Listen, I'm gonna go ahead and come right out and say it: I'm a nerd. I like all the stuff nerds like: Star Trek, Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, computers, video games, and the like. So when I heard that there would be a massive online multiplayer Star Trek game, I was obviously delighted. The concept of crewing a starship in the Star Trek universe was very appealing, and, barring some foul-up, should be a lot of fun.
See this article:
http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/50065
For those of you who aren't fans of reading, the article says that a new company has taken over the development of the game, and is planning on setting it up to be a more casual (their word, not mine) experience.
Vomit.
Are you kidding me? The most enjoyable games are those that are in fact too complex. I don't want a game that has been dumbed down for the masses; I want the game that every gaming company wants to make: easy to learn, hard to master. When I hear that they want to make it a "casual" game, I'm thinking it's going to be more like the Sims online or something.
Also mentioned in the article is that the company is exploring a different payment structure, where there wouldn't be a month-to-month fee, but you would have to pay for extra features inside the game. Apparently this strategy has been very successful in Korea. Well that's great, except this isn't Korea. What exactly am I going to have to pay for inside the game? Flight school? Engineering lessons? Transportation? Food? I don't like this, not one bit.
I play World of Warcraft. I've tried out Star Wars: Galaxies, Final Fantasy XI, Dungeons & Dragons Online, and Lord of the Rings online, and I found all of them to be seriously lacking when compared to WoW. I was disappointed, but not surprised. The Star Wars universe has its own flaws and foibles, so it's only fitting that its video game counterparts have some of the same problems.
But when it comes to complexities and fanship, Star Trek blows Star Wars out of the water. You can't give "Trekkies" a subpar effort; they'll lose their shit. The one thing I like about that is that, in those vehement supporters of the Star Trek universe, I've got a group of dedicated advocates who will do their best to ensure the game lives up to the standard of Star Trek. Many previous Star Trek games have disappointed, but an MMO should be held to a higher standard. You're not just creating an adventure. You're regenerating the entire Star Trek universe that thousands of people already know cover-to-cover, so to speak. You can't mess this up; they won't stand for it.
The main difference is that the average Star Wars fan is a casual fan, often young, and not necessarily a critical thinker. The average Star Trek fan expects a high level of discourse when they talk about their show, and certainly will expect a genuine representation of their universe from a game purported to offer gamers the true "Trek" experience.
Maybe this is all for nothing, and it'll end up being awesome, and everyone will go home happy. But I'm not holding out hope.
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Beowulf: The Game
GameStop has Beowulf: The Game on a massive price drop from $59.99 down to $19.99 for both the Xbox 360 and the Playstation 3. I've heard good things about it so far in limited reviews, and for twenty bucks, it's not that much of a risk to take a chance on it.
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Used Games Holiday Deals
Gamestop has a ton of used games on sale leading up to the holiday season. Additionally, they've got a couple of coupons you can use (though only one coupon per order):
- AFF25 gives you 25% off all used games
- SAVER gives you free shipping
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Expansion Packs
When I was a kid, I hated expansion packs. I felt like the game company was robbing me, asking for more money just so that I could have a few more levels, a few more features, a little more functionality. And as a video game kid, I couldn't help but comply. Thirty dollars more for the Lord of Destruction expansion for Diablo II? You're an ass, Blizzard. Why didn't you just include this in the original game?
But I was wrong. Dead wrong, in fact, 95% of the time. It's true, a lot of the stuff included in the Diablo II expansion probably could've been included in the original game, though it obviously would've taken some time to get it resolved and programmed and tested and produced. But hey, what's a few more months when you're talking about thirty whole dollars? Well, it's time for the next game to come out, like Dungeon Siege for example.
But more than that, how about the fact that it is thirty dollars? Expansion packs very rarely rival the original game in price, and often, shortly after the expansion comes out, a full package include the game, expansion, and occasionally a strategy guide becomes available for $50. The "Battle Chest," as it's sometimes called. Take that into consideration the next time you pay full price for the newest Tiger Woods, or Madden, or 2K game. Expansion packs offer about the same amount of new content as the annual iteration of the popular sports games, but are available for substantially less money than the original game.
Let's cite a few examples of particularly impressive expansion franchises (Blizzard will dominate the list, but they dominate gaming, so it's reasonable).
World of Warcraft - The Burning Crusade expansion offered a brand new continent, two new races, a new profession, hundreds of new items, monsters, and skills, and a few more "instances," or dungeons, to those unfamiliar with the game. The next expansion, set for this winter, will add another continent, another new profession, a new class (far more interesting than a new race), siege weapons and destructible buildings, and another bevy of new items, monsters, skills, etc. The new expansion, in fact, is the main reason I'm continuing to play and pay for World of Warcraft. I've always wanted to be a death knight.
Starcraft - The Brood War expansion was one of the earliest expansions in my gaming career. It offered a few new units (not too impressive), but also offered completely new campaigns, with a full compliment of missions to undertake that rivaled and perhaps even surpassed the original campaigns, at least in terms of difficulty. That shit was hard.
Half-Life - Not along the same conventional expansion pack lines, but Half-Life spawned a number of expansions, such as Opposing Force, Blue Shift, and Team Fortress. On top of that is the immensely popular Counter-Strike, which started as an independent mod of Half-Life, but was developed into an official release. All of these games were relative successes on some level, and they're all built on the same framework of the original Half-Life. Chip, I promise, someday I'll play that set you bought me for my birthday a few years ago.
However, to be completely fair, there is one game franchise that has completely murdered the concept of an expansion pack to the point of obscenity: The Sims. The Sims came out with seven total expansion packs from August 2000 to October 2003, and while each was available for a reasonable price of $20-$30, the rapidity with which they were released suggests that they were not delayed by coding or testing constraints, but rather in an attempt to generate as much revenue as possible from each set of added features. While Maxis and Electronic Arts are entitled to take whatever path they choose to released their product, it has made me wary of purchasing new games, knowing that the potential for several expansion packs in the near future exists.
But The Sims is the exception and not the rule. For the most part, expansion packs offer game companies the opportunity to respond to requests and suggestions from their respective gaming communities, and expand and enhance their video game experiences. As a sincere gamer, I'm all for the production of top-quality titles, and I like the idea that, if enough people think a certain new feature or game change is a good idea, the company has the chance to integrate it into the game through an expansion pack.
And now you know part of the reason I refuse to buy brand new sports games.
But I was wrong. Dead wrong, in fact, 95% of the time. It's true, a lot of the stuff included in the Diablo II expansion probably could've been included in the original game, though it obviously would've taken some time to get it resolved and programmed and tested and produced. But hey, what's a few more months when you're talking about thirty whole dollars? Well, it's time for the next game to come out, like Dungeon Siege for example.
But more than that, how about the fact that it is thirty dollars? Expansion packs very rarely rival the original game in price, and often, shortly after the expansion comes out, a full package include the game, expansion, and occasionally a strategy guide becomes available for $50. The "Battle Chest," as it's sometimes called. Take that into consideration the next time you pay full price for the newest Tiger Woods, or Madden, or 2K game. Expansion packs offer about the same amount of new content as the annual iteration of the popular sports games, but are available for substantially less money than the original game.
Let's cite a few examples of particularly impressive expansion franchises (Blizzard will dominate the list, but they dominate gaming, so it's reasonable).
World of Warcraft - The Burning Crusade expansion offered a brand new continent, two new races, a new profession, hundreds of new items, monsters, and skills, and a few more "instances," or dungeons, to those unfamiliar with the game. The next expansion, set for this winter, will add another continent, another new profession, a new class (far more interesting than a new race), siege weapons and destructible buildings, and another bevy of new items, monsters, skills, etc. The new expansion, in fact, is the main reason I'm continuing to play and pay for World of Warcraft. I've always wanted to be a death knight.
Starcraft - The Brood War expansion was one of the earliest expansions in my gaming career. It offered a few new units (not too impressive), but also offered completely new campaigns, with a full compliment of missions to undertake that rivaled and perhaps even surpassed the original campaigns, at least in terms of difficulty. That shit was hard.
