The kart racing genre has been overrun by many contenders looking to have the success that Mario Kart had. I remember playing Mario Kart on the Nintendo Gamecube (Mario Kart Double Dash) and thinking it was a good blend of karts, tracks and character combos to choose from. Eventually though the title did get old without having online support or anyway to update tracks. When the newest Mario Kart for the Wii came out I was a little disappointed by the fact that they had mixed in some old tracks instead of creating a completely fresh new list for people to play through. It was lazy and while I do understand that they were giving a nod to previous titles (and courses), I would rather have new tracks to learn and master instead of treading on tracks I have played too many times to count. That is the problem really with any racing game. At some point you have seen all the tracks, unlocked all the cars and have used all the racers. Online play can obviously extend a game’s life but at some point you would like more. A game where you can change up my cars the way I like, make ridiculous looking characters and dare I say it, create tracks in order to keep things feeling fresh! Well just so has it that I am in luck (funny how that always happens when I am looking for such a specific thing). Let’s take a look at the nation of Mods and see what they have to offer.
Modnation Racers was billed as a mix between Little Big Planet and Mario Kart (I have even heard Sims references thrown in there). I do think that is a fair comparison but that puts it in a weird grey area. Is the focus on the game customization or is a solid kart racer with crazy power ups? Thankfully I can say it has both and both are wonderful. One of the first things I would like to bring up is that MNR (Modnation Racers) feels faster than Mario Kart. There were points in MK (Mario Kart) that I felt like my kart was putting along. Now whether it is the track designs I have raced so far or something else you get a much better sense of speed in this game (that is not to say you will confuse this for Burnout). As I stated earlier the driving is responsive but like any game you have to get used to the way the vehicles handle. Unlike MK you won’t have karts separated by their stats. Every kart is essentially the same (from a performance standpoint) minus two options. You have the choice between acceleration vs. speed and handling vs. drifting. Once you find a combination you like you can then progress into the story mode. Wait a story! In a kart racing game! I have to hear more about this!
STORY:
Yes MNR has a story. A cheeseball story but a story none the less. In short, you are a newbie kart racer looking to make a name in the MRC (Modnation Racing Championship). The single player story is really just a place to hone your skills, unlock items and get comfortable with all the game has to offer before you move on to online and offline multiplayer. From the single player campaign you can unlock new parts for your mod (your driver), your car, and your tracks. I noticed a few things about the races that I am a huge fan of. Every race has multiple objectives and in order to progress through the story you usually need to finish third or better (there are times where only a first place finish will do). For instance you will get a stipulation that asks that you draft for a certain amount of points and come in first, or that you take out a rival in the race (and come in first). It would be great if you could run every race only once and get all the objectives in one shot but seeing as every race is so crazy and learning all the shortcuts takes time I doubt that will happen. But after a few times around the track you will learn the best paths to choose and strategically using your power meter and power ups, which I will expand on in a little bit, is a huge help. Unlike the MK games I love the fact that you don’t run races in a series (when you have four tracks, or more, that you race one by one). It was very frustrating to place in the top two or three spots in three out of four tracks in MK just to get beat up on and ultimately lose everything at the end and have to redo every track over again. Here each track takes about two to four minutes to complete and if you need to do it over again it doesn't feel like climbing that mountain again. All this being said the single player campaign is very tough. There will be instances where you ran a perfect race and get passed or hit at the last second. In order to pass some of their stipulations you should be ready to do a track many times in order to pull it off. The computer players are ruthless and there will all fight for that first place spot. And the dreaded rubber band effect comes into play here (rubber banding means that once you build up a big lead the computer players are able to make up that gap in a matter of moments). While it is very frustrating it only makes the game better when you beat a rival, or meet a track goal and see the sweet stuff you have now unlocked.
POWER UPS AND POWER METER:
Mario Kart for the most part didn’t have a lot of strategy in the game. If you did make it to the front of the line your best option was to hold on to a couple of items (like a triple set of bananas) so that if someone threw something at you (unless it was that dreaded and almost possible to get away from blue shell) it wouldn’t do any damage. MNR has taken power ups and strategy to a whole new level. First, there are only four power ups to get your hands on (a rocket, nitro, lightening, and a shockwave). Although there are only four powers each one can be upgraded. If you collect a rocket by running over a power orb and then collect two other power orbs you now have a level 3 (which is the max for any weapon) set of rockets which is so much more powerful and deadly to your opponents. But there is a risk of powering up every weapon to the max. If someone hits you it is possible to lose everything and will put you back to square one. If you are in last place this is no big deal but if you are in the middle to front of the pack do you risk it to possibly gain a few spots or use everything as soon as you get it. The reason I say “possibly” is the second half of the equation which is the power meter. The power meter is a bar on the bottom right hand side that fills by you doing tricks (drafting, drifting, etc). The power meter can be used in a many ways. You can sideswipe your opponents (temporarily stunning them), you can boost until the meter is depleted, or you can use a shield to block any incoming attacks. So again, how do you want to play? Do you try to be really aggressive and build up the meter to try to attack the other racers? Do you build up the meter and try to outrun everyone? Or do you build up the meter and try to other measures to get into first and use the shield to try to protect from other people’s attacks? It should be noted that while the shield is an awesome addition it takes some experience to get the timing down. The shield only last a few seconds before it is gone so it is vital to know exactly when to get your shield up to avoid the heavier level three hits. And of course every power has a different point in which you want to put the shield up. Just before you get hit there will be a warning telling you which power is about to hit you. That being said the timing of a level three lightening storm is much different than that of a level three shockwave. But with practice most attacks can be blocked. It gives a great sense of balance because you are not punished for being in first but the people trailing do still get a chance to try and take you down. Holy crap I have been writing forever and I haven’t even touched on the heart of this game yet!
