It feels a lot like that. (Photo by Bruce Ely/The Oregonian)

I’m slowly coming back into the fold as a Portland Trail Blazers fan after hearing some really exciting things. The thought of a mostly young team making such a strong effort this season has got me eager to see what the future holds.

Unfortunately, the Houston Rockets don’t seem to share my enthusiasm, as they’re currently making the Blazers’ lives a living hell. But hey, at least I can seek respite in my recently repaired Xbox 360!

Nick Cummings:

What can I say? I’ve been busy. Other than a few short-but-sweet play sessions on the newly-released Left 4 Dead survival mode (which Aaron was kind enough to review,) my gaming has consisted almost exclusively of games I was playing for review. Fortunately, Prince of Persia’s Epilogue wasn’t half-bad, and Galaga Legions was an awesome, albeit sadomasochistic, experience.

"Young Folks," by Peter, Bjorn & John

I’m looking forward to delving into Fable II‘s Knothole Island DLC this weekend, and maybe I’ll even give The Path another shot. But I’m most excited to bust out some incredibly awkward karaoke on my buddy’s copy of Lips.

Aaron Thayer:

At this juncture, my weekly gaming intake has been quite average.

I played a bit of Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars to help with the DSi overview, which, while enjoyable, wasn’t what I really wanted to play — Suikoden Tierkreis will have to wait until next week (full disclosure: Suikoden is my absolute favorite RPG series, ever). Fearless fellow editor Nick and I had a blast for a couple of hours in Left 4 Dead thanks to its wonderful new DLC pack, and I romped through the first hour-and-a-half of the Knothole Island DLC for Fable II as well; so far it’s visually captivating and typically Fable, to say the least.

But the mediocrity will dissipate tonight, as one of my dear friends is coming for a weekend visit and we plan on getting some old buddies together to play the following in between bar-hopping and such: Rock Band, Guitar Hero: Metallica, LittleBigPlanet, Killzone 2, Resistance 2 and probably 20 other games. As you might have gathered, he has a PS3.

Doug Bonham:

Honestly, gaming hasn’t been at the forefront this week — I’ve been busy starting up a part-time job and going on wild adventures with the City of Portland’s parking bureau. I’ve played a little bit more FIFA 09 and Assassin’s Creed, but the only really great time I had was last weekend with Nick and another of our friends. We all played a bit of Rock Band 2 now and then — including at Ground Kontrol on Tuesday nights — but an extended play session was a long time coming.

We rectified that last weekend, playing for a good four or five hours. Hanging out and rocking out like that is one of my favorite things in all of gaming, ever, and it’s great to get to do that with people who have similar tastes in music and song choice. Rumor has it we may be tackling the Endless Setlist at some point in the near future, and I can’t imagine a better crew to play with.

Nick:

I wouldn’t call myself an achievement hunter, but I’m definitely playing through Prince of Persia once again for 100% completion. While it’s not quite as breathtaking as the first time I laid eyes on it, it’s still a remarkably enjoyable experience. If it doesn’t satisfy the hardcore (and we’ll see about whether the Epilogue DLC scratches that itch next week,) well, I guess I’m proud to represent casual platform gamers. Hey, I beat Ninja Gaiden II — I’ve earned some rest.

I’m hoping to wrap up the single player component of Grand Theft Auto Chinatown Wars as well. I’m still not finding much of a draw within the storyline, but I’m still holding out for a touchscreen-powered chainsawing minigame. Somehow, the scalpel in Trauma Center just didn’t quite cut it for me.

And finally, I picked up a ten-dollar copy of Marvel Ultimate Alliance today. After a couple hours of bruising a cast of hallowed comic book villains with an ensemble of the big-name heroes, I’ve come to realize that comics really are as cheesy as they always seemed. I mean, what kind of name is Dum Dum Dugan? Seriously. I thought I was watching The Venture Bros. for a minute there.

Aaron:

This week, and by week I mean over a day and a half, I beat Mirror’s Edge. I’ve been postponing playing the game since its November release, partly because the demo didn’t wow me in a major way and also because GameFly is unreliable.

