The world has been ravaged by a series of climatic disasters and society is on the verge of total breakdown.  Now the aliens have returned, with a full invasion force bent on nothing less than the total annihilation of mankind, starting by trying to rip the heart out of Earth's most iconic city. In New York, terrifying alien invaders stalk the streets and a nightmare plague strikes down the city's myriad inhabitants with brutal epidemic speed.  The city's systems are in chaos, its streets and skyline are smashed and in flaming ruin. This is New York City like you've never seen it before.

Neither paramilitary law enforcement nor the might of the US military machine can stand against the invaders, and all who choose not to flee are dead men walking.  Just to survive in this maelstrom of death will require technology beyond anything any modern soldier has ever seen.

One man will inherit that means to survive. One supersoldier, wielding the combat enhancement technology of the future with Nanosuit 2, will make the last stand to save humanity from destruction in the urban jungle that is New York City.

The critically acclaimed Empire Total War and its dramatic sequel Napoleon Total War are available together in a special Gold Edition, covering over a century of epic wars and revolutions that shaped the world. 

Empire: Total War maintains the series' genre-leading 3D battles, grand turn-based campaign map and rich historical flavor while for the first time introducing 3D naval combat into the series. The game is set in the 18th century, a turbulent era alive with global conflict, revolutionary fervour and technological advances. 

Empire: Total War sees the debut of 3D naval combat -- gamers will be able to intuitively command vast fleets or single ships upon seascapes rich with extraordinary water and weather effects that play a huge role in your eventual glorious success or ignominious defeat. After pummelling your enemy with cannon fire, close in to grapple their ship and prepare to board taking control your men as they fight hand to hand on the decks. 

Release Date: October 19, 2010
MSRP: $49.95
Exclusively on: PC
T for Teen: Alcohol and Tobacco Reference, Blood, Language, Violence

SBK X: Superbike World Championship brings racing excitement to players all over the world. Go wheel to wheel with up to 15 of your gearhead friends, enjoy three different modes of gameplay, and face over 90 actual racers on their bikes and in their circuits.

"We feel that bringing these luminaries of the circuit as playable characters to SBK X is a real honor," said Geoff Mulligan, Chief Operating Officer at Deep Silver, while strapping on his racing helmet. "While fans of the Superbike World Championship will enjoy the robust selection of current competitors to race as or against, having the men who truly left their mark on the sport represented will really excite them. Who wouldn't want to race as their favorite competitor, whether they're currently racing or not? With the Legends DLC pack built into the console versions, gamers will be able to do just that."

SBK X offers a wealth of options to the player: whether pursuing a highly realistic racing experience or just thirsty for a push-button go-fast thrill ride, players will find what they need. Add in constantly evolving tracks, 90+ racers to choose from, three separate racing classes, 16 player multiplayer, and a robust career mode, and players will find that SBK X gives them everything they're looking for.

SBK X will be coming out on 10/19/10 for the PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system and Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft for $39.99 and on Windows PC for $29.99
 

Release Date: October 19, 2010
MSRP: $29.99
Also on: X360, PS3

Never before has a multiplayer game blended all the elements of true competition and sweat-soaked-shirt anxiety as well a Counter-Strike (CS). You probably already know CS as one of the most popular modifications for Half-Life. It's been available for download for over a year, at least in beta form. But unless you've got a super fast Internet connection at your house, you may not have played it yet as the nearly 100 megabyte download may be daunting for those of you not fortunate enough to have a high-speed connection. Thankfully CS has turned into a full-blown retail game and, while the two versions of CS are identical, it certainly worth shelling out $30 for this stellar title...plus you get a few more multiplayer goodies in the retail package to boot. 

Let me start off by saying that the Counter-Strike pack is a stand-alone product. You don't need the original Half-Life to play this game. In the retail package you get a full version of CS as well as Team Fortress Classic, Opposing Force multiplayer, and the Wanted, Redemption and Firearms mods. The entire pack is overflowing with multiplayer fun, but, of course, the real focus of the retail release is Counter-Strike. There is a single-player component to CS and, while it provides a good primer, this mod is all about online action. You basically play a game of cat and mouse, with the mouse being a terrorist group and the cat a squad of counter-terrorists. As a terrorist, you're goal is to plant a bomb at a specific location or hold a group of hostages. As a counter-terrorist, it's your duty to defuse said bomb or rescue the ill-fated hostages. Taking out all players on the opposing side will also assure your victory.

CS is an action lover's dream, with games lasting only four or five minutes (if that in some cases) because, unlike Half-Life, one shot to the head can mean instant death. CS is the perfect mix between fast-action and realistic damage. You can't just absorb bullet after bullet and expect to walk away. Working as a team is a must and, while you're in the game, taking the lone wolf approach will often get you killed...and fast. It's the team-based tactics that make CS so fun.

