Burnout 3: Takedown is the greatest of the Burnout franchise, and one of the best racing games of all time. The Burnout series sets itself apart from other racing games by encouraging highly aggressive driving and causing as much destruction as possible. Burnout 3 sets itself apart from its predecessors by taking all the good parts of the previous games and making them better.
The game play of Burnout 3: Takedown is as simple as it is innovative. Gas, brakes and boost are all there, as is the steering, but the way that the game actually plays is fantastic. The game can get to blistering speeds, and it actually gives the sensation that you’re flying down the road at 200 mph in the opposite direction of traffic. Driving dangerously will gain boost for players, which has its obvious advantages of going faster, and can be used to accent the turns that you will drift around. Crashing your opponents off the road will help out too, as it increases the capacity of your boost gauge. Driving into opposing traffic, drifting, drafting, airtime and wrecking opponents will all go towards the cause of earning boost, though not without its consequences. As it turns out, the AI doesn’t like to wreck, so it does everything that it can to get back at you. The AI does get pretty darn difficult as you progress through the World Tour mode, as do the challenges.
The core meat of the game can be found in the World Tour mode. This is the single player mode where players unlock all the different stuff: cars, tracks, crash events and such. The way that the World Tour works, is that it’s set up like a map with different points marked, each with a set of events that are unique to that location. There are several different locations on each of the three different continents where the game takes place. Europe, The Far East, and the good ol’ US of A. Events consist of race, road rage (where the goal is to smash into and crash your opponents), time trial, and, of course, the signature crash mode. World Tour will consume a good portion of your time with Burnout 3: Takedown, and that’s not a bad thing. All the challenges are loads of fun and can get quite challenging, at that.
The primary challenge that you’ll be facing down is the signature crash mode. Each crash event is set up for the optimum amount of destruction, which can be obtained with precise movement. This is where Burnout shines the most. Crash mode is, and always will be, fun and the reason why we play Burnout. The graphics and physics in Burnout 3: Takedown make experiencing crash mode glorious. Every single piece of shrapnel, every car, every explosion is orchestrated to perfection. The beauty of crash mode is the amount of difficulty that comes with it. Careful timing, driving and patience can make for a huge payoff, with even bigger destruction.
One thing that really stands out about Burnout 3 is its impressive soundtrack. It’s a combination of punk, rock, and various other tracks of that nature, that all fit the pace and tone of the game. Fast, furious action. My Chemical Romance, Go Betty Go, The Ramones, The Von Bondies, and Jimmy Eat World, to name a few. The only complaint about the soundtrack is the fact that there are those obligatory bad songs to go along with all the rest, and the soundtrack isn’t entirely customizable. As in, you can’t turn every song off.
All in all, Burnout 3: Takedown is a brilliant game with a few short comings, but they’re negligible. It’s a fast paced, good looking, and fun game that should be in the collection of any respectable gamers library. -A
Friday, August 26, 2011
Sunday, August 21, 2011
SoulCalibur
SoulCalibur is one of the greatest fighting games of all time. It sets itself apart by having a killer story, recognizable characters, and above all, blades. SoulCalibur is a smartly designed, beautifully crafted game that allows for mastering and just plain old button mashing with its easy to pick up and play game mechanics. Using clever 8-way run tactics and abilities, every single character has a diverse and over the top move set. There may be a few characters that have the same fighting style, or use the same weaponry, but each one manages to maintain their identity with their unique style, finesse, and looks. Each character can beat the other, there is no one character that is the ultimate.
The story of soulCalibur is different for each character that players take through the arcade mode. But all in all, everybody is after the sword for either personal reasons or the fate of the world or some such nonsense. The basic arcade mode takes players and whatever character they’ve chosen through eight stages which increase in difficulty. After running though the arcade mode a few times, you may or may not get bored, but for those that do get bored, you have options.
