I have been without Xbox Live for about two months now, and I am pretty damn surprised on how much stuff I am missing out on. I feel like that the games I got for Christmas are significantly missing something without access to DLC. I have had Fallout 3 for some time now and haven’t bought any of the story Add on packs, I feel like I only have half a game now, god knows if Boarderlands will follow the same suit.

So are game developers crossing the line here? Well for starters I can think of some perfect examples where, without a shadow of a doubt, Developers are taking the biscuit. Lets take Soul Caliber IV into consideration here. Now your probably have a pretty good idea on what I am gonna say here but, for those of you who don’t know, when soul caliber IV was released they released star wars own Yoda for the Xbox 360 version and Darth Vader for the PS3 version. Absolutely no problem with that, seeing as Soul Caliber 2 did the same thing (They released Haihanchi for PS2, Link for Game Cube and Spawn for Xbox.) So when you played through Soul Caliber IV and eventually unlocked all the characters there was still a blank space for a character. About a month later Namco releases Darth Vader for Download on the Xbox Live Market Place and Yoda up for grabs on the PlayStation Network, you have to pay for both of these characters in order to down load them. A bit stingy to my mind seeing as Soul Caliber 2 had no option to get the other console exclusive charters. It was then uncovered that both Vader and Yoda had already been programmed into both the PS3 and Xbox versions of the game, meaning you were paying for a means to unlock the character as opposed to actually downloading it. What….The…..F&$£!

Street Fighter IV did the same with downloadable costume packs, but it is not only the fighting games that are being a little cheap with DLC games such as Ninja Gaiden II which also had downloadable costumes. But the DLC saga doesn’t stop there. Before the release of GTA Episodes From Liberty City the lost and damned and the ballad of gay tone were DLC only, they had all these new element to add to the GTA IV environment which weren’t in the original game, meaning that when they came out Niko’s city seemed really empty compared to the city that Johnny and Luis were in. With that example in mind, it does beg the question whether Developers are making half arsed attempts of games? Because in the back of their minds they are thinking, ‘Oh, its ok we can bulk it out with DLC at a later date, also means more money for us‘ (Que Pound Signs in the eyes).

Even though there are Developers out there who are just milking the cash cow of each release they have. There are some out there who I have the utmost respect for, because they are making and releasing their titles with minimal DLC and putting the new improved stuff in the next game. Perfect example is Left 4 Dead. First game had the minimum of killing zombies with guns and explosives and fighting you way through the hordes to survive. Left 4 Dead 2 is an improvement on that with much more, like gun upgrades, melee weapons, new enemies etc etc. So why the hell did L4D fans start complaining and boycotting this game just because they thought it would be better as a DLC pack!? Back on the PS2 no one thought ‘Hang on a second. I refuse to buy GTA Vice City because its only an updated GTA III, I want a game add-on disk!‘ It just doesn’t make sense. To my mind DLC has made the gaming world go a bit barmy, with Developers thinking money money money and games not knowing really what is makes really good DLC.

A Welcome Addition To The Zombie Slaying Sequel

For me some DLC can be justified, other are just taking the mickey. I can understand story add-ons to make the game longer but new costumes you have to pay money for? Really? Rockband and Guitar hero must be laughing at the moment. I hate to be the poor soul who went and bought the Band kit then every single DLC song under the sun. They have probably spent more money on that than the console they are playing it on.

Garv

Step 1 – Arm yourself

If Fallout and Left 4 Dead 2 are anything to go by, pretty much anything can be used as a weapon. Whether it’s a magnum you have managed to stash away somewhere on your person, or a frying pan you have found just lying about, anything can be used to beat down the dangers that lurk on the Earth’s surface. Also, if games are anything to go by, you can hold a lot of weapons at any given time. According to DOOM II you can stash up to nine weapons on your person at once. Or, if you really wanna analyse your games for the Earth’s inevitable doom, play some GTA IV and see what clothes Niko Bellic is wearing – because you can stash a whole array of weapons from pistols and sawn-off shot guns, to full-blown rocket launchers and sniper rifles… handy! Which brings us to step 2.

