Due to unforeseen circumstances stemming from my own clumsiness (tripping over my laptop's power cord, causing the thing to fall off the table), my computer is nearly unuseable for now. I should be able to diagnose and solve the problem in a few days, but until then, I can't do very much. And I was going to review a PC game this week, so that plan has flown out the window.
See you next week!
--Kotaro
Friday, August 5, 2011
Friday, July 29, 2011
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
Platform: GameCube
Genre: Action-Adventure
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Release: 24 March 2003
Rating: Everyone
Price: $20
While most people name Ocarina of Time as their favorite in the The Legend of Zelda series, I personally name The Wind Waker. It took the excellent gameplay of Ocarina and brought it into a new setting with a very different feel to it. While many people complained about the supposedly "kiddy" cel-shaded graphics of the game at the time, they have aged very well, and it remains rather beautiful to this day.
As for the gameplay, it's a Zelda game, so if you've played any of the other 3D games in the series, Wind Waker is pretty much the same. The twist this time is that you need to use the eponymous Wind Waker, a baton that lets you control the weather, so that you can sail from island to island. While many people complained that the sailing was boring and monotonous, I found it rather relaxing, and the simple challenge of navigation provides a nice break from the standard dungeon-crawling. As for the dungeons, enemies are a bit weaker than usual in this game, but the dungeons themselves are larger and more complex, so it evens out. There are also a lot of side-quests (almost every one of the numerous islands has at least one), so there's a lot of game in this game. It plays very well, and that's really the most important piece.
The story is simple as video games go: hero wants to rescue his kidnapped sister, and ends up wrapped up in the traditional save-the-world quest. The setting is a series of islands within the "Great Sea," which is refreshing, as this is only the second time the Zelda series has left the traditional setting of Hyrule.
There's one other thing I need to bring up: don't be fooled by the cartoony visuals and lighthearted feel. When you think about it, this is one of the darkest installments in the series. (WARNING: If you don't want spoilers, even minor ones, then please skip this next paragraph.) About halfway through the game, it is revealed that the series recurring villain, Ganondorf, actually won the last time he attacked the kingdom of Hyrule, and in a last-ditch effort to stop him, the gods flooded it all. That's right: the ocean that you've been sailing? It's the post-apocalyptic kingdom of the previous games. Now that is pretty dark.
The Wind Waker is an exemplary installment in the really damned good The Legend of Zelda series, and $20 at GameStop is a pretty good deal for anyone who hasn't played it already.
Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.
--Kotaro
Genre: Action-Adventure
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Release: 24 March 2003
Rating: Everyone
Price: $20
While most people name Ocarina of Time as their favorite in the The Legend of Zelda series, I personally name The Wind Waker. It took the excellent gameplay of Ocarina and brought it into a new setting with a very different feel to it. While many people complained about the supposedly "kiddy" cel-shaded graphics of the game at the time, they have aged very well, and it remains rather beautiful to this day.
As for the gameplay, it's a Zelda game, so if you've played any of the other 3D games in the series, Wind Waker is pretty much the same. The twist this time is that you need to use the eponymous Wind Waker, a baton that lets you control the weather, so that you can sail from island to island. While many people complained that the sailing was boring and monotonous, I found it rather relaxing, and the simple challenge of navigation provides a nice break from the standard dungeon-crawling. As for the dungeons, enemies are a bit weaker than usual in this game, but the dungeons themselves are larger and more complex, so it evens out. There are also a lot of side-quests (almost every one of the numerous islands has at least one), so there's a lot of game in this game. It plays very well, and that's really the most important piece.
The story is simple as video games go: hero wants to rescue his kidnapped sister, and ends up wrapped up in the traditional save-the-world quest. The setting is a series of islands within the "Great Sea," which is refreshing, as this is only the second time the Zelda series has left the traditional setting of Hyrule.
There's one other thing I need to bring up: don't be fooled by the cartoony visuals and lighthearted feel. When you think about it, this is one of the darkest installments in the series. (WARNING: If you don't want spoilers, even minor ones, then please skip this next paragraph.) About halfway through the game, it is revealed that the series recurring villain, Ganondorf, actually won the last time he attacked the kingdom of Hyrule, and in a last-ditch effort to stop him, the gods flooded it all. That's right: the ocean that you've been sailing? It's the post-apocalyptic kingdom of the previous games. Now that is pretty dark.
The Wind Waker is an exemplary installment in the really damned good The Legend of Zelda series, and $20 at GameStop is a pretty good deal for anyone who hasn't played it already.
Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.
--Kotaro
Friday, July 22, 2011
Neverwinter Nights 2: Platinum
Platform: PC (Windows)
Genre: RPG
Developer: Obsidian Entertainment
Publisher: Atari
Release: 31 October 2006
Rating: Teen
Price $20
Neverwinter Nights is a game that is often fondly remembered, but which, to be honest, has not aged well. It was a hit-or-miss translation of the Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition rule-set to PC format, and the party system (what little there was) left a lot to be desired.
Neverwinter Nights 2 is, gameplay-wise, everything that Neverwinter Nights wanted to be. It is a near-perfect transfer of the D&D 3.5 rules, and it has a rather well-implemented party system that feels a lot like Knights of the Old Republic.
At the time of its release, NWN2's visuals were stunning, but only if you had a high-end computer. The necessary specs are far easier to achieve with modern PCs, so the visuals, while slightly aged, are still very nice to look at.
The plot is very much a storm of cliches: You're an ordinary person growing up in a tiny village, but when the village is attacked, you need to take the magical silver shard that they were after and take it to the eponymous city of Neverwinter so you can get another shard from your uncle and we've all seen this sort of thing before. What makes the story interesting is that the writers seemed to know how cliche it was, so they took every opportunity to poke fun at themselves for it.
Of course, the most important part of any story is its characters, and this game certainly delivers on that front. You will gather the standard Ragtag Bunch of Misfits, but they're all surprisingly well-developed and interesting.
Instead of the kind of "Morality" system that's common to modern RPGs, Neverwinter Nights 2 opts for an "Influence" system instead. Based on your actions, you may curry either favor or scorn from various members of your party, and their actions are determined by how much they like you. This will mainly affect dialogue, but it can affect gameplay as well (having high influence with Neeshka can get her to poison a certain foe, making that boss fight easier, for example). Some allies may even leave the group if they dislike you enough.
The main complaint that I can draw against Neverwinter Nights 2 is the sheer number of game-breaking bugs that it contained upon release. In the years since, most of them have been patched, but not all of them. It's not enough to be a deal-breaker anymore, however.
The Steam-exclusive "Platinum" release also contains both expansions to the game: Mask of the Betrayer and Storm of Zehir. Both of them are excellent and well worth your time once you've completed the main campaign. As a whole, the Platinum version is a great investment if you like Dungeons & Dragons or RPGs. There's a lot of game here, and since it comes with the tools to build your own adventures, there's the fan-made content as well.
You can get Neverwinter Nights 2: Platinum on Steam for $20.
Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.
--Kotaro
Genre: RPG
Developer: Obsidian Entertainment
Publisher: Atari
Release: 31 October 2006
Rating: Teen
Price $20
Neverwinter Nights is a game that is often fondly remembered, but which, to be honest, has not aged well. It was a hit-or-miss translation of the Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition rule-set to PC format, and the party system (what little there was) left a lot to be desired.
Neverwinter Nights 2 is, gameplay-wise, everything that Neverwinter Nights wanted to be. It is a near-perfect transfer of the D&D 3.5 rules, and it has a rather well-implemented party system that feels a lot like Knights of the Old Republic.
At the time of its release, NWN2's visuals were stunning, but only if you had a high-end computer. The necessary specs are far easier to achieve with modern PCs, so the visuals, while slightly aged, are still very nice to look at.
