Monday, July 13, 2009
Just for fun
I was playing around with the Rock Band Character Creator and I decided to do an adaption of another video game character. Judy Nails from Guitar Hero (notably her GH3 look).
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Snap Judgement Reviews V: A new Beginning
Aside: I don't know what I'm going to do when I run out of movie sequel subtitles.
Anyway on to reviews -
I've played a lot of games in the last few months - Blockbuster allows us to rent up to 5 games a week again, and I played a lot of PS3 games right after we got our PS3 - so I'll have a bunch of these in the near future. So on to the games-
Ghostbusters (PS3 or 360)
The visuals and voice acting are excellent - it uses all the original actors, and the models and animations for the characters are excellent. You really feel like you are in a Ghostbusters movie. Gameplay is okay, but not great - you hit a ghost with a proton beam for a while, then use a capture beam for a while then force it into a ghost trap.
Overall a decent game, but not one I'd spend 60 bucks on. Call it a 30 dollar game.
Prototype
Gameplay is great - you can run up and down building, through the city, and combat is run. You can customize between a lot of different types of attacks and powers. You get your memories back by absorbing major NPCs. My only problem is that you slash innocents, and later you use them basically as health packs. As someone who tends to avoid playing bad guys, that is a bit of a problem for me. Also the game is really bloody... the designers really took that "M" rating to heart. Because of the thematic material I'd call this one a 20 buck game.
Motorstorm and Motorstorm Pacific Rift
Possibly the best driving games I've ever played. The two of them have the same basic controls - you drive a bike, an ATV or a big truck around an outdoor course. The graphics are amazing, the driving is loose and really fun, and courses are interesting. These are both highly recomended and they are 40-60 dollar games.
Pure
Yeah more driving. The gameplay is great, and I love the trick system. Choices of vehicles is nifty. However there is one problem with this game and it is in the "Easy should be easy" problems. After you go through the tutorial you have to beat the first track in a certain amount of time to even progress in the game. I tried about 20 times, and couldn't pull it off (on Easy). The game went back to blockbuster and I will never consider buying it. They made the entry level of this game to high for me.
Don't buy it.
Tom Clancy's Vegas Six 2
Pretty decent FPS. It had a realistic/easy toggle, and I took the easy, and it was easy. Pretty fun, and you could choose male or female for your main character. This one is a little above the run of the mill shooter. 20 Dollars for this one.
Later edit - I like the dollar amounts for games - that will be my rating system for games I review - the price point at which I think this game is worth buying. Rating from 0 to 60 dollars.
Back to singing to the tunes of Bjorn and crew.
Games played since last post:
inFAMOUS (PS3)
Ghostbusters (360)
Guitar Hero: Smash Hits (360)
God of War (PS2)
Rock Band 2 (360)
Anyway on to reviews -
I've played a lot of games in the last few months - Blockbuster allows us to rent up to 5 games a week again, and I played a lot of PS3 games right after we got our PS3 - so I'll have a bunch of these in the near future. So on to the games-
Ghostbusters (PS3 or 360)
The visuals and voice acting are excellent - it uses all the original actors, and the models and animations for the characters are excellent. You really feel like you are in a Ghostbusters movie. Gameplay is okay, but not great - you hit a ghost with a proton beam for a while, then use a capture beam for a while then force it into a ghost trap.
Overall a decent game, but not one I'd spend 60 bucks on. Call it a 30 dollar game.
Prototype
Gameplay is great - you can run up and down building, through the city, and combat is run. You can customize between a lot of different types of attacks and powers. You get your memories back by absorbing major NPCs. My only problem is that you slash innocents, and later you use them basically as health packs. As someone who tends to avoid playing bad guys, that is a bit of a problem for me. Also the game is really bloody... the designers really took that "M" rating to heart. Because of the thematic material I'd call this one a 20 buck game.
Motorstorm and Motorstorm Pacific Rift
Possibly the best driving games I've ever played. The two of them have the same basic controls - you drive a bike, an ATV or a big truck around an outdoor course. The graphics are amazing, the driving is loose and really fun, and courses are interesting. These are both highly recomended and they are 40-60 dollar games.
Pure
Yeah more driving. The gameplay is great, and I love the trick system. Choices of vehicles is nifty. However there is one problem with this game and it is in the "Easy should be easy" problems. After you go through the tutorial you have to beat the first track in a certain amount of time to even progress in the game. I tried about 20 times, and couldn't pull it off (on Easy). The game went back to blockbuster and I will never consider buying it. They made the entry level of this game to high for me.