It’s a fairly decent title overall, and definitely a case where the experience of first-person free running is more fun for being unique than for gameplay-related purposes. I’m mostly impressed that DICE can do more than excellent multiplayer war titles. Mirror’s Edge was frustrating in some parts, and completely illogical at later stages with its “runner’s eye” gimmick of red-hued pipes and ledges. Plus, as I’m not into time trials and all that (except for Mario Kart 64), the lasting appeal really, well, didn’t.

The other day I put Fable II back into my 360′s (very loud) disc tray and found myself enjoying it all over again. This time around I’m trying to propel a fresh character to some undetermined place in the game world to justify purchasing the Knothole Island DLC. Unfortunately, I still don’t think I’ll ever complete the “Dollcatcher” achievement. So annoying.

Next week I look forward to some DSi action, which you’ll be reading about!

Doug:

I’ve been trying to make room for games I really want to play…and that’s gotten me sucked back into the world of soccer, like clockwork.

I’ve started Assassin’s Creed and gotten a few hours in. I’m really enjoying the experience – the controls fall to hand really easily, I like what the game’s story is doing so far, and the ambiance is really good. Now to get busy killing people – should be good fun.

Along with Assassin’s Creed, I picked up a game I missed until it was in the bargain bin – Xbox 360 racer Project Gotham Racing 4. I loved multiplayer in PGR2 back on the Xbox, and enjoyed PGR3 well enough when I first got my 360, but I just wasn’t enthused about this most recent title. Racing-game newbies would enjoy it, as it’s very approachable, fast, and fun. The single-player progression is very fair, too. I’ll have more on it as I wind my way through single player.

Lastly, I’ve been pouring more time into FIFA 09. Even more of my life has gone into Be A Pro, and I’ve also picked back up the “regular” manager mode. After comparing a bit with one of my all-time favorites, Winning Eleven 9 on the PS2, I have to crown FIFA 09 as the best soccer game I’ve played – at least, within the context of playing a match. FIFA still gets some of the ancillaries wrong, but the gameplay on the pitch feels oh-so good. Now I just need to justify spending the money to unlock the Ultimate Team add-on mode, which plays like a sports game crossed with a collectible card game…

The editorial staff at Silicon Sasquatch is dedicated to bringing you news, reviews, opinion and analysis with journalistic professionalism and engaging prose. We’re just a few poor guys with BAs in magazine journalism, but we do what we can.

However, we would never describe a gaming blog as pure journalism. Most of the content we’ve posted to this date could better be described as criticism: In-depth, analytical opinions on games and news in the videogame world, but opinions nonetheless. Journalism implies digging into each story, double- and triple-checking facts, getting in touch with contacts and divining the important news values behind every published story.

We aspire to go beyond the status quo as established by the snark-over-substance mainstays of the major gaming blogs. They serve an audience and function as a business, and that’s good, but we’d rather leverage the harsh reality of this blog probably never being profitable in order to give you an honest and well-thought-out story with every post. We don’t have a publisher or advertising clients to please, so we might as well be on the level with you.

Over the last week we’ve been posting weekly updates to major (and minor) news stories, along with brief analysis. Today marks the start of another weekly feature, The Backlog. Essentially, it gives the editorial staff a chance to reflect on the games they’ve been playing and give some impressions and reflections on those experiences. Again, it’s not journalistic, but we hope it’s helpful to our readers; at the very least, we hope it makes for an interesting read and a starting point for good discussion.

In the coming weeks, you’ll begin to see some meatier features where we dig a little deeper and produce some original research and content. We’re all intimately familiar with the vice-grip of the journalism bug, and we’re not ready to abandon the profession we studied for years. Just bear in mind that such features take time, energy, clout and resources — things we’re all in short supply of. In the meantime, we want to extend our sincere thanks for your continued reading and hope you’ll stick with us in the coming weeks.

Now, click the link and read all about the games we’ve been slogging away at!

Aaron:

This weekend I’ll be graced with a new DSi as a birthday present to replace my stolen DS Lite and to fulfill my childhood dreams of a blueish/turquoise handheld.

I won’t be gaming at all until I return from the annual excursion, but over the past week it’s been a steady diet of Mass Effect, Call of Duty: World at War, Resident Evil 5 and Penny Arcade Adventures: Episode 1.

