3DS Update 2.1.0- 3U

An Update has gone live from Nintendo, details follow below.

Fixes:

-Further improvements to overall system stability and other minor adjustments to enhance user experience.
-A correction for the screen freeze symptom experienced in the Ridge Racer 3D game.

Now back to Ridge Racer :)

I wonder if Ghost Recon Black Screen was fixed???

Dirt 3 Fix - Dirt 3 Crashing for you? Try this

Having problems with Dirt 3 after the Patch?

Try this:

Go to C:\Users\YourUserName\Saved Games\DirT3 Folder

In here just delete the folder "hardwaresettings" and that should do it:)

Also if that doesn't work you can try one of these:

-Turn cf/Sli off
-Turn Eyefinity off
-Reinstall Video card drivers or even roll back video card drivers

Top 5 Metal Gear Games, A 2011 Perspective

As we all know there have been some major announcements all around the gaming community. We know that there will be a HD collection featuring Kojima's masterpieces being remastered into HD. Those games have been confirmed for the HD collection to be, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty and the very well received Metal Gear Solid 5: Peace Walker (off the PSP). In all honesty I loved Peace walker, but I was expecting a HD remastering of Metal Gear Solid: Twin Snakes.

With all these HD remakes coming out on the market, it got me thinking. Will these have the same impact now as they did back then? So I decided to play through them again. Believe me it was harder than I thought. Especially with the control schemes from Peace walker and Metal Gear Solid 4, it took me a while before I could get into the rhythm of things for the older styled game play. Playing Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops on PSP proved to be nearly impossible after having the very convenient Peace Walker controls and game play style. The camera was a major drawback from the Portable Ops. Yes, I am being a little dramatic, but it goes to show how the Metal Gear Series really did evolve more to suit the game play style of many old and new gamers.

Here is the list and system it was played on (Warning There might be Spoilers, but we tried to keep it as simple as possible):

5. Metal Gear

Release Date: July 7, 1987 
Platforms: MSX2, Nes, PC, Commodore 64, Mobile, Virtual Console
Platform played on: Nes
Remakes: None

Metal Gear wasn't the first Metal Gear Game I played unfortunately. It was a game that I played for the first time when I bought Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (Subsistance Edition). It was included on one of the two disks found in that bundle.
The game truly ahead of it's time, and had some of the best plot twists that heavily reminded me of Metal Gear Solid.
I took the chance to replay it on the Nintendo System, and I was frankly still entertained but realized that the Nes version was definitely a reduced port of the MSX version that was included on the Subsistance edition. Although the Story line was still intact, the game did start off with a confusing parachuting into the game with a team that you don't see anymore throughout the game.
Although I did re play it on the Nes, I will still take the game as a whole and class it according to the MSX version.
It was and still is an amazing game that will always be one of the most requested games up for a remake, at least in my book.

4. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater

Release Date: November 17, 2004

Platforms: Playstation 2, Playstation 3 & Xbox 360 (TBA), 3DS (Nov 2011)

Platform played on: Playstation 3 (Ps2 backwards)

Remakes: Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater 3D (Upcoming Nov 2011 for the 3DS)

When I first played this I was taken back, the game featured some of the best environments I had ever played in with some of the best visuals I had seen. Replaying the game brought back some of the greatest memories. I was actually terrible at the game when I first played it back in 2005 (yes I was late), and really nothing has changed. I still tend to be seen by enemies more often than not:). The game also brings with it some of the best action scenes and in game cut scenes. Seeing as I recently played Peace Walker, the controls felt better but the camera angle game me a limited view in the environment, especially when it decided to auto adjust itself (as we've seen in other MGS games). The one element that still with stood the test of time was not only the great visuals but also the survival style game play. It was really exciting to make sure that I had everything necessary to get the job done, and that I was physically capable of doing so. The new camouflage system works very well and although not quite as amazing to experience now compared to the camouflage suit from Metal Gear solid 4, it did make the player feel vulnerable if not used properly. A great save after the Metal Gear Solid 2 Disappointment in the Series. 

