• Demolish and interact with everything in your path. Pummel your enemies by launching crushed cars, lampposts, machinery and anything else you can pick up in your way.
• Create and customize your ultimate team. Assemble your dream team from the Marvel Universe and select from over 24 playable characters, each with specialized powers.
• Cooperate with your ultimate alliance. Take full advantage of the Marvel Universe by playing Cooperative Mode with up to four friends, both online and offline.
• Pick a side in the ultimate ideological rift that could yield irreparable consequences for the Super Hero community! Support the pro-registration side and defend national security, or choose to be anti-registration and fight for personal liberties.
• Combine Super Hero powers for devastating results. Team up with Human Torch and Thor to create a spectacular fiery tornado. Over 250 unique fusions arm you with an unimaginable arsenal for unprecedented battles.

Product Description
The Largest Army of Super Heroes is Back! The highly anticipated sequel to 2006’s Marvel:Ultimate Alliance—heralded as the best Marvel Super Hero game of all time, and selling more than 4 million units worldwide—is finally here with Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2. Inspired by the acclaimed Marvel Civil War storyline, this action-RPG delivers once again on a colossal cast of characters, thrilling gameplay and impassioned alliances. This next-gen gaming experience… More >>

Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2

Sony rolled out the new iteration of their successful PlayStation 3 line, called the PS3 Slim. Needless to say, it is much like its older brother, the PS2 slim, in the concept that it is smaller than its predecessor. However, some new things have been added to the console along with some controversial deletions.

New PS3 Slim with Matte Finish
There was much changed about the new console. Instead of the piano gloss black, you have a matte finish. A lot of people don’t like this better but I do. This is due to the fact that the original PS3 was a dust and fingerprint magnet. Hopefully, the new finish fairs better than the original.

PS3 “Fat” vs. PS3 Slim
Apart from the finish being different, this model also weighs a good bit less, has actual buttons instead of sensors for power and eject, and is missing the PSU switch on the back of the console. Not really a pro or con, just different. Like the other PS3’s, this one comes with your usual wireless controller, adapter, power cord and USB charging cord.

The Good
The new model comes with some upgrades thanks to Sony. One of the most important would be the new CPU/GPU. The new processors are now on a 45nm process, and subsequently use less power. I’ve seen numbers ranging from 70-100 less watts during game play compared to the release 60 GB model. This is why the console can afford to be so small. It also will probably have a better future than the PS2 slim had due to the heat issues that plagued it. Also, due to the redesign, the CPU and GPU are said to be faster now, however, I have found little difference other than the console menu seems snappier. This is something you can keep and eye on for later most likely. PS3 games still don’t take full advantage of the current cell architecture, so it’s a toss-up.

The next addition will definitely benefit those who will use the console as an entertainment device. Audiophiles, rejoice! PS3 now supports Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA audio. Those with high-end receivers will be able to appreciate the benefit of the new audio formats. This truly adds value back to the Blu-ray group who just want to watch movies. With the price at $299, its a good piece to get just for that.

Those of you, like me, who have noisy PS3 also will benefit. The new slim model, on average, is 10-15 dB quieter than it’s predecessor. This really helps with those who are trying to watch movies. I would have to crank my speakers up to compensate for the ridiculous amount of noise coming from the fan in the old PS3. My 40GB PS3 sounded like a fighter jet taking off, this slim has a low hum. This is due to the previous mentioned point that the CPU and GPU produce less heat.

The new PS3 has a better disc drive, which prevents disc scratching while spinning the disc. Those of you who have Xbox360’s that have make rings on the disc would definitely appreciate this.

The hard drive is upgraded to 120GB and is swappable. Any SATA laptop drive will fit in it. Since there are 500 GB drives out now, that’s a whole lot of content.

Bravia Sync is now on the new system. Those of you who have Sony TV’s will benefit from this due to the fact that it allows direct control of the system with your TV remote. Other than that, its one of the less important updates due to the fact that most people have Vizio, Sharp and Samsung TV’s. I have a Bravia II 42″ LCD, so it is a nice feature.

The Bad
Like the 40 and 80GB PS3s, this model does not have PS2 compatibility. Sorry folks, but those of you who actually play PS2 games probably have a PS2 handy. I’d say dig it out and hook it up because I doubt Sony has any plan to resurrect the format.

Linux compatibility is now gone. Those .01% of you who even thought of this as an important feature might be afraid from buying the slim now, however, Linux does run on PC’s too, so I’d stick with that instead of your PS3. Something about an OS like Linux doesn’t make me nuts about putting it on a game console with a controller. I’d suppose it would be nicer with a Bluetooth keyboard, but honestly, doesn’t seem like quite the loss its cracked up to be.

The PS3 cannot stand up vertically by default anymore, due to the size reduction and the oh-s%@t factor of the wobble when it starts spinning a disc. To make it vertical again, you have to pay for a $24 dollar stand. I’d wait on this until a third party makes one for cheaper. Personally for me, it’s not an issue.

