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Contra 4 Review

(DS)
Released: 11/13/07 (US)
Rated T
Developer: Wayfoward
MSRP: $29.99

The old-school roughneck Contra series is back to form with its DS release "Contra 4".

The game simply is a retro gamers dream, with the classic contra game-play in contact, and more hardcore ever than ever. The action this time takes place in two screens, which makes you more alert to your whole DS, because there's enemy's shooting from top and bottom screen. The game does not hold back, with its extremely hard difficulty. Contra 4's biggest flaw is the gap between the screens, it 's an invisible layer which bullets can come and hit from out of nowhere, but that still doesn't stop this game from being the best in the series. The replay value in this game is amazing, its packed in with not only contra 4, but with the original NES Contra, Super C, and Contra 3. The game also has a museum, which shows the history of every single contra game, with screens, and its most challenging feat. " challenge mode ", which u need to do, to unlock the old contra games.

This game has revived one of the most beloved franchises, even though it doesn't do anything new to the series, it still does all the right things, that reminded us why we love Contra.

~Burnt Crust

Final Score: 8.5/10

Pretty Good

The Triforce: Game of the Year 2007 Awards

NOTE* LISTEN TO THE PODCAST (EPISODE 10) FOR THE FULL EXPERIENCE

Best Fighting Game

Virtua Fighter 5:Online (360)

Virtua Fighter 5 is the best fighting game of the year, and we are not talking about the PS3 version. The Xbox 360 Version of VF5 has online and that right there, it's AWESOME. With a complex fighting system and great graphics this is the game you need if you are all about fighters.

Runner up:
(Any other Fighting game)

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Best RPG Game
Mass Effect (360)

Bioware did it again, a massive RPG game of the year. More heavy in the action, but still a RPG that can't be missed.

Runner Up:

Persona 3

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Best Strategy Game

Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn (Wii)

Whenever a Fire Emblem game comes out, you know it's going to be good. Just like this one on the Nintendo Wii. Radiant Dawn is the most challenging and fun strategy game you will play this year on any console. Got a Wii? Check this game out.

Runner Up:
Soul Nomad
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Best Sports Game:
NBA 2k8 (360, Ps3)

2k sports made an other outstading basketball game. with a deep association mode and full feature online makes it the best overall sport game this year.
Read Review

~Mr. Striker

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Best Puzzle Game:
Zack and Wiki (Wii)

"Zack and Wiki, has humor, charm, nice graphics, great and easy controls, unbelievingly clever puzzles, and overall its a fun experience that can only happen on the Wii."
Read Review

Runner Up:
Portal

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Best Shooter:
Halo 3 (360)

Everyone knows Halo 3 is the biggest seller of the year. You know why? It's because the best shooter on the market. Now you might bring up Call of duty 4, but Halo 3 has the multiplayer that is much more exciting than CoD4.

Runner Up:
Call of Duty 4

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Best Action Game:
God of War II (Ps2)

GoW2 is just Non-stop Action. Listen to Episode 10.

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Best Platformer:
Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)

"Super Mario Galaxy has finally hit, and it delivered every aspect in what a plat former should bring."
Read Review

Runner Up:
Ratchet and Clank: Future

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Best Racing Game:
Forza 2 (360)

Forza Motorsport 2 provides you with many hours of racing. With the added online modes this should also increase your chances of continuing to play and the customization on the cars should last you a very long time. Most things come out great in Forza Motorsport 2 - the sounds, graphics, and AI. In all make this game a very well-created project. Thats why it's the best racing game of the year!

~Mr. Striker

Runner Up:
PGR4

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Best Music Game
Rock Band (360,PS3)

Rock band is every music game put together and made perfect. This is the ultimate music game of the year by far, and probably will be the next year too. Thanks to it's downloadable content and nonstop fun.

Runner Up:
Guitar Hero III

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Best Graphics:
Call of Duty 4 (360, PS3)

The graphics for this game are outstanding. They are truly next-gen. Each character and enemy you come across is unique and realistic. The different environments are also greatly detailed and make you feel like your actually in the war.