CUSTOMIZATION:
This was (by far) the biggest selling point of this game. The fact is, at some point the characters, karts, and tracks get stale and it is awesome to be able to change everything up to keep the replay value high. You can share your creations online or if you have no interest in creating you can go online and download other people’s work. You can literally work from a blank slate and create anything your imagination can come up with. I created The Flash and I have seen Sylvester the Cat, Snake from Metal Gear Solid, Mario, etc. Kart customization acts in the same way. You start with a basic frame and can build it up from there. You choose body types, paint jobs, tires, steering wheels, etc. One thing to point out is this is all cosmetic of course. Whether you put a car battery or a jet as your engine it will not impact the performance of your car. The track editor is ridiculous! You begin by laying your track down and although you do have a limited amount of track it is enough to get the job done. Then you can either hit the auto populate button, which will add in the surround buildings, objects, power ups and more, or you can go in and add in every aspect yourself. You also have the ability to tweak anything from the auto populate feature (if you don’t like the placement of a boost or ramp you can go in and delete it or move it). The level of customization is outstanding and very intuitive. You can control the direction of sunlight, the width of certain parts of the track, if you want power ups on the course at all, scenery in the background and so much more! As an example my wife and I spent about three to four hours playing with and completing our first track. At no point did I get bored and the minute I finished I couldn’t wait to make a bigger and better one.
MULTI-PLAYER & ONLINE PLAY:
When you are ready you can take a break from all the customizing and try your skills offline and on. When racing offline you can set all the parameters to your liking and play split screen. When you do venture online, you will have a few race types to choose from. You can race for XP (experience points) or you can do a casual race. Only the casual mode can be played in two player like in Mario Kart. The benefit of racing for XP is you are awarded points based on where you placed but also how you raced. You may have come in last place but if you were very aggressive and sideswiped and hit people with a lot of items you will be rewarded for that. I have heard that you also get rewards (possibly new kart bodies or other unlockable items) but I have yet to see it happen so I can’t say for sure. If that is true that adds another level to an already very deep game.
It is fair to say this novel I have written tells my feelings towards this game. For me Mario Kart is now in the rearview mirror trying to catch up to everything that Modnation Racers has to offer. In no way is this game perfect but for a first installation it is damn close. I think there are two things that might hinder the game, one of which is how big the online community will get. Since the game is coming out at a tough time (Red Dead Redemption, Blur, and Split Second have all come out around the same time) it will be interesting to see how many people pick this one up. The second concern I have is one that was raised after reading a review on Giant Bomb and that is legal issues. As I stated earlier I have seen some pretty iconic video game characters created by people and I wonder if at some point Sony or someone else will try and curb that kind of creation to protect trademarks. That being said this game has put its foot on the gas and left many of its competitors in the dust. At least I hope so.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
The Big Bad Bat Wants to Play
By now it is well established that I love superheroes or anything to do with superheroes. We go together like processed chocolate syrup and one percent milk. I know it's not the best analogy but you get the point - it is deeeelicious! With so much love for heroes I am always looking for a game to spend some quality time with. The problem is that the majority of games in that genre are well…complete shit. They can take an awesome character like Spider-Man, or Superman and drive the entire game into the ground. I am no game developer but it amazes me when you can't come up with a decent story for a comic book character when there are thousands of comics dedicated to these guys. It can be frustrating but then you come across games such as Batman Arkham Asylum and you see how those types of games should be. This games taps into everything that Batman is and should be and I will go a step further saying that I enjoyed this about as much as the newest Batman with the late Heath Ledger. With that being said pull up your tights, put your cowl on and let's see what kind of cool stuff we can find in the Batcave.
Story:
If you have watched or read enough Batman you know he is a man with many enemies (everyone from Joker to Killer Croc). The man makes a living on being the predator and not the prey when it comes to these bad guys (which is pretty awesome since he technically has no super powers). So it is an interesting twist that your main nemesis (the Joker) tries to flip the script and make you feel helpless. After capturing Joker again you bring him back to Arkham Asylum but then entire time you feel as if something is wrong. He doesn't put up his usual fight when you bring him down and that sets off alarm bells in that huge detective brain of yours. As he is being escorted back to his cell Joker springs his plan into action and you now have a front row seat to the whole show. You get to be locked up with every psycho that Gotham City has to offer and it is up to find out with the maniac is doing here. I would like to take a minute to say that even though it is one versus many, the way that Batman is portrayed in the game you never feel that way. It's almost as if, once you get a handle on the fighting system and all of his fancy tools, these inmates have no shot against you. That is one key element of Batman that most movies, let alone most games, never seem to get right. He is one of the greatest detectives in the super hero universe and knows how to exploit all the weaknesses of his opponents. You will come across such super villains as Poison Ivy, Bane, Killer Croc, Harley Quinn, The Scarecrow, and of course Joker. The game does a great job to lead you in the right direction without handholding the entire way to get you through. There is a mode called detective mode, which is invaluable, where you will be able to see your environment in a whole new light. You will be able to see through walls, see certain passage ways, where bad guys are located on the map (and if they are armed) and so much more. What I like best about the game is that you there isn't just one way to play. In some stages you will have to use stealth in order to progress while in others you will have to fight your way out of a room of thugs using precise timing on when to attack and when to counter an attack. Just wait until you get into that first room of thugs and see the panic start to set in as you pick them off one by one (and I mean it, you can actually see their heart rate rise). Without giving any more away, the story feels very well put together and something you can imagine seeing on the big screen and when it comes all together you can actually see the plot being something they could have used in a comic.
