Everyone needs to vote in the All Time Greatest Villain Election--start now, and hopefully we'll see Andrew Ryan to the top. Honestly, just because you came first, doesn't mean you're better--Bioshock's characters prove that by being some of the most believable the industry has seen. And don't forget to complain that they didn't include Fontaine, Lamb, Cohen, the Helghast Commander, etc. They chose some obscure old school ones from the '90s instead.

Thinking of spending thosevaluablemicrosoft points? Find out here in the first and only review for the Protector Trials, the newest addition to the Bioshock universe.

http://www.gamespot.com/ps3/action/bioshock2protectortrials/player_review.html?id=732154&tag=all-about%3Breview1

Bioshock 2 is not as great as its predecessor. It's difficult to say otherwise. However, the fact remains that it is still one of the top games of 2010 and one of the best shooters on the market. Unlike Bioshock's single free DLC with extra genetic modifications and a widescreen adaptation for the game, Bioshock 2 has been one of the leading releasers of extra content since its February debut. Additional characters: a few hundred microsoft points. Sinclair Solutions Test Pack: four hundred, Protector Trials: four hundred, Rapture Metro Map Pack: eight hundred, and now a new single-player add-on coming this fall. When all is said and done, we diehard fans will have invested an extra 30 or more bucks in a game that was 60 to begin with. Is this bad? Yes and no. Like other companies, 2k is taking advantage of its followers by sucking every last cent out of them. Why not put some of these expansions in the shipped game, namely Sinclair's Pack with it already loaded on the disc waiting to be activated? Still, it's our choice to buy them, and we can only ask 2k to give a fuller experience for its next installment. And we can't pretend we're not at least somewhat excited about what Bioshock 2 and its expansions offer. They're fun, they're addictive, but when will they end and a new trip into Ryan's world break the surface (sorry)? The developers have announced Minerva's Den to be the final part of Bio2's story, so look for a new game announcement at E3 next year, if not earlier.

Kicking off the final full month of the summer, I'm making it a personal and community goal to choose one select videogame from any genre and playing it till our analog sticks fall of for that entire month. While we'll still be playing other titles, one in particular will receive our full attention. So, for the first Monthly Gaming experience, the title of choice is the 2007 FPS Game of the Year...

BIOSHOCK!

Either pick yourself up a copy for fifteen bucks at Gamestop or Amazon, or if you already own it--great! Get playing!

Madden NFL 11 Demo Review (also posted on blog): Madden has been a personal favorite for not only me but for the millions of others who flock to their virtual arena every season. Every year, I have devotedly purchased the newest edition. True, some were great and some good, but I was still impressed enough to at least pick up a used copy....For the 2010-2011 season, this all changes. After listening to the EA developers rant about Gameflow and Locomotion for months now, the demo has been released...precisely why my devoted trend comes to a sad end.

I have to admit, I was doubtful coming in, as the improvements seemed minor at best, but as usual I gave it an honest shot, hoping for a refined Madden 10 experience. Fifteen minutes was all I needed. I will not be purchasing Madden '11 or any future installments for that matter until it receives the attention it deserves. Upon starting it up, I was impressed by a slick menu system--however, no better than '10. Then comes the intro to the match, and am again mildly impressed by the slight improvement. Then the kicking meter....I have no idea why they changed it to this dumbed-down of Madden's best kicking scheme found in '10. It doesn't deliver the same powerful feeling or control as previous ones, making it obvious that it caters to newcomers, not hardcore or even experienced players.

But what of the offensive drive that follows? Same. Gameflow is an unnecessary rehash of ASK MADDEN and the Locomotion physics are again a very mild improvement of PRO-TAK. So, despite the poor kicking meter, it still feels eerily similar to last year's game....except one huge detail: the commentary. Gus Johnson's emergence onto the scene was very promising upon its announcement. In reality though, he might actually be worse than Hammond from the previous games. While he adds some enthusiasm, it feels extremely forced (ie- PEYTON MANNING throws to...DALLAS CLARK....at the NINETEEN!! Second down coming up.) This would be excusable if last year's commentary problems had been fixed. Chris Collensworth, for one, has practically no new lines, flashing us back to '09, and players' names and phrases are prerecorded inserts into the dialogue. In fact, there is no real dialogue. One makes a comment, then five seconds later the other says something remotely related--back in '09, it at least felt like the two were bantering back and forth, but now, with Gus, if feels even more awkward as the personalities clash.