The plot is very much a storm of cliches: You're an ordinary person growing up in a tiny village, but when the village is attacked, you need to take the magical silver shard that they were after and take it to the eponymous city of Neverwinter so you can get another shard from your uncle and we've all seen this sort of thing before. What makes the story interesting is that the writers seemed to know how cliche it was, so they took every opportunity to poke fun at themselves for it.
Of course, the most important part of any story is its characters, and this game certainly delivers on that front. You will gather the standard Ragtag Bunch of Misfits, but they're all surprisingly well-developed and interesting.
Instead of the kind of "Morality" system that's common to modern RPGs, Neverwinter Nights 2 opts for an "Influence" system instead. Based on your actions, you may curry either favor or scorn from various members of your party, and their actions are determined by how much they like you. This will mainly affect dialogue, but it can affect gameplay as well (having high influence with Neeshka can get her to poison a certain foe, making that boss fight easier, for example). Some allies may even leave the group if they dislike you enough.
The main complaint that I can draw against Neverwinter Nights 2 is the sheer number of game-breaking bugs that it contained upon release. In the years since, most of them have been patched, but not all of them. It's not enough to be a deal-breaker anymore, however.
The Steam-exclusive "Platinum" release also contains both expansions to the game: Mask of the Betrayer and Storm of Zehir. Both of them are excellent and well worth your time once you've completed the main campaign. As a whole, the Platinum version is a great investment if you like Dungeons & Dragons or RPGs. There's a lot of game here, and since it comes with the tools to build your own adventures, there's the fan-made content as well.
You can get Neverwinter Nights 2: Platinum on Steam for $20.
Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.
--Kotaro
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
/Rant: Capcom and MegaMan Legends 3
Capcom, you're all a bunch of assholes. And it's not even like canceling Legends 3 was your first mistake either. No, you've been in a downward spiral for a while now, haven't you? First was the departure of Keiji Inafune, then came the Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D debacle, and now this? We've been waiting for Legends 3 since 2000! That's a little over a decade since you ended the thing on a cliffhanger. Is a resolution too much to ask? Apparently so.
Capcom, as of right now, you've lost my support entirely. If I buy any Capcom game from this moment onward, it will be secondhand, so that I'm not giving you bastards any of my money. Because frankly, you don't deserve it. You don't deserve your fans. You don't deserve any business any more.
Remember when I reviewed Devil May Cry 4 a while back and encouraged everyone to buy it? Well, now I redact that statement. Everyone, either buy it secondhand, or don't buy it at all. Either way, don't give these jerks at Capcom your hard-earned money.
Though I have come up with four things that you can do, Capcom, to start repairing your relationship with your fans. And none of them are particularly difficult. Sound good? Alright then:
Method #1: Release MegaMan Legends 3
For those unaware, MegaMan Legends 2 was released back in the year 2000, and while it never sold too well, it became a fan favorite, and its characters have appeared in nearly every Capcom vs. Whatever crossover since. Yet they consistently denied us a sequel for years. But then, it was announced that 3 was in development, and to look forward to it on the Nintendo 3DS! But that all changed yesterday when the project was unceremoniously dumped without any warning whatsoever. Why? What reason could there be to deny us this? There isn't any. It's impossible to justify teasing us like this, Capcom. So just finish this damned game and all will be well.
Method #2: Make a proper Darkstalkers sequel
Remember Darkstalkers, Capcom? Your cult-classic fighting game franchise whose characters still make cameos in your games today? Well, the last one came out in 1998. Since Darkstalkers 3, we haven't seen hide nor hair of this franchise, excepting a remake for the PSP. You've been ignoring Darkstalkers' sizable fanbase for far too long. So give us a sequel, and all will be well.
Method #3: Calm down with the fighting game upgrades
This is actually the easiest of the four methods. Stop releasing updated versions of your fighting games every few months! It's pointless, and all it means is that people have to either shell out full price for a newer version of the same game, or wait several years for the updates to end before they shell out. Street Fighter II, the most successful Capcom fighting game, got no fewer than eleven different versions over the years. Eleven different versions of one game. And four of those were all in the same year! What. The. Hell. Even Street Fighter IV, which hasn't been out for very long, has been released three times. And we're also getting a new version of Marvel vs. Capcom 3. Sure, make all these expansion packs and cancel everything else. Nice move, Capcom. If you can restrain yourself to releasing each game just once, and if you feel you need to update it, make it fairly-priced DLC or something, then all will be well.
Method #4: Localize Ace Attorney Investigations 2
You remember how popular the Ace Attorney series is in the US, right, Capcom? It has a pretty large following, all things considered. You took a chance on the series when it first started, and it paid off, remember? So why the hell did you decide not to localize Investigations 2? Like canceling MegaMan Legends 3, there was no reason whatsoever for it. Plus, you also refused to translate the upcoming Professor Layton vs. Ace Attorney crossover, leaving that to Level 5 (who plan to do so). Is this a new pattern? Are you going to stop bringing this series over here? If so, then you can go to hell for all I care. But if you can bring over Ace Attorney Investigations 2, and all the future games in the series, then all will be well.
There we go, Capcom. Four ways to fix all of this, and three of them can actually be profitable for you guys. So why haven't you already done this? Get to it! Go! Until you do, then I encourage everyone who reads this to stop giving your money to Capcom.
Thank you and goodnight.
--Kotaro
Capcom, as of right now, you've lost my support entirely. If I buy any Capcom game from this moment onward, it will be secondhand, so that I'm not giving you bastards any of my money. Because frankly, you don't deserve it. You don't deserve your fans. You don't deserve any business any more.
Remember when I reviewed Devil May Cry 4 a while back and encouraged everyone to buy it? Well, now I redact that statement. Everyone, either buy it secondhand, or don't buy it at all. Either way, don't give these jerks at Capcom your hard-earned money.
Though I have come up with four things that you can do, Capcom, to start repairing your relationship with your fans. And none of them are particularly difficult. Sound good? Alright then:
Method #1: Release MegaMan Legends 3
For those unaware, MegaMan Legends 2 was released back in the year 2000, and while it never sold too well, it became a fan favorite, and its characters have appeared in nearly every Capcom vs. Whatever crossover since. Yet they consistently denied us a sequel for years. But then, it was announced that 3 was in development, and to look forward to it on the Nintendo 3DS! But that all changed yesterday when the project was unceremoniously dumped without any warning whatsoever. Why? What reason could there be to deny us this? There isn't any. It's impossible to justify teasing us like this, Capcom. So just finish this damned game and all will be well.
Method #2: Make a proper Darkstalkers sequel
Remember Darkstalkers, Capcom? Your cult-classic fighting game franchise whose characters still make cameos in your games today? Well, the last one came out in 1998. Since Darkstalkers 3, we haven't seen hide nor hair of this franchise, excepting a remake for the PSP. You've been ignoring Darkstalkers' sizable fanbase for far too long. So give us a sequel, and all will be well.
Method #3: Calm down with the fighting game upgrades
This is actually the easiest of the four methods. Stop releasing updated versions of your fighting games every few months! It's pointless, and all it means is that people have to either shell out full price for a newer version of the same game, or wait several years for the updates to end before they shell out. Street Fighter II, the most successful Capcom fighting game, got no fewer than eleven different versions over the years. Eleven different versions of one game. And four of those were all in the same year! What. The. Hell. Even Street Fighter IV, which hasn't been out for very long, has been released three times. And we're also getting a new version of Marvel vs. Capcom 3. Sure, make all these expansion packs and cancel everything else. Nice move, Capcom. If you can restrain yourself to releasing each game just once, and if you feel you need to update it, make it fairly-priced DLC or something, then all will be well.
