Do you like Pinball machine? Do you own a PS3? Then you owe it to yourself to get Zen Pinball. It is the most fun I've had with a game in a good while. The extra Street Fighter 2 Homage table is quite neat, with surprisingly clever ways of making the Pinball game feel like a Street Fighter game.
I wish I had more to say at this time, alas, my last few posts were rather lengthy and I haven't had the chance to really playanything else since then. I was planning on picking up Lord of Shadows, but seeing as it has little to do with Castlevania, I'll probably skip it. In the meantime, I've also gotten back into FFXIII. More on that as I progress further (I was at chapter 8 when I stopped playing and I'm close to wrapping up chapter 9).
If you live in Canada, Netflix is now available and you can get a free month. The content isn't that great, but there are some fun things.
Read you soon?!?
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
MOVEing up in the world...
... Yeah, not a very clever play on words, but you get the idea. I have recently gotten the Playstation Move, and with it a copy of Resident Evil 5: Gold edition.
I like the Move. It picks up movements decently well, and rather than it just being a flick of the wrist like it is with the Wii motion controls: You control every nuance of whatever it is you're controlling on the screen. I've played some of the Sports Champions games. I'll put a more full fledged post about it next week. I will say this though: It's more than just a glorified demo disc, which if you've ever played Wii Sports, well... that's what that game felt like.
Now, normally when I play through a series of games, I need to play them in order, with Silent Hill being a notable exception (I actually played the first one third, since I couldn't find it anywhere). All of the Crash Bandicoots, the Spyro's, any gaming series I have I need to play them from when they began, that way I can see how the story goes from one game to the next, I can see all the little references and improvements made. With Resident Evil, I figured I would do the same thing... but then when the Gold Edition of 5 came out, with Move compatibility, I figured why not? Originally I was getting the GE for Jeff, and he was going to trade me his copy of the original version, but since he ended up getting it for himself, I wasn't going to just give my copy away...
To be honest, I've always maintained that the Wii was tailor made for shooters: All you really need to do is aim the Wii-mote at the screen, fire, and voila: Instant killing gratification. Which makes me wonder why playing RE5G on PS3 feels better than any Wii shooter I've played. The controls just work very naturally for it.
I tried the game very briefly at Jeff's place using the Dualshock setup, and I gotta admit, I much prefer just pointing at the screen. There's just something about it that makes it feel more fluid. Again, RE5 on the PS3 is what I wish Wii shooters would feel like.
On a final note, even almost two years after the games release, RE5 is probably the best looking game I have ever seen, and I've seen way too many games than could ever be considered healhty. From Press Start Two Play, I'm Chris Taylor, wishing all a pleasant Gammage.
I like the Move. It picks up movements decently well, and rather than it just being a flick of the wrist like it is with the Wii motion controls: You control every nuance of whatever it is you're controlling on the screen. I've played some of the Sports Champions games. I'll put a more full fledged post about it next week. I will say this though: It's more than just a glorified demo disc, which if you've ever played Wii Sports, well... that's what that game felt like.
Now, normally when I play through a series of games, I need to play them in order, with Silent Hill being a notable exception (I actually played the first one third, since I couldn't find it anywhere). All of the Crash Bandicoots, the Spyro's, any gaming series I have I need to play them from when they began, that way I can see how the story goes from one game to the next, I can see all the little references and improvements made. With Resident Evil, I figured I would do the same thing... but then when the Gold Edition of 5 came out, with Move compatibility, I figured why not? Originally I was getting the GE for Jeff, and he was going to trade me his copy of the original version, but since he ended up getting it for himself, I wasn't going to just give my copy away...
To be honest, I've always maintained that the Wii was tailor made for shooters: All you really need to do is aim the Wii-mote at the screen, fire, and voila: Instant killing gratification. Which makes me wonder why playing RE5G on PS3 feels better than any Wii shooter I've played. The controls just work very naturally for it.
I tried the game very briefly at Jeff's place using the Dualshock setup, and I gotta admit, I much prefer just pointing at the screen. There's just something about it that makes it feel more fluid. Again, RE5 on the PS3 is what I wish Wii shooters would feel like.
On a final note, even almost two years after the games release, RE5 is probably the best looking game I have ever seen, and I've seen way too many games than could ever be considered healhty. From Press Start Two Play, I'm Chris Taylor, wishing all a pleasant Gammage.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Pointer controlled Resident Evil
Like a fair number of people, I thoroughly enjoyed Resident Evil 5. It is one of those games that really takes advantage of the New Game + concept. In fact, I am fairly certain that the game is nigh impossible on a Professional playthrough with just the basic equipment.
When I first played it, however, I strongly believed that it would benefit immensely from pointer controls, à la RE4:Wii. My first impression was disappointment... Fairly strong disappointment at that. Although I did not play the game much (waiting on a friend to start playing again), I tried to understand where my disappointment originated. The answer is not overly complex, but it involves more than the controls.
The first thing to keep in mind is that I lost my save file (old PS3 died). Not only do I not have access to some of the DLC costumes from the get go, but rebuilding my arsenal is not something I am looking forward to.
The other thing of note is, it does control very similarly to RE4:Wii, with a few notable differences. The cursor does not stay on the screen. I do not know if this is a design decision or a technological "limitation", but the end result is that aiming is different and more difficult. Design wise, the Wii way of aiming makes the game a lot easier. The Move controls work fine, but aiming takes more time to get used to simply because you have to reset your aim everytime.
Last but not list in this brief analysis is the fact that in RE5, unlike RE4, you HAVE a lot of control on the camera, and that is something that is completely lost in the Move version, you can only control it when aiming. In RE4, you could only tilt the camera a bit, and even that was mapped onto the Wii mote. At the end of the day, I think that this is what causes RE5 afficionado to cringe a bit when they start playing RE5 with the Move. However, put the Move down, try the Dualshock again...and chances are you'll realise that your memories and the actual control scheme are not the same. Move definitely allows for a superior experience.
That being said, I am looking forward to playing through the game again and I can't wait to have some decent weaponry. I did play some RE4 to see how the games differed... And well, that's why I wrote this entry. Plus RE5 is still one of the prettiest games out there, one year later.
