Left 4 Dead 2 by Valve

Ever been watching a typical zombie movie one night and start wondering how you would fare if you got caught up in a world-ending, death-ravaged, zombie apocalypse? And then started thinking how cool it would be to mow down wave after wave of zombies with a blood-soaked sub-machine gun til' the ammo ran out and you were forced to hack the remaining ones up with an axe or chainsaw in a frantic last stand for your life? Sure, we've all had that day dream before! Well this game is like that, and I loved it! Left 4 Dead 2 is a constant battle for survival against endless hordes of zombies that want nothing more than to shred you to pieces and devour you with a smile on their faces. With plenty of weapons to wield and ammo to unload, Left 4 Dead 2 is a great fast-paced shooter with no complex story lines or heavy dialogue moments to get in the way of your zombie killing frenzy. The game follows the adventures of 4 survivors as they trek through all sorts of zombie infested areas including a carnival and the ever reliable zombie mall! The game is fun to play by yourself as the A.I. of your teammates is pretty sharp and trusty. But add another player to your couch and put a controller in his hand and you have a recipe for some instant zombie killing fun! You can pick and choose any level you like, so if you have a particular fave, you don't have to go through some other levels to reach it. You can wield one gun and one melee weapon at a time, so pick and choose what works for you when scrounging around for weapons. You may be a heavy hitter type that prefers a grenade launcher supplemented by a chainsaw, or maybe a little more deadly finesse and you'd like a sniper rifle to go along with a samurai sword. Its all up to you! Just be prepared to do some serious killing cause when the zombie horde comes at you, they come at you...fierce! There will be tons, and I haven't even mentioned special zombies such as Spitters, which spit deadly acid at you and your party, or the jockey that will come running at you then jump on your head to take you for a ride all the while cackling insanely and causing a wet spot to form in your pants. When special zombies get a hold of you, your teammates are the only ones that can free you, so you have to stay together and work together if you want to survive, which adds a great element to the game in cooperative survival. I had a ton of fun playing the game and spent several hours killing the flesh hungry zombies thanks to it's arcade-like feel. The game tallies your kills and other stats as you play, letting you know how you fared against your teammates after a level has ended, such as who did the most damage to the Witch, which by the way, is a zombie I recommend just leaving alone. For she is nasty! Mean and nasty! If you are walking around a level and start hearing sounds of a woman crying, turn off your flashlight and watch out! You don't want to run into her! Enough about the mean and uber-nasty witch, you'll meet her yourself one day. I played the first Left 4 Dead when it came out a year or so ago, and it didn't hold my attention anywhere near as much as this one did. Its very fun to just pick up a controller, grab a buddy or two, and kill some zombies. It's a great feeling when you fight off a massive horde and do it with style and deadly accuracy, you start to feel like a professional zombie killer and business is the best it's ever been. It even supports online multiplayer with several different game modes so you don't even need that buddy on the couch with you if you are looking for some action.
Graphics: 7/10
Gameplay: 10/10
Sound: 9/10
Controls: 8/10
Overall Roasted Rating: 4/5
The Bottom Line: Loved it! It was great to play a good co-op themed game that wasn't bogged down with crazy controls or intricate storylines. The gameplay is fast, fun, simple, and addictive. Grab Left 4 Dead 2 today and get to killing some freakin' zombies! They're waiting for you!

Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story

Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story is the tale of a man destined to become a rock legend, even if it means getting addicted to drugs and having sex with multiple partners. But hey, that's the rock n' roll way, right? Well, with Dewey Cox it is. The Movie starts out with Dewey reflecting upon his entire life, beginning with him as a boy growing up in Alabama around the 40's. A tragic incident involving his brother prompts Dewey to become a great rock n' roller, and the rest of the movie showcases his triumphs and tragedies through every decade. What I enjoyed most about the movie was watching the changes Dewey Cox went through with each decade. Watching his music change from early rockabilly style into psychedelic rock and even progressing into disco and funk was entertaining and authentic, as the sets and clothing used in the movie were accurate representations of the era. Being a music fan (and a fan of anything vintage), I got a kick out of how each era was presented. Just watch how John C. Reilly's hairstyle changes throughout the movie, as well as the affects of aging seen on his face. I give props to the crew behind the movie for making it believable while making sure the movie was too ridiculous to believe...if that makes sense. Moving on, the humor is good also. Be prepared for some pretty laughable moments as Dewey tries to handle issues with his infidelity and drug addiction. One thing that really has this movie going for it, to me, is the music. I enjoy practically every track played in the movie, and the voice for the songs is really Reilly's, and he's actually a pretty good singer (For a deep, crooning style voice, anyway)! Tracks such as "A life Without You" and "Beautiful Ride" are written and played well, making the movie all the more enjoyable. I recommend the movie if you are in the mood for a good laugh and good music, with plenty of tributes scattered about to your favorite artists such as Elvis, Dylan, and the Beatles. If you are watching it on DVD, I recommend the director's cut, with tons of footage not seen in the theatrical version.
Acting: 8/10
Quality: 9/10
Soundtrack: 10/10
Replay Value: 9/10
Overall Roasted Rating: 4/5
The Bottom Line: Being a fan of everything the movie has to offer, from the vintage references, to excellent soundtrack, and laugh-a-minute humor, this one comes highly recommended!

GTA IV by Rockstar Games

This game proved to be quite complex and more involved than other entries to the series. While other GTA's promoted reckless violence and humorous mayhem, this one tends to lean a little more on the realistic side of things. It is quite an accomplishment on the scale of its realism. Player motions such as walking and fighting are very detailed, and the look and design of Liberty City show incredible attention to detail. It also has a fully functional internet to be used by the story's protagonist, Niko Bellic. As most GTA games go, your goal is to move up on the ladder of organized crime by however means possible, which starts out as running some odd jobs and doing dirty work for a few crime bosses until Liberty City begins to take notice that you are one bad mamma-jamma and someone not to be messed with. The map of Liberty City is quite large, and on account of the traffic, can make getting around sometimes difficult. But luckily a taxi can take you where you need to be at any time for a small fee. GTA IV is littered with its typical humor that would be expected if you've played the other entries. Listening to the radio and watching TV in your crib can prove to be relaxing and entertaining as they have imported real stand-up material from Katt Williams and Ricky Gervais. And there are plenty of things to do in Liberty city such as going bowling or even visiting a strip club, so when you're not busy trying to take over the city and establish yourself as the alpha male, take a little time to explore and take advantage of all that Liberty City has to offer.

Graphics: 9/10

Gameplay: 7/10

Sound: 8/10

Controls: 7.5/10

Overall Roasted Rating: 3/5

The Bottom Line: This game was fun and a challenge to play, although I prefer the sprawling landscapes of GTA: San Andreas and sometimes I felt as though the attention to realism robbed it a little bit of the chaotic fun it's known for, but all in all, it is a great game and even supports multiplayer.

Welcome to Ye Olde Roasted Clover! Yeah...there's nothing here yet, so if you were browsing about looking for something interesting, i'm afraid you won't find it here. For now anyways. But be sure to check back later for all your movie, music, and video game reviews! At the Roasted Clover! A jolly ol' work in progress! *dons hardhat*