I love CONs.

Prepping for them. Going to them. Recovering from them. I spent this past weekend at NYCC meandering the halls of vendors with other comic lovers and rubbing elbows with other gaymers.

During my stay I was invited to spend some time at Square-Enix's booth. While there I had an opportunity to play some of the company's coming titles for some of its hottest franchises and even got a chance to see an interresting new MMO.

Make the jump for the full scoop

Final Fantasy XIII-2

There has been a lot of buzz around the newest Final Fantasy sequel (Which takes place 3 years aft the events of XIII. Here I got a chance to play the opening mission.

The crystallized Cocoon still looms over Pulse (with Fang and Vanille still trapped inside). The past few years have been a time of peace and reconstruction but lately a number of anomalies have been occurring across the burgeoning new civilization. Strange gates have appeared all over Pulse and seem connected to different streams of time and alternate realities, including what would have happened if Fang and Vanile's quest for salvation had not seen fruition.

The gates have also summoned a towering beast (Atlus) that is wreaking some serious havoc. Lightning has also gone missing and Serah sets out to find her with a mysterious traveler from the future: Noel.

The mission begins with the two in a base camp under attack by Atlus. I watched a quick scene explaining the urgency of the situation and was immediately thrust into a story battle in typical Final Fantasy fashion.

The Paradigm system largely remains intact with some serious tweaks added that enhance battle immersion. Quick time events have been added to the frenetic excitement of the Paradigm deck, pulling you into what's happening on screen and reinforcing Square-Enix's action-oriented design.

On screen prompts allow you to link more powerful combo attacks between Serah, Noel and whatever monster is currently rounding out that particular Paradigm (more on this in a minute). Pressing the right series of inputs will create attacks otherwise impossible and can also land battle ending finishers that execute in spectacular fashion!

The particle and crystal clear lighting effects help create some memorable moments that surpass XIII if that is even possible. The level of detail engaged my senses. Rain fell from the sky throughout the demo, drenching Serah's hair and causing her pet moogle to bristle form the cold. While exploring the camp and panning the camera, light reflected off gathered pools while thunder roared in the distance, making me feel like I was in a true lighting storm. I could almost smell the rain in the air as I made my way through the camp.

Dozens of NPCs filled the site, providing info about my current mission and filling me in on back-story. What surprised me was the individuality of the NPCs. They may not have been fully fleshed out characters but they seemed very alive with an ample variety of personalities. Even the pallet swapped, run of the mill soldiers had some chutzpah! some actually offering protection from monsters when I was attacked and showing concern when hurt.

As I battled my way through the camp, I had the opportunity to recruit the monsters I defeated. Each monster will fill the third slot with a specific (and static) class role, and are pulled into battle from time "gates" as you swap Paradigms, further expanding on the time slip idea.

Each monster has a special move that is available when the monster takes enough damage. The move is executed as a quick time event that scales damage depending of your performance. Some are a sequence press; others require mashing and analogue rotation. The monsters will satisfy the completionist in you as you strive to round out the party possibilities and will no doubt to play a pivotal role in creating that elusive "ultimate team".

Towards the end of the mission I was asked to decide weather to attack the beast head on or find another means of staying his destruction. My attendant informed me that choices like this would play a big factor not only on the current mission but also on the outcome of the story, leading to multiple endings.

This felt oddly familiar as my mind flooded with memories of the mid nineties smash "Chrono Trigger" which is also a Square IP. The game was one of the first to offer multiple endings and pioneered the option of a "New game Plus" which allowed you to carry your end game data over for a new play through. I was informed that this would also be a feature in XIII-2.

Square-Enix impresses with Final Fantasy XIII-2, installing a thoroughly enjoyable evolution of the Paradigm Battle system, enhanced graphical flourish and an intriguing storyline that ties in some of the most celebrated endgame nuances of the series.

Look for it soon

Deus Ex Human Revolution DLC: The Missing Link

I was also introduced to the missing chapter of August's hit Action RPG Deus Ex Human Revolution. If you are in the dark about this genre bending tour de force you can check out my review here.