Mass Effect continues to be one of the best gaming investments I’ve ever made, and though my current playtime motives are dubious (read: achievement-related) I’m still having so much fun and would note it still holds up well after a couple of years.

WaW is frustrating, annoying and…addictive. I honestly don’t know why I put myself through it, just like in CoD4, but the multiplayer advancement makes me come back for more. Of course, it wouldn’t be worth it without four friends to play with. And Nazi Zombies is pretty entertaining, though give me L4D or give me undeath.

RE5 has maintained its enjoyment levels of “over 11.” That’s on a 10-point scale by the way. Co-op has really been refined to perfection with this game and I hope future co-op experiences are even half as polished. Though I will admit the intrigue is kinda lost when you finally buy infinite ammo for the time-honored and series mainstay: the ginormous magnum.

PAA: EP1 is probably one of the best Live Arcade titles I’ve purchased, and I feel guilty for holding out until it was 50% off. So much humor, so much fun.

Nick:

This week has been especially busy for me. On top of working full-time, I’ve been writing the weekly updates for the Sasquatch, which isn’t as easy as I thought it’d be. However, I’ve still found the time to play a little Team Fortress 2 and Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, as well as my old mainstay, Rock Band 2.

There’s not much I can really say about Team Fortress 2, other than it’s shocking how fresh the game feels a year and a half after its release. The continuous flow of new content packs and the intricate level of strategy that emerges in each class is staggering. If you’re on Steam, look me up!

I love Grand Theft Auto, but I’m not sure how I feel about Chinatown Wars. While a technological marvel and an impressively immersive game on the DS, it straddles an awkward line between the rich narrative experience of GTA IV and the reckless, devil-may-care fun of earlier games in the series (and more recently exemplified by the awesome Saints Row series.) I’m struggling to stay engaged with the story and the gameplay, but both seem a little short-changed and loosely connected. I’ll have a full review next week.

FACT: Rock Band 2 is the best game ever. It’s my desert island game. It’s the greatest damn thing short of playing in a real band. While I shudder to think how much of my money has been siphoned away by Harmonix’s impeccable, far-reaching music tastes, I find myself booting up the 360 and plowing through a few songs every day. If there’s any triple-A game that deserves even more credit than it already has, it’s this one. Some of the latest and greatest songs I’ve been enjoying are “New Slang” by The Shins and the hilariously terrible but shred-tastic “Warriors of Time” by Black Tide.

Doug:

I’ve been slogging away at a bunch of games this week, mostly stuff for review and consideration for the Sasquatch, but with a smattering of stuff for my own personal entertainment as well.

Retro Game Challenge was, of course, for review – and I’m glad to have spent all the time with my DS Lite and that game. I will eventually let at least Nick borrow the game to give it a shot in his own free time, too, but I’m definitely hanging onto the game long-term – because the games it has within are great time killers, Star Prince and Rally King especially.

No week would be complete without me playing a bit of NCAA Football 09 on my 360. I’ve been heavily involved with the game since it’s release last July – specifically, I threw myself into some organized online dynasties. I’ve been playing, recruiting, and talking smack with other members of a forum for…ages, now, it seems, but things are slowing down a bit. I’m only in two dynasties – a Pac-10 conference one with Oregon, and a Big 12 one with Colorado – and only played a bit for both.

The other sports game I’ve been playing is FIFA 09, specifically its “Be A Pro” mode. For a sports game and soccer game junkie like me, this is the ultimate – create a player, take them through the lower levels, build them up from a scrub to a superstar, and then start to dominate. It’s far too much fun. I haven’t even played a game with a full team in ages.

I’ve been putting little bits of time into a couple other games – Fallout 3 (which I’m finally playing), Rock Band 2 (specifically Rock Band Tuesday) – but, with no game to plug through and review this week, I hope I can spend some time with other things…like Diablo II.

Imagine a think piece about brotherhood and the testing of loyalties within a hardcore motorcycle club written in, say, a Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas voice; It would’ve been too ridiculous to be relevant. Jet pack biker wars, anyone? It’s fortunate then that Rockstar altered the series’ formula to accommodate more cinematic stories without jumping right into the next sidestory title.

