Co-host of Reel Critique and Geek Aggro

New XBOX Experience

As some of you may know, a while back, Microsoft announced that the XBOX 360 was going to receive a massive update and a brand new look sometime this fall. Well the time has arrived, today if you sign in to XBOX Live, you will get your update. Mine is downloading right now but from the one screen I have seen on my TV so far, I can tell you that this dashboard is going to be very sexy. So get downloading right away and tell me what you think, is this a good turn or a bad move by Microsoft?

Video Blog - City of Heroes Cyborg Super Booster Pack

Limited Edition - Mini Video Blog 5 - City of Heroes Cyborg Super Booster Pack from john nicholson on Vimeo.

Pure (PC Review)

If you love racing ATVs’ with insane jumps and aerial maneuvers then I’ve got the game you should look into. You might want to add Blackrock Studio’s trick-based ATV racer, Pure, to your holiday wish list.

Pure builds on ATV racing gameplay adding detailed customization and physically and realistically impossible stunts to execute within gorgeous environments. A few minor irritations arise as the game progresses.
In the fashion of SSX Tricky, Each race provides you with some basic level tricks, which can be pulled off by pressing a series of keys (I’m on the PC version). Successfully landing the tricks will boost your gauge and unlocks a new tier of tricks. This is nothing new or revolutionary in this genre but Pure manages to keep it simple and get it right.

Managing your jump speed plays a big part in the game. When approaching a jump, you have to choose how much boost to use because it has a direct impact on how insane your stunts will be. In the later levels of the game, it becomes more important to manage your boost for stunt quality as opposed to just exerting the boost speed to make it to the finish faster than the others.

The track system adds to the enjoyment of the game. There are so many branching routes with hidden shortcuts providing an advantage to anyone who takes the time to become familiar with the layout the tracks.
Now I’ll give you for the aggravating part, which is minor, but still aggravating. The collisions can be a pain in the arse and they happen too frequently for my taste. Getting bumped by some other racer, costing me precious time is one thing, but when it happens constantly then I’m a bit put off by it. I’m not an ATV expert but I can’t see this happening in the real events. I haven’t played the multiplayer part of Pure, but the collision can be switched off in that mode, which is a good thing.

Overall, Pure is a fun game because it sticks to what works for the genre and while still maintaining it’s enjoyment factor. The stunts are amazing, as well as the locations you race through. Fans of ATV racing should definitely check this one out on the PC, Xbox 360, or PS3.

Rock Band 2 Comparison Against The Original

Well, it took me forever, but I finally finished going through everything I wanted to do so it's time for a comparison.

Okay, first off there is the engine. I don't really play guitar very much any more, but the hammer-ons are a lot easier to see and hit. Over all the hammer-on chords are pretty cool but it's just a waste of time because they only work about half the time. Bass is still boring. Vocals are so much more awesome, they have a lot more catchy on disc songs and the new DLC is pretty wicked. Drums is just so much more awesome, I will do a review on the new drum set once I get it, but it's wireless so it's automatically better.

Second off is the setlist. On Rock Band, I refused to play band quickplay with anyone that didn't have any DLC because I hated like all the on game songs. But on Rock Band 2, they have a way better setlist. Including some of my personal favorites: Master Exploder by Tenacious D, Chop Suey! by System of a Down, Battery by Metallica, and Uncontrollable Urge by DEVO.

Thirdly is the tour mode. It isn't very different from the Rock Band tour. But One problem I find, they took out the solo play where you play all the songs in the game instead of having to go through the tour mode. I really liked the single player mode in Rock Band but I guess they are just trying to make it more of a social experience.

Lastly is the Drum Trainer. This is probably one of the best additions to any rhythm games ever in existence. There are three different modes in the trainer: Beat Trainer, Fill Trainer, and Free Style Mode. Beat Trainer is a good thing if you don't have any rhythm, but I find it annoying trying to do the 8th high hats at 200 BPM. The Fill Trainer is probably the most fun, from my point of view. It basically suggests what to do during the fills in basic and regular beats. Free Style Mode I find boring, but it's a good idea in theory. You just jam out on the drums. You can play a song over the 360 and just jam out or do an accurate cover. But the reason I don't like it is because you only have 4 pads and they are all automatically assigned to drums/symbols. Red is a Snare Yellow is a High Hat Blue is a Tom and Green is a Crash Symbol. So if a song you really want to play has any other drums then those, then you don't get to play them or they won't sound accurate. I know I'm probably the only one who cares but it's my review, if you have a different POV then do your own review.

