Macksimum Rage | PC and PS3 Reviews

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots | PS3 Review

mackman2001@comcast.net (Mack) — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 22:11:00 +0000

Platform: PS3
Genre: Third Person Stealth/Action
US Release Date: June 12, 2008
ESRB Rating: Mature (Blood, Crude Humor, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence)
Developer: Kojima Productions
Publisher: Konami
Number of Players: 1 (Up to 16 with Metal Gear Online)
Trophy Support: No
Hard Drive Space Needed: At least 4600MB

The Good

EPIC - The story that you go through is incredible. You are an older Solid Snake on a mission to stop your rival Liquid Ocelot (or Liquid Snake, there are may names for each character) from unleashing hordes of nanomachines. As Snake you must fight off members of the Beauty and the Beast Corps. The story is told through lengthy cutscenes, and is so in depth, intricate, and amazing that it feels like a movie.
Fun - Gameplay is very intuitive and appealing. You can either choose to sneak around, using your chameleon-esque Octocamo. Or you can run in guns-a-blazing, killing everyone in sight. Great variety in environments, and boss fights.
Graphics - The visuals in MGS4 are stunning. At the time it was the best looking game on any console. The cutscenes look very realistic, buildings and foliage look great, and character animation was phenomenal.
Customize - One of the great new features in this iteration of MGS is the customization of weaponry. It is a very user friendly system where you can buy upgrades as you please, and attach them to certain parts of your gun. Very cool, and unique.
Bonus - MGS4 also includes Metal Gear Online when you buy the game. It is, in itself, a whole different experience from it's single player brother. Up to 16 players can play in various areas throughout the MGS4 campaign. For the brief time I played it, it was very enjoyable. But definitely don't pick up the game just for multiplayer.
Stats - At the end of each playthrough of the game you are given a few screens of stats and awards that you earned through beating the game. For example there is a medal for rolling so many times in the game, beating it within so much time, and for not killing any enemies in the whole game. This brings forth immense replay value, which isn't really needed when, if played at a normal pace, it takes 17 hours to beat the campaign.
Words Can't Explain - When you play this game, it is more of an experience than any other game I have played. You truly have to play through the whole game to fully enjoy it. It is part epic saga, part movie, part comedy, and 100% amazing.

The Bad

Not much - There wasn't much bad about MGS4, but if I had to pick something it would Metal Gear Online. Setup is extremely annoying, as you have to have a Konami ID as well as a PSN ID. You have to buy expansion packs from Konami's website, rather than the Playstation Store. And MGO was overall underwhelming.
Nitpicky - The game is split into five acts, much like a play. Before you can play each act, the game has to install game data to your hard drive, which takes 5-10 minutes each time. Annoying, but not a deal breaker.
Time - This wasn't too much of a problem for me, but the cinematics were very long. The final one after you beat the game is well over 40 minutes long. There is around 5 hours of story footage, which is skippable, but I would recommend you watch it, as it is fantastic. But, some people might find the cutscenes a little too long.
Story - Though epic, the story is quite confusing. Which can throw some people off.

The Verdict - MUST BUY. If you own a PS3, buy this game right NOW if you haven't already. If you don't have a PS3, buy one so you can play this game. MGS4 has the best combination of Story, Graphics, Gameplay, and Features that make it one of the best games of all time.

Super Stardust HD | PSN Review

mackman2001@comcast.net (Mack) — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 19:33:00 +0000

Super Stardust HD
Platforms: PS3 and PSP (via PSN)
Genre: Arcade Shooter
US Release Date: June 15, 2007
ESRB Rating: Everyone (Fantasy Violence)
Developer: Housemarque
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Number of Players: 1, with 2 player Co-op
Trophy Support: Yes, View Trophy List
Hard Drive Space Needed: Around 300MB

The Good

The Gist of It - What you do in the game is simple: fly around in your spaceship and destroy asteroids and evil spaceships with various weapons and power-ups. It's your typical arcade type space shooter.
Gameplay - Playing the game is quite unique. Your playing field is a 3D sphere, of which you can fly around. This makes for something fresh and fun, rather than a boring 2D plane. And while on this 3D sphere you use both of the analog sticks to control your ship. The left is to move, and the right is to aim your weapons. Very fun and unique style of gameplay.
Guns - The weapons and powerups you are given are limited in numbers, but each is drastically unique. You have your typical laser guns, which do what you would think. And then you have a sort of flamethrower weapon, which works good against a certain type of asteroid, and then you have an ice type weapon. All are fun to use, and each are used for different situations.
Visuals - The graphics in Super Stardust look great. Explosions are crisp, the ships are all well done, and awesome looking. And the space environments are crazy.