Half-Life - Not along the same conventional expansion pack lines, but Half-Life spawned a number of expansions, such as Opposing Force, Blue Shift, and Team Fortress. On top of that is the immensely popular Counter-Strike, which started as an independent mod of Half-Life, but was developed into an official release. All of these games were relative successes on some level, and they're all built on the same framework of the original Half-Life. Chip, I promise, someday I'll play that set you bought me for my birthday a few years ago.
However, to be completely fair, there is one game franchise that has completely murdered the concept of an expansion pack to the point of obscenity: The Sims. The Sims came out with seven total expansion packs from August 2000 to October 2003, and while each was available for a reasonable price of $20-$30, the rapidity with which they were released suggests that they were not delayed by coding or testing constraints, but rather in an attempt to generate as much revenue as possible from each set of added features. While Maxis and Electronic Arts are entitled to take whatever path they choose to released their product, it has made me wary of purchasing new games, knowing that the potential for several expansion packs in the near future exists.
But The Sims is the exception and not the rule. For the most part, expansion packs offer game companies the opportunity to respond to requests and suggestions from their respective gaming communities, and expand and enhance their video game experiences. As a sincere gamer, I'm all for the production of top-quality titles, and I like the idea that, if enough people think a certain new feature or game change is a good idea, the company has the chance to integrate it into the game through an expansion pack.
And now you know part of the reason I refuse to buy brand new sports games.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Tiger Woods 08 - Wii
Nothing beats a good golf game. Any sports enthusiast, whether they play golf or not, should own at least one golf game for their video game console. I have Tiger Woods 2004 for my PC, then I got an Xbox and got Tiger Woods 07 for the Xbox. Now that I have a Wii, it was only natural to get Tiger Woods 08.
Here's the lowdown:
Gameplay: The Tiger Woods series are all pretty typical as far as game play is concerned. From one year to another, the only major differences are the addition and subtraction of golf courses and EA's addition of a "new feature." The one thing that makes this game unique is the controls that allow the Wii to create a more realistic golfing experience. Its not perfect, but its good.
The controls, which is my first concern that I research before purchasing a Wii game, are fairly intuitive. You swing the Wii remote like you would a golf club. You have the option of practicing your swing as much as you like too, which is almost a necessity when trying to finesse a shot. I have noticed that the swing can not be too large. If your back swing brings the Wii Remote over your head and points at the TV, it probably will not pick up on the rest of the down swing. I have also found it to be a little tricky to make a swing that is not 100% or greater. You really have to slow down your motion. This could be the game telling me that my golf technique needs a lot of work (and it probably does), but I doubt that is the case. Putting is a little different. You still make a natural putting motion (and its probably a more realistic swing than you make during a typical swing), however the practice mode is a little different. They call it "Putt Preview" and when you enter the Putt Preview mode, a timer starts to count down. You only have so much time to preview your putt. There is a lot of time for previewing your putt, however, the timer is shared for the entire round. If you spend a lot of time on one green previewing your putts, you will want to conserve your time on another green or risk running out of time and losing the ability to preview putts.
All this talk about the Normal Swing Mode, and I have nearly forgotten the other swing modes. There are two other swing modes. One allows you to swing the remote in any direction as long as you go one way, then the other. This allows people to swing while sitting down. I tried it once and did not care for it too much. The other swing mode requires the Nunchuk and is the traditional swing moving the joystick down for the back swing and forward for the down swing.
Getting back into the game, the player creation remains to be as specialized as its always been. Every little detail can be included. I have heard about the Xbox 360 and PS3 having a automatic player creation with the use of a digital photo or two. Unfortunately, that did not make it to the Wii. I was looking forward to it and it did not make the jump.
Taunts are back, which were in a previous Tiger Woods, but not 07. I'm not sure exactly how efficient they are because I have not yet tried any of them, but that was always fun. There is also a confidence meter for your individual golfer. Depending on the course, the type of shot, the difficulty of the shot, and your abilities, a meter shows your confidence in making the shot. Its a pretty interesting feature. If you play one course a lot and you are in a similar situation attempting a particular shot that you have attempted before, your confidence meter is higher than it would be on a native course, attempting a rare shot, and it increases your chances of making the shot.
The game modes are extremely similar to Tiger Woods 07. They include the Tiger Challenge (though with a LOT more content), the PGA Tour season mode, all the different round options (stroke play, match play, etc.). The Mini Games are similar as Tiger Woods 07 too. I think there is a new putt-putt mini game, however, I have yet to try it out.
Graphics: The graphics could use some work. There is a great deal of realism, but I think it could use a little work and attention. I believe the graphics look cleaner on Tiger Woods 07 for the regular Xbox. They look alright, I just think there should be a smoother transition when things move following shots and previewing holes. The animals that are occasionally seen on courses are extremely unrealistic and incredibly disappointing. They should not have been included.
Sound: EA sports has always done a decent job with sounds. Its nothing too special. The occasional chirp or the sound of wind blowing through a tree. The soundtrack is always something to admire with EA sports games too. They did not miss a beat here either.
Replay-ability: Despite the graphics, this game has a lot of replay-ability. There is always something to do, whether its following the PGA Tour season or taking on another Tiger Challenge, there is a LOT of content here to keep players coming back.
Wrap-up: A great game for the Wii. I have read this in a few reviews and I will repeat it here because it stands true: If you own Tiger Woods 07, its probably not worth getting Tiger Woods 08. EA Sports will have to come up with something radically different to get people hopping on 09. The past couple years have produced extremely similar games. Regardless, any Tiger Woods game is worth owning on whichever system you currently own.
Here's the lowdown:
Gameplay: The Tiger Woods series are all pretty typical as far as game play is concerned. From one year to another, the only major differences are the addition and subtraction of golf courses and EA's addition of a "new feature." The one thing that makes this game unique is the controls that allow the Wii to create a more realistic golfing experience. Its not perfect, but its good.
The controls, which is my first concern that I research before purchasing a Wii game, are fairly intuitive. You swing the Wii remote like you would a golf club. You have the option of practicing your swing as much as you like too, which is almost a necessity when trying to finesse a shot. I have noticed that the swing can not be too large. If your back swing brings the Wii Remote over your head and points at the TV, it probably will not pick up on the rest of the down swing. I have also found it to be a little tricky to make a swing that is not 100% or greater. You really have to slow down your motion. This could be the game telling me that my golf technique needs a lot of work (and it probably does), but I doubt that is the case. Putting is a little different. You still make a natural putting motion (and its probably a more realistic swing than you make during a typical swing), however the practice mode is a little different. They call it "Putt Preview" and when you enter the Putt Preview mode, a timer starts to count down. You only have so much time to preview your putt. There is a lot of time for previewing your putt, however, the timer is shared for the entire round. If you spend a lot of time on one green previewing your putts, you will want to conserve your time on another green or risk running out of time and losing the ability to preview putts.
All this talk about the Normal Swing Mode, and I have nearly forgotten the other swing modes. There are two other swing modes. One allows you to swing the remote in any direction as long as you go one way, then the other. This allows people to swing while sitting down. I tried it once and did not care for it too much. The other swing mode requires the Nunchuk and is the traditional swing moving the joystick down for the back swing and forward for the down swing.
Getting back into the game, the player creation remains to be as specialized as its always been. Every little detail can be included. I have heard about the Xbox 360 and PS3 having a automatic player creation with the use of a digital photo or two. Unfortunately, that did not make it to the Wii. I was looking forward to it and it did not make the jump.
Taunts are back, which were in a previous Tiger Woods, but not 07. I'm not sure exactly how efficient they are because I have not yet tried any of them, but that was always fun. There is also a confidence meter for your individual golfer. Depending on the course, the type of shot, the difficulty of the shot, and your abilities, a meter shows your confidence in making the shot. Its a pretty interesting feature. If you play one course a lot and you are in a similar situation attempting a particular shot that you have attempted before, your confidence meter is higher than it would be on a native course, attempting a rare shot, and it increases your chances of making the shot.
