M$ Lame Game Room
By: berg
February 18th, 2010
10:03 am
This year's CES was really boring. If you've seen one 3-D TV, you've seen them all. So it's fitting that Microsoft introduced its snore-inducing game room. Ravenpilot and I actually got to see the game room IRL and I was in no way impressed. But for a free service, what can you expect? Wait, it's not free? Blah.
The achievements and leaderboards are cool additions, but how many achievements points will a $3 game be worth? It can't be more than 50. That would mess up the whole $3-$6 per 100 achievement points-per-dollar ratio based on other arcade titles. That is a completely not researched statement but you get what I'm saying.
Or you could just mame all the available games and more for free. I can see the appeal for casual gamers, but I really don't want "those people" tainting my hardcore 360 fanbase.
Action games and RPG's, sittin' in a tree...
By: berg
February 15th, 2010
8:30 am
Synonymous with nerd culture seeping into mass media, RPG gameplay is seeping into numerous gaming genres. CoD 6 multiplayer (no I will not refer to it as Modern Warfare 2 because “MW2” doesn’t roll of the tongue like “CoD”), Assassin’s Creed 2 and now Mass Effect 2 all incorporate various RPG mechanics and mostly for the better. AC2 is a parkour/platform/ action game, Cod 6 a FPS and ME2 an action game but the tie that binds is the progression. Another more subtle similarity between the three is that they concentrate on the core mechanic first then overlay the RPG stuff later. Take out the RPG mechanics and all three would still be fantastic due to rock-solid gameplay.
I played ME1 right before ME2 and noticed the opposite. ME1 was an RPG with third-person action elements, but the action seemed tacked on. Then I thought back to Fallout 3 and saw a commonality between these two epic RPGs – the action in both was great when playing them as RPGs but not-so-great when playing as action games. I spent numerous hours playing both and loved every second of the combat but that’s because I was mostly in the scroll wheel in ME1 or VATS in Fallout 3. Take away the RPG core, and you the action gameplay doesn’t stand on its own.
The RPG nerd in me loves how well RPG mechanics are percolating through other genres. But can the road go both ways?
Project NATAL , more like NOT AT ALL (not happy with the processor being taken out)
By: berg
February 1st, 2010
3:29 pm
When I first saw Peter Molyneux hanging out with Milo at E3 I was intrigued like everyone else. Mainly for the fact that I could see a possible mainstream US dating sim developed from the technology in the future. Really I was less excited for the gaming possibilities and more excited for the dashboard and video integration. The thought of scrolling through the dashboard panes with my hands like in Minority Report, possible group video chat and video chat overlays in games really piques my interest.
http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/1...tnatalmilo.jpg
With news that they’re forgoing a built-in processor to achieve a sub $50 price point, at least now I know that I won’t have to worry about playing many Natal games. Since the processing will be dumped off onto the 360 we are pretty much assured shitty motion control tech demos probably in the form of mini-games.
I will be buying Natal because I’m a whore for peripherals. But I don’t really know how much gaming I’ll be doing with it. If I wanted to wave my arms around like a jackass while playing shitty regurgitated mini-games with horrible motion controls, I’d just play the Wii. Then again, if I can pop some achievements for comforting Milo’s legal older sister with a gentle digital caress, I may change my tune.
Mass Effect 2 Review
By: Kenny
January 31st, 2010
1:23 pm
Mass Effect 2 is an incredible sequel that will probably anger a lot of loud RPG nerds. Conventional RPG elements - large skill trees, constant loot progression, a traditional experience system - have been eschewed in favor of tight tactical action, changing it up enough so that you're no longer a one-man-show who can do it all.
it is indeed quite massive.
Hardcore RPG nerds cover your ears: I think the change is for the better. I was one of the few that wasn't immediately wooed by the original Mass Effect. Though the sci-fi space opera was presented in typical BioWare fashion, I had a hard time coping with the often clunky shooting mechanics and overbearing RPG system. Now, instead of trying to walk between two very different worlds, Mass Effect 2 has found its true niche: an action game with the backing of light RPG elements.