SoulCaibur does have quite a bit of content to keep people coming back for many, many hours. Training, multiplayer, and options are all there on the main menu, but for the hardcore there is weapon master mode. Weapon master mode is a giant map containing lots and lots of different challenges with varying conditions that change the battles so immensely that it becomes almost a controller-chucking frustrating challenge. Scratch that, it does become controller-chuckingly difficult. This is where the meat of the game is; however, there is a flaw with its unlocking system. Every challenge that you complete you earn gold. Rather than just unlocking more challenges by completing previous challenges or just simply buying them with the gold that you’ve worked so vary hard to obtain, the game forces players to buy art work. I guess they didn’t want the art gallery to get lonely. This is a bit of a frustration because only certain pieces of art work unlock new challenges for the weapon master mode. Sometimes it’s the more expensive one, sometimes it’s not. There is no indication of the piece, which are all impressive, that will allow you to progress through weapon master mode.
Speaking of art work, the game is beautiful, for its time, at least. Each character has a level of detail that blows other games, and other games of this genre, out of the water. Every character’s animation is smooth, fluid, and something to marvel at. The game environments are also something to marvel at. Even though everything in the background doesn’t really matter, and the only thing that you really should be paying any attention to is the squared circle and the other guy charging at you with a sword ready to cut your head off and mount over his fireplace, you still can’t help but have a sense of awe and wonder at the scenery. To add even more of a wow factor to the game, the weapons pretty much explode with fire and lightning to further enhance the oomph of each blow. Making each battle something of an epic proportion. It also helps that the soundtrack is one of the greatest in video game history… just saying.
Each level has its own score to accompany it and set the mood for bashing in someone’s skull. It’s and absolutely gorgeous soundtrack and it makes every single battle a glorious experience. Even when you completely trounce the other player, you still get a sense of triumph as the letters appear on screen and the announcer declares K. O.!
All in all SoulCalibur is a game that helps make the Dreamcast what it is. I’ve always been a fan of the series and have always enjoyed playing the games and seeing what they’ve become today. It’s truly a worthy opponent and a great addition to any respectable gamer’s library. With an impressive fighting system and a set of well balanced and unique characters and weapons, SoulCalibur, whichever number that you pick up (I recommend number two), is worth having. And it will keep you entertained for a long time. The legend will never die… A+
The story of soulCalibur is different for each character that players take through the arcade mode. But all in all, everybody is after the sword for either personal reasons or the fate of the world or some such nonsense. The basic arcade mode takes players and whatever character they’ve chosen through eight stages which increase in difficulty. After running though the arcade mode a few times, you may or may not get bored, but for those that do get bored, you have options.
SoulCaibur does have quite a bit of content to keep people coming back for many, many hours. Training, multiplayer, and options are all there on the main menu, but for the hardcore there is weapon master mode. Weapon master mode is a giant map containing lots and lots of different challenges with varying conditions that change the battles so immensely that it becomes almost a controller-chucking frustrating challenge. Scratch that, it does become controller-chuckingly difficult. This is where the meat of the game is; however, there is a flaw with its unlocking system. Every challenge that you complete you earn gold. Rather than just unlocking more challenges by completing previous challenges or just simply buying them with the gold that you’ve worked so vary hard to obtain, the game forces players to buy art work. I guess they didn’t want the art gallery to get lonely. This is a bit of a frustration because only certain pieces of art work unlock new challenges for the weapon master mode. Sometimes it’s the more expensive one, sometimes it’s not. There is no indication of the piece, which are all impressive, that will allow you to progress through weapon master mode.
Speaking of art work, the game is beautiful, for its time, at least. Each character has a level of detail that blows other games, and other games of this genre, out of the water. Every character’s animation is smooth, fluid, and something to marvel at. The game environments are also something to marvel at. Even though everything in the background doesn’t really matter, and the only thing that you really should be paying any attention to is the squared circle and the other guy charging at you with a sword ready to cut your head off and mount over his fireplace, you still can’t help but have a sense of awe and wonder at the scenery. To add even more of a wow factor to the game, the weapons pretty much explode with fire and lightning to further enhance the oomph of each blow. Making each battle something of an epic proportion. It also helps that the soundtrack is one of the greatest in video game history… just saying.