Collectables & Other Game Modes:
Once you come to the end of the game, and by now it is no surprise that a second Batman is coming out within the next year or so, there is reason to go back and replay the game. There are tons of interesting unlockables that give you back story on some of the main characters, hidden gems that you have to find by solving the Riddler's puzzles and gauntlet challenges where you will fight through waves of enemies for the best score. Not to mention the downloadable content (free, I might add) where you can play as the Joker. I did not use this mode, however, so I can't comment on it.
Batman Arkham Asylum is a game many people have been waiting for. The voice acting and writing are great and the mood of game feels like something ripped right out of the comics. It uses stealth, strategy, intelligence and brute force, just like the dark knight would, to engage you in a good story that will leave you wanting more by the end. And from the looks of what I have seen of the new game things are only going to get better!
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Hero or Anti-Hero? Either way you will be kicking ass and taking names!
Like so many people out there I really love the idea of having super powers. I would totally give a nut to have a cool super power. Then all the people would stare at me and say “Did you hear about that guy? He gave his left nut to be able to fly! How cool is he!” You can see that I have given this A LOT of thought. The concept really fascinates me. To be able to fly, have super speed, or controlling objects with your mind (just to name a few powers) is fantastic! Not only that but how you use your powers. Would you be the anti-hero that people would fear because of your unpredictable nature or would you be virtuous type that people could love and trust? Personally I would be the goodie goodie. I can’t help it. Like Uncle Ben said (from Spiderman) “With great power, comes great responsibility.” I try to live an honest and virtuous life so it only makes sense that I would be that type of hero in the video game world. Swooping in to save the innocent citizens, beating up all the bad guys, and getting the fine ass girl in the end. Now if only I could get my hands on a game where I had super powers and a morality system I would be in heaven. Where could I possibly find a game like that?
After much searching on something called the World Wide Web (weird name I know) I found a game called Infamous. So I decided “what the hell” and bought it. It looked like everything I was looking for in a super hero game. It was everything I could have wanted and much more. Best of all I didn’t have to give up a nut to have the power. Phew! It is time to get knuckle deep and do some discussing about one badass man, some bad ass powers, and a badass plot leaving you wanting more. Ladies and gentlemen I give you Infamous.
*SLIGHT SPOILER*(not really) On a glorious day a courier (named Cole) is innocently delivering a package when all hell breaks loose. Instead of reaching his destination there is a big explosion and you are left to pick up the pieces and find out what the hell happened. The city has been torn apart and you are left to fend for yourself and bring justice (or fear depending on how you play) to a city that has been quarantined by the government and left for dead. When you start, you go through a short tutorial on how to use your new electrical powers (badass electrical powers I might add since you were at the epicenter of the blast). The game plays sandbox style where you are given a large area to explore, fight, and find collectibles hidden all over the city. The game measures how you handle yourself during certain fights and situations. For instance if you are fighting a group of bad guys and a bunch of civilians die because of your recklessness then you will fall more towards the infamous (bad) side. If you go around making the tougher and moral choices you will fall on the side of being a hero. The game does an excellent job of this by getting you to care about the main characters and wanting to see everything through until the end. Personally I am a sucker for being a champion of the people. I love being there to help everyone (therefore I can only give the view of a person that played through as a hero). Like a GTA (Grand Theft Auto) there are main missions and side missions to progress the story. It would be possible to beat the game without beating the entire game (leaving the side missions) so there is replay value because of that. Plus you have the option to play the game through as both a hero or an anti-hero. I will say that going through the side missions as you play through the main missions is probably your best bet. More than anything you will need the experience points to unlock new and upgrade your existing powers. It’s not that the game is so hard that it would be impossible without it but there are certain fights you will wish you had maxed out your abilities (hello Kesler!). One aspect I found very refreshing was the different types of missions. You will deal with everything from boss fights, breaking up small mobs of bad guys, finding hidden packages, etc. At no point did I get the “Oh here we go again” feeling. The developers were able to keep most things feeling fresh and challenging. Also I would like to give a nod to the nice plot twist that is thrown in at the end. I did not see it coming and I CAN’T wait to see what the second game has in store for it.
Overall I think Infamous has an excellent plot and great characters that leave you wanting to play both scenarios (unless you are me and a sucker to be a superhero) to see what differences there are between the hero and anti-hero story. By the end I was bothered by some (I may or may not have been crying) of the choices I made which points to a game that gets its claws in you and does not let go until the end. Move over Superman (and your weird red underwear) because there is a new superhero in town and Cole is here to stay!
After much searching on something called the World Wide Web (weird name I know) I found a game called Infamous. So I decided “what the hell” and bought it. It looked like everything I was looking for in a super hero game. It was everything I could have wanted and much more. Best of all I didn’t have to give up a nut to have the power. Phew! It is time to get knuckle deep and do some discussing about one badass man, some bad ass powers, and a badass plot leaving you wanting more. Ladies and gentlemen I give you Infamous.
