Bioshock 2, Silent Hill 2, MW2 and Plastic Beach

So I finally got around to completing Bioshock 2, and I must say that the game definitely improves in the later levels. In the earlier levels the exploration was just not as interesting as the first game having become accustomed to Rapture's art-deco design, and the more linear, focused final level or two really showed off how improved the game's combat mechanics are in this iteration, and fighting against 2 big sisters at once was just awesome. Although the story was pretty corny I accepted that it just wasn't going to be as good as the first and rolled with it. I actually got a little bit involved at the end and felt a little tug on my heartstrings.

In other game related news I have been playing Silent Hill 2 again and despite the incredible storytelling, terrifying atmosphere, crazy monsters and brilliant sound I don't know how I managed to get through this game the first time without smashing my PS2 controller due to terrible player control and combat. Admittedly this reflects the vulnerability of the player character, but the combat is so frustratingly terrible that it just completely removes me from the gameworld. It could be something to do with playing on the PC this time around, with no pressure sensitive attacks and general awkwardness with having to hold down multiple keys at once, but never have I replayed a game which I thought was mainly flawless within its genre first time around to be so irritated second time round.

I have also been giving MW2 another extended go and have got a lot more into it due to trying game modes other than team deathmatch which I almost exclusively played on COD4 and on other multiplayer shooters. Domination in particular is a lot more fun and I seem to be getting less sucky at it game by game. It would seem that completing the campaign in 5 hours on veteran would prepare you in some way for the brutal multiplayer but when people are racking up 30 days+ of play time and had prestiged within 12 hours of the game's release, I got my monkey ass kicked hard and decided not to try it for a while. I must say it is beginning to win me over though.

Muicwise I've been listening to the new Gorillaz album, Plastic Beach, and it's pretty good. I'm a little underwhelmed by it though and must say I expected more after a 5 years of nothing following Demon Days, which is one of my favourite records. I mean, Bashy is on it for fuck's sake. Still, it is definitely a buy and I'll be getting my copy when it hits stores next week.

peace out