| There is a difficult decision every gamer must make | | | | pretty similar, with one player modes and online |
| when faced with the acquisition of a new game, | | | | gamplay with minor differences in story and whether |
| whether to rent that new release, or own a copy of | | | | your enemies are humans or aliens. I recommend |
| their own. No one likes buying a crappy game, but | | | | buying one or two because they will last a long time |
| there have also been many times when I've taken a | | | | in your PS3 or XBOX 360, but owning all of them |
| rental back that I ended up purchasing later. I want | | | | seems unnecessary. Renting the ones you don't own |
| to take the guesswork out of owning and renting | | | | is more than adequate to satisfy your curiousity of |
| the right kinds of games without you wasting money. | | | | the other games in the genre. |
| Everyone has different tastes, some people prefer | | | | Different genres of games fairly often determine the |
| racing games, and others can't get enough sports | | | | length of the game with RPGs being the longest. |
| titles, but you can generally trust the opinions of | | | | Games like Oblivion and Two Worlds can take |
| respected gaming websites like IGN and Gamespot | | | | hundreds of hours to complete if you like exploring |
| when they review games. When I am interested in a | | | | every nook and cranny, completing every quest, and |
| new game, I check out reviews from those websites | | | | finding the best weapons and armor. RPGs, in my |
| along with the player reviews when I need a second | | | | opinion, provide the most bang for your buck |
| opinion. You can trust your peers when it comes to | | | | because they provide a long and enjoyable journey |
| judging games and it can save you money when | | | | that in many cases plays like an interactive book. You |
| they tell you not to buy a game. | | | | can't really go wrong with buying and RPG if you do |
| Racing games nowadays often lack offline multiplayer | | | | your homework and look at reviews before you buy. |
| gameplay, and for me, that greatly reduces the | | | | My rule of thumb is if gaming websites rate an RPG |
| enjoyment received from such games. Series like | | | | at 7/10 or less, it's probably a fairly enjoyable game, |
| Need for Speed are fun for a few days, but don't | | | | but won't keep your attention long enough to |
| have the features other genres have that keep the | | | | warrant throwing down $60 (Eternal Sonata |
| gamer coming back. Online racing is fun, but I can | | | | anyone?). |
| drive vehicles in other games that also allow me to | | | | Some franchises are tried and true, like the |
| shoot at other players, so I can do a lot more in | | | | Uncharted games |
| other genres than I can in games that focus soley on | | | | Here's what to look into before buying a game: |
| racing. | | | | -Check the rating: the higher it is, the more likely the |
| Racing games get the heart pumping, but you might | | | | game will be good enough to keep you playing it |
| want to rent before you buy just to make sure it's a | | | | -Consider what types of genres you prefer, if you |
| good fit Multiplayer games that allow many people in | | | | love racing games and like Maggie Q, go ahead and |
| the same living room to enjoy a game at the same | | | | buy Need for Speed Undercover |
| time is are great additions to your video game | | | | -See an estimate of how long the game takes to |
| collection and are often a good buy. Games like Rock | | | | complete: why pay $60 for a game that you can |
| Band and Left 4 Dead get even better the more | | | | beat in a couple hours? |
| people you have playing and will usually last a long | | | | -Replay value: games that give the player different |
| enough time for you to get your money's worth, | | | | choices to make that effect the development of the |
| even if buying all that Rockband equipment was | | | | character and outcome of the game make it more |
| costly, it's still worth it in the long run. | | | | fun to go back and play the game again and take a |
| Shooters are a tricky genre to pass judgment on. | | | | different path |
| Back before consoles came with network capabilities, | | | | -Price: $60 for a new game is harsh, but that |
| shooters were easily in the rental category. But the | | | | clearance bin with the greatest hits can have some |
| ability for gamers to connect to the internet and play | | | | really good older games that you just never got |
| with others all over the world has greatly extended | | | | around to playing |
| the life of shooting games. Call of Duty and Halo 3 | | | | If the game doesn't meet the criteria above, pass on |
| are testaments to this, their online communities being | | | | buying it (as hard as it may be) and rent it for a few |
| in the hundreds of thousands with many players | | | | days instead, you'll be glad you did if the game turns |
| probably never even touching the single player | | | | out to be crappy because you can gladly send the |
| campaign mode. The market is getting flooded with | | | | game on its way and await the next one in your |
| first person shooters like Killzone 2, Call of Duty: | | | | queue, with your fingers crossed. |
| World at War, and Resistance 2, and they are all | | | | |