Call of the Dead review(apart of the Call of Duty: Black Ops Escalation Map Pack)

Call of the Dead is the newest nazi zombies mode for Call of Duty: Black Ops, and it continues with the weirdness of the map Five. Adding in actors Danny Trejo, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Michael Rooker(The Walking Dead), and Robert Englund(Nightmare on Elm Street and it's many sequels), this new map is all about the B movie.

Starting with an awesome first cutscene, you are thrust into the game, with a zombie taking away George Romero. To start off the first thing you see is a zombified Romero. At first I didn't really know what to do, shooting him a few times makes him summon some zombies. The first area of the level is very much like the other maps, small, cramped, and there is the M14 and the Olympia shotgun. To your left and right are the two ways to go throughout the level. Unlike the other maps, is the constant threat of Romero hitting you with an electrified light. This is really fucking annoying, and starts to get on your nerves right from the start. I understand why they put this in though, it's to keep you on your toes, so you can't stay in one spot for very long. If you try to shoot him more, he gets pissed and chases you, this is inevitable, but you can make it happen faster by shooting him. Once he is pissed off, he sprints after you and he won't stop until you go into the water. Once you learn this trick, it really isn't all that frustrating, and adds a new sense of challenge to the game.

The two other area's of the map are the ship, where the power is, and the lighthouse. Both of which take awhile to get to the water, if you fully explore them. They also have the standard weapons on the wall(MP5k, Stakeout, M16, etc.). Overall after a few games, this mode is really best played with other people, playing by yourself is really difficult.

This new map, is hard at first, and a big change from the previous maps, but is a welcomed addition to the game. It is worth buying, and included in the download are the 4 other multiplayer maps.

Pretty Hate Machine review

Pretty Hate Machine by Nine Inch Nails, is their debut album, coming in 1989. Trent Reznor recorded most of this album working as a janitor at Right Track Studios, which is an amazing accomplishment.

1. Head Like a Hole

Opening the album is this hard hitting track. You can hear Trent Reznor's struggle and energy on this song, and the vocals, drums, guitars, and synths are great. The song has the recurring theme in Reznor's songs of "You're going to get what you deserve", and it definitely is a great way to start off one hell of an album.

2. Terrible Lie

As Head Like a Hole ends, this song transitions into this deep brooding track. Trent Reznor's emotions are felt heavily in this song, and it doesn't really tell any sort of story, like some of the other tracks on this album, but it still is a very commendable track, even if Trent Reznor doesn't like it.

3. Down In It

A song about change and fading away from what you used to be, it is the most bass happy song on the album, and the guitar work is non-existant on this song, but the drums beat your ears. The protagonist of the song is speaking about a change that he went through, where he was high up, and now he's as low as he can be, and about how he "used to have something deep inside, and now it's just this hole that's open wide". This song definitely is one of the best on the album.

4. Sanctified

Starting off with a drum and sample beat, then goes into a funky bass line, this is one of the sad songs on the album. It's about a man who's girlfriend or wife has so much control over him, that he will do anything for her whether it be "walking through the nicest parts of hell" or her "changing him into someone else", this song also might have the meaning of the girl being cocaine, and Trent Reznor's addiction to it. If you faintly listen before he starts singing "I'm just caught up in another of her spells" you can hear Trent or someone else reading a letter to their parents. Great song. Really moving.

5. Something I Can Never Have

Sanctified transitions into this song, starting with piano, and Trent begins singing. It's one of the ultimate sad songs, or a break up song, or a girls are evil song. It is really moving, and is probably one of the more beautiful songs that Trent has written. Anyone who is going through emotional times, will recognize what Trent is trying to say with this song. It only gets heavier at the very end of the song, where you can tell the Reznor put his heart and soul into this song.

6. Kinda I want To

One of the songs that sounds like newer NIN, this song is probably(in my opinion) one of the weaker songs on the album, but it's still a 7 or an 8 of a song. The song is about homosexual desires that Trent has had, and how he coped with them. A really strong emotional song, but still one of the lesser songs on the album.

7. Sin

The heaviest song on the album, is about a sexual experience with someone, where one person loved them, but for the other person is just a one-off experience. Reznor shows his deep anger in this song, it's one of the more relatable songs on the album. Control, trust, and the loss of purity are all themes in this song. The samples and vocals are top notch on this song.

8. That's What I Get

Put together Sin, That's What I Get, and Something I Can Never Have, and you have the ultimate break up/hatred playlist. It tells of someone being betrayed by their partner, and the thoughts of the person. This is probably the best song on the album, and Trent Reznor is out in full force. It exposes a vulnerable Reznor, and most of us can relate to it.