Method #4: Localize Ace Attorney Investigations 2
You remember how popular the Ace Attorney series is in the US, right, Capcom? It has a pretty large following, all things considered. You took a chance on the series when it first started, and it paid off, remember? So why the hell did you decide not to localize Investigations 2? Like canceling MegaMan Legends 3, there was no reason whatsoever for it. Plus, you also refused to translate the upcoming Professor Layton vs. Ace Attorney crossover, leaving that to Level 5 (who plan to do so). Is this a new pattern? Are you going to stop bringing this series over here? If so, then you can go to hell for all I care. But if you can bring over Ace Attorney Investigations 2, and all the future games in the series, then all will be well.
There we go, Capcom. Four ways to fix all of this, and three of them can actually be profitable for you guys. So why haven't you already done this? Get to it! Go! Until you do, then I encourage everyone who reads this to stop giving your money to Capcom.
Thank you and goodnight.
--Kotaro
Friday, July 15, 2011
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor
Platform: DS
Genre: Strategy/RPG
Developer: Atlus
Publisher: Atlus
Release: 23 June 2009
Rating: Teen
Price: $18
The Shin Megami Tensei metaseries* has had some of the best RPGs I've ever played, encompassing Digital Devil Saga, Persona, Strange Journey, DemiKids, Devil Summoner, and many, many more. It's a long, and venerated series on par with giants like Final Fantasy (some would even say it's better). While (like the aforementioned Final Fantasy) most of the SMT games are separate from one another, they do share many common themes and gameplay elements. Most of them are fusions of disparate genres, the spell names remain mostly consistent, and almost all of them involve making contracts with demons to fight with you. They also tend to be brutally difficult, but what do you expect from Atlus?
Moving on to Devil Survivor. It's good. The game is a fusion of traditional turn-based RPG and turn-based strategy RPG. Think of it as Final Fantasy Tactics meets Dragon Quest. Essentially, battles start on an isometric grid, but when an attack is executed, it switches into a first-person perspective for a single round of RPG combat, before returning to the grid. This may sound a bit roundabout, but there's no denying that it works to give Devil Survivor a surprising amount of depth.
Even the character-growth mechanics are deep and interesting. Your human characters gain new spells via the "Skill Crack" system, wherein you steal techniques from your defeated foes MegaMan-style. And you can get new demon allies by either buying their services at auction, or by fusing two demons to create a single stronger one (another staple of the SMT games).
As for the plot, demons have overrun Tokyo, and the military has issued a lockdown: no one can enter, or leave. In order to survive, you need to ally yourself with various demons, and other people trapped in the city. The story is rather non-linear. While the basic plot remains the same from playthrough to playthrough, which of the five endings you can get, as well as which characters survive to the end, is all dependent on the choices you make. Be careful though, as everything you do eats up a little bit of your time, and you only have seven days.
While Devil Survivor is rather short, that's actually a point in its favor. There are five vastly different endings (which I won't spoil here), and the game actively wants you to see them all, each one unlocking new powerful demons that you can obtain for your next playthrough.
It's heavy on the grind and the difficulty, and may be a little too complex for a newcomer, for strategy or RPG aficionados, but I highly recommend Devil Survivor. There's also the updated rerelease on the 3DS coming out soon, so if you'd rather spring for that version... Regardless, a used copy of this one from GameStop will come in at $18.
Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.
--Kotaro
*A series which contains many smaller series within it.
Genre: Strategy/RPG
Developer: Atlus
Publisher: Atlus
Release: 23 June 2009
Rating: Teen
Price: $18
The Shin Megami Tensei metaseries* has had some of the best RPGs I've ever played, encompassing Digital Devil Saga, Persona, Strange Journey, DemiKids, Devil Summoner, and many, many more. It's a long, and venerated series on par with giants like Final Fantasy (some would even say it's better). While (like the aforementioned Final Fantasy) most of the SMT games are separate from one another, they do share many common themes and gameplay elements. Most of them are fusions of disparate genres, the spell names remain mostly consistent, and almost all of them involve making contracts with demons to fight with you. They also tend to be brutally difficult, but what do you expect from Atlus?
Moving on to Devil Survivor. It's good. The game is a fusion of traditional turn-based RPG and turn-based strategy RPG. Think of it as Final Fantasy Tactics meets Dragon Quest. Essentially, battles start on an isometric grid, but when an attack is executed, it switches into a first-person perspective for a single round of RPG combat, before returning to the grid. This may sound a bit roundabout, but there's no denying that it works to give Devil Survivor a surprising amount of depth.
Even the character-growth mechanics are deep and interesting. Your human characters gain new spells via the "Skill Crack" system, wherein you steal techniques from your defeated foes MegaMan-style. And you can get new demon allies by either buying their services at auction, or by fusing two demons to create a single stronger one (another staple of the SMT games).
As for the plot, demons have overrun Tokyo, and the military has issued a lockdown: no one can enter, or leave. In order to survive, you need to ally yourself with various demons, and other people trapped in the city. The story is rather non-linear. While the basic plot remains the same from playthrough to playthrough, which of the five endings you can get, as well as which characters survive to the end, is all dependent on the choices you make. Be careful though, as everything you do eats up a little bit of your time, and you only have seven days.
While Devil Survivor is rather short, that's actually a point in its favor. There are five vastly different endings (which I won't spoil here), and the game actively wants you to see them all, each one unlocking new powerful demons that you can obtain for your next playthrough.
It's heavy on the grind and the difficulty, and may be a little too complex for a newcomer, for strategy or RPG aficionados, but I highly recommend Devil Survivor. There's also the updated rerelease on the 3DS coming out soon, so if you'd rather spring for that version... Regardless, a used copy of this one from GameStop will come in at $18.
Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.
--Kotaro
*A series which contains many smaller series within it.
Friday, July 8, 2011
Portal
Platform: PC
Genre: Puzzle
Developer: Valve Corporation
Publisher: Valve Corporation
Release: 9 October 2007
Rating: Teen
Price: $10
I personally find it astonishing that there are still people who haven't played this amazing game, which is why I am taking the time to review it. Given its memetic status, you have almost certainly heard of it if you've had any contact with the internet whatsoever in the past three years.
Portal is a difficult game to classify. While it uses a first-pirson perspective, and the engine of a first-person shooter, there is very little combat, and your main tool is a gun that creates wormholes (up to two at a time). Whatever goes in one comes out the other, be it enemies, items, or even you. While this isn't your only tool (you will also use boxes and switches), it is a unique mechanic that you will have to master in order to reach the end of the game and the frankly amazing final boss (which I will not spoil here).
As for the plot, there really isn't a lot. Portal is set in the Half-Life universe, though it has nothing to do with the Half-Life games. You are Chell, a silent test subject in the Aperture Science Laboratiores, where the insane Artificial Intelligence known as GLaDOS guides you through the test chambers (while simultaneously trying to get you killed).
There really isn't anything else I can say about Portal. There really isn't much to it. My one complaint is that it's really short, only about three hours long. But you're only paying $10 for it on Steam, so it's not that big a problem. (There's also a sequel now, but it's best to play this one first.) Regardless, if you're one of the few people out there who hasn't yet played Portal, play Portal, and you will see why the internet was so obsessed with it when it first came out.
Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.
--Kotaro
Genre: Puzzle
Developer: Valve Corporation
Publisher: Valve Corporation
Release: 9 October 2007
Rating: Teen
Price: $10
I personally find it astonishing that there are still people who haven't played this amazing game, which is why I am taking the time to review it. Given its memetic status, you have almost certainly heard of it if you've had any contact with the internet whatsoever in the past three years.