*SLIGHT SPOILER*(not really) On a glorious day a courier (named Cole) is innocently delivering a package when all hell breaks loose. Instead of reaching his destination there is a big explosion and you are left to pick up the pieces and find out what the hell happened. The city has been torn apart and you are left to fend for yourself and bring justice (or fear depending on how you play) to a city that has been quarantined by the government and left for dead. When you start, you go through a short tutorial on how to use your new electrical powers (badass electrical powers I might add since you were at the epicenter of the blast). The game plays sandbox style where you are given a large area to explore, fight, and find collectibles hidden all over the city. The game measures how you handle yourself during certain fights and situations. For instance if you are fighting a group of bad guys and a bunch of civilians die because of your recklessness then you will fall more towards the infamous (bad) side. If you go around making the tougher and moral choices you will fall on the side of being a hero. The game does an excellent job of this by getting you to care about the main characters and wanting to see everything through until the end. Personally I am a sucker for being a champion of the people. I love being there to help everyone (therefore I can only give the view of a person that played through as a hero). Like a GTA (Grand Theft Auto) there are main missions and side missions to progress the story. It would be possible to beat the game without beating the entire game (leaving the side missions) so there is replay value because of that. Plus you have the option to play the game through as both a hero or an anti-hero. I will say that going through the side missions as you play through the main missions is probably your best bet. More than anything you will need the experience points to unlock new and upgrade your existing powers. It’s not that the game is so hard that it would be impossible without it but there are certain fights you will wish you had maxed out your abilities (hello Kesler!). One aspect I found very refreshing was the different types of missions. You will deal with everything from boss fights, breaking up small mobs of bad guys, finding hidden packages, etc. At no point did I get the “Oh here we go again” feeling. The developers were able to keep most things feeling fresh and challenging. Also I would like to give a nod to the nice plot twist that is thrown in at the end. I did not see it coming and I CAN’T wait to see what the second game has in store for it.
Overall I think Infamous has an excellent plot and great characters that leave you wanting to play both scenarios (unless you are me and a sucker to be a superhero) to see what differences there are between the hero and anti-hero story. By the end I was bothered by some (I may or may not have been crying) of the choices I made which points to a game that gets its claws in you and does not let go until the end. Move over Superman (and your weird red underwear) because there is a new superhero in town and Cole is here to stay!
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Oh Wii. You had me at hello…Then you lost me with all that fucking wagglin’!
I have to admit when the Wii first came out I was a huge fan boy! The idea was one of the best out there. Think about it. You could play bowling, baseball, tennis and boxing but never have to leave the living room. The promise of sports related injuries but without actually playing the sport was just too great to pass up. Like so many people I scoured the stores in search for one and one day all that hard work paid off. I had secured a gaming system that would revolutionize the way we play games. After going through all the instructions and safely securing my strap I let it rip with the first frame of bowling and I was in love. The concept was simple enough but to see it in action was so crazy. After weeks of playing, and coming close to throwing my arm out, I then got my hands on Zelda for the Wii. And my love grew. A game that clocked in around 60 hours! Are you crazy Nintendo? Giving me so much and asking for so little! (I would also like to point out that was my first real experience with Zelda. I did play other titles, later on, on the Gamecube but the Zelda on the Wii is still my favorite). I mean after titles including Wii Sports and Zelda surely there would nothing but a constant stream of goodness for me to get my hands on. An everlasting oasis of action, adventure, and sport titles that would expand on the greatness of the system and showcase what it was truly capable of. So I waited. And waited. And waited. And there were titles here and there but for the most part there wasn’t anything that I could sink my teeth into. Whether it was due to busted controls, bad design, or a story that didn’t hold together, there wasn’t a good stream of games that held my interest.
While listening to a podcast on gametrailers.com (about a year or so ago) I heard Shane Satterfield say that the Wii was the last console that could really do anything to wow him. Not that the PS3 and 360 were crap (FAR from it) but he knew what to expect from them these days (standard controllers, great looking games, and all the bells and whistles that came along with that). Adding in motion controls could really enhance the experience and bring you into the game. Imagine controlling a sword and having complete control of its movements (I am hoping Red Steel 2 will come close to this!). Just about every game that has tried this has done a piss poor job (and don’t get me started on the whole Wii motion plus accessory). This is where the infamous “Waggle” comes into play. So many companies that put out shitty shovelware ruined the system. To the extent where many people joke that it isn’t a gaming system anymore. I understand wanting to utilize the motion controllers but just adding it on in order to validate what you are doing is just stupid. I honestly would have enjoyed so many games much more if they had just allowed me to use a Gamecube controller instead of shaking my wrists until they felt like they were going to fall off. I don’t know if it was just tough to make games for the Wii with the motion option, Nintendo’s marketing, or a combination of both. I mean the Wii was geared towards anyone and everyone. Most hard core gamers hate the system. Which in turn means most companies that make hard core games will not really spend the time to make games for the system. And the companies that did invest time and money and actually made a decent games (Madworld, Madden 10, Zack and Wiki, Punch Out, etc) did not get the payout they were looking for and have no interest to continue to make games for a system with such a confusing fan base. I guess the main problem with the Wii…is the Wii. They really have gotten themselves into an interesting situation. On the one hand you have a company that has changed the fan base of video games forever. Everyone from little kids to grandmas play the system. Which is great because I am all for an expanded audience. At the same time all the hardcore gamers (and to be honest I don’t even know what makes up a hardcore gamer) are feeling left out with the lack of hardcore games and would rather spend their money on another system that caters to the hardcore fan base rather than feel cheated by the Wii for making a game they say appeals to the hardcore but is just a nice piece of shined up crap.