So here’s where we are, under a year after the release of the fourth numbered installment in the franchise, and the Xbox 360 Live Arcade has its exclusive first piece of downloadable content. The wait has paid off as The Lost and Damned is worth every single Microsoft Point of the 1600 it’s charging, even when considering its few missteps in delivery.

(Character) Assassinations on a Custom Chopper

Niko Bellic’s misadventures serve as a template for Rockstar’s new protagonist Johnny Klebitz, vice president in Liberty City’s chapter of The Lost Motorcycle Club, meaning the feel and tone of GTA IV have largely remained the same in TLAD. There are still lots of conversations, vendettas, personalities and buddies to visit, although this time around you’re not pestered to take everyone on a “man date.”

The strongest parts of IV, the characters themselves, are prevalent in TLAD but weaker than those seen previously. Johnny as a whole is a serviceable character with a job to do: He kills, he has friction with the recently rehab-released club president and he’s rough. Mr. Klebitz is nowhere near Niko’s unique blend of sarcasm, persistence and heart, but Johnny works well because players of TLAD aren’t experiencing Liberty City for the first time—they’re returning to it. It makes sense to have a Liberty City native guide players through a new look at the same place.

Johnny does have some kind of a conscience: his questioning of the ethics and practices of his fellow outlaws makes Johnny “The Jew” more than a gunslinger with a leather jacket. He’s no saint, but he isn’t a Charles Manson like some reviews have portrayed him to be.

A presidential debate

Thankfully, other characters standout from the “required” feeling of Johnny. In particular is antagonist and The Lost MC President, Billy Grey. The character is well-acted, well-written and overall as enjoyable as a messed up, violent bastard can be. He’s quirky, and not just the main villain among other villains. It’s a shame then that his arrest relatively early in the experience makes absolutely no sense other than bad luck.

The same goes for Billy’s turn against Johnny the moment he’s handcuffed: Sure, the pair bicker when Billy comes back from rehab, but for their entire relationship to fall apart as it does is really weak on Rockstar’s part in a game all about loyalty. Logic takes a backseat to creating a reason for players to gun more people down.

Setting TLAD in the same timeline as Niko’s story causes an additional character-related problem. Two specific character deaths come randomly and effectively pull you out of the storyline when you have to stop and think, “Who was that again? Was he in IV? Oh I guess that’s why he died.” Gamers would be a little better served if they finished GTA IV’s story mode a second time before investing in the nuances of TLAD.

It should also be mentioned that if Niko went from “rags to slightly better rags,” then players can expect Johnny to go from “rags to the same rags.” By the time the story missions are over in the approximately 11 hours it takes to complete TLAD , Johnny will have around $50,000 dollars–nowhere near the near $1,000,000 Niko can obtain in, admittedly, a much longer time frame. Not that money is a huge problem in TLAD , as fellow biker Terry provides new guns at discounted prices nearly anytime, and club road captain Clay can roll up with a new bike anywhere. These two elements allow players to feel like a powerful MC member. It’s unfortunate to think these gameplay additions will be removed or altered depending on the main character in the next DLC pack.

The Fewer the Wheels, the Harder the Gang

A lot has been said about the new motorcycle and sport bike handling alterations to the game. Thanks to Rockstar there’s now a plethora of two-wheeled machines to terrorize the streets of Liberty City with. And as much of a conundrum as it is to play a “realistic” interpretation of GTA while riding on a bike that is nearly impossible to be thrown from, it’s a damn wonder because the bike is the true star of TLAD. Firing a double-barreled shotgun from a Lycan bike while the gang follows Johnny’s lead is immensely satisfying.

The Lost MC

Rockstar did a lot to help players assimilate the role of a leader with power to wield. The presentation of The Lost crew is visually striking and technically engaging. Past GTAs have danced around the idea of companions assisting in shootouts, from cars full of Italian mobsters to bank robberies with Irish lads. In TLAD the concept reaches the next level, and for the first time since San Andreas RPG elements are back.

Your crew can have its battle readiness improved by doing side-missions together and going out to eat or play air hockey. The “red shirts” of the game are replaced when killed, but if kept alive they’ll level up and be an asset to Johnny’s gang wars, which are excellent and optional distractions in TLAD. Because Niko was such a loner, it wouldn’t have made sense to have him and a random assortment of thugs search out and annihilate opposing factions, but with Johnny and The Lost that’s what you get to do. The variety is questionable, because killing the same mobsters, Rasta dealers and rival bikers time after time wears thin. Still, riding up to a car full of enemies with the whole gang is a great pastime between story missions. Riding in formation is very cool, and thanks to some improved AI handling you’re less likely to see strange driving choices by the NPCs.