Runner up:
Crysis (We couldn't play it.)
Bioshock

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Best Online Game
Halo 3 (360)

Halo 3 is a spectacular multiplayer game. This game is has alot of people playing, and it's fun and addicting. With people doing crazy things online with Forge and uploading clips of their OverKills and head shots, it makes it the best online experience of 2007. This is of course the most played Online game.

Runner Up:
Call of Duty 4

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Best Multiplayer Game
Rock Band (360, PS3)

Call your friends over for Rock Band, they will never leave the house and they will come every day. Rock out with a BUNCH of tracks. This is the ultimate party game.

Runner Up:
Halo 3

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Best Story:
Mass Effect (360)

If Mass Effect weren't a game, it would be a two-inch thick novel.The universe is extremely deep for a new franchise. I would go into detail about story, but I wont spoil it for you. It's just AMAZING!

~Mr. Striker

Runner Up
Bioshock
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Best Soundtrack
Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)

"The music has a few throwbacks from Super Mario Bros. 3, that old Mario fans will appreciate and love, with an addition of new ones that sound surprisingly epic for a Mario game."
Read Review

Runner Up:
Rock Band
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Biggest Suprise:
Jeff Gerstmann Fired from Gamespot

Who knew a Gamespot Editor who worked there for 11 years can get fired for some unknown reason. Most people thought it was the Kane and Lynch Review but according to Gamespot and the Hotspot, it was not cause of that. But none the less, this has to be the biggest surprise ever that happened this year.

Runner Up:
Bioshock
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Best PSP Game:
Silent Hill Origins

It's scary and has great graphics. This is basically a console game on a handheld, not a port, a real PSP game.

Runner Up:
Jearne Darc
Castlevania Dracula Chronicle X
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Best DS game
Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass

Phantom Hourglass masters the DS stylus controls.

Runner Up:
Contra 4

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Best Wii Game:
Super Mario Galaxy

The First 10/10 game on The Triforce
Read Review

Runner Up:
Metroid Prime 3 Corruption
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Best PS2 Game:
God of War II

GoW2 came out early in the year 2007, and we did not forget about it. Because of the epicness and the crazy boss fights, this game makes it to our list. Graphic wise, this game can still beat some of the next gen games out there. Also the music is still stuck in my head.

~Moeshiznit

God of War 2 may not be the best action of all time, but the best ps2 game. The giant set pieces, over the top combat, and many graphical enhancements makes this game even better then some of the next gen games out there. God of War 2 is a must play for mature audiences only.

~SW Balla

Runner Up:
Persona 3
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Best PS3 Game:
Uncharted: Drake's Fortune

Listen to Episode 10.

Runner Up:
Ratchet and Clank: Future
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Best 360 Game:
Bioshock

Listen to Episode 10.

Runner Up
Mass Effect
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Biggest Disappointment:
Assassin's Creed (360, PS3)

A hyped game that came out to be most disappointing.
Reviewed: 5.5/10
Read Review
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Best Value:
The Orange Box (360, PS3)

Where do I start, The Orange Box is THE best value pack of the century. Games like Half-Life 2, Episodes 1 and 2, Team Fortress 2, last but not least Portal. What's not to say about The Orange Box. If you like fantastic games, then the Orange Box would fit right into your stocking this holiday season.

~SW Balla

Runner Up:
Link's Crossbow Training
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Donut King's Game of the Year
Halo 3

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Mr. Striker's Game of the Year
Call of Duty 4

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SW Balla's Game of the Year
Mass Effect

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Burnt Crust's Game of the Year
Super Mario Galaxy

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Moe Shiznit's Game of the Year
Super Mario Galaxy

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TRIFORCE GAME OF THE YEAR:
Super Mario Galaxy

Episode 10 is OUT

Game of the Year edition folks, listen and find out what is Game of the year. Also Jeff Gerstmann FIRED!!

*To listen goto iTunes and subscribe to our podcast (search Triforce), or Click listen now!