Don't buy it.
Tom Clancy's Vegas Six 2
Pretty decent FPS. It had a realistic/easy toggle, and I took the easy, and it was easy. Pretty fun, and you could choose male or female for your main character. This one is a little above the run of the mill shooter. 20 Dollars for this one.
Later edit - I like the dollar amounts for games - that will be my rating system for games I review - the price point at which I think this game is worth buying. Rating from 0 to 60 dollars.
Back to singing to the tunes of Bjorn and crew.
Games played since last post:
inFAMOUS (PS3)
Ghostbusters (360)
Guitar Hero: Smash Hits (360)
God of War (PS2)
Rock Band 2 (360)
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Foot in Mouth
This is a small rant about Bobby Kotick, the CEO of Activision.
What prompted this was a comment he made a few weeks ago directed towards Sony. He said basically “If the price of the PS3 doesn't come down, we may have to stop making games for it.” I can understand the emotion behind it – I still think the PS3 is overpriced (even though I bought one.. * Sigh *). But just spouting it off in public just seems in poor taste.
This is the same guy who, in an interview, said that Guitar Hero World Tour was the first game where a whole band could play. The interviewer call him on it by saying “I though that was Rock Band.” Kotick hemmed and hawed for a few seconds then went back into his spiel.
He has a history of over exaggeration, lying or just crass behavior.
Back to strumming that guitar and holding the mic high.
Games played since last post:
Rock Band 2 (360)
Prototype (PS3)
What prompted this was a comment he made a few weeks ago directed towards Sony. He said basically “If the price of the PS3 doesn't come down, we may have to stop making games for it.” I can understand the emotion behind it – I still think the PS3 is overpriced (even though I bought one.. * Sigh *). But just spouting it off in public just seems in poor taste.
This is the same guy who, in an interview, said that Guitar Hero World Tour was the first game where a whole band could play. The interviewer call him on it by saying “I though that was Rock Band.” Kotick hemmed and hawed for a few seconds then went back into his spiel.
He has a history of over exaggeration, lying or just crass behavior.
Back to strumming that guitar and holding the mic high.
Games played since last post:
Rock Band 2 (360)
Prototype (PS3)
Friday, July 3, 2009
Demo Play
Nintendo has patented a new thing for video games that they call demo play. It is an ingame help whose concept I really like. Right now, it is only in the New Super Mario Brothers Wii. It has three levels of help.
1) It runs a little window within the game window showing you what you should be doing – great for a puzzle or platformer thing that you just can't get through.
2) It runs full screen for a while so you can see what you need to do, then lets you play it. A lot like the above.
3) It takes over the games and plays it for you for a while.
I really love the third option. It isn't something I would use that often... but how many games have that one really irritating spot that is so much harder than the rest of the game? Demo play would let play through that, and get on with enjoying the game.
Some people have derided it (the Game Scoop guys in particular). I love the idea – but then beating something hard isn't why I play video games. If implemented on 360 or PS3 I could easily see that it keeps you from getting certain achievement or trophies (and certainly you don't get any while the game plays itself)... but for those of us that don't care about gamerscore or trophy point, it would be a great way to help games.
As a side note, I beat Halo 2 earlier today. Great game – I heard all the hype about them before, but now that I have made my way through Halo and Halo 2 I understand the enthusiasm, these are just fabulous games.
Next on the list (Besides the standby favorites of Rock Band 2 and Little Big Planet) – God of War. The first one. Yeah I've going through and beating all these games that I have but have never finished.
Next up – My views on Mr Foot in Mouth Bobby Kotick.
So back to beating up Olympian Beasts looking for revenge on the Gods.
Games played since last post:
Halo 2 (Xbox)
Little Big Planet (PS3)
God Of War (PS2)
Rock Band 2 (360)
1) It runs a little window within the game window showing you what you should be doing – great for a puzzle or platformer thing that you just can't get through.
2) It runs full screen for a while so you can see what you need to do, then lets you play it. A lot like the above.
3) It takes over the games and plays it for you for a while.
I really love the third option. It isn't something I would use that often... but how many games have that one really irritating spot that is so much harder than the rest of the game? Demo play would let play through that, and get on with enjoying the game.