Those of you who spent the end of the North American summer with Adam Jensen, you will be filled in on the time Jensen was out of human contact, on a ship headed towards dark waters. This will bridge the gap between the final chapters of the game.

The first thing I noticed was the graphical upgrade. The textures, largely improved over the core game breathes new life into Jensen's world validating the urgent tones set by the conflicts at hand. I was instantly mesmerized and sucked right back into Deus Ex HRs all encompassing tension.

Part of the fun of Deus Ex: HR is how to go about playing it. In my demo I was thrown in mid campaign with a save that contained just enough weapons and health items to afford me a choice of execution.

For a lethal approach there was a shotgun and a 10 mm pistol. The stun gun and tranq rifle were both included for non-lethal adopters. I was told that you do not start with these weapons. They must be earned by looking around the ship.

Also, Jensen's Augments appear to have been reset. You get a total of 9 Praxis points to distribute as you see fit making efficient use of these points key to survival. The limitations afforded by the Missing Link make this dlc feel like a bonus level for advanced players who are thoroughly versed on the ins and outs of augments and level design.

Missing Links is available today across all platforms

Wakfu

This adorable MMO pops with colors vibrant and endless charm. It takes place on a grand world divided into territories. You can choose which territory of which to be a citizen. Your goal is to support your village within that territory and to provide resources for it. Each territory acts as an independent government and you can vote on a leader.

This is not your typical MMO as it is also a full-fledged tactical RPG. You engage in battle with the open world enemies in areas that are closed off to battle. You and your party (a possible roster of six) will have 30 seconds to position yourselves before the battle begins. Actions are split between move points and action points and you have a limited time to perform each. This is to avoid slow thinkers and to ensure the battle keeps moving.

There are total of 14 classes to choose from including a Time Mage type class and a Nature Healer type. The variety promises to keep things fresh.

The tactical battles offer a fresh take on the ever-evolving culture of MMOs. They are tight and compositionally sound with weapons and skills that are thoughtful and fun to use. The government system promises to provide months of fun and intrigue with a deep political system that has you creating laws, rating citizens and feels like a game all unto itself.

Available soon for MAC and PC

Square-Enix showed off its best and brightest at NYCC ensuring the coming year will be filled with some engaging titles.

"Ever feel like your dead but nobody told you?"

This is a line given by soldier Augustus Cole towards the beginning of Gears of War 3. These words stopped me dead in my tracks. They grabbed my by the jugular and forced me to sit up and to pay attention. They forced me to put down my Diet Snapple and look this man in the face.

After this the "Cole-Train" was no longer just a highly detailed character model in some video game, he was a solid human being. Those nine words conveyed to me the past, present and future of not only him but the rest of his rotating battalion of "Gears".

And I cared.

No other shooter has ever made me care for its characters like Gears of War. The time I have spent with the "Cole-Train", Marcus Fenix, Dominic Santiago, Damon Baird, Anya Stroud, Sam Byrne and others have shown me more about the nature of relationships and human resiliency than any fluffy JRPG.

For all the death and destruction, Microsoft has found a way to make this epic struggle for survival really mean something, allowed it to move past the gratuity of violence and ultimately made someone who is not a fan of aggressive shooters stop and marvel at the wholly human struggle encapsulated within this exceptional video game.

Make the jump for the full review

As the campaign begins we join Marcus Fenix 18 months after the events of Gears of War 2. He is currently on one of the ships to which the Gears have escaped after the bombing of the Locust stronghold. The ship is under attack by the mysterious Lambent threat and within a few minutes you are thrown into the fray of battle and re-introduced to Gears' meaty cover system.

The brief tutorials give you a running play by play of controls and objectives and provide a general overlay of the environment and what to expect from the current mission. These tutorials are fleeting which keeps you from getting too distracted but could be too quick for someone who isn't fully informed on the not so subtle nuances of the Lancer rifle or the more complex Silverback weapon/vehicle. There is a lot to take in with a variety of weapons both new and familiar.