So where does my relationship with the Wii go from here? Well I had to go out and get myself a mistress (known as the PS3). At first it was pretty awkward but now the Wii understands and is cool with our three way arrangement. She lets me have my fun with all the Modern Warfares, Infamouses, and Batman Arkham Asylums out there knowing that occasionally I will come back to her for some good old times. This is not to say that there are not Wii titles that I am excited about (COME ON NEW ZELDA!) but at this point the system has just lost so much momentum from when it first launched that it will be tough to get back. And with Project Natal and the new Sony motion controller Nintendo will be pressed more than ever to really put out some quality material.
In the end I am sure Nintendo could give a damn what people really think of them because month after month they are the top selling console (with the Nintendo DS usually being the number one in hardware sales). But for the little people out there who are wishing that Nintendo would live up to its potential. Well…good luck with that. I had those same dreams at one point and those dreams are long gone. Occasionally you will get some titles that are worth their $50 dollar price tag but they are few and far between. If you can afford it I would suggest getting yourself another system (PS3, Xbox, whatever really) if you are finding a lack of choice games. Of course if the wallet is lacking in funds to do this then there are some hidden gems out there but make sure you build up those wrist muscles because you will have to waggle through a lot of shit to find them.
I have to admit when the Wii first came out I was a huge fan boy! The idea was one of the best out there. Think about it. You could play bowling, baseball, tennis and boxing but never have to leave the living room. The promise of sports related injuries but without actually playing the sport was just too great to pass up. Like so many people I scoured the stores in search for one and one day all that hard work paid off. I had secured a gaming system that would revolutionize the way we play games. After going through all the instructions and safely securing my strap I let it rip with the first frame of bowling and I was in love. The concept was simple enough but to see it in action was so crazy. After weeks of playing, and coming close to throwing my arm out, I then got my hands on Zelda for the Wii. And my love grew. A game that clocked in around 60 hours! Are you crazy Nintendo? Giving me so much and asking for so little! (I would also like to point out that was my first real experience with Zelda. I did play other titles, later on, on the Gamecube but the Zelda on the Wii is still my favorite). I mean after titles including Wii Sports and Zelda surely there would nothing but a constant stream of goodness for me to get my hands on. An everlasting oasis of action, adventure, and sport titles that would expand on the greatness of the system and showcase what it was truly capable of. So I waited. And waited. And waited. And there were titles here and there but for the most part there wasn’t anything that I could sink my teeth into. Whether it was due to busted controls, bad design, or a story that didn’t hold together, there wasn’t a good stream of games that held my interest.
While listening to a podcast on gametrailers.com (about a year or so ago) I heard Shane Satterfield say that the Wii was the last console that could really do anything to wow him. Not that the PS3 and 360 were crap (FAR from it) but he knew what to expect from them these days (standard controllers, great looking games, and all the bells and whistles that came along with that). Adding in motion controls could really enhance the experience and bring you into the game. Imagine controlling a sword and having complete control of its movements (I am hoping Red Steel 2 will come close to this!). Just about every game that has tried this has done a piss poor job (and don’t get me started on the whole Wii motion plus accessory). This is where the infamous “Waggle” comes into play. So many companies that put out shitty shovelware ruined the system. To the extent where many people joke that it isn’t a gaming system anymore. I understand wanting to utilize the motion controllers but just adding it on in order to validate what you are doing is just stupid. I honestly would have enjoyed so many games much more if they had just allowed me to use a Gamecube controller instead of shaking my wrists until they felt like they were going to fall off. I don’t know if it was just tough to make games for the Wii with the motion option, Nintendo’s marketing, or a combination of both. I mean the Wii was geared towards anyone and everyone. Most hard core gamers hate the system. Which in turn means most companies that make hard core games will not really spend the time to make games for the system. And the companies that did invest time and money and actually made a decent games (Madworld, Madden 10, Zack and Wiki, Punch Out, etc) did not get the payout they were looking for and have no interest to continue to make games for a system with such a confusing fan base. I guess the main problem with the Wii…is the Wii. They really have gotten themselves into an interesting situation. On the one hand you have a company that has changed the fan base of video games forever. Everyone from little kids to grandmas play the system. Which is great because I am all for an expanded audience. At the same time all the hardcore gamers (and to be honest I don’t even know what makes up a hardcore gamer) are feeling left out with the lack of hardcore games and would rather spend their money on another system that caters to the hardcore fan base rather than feel cheated by the Wii for making a game they say appeals to the hardcore but is just a nice piece of shined up crap.
So where does my relationship with the Wii go from here? Well I had to go out and get myself a mistress (known as the PS3). At first it was pretty awkward but now the Wii understands and is cool with our three way arrangement. She lets me have my fun with all the Modern Warfares, Infamouses, and Batman Arkham Asylums out there knowing that occasionally I will come back to her for some good old times. This is not to say that there are not Wii titles that I am excited about (COME ON NEW ZELDA!) but at this point the system has just lost so much momentum from when it first launched that it will be tough to get back. And with Project Natal and the new Sony motion controller Nintendo will be pressed more than ever to really put out some quality material.