If you want to play some RE5 with me, just send me a message and if I can, I will be more than happy to join you.
Until next time, remember to aim for their head.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
When I first played it, however, I strongly believed that it would benefit immensely from pointer controls, à la RE4:Wii. My first impression was disappointment... Fairly strong disappointment at that. Although I did not play the game much (waiting on a friend to start playing again), I tried to understand where my disappointment originated. The answer is not overly complex, but it involves more than the controls.
The first thing to keep in mind is that I lost my save file (old PS3 died). Not only do I not have access to some of the DLC costumes from the get go, but rebuilding my arsenal is not something I am looking forward to.
The other thing of note is, it does control very similarly to RE4:Wii, with a few notable differences. The cursor does not stay on the screen. I do not know if this is a design decision or a technological "limitation", but the end result is that aiming is different and more difficult. Design wise, the Wii way of aiming makes the game a lot easier. The Move controls work fine, but aiming takes more time to get used to simply because you have to reset your aim everytime.
Last but not list in this brief analysis is the fact that in RE5, unlike RE4, you HAVE a lot of control on the camera, and that is something that is completely lost in the Move version, you can only control it when aiming. In RE4, you could only tilt the camera a bit, and even that was mapped onto the Wii mote. At the end of the day, I think that this is what causes RE5 afficionado to cringe a bit when they start playing RE5 with the Move. However, put the Move down, try the Dualshock again...and chances are you'll realise that your memories and the actual control scheme are not the same. Move definitely allows for a superior experience.
That being said, I am looking forward to playing through the game again and I can't wait to have some decent weaponry. I did play some RE4 to see how the games differed... And well, that's why I wrote this entry. Plus RE5 is still one of the prettiest games out there, one year later.
If you want to play some RE5 with me, just send me a message and if I can, I will be more than happy to join you.
Until next time, remember to aim for their head.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Saturday, September 25, 2010
The Marathon...s
Ladies and gents of the world, I have six hundred and twenty-six games that I haven't beaten. That's a lot. Too much. Problem is, I almost never have time to play games, and when I do... well, I usually change my mind on what I want to play. I'll go through times where I want to play certain games, and then half an hour later I'll play something completely different. I needed something to inspire me to play my games, and usually, a list of some sort helps.
Enter Backloggery. When I first joined the site, it inspired me to play things I've had in my collection for years and never beat. Adversely, it also inspired me to buy even more cheapo games to add to said collection.
Browsing other peoples collections, I noticed someone doing a marathon of Ubisoft games. It's exactly what is sounds like: They are playing all of the games that they own that were made by Ubisoft. It inspired me to do the same, and at first, I thought that it worked.
Then I tracked down the Prince of Persia games that I didn't own yet. The addiction continues.
So I'm three games into my Ubithon, and I'm still buying more games than I'm beating. An idea hits me: Why not go in alphabetical order? But I didn't think I'd ever actually do it.
Then, while browsing other peoples profiles... again, I saw someone else with the exact same idea as me. He's got a list of games from # - Z, and he's actually beating them in alphabetical order. And that's pretty much what I'm doing... with a little leeway. I'm going three games at a time. That way, if I get stuck in 3D Dot Game Heroes, I can take a break and play Bioshock. There are also two replacements: Since I don't have a Q or a Y, I just replaced those letters with games that are close in lettering to what I didn't have.
Just picked up the Move AND RE 5 Gold. Resident Evil was supposed to be for Jeff (he was going to give me his copy of the original game, and I was going to trade the Gold for his regular), but he ended up picking it up for himself, so Hey, more bonus stuff for me XD. Haven't tried the move yet, but I'm planning on hooking it up tonight, and trying out those sports games. Also, it gives me an excuse to pick up Eye of Judgment at some point, and with my love affair of CCG's, I'm totally going to get it... eventually.
I've also been playing a lot of Magic. A LOT of Magic, so much that even my Room Mate has started playing... a little. She's into the XBLA version, and she even has a couple of pre-constructed decks, now we just need to get her into it full on.
Until next time, I'm Chris Taylor wishing all a pleasant Gammage.
Enter Backloggery. When I first joined the site, it inspired me to play things I've had in my collection for years and never beat. Adversely, it also inspired me to buy even more cheapo games to add to said collection.
Browsing other peoples collections, I noticed someone doing a marathon of Ubisoft games. It's exactly what is sounds like: They are playing all of the games that they own that were made by Ubisoft. It inspired me to do the same, and at first, I thought that it worked.
Then I tracked down the Prince of Persia games that I didn't own yet. The addiction continues.
So I'm three games into my Ubithon, and I'm still buying more games than I'm beating. An idea hits me: Why not go in alphabetical order? But I didn't think I'd ever actually do it.
Then, while browsing other peoples profiles... again, I saw someone else with the exact same idea as me. He's got a list of games from # - Z, and he's actually beating them in alphabetical order. And that's pretty much what I'm doing... with a little leeway. I'm going three games at a time. That way, if I get stuck in 3D Dot Game Heroes, I can take a break and play Bioshock. There are also two replacements: Since I don't have a Q or a Y, I just replaced those letters with games that are close in lettering to what I didn't have.
Just picked up the Move AND RE 5 Gold. Resident Evil was supposed to be for Jeff (he was going to give me his copy of the original game, and I was going to trade the Gold for his regular), but he ended up picking it up for himself, so Hey, more bonus stuff for me XD. Haven't tried the move yet, but I'm planning on hooking it up tonight, and trying out those sports games. Also, it gives me an excuse to pick up Eye of Judgment at some point, and with my love affair of CCG's, I'm totally going to get it... eventually.
I've also been playing a lot of Magic. A LOT of Magic, so much that even my Room Mate has started playing... a little. She's into the XBLA version, and she even has a couple of pre-constructed decks, now we just need to get her into it full on.
Until next time, I'm Chris Taylor wishing all a pleasant Gammage.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
In a memory far far away...