The Bad

It's a PSN Title - And it shows. There are only 5 planets, few weapons, and to get the full features of the game, you have to pay for the extra DLC packs which add more modes and things that should have been in the game in the first place.
Trophy Hunting - If you happen to enjoy getting 100% on games with trophies, I would pass this one up. Some of the trophies are ridiculously hard. This may not be a bad thing for some people, but I found it a little annoying.
No Content - It is a fun game, but once you play through the arcade mode once or twice, you have done everything you can in the game. It's appeal is so limited, that it only holds your attention for a few days.
No Versus - It would have been amazing if an online multiplayer versus mode was included. I can only imagine the insane space battles that would ensue with 8-16 people on one of the spherical planets.
It's Been Done Before - It seems as though dual analog stick shooters are something that every PSN developer is making these days. Super Stardust has essentially the same control scheme as the previously reviewed Everyday Shooter. It is the same game with a different look.

The Verdict - Buy It. If you are new to the PSN and have yet to download your first title, Super Stardust HD is a fine purchase at only $9.99. But, if you have played many other games similar to it, Stardust is still a fun game every once in a while, but don't expect to play it for very long.

Spore | PC Review

mackman2001@comcast.net (Mack) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 01:44:00 +0000

Platform: PC/Mac
Genre: Adventure/RTS/Simulation
US Release Date: September 7, 2008
ESRB Rating: Everyone 10+ (Animated Blood, Comic Mischief, Fantasy Violence)
Developer: Maxis
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Number of Players: 1
Copy Protection: Yes
System Requirements

The Good

The concept is astounding. You start as a cell creature, in the aptly named Cell Stage, where you gobble up smaller cells to become larger. You eventually become a land (or air) animal, and venture through jungles in Creature Stage. Following that is Tribal Stage, where you form small villages, hunt for food, etc. And in the penultimate Civilization Stage you must conquer (or unite, through religion) surrounding civilations in a Real Time Strategy environment. You then move on to Space Stage, where the universe is your sand box, and you can do whatever you desire, whether it be visit planets, encountering UFOs or aliens, to inhabiting your own solar system. Overall superb concept.
The Creature Creator (what you use to create your mystic beings, buildings, boats, cars, and spaceships) is amazing as well. There are infinite combinations, and no two creations look alike.
Online integration is quite good. You have the ability to view, comment on, and download a fellow player's creature, building, and vehicle creations. And you also have the ability to share your own, which is very easy to do and user friendly.
The graphics are very fresh, with a unique design to them. Very crisp (on higher end systems), bright, and vibrant.

The Bad

With such a good concept, one would think good gameplay could follow suit. Unfortunate this is where Spore falls behind. Gameplay within stages gets quite repetitive, and what is being repeated isn't really all that fun. In cell stage, pretty much all you do is move around clicking the mouse button to eat things. In Creature Stage you do much of the same. Walk around, kill (or converse with) enemies, eat food, repeat. It doesn't get interesting until you hit Civilization Stage, which in turn becomes monotonous after you take over a few towns. But, the player is rewarded in Space Stage, when, or if, you happen to get past the boring journey.
Some online multiplayer elements would have been excelent. Creature vs. creature capture the flag sounds like a great time.
This wasn't as much as an issue with me, but the game does have DRM so that you can only install it on a few computers. I didn't mind, but some people might.
As with many upcoming PC titles, you will need a hefty machine to unlock the full potential that Spore's visuals have.

The Verdict - Try It. If you are very imaginative, and like creating things, Spore is your game; buy it. But, if you are looking for an in depth game with good gameplay and replay value, I would skip this one.

System Requirements
PC (Windows XP or Vista) / Mac OSX 10.5.3+
CPU: 2.0GHz P4 Processor / Intel Core Duo Processor
RAM: 512MB-1024MB RAM
HARD DRIVE: 4GB for game install, 1GB for creations.
VIDEO: 128MB Video card with Pixel Shader 2.0

Grand Theft Auto IV | PS3 Review

mackman2001@comcast.net (Mack) — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:02:00 +0000

Platforms: PS3 (Xbox 360, PC)
Genre: Third Person Action
US Release Date: April 29, 2008
ESRB Rating: M (Intense Violence, Blood, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Partial Nudity, Drugs and Alcohol)
Developer: Rockstar North
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Number of Players: 1 (Up to 16 Online)
Trophy Support: Yes. View Trophy List
Hard Drive Space Needed: At least 3.5 GB