In the end I am sure Nintendo could give a damn what people really think of them because month after month they are the top selling console (with the Nintendo DS usually being the number one in hardware sales). But for the little people out there who are wishing that Nintendo would live up to its potential. Well…good luck with that. I had those same dreams at one point and those dreams are long gone. Occasionally you will get some titles that are worth their $50 dollar price tag but they are few and far between. If you can afford it I would suggest getting yourself another system (PS3, Xbox, whatever really) if you are finding a lack of choice games. Of course if the wallet is lacking in funds to do this then there are some hidden gems out there but make sure you build up those wrist muscles because you will have to waggle through a lot of shit to find them.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Not So New Super Mario Brothers Wii
I am a fair weather fan of the classic video games. When I think back to games like Blades of Steel for the NES or Super Mario Brothers 3, and many other titles, a grin comes across my face. I am transported back to a time when things were simple. Where blowing in and slapping a video game system made it work. Where you didn't have to download a patch to fix a game. If a game had a glitch then you just dealt with it. No bitching, no crying, no nothing. Just take your busted game and like it. I say I am a fair weather fan of the classics because comparing games of the past to the games of present day is just impossible. Games today are like fucking movies. There are insane graphics on powerful machines that suck us in for whole days at a time. That is not to say that the same thing didn't happen to me when I was playing Nintendo, testing hand and eye coordination around every turn. Everything has evolved, including the controllers, to be so much better than when we were kids. So, when I play an old school game I am happy for a little while but usually bored about 30 minutes in. They are great for going retro for a little bit but the joy quickly fades and I am left with a feeling of "Holy crap how did I ever think this was a fun game??" Then there is a little bit of crying, while rocking back and forth in the corner, for a childhood wasted. Instead of trying to impress the fine ladies out there I was knee deep in Mario Brothers secrets (including that damn infinite life trick that I still can't do to this day!) Oh yeah I was super cool baby. Ice cold even! Anyway to get back to the point, I do think the retro idea is cool (and the Wii is beating this horse to death!) but at some point I think to myself "Hey didn't I do this about ten years ago?" So let us begin, Curtains please for New Super Mario Brothers Wii...
First off let me say that overall I do think the game is a great nod to older Super Mario Brothers titles. The graphics are not the best but they did a good job for the feel of the game. There are some new pieces thrown in here and there. I am not denying that you will have fun (and get a little frustrated) along the way when you play this game. The multi-player element adds something new to the mix for the game, but the idea of co-op is kind of a joke. There is a pretty good replay value if you are a treasure hunter and want to get all the star coins and find every secret. All those are really good aspects and I would definitely suggest to anyone that is a Mario fan to pick this bad boy up.
My only really problem is that I have done all this before. It is one thing to take such an iconic character such as Mario and reinvent the way you play his games (such as Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Sunshine) and it is another thing to just recycle the idea, slap some updated graphics on it and then think it is ok. I mean I am not mad at them for it because so many people do it but (and I can't believe I am going to say this) maybe it is time to kill Mario. Well, maybe not kill him but do something to give him a fresh new look. The formula has been the same for so long now: Peach gets kidnapped - Mario (and sometimes Luigi) go to rescue her - Bowser is the main bad guy (and sometimes his kids too)- You defeat Bowser - Peach gives you a kiss but never lets you get to second base and then you go and clean your own pipes. Obviously, there are variations here and there but that is pretty much the formula. And I know the phrase "If it ain't broke don't fix it" but at some point I would like Nintendo to show some balls and actually try something new and different. Yes it is a huge risk to do such a thing because there are people who have waited for and now love playing this game because they feel like it is a blast from the past. The game can be fun but I can't help feel like I have been down this path many times before. I am waiting for something innovative and different. Maybe some kind of dark and evil mushroom kingdom or something where Mario is tearing up the world around him. Maybe he is kind of the anti-hero (and yes I know that is basically Wario in a nutshell but still would love to see Mario in that role). I know that will probably never happen but just imagine. If you could get a Mario based on something like this:
A game based on a look like this would be amazing! A game that truly evolved along with me as I got older. Something with a little edge. Alas we will probably never get something like this. Instead I am stuck with the chubby little plumber duo and their tease of a girlfriend (by the way if Mario gets Peach then who the hell does Luigi get?).
I do think this is probably one of the Wii's better games this year. The levels have been updated and the fun of playing with friends is cool but after an hour or so I just felt like 'been there and done that'. Even with the multi-player option, which I have played with my wife, there just wasn't enough content to make me feel like this path has been walked one too many times.
We live in a world of "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". There are many instances where this is the best option for people. Better to be safe than sorry, especially when it comes to your job, but sometimes I wish they would go out on a limb and do something a little different. For some people this tried and true path for Mario will be right up their alley. For others...well you got Super Mario Galaxy 2 coming out later on this year. Hmmmm why do I see a similar article coming out about that game as well?
First off let me say that overall I do think the game is a great nod to older Super Mario Brothers titles. The graphics are not the best but they did a good job for the feel of the game. There are some new pieces thrown in here and there. I am not denying that you will have fun (and get a little frustrated) along the way when you play this game. The multi-player element adds something new to the mix for the game, but the idea of co-op is kind of a joke. There is a pretty good replay value if you are a treasure hunter and want to get all the star coins and find every secret. All those are really good aspects and I would definitely suggest to anyone that is a Mario fan to pick this bad boy up.