The game modes are extremely similar to Tiger Woods 07. They include the Tiger Challenge (though with a LOT more content), the PGA Tour season mode, all the different round options (stroke play, match play, etc.). The Mini Games are similar as Tiger Woods 07 too. I think there is a new putt-putt mini game, however, I have yet to try it out.
Graphics: The graphics could use some work. There is a great deal of realism, but I think it could use a little work and attention. I believe the graphics look cleaner on Tiger Woods 07 for the regular Xbox. They look alright, I just think there should be a smoother transition when things move following shots and previewing holes. The animals that are occasionally seen on courses are extremely unrealistic and incredibly disappointing. They should not have been included.
Sound: EA sports has always done a decent job with sounds. Its nothing too special. The occasional chirp or the sound of wind blowing through a tree. The soundtrack is always something to admire with EA sports games too. They did not miss a beat here either.
Replay-ability: Despite the graphics, this game has a lot of replay-ability. There is always something to do, whether its following the PGA Tour season or taking on another Tiger Challenge, there is a LOT of content here to keep players coming back.
Wrap-up: A great game for the Wii. I have read this in a few reviews and I will repeat it here because it stands true: If you own Tiger Woods 07, its probably not worth getting Tiger Woods 08. EA Sports will have to come up with something radically different to get people hopping on 09. The past couple years have produced extremely similar games. Regardless, any Tiger Woods game is worth owning on whichever system you currently own.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
HaloCountry
Since HaloNation seems to escape us with every attempt, we are making a solid attempt to get people together for HaloCountry.
What is HaloCountry? Getting together a serious group of people online for some Halo2 custom games.
Leave Saturday evening, November 3rd open for some serious Halo2 online gaming with some great company.
Contact Joe Mattingly or myself (or respond to this blog) if you have any questions
What is HaloCountry? Getting together a serious group of people online for some Halo2 custom games.
Leave Saturday evening, November 3rd open for some serious Halo2 online gaming with some great company.
Contact Joe Mattingly or myself (or respond to this blog) if you have any questions
Friday, October 19, 2007
"Inappropriate" Video Games
If you're in the loop as far as video game news goes, you're already aware that Soldier of Fortune: Pay Back has been banned from being sold in Australia. If you haven't heard, there's a brief article about it on Gamespot that you'll want to read before continuing with this blog entry.
Being someone who disagrees with censorship at just about every level, my opinion on this is pretty predictable. Refusing to give people the option to experience a work of art is wrong. And there's no question that, on all relevant levels, and to anyone who appreciates them, video games are as much works of art as novels, songs, poems, paintings, or movies. The amount of creative energy that goes into creating a video game is tremendous, and, if any of you care to differ, I'll be happy to toss in another blog in the future outlining all of the different ways a video game qualifies as art. In fact, I'll probably do it anyways, regardless of your level of interest.
Back to the matter at hand, however, what kind of place has Australia become? Isn't that where the UK sent all their criminals? Are government officials afraid that, if the citizenry is exposed to these violent images, they'll revert to their murderous, criminal ways? I mean, the United States government does a decent job of trampling free speech rights from time to time, but just about anything that doesn't involve child pron is fair game (I intentionally use a misspelling there, "pron," to avoid the kind of Google searches I'm not looking for).
Check out this list of games that were "refused classification" in Australia, which means they cannot be sold in the country:
Grand Theft Auto isn't just a game in the U.S.; it's a whole phenomenon. It's spawned countless mimics, like Saints' Row (really fun game, by the way) and Tony Hawk's Underground 2. To think that the people of Australia are playing a different, toned down version of the game is troubling. As Americans, we think all the time about how many countries in the Middle East have oppressive laws, forcing the rules of their religion on the general populace. But it's a fair bet that most people in those countries are Muslims, and take their religion seriously, so the government is implementing laws that reflect the desires of its constituency.
It seems to actually be a little bit worse in a place like Australia, where most video games are okay. It's okay to be sort of violent, or sort of sexual, but there's a point (and an arbitrary one at that) beyond which you're not allowed to venture.
As an aside, the clips I saw of the game looked really interesting, and knowing now that it's considered particularly graphically violent, I'm going add it to my list of games to wait for to drop to $20-$30 and purchase. (I never buy anything new; I'm a cheapskate, remember?)
Being someone who disagrees with censorship at just about every level, my opinion on this is pretty predictable. Refusing to give people the option to experience a work of art is wrong. And there's no question that, on all relevant levels, and to anyone who appreciates them, video games are as much works of art as novels, songs, poems, paintings, or movies. The amount of creative energy that goes into creating a video game is tremendous, and, if any of you care to differ, I'll be happy to toss in another blog in the future outlining all of the different ways a video game qualifies as art. In fact, I'll probably do it anyways, regardless of your level of interest.
Back to the matter at hand, however, what kind of place has Australia become? Isn't that where the UK sent all their criminals? Are government officials afraid that, if the citizenry is exposed to these violent images, they'll revert to their murderous, criminal ways? I mean, the United States government does a decent job of trampling free speech rights from time to time, but just about anything that doesn't involve child pron is fair game (I intentionally use a misspelling there, "pron," to avoid the kind of Google searches I'm not looking for).
Check out this list of games that were "refused classification" in Australia, which means they cannot be sold in the country:
- Manhunt
- Grand Theft Auto III
- Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
- Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude
- and apparently various others...
Grand Theft Auto isn't just a game in the U.S.; it's a whole phenomenon. It's spawned countless mimics, like Saints' Row (really fun game, by the way) and Tony Hawk's Underground 2. To think that the people of Australia are playing a different, toned down version of the game is troubling. As Americans, we think all the time about how many countries in the Middle East have oppressive laws, forcing the rules of their religion on the general populace. But it's a fair bet that most people in those countries are Muslims, and take their religion seriously, so the government is implementing laws that reflect the desires of its constituency.
It seems to actually be a little bit worse in a place like Australia, where most video games are okay. It's okay to be sort of violent, or sort of sexual, but there's a point (and an arbitrary one at that) beyond which you're not allowed to venture.
As an aside, the clips I saw of the game looked really interesting, and knowing now that it's considered particularly graphically violent, I'm going add it to my list of games to wait for to drop to $20-$30 and purchase. (I never buy anything new; I'm a cheapskate, remember?)
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Fable: The Lost Chapters
I finally completed the "expanded" version of Fable this past weekend. For those of you who've never played either version, it's similar to the original Legend of Zelda. You control your character with a 3rd-person Grand Theft Auto style point of view, and move him through various zones, killing enemies and completing quests. The general setting is a standard medieval realm with swords, bows, magic, etc.
The game has a series of gold (primary) quests that progress the story, as well as silver (optional) quests that become available at different times during the game. At a number of points during the story, specifically in determining how you complete quests or which optional quests you accept, you can choose to make "good" or "evil" decisions. While the big selling point of this game is how your experience changes based on your decisions, I didn't find the two paths to be substantially different, which was disappointing. If you spared character A, their assassins would come after you later. If you killed character A instead, character C's assassins would come after you. Small changes in dialogue don't constitute a unique gaming experience.
That being said, the game is enjoyable, as long as you're able to accept that you can't play it twice through as you might with other games that change more dramatically based on your decisions.
Now, to address the "Lost Chapters" portion. There is definitely additional content, scattered throughout the story as well as an extra set of quests after the end of the original game. While I don't think this extra content justifies a full-price purchase if you already own the first game, spending $20 at this point to get the updated version isn't a terrible idea, and if you don't own either, you definitely want to go with the Lost Chapters version, if only because it's simply a better economic decision. The additional 2-5 hours you'll spend playing the added pieces of the game for essentially the same price as the original is obviously worth it.
Overall, the Fable entity as a whole is a nice basis for a sequel (the upcoming but still a ways off Fable 2), for which I'm pretty excited. Fable 2 sounds like it will have greater player immersion, and hopefully they will have really deepened the impact of "good" and "evil" decisions throughout the game.
