The stench of rotting corpses fills the air, alone and separated from your group, fear begins to set in. As you scramble gingerly and take a glance of the inhospitable surroundings, a slight misstep could spell the end. In the distance, the sound of chewing and gnawing is all too familiar. A horde of walkers have claimed yet another life. When will it all end?

Lee Everett, the games protagonist is first seen in a patrol vehicle on route to prison. A former university professor, his reputation is now tarnished and battered. What he doesnt know is that the next few days will make all that pale in comparison. Within minutes, a walker causes the vehicle to swerve and tailspin onto the side of the road, spiraling out of control into a ditch. Dazed momentarily, Lee makes his way out of the wreckage by breaking the windscreen.

Lees very first encounter with a walker is truly memorable as the policeman, or at least whats left of him is crawling menacingly towards you. A quick glance to the right, you notice a shotgun beside you. Left with no choice, you are forced to put it out of its misery. Fumble and take too long to react, and it could get messy.

The walkers here are no pushover

The Walking Dead presents you with many different choices to play the game. Do you shoot someone to save them from the unimaginable pain of being eaten alive? Take supplies that isnt yours out of sheer desperation or risk starvation? Choosing to spare the life of a maniac isnt so easy when the opportunity presents itself. Be the guy who thinks of nothing but the safety of the group or one that everyone would loathe and despise. These are just some of the choices that the game presents to you. How you choose to respond, whom do you pledge your allegiance with, or decide to rescue they ultimately go a long way in altering the game. Which is why, playing differently on your next session just to see what other alternatives can unravel is very much encouraged.

No zombie apocalypse would be complete without a well diverse cast, and this is where The Walking Dead delivers. Staples of the genre; college jock, the journalist with a keen eye, an overly protective dad, and an orphan are just some of the different people you will meet. Their motives and hidden agenda bring much conflict and tension once food and medication supplies run dry. Often at times, Lee will have to play peacekeeper and attempt to diffuse the situation.

With top-notch writing, initiating conversations isnt a chore but an integral experience. Friendships turn hostile, uneasy alliances are formed out of sheer desperation, romance could spark as you get to know someone, this game has emotion down to a pat. And in an industry marred with many one-dimensional characters that fail to engage, the cast here are well-rounded and relatable.

Amidst the chaos, humanity is very much alive

Players use the left analog to control Lee while the right one is reserved for looking around the environment. Everyday tools such as shovels, ladders and wrenches can be used to get out of a sticky situation or to fight off incoming walkers. Conversations are more often then not, timed as you are forced to choose from four options to respond. Get caught telling a lie and you will be called on it, raising further suspicion on Lee. Your actions are also tied and timed to the D-pad. Be too quick and press on the trigger, and it will alert walkers to your presence. With the onrush of footsteps and no escape in sight, scanning the environment for an exit or a tool that you can use, is bound to set your heart racing.

Point and click games will always have the issue of certain items and objectives not being highlighted clearly enough which is bound to frustrate and cause moments of aimlessly wandering around, but as they occur so rarely, it doesnt detract from the experience. If you appreciate a well woven tale that is high on drama and intrigue, $20 is all but a small sum. Ironically, The Walking Dead revives the slumbering point and click games from its grave to new heights, and sets the benchmark for others to follow. Season 2 cant come soon enough.

Most bizarre moment (LOOK AWAY IF YOU HAVENT BEATEN THE EPISODE): Episode 2 will leave you disgusted once the motives of a group is revealed. Something about the St. Johns just doesnt seem right. With those shifty eyes and Brendas willingness to cook up a meal for our whole group, surely something is up. You see, they have a well thought out plan, survivors who wander onto the area will be presented with an offer that is too good to pass up on. Food for gas, you say? Fair trade in a world gone to shit. We will just keep you alive long enough and feast on your flesh. Its downright gory and sick, but thats what make this episode so awesome.

Link to review: The Walking Dead

Feel free to give me your critiques/suggestions on how I can improve :D

The PS3 is one well rounded console that has seen the introduction of various exclusives, some brilliantly executed productions that put many an action film to shame, a cel-shaded strategy game that is as gorgeous as it is fun to play, to a broken mess of a game that failed to live up to its enormous hype (Lair is that game). Now we get that not everyone will agree with our choices, which has some omissions that may surprise you, and trust us, deciding upon the finalized list was an arduous task in itself. 

