Mankind has devastated itself in a nuclear holocaust. The large cities, and rural communities that once dotted the globe have been reduced to burnt husk ruins. Seas have evaporated, and cruel desert climates now cover most of the earth.

Though pushed to edge of self extinction, mankind has begun to reclaim the earth; struggling to find sources of food and water, and re-establish civilization. Out of the chaos, masters of secret and incredibly powerful martial arts –unknown to society before the war– have come to the forefront in this post-apocalyptic world. Some oppress the weak and force their demented will on others; while other masters use their power to help and defend their fellow human beings. This is the world Kenshiro – sole heir and master of the power martial art Hokuto Shinken finds himself; as he struggles against impossible odds to defend the oppressed, and those he loves in Koei’s brawler Fist of the North Star: Ken’s Rage.

In general, I’m not typically a fan of Koei’s versions of the brawler genre–which, in the light of the global appeal of the Dynasty Warriors series–has become a sub genre in its own right. I wasn’t expecting too much when I bought the game, but I love the Fist of the North Star license (anime and manga) and decided to take a chance. In short, I was–surprised with the title. To find out if its worth your time and money, click the jump.

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Back in the summer I had the privilege of participating in a beta test of the Logitech F540 wireless gaming headset. The retail version of this unit was released in late October, and I received my compensation headset last week. I have not used a Triton or Astro headset, so please view this review from that angle. The unit retails for $160, and includes the headset, base unit, and cables for connection to XBOX360 and PS3. To be honest though, the connections labeled for the 360 and PS3 are just RCA, so this could conceivably be used for any source that has RCA output. There is also a small 3.5mm input jack for something like an iPod or other MP3 player.

If you are looking for a wireless headset to use with your PS3, XBOX360, or Wii console, this is definitely one to consider. The wireless range is outstanding, easily reaching a distance of 30-50 feet including through walls. The earpieces completely conver the ears, and are sound-isolating. The boom mic can be raised up if you are not using voice chat, and is very adjustable as far as distance from your mouth. When the mic is in the upright position, it is automatically muted. On the left side of the headset there are independent controls for game and chat volume, as well as a mute button that toggles on and off. The earpieces and top piece of the unit are adequately padded for several hours of use. In my experience, battery life is in the 8-10 hour range. The unit is charged via a USB cable that connects into the base station.

There are only a few negatives that I have found with this headset. First of all, it is not 5.1 surround sound. For me this is not ‘huge, but I didn’t have to pay full retail for mine either. I previously used a Turtle Beach X1 headset, and I can tell you that the sound on this unit is better. Another small negative is that if the boom mic is too close, your voice is very loud on the other end (so I’ve been told). All in all, these small issues don’t detract much from the overall quality of the unit. On a scale of 1 to 10, I would rate this headset at 8.

There is evil afoot. The sound of the werewolves is even more chilling than the cold rain. You stand firm. Your steely resolve is only matched by your skills with with the Combat Cross. As the creatures of the night begin to attack on you, and the handful of brave villagers who dare to make a stand, you are warmed by your thirst for revenge. That, and the hope of reuniting with your murdered love, Marie.

This is Caltlevania: Lords of Shadow, Konami’s 3rd person 3D reboot to their much beloved traditionally 2D action series. So, is it worthy of wearing the Castlevania name? Click the jump to find out.

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