And if you're wondering, yes, I only play games that have been out at least a year. I'm still enjoying NCAA Football '05 and Madden '05.
The game has a series of gold (primary) quests that progress the story, as well as silver (optional) quests that become available at different times during the game. At a number of points during the story, specifically in determining how you complete quests or which optional quests you accept, you can choose to make "good" or "evil" decisions. While the big selling point of this game is how your experience changes based on your decisions, I didn't find the two paths to be substantially different, which was disappointing. If you spared character A, their assassins would come after you later. If you killed character A instead, character C's assassins would come after you. Small changes in dialogue don't constitute a unique gaming experience.
That being said, the game is enjoyable, as long as you're able to accept that you can't play it twice through as you might with other games that change more dramatically based on your decisions.
Now, to address the "Lost Chapters" portion. There is definitely additional content, scattered throughout the story as well as an extra set of quests after the end of the original game. While I don't think this extra content justifies a full-price purchase if you already own the first game, spending $20 at this point to get the updated version isn't a terrible idea, and if you don't own either, you definitely want to go with the Lost Chapters version, if only because it's simply a better economic decision. The additional 2-5 hours you'll spend playing the added pieces of the game for essentially the same price as the original is obviously worth it.
Overall, the Fable entity as a whole is a nice basis for a sequel (the upcoming but still a ways off Fable 2), for which I'm pretty excited. Fable 2 sounds like it will have greater player immersion, and hopefully they will have really deepened the impact of "good" and "evil" decisions throughout the game.
And if you're wondering, yes, I only play games that have been out at least a year. I'm still enjoying NCAA Football '05 and Madden '05.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Suggestions for the Space Race
Below is a list of a few games that have been suggested for the Space Race. They're listed in alphabetical order, so as to not add in my own potential biases. Add your own comments if you would like to suggest any other games. (NES and SNES games work best).
In the end, it will be up to the eventual participants as to how we'll measure victory/defeat. Again, post a reply or contact me in some other way to express your interest.
- Chrono Trigger
- Dragon Warrior 2
- Final Fantasy
- Final Fantasy 3 (Final Fantasy VI)
- Secret of Mana
In the end, it will be up to the eventual participants as to how we'll measure victory/defeat. Again, post a reply or contact me in some other way to express your interest.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Space Race
Not really a "space race," but a race. I challenge Chip (and whomever else might be interested) to a race to beat any long-term RPG game that we have or is easily obtained. I have most NES and many SNES role-playing games. It'd be awesome if we all had Final Fantasy X, because that's a great game to play through, but neither of us even has a PS2, let alone the game.
So what say you, cowards and weaklings? Do you dare rise to the challenge made by someone who's got a glorious amount of free time?
So what say you, cowards and weaklings? Do you dare rise to the challenge made by someone who's got a glorious amount of free time?
Friday, September 14, 2007
Final Fantasy - Voices of the Lifestream
For those of you unfamiliar with it, OC Remix is a site dedicated to remixes of video game music, new and old. Among the most entertaining remixes are songs from Megaman 2, Super Mario Brothers, and the topic of this post, Final Fantasy. These songs are always available free of charge, and without any registration requirements.
From time to time, OC Remix conducts larger-scale projects involving the collaboration of a number of artists. These collaborations produce "albums" of music from the same game. The newest such album was released today, and is based on Final Fantasy VII. You can see the information about the project here, including download links. Or, if you use a BitTorrent application, you can download a torrent of the project by clicking here.
Enjoy!
From time to time, OC Remix conducts larger-scale projects involving the collaboration of a number of artists. These collaborations produce "albums" of music from the same game. The newest such album was released today, and is based on Final Fantasy VII. You can see the information about the project here, including download links. Or, if you use a BitTorrent application, you can download a torrent of the project by clicking here.
Enjoy!
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Super Paper Mario
This game surprised me. I had absolutely no intention of purchasing this game when I first heard about it. I didn't know much about it either. I got bored at work one day, read a review, watched a quick preview, and that has made all the difference. It ranks high among Nintendo Wii games too. Its incredibly unique controls, story, and gameplay make for a great experience.
The best way to describe Super Paper Mario is "role-playing for beginners" with the nostalgia from the 8-bit Nintendo days. However, there are some added twists that make things a little more exciting. With all that in mind, let's get started.
Gameplay: For as simple as the controls are, this game does a great job at keeping things interesting. The controls only utilizes the Wii Remote. For most of the game, it is held sideways in the "traditional" style, and you don't use more than 3-buttons (a 4th to access the menu/pause) and the control pad. I'll let you guess what the control pad does. One button jumps, the other will perform the action that your selected Pixl does (more on that soon), and when you're Mario, the 3rd button flips into the 3D view. Like I said, very simple controls.
As I said before, this is a role-playing game. As you defeat enemies, your score increases. Remember that score from the first Super Mario Brothers? It didn't mean anything, but kept tallying up as you hit blocks, jumped on guys, and picked up items. In Super Paper Mario, those points actually mean something. Once your score reaches a certain point, you level up. Typically during a level up you'll either increase your hit points by 5 or you'll increase your attack by 1 point. As you keep getting points, it gets easier to face your opponents. Its the RPG at its most simple and raw form.
The one thing I tend to enjoy about any action, RPG, or shooter (1st or 3rd person) are the puzzles. Its rare to find good puzzles in games these days, but Super Paper Mario really makes it interesting without being too overly frustrating. Like Zelda, whenever I got stuck, I had to just step away from the game for a little, give myself a break, and come back a little later. They took some paying attention, knowing what your Pixls can do, and knowing how you can take full advantage of your Pixls.
Okay, by now you're probably wondering what a Pixl is... these little babies, each with their own name, give your character (typically Mario) the ability to do different things. Thoreau looks like a little hand and allows you to grab objects and throw them. Boomer is a bomb and lets you drop/explode one bomb at a time at your will. Cudge is a hammer that lets you slam enemies and blocks. There are a number of these guys and they are necessary to solving puzzles. They're pretty fun. The only catch is that you can only use one Pixl at a time (but you can switch anytime during gameplay). You will see the one you're currently working with as it flies around you as you move.
The characters involved throughout the game are the classics... Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, and Bowser. BOWSER? Yep. Each has their own special ability that is critical for progressing. Mario is the only character that can flip from the side-scrolling 2D view to the 3D view (looking down towards the end of the side-scrolling board). This allows you to pick out things you can't see in 2D. Its a real fun twist and you have to "flip" often to help you throughout the game. You'll find pipes hiding behind stairs, coin boxes and items, a means to avoid enemies, and a way to get through the game. Luigi can jump really high... surprise, surprise. Peach can "float," just like in Super Mario 2 and when she ducks, she protects herself with her umbrella. Bowser, who joined the team to help prevent "all games from ending," is the slowest of the bunch, but does twice the damage and can blow fire. When the game starts, its just you, Mario. As you go along you eventually pick up the rest of the characters at different times, then you lose a few, then you get them back... etc. etc. You never lose Mario though, who you use the most anyway.
As for the story, I tended to enjoy it. I don't want to go into it too much, but here's how it all starts out. The villain, Count Bleck, has read this book, the Dark Prognosticus, which tells its reader how the future will bring an end to the world if he can do a few things to set it all up. To battle this, a Light Prognosticus was created to combat it. The first step require the creation of the Chaos Heart, which is created when Peach marries Bowser. This puts the whole story into motion. Its a pretty bizarre start to a good adventure. As you go along, there are some funny jokes about the plumbers and how ridiculous the whole premise is, which keeps things light. I do think the game/story goes on a little bit longer than I'd prefer.
There are side missions that are optional too. They have "Capture Cards" that you can collect throughout the journey. There is one for each enemy and most characters involved. I think there are over 250 cards to find. I opted not to, but have fun with that. They also have maps that you can purchase. Each map has a different screen shot of a place you've been. Once you go there, you use a Pixl named Fleep to reveal a treasure. The only problem is that you can't find the treasure at all until you purchase the map. There is also an arcade with some fun mini-games too.