Step 2 – Finding the right attire

As I said in step one, a good route to go here is the GTAIV route because, lets face it; it has magic pockets to store your whole armory in. But defending yourself is also key to survival, and a good armored suit is the way to go in most cases. Unless you are Duke Nukem of course, then you can just wear a tank top and watch the bullets bounce of your huge pectorals.

Taking a look at Halo, Quake 4, Aliens Vs Predator and Doom, I think they are onto something here. Green and brown are this season’s Apocalypse colours, and are definitely good for camouflage whatever terrain you are in. and make sure it is well armored.

But then there are probably those of you out there who didn’t pack an Apocalypse bag before the earth was destroyed. So my advice to you (well more Fallout’s advice to you) is to grab anything you can and wear it, regardless if it’s a silly sack on your head or huge armour that probably weighs about a ton.

Step 3 – Finding shelter

You need somewhere safe to stay when any sort of Apocalypse strikes. In the case of zombies, if you manage to find a huge door that bolts shut then you’re in for a win. These doors can be found on any building – whether it is a block of flats, a country house or indeed an old wooden shack you will be just fine, once said door is bolted shut there will be a plethora of supplies and weapons for you.

In case of Nuclear Apocalypse however, it gets a bit more tricky… mainly because most things have been blown to smithereens. That said, you will find some places that have remarkably stayed in tact, or you can just find a load of corrugated metal and build yourself a quaint little town, just make damn sure there isn’t a nuclear warhead in the middle of it. It could either explode or have crazy people worshipping it.

With an alien invasion however, you’re probably not going to have any shelter at all – you will mainly find yourself running around lots, shooting anything that moves. But having said that, I have heard space stations are a nice destination this time of the year.

Step 4 – Finding Sustenance and/or medical supplies

You want to stay alive, right? Well if games are anything to go by, food and drink will heal your broken bones within seconds. Fallout and Wolfenstein have both proved this theory. Weather it is a hot meal or a nice cool bottle of radiated cola you will feel better, and in no time that bite you got from a crazy dog will heal right up.

In other cases such as Left 4 Dead, you have to scout around for medi-packs. These things are stashed with bandages and well… bandages. You will feel right as rain in no time after you apply these magical fabrics. Having said that, if we take a leaf from Halo’s book, then simply stepping on medi-packs will automatically heal you, or if your feeling hardcore like Duke Nukem then simply kick a toilet in and drink the water. You will feel ready to kick some more butt in next to no time.

Step 5 (The Most Important) – DTA

Common practice for a post apocalyptic earth is to DTA - Don’t. Trust. Anybody. Look after number one at all times. Left 4 Dead teaches us that crying humanoid creatures really don’t want our help, they just want to rip our faces off, F.E.A.R. has shown us that small girls can really be mind-controlling, crazy things that can scare the living Jesus out of you and will also rip your face off. Lets face it, everything out there in post apocalyptic earth is just wanting to rip off your face. Dogs, zombies, zombie dogs. It’s pretty dangerous out there.

And that is it, Plus XP’s five step program to surviving doomsday and post apocalyptic earth. If you haven’t gathered by the way, Earth is the number one target for anything, so be warned.

There is one slight problem though…I haven’t played a game that tells me what to do when the ice caps melt… bugger.

- Garv

Disclaimer: The interviews for Inside Look are the ideas of the Plus XP Team ONLY and are not the ideas of the creators and developers of the games. All characters interviewed in Inside Look remain the property of the video game developers and creators. Basically we are sorry if we took your characters guys, we promise we’ll give them back.

WARNING: This weeks episode will contain a small spoiler from ‘The Passing’ DLC for Left For Dead 2. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

Edward: Hello, and welcome to Plus XP’s Inside Look! I’m your host for this week, Edward Price, so let’s give a warm round of applause to me!

…

Oh, that’s fine. I see how it is. Jerks.

Anyway, since my long rehabiliation after my last Inside Look and despite being fired after my last article here at Plus XP, I finally decided I was healthy enough to come back and give everyone another Inside Look into the amazing world of videogames!

This week, already here on the couch ready to be interviewed is one of Plus XP’s favourite new gaming characters to come out of a new favourite series of games, Bill from Left 4 Dead!