Before shutting off my system in frustration and boredom in the 3rd quarter, I gave it one last shot--pull off a crazy play or two to see the announcers' reactions. After throwing a perfect hailmary to a covered receiver in the endzone, Gus had nothing more to say than, "That's Petyon Manning's 5th touchdown pass." Then upon missing the extra point on purpose, he says drearily, "PAT is no good....Let's look at the drive summary." I simply don't understand why these ugly issues haven't been fixed or why EA seems not to care. I promised myself that even if I thought it was simply good, not great, I'd pick one up. Unfortunately, for me and for the developers who won't be receiving my $60, it doesn't live up to even that standard.

I love watching and playing (real and virtual) football, so I am not some uninformed gamer who's come to bash the Madden Franchise. I respect it for what it's worth, but it appears that its value will decline with this years release. Based on the demo, please do not buy this game--it will not make you anyhappier than continuing with last year's Madden '10.

In order of rankings:

1) God of War 3 (9.5)

2) Splinter Cell: Conviction (9.5)

3) Mass Effect 2 (9.0)

4) Bioshock 2 (8.5)

5) Metro 2033 (8.0)

Note that there tons of other good games I've played, but these top the list as they are all rated 8.0/10 and up in myrating-system. Let's hope that we hit a10 this year with some heavily anticipated Fall/Winter Releases!

Bioshock 3: Suggestions for an Epic Franchise

First, I'll state Bio1 and Bio2 are both top-notch games that deserve to be commended, and are indeed some of this generation's finest. But there is so much untapped potential in this growing franchise, so here are some strong suggestions:

1) MAKE BIOSHOCK 3 A PREQUEL
Leave Eleanor's destiny alone for this upcoming installment. We loved the sequel's characters and plot, but the story of this majestic city needs to be reborn itself. Immerse us in the Utopian Rapture, Ryan's dream. Not only would it create the same sense of wonder we saw in the first game, but it would allow us to see a different side to certain extinct characters. For instance, to witness the debates between Lamb and Ryan, to see children ripped from their parents and taken to Little Sister Orphanages, and to truly feel the tension building in 1958 would add a new layer to the world. Consider introducing the protagonist as a Jew or another person who embodies the reason the cty was created, fleeing from the wartorn-Holocaust world above who trusted Rapture with returning him and his family to prosperity. An interesting option would be to end the game as you watch a particular commercial flight crash into the ocean while standing atop the tower or seeing Subject Delta lying face down in a pool of water at some point in the story, tying the plots together. Basically, think outside of conventional parameters and deliver an awe-inspiring experience that will conclude this franchise's run on this generation of consoles...if done correctly, it could leave room for more.

2) BUILD IT FROM THE GROUND-UP WITH A NEW ENGINE
The return to Rapture looked good visually--not great. Bio1's immersion is due heavily in part to the greatest graphics and artistic design of its time. Unfortunately, Bio2 simply doesn't shine in the category with games such as Uncharted 2 and Modern Warfare 2 now dominating the scene. In order to deliver a worthy prequel, the presentation is everything, especially considering the fact that you will never become as strong as Delta in the most recent installment with powerful plasmids to offset the world. This is among the most important components of developing this game.

3) DEVELOP A NEW GAMEPLAY METHOD
Don't completely rewrite the open-world scheme, just update. Do what Assassin's Creed 2 did--give the story more powerful and plot-progressing objectives. Make the player feel as if he is the character in a role-playing sense, returning to your family at night, exploring and fighting by day. Adopt the Farcry 2mechanic of having to patchyourself up on the run,replacing the outdated healthpack system, and adding to the immersive survival-horror setting.The bottom line is: Bio1 and 2 used the same unique mechanic. Add to it by make you be a CITIZEN of Rapture, not simply a visitor.

4) EXECUTE AN EVENLY PACED PLOT WITH A MIND-BLOWING ENDING
The first two's endings were solid wrap-ups; this needs to define the game, a culmination of a steadily more intriguing story where there is no dressing up as a Big Daddy to lure out Little Sisters or collecting plants to lure out a madman. Again, make every action in the game have a purpose, even if it shortens the game's length to deliver a blockbuster-like experience.

5) IMPROVE THE MULTIPLAYER
Don't trash it, don't leave it be. The foundation has been layed, now make it widely appealing and unique. Deliver the emotion of each team being a separate warring faction--Ryan vs. Atlas vs. Lamb's Family. Also, Rapture is too large and detailed in scope to confine it to a map. Take the risk--similar to what Red Dead Redemption did with its acclaimed multiplayer in making it nearly a separate game. Have matches with hundreds of players fighting across an open-world city, giving players an experience unique to THAT game.

Please 2k, take these into consideration and deliver more than a lack-luster, profit-driven game. If everyone pushes the developers, the groundbreaking game we're looking for will happen.

Hey Gamespot! If you're contemplating whether or not to invest in a game, just check out my reviews. I'll keep them coming.