Plus, it's all backed up by BioWare's incredible narrative techniques that have improved leaps and bounds over the original Mass Effect. So dice rolls and random loot be damned; I'll take this iteration over the original any day.
Dragon Age: Origins Review
By: Kenny
January 27th, 2010
9:11 am
Dragon Age: Origins is truly what BioWare does best: an epic RPG filled with interesting characters, hard decisions, skill trees, and badass loot. Wrap that all up in a dark fantasy setting, and voila: an engaging RPG that’s brimming with content.
murderin' dragons is a pretty satisfying affair.
But after creating such a huge, epic world, it’s a shame that it feels so dead. Dungeons are large and fleshed out, but everything else feels empty, limited in scope. In the era of the open world game, DA:O feels a bit out of place: towns aren't huge or sprawling, the townsfolk are limited in numbers, the scenery repetitious. BioWare has nailed down what it takes to create an incredible RPG, but they haven’t nailed down what it takes to create a believeble and fully realized world.
Is that nitpicking? Yes, totally. The meat of DA:O is fatty: a deep, complex, and rewarding RPG that's filled with old school sensibilities.
DJ Hero Review
By: Kenny
January 26th, 2010
8:47 am
DJ Hero released at a bad time; it's a time when the craze for note tracks and plastic instruments is basically over. Rock Band and Guitar Hero still march to the rhythm of annual releases and weekly song DLC, but there's no magic anymore; there's nothing left to surprise or impress.
And it's a shame, because DJ Hero does a lot of things that do impress. The DJ mechanics are sound, a majority of the mixes can easily sink the squarest of squares into head noddin' groove, and the presentation is surprisingly slick.
http://www.tomshw.it/articles/200910...mixtress_c.jpg
dj hero also features way too much gwen stefani. fucking B-A-N-A-N-A-S.
But DJ Hero doesn't have any of its own magic. It's totally serviceable and fun, but also completely expected. Guitar Hero blew my mind back in '05 and made my fingers cramp up in fits of joy; DJ Hero managed to capture my attention for one solid play through, and while that's more than I can say for most rhythm games, that's still not enough to make me a believer.
www.epicnerdery.com
Bayonetta - my thoughts
By: Blue Eagle
January 18th, 2010
10:28 am
Bayonetta - my thoughts (played on the Xbox360)
This new action/shooting adventure game puts players in control of Bayonetta, a woman who, apparently in her 30's, has been asleep for a long time (like 500 years) currently on a quest to find out about her past and destroy some angels along the way.
During the game the player discovers an old war between the Lumen Sages and the Umbra Witches, both of which hold one of two 'eyes' that when put together will end the current universe and begin a new one, not that this is a good thing of course.
Initial impressions of this game are very impressive, a stylish introduction followed by some continuously intense shooting and sword-slaying action, a lot of the gameplay is similar to Devil May Cry, not surprising since the very same Hideki Kamiya is behind this one too, however unlike DMC this game goes where DMC couldn't or didn't dare often making a pretty wicked experience, the action rarely ceases to be intense as the player fights various well detailed angelic beings in a range of settings including platforms being lifted by one and waved around in the air, a plane and the middle of a sea, even the loading screen gives you a chance to practice your kung fu between verses and chapters. The graphics are good throughout, looking especially cool in the 'witch mode' in which the player can 'move within a single moment'. The game has a great pick-up-and-play element with easy controls and a range of moves at the player's disposal.
More weapons, techniques, accessories and items are available to buy with halos obtained from the dead angels in Bayonetta's wake, prices are expensive and supply is limited, however there's a relief in the fact that ingredients can be found by smashing dustbins, benches and potted plants, that can later be used to make items to raise your attack power, restore your health, repel angels and some other things that are all fairly useful.
During the course of the game you get to drive a motorbike while still able to shoot and a missile (yes, I did say drive a missile), both of which are fairly easy to steer and certainly add more flavour to the game.
