I just wanted to say Merry Christmas to all my friends here at Snackbar. Wraith, Wampa, The Mrs., Jaxa, Grendel, Mr. Furious, the freaking list goes on. I love every single one of you and I hope that you and your families have a great Christmas. I want to thank all of you members at Snackbar who support us, and wish you the best Christmas ever. And one more thing, I want to thank all the armed forces, the men and women who are right now serving and are in harms way to give us the great gift of freedom. God Bless all of you and thank you. I Love You ALL!!!
Marco Ortega
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
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Freaking Boring!!
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Yeah! There is absolutely nothing going on right now! The only game left to buy before next year is Mechassault 2. Everything else has been released. Next years line up should be good, starting out with Republic Commando in Feb. Ok that game looks freaking sweet! But who knows, the public might hype it up so much, that some folks may not like it. So here is a word to the public, don’t hype up games you might ruin it for elite gamers. *No names being mentioned*
[floatleft]http://www.snackbar-games.com/images/reviews/mohpa/cover.jpg[/floatleft][heading]It’s in the story[/heading]
As a WWII enthusiast, I really love to hear different stories from veterans who experienced WWII from every aspect of the war. From the battles of Africa, the seawalls of Normandy, to the sands of the islands of the Pacific, each veteran has a unique and vivid story to tell about their visions of the war. EA Games and the [i]Medal of Honor[/i] have always accurately recounted all the of tours of battles in WWII. [i]Pacific Assault[/i] is no different; [i]MOHPA[/i] captures the story of Tommy Conlin and his Marine squad as they touch the sands of many islands in the war. The story is beautifully written and told with a real solid documentary feel, including voiceovers and actual war footage. Playing this was just an awesome experience as a history buff and an FPS lover.
[floatright]http://www.snackbar-games.com/images/reviews/mohpa/ss02_thumb.jpg[/floatright]The story opens as you see yourself on a transport heading to storm the beach on the Tarawa Atoll. After being knocked out from an explosion, you start to experience some flashbacks…and so the story begins. You begin at boot camp where you are trained in tactical movement, first aid, weapons, and other helpful hints. Soon after, you are sent to Pearl Harbor. Upon arrival at Pearl Harbor, the empire of Japan begins to invade, and you are thrown into battle. After the invasion, you go on a series of missions from island to island to stop the Empire of Japan from winning the war in the Pacific.
[heading]Vacation Spots[/heading]
The war in the Pacific was a tough war for the U.S. to fight considering there were so many fronts to be fought on. So the war had to be fought one island at a time, inch by bloody inch. My PC uses an ATI 9600 Pro with 512 MB of RAM, and I must say the islands look beautiful when you run them at 1280×960. With lush vegetation and astonishing landscape, [i]MOHPA[/i] brings a whole new game to the [i]MOH[/i] series. With its new havoc physics system, using your environment to help you win the war is an added bonus. Realism is my main focus when I am diving into WWII games such as this one, with new generation graphics and physics. With so many island stops that make you think they almost look the same, each island actually has its unique challenges and features. Looking past the great vacation spots you hit in your tour, the residents of these islands aren’t very pleased to see you. The details on the Japanese soldiers are amazing, especially when they are a foot away, bayoneting you in the face. Enemy AI is very challenging, to say the least. As you maneuver to flank the enemy, they will in turn move tactically to your flank and counter your movements. They will also call for reinforcements by the truckload.
[heading]”They are shooting at us!”…”Shoot back!”[/heading]
MOH is known for going on solo missions and taking on the entire enemy army by yourself. Well, those days are over. Use commands to order your squad to give you covering fire, ask them to gather together, have them advance, or even ask them to retreat. In order for you to effectively defeat the enemy, you must know how to use your squad. Going in with guns blazing is just not very effective anymore. The enemy has become well aware of your L337 ways and will now just call for reinforcements and overwhelm you. And if you’re thinking of having your squad do all the work, you are mistaken. Your squad will need you to lead them; if you don’t, the enemy will take advantage and form a bonsai charge. The war is not won unless you suffer some injuries. When that happens, call your friendly Corpsman to patch you up. Use him wisely, though, as he has others to take care of too. Not to mention you can be a hero and help the wounded by giving them some bandages to hold them over until the medic arrives. These are key features that you want to use throughout your campaign to win the war. Although you will find yourself doing an array of tasks, shooting the enemy will be the main one. I must say, and to be quite honest, this part of the game does get quite redundant. But nevertheless, you have many other objectives to fulfill rather than to just eliminate the enemy. Multiplayer death match has eight different gametypes to choose from, but my favorite multiplayer mode by far is Invader mode.