The Good

The story is great, engaging, and deep. You play as illegal immigrant Niko Bellic whom has come to Liberty City (A pseudo New York) with hopes to pursue the American Dream. You perform criminal acts for various acquaintances and move up the social ladder. Throughout the game Niko is confronted with moral issues, and his character often comes into question. Very unique story.
As per normal with the Grand Theft Auto series, number IV has fantastic voice acting, as well as cinematics for each mission. Dialogue is well written, and hilarious. Radio DJs, in particular, are my favorite.
Comparatively, the game's graphics are great. With it being a free-roaming game, you expect sub-par visuals, but GTA4 does not disappoint. Liberty City itself is beautiful. Buildings are crisp, city inhabitants are all unique - no repeats, and cars look awesome.
Gameplay is essentially the same as previous GTA's, but drastically improved in the arena of realism. Cars drive better, running is more realistic, a cover system was implemented, and the killings of people are more visually pleasing.
Finally Rockstar added multiplayer in this iteration. With 15 game modes, a ranking system, and up to 16 players, it is quite fun.
Music, as always, was superb in this GTA, with over 18 radio stations.
Relationships were a welcome addition. You could schedule meetings with friends, or girlfriends, to play games, or go see a comedy show.
The game has amazing replay value, with a 30-40 hour campaign, multiplayer, and the sheer open-ness of the world.

The Bad

Some missions in the game can get quite frustrating, and are often drastically unbalanced when compared to other missions in the game.
There is no checkpoint system. If you fail to complete a mission, or die during a mission, you have to start at the very beginning of that mission. Very annoying when performing lengthy tasks.
There is significantly less content when compared to the previous game in the series, San Andreas. This isn't too much of a big deal, but more character customization options, vehicles, weapons and activities (like arcade games) would have been nice.
The cover system was often an issue, with difficulty finding a cover point, or moving from that point.
PS3 users unfortunately do not get the DLC expansion packs that Xbox 360 users get. Which is quite ridiculous.

The Verdict - MUST BUY. Often considered as the best game of this generation of consoles, Grand Theft Auto IV is the epitome of the gaming medium.

Gran Turismo 5 Prologue | PS3 Review

mackman2001@comcast.net (Mack) — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 02:50:00 +0000

Gran Turismo
Platforms: PS3, PSN
Genre: Racing Simulation
US Release Date: April 15, 2008
ESRB Rating: E (Mild Suggestive Themes)
Developer: Polyphony Digital
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Number of Players: 1-2 (Up to 16 online)
Trophy Support: No
Hard Drive Space Needed: Around 5GB

The Good

The visuals in Prologue are stunning. Cars are virtually flawless by design. Environments are beautifully done, and lighting is amazing. One of the best looking games on the PS3, and best looking racing game I have ever seen.
For racing simulation fans, the gameplay is solid. Very realistic. Has a good balance between ultra-realism and playability.
Has online play, which many Gran Turismo fans have been waiting for.
Vehicle upgrades are done well. There are plenty of options, but it is not too overwhelming.
Menus in the game are great, easy to maneuver through, and easy on the eyes. Music while in these menus is also very good.
Supports all PS3 compatible racing wheel peripherals.

The Bad

Though Prologue has added many features, it is lacking one major thing that all Gran Turismo's before have lacked: damage. Hopefully to be introduced in the full version of Gran Turismo 5, damage modeling is not apparent in Prologue.
Unfortunately this game is in spirit a glorified demo. It has only 60 cars, and few tracks. It's only a taste of what GT5 will be.
Online play, though included, is not what it could have been. It is way too easy for competing drivers to mess you up, thus basically pulling you out of the race. It needed to be based on time trials, akin to Trackmania United.
The game may be a little too realistic for some fans new to the series. It is by no means a thrilling, fast paced game. It is first and foremost a driving simulation.

The Verdict - Buy it. Though it is essentially a demo, at the Greatest Hits price of $29.99, Prologue is a worthy addition to any racing fan's collection.

Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 | PS3 Review

mackman2001@comcast.net (Mack) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:49:00 +0000

Rainbow Six
Platforms: PS3 (Xbox 360, PC)
Genre: First Person Shooter
US Release: March 18, 2008
ESRB Rating: M (Blood, Intense Violence, Strong Language)
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Publisher: Ubisoft
Number of Players: 1-2 (Up to 16 Online)
Trophy Support: No
Hard Drive Space Needed: At least 3 GB

The Good

The story is decent. You are in the elite counter-terrorist group Rainbow Six, and you must once again go to Las Vegas to eliminate the terrorist threat.
Online play is very deep. Many modes, maps, weapons, and a great upgrade and level system, which in fact coincides with your single player campaign. So all the experience you earn solo combines with your multiplayer experience. Which is a fantastic feature.
Voice acting is above average.
Gameplay is typical, and not much different than any other shooter, but Vegas 2 does have a solid cover system as well.
Entire two player Co-op campaign is included, and is great fun.
The atmosphere is great. You would never think of a shooter in Vegas, so it is quite a refreshing environment.