9. The Only Time

Another sexual song about desire and sex. The funkiest song on the album especially in the choruses, you can really hear the bass guitar. It's about a one-night stand while being drunk, a great desire song. Trent Reznor himself has said that this song "Is about fucking".

10. Ringfinger

One can only guess what this song is about from the title, marriage of course. Trent Reznor has never been married, but he still sings about it well. A man, who is in a marriage with a demanding woman, and he is pussy-whipped. He does everything that she does, connect this song with Sanctified.

Pretty Hate Machine is a great debut album for an awesome band in Nine Inch Nails, and the whole album is about sex, desire, hatred, anger, and sadness. If you haven't heard this album, I beg you to listen to it and give it a chance.

Outlook for January/February

In the next few weeks, i will be reviewing more than i have before, video games, books, cd's, movies. Everything. Some planned reviews include, Dead Space(thanks Jordan), Star Wars: Death Troopers, John Frusciante's new album The Empyrean, The Green Hornet, and many other things. Expect the book review to come first, and then i'm not sure after that. Let's look forward to a great two months and a great year. Expect more reviews to come after wrestling season is over, and i have more free time.

Fallout: New Vegas Dead Money DLC Review

Today, the first DLC add-on for Fallout: New Vegas was released for Xbox 360. If you are thinking about buying this add-on. Don't. It is nowhere near the quality of the original game, or Fallout 3's DLC.

I haven't beaten the whole DLC, but I really don't want to because it is so bad. The quests are not fun, the enemies aren't cool or hard to beat, the new weapons are terrible. The city of Sierra Madre is dark, too dark. The characters are not interesting whatsoever, there are only 4 characters in the whole DLC, one of which is only a projection.

The new weapons are, different variations of a stick with knives duct taped to it. Yes, a stick, with knives. Really thinking outside the box there Obsidian(the company that made New Vegas). The other weapons you use are standard weapons that you get in the main campaign in New Vegas( 9mm pistol, assault rifle.)

To put it simply, this DLC is a waste of your money, don't buy it. This really makes me disappointed for the next DLC packs.

Game of the Year 2010

Since it is December, and around here at Hunter Bolding's Reviews, we need to have a game of the year post. I'll make 5 choices, and probably sometime this week or next will pick my overall game of the year. Here are my choices. Now this list has to be made of games that i have played. (sorry Mass Effect 2, World of Warcraft: Cataclysm, Starcraft 2, Civilization 5, and Fable 3.)

Red Dead Redemption(Xbox 360, PS3)

Fallout: New Vegas(Xbox 360, PS3)

Halo: Reach(Xbox 360)

God of War 3(PS3)

Call of Duty: Black Ops(Xbox 360, PS3, PC)

We'll start off with the fifth choice.

Call of Duty: Black Ops.

Although this new Call of Duty, is almost the same as the other ones, it has to be on this list. The multiplayer aside, you have to look at the great campaign, Zombies, and Dead Ops. These additions are great, but the game is just under the Game of the Year material.

Top Ten: Opening songs

This list will be about the top ten songs that open an album. Let's get started.

10. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, Black Sabbath

This song begins the list, for one reason, the opening kicks ass, the last few minutes of the song don't equal the beginning of Ozzy's banshee vocals and Tony Iomi's thumping guitar. The opening part of the song is the good part of death, I.E. going to Heaven. The latter part is about the bad parts of death I.E. going to hell. Starting off a great Sabbath album, this song truly kicks all kinds of ass.

9. The Wicker Man, Brave New World, Iron Maiden

This song may be kind of cheesy, but it symbolizes more than you think. It symbolizes the return of Bruce Dickinson to Iron Maiden. You hear the great guitar work of the three amigos(Janick Gers, Dave Murray, and Adrian Smith), and it just pumps you up to get ready for the rest of this great album.

8. Whole Lotta Love, Led Zeppelin II, Led Zeppelin

Off their classic 1969 album, Led Zeppelin II, the greatest rock and roll band in the world, starts off with their classic "Whole Lotta Love". This song was a staple for the "Led" and is a hard hitting classic song. I also think that this song is the best on the album, but that's my opinion.

7. Battery, Master of Puppets, Metallica

Somewhat overlooked because of the behemoth of a song after it, "Battery" is a classic of Metallica, that every fan should love. Starting off with slow guitar like albums before, then hitting you hard with guitar and drums, "Battery" is epic, and if nothing else, fast. This is a genre defining thrash metal song. It's only this low because the monster behind it.