Those who know me are aware that my iPod contains practically only soundtracks. It is basically the only thing I listen to. To a large extent, my recent interest in The Beatles is because of the Rock Band game of the same name. Although my music library is mostly filled with film soundtracks, videogames are the reason I like what I like today. One game in particular, can be held responsible for most of my tastes. We must go back to 1992, in a dark basement, on an old TV that did not have a remote...
A long time ago
In a galaxy far, far away...
Believe it or not, Super Star Wars was my first exposure to the Star Wars universe. It bloomed a strong passion that endures to this day. And most importantly, this game introduced me to John Williams. Where the game X-Wing defined what I would ultimately prefer about Star Wars, the Super NES title is the reason why my music collection is what it is and why I love
Star Wars unconditionally.
I mentioned John Williams because his was the first music I really got into on my own. It wasn't because my parents owned the CD or because a friend recommended it; it was what I wanted to listen to. From then on, music would define what I liked and didn't like, be they films, videogames, etc.
An ordinary movie with an excellent theme may become a surprise hit. A good
TV show with a bland theme song may not hold my interest. A strong soundtrack in a game makes a huge different on my enjoyment of said game.
So it is with chagrin that I find today's game music less memorable than back in the day. Granted, part of the emotional impact that music had to have is now carried through with the music, we hear tunes less frequently due to how games are now made, but this same observation could be extended to films too. Maybe it is because directors do not want a theme so strong that it detracts from the visual experience, or maybe moody and atmospheric tracks sell... No matter the answer, I am always looking for those few notes that make me smile, no matter what.
Here are some of my favourite game themes.
Uncharted: When I first booted the game, and watched that coin turn, I was amazed at what was playing. It conveyed so many things: Grandeur, adventure... Was this going to be the Indiana Jones game we never got? Nathan's Theme is a very classic kind of theme that embodies, in my humble opinion, the series very weel.
Mega Man 2: A Classic. Every single track in that game "sings" awesome. I could mention the classic Mecha Dragon stage... Oh wait, I just did. Flash Man and Wood Man are also some of my favourites.
Shatter: Not themes per say as they are not associated to anything specific, but that soundtrack is worth every penny. It helps that the game is fantastic too.
The Metroid Prime Trilogy: Look at some of my older blogs and at pressstarttwoplay.blogspot.com. On the other hand, Metroid: Other M was tremendously disappointing music wise.
Final Fantasy VI/III: The Returner's Theme. Locke's, Terra's, Cyan's, Setzer's (just thinking about the moment in the dark world where we ask why are we going to his wife's tomb... To get another airship of course... Gives me goosebumps :) ) Need I say more?
What are some of your favourite themes/tracks and why?
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
A long time ago
In a galaxy far, far away...
Believe it or not, Super Star Wars was my first exposure to the Star Wars universe. It bloomed a strong passion that endures to this day. And most importantly, this game introduced me to John Williams. Where the game X-Wing defined what I would ultimately prefer about Star Wars, the Super NES title is the reason why my music collection is what it is and why I love
Star Wars unconditionally.
I mentioned John Williams because his was the first music I really got into on my own. It wasn't because my parents owned the CD or because a friend recommended it; it was what I wanted to listen to. From then on, music would define what I liked and didn't like, be they films, videogames, etc.
An ordinary movie with an excellent theme may become a surprise hit. A good
TV show with a bland theme song may not hold my interest. A strong soundtrack in a game makes a huge different on my enjoyment of said game.
So it is with chagrin that I find today's game music less memorable than back in the day. Granted, part of the emotional impact that music had to have is now carried through with the music, we hear tunes less frequently due to how games are now made, but this same observation could be extended to films too. Maybe it is because directors do not want a theme so strong that it detracts from the visual experience, or maybe moody and atmospheric tracks sell... No matter the answer, I am always looking for those few notes that make me smile, no matter what.
Here are some of my favourite game themes.
Uncharted: When I first booted the game, and watched that coin turn, I was amazed at what was playing. It conveyed so many things: Grandeur, adventure... Was this going to be the Indiana Jones game we never got? Nathan's Theme is a very classic kind of theme that embodies, in my humble opinion, the series very weel.
Mega Man 2: A Classic. Every single track in that game "sings" awesome. I could mention the classic Mecha Dragon stage... Oh wait, I just did. Flash Man and Wood Man are also some of my favourites.
Shatter: Not themes per say as they are not associated to anything specific, but that soundtrack is worth every penny. It helps that the game is fantastic too.
The Metroid Prime Trilogy: Look at some of my older blogs and at pressstarttwoplay.blogspot.com. On the other hand, Metroid: Other M was tremendously disappointing music wise.
Final Fantasy VI/III: The Returner's Theme. Locke's, Terra's, Cyan's, Setzer's (just thinking about the moment in the dark world where we ask why are we going to his wife's tomb... To get another airship of course... Gives me goosebumps :) ) Need I say more?
What are some of your favourite themes/tracks and why?
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
I Am Error
Sorry folks, no time for posting, work has been.... less than fun, and me being on a computer hasn't been entirely feasible. I'll put up a proper post on the weekend, if I'm not working more >_>.
That being said, with what little time I've had to game, I've been playing 3D Dot Game Heroes. It's really fun, especially if you're into old-school, 8-bit Zelda style gameplay. A little annoying though, since I never really grew up with those games, I never learned how to be patient with the difficulty curve of those kinda games.
Saturday, an actual post will be here... hopefully.
That being said, with what little time I've had to game, I've been playing 3D Dot Game Heroes. It's really fun, especially if you're into old-school, 8-bit Zelda style gameplay. A little annoying though, since I never really grew up with those games, I never learned how to be patient with the difficulty curve of those kinda games.
Saturday, an actual post will be here... hopefully.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
PlayStation Move
PlayStation Move came out last Friday. I figured, why not get it... after all, I am dying to get the RE4 Wii experience with Resident Evil 5 (which Chris and I should start playing pretty soon).
I got the Sports Champions Bundle with an extra Move Controller and a navigation controller (there was a promo at Toys'R'Us). I must admit that I am intrigued in Motion tech in general. When it was first announced for the Wii, I thought it would be revolutionary. The Wii was, but not necessarily because of motion.