The most disappointing part of presenting a gang riding tight is seeing the potential for the developers to create a solid co-op campaign experience. That’s for future titles it seems.

A New Coat of Paint on an Old and Sturdy Ride

One of the most major additions to the franchise in TLAD is a simple but needed change to the traditional mission structure: checkpoints. This godsend (finally) alleviates the frustration of restarting the same task from the beginning over and over. However, the missions are largely the same as before, though Johnny’s crew provides backup more often than not.

Races are also given a makeover in TLAD . The bike races play out like hardcore Mario Kart and old school Road Rash — bats slamming into your character’s face as you dash for the finish line. These races are nowhere near the tedium of Brucie’s in IV, and are actually enjoyable.

Johnny, don't ignore that flying corpse behind you

Graphically TLAD is exactly the same as GTA IV, only this time there’s a standard film grain effect similar to Mass Effect. Fortunately, it can be turned off. It’s great that developers are trying new atmosphere-building techniques, but a Photoshop-quality effect won’t portray anything extra that a solid story and setting can’t already do. Filters aside TLAD is still as visually impressive as IV, though any technical improvements aren’t noticeable.

The sound is, as expected with a GTA title, all about the radio stations. TLAD adds a late-night infomercial compilation’s worth of tracks, all of which would cost way more than the $20 spent on the game. Those curious about specific songs can check out the official list. Personally, Liberty Rock Radio was the most fun due to Iggy Pop’s hosting and classics like Styx’s “Renegade.” Additional TV episodes of Republican Space Rangers and the historical documentary on Liberty City’s birth are hilarious and keep the same vibe of Liberty City’s lifelike emulation. Simply put, those who took the time to explore Rockstar’s multimedia immersion in GTA IV have an impressive amount of extra bits to enjoy in TLAD.

Here’s a Tip: Online = Helicopter

Multiplayer in TLAD has been generally glossed over by the videogame critique audience. It’s unfortunate that a few added modes, while fun and conceptually brilliant, are enough to give heaps of praise. However, TLAD fails to advance multiplayer beyond IV’s limitations, and it feels like a missed opportunity.

The new modes vary in amusement, with Club Business providing the most entertainment because of its co-op nature. Where Team Mafiya Work in GTA IV has a similar co-op feel, Club Business forces players to act like they’re a team as sticking together in formation restores health and armor. The variety is much appreciated, with players avoiding police, killing rivals the Angels of Death, protecting club assets, assassinating, etc. These 20 minute bursts are the closest thing to true co-op the series has seen so far.

Smoke and rear-view mirrors

Chopper vs. Chopper, a much-talked about mode of one player in a helicopter chasing another on a bike is more boring in practice. It’s much more fun to be the biker due to the sense of panic, but after a few rounds the concept gets stale. The helicopter is invincible and you can’t hop off the bike, though it can be respawned. Of course these concessions are made for such a specific multiplayer mode, but there’s no risk or reward, which is a general problem with GTA’s multiplayer infrastructure.

No one would want a copy-and-paste progression system from Call of Duty 4 or CoD: World at War in GTA, but with 10 ranks simply providing better clothing options for your online avatar, where’s the real satisfaction? If Rockstar added a gear loadout screen for the Witness Protection mode (akin to IV’s Cops ‘n Crooks), where minimal weapon unlocks could be obtained through the dollar system already in place, it would add something more interesting to the experience. As it stands, getting to rank 10 will only unlock an achievement.

Again, GTA isn’t an FPS, but because the series has toyed around with RPG-like progression and stat building, why not try some of that in multiplayer? It isn’t the fault of TLAD as a whole product for keeping the same system as IV, but Rockstar could have added a little more life to multiplayer in this admittedly already packed expansion. Nitpicking, sure, but maybe in the next DLC things will be more robust and worthwhile.