Bill’s here to promote the new downloadable content for Left 4 Dead 2, “The Passing”. New weapons, new locations, and the return of the original cast, tying together the two stories and leading to loads more fun for Left 4 Dead fans!

So, to those less educated about Bill, he’s a Green Beret and a Vietnam veteran. So I guess that the harrowing conditions in which you and three of your friends had to battle your way through relentless hordes of infected people was in some ways, similar at least to your previous incarnations in the army, Bill?

Okay, yeah, that’s probably quite a hard question to start off with… Would you say it at least, made you the most prepared of the other survivors?

Okay, so you don’t want to answer that either. Okay, uhhh…

Uhhh, this is pretty difficult if you don’t even attempt to reciprocate conversation. Uhh, is this a new Cologne you’re wearing? It’s very potent, at the least…

Your favourite weapon?

Favourite character from L4D2? I’m still tied between Ellis and Nick, myself. Did you find yourself getting on with any of them?

Wanna hear a funny story about when I was playing Left 4 Dead 1? Basically, me and my friend Keith…

…

He died.

Look, Bill, just because you’re covered in boomer bile, bloody, and now canonically dead doesn’t mean that you can’t answer some questions! Everyone at home is expecting some serious gaming journalism here, and I can’t deliver that to them if you don’t at least answer some questions or at least plug the new Passing DLC! Available via downloadable content free for PC and 560 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360! Get yours today!

Garvaos: Hey wait, he’s canonically dead?

Ed: Yeah, apparently he’s dead now.

Leon: How did that happen?

Ed: Well, you’ll probably have to buy “The Passing” to find out! The new downloadable content for-

Leon: Wait, you said covered in boomer bile? And can you stop working in product placement into your regular speech? It’s kind of annoying.

Ed: Yeah, that boomer bile made it really difficult to carry him away from that dumpster Valve left him in. It kind of stinks, don’t you think? It’s like somebody cooked animal poop and human flesh into chip grease, except the chip grease makes it almost smell kind of like something you’d buy and eat if you were drunk out on the town in the early hours of the morning… Anyone feel like a kebab later?

Garvaos: You idiot! You’re just going to attract hordes of zombies after us!

Ed: Uh-uh-uh! They’re not zombies! They’re infected humans! If you start lumping the infected humans with the zombies, that just makes you look like a racist.

Garvaos: Against zombies?

Ed: They have feelings too! Granted, those feelings are mostly hunger and lust for human flesh…

Garvaos: Ed, you’ve probably attracted loads of… “infected humans”… I can’t really do the quote marks while I’m still in this chair you tied me to… Anyway, Ed, you’ve probably attracted loads of them here. I can hear them outside right now!

Ed: Those were infected? I thought they were screaming, adoring fans! I signed like, 20 autographs!

Leon: How do you sign autographs while being attacked?

Ed: It’s a skill you pick up quickly if you want to survive in this business.

Leon: This business?! You tied us up to these chairs while we were sleeping, threw Bill on the couch and started throwing questions at him like a monkey throwing poop! The only reason no one else is saying anything is because you gagged them! Also because you threw monkey poop at them and quite frankly we’re all scared you’re going to start doing that again.

Ed: Wait, if they were infected, that means that… Oh man, I hope she was just ugly…

Garvaos: They’re probably going to get in soon! You’re going to have to let us out of these chairs and help us beat them off!

Ed: …They can beat themselves-

Leon: Goddammit Ed I will kill you if you don’t let us out of these chairs right now!

Ed: Okay, jeez, fine. Man you guys are whiny when someone’s tied you up and thrown animal faeces on you…

Garvaos: Where did you even get that much faeces?

Ed: Where else were all the Timesplitters monkeys going to go when Free Radical went under?

Leon: You gave them back when they became Crytek UK, right?

Ed: As far as they know…

Garvaos: Now’s not the time! Leon, untie everyone else!

Ed: Actually, can we wait until after we’ve repelled the infected? I get the feeling they’re all going to betray me or something.

Leon: Really? Really?

Garvaos: Guys! Shut up! Untie them anyway, and we’ll sort this out after the epic battle!

Ed: Can anyone think of a really awesome line or something that people will quote from now on that we can use before we go out there?