My only really problem is that I have done all this before. It is one thing to take such an iconic character such as Mario and reinvent the way you play his games (such as Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Sunshine) and it is another thing to just recycle the idea, slap some updated graphics on it and then think it is ok. I mean I am not mad at them for it because so many people do it but (and I can't believe I am going to say this) maybe it is time to kill Mario. Well, maybe not kill him but do something to give him a fresh new look. The formula has been the same for so long now: Peach gets kidnapped - Mario (and sometimes Luigi) go to rescue her - Bowser is the main bad guy (and sometimes his kids too)- You defeat Bowser - Peach gives you a kiss but never lets you get to second base and then you go and clean your own pipes. Obviously, there are variations here and there but that is pretty much the formula. And I know the phrase "If it ain't broke don't fix it" but at some point I would like Nintendo to show some balls and actually try something new and different. Yes it is a huge risk to do such a thing because there are people who have waited for and now love playing this game because they feel like it is a blast from the past. The game can be fun but I can't help feel like I have been down this path many times before. I am waiting for something innovative and different. Maybe some kind of dark and evil mushroom kingdom or something where Mario is tearing up the world around him. Maybe he is kind of the anti-hero (and yes I know that is basically Wario in a nutshell but still would love to see Mario in that role). I know that will probably never happen but just imagine. If you could get a Mario based on something like this:
A game based on a look like this would be amazing! A game that truly evolved along with me as I got older. Something with a little edge. Alas we will probably never get something like this. Instead I am stuck with the chubby little plumber duo and their tease of a girlfriend (by the way if Mario gets Peach then who the hell does Luigi get?).
I do think this is probably one of the Wii's better games this year. The levels have been updated and the fun of playing with friends is cool but after an hour or so I just felt like 'been there and done that'. Even with the multi-player option, which I have played with my wife, there just wasn't enough content to make me feel like this path has been walked one too many times.
We live in a world of "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". There are many instances where this is the best option for people. Better to be safe than sorry, especially when it comes to your job, but sometimes I wish they would go out on a limb and do something a little different. For some people this tried and true path for Mario will be right up their alley. For others...well you got Super Mario Galaxy 2 coming out later on this year. Hmmmm why do I see a similar article coming out about that game as well?
Thursday, January 7, 2010
The Raging Giant Know as MW2 (Call of Duty-Modern Warfare 2)
So I just thought I would start my first post talking about the game that everyone and their mother is playing and possibly will be playing for the next year or two. Now while I do think the game is one of the most entertaining games that I have ever personally played I don't think it has revolutionized the gaming industry (I will get into my opinion on that later). That being said you have to admit that it has done a lot of good things for the gaming industry. The same way the Wii has done many good things (even though most hard core gamers hate the Wii and want to pretend that it doesn't exist). I mean when a game sells as many units as it did, I think that is more than just hype. It means that it has a good following, will have a deep community and will be a game that will be played for many hours to come. I know I have put a little over 48 hours in just the multi-player alone and I know I could easily play another 48 easy. Now for most video games these days if you get 20 hours out of a game that is thought to be a good experience. Anything more than that and you are getting into something pretty special. Let's dive in shall we...
Story:
I don't really want to go into great detail with the story (so many people already have so no point in me beating a dead horse) but I will do a quick synopsis. There is a bad man looking to do bad things to America. You play in the military boots of a few different soldiers who are hoping to bring the bad man to justice. Throw in a few twists and turns and there you go! I know many people said the main single player campaign mode was the weakest of all the modes. And while I will agree with this I don't think it was a total piece of shit. I have heard "the story is too unrealistic", "the story makes no sense", "oh come on that could never happen". Last I checked this was a damn video game. Not a game based on real life. We need it to be over the top and be far fetched. We need ridiculous chase scenes, massive gun fights, explosions and every other over the top element they can add in to draw you into the experience. One of the best moments (to me) in the whole game was when I was running through the streets of Favela trying to get to the chopper. SO INTENSE. SO OVER THE TOP. SO UNREALISTIC. But man what fucking fun. If there is one trend I am learning when it comes to video games these days it is that more than anything you need a decent plot to really make a game come together. These days you need more of an interactive movie feel to really get your audience to enjoy something, even if it is short. If they really feel drawn in than you have something that will leave a good impression with them and make them come back for more if you ever put another game out. And, personally, that is what both Modern Warfare and Modern Warfare 2 have done for me. Overall I think the cut scenes (while they lack animation) work very well with the game. The voice acting is pretty good. While you don't get very attached to all the characters you play with I think the game does a good enough job in putting you in their shoes and I will say I definitely was drawn in to each story line and cared how each one ended.
Co-op Campaign:
This to me (of the three modes) was a huge surprise. When I first heard about this I totally envisioned it would be a waste of time. I mean for some reason it seems very hard for the gaming industry to make good co-op games. So I just thought there would be no way to pull this off. But when I booted up the first mission and played with my friend I was instantly sold. It is hard to explain but it is a very stripped down version of the story mode but it is still a ton of fun. For those that might not know (even though I doubt it) you basically get a situation (defend an area for 5 minutes, make it to a point on the map, etc...) and complete it. Whether it is online or sitting with a real person it is such a great feeling making a plan of attack and tackling a board with another player. Reminds me very much of Army of Two minus an aggro meter. What makes it so great is how much you need your partner to make it through each situation. I am hoping that future games can extend on this. Whether it is 2 player or more. It is just a great experience overall and can be a ton of fun (as long as you play with someone who knows FPSs or first person shooters).
Mult-Player Mode:
ALL RIGHT BITCHES LETS GET INTO IT!