The Bad

Vegas 2 runs in at an around 7 hour playthrough. Which is quite short.
Multiplayer is incredibly laggy. Many a shot was missed due to dying at odd times as the result of massive lag spikes, as well as various bugs and glitches. Very poorly executed, though full featured, multiplayer.
The graphics were quite lackluster. Though an improvement from the previous Vegas, I thought they were merely average.
Objectives you have throughout the game are really repetitive, and usually don't have any meaning. This makes for a boring campaign.
Your team mates can get quite annoying. At times they do nothing, and then they will clear out a whole room of enemies without you taking a shot. Very inconsistent.

The Verdict - Rent It. If you are a fan of the Rainbow Six games, I would say this is a worthy buy. But if you are choosing between this and another next-gen shooter, give this one a rent to see if you like it.

Burnout Paradise | PS3 Review

mackman2001@comcast.net (Mack) — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 00:07:00 +0000

Burnout
Platforms: PS3/PSN (Xbox 360, PC)
Genre: Racing
US Release: January 22, 2008
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Violence, Language)
Developer: Critereon Games
Publisher: EA
Number of Players: 1 (2-8 Online)
Trophy Support: Yes, View Trophy List
Hard Drive Space Needed: At least 13MB

The Good

The general gameplay of the game is great. You get to drive in the open world of Paradise city, engaging in competitions at every intersection. Driving the cars is extremely fun, and fast paced.
Attention to detail is great, along with fantastic graphics. Crashes are especially spectacular. Slow motion at it's best.
Paradise will keep you occupied for a long time. With over 120 events ranging from races, to road rages, to stunt runs - there is tons to do.
Good variety of cars, none are liscenced, but they are all good looking.
Critereon has made this game what it is. The DLC they bring out is amazing. Around 100 trophies, new cars, a whole new island, new game modes, a party system, the addition of motorcycles. It is mind blowing what they have done to add content to this game.
Online play is a blast, with the ability to compete with 7 other people in events and challenges.

The Bad

The act of competing is somewhat of a hassle. It is, on occasion, difficult to find an event you haven't done, as the map is poorly laid out.
Online play, while fun, doesn't live up to what I expected. This is mostly due to the poor community. People don't really participate in events very often.
The Slow Motion crashes can get quite annoying. Especially if you are in the heat of a race. It seems like it doesn't really belong in such a high speed game. And it is agrivating when you just want to get back in the race.
The game is very unforgiving. Count on losing if you take a single wrong turn. Though you can perform an emergency brake which spins you around, this brings you to a complete stop. Very difficult to get back on track.
Navigation in the game is horrible. The map doesn't really help at all, as on my SD TV it was so hard to see. I would think I'm going one way, when in fact I'm going another.

The Verdict - Buy It. Despite some small flaws, Burnout Paradise is a fantastic open world racing game, and worth every penny. (The "Ultimate Box" of the game is out now, which includes any previously released DLC)

Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction | PS3 Review

mackman2001@comcast.net (Mack) — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 23:02:00 +0000

Platform: PS3
Genre: Action/Adventure
US Release: October 23, 2007
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Alcohol Reference, Crude Humor, Fantasy Violence, Language)
Developer: Insomniac Games
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Number of Players: 1
Trophy Support: No
Hard Drive Space Needed: At Least 512 MB

The Good

The story is interesting. Ratchet, the last Lombax in the galaxy, must fight Tachyon whom is attempting to bring Ratchet to his demise. Fun characters all around in the story, with family friendly content and great voice acting.
The graphical approach is great. Though the graphics may be cartoonish, they look spectacular. Smooth framerate, high resolution - Superb.
Gameplay remains the same from previous Ratchet & Clank games, which is a good thing. Easy to learn, guns-a-blazing, chaotic gameplay. Very fun.
Your arsenal is incredible. From the default Combustor blaster pistol and Ratchet's trusty wrench, to the far-fetched Tornado Gun, and Groovitron (Makes enemies dance). The weapons are just plain fun.
A good variety of different gameplay elements are included. You can control Clank in some parts, there are sky diving and hang gliding areas, as well as other vehicles and gizmos.

