I'd apologize for focusing largely on Modern Warfare 2 as of late, but something tells me you don't mind. Perhaps it's because it's the biggest game of the year and quite possibly of all time. New info on Assassin's Creed 2 coming soon as well new Halo: ODST multiplayer gameplay. That is if you don't have a heart attack from the excitement of the aforementioned video below.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
The Calm Before the Storm
Hey there game fans. The gaming news has all but come to a hault. This is typical of this time of the year. The flood gates will surely open as the fourth quarter draws near. A new Modern Warfare 2 multiplayer perk video is due out any day now. Also, look for a review of Shadow Complex in the next day or so. A real review from a real gamer; no strings (or advertisers) attached. In the meantime, please enjoy this photo of my face plastered on Super Mario.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Games You Should Play - 8/25/09
Games You Should Play - Power Stone 2
So when I pick the games I'm going to do for this weekly installment here at Gamerology, I try to pick a game that has fallen by the wayside or games that people may have avoided for whatever reason. But, in going with the name of the column, you should play these games. Let's recap real quick what games I have chosen and why you SHOULD play then, and why you shouldn't.
Mirror's Edge
Good: Incredible sense of motion and speed for a first-person view. Smooth controls.
Bad: Terrible story. Real bad.
XIII
Good: Fantastic comic-book graphical style. Good voice acting, amazing soundtrack.
Bad: Terrible AI, lame overdone story. Controls are lousy.
Ok, now I'm going to to keep this database updated everytime I write one of these articles, in case you are new or want to see what I've written about in the past. But, they will be at the END of each article, not the beginning. This column is still a work in progress, but I think soon enough I will have finalized the format.
Anywho, on to this weeks game: Power Stone 2 (Dreamcast)
Now, I'm just talking about the DREAMCAST version of this game, not the arcade or PSP version that is on the Power Stone Collection (the load times are horrendous on that).
Ah, Power Stone 2. Just talking about it makes me want to bust out my Dreamcast and play it again. It is, one of the first, if not first 4-player simultaneous fighting games to ever be released. It is a fully 3D fighting game, where you can run to any point at any time (not like Tekken or Soul Calibur where you can only sidestep or dodge in 3d). Not only that, but the level design is excellent as well and they have multiple levels within the level! One level starts you fighting on a flying airship, only to break apart and then have you freefall down to another part of the level. Another level has an Indiana Jones style giant ball chasing you. The levels are also extremely interactive. Some levels have turrets or other things you can use as weapons. There are also tons of items around that you can pick up and use as a weapon. The sheer insanity of what is going on when 4 players are playing at once is awesome.
Check this video out to see a FULL playthrough of almost all the levels you see in the game:
You can also combine weapons you pick up with other weapons or items, and make NEW weapons which you can use! Where could this game go wrong?
Well, the characters are incredibly lame. The character design in this game is not really good at all, and there is no differentiation really except for the big guys (who move a little slower and can use a pole as a weapon) and the superpowers you get when you collect three gems. Otherwise, each character is basically the same. The stages, which are a HUGE part of the game and awesome in their own right....welll there are only 5 of them. And 2 boss stages. For a game where the level design is so good, the repetitive nature of the stages gets boring after a while. There is no story, well, there kind of is. You are trapped in this magical castle and you have to escape. There are no "endings" like other video games. You have no attachment to the characters. I know, stories and fighting games are usually kind of lame but at least they HAVE one and they HAVE endings that make you want to play with each character so you can see the ending. This game doesn't have that.
But don't let my negativity fool you, you SHOULD ABSOLUTELY play this game and then wonder to yourself, why haven't they released this on the XBox Live Arcade, or made a new one in GORGEOUS HD graphics? I ask myself those questions quite often.
Mirror's Edge
Good: Incredible sense of motion and speed for a first-person view. Smooth controls.
Bad: Terrible story. Real bad.
XIII
Good: Fantastic comic-book graphical style. Good voice acting, amazing soundtrack.
Bad: Terrible AI, lame overdone story. Controls are lousy.
Ok, now I'm going to to keep this database updated everytime I write one of these articles, in case you are new or want to see what I've written about in the past. But, they will be at the END of each article, not the beginning. This column is still a work in progress, but I think soon enough I will have finalized the format.