Although there has been a few games that use it well, developpers either don't bother to spend the time to put out refined game on the system or the tech simply isn't there. Even the Motion + has yet to see an actual game make good use of it (hopefully Skyward Sword will rectify that).
Enter the PlayStation Move. A derivative accesory at best, it may hold the key to hardcore gaming and motion controls (I have yet to try Kinect, simply because it is not out yet, but I do not think it's potential lies in the same area). In many ways, it is Wii Motion + PlayStation Eye Toy. Once you are properly set up, it works like a charm. It feels good in your hand and it is surprisingly light. The ball itself is made of a soft foamy plastic, meaning you don't need to fear hitting your friends.
The bundle comes packaged with: 1 Move controller, 1 PlayStation Eye, 1 Sports Champions and 1 demo disc. There is also an EyePet bundle, where the included game is EyePet instead of Sports Champions. I already had the Eye, but the demo disc is a nice thing to have.
Here are my impressions on the games so far:
Sports Champions: To me, HUGE SURPRISE. I was expectingly something in line with Wii Sports Resort (which I thought was a huge disappointment). It is true that I did not have any expections towards Sports Champions, but boy is that game fun. Sure it looks generatic and could use some personality, but man, I just can't get enough of it. Volleyball I thought was surprisingly addictive. Table Tennis is superior enough to the Wii one that I'll most likely never touch the game again (although I do have a soft spot for Wakeboarding). I had never heard of Bocce before, but I think it is going to satiate my "curling need" until an actual Move Curling game comes out. I haven't played Frisbee Gold yet, but if the controls are like in the other games, should be great. Archery...I need to find the sweet spot because it is the only thing I'm having some problems controlling right now. And Gladiator Combat (or whatever the actual name is) is so much fun. Imagine a Soul Calibur type game with GOOD motion controls. It's that much fun... although you do need 2 move controllers.
Tumble: Fun block placement game. Imagine a videogame version of Jenga if you will (or other block games like Villa Paletti or Hamsterrolle...although these titles are definitely more niche). It takes a few minutes to get used to the controls, but once you do it is very solid. Maybe not as entertaining as Boom Blox, but solid enough for a $10 downloadable title.
The Shoot: I only tried the demo, but it is an old school arcadey shooter. The artstyle is okay (with cardboard characters to ensure that it is not too violent) and the gameplay has some fun twist. I am not sure if it is worth $40 however.
I tried some of the other demos, but they weren't my type of game. EyePet is surprisingly cute, but I'm not into pets or virtual pets so... (unless they are of the WoW Collectible variety).
Overall, the launch titles are nothing stellar, but the tech is very impressive and I think it's potential for more hardcore games is nothing to be scoffed at. However, with 2 very different techs, I'm very curious to see how titles for them will pan out. I cannot wait to try the multiplayer aspects of these titles, should be fun.
I got the Sports Champions Bundle with an extra Move Controller and a navigation controller (there was a promo at Toys'R'Us). I must admit that I am intrigued in Motion tech in general. When it was first announced for the Wii, I thought it would be revolutionary. The Wii was, but not necessarily because of motion.
Although there has been a few games that use it well, developpers either don't bother to spend the time to put out refined game on the system or the tech simply isn't there. Even the Motion + has yet to see an actual game make good use of it (hopefully Skyward Sword will rectify that).
Enter the PlayStation Move. A derivative accesory at best, it may hold the key to hardcore gaming and motion controls (I have yet to try Kinect, simply because it is not out yet, but I do not think it's potential lies in the same area). In many ways, it is Wii Motion + PlayStation Eye Toy. Once you are properly set up, it works like a charm. It feels good in your hand and it is surprisingly light. The ball itself is made of a soft foamy plastic, meaning you don't need to fear hitting your friends.
The bundle comes packaged with: 1 Move controller, 1 PlayStation Eye, 1 Sports Champions and 1 demo disc. There is also an EyePet bundle, where the included game is EyePet instead of Sports Champions. I already had the Eye, but the demo disc is a nice thing to have.
Here are my impressions on the games so far:
Sports Champions: To me, HUGE SURPRISE. I was expectingly something in line with Wii Sports Resort (which I thought was a huge disappointment). It is true that I did not have any expections towards Sports Champions, but boy is that game fun. Sure it looks generatic and could use some personality, but man, I just can't get enough of it. Volleyball I thought was surprisingly addictive. Table Tennis is superior enough to the Wii one that I'll most likely never touch the game again (although I do have a soft spot for Wakeboarding). I had never heard of Bocce before, but I think it is going to satiate my "curling need" until an actual Move Curling game comes out. I haven't played Frisbee Gold yet, but if the controls are like in the other games, should be great. Archery...I need to find the sweet spot because it is the only thing I'm having some problems controlling right now. And Gladiator Combat (or whatever the actual name is) is so much fun. Imagine a Soul Calibur type game with GOOD motion controls. It's that much fun... although you do need 2 move controllers.
Tumble: Fun block placement game. Imagine a videogame version of Jenga if you will (or other block games like Villa Paletti or Hamsterrolle...although these titles are definitely more niche). It takes a few minutes to get used to the controls, but once you do it is very solid. Maybe not as entertaining as Boom Blox, but solid enough for a $10 downloadable title.
The Shoot: I only tried the demo, but it is an old school arcadey shooter. The artstyle is okay (with cardboard characters to ensure that it is not too violent) and the gameplay has some fun twist. I am not sure if it is worth $40 however.
I tried some of the other demos, but they weren't my type of game. EyePet is surprisingly cute, but I'm not into pets or virtual pets so... (unless they are of the WoW Collectible variety).
Overall, the launch titles are nothing stellar, but the tech is very impressive and I think it's potential for more hardcore games is nothing to be scoffed at. However, with 2 very different techs, I'm very curious to see how titles for them will pan out. I cannot wait to try the multiplayer aspects of these titles, should be fun.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Resident Evil: AKA Sequel - itis
To be fair, the RE movies aren't completely terrible... if you forget that they are loosely (and I'm talking Red Light District "loose" here) related to a video game with the same name. Of the original three movies, only the first one comes close to capturing the feeling of the game, and even then.... just barely. If you view these flicks as a stand-alone, separate universe from that of the games, they are relatively enjoyable. Think of it a bit like comic books: They've been around forever, usually having slightly different takes on the character with each subsequent set, so... yeah.