Assassin's Creed Review

(PS3, Xbox 360)
Released: 11/14/07 (US)
Rated: M
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
MSRP: $59.99

Game of the year contender? Probably not.

When Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed was first shown, jaws were dropped. You can climb anything and go anywhere, it was just so crazy. Now the game is out and it disappointed the hell out of me.

Let's get in to the flaws first. This game has so much repetition that it will bore you to death. I'm serious, all you do is run around the city and just do the same thing over and over again. The missions get boring quick. I mean how many times do I have to save a citizen. The good thing is that you don't have to, but sometimes you do. The could've made it different to save the citizen, but no, throughout the whole game you are saving these citizens the same way, listening to their same sayings.

The missions in this game are atrocious, they lack the fun and put you to sleep. They are probably fun for the first time, but then you will keep doing these stupid missions for the whole game. Missions like eavesdropping, interrogation and goto the high point aren't fun. Also that's all the missions right there. Imagine Grand Theft Auto: Vice City with just taxi missions, ambulance and police missions; throughout the whole game but those missions are much funner than Assassin's Creed.

Sure the environments are big and gorgeous but they are the same as the rest. They look different but they feel the same. Jerusalem, Acre, and whatever the other one is. You see, I can't even remember the other one because they all have the same god damn missions. There's nothing memorable about them either.

The story of the game is very stupid in my opinion and confusing, thats all you need to know. I probably would have liked the story if the cutscenes were better. Because the cutscenes in this game, are extremely dull. All Altair does is just stand there and listen to a lecture which is never interesting.

Let's go in to the good things. The controls are solid and very simplified. All you need to do is hold the right trigger and the jump button and there you have it, you can climb any thing and jump to any destination you are pointing with the analog stick. The combat is ok at best because later on you just parry the enemies and it gets annoying. Graphic wise the game looks great. Very detailed and has a unique style to it.

Sure this game is kind of innovative with many people on screen and a hardcore free running sim. But All in all this game is not worth $60.00, it's probably worth the rental to check it out, I'm sure you will not finish it.

~MoeShiznit

Final Score: 5.5/10

They Tried

Episode 9 (finally)

Finally! The episode you've been waiting for!

Just to let you know, we are not quiting this podcast. So enjoy this Thanksgiving Special edition of the Tri-Force Podcast.

Listen now, or subscribe on iTunes.

Super Mario Galaxy Review

(Wii)
Released: 11/13/07 (US)
Rated E
Developer: Nintendo
MSRP: $49.99

Super Mario Galaxy has finally hit, and it delivered every aspect in what a plat former should bring. This game takes a huge step forward on the genre, just like what Mario 64 did, and this is the true successor of Mario 64. The game opens up with Mario getting an invitation from peach, leading to that comes bowser, who kidnaps the princess (again) starting off Mario's new adventure. Gravity plays a big role in this game, making for some cool gameplay mechanics.

The presentation is beautiful, with over 50 galaxies to venture, and each with there own unique look that really distances them from each other. The lighting is top notch, and you've never seen Mario look this damn good before in your whole life. Yea, this is the best looking Wii game, and it proves to us that Nintendo's little machine has some power after all. The pretty looking graphics is also backed up with an amazing orchestrated score, setting up the mood of the game, and bringing a smile to our faces. The music has a few throwbacks from Super Mario Bros. 3, that old Mario fans will appreciate and love, with an addition of new ones that sound surprisingly epic for a Mario game. The game is played with the the nunchuck and wii-mote, you jump with A, and shoot star bits with B. Star Bits are used to shoot at your enemies, and to feed hungry Luma's, once you feed the hungry Luma enough star bits, he'll transform into a galaxy, which now is accessible to go. Shake the Wii-mote to spin attack. and jump, while in mid-air press Z to do the famous Butt-stomp(ground pound). The game plays so nicely, and even more thanks to its genius level design; the way there implemented into the game is simply astonishing, also executing it with Mario, with his precise controls is one unforgettable experience in gaming.