The Bad

There is little to no replayability in the game. Sure there are skill points (Achievment-like system), and the unlocked difficulty mode, but that is not much to get you to play the game again.
Multiplayer made appearances in previous Ratchet games, but for some reason this one doesn't have this feature. It would have been nice for it to be included.
For gamers looking for more of a challenge, this is quite an easy game. Once you get familiar with your weapons, beating it is a breeze.
Tools of Destruction is also quite short. Maybe only a few days is all it takes to complete the game.

The Verdict - MUST OWN. I would highly recommend anyone with a PS3 to purchase this game. Despite it being short, this is a fantastic addition to any gamer's collection.

Uncharted: Drake's Fortune | PS3 Review

mackman2001@comcast.net (Mack) — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:01:00 +0000

Platform: PS3
Genre: Third Person Shooter
US Release: November 19, 2007
ESRB Rating: T (Blood, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Tobacco, Violence)
Developer: Naughty Dog
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Number of Players: 1 Player
Trophy Support: Yes
Hard Drive Space Needed: At least 3 MB

The Good

It looks phenomenal. Textures are nice, water effects are great. It is still one of the best looking PS3 games out there.
Gameplay is great as well, cover system is spot on, platforming is done well, overall solid.
The enviornments are very cool, jungle areas. Tunnels, mines, and crypts also make appearances, and are just as breathtaking.
Cinematics and voice acting are very good, funny, and professionally done.
Amazing twist at the end. (Don't worry, no spoilers here).
Treasures are hidden throughout the game, as well as an achievement system, which all give you reward points to spend on art, new character models, and various other goodies. Overall solid replayability.

The Bad

No multiplayer. I can see why they didn't include it, but is always nice to have some kind of multiplayer modes, as it increases the game's play time.
Story was quite cliche -- Nathan Drake and companions go searching for El Dorado, the city of gold. It's been done quite a lot, but, the twist at the end makes up for a little bit of that.
Puzzles were extremely easy. They seemed like speed bumps rather than engaging material.
And to be nitpicky, you pretty much do the same thing the whole game. Run, Duck, Cover, Shoot, Kill, Rinse, Repeat, Boat Level, Rinse, Repeat, End. (But it's fun while doing it).

The Verdict - MUST OWN. If you own a PS3 this is a game you must purchase. It is a perfect example of what an action/adventure shooter should be.

Everyday Shooter | PSN Review

mackman2001@comcast.net (Mack) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 01:53:00 +0000

Everyday Shooter
Platforms: PS3 (via PSN). Also available on PC and PSP.
Genre: Shooter
US Release: October 11, 2007
ESRB Rating: E
Developer: Queasy Games (Designed by Johnathan Mak)
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Offline: 1 Player
Online: N/A
Hard Drive Space Needed: 40 MB

The Good

The graphics are nice. Vibrant, colorful, sharp, and overall fun to look at.
Music in the game is great, mostly due to the fact that how you play changes the music. Each time you hit or defeat an enemy it plays different sounds.
The game is very casual friendly as well, you can play for 5 minutes or 5 hours.
Tons of unlockable modes, levels, graphic filters, and increases on the number of lives you have. All of these can be obtained through points you gain while playing in normal mode.
Controls are simple, and easy to pick up. Move with the left stick, shoot with the right.

The Bad

There is not a whole lot to the game. Sure there are multiple levels, but it will not occupy you for many months after the initial purchase.
The game is quite difficult. I don't think I've gotten very far in the first level. This can get frustrating.
It seemed to me like I could only shoot in the 8 directions normally found when using the D-Pad. With the analog stick I expected more precision.
The $10 price tag was a little too much for what you get in the game.
No multiplayer. It would have been fun to have some offline or online co-op. It'd make for some interesting music.

The Verdict - Buy it. The experience of playing the game is great. But if you can't get over the fact that you won't be playing this game in the future, I would pass on buying it.

Trackmania United | PC Review

mackman2001@comcast.net (Mack) — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 00:26:00 +0000

Trackmania
Platform: PC
Genre: Racing
US Release: March 23, 2007
ESRB Rating: E
Developer: Nadeo
Publisher: Valve (Through Steam)
Offline: 1
Online: 1-Lots of players. I've seen games with over 100.
Hard Drive Space Needed: 1.5 GB, Additional System Specs

The Good

Fast-paced, extremely fun, arcade style, over-the-top racing.
Tracks are AMAZING. Especially community created tracks. There's loop-de-loops, wallrides, jumps, technical tracks, twists, turns, stunts; the versatility in the tracks is incredible.
Great online support and gameplay. Maniazones provides downloadable content: tracks, car models and skins, and more.
Competitive rankings with Country, State, and Individual sectors.
Seven types of racing, Stadium, Island, Desert, Rally, Snow, and more.
The Track Editor is enthralling. It has a near endless supply of "Blocks" at your disposal, all of which can be made to make tracks with things I have previously stated. Amazing addition to the game.
Massive "Forever" update provided by Nadeo, includes ability to play with players using free version Trackmania Nations, as well as improved graphics.