Portal is a difficult game to classify. While it uses a first-pirson perspective, and the engine of a first-person shooter, there is very little combat, and your main tool is a gun that creates wormholes (up to two at a time). Whatever goes in one comes out the other, be it enemies, items, or even you. While this isn't your only tool (you will also use boxes and switches), it is a unique mechanic that you will have to master in order to reach the end of the game and the frankly amazing final boss (which I will not spoil here).
As for the plot, there really isn't a lot. Portal is set in the Half-Life universe, though it has nothing to do with the Half-Life games. You are Chell, a silent test subject in the Aperture Science Laboratiores, where the insane Artificial Intelligence known as GLaDOS guides you through the test chambers (while simultaneously trying to get you killed).
There really isn't anything else I can say about Portal. There really isn't much to it. My one complaint is that it's really short, only about three hours long. But you're only paying $10 for it on Steam, so it's not that big a problem. (There's also a sequel now, but it's best to play this one first.) Regardless, if you're one of the few people out there who hasn't yet played Portal, play Portal, and you will see why the internet was so obsessed with it when it first came out.
Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.
--Kotaro
Saturday, July 2, 2011
No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle
Platform: Wii
Genre: Action
Developer: Grasshopper Manufacture
Publisher: Ubisoft
Release: 26 January 2010
Rating: Mature
Price: $12-13
Goichi Suda is the foremost auteur game developer of today. The man is an insane genius, known for occasionally sacrificing fun for the art. While this is not usually the way to go, I have to accept that with Suda, it's certainly worth it to see just what goes through his head. No More Heroes and its sequel can be considered the first time that he was able to find a good balance between the art and the fun. And yes, they are awesome for it.
The first No More Heroes told the story of one Travis Touchdown, a complete nerd who managed to somehow become the eleventh-best hitman in the country. So he decided to take out the ten above him, aiming for the top. Despite being about assassination, the game managed to be hilarious, parodying everything from sandbox video games to anime to life in America. It also constantly poked fun at games that rely on sex or gore to sell, by taking both to a ridiculous level (enemies die with about three gallons of blood spurting out, and sexual innuendo can be found in nearly every line). It was a ton of fun, but way too short, and with a lot of repetitive grind.
No More Heroes 2 removes nearly all of the grind in addition to increasing the length of the game, remedying both issues. It also tweaked many aspects of the combat, making it feel a bit more fluid overall. On the flip-side, while keeping the sense of offbeat humor, it took a turn down gritty and dark, which makes the tone rather inconsistent. When Travis' best friend is murdered, he vows revenge against his killer, and has to climb the ranks again (this time from #51) to get to him. While still not perfect by any means (the two missions played as ally Shinobu include some very awkward platforming), NMH2 is altogether a brilliant example of the hack-and-slash genre, with colorful and cartoony visuals (which purposefully clash with the game's theme), an interesting story, well-executed boss fights, and altogether fun gameplay that manages to use the Wii's control scheme rather well. Check it out if you can. It'll cost $13 for a new copy, or $12 used.
Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.
--Kotaro
Genre: Action
Developer: Grasshopper Manufacture
Publisher: Ubisoft
Release: 26 January 2010
Rating: Mature
Price: $12-13
Goichi Suda is the foremost auteur game developer of today. The man is an insane genius, known for occasionally sacrificing fun for the art. While this is not usually the way to go, I have to accept that with Suda, it's certainly worth it to see just what goes through his head. No More Heroes and its sequel can be considered the first time that he was able to find a good balance between the art and the fun. And yes, they are awesome for it.
The first No More Heroes told the story of one Travis Touchdown, a complete nerd who managed to somehow become the eleventh-best hitman in the country. So he decided to take out the ten above him, aiming for the top. Despite being about assassination, the game managed to be hilarious, parodying everything from sandbox video games to anime to life in America. It also constantly poked fun at games that rely on sex or gore to sell, by taking both to a ridiculous level (enemies die with about three gallons of blood spurting out, and sexual innuendo can be found in nearly every line). It was a ton of fun, but way too short, and with a lot of repetitive grind.
No More Heroes 2 removes nearly all of the grind in addition to increasing the length of the game, remedying both issues. It also tweaked many aspects of the combat, making it feel a bit more fluid overall. On the flip-side, while keeping the sense of offbeat humor, it took a turn down gritty and dark, which makes the tone rather inconsistent. When Travis' best friend is murdered, he vows revenge against his killer, and has to climb the ranks again (this time from #51) to get to him. While still not perfect by any means (the two missions played as ally Shinobu include some very awkward platforming), NMH2 is altogether a brilliant example of the hack-and-slash genre, with colorful and cartoony visuals (which purposefully clash with the game's theme), an interesting story, well-executed boss fights, and altogether fun gameplay that manages to use the Wii's control scheme rather well. Check it out if you can. It'll cost $13 for a new copy, or $12 used.
Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.
--Kotaro
Friday, June 24, 2011
Blade Kitten
Platform: PlayStation 3/Xbox 360/PC (Windows)
Genre: Platformer
Developer: Krome Studios
Publisher: Atari
Release: 22 September 2010
Rating: Teen
Price: $10
Blade Kitten is a side-scrolling platformer based on a webcomic of the same name. It's mostly standard stuff, but there are two twists to make it different: the protagonist Kat can climb walls and ceilings, and her weapon can move independently of her. These ideas don't quite mesh, but manage to create an interesting experience.
The levels are mostly linear, but there is a bit of Metroidvania*-style exploration via the two aforementioned features, so you can find hidden items and money. Unlike most games of that style, there's no real backtracking, which keeps the levels fresh.
The control can be rather floaty at times, and you're going to want a gamepad for the PC version, but it's not bad enough to be deal-breaking. The game is also really easy: Kit's health regenerates when you're not fighting, and there's no limit to your number of lives (unlimited lives is always an appreciated feature, though).
While Blade Kitten is very hit-or-miss, it's amusing, and it tries some new things in an industry that's become increasingly stagnant in recent years.
The game is available in the PlayStation Store, Xbox Live Arcade, and on Steam, for $10.Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.
--Kotaro
*For those uninformed, the term "Metroidvania" refers to the exploration-heavy gameplay style of the Metroid series and the Castlevania series (post-Symphony of the Night).
Genre: Platformer
Developer: Krome Studios
Publisher: Atari
Release: 22 September 2010
Rating: Teen
Price: $10
Blade Kitten is a side-scrolling platformer based on a webcomic of the same name. It's mostly standard stuff, but there are two twists to make it different: the protagonist Kat can climb walls and ceilings, and her weapon can move independently of her. These ideas don't quite mesh, but manage to create an interesting experience.
The levels are mostly linear, but there is a bit of Metroidvania*-style exploration via the two aforementioned features, so you can find hidden items and money. Unlike most games of that style, there's no real backtracking, which keeps the levels fresh.
The control can be rather floaty at times, and you're going to want a gamepad for the PC version, but it's not bad enough to be deal-breaking. The game is also really easy: Kit's health regenerates when you're not fighting, and there's no limit to your number of lives (unlimited lives is always an appreciated feature, though).
While Blade Kitten is very hit-or-miss, it's amusing, and it tries some new things in an industry that's become increasingly stagnant in recent years.
The game is available in the PlayStation Store, Xbox Live Arcade, and on Steam, for $10.Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.
--Kotaro
*For those uninformed, the term "Metroidvania" refers to the exploration-heavy gameplay style of the Metroid series and the Castlevania series (post-Symphony of the Night).
Friday, June 17, 2011
Review Schedule
My computer is currently being repaired, so I am unable to review the game I wanted to this week. Reviews will continue once I have my computer back up and running, and in the meantime, here's a list of the next eight games I will look at:
Blade Kitten
No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle
Portal
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor
Neverwinter Nights 2: Platinum
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
Braid
Silent Hill 2
This month's "Pennypincher's Corner" will be looking at the indie darling Knytt Stories and my next Top Ten list will be the "Top Ten Greatly-Improved Sequels."
