Nine Nine Oh Eight

Nine years is kind of a big deal. It’s not as big as ten or anything, but it’s still a long time. As a gaming nerd, especially as a former Sega fanboy, I feel some obligation to make some kind of attempt to honor Sega’s final attempt to sell hardware. Yep, yesterday (yeah yeah I’m a day late, sorry) was the ninth anniversary of the Dreamcast’s launch. 

Today let’s recall all the fond memories we had playing Dreamcast. For me it’s memories of the Sonic Adventures, the Crazy Taxis, the Power Stones, the Marvel VS Capcoms, Jet Grind Radio to name a few. Good times.

Olimar, Smash Bros. Impressions, and WiiWare Price Gouging

Olimar is the mad notes.

So far it’s what people probably expected. Good ol’ Smash doing what it does best. The Sub Space is a bit of a let down though. Nice CG, boring playable sections.

I also caught wind of Nintendo’s WiiWare service pricing. I was abit appauled that Pokemon Ranch was going to be $10. Ten bucks to walk around and see poorly modeled versions of your Diamond and Pearl Pokemon. That’s great. A real game like Star Solider R is only going to cost what a SNES game costs, which is insane in my opinion. Sometimes Nintendo does great things, but they always want top dollar for their not so great efforts too. Like WarioWare on Wii. That was a budget game at best, not a full priced one. I know wii is popular, but maybe they should look at what Sony did with PS2 software. First party games were often released at a forty dollar price tag, and many of these games were monstrous games too. Even third parties caught on to that, which was great. I don’t think Nintendo’s all about that though. Oh well. Don’t buy Pokemon Ranch for ten bucks. Not worth it.

Chiming In on the Audiosurf Phenomenon

So, I tried Audiosurf the other day (I’ve been trying a lot of new games ever since I pulled my head out of Galaxy’s metaphorical ass, a few days ago . . .). I had to try it, the buzz around it was hard to ignore. It is amazing.

For those who haven’t played or heard of Audiosurf it’s a music puzzler. Players control a little ship flying over a highway; these are created based on the songs players pick (and the song options are any MP3 files, literally any MP3 file will work, even podcasts). On this highway colored ‘bricks’ appear on certain beats of a song. These ‘bricks’ are placed within three lanes and gather at in a grid the bottom of the screen. The goal is to get three or more ‘bricks’ of the same color together to score points.

It’s descriptions like what I have above that drove me away from the game. when you try to type out what the game is it just sounds complicated. It isn’t. The nature of the game is this: you pick a song, the game generates a highway, and you move your mouse to collect ‘bricks’ (trying to match three of one color to earn points).

There is no way to lose. There are ways to not earn points, but there is no way to fail. In fact there’s even an option to just cruise the highway the game creates. This might be the game’s best feature. It has so many ways to play. It’s got several modes, and varying difficulties, but you never have to adhere to any of what the game tells you. You can play the hardest difficulty, and just say, “fuck it”, and cruise and there will be no penalty besides a really low score. Players choose the amount of effort they want to put into it the game, all the time. It’s great.

Just enjoying the highway is fun too. Some songs have mind boggling bends with fast areas and slow crawl areas, over all kinds of bumpy terrain. It’s just fun to look at. This, also can be problematic. In the time I spent with As much as I loved the craziness, it was almost to much for me to handle. This is the closest I’ve gotten to getting sick from playing a game. It’s color everywhere while the highway is flipping every which way. My mother would probably die if I showed this to her (she has a hard time watching any kind of video game. She couldn’t even handle 2D Sonic games).

Even so, I wish I owned the full game this second. It’s a game that will suck you right in. I can see myself buying a new disc and wanting to load up Audiosurf to see what kind of madness will ensue. It’s a very original experience that will constantly beg a player to keep playing.

It’s a really weird experience. The game itself is totally fresh, but the soundtrack is something that will be different for everyone. On the first play through a song it’s this odd synthesis of familiar music with a radical new experience. It’s this experience that’s driving me to keep typing. I guess I just can’t capture it with words. Audiosurf is an experience, and it might be a good idea to try it out.

I know I’ll be purchasing it soon.

The Forgotten Wonder

I don’t know anyone that owns a PSP. I had one friend who did, and then that unit made it’s way into my hands. I, foolishly, sold it. After taking part in several game forum discussions, I ended up with a new PSP.

It’s easy to forget that it’s home to several unique games. I’ve been in this Mario Galaxy haze for so long now that I simply forgot other games existed. I figured eventually I’d snap back into reality; I didn’t expect to find myself playing Metal Gear Ac!d again though. MGA is one of the many gems of the PSP. A year ago, when I had the old unit, I had Ac!d, Metal Gear Solid: Portable OPS, Exit, Megaman Powered Up, and Power Stone Collection. Even looking at that list I wonder why the hell I ever sold hose away. Each one of those games is completely unique to the PSP (save for Power Stone) and each was great in it’s own right.