Note: This article was also written by tjsmoke63, rigbybot127 which was initially posted on Leet Gamers Asia

With that out of the way, here is the list:

10. Resistance: Fall of Man (tjsmoke63)

When the PS3 launched in 2006, it didnt exactly have a host of stand-out titles. One of them, however, that did stand out was a sci-fi first person shooter from Insomniac Games, who had previously been best known for their action platformers Spyro and the Ratchet and Clank series. Resistance: Fall of Man follows the exploits of Nathan Hale through an alternate history 1951 where the Earth has been invaded by a hostile alien species known as the Chimera. Hale makes his way through Britain, battling a variety of enemies while on foot and in vehicles (an early tank section stands out, and was one of the more fun missions in the game). Hale has at his disposal a wide array of weaponry with which to tackle the alien menace. In addition to your typical pistols and assault rifles, Insomniac, much as they did with the Ratchet and Clank series, also gives you some very creative pieces to take out your foe.

The Chimera are relentless as they are diverse

The Auger was one such weapon, whose primary attack is a rapid fire but the bullets burrow through walls and emerge with a greater strength, and the secondary attack creates a shield that blocks enemy fire, but allows you to shoot the enemy. With these weapons and documents you can find throughout the gameworld, Insomniac created a fresh alternative to your military shooters, and created a story that was both deep and rewarding. The game did well enough to spawn sequels. Resistance 2 hit consoles in 2008, Resistance: Retribution came out in the same year for the PSP, Resistance 3 hit consoles in 2011, and Resistance: Burning Skies released on the Playstation Vita. But none quite matched the first game, which still remains one of the best shooters to grace Sonys console.

9. Heavy Rain (tjsmoke63)

In 2010, developers Quantic Dream, the studio behind the PS2 game Indigo Prophecy (known as Fahrenheit in Europe) released a game that was very different from anything else on the consoles. More interactive drama than a standard game, Heavy Rain placed players in the shoes of four different characters in pursuit of the Origami Killer, a child murderer who leaves origami figures at the scene of the crime. The characters  include Ethan Mars, a man who has suffered tragedy and whose son is being held captive by the killer, Madison Paige, an investigative journalist, FBI profiler Norman Jayden, who has at his disposal a pair of high tech glasses that enable him to find clues, and Scott Shelby, a world weary private investigator looking into the case.

 Heavy Rains story puts many games to shame

The game was unique in that there was never a Game Over screen. Instead, if your character died or simply failed a challenge, the story continued on, taking into account the players actions and adjusting the story accordingly. It gave the game an immense amount of replayability and multiple endings (one count puts the number of endings around twenty), meaning each player had a unique experience while going through the game. Some players disliked the reliance on Quick Time Events (QTEs) but for this game they worked well. Also, conversation choices were given, and you had a limited amount of time to make your choice, which in turn reflected on how other characters in the game would react to you. It was a very intense experience that many gamers and critics embraced, and remains one of the most unique entries in the PS3 library.

8. Ratchet & Clank: A Crack in Time (rigbybot127)

The latest installment in the beloved Ratchet & Clank series of platformers (not countng All 4 One, and Full Frontal Assault) sees the separation of the titular duo, a continuation of the plot element introduced at the end of Tools of Destruction, and throughout the entirety of Quest For Booty (though you dont have to play that one, as its $15 for 4 hours, and the beginning of ACiT sums it up nicely). Ratchet must embark on the single most dramatic journey in the series, as he races to rescue Clank from Dr. Nefarious, before he destroys the universe by using The Great Clock, of which Clank and his helper, Sigmund are the current keepers of; all while Ratchet learns of his race, the Lombaxes, from one of his fathers best chums, Allister Azimuth, who may know more about the Lombaxes than he lets on. It ties in great with Tools of Destruction, as well as directly explains things that put the events of said game in motion.

With its Pixar esque graphics, its a sight to behold

If not for the amazingly epic story, then definitely get it for the near-flawless platforming/shooting gameplay, and awesome set-pieces and battlefields, as well as some interesting new time puzzles on Clanks levels; this game of which contains the most Clank sections in the series history. They are fun and challenging, but arent very large in quantities, unless you wanna go for the bonus Gold Bolt ones, but your mind will probably be reduced to mush before you finish all those.

7. LittleBigPlanet 2 (rigbybot127)

This is as wet as a creative persons dream can get. LittleBigPlanet 2 unleashes what is (quite literally) hundreds of games worth of assets at you, to assure that you and up to 3 buddies can have all the fun platforming in beautifully creative user-created worlds, but with all these assets, you dont have to stop there! You have the ability to create racing games, fighting games, tower defense games, first-person shooters, and much more, all for what is now a $20 dollar price tag (along with however much you spend on the games seemingly endless amount of downloadable skins, featuring the likes of The Muppets, Sonic the Hedgehog, Assassins Creed, Uncharted, Metal Gear Solid, which comes with a special paintball gun, and basically any other intellectual property you can imagine; the DLC for the original is also compatible, which means even MORE to choose from).