[floatleft]http://www.snackbar-games.com/images/reviews/mohpa/ss10_thumb.jpg[/floatleft][heading]The new standard[/heading]
With next generation graphics and physics being implemented in future games, this is the new standard by which the gamer will be judging. Breaking into the next generation standard, [i]MOHPA[/i] has done an incredible job by adding more life and body to the [i]MOH[/i] series. This is definitely a must game for you WWII shooter fans. With great gameplay, historical accuracy, great graphics and sound, this game is a keeper. For history buffs, the director’s edition will have more historical content and extra features.
[floatleft]http://www.snackbar-games.com/images/reviews/nfsu2/cover.jpg[/floatleft]With so many sequels to games being released this holiday season, it’s hard to pick and choose which titles are going to be better or worse. In the case of [i]NFSU 2[/i], you can pretty much count on major improvements and added features for this racing title. The list of improvements includes: free roaming city, twice the number of visual customizations since the first NFSU, a variety of races to choose from, and intricate fine-tuning for your vehicles.
I’m not a big fan of racing titles, personally, because it’s the same thing over and over again. But in [i]NFSU 2[/i], you find yourself going beyond the limits of redundant racing and almost role-playing so to speak, in car terms. Not only is the inside of your car completely customizable to certain types of races, but also every aspect of your vehicle can be tuned to your specifications. Suspension, tire-to-brake ratio, N2O management-it’s all there to tune, using your individual parts and calculating them on a tuning machine. The use of graphs and numbers help you decide the integrity of the overall performance of your vehicle. I don’t know much about vehicles and their parts, so using these features was like reading a different language. This is definitely geared towards gamers who know a great deal of tuning vehicles and so forth. Although for people like myself, they have helpful hints and notes to guide you through the tuning phase. This entire tuning feature really adds an awesome, unique taste to the NFSU series.
The gameplay for [i]NFSU 2[/i] has the standard race-and-win-for-cash scheme. The more you win, the more cash you get, but you still need reputation points to earn respect on the street. You earn reputation points by racing with style and obliterating your opponents. So it’s always better to win by large margins than to just barely win. Of course, the more cash you earn, the more you can spend. Customizing your ride isn’t cheap, so save to buy the parts and visuals you want. Pimping out your ride will score you DVD and magazine covers. But remember to unlock visuals, parts, city parts, and other features that you must win. Winning is huge; winning will get you contracts from sponsors who will pay mad cash and also get you in the Underground Racing League. Once you are sponsored, you have to fulfill certain requirements in your contract to make your sponsors happy. Getting on magazine covers, winning certain types and numbers of races, and customizing your ride are just a few requirements. It goes without saying that the sponsored races pay much more than regular non-sanctioned races. So freaking win!
[floatright]http://www.snackbar-games.com/images/reviews/nfsu2/ss03_thumb.jpg[/floatright]The entire city is your playground and is yours to explore. And let me tell you, it is very important that you do get to know the city. I’m glad that EA added a GPS gadget in your vehicle because I would never be able to get around. Exploring the city helps you find shortcuts, hidden cash, shops, and races. The cityscape and skylines are beautiful with very tasteful scenery. Not to mention, when roaming in the city, you notice the great cityscapes with lights and neon signs. The entire city reminds me of Las Vegas, New York, Florida, and California all jumbled together in one great big metro. As you win, you unlock districts of this great big city of Bayview to find more races and events.