Some people have derided it (the Game Scoop guys in particular). I love the idea – but then beating something hard isn't why I play video games. If implemented on 360 or PS3 I could easily see that it keeps you from getting certain achievement or trophies (and certainly you don't get any while the game plays itself)... but for those of us that don't care about gamerscore or trophy point, it would be a great way to help games.
As a side note, I beat Halo 2 earlier today. Great game – I heard all the hype about them before, but now that I have made my way through Halo and Halo 2 I understand the enthusiasm, these are just fabulous games.
Next on the list (Besides the standby favorites of Rock Band 2 and Little Big Planet) – God of War. The first one. Yeah I've going through and beating all these games that I have but have never finished.
Next up – My views on Mr Foot in Mouth Bobby Kotick.
So back to beating up Olympian Beasts looking for revenge on the Gods.
Games played since last post:
Halo 2 (Xbox)
Little Big Planet (PS3)
God Of War (PS2)
Rock Band 2 (360)
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Little Big Planet!!!
Shorter time between posts.. and to think after the last one, I was really planning on going weekly. Maybe this time.
Been playing a lot of Little Big Planet - the game I pretty much bought a PS3 for... well there are others but nothing as big as LBP. I love classic platformers - Sonic and Mario were two of my favorite franchises in the 16 bit and 8 bit eras, respectively. This game is from the same amazing mold of the best of them. I've played for hours on end and have been really enjoying it. I plan on trying to get through it, because once the game is beaten, you can make your own levels (and play levels others have made). I love user generated content... but I am much more of a console guy than a PC one, so I don't see it as much. So the idea behind this is really cool. I also love the community support that Sony is doing - and they had a Kart racer with a really nice track creator that will be out for the PS3 as well.
A lot of the nifty bits about LBP are in that side of. In a platformer, you collect stuff. Coins, Rings, Gems, whathaveyou. In LBP you collect costume pieces to customize your character with, and stickers and other things so that you may put them into levels you create. Nice use of the collection system in the game. And your character Sackboy is completely customizable - you can change the color of his sack, hats, hair, facial hair, shape, clothes.... and they have a lot of options in the game, plus extra DLC (I bought the Street Figther pack so I could be Chun Li if I wanted).
About other games - I've been working my way through Halo 2 - I've got 2 levels left. It's been fun actually beating games. And of course, I am still playing a bunch of Rock Band. And I picked up an SFIV controller (not the arcade stick) so I've been playing that to unlock all the characters.
See you next week, hopefully, when I'll comment on Demo Play.
And now back to blowing up the Flood with my alien allies.
Games played since last post
Rock Band 2 (360)
Little Big Planet (PS3)
Radiant Silvergun (Saturn)
Arkanoid (Arcade on Emu)
Super Breakout (Atari 2600)
Flower (PS3)
Geometry Wars (PS3)
inFAMOUS (PS3)
Halo 2 (Xbox)
Street Fighter IV (360)
Been playing a lot of Little Big Planet - the game I pretty much bought a PS3 for... well there are others but nothing as big as LBP. I love classic platformers - Sonic and Mario were two of my favorite franchises in the 16 bit and 8 bit eras, respectively. This game is from the same amazing mold of the best of them. I've played for hours on end and have been really enjoying it. I plan on trying to get through it, because once the game is beaten, you can make your own levels (and play levels others have made). I love user generated content... but I am much more of a console guy than a PC one, so I don't see it as much. So the idea behind this is really cool. I also love the community support that Sony is doing - and they had a Kart racer with a really nice track creator that will be out for the PS3 as well.
A lot of the nifty bits about LBP are in that side of. In a platformer, you collect stuff. Coins, Rings, Gems, whathaveyou. In LBP you collect costume pieces to customize your character with, and stickers and other things so that you may put them into levels you create. Nice use of the collection system in the game. And your character Sackboy is completely customizable - you can change the color of his sack, hats, hair, facial hair, shape, clothes.... and they have a lot of options in the game, plus extra DLC (I bought the Street Figther pack so I could be Chun Li if I wanted).
About other games - I've been working my way through Halo 2 - I've got 2 levels left. It's been fun actually beating games. And of course, I am still playing a bunch of Rock Band. And I picked up an SFIV controller (not the arcade stick) so I've been playing that to unlock all the characters.
See you next week, hopefully, when I'll comment on Demo Play.
And now back to blowing up the Flood with my alien allies.
