Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Journal #1: Angels and Demons

“To the Illuminati,” [the camerlengo] said, his voice deepening, “and to those of science, let me say this.” He paused, “You have won the war.” Page 473.

In the real world it really is religion versus science. Both religion and science are always trying to prove that they have the answers to where we came from and what will happen to us in the end. Both are always trying to convert people to what they believe. The only reason the camerlengo said that science had won, is because of shear power. Science, in this case, had discovered so much that it had just overcome the power of the church. Religion has only one story, while science is constantly discovering new things. The religion that I was grown up with is almost opposite from this book. In “the end,” the Catholic Church is in fact becomes the super power. I guess it all depends the way you’re brought up.

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Review

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is a first-person shooter has definitely topped the charts of the gaming world. Infinity Ward(the creators of the game) finally realized that the old World War II times just don’t cut it anymore. From the old ratty guns to the new, slick guns of the modern world it lets you slip into a mindset that almost makes you think you are right there on the battlefield.

The single-player mode is quite short, but its the quality of the game makes up for it. You can play as a new British SAS operative as well as a US Marine. There are missions from running around as a sniper in a gilly suit, to controlling guns in a huge gunship covering your allies below. The most thrilling part of the sniper mission is that you have to lie down while a whole army of tanks and armed soldiers walk right over you. The campaign is fairly straight forward. You have a compass at the bottom of your screen, and the direction of your current objective is obviously marked which helps you through it.

The multiplayer version makes up for the short single-player. With 16 different maps and up to 18 players in one match, you can play many different game types from playing the normal deathmatch to playing a more life-like game where once you die, your dead for good until the next round begins. A great twist to the game is if you get 3 kills you are able to call UAV support which shows the position of enemy players. If you can get 5 you are able to call an Air strike which hits a good part of the map with bombs. Once you get 7 kills you can get helicopter support which calls in a helicopter to mow down the enemy.

As you play multiplayer you are awarded points for almost everything. Capturing control points, getting kills, and calling in support can all give you points in order to “rank up.” As you rank up you unlock more things to use. You can unlock more guns, and gain access to create your own classes. One interesting feature is that you can use three perks which can help you. Some examples are for the first one are extra frag grenades, or flashbangs to luging a huge RPG for those nasty helicopters. The second perk you can use things such as extra health, extra bullet damage, or extra bullets. The third one uses things like Last Stand, where once you are shot you fall on the ground and pull out your pistol and try and revenge your death before you actually die. One of the favorites is Martyrdom, which drops a live grenade when you die to blow up unexpected enemies.

If you are a first-person shooter fan this is a unique and fun game.