Everyone: Nope.

Leon: Anyone got the time?

Ed: I’d say it was A Quarter Past Dead… No? Nothing? The response to that one was Dead Silent.

…Still nothing? I’ve guess it’s better to face this problem… Dead On!

Garvaos: You’re still fired. In fact, if we get out of this alive, we’re not only putting you back in that rehab centre that we’re not entirely sure how you escaped from, but I’m going change the locks and fire you again.

Ed: Oh. Well, shit.

What happens to the PlusXP crew? Will they survive their terrible ordeal? How will they defeat the hordes of Infected? And what happened to Bill? Only one way to find out the answer to all of these questions! Get “The Passing” downloadable content for Left 4 Dead 2! Free for PC and 560 Microsoft Points for the Xbox 360! Note: None of these questions will actually be answered upon purchase of content.

Garvaos: Triple fired.

Ed: Oh, goddammit!

I have been without Xbox Live for about two months now, and I am pretty damn surprised on how much stuff I am missing out on. I feel like that the games I got for Christmas are significantly missing something without access to DLC. I have had Fallout 3 for some time now and haven’t bought any of the story Add on packs, I feel like I only have half a game now, god knows if Boarderlands will follow the same suit.

So are game developers crossing the line here? Well for starters I can think of some perfect examples where, without a shadow of a doubt, Developers are taking the biscuit. Lets take Soul Caliber IV into consideration here. Now your probably have a pretty good idea on what I am gonna say here but, for those of you who don’t know, when soul caliber IV was released they released star wars own Yoda for the Xbox 360 version and Darth Vader for the PS3 version. Absolutely no problem with that, seeing as Soul Caliber 2 did the same thing (They released Haihanchi for PS2, Link for Game Cube and Spawn for Xbox.) So when you played through Soul Caliber IV and eventually unlocked all the characters there was still a blank space for a character. About a month later Namco releases Darth Vader for Download on the Xbox Live Market Place and Yoda up for grabs on the PlayStation Network, you have to pay for both of these characters in order to down load them. A bit stingy to my mind seeing as Soul Caliber 2 had no option to get the other console exclusive charters. It was then uncovered that both Vader and Yoda had already been programmed into both the PS3 and Xbox versions of the game, meaning you were paying for a means to unlock the character as opposed to actually downloading it. What….The…..F&$£!

'Scuse Me While I Go And Waste Money On Something That I Already Have

Street Fighter IV did the same with downloadable costume packs, but it is not only the fighting games that are being a little cheap with DLC games such as Ninja Gaiden II which also had downloadable costumes. But the DLC saga doesn’t stop there. Before the release of GTA Episodes From Liberty City the lost and damned and the ballad of gay tone were DLC only, they had all these new element to add to the GTA IV environment which weren’t in the original game, meaning that when they came out Niko’s city seemed really empty compared to the city that Johnny and Luis were in. With that example in mind, it does beg the question whether Developers are making half arsed attempts of games? Because in the back of their minds they are thinking, ‘Oh, its ok we can bulk it out with DLC at a later date, also means more money for us‘ (Que Pound Signs in the eyes).

Even though there are Developers out there who are just milking the cash cow of each release they have. There are some out there who I have the utmost respect for, because they are making and releasing their titles with minimal DLC and putting the new improved stuff in the next game. Perfect example is Left 4 Dead. First game had the minimum of killing zombies with guns and explosives and fighting you way through the hordes to survive. Left 4 Dead 2 is an improvement on that with much more, like gun upgrades, melee weapons, new enemies etc etc. So why the hell did L4D fans start complaining and boycotting this game just because they thought it would be better as a DLC pack!? Back on the PS2 no one thought ‘Hang on a second. I refuse to buy GTA Vice City because its only an updated GTA III, I want a game add-on disk!‘ It just doesn’t make sense. To my mind DLC has made the gaming world go a bit barmy, with Developers thinking money money money and games not knowing really what is makes really good DLC.