Anywho, on to this weeks game: Power Stone 2 (Dreamcast)
Now, I'm just talking about the DREAMCAST version of this game, not the arcade or PSP version that is on the Power Stone Collection (the load times are horrendous on that).
Ah, Power Stone 2. Just talking about it makes me want to bust out my Dreamcast and play it again. It is, one of the first, if not first 4-player simultaneous fighting games to ever be released. It is a fully 3D fighting game, where you can run to any point at any time (not like Tekken or Soul Calibur where you can only sidestep or dodge in 3d). Not only that, but the level design is excellent as well and they have multiple levels within the level! One level starts you fighting on a flying airship, only to break apart and then have you freefall down to another part of the level. Another level has an Indiana Jones style giant ball chasing you. The levels are also extremely interactive. Some levels have turrets or other things you can use as weapons. There are also tons of items around that you can pick up and use as a weapon. The sheer insanity of what is going on when 4 players are playing at once is awesome.
Check this video out to see a FULL playthrough of almost all the levels you see in the game:
You can also combine weapons you pick up with other weapons or items, and make NEW weapons which you can use! Where could this game go wrong?
Well, the characters are incredibly lame. The character design in this game is not really good at all, and there is no differentiation really except for the big guys (who move a little slower and can use a pole as a weapon) and the superpowers you get when you collect three gems. Otherwise, each character is basically the same. The stages, which are a HUGE part of the game and awesome in their own right....welll there are only 5 of them. And 2 boss stages. For a game where the level design is so good, the repetitive nature of the stages gets boring after a while. There is no story, well, there kind of is. You are trapped in this magical castle and you have to escape. There are no "endings" like other video games. You have no attachment to the characters. I know, stories and fighting games are usually kind of lame but at least they HAVE one and they HAVE endings that make you want to play with each character so you can see the ending. This game doesn't have that.
But don't let my negativity fool you, you SHOULD ABSOLUTELY play this game and then wonder to yourself, why haven't they released this on the XBox Live Arcade, or made a new one in GORGEOUS HD graphics? I ask myself those questions quite often.
Double your Deagle, Double Your Fun
It has now been leaked that dual wielding will now be possible in Modern Warfare 2. Whether limited to the campaign or multiplayer has yet to be officially confirmed, although Infinity Ward's Robert Bowling has eluded to akimbo being available in both. Right now there is confirmation that the dual-wielding will be limited to side arms, however side arms are now no longer limited to pistols. Dual Knife?
Don't worry, you won't be able to duel wield like Mr. High Pants in the picture. I'm pretty sure if he started shooting the momentum would knock him over.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Modern Warfare 2 Gets an Upgrade
Yesterday I featured a pair of Modern Warfare 2 screenshots from Gamescom 2009. Today, Robert Bowling of Infinity Ward has released an enhanced version of the image featuring Captain "Soap" McTavish. The brand new streaming texture technology is on display and it looks spectacular. This seemingly puts to rest any doubt as to whether the sequel would feature a noticeable graphical leap. Below is yesterday's low resolution image along with the just released high resolution image featuring the new streaming technology.
With Streaming Texture Technology
Without Streaming Texture Technology
With Streaming Texture Technology
Without Streaming Texture Technology
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Gamescom 2009 Highlights
Hey there game fans. I'm checking in today with a few highlights from this year's Gamescom convention. This is the convention's inaugural year; However, it is in actuality a re-branding of the Leipzig convention. Gamescom has a new location in Cologne, Germany to go along with its new and peculiar name. Below are some of my personal picks of the more noteworthy exhibitions.
Mass Effect 2
Mass Effect 2 comes out of the gates with a brand new trailer, showcasing a notorious mining facility named Omega. The facility is mercenary-controlled and is a veritable sin city, complete with exotic dancers and gambling. Mass Effect 2 looks gorgeous and with the new improvements to gameplay, this promises to be one of the best titles of 2010. As a side note, if you've never played Mass Effect in HD, you don't know what you're missing.