See you all soon!
--Kotaro
Blade Kitten
No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle
Portal
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor
Neverwinter Nights 2: Platinum
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
Braid
Silent Hill 2
This month's "Pennypincher's Corner" will be looking at the indie darling Knytt Stories and my next Top Ten list will be the "Top Ten Greatly-Improved Sequels."
See you all soon!
--Kotaro
Friday, June 10, 2011
Sonic Mega Collection Plus
Platform: PlayStation 2/Xbox/PC (Windows)
Genre: Platformer
Developer: Sonic Team
Publisher: Sega
Release: 2 November 2004
Rating: Everyone
Price: $10-13
Sonic the Hedgehog is one of gaming's Long Runners, and like his rival Mario, Sonic himself is immediately recognizable to most. While the series hasn't been relevant in years--most likely due to horrible game after horrible game--the original games remain classics. They're all very flawed, but are still worth playing, if for no reason other than their enormous place in gaming's history. Personally, I hold that most of the games up through Sonic Adventure were quite enjoyable*, and many of them are collected here. The original Sonic Mega Collection contained seven Genesis (or "Mega Drive" if you're outside the United States) titles:
While still incomplete, this updated collection is still an excellent value (containing both the gems and the crap) and since Sonic Gems Collection holds most of the missing games, the Sonic Mega Collection Plus is a worthwhile part of gaming history.
Over a dozen games on one disc for a price of $10 on the PC
or PS2, or $13 on the Xbox makes this an excellent deal.
Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.
--Kotaro
Genre: Platformer
Developer: Sonic Team
Publisher: Sega
Release: 2 November 2004
Rating: Everyone
Price: $10-13
Sonic the Hedgehog is one of gaming's Long Runners, and like his rival Mario, Sonic himself is immediately recognizable to most. While the series hasn't been relevant in years--most likely due to horrible game after horrible game--the original games remain classics. They're all very flawed, but are still worth playing, if for no reason other than their enormous place in gaming's history. Personally, I hold that most of the games up through Sonic Adventure were quite enjoyable*, and many of them are collected here. The original Sonic Mega Collection contained seven Genesis (or "Mega Drive" if you're outside the United States) titles:
- Sonic the Hedgehog
- Sonic the Hedgehog 2
- Sonic the Hedgehog 3
- Sonic & Knuckles
- Sonic 3D Blast
- Sonic Spinball
- Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine (which was actually Puyo Puyo, given a Sonic-themed "makeover" for its release outside Japan)
- Sonic the Hedgehog (Game Gear version)
- Sonic Chaos
- Sonic Drift
- Sonic Labyrinth
- Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine (Game Gear version)
- Sonic Blast
While still incomplete, this updated collection is still an excellent value (containing both the gems and the crap) and since Sonic Gems Collection holds most of the missing games, the Sonic Mega Collection Plus is a worthwhile part of gaming history.
Over a dozen games on one disc for a price of $10 on the PC
or PS2, or $13 on the Xbox makes this an excellent deal.Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.
--Kotaro
Friday, June 3, 2011
Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders
Platform: PC (MS-DOS/Mac OS)
Genre: First-Person Shooter
Developer: Raven Software
Publisher: id Software
Release: 23 December 1994
Rating: n/a*
Price: $5
Doom remains one of the most well-made first-person shooters of all time, and thus, its engine was used in other games for years afterward. Heretic is one of them, and as such, its gameplay is heavily derived from Doom itself. So if you like Doom, you'll enjoy Heretic.
That's not to say that Heretic is a carbon-copy of Doom. It's in a fantasy setting (with weapons to match), and has several features that Doom does not, namely interactive environments, inventory management, the ability to look up and down (that may not seem like much today, but in '94, it was a big deal), and limited flight.
There isn't much else to say about Heretic, so I'll talk about its sequels instead:
Heretic was followed by HeXen: Beyond Heretic, which itself was followed by HeXen II. Both take the basic gameplay of Heretic and add features of their own. A class-system was added in HeXen, with the original Heretic character filed under the Mage class. Fighter and Cleric are also available. Each class was given a unique set of weapons, and different physical stats. HeXen II increases the number of classes to four, with an entirely new set (Paladin, Crusader, Assassin, and Necromancer), and layers RPG-elements on top of that. In addition, HeXen and HeXen II added multiplayer co-operative modes.
This is one of the few cases where talking about the sequels is appropriate, since not only can you buy Heretic (complete with DOS emulator so it can run on Windows) from Steam for $5, or all three games for $10. Either way, it's an excellent deal.
Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.
--Kotaro
*Heretic was never rated by the Electronic Sofware Ratings Bureau, as the ESRB was only three months old when the game was released, and at the time, it was impossible for them to rate every game.
Genre: First-Person Shooter
Developer: Raven Software
Publisher: id Software
Release: 23 December 1994
Rating: n/a*
Price: $5
Doom remains one of the most well-made first-person shooters of all time, and thus, its engine was used in other games for years afterward. Heretic is one of them, and as such, its gameplay is heavily derived from Doom itself. So if you like Doom, you'll enjoy Heretic.
That's not to say that Heretic is a carbon-copy of Doom. It's in a fantasy setting (with weapons to match), and has several features that Doom does not, namely interactive environments, inventory management, the ability to look up and down (that may not seem like much today, but in '94, it was a big deal), and limited flight.
There isn't much else to say about Heretic, so I'll talk about its sequels instead:
Heretic was followed by HeXen: Beyond Heretic, which itself was followed by HeXen II. Both take the basic gameplay of Heretic and add features of their own. A class-system was added in HeXen, with the original Heretic character filed under the Mage class. Fighter and Cleric are also available. Each class was given a unique set of weapons, and different physical stats. HeXen II increases the number of classes to four, with an entirely new set (Paladin, Crusader, Assassin, and Necromancer), and layers RPG-elements on top of that. In addition, HeXen and HeXen II added multiplayer co-operative modes.
This is one of the few cases where talking about the sequels is appropriate, since not only can you buy Heretic (complete with DOS emulator so it can run on Windows) from Steam for $5, or all three games for $10. Either way, it's an excellent deal.
Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.
--Kotaro
*Heretic was never rated by the Electronic Sofware Ratings Bureau, as the ESRB was only three months old when the game was released, and at the time, it was impossible for them to rate every game.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Pennypincher's Corner IV - Double Feature: Alter A.I.L.A. & Alter A.I.L.A. Genesis
Genre: RPG
Developer: Neok
Sturgeon's Law shows up in spades when looking at games made in RPG Maker (I, myself, have fallen to it, which is why I haven't actually released any of the games I've made). Alter A.I.L.A. and its remake, Alter A.I.L.A. Genesis, both fall into that other 10%. They're both really good, if almost different games.
Both versions of Alter A.I.L.A. take place in a post-apocalyptic sci-fi world, in which a group of nine prisoners fight for their lives for the public's amusement (kind of like the late Roman Empire). When circumstances allow them to escape, they find new lives for themselves. And this is where the two games differentiate themselves.
The original Alter A.I.L.A. presents three different storylines: serve the Empire, join the rebellion, or try to ignore the conflict and live as a normal citizen. Clearing all three unlocks a fourth, and this gives the game great replay value. You can find it here.
The remake, Genesis, only has one storyline, but this allows for more detail in its plot, and more character development. It also has an improved combat system. Get it here.
Which version you'll want to play all comes down to what you'd prefer. Myself, I love them both equally well, as they're both well-made RPGs. So I say, try them out.
--Kotaro
Note: Both Alter A.I.L.A. and Alter A.I.L.A. Genesis were made using RPG Maker 2003, and thus require the program to be installed on your PC before they will run. Fortunately, RPG Maker 2003 is now officially freeware, so you can easily download it.
