Where’s My MMO Horde Mode?

Ever since its original debut in Epic Games’ Gears of War 2, the concept behind the popular “Horde Mode” gametype has gone on to become one of the core pillars of co-op multiplayer gameplay. 

While predominantly featured in shooters such as Halo (Firefight), Mass Effect (Galaxy at War), and even Saints Row (“Whored” Mode), lately it has started showing up in other, non-shooter multiplayer environments such as the recent console MOBA Guardians of Middle Earth (Survival Mode) and even action hack-and-slash games like God of War: Ascension (Trial of the Gods). However, there’s one genre in which Horde Mode seems strangely absent given its emphasis on social and often cooperative gameplay: massively multiplayer online games.

What I Want To See In A New Mass Effect Game

It shames me to admit that, when it was first released back in 2007, I had zero interest in Bioware’s new sci-fi shooter/RPG called Mass Effect. It was mostly because I was still on a bit of a Star Wars high, having recently finished both Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and its sequel The Sith Lords, so anything from Bioware that wasn’t Star Wars just didn’t pique my interest. 

It wasn’t until roughly a year after Mass Effect’s release when, one late night, I was browsing the Xbox Live marketplace for something new to play when my cursor paused on Mass Effect’s icon. By then it was relatively cheap and I was bored and desperate for something new to play so I shrugged, whipped out my wallet, and soon I was immersed in what would later become one of my favorite game series of all time. 

Video Game Review: F.E.A.R. 3; A Solid Finale for the Trilogy

As a longtime fan of the F.E.A.R. series ever since its debut in 2005, I’ve been looking forward to playing through the third and final entry after having enjoyed my time with both the original F.E.A.R. as well as the sequel Project Origin.  The first two games were often praised for their well-blended mix of horror and action and while the story was a little wonky at times, the thrilling gameplay and gripping atmosphere more then made up for any sorts of weaknesses the plot contained.  And while the story hasn’t gotten any less crazy, I’m happy to report I genuinely enjoyed my time with the epic conclusion to the F.E.A.R. legacy.