As far as Afterlife... it's kinda like a big commercial for 3D movies. Lots of plot devices and special effects used as an excuse to bring 3D into the limelight. There's nothing wrong with it, although it did seem a little tacky. Also, they didn't bring back Wesker from the third movie, they brought in a new dude who... he's alright I guess, but it could have been a lot better.
Now to the gaming part of this post. There are two games I've been spending all my time with: 3D Dot Game Heroes, and the Magic the Gathering Xbox Live Arcade game.
3D Dot Heroes has its moments of sheer frustration, but since it's designed to be kind of like an 8-bit game, that actually works more to its favor than I originally thought. The game seems to have enough content to make any Zelda fan proud, and enough tongue-in-cheek humor so that you don't really take anything overly seriously. Granted, I'm sure I'm missing half of what I'm supposed to do, since I rarely talk to the villagers, so me constantly dying in the dungeons is 100% my fault. It's still a fun game though.
That being said, each boss has an achievement attached to it that I sincerely doubt I'll ever get; To get the achievement, you have to beat the boss without getting hit. Talk about a pain in the ass. Maybe if I ever get enough patience I'll get around to it, but right now, I'm going for a Beat on the Backlog and that's about it. For now, anyways.
I've written quite a bit about Magic already, (most of it being barely coherent ramblings posted while in the middle of a game, or too asleep to get thoughts out properly...), so I'll at least keep this short. The XBL game is fun. It's not overly deep, so a newbie can easily get into it and not feel overwhelmed. It's spelled out a lot better than... say, actually playing a game with someone who has played the game for a long time.
That being said, it's deep enough that even vets of Magic can get a kick out of it. You unlock several 60 Card decks as you go along, and as you win using those decks you unlock cards to add. The only deck editing you get to do is with those extra cards. You can add them to the deck, or remove them as you see fit. A serious lack of real deck building holds the game back for guys like me who have been playing for years, but again, for newbies it's an excellent intro to the game proper.
Besides, when you go to tournaments, most people are using the same deck builds as each other anyways.
Tuesday I'll be talking about my marathons of gaming goodness that I've been taking part of. Until then, pleasant Gammage to everybody!
As far as Afterlife... it's kinda like a big commercial for 3D movies. Lots of plot devices and special effects used as an excuse to bring 3D into the limelight. There's nothing wrong with it, although it did seem a little tacky. Also, they didn't bring back Wesker from the third movie, they brought in a new dude who... he's alright I guess, but it could have been a lot better.
Now to the gaming part of this post. There are two games I've been spending all my time with: 3D Dot Game Heroes, and the Magic the Gathering Xbox Live Arcade game.
3D Dot Heroes has its moments of sheer frustration, but since it's designed to be kind of like an 8-bit game, that actually works more to its favor than I originally thought. The game seems to have enough content to make any Zelda fan proud, and enough tongue-in-cheek humor so that you don't really take anything overly seriously. Granted, I'm sure I'm missing half of what I'm supposed to do, since I rarely talk to the villagers, so me constantly dying in the dungeons is 100% my fault. It's still a fun game though.
That being said, each boss has an achievement attached to it that I sincerely doubt I'll ever get; To get the achievement, you have to beat the boss without getting hit. Talk about a pain in the ass. Maybe if I ever get enough patience I'll get around to it, but right now, I'm going for a Beat on the Backlog and that's about it. For now, anyways.
I've written quite a bit about Magic already, (most of it being barely coherent ramblings posted while in the middle of a game, or too asleep to get thoughts out properly...), so I'll at least keep this short. The XBL game is fun. It's not overly deep, so a newbie can easily get into it and not feel overwhelmed. It's spelled out a lot better than... say, actually playing a game with someone who has played the game for a long time.
That being said, it's deep enough that even vets of Magic can get a kick out of it. You unlock several 60 Card decks as you go along, and as you win using those decks you unlock cards to add. The only deck editing you get to do is with those extra cards. You can add them to the deck, or remove them as you see fit. A serious lack of real deck building holds the game back for guys like me who have been playing for years, but again, for newbies it's an excellent intro to the game proper.
Besides, when you go to tournaments, most people are using the same deck builds as each other anyways.
Tuesday I'll be talking about my marathons of gaming goodness that I've been taking part of. Until then, pleasant Gammage to everybody!
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Today's post is missing
As was the time to write it.
Oh, I enjoyed Resident Evil: Afterlife, even it sucked in many ways (acting, some of the effects, the plot). But I knew what I was getting into and I wanted to enjoy myself, and I did. Got anything to add Chris?
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Oh, I enjoyed Resident Evil: Afterlife, even it sucked in many ways (acting, some of the effects, the plot). But I knew what I was getting into and I wanted to enjoy myself, and I did. Got anything to add Chris?
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Monday, September 13, 2010
Magic is Fun II
Xbox Live is an overpriced, almost useless (for me anyways) add-on to a console with a short life expectancy. That being said, every once in a while I find something to pass the time with. Now, that is Magic.
Magic the Gathering: Duels of the Planeswalker is an Xbox Live Arcade game, and as someone who is addicted to collecting things, this is feeding my addiction very well. Multiple decks, the ability to play online against other people, and expansions that add more decks and cards.
Every victory with each deck adds a card to the deck, up to a maximum of 17. The problem is, you can only edit those 17 cards, so if you want to mess with the original 60 card deck, you can't. Bummer. Also, land gets tapped automatically, rather than you choosing what gets tapped while you cast things. Granted, I've only unlocked mono-color decks, so maybe it'll be different when I get some more cards, but still, it'll be interesting to see how things turn out as I keep playing.
Tonight, Jeff and I are going to torture ourselves by watching the Resident Evil movie. It makes me think: Has Milla Jovovich been in a movie in the last decade that did NOT involve her being some super powered uber being? Ultraviolet, The Fifth Element, Resident Evil, is there ever a time when she's just normal? These are the questions that kept me out of the good schools as a child.