Shotguns, Flame-throwers, Mortar Cannons and Satellite Lasers are just a few of the weapons that round out Gears 3's laundry list of destructive firepower. Each are built to serve a specific purpose on the battlefield and tailored to suit your personal play style.

If you'd like to surprise an advancing group you may want to equip the Sawed-off Shot Gun. This ultra powerful gun has pitiful reload speed but hardly needs it as it can one- shot almost anything at close range. The Flamethrower can stop tank-like enemies in their tracks and inflict DOT while your buddies pump them full of lead. My personal favorite (aside form my trusty Lancer) is the Hammer of Dawn, which can activate a remote laser satellite to cook your foes from the inside out! (fun!)

You can find these weapons lying around on the battlefield, in weapon caches and off the bodies of dispatched grunts. Switching between weapons can be done on the fly with the D-Pad and can be swapped out easily for others. You can only carry 3 firearms at a time from 2 classes and one grenade type as well but there is always an ample selection of "toys" to be found on the field if you find yourself getting bored with your current stock.

While shooting you will be using the environments to advance on the enemy with arguably the best tactical cover system in games today. The level design provides dozens of possible tactical configurations that will have you playing the chapters multiple times while you look for new ways to take ground.

While advancing on the enemy the A button will be your best friend. With it you can run, take cover and auto strafe along walls and through foxholes with lightning speed. Climbing over barricades and dodge rolls are also features. The A button is your main tool for success, is essential to survival and is the crux of any workable strategy.

Any relevant information not flashed onto the HUD is relayed through shouted commands from your rotating teammates who also provide superlative tactical support. The team "bot" AI will fill you in on everything and is so well designed you will feel like you are in the company of expert, living players.

Your AI companions will spread out and methodically dispatch waves of enemies with or without your help. There were many times I would enter a new area and search for the game's many collectibles and by the time I had caught up to the rest of the team the area would already be secured!

You can also play this campaign online with friends, which is super fun. As you snag kill and achievements Gears 3 keeps tabs on your performance and awards you experience. You gain levels like any RPG, which has some affect on multiplayer matching.

When you're finished with the story you can test your mettle worldwide with the mix of multiplayer arena challenges. The same core mechanics are in place here with new parameters and rules. There are a variety of maps to play and there are plenty of medals and achievements that can only be obtained by playing these modes.

Some of the included arenas are the Horde Mode where you will fight waves of Locust. Before each wave a stronghold is built with the cash earned from killing enemies. Your ability to create successful strongholds will increase each time you build or repair something. Cash can also net you the privilege of the top tier weapons and grenades, allowing you to take your tactics up a notch. As you advance, each new wave gets more difficult, adding tougher grunts and more taxing situations. When KO'd you can re-spawn but at a hefty cost.

Beast Mode allows you to take the form of Locust monsters adding new twists and varying game play. The objective here is to take out the COG party. Each monster gives allows you to experience the fight from interesting new angles if your looking to mix things up.

There is also a Death Match type that pits you head to head with other players as Locust or COG. Each team will attempt to eliminate the other. Each team begins a round with a limited number of re-spawns and when one teams' spawns are depleted the match ends, points are awarded and a new one begins. You can play this one casually for a more relaxed game or you can play a ranked match for more of a challenge.

There are others that add even more twists to gameplay and I urge you to check them out. All of the modes will inevitably offer more of a challenge because you are playing against another human. As such the they Gears 3 will force you to become a better player and help to improve your game.

In and out of the multiplayer arenas, the level of graphical polish is high and the extra time Microsoft put in to development was well spent. This game boasts some of the most impressive visual experiences on the XBOX 360. The use of light is breathtaking. I found myself stopping often to stare at the sunlight as it glimmered through forgotten clothes on a line or fragmented off the surface pool of a fountain. For a game with such destruction and despair the color and light is an unusual but most welcome design choice. When the artistic models and animations of a game's hideous monstrosities can remind you of fire flies on a warm summer evening there is something really special going on.