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
Naughty Dog has done a terrific job of keeping Among Thieves in the public eye (Infinity Ward could learn a thing or two). A steady stream of trailers, combined with last month's killer closed beta, has rocketed this title to the top of my winter 2009 most wanted list. The new Gamescom trailer showcases the state-of-the-art graphics and gameplay that you've come to expect from Naughty Dog. Uncharted 2 features the most life-like and expressive character models I've ever seen in a game to date. With the ever shrinking list of Playstation exclusives, this is definitely not one to miss.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
I know what you're thinking: "Only two screenshots!?" I couldn't agree more. Infinity Ward has really dropped the ball as of late. I know this is considered blasphemy these days, but I like to call them like I see them. This is Europe's premier gaming convention and only two screenshots are released to the public. The images can certainly be considered eye candy, but they don't showcase anything we haven't seen already. The Special Ops mode was apparently demo-ed for the press, but nothing has been made available to consumers as of yet. On the upside, Robert Bowling has stated that we can expect a brand new multiplayer perk trailer sometime next week.
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow
Fact: You involve Hideo Kojima in your game development, you get a kick ass game. Even if Kojima just used the game disc as a coaster for his morning smoothie, his magical gaming dust would sprinkle all over it and make it a kick ass game. Can you tell I'm a fan? Not much is known as of yet, but if this extended gameplay trailer is any indication, we have a hit on our hands.
Battlefield: Bad Company 2
No two ways about it, this game is going to be a lot of fun. Although Battlefield: Bad Company 2 does not have the mass appeal that Modern Warfare 2 does, it will certainly provide a compelling alternative. The new multiplayer looks fantastic featuring Destruction 2.0 and a new level of team gameplay. Who knows, it may even give Modern Warfare 2 a run for its money.
Fable III
Finally, we have the official announcement that Fable III is in development at Lionhead Studios. The trailer is purely a teaser and barely worth mentioning, but it is a welcome addition all the same. It's nice to see that the franchise will continue on Microsoft's current generation Xbox.
Stay tuned for more from Gamescom 2009 as information becomes available.
Mass Effect 2
Mass Effect 2 comes out of the gates with a brand new trailer, showcasing a notorious mining facility named Omega. The facility is mercenary-controlled and is a veritable sin city, complete with exotic dancers and gambling. Mass Effect 2 looks gorgeous and with the new improvements to gameplay, this promises to be one of the best titles of 2010. As a side note, if you've never played Mass Effect in HD, you don't know what you're missing.
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
Naughty Dog has done a terrific job of keeping Among Thieves in the public eye (Infinity Ward could learn a thing or two). A steady stream of trailers, combined with last month's killer closed beta, has rocketed this title to the top of my winter 2009 most wanted list. The new Gamescom trailer showcases the state-of-the-art graphics and gameplay that you've come to expect from Naughty Dog. Uncharted 2 features the most life-like and expressive character models I've ever seen in a game to date. With the ever shrinking list of Playstation exclusives, this is definitely not one to miss.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
I know what you're thinking: "Only two screenshots!?" I couldn't agree more. Infinity Ward has really dropped the ball as of late. I know this is considered blasphemy these days, but I like to call them like I see them. This is Europe's premier gaming convention and only two screenshots are released to the public. The images can certainly be considered eye candy, but they don't showcase anything we haven't seen already. The Special Ops mode was apparently demo-ed for the press, but nothing has been made available to consumers as of yet. On the upside, Robert Bowling has stated that we can expect a brand new multiplayer perk trailer sometime next week.
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow
Fact: You involve Hideo Kojima in your game development, you get a kick ass game. Even if Kojima just used the game disc as a coaster for his morning smoothie, his magical gaming dust would sprinkle all over it and make it a kick ass game. Can you tell I'm a fan? Not much is known as of yet, but if this extended gameplay trailer is any indication, we have a hit on our hands.
Battlefield: Bad Company 2
No two ways about it, this game is going to be a lot of fun. Although Battlefield: Bad Company 2 does not have the mass appeal that Modern Warfare 2 does, it will certainly provide a compelling alternative. The new multiplayer looks fantastic featuring Destruction 2.0 and a new level of team gameplay. Who knows, it may even give Modern Warfare 2 a run for its money.
Fable III
Finally, we have the official announcement that Fable III is in development at Lionhead Studios. The trailer is purely a teaser and barely worth mentioning, but it is a welcome addition all the same. It's nice to see that the franchise will continue on Microsoft's current generation Xbox.
