Organized Chaos

The highly anticipated Batman: Arkham Asylum game is due out in stores on Tuesday. I’m receiving a copy of the game from Fortyseven Communications in Los Angeles. and will post a review within the next week or two.

A lot of the early press has been favorable. The game outs you in control of Batman, as he fights off famous villains in the quest to take back control of Arkham Asylum, which has been overrun by The Joker.

I’ll be posting some promo videos on my youtube account. I will provide the link later.

The holidays are right around the corner, and as usual, the gamer in your life is the easiest person to shop for.

In simple terms, there really aren’t any “ugly sweaters” when it comes to purchasing games. Of course, there are poor titles out there, but if you get one of the items soon to be listed, then you’ll be fine. Your favorite gamer will rejoice when discarding all the wrapping paper on Christmas morning. Heck, they may even say “thank you.”

Here’s a rundown of easy choices, broken down by each gaming system.

PlayStation 3

The list begins with Resistance 2. Get this game and your gamers will lock themselves away for hours and hours and hours.

The next must-have is Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. The sweeping saga of Solid Snake comes to an end, or at least an end for a year or two. The story and immense cut scenes are worth the price tag alone, but the action will blow you away.

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Sequels often have a lot of hype to live up to, and many fall short. Resistance 2 not only doesn’t fall short, but it exceeds all expectations.

Resistance 2 is the followup to Resistance: Fall of Man, which was released in 2006 as a launch title for the PlayStation 3. The original gave glimpses into what the PS3 was capable of, and the newest rendition takes it several steps further.

The game is set in 1953, two years after an alien invasion by a race known as Chimera. They devastated Europe in the first game and now have made their way across the Atlantic Ocean to the United States. The situation in Europe was bad and it’s even more terrible in our homeland.

You return as Nathan Hale, a soldier who is halfman, half-Chimera, with the alien virus coursing through his veins. He requires treatments to avoid becoming 100-percent alien, but that’s not your concern. After all, his alien abilities help you heal, which is a bonus with everything that arises.

If Spinal Tap wanted to add an 11 button to its amplifiers, then Resistance 2 ups the action level to, oh, about 50. What started as decent-sized battles in the first game have transformed into what seems like insurmountable odds in the second edition.

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Not having a musical bone in your body can be intimidating for many, and the thought of playing Guitar Hero or Rock Band could be too much to bear.

There’s no question both of those games are excellent titles and big sellers. If you’re good with a guitar or a set of drums, and you can keep up with the fast-paced notes on the screen, then those are for you. If you’re like the rest of us you need something a little more accessible.

Enter Nintendo with Wii Music, a game made for just about everybody.

There’s little fear when you boot up the game. You’re greeted by a friendly character, who guides you through the mechanics to play each instrument. The Wiimote and nunchuck are at the forefront, as well as the optional use of the Wii Balance Board should you own one.

You can practice with each instrument to delve further into the mechanics and sensitivity of the Wiimote. You also can jump right into a jam session by yourself or with a band, which plays along to the beat to help you create your song.

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Those many PlayStation 3 owners, myself included, who had to hear Xbox 360 owners yap about BioShock now know what all the talking was about.

BioShock, the critically acclaimed game released in 2007 for the 360 and personal computers, was then what was deemed an exclusive title. However, more and more games are receiving limited exclusivity, much to the chagrin of owners of one system or the other who feel they have an edge over the competition.

Game companies aren’t like failed banks. There aren’t a bunch of idiots running the show, and BioShock’s developer, 2K Games, saw an opportunity on a new system to make some more dough.

The PS3 version is virtually the same as the others, but with a few tweaks. There’s a new level, called Survivor, which ramps up the difficulty. There also will be downloadable content in the near future, which is always a fine addition to any game.

For those unaware of the story, BioShock takes place in the underwater world of Rapture. What was once a breeding ground for strong minds in science and art quickly became a world bent on drug addiction, gene modification and a perverted pursuit of perfection.

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The holiday season will be here faster than you can say Egg Nog.To this point, it’s never too early to think about potential gifts for those special gamers in your life. More to the point, you need a Nintendo Wii.

Wiis are more plentiful, but don't expect to find one if you wait until Christmas

Nintendo is doing its best to appease the masses by saying there will be more Wiis available this holiday season. The company all but assured consumers there won’t be a shortage like the ones seen at the holidays in 2006 at the console’s launch and also in 2007.