Games played since last post
Rock Band 2 (360)
Little Big Planet (PS3)
Radiant Silvergun (Saturn)
Arkanoid (Arcade on Emu)
Super Breakout (Atari 2600)
Flower (PS3)
Geometry Wars (PS3)
inFAMOUS (PS3)
Halo 2 (Xbox)
Street Fighter IV (360)
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Got another one, and a victory.
We got a PS3 last week - graduation money my wife received for finished college from her family. And as we already had purchased her the electronic toy she wanted most for graduation (a eeePC netbook), we used that money for the new system.
So you will be seeing commentary on PS3 game.
I'm going to try and post relatively consistently here - once a week if I can.
This post is mostly a "Hey look at me, I did it!" post.
I "beat" rock band 2.
In the game you have different cities, and each city has some venues to play at. Within each venue there are different setlists - gigs if you will. I played them all. I finished the Rolling Stones Immortal challenge on guitar last night.
There is only one more gig left, but it is an extra. I will play it, but not for a bit - it is the "Endless Setlist" playing all 84 songs in the game in a row at one time. That will take about 7 hours, and I don't have that kind of time to set aside right now.
So what now?
I'm going to be doing it all over again - this time on drums. :)
And now back to jumping around a fabric world collecting stickers and new cutesy body adjustments.
Games played since last post (again way too many to list them all) but highlights include-
Bioshock (360)
Rock Band 2 (360)
Little Big Planet (PS3)
Folklore (PS3)
Fable 1 (Xbox)
Spyro (PS2)
Peggle (PC)
Lips (360)
Singstar (PS3)
So you will be seeing commentary on PS3 game.
I'm going to try and post relatively consistently here - once a week if I can.
This post is mostly a "Hey look at me, I did it!" post.
I "beat" rock band 2.
In the game you have different cities, and each city has some venues to play at. Within each venue there are different setlists - gigs if you will. I played them all. I finished the Rolling Stones Immortal challenge on guitar last night.
There is only one more gig left, but it is an extra. I will play it, but not for a bit - it is the "Endless Setlist" playing all 84 songs in the game in a row at one time. That will take about 7 hours, and I don't have that kind of time to set aside right now.
So what now?
I'm going to be doing it all over again - this time on drums. :)
And now back to jumping around a fabric world collecting stickers and new cutesy body adjustments.
Games played since last post (again way too many to list them all) but highlights include-
Bioshock (360)
Rock Band 2 (360)
Little Big Planet (PS3)
Folklore (PS3)
Fable 1 (Xbox)
Spyro (PS2)
Peggle (PC)
Lips (360)
Singstar (PS3)
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Flawless Victory.
Holy Crap - 5 month gap.
Life in those months were decidedly hectic.. something I'll be posting about on my other blog in the next few weeks.
This is just a short little post celebrating the Fighting Season that is upon us.
Soul Caliber 4.
Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe.
Street Fighter IV soon.
Tekken 6 sometime after that.
It's a good time to be a fighting game fan.
Over the last week or so, I beat MK vs DC story mode from both sides, and it was a good story, especially for a fighting game. Being a fan of MK and DC comics this was a must play for me. I really enjoyed it - I am temped to hook the game machine to the computer and record the whole thing (from each side) and then edit it all together into one long movie cutting between the two sides to help tell the whole story. Fun stuff.
If you like MK or DC get it.
Now going back to Running on faith, and trying not to fall off buildings.
Games played since last post
Too many to name, but highlights include
Rock Band 2
Guitar Hero World Tour
Peggle
Peggle Nights
Mirror's Egde
Soul Caliber IV
MK vs DC
Destroy All humans: Path of the Furon.
Life in those months were decidedly hectic.. something I'll be posting about on my other blog in the next few weeks.
This is just a short little post celebrating the Fighting Season that is upon us.
Soul Caliber 4.
Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe.
Street Fighter IV soon.
Tekken 6 sometime after that.
It's a good time to be a fighting game fan.
Over the last week or so, I beat MK vs DC story mode from both sides, and it was a good story, especially for a fighting game. Being a fan of MK and DC comics this was a must play for me. I really enjoyed it - I am temped to hook the game machine to the computer and record the whole thing (from each side) and then edit it all together into one long movie cutting between the two sides to help tell the whole story. Fun stuff.
If you like MK or DC get it.
Now going back to Running on faith, and trying not to fall off buildings.
Games played since last post
Too many to name, but highlights include
Rock Band 2
Guitar Hero World Tour
Peggle
Peggle Nights
Mirror's Egde
Soul Caliber IV
MK vs DC
Destroy All humans: Path of the Furon.
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