Stay tuned for more from Gamescom 2009 as information becomes available.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Games You Should Play - 8/16/09
Games You Should Play - XIII
XIII is the first cel-shaded FPS in gaming history. The graphical style is excellent and is one of the two reasons you should play this game. The soundtrack/voice overs is the other. The game has a very unique style because of the cel-shading, and actually looks like a comic book. However, the plot, AI and control all suck. Bad. For me, if a FPS cannot control like I want it to control, I don't even bother. There are plenty of other games out there I could play instead that can control exctly how I like (Halo, Bioshock and Call of Duty spring to mind). The gameplay is standard FPS, but becuase the AI is so unbalanced, sometimes they won't hit you from 5 feet away but hit you dead on from 50 feet away. The plot is your basic amnesiac who can't remember he is a secret agent plot (basically a Bourne Identity rip off). However, there is good in this game.
Check out the fantastic graphical style of this game. The comic book action words ("POW", "BAM", etc.) and the panels within the game. This was one of the first games to do that. At the 4:00 minute mark is a cool example of how this game was at its best.
Check out a sample of the soundtrack here.
It's a funk-electro fusion and it is outstanding. I managed to score the soundtrack CD and used to listen to it all the time. It really stands out on its own. The voice acting is also very good, with a good David Duchovny (not like his Area 51 bullshit performance), Eve, Adam West and the supporting voices were also excellent.
It's worth a play, and can be had for under 10 bucks on Xbox, PS2 and PC. I recommend the PC or Xbox versions. It's also based on a French graphic novel, and there's a miniseries movie too, starring Stephen Dorff (it suckssssssss so bad).
Next week: Power Stone 2
Friday, August 14, 2009
Are You Ready for a Throwdown?
In what has to be an industry first, Manveer Heir of Raven Software has issued a challenge to EA Sports. According to Heir's twitter, if Wolfenstein outsells Madden 10 in the month of August, he will personally reimburse you for your purchase of Wolfenstein. This is an outrageous and controversial claim as the reimbursement will be fulfilled personally by the designer. Raven Software has not been indicated in the offer. Certain restrictions do apply however. You must be a follower of Manveer Heir on twitter as well as present a receipt as proof of purchase. There is of course a limit of one per customer.
Wolfenstein has not received a tremendous amount of hype which only adds to the peculiarity of the situation. The game has visuals that border on last generation. Then again, there is always hope the gameplay mechanics prove to be more than skin deep. A homely looking games with a great personality is fairly uncommon in today's beauty obsessed world. However, it is not all together impossible (see Indigo Prophecy). One can only wonder if Heir's challenge is a last ditch effort to accumulate release date sales before word of mouth spreads. Personally I'm all for it. I hope Wolfenstein turns out to be a great game. There is a rich history with the franchise, and it's only right that it should continue.
I would gladly plunk down the cash to support the series and simultaneously wound Electronic Arts ego. If it manages to outsell Madden 10, then the cash back is an incredible bonus. I wouldn't let the reimbursement offer persuade you as there is certainly no guarantee. Manveer Heir's word hardly seems sufficient. Be forewarned, it is extremely unlikely that the first person shooter will topple the football beast in the month of August albeit at all.
Wolfenstein is slated to be released on August 18th and Madden 10 is due out August 14th. I've included trailers of both games to help you decide which franchise deserves your hard earned cash.
Wolfenstein
Maddden NFL 10
Wolfenstein has not received a tremendous amount of hype which only adds to the peculiarity of the situation. The game has visuals that border on last generation. Then again, there is always hope the gameplay mechanics prove to be more than skin deep. A homely looking games with a great personality is fairly uncommon in today's beauty obsessed world. However, it is not all together impossible (see Indigo Prophecy). One can only wonder if Heir's challenge is a last ditch effort to accumulate release date sales before word of mouth spreads. Personally I'm all for it. I hope Wolfenstein turns out to be a great game. There is a rich history with the franchise, and it's only right that it should continue.
I would gladly plunk down the cash to support the series and simultaneously wound Electronic Arts ego. If it manages to outsell Madden 10, then the cash back is an incredible bonus. I wouldn't let the reimbursement offer persuade you as there is certainly no guarantee. Manveer Heir's word hardly seems sufficient. Be forewarned, it is extremely unlikely that the first person shooter will topple the football beast in the month of August albeit at all.
Wolfenstein is slated to be released on August 18th and Madden 10 is due out August 14th. I've included trailers of both games to help you decide which franchise deserves your hard earned cash.