Graphics: For trying to hold onto what Mario has been, this game does a great job at bridging the gap between old and new. Its a very clean and crisp looking game. I think they did a great job here. Its obviously not a realistic as Zelda or any other game, however, that isn't what they were going for when it was created. I think they hit the nail on the head here.
Sound: One major downfall with the Wii games I've played so far is their sound. I guess I shouldn't expect much from Super Paper Mario though. There isn't any dialog, but I think its important to leave that out with these characters. There is the occasional "Ooh!" and "Yea!" from Mario, but that's about it. I don't have a lot of good things to say, but then again, I don't have a lot of bad things to say either.
Replay-ability: Like most all Mario games, this game does have some replay-ability. Not as much as Zelda, and the length of the game doesn't make it as replay-able as any of the old Marios, but I would probably pick it up again to search out those maps or play some of the mini-games.
Wrap-Up: Overall, I enjoyed playing this game. The story kept me intrigued, the puzzles kept me thinking, the levels were unique, the characters were fun. Its a very casual game to get involved with. Even my wife enjoys playing it, which is always an added bonus around the house. Either way, I recommend picking it up at some point.
The best way to describe Super Paper Mario is "role-playing for beginners" with the nostalgia from the 8-bit Nintendo days. However, there are some added twists that make things a little more exciting. With all that in mind, let's get started.
Gameplay: For as simple as the controls are, this game does a great job at keeping things interesting. The controls only utilizes the Wii Remote. For most of the game, it is held sideways in the "traditional" style, and you don't use more than 3-buttons (a 4th to access the menu/pause) and the control pad. I'll let you guess what the control pad does. One button jumps, the other will perform the action that your selected Pixl does (more on that soon), and when you're Mario, the 3rd button flips into the 3D view. Like I said, very simple controls.
As I said before, this is a role-playing game. As you defeat enemies, your score increases. Remember that score from the first Super Mario Brothers? It didn't mean anything, but kept tallying up as you hit blocks, jumped on guys, and picked up items. In Super Paper Mario, those points actually mean something. Once your score reaches a certain point, you level up. Typically during a level up you'll either increase your hit points by 5 or you'll increase your attack by 1 point. As you keep getting points, it gets easier to face your opponents. Its the RPG at its most simple and raw form.
The one thing I tend to enjoy about any action, RPG, or shooter (1st or 3rd person) are the puzzles. Its rare to find good puzzles in games these days, but Super Paper Mario really makes it interesting without being too overly frustrating. Like Zelda, whenever I got stuck, I had to just step away from the game for a little, give myself a break, and come back a little later. They took some paying attention, knowing what your Pixls can do, and knowing how you can take full advantage of your Pixls.
Okay, by now you're probably wondering what a Pixl is... these little babies, each with their own name, give your character (typically Mario) the ability to do different things. Thoreau looks like a little hand and allows you to grab objects and throw them. Boomer is a bomb and lets you drop/explode one bomb at a time at your will. Cudge is a hammer that lets you slam enemies and blocks. There are a number of these guys and they are necessary to solving puzzles. They're pretty fun. The only catch is that you can only use one Pixl at a time (but you can switch anytime during gameplay). You will see the one you're currently working with as it flies around you as you move.
The characters involved throughout the game are the classics... Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, and Bowser. BOWSER? Yep. Each has their own special ability that is critical for progressing. Mario is the only character that can flip from the side-scrolling 2D view to the 3D view (looking down towards the end of the side-scrolling board). This allows you to pick out things you can't see in 2D. Its a real fun twist and you have to "flip" often to help you throughout the game. You'll find pipes hiding behind stairs, coin boxes and items, a means to avoid enemies, and a way to get through the game. Luigi can jump really high... surprise, surprise. Peach can "float," just like in Super Mario 2 and when she ducks, she protects herself with her umbrella. Bowser, who joined the team to help prevent "all games from ending," is the slowest of the bunch, but does twice the damage and can blow fire. When the game starts, its just you, Mario. As you go along you eventually pick up the rest of the characters at different times, then you lose a few, then you get them back... etc. etc. You never lose Mario though, who you use the most anyway.
As for the story, I tended to enjoy it. I don't want to go into it too much, but here's how it all starts out. The villain, Count Bleck, has read this book, the Dark Prognosticus, which tells its reader how the future will bring an end to the world if he can do a few things to set it all up. To battle this, a Light Prognosticus was created to combat it. The first step require the creation of the Chaos Heart, which is created when Peach marries Bowser. This puts the whole story into motion. Its a pretty bizarre start to a good adventure. As you go along, there are some funny jokes about the plumbers and how ridiculous the whole premise is, which keeps things light. I do think the game/story goes on a little bit longer than I'd prefer.
There are side missions that are optional too. They have "Capture Cards" that you can collect throughout the journey. There is one for each enemy and most characters involved. I think there are over 250 cards to find. I opted not to, but have fun with that. They also have maps that you can purchase. Each map has a different screen shot of a place you've been. Once you go there, you use a Pixl named Fleep to reveal a treasure. The only problem is that you can't find the treasure at all until you purchase the map. There is also an arcade with some fun mini-games too.
Graphics: For trying to hold onto what Mario has been, this game does a great job at bridging the gap between old and new. Its a very clean and crisp looking game. I think they did a great job here. Its obviously not a realistic as Zelda or any other game, however, that isn't what they were going for when it was created. I think they hit the nail on the head here.
Sound: One major downfall with the Wii games I've played so far is their sound. I guess I shouldn't expect much from Super Paper Mario though. There isn't any dialog, but I think its important to leave that out with these characters. There is the occasional "Ooh!" and "Yea!" from Mario, but that's about it. I don't have a lot of good things to say, but then again, I don't have a lot of bad things to say either.
Replay-ability: Like most all Mario games, this game does have some replay-ability. Not as much as Zelda, and the length of the game doesn't make it as replay-able as any of the old Marios, but I would probably pick it up again to search out those maps or play some of the mini-games.
Wrap-Up: Overall, I enjoyed playing this game. The story kept me intrigued, the puzzles kept me thinking, the levels were unique, the characters were fun. Its a very casual game to get involved with. Even my wife enjoys playing it, which is always an added bonus around the house. Either way, I recommend picking it up at some point.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Battlefield 1942 Mods
What is a "mod?" A mod is an add-on to a game, usually created by a third party, adjusting the game in some fashion. Sometimes it involves only a small change, such as adding blood to a fighting game, or changing weapons or vehicles in a first-person shooter game.
But sometimes the mods are more encompassing. For example, Counter-Strike was originally a Half-Life mod. It offered completely new weapons, levels, characters, and a completely new goal. It used the Half-Life engine to run a completely separate game, one that millions of gamers enjoyed.
A couple years later, Battlefield 1942 came out, and not too long afterwards, its own mods began to surface. While there were many, many mods, there's no question the strongest performance was by the Desert Combat mod. It integrated flawlessly into the Battlefield 1942 environment, changing weapons and vehicles, and adding its own maps and missions for a completely new gaming experience. I have played Desert Combat for years, and I've always enjoyed it.
But there are so many different mods out there, why would I limit myself to just this one? Sure, it may be the most notorious and best-received mod for Battlefield 1942, but surely these other mods offer another new experience. It's a great way to avoid paying for a new game.
Well, yesterday I downloaded 4 different mods, with the hope that at least one of them would turn out to be a real enjoyable one. To say I was mildly disappointed would be something of an understatement.
HomeFront
Noted as the "Halo mod," I was excited to see what this one had to offer. Sadly, anytime I tried to get into a game using this mod, the game crashed. So while the interface had me feeling optimistic, I never actually saw the game. This would be a problem for most of these mods.
Pirates
With this one, I was able to get into a game, and the GUI clearly was adjusted to represent the pirates game. However, the actual gameplay, including weapons and vehicles, was exactly the same as the BF 1942 game. I tried to find an online game to see if that might offer the true gameplay, but best I could tell, there were simply no servers running the Pirates mod. So screw it, I said. Uninstalled.