Each level has its own score to accompany it and set the mood for bashing in someone’s skull. It’s and absolutely gorgeous soundtrack and it makes every single battle a glorious experience. Even when you completely trounce the other player, you still get a sense of triumph as the letters appear on screen and the announcer declares K. O.!
All in all SoulCalibur is a game that helps make the Dreamcast what it is. I’ve always been a fan of the series and have always enjoyed playing the games and seeing what they’ve become today. It’s truly a worthy opponent and a great addition to any respectable gamer’s library. With an impressive fighting system and a set of well balanced and unique characters and weapons, SoulCalibur, whichever number that you pick up (I recommend number two), is worth having. And it will keep you entertained for a long time. The legend will never die… A+
Monday, August 1, 2011
Red Dead Redemption
Red Dead Redemption is one of the best games to come out during 2010. The game comes to us from Rockstar games, the studio behind the Grand Theft Auto franchise, as well as the Midnight Club games. Red Dead Redemption combines solid gameplay, gorgeous graphics, an authentic soundtrack, interesting, engaging, diverse and extremely well written characters, and a story that keeps players hooked until the very end.
The story of Red Dead Redemption follows a rough and tough cow boy named John Marston, who has been hired by the government to remove some undesirables from the state of New Austin. These undesirables used to be members of a gang that John Marston ran with. Throughout the game we learn more about the mysterious past of the main character, his motivations, his up brining, his hopes and dreams.
The gameplay of Red Dead Redemption is that of a cover-based shooter game. However, Rockstar keeps things diverse with a host of different side missions, and random instances that take place along side the road.
The core of the game is based around shooting and killing, this is a Rockstar game after all. The game has snap-to aiming, which means that when players aim, if they’re looking in the general direction of an enemy it will lock on. This keeps the game moving at a steady and fast pace when in a shoot out. Red Dead Redemption also has a “Dead Eye” mode, which players can go into while aiming their gun. Dead Eye throws the world into a sepia-toned Matrix by slowing everything down. The Dead Eye runs on a meter which drains as players use it. Players can increase their Dead Eye skills by completing challenges throughout the game.
Players will spend a large amount of time traveling from one point to another through the surprisingly beautiful landscape. The only drawback of this is the somewhat awkward controls when on horseback, but after a while it becomes easier to manage as you progress and get better horses. Along the way the game will throw random instances at players. These can be anything from helping a guy out who is being chased by wolves to catching fugitives who escaped from a local sheriff. Some random encounters can happen right in town, with locals coming up to John Marston and asking to help because someone gone and rustled their horse. Sometimes it’s to challenge him to a duel.
Every time John Marston gets in a duel it immerses the player in that classic moment of the showdown. Showdowns start off with the nail biting stare, then the screen flashes “DRAW”, the game goes into Dead Eye while the player marks places on their opponent. The ability to shoot the enemy in specific points can allow the player to end the duel in a single shot, or emptying their gun into their enemy, who signed their death warrant by challenging John Marston.
These different primary missions, side missions, and random instances earn players money, honor, and fame. Fame increases no matter what, as tales of John Marston’s actions spread throughout the land. Honor always seems to increase with every mission. Very few missions give players the choice to something dishonorable. However, doing something dishonorable doesn’t particularly suit the character of John Marston.
John Marston may be one tough bounty hunter who ruthlessly hunts for his former brothers in arms, but he is a gentleman at his core. He speaks with dignity, is polite to people he meets in town, and he honors the bonds of marriage. This is just John Marston, every single character, even the side characters, are this diverse. Having characters this deep and engaging creates a wonderful experience in and of itself. Everything in the game has an element of character, even the world in which Red Dead Redemption takes place.