In my humble opinion, I believe that racing video games are generally very difficult overall. In [i]NFSU 2[/i], as you improve, the AI just gets tougher and tougher-rightfully so if you want something challenging. But the racetracks are just insanely hardcore; I mean I don’t care if you have the best tires and brakes, you just can’t make those turns. (You need skill to make those kind of hairpin turns.) The physics in racing play a huge factor when racing on certain tracks. For example, when you race in Street X, which is a type of race, you will find yourself more hitting the walls more often than none. Street X is a four-lap race with massive hairpin turns on a closed track. Drag is a straightaway race: whoever gets the jump and saves the juice until the end wins. Circuit is a series of laps with straightaways, turns, and jumps. This type of race requires some N2O management and patience. Drift is not a race; you win by your drift or slide points around the corners. This definitely requires skill and the quality of your vehicles handling by a large margin. If you’re not careful, you might find yourself always against a wall. Sprints are self explanatory; just run your butt off to the finish line. My suggestion is to save the juice until the end. Another type of race which I find very cool is the outrun race. Roll up next to certain vehicles around the city and challenge them to a distance race. Beat them by reaching a certain distance and earn some extra cash for your purse. I have mentioned URL, which are sponsored races that have big purses and are closed circuits on closed tracks.
EA added so many features to this title that they had to take some out from its predecessor. For one, they took out the elimination races which were awesome, and they didn’t add real-time cosmetic damage. With 30 cars to choose from and almost endless customizations, you truly have full reign on your vehicle’s look and performance. You can choose from spinners, stereo systems, roofs, hoods, vinyl, neon, and the list goes on.
[floatleft]http://www.snackbar-games.com/images/reviews/nfsu2/ss07_thumb.jpg[/floatleft]Did I mention that Brooke Burke helps you out throughout the game? Brooke Burke plays Rachel, your racing guide, as you hit the racing scene. Along with her voice talent, you can hear music from Xzibit, Snoop Dogg, and many new artists with a customizable playlist as well. The graphics and sound of [i]NFSU 2[/i] are solid with great lighting, great cityscapes, and stunning cars. Cars have distinct sounds as they rev up in races. Peeling out is always pleasing to hear, and the small sounds of turbo and N2O being disbursed is always a unique sound.
While [i]Need for Speed Underground 2[/i] holds a lot of features and endless racing hours, you still might find yourself tired of roaming the streets in explorer mode and also find yourself laughing at the hideous dialogue by some of the voice talent. EA goes over the top with some of the slang and urban dialogue by Brooke and her counterparts. The Live multiplayer is not for noobs either; my suggestion is to pimp out your ride and spend some hours on the streets before going online. The matchmaking is not accurate at all, and you will find yourself racing against a high rated vehicle that will leave you in the dust. Other than some minor flaws, [i]NFSU 2[/i] brings the tuning culture and a unique spin on racing and competing. [i]NFSU 2[/i] is a significant advancement in the [i]NFS[/i] series and allows you, the gamer, to be engulfed in the racing scene with endless features and gameplay.
Here is a question for the gaming community: What is the importance of a local gaming store to you? Most would say that it is not very important to them just as long as they get their desired game. Now I would not go as far as to equate the relationship of your local gaming store to your family doctor, but if you’re a gaming enthusiast and want top-notch costumer service, then the relationship between you and your local gaming store is actually very meaningful.
Our main focus here at Snackbar is [i]community[/i]. We cannot stress that enough as we continue our journey here on the Web. Snackbar began not just as a Web site but also a small fellowship of friends who enjoyed hanging out and talking about random stuff. As the years went by, we soon evolved into a gaming site where we continued our random babbling. Along the way, we built a relationship with the folks from EB Games (Huebner Oaks) here in San Antonio, Texas. We shopped there because we liked the customer service, we loved the staff’s knowledge of games, and more importantly they did not treat us like we were weird geeks who obsessed over orcs and elves. Now you would go as far to say that these employees at EB Games were doing their job; it was their responsibility to treat their customers accordingly. Unfortunately, in today’s society, we have grown apathetic and indolent in going the extra mile. As our relationship grew, the folks at EB Games took care of us in our gaming needs. They made sure we got the best service, the best deals in games, and the most up-to-date news on games and their releases. Now you would also say we are getting special treatment from these folks. Actually, no! The majority of their clientele consists of regulars who shop there more than once a month. Why? Because they treat people like family, and their customers treat them like family.
Because the holiday season is already here, I thought I would interview the Manager at EB Games on how important customer relationships are to him and his staff.