Over All, it's a really good game. Not too much has changed but there is enough for a good sequel. Oh and you can port the songs from Rock Band on to your hard drive, I have done it and gave away my Rock Band disc to one of my friends cause I will never have a reason to put it back in.

After Christmas I will do a review of World Tour, but I'm gonna need some time for it.

New Lara Croft Model Gets Own'd By Ekstra Bladet

What happen when Danish paper, Ekstra Bladet, sat down with the new face and body of Eidos' Lara Croft, Alison Carroll to quiz her on things any good archaeologist (especially a "tomb raider") should know? There was awkardness for Mrs. Carroll, egg on Eidos' face, and hilarity for us. You can tell from the beginning that Alison didn't want to do this and when the Eidos rep saw this train wreck in progress, she FINALLY decided to pull the plug.

Limited Edition Podcast 5

Get the latest episode here.

This week our heroes have all been playing lots of games! It's that time of year again and they all seem to be playing Fallout 3.

Topics include:

Eurogamer Expo has been and gone the guys talk about their experiences. John had a Jumpgate Evolution nerdgasm and made a video. Check out John's new video blog at www.yellowspandex.com

Deadset a horror TV special based on Big Brother impresses John & Matt.

Stephen enjoys an episode of heroes, hope your sitting down? John continues to stalk the cast on twitter.

The Ironman extras are great and John speaks of his HD Porn (no not that kind).

Mark Millar's Superman movie trilogy comes up yet again, Stephen has something to say.

The Graysons TV Show is axed.

Matt's been naughty and not read anything so got some homework. Free webcomic from Warren Ellis at www.freakangels.com it really is very good.

Reading this time consists of Final Crisis, Secret Invasion, Ultimates & Welcome to Hoxford.

Ben Templsmith is drawing Dr Who and it's David Tennant who has announced he's quitting.

John's local comic shop has let him down with his superman/supergirl order, maybe this is why he keeps dreaming about Supergirl.

Tabula Rasa returns to earth

Bioware Finally announce their Star Wars MMO

DC Universe Online PVP

Plenty of City of Heroes chat including the MAC client, website and Issue 13 & 14

We still need a show sponser!

Oh and Stephen got a new job!

check out their blogs:

www.yellowspandex.com

www.totheblogmobile.com

www.teppotastic.com

City of Heroes character creator

Limited Edition - Mini Video Blog 4 - City of Heroes Character Creation from john nicholson on Vimeo. People always ask me what the character creation is like in City of Heroes. Despite having a sore throat and coughing fits I managed to hold it together long enough to put this together.

I still think after 4 years this is still one of the best character creation tools in a game.

Geek Aggro #14

Another week, another episode. A bit of ranting takes place, but it can't all be sunshine and daisies. It's all yours here. Enjoy! (Adjust your volume for the autoplay.)








Show Topics

Why I left WAR...a PVE view

EEEPPPIIICCC FFFAAAIIILLLUUURRREEE (EA's Biggest Fail Yet)

Rock Band 2

My extremely delayed review of Rock Band 2 is still waiting. There is so much in the game I still have to test. But for now, since my cam decided to start working again, I will show you some gameplay from it including some of the songs on the disc, The Drum Trainer which includes beat trainer, fill trainer, and freestyle mode, and how much I have raped my drum kit since the last time I actually broad casted.
Free TV Show from Ustream

Amazon Drops Price on Tabula Rasa

I knew the that the mmo, Tabula Rasa , wasn't doing so well in retail/subscribers once Gamestop decided to stop selling it, but I did not realize the extent of how bad. Well, for those that were and still are interested in trying the game, but did not want to spend big money on it, then head over to Amazon.com where you can get it for...wait for it....

$0.96!

That's right. Less than a dollar will get you the entire mmo plus a free month of play. Now if something could only be done about the price of the subscription.