Multiplayer games are chaotically fun and a great ice-breaker

6. God of War III (tjsmoke63)

God of War III was the final chapter in the story of Kratos, finishing off the tale begun by Santa Monica Studio on the PS2. By this entry Kratos, the Greek warrior betrayed by the Gods, has reignited the Great War, and the game begins with Kratos storming Mount Olympus with the aid of the Titans. All does not go well, as Kratos is betrayed once again, this time by Gaia. The spirit of Athena appears once more to guide him, this time in search of the Flame of Olympus and Pandoras Box. Featuring plenty of characters and creatures from Greek mythology, the gameplay once again employed the brutal hack and slash found in the previous entries. Combos could be made using Kratos main weapon, the Blades of Exile, and the use of a secondary weapon, among them the Claws of Hades, the Nemean Cestus (a pair of fist gauntlets), and the Nemesis Whip.

One word to sum up the GOW series; epic

As before, unlocking chests released orbs that replenished both health and magic, as well as Gorgon Eyes, which upgraded health, Phoenix Feathers, which upgraded magic, and new to the series, Minotaur Horns, which upgraded items. In addition to combat, that game featured puzzles to solve and plenty of platforming sections. The story is a well written tale of vengeance, and is bolstered by strong voice acting and some jaw dropping visuals. The game remains of the best action adventure titles on the PS3, and offered a satisfying end to Kratos story, though Sony an Santa Monica Studio dont appear to be done with the character, as several prequels have been released. For those wishing to indulge in a fair amount of carnage this is the game to play.

5. Valkyria Chronicles (david)

A small nation overcomes all odds and emerges triumphant. War has never been forgiving and Valkyria Chronicles is filled with moments of sheer tragedy, personal loss that shakes the very foundations, and blooming romance that will tear at your heartstrings. Amidst the cookie cutter shooters and adventure games that has violence in spades, Valkyria Chronicles not only stands out for its beautifully crafted cel-shaded graphics but also for its unique and challenging gameplay. Like the Fire Emblem games which involve a lot of tactical planning and careful consideration before making a move, the sheer sense of accomplishment when you clear some of the latter stages is second to none. Which units do you deploy, who should make a quick dash through enemy lines, how to best thin out the enemys relentless assault? These are just some of the questions that players will ask themselves. And in a battle for supremacy  that can be shifted in one favor with one false move, the stakes are high in what is arguably the definite strategy game in PS3s long list of must-have titles.

Selvaria, a deeply troubled antagonist

4. Journey (rigbybot127)

Journey is not a game in any traditional sense. Sure there are collectibles, and you move your character like one moves a character in a third-person game, but Journey eschews the normal video game format of quests, attacking, and health, as well as the ability to die at all; for a rich, gorgeous atmosphere, with beautiful lighting techniques utilized, (as you can see from the above screenshot, has the best sand in gaming) coupled with a rewarding narrative, that doesnt rely on heavy exposition or any dialogue whatsoever, and instead allows you and a completely random stranger to look past superficial details, simply make little chirping sounds to signal your new friend over, and create a real emotional connection with one another, as well as memories that will last forever, with a person youll never see again, all on that mighty trek towards the omnipresent mountaintop.

A sight to behold

3. Ni No Kuni (david)

As far as JRPGs go, many havent been as good as they used to. Marred with dated mechanics that fail to recapture the excitement of progressing through a story, playing it too safe with predictable gameplay and relying on past successes simply isnt cutting it. Ni No Kuni with its strikingly beautiful animations is a game that is very much alive and a genuine throwback to JRPGs of old. With characters in which you genuinely care for, it sets itself apart by going back to basics, making exploration and leveling up fun again. Familiars, companions that you can serenade and recruit to your team after beating them, is a neat addition. Much like the addictive nature of Pokemon, there is much satisfaction to be gained when one manages to serenade a familiar. Varied in design and personality, each encounter with them calls for different strategies and weaknesses to exploit. With over a hundred of familiars to collect and train, one can easily spent countless hours just wandering around the mass landscape completing errands as well as hunting for that elusive familiar. This is one game you wouldnt want to miss.

This truly is a beautifully crated game

2. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (rigbybot127)

The full proverb is No Honor Among Thieves, which is certainly the case in Nathan Drakes second outing, and in most minds, his best. His first game showed a lot of potential, which was unfortunately not ceased due to clunky shooting controls and screen-tearing. Uncharted 2 takes its potential, and runs it up a very large hill, and has perfect framerate and zero screen-tearing, making it one of the most technically perfect console games ever made. Uncharted 2 pays homage to a lot of action-packed Hollywood movies (most notably the Indiana Jones series), and plays like a 12-hour movie, with all the action, romance, twists and turns you would expect from such; but the pacing is perfect, never gets stale, making it a joyride to play long after the credits roll.