I just want to write a little abstracts (and as always, bonus commentary) for two games, Metal Gear Ac!d and Crush.

Ac!d is Metal Gear, but with cards. It’s a crazy mix up of the thick Metal Gear plot and action, but on a grid based plain where you use cards to accomplish all of the games goals (all of which are based on things from every other Metal Gear game (one example is the Nikita Missle Launcher from MGS 2, playing this card allows you to control a missile (still restricted by grid movement) on the battle field)). It’s a card based stealth action game. I’m under the impression that the Ac!d series was a bit over looked, I found MGA for under ten dollars used, and the sequel retails for ten new. Granted they’re old games, now, but the second doesn’t even retail for $20 new. Great for me, but a sad indication that this series isn’t going to see another installment.

Crush is a story driven puzzle game. Players assume the role of an insomniac questing for the cure to his insomnia. Apparently, you cure insomnia by wearing a device called C.R.U.S.H. Said device places users into puzzle scenarios where you change from 2D to 3D to solve puzzles. The puzzles are mind benders and the story is actually pretty entertaining. It’s mostly witty banter between a crazed professor and the protagonist (Danny), and it’s actually pretty funny. The puzzles are tough, but it’s a rewarding kind of tough, which is nice. It’s sweet. Bonus: Sega published this game (but didn’t have one of their studios develop it), making it their only good game of 2007 (which is hilarious because their internal teams failed with every release last year).

Waiting for Tranquility, and a note on Downloadable Content

Officially, Brawl is one week away. I am thankful, and I have two reasons why. Here they are:
Reason 1: It’s coming up on two years since Brawl was announced. May 2006, about three more months and we would have be pained with a two year wait. Smash fans almost suffered as much as Zelda fans did with Twilight Princess, which, I believe, was a three year wait. The wait for Galaxy was pretty painful as well. With Smash out of the way there are virtually no big Wii titles on the horizon. Well, there are, but there’s nothing as big as Galaxy or Brawl; no AAA experience that people have invested a year or more of waiting to play (unless you really love your Mario Kart). We can finally relax for a while, which is fantastic. We can just pour hours upon hours into Brawl, and not give a shit about whats coming up. Tis good news.

Reason 2: This is simple, it’s Smash Bros, and it’s ass kicking time.

Other Business: Nintendo announced a Pay to Play online service. Certain games will have online service fees. Also developers can now sell additional game content via WiiWare. My initial feelings on these matter were very negative, I hate service fees, and downloadable content blows. On closer inspection, common theory in regard to the fees seems to indicate that this might just before MMOs, which, according to SquareEnix weren’t possible on Wii due to Nintendo’s regular online service. I’m sure other games will take advantage of PtP, but if it’s most an MMO deal, that’s fine (because I don;t play those kinds of games anyway). Brawl and Mario Kart will be free to play online, and that’s great.

DLC, on the other hand, still bugs me. The only DLC I’ve ever been okay with is Guitar Hero and Rock Band DLC, anything else just seems like over charge. And, I think the people that publish RB and GH are doing it. Those games, and Madden, should release one game per console generation and then just add songs, or engine updates, through DLC. It’s a better business model .They could put the songs or rosters online, and still make a disc for those without an internet connection (who the fuck doesn’t have the net now though?). I mean, put the songs online, then make a compilation disc for $20. Easy enough, and much more consumer friendly. I doubt it’ll happen though. Digital Distribution just hasn;t taken off yet. It will. Episodic and periodic content is the future.

That’s it. There’s a rant I didn’t even expect. If I don’t get another one of these off before next Sunday, Happy Brawl day (make sure to go at midnight, get Brawling early!).

This, how would one begin to describe how awesome this screen is. Just think about how this will look in motion, in a fucking week!

Hype, Part 2: Adventure Gear

I had this thing typed up featuring Spore, FallOut 3, and MGS4, but I realized that I wasn’t really super jacked for Spore or FallOut 3. Still sweet games I look forward to, but I think MGS4, and Penny Arcade Adventures are two games everyone can get super jacked for.
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

Why it looks awesome: Um, Solid Snake dudes. This is a bit like explain why Brawl is appealing. It’s the Metal Gear sequel I’d hoped 3 would somehow morph into, the follow up to the events in MGS2. There has been nothing but crazy enemies and hard-to-follow plat details shown in all the trailers, and that just makes me so happy. That’s Metal Gear, you just have to love it. Too bad it’s coming out for the most expensive, but largely useless Playstation 3.