Let us also not forget the odyssey of Marcus Fenix and his crew. This is a tale that will grip you hard and fast and not let go until its hopeful? end. You will truly feel you are living the life of war with these soldiers and watch each of them react to each other and the threat to the planet in some extraordinary ways. .

As the credits rolled I realized that the Cole-Trains' words didn't just get me to pay attention but also encapsulate an ideology that successfully defines the narrative of Gears of War: Sometimes it really is over long before it began.

When the day is done and I am logged into Xbox LIVE enjoying all of Gears of War 3's many offerings, I have very little to complain about. You have here a solid shooter that will keep you busy for months and multiplayer connectivity that will ensure you are not alone in your journey. Weather you're a die hard fan or just a casual Gaymer, Gears of War 3 will not disappoint. You might just find here a game that you can not live without.

To contact ROCsteady you can try him at his email at rocsteadygg@gmail.com

Deus Ex: Human Revolution is not a game you simply play. It is a game you make love to.

This is no casual "hookup" either, like one you might find in the
forgotten game section of your local department store. This is the kind of game that keeps you busy for an entire weekend, perhaps stopping briefly to order some take out...

Then it's back to business.

A game like Deus Ex: HR must have your full attention and the diligent administrations of a gamer tenacious enough to want to experience all it has to offer. And boyfriend, it is most definitely worth that kind of time.

Make the jump for the full review

It is also extremely accessible, which is quite marvelous considering how much it throws at you within a very short amount of time. Within the first 30 minutes I had played a first person shooter, a stealth game and a point and click adventure. And then it morphed into a customizable RPG.

You would think all of these factors would be cumbersome to an already ambitious title but those at Eidos Montreal have managed to include all the fun from this collection of genres and very little of the frustration. Simple controls make the shooting, stealth and exploration a breeze. Within minutes, thanks to the integrated tutorials I had all the information I needed for success and was free to fall into the folds of this epic spy story.

You take the role of Adam Jensen an ex SWAT that has been hired as head of security for Sarif Industries a top fortune 500 company. Sarif is a leader in the innovation of human prostheses.

In this society prosthetic augmentation is commonplace and companies like Sarif are vying for market saturation. Because of the problems associated with the human body and its natural defenses, those with prosthetic augmentations are required to take a drug known as Neuropozyne to prevent the body from rejecting the prosthesis. The result is a world dependant on large corporations to provide a substance necessary for survival, a remarkable parallel to the warring pharmaceutical companies of our own time. This dependency is the catalyst for the major moral crisis facing Jensen's reality, posing the question: "Where do we draw the line between human and machine"

As you discover more about the nature of augments (with Jensen) and their affect on the human body you will be asked to make choices which directly affect your game play experience and the fate of the human race.

Within the first hour of the game Jensen gets fatally wounded and is forced to under go this augmentation surgery to save his life. In the process he is enhanced with the most high tech tricks Sarif has to offer. It is these augmentations that tie in the action elements with a simple skill tree: the core mechanic of Deus Ex: HR.

Once you regain control of Jensen you can access the augmentation menu and tweak his abilities with something called Praxis points. You gain Praxis points in several ways: finding and using Praxis kits which can be found by completing mission objectives and exploring. You can visit one of the "always open" augmentation (L.I.M.B) clinics and finally by gaining experience. For every 5000 experience points you earn you get one Praxis point. Praxas kits are great for an instant boost to your abilities but it is by gaining experience by using those abilities that showcases the meat of Deus Ex which is its exceptional level design.

The levels are showcased as hideouts, police stations, apartments and military bases all connected to a sprawling HUB world (which I will discuss in a minute). Any building has at least 5 different ways you can get in. Each HUB world has winding passageways. You can infiltrate the world in many different ways. It all depends on how you tweak your augmentations.