Wolfenstein
Maddden NFL 10
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Modern Warfare 2 Character Models
Here are a pair of little known screenshots from Modern Warfare 2. These photos appear to be screen captures from the original full length trailer released a few months ago. I haven't seen them posted on many gaming sites and I think they showcase the new character models in Modern Warefare 2 quite well. Both screenshots feature special forces operators with authentic weapon and gear loadout.
UPDATE:
It appears the images are promo shots for the Special Ops mode!
British S.A.S. Operator
U.S. Special Forces Delta Operator
UPDATE:
It appears the images are promo shots for the Special Ops mode!
British S.A.S. Operator
U.S. Special Forces Delta Operator
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Awesome 8-Bit Sampling
www.nintendomixtape.com
These guys have taken samples from some classic (and some not so classic) NES games and turned them into pretty killer rap songs.
Check out this video first, then hit up the website if you are interested. You can download the whole album for free.
These guys have taken samples from some classic (and some not so classic) NES games and turned them into pretty killer rap songs.
Check out this video first, then hit up the website if you are interested. You can download the whole album for free.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
The Power of the Demo
Look, I've said it many times, not necessarily on this blog, but the best way to sell your game is to put a demo on Xbox Live BEFORE the game comes out. A demo after the fact is stupid, lame, and redundant (I'm looking at YOU, Call of Duty: World At War).
Here is a list of games, that from personal experience of not only playing the demo but also selling the game at retail, I have found that the demo definitely increased the sales for the game:
On the flip side, there are demos out there which have clearly hurt retail sales, either because the game itself sucked, or the demo was TERRIBLE. Those demos include:
Here is a list of games, that from personal experience of not only playing the demo but also selling the game at retail, I have found that the demo definitely increased the sales for the game:
- Dead Rising
- Fight Night Round 3
- Bioshock
- Mirror's Edge
- Skate
- Army of Two
- Battlefield: Bad Company
- Red Faction: Guerilla (though personally, I HATED this demo)
- Lost Planet
On the flip side, there are demos out there which have clearly hurt retail sales, either because the game itself sucked, or the demo was TERRIBLE. Those demos include:
- Bionic Commando (this demo was so painful)
- F.E.A.R. 2 (the demo cuts off in a TERRIBLE place)
- Blacksite: Area 51 (again a terrible cut-off)
- Fracture (the game just sucked)
- Iron Man (impossible to control)
Why do I bring this up? Because 3 phone calls in a row at work last night, I was asked 'When does Batman: Arkham Asylum come out?" After the 3rd call, I asked the person on the phone, "Why is everyone calling?" He says, "The demo just hit the marketplace." "Oh, is it good?" He replied, "It's fucking awesome."
When you have a game that might be missed, overlooked or one that people just plain forgot was coming out (Batman was supposed to drop in June, now it's coming out dangerously close to Madden 2010) you get people interested in it again. I know, it's Batman, how can people miss that? Well, there hasn't been a GOOD Batman game in about 20 years (NES and Gameboy versions). TWENTY YEARS!? Superman has never had a good game, period. Spider-Man 2 was phenomenal and a genre-changer, Iron Man sucked, Marvel Ultimate Alliance was good, Wolverine was awesome, but Batman shouldn't have sucked for so long.
Dear Game Developers of New IPs (or old ones you are finally bringing to next-gen):
Please give me a demo. Please make the demo an accurate representation of what the game is. Please make the demo at least 20 minutes, especially if the download is more than 1 GB. I don't want to spend more time downloading the demo than I do playing it. Please give me a multiplayer option, even if it is just one map for deathmatch or co-op (Thank you Resident Evil 5). Please make sure you don't cut it off when you get a totally kickass weapon and then have it fade to black (FEAR 2, I'm looking at you). Please leave it off where the story starts to get very interesting (in the case of a single-player game of course) and then leave me wanting more (Bioshock, FTW!). Please don't release the demo AFTER the game comes out (Dead Space, Ghostbusters, Call of Duty: World at War [BETA doesn't count]). Please don't make it multiplayer only ON THE SAME SYSTEM (Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 on PS3 WTF!?). If your game stinks, don't release a demo. I'll only really never play your game. You know if it sucks. Don't lie to me.
Sincerely,
The Marc
Gamerologist
Gamerologyscience.blogspot.com
See below for some screens of Batman: Arkham Asylum in action. The last image seems a bit out of place. Early Rocksteady concept art perhaps?