Surprisingly the old west is gorgeous, and not just a bunch of sand and dead plants. Every different county of New Austin is recognizable by it’s vegetation, which may be vivid or sparse depending on the whereabouts you venture. From the crags and valleys of Gaptooth Ridge, to the great wide open plains of Hannigan’s Stead, to snaking ridges of Ojo Del Diablo. Every bit of Red Dead Redemption has character, and it is accompanied by an equally diverse, beautiful, and unique score that further enhances and immerses the player into a genuine cowboy experience.
The music of Red Dead Redemption is about as diverse as its characters. Each area has it’s own theme, which is piped in the background as you ride about the state of New Austin. This goes for the action sequences as well. every time there is someone shooting at you there is a piece that is particular to wherever you’re at in the game. There are only three licensed tracks in the game, and are used at the most opportune moment in the game, to truly enhance the sequence. Like when John Marston lands on foreign soil and travels along it’s lonesome roads in pursuit of his former gang members.
Also there is multiplayer.
Red Dead Redemption multiplayer puts players in free roam of New Austin. There are three different modes of multiplayer: Friendly, where players can’t kill other players, Normal, where players can kill other players, and Hardcore, where players can not only kill other players, but not see their tags over their heads. Multiplayer has so much to do in it, there’s hardly a single place that doesn’t have something to do in it. In free roam, there are a few games that players can get in on as a whole, while others can be brought into a private room with you, your friends, and whoever else wants to join in. Also, scattered throughout free roam are bandit hide outs, which player can run through by themselves or posses that they’ve created. In general, most everything gets you experience, which allows players to level up and unlock more things to use and equip your character with. But multiplayer isn’t all about killing folk, there’s also gambling. With the downloadable content that is available for purchase players can round up a few people and play poker, liars dice, or black jack.
All in all Red Dead Redemption is an amazing game with solid gameplay, incredible characters, gorgeous graphics, an authentic and beautiful soundtrack, and a whole host to do after the game is done. With multiplayer, challenges, and more weapons to unlock Red Dead Redemption will keep you coming back again and again. So, mammas be ready to let your babies grow up to be cowboys, because this game is a genuine western experience. A
The story of Red Dead Redemption follows a rough and tough cow boy named John Marston, who has been hired by the government to remove some undesirables from the state of New Austin. These undesirables used to be members of a gang that John Marston ran with. Throughout the game we learn more about the mysterious past of the main character, his motivations, his up brining, his hopes and dreams.
The gameplay of Red Dead Redemption is that of a cover-based shooter game. However, Rockstar keeps things diverse with a host of different side missions, and random instances that take place along side the road.
The core of the game is based around shooting and killing, this is a Rockstar game after all. The game has snap-to aiming, which means that when players aim, if they’re looking in the general direction of an enemy it will lock on. This keeps the game moving at a steady and fast pace when in a shoot out. Red Dead Redemption also has a “Dead Eye” mode, which players can go into while aiming their gun. Dead Eye throws the world into a sepia-toned Matrix by slowing everything down. The Dead Eye runs on a meter which drains as players use it. Players can increase their Dead Eye skills by completing challenges throughout the game.
Players will spend a large amount of time traveling from one point to another through the surprisingly beautiful landscape. The only drawback of this is the somewhat awkward controls when on horseback, but after a while it becomes easier to manage as you progress and get better horses. Along the way the game will throw random instances at players. These can be anything from helping a guy out who is being chased by wolves to catching fugitives who escaped from a local sheriff. Some random encounters can happen right in town, with locals coming up to John Marston and asking to help because someone gone and rustled their horse. Sometimes it’s to challenge him to a duel.