One more nice touch is that, once you've finished the game, you can carry all your techniques and items through to play it again.
Unfortunately the very impressive impressions do not last too long, there are one too many cut scenes floating around, some of which are rather lengthy and some confusing (although they can be skipped with the 'Start' button) and you visit the same place more than once. The same bosses turning up again and again doesn't do much for interest either not to mention the fact then when you're fighting a bunch of angels, you can't leave the scene until every last one is defeated, which does make the game drag on a little. It seems, due to the prices involved, one has to complete the game several times over in order to obtain the best guns and the like, which is somewhat tedious. It takes about 10-12 hours to play once through the game with other difficulty levels available, with less repetition of places and bosses this does seem a bit too short considering the full retail price tag.
The mini-game Angel Attack is a great addition, unfortunately can't be played at will, it pops up between each chapter (chapters are made of a number of verses) giving you a chance to earn points, that although can't be carried through, can be used to purchase handy items or exchange for halos.
Overall Bayonetta is a surreal and stylish game, it's a bit flirtatious, a bit cheeky in places (especially that dance sequence), its got some awesome action and great kung fu, unfortunately it gets points down for repeating places and bosses and a bit much in the way of cut scenes. I personally would say that if you like this type of game wait until the price drops a bit then go for it but it's not really worth the full price tag.
Overall rating (10 being the best): 8 out of 10.
Aliens vs Predator (not the old pc one.)
By: ravenpilot
January 14th, 2010
1:21 pm
So AvP is coming out soon for the different systems. You guys think itll be awesome? I remember playing the original and it rocking my socks. A little worried about this one though, just not sure if itll be as as good.
Heres some info off wiki.
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Gameplay There are three campaigns in the game, one for each race/faction (the Predators, the Aliens and the Colonial Marines), that, while separate in terms of individual plot and gameplay, form one overarching storyline.[2] [edit] Predators In terms of gameplay, the most is currently known about the Predator. As in the films, the Predator prefers to stalk its prey from the safety of treetops and the gameplay reflects this, the player leaping from branch to branch automatically with the help of a "focus jumping" game mechanic. The Predator has different vision modes, the most recognisable from the films being a thermal imaging scanner, but the player also has different vision modes for spotting Aliens and other Predators. Each vision mode only allows for targeting a specific race. For example, the Heat Vision mode renders Aliens and other Predators nearly invisible, making battles between two or all three species a tactical juggle to prioritise enemies based on their threat to the player.[2] The Predator’s gameplay is more based on stealth and tactics than the average first-person shooter. The player has to be aware of Aliens, which have the ability to see through a Predator's cloaking device, that may climb up a tree and attack from below as well as taking care not to reveal themselves to marines too early as the marines’ weaponry and numbers are more than a match for the Predator. For long-range weaponry, the shoulder-mounted plasma cannon has been the only confirmed weapon for the Predator, but OXM expects to see a glaive-like disc and a spear gun to be announced later in development as both weapons were "stalwarts from the previous games." For close-range combat, the Predator has two retractable wristblades on its right arm.[2] The wristblades allow for the Predator to perform a "trophy kill," a nod to the movies in which the Predators take trophies, usually skulls, from their defeated enemies to show their prowess in the hunt. OXM labelled the trophy kill mechanic as so "spectacularly violent" that they believe it will be cut from the final game to avoid an Adults Only rating in the United States as it was "several measures more graphic" than any other recent games. The animation for trophy killing a marine with a Predator is the only one known, though the Aliens also have a trophy kill system that is "far less disturbing." To begin the Predator's trophy kill, a "terrified" marine is dragged into the centre of the screen by his or her throat, which the Predator then snaps effortlessly with the accompanying sound of "someone biting into raw celery." The neck broken, the Predator decapitates the marine, a "sizeable portion" of the spinal cord following. Even after this, the marine is still alive for a short period of time, "gasping his last, with nothing but bloodied, glistening vertebra beneath his chin."