Galactic Conquest
This is it, the Star Wars mod I had heard about for years. I figured, finally, I'll get to see if it's any good. Wrong-o. This was another one that didn't work at all. It's possible that I have a new version of BF 1942 that is incompatible with the older mods, but shit, I don't want to have to roll back my BF 1942 just to check to see if that's the case. So no go.
G.I.Joe
This was the only one that seemed to at least offer a glimpse of what it's supposed to be. All of the player skins were changed to standard "Joe soldiers" or "Cobra troopers," which is okay, though I had been hoping to take on the cold visage of the opportunistic Destro. But maybe that's too much to ask for in this kind of game. The vehicles and weapons were adjusted to be more like the original G.I.Joe gear, though the vehicles were a little limited. Two jeeps and two helicopters, no heavy vehicles of any kind. Also, on the custom G.I.Joe maps, the AI seemed to be simply missing. The enemy soldiers would just sit there, in their bunkers, waiting for who knows what to happen. In the end, a deleter.
So I'm back where I started. I've got Battlefield 1942 and the elite mod, Desert Combat. I'll have to ride these waves for now. I hear Battlefield 2 has some worthwhile mods, maybe I'll check them out if I ever get that game.
But sometimes the mods are more encompassing. For example, Counter-Strike was originally a Half-Life mod. It offered completely new weapons, levels, characters, and a completely new goal. It used the Half-Life engine to run a completely separate game, one that millions of gamers enjoyed.
A couple years later, Battlefield 1942 came out, and not too long afterwards, its own mods began to surface. While there were many, many mods, there's no question the strongest performance was by the Desert Combat mod. It integrated flawlessly into the Battlefield 1942 environment, changing weapons and vehicles, and adding its own maps and missions for a completely new gaming experience. I have played Desert Combat for years, and I've always enjoyed it.
But there are so many different mods out there, why would I limit myself to just this one? Sure, it may be the most notorious and best-received mod for Battlefield 1942, but surely these other mods offer another new experience. It's a great way to avoid paying for a new game.
Well, yesterday I downloaded 4 different mods, with the hope that at least one of them would turn out to be a real enjoyable one. To say I was mildly disappointed would be something of an understatement.
HomeFront
Noted as the "Halo mod," I was excited to see what this one had to offer. Sadly, anytime I tried to get into a game using this mod, the game crashed. So while the interface had me feeling optimistic, I never actually saw the game. This would be a problem for most of these mods.
Pirates
With this one, I was able to get into a game, and the GUI clearly was adjusted to represent the pirates game. However, the actual gameplay, including weapons and vehicles, was exactly the same as the BF 1942 game. I tried to find an online game to see if that might offer the true gameplay, but best I could tell, there were simply no servers running the Pirates mod. So screw it, I said. Uninstalled.
Galactic Conquest
This is it, the Star Wars mod I had heard about for years. I figured, finally, I'll get to see if it's any good. Wrong-o. This was another one that didn't work at all. It's possible that I have a new version of BF 1942 that is incompatible with the older mods, but shit, I don't want to have to roll back my BF 1942 just to check to see if that's the case. So no go.
G.I.Joe
This was the only one that seemed to at least offer a glimpse of what it's supposed to be. All of the player skins were changed to standard "Joe soldiers" or "Cobra troopers," which is okay, though I had been hoping to take on the cold visage of the opportunistic Destro. But maybe that's too much to ask for in this kind of game. The vehicles and weapons were adjusted to be more like the original G.I.Joe gear, though the vehicles were a little limited. Two jeeps and two helicopters, no heavy vehicles of any kind. Also, on the custom G.I.Joe maps, the AI seemed to be simply missing. The enemy soldiers would just sit there, in their bunkers, waiting for who knows what to happen. In the end, a deleter.
So I'm back where I started. I've got Battlefield 1942 and the elite mod, Desert Combat. I'll have to ride these waves for now. I hear Battlefield 2 has some worthwhile mods, maybe I'll check them out if I ever get that game.
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Cooking MaMa: Cook-Off
This will be probably one of my shortest reviews and probably the most useless. I can't imagine why anyone reading this blog would be interested in this game at all, but, I've had a chance to review it, so here goes. Before I begin, let it be known that I have only played the game maybe twice. The rest of my review is based on watching Alissa play it (who really likes it for some reason).
Gameplay: This gameplay is probably the only positive here and its a slight positive at that. The gameplay is kind of entertaining. You move the Wii remote around to move tools causing you to prepare and cook food. You do everything from open cans, crack eggs, peel potatoes, stew, fry, and anything else you can think of. Its gameplay and multi-player setup doesn't go much further than any of the other party games that have come out for the Wii. The actual game involves going head to head with the computer making meals faster and better than the computer. It sucks.
Graphics: The graphics are absolute crap. I'm sure they tried really hard to make this work, but its a long shot. They can't even make all the food look like its supposed to.
Sound: Also awful. You get some elevator music throughout the game and after you've completed a certain part of preparing the meal, Cooking MaMa rates how you did based on time and quality. It sounds like an Asian voice and it is hard to understand.
Replay-ability: Unless you are a perfectionist, you only have to go through things once. Even if you completely bomb a meal, it still lets you continue the game and adds recipes no matter how you did on the selected meal.
Wrap-Up: As I read before my wife purchased the game, its not worth the $50 they ask to own this game. I wouldn't own this game if Alissa didn't purchase it. And I definitely recommend that you rent it before you consider purchasing it. She still enjoys playing it though, so I guess I can't complain too much.
Gameplay: This gameplay is probably the only positive here and its a slight positive at that. The gameplay is kind of entertaining. You move the Wii remote around to move tools causing you to prepare and cook food. You do everything from open cans, crack eggs, peel potatoes, stew, fry, and anything else you can think of. Its gameplay and multi-player setup doesn't go much further than any of the other party games that have come out for the Wii. The actual game involves going head to head with the computer making meals faster and better than the computer. It sucks.
Graphics: The graphics are absolute crap. I'm sure they tried really hard to make this work, but its a long shot. They can't even make all the food look like its supposed to.
Sound: Also awful. You get some elevator music throughout the game and after you've completed a certain part of preparing the meal, Cooking MaMa rates how you did based on time and quality. It sounds like an Asian voice and it is hard to understand.
Replay-ability: Unless you are a perfectionist, you only have to go through things once. Even if you completely bomb a meal, it still lets you continue the game and adds recipes no matter how you did on the selected meal.
Wrap-Up: As I read before my wife purchased the game, its not worth the $50 they ask to own this game. I wouldn't own this game if Alissa didn't purchase it. And I definitely recommend that you rent it before you consider purchasing it. She still enjoys playing it though, so I guess I can't complain too much.
Friday, May 25, 2007
StarCraft II
So StarCraft II is coming out, and I've been thinking about how to feel about it. I mean, I enjoyed the original StarCraft during its time, and I've been delighted with the improvements from WarCraft II to WarCraft III. Not to mention the fact that Blizzard hasn't made a bad game that I've ever seen. Logic says that the next iteration of StarCraft is going to be a hit.
So why am I feeling unsure about how this thing comes through? I think part of it is that I just don't have the same interest in the science fiction world as I do in the medieval fantasy world. I like the Star Treks and Star Wars, but I like the Lord of The Rings a lot more. A lot of StarCraft II's appeal for me is going to be dependent on how they handle the "interstellar" concept. Are there going to be space battles, or just battles in the air slightly above the ground? While I'm sure that'd be fun, it wouldn't really be any different from WarCraft III if you just changed the graphics.
That's what I want, I guess. I want a game that's truly different from what I've already played. I don't expect to buy StarCraft II when it comes out, but I'm happy to check out a demo before committing to waiting until it's $30 for the battle chest.