A well crated adventure game, that doesnt let up

1. Metal Gear Solid 4 (david)

Storytelling in games, ranges from the downright bizarre (go ahead and Google Seaman, dont say we didnt warn you) to one that leaves you on an emotionally charged roller coaster ride and never lets up. Metal Gear Solid 4 is that game. With precision and fluidity coexisting effortlessly, the narrative is at its strongest in Metal Gear Solid 4. You see Snake isnt the same man; diagnosed with accelerated aging, he is wrinkled, nurses his stiff joints and is looking a lot worse for the wear. Although some cutscenes in the Metal Gear Solid series may be overly long, viewing them in its entirety is integral if one is to fully soak in the epic narrative. And in a game that has them in spades, each cutscene blends in seamlessly with smart gameplay that lets you tackle a stage in numerous ways. Do you take the stealthy route and pick off enemies one by one or go in guns blazing, shooting the living daylights of anyone who gets in your path? The choices you make and overcoming them on the harder difficulties is extremely rewarding as it is fun.  The fact that it debuted 5 years ago and yet remains at the very top of the list, is testament to just how great this game is. And if by some means you havent played it yet, we strongly urge you to give it a go.

Snake truly has seen better days

Standout moment: The fight between Vamp and Raiden, is choreographed to perfection. Once a pushover and a big pet peeve of MGS2, Raiden is not only more composed but also a much bigger badass.

Three weeks have passed since the inception of Leet Gamers Asia and the site is starting to take shape. We even managed to recruit two writers from GameSpot's very talented pool of bloggers/reviewers.

Please let me know what you think about the site, or if you would like to write for us? Suggestions, feedback and critiques are all welcomed :)

Keep staying awesome 

Hey, its been awhile hasn't it? I have been guilty of lurking far too much on GameSpot instead of posting. All that changes this year! I...promise :P

Recently I have been busy with creating a website centered on what else but gaming.

With a heavy emphasis on the gaming scene in Asia (for now) our site aims to be the go-to-site for all the latest news and opinion pieces. By offering a platform to trade/sell things online through the forum, our site gives you the platform to advertise your wares for free and possibly start off a business venture. Having said that if you have an interest in helping out in the forums, do let me know and I'll set you up with mod capabilities.

Do note that the site is still relatively new (only a week) and as such its pretty barren ;)

If you would like to be a writer/graphic designer, we'll be more than happy to have you on our team. The odd game, Xbox Live points, Nintendo eshop credit and PSN cards will also be thrown in for contributing members who give that little bit extra. 

Amidst recent lukewarm reception for the Vita and it's ever dwindling sales, what can Sony do to help reinvigorate it's latest handheld offering? With the Nintendo 3DS and iPad continuing to run away with the competition each month, Sony needs to halt the Vita's shortcomings or it could be in for even more tough times ahead. Gamers may well remember how Sony addressed the PS3's initial problems, launching the console at $600, lack of killer apps during it's first year, PSN still in it's infancy are just some of the issues that plagued it's launch - but the company swiftly rectified these initial shortcomings. Can they do the same for the muchmaligned Vita?

The following are some niggling issues that is seriously hampering the handheld's growth:

• Expensive propriety memory cards

With memory cards being relatively inexpensive, most of us wouldn't think twice before purchasing them. On the Vita, it's entirely different - as memory cards are priced around $20 and above, they are clearly overpriced. As if that wasn't bad enough, most games require having a memory card in the system or it will refuse to play. Surely including one along with the system isn't too much to ask.

Note: Both versions of the 3DS have 2GB and 4GB right out of the box.

• Only one account can be tied to a Vita system

This is a step backwards as the PS3 allowed multiple accounts to be shared on one console. Why the sudden omission? Game sharing across multiple systems seems like the most likely reason. It allowed gamers to capitalize on buying titles at even further discounts, which inadvertently affected sales. Sony has since went on to allow only up to two downloads for each game. You may argue that there is a workaround, but when it involves yet another purchase of the expensive propriety memory cards - is it really worth it?

What's worse is - you either have to sell your game or purchase another memory card (if its of a different region), or downloadble content's (DLC) won't work.

• Bad marketing

Lack of advertising certainly isn't doing the Vita any favors. Sony needs to market it's latest handheld offering as much as possible, like the PlayStation 3, because as it stands, not everyone knows about it's existence. Yes, Sony has been in troubling times as of late - but as with all new products, a good marketing strategy is not only crucial, its essential.

• Lack of killer apps

As it stands, the Vita just doesn't have the killer app that will make gamers want to purchase the system. Gravity Rush, while a really fresh and unique game, failed to add a significant boost to those numbers. If that wasn't troubling enough, many publishers have backed out on supporting the Vita. Can you really blame them? Selling about 10k plus on average in Japan, a region where analysts expected strong sales isn't the kind of figures that would attract would be publishers. Coupled with the fact that its predecessor, a 7 year old gaming handheld is shifting more units, something is clearly amiss.