A Welcome Addition To The Zombie Slaying Sequel

For me some DLC can be justified, other are just taking the mickey. I can understand story add-ons to make the game longer but new costumes you have to pay money for? Really? Rockband and Guitar hero must be laughing at the moment. I hate to be the poor soul who went and bought the Band kit then every single DLC song under the sun. They have probably spent more money on that than the console they are playing it on.

Garv

Let me lay down some facts here, as you are all aware by now I grew up with the FPS genre - so when I say Classic FPS I mean games like Wolfenstein 3D, Doom and Duke Nukem 3D. The principle of the single player - and indeed co-op - campaign in these games is simple. You run through the level gunning down everything that moves, until you get to the end of level goal - usually a big button that says end of level, and finally you get your level statistics. It was very simple gameplay back then, but hell was it damn effective; nothing compares to unloading a clip of ammo into any unsuspecting demon, nazi or indeed alien.

First Person Shooters nowadays have evolved. When you pick up and play the campaign mode in Halo, or Modern Warfare you are thrown into a different kind of gameplay that is more objective based. Instead of just gunning you way through hordes of enemies to get to your one and only goal, you have to fulfill objectives that go towards obtaining that end level goal. Now this is definitely a more in depth style of gameplay that most gamers have come to expect these days, but I find that this new style of first-person shooter is less of a stress reliever that Doom and Wolfenstein were.

The original Doom had the option of punching demons to death, now that's what I call an FPS.

Ever since the first Halo, I have come to accept this objective base style of First Person Shooter. The Unreal Tornament franchise tried to keep to the classic style with its tournament based killing spree, but for me it just wasn’t the same. Then Serious Sam came along, which was damn good for just non stop killing, but in my mind it lacked something, (AKA Story) and wasn’t the serious survival FPS I wanted. I was about to say goodbye to the old style FPS, but then I played Left 4 Dead 2.

Now I have got my hands on this demo I have been kicking myself quite hard. Mainly because I should have been bitten by the Left 4 Dead bug a while ago with the first game. Granted I had a little go on the first game over my mates house but I really didn’t take it in and I regret doing so. To my mind Left 4 Dead is the next generation FPS game I have been hunting for. It returns to the classic FPS game genre with its simple, run, gun and get to your goal in one piece, but not only that, it brings lovers of this type of FPS game play together. Being mainly a co-op driven game, it somehow gets the balance of single player action and team based survival just right, meaning you can either play this on your own or with friends, no problem. Kind of reminds me of the Doom Co-op campaign days, ahhh memories.

The one thing I love about the ‘kill everything that moves’ game design is that pretty much anyone of any skill level can pick up and play it, not only that, they can also get good at it. To be honest I did struggle a bit with my first encounters with a Tank and a Witch, as I hadn’t played the first L4D much, if at all. I really didn’t know what to expect when a Witch was around. Basically I heard the crying, saw a sobbing zombie, thought it would be great to put her out of her misery with a shotgun shell to the back of her head. Next thing I know I am on the floor screaming AHH MY FACE!!! Can anyone say N00b!1!

The beauty of this game and indeed style of First Person Shooter is that you can attack it in any way you see fit. Some people like to stay behind and pick enemies off. I personally love to grab the nearest melee weapon, smother myself in Boomer Bile and shout something along the lines of “Here Zombies!! Lunch Time!!” and see how many of the undead buggers I can decapitate, it was the same with Doom, find a horde of pinky deamons and hack them down with the chain saw.

I gave the Left 4 Dead 2 demo to GuitarGirl to try, seeing as we did the expo coverage together I thought why not. She had a go, and her approach to the gameplay was somewhat different to mine. I love to lead the group and kill as many zombies as possible, where as she likes to hang back and pick them off. Both methods are effective. It’s just I remember GuitarGirl playing the demo and accidently setting a car alarm off. It happenes to all of us in L4D at some point. So the zombie horde came in their thousands and she survives it. Thing is, her team mates were on the brink of dying and she remarkably still has pretty much full life and was standing on a table. Then she says “I think I pissed my friends off because they’re nearly dead - But I’m OK because I am standing on the table!”….Facepalm.