Super Mario Galaxy is simply magic, that will reach out and touch your heart. You wont want to stop playing till you achieve all 120 stars , and the more stars you get the more challenge you get out of it. This game is hard to stop playing, and if you do, you just cant stop thinking about. This game certainly has the " feel good " feel when you play, leaving you close to tears, to how good the game is. All the recognition I'm giving this game may sound that its perfect, but let me say that this game is not perfect, there's a few camera issues, even though its good most of the time, there might be times that it can be bothersome. If I don't give this game a 10 out of 10, then I don't know what deserves a 10, like I said, this game is not perfect, but this game is too freaking close to perfection, giving this game a 10 is the right thing to do, and well deserved for Super Mario Galaxy.

~Burnt Crust

Final Score: 10.0

Instant Classic

Call of Duty 4 Review

(PS3, Xbox 360, PC)
Released: 11/05/07
Rated M
Developer: Infinity Ward
MSRP: $59.99

Infinity Ward's World War II shooter comes to the modern era but does it blows us away?

You might think you've seen it all, but then Infinity Ward's latest war pageant rolls out some new tricks. With a single player experience this spectacular, and with this much multiplayer content, here's a shooter you won't want to miss.

The story in Call of Duty 4 is mostly from the perspectives of an American and a British soldier whose storylines eventually converge. There's even a nicely developed back story and an astonishing third act twist.

The Single-player campaign is simply fantastic. Each level you play will keep you on your edge of your seat. The reason the campaign is so good is that each level is different and you actual feel like a solider out on the battlefield. Yes the game is short (6-8 hours) but those 6-8 hours will be amazing. The only complaint I have for the campaign is that there is no co-op.

The multiplayer is easily strong enough to be a standalone game. It's every bit as good as recent multiplayer gems like, Team Fortress 2, and Halo 3. With the arrival of Call of Duty 4, this will be a difficult season for the wallets of gamers who like to go online. the real hook is an experience point system that lets you unlock new weapons and special abilities called "perks". You then mix and match these to create your own classes. Perks range from the usual (extra health, extra damage, longer sprinting) to some really inventive tricks like getting in a last shot when you've been killed or being invisible to enemy radar scans. During the course of a match, getting a string of kills will unlock radar scans, air strikes, and a ruthless helicopter that circles the battlefield and guns down enemy players. The 16 maps are tightly constructed and finely detailed, with a wider range of sizes than the previous Call Of Duty’s.

By raising the single-player bar and also including a full-featured multiplayer game with its addictive leveling system, Call of Duty 4 isn't just a rehash with a number after the title; it's one of this busy holiday season's must-have titles. In my opinion it’s one of the best first person shooter I ever played, yes even over Halo 3 and Half-Life 2.

Final Score: 9.5
Must Buy

~Mr. Striker

Burnt's Quickie

"Pause, This game is hot and all, but chilll it ain't better than Half life 2 or Halo 3.

Zack and Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure Review

(Wii)
Released: 10/23/07 (US)
Rated E
MSRP: $39.99

Zack and Wiki is the best third party wii game to date, Its a crime if you don't purchase this hidden gem. The game is a point and click adventure that utilizes the Wii's capability's to the fullest. The game also makes you use your old noggin , Thinking is the fundamental of the game. You start of as Zack, a sea pirate rabbit, addicted to treasure and, wiki a magical golden monkey that can transform enemy's into items. The game is only played by using the wii-mote, and you point to anything around the environment to observe, and click; the same goes for moving. Sounds simple enough, but don't let this games cute cel-shaded graphics, and wiki's annoying voice fool you, this game will have your head scratching, and pondering hard what to do next.

You only control zack through 7 huge stages, and wiki is only used when you shake the wii-mote as a bell to shift enemys into items. At first the games puzzles may not seem like much, but once you start to progress through the game, you'll be forced to use a guide. The wii-mote is used in over 20 different gestures, for example sawing a tree, using it as a phone, fishing, using contraptions, and so on. The game also does a good job in keeping each puzzle unique and fresh, it wont feel like you did something similar, or the same in the game. Solving a puzzle is also very satisfying, and even more seeing how well you got graded , the game grades your puzzle-solving skills on how fast u can clear the stage.