While it may be early days, Sony simply cannot allow this situation to continue any longer. It needs to convince more developers to make games for it, because as it stands, ports of popular titles just isn't working. Take the 3DS for example, faced with a similar situation as it's competitor, the flurry of killer apps just kept flowing in as the month's progressed. If Sony can secure the rights to a new GTA game like they did with the Liberty and Vice City Stories games, or a Monster Hunter title, it would be a start in the right direction, one which needs to happen sooner rather than later.

• No UMD support

Want to play all your previous titles on your new handheld? As much as you want to, it isn't possible. Gamers would either need to keep their existing PSPs or re-buy those games on the PlayStation Store if they wished to play it on the Vita. Could the dwindling Vita sales be inadvertently be affected by the lack of UMD support? This does carry some weight, as there is little reason for would be adopters to take the plunge at the moment. If Sony does phase out the PSP and place those titles (PSP) on the PlayStation store, the situation could very well improve. Only time will tell.

Final Note

Please don't take this the wrong way, as much as I love the Vita, with it's smooth and slick curves, dual thumbsticks, amazing OLED screen - it's just isn't giving me more reasons to carry it around. More announcement of fresh titles, not ports has to happen. The Vita's capabilities is remarkable, we all know that but it's not the capabilities that sell a system, its the games. Like Nintendo, Sony should assign it's A studios to make it's Vita games or most of us will just continue gaming on the PS3 instead. When you only showcase two games for the handheld at E3, Assassin's Creed Liberation and Call of Duty, something is clearly amiss.

As if Resident Evil 6 isn't already jam packed with content, a fifth campaign looks to be on the cards!

Who do you think will feature in the Prelude campaign? Could it be one of the series iconic female heroines? My bet is on Claire as its been 11 years since she last stared in a RE game. Wow has it really been that long?

Article: Resident Evil 6 to feature a whooping six campaigns(comment on the article, you could win a game of your choice!)

Its been a long time hasn't it? And no I'm not dead in case you're wondering. :P

Recently I have been part of a site, Gaming3DD, a videogames portal and we the writers have been given the task of outdoing one another by being the most active contributor. With that said, if you awesome folks can spare just a moment of your time away from work, the missus or [insert game here] you'll receive a game of your choice. Yes, you read that right.

So all you have to do is comment on my articles periodically on Gaming3DDand I'll choose a winner at random. The more you comment, the higher your chances of winning.

LINK: david_lck's Newsfeed

Minions, do your worse! Ahem, excuse me for a second there. You know I love you.:|

Here is an excerpt of one of the articles:

Vitas upcoming game, Soul Sacrifice not only has a Demons Souls / Dark Souls vibe to it, it actually looks to be the killer app that the handheld desperately needs right now. With lush gorgeous vistas, unique art style and gameplay, we at Gaming3DD are already counting down the days to its much anticipated release. Having said that, Soul Sacrifice will see players being accompanied by an AI partner throughout the game, with also multiplayer functionality thrown in for good measure.breakthestreak

Someone's in for a whole lot of pain

26574567 seconds, that's how long since I have written a blog. Okay I made up the numbers bit but you get the idea :P

Go ahead, I won't bite.

Games Played

Episodes of Liberty City: The Lost and Damned

With so many video game add-ons that are content with just including a few multiplayer maps, new islands or a snazzy new armor with increased attributes, the Lost and Damned expansion uses the existing cityscape of Grand Theft Auto IV, but adds 10-15 hours worth of new characters and a gripping story to the mix. Say goodbye to Niko and his bumbling cousin, say hello to equally conflicted Johny "The Jew" Klebitz, his psychotic boss Billy and the rest of the members of The Lost motorcycle club.

If that wasn't enough, new multiplayer modes have also been thrown into the mix - Race: where you race on bikes armed with nothing but a bat, "Lone Wolf Biker" where you are "it" until someone offs you, and they're "it"; Own the City, where you take control of parts of the city, Chopper vs. Chopper, where you go one-on-one with another player, one on a helicopter and one on a bike.

With so much on offer here, GTA fans will find a lot to love with the new downloadable content. One could easily dump twenty (or more!) hours into The Lost and Damned and still find things to do. But if you weren't already an initiate of the franchise, don't expect The Lost and Damned to convert you.

The Ballad of Gay Tony

The last chapter in The Episodes of Liberty City begins on a high and refuses to ease up on the action. Concluding plotlines that began with 2008's GTA IV and developed through The Lost & Damned, The Ballad of Gay Tony introduces us to the world of nightclub impresario Tony Gay Tony" Prince and his assistant Luis Lopez.

To a certain extent the events of GTA IV and The Lost & Damned have already established the duo. The central storyline of the blood diamonds, which came over to Liberty City along with Niko Bellic on The Platypus, is brought to a conclusion with a masterful approach and a sharp ending. We won't spoil the surprise, but it seems there's a moral in the tale for Liberty City's cast of nihilistic characters.