As you can see. Left 4 Dead to my mind is a welcome return to the classic style of First Person Shooting. With simple controls, non-stop killing and one goal in sight; to survive the zombie apocalypse. I will no doubt be putting both Left 4 Dead games on my christmas list, and now I breathe a sigh of relief that the classic, kill-everything-that-moves style of gaming is back. I welcome it with open arms, lets just hope a charger isn’t going to mow me down in the process.

Garv.

Dear Santa,
I know I have been a bad girl this year. I know that the incident with the kitten and the toaster was wrong, and that I could have been a little more sensitive of my flat-mates. I mean how was I to know their nan was visiting, and anyway I can’t help it if my room is next to the front door can I? I also really didn’t mean to trip the electricity with my amplifier, and when was I ever told that metal and microwaves don’t mix? With hindsight I even admit that it was wrong of me to challenge complete beginners to guitar hero matches whilst pretending I had never played before. I still to this day don’t know why this makes people so unhappy…. but I’m sorry anyway. I could go on, but the truth is Santa, you see all from that big Coca cola lorry of yours, so there is not point lying about it now. Still, Christmas comes but once a year, and just in case you feel like making this bad girl very very happy here are a few things you could pull out of your sack on christmas day. If you do I promise to try my very best to be extra good next year…Or at least I’ll clean out the toaster…

So here it is. The pick of the bunch, the cream of the crop. My ultimate list of all the Eurogamer titles I’m wishing for this christmas.

Brutal Legend
Well who doesn’t want to slay enemies with their electric guitar this christmas? With a great Heavy metal throughout, addictive gameplay, guitar power and Jack Black this has to be at the top of my christmas list this season. I mean sure, the whole guitar thing makes me just a tad biased, but this game is honestly a lot of fun. Definitely one to rock out to on those cold winter nights. Allllriiight!

AVP
How could I create a wish list and not mention Alien Vs Predator. The boys were addicted to this game and its easy to see why. I found it a bit like Halo, but with more diversity in the playable characters and the ability to run up walls at will. Nice. This game promises hours of solo and multiplayer fun. Easy enough to play but with enough possibilities for strategy and fighting dirty to keep even the most hard core gamers entertained. Definitely one to watch this christmas, but if you want to live past christmas morning here is a hint from me…don’t be a Marine!

Heavy rain
After seeing this played for the first time at Eurogamer I really can’t wait to get my hands on a copy. Though the story line looks very dark and quite depressing in places (No festive cheer here, no sir!) this title really does give you the feeling that you are not so much playing a game, but more the lead character in a playable movie. The great characters and setting aside, the most exciting bit about this game to me is that each choice you make affects the story line. This means that the consequences of your decisions change the path your character takes, to the point where game can have endless outcomes. The developers aim was that no two people will play this game through and have the same experience. Instead they will each have their own unique way of reaching their end goal. An Impressive concept, and one I really hope will live up to our now very high expectations.

Left 4 Dead 2
Just as compelling and Zombieful as the first edition. With new characters, modes, weapons and creatures this title is sure to please all of those get their christmas cheer from whacking zombies over the head with a frying pan. I know I do…

Assassins Creed 2
This season sees the return of our favorite hooded hit-men. If you want to practice stealing sneaky mince pies right from under your mum’s nose this christmas, I suggest you use this game as practice. With the same winning combination of stealth and running for your life (as well as diving into the occasional hay bale) Assassin’s creed 2 is a welcome addition to shelf of all those who enjoyed the first title. Oh, and that new guy. Ezio, man he has style. Plus he also knows how to swim, a useful ability to have especially when in Venice. Perhaps he should give Altair some lessons. It would be nice to give them both a break from all that throat slitting…just because its Christmas.

God of War 3
Just so pretty and yet so angry…A bit like holly or faulty christmas lights. Though I didn’t get much time with this (a great pity) I found myself actually stopping and gawping at the beauty of this game, almost causing a mass gamer pile up…Ooops. If nothing else I would like a copy of this just to stare at, though I also have it on good authority that this game is very compelling, lovely and violent and plays beautifully. A worthy addition to the God of War series and a must for any fan.

