some problems.
• Replay Couch 5: Glitches, Exploits, and Mario
  Nick Breckon invites you to join him once again for another installment of Replay Couch--the greatest collction of gaming videos on the Internet.
• Legendary: The Box Hands-On Preview
  I take a look at a pre-alpha build of Spark Unlimited's upcoming myth-inspired shooter. More games need griffins in them.
• Super Mario Galaxy Review
  Chris Remo's heart of ice is melted by this early Christmas present from Shigeru Miyamoto and friends.
• Shacknews' Rock Band Guide
  Got questions about Rock Band? Nick Breckon gives you more than you ever needed to know about the game.
• Contra 4 Review
  Chris Remo gets annihilated by WayForward's new Contra game. It is hardcore, and he is no match. Read his review.
• Weekly Download Rundown
  Chris Faylor gives you the lowdown rundown on this week's downlow downloads. Sorry.

News posts:

• Supreme Commander Confirmed for Xbox 360 in 2008
• Report: Guitar Hero 3 Wii Only Outputs in Mono
• Microsoft Announces Downloadable Xbox Titles, Celebrates Xbox Live Anniversary with Free Game
• Praise Be, Rocket Race Added to Halo 3 Playlists
• Ghostbusters Sequel Coming in Video Game Form, Original Cast and Writers Heavily Involved
• Willis and Thornton Rumored as Stars for Kane & Lynch Film Adaptation
• Rock Band DLC Pricing, Details Announced
• id Software Dives Fully into Mobile Development

This week we dedicate an entire page to Mario, in celeberation of his triumphant return to our living rooms, and our hearts, with Super Mario Galaxy. Click on for the full presentation.

Impossible Video of the Week: Mario in Hell
It's Dante meets Mario Bros. in this always-entertaining exercise in futility. Watch as one unsuspecting player repeatedly attempts to conquer Mario Forever, a torturous mod of the original game. Forget what you know about unforgiving levels, and look on in quiet lamentation.

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Here's a quick summary of all this week's feature content, followed by some of the more prominent news items, in reverse chronological order.

Features:

• Unreal Tournament 3 Single-Player Campaign Preview
  Chris Remo reports on the single player portion of Epic's upcoming shooter. It's kind of a multiplayer training mode, with missions like multiplayer AI skirmishes.
• Gears of War PC Review
  Nick Breckon reviews the PC version of Epic's tactical shooter. It's still great and includes more single-player chapters and other bonus content.
• Replay Couch 4: Intualgalactic War
  Nick Breckon invites you to join him for yet another collection of great gaming videos. The Video of the Week is a trailer for Techland's ambitious Chrome.
• Shacknews' Guide to Underhyped Holiday Titles
  I put together a list of this season's under-the-radar games. Buy them all. You will thank us.
• Savage 2: A Tortured Soul Preview
  Nick Breckon checks out the beta of S2 Games' RTS/FPS sequel. It's weird and fun, but probably not for everyone.
• Weekly Download Rundown
  Chris Faylor summarizes this week's downloads. Highlights: a free episode of Telltale Games' Sam & Max on FileShack and Super Mario Bros. 3 on Wii VC.

News posts:

• Confirmed: EA Chicago Shutting Down
• God of War II Director Will Leave SCEA, Sony Confirms Sequel
• Target Confirms Pulling All Versions of Manhunt 2 From Shelves
• Flagship Responds to Hellgate Subscription Issues
• Rock Band DLC Revealed: Police, Bowie, Radiohead, Sabbath, Metallica, More
• Max Payne Movie May Star Mark Wahlberg
• Bungie Prototyping New IP, Developing 'Halo Games'
• Xbox 360 Outsells PlayStation 3 in Japan; Mario and Ace Combat Top Software Charts

Welcome to the Replay Couch, where we kick back and watch the best, and worst, of recorded video game history. Each week we'll be offering up a compilation of compelling captures from the world of insane speed-runs, chance kills, competitive moments, and hilarious happenings from the past and present.

This week we kick things off with a humorous relic from 2003--doubling as the trailer of the week--followed by a few solid Halo 3 clips. Then it's on to the second page, where we're chilling out to a couple artistic efforts created using Crysis and Garry's Mod. Replay Couch: expanding minds through explosions since 2007. Click through for the full gallery.

Video of the Week: Fight the Power
Meet Old Logan. He has fish lips. Having nothing to lose, he gets involved in conflicts. Also having nothing to lose, developer Techland released this unique attempt at marketing for their 2003 FPS Chrome. One thing's for sure--somebody lost here.

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Welcome to the Replay Couch, where we kick back and watch the best, and worst, of recorded video game history. Each week we'll be offering up a compilation of compelling captures from the world of insane speed-runs, chance kills, competitive moments, and hilarious happenings from the past and present.

This week we get into the Halloween spirit with a few haunted Halo replays, a terrifying Skate video, a couple classic clips from Fallout and Diablo, and some scary-good moves by competitive players. Jump on over to the full assortment now.

Video of the Week: Crysis vs. Mechachicken
Look, up in the sky. It's a bird. It's two big, goddamn birds. And they're flocking this way.

FinalFrog's final solution? Nuke it from orbit.

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Looking for more videos? Click on through to the other side.

Welcome to the Replay Couch, where we kick back and watch the best, and worst, of recorded video game history. Each week we'll be offering up a compilation of captures from the world of insane speed-runs, chance kills, competitive moments, and hilarious happenings from the past and present.

This week starts off with a wonderfully succinct video--a perfect piece of evidence that proves why the Team Fortress Spy is the best class ever conceived of in gaming. Take a look, and then click through for more user-generated action from games such as Halo 3, Guitar Hero 2, Skate, Mario Paint, and Street Fighter 3.

Video of the Week: I Am A Spy
Here is one video that needs no further introduction. Observe what mrcuddles100 has wrought, and remember to download the spray in order to wreak your own havoc upon the Team Fortress 2 masses.

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Want more? Click on through to the other side.

Welcome to the Replay Couch, where we kick back and watch the best, and worst, of recorded video game history. Each week we'll be offering up a compilation of captures from the world of insane speed-runs, chance kills, competitive moments, and hilarious happenings, from the past and present.

This installment begins with a highlight of Valve's puzzler Portal, a game tailor-made for inventive attempts. This will be followed by a few clips from games such as Team Fortress 2, Halo 3, Skate, StarCraft, and Garry's Mod. Check it all out here; at the end of the show, there will be cake.

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Want more? Click through for an abundance of moving pictures.