Developer: Neok
Sturgeon's Law shows up in spades when looking at games made in RPG Maker (I, myself, have fallen to it, which is why I haven't actually released any of the games I've made). Alter A.I.L.A. and its remake, Alter A.I.L.A. Genesis, both fall into that other 10%. They're both really good, if almost different games.
Both versions of Alter A.I.L.A. take place in a post-apocalyptic sci-fi world, in which a group of nine prisoners fight for their lives for the public's amusement (kind of like the late Roman Empire). When circumstances allow them to escape, they find new lives for themselves. And this is where the two games differentiate themselves.
The original Alter A.I.L.A. presents three different storylines: serve the Empire, join the rebellion, or try to ignore the conflict and live as a normal citizen. Clearing all three unlocks a fourth, and this gives the game great replay value. You can find it here.
The remake, Genesis, only has one storyline, but this allows for more detail in its plot, and more character development. It also has an improved combat system. Get it here.
Which version you'll want to play all comes down to what you'd prefer. Myself, I love them both equally well, as they're both well-made RPGs. So I say, try them out.
--Kotaro
Note: Both Alter A.I.L.A. and Alter A.I.L.A. Genesis were made using RPG Maker 2003, and thus require the program to be installed on your PC before they will run. Fortunately, RPG Maker 2003 is now officially freeware, so you can easily download it.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Psychonauts
Platform: Xbox/PlayStation 2/PC (Windows)
Genre: Platformer
Developer: Double Fine Productions
Publisher: Majesco Entertainment
Release: 19 April 2005
Rating: Teen
Price: $10-15
It's always a horrid shame when a beautifully-original game like Psychonauts fails to sell, until years later when the entire world simultaneously discovers it. While yes, it's a good thing that the game is finally being bought, the initial lackluster sales tend to really hurt the publisher.
Tim Schafer is a brilliant man, and has created some of the wackiest games this side of Grasshopper Manufacture. Psychonauts was the first time he worked outside the genre of adventure games, and the result is unpolished, but still genuinely fun. The premise of the game is that the hero, Raz, is a kid at a summer camp for psychics. When a conspiracy comes to light, it's up to him to save his fellow campers by using his powers to explore the minds of other people. So each level has an entirely different feel, and they can get rather surreal at times. The conspiracy theorist's mindscape is a warped version of an American suburb with trenchcoat-wearing, CIA-looking guys all over the place; The boot-camp-style counselor's brain is a war-torn battlefield; and the retired actress' subconscious has actors reliving her life in the form of a stage play.
While the difficulty curve is inconsistent, and the gameplay has a slightly unfinished feel, Psychonauts is still a colorful adventure with an insane cast and is definitely worth a look.
GameStop sells the Xbox and PS2 versions of the game at $13 and $15 respectively, while Steam and GOG offer the PC version for $10.
Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.
--Kotaro
Genre: Platformer
Developer: Double Fine Productions
Publisher: Majesco Entertainment
Release: 19 April 2005
Rating: Teen
Price: $10-15
It's always a horrid shame when a beautifully-original game like Psychonauts fails to sell, until years later when the entire world simultaneously discovers it. While yes, it's a good thing that the game is finally being bought, the initial lackluster sales tend to really hurt the publisher.
Tim Schafer is a brilliant man, and has created some of the wackiest games this side of Grasshopper Manufacture. Psychonauts was the first time he worked outside the genre of adventure games, and the result is unpolished, but still genuinely fun. The premise of the game is that the hero, Raz, is a kid at a summer camp for psychics. When a conspiracy comes to light, it's up to him to save his fellow campers by using his powers to explore the minds of other people. So each level has an entirely different feel, and they can get rather surreal at times. The conspiracy theorist's mindscape is a warped version of an American suburb with trenchcoat-wearing, CIA-looking guys all over the place; The boot-camp-style counselor's brain is a war-torn battlefield; and the retired actress' subconscious has actors reliving her life in the form of a stage play.
While the difficulty curve is inconsistent, and the gameplay has a slightly unfinished feel, Psychonauts is still a colorful adventure with an insane cast and is definitely worth a look.
GameStop sells the Xbox and PS2 versions of the game at $13 and $15 respectively, while Steam and GOG offer the PC version for $10.
Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.
--Kotaro
Friday, May 20, 2011
Super Meat Boy
Platform: Xbox 360/PC (Windows)
Genre: Platformer
Developer: Team Meat
Publisher: Newgrounds
Release: 20 October 2010
Rating: Teen
Price: $15
Meat Boy was an interesting little platformer published on Newgrounds.com. It possessed an ungodly level of difficulty, but due to several design choices (levels are short, you respawn immediately, and you have unlimited lives), it never really got frustrating. It was a short, but fun, game. And then Steam and Xbox Live Arcade saw its successor: Super Meat Boy. And it's also really fun. Very similar to the original, Super Meat Boy features the same level of difficulty and the same "anti-frustration features." Is it worth $15, though, while the first game is free? Well, SMB is certainly a bigger game: it has more levels and several unlockable characters from other games (such as Commander Video from BIT.TRIP, and Tim from Braid).
Super Meat Boy's insane difficulty is offset by the typical humor of Newgrounds developers, which is a selling point for some people (myself, I don't find it that funny). And the game is fun, so what more could you want? Try the original on Newgrounds, and if you like it, pick this one up. $15 on Xbox Live or Steam isn't too bad a price for it. And I always say to "support the indie developers," so that answers that, I suppose.
Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.
--Kotaro
Genre: Platformer
Developer: Team Meat
Publisher: Newgrounds
Release: 20 October 2010
Rating: Teen
Price: $15
Meat Boy was an interesting little platformer published on Newgrounds.com. It possessed an ungodly level of difficulty, but due to several design choices (levels are short, you respawn immediately, and you have unlimited lives), it never really got frustrating. It was a short, but fun, game. And then Steam and Xbox Live Arcade saw its successor: Super Meat Boy. And it's also really fun. Very similar to the original, Super Meat Boy features the same level of difficulty and the same "anti-frustration features." Is it worth $15, though, while the first game is free? Well, SMB is certainly a bigger game: it has more levels and several unlockable characters from other games (such as Commander Video from BIT.TRIP, and Tim from Braid).
Super Meat Boy's insane difficulty is offset by the typical humor of Newgrounds developers, which is a selling point for some people (myself, I don't find it that funny). And the game is fun, so what more could you want? Try the original on Newgrounds, and if you like it, pick this one up. $15 on Xbox Live or Steam isn't too bad a price for it. And I always say to "support the indie developers," so that answers that, I suppose.
Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.
--Kotaro
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness
NOTE: As those who follow my Twitter account are aware, this entry is a day late due to technical problems with Blogger. I apologize for the inconvenience.
Platform: PlayStation Portable
Genre: Strategy/RPG
Developer: Nippon Ichi Software/otwo
Publisher: NIS America
Release: 30 October 2007
Rating: Teen
Price: $19
It may come as no surprise that I love offbeat humor in my games. Which also means it should be no surprise that I am a huge fan of the Disgaea series. Excellent turn-based tactical RPG combat stuffed with some of the most clever humor to ever come out of Japan? I'm all over it. I even gave Disgaea the #2 spot on my Top Ten Weird Japanese Games.
All of the Disgaea games are great, but the best place to start is with the first. And when it comes right down to it, the PSP version is the best one.
The PlayStation 2 original was fantastic, sure, but the PSP port adds several new features, including an alternate story mode, and multiplayer. While the later Nintendo DS remake adds even more features, the graphics were downgraded and most of the voices removed, to the point that it loses some of its charm. So my opinion is to stick with the PSP version.