It does seem that Rockstar North hasn't shied away from controversy with the last chapter. Luis is certainly a ladies man and happy to get his rocks off at any opportunity in scenes that leave little to the imagination. Now we're not morally opposed to seeing a GTA protagonist enjoying the company of a slightly strange looking female characters, but seeing bodies hurtling towards the ground from a skyscraper, with a city-line inspired by New York City, could perhaps be a little close to the bone for some.

God of War 3

You know how Kratos' battle against the gods of Olympus is known for its massive, insane action sequences spread throughout? Well, some genius (or likely several geniuses) at Sony's Santa Monica Studio had the brilliant idea of making a whole game just out of those incredible moments. It was rare that I went 15 minutes without my jaw dropping at the immense size, stunning beauty or sheer creativity of the set piece I was now scaling or destroying.

On the rare occasions that the game pulls away from the slice-'em-up action and fantastic boss fights, it's still effortlessly successful. There are segments where Kratos uses Icarus' wings to soar or descend through chaos, avoiding bits of rubble and fire, that are as exciting as anything you'll play this year. What's evident is that God of War III doesn't lean on these moments -- it doesn't need to. The game is that good of an experience, top to bottom.

What happens next is anything but pretty.

God of War III is billed as the final chapter in Kratos' story, and it's a shame, because this is the iteration that took me from liking the series to loving it. On the other hand, I'm not sure I would have had the same reaction if the game hadn't been the world-destroying, everything-and-the-kitchen-sink, leave-nothing-for-the-swim-back adventure it was. The series has always been fun, but this is the God of War you have to play.

Red Steel 2

I played Red Steel 2 on my feet, for hours at a stretch. I don't know if that's how you're "supposed" to play this new Wii game, a first-person shooter in which you don't do a whole lot of shooting.

What makes this game unique is that your character's most powerful weapon is his katana, or samurai sword, which you use to slash at enemies by making big, wide swings with the Wii remote (and the MotionPlus accessory, which is required). After about a minute of sitting in a chair swinging my arm around, it just felt wrong: I had to stand up, kick my chair back and play the game while standing. At this point, I'd no more try to play Red Steel 2 seated than I would try to play Wii golf on the couch.

There are a lot of things I wish Red Steel 2 did better, but it gets the big stuff right. The mechanics make you glad that the MotionPlus exists. The extra polish on the graphics (and the perfect spaghetti western music) helps a lot.

Just remember to get off the couch when you play it. It helps.

Heavy Rain: The Taxidermister

On the trail of a cold blooded killer, Madison Paige is drawn to a house that she feels is behind all the recent deaths. What she doesn't know is that the house is home to something else entirely. Used as a front to conceal his dirty deeds, Leland White is a deranged and disturbed individual. A closer look at his mailbox will reveal that he is into woman's clothing as numerous catalogues are strewn around.

Without giving too much away, how you finish this chapter will hinge on how familiar you are with the intuitive controls and whether you are careful in covering your tracks. A broken beer bottle or an opened cupboard will arrouse suspicion that someone has entered his house and he will begin to search for you. Do you call the cops, or hope for the best that he doesn't find you in closet that you have hastily bunkered in.

The choice is yours as there are five possible scenarios that can be unravelled but even then, there is little reason to replay the game as each ending results in the same newspaper cutting that will show whether you have made your untimely demise or put an end to Mr. White's reign of terror. At $5, this DLC is even shorter than most demos as it can be completed in about half and hour. However, if you are looking for a gripping and rather suspenseful short game, The Taxidermist doesn't disappoint as it gets better midway through.

If you haven't played Heavy Rain, this short downloadable content will give you a good indication of what to expect from a fuller and more gripping story as you come to grips with the controls.

Movies Watched

Kick Ass

Dave Lizewski is an unnoticed high school student and comic book fan with a few friends and who lives alone with his father. His life is not very difficult and his personal trials not that overwhelming. However, one day he makes the simple decision to become a super-hero even though he has no powers or training.

The Hurt Locker

When SFC William James joins Bravo Company in Iraq, they have a month or so left in their tour of duty. He's a bomb disposal expert and he is replacing Sgt Matt Thompson, a long-standing member of the team who was recently killed disposing of an improvised explosive device. To say that James loves what he does doesn't quite capture the emotional high he experiences when he gets to do what he does best. For his fellow squad members however, including Sgt JT Sanborn and Spc Owen Eldridge, they just want to survive the few days of duty they have left. James risk taking however drives them all to the edge.

Iron Man 2

With the world now aware of his dual life as the armored superhero Iron Man, billionaire inventor Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) faces pressure from the government, the press, and the public to share his technology with the military. Unwilling to let go of his invention, Stark, along with Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow), and James "Rhodey" Rhodes (Don Cheadle) at his side, must forge new alliances -- and confront powerful enemies.