Visually the game will not disappoint. While the Half-Life engine isn't the prettiest beast out there, there is plenty of animation that creates a smooth look and feel, and the gun models are some of the most realistic looking of any shooter available. The environmental textures look realistic enough and complement the provided camouflage well enough for you to be hidden, but not be invisible. As in real life, the distinguishable difference between good guy and bad guy is a little difficult, but the balance to this is if you can't tell who it is then you probably won't be able to hit him with your gun. Now, if you've purchased sniper rifle, you should have plenty of scope magnification to tell the difference between terrorist or counter-terrorist, but otherwise you may be taking out a team member from afar. 

As good as it is, a couple of features of this game really stood out as frustrating... at first. But over a period of time they actually became enhancements to online multiplayer gaming. One feature is buying your weapons at the start of each round. This takes a little getting used to at first since, in most shooters, you just run around picking up weapons at your heart's content. 

Not surprisingly, the user interface is very Half-Life-esque. Gamers who have played Half-Life or any of the other mods for the game will have no trouble with the menu system. Even for the first time user the interface is easy to use or fumble through. The only thing that even slightly tripped us up in the interface is the "Update" on the server page. First-time users may be confused into thinking this meant update my version of CS. Not true, it actually means update the list of game servers. But the rest of the interface is easy to understand and even easier to navigate. Just about the only aspect of this game that we could make negative comments about is the sound. Sure, the realistic guns sounds are spot on, we just wish the same amount of attention to detail was given to the rest of the sound in the game. Some levels have lighting and thunder.

So how long does the magic last? Well we've been playing this game for over a year now and we still can't get enough of it. Are we tired of it? Hell no! We're still surprised by how fun this game is. This game actually made some of us squeal like little school-girls after getting sniped from an unexpected angle on high. On the other hand some of us were drawn to stand up and scream obscenities at the monitor. I guess we'll just have to get them next time! 

In a nutshell, if you're looking for the next step in online first person shooters, then look no further. CS is fast paced, intense, and satisfying--this game will not disappoint. This is truly one of the best mods for one of the all time greatest first person shooters ever, and the retail package of CS is simply bursting with multiplayer goodness. If you like to play shooters online, get this pack!

We control Layle, a young all-American type teenager with telekinesis powers provided to him by crystal power. What is crystal power? It’s something that crystal bearers (which there are several of in the game) have within them. It is an innate power that varies from character to character – some can shoot fire, some can crystallize people and objects and so on. Layle’s power is quite modest, and by the end of the game we will surely have mastered his limited move set (if the Wii control allows that). The action is real-time, so the ‘Final Fantasy’ of the title is at best a misleading, at worst a grab at an established name.

This title has more in common with Zelda: Twilight Princess than any Final Fantasy title this player has experienced, and although on the surface it may seem like a cheaper, less sophisticated homage, it is soon apparent that the game adds its own flavours and ideas - for better or worse. Although the cut-scenes use the in-game graphical engine (with an applied filter I’m guessing) and seem a little underwhelming, it is the in-game graphics that are the true peak of the artistic merit in this game. Throughout the kingdom we visit many varied, colourful, imaginative and memorable areas. I call them areas because they rarely span beyond the visible horizon, but they are remarkable nonetheless. This is the second game that I have deliberately stopped to admire the scenery more than once (the other title being ‘Okami’), and it is no accident that the developers included an in-game screenshot tool. I’m yet to import then into a PC, but I must add that these ‘shots look strangely blurred (over compressed?) when viewed in the Photo Channel.

Control of Layle is usually from a third-person view, and we are given a tactile pointer with the on-screen Wii pointer – it exists not as a dot or crosshairs, but a constantly swirling, cloudy blue crystal-coloured reticule. Rolling it over an enemy will provide a convenient (but ugly) white outline of the 3D beast, and this means that this particular object is targeted. There is no ‘lock-on’, but the simplistic combat hardly requires it, for Layle makes use of his telekinesis in the simplest terms; he targets items and creatures then with a flick of the wrist he can toss, pull or lift them. 

This game continues the tradition of Final Fantasy’s high standard of musical material – the soundtrack in this game is excellently composed and memorable. There have been criticisms that the musical styles do not suit the in-game content (for example, battle music that kicks in some of the areas resembles country n’ western rodeo music. As strange as this is at first, the rollicking, slapstick mood it provides is something to remember). Other areas such as the intricately detailed coastal area, encrusted with brightly-coloured shells and corals, are accompanied by a Caribbean style steel drum motif that gives Layle’s costume change of shorts and flip-flops a real beach holiday feel that even the most weathered of city-dwellers can’t help but feel envious of. On the whole, the soundtrack gives each area an identity that is both complimentary and listenable.

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