So why am I feeling unsure about how this thing comes through? I think part of it is that I just don't have the same interest in the science fiction world as I do in the medieval fantasy world. I like the Star Treks and Star Wars, but I like the Lord of The Rings a lot more. A lot of StarCraft II's appeal for me is going to be dependent on how they handle the "interstellar" concept. Are there going to be space battles, or just battles in the air slightly above the ground? While I'm sure that'd be fun, it wouldn't really be any different from WarCraft III if you just changed the graphics.
That's what I want, I guess. I want a game that's truly different from what I've already played. I don't expect to buy StarCraft II when it comes out, but I'm happy to check out a demo before committing to waiting until it's $30 for the battle chest.
Friday, May 11, 2007
Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
I touched on Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess on the Nintendo Wii about a month and a half ago. I wanted to expand on that now that I'm approximately 60 hours into the game.
Gameplay: I'm incredibly impressed with the controls. It requires the use of the Wii Remote and the Nunchuk. The Nunchuk is used for movement, Z-targeting, and looking around in first-person mode. The Wii Remote is how you use items, select menus, point at objects with items (like shooting enemies with the bow when you aren't Z-targeting), and for swinging the sword. The sword play involves swinging the Wii Remote or Nunchuk (for the spin move). Its pretty basic, but it gets the job done without having to over exert yourself.
The puzzles range from being easy to kinda hard. Everything can be pretty easily figured out, though there have been a few times where I've gotten stuck and needed to "dumb myself down" in order to realize what I needed to do to progress. If you've played Ocarina of Time or Majora's Mask, a handful of puzzles will be solved in similar fashion. For example, shooting your bow at the diamond thing opens a door. However, there is enough new content to keep things fresh.
The overall timeline/plot of the game is pretty linear. The recent Zelda series have done a great job at giving players enough to do on the side that they don't realize they're progressing through the game plot exactly as planned. All in all, the puzzles, side games, and side searches for poes, golden bugs, and heart pieces give this linear plot a different adventure for each player. The plot is a bit confusing and hard to grasp. I'm not sure I've fully gripped what is going on. I have a better understanding now then I did when I started, so I'm hoping that everything clears up before I finish the game. The story is dark, though not as dark as Majora's Mask. I still find it entertaining.
Graphics: The unfortunate thing about the Nintendo Wii is that the graphics do not get any better than 480p. There are some Xbox games that do better than that. I know that's not the draw, but it definitely lowers a game's potential. For what the Nintendo Wii can offer, the graphics are done pretty well. Compared to other titles coming out for the Xbox 360 or PS3, it is going to always come up short.
Sound: The sounds are pleasant. Some music throughout the game can be recognized from Ocarina of Time. The quick song that plays when the sun rises or sets is exactly the same as Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask. There is enough new music that it doesn't sound like they just stole an old score. I wish the voices were audible instead of read. I think it'd add more personality to each character. Characters will blurt out random onomatopoeias, like Link's, "Waaaaa," when he's surprised, but I want more.
Replay-ability: There is very little replay-ability. There is nothing different that you could do that would prevent you from hitting the forest temple first, then the Goron Mines, and so on and so forth. You could probably do it faster, get items sooner, or finish searches faster. The earlier you have those items doesn't necessarily make the game any easier. However, now that I'm on the verge of completed Twilight Princess, I'd be tempted to get a Virtual Controller, download Ocarina of Time, and replay that one. So let's put it this way: immediate replay won't be very exciting, but if you let some time pass, the game play and puzzles will bring you back.
Wrap-Up: For as poor the graphics and sound compares to other next gen systems, the overall game play is second to none. As far as Wii games go, I rate this as one of best, especially since most Wii games are party games.
Gameplay: I'm incredibly impressed with the controls. It requires the use of the Wii Remote and the Nunchuk. The Nunchuk is used for movement, Z-targeting, and looking around in first-person mode. The Wii Remote is how you use items, select menus, point at objects with items (like shooting enemies with the bow when you aren't Z-targeting), and for swinging the sword. The sword play involves swinging the Wii Remote or Nunchuk (for the spin move). Its pretty basic, but it gets the job done without having to over exert yourself.
The puzzles range from being easy to kinda hard. Everything can be pretty easily figured out, though there have been a few times where I've gotten stuck and needed to "dumb myself down" in order to realize what I needed to do to progress. If you've played Ocarina of Time or Majora's Mask, a handful of puzzles will be solved in similar fashion. For example, shooting your bow at the diamond thing opens a door. However, there is enough new content to keep things fresh.
The overall timeline/plot of the game is pretty linear. The recent Zelda series have done a great job at giving players enough to do on the side that they don't realize they're progressing through the game plot exactly as planned. All in all, the puzzles, side games, and side searches for poes, golden bugs, and heart pieces give this linear plot a different adventure for each player. The plot is a bit confusing and hard to grasp. I'm not sure I've fully gripped what is going on. I have a better understanding now then I did when I started, so I'm hoping that everything clears up before I finish the game. The story is dark, though not as dark as Majora's Mask. I still find it entertaining.
Graphics: The unfortunate thing about the Nintendo Wii is that the graphics do not get any better than 480p. There are some Xbox games that do better than that. I know that's not the draw, but it definitely lowers a game's potential. For what the Nintendo Wii can offer, the graphics are done pretty well. Compared to other titles coming out for the Xbox 360 or PS3, it is going to always come up short.
Sound: The sounds are pleasant. Some music throughout the game can be recognized from Ocarina of Time. The quick song that plays when the sun rises or sets is exactly the same as Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask. There is enough new music that it doesn't sound like they just stole an old score. I wish the voices were audible instead of read. I think it'd add more personality to each character. Characters will blurt out random onomatopoeias, like Link's, "Waaaaa," when he's surprised, but I want more.
Replay-ability: There is very little replay-ability. There is nothing different that you could do that would prevent you from hitting the forest temple first, then the Goron Mines, and so on and so forth. You could probably do it faster, get items sooner, or finish searches faster. The earlier you have those items doesn't necessarily make the game any easier. However, now that I'm on the verge of completed Twilight Princess, I'd be tempted to get a Virtual Controller, download Ocarina of Time, and replay that one. So let's put it this way: immediate replay won't be very exciting, but if you let some time pass, the game play and puzzles will bring you back.
Wrap-Up: For as poor the graphics and sound compares to other next gen systems, the overall game play is second to none. As far as Wii games go, I rate this as one of best, especially since most Wii games are party games.
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Is World of Warcraft a reasonable investment for the casual player?
I think you'll find that most World of Warcraft (or "WoW") players would tell you that if you can't invest at least an hour or two on most days, you're wasting your money on a subscription. And sometimes I think they're right.
But recently, since I'm right at the end of my semester, I've only played for a total of maybe 3 hours over the past two weeks. I don't feel like I'm wasting the money I've spent on my subscription (which at $14/month is rather paltry when measured against a single meal at Outback Steakhouse). I have a few characters at varying levels of accomplishment within the game, and they each offer different opportunities for gameplay. If I have all day, I can play with my higher level characters and undertake long, group-oriented quests. If I've got a few hours, I can use a mid-level character and complete a few smaller quests or a single run-through of a low-level "instance" (dungeon). And if I've only got an hour, I can hop online with one of my beginner characters and do an early quest, or use any character to peruse the auction house for valuable gear.
My point is that, as video game players, you are only restricted by the limitations you place on yourself. If you refuse to have any lower level characters after you've built up other characters, then it's your own fault that you have to set aside 5-hour blocks in order to enjoy playing.
We casual players are those who you stumble upon on your way to the top who don't know all the ropes, and maybe we take things a little more slowly, but we're the best teammates you could have. Because to us, it's just a game. So we joke and ask questions and maintain a level of politeness, because we know there's a person on the other side of that computer.
We also usually don't make the stupid mistakes like pulling aggro in an instance when we're underpowered. We are smart enough and sensible enough to be scared when we see that "Elite" designation for the first time. And we're happy to help when we can.
See you in Azeroth.