Buttered Prawns

A personal favorite of mind, they're just so good.

Carbonara

Just look at all that bacon bits. :P

Tiramisu Cake

Feeling hungry yet?

Babes of the Month

Alessandra Ambrosio

When one mentions a Brazillian model, the first one that usually comes to mind is the beautiful and ever modest, Alessandra Ambrosio. Born on April 11, 1981 in Erexim, Brazil - she was destined to become a model at such a young age. What seemed like a dream, quickly turned into reality as she landed a contract with Elite Model Management. Best remembered for struting down the runway, she is one of the more prominent angels in Victoria's Secret long list of talented models.

She also enjoys sandboarding and lounging on the beach listening to Brazilian music.

Sofia Vergara

Sofia Vergara is the only Hispanic actress who started her career in a U.S. Hispanic Network and successfully crossed over to the general market. She can currently be seen as one of the leads in the #1 comedy show in America, "Modern Family". Her past appearences on primetime TV include "Dirty Sexy Money", "Entourage", "Hot Properties" and "The Knights of Prosperity" among many others.

Sofia is currently the only spokesperson for Cadillac in both English and Spanish. She has been selected as one of this year's Faces To Watch by The New York Times for her role in "Modern Family", which has already been categorized as "Emmy Worthy". The Hollywood Reporter and Billboard have also named her one of the most talented and powerful women in Hispanic entertainment.

Sarah Mutch

Discovered at the tender age of 13, this Vancouver vixen and her rocking body has already graced the pages of Elle and Vogue and TV shows like Smallville. Now she's gone global as the worldwide face (and seat) of Guess? jeans.

End Blog

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Do take a look at the latest issue of System Wars Monthly if you haven't already. It's feature packed with goodness. :)

In an industry that mostly portray female characters as nothing more shameless persona's with outrageous busts and a habit for wearing revealing outfits, a few games stand out from the rest by having female leads that don't rely on such innuendos to appeal to the masses. I am not saying that nudity is bad as a little bit never hurt anyone but if its done to the point that it draws attention away from a game - you just know that something is wrong.

With that, here is my list of female leads that has left quite the impression as well as a mark on our beloved industry that is only growing from strength to strength. You'll be surprised at one of my picks though as she has a knack for getting abducted at the most impromptu times.

Lara Croft - Tomb Raider games

"What? Shoot the breeze with some of you other boys? No thanks."

Debuting on the Playstation in 1996, Lara Croft was the first female lead in a videogame that gain mainstream attention for two big reasons; games that centered on great exploration and clever puzzles. In a flurry of games that had brash, loud and overzealous male leads, Lara stood out from the rest with her charming personality and a penchant for all things shiny.

Elena Fisher - Uncharted: Drakes Fortune and Uncharted 2

"Elena Fisher, last year's model"

Though initially a brunette, Naughty Dog decided to change her looks to a blonde with a more severe chin before the first game's release. An independent, and ever resourceful journalist, Elena Fisher is more than capable of holding her own against the big boys. So much so, that she even survives an explosion from a grenade. Throughout the games, her spunky and tough as nails attitude is a good complement to Drake's endearing and equally unabashed personality.

Jade - Beyond Good & Evil

Don't let its dated graphics fool you, Beyond Good & Evil is a one game you won't want to miss.

The once peaceful planet of Hillys is under siege by the DomZ, a group of aliens that abduct beings to convert them into slaves. Caught in the middle of all this mess is Jade, a young reporter who resides in an island lighthouse that doubles as a home for children orphaned by DomZ attacks. She is soon recruited by the IRIS Network after vowing to seek revenge against the DomZ that has ruin the very peace that she has fought to uphold all this time.

Alyx Vance - Half-Life games

Alyx's believability is one of Half-Life's strongest points.

Alyx Vance is portrayed as a young woman in her mid-twenties of Black/Asian descent, and is a prominent figure in the human resistance fight against the rule of the alien race known as the Combine and their human representative, Dr. Breen. She is a close associate and ally of Gordon Freeman and is widely regarded as the primary heroine of the series. Alyx's character uses a modified version of real-life actress Jamil Mullen's face, and is voiced by Merle Dandrige.

Jill Valentine - Resident Evil

"You were almost a Jill Sandwich"

Jill Valentine first appears as one of two playable characters in the original Resident Evil game. Along with Chris Redfield, she is a member of STARS' Alpha team, deployed to the Arklay Mountains. There, Alpha team was attacked by a group of undead dogs, and was forced to retreat to the Arklay Research Facility. Later in the game, she is saved by Barry Burton from a collapsing ceiling that nearly squished her to a pulp. Headstrong and ever willing, Jill Valentine plays an important role in the Resident Evil games and is forever known for her lock-picking skills.

