If you've been following Borderlands from the get-go, then you won't need much of an explanation. You won't need a reminder that it has been billed as a hybrid between the first-person shooting of Halo and the addictive nature of Diablo. Right now, all you want to know is if it's worth playing; if Gearbox managed to meet its lofty aspirations.

In short, yes. That's not to say the game is free of annoyances and oddities, far from it. But despite the flaws, Borderlands offers an addictive experience that I can't stop playing.

Above all else, Borderlands really nails the feeling of character progression, of ever-increasing power. It feels like every quest, from gunning down an enemy to gathering the scattered pieces of a revolver, actually matters. Each action, each experience point, brings players one step closer to the next level, to being able to afford that nice rocket launcher sitting in the vending machine. And there's nothing quite like waltzing through an area five levels later and mowing through once-troublesome foes... Read more

Publisher Electronic Arts today reported that its net loss over the fiscal year ending March 31, 2009 totaled to $1.08 billion--an increase of over $500 million in losses over the previous year.

The company reported total revenue of $4.2 billion over the year, up 15 percent from the previous year's figure of $3.6 billion.

Meanwhile, the publisher's fourth quarter results rang in to the tune of $42 million in net loss--less than expected by analysts. According to EA, sales in that quarter were largely driven by Skate 2, Rock Band 2, The Lord of the Rings: Conquest, Left 4 Dead and Need for Speed Undercover.

Following third quarter losses of over $600 million, EA quickly moved to cut back its operation, presenting plans in February to close 12 facilities and cut 11% of its workforce.

"EA's strong cost actions in Q4 FY09 together with our investments in our digital service businesses will set us up for a stronger FY10," said EA CEO John Riccitiello today. "EA is well positioned with the right strategies in a growing industry."

I had a hunch that Capcom was heavily influenced by Gears of War when developing Resident Evil 5. But sometime during the fifth chapter, when the zombies with AK-47s forced me to take cover behind conveniently placed barricades, it became less of a hunch and more of a verifiable fact.

Resident Evil 5 is truly a strange beast; a Zonkey of a game. Consider the following observations:

• It's the first numbered Resident Evil game to feature cooperative play.
• It may be the first Resident Evil game that doesn't include a full stage set at night.
• It features zombies that shoot AK-47s.

Of course, these oddities seem like minor elements at first. In fact, Resident Evil 5 mimics the broad strokes of Resident Evil 4 well. It has a similar sense of pace, beginning with the "surprise" of a zombie infestation, and steadily... Read more

I still don't know what to call Dawn of War II.

There are elements of Syndicate, and of Warcraft III. There are gobs of Company of Heroes, and hints of Homeworld. There's a bunch of Diablo, and even a little Final Fantasy.

Of course, three days and 22 hours of gameplay later, I didn't much care what the ingredients were, or what I was supposed to call it. No matter the influences or subgenre specifics, I was convinced: Dawn of War II is an incredibly good game.

As many have found with the multiplayer beta, the longer you play Dawn of War II, the more enjoyable it becomes. Unlike traditional RTS titles, the... Read more

When it comes to action movie sequels, the best tend to take the original formula and twist it enough to keep the concept fresh. Whether it's Terminator 2, Aliens or The Dark Knight, great sequels build on the previous work, rather than treading over tired ground.

Gears of War 2 tries to be Aliens. It tries to be The Empire Strikes Back. In terms of plot, it certainly follows the Empire mold, taking a basic good vs. evil premise and heading down a darker, more winding path. And in terms of gameplay, it definitely goes the Aliens route, turning up the action and introducing plenty of new material.

Many reviews have called Gears of War 2 a perfect game. As a big fan of the original Gears, I'd love nothing more than to entirely agree. I will say that for the most part, I enjoyed the new campaign. And I wholeheartedly endorse the multiplayer component, which is simply an outstanding value that should justify a purchase for any established fan.

But to help the people on the fence, who may not have enjoyed the first game but are considering a purchase this time, I also have to be honest: from where I'm sitting, some of this new single-player material falls surprisingly flat. ... Read more

Fallout 3 is a PC game. Sure, it's an Xbox 360 game, too. And it's a PlayStation 3 game, I guess. It's also an RPG, technically.

But when you get at the heart of it, Fallout 3 feels like a game designed for the PC. It has the soul of a big-boxed, full-manual, five-CD game from 1998. It has all the complexity and addictiveness of a System Shock, or a Deus Ex--or, yes, a Fallout.

And when I say "game," I mean it in the most ambitious sense. It's the kind of title that rekindles that 90s spark of imagination, when the borders of gaming were less defined, and anything seemed possible. From the opening moment, it's the kind of work that has you thinking: "Goddamn--this is a real game."