[2] A screenshot showing a player being attacked by a group of Aliens. Jason Kingsley, the CEO of Rebellion, defended the brutality of the trophy kill system, stating "This is obviously a game based on adult-rated movies, and we want to make sure it’s very clearly an adult-rated game. It's an issue for me; some computer games are for kids – we're not making a computer game here for anyone other than adults. That's very clear and within that context, I think the violence is part of the character and the world – so we're talking about a fantasy world here and fantasy creatures and we're talking about trying to build up a mythos. I remember the first time I saw it, one of the particular Predator kills, everyone went 'Oooh.' But it's what the Predator does in the movies."[2] One element of the Predator's gameplay that hasn't been fully confirmed is how to limit the use of the Predator's more powerful weaponry, such as the shoulder-mounted plasma cannon which, in the first Predator film, had the ability to punch a hole through a man's chest. Previous games in the AvP series used an "honour system" to prevent the overuse of weapons. In this game, however, Rebellion "appears to have settled for an energy system".[2] This means the cannon can be recharged by using any energy power-up console in the environment. Energy is also used to re-charge the Predator's health. [edit] Aliens The other two campaigns have had little shown of them. The Alien campaign will force players to get in close to their enemy as their only methods of attack are physical: the Aliens' claws, tail and inner and outer jaws. Aliens live in the shadows and use senses other than sight to locate their prey, which is why the Predator’s cloak is useless against them, and this, OXM suggests, would imply stealth tactics similar to the Predator’s campaign, getting players to search for dark areas to hide the black alien in. Players will be allowed to climb over every surface in the game as an Alien, but this is counteracted by a slower pace than previous games in the series, discouraging "blitz tactics." Rebellion is reportedly including a game mode which will increase the Aliens' speed back to their "original, often disorienting pace," possibly tied to the difficulty level.[2] [edit] Colonial Marines The Colonial Marine campaign is to be far closer to that of a standard first-person shooter. Confirmed weapons are the "iconic" Pulse Rifle and Smart Gun, along with an image intensifier to light up dark areas and the motion tracker made famous in Aliens. The key to the marine campaign is "the sheer terror of facing off against the two movie menaces of the title." Rebellion have confirmed that no cutscenes will take place other than from the perspective of the player character and that the point of the campaign is to simply survive. The marine campaign also contains the most information about the game's plot, whereas the others will simply feature overheard conversations between marines "shortly before you dice the marines into meaty chunks."[2] |
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Army of two 4oth day first impressions.
By: ravenpilot
January 13th, 2010
9:19 am
So I picked up Army of Two 40th day yesterday. I have only put in about 2 hours into it so I can't write a full review yet. However I can give you a quick rundown/first impressions of the game.
Well the game has definitely changed for the better from the first one. With a lot more customization, slightly better story, moral choices etc. You ca even go to the Army of Two website and get a hold of a mask/armor editor. The camera to me feels a little odd to me with over the shoulder 3rd person kind of view, but I can get used to that.
It also really seems like you're really only supposed to be playing with a friend either local or over xbl (or psn depending on your console). They have a solo option, but it just seems a lot more bland.
The weapon customization is nice because you can do it nearly anywhere, so you're not waiting for checkpoints like in the original. The customization is more of the same, just a few more options.
The Moral choices are pretty cool, I am assuming that it can lead to multiple endings. Also I guess it effects what kind of weapons you will have access to.
So far so good, I really enjoy it. If you're not a fan of the original I would at least rent this one to give it a shot, enough has changed that you can tell a difference for the better.
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Dantes Inferno!
By: ravenpilot
January 13th, 2010
9:09 am
So I originally didn't think this game would be any good. Didn't know how they would follow the actual book. Well I played the demo a few days back, and wow. This game is pretty awesome. I played the demo for the 360, but its basically a God of war style game, except it holds its own pretty good. The graphics are fantasic, and the atmosphere is amazing. I probably will be picking this up as soon as it gets released. Has anyone else played it? What are your opinions?
Videos
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| YouTube Video | |