Yuna - Final Fantasy X

Yuna's charming persona will pull at your heart-strings.

Yuna was designed by Final Fantasy X character designer Tetsuya Nomura. The basis for Yuna's overall design was that of Okinawan kimonos, but Numora has also mentioned that when he learned the character was to perform a dance called the "sending", he wanted to give the outfit something that was more fitting. For this reason, the specific type of kimono he chose for her was a furisode, a kimono bearing long sleeves. Yuna, the daughter of the High Summoner Braska, who defeated Sin years ago and brought about the Calm, a time of peace is tasked with following in his footsteps. She embarks on a pilgrimage to obtain the final aeon to defeat Sin.

Princess Peach - Mario games

Care to take a guess on how many times she has been kidnapped?

Okay, I know what you're thinking; How does a princess who allows herself to be kidnapped so easily by Bowser be allowed to be on this list? Well, her appearance in just about every Mario game from the kart racers to the spin offs such as Paper Mario - she is an integral part of the series. With her knack of baking delicious cakes and all things sweet for a certain rotund plumber, Peach is an endearing heroine that has always relied on Mario to save her. Well almost if you count Super Princess Peach, the first game to star her as the lead heroine.

Samus Aran - Metroid Prime games

The moment in which she was revealed as female caught many by surprise.

Introduced in the 1986 video game Metroid, Samus is a female bounty hunter that is usually fitted with an armour suit with weapons that include a laser beam and missiles. Throughout the series, she executes missions given to her by the Galactic Federation while hunting the antagonistic Space Pirates and their leader Ridley, along with the energy-draining parasites called Metroids. Orphaned at a young age, Samus was brought up by the Chozo alien race, which trained her as a warrior. The Chozo also gave her the Power Suit, which has the ability to allow Samus to transform into a sphere to roll through tight areas such as tunnels. Samus is one of the first major female protagonist in a videogame, and her popularity among fans has helped her top several lists of the best video game heroines of all-time.

Joanna Dark - Perfect Dark

"Down boy..."

A highly skilled but inexperienced Agent of the Carrington Institute, Joanna Dark was born on March 18, 2000 in Atlanta. Known for her red hair, blue eyes and a slender but athletic build, she usually dresses in tight leather clothes although she is most commonly seen in her Carrington Institute outfit. She has a stong character, very energetic, competitive and courageous. She also takes time before she warms up to people and does not trust them easily, even more so if they're associated with a megacorporation. The code name "Perfect Dark" was given to her due to her exceptional scores in training and high proficiency with a wide array of weapons.

The Boss

A legendary soldier, founder and leader of the Cobra unit, The Boss is also known as the mother of the U.S. special forces. According to the Metal Gear Solid 4: Database, she was born in 1922 and is the daughter of one of the original members of the Philopsophers behind the Philopsophers' Legacy. She is known in Russia as Voyevoda, meaning The Warlord. In 1944, during the World War II, she lead the Cobra unit to victory at the Battle of Normandy. She was pregnant at the time with a baby fathered by The Sorrow. The Boss gave birth to a baby boy on the battlefield via a messy caesarian section that left a long, snaking scar across her abdomen. The baby was taken by the Philopsophers and would later grow up to be Revolver Ocelot.

Faith

Faith Connors, a 24-year-old girl of Eurasian ethnicity is Mirror's Edge's main lead who has a distinctive mark around her right eye, imitated by the game's logo. Faith earns her living as a courier who delivers physical communiques around the city, for revolutionary groups that use her services to avoid communicating via highly-monitored telephone and e-mail channels. Faith's attitude towards the totalitarian government is rooted in her past; her parents were active in protest movements when she was young, campaigning to keep the city from shifting to the oppressive regime. Her mother was killed during the November riots - a peaceful protest gone wrong. Since then, Faith has fended for herself since the age of 16, living a live as a thief on the city streets.

Lightning

With a tough exterior and a brooding persona, Lightning may come off as brash initially. Delve deeper into her past and it becomes clear, as a former sergeant of the Guardian Corps, she sought the Pulse fal'Cie, Anima in the hopes that it would break the curse that has befallen on her only sister. What seemed like an improbable solution quickly becomes even more dire as she is tossed in a desperate struggle along with other characters that have been turned into the very thing that they feared the most. Orphaned at a very young age, Claire Farron's (her real name) anguish got the better of her and she became distant from those who cared for her, even her own sister. Throughout the game, players will begin to grow a sense of connection with this compassionate heroine as her true self begins to prevail in time.

EDIT 1: Joanna Dark has been included onto the list, will add more female leads later so keep your eyes peeled.

EDIT 2: The Boss has now been added onto the list, more will be included at my earliest convenience.

EDIT 3: Faith is now on the list.