Not just another collection of cutscenes and shooting galleries. Not just another roller-coaster ride with a slightly different track. Fallout 3 is a deep, interactive experience; a compelling blend of crafted art, inventive quests and open world freedom.

Less a ride and more a trip down a lazy, apocalyptic river, Fallout 3 has a strong current in its central quest line. But it's the option of abandoning the raft--and killing your raft-mates, and stealing their stuff, and selling it to a zombie trader for a quick buck--that makes it something gamers should not miss.

Above all else, this is a game to savor... Read more

It would be very easy to ignore a series like Galactic Civilizations II. I am living proof.

Consider that I am a huge fan of space, strategy, and PC space strategy games. In other words, I am a huge nerd. But sitting down to play Galactic Civilization II: Twilight of the Arnor, having never played a game in the series, I figured this old, low budget, turn-based title wouldn't interest me. I always thought of it like I do outdoor sports: I'm sure the game is fun, but it looks like way too much work, thank you.

Just a few turns, I figured, then back to Liberty City.

But those few turns gave way to a hundred. Then a thousand. Countless hours melted away before my eyes, replaced by burned-in images of battlecruisers, research trees, and galactic maps.

I woke up sometime in the future, on the other side of a time warp-hole, behind on my work and really, really in need of a bathroom. It was then that I knew I'd discovered the most addictive game since, well, that other Civilization series.... Read more

Ninja Gaiden II contains more "fuck yes" and "aw fuck" moments than any three action games put together. In the course of Ryu's journey, you'll be both bad ass and just plain bad. And sometimes, if only for a moment, you'll hate this game.

For every brilliant action sequence, there will be another marred by a bad camera angle. After every gorgeous level, there will be another set in a dull, dreary cave. Following every exciting fight, there will be another boring cutscene that defies all laws of human decency.

Some of this sounds terrible in description, but don't worry--these will be temporary feuds. The truth is, it's difficult to stay mad at something this beautiful. I mean, just look at this:

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Do you see that video? Doesn't that look awesome? Yeah, that was me. I did that. I didn't tap a button in time with the rhythm of a techno track, or wave a Wii controller in a disco move, or follow an on-screen prompt that triggered a scripted attack. Each slice and swing was an immediate result of my sometimes skillful, and frequently lucky, button presses.

With Ninja Gaiden II, what you see is what you get. ... Read more

Ready at Dawn's PSP entry in the God of War series to stores today. Having recently completed the title, I'm here to tell you that it's pretty fun, if a little familiar.

It looks like the PlayStation 2 editions. It plays like the PlayStation 2 editions. And considering that the PSP is, well, portable, that's a pretty impressive feat.

But at the same time, the handheld title's similarities to the PlayStation 2 editions create some problems, especially for series veterans. While it's nice to have God of War on the go, it's hard to shake the feeling that you've played it all before. Keep reading...

A hybrid rhythm-based, real-time tactical title, Patapon (PSP) is an odd beast. Aaron Linde takes a look at this bizarre mish-mash of a game, and comes away with a rather sadistic looking grin on his face. Check out his full review.

When you think about it, there's something vaguely sinister about a game like Patapon; a game in which you, as god of a humble people, lead your followers on a crusade back to their stolen homeland. Your people are small, spherical imps, and instead of whispering dogma into the ears of the mad, you simply pound your drums. But beneath this bizarre tableau of tribal warfare, rhythm and action lies one of the most compelling, addictive games released on the PSP to date. Read more..

Like spaceships? Like lots of spaceships? Wondering what the hell this game is about, and whether the hype is justified? Hopefully this review will help a little.

I'm going to knock this game around a bit, but it will be a fatherly sort of beating, tough love with well-meaning intentions underneath the gruff, abusive exterior. Because I really do love Sins. It's a well-rounded, mostly-polished hardcore space strategy game for the PC. How often do you see that on a store shelf anymore? If the concept at all piques your interest, you will likely not regret a buy.
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This week, Capcom is bringing Devil May Cry 4 to the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, with a PC release due out a little further down the line. There's been a lot of hype for this game for quite a while, and though it doesn't reinvent the action genre, the good news is that it's a whole lot of fun.

In other words, it's pretty much everything you'd want in an action game. That's not to say Devil May Cry 4 is perfect--it certainly has its flaws--but it is fun, it is enjoyable, and it is one of the best action titles currently available on either PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360.
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Open worlds are everywhere in games these days--Electronic Arts in particular does seem dedicated to introducing them throughout many of its franchises--and now they're here in Burnout as well with Criterion's Burnout Paradise (PS3, X360), which releases on Tuesday.

