Today in the World of Games for 3/30/11

Here's a teaser for Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City. Keep in mind that it is a TEASER developed by Slant Six. People expect too much from trailers (even teaser trailers) these days.

The third part of the Fault Line video series for Battlefield 3 is now up and shooter fans are excited to get that wire out. Also, too soon for earthquakes?

YES... Another new Child of Eden Trailer!!!!

Now with glowing hands!!!!! Also, screw the haters, its still most highly anticipated game this year.

Experiencing The Arrival (A "Review" of the last Mass Effect 2 DLC)

Note: Potential spoilers are ahead, so you are warned.

The last bit of downloadable content for Mass Effect 2 came out today with the Arrival. For seven dollars (560 Microsoft Points), you can experience events that will set up Mass Effect 3 for good old commander Shepard. Even though it is not as long as the other DLC missions such as Overlord and Lair of the Shadow Broker, Arrival does its part well of bridging the two games especially with the big decision you make at the end. The mission starts out with Admiral Hackett privately telling Shepard via his terminal about a friend, Dr. Kenson, in need of saving because of a potential Reaper invasion. Apparently the Reapers can go through one of the mass relays, specifically the Alpha Relay here, to invade everyone especially planet Earth. It is up to Shepard to prevent the Arrival basically, or if you seen the trailer for Mass Effect 3, postpone it. You are then sent on a solo outing (no help from your teammates) to rescue her over at Batarian space. The first part of this DLC can be played with the usual run & gun approach or the optional stealthy way. The only reason you would play the stealthy way is to get the achievement/trophy for it, but the game's journal didn't really tell you that method is the recommended way to go. The DLC as a whole is filled with combat sequences, but the little bits of story especially with the plot twist you can guess right away at the start keeps things going for the DLC. Sure, doing it alone doesn't make the combat significantly different from the main game with squadmates around covering you, but you take the tactical part of the combat for the most part if you're into that. Shepard does get put in a tough spot when he makes a big decision at the end of the DLC that will have have its costs. This decision also sets him up for events that will take place in the third game. The Arrival is only a hour or two long (with a post suicide mission Shepard), and seven dollars might be asking a little too much for such little content especially compared to the past downloadable missions. If you're a Mass Effect fan and want to experience the gap between the two games though, then the Arrival is still worth your time and money.

My Top 5 Music Videos of Q1 2011

In no particular order...

Far East Movement - "Rocketeer" (LA Dreamer Short Film) - This vid does LA justice.

Nicki Minaj - "Moment 4 Life" feat. Drake

Radiohead - "Lotus Flower" - so simple yet so amazing.

Black Eyed Peas - "Just Can't Get Enough" - putting this here in honor of Japan.

LMFAO - "Party Rock Anthem" - Cause obviously, everyday I'm shufflin.

Today in the World of Games for 3/28/11

I haven't paid attention to El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron till I saw this Giant Bomb Quick Look EX for it featuring Ignition's Shane "Mangod" Bettenhausen. I knew that this game exists since it was announced and had potential to be pretty good, but now that it is closer to release at Japan (U.S. release a little later), this is actually amazing. The visual style is somewhat refreshing for the genre (looks Okami-esque since some of the Okami guys worked on this from the artistic side) and the combat looks to be interesting as well from what Shane was describing. El Shaddai is shaping up to be a sleeper hit contender for this year that a certain crowd would enjoy.

Super Street Fighter IV Arcade Edition has been rated by some UK ratings board today, so there's your proof that it is still coming out on consoles. There is still no word if Capcom wants to release it as DLC or another retail game, but we will probably find out at Captivate next week. Speaking of Captivate, Capcom expects to show off new footage of Street Fighter x Tekken, Asura's Wrath, the Ninja Theory DmC reboot that everyone still hates because of the Dante redesign, and the newly announced Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City, developed by Slant Six (SOCOM PSP games and Confrontation).

Music Video of the Day for 3/24/11

Far East Movement - "If I Was You (OMG)" feat. Snoop Dogg

Music Roundup for 3/23/11 aka "The Black & Yellow Edition"

Today on the music roundup is called "The Black & Yellow Edition" for a reason which is Wiz Khalifa's first mainstream album Rolling Papers. We all know how big of a splash he made last fall repping those Pittsburgh Steelers colors being one of the most catchiest rap hit songs in recent years spawning endless remixes. Apparently we "know what it is" with Wiz being the next big rapper to get the mainstream spotlight, but it came at a price especially with the quality of this album. It is probably my expectations and also Wiz's fans pre-Black & Yellow for this to be more of the same before getting famous, but I knew once you got that megahit, your album needs to be more mainstream for that audience and that's what pretty much happened. Rolling Papers puts you in chill and poppy vibes at the get go with the first track "When I'm Gone." The only times Wiz had seriousness in the whole album is at the beginning with "On My Level" featuring Too Short and of course "Black & Yellow." After that, things go way poppy and chill especially with his current single "Roll Up." If you seen the video for "Roll Up," (below) its just weird seeing Wiz being out of character being a love rap song of sorts. I felt this album is just another victim of mainstream success being too much to the point it dampers the quality a bit. Then again, mixtapes have been the saving grace as of late with rappers such as Wiz (especially with Cabin Fever) being able to retain true to hip-hop and to themselves. Despite that little rant, if you wanted that chill and poppy vibe with your rap, Wiz's album is exactly that with decent production all around with tracks such as "The Race." I also gotta give the album some bonus points for the lack of cameo appearances by other artists, so props for Wiz for sticking it out alone for the majority of the album without needing guest appearances (well there's the album with him and Snoop Dogg coming soon though). In a nutshell, Wiz Khalifa's Rolling Papers is just another rap album that could of been better if it wasn't for his mainstream success being too big right away with the majority of it being too poppy for the hip-hop/rap audience. I expected more of "Black & Yellow" Wiz, not "Roll Up" Wiz.