Zack and wiki, has humor, charm, nice graphics, great and easy controls, unbelievingly clever puzzles, and overall its a fun experience that can only happen on the wii. i have a few complaints that I may have to go over, there minor ones though. If you mess up a puzzle, you have to start all over from the beginning, unless you pay for a revive which lets you start from where u messed up. Some puzzles are really well designed, but to know what to do in some puzzles you have to die, to know not to do that again, kinda like memorize where not to go and go. I just wish that we could've had more ways in doing the puzzle, not the same linear way all time, for it can add more replay value in the game, but a few levels actually have secrets, and another complaint I have is BUY THIS GAME FOR WE CAN GET A GODDAMN SEQUEL!!!

Final Score: 9.0
Must Buy

~Burnt Crust

Episode 9 DELAYED

For a good reason though. The next episode will be the best, hands down. I mean, you will be glad that you waited this long. Plus with the release of Super Mario Galaxy and Assassins Creed, we will have alot to talk about.

BTW those aren't the only games that are coming out in the week. There's much much more. (Contra 4, Resident Evil Umbrella Chronicles, etc.)

Podcasts

Subscribe on iTunes, this page is under construction.

What the hell is a Burnt's Quickie?

A Burnt's Quickie is a quick review by Burnt Crust. By determening the expression of his face, you can tell how he likes or dislikes the game. It is also followed by a one to three sentences review. Expect this for every review for the lazy people who don't like reading that much can just scroll down and look at the quickie.

Here is how the face criteria goes...


= 0.0-3.5=Trash

= 4.0-5.5=They Tried

= 6.0-7.5=Aight at Best

= 8.0-8.5=Pretty Good

= 9.0-9.5=Must Buy

= 10.0=Instant Classic

Guitar Hero III Review

(PS2, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360, PC, Mac)
Released: 10/28/07 (US)
Rated T

Guitar Hero III is the sequel to the highly sold Guitar Hero II. Funny thing is that this one is developed by Neversoft, the people who brought you Tony Hawk. While this one might not be by Harmonix, Neversoft totally nails the trick. Guitar Hero III will make you feel like that you are playing a Harmonix game.

One problem with Guitar Hero II was, that the playlist wasn't as strong as the first game. The songs did indeed get boring after a while. So did Guitar Hero III fix the problem? Sort of. The playlist in GH III is much better than II's but they do get less fun to play.

There are many new things GH III has that II doesn't. One gripe people had about II was that you couldn't play Co-op Career mode. Well now GH III has it. This makes the game fun to play with your friends. There's also new characters in the game as well as the old ones. And for the first time ever, online.

Online play was one big thing announced for GH III. It was interesting at first, but I lost interest fast. The online mode is great and all, but it was very hard for me to find a match. Then when you find one, you fight one of the greatest GH players and lose horribly. Still it's a awesome mode added for GH fans and it runs smooth.

The gameplay is the same from the other GH games, but they added Boss Battles to somewhat change the gameplay. Throughout career mode, you will fight guitarists, such as Slash. The gameplay still is the same, but they add these little traps for the other player. Think of Mario Kart, where you get a red shell and mess up the other player. Well it's kind of like that. If you strum all the notes right, you will get a power that you can throw at the opponent. Like a string cutter that will make one of your opponent's guitar strings useless and he/she will have to jam on that button to make it work. Boss battles are interesting at first, but they are nothing special.

Guitar Hero III is still a good game, but if you can't handle hard mode and will not have time to be good at it, I suggest you just goto a friends house and play it. But if you 5 stared almost every song on expert and you are hungry for more Guitar Hero, then this is the game for you.

Final Score: 8.5
Pretty Good

~MoeShiznit

Burnt's Quickie
"Welcome to the Jungle, this game ain't fun to play!"