Dante’s Inferno
Baby its cold outside….So how about a nice warming trip to hell? Though this game is not as pretty as God of War 3 (Then again what is?) it is still full of gory, surreal and slightly disturbing hack and slash goodness. Taking you through the nine circles of hell, this game does not hold back on the gore factor, especially seeing as in places the walls are made out of screaming corpses and the floor is a giant bleeding spine. This aside, the deadly sin theme is quite compelling and if you like a good dose of gore (and are not squeamish) this is one for you. With weaponry and gameplay I found similar to the Devil may cry series, and so many enemies I don’t know how they are all going to fit in Santa’s sleigh, this is one I throughly enjoyed getting my hands on at the Expo.

Super Mario Bro’s Wii
Mario is back! and just in time for Christmas! This was by far my favorite party play release of the year, making it to me the most appropriate stocking filler. A fail safe theme and beloved characters plus simple but addictive gameplay well executed throughout. In short the perfect recipe for family fun this Christmas. With four player co-op being my mode of choice, everyone from your brother to your nan is sure to enjoy this one. In fact I wouldn’t be surprised if even the dog had a go…and enjoyed it….

Now santa. You know I will always be grateful for any gifts you give me, however if these titles were to accidently fall out of your sleigh it would be no terrible loss.

Rabbids go home Wii, I just didn’t get on with the controls. Avatar *cough* Lost planet *cough*. Fairytale fights, nice concept, badly executed. Saw the game, mini games….Really? Dragon age, It’s just s**t. Sorry.

And thats about it. Sorry its such a long list. Eurogamer showed us that we really have an awful lot to get excited about this year, I’m not sure you will even be able to fit it all in your sleigh. Still, if you take pity on me I’ll be a really good girl. Or at least I’ll try to be good. After all, being bad really is so much more fun…

I will leave the brandy and mince pie by the fireplace as usual.
Until Christmas Eve,
Lots of love,

GuitarGirl24
x

So sit back and relax as you watch these highlights from Eurogamer 2009.

Plus XP’s Garvaos speaks weapons and swimming on Assassins Creed 2.

Guitar Girl 24 talks to Chet from Valve about upcoming sequel L4D2. ARGGHHHHH ZOMBIES!

Garvaos takes a breather with media molucule for a candid chat on LittleBigPlanet.

Francis asks the questions we all want to know. HOW DO YOU GET INTO THE GAMING INDUSTRY?

The gang do the rounds with gamers impressions from the AvP demo available at Eurogamer.

The Plusxp and Gamersunite gang join forces to discuss our impressions on playing the game. Nintendo did not sponsor us for our positive reviews of the game, we all genuinely liked it that much.

Then again party games do usually make good expo games.

***

My Site www.gamers-unite.com will be coming soon.

- markBOSS

Garvaos and GuitarGirl 24 played Left 4 Dead 2 at Eurogamer, so read on as they both take you through the zombie slaying action in Plus XP’s first joint review.

Garv- At Eurogamer, the Plus XP team got the opportunity to try out Scavenger Mode, The new multiplayer game variant that features in Left 4 Dead 2.
24- In celebration of this new multiplayer mode we at Plus XP have decided to team up and give you our first ever joint review, so sit back, relax and enjoy a double dose of this exciting new release.(but don’t relax too much and forget to watch out for the zombies…).

Story
Garv– It’s your typical survival horror scenario, you are one of the few survivors left after a virus has broken out and turned most of the human population into crazed flesh-eating freaks. First person shooter gamers and B Movie horror fans will be right at home here as you fight your way through hordes of zombies by any means possible.
24- It is clear from the start that this game is as a true sequel to the original Left 4 Dead. With the tried and tested theme of zombie horror madness still going strong, anyone who loved the first installment is sure to love this new addition. The game promises to be like stepping right into a zombie movie, with all of the blood, guts and in some cases good old-fashioned comedy value a good horror flick should have.

Scavenger mode
Garv- For all of you gamers out there who don’t know what this mode is, its a two team battle, where the survivors have to collect petrol cans, which they then have to take to a generator on the map. The opposing team, AKA the infected, have to stop the humans from fueling this generator by mauling them to death in any which way possible.
24- To me this new mode opens up endless party play possibilities. Though the original Left 4 Dead was a good title to play through solo, this new mode gives the option for multiple players to take part in shorter battles, making it much more fun to play with friends. The format was reminiscent of the Slayer multiplayer mode in Halo, with Survivors Vs Infected, best of three team battles, bringing out many a competitive nature. My advice is; get this title, add some friends, a big stash of junk food (and quite probably a few drinks) and let the zombie death match rage.