Yes the multi-player mode for Modern Warfare 2. First let me say this-it in no way revolutionized the multi-player experience. What it did do was polish that fucker like no other. With all the weapon upgrades, perks, kill streaks, and titles and tags they made sure to add all the bells and whistles to this bad boy. I do not have a lot of experience in FPSs but this one is so addictive, so time consuming and just so much damn fun that it amazes me (and my wife who wonders how I can play the same damn game for hours, and hours, and hours). It does have a tough learning curve. Especially when you are not used to playing FPSs. I noticed that right away and had played the first game a lot so I thought I would be better initially than I was. Man was I wrong. For the first few levels get ready to be everyone's bitch and deal. Once you unlock 'create your class', other gun options and more perks the mode gets a little easier (not that I don't get owned by better players all the time). It not as if all of a sudden some magic door unlocks and you are more accurate and you can kill everyone in one shot. But you do get used to certain guns. You find perks and kill streaks that work to your skill level and you start to memorize maps and know where people will be. It can seems a little daunting at first but eventually you learn how to read the radar, memorize the best spots, adjust the controls to be able to make subtle movements without completely jerking the sites off target and then all of a sudden...you actually start to have fun. But like I said be ready for some frustration at first. Especially with those snipers who love to camp and just never seem to miss! But if you can get past those first few levels and get kills under your belt you are rewarded with a game that will keep you entertained for hours. Add onto that playing with your friends and the experience can only get better. Laughing at them when you see them get shot (and then of course cursing when you get shot next).
There you have it. A game that in no way breaks the mold, but it does refine the mode in a few places. With a fun (but short) single player campaign, a great co-op mode, and of course the beast of a mode multi-player this is a game that has some long legs. If you can get into it I would say you could easily get 100 hours out this (if not much more). So make sure to sit back and enjoy the ride because it is going to be a long one.
Story:
I don't really want to go into great detail with the story (so many people already have so no point in me beating a dead horse) but I will do a quick synopsis. There is a bad man looking to do bad things to America. You play in the military boots of a few different soldiers who are hoping to bring the bad man to justice. Throw in a few twists and turns and there you go! I know many people said the main single player campaign mode was the weakest of all the modes. And while I will agree with this I don't think it was a total piece of shit. I have heard "the story is too unrealistic", "the story makes no sense", "oh come on that could never happen". Last I checked this was a damn video game. Not a game based on real life. We need it to be over the top and be far fetched. We need ridiculous chase scenes, massive gun fights, explosions and every other over the top element they can add in to draw you into the experience. One of the best moments (to me) in the whole game was when I was running through the streets of Favela trying to get to the chopper. SO INTENSE. SO OVER THE TOP. SO UNREALISTIC. But man what fucking fun. If there is one trend I am learning when it comes to video games these days it is that more than anything you need a decent plot to really make a game come together. These days you need more of an interactive movie feel to really get your audience to enjoy something, even if it is short. If they really feel drawn in than you have something that will leave a good impression with them and make them come back for more if you ever put another game out. And, personally, that is what both Modern Warfare and Modern Warfare 2 have done for me. Overall I think the cut scenes (while they lack animation) work very well with the game. The voice acting is pretty good. While you don't get very attached to all the characters you play with I think the game does a good enough job in putting you in their shoes and I will say I definitely was drawn in to each story line and cared how each one ended.
Co-op Campaign:
This to me (of the three modes) was a huge surprise. When I first heard about this I totally envisioned it would be a waste of time. I mean for some reason it seems very hard for the gaming industry to make good co-op games. So I just thought there would be no way to pull this off. But when I booted up the first mission and played with my friend I was instantly sold. It is hard to explain but it is a very stripped down version of the story mode but it is still a ton of fun. For those that might not know (even though I doubt it) you basically get a situation (defend an area for 5 minutes, make it to a point on the map, etc...) and complete it. Whether it is online or sitting with a real person it is such a great feeling making a plan of attack and tackling a board with another player. Reminds me very much of Army of Two minus an aggro meter. What makes it so great is how much you need your partner to make it through each situation. I am hoping that future games can extend on this. Whether it is 2 player or more. It is just a great experience overall and can be a ton of fun (as long as you play with someone who knows FPSs or first person shooters).
Mult-Player Mode:
Yes the multi-player mode for Modern Warfare 2. First let me say this-it in no way revolutionized the multi-player experience. What it did do was polish that fucker like no other. With all the weapon upgrades, perks, kill streaks, and titles and tags they made sure to add all the bells and whistles to this bad boy. I do not have a lot of experience in FPSs but this one is so addictive, so time consuming and just so much damn fun that it amazes me (and my wife who wonders how I can play the same damn game for hours, and hours, and hours). It does have a tough learning curve. Especially when you are not used to playing FPSs. I noticed that right away and had played the first game a lot so I thought I would be better initially than I was. Man was I wrong. For the first few levels get ready to be everyone's bitch and deal. Once you unlock 'create your class', other gun options and more perks the mode gets a little easier (not that I don't get owned by better players all the time). It not as if all of a sudden some magic door unlocks and you are more accurate and you can kill everyone in one shot. But you do get used to certain guns. You find perks and kill streaks that work to your skill level and you start to memorize maps and know where people will be. It can seems a little daunting at first but eventually you learn how to read the radar, memorize the best spots, adjust the controls to be able to make subtle movements without completely jerking the sites off target and then all of a sudden...you actually start to have fun. But like I said be ready for some frustration at first. Especially with those snipers who love to camp and just never seem to miss! But if you can get past those first few levels and get kills under your belt you are rewarded with a game that will keep you entertained for hours. Add onto that playing with your friends and the experience can only get better. Laughing at them when you see them get shot (and then of course cursing when you get shot next).
There you have it. A game that in no way breaks the mold, but it does refine the mode in a few places. With a fun (but short) single player campaign, a great co-op mode, and of course the beast of a mode multi-player this is a game that has some long legs. If you can get into it I would say you could easily get 100 hours out this (if not much more). So make sure to sit back and enjoy the ride because it is going to be a long one.
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