[center][img]http://www.snackbar-games.com/images/features/localgaming/ss01_thumb.jpg[/img][/center]
EB Games is one of many shops that are located in the Huebner Oaks shopping center right off IH-10. Like most contemporary shopping malls, this is an outdoor strip center that is shared with restaurants, clothing stores, bookstores, Starbucks, and a movie theatre. EB Games sits between a jewelry store and stationary store-by the looks of it, you would think it sits in a bad spot. I guess it doesn’t matter when you generate a ton of business and you’re ranked #5 in Texas. As you walk into the store, you are greeted with walls of games surrounding the store and TV monitors displaying gameplay from [i]Halo 2[/i] on the left. Pete Torres (a.k.a. The Wraith) is usually a pretty busy guy, making sure the store is up to snuff with the competition around town. It was a Monday morning, so store traffic was very minimal.
[b]Pretzel:[/b] So tell me, Pete, how do you feel about gaming today, especially with so many consoles and games hitting the market?
[b]Wraith:[/b] Well I’m a gaming enthusiast-have been for quite some time now. It’s definitely not your typical hobby, so the world gaming community has been rapidly evolving into something much bigger. For the most part, I see the gaming today becoming more of a community event. For me especially, with so many games becoming online enabled, it’s definitely much more entertaining when you play with your friends.
[b]Pretzel:[/b] So what do you think about the online gaming community?
[tableleft][b]Wraith:[/b] I think it’s a great medium for games. I think most of today’s games are headed in that direction. Although it’s not a necessity, it should definitely be an option for the gamer. I think it’s very entertaining, and it’s much more efficient, especially if you have friends across the globe. I mean in our case (the EB-SB crew), it rules because we game together at any time of the day. So it definitely is a great way to connect the entire gaming community as whole.[/tableleft][tableright][img]http://www.snackbar-games.com/images/features/localgaming/ss03_thumb.jpg[/img][/tableright]
[b]Pretzel:[/b] So what got you here? I know you just didn’t wake up and say, “I want to be a manager for a video game store.”
[b]Wraith:[/b] Actually, I’m a General Manager. And all my life I wanted to work in video games. I mean one thing lead to another, and now I’m here. What I like most about my job is my interaction with the people and making sure they are happy with the service we provide. Most importantly is our attitude towards gaming, and making sure we are authentic and genuine to our customers.
[b]Pretzel:[/b] I know from experience firsthand, but tell our readers how important a customer relationship is to you, putting all business aside.
[b]Wraith:[/b] To be honest with you, in our case the customer makes the store. And that is stating the obvious, but we look at it from a community standpoint. Building relationships with the people who walk into our store is the key. They are gamers just like we are; the only difference is we have to make sure we help them with their gaming needs-giving them the best deals and promotions, accurate information on games, great customer service, and overall just a great environment where people can walk in and feel comfortable.
[b]Pretzel:[/b] Dude, that is exactly what I’m talking about! That’s what we are all about here at Snackbar… except the deals, promotions, and customer service because we are not selling anything, of course. Anyway, so do you have full confidence in your staff when you’re not there to make sure they have the same vision as yourself?
[tableleft][img]http://www.snackbar-games.com/images/features/localgaming/ss06_thumb.jpg[/img][/tableleft][tableright][b]Wraith:[/b] Yes, no doubt! I make sure that my staff has the same vision as I do about our customer relationship. And as a matter of fact, I did not have to stress this on them, because they know how important our relationship is with our customers. They make sure when they walk out that door they say things like: “Man those guys rule! Those guys are so nice!” Why is it that when people walk in, we all know their name and they know ours? And it’s just not a handful either-it’s a variety of folks, including families as well.[/tableright]
[b]Pretzel:[/b] Awesome! As a gamer, what do you think about Web sites that cater to a certain group of gamers? For instance, let’s just say Snackbar.
[b]Wraith:[/b] I love the community that you guys have at Snackbar. It’s a very unique and genuine environment you guys host. It’s not your regular site that focuses on churning out news and updates on gaming. This is a place that allows the readers to debate their opinions, give their take on a certain game, hang out, and just be real about games. I don’t feel like a visitor there. I feel like a part of the community when I hang out at Snackbar. I mean, we game with guys from England, Scotland, Canada, and across the U.S. I think that you guys at Snackbar, the folks at Xtreme Gaming Cyber CafA