Closing Comments

The Lost and Damned is a great example of value for DLC, even with its flaws. Though the story might chug and falter here and there, and the multiplayer is momentarily amusing, TLAD offers as solid an overall experience as GTA IV did last year.

If you care about the way Rockstar brings crooks to life and plunges them into violent drama, you’ll love TLAD. Or, maybe you just like new weapons and vehicles to go along with better music; TLAD is still right up your tailpipe alley.

Recommended for:

• GTA fanatics needing an additional cinematic fix
• Those curious about much improved motorcycles and fun, new weapons
• Its overall spectacular value as far as DLC is concerned
• A good example of biker-based drama outside of Lorenzo Lamas

Not Recommended for:

• Gamers not fond of the excessive violence GTA titles are known for (nothing’s changed at all)
• Multiplayer enthusiasts looking for a rewards-based system
• People who get peeved at helicopter ownage online
• Anyone who could care less about motorcycles as a primary means of transportation

Read our policy on reviews here.

Rez HD: The first playthrough

The Rez experience

Somehow, I managed to skip the PlayStation 2 release of Rez. Color me embarrassed. But I had no excuse to ignore the game once the high-def remake came out on LIVE last January. I may have been out of the loop for seven years, but Rez HD managed to hook me right from the start. Having heard about the interactivity of the music, I figured I already knew what was coming. Instead, linking together low-poly wireframe models into aural-enhancing chains was so intuitive and still genius by today’s standards that the gameplay easily burned a hole of “Awesome” through my cranium. Thus, Rez HD takes a spot in our 2008 list, even though it would be more at home on a “Moments” compilation from 2002.

GTA IV: Drunk driving

Officer Niko on patrol

The fourth Grand Theft Auto did a lot of things right (relationships, i.e. having them), and it did a few things wrong (relationships, i.e. maintaining them). But the game truly shined in one of its more controversial moments: driving piss drunk through Liberty City. The first time you grab some rounds with your favorite friend, flame or family member and stumble to your car, stepping from the curb and tumbling over, you begin to see exactly what GTA IV is about: reality caramel-coated with hilarity. Sure, that could sum up every GTA to date, but number four chose to tone down the jetpacks and weight gain to provide players with “reserved” chaos. For instance: While driving drunk, a police car notices and speeds off in pursuit of you and your horrified passenger. Suddenly, a pedestrian flips over the hood of your car in a fantastic display of pseudo-physics. You then knock over a fire hydrant and hit the adjacent wall, causing your body to launch from the windshield while your car, still running, is lifted into the air by the extreme amount of water pressure from the tipped hydrant. Truly, Rockstar didn’t take away the over-the-top experiences of San Andreas, it redefined them through a lens of feasibility.

Fable II: A dog and his ball

I wonder what breed that is?

Fable has always been the little-franchise-that-could. Stepping back from the shadow of negative internet press over Molyneux’s boasts and the constant bellowing about undelivered gameplay promises, Fable and Fable II have ended up being extremely fun and unique titles at their respective cores. With the second game, Lionhead delivered 2008′s DogTech 2.0 (working title of my own invention); The sheer joy of playing with ol’ rendered rover was miles above shooting your billionth bullet in FPS Sequel 13. Stepping out from the gates of your adopted Gypsy home into the rays of sunshine reflecting off of Bowerstone Lake was impressive enough. But watching your dog realistically play fetch and adore you in the way pets do put the game over the top. The plot moments and combat tweaks in Fable II kept it exciting. However, the dog caused the title to rise to the developer’s promises of true choice and emotion in a videogame, making Fable II truly memorable.

Metal Gear Solid 4: The ship-top Street Fighter battle with Solid Snake and Liquid Ocelot

Nick picked the microwave tunnel part of Metal Gear Solid 4. He has a thing with Hot Pockets. Now I agree that it was memorable, but having been a fair-weather MGS fan after number two (it wasn’t because of Raiden), I tend to look past those cinematic and “deep” elements of the series and focus on what made me the most amused and satisfied in the end. For me, the final battle between Solid and Liquid could be called epic, and it totally deserves that worn-out word. The old school fighter presentation was great. Seeing both hero and villain slow down and struggle to fight back was a nice touch as well; it illustrated the vulnerability of Solid Snake’s rapid aging syndrome better than having him cough every five seconds and saying “damn!