Monday, August 10, 2009
Candidate for Worst News of the Year
It was announced over the weekend that famed Rapper 50 Cent would be among the celebrity voice actors lending their "talents" to the upcoming Modern Warfare 2. This is a sure fire candidate for worst news of the year. I couldn't help but check my calender several times in hopes that the space-time continuum had transformed the date to April the 1st. I had no such luck.
Mr. Half dollar will apparently be heard saying such classics as "Reloading", "Tango Down", and "I'm the downfall of civilized man!" Even if you are a 50 Cent fan, I'm sure you can agree that the young man's English language handicap is not appropriate for a game featuring special operations forces. Somehow I doubt the words "shawtee" and "Birfday" come up very often when dealing with international terrorism. Then again, if you are a 50 Cent fan you are probably preoccupied with mugging the elderly and hurling helpless kittens.
Best of all, he will be featured in the game's multiplayer, so we will all have the pleasure of hearing his voice in repetition until the next installment in the franchise. It is a sad day indeed.
Mr. Half dollar will apparently be heard saying such classics as "Reloading", "Tango Down", and "I'm the downfall of civilized man!" Even if you are a 50 Cent fan, I'm sure you can agree that the young man's English language handicap is not appropriate for a game featuring special operations forces. Somehow I doubt the words "shawtee" and "Birfday" come up very often when dealing with international terrorism. Then again, if you are a 50 Cent fan you are probably preoccupied with mugging the elderly and hurling helpless kittens.
Best of all, he will be featured in the game's multiplayer, so we will all have the pleasure of hearing his voice in repetition until the next installment in the franchise. It is a sad day indeed.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
News You May Have Missed
Another new thing I'm starting here, entitled:
News You May Have Missed
It's basically a recap of all the SMALLER, but still important, gaming related news that people have passed over for the week.
- In the original Punch-Out for the NES, Mario was never actually approved to be the referee or be in the game at all. (Source: Kotaku)
- Johnny Cash is in Guitar Hero 5, and you will be able to export SOME, but not all, songs from World Tour and Smash Hits.
- There is a Best Buy in Utah testing the price-matching of Gamestop's used games on their new games. (Source: Joystiq)
- Oh yeah, Madden 2010 drops this Friday.
- Apparently, the Xbox 360 Pro is going to be discontinued, with only the Arcade and Elite remaining. No word on price or pack-ins. (Source: Joystiq)
I bolded that last part because I think it's the biggest news of the week that nobody is paying attention to. With the Pro bundle effectively eliminated, it can only mean a price cut is in order. With the Xbox 360 leading the way now that the Wii has really slowed in terms of sales and the attach rate on the 360 continuing to set records (8.1 games per 360 owner on average), Microsoft could be poising themselves to cut the price on the Elite to sell tons of systems. If they cut the price on the Arcade to $149 and make the Elite $279, they would make some serious dough. Especially if they continue to do their holiday bundling (last year they gave out Kung Fu Panda/Lego Indy; the year before that was Forza 2/Marvel Ultimate Alliance), Microsoft could sell millions, putting them even farther ahead of Sony and catching up to Nintendo's total Wii sales (although they wish they had the kind of attach rate that Microsoft has). Furthermore, it could really put a damper on Sony- why would you buy a $99 PS2 when you can get $149 Xbox 360 Arcade. Next-gen for only $50 more!? How could you not?
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Games You Should Play - 8/6/09
Here's a new weekly feature I plan to start, well, this week. I have entitled it:
"Games You Should Play"
It doesn't necessarily mean these are the greatest games of all time. I realize that everyone has different tastes, what I am trying to do is pick a game that does something so well (even one small part) and give it a place to shine. Even if overall the game is crappy, it might be a game worth playing. This is something Gamerankings and Metacritic won't tell you. I'm also going to try and find you games that everyone else already hasn't called "underrated" or "overlooked."
Games You Should Play - Mirror's Edge
Mirror's Edge is one of the first games where I actually felt a sense of motion in a First-Person view. Unfortunately, it's an amazing technical achievement stuck in a game with a crappy fighting system and an even worse story. But you should play it because it not only controls so smoothly, but because it's a first-person game in which you are SUPPOSED to run and jump and move like you never have before. The sense of motion you get is amazing when you are jumping from ledge to ledge doing parkour stunts. You don't even really have to play the game. Just play the demo and you will see how incredible it is.