I wish I could have MGS4 . . .

Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness: Episode 1 (PC) (360 & Ps3 ???)

Why it looks awesome:You get to make a character and explore a fucked up universe with two of the gaming community’s most prominent funny men. It dabbles a few different genres if I’m not mistaken as well, including adventure and rpg. It also has this really neat feature regarding the character creation system. The dude you make in 3D is also ‘drawn’ up in 2D (which means Gabe had to make a ton of different possible drawings for this, or there was some crazy technique the devs employed to accomplish such an amazing feat, or it’s fucking magic). That means you’ll be interacting with Gabe and Tycho in every section of the game, which is totally rad. There’s no release date for this yet, which is a bummer. I hope this comes sooner than later. Maybe we’ll get Episode One in the first half and episode to in the final half of the year. That’d be rad. Looks awesome.

This has some rad looking graphics.

Gun beats fist? Just a guess.

Hype, Part 1: Smashing Brotherhood

I’m beginning this years blogs by showing off screens of my two most anticipated Nintendo console games, Super Smash Bros Brawl and Sonic Chronicles: Dark Brotherhood. This will be the first of two posts. The next will feature three more games, one for each of these platforms: PS3/360/PC. Since I really only deal with Nintendo now, I’ll post these first.

Smash Bros Brawl.

Why it looks awesome: Come on, it’s Brawl. Really though the character addition, gameplay tweaks, and expansive single player have me hooked on the game. I can’t wait to fuck people up with Sonic, Snake, or Pokemon Trainer. And the SubSpace single player? Holy man, does that sound sweet. Some 2D beat’em up platforming, who could say no? People who hate fun, that’s who. Yeah, game is a given for most people. Enjoy some epic screens.

This gives “Fire Mario” some new meaning . . .

Super effective indeed!

Super Sonic. Norfair. ‘Nuff said.

This screen is the picture next to “epic” in the dictionary.

Sonic Chronicles: Dark Brotherhood

Why it looks awesome: Actually, I’ve got a schpeel about this game I’m going to spell out in a later blog.All I’ll say now is that Sonic has been sucking, and perhaps a completely different take on the series is the way to go. What’s more extreme that turing a platforming series into an RPG? Nothing. Plus, Mario did it, so you know, whatever. Anyways BioWare is heading it, so there’s already a near gurentee of better quality than if Sonic Team tried to do this. Check the images.

I’ll be honest, this is the screen that sold me on this game. Beautiful hand drawn backgrounds, with 3D models is a beautiful thing. Plus, loop de loop. Win.

Neat environments. Seriously, the hand drawn areas are awesome.

If you can’t tell, I love the art work in this game. This concept piece is fucking cool.

I hope I don’t have to wait ten months to get this one >.>

Coming up Next time: some other cool games!

Waiting for Super Mario Galaxy

If you’re a friend of mine I’m sure it’s no secret that I’m obsessed with Super Mario Galaxy, to the point that it’s taken over my life. It’s about a day away from being in my hands, and over the course of the last few weeks I’m sure nearly every conversation and thought I’ve had has turned to the game, somehow. Truth be told, the game has been in the back of my mind since it’s announcement nearly a year and a half ago at E3 2006. Yes, I have had Galaxy on my mind for a year and a half. There was just something about the concept that even an early demo made me love.

Every bit of information since it’s announcement has only increased my anticipation for the game. Early this year Nintendo began to show off the sheer variety of the levels, and at E3 they reacquainted us with an old time Mario tradition, suits. Suits, amazing levels, new control methods, it took over me. I couldn’t help but count the days until I had it. Here we are a day before I can get it, and it’s almost as if it’s still intangible, like it’s not real. at least that’s how it feels. Maybe that’s what happens when you obsess, things become unreal. Which makes me worry, will this live up to what I expect? Actually, I already know it will. I gave the demo a shot, it was only the first level, but even that put a giant smile on my face. Even the first level of the game was everything I had hoped for. It’s going to be one of the greatest game I’ll ever buy, and will undoubtedly become one of if not my favorite game.

I don’t think it would be wise for me to review Galaxy. That’s the message here. It would be a completely biased review, as there would be no metaphorical ‘red ink’. I’m convinced of it’s perfection, and I am completely aware that I’m suffering from a severe case of fanboyism. But, I’d like to think that at least I’m sensible enough to not subject anyone to a completely biased review. I may post some impressions, but SMG will not get the critical treatment. At least, not for a while. Maybe if my fanboysim levels off I’ll be able to criticize the game. I’m not sure if I would expect that from me though.

Anyway for those who get a copy this week or anytime I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I plan to!