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?

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.