The story does absolutely nothing to suck you in as it has one of the dumbest plots in video game history and fails to keep the game interesting. There have been many games I have played through because the story was interesting but the gameplay was not. But then again, this is a game done by a bunch of good developers, in DICE (or now EA Digital Illusions CE) who also do the Battlefield games. Battlefield:Bad Company being their only game previously that really had a storyline. Therefore, these guys don't have much experience in the story department.
Mirror's Edge can be picked up for about $19.99 these days, which isn't a bad price. Even still, I recommend the demo that can be downloaded on either the Xbox 360 or the Playstation 3, as it's a fantastic representation of the game.
Coming next week: XIII
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
How Nintendo Became Top Dog in Spite of Itself
As of this month the Nintendo Wii has sold over 50 million units worldwide. That's significantly more than even the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 combined. The question is, how did they do it despite doing everything wrong?
Right off the bat, the Wii's tech specs are barely upgraded over last generation's Gamecube. Below is a chart outlining the minute differences between the two consoles' capabilities.
That's strike one.
One of the major evolutions in the current generation of consoles is the advent of HD gaming. The sharper and clearer picture has contributed to the major leap in overall graphics quality. According to Nintendo, it's not a priority. President Satoru Iwata recently said, "As far as the Wii is concerned, we have not found a significant reason to make it HD-compatible at this time." This coming from the same company that declared online gaming a fad. That's strike two.
Lastly, there is the the most obvious blunder. The lack of games geared toward hardcore gamers. The Wii may have struck gold with casual gamers, but hardcore gamers buy software. Halo 3 sold 2.48 million units on day one. That's more than the first week sales for both Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess and Mario Galaxy combined. What does this mean? It means that third party support for the Wii is at an all time low. If the Wii's first party games can't even perform on the same level as its competitors, what hope is there for third party developers? That's strike three.
Despite Nintendo's non-progressive viewpoint and poor choices, they continue to dominate the landscape. Many of you are wondering, "Isn't there room for everyone? If people enjoy the Wii, why should it matter to you?" I'll tell you why. Nintendo has shown the gaming world that you can produce inexpensive, low tech hardware and still dominate your competitors. This is dangerous for the gaming industry as a whole. What's to prevent Microsoft or Sony from producing their own versions of the Wii? Games will come to a standstill and companies will no longer be focused on breaking boundaries and pushing the limits of one's imagination. How long before Nintendo has thought of every single type of activity that can be done with a Wii remote? Golfing? Check. Fishing? Check. Lasting Appeal? Let's hope not.
Leave a comment below and chime in with your thoughts. Also, check us out on Facebook!
Right off the bat, the Wii's tech specs are barely upgraded over last generation's Gamecube. Below is a chart outlining the minute differences between the two consoles' capabilities.
That's strike one.
One of the major evolutions in the current generation of consoles is the advent of HD gaming. The sharper and clearer picture has contributed to the major leap in overall graphics quality. According to Nintendo, it's not a priority. President Satoru Iwata recently said, "As far as the Wii is concerned, we have not found a significant reason to make it HD-compatible at this time." This coming from the same company that declared online gaming a fad. That's strike two.
Lastly, there is the the most obvious blunder. The lack of games geared toward hardcore gamers. The Wii may have struck gold with casual gamers, but hardcore gamers buy software. Halo 3 sold 2.48 million units on day one. That's more than the first week sales for both Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess and Mario Galaxy combined. What does this mean? It means that third party support for the Wii is at an all time low. If the Wii's first party games can't even perform on the same level as its competitors, what hope is there for third party developers? That's strike three.
Despite Nintendo's non-progressive viewpoint and poor choices, they continue to dominate the landscape. Many of you are wondering, "Isn't there room for everyone? If people enjoy the Wii, why should it matter to you?" I'll tell you why. Nintendo has shown the gaming world that you can produce inexpensive, low tech hardware and still dominate your competitors. This is dangerous for the gaming industry as a whole. What's to prevent Microsoft or Sony from producing their own versions of the Wii? Games will come to a standstill and companies will no longer be focused on breaking boundaries and pushing the limits of one's imagination. How long before Nintendo has thought of every single type of activity that can be done with a Wii remote? Golfing? Check. Fishing? Check. Lasting Appeal? Let's hope not.
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