Last But Not Least

Sony has had a somewhat arduous year with the PlayStation 3 in 2007. Much of this is due in part of exclusives like Halo 3, Mass Effect, and BioShock going to the Xbox 360. This is exacerbated by the fact that Sony is losing exclusive rights to games such as Devil May Cry 4, Resident Evil 5, and Grand Theft Auto IV. Furthermore, Metal Gear Solid 4 has been delayed until the year 2008. Many gamers thought that Sony was done and should bow down to Microsoft; however, the PlayStation 3 has injected new life into Sony recently.

After the PlayStation 3 price reduction down to $400, the sales of PlayStation 3's have increased. Moreover, there are PlayStation 3 exclusives such as Heavenly Sword and Ratchet & Clank: Future Tools of Destruction that are worth playing. Luckily, things are finally looking bright for Sony. Sony appears to be on the right track and heading in the right direction. This is conspicuously seen from their biggest PlayStation 3 game this 2007 holiday season in Uncharted: Drake's Fortune.

The storyline in this game revolves around Nathan Drake and his allies. They are on a quest for a treasure; consequently, they get lost in an island in the Pacific Ocean. Now, Nathan and his acquaintances have every intention to escape from this retched island because they are being chased by deadly mercenaries. Naughty Dog definitely delivers the goods when it comes to the storyline. The plot is compelling and is not as predictable as some games might be. The gameplay has aspects from a typical third person shooter with a twist. This twist being that you will be doing more than gunning down adversaries.

Gamers will have to play through some fairly unique platform jumping elements as well. There is a peek around the corner technique that is eerily similar to Gears of War. Mr. Drake can utilize cover by putting his back against the wall and squatting down. Blindfiring is also another gameplay mechanic that was heavily influenced from a game like Gears of War. This is of course when you are hiding behind cover and firing without exposing yourself. The platform jumping is analogous to a game like Prince of Persia. Drake does not seem athletic, but looks can be deceiving. He can perform the most acrobatic maneuvers when he is airborne.

Uncharted: Drake's Fortune boasts stunning visuals across the board. The textures are clean, and the flora is grandiose. Lighting and architecture are just a few of many things that are amazing in this game. In addition to the gunfire, there is a few moments in the game where Nathan can use his arms and legs in combat. The pro of correctly executing a combination attack is more ammunition, but the con is that failing will net you nothing in return and a loss of health. There is nothing too extravagant about the weapons in the game. They range from the rudimentary handguns to the explosive grenades. Drake can also traverse his way through the environment with his mobility. He knows how to climb large obstacles, swing across a gap by using a rope, and jump from one ledge to another ledge with ease. The controls are responsive and never deter players from enjoying the game. Replenishing health is done simply by standing still and waiting (ala Gears of War).

Fortunately, all of Drake's actions are easily done. The only two flaws with the game are the animations and length. There were occasional sequences where foes do not exactly act accordingly after they are hit. This resulted in awkward and unrealistic physics. Opponents will not perform the electric slide, but it was odd to see an enemy fly around in a eccentric manner. Another gripe with the game is the nine hour length. A game that succinct needs more gameplay. Even though the game is concise, the gameplay itself is engrossing. The audio in the game really made the plot come together. Voice acting is superb and not over the top. The sound of Drake reloading his gun has a tactile feel to it. Water falling down to the ground have a different sounding fluctuation to them.

Overall, there is no doubt that Uncharted: Drake's Fortune is the best PlayStation 3 exclusive that PlayStation 3 owners will greatly admire. The intriguing storyline overrides the few minor glitches in the game.

Final Verdict: Uncharted: Drake's Fortune is a very good game.
9.4 out of 10

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AP - Talk about an apprentice. By the time he turns 60 Friday, Prince Charles will have spent a lifetime in line to become king.

If you are considering becoming an xbox game tester it could be one of the most profitable decisions you make. The Xbox brand, specifically with the release of the xbox360 has become a dominant force in the gaming industry. With this there has been an ever increasing need for xbox game testers. Here are 3 reasons why xbox game testers tend to make the most money.

1 - Xbox Is Backed By Microsoft

This may not come as a surprise to many, but the brand is a creation of the computer powerhouse Microsoft. For this reason the Xbox brand is extremely well funded, and as such the money on offer for game tester's is quite substantial indeed. Some xbox beta game testers report wages as high as $100 per hour.

2 - Xbox Games Are Complex

The main role of a game tester is to discover bugs and issues in unreleased video games, and report them back to the gaming companies. Xbox 360 have amongst the most complex graphics and production qualities of any games produced currently. For this reason, there is even more importance for gaming companies to ensure their games are free of bugs and issues prior to release. For this reason there are slightly higher standards required for testing the games.

3 - Xbox Games Are Easier To Mass Produce

The release of the Xbox360 was timed specifically so multi-platform developers would favour the gaming console. The result was that a high amount of games were created for Xbox in a short space of time. Xbox has also been created with far more advanced development tools, making it actually easier for gaming companies to produce games in their format.

Conclusion

So what does this all mean to you at the end of the day? If you are considering becoming an xbox game tester then there are certainly a lot of opportunities out there for you. Of all gaming platforms xbox game testers will be in the highest demand, and more likely to command the highest pay available.

Want to become an xbox game tester? Discover legitimate game testing guides that deliver real jobs. Please visit:

http://www.videogametesterjob.info

border="0" />AP - A suicide car bomber struck a U.S. military convoy Thursday as it passed through a crowded market in eastern Afghanistan, killing at least eight civilians and an American soldier, Afghan officials said.