Don't be surprised if this post gets edited when I figure out how bad that movie really is. Until then, pleasant Gammage to everyone.
Magic the Gathering: Duels of the Planeswalker is an Xbox Live Arcade game, and as someone who is addicted to collecting things, this is feeding my addiction very well. Multiple decks, the ability to play online against other people, and expansions that add more decks and cards.
Every victory with each deck adds a card to the deck, up to a maximum of 17. The problem is, you can only edit those 17 cards, so if you want to mess with the original 60 card deck, you can't. Bummer. Also, land gets tapped automatically, rather than you choosing what gets tapped while you cast things. Granted, I've only unlocked mono-color decks, so maybe it'll be different when I get some more cards, but still, it'll be interesting to see how things turn out as I keep playing.
Tonight, Jeff and I are going to torture ourselves by watching the Resident Evil movie. It makes me think: Has Milla Jovovich been in a movie in the last decade that did NOT involve her being some super powered uber being? Ultraviolet, The Fifth Element, Resident Evil, is there ever a time when she's just normal? These are the questions that kept me out of the good schools as a child.
Don't be surprised if this post gets edited when I figure out how bad that movie really is. Until then, pleasant Gammage to everyone.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Metroid: Other M - The end of my Metroid summer
I'm starting this post as the final credit to Other M scroll in front of me. A rather bland orchestral piece is playing, not memorable at all. No Samus Theme, really?
The game does something really cool after the credit. A fun and story related way to finish collecting the items. The epilogue actually made me appreciate the game more.
In many ways, it feels like a 3D version of Metroid Fusion. You are aboard a space station, sections are locked, sometimes unlocked. You must use navigation rooms to progress, etc.
My biggest disappointment has to be the music. Few classic themes are used and even when they are, their impact is not really strong. Also, no classic pickup chime? Honestly, the sound used sounds a regurgitating computer. There were no moments like realizing that you are listening to a slowed version of the Brinstar theme as you embark on a new adventure on Tallon IV. No eery and familiar tune to make the slow trek through water more enjoyable. No heroic theme to let you know that you are indeed THE BEST bounty hunter in the galaxy. No bombastic chanting as you explore a fiery region.
Story wise, I couldn't care less. I've already typed enough words on Metroid to show that even if the game was a total failure (which it is not), I would still enjoy it. It is, however, way too full of itself and heavy handed. I guess Samus would be prone to monologuing a lot... She does spend a lot of time alone. At least we now have some context to the Adam of Fusion.
Maybe this Metroid aims to get new fans, and the gameplay may succeed in doing that. I hope it sells well... I mean, the game IS fun. The I guess I was expecting something more epic.
In the end, this further proves how different American and Japanese sensibilities are towars storytelling. Prime is a lot more akin to Bioshock, with little exposition, most of the story comes from elements you scan (something you never have to do) whereas Other M feels like a classic Japanese with » stock characters (the geekyscientist, the faceless mooks, the evil colonel, ...).
The Prime series managed to instill so much life and lore in the universe. Sure, you had to read to get to that, but it was worth it. Who wouldn't to see another game where the Chozos aren't explored more?
After Other M and Fusion, the space left for Samus to explore seems a lot smaller. No more Metroids..., no more Space Pirates. Maybe it's time for her to rest. No matter what folks might say about her latest adventure, in my humble opinion, it is mission complete.
P.S.: This post was written over a few nights, hence the lack of cohesion of sorts.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
The game does something really cool after the credit. A fun and story related way to finish collecting the items. The epilogue actually made me appreciate the game more.
In many ways, it feels like a 3D version of Metroid Fusion. You are aboard a space station, sections are locked, sometimes unlocked. You must use navigation rooms to progress, etc.
My biggest disappointment has to be the music. Few classic themes are used and even when they are, their impact is not really strong. Also, no classic pickup chime? Honestly, the sound used sounds a regurgitating computer. There were no moments like realizing that you are listening to a slowed version of the Brinstar theme as you embark on a new adventure on Tallon IV. No eery and familiar tune to make the slow trek through water more enjoyable. No heroic theme to let you know that you are indeed THE BEST bounty hunter in the galaxy. No bombastic chanting as you explore a fiery region.
Story wise, I couldn't care less. I've already typed enough words on Metroid to show that even if the game was a total failure (which it is not), I would still enjoy it. It is, however, way too full of itself and heavy handed. I guess Samus would be prone to monologuing a lot... She does spend a lot of time alone. At least we now have some context to the Adam of Fusion.
Maybe this Metroid aims to get new fans, and the gameplay may succeed in doing that. I hope it sells well... I mean, the game IS fun. The I guess I was expecting something more epic.
In the end, this further proves how different American and Japanese sensibilities are towars storytelling. Prime is a lot more akin to Bioshock, with little exposition, most of the story comes from elements you scan (something you never have to do) whereas Other M feels like a classic Japanese with » stock characters (the geekyscientist, the faceless mooks, the evil colonel, ...).
The Prime series managed to instill so much life and lore in the universe. Sure, you had to read to get to that, but it was worth it. Who wouldn't to see another game where the Chozos aren't explored more?
After Other M and Fusion, the space left for Samus to explore seems a lot smaller. No more Metroids..., no more Space Pirates. Maybe it's time for her to rest. No matter what folks might say about her latest adventure, in my humble opinion, it is mission complete.
P.S.: This post was written over a few nights, hence the lack of cohesion of sorts.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Saturday, September 11, 2010
On a Positive note...
So I decided rather than posting something negative about Activision (which in reality I would have done, but I had to work today and couldn't write anything...), I will instead post things that I actually enjoy about gaming, that also involves the internet because... well, if there's one thing I hate almost as much as Activision it's the internet. And I'm thinking positive today, so here are the few things about said internet that I actually find enjoyable.
Gamefaqs: Simply put, I spend way too much time here. Not for the message boards, (You'll never see a more wretched hive of scum and villainy....) but for the other things: The Guides. Sadly, me and games aren't always calm and sociable, sometimes we're downright enemies. So, I use guides from this site to not be pissed off.
It is also a half-decent source of reviews. I like posting them up (under the name nobodys_savior) and reading them, either as a need to know about a game, or a need to laugh as fanboys go on and on about a game they love, or hate.
www.gamefaqs.com
OK Console: A podcast made by a dude I used to work with. Very simply, it's a radio show with video game music. It's pretty decent, although the dude talks waaaay too much.
www.okconsole.com
Shadow Haxor: A website where I get my video game tunes. I'm a guy that loves every aspect of games, and that usually involves the music in those games too. They have a lot, but you do need to register before you can Download anything. Still, awesome site.
www.shadowhaxor.net
Backloggery: My favorite site that I've listed. Essentially, this is the site I've used to track what games I haven't beaten yet... which is a lot. You can list whether a game is beat, completed entirely, nulled (if a game doesn't really have a beat criteria), or Mastered (like Jeff's Super Metroid under two hours run). It tracks it via Bar Graphs and fancy numbers, and you can tag things by system and such.
Problem is, right now the site is not accepting new users, as there is a massive site update coming soon, and it seems to be down every once in a while. That being said, there is just something about numbers that makes me want to pay attention.
www.backloggery.com
www.backloggery.com/assclown_king
That's pretty much it. That took me way too long to write, as I was distracted by friends playing Magic, and How I Met Your Mother on DVD. Until next time....
Gamefaqs: Simply put, I spend way too much time here. Not for the message boards, (You'll never see a more wretched hive of scum and villainy....) but for the other things: The Guides. Sadly, me and games aren't always calm and sociable, sometimes we're downright enemies. So, I use guides from this site to not be pissed off.
It is also a half-decent source of reviews. I like posting them up (under the name nobodys_savior) and reading them, either as a need to know about a game, or a need to laugh as fanboys go on and on about a game they love, or hate.
www.gamefaqs.com
OK Console: A podcast made by a dude I used to work with. Very simply, it's a radio show with video game music. It's pretty decent, although the dude talks waaaay too much.
www.okconsole.com
Shadow Haxor: A website where I get my video game tunes. I'm a guy that loves every aspect of games, and that usually involves the music in those games too. They have a lot, but you do need to register before you can Download anything. Still, awesome site.
www.shadowhaxor.net
Backloggery: My favorite site that I've listed. Essentially, this is the site I've used to track what games I haven't beaten yet... which is a lot. You can list whether a game is beat, completed entirely, nulled (if a game doesn't really have a beat criteria), or Mastered (like Jeff's Super Metroid under two hours run). It tracks it via Bar Graphs and fancy numbers, and you can tag things by system and such.
Problem is, right now the site is not accepting new users, as there is a massive site update coming soon, and it seems to be down every once in a while. That being said, there is just something about numbers that makes me want to pay attention.
www.backloggery.com
www.backloggery.com/assclown_king
That's pretty much it. That took me way too long to write, as I was distracted by friends playing Magic, and How I Met Your Mother on DVD. Until next time....
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Edit: How bad is RE: Afterlife!
Update: 15% with only 23 reviews. I'm not surprised by the score, but I do find that there aren't that many reviews.
Edit: After 14 reviews, 13 of which said the movie was Rotten, RE:A now stands at a tremedous 8%. Awesome!
Edit: I will try and update this post from time to time as the weekend goes.
Rotten Tomatoes currently gives 0% to Resident Evil: Afterlife. Granted, it's only after 5 reviews, but it does bode well for this cinematic masterpiece!
No post today. No time. Need sleep.
In the meantime, are you going to see the new Resident Evil movie? Post in the comments!
Edit: After 14 reviews, 13 of which said the movie was Rotten, RE:A now stands at a tremedous 8%. Awesome!
Edit: I will try and update this post from time to time as the weekend goes.
Rotten Tomatoes currently gives 0% to Resident Evil: Afterlife. Granted, it's only after 5 reviews, but it does bode well for this cinematic masterpiece!
No post today. No time. Need sleep.
In the meantime, are you going to see the new Resident Evil movie? Post in the comments!
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
More Random Questions
Stealing the idea from Jeff (and because I'm doing this post last-minute), here are some more food-for-thought thoughts with games in mind...
In Pokemon, Team Rocket (and their multiple re-iterations with different names) are the worlds biggest group of thieves and villains, yet a 10 year old boy defeats them in a pokemon battle and suddenly everything is over? I mean, if they were in fact gangsters, why didn't they just beat up the boy and steal his poke's?
Does Kirby ever get indigestion?
In Katamari Damacy you pretty much roll up the entire world at the end so that the King of the Cosmos can recreate the stars... that he destroyed. Yet, there are other Katamari games. If the King used the Earth to re-create the Stars, what did he use to recreate the Earth?
Will there ever be a FINAL Final Fantasy? (I don't care how many times that's been stated, there are a boat load of FF games).
In Persona, you use an Evoker to bring out your Persona (a monster based on the Tarot... I think), and the evoker is shaped like a gun... why? And who came up with shooting yourself in the head to make a monster pop out?
In Soul Calibur 2, Siegfried and Nightmare are still the same person, and his ending states that he is guarding the Sword. In Soul Calibur 3, they are separated, and you see Sieg stabbing Soul Edge with the Soul Calibur sword... Non-Canon?
And Finally...In Super Mario Bros., Mario goes through worlds and defeats Bowser 8 times in an effort to save Princess Toadstool, but only in the last castle does he actually rescue her. In the others, it's Toad, the lovable midget servant of the Castle. In the game, you could use warp pipes and get to the last World, essentially skipping all but the last castle...Does Toad ever get rescued afterwards? Is he set free when Bowser is destroyed for once and for all? OR (and most likely) is Mario just too lazy to go back and free them?
This week saw the release of NHL 11 (I already ranted about this for Madden, just copy and paste that here... ), Spiderman: Shattered Dimensions, and Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep. I'm not a big Activision guy... maybe I'll actually post why next time? See ya then, Party Peoples...
In Pokemon, Team Rocket (and their multiple re-iterations with different names) are the worlds biggest group of thieves and villains, yet a 10 year old boy defeats them in a pokemon battle and suddenly everything is over? I mean, if they were in fact gangsters, why didn't they just beat up the boy and steal his poke's?