The Bad

The game is very Time Trial heavy, meaning you don't really race against other people per se. You simply see who can get the best time on a track. There is no vehicle damage, and you don't actually run into other players. So if you are looking for races to the finish, you are out of luck with Trackmania.
Trackmania United is very unforgiving. If you hit one single wall, on some tracks, there is no way to complete them. Recovery is difficult. The game may be frustrating for new players, so start out slow with the beginner tracks in singleplayer.
Singleplayer modes are limited in that you can only play tracks you download, or the stock ones Nadeo provides (which aren't very fun).
The only real popular race type to play online is Staduim, which is part of the free Trackmania Nations. So, if you want to play other race types, you might have to play on your own.

The Verdict - Buy it. If you love racing games and can get past the fact that you don't actually "race" other players, this is a must own PC racing title.

Minimum System Requirements
Supported OS: Windows 2000/XP/XP-x64/Vista
Processor: Pentium IV 1.6GHz / AthlonXP 1600+
Graphics: 3D accelerator 16 MB DirectX 9.0c compatible graphics card
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c or better
Memory: 256 MB (512 MB with Vista)
Sound: 16 bit DirectX compatible sound card
Hard Drive: 1.5 GB free disk space

Resistance: Fall of Man | PS3 Review

mackman2001@comcast.net (Mack) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 02:29:00 +0000

Platform: PS3
Genre: First Person Shooter
US Release: November 14, 2006
ESRB Rating: M (Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language)
Developer: Insomniac
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Offline: 1-4 Players
Online: 1-40 Players
Hard Drive Space Needed: At least 120 MB

The Good

Singleplayer story is somewhat compelling: An alien species, the Chimera, has invaded London and is in the midst of a rampage to conquer the world. You play as Nathan Hale, the lone soldier who must fight the Chimera, to save the world, and find out who he really is.
As a PS3 launch title, it has splendid graphics. The Chimera especially look awesome.
Campaign is pretty good, not too long or too short.
Unique weapons that are able to shoot through walls, use homing devices, fire grenades, and exploding needle grenade things. Overall awesome arsenal.
Online play is good fun. On non-ranked servers it is pure chaos with one hit kills or sniper rifles only. Very customizable with options, game modes, and new maps via DLC.
Great replayability with online play, along with singleplayer Superhuman difficulty level, and many "Intel" documents to find.

The Bad

Ranking system for online play doesn't really unlock anything. Just new skins and things of that sort. Really no incentive to play hard and rank up.
The color scheme bugged me a lot, it is quite grey, and the landscape is very grey as well. The environments began to get boring near the end of most of the outside levels.
DLC is very expensive. Priced at $7.99 and $4.99 per map pack, which includes two maps.
Online community is dwindling due to Resistance 2's release.
The Chimera's AI is quite dumb, so my playthrough on normal was a breeze.

The Verdict - Buy It. As a greatest hits title, it's less than a $30 purchase. Well worth the money.

Warhawk | PS3 Review

mackman2001@comcast.net (Mack) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 00:24:00 +0000

Warhawk
Platform: PS3, PSN
Genre: Third Person Shooter
US Release: August 27, 2008
ESRB Rating: T (Blood, Mild Language, Violence)
Developer: Incognito
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Offline: 2-4 Players (Local Multiplayer Only)
Online: 1-32 Players
Hard Drive Space Needed: At least 810 MB

The Good

Online play is very deep. Includes ranks, awards, and many game modes and maps.
Vehicles are great: tanks, jeeps, and powerful Warhawk planes.
Gameplay is solid, controlling the Warhawks is fun, though it's a very unrealistic game.
Trophy Support was added. Very difficult ones though, so watch out.
Three DLC packs have been released, with each providing more features, maps, game modes, and vehicles.
Available on PSN, as well as a package with a Bluetooth Headset.

The Bad

It is MULTIPLAYER ONLY. So those with either no buddies to play with, or no online connection, will find this game of no use.
Online play can get a little laggy at times.
Learning curve is very high. Any new players trying to peacefully fly a Warhack around will get demolished within 30 seconds.
Aiming gets wonky on occasion. With default settings the reticule moves quite sluggishly.
The weapon selection system, which makes use of eight directions of the D-Pad, is terrible. I could never select the right weapon I wanted on the first try.
The game is often infested with stat padders, or people who cheat to get on the leaderboards. This can ruin the game for some.

The Verdict - Buy it, if you can overlook the lack of singleplayer.

Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock | PS3 Review

mackman2001@comcast.net (Mack) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 00:55:00 +0000

Guitar Hero III
Platform: PS3, PC - Multiplatform
Genre: Music/Rhythm
US Release: October 28, 2007
ESRB Rating: T (Lyrics, Mild Suggestive Themes)
Developer: Neversoft
Publisher: Activision
Offline: 1-2 Players
Online: 2 Players
Hard Drive Space Needed: At least 1 MB

The Good

Diverse tracklist, there's something for everyone. Over 70 with the disc, and more downloadable through DLC.
Same great Guitar Hero gameplay with new co-op and battle modes and online play.
Sound is superb, as one would expect from a music game.
Difficulty ramped up (Some could think of this as a negative, but I enjoy the difficulty).
Wireless guitars are nice.

The Bad

Noticeable controller input lag. With wireless anything you get lag, but this is particularly bad for a music game, especially if you have an HDTV. It's borderline unplayable at times.
Online may sound cool, but it's horrendously implemented. It takes around 10 minutes just to find a match that doesn't disconnect you.
Graphics are nothing to be amazed at, but it doesn't really matter.
It's just more of the same: if you didn't like the first or second Guitar Hero's, you won't like this one.
Not as many DLC songs as I would have liked.

The Verdict - Buy, if a fan of the series.

Heavenly Sword | PS3 Review

mackman2001@comcast.net (Mack) — Sat, 30 May 2009 01:12:00 +0000

Platform: PS3
Genre: Action
US Release: September 12, 2007
ESRB Rating: T (Blood, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence)
Developer: Ninja Theory
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Offline: 1 Player
Online: N/A
Hard Drive Space Needed: At least 2100 MB

The Good

Graphics are solid, facial animations are particularly amazing.
Voice acting is Hollywood quality - fantastic.
Great God of War like gameplay with awesome Quick Time Events.
Fun use of SIXAXIS - shooting arrows or rockets.
Multiple attacks with varying fighting stances: Power, Speed, Ranged.
Bosses in particular are unique and interesting.
Good story: Heroine Nariko battles over a god-like sword whom antagonist King Bohan is attempting to obtain. Helping Nariko is Kai, an archer.

The Bad

The game is quite short, at around 6-7 hours on a slow playthrough.
Gameplay can get a little repetitive. It is a hack-n-slash game afterall.
Boss fight difficulty is drastically out of proportion with normal enemies.
Further replays only give artwork or videos - little replay value.

The Verdict - Buy It

Motorstorm | PS3 Review

mackman2001@comcast.net (Mack) — Mon, 25 May 2009 05:04:00 +0000

Well, with this being my first review for this site, I thought I would review the first game I got for my PS3. Here is my Motorstorm Review.

Motorstorm
Platform: PS3
Genre: Racing
US Release: March 6, 2007
ESRB Rating: T (Language, Violence)
Developer: Evolution Studios
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Offline: 1 Player
Online: 2-12 Players
Hard Drive Space Needed: >725 KB

The Good

Great graphics, very realistic, mud effects are awesome, insane slow motion crashes.
Solid controls, SIXAXIS motion controlling is a cool feature, challenging.
Good variety of tracks, different styles.
Tons of vehicles to choose from, motorcycles, buggies, trucks, ATVs, etc.
Good amount of DLC and support with patches. New modes, tracks, skins, etc.
Few bugs, no glitches, feels very polished.

The Bad

In the later levels it gets quite challenging; frustrating even.
Controls unforgiving, very easy to crash, sometimes frustrating.
Online community dwindling, along with some lag issues.
No offline multiplayer split screen.
No "Quick Race" options, one player can only play the campaign.
The variety of tracks was nice, but there were too few of them.

The Verdict - Buy It

PS3 Reviews: The Master List

mackman2001@comcast.net (Mack) — Thu, 21 May 2009 01:47:00 +0000

Here it is, the PS3 Review Master List. All of the PS3 games I have reviewed are listed and linked to in alphabetical order acording to genre and platform. The (BD) after the game title refers to the game being available only on Blu Ray Disc. While (PSN) means that it is available through the Playstation Store.

