HALO: Reach...raise a glass to the last hurrah!

It should be painfully obvious what this post is about. It's a celebration of the final HALO game. I've been a fan ever since playing HALO: CE when it was first released. It was the reason I bought an XBOX. I was obsessed from the start. The story grabbed me, the gameplay compelled me, the music inspired me, the visuals dazzled me.

This final game is a sad and happy thing. It marks an ending, and yet it also marks the culmination of everything Bungie have done with this series. With every new game came a new innovation, and this game combines everything into one extremely refined package. So raise a glass! Innovation and a willingness to create thoughtful and compelling games has won out over trying to get as much out of the series of possible. The questions are what makes us play. We come for the game, we stay for the lasting impact.

I'll be back very soon with a comprehensive 'first impressions' post. This game has rekindled my desire to blog, and blog I shall!

Shadow of the colossus - it needs to be celebrated

Things come and go, but memories stay. I remember this game, do you?

The idea
You are a very small man (pictured) tasked with saving your female interest's life. The only way you can do it is by killing several huge beasts called Colossus (pictured).

The game
Is awesome!

The experience
Is freaking awesome!

Should I buy it?
If you don't already have it, it's one of the only reasons you should blow the dust off your PS2.

Wow...just wow! LEGO sculptures...wow!

There are times that stumble upon (read about, and get it, here) will throw up something amazing...just look at these. Imagine the time and effort it would take, not to mention the patience, to build something like these...

Have a look at the rest of these incredible works of art here.

More new Halo 3 action figures - Flood-infected marine

I know it looks grim, but this sculpture of a flood-infected human marine is shatteringly effective. For any HALO fans, I think you'll agree this is a things of terrifying beauty.

Check out all the other pictures and ranges here.

New Halo 3 action figures - the Rookie has landed

Weeeeeell, I wouldn't be much of a geek if this didn't get me a bit excited. I only have a couple of the action figures from the earlier series, including the incredible Cortana one.

But feast your eyes on this one...the Rookie in all his ODST glory.

For a look at the rest of the series, head here.

GAME LOCATIONS - Episode 3 - MJ12/Versalife HQ (Deus Ex)

MJ12 are a presence across the world. They're hunting you, and they seem to be everywhere. They have bases hidden beneath the glossy exterior, they're like a virus. But they seem to love their symbolism, their belief that they are the 'invisible hand' controlling the world.

Hong Kong...
At around the half-way point of the game you find yourself in Hong Kong. Your job is to infiltrate MJ12 offices and find a prototype for a weapon. You infiltrate the offices easily enough...they're just standard offices...and eventually make your way down to the R&D levels...where you're greeted to a site that MJ12 is obviously beginning to operate publicly.

Nothing gives it away more than the sight of the red marble corridors and the huge sculpture of a grasping hand trying to grab the Earth.

What it makes you feel...
That you're fighting a force with a lot of power...that your mission might be suicide...that their seat of power is too secure...it's at once awe-inspiring and stealing...it makes you want to succeed at any cost.

Word of advice...
Just try not to go loco when you get down there...if you stop to fight on your way out, you may find yourself stopping for good.

Well, found my new car...

Need I say more...?