Gameplay
Garv- For me the basic gameplay of Scavenger mode - and indeed for Left 4 Dead as a whole – is very well done, I can easily see myself maybe spending days on this game mode alone, it’s the classic simple-but-effective approach that makes this mode so appealing. Left 4 Dead 2 as a whole feels and plays beautifully. Having only played a small amount of the first game, I can safely say the classic B Movie Horror feel is back in full swing, making this game a unique gem that stands out from any First Person Shooter Game and any generic Zombie mashing gore fest.
24- The gameplay of Left 4 Dead 2 proves to be as smooth and enjoyable as any hard-core gamer could wish for. Reminiscent of the original Left 4 Dead, it allows many possibilities for varied forms of combat, with quite in-depth (but still easy to master) controls. Despite the odd zombie getting stuck in doors (much to our amusement) the demo ran smoothly throughout, which is more than I can say for some of the other new titles showcased . All of this looks promising for a classic, smooth running, familiar yet still exciting gaming experience.

New features
Garv- One of the things I found interesting was the new infected characters. The Spitter, the Charger and the Jocky. Getting to actually control these new zombies has been something I have been looking forward to since Left 4 Dead’s appearance was announced for the Eurogamer Expo. The Jocky I was most impressed with, because he could jump on any unsuspecting survivor and control where they moved, meaning you can lead any survivor into a horde of zombies for a flesh-eating mosh pit of carnage. The Charger and Spitter were good too, the Charger being a lot like the tank from the first game but with a great speed boost, and the Spitter spits stomach acid that can engulf any unsuspecting group of survivors. I loved to see three or four survivors cowering in pain as they dissolved in a pool of acid, but then maybe I’m a tad masochistic.
24- I also enjoyed playing with the new infected characters, but it’s also worth saying at this point that the storyline also features 4 completely new survivors. I also can’t go without mentioning the new melee weapons this game features. Aside from the more traditional weaponry, in this title you can also choose to fight with an electric guitar, crowbar or even a frying pan. Though I didn’t find these weapons as effective as the guns, there is still something to be said for fighting off hordes of very angry zombies with your kitchenware. Very Sean of the dead.

Sum up
Garv-As a whole, Left 4 Dead 2 is a must for any one who has a slight inkling to rip apart the living death. If you were a fan of the first game, I suggest you welcome this game with open arms. Put boycotting aside, because I will tell you now, with all the new content, this is far from just a glorified DLC pack.
24- If you enjoyed Left 4 Dead you will definitely be up for Left 4 Dead 2. I have it on good authority (The writer in fact) that this game promises and entirely new storyline, as exciting and zombieful as the first installment. That plus the new characters, modes and weaponry makes this game a surefire hit for all of those wannabe post apocalyptic survivors out there.

Since Eurogamer was huge, we’ve have a ton of info coming in over the expo. To help keep you up to date with what we’ve seen and covered, here’s a list of all the Eurogamer stuff we’ve covered so far! Also be sure to check out the Eurgamer 2009 Videos via the link at the top of this section as we post them.

Garvaos

Alien Vs Predator Multiplayer Preview
Dante’s Inferno Preview
James Cameron’s Avatar And 3D Gaming Preview
Left 4 Dead 2 Multiplayer Preview (With GuitarGirl24)
LittleBigPlanet PSP Hands-on Preview!

Leon

Assassins Creed II Preview
God Of War III Preview
Heavy Rain Insight with David Cage
Red Steel 2 Preview
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves Preview

GuitarGirl24

Brutal Legend Preview
Fairytale Fights Hands-On Preview
Left 4 Dead 2 Multiplayer Preview (With Garvaos)
New Super Mario Bros Wii Preview
Rabbids Go Home Preview

Ray

Tutsunoko Vs Capcom: Ultimate All Stars Preview

Sam

Mario And Luigi Bowsers Inside Story
Professor Layton And Pandora’s Box Preview