Do you want to hack the back door of the nightclub? Boost your hacking skills to crack the code. Maybe you want to fast-talk the bouncer into letting you pass? Invest in the social augments and release pheromones to get him to see things your way. Perhaps you will climb the roof and to find a weak wall and use your beefed up arm augmentation to punch through and drop into a vent leading into the heart of the club. It is by spending the time to explore that will help you to discover what augments best fit your style.

Some augments are passive like hacking clearance and are always active. Some like the invisibility cloak and dual takedowns require a battery type energy gauge that can be extended with augmentation. Only the first cell will recharge naturally the rest must be refilled by consuming power bars or protein powders. Despite its initial frustration, gauge management ultimately creates a balance by forcing you to think of new pathways to compete objective rather than allowing you to muscle your way through.

As I quickly discovered, muscling you way through often times led to the load screen especially in the early levels when Jensen has very little to work with. I found the first few missions much simpler by choosing a non-lethal approach. Using my stun gun to knock out enemies and dragging their bodies out of sight. As you gain access to more augments there is more room for aggression. For example, the machine and shotgun for become much more useful with recoil reduction.

There are other weapons of course. Revolvers, rifles and grenade launchers are all easily found and are completely upgradeable with silencers, ammo caches and lasers. Most weapons, ammo and upgrade kits can be found if you take the time to look but you can also buy them from local merchants. These are mostly illegal operations so you have to be on the lookout for them in the more secluded areas of the HUB worlds.

The Hub worlds are central locations that have an always active mission objective that will further the story and several optional side missions that you can complete for experience and some back story.

Some of the side missions are predictable: "go and kill so and so" but some are more sensitive in nature, requiring you to talk to people rather than killing or anesthetizing them. One mission to help an old woman remember her past was so touching that I nearly forgot the madness happening in the world outside her door and even teared up a bit.

For those not interested in back story or weeping ladies I still recommend taking the time to talk to everybody and complete these side missions because the information you uncover is not all "filler fluff". If you take the time to look you can get some invaluable Intel that can save your ass (especially in one boss fight).

The story and side missions offer waypoints on the HUD that quite literally equate to "X-marks the spot". You can essentially just navigate Jensen towards the mark and completely ignore the world around you provided there are no hostiles in your way. This is an interesting design choice that I can only conclude is to keep you from looking closely at your surroundings. The world and its people are quite unattractive. Primitive texture mapping gives this game the feel of a late PS2 title and some of the NPCs were so poorly animated they made me feel like I was talking to one of Jim Hensen's Muppets.

A game like Deus Ex: HR demands a visual quality that can validate the scope of its other achievements. The Spartan graphics make the game feel cheap and at times can make the story seem silly and sophomoric. However, the other elements work so well, you will hardly notice after a while.

For all that Deus Ex: HR does right I have some other gripes as well.

The shooter elements are dummy proof and most weapons operate by simply pointing and shooting but the cross hairs are too slow to track a quickly moving target, which can lead to disorientation and frustration. A quick turn option would have made the action a lot more enjoyable.

Also, the AI is limited. Once you flesh out most of the augments, fighting enemies becomes almost comical. After triggering an alarm, most wander about aimlessly, forgetting they saw you jump behind a box mere moments before. It devolves into a game of waiting for their "alert" status to cool down before moving onward to ambush them. In one mission I knocked out a bartender in front of 50 witnesses and hid behind the bar. The bouncers clearly saw me hide there but still could not seem to find me! I hopped out from under the bar and they didn't even remember my earlier infraction! The bartender remained behind that bar, unconscious for the rest of the game. I guess every one had had enough to drink.

Gaymers, anything I have said about this game does little to do it justice. It must be played to be seen. The simplicity of the controls make the ambitious blend of game play mechanics easy to pick up for gamers of all levels and the story supports the core mechanics of the Augment menu with a narrative strength rarely seen in today's games.

If you're looking for a game to spend some quality time then Deus Ex: HR is for you. Take your time exploring his solid composition and many, many secrets. You will be thoroughly rewarded with a gaming experience you will not soon forget.