Open World

One of my favorite games this year is Rockstar's Red Dead Redemption—a sandbox title that takes the gameplay and irreverent humor of Grand Theft Auto and shifts it to the old west. Rather than carjacking, players spend their time rustling cattle, ripping people off horses, and deciding whether to be an avenging angel or black-hatted bad guy.

Since the title has no real horror element at all (aside from a supporting character who loves the dead a little too much…), I never got to post about Red Dead Redemption here. That changes now, with the debut of the official trailer for Undead Nightmare, a new downloadable add-on that finds main character John Marston trying to find a cure for the zombie outbreak sweeping across the frontier.

We're back and less offensive than ever! Our conversation about detail and immersion becomes an impromptu "State of Rockstar Games" debate. Plus: Our personal gaming tragedies; tales of data loss and other disasters. Featuring Chi Kong Lui, Brad Gallaway, Mike Bracken, and Tim "The Traitor" Spaeth.

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Games discussed:

• Infinite Space
• Mass Effect 2: Lair of the Shadow Broker
• Red Dead Redemption

Please send feedback and mailbag questions to podcast (at) gamecritics (dot) com.

Actually, it is for Nothing

HIGH Eddie and Joe singing along drunkenly to "Return to me" in the car.

LOW The preceding half-hour, during which they vomit constantly.

WTF I failed one mission because the guy I was tailing ran into a taxi of his own accord.

Game Description: Mafia II is a third-person, sandbox shooter that provides a look into the dark and unforgiving world of the Mob. Expanding on the original hit, Mafia, that captivated more than 2 million gamers around the world, this new incarnation takes players even deeper into the Mafia with a mature and exciting experience that allows players to explore the gameworld as they wish and immerses them in it like never before. Features include complete gangster movie experience, a wide variety of combat—including vehicular—a mood setting soundtrack and much more.

Escaped the Police, but got a Little Banged up Along the Way

HIGH The first few hours of story.

LOW The driving.

WTF Driving into a barrier on an overpass, being thrown through the windshield, falling six or so stories, and still walking away.

Naughty? Atrocious

HIGH The concept of a serial killer teddy bear is pure gold.

LOW This can't-miss concept is utterly wasted.

WTF How did this project go so wrong?

Game Description: Naughty Bear is an open world style action game for Xbox 360 in which players take on the role of the dangerously disturbed teddy bear, Naughty Bear as he seeks revenge against the fellow teddies that left him off the guest list for a birthday party. Full of comic mischief, in-game exploration opportunities, stealth scare tactics and of course carnage, players wrack up points as they cross enemies off their list and avoid retribution for their actions in gameplay that will ensure that you never turn your back on a teddy bear again. Additional features include more than 30 unlockable levels stuffed with weapons caches and multiplayer options.

More of the Same, Only Less of it

HIGH It's good to hear the voice of the announcer again.

LOW An astonishing lack of variety and absurd amounts of repetition.

WTF Why was this not released as $15 DLC?

Game Description: The sequel to the award-winning vertical-world adventure, Crackdown 2 is the ultimate open-ended world action experience, only available on Xbox 360. The game lets you be judge, jury, and executioner for a huge, fully explorable city. Crackdown 2 takes multiplayer gaming to unprecedented levels for the ultimate co-op and competitive multiplayer experience, providing you and your friends with the complete freedom to explore, destroy, and play your way as you restore justice and peace to Pacific City—by any means necessary.

The Legend of John Marston

HIGH Taking down the Bollard Twins gang in a running gunfight in Pike's Basin.

LOW A late mission using a surprisingly ineffective car-mounted Browning machine gun in poor visibility.

WTF I went through all that crap with the grave robber just so he could dance like a lunatic in Fort Mercer?