As for the game itself, there's not much to say about it. Anyone who's played Final Fantasy Tactics or any other turn-based strategy game will know basically what they're in for. Disgaea does bring some new things to the table, though. There's a unique equipment system that allows you to level-up your equipment as you play, you can create and customize your units however you want (to an almost ridiculous extent), there's an unending supply of randomly-generated dungeons to explore, and the level cap takes things beyond the insane: it's not 50, or 99, or even 100. It's 9999 (no, that is not a typo).
Disgaea is downright fun, and it never takes itself seriously at all. It's a lighthearted romp through Hell (literally) that will make you laugh until you cry. It's a game well worth the admission price of $19
.
Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.
--Kotaro
Platform: PlayStation Portable
Genre: Strategy/RPG
Developer: Nippon Ichi Software/otwo
Publisher: NIS America
Release: 30 October 2007
Rating: Teen
Price: $19
It may come as no surprise that I love offbeat humor in my games. Which also means it should be no surprise that I am a huge fan of the Disgaea series. Excellent turn-based tactical RPG combat stuffed with some of the most clever humor to ever come out of Japan? I'm all over it. I even gave Disgaea the #2 spot on my Top Ten Weird Japanese Games.
All of the Disgaea games are great, but the best place to start is with the first. And when it comes right down to it, the PSP version is the best one.
The PlayStation 2 original was fantastic, sure, but the PSP port adds several new features, including an alternate story mode, and multiplayer. While the later Nintendo DS remake adds even more features, the graphics were downgraded and most of the voices removed, to the point that it loses some of its charm. So my opinion is to stick with the PSP version.
As for the game itself, there's not much to say about it. Anyone who's played Final Fantasy Tactics or any other turn-based strategy game will know basically what they're in for. Disgaea does bring some new things to the table, though. There's a unique equipment system that allows you to level-up your equipment as you play, you can create and customize your units however you want (to an almost ridiculous extent), there's an unending supply of randomly-generated dungeons to explore, and the level cap takes things beyond the insane: it's not 50, or 99, or even 100. It's 9999 (no, that is not a typo).
Disgaea is downright fun, and it never takes itself seriously at all. It's a lighthearted romp through Hell (literally) that will make you laugh until you cry. It's a game well worth the admission price of $19
.Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.
--Kotaro
Friday, May 6, 2011
StarCraft: Battle Chest
Platform: PC (Windows/Mac)
Genre: Strategy
Developer: Blizzard Entertainment
Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
Release: 31 March 1998
Rating: Teen
Price: $16
StarCraft is often considered to be the greatest real-time strategy game of all time. Nothing else need be said. If you haven't already, play this game. You are missing out.
StarCraft doesn't do much that hasn't been done before, but it does it so well, what more could you want? I'll allow the game's legacy to speak for itself:
-It remains one of the most popular games online to this day, thirteen years later.
-It has become the standard to which all modern RTS games are compared.
-The phrase "Zerg Rush" (named for one of StarCraft's playable factions) has become an oft-used gaming term.
-StarCraft has been used by the US Air Force to teach new recruits how to plan under stress.
I can't say anything about StarCraft that hasn't already been said many times. But if my words can get more people to play this excellent game, then I will say it: buy StarCraft
.
Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.
--Kotaro
Genre: Strategy
Developer: Blizzard Entertainment
Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
Release: 31 March 1998
Rating: Teen
Price: $16
StarCraft is often considered to be the greatest real-time strategy game of all time. Nothing else need be said. If you haven't already, play this game. You are missing out.
StarCraft doesn't do much that hasn't been done before, but it does it so well, what more could you want? I'll allow the game's legacy to speak for itself:
-It remains one of the most popular games online to this day, thirteen years later.
-It has become the standard to which all modern RTS games are compared.
-The phrase "Zerg Rush" (named for one of StarCraft's playable factions) has become an oft-used gaming term.
-StarCraft has been used by the US Air Force to teach new recruits how to plan under stress.
I can't say anything about StarCraft that hasn't already been said many times. But if my words can get more people to play this excellent game, then I will say it: buy StarCraft
.Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.
--Kotaro
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Pennypincher's Corner III: Tyrian 2000
Platform: PC
Genre: Shooter
Developer: Eclipse Productions
Publisher: Eclipse Productions
Release: 30 November 1999
Tyrian may be one of the greatest vertical-scrolling shoot-em-ups ever made. It is fun, challenging, and never takes itself too seriously (one of the unlockable ships is a carrot, for instance). It's far more forgiving than most games in the genre, but makes up for the slightly lessened challenge with depth. Similarly to Raptor: Call of the Shadows, you can purchase new weapons and upgrades between levels, customizing your ship to suit your play-style. And you will need to upgrade if you want to survive the later levels.
Tyrian 2000 has a decent length, consisting of five "episodes" that comprise the plot. Each episode contains several levels, some of which have branching paths. While the game may only take a few hours to complete, the sheer variety of weapons to use gives it high replay value for those who want to try out different strategies.
For a game originally made for DOS, the visuals are beautiful, and everything shows a remarkable attention to detail. There is little in Tyrian about which I can complain, and it stands as one of my favorite "shmup" games.
The version you can download from Good Old Games is already set up to play (with the DOSBox emulator included). At a grand price of $0, you can't refuse Tyrian. Give it a shot.
--Kotaro
Genre: Shooter
Developer: Eclipse Productions
Publisher: Eclipse Productions
Release: 30 November 1999
Tyrian may be one of the greatest vertical-scrolling shoot-em-ups ever made. It is fun, challenging, and never takes itself too seriously (one of the unlockable ships is a carrot, for instance). It's far more forgiving than most games in the genre, but makes up for the slightly lessened challenge with depth. Similarly to Raptor: Call of the Shadows, you can purchase new weapons and upgrades between levels, customizing your ship to suit your play-style. And you will need to upgrade if you want to survive the later levels.
Tyrian 2000 has a decent length, consisting of five "episodes" that comprise the plot. Each episode contains several levels, some of which have branching paths. While the game may only take a few hours to complete, the sheer variety of weapons to use gives it high replay value for those who want to try out different strategies.
For a game originally made for DOS, the visuals are beautiful, and everything shows a remarkable attention to detail. There is little in Tyrian about which I can complain, and it stands as one of my favorite "shmup" games.
The version you can download from Good Old Games is already set up to play (with the DOSBox emulator included). At a grand price of $0, you can't refuse Tyrian. Give it a shot.
--Kotaro
Friday, April 29, 2011
.hack//G.U. vol.1: Rebirth
Platform: PlayStation 2
Genre: Action/RPG
Developer: CyberConnect2
Publisher: Bandai
Release: 24 October 2006
Rating: Teen
Price: $20
While the first .hack series was decidedly mediocre, the G.U. follow-up trilogy is an excellent series of action RPGs. The premise of a game-within-a-game as a setting is brilliant. .hack takes place within an MMORPG called "The World." G.U. picks up several years after the origial series, in the sequel: "The World:R2." The aesthetic is steampunk this time rather than high fantasy, and it works very well. The cast is mostly new, but has many old characters returning--with new avatars in the game.
The plot is excellent, though following it in its entirety requires playing all three G.U. games and watching the tie-in anime ".hack//Roots," which functions as a prologue for the games (you can understand the games' plot without watching the anime, but it does answer a few questions).
As for how G.U. plays, it functions somewhat like a standard RPG, with towns and party members, and all the trappings. Combat, however, is in real-time, and is quite fun. There isn't very much variety in the dungeons, and the whole series reeks of repetitiveness, but the gameplay is still fun, and the plot is gripping enough to keep you playing.