Does Kirby ever get indigestion?
In Katamari Damacy you pretty much roll up the entire world at the end so that the King of the Cosmos can recreate the stars... that he destroyed. Yet, there are other Katamari games. If the King used the Earth to re-create the Stars, what did he use to recreate the Earth?
Will there ever be a FINAL Final Fantasy? (I don't care how many times that's been stated, there are a boat load of FF games).
In Persona, you use an Evoker to bring out your Persona (a monster based on the Tarot... I think), and the evoker is shaped like a gun... why? And who came up with shooting yourself in the head to make a monster pop out?
In Soul Calibur 2, Siegfried and Nightmare are still the same person, and his ending states that he is guarding the Sword. In Soul Calibur 3, they are separated, and you see Sieg stabbing Soul Edge with the Soul Calibur sword... Non-Canon?
And Finally...In Super Mario Bros., Mario goes through worlds and defeats Bowser 8 times in an effort to save Princess Toadstool, but only in the last castle does he actually rescue her. In the others, it's Toad, the lovable midget servant of the Castle. In the game, you could use warp pipes and get to the last World, essentially skipping all but the last castle...Does Toad ever get rescued afterwards? Is he set free when Bowser is destroyed for once and for all? OR (and most likely) is Mario just too lazy to go back and free them?
This week saw the release of NHL 11 (I already ranted about this for Madden, just copy and paste that here... ), Spiderman: Shattered Dimensions, and Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep. I'm not a big Activision guy... maybe I'll actually post why next time? See ya then, Party Peoples...
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Random Questions
In Metroid, it is assumed that the Chozos built a lot of the environments that you visit. However, who built those bomb slots? Did the Chozos turn into balls too? More worrisome is the Space Pirate architect. In Prime 3, it is quite easy to go around security by going around in Morph ball. These Morph ball paths are so numerous that one does wonder if the whole galaxy is inhabited by ball shaped people.
In Warcraft, with the exception of the Burning Legion whichis truly evil, most of the other baddies became evil because they got crazy. Illidan, Medivh, Arthas, Malygos, Neltharion. Seriously, why don't they work with the Dranei to build spaceships and go after the Burning Legion?
In Zelda, to whom did those Heart containers belong to? And do rupees grow in tall grass or are people hiding it there?
In Megaman, does he have limited memory or does Dr. Light reformat him each time he defeats Wily? Clearly a lack of foresight...
Got a weird question about games, post it here!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
In Warcraft, with the exception of the Burning Legion whichis truly evil, most of the other baddies became evil because they got crazy. Illidan, Medivh, Arthas, Malygos, Neltharion. Seriously, why don't they work with the Dranei to build spaceships and go after the Burning Legion?
In Zelda, to whom did those Heart containers belong to? And do rupees grow in tall grass or are people hiding it there?
In Megaman, does he have limited memory or does Dr. Light reformat him each time he defeats Wily? Clearly a lack of foresight...
Got a weird question about games, post it here!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Blayze Bloo
Guess what? Episode two is actually recorded people! That means that in a few more months, we'll have it ready for your consumption... the three of you who actually read this thing, that isn't me and Jeff.
Blazblue: Continuum Shift is awesome, as expected. Story is even more dialogue heavy than the first one, but more fleshed out and you get more background. There's even a 10 minute long "catch-up" style cutscene at the beginning, you know, in case you never played the first one. (And if you haven't, then you must not like fighting games, in which case... a part of me actually can't blame you).
Each character plays differently than one another, which is nice. No clones = instant win for me... well, win in a sense that I bought it, and am enjoying it. Also like the first one, you only unlock the True Ending story arc when you beat it with other characters. Unlike the first one, you only need to beat it with specific characters to unlock it. The first game you needed to actually do everyones story, which is alright I guess, except for Carl who I still can't figure out.
This post would have been longer, but I'm actually playing games for once, and I have a family BBQ coming up later today, so pleasent Gammage to all, and to all a good luck in defeating the evil menace that is Baak'laag..... I think that's how it's spelled. More on that later.
Blazblue: Continuum Shift is awesome, as expected. Story is even more dialogue heavy than the first one, but more fleshed out and you get more background. There's even a 10 minute long "catch-up" style cutscene at the beginning, you know, in case you never played the first one. (And if you haven't, then you must not like fighting games, in which case... a part of me actually can't blame you).
Each character plays differently than one another, which is nice. No clones = instant win for me... well, win in a sense that I bought it, and am enjoying it. Also like the first one, you only unlock the True Ending story arc when you beat it with other characters. Unlike the first one, you only need to beat it with specific characters to unlock it. The first game you needed to actually do everyones story, which is alright I guess, except for Carl who I still can't figure out.
This post would have been longer, but I'm actually playing games for once, and I have a family BBQ coming up later today, so pleasent Gammage to all, and to all a good luck in defeating the evil menace that is Baak'laag..... I think that's how it's spelled. More on that later.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Why Oh Why?
Why oh why did I have to start playing again? Mounts. I love collecting stuff. Especially in World of Warcraft, where it doesn't take physical space. I'm currently sitting on 89 mounts, my rarest being the Rocket from the card game.
You know what? Screw today's post, I need to play WoW!
All kidding aside, I'm enjoying Metroid - Other M (well, the parts where I play). I recommend picking it up if you are a fan of the series. If you are on the fence, rent it, chances are you will be surprised.
Some reviews talked about the controls and most of the reviewers did not seem convinced. I personally have no quarrel with them. Even the part where you need to point at the screen (I did need to put the Wii "condom" back on though, otherwise I wouldn't hide the IR part enough).
A'right, back to work, I mean, WoW!
You know what? Screw today's post, I need to play WoW!
All kidding aside, I'm enjoying Metroid - Other M (well, the parts where I play). I recommend picking it up if you are a fan of the series. If you are on the fence, rent it, chances are you will be surprised.
Some reviews talked about the controls and most of the reviewers did not seem convinced. I personally have no quarrel with them. Even the part where you need to point at the screen (I did need to put the Wii "condom" back on though, otherwise I wouldn't hide the IR part enough).
A'right, back to work, I mean, WoW!
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