But recently, since I'm right at the end of my semester, I've only played for a total of maybe 3 hours over the past two weeks. I don't feel like I'm wasting the money I've spent on my subscription (which at $14/month is rather paltry when measured against a single meal at Outback Steakhouse). I have a few characters at varying levels of accomplishment within the game, and they each offer different opportunities for gameplay. If I have all day, I can play with my higher level characters and undertake long, group-oriented quests. If I've got a few hours, I can use a mid-level character and complete a few smaller quests or a single run-through of a low-level "instance" (dungeon). And if I've only got an hour, I can hop online with one of my beginner characters and do an early quest, or use any character to peruse the auction house for valuable gear.
My point is that, as video game players, you are only restricted by the limitations you place on yourself. If you refuse to have any lower level characters after you've built up other characters, then it's your own fault that you have to set aside 5-hour blocks in order to enjoy playing.
We casual players are those who you stumble upon on your way to the top who don't know all the ropes, and maybe we take things a little more slowly, but we're the best teammates you could have. Because to us, it's just a game. So we joke and ask questions and maintain a level of politeness, because we know there's a person on the other side of that computer.
We also usually don't make the stupid mistakes like pulling aggro in an instance when we're underpowered. We are smart enough and sensible enough to be scared when we see that "Elite" designation for the first time. And we're happy to help when we can.
See you in Azeroth.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Guitar Hero II
I never played the original Guitar Hero, but I heard good things. Then my younger brother went to a birthday party and played the second installment, and the next day asked me to swing him out to the local electronics store to buy the game. I was a little skeptical, but I see now that he was right on.
The whole package of the PlayStation 2 version of the game and the guitar is a little pricey at $79.99, but apparently the new guitar is compatible with the original game, so if you decide to buy both games, you only need to buy one guitar. The game is also playable with a normal PS2 controller, but really, if you're playing with the controller, you're missing the point.
When we brought home the game, my brother immediately set it up and created our band, "Silica," so named for the gel packets that came in the plastic wrap with the guitar. (On Saturday, Mark, Mike and I created the band "Cold Knee" after I placed my milkshake on Mark's knee). We hopped right in and started to play a few songs on "Easy" difficulty.
It was fun, but you don't get the sensation of actually playing the song when you play on Easy. It's sort of like in Perfect Dark, if you set the bots' AI to very low, and they'd shoot one bullet every five seconds, and half the time would be shooting it straight up into the air. It's fun to win and kill things, but you don't really feel like a secret agent.
We bumped up the difficulty to Medium, and it was definitely more gratifying. More challenging as well, but that makes it all the more sweet when you complete a song. As a member of "Cold Knee," we began to play through the Hard difficulty level, and I'll tell you, there's a definite jump. But getting the hang of things and playing Woman by Wolfmother and Monkeywrench by Foo Fighters was a real thrill. My wrist ached this morning, but I don't regret the rockin'. What I do regret were those last four wings. Oooh.......
The whole package of the PlayStation 2 version of the game and the guitar is a little pricey at $79.99, but apparently the new guitar is compatible with the original game, so if you decide to buy both games, you only need to buy one guitar. The game is also playable with a normal PS2 controller, but really, if you're playing with the controller, you're missing the point.
When we brought home the game, my brother immediately set it up and created our band, "Silica," so named for the gel packets that came in the plastic wrap with the guitar. (On Saturday, Mark, Mike and I created the band "Cold Knee" after I placed my milkshake on Mark's knee). We hopped right in and started to play a few songs on "Easy" difficulty.
It was fun, but you don't get the sensation of actually playing the song when you play on Easy. It's sort of like in Perfect Dark, if you set the bots' AI to very low, and they'd shoot one bullet every five seconds, and half the time would be shooting it straight up into the air. It's fun to win and kill things, but you don't really feel like a secret agent.
We bumped up the difficulty to Medium, and it was definitely more gratifying. More challenging as well, but that makes it all the more sweet when you complete a song. As a member of "Cold Knee," we began to play through the Hard difficulty level, and I'll tell you, there's a definite jump. But getting the hang of things and playing Woman by Wolfmother and Monkeywrench by Foo Fighters was a real thrill. My wrist ached this morning, but I don't regret the rockin'. What I do regret were those last four wings. Oooh...
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Tony Hawk 4
I bought the Xbox version of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 the other day, for a cool $4.99. I've been pretty satisfied with my purchase, it's exactly what I expected it to be.
However, it's almost too close to what I expected. Maybe I didn't get far enough into the third Tony Hawk, but does anybody else think this is like the same damn game? Same levels, same interface. The graphics are probably better, but I don't know that for sure. It's just a testament to the fact that video game producers don't have to blow the doors off once they've got a franchise people like. EA Sports has been rolling in money because of their sports franchises, specifically Madden. Sure, they add features every year, but I wonder how much they really have to do to generate the new game.
Not like I care, though. I'm not one of the guys who buys every subsequent copy of a franchise. I pick one, roll with it for a few years, then occasionally buy a new one. And I even more rarely buy new games. My instinct for saving money leads me to eBay or the used game section of EB Games more often than not. Why pay $50 for a new game when you can get 4 games for the same amount, giving you a better chance of buying a game you really enjoy? Maybe I'm behind the times, but I don't play video games to see the latest technologies. I play to entertain myself. As long as I'm having fun, I don't care if the game is new.
So if you'll excuse me, I'm off to play some Contra.
However, it's almost too close to what I expected. Maybe I didn't get far enough into the third Tony Hawk, but does anybody else think this is like the same damn game? Same levels, same interface. The graphics are probably better, but I don't know that for sure. It's just a testament to the fact that video game producers don't have to blow the doors off once they've got a franchise people like. EA Sports has been rolling in money because of their sports franchises, specifically Madden. Sure, they add features every year, but I wonder how much they really have to do to generate the new game.
Not like I care, though. I'm not one of the guys who buys every subsequent copy of a franchise. I pick one, roll with it for a few years, then occasionally buy a new one. And I even more rarely buy new games. My instinct for saving money leads me to eBay or the used game section of EB Games more often than not. Why pay $50 for a new game when you can get 4 games for the same amount, giving you a better chance of buying a game you really enjoy? Maybe I'm behind the times, but I don't play video games to see the latest technologies. I play to entertain myself. As long as I'm having fun, I don't care if the game is new.
So if you'll excuse me, I'm off to play some Contra.
Monday, April 23, 2007
FIFA 2006
I've played FIFA '07. I've watched it played. I appreciate that the graphics are very impressive. It's got a lot of nice features, and I'm sure it's enjoyable for those who've decided to make the switch, or for whom the 2007 version is their first soccer game.
But for me, it comes up short in enough key areas to prevent me from spending the money to get the new version. The manager mode offers far fewer teams and leagues to choose from, when part of the fun of '06 was being able to join all sorts of obscure leagues and bring the very worst teams to international dominance. Since when is it a good idea to reduce the complexity of a game in its next iteration? Also in the manager mode, the roster limitations aren't designated graphically. So when you're deciding whether to pursue someone in the transfer market or putting a player out there for transfer, you are held to some obscure number of required active players (which by the way seems to change depending on your league), not represented anywhere in the game that I can find. Thanks a lot, EA.
So you can take your FIFA '07. I'm riding '06 into the grave, me and 1 FC Saarbrucken. Me and Hadji and El Idrissi.
Chip, you were right the whole time. FIFA '06! FIFA '06! FIFA '06!
But for me, it comes up short in enough key areas to prevent me from spending the money to get the new version. The manager mode offers far fewer teams and leagues to choose from, when part of the fun of '06 was being able to join all sorts of obscure leagues and bring the very worst teams to international dominance. Since when is it a good idea to reduce the complexity of a game in its next iteration? Also in the manager mode, the roster limitations aren't designated graphically. So when you're deciding whether to pursue someone in the transfer market or putting a player out there for transfer, you are held to some obscure number of required active players (which by the way seems to change depending on your league), not represented anywhere in the game that I can find. Thanks a lot, EA.
So you can take your FIFA '07. I'm riding '06 into the grave, me and 1 FC Saarbrucken. Me and Hadji and El Idrissi.
Chip, you were right the whole time. FIFA '06! FIFA '06! FIFA '06!
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