There are no SD or compact flash slots on this PS3 like the ones found on the original release PS3’s. While this has been gone since the release of the 40/80GB PS3’s, it’s still a loss.

The disc drive makes a louder noise now, but that’s more of a gripe than a concern (see above).

The Results
The main purpose for me to buy the new system was two main points:

1. Not to sound like a generator
2. Upgrade the hard drive

Due to the fact that Sony wants $200 to fix your PS3, I was stuck in the middle. I don’t play PS2 games, and I certainly didn’t care about Linux. So, it was worth it to me. I’d rather have a new system under warranty than a re-certified one.

So, who would want this?

Depends on your situation.

For those who do not have a PS3, look no further. It’s cheap, doesn’t use as much power, doesn’t sound like a prop-plane, and has plenty of goodies to keep you satisfied. It gives the Xbox a run for its money due to its match of specs. Also, the reason I went to PS3 is the fact that online play is free.

For those who want to run Linux, don’t buy because it obviously won’t work (That goes for all five of you! Buy a 6-year old Dell on craigslist to get the same result.)

PS2 gamers may want to stay away if you don’t have a working PS2 handy.

Pros:
* Bigger Hard Drive
* Quieter and less heat
* New features for audiophiles, better sync with Bravia TVs
* Smaller and lighter
* Cheap, especially for a Blu-ray player of this quality

Cons:
* Compatibility took a hit with the loss of PS2 games and Linux
* Can’t stand on its own
* Drive is a bit louder

Overall, I’d recommend it. It’s hard to say to who due to the fact that most people have an older PS3 that does the same. But for those who want to enter the PlayStation side of things or want a multimedia player, then look no further.

Rating: 4/5
Gregory Carvlin, Writer/Editor at RogueDeals.com. The original review is here.

• New functionality including the ability to remain with your friends while matchmaking; map customization and the pooling funds gathered in different modes for use in unlocking content and upgrades.
• An game world layout that allows players to take an aggressive or new stealth approach to combat.
• Free-flowing “traversal gunplay” that adds a unique vertical element to standard 3rd-person shooting mechanics.
• Award-winning cinematic storytelling, incorporating new and familiar characters, as well as all new and varied play environments.
• A wide array of gameplay modes including a robust single player campaign and a franchise first online multiplayer modes including competitive and cooperative play options.

Product Description
Nathan Drake returns in the sequel to one of the PS3’s most successful exclusive games. This time, Nate teams up with new and old friends in a quest to find the mythical Cintamani Stone that Marco Polo had secretly gone looking for before returning home with only one ship and 18 men. Explore a variety of environments from dense cities to swamps to the Himalayas, mixing shooting with free-roaming adventure. And using PlayStationNetwork, you can even enjoy co-operativ… More >>

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

• 3D environments and characters. Traditional 2D Street Fighter six-button gameplay. Amazing locations never seen before in a Street Fighter game.
• Classic Street Fighter characters re-imagined for a new generation of gamers, including the original cast of Street Fighter II.
• New brawlers: female super-spy Crimson Viper, lucha libre wrestler El Fuerte, mixed martial artist Abel and more!
• New special moves that go beyond any Street Fighter fan’s wildest imagination, including Focus Attacks, Super Combos and the revenge-fueled Ultra Combo system.
• New gameplay elements provide challenges for both newcomers as well as the most seasoned Street Fighter pro.

Product Description
Street Fighter IV brings the legendary fighting series back to its roots by taking the beloved fighting moves and techniques of the original Street Fighter II, and infusing them with Capcom’s latest advancements in next generation technology to create a truly extraordinary experience that will re-introduce the world to the time-honored art of virtual martial arts. Everything that made the legendary Street Fighter II a hit in the arcades, living rooms and dormitori… More >>

Street Fighter IV

• Halo 3: ODST contains 1,750 new Xbox LIVE achievement points as well as new weapons, technology and an invitation to join the Halo: Reach beta in 2010.
• Stand-alone expansion to Halo 3 that doesn’t require ownership of the previous game to play.
• New campaign, hero and tactics from the Halo universe as players take on the role of a rookie in the Orbital Drop Shock Troopers sent into New Mombasa.
• 4-player co-op “Firefight” mode offers a whole new way to play Halo with friends both via system link and over Xbox LIVE.
• Along with all the existing Halo 3 maps, ODST contains three new multiplayer Halo 3 maps: Heretic, Longshore, and Citadel.

