Bargain Bin Gems

Call of Duty 4(PC/PS3/Xbox 360)
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_FPS – £10_

**Chris**: I began playing COD 4 shortly after it was released in 2007. At the time there was a lot of hype surrounding the game, although no one could have predicted that Modern Warfare would revolutionise not only the series, but also the shooter genre in the way that it did. Having played both of the subsequent Modern Warfare games, I feel that even today there is something about the original that makes it a classic and far better than the more recent releases.

The main story puts you in the role of a variety of characters from SAS soldiers to US marines. The plot centres on the US and the UK’s efforts to prevent Zakhaev, a Russian ultranationalist, and Al-Asad from forming an alliance and launching nuclear missiles against the West. The game-play is fast and exhilarating and there is a fantastic mix of environments from the dusty shanty towns of the Middle East to the abandoned and desolate backwaters of Russia. Unlike its sequels, Modern Warfare has a sense of scale and I feel that much of the game is relevant given the war-zones that the West operates in today. Based on its superior single-player and given that the multi-player is far less ridiculous (and therefore more addictive in my opinion) than its sequels makes Call of Duty: Modern Warfare a must-have game.

**Ben**: I started playing this long after its initial release, buying it on a whim last year. Since then, I have not looked back. Unlike the subsequent sequels, the campaign is an essential part to the game, with a riveting plot, some awe inspiring action sequences and solid gameplay the series has become renowned for. You won’t constantly find yourself being bombarded with ever bigger explosions as you do in MW3 meaning that each event has more of an impact. At the price it is now, it is worth getting this even if it is just for the single player.
In terms of multiplayer, COD 4 holds its own against the others. Although there are fewer customization options available, in many ways it allows for a more balanced game. You won’t find yourself at the bottom of the leader board because some twat has achieved a 25 kill streak and launched a nuke.

Company of Heroes(PC)
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_RTS- £5_

**Ben**: The only time I would sway from my console to play games on my incredibly underpowered PC was a craving one of my favourite gaming genres – Real Time Strategy. Despite attempts, I have never felt consoles provide the level of control required in an RTS and therefore have always opted for my laptop for these games. Long a fan of the Command and Conquer series, I was introduced to what I now consider the greatest RTS of all time: Company of Heroes (yeah you heard, StarCraft fans).

Set in locations all over war-torn Europe during the Second World War, the player takes control of either US or German forces to battle it out for control points across the map. Each point provides resources, meaning defence is also essential to ensure the enemy does not cut off your fuel supply. With a wide variety of units, all beautifully recreated with stunning graphics (even on my poor excuse of a laptop), and each one with unique abilities and upgrades, the game allows for a wide number of tactics. You’ll find yourself completely immersed as you order your troops to strategic positions. The only criticism I would offer is that constant surveillance of your units in the field is a requirement, as whilst they do defend themselves, they will often get flanked.

You can pick up the full game with expansion packs (which adds the Brits!) for under a tenner, making it well worth your dollar.

**Chris**: Despite being released almost six years ago, there is still an extremely loyal following online and this is where I would argue the most exciting action occurs. With the potential for enormous 4 vs. 4 battles, Company of Heroes features quick-paced gameplay that makes it a very challenging yet exciting game. Unlike some RTS’s, when playing online I found that there is no use digging in and relying on your defences as even the most experienced player can easily be out-manoeuvred by an aggressive opponent. Harbouring a total of four factions each equipped with their own unique units, special abilities and tech trees, Company of Heroes offers players an exciting mix of different gameplay styles. Therefore, it is up to you to decide whether you want to pursue a blitzkrieg approach centred on speed and destruction or whether you wish to take more of a defensive stance.

With Company of Heroes also featuring gorgeous graphics, a neat little campaign and an epic soundtrack, it is an extremely enjoyable game to play.

Just Cause 2(PC/ PS3/ Xbox 360)
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_Action/Adventure- £10_

**Ben**: Just Cause 2 can only be described as GTA on steroids: incredibly fun, doesn’t take itself seriously and like GTA, will keep you hooked for hours.

You play an agent sent to a fictional tropical island in South East Asia to bring down a military despot and cause as much chaos as possible, with an emphasis on the latter. To do this, you complete missions for various rebel factions around the island, most of which involve capturing government bases or blowing up buildings or equipment. With a huge variety of weapons and vehicles to play with, from rocket launchers to jet planes, this generally isn’t a difficult task, though will get more challenging as enemies get stronger.

The biggest attraction though is the island itself, which is huge in scale and encompasses different environments. Cities, jungle and snow capped peaks are all present giving you plenty of variety in the settings, though this huge sandbox of fun does have a few problems, notably long travelling times between each mission. The scale is so crazy you’ll spend a good few minutes flying across the island in a jet plane. You are, though, equipped with a grappling hook and unlimited amount of parachutes allowing you to fling yourself across the island with ease. The grappling hook is perhaps the most useful tool in your arsenal, allowing you to latch on to anything and can also be used as a weapon against enemies. One can spend hours trying to use it for stupid feats, whether it is hanging on to the back of a jumbo jet in mid flight, attaching an enemy soldier to a passing car and watching him get dragged off, or just using it to scale the tallest buildings. Thanks to it, the possibilities are endless.

The only thing missing from this game is the ability to wreck havoc on this tropical paradise with a friend – online play is sadly absent.

Resident Evil 4(PS2/ Gamecube/Wii /PS3/Xbox 360)
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_Survival/Horror- £5_

**Chris**: I was recently trawling through my old PS2 games when I came across Resident Evil 4, the game responsible for generating mass appeal in the Resident Evil series. The story is based in a rural and remote region of Eastern Europe and follows Leon Kennedy as he attempts to rescue the US president’s daughter who has been kidnapped by a cult of villagers. Despite Resident Evil 4’s age, its graphics are very good by PS2 standards and the immersion that the game exhibits rivals even the most recent of games. Although the story is very linear, it is still extremely challenging and I would argue that the playtime is a solid 20 hours, therefore making it well worth the money.

Perhaps what is most memorable about Resident Evil 4 are the enemies that you encounter. Unlike the mindless hordes of zombies from the earlier games, Resident Evil 4 pits you against a nice array of foes including the memorable Dr Salvador (Chainsaw Man) as well as villagers, soldiers, Regenerators and the deadly Iron Maidens. To add to this list there are also a vast number of bosses, each possessing their own unique characteristics.

The environments in Resident Evil 4 are also rather varied, with the campaign beginning in a misty and remote village and progressing through to a gothic castle and an island. To add to the immersion and bleak atmosphere, each boss fight is also accompanied by a fantastically produced soundtrack.

With the price of the original PS2 version at around £6 and the PS3/ Xbox 360 version priced at roughly £16, Resident Evil 4 is truly a bargain and should easily provide enough entertainment until Resident Evil 6 is released later this year.

Sins of a Solar Empire(PC)
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_RTS – £5_

**Chris**: As one of the first space-based RTS games that I have played, the underrated Sins of a Solar Empire certainly does not fail to impress. Developed by Ironclad games, Sins allows the player to choose between one of three warring factions: the Trader Emergency Coalition (TEC), the Advent and the Visari. As is standard with RTS games, the ultimate objective of the game is conquer your opponents. To this end, Sins features an enormous variety of units and structures which range from the dominant capital ships to the smaller cruisers and frigates.

What impresses me most about Sins is its scale. Even a small game has the potential to stretch across numerous galaxies, and the game allows players to witness events unfold at both the unit level and at the interplanetary level. In addition, the total number of units that can be created is vast, so you can easily expect to see one battle feature a hundred or more ships. To add to this, the level of graphical detail in Sins is fantastic and watching ships as they explode in space is extremely satisfying.

One negative point that I have about the game is the lack of factions. With only three available there is the chance that you may get tired of them, particularly given that each race essentially has a different variant of the same unit. However, this is something that you will only begin to notice after you have played many hours into the game and as Sins is constantly having new expansions made for it there is still a lot of enjoyment to be had.

With the original game priced at around £5, Sins of a Solar Empire is an absolute bargain. Its huge scale and cinematic polish make it an intense game that is certainly worth a play through.

Assassin’s Creed 2(Xbox 360/PS3/PC)
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_Action/Adventure -£5_

**Ben**: Ubisoft invested a lot of money in the first Assassin’s Creed, and despite some beautiful locations and some interesting game mechanics, it was ultimately a flop. For the sequel, the developers took on the criticism of the predecessor and created a fresh and engaging experience.

Assassin’s Creed 2 takes place in Italy during the middle of the Renaissance, an interesting setting that hasn’t, at least to my knowledge, been covered in games to date. Both Florence and Venice are stunning locations to merely look at, both bustling with activity and really allow you to immerse yourself in the 15th century world. I spent hours simply exploring these two vast cities, climbing roof tops and jumping from building to building. To aid navigation in this world, the game uses a very simple free running mechanic, allowing your character to run, jump and climb with ease.

The story is also appealing, taking inspiration from the pages of history to tell the tale of Ezio Auditore, who discovers he’s part of a long line of assassins and must fight against the order of Templers. Along the way, you’ll meet real life characters such as Da Vinci, whose wondrous inventions you’ll be able to use in Ezio’s battles. The quests are always compelling and generally varied in their nature. Though not the longest game, it will keep you entertained for a good while, and who knows, you may learn a few facts along the way!