6. Ace of Spades, Ace of Spades, Motorhead

Another classic, this time from the godfathers of metal, Motorhead, this album is one of my favorites, and if you haven't heard this song before, do yourself a favor, and look it up on youtube or buy it on iTunes, you will not be dissapointed. From Lemmy's trademark vocals to the great drums and guitar, you have to listen to this song. The rest of the album isn't too bad either.

5. Head Like a Hole, Pretty Hate Machine, Nine Inch Nails

Nine Inch Nails' debut album starts off with a kick ass industrial/metal/rock/techno song. Trent Reznor's vocals and the drum sounds and everything else make this a great beginning to a great album. If you haven't listened to Nine Inch Nails, do so. They are a great band.

4. Cowboys from Hell, Cowboys from Hell, Pantera

Pantera's greatest album, and first with Phil Anselmo, starts off with the classic metal song "Cowboys from Hell". It's amazing to think that "Dimebag" Darrell did his guitar parts without help from another guitarist. If there is any song that will make you want to kick ass(in a good way), it's definitely this song. There really is nothing more to say about it, other than it's brutal power.

3. Neon Knights, Heaven and Hell, Black Sabbath/Heaven and Hell

Now we're getting to the good stuff. Ronnie James Dio and Sabbath at their best. This track is off one of the finest heavy metal albums ever made. It also happens to be one of the most badass songs ever written. Ronnie James Dio does a superb job along with the rest of Black Sabbath(Tony Iomi, Geezer Butler, Vinny Appice). This song was one of the few that make me want to play an instrument.

1. and 2. Moonchild, Seventh Son of a Seventh Son, Iron Maiden: Holy Wars.....The Punishment Due, Rust in Peace

To explain myself; I couldn't decide between these two songs, I knew when i was writing this, that these songs would be number one and two, but I couldn't decide which to put at two or one. So they are tied. Don't bitch, it's my list, fuck off if there are any problems.

Moonchild and Holy Wars are both kickass songs, but they are vastly different, Holy Wars.....The Punishment Due is a thrash metal song that literally defined the genre, it is the song that should be played when people talk about thrash metal. Please, take it to yourself, to listen to these last two songs, I plead for you to.

Moonchild is a heavy metal song by Iron Maiden that uses a lot of synthesizers, the guitar work is beautiful, the vocals are heavy and awesome as Maiden always has. I can't really say any more, you just have to listen to it yourself.

Honorable Mentions:

Aces High, Powerslave, Iron Maiden

Painkiller, Painkiller, Judas Priest

Bat Out of Hell, Bat Out of Hell, Meat Loaf

Smells Like Teen Spirit, Nevermind, Nirvana

I Don't Know, Blizzard of Ozz, Ozzy Osbourne

Alive, Pearl Jam, Pearl Jam

Man in the Box, Dirt, Alice In Chains

Review: Red Dead Redemption Undead Nightmare

May 2010's Red Dead Redemption was a masterpiece of gaming and truly showed that video games can be an art form. Will the DLC hold up to those high standards?

Undead Nightmare is a perfect showing of why DLC(downloadable content) is so great. It adds single player missions, multiplayer gametypes, achievements(or trophies for PS3), new weapons, and it adds on the the great story that Red Dead Redemption started.

Let's start off with the single player. Undead Nightmare is set before the events of Red Dead Redemption, but it doesn't fit along with that story line. All the same characters are in it, such as John Marsten, Jack Marsten, and Nigel West Dickins. Also, all of their original voice actors are back to reprise their roles. Without giving away some of the story, a plague has risen and John Marsten has to find a cure for his wife and son. Along his journey, he meets some old and new friends, that showcase how great Rockstar is at storytelling. Like Red Dead Redemption, this story really makes you feel for John Marsten and his character.

The new weapons in the game are a blunderbuss, a sawnoff shotgun, and a torch. The new weapons are great for killing zombies, the blunderbuss is the best weapon by far, you can take out enormous amounts of zombies in one hit, but the ammo is very hard to find and make. All of the guns make a return from Red Dead Redemption. Although ammo is very hard to find early in the game, it makes it for a great challenge in the early goings.

Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare, is one of the best DLC add-ons for a game that i have ever played, and it is completely worth the ten dollars spent on it. It would be worth fifteen dollars. So if you own Red Dead Redemption for either Xbox 360 or PS3, you owe it to yourself to buy this add-on.