While the first of the three, Rebirth, is very much flawed (swapping weapons mid-combat feels sticky, for example), the sequels improve on it. I would say that the third volume, Redemption, is the best gameplay-wise, but the story there isn't quite as good as it is in the first two (with a few plot twists coming completely out of nowhere). Averaging them all together, though, the G.U. trilogy is a landmark example of a fun, engaging action RPG.
Start off with the first volume, which GameStop offers used for $20.
Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.
--Kotaro
Genre: Action/RPG
Developer: CyberConnect2
Publisher: Bandai
Release: 24 October 2006
Rating: Teen
Price: $20
While the first .hack series was decidedly mediocre, the G.U. follow-up trilogy is an excellent series of action RPGs. The premise of a game-within-a-game as a setting is brilliant. .hack takes place within an MMORPG called "The World." G.U. picks up several years after the origial series, in the sequel: "The World:R2." The aesthetic is steampunk this time rather than high fantasy, and it works very well. The cast is mostly new, but has many old characters returning--with new avatars in the game.
The plot is excellent, though following it in its entirety requires playing all three G.U. games and watching the tie-in anime ".hack//Roots," which functions as a prologue for the games (you can understand the games' plot without watching the anime, but it does answer a few questions).
As for how G.U. plays, it functions somewhat like a standard RPG, with towns and party members, and all the trappings. Combat, however, is in real-time, and is quite fun. There isn't very much variety in the dungeons, and the whole series reeks of repetitiveness, but the gameplay is still fun, and the plot is gripping enough to keep you playing.
While the first of the three, Rebirth, is very much flawed (swapping weapons mid-combat feels sticky, for example), the sequels improve on it. I would say that the third volume, Redemption, is the best gameplay-wise, but the story there isn't quite as good as it is in the first two (with a few plot twists coming completely out of nowhere). Averaging them all together, though, the G.U. trilogy is a landmark example of a fun, engaging action RPG.
Start off with the first volume, which GameStop offers used for $20.
Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.
--Kotaro
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Top Ten Weird Japanese Games
10. .hack//INFECTION
It's a game that takes place inside an online game. Hard to pull off, but the .hack series manages to do it well. We will never see anything else like it.
09. Kingdom Hearts
Disney + Final Fantasy = Crazy Awesome. Seeing Cloud Strife fighting alongside Mickey Mouse is just damned cool. Weird, but cool.
08. The World Ends with You
I think the gameplay alone is enough to warrant a spot on this list. You use pins (the kind you wear) to unleash psychic attacks on graffiti-looking enemies. And you control two characters at once, one on each screen of the DS. It's unique, and one of the best things Square Enix has ever made.
07. Ico
An escort mission that makes up an entire game sounds like a bad idea, but Ico makes it work. I can't say much about it, because the game is rather minimalist. But look up some footage on YouTube, or play it if you can find a copy. It's worth experiencing.
06. Katamari Damacy
I don't think anything needs to be said about why this is here.
05. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
CSI meets Judge Judy with a wacky cast and the most insane, mind-bending cases ever. More like an interactive movie than a game, but still very fun and worth a try.
04. Bayonetta
A game about a witch who straps guns to her feet and summons demons using her hair. Sure, why not?
03. No More Heroes
Simultaneously a celebration and parody of American geek culture, with no Fourth Wall, and some of the most insane boss fights ever. This game came from the mind of Goichi Suda, so there's no doubt about its strangeness.
02. Disgaea: Hour of Darkness
Think Final Fantasy Tactics, but even more so. The level cap is 9999. You can make your own overpowered gear. You can abuse any of the game's systems (and are even encouraged to do so). And did I mention the offbeat humor?
01. Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4
A group of high school students solve a murder mystery by visiting a world inside television. Yes, it's like that.
It's a game that takes place inside an online game. Hard to pull off, but the .hack series manages to do it well. We will never see anything else like it.
09. Kingdom Hearts
Disney + Final Fantasy = Crazy Awesome. Seeing Cloud Strife fighting alongside Mickey Mouse is just damned cool. Weird, but cool.
08. The World Ends with You
I think the gameplay alone is enough to warrant a spot on this list. You use pins (the kind you wear) to unleash psychic attacks on graffiti-looking enemies. And you control two characters at once, one on each screen of the DS. It's unique, and one of the best things Square Enix has ever made.
07. Ico
An escort mission that makes up an entire game sounds like a bad idea, but Ico makes it work. I can't say much about it, because the game is rather minimalist. But look up some footage on YouTube, or play it if you can find a copy. It's worth experiencing.
06. Katamari Damacy
I don't think anything needs to be said about why this is here.
05. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
CSI meets Judge Judy with a wacky cast and the most insane, mind-bending cases ever. More like an interactive movie than a game, but still very fun and worth a try.
04. Bayonetta
A game about a witch who straps guns to her feet and summons demons using her hair. Sure, why not?
03. No More Heroes
Simultaneously a celebration and parody of American geek culture, with no Fourth Wall, and some of the most insane boss fights ever. This game came from the mind of Goichi Suda, so there's no doubt about its strangeness.
02. Disgaea: Hour of Darkness
Think Final Fantasy Tactics, but even more so. The level cap is 9999. You can make your own overpowered gear. You can abuse any of the game's systems (and are even encouraged to do so). And did I mention the offbeat humor?
01. Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4
A group of high school students solve a murder mystery by visiting a world inside television. Yes, it's like that.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Mass Effect
Platform: Xbox 360/PC (Windows)
Genre: Shooter/RPG
Developer: Bioware/Demiurge Studios
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios/Electronic Arts
Release: 20 November 2007
Rating: Mature
Price: $15-19
It is hard to think of a game developed by Bioware that has not been excellent. While very different from their other fare, Mass Effect contains the same brilliant dialogue and world-building that all their games do. A hybrid third-person-shooter/RPG, Mass Effect shakes up even that formula, by emphasizing the RPG over the shooter aspects. Most are shooters with occasional RPG elements, but Mass Effect is more like an RPG that happens to have shooter combat.
The only complaint I have against this game is the awkwardness of inventory management. Swapping out weapons, armors, and upgrades can be rather annoying once you've built up a large stock, and the shopping system only services to make obtaining the items you want more aggravating.
Almost everything else about Mass Effect is excellent, however. A gripping plot, likable characters, an enormous and atmospheric galaxy to explore, and a well-made dialogue and choice system all make it a worthwhile game.
Mass Effect 2 is far more streamlined than this one, but one should definitely play the first game first, because every choice made here does affect the plot of the next game, giving an entirely different (and much greater) experience.
The original Xbox 360 version of Mass Effect costs $19, and the improved PC port costs only $15.
Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.
--Kotaro
Genre: Shooter/RPG
Developer: Bioware/Demiurge Studios
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios/Electronic Arts
Release: 20 November 2007
Rating: Mature
Price: $15-19
It is hard to think of a game developed by Bioware that has not been excellent. While very different from their other fare, Mass Effect contains the same brilliant dialogue and world-building that all their games do. A hybrid third-person-shooter/RPG, Mass Effect shakes up even that formula, by emphasizing the RPG over the shooter aspects. Most are shooters with occasional RPG elements, but Mass Effect is more like an RPG that happens to have shooter combat.
The only complaint I have against this game is the awkwardness of inventory management. Swapping out weapons, armors, and upgrades can be rather annoying once you've built up a large stock, and the shopping system only services to make obtaining the items you want more aggravating.
Almost everything else about Mass Effect is excellent, however. A gripping plot, likable characters, an enormous and atmospheric galaxy to explore, and a well-made dialogue and choice system all make it a worthwhile game.
Mass Effect 2 is far more streamlined than this one, but one should definitely play the first game first, because every choice made here does affect the plot of the next game, giving an entirely different (and much greater) experience.
The original Xbox 360 version of Mass Effect costs $19, and the improved PC port costs only $15.
Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.
--Kotaro
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