3. Metal Gear Solid 

Release Date: September 3rd, 1998

Platforms: PS, PC, PSN, GC

Platform played on: PSP (PSN version) and GC

Remakes: Metal Gear Solid: Twin Snakes (GC)

This game was talked up to me by my friends for months before I decided to pick it up. I didn't however pick it up for the Playstation but I did pick it up for the PC. The game was hard to get use to on the keyboard and it did take me some time to get used to it, but it wasn't the game play that kept me going. It was the story, mood and setting. The game just had this thrilling way to foreshadow what could happen, and make you try to understand what is going on around you. What also made it fun was that it was the first stealth game that I ever played, it was the reason why I eventually went on to the Splinter cell series (Our top 5 will be coming up at the end of June;) for Splinter Cell Series). The boss battles also made me nervous, the character personalities really blended well into their environment and actually created a very panic feel. The most memorable being the battle with Rex and Sniper Wolf. Replaying the game was actually a lot easier to come to then expected, it didn't really have the camera issues that I would expect (other than the ones that were also present in Snake Eater) and since the environments were very open compared to Metal Gear Solid 3, it wasn't as important to see what was ahead because I had plenty of time to run, hide and observe. One thing I did notice the most in this game, it is very pattern based. The AI is very old school and predictable, but it was also fun to go back and watch their walking patterns and try to exploit this. Although no camouflage was present, you did however have your box. The box that was "Just a box" is very useful, although you do have to be sure to use it right. The game held up well and since the camera angles were a little less frustrating and the Story a lot more developed I actually placed this above Metal Gear Solid 3 because it was the game is created to be the beginning of something much bigger. 

2. Metal Gear Solid 5: Peace Walker

Release Date: April 28, 2010

Platforms: PSP, Playstation 3 & Xbox 360 (TBA)

Platform played on: PSP

Remakes: None

To be honest I was going to skip this game after play Portable Ops. I felt that the controls on the PSP just required to much effort to make it a pleasing play through. Although Portable Ops was worth the play through in terms of Story it was def a chore most of the time. I decided to give the Demo of the game a try and was instantly in love with the game. It had everything great controls, plot twist (not something new to the Metal Gear Universe but still), great comic cut scenes, RPG elements, diversity...I could go on. The game just found a great balance, trying to attract many kinds of players and also giving them the ability to choose the way the game should be played and also offered a variety of control schemes to match that style. Peace Walker also featured something new to the series that is an optional coop mode which can be played with 2 players through most missions and 4 players through boss fights. Coop was a great experience, and what was even more fascinating was it worked very well for the most part if you have a partner that can find the balance, otherwise you'll find miscommunication with your partner a major hassle. 

I can't tell you how many hours I put into this game, I actually wouldn't be surprised if I put in more than 100 hours into, granted I did spend a lot of my time making my Metal Gear (YES it is amazing) and also customizing both my camouflage and my base, but it is definitely part of the game and will  be a tragic loss if not found in other releases. This was one of Big Boss' final evolutions into the man we fought in Metal Gear.  

1. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

Release Date: June 12, 2008

Platforms: Playstation 3, IOS (thought I think IOS version shouldn't count:P)

Platform played on: Playstation 3

Remakes: None

Metal Gear Solid 4 has to be one of the greatest games to ever grace us with it's presence. The game stood well back in 2008 and still stands well now (yes, time hasn't really passed but with gaming now even 1 game could mean a generation of difference). The game was what we all expected, the answer to all out questions and more. The game was just one giant movie, it had some of the best and most memorable cinematic moments. Even though they were long and in any other game might end up making you want to skip them, this game just kept you too much on the end of your seat. Actually sometimes I would also hurry through the mission without even exploring it just to get to another cut scene to further develop the game. The game was also great because it added a new features, new camouflage possibilities and even gun customization. I could play the game guns blazing or just sneak past as many enemies as I could. When in the environments, I just felt it, it was a war zone and in every aspect it was very believable. Major Characters from previous series also made an appearance whether referenced or physically there.

Let's just say this game was exactly what the series should have ended as, it gives the audience all the information they wanted, answering every question that has been plagued over the forums for years. This game put the Metal Gear Games into perspective, it made me want to go back and play through them again and say "OH yeah this makes SENSE". Not only does it make sense but it is just pure and simply genius.



Well there you have it, the top 5 list of games as they appear in 2011. I hope you come back and check out our review of the top 3. 
If you have any opinions or would like to correct anything or give an opinion please contact us and lay it on us. Again we are only amateurs :).