The plan is to ship 50 percent more Wiis this holiday season compared to last year, according to Nintendo. The company admits it can’t pinpoint demand exactly, but the brain trust at Nintendo is smart enough to know people still want one.

What does that mean for our area? Probably not a whole lot, as we are a smaller market. If we lived in Atlanta, New York, Chicago or Los Angeles I’m sure we wouldn’t have any trouble finding a Wii close to Christmas.

The best advice I can give is if you want a Wii, or you want to purchase one for someone else, then buy it now. If you see one at the store it probably won’t be there long. Availability at area stores varies.

Wal-Mart typically has a large supply when they are shipped to the store, but are typically gone soon. Best Buy is in the same boat, and they usually have smaller quantities.

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Ir ecently legitimized my standing as a video game reviewer (or so I think, anyway) by hooking up with GolinHarris, the public relations arm for Nintendo.The folks at GolinHarris were more than helpful (I can’t say the same for EA Sports). I was introduced to their loan program, where I can request games, and if they’re in stock, they’ll send it my way for two weeks. They include a FedEx slipping label to send it back and I’m good to go.

The first game I chose was Endless Ocean. Yes, I’m aware it came out earlier this year, but it was a bargain title, listed at $29.99, so it worked its way into this latest column’s theme. You see, theme is important.

Endless Ocean

The game’s title speaks for itself. You begin by choosing your character, deciding hairstyles and the look, and then you’re placed on a boat to explore the fictional Manoa Lai Sea.

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Gamers were spoiled a bit this summer, as the typical slow time for companies was anything but with solid titles on all systems.

However, we’ve been in the lull for several weeks, and the next batch of great titles still is a few months away. This was never more evident than when I took a recent trip to the nearby Gamestop.

I traded in five titles, and with my Edge Card 10 percent increase for trade-ins, I received more than $115 in store credit. A quick scouring of the used games on the PlayStation 3 side led to meandering to the Nintendo Wii section. Then back to PS3, then back to Wii and so forth.

In the end, there was nothing that grabbed my attention. So I paid for reservations on Resistance 2 and Call of Duty: World at War, both of which will be released in November. I’m hedging on my Call of Duty reservation, as the series returns to the World War II genre, which is way overplayed.

A decent throng of games is set for release in September. The brunt of the action ramps up in October on all platforms.

PS3 owners were treated to Ratchet and Clank: Quest for Booty, which is available for download on the PlayStation Network for $15. The next game in the popular franchise is a four-hour adventure bridging the gap between Tools of Destruction and the next edition due out in late 2009.

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I recently completed a move, my third since relocating here in 2003. This latest move, hopefully the last in a while, was to a cozier ranch-style house with four bedrooms, 1½ bathrooms, a big backyard and a wood shop complete with plenty of storage.

This isn’t to toot my horn. On the contrary, the story of this move revolves around my passion for gaming.

My wife was excited to have a larger kitchen. I was excited to see the room that drew my attention.

It was fashioned from what used to be a garage. New carpet and wood paneling frame the room, which has a window that allows just enough light inside for a peaceful atmosphere. My mind began to churn.

This was to be and now is the Milner Gamer’s Den. The back of the Den houses what I call the Fortress of Solitude, which is a two-level area screaming for children’s toys.

And in fact, if you ask our friend’s son, he would agree, calling it “his playroom.”

Currently the Den has all the gaming accessories, including the Nintendo Wii, the PlayStation 3 and all the controllers and peripherals in a nifty storage case. It also shelters my 36-inch Samsung 1080p HDTV, a table, a circular fan, a papason recliner and a gaming chair (soon to be plural, so long as a deal comes through). Future plans, when money is saved, include a new TV stand and wireless surround sound.

My wife was generous enough to allow me to create the Gamer’s Den. I think she’s happy that I have a place to make noise, while not disturbing the rest of the company in the living room. It’s perfect.

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Faster than a speeding bullet, it’s time for more quick reviews. Let’s jump right in.

GTA IV

I don’t waver from other reviews. GTA IV is a superb video game. It’s the Game of the Year, easily.

Rockstar went to great pains to make this what it is. They delayed the release more than four months to tweak every angle of the game. Nothing was spared.

This tops GTA: San Andreas in the details.

The use of the cellular phone is more interactive, where you can set up dates, activities and call acquaintances to increase your levels of trust and respect. You also can customize your phone with ringtones and wallpapers or phone in a song to receive a text message with the title and artist. And if you’re in a pinch you can dial 9-1-1 to procure a police vehicle.

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