It is an ambitious step forward for the series, one that ends up having both advantages and drawbacks. Read about both in my full review.

What is less great is crashing into a wall a matter of seconds before the end of a race, then not being able to retry the race without driving all the way back across the city to its starting point. Paradise City is quite large, which is one of the game's marketing bullet points but also has the side effect of making it a big pain in the ass to easily get to where you want to go. In the quest to eliminate loading times, Criterion has removed any kind of fast travel or shortcut system--if you want to get somewhere, you have to drive there. I applaud their principle, but am nonetheless frustrated often. Read more...

Draglade, the latest Atlus-published Nintendo DS title, heads to stores today. Utilizing a combat system known as "grapping," the game is said to combine rhythm and fighting into one harmonious whole. While it turns out that rhythm doesn't have much of a role in the fights, I was still kept quite entertained.

Draglade is a rather competent 2D brawler at heart, and the story mode provides a nice mix of character customization, one-on-one duels, and sidescrolling beat' em up segments. There's support for local wireless co-op, just in case someone in your immediate vicinity happens to have a DS and a copy of the game. You can even hop online and fight against other players.

It is not, as the back of the box suggests, a rhythm-based fighting game.
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For your last bit of pre-Thanksgiving content, Chris Remo shot his way through the console version of Namco Bandai's newest light-gun shooter, Time Crisis 4. How does this GunCon3-packed game fare on the PS3? Read on to find out.

Continues are precious in this game because, thanks to the IR-based aiming and lack of a reticule, regardless of how well you know a particular encounter, you are almost guaranteed to lose lives when you pop out of cover, see an axe hurling at your face, and lack the ability to sharpshoot it out of the air because the absence of a reticule means you haven't gotten your bearings yet.

Naughty Dog's Uncharted: Drake's Fortune marks the first PlayStation 3 exclusive title from the studio known for Crash Bandicoot and Jak & Daxter. It's undeniably pretty, but how did the actual gameplay turn out? Scope out my full review to find out.

There are certain fights that demand countless attempts, as the massacre of all the enemies in an area triggers another wave or two. There is very little satisfaction in carefully picking off ten heavily-armed pirates only to fall victim to the grenade-launching bastard that rushes in, and my curse-laden exclamations and the frustration I felt at such points were identical to those I experienced during Gears of War.
Read on...

BioWare's next RPG franchise is finally here, after years of beautiful screenshots and tantalizing videos. Does it live up to the hype? I chime in with my take.

But right from the opening scenes, Mass Effect quickly distinguishes itself as a wholly new experience. Simply put, a video game has never been this cinematically engaging. Just gazing at a simple grain-filtered shot of a planet--complete with lens-flared sunlight, Star Warsian framing, and a disparate synth-heavy sci-fi score by Richard Jacques--can be an exciting moment. Even the most insignificant environment or character is rendered and shot in a compelling light--or shadow, as the case may be. Rarely does the polish fade. From back to front, Mass Effect is one of the first games to truly approach an actual cinematic quality. Read more...

Remember old-school Contra? Tough-as-nails, never-stop-shooting, dodging-hails-of-bullets, 80s-action-movie sidescrolling action? It's finally back, making its way to Nintendo DS as WayForward's Contra 4, and it is absolutely hard as hell. Check out my full review.

But enough about the pain side of this masochistic endeavor. What about the pleasure? If you're the type of hard-bitten gamer who has read this review thus far and, rather than being scared away, has responded by growling "Fuck yeah" through clenched teeth while a demented gleam sparkles in your eye, you know the sense of achievement that comes with conquering a game like this.

This is the kind of achievement born of an earlier age--the kind of achievement that distinguishes you as a certified gaming badass, not the kind of achievement that says you collected a hundred dolls and gives you fifty points on the internet. Read more...

As part of this week's star-studded lineup, Nintendo's Super Mario Galaxy (Wii) has slingshotted its way into many of our homes and hearts. But is it really all it could have been? Does it honestly make up for the abomination that was Super Mario Sunshine? Chris Remo has the answers.

The game continues to stay utterly fresh, surprising, and inventive despite its fundamentals becoming expected. In another game, such a masterful grasp on this kind of platforming that is so in tune with both its roots and with the cutting edge would be plenty, but on top of that Galaxy keeps throwing more and more at you with every level.
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Io Interactive's heist-themed squad shooter Kane & Lynch: Dead Men (PC, PS3, X360) has arrived. I played through the Xbox 360 version of the game and came out clean with all the details. Is it worth your time? Read on to find out.

The game's chapters are broken up into scenes like a movie, with each segment labeled after choice tidbits of talk between the two. With titles like "Stealing your own shit" and "The old fucker took it," you can imagine what the fuck-filled dialogue is like...