Category: Review Articles
Friday, 11 May 2012 18:00
2 Comments
Saturday, 24 March 2012 06:25
3 Comments
Release Date – March 27th, 2012
Jacinto Revamp
Epic Games has done it again with the release of Forces of Nature, the fourth and final downloadable content (DLC) included with the Season Pass. This DLC has a little bit of everything from new weapons skins to brand new maps as well as remakes of some of the Gears of War 1 and 2 classics such as Raven Down and my personal favorite, Jacinto. Epic has really stepped up the map layouts this time around by adding new map interactions that have added depth to the multiplayer experience. Many changes have been made to these maps that have improved their overall appearance while still keeping the familiar aspects that fans of the past Gears of War games will remember.
Two notable changes to the Forces of Nature maps are the addition of weather effects, such as sporadic snowstorms in Raven Down (map comparison can be seen here), as well as elemental cleavers. One example of an elemental cleaver is the Imulsion Cleaver located in the remake of Jacinto. In order to obtain this cleaver, you need to follow five steps, which can be seen in this video. This isn’t the only change to this popular Gears 2 map. Instead of it being sunny, the sky is dark and the ocean that was usually surrounding the mortar spawn in the original Gears of War 2 version has been replaced with large Imulsion fields (see screenshot above) . Another map that stood out the most in my opinion besides Jacinto was Artillery because of one very special weather effect (spoiler alert!) a huge tornado! After hearing a loud tornado siren go off, a large twister sweeps in from behind the map and circles around causing a crazy lightning storm in the process. Even though this weather effect temporarily hindered my view while playing Horde, it’s still one of the best experiences I’ve ever had while playing on a Gears of War map to date. Since I don’t want to spoil too much more, you will just have to find the rest out for yourself now that the Forces of Nature DLC is available to download on the Xbox Live Marketplace for 800 Microsoft Points or free for those with the Season Pass.
Midnight Skin
In addition to the incredible new maps, the new weapon skins that have been added are sure to not disappoint. From the liquid orange Hype skin to the sleek Ivory skins, Forces of Nature is not lacking when it comes to awesome new weapon skins to slap on those gnashers, lancers, sawed-offs and retros. After trying each skin out, I would have to say my two favorites were the Hype and Midnight skins. Which one is your favorite? Make sure to leave a comment below! To see the full list of Forces of Nature skins, head over to http://epicgames.com/community/2012/03/forces-of-nature-weapon-skins-sneak-peek/ .
Forces of Nature DLC score: 9/10
The Good: Improved weather effects and hidden elemental cleavers are excellent additions to the new maps. There are more, cooler-looking skins included in this DLC than any other previous DLC release. Also, the reintroduction of Guardian, a popular online Versus multiplayer mode from Gears of War 2, was an excellent move by Epic. I thoroughly enjoyed playing it.
The Bad: Some Gears fans might not like how the old Gears 1 and 2 maps have been changed. The Ultra Violet skin would have been better if it was animated. The weather effects on Artillery are exciting but they may make the map unsuitable for competitive play.
Monday, 19 March 2012 16:32
6 Comments
Ratings
Overall Rating: 4/5
Price: 4/5
Quality: 5/5
Ease of Use: 3/5
Customisation and personalisation is something most gamers love, giving someone the ability to make something unique and their own allows for self-expression. This is shown in how popular limited or exclusive weapon skins were in Gears 2 and are now in Gears 3.
Some, like me have always wanted to have the same level of customisation for consoles and Controllers away from the generic Black or White. With this in mind Extreme Mods have come up with a massive selection of shells and light modifications for both consoles and controllers.
They are surprisingly easy to fit and their site has a full list of instructions for all customisations. The basic shells come with the 2 main parts to the case including a battery case and a zip lock bag with all the buttons, d-pad and thumb sticks and in some cases a screwdriver to open your controller.
Tuesday, 28 February 2012 13:38
7 Comments
Ratings:
Overall Rating: 4.75/5
Price: 4/5
Quality: 5/5
Ease of Use: 4/5
Highlighted Features:
- Wireless Gaming Headset
- 5.1 Channel Dolby® Surround Sound
- Multi-platform Capability
- Volume & Mic Control Buttons on the Headset
- Adjustable Frame
Razer has a motto: “For Gamers, By Gamers.” Their long line of products, especially Chimaera Wireless Gaming Headsets, confirms this. Razer designed these headsets to be the wireless solution for X-box 360 with two models to accommodate both casual and 
competitive gamers alike.
The Chimaera 5.0 runs around $130, and includes a 2.4 GHz wireless frequency, twelve-hour battery life, and 50mm Neodymium. While Razer’s Chimaera 5.1 runs around $200 and includes 5.8 GHz wireless frequency, Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound, eight-hour battery life, an equalizer, dedicated local voice channel, as well as a digital optical compatibility.
The sound quality alone is reason enough to purchase this headset. With the Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound, it allows gamers to differentiate which direction your opponents are approaching, as well as allows the users to hear true game sound in full detail. Gears of War is a game full of intense and distinct sounds, and each can be clearly distinguished through the Chimaera 5.1.
This headset also has several other benefits for the ease of use and adjustability. Both microphone and volume controllers are conveniently place on the opposite sides of the headsets allow the user complete control of their settings. Along with this, the Chimaera has two different mute functions; one is simply lifting the microphone up and the other is button on the right side of the headset. Another feature is the inclusion of a mode channel feature to switch between an X-box 360 and PC, making this headset universal at the touch of a button.
On top of the sound quality and features that are included in the Chimaera 5.1, this headset is extremely comfortable, durable, and sleek by design. It weighs a little less than one pound, has comfort foam under the headband and surrounding the earpieces which all help cancel external sounds. The Chimaera frame is very flexible, but still allows the headset to press firmly against the side of your head. The wireless features permits for the gamer to move around quiet freely for a range close to 33 feet from the tower and still be in range of quality game sound.
For the past several years of my gaming career, I’ve personally lived off surround sound and a wireless X-box live communicator, but that is no longer the case. The Razer Chimaera 5.1 Wireless Headset has completely changed my perspective on gaming headsets. I will never be able to go back too just plain surround sound; the difference between the two is unbelievable. Being able to hear the exact direction of digger launcher or your opponent’s footsteps is a huge advantage, and it gives you those extra needed seconds to react! The Chimaera feels amazing even after many hours of use. I’m absolutely sold on this headset for everyday use or competitive gaming!
Razer Chimaera 5.0:
Buy Now
Razer Chimaera 5.1:
Buy Now