Product Description
Developed exclusively for Xbox 360 by acclaimed developer Bungie, Halo 3: ODST is a new, stand-alone expansion to the Halo saga that lets players experience the events leading up to the epic story told in Halo 3 through the eyes of an entirely new character the ODST (Orbital Drop Shock Trooper), as they search for clues leading to the whereabouts of their scattered squad and the motivations behind the Covenant’s invasion o… More >>

Halo 3: ODST

• Although little is known, MGS4 is being touted as the final installment in the Metal Gear Solid series.
• Chameleon-like camouflage system, Octacamo, blends Snake into his surroundings.
• Loads of characters from previous Metal Gear Solid installments will return in this final chapter.
• Slated for simultaneous worldwide release in June 2008, Konami has released very few details about MGS4.
• Built for the PS3, the game is expected to be the finest representation of the console’s graphics

Product Description
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, is a next-gen experience complete with top-of-the-line graphics and surround sound designed for the Sony PlayStation 3. Featuring the most revealing display of Kojima Production’s premier title, MSG4 details the world where Snake must under go his final mission. In a world overrun by private military companies (PMCs), wars are no longer foug… More >>

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

• Uncover the clue to Sir Francis Drake’s last great adventure and seek out the fabled treasure of El Dorado
• Use maps and hidden artifacts to uncover and island that was thought to have never existed
• Explore exotic locations, such as expansive jungles and 4000-year-old ruins.
• Interact with Drakes companions through cooperative mechanics and exploration
• Daring high-speed chases over land and water

Product Description
A 400-year-old clue in the coffin of Sire Francis Drake sets a modern day fortune hunter, Nathan Drake on a expedition for the fable treasure of El Dorado, leading to the discovery of a forgotten island in the middle of the pacific ocean. The search turns deadly when… More >>

Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune

• Follow the exploits of the original series with all new material and background for fans to enjoy
• Strikingly beautiful art style and texturing with smooth balletic moves for amazing visuals and action
• Hip-hop inspired soundtrack created by RZA of the Wu-Tang Clan actually affects the enemy AI’s movements
• Star-studded cast includes Samuel L. Jackson, Ron Pearlman and Kelly Hu in their series roles
• Without pre-rendered enemies, attack scenes are unending in their possible combinations

Product Description
He who possesses the #1 Headband, will rule the world! Afro Samurai is the cutting edge game that delivers a new kind of cinematic game experience, a living episode that offers addictive, immersive and compelling gameplay that’s literally dripping in style. Join Afro in his epic hunt for revenge to avenge the murder of his father by the current owner of the #1 Headband. Afro Samurai blends traditional Japanese culture, funky technology and hip hop to create a bruta… More >>

Afro Samurai

• Next Gen sights and sounds – First Tales RPG game with high-definition graphics, broadcast quality animation and Dolby surround sound.
• Evolved real-time battle system – New refinements and additions to the trademark Tales real-time battle engine making for the most action-packed, dynamic RPG fighting ever
• Fan favorite character designs – Characters designed by famous manga artist, Kosuke Fujishima, responsible for popular series’ Ah! My Goddess, Sakura Taisen and You’re Under Arrest
• Immersive look and feel – Detailed environments, animation and an artistic style so good, it’s like playing a cartoon
• Dramatic story – Gripping tale of a young hero on a quest for justice, trust and friendship filled with unexpected twists and turns at every step. A decade of Tales – The first game celebrating the Tales 10 year anniversary.

Product Description
A new generation of tales unfolds! A power struggle begins in a civilization dependent on an ancient technology, the blastia, and the Empire that controls it. The fates of two friends traveling separate paths intertwine in an epic adventure that threatens the existence of all. Tales of Vesperia marks the first Tales RPG release in HD with detail and graphics never before seen in the series. Now, real-time battles are more exciting than ever with over limits, the abi… More >>

Tales of Vesperia

• Face off against Gotham’s greatest villains including The Joker, HARLEY QUINN, VICTOR ZSASZ and KILLER CROC
• Become the Invisible Predatotm with Batman’s takedowns and unique vantage point system to move without being seen or utilize the unique FreeFlowtm combat system to chain together unlimited combos and battle with huge groups of The Joker’s henchmen
• Choose multiple takedown methods, including swooping from the sky and smashing through walls, and use the predator camera get a closer look at the action.
• Explore every inch of Arkham Asylum and roam freely on the infamous island, presented for the first time ever in its gritty and realistic entiret
• Experience what it’s like to be BATMAN using BATARANGS, explosive gel aerosol, The Batclaw, sonar resonator and the line launcher

Product Description
The Collector’s Edition includes: Waynetech Batarang Storage Box 12” In-Game Design Batarang (stand attached), Dr Young’s Journal (50 page full color character encyclopedia), 2 Sleeve DIGI-Pack Including: Game Behind the scenes 5 chapter series DVD, including Interviews with Mark Hammil and Kevin Conroy Exclusive Collector’s Edition Challenge Map DLC Manual.

Batman: Arkham Asylum is a single player, third-person action/adventure in which the Dark Knight is forced to take on his greatest challenge yet when he is trapped by arch rival, the Joker, within Gotham City’s facility for the… More >>

Batman: Arkham Asylum Collector’s Edition

Review of the Game Itself: