Bits and Bytes: Gaming update

With so much news and gaming goodness that has infiltrated our lives over the past couple weeks, this one column couldn't just hold enough room for one game alone. Hence, the hodgepodge you are about to read.

Grand Theft Auto IV
GTA IV is probably going to be gaming's biggest hit this year. With over $500 million in sales in just the first week of it's release, and people are still waiting to buy the game (and the systems to play it on), I don't think anything else will beat it this year.

I've had a great deal of fun with the game so far and I think that once you get used to the harder difficulty level regarding criminal activities and shootouts with the police, the new driving physics and new combat system, you'll find that this is indeed the best installment yet. I'm only about 40 per cent through the game (total completion), have put in MANY hours and have barely touched the surface with multiplayer (goodbye summer vacation).

Wasting time, avoiding loved ones and ignoring any sort of sane diet is fun with a game this good. I give this a perfect score of 10 out of 10.

I'll touch on this one time: no debates here! This game is for adults just like R rated movies and violent TV shows that come on after 9 pm. Use judgment around the youth and if you don't like it, just don't play it.

Mario Kart Wii
Next up is my two cents on Mario Kart Wii. After playing it, the wheel gimmick is ok, but nothing feels like playing it old-school style (mind you, the nunchuck combo is pretty cool).

The tracks don't feel like they had the thought put into them like Double Dash and there is way too much recycled material here. Let's not even discuss my disgust with the boys at Nintendo taking away some of the weapons and two to a kart action! It's like they tried to make the game easier for EVERYONE (I don't want to play this against my mom!) Just like Mario Party…there's too much that relies on luck while playing. Yes, there is some skill involved but when I'm constantly in first and I'm bombarded by one flying blue shells after another, my controller is getting tossed across the room and I'm moving onto something else where my skill is the actual deciding factor in my wins. I give those one eight out of 10.

Be prepared to see some PS3s move out of the stores because in June, Metal Gear Solid IV comes out. My PS2 was busted when part three hit the stores and I didn't go back to play it but I'll still be getting this game on day one. It looks good and everything is pointing to it playing just as well.

On a side note, all three previous games in the MGS series for the PS2 are available for $30 in a nice little package. I have to pick that up once I've tired of GTAIV.

Lastly, if you have anyone living with you who hates the sight of blood, make sure you go out and get Ninja Gaiden 2 for the Xbox 360 in June. Amputations and squirting veins will be the perfect accent to Ryu Hayabusa's true sequel. This game looks stunning and it'll be another day one purchase for this guy. Damn…I'm going broke and not outside enjoying the summer weather. Oh well, what else is new?