Action/Adventure:
● Grand Theft Auto IV (BD)
● Heavenly Sword (BD)
● Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (BD)
● Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction (BD)

Fighting:

Music/Rythym:
● Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (BD)

Puzzle:

Racing:
● Burnout Paradise (BD/PSN)
● Gran Turismo 5 Prologue (BD/PSN)
● Motorstorm (BD)

RPG:

Shooter:
● Everyday Shooter (PSN)
● Resistance: Fall of Man (BD)
● Super Stardust HD (PSN)
● Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 (BD)
● Uncharted: Drake's Fortune (BD)
● Warhawk (BD/PSN)

Sports:

PSP Reviews: The Master List

mackman2001@comcast.net (Mack) — Thu, 21 May 2009 01:44:00 +0000

Here it is, the PSP Review Master List. All of the Playstation Portable games I have reviewed are listed and linked to in alphabetical order acording to genre.

Action/Adventure:

Fighting:

Music/Rythym:

Puzzle:

Racing:

RPG:

Shooter:

Sports:

PC Reviews: The Master List

mackman2001@comcast.net (Mack) — Thu, 21 May 2009 01:39:00 +0000

Here it is, the PC Review Master List. All of the PC games I have reviewed are listed and linked to in alphabetical order acording to genre.

Action/Adventure:

Fighting:

Music/Rythym:

Puzzle:

Racing:
● Trackmania United
RPG:

Shooter:

Sports:

Strategy:
● Spore

Contact

mackman2001@comcast.net (Mack) — Thu, 21 May 2009 00:36:00 +0000

Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Criticism?

Feel free to email me, or add me as a friend via any of the following networks.

Email Me

Follow me on Twitter

Xfire: iambored99

Playstation Network: alakalaka99

About

mackman2001@comcast.net (Mack) — Wed, 20 May 2009 19:05:00 +0000

Why read in 10 minutes what you can in mere seconds?

This is the philosophy behind Macksimum Rage: a dedicated Playstation 3 and Playstation Portable video gaming review hub. Here you will find reviews for games of all genres, each readable within a minimal amount of time. Displayed in an easy to read form, with gameplay videos and an overall score, each review provides you, the reader, with all the information needed to make an acute decision on which game deserves your hard earned money.

Within each review you will see the game's basic details: ESRB rating, publisher, developer, genre, number of players, whether it has online modes, hard drive space needed, and more. This provides an easy way to figure out if you are even interested in the game in the first place, and if it happens to have or lack certain qualities you would like your games to have.

Reviews are displayed in such away that it doesn't take 20 minutes to find out if a game is good or not. Reviewers often attempt to bring clever writing, witty humor, and just a bunch of mindless text to what should be a simple thing. I have constantly found myself reading reviews in magazines and websites that go on and on, and frankly it just gets boring to me. A game is either good, or it's not. Every detail is described, which is fine if you want to know that, but sometimes I like things to be a surprise; a little something for the reader to find out for themselves. So, with my reviews, I tell you straight up what is good about the game, and what is bad. How things in the game work. Whether it looks good; sounds good; good. What you should look out for, and what the main features of the game are. And most of all if it is an enjoyable and fun experience. I only bring you the essential information needed to determine which game is right for you.

What does it mean when a game gets 100/100?
To me, a 100/100 does not mean it is a perfect game. It means it is of the few games that simply make me say "Wow, that is a great game". These games are the epitome of the gaming medium. They may have flaws; bugs perhaps, but the fact that those flaws can be overseen in the greatness of the game itself proves that that game is worthy of the perfect score. And, for the record, I provide scores to make my reviews appealing to everyone, and they should not be the determining factor of whether you should purchase a game or not. Some people like scores, some don't, thus I provide a score which is independent of what I have to say about the game.

Thanks for your visit, and if you have any comments, questions, suggestions, or criticisms be sure to check out the Contact page.

Welcome

mackman2001@comcast.net (Mack) — Wed, 20 May 2009 02:14:00 +0000

Welcome to the all new Macksimum Rage PS3 and PC video game reviewing website. I, Mack, this website's proprietor, will post the quickest reads in the game reviewing world, allowing the reader to be able to quickly identify the good and bad aspects of any given game, with a final verdict based on a 100 point scale. All this within only minutes, eliminating the need to read lengthy paragraphs.

Please be patient, as I will begin writing reviews for my back log of games as to get the site up and running. Feel free to comment honestly and openly, however brutal the criticism. That's what reviews are, so I invite you to criticize my criticism. I hope you enjoy the new site!