Every time John Marston gets in a duel it immerses the player in that classic moment of the showdown. Showdowns start off with the nail biting stare, then the screen flashes “DRAW”, the game goes into Dead Eye while the player marks places on their opponent. The ability to shoot the enemy in specific points can allow the player to end the duel in a single shot, or emptying their gun into their enemy, who signed their death warrant by challenging John Marston.
These different primary missions, side missions, and random instances earn players money, honor, and fame. Fame increases no matter what, as tales of John Marston’s actions spread throughout the land. Honor always seems to increase with every mission. Very few missions give players the choice to something dishonorable. However, doing something dishonorable doesn’t particularly suit the character of John Marston.
John Marston may be one tough bounty hunter who ruthlessly hunts for his former brothers in arms, but he is a gentleman at his core. He speaks with dignity, is polite to people he meets in town, and he honors the bonds of marriage. This is just John Marston, every single character, even the side characters, are this diverse. Having characters this deep and engaging creates a wonderful experience in and of itself. Everything in the game has an element of character, even the world in which Red Dead Redemption takes place.
Surprisingly the old west is gorgeous, and not just a bunch of sand and dead plants. Every different county of New Austin is recognizable by it’s vegetation, which may be vivid or sparse depending on the whereabouts you venture. From the crags and valleys of Gaptooth Ridge, to the great wide open plains of Hannigan’s Stead, to snaking ridges of Ojo Del Diablo. Every bit of Red Dead Redemption has character, and it is accompanied by an equally diverse, beautiful, and unique score that further enhances and immerses the player into a genuine cowboy experience.
The music of Red Dead Redemption is about as diverse as its characters. Each area has it’s own theme, which is piped in the background as you ride about the state of New Austin. This goes for the action sequences as well. every time there is someone shooting at you there is a piece that is particular to wherever you’re at in the game. There are only three licensed tracks in the game, and are used at the most opportune moment in the game, to truly enhance the sequence. Like when John Marston lands on foreign soil and travels along it’s lonesome roads in pursuit of his former gang members.
Also there is multiplayer.
Red Dead Redemption multiplayer puts players in free roam of New Austin. There are three different modes of multiplayer: Friendly, where players can’t kill other players, Normal, where players can kill other players, and Hardcore, where players can not only kill other players, but not see their tags over their heads. Multiplayer has so much to do in it, there’s hardly a single place that doesn’t have something to do in it. In free roam, there are a few games that players can get in on as a whole, while others can be brought into a private room with you, your friends, and whoever else wants to join in. Also, scattered throughout free roam are bandit hide outs, which player can run through by themselves or posses that they’ve created. In general, most everything gets you experience, which allows players to level up and unlock more things to use and equip your character with. But multiplayer isn’t all about killing folk, there’s also gambling. With the downloadable content that is available for purchase players can round up a few people and play poker, liars dice, or black jack.
All in all Red Dead Redemption is an amazing game with solid gameplay, incredible characters, gorgeous graphics, an authentic and beautiful soundtrack, and a whole host to do after the game is done. With multiplayer, challenges, and more weapons to unlock Red Dead Redemption will keep you coming back again and again. So, mammas be ready to let your babies grow up to be cowboys, because this game is a genuine western experience. A
Friday, July 1, 2011
Review: Star Fox Command (DS)
Star Fox Command brings that star fighter we all know and love to the DS. So, now we can take him on the go! But is it any good?
Yes. Quite a bit. The controls work very well, and are easy to understand. Steer with the touchpad, press any button to shoot. Al of the familiar mechanics are there from previous Star Fox games. They are just changed up to fit the game, and they fit like a glove. Bombs are no longer fired from the ship directly, in stead they are dropped in, like an air strike. On the touch pad, players have a view of a radar that tells them the locations of all the different enemies on the map. Player can pick up a bomb from their inventory and drop it anywhere on the grid. Players my predict where certain enemies will be so have the most effective strike. The charge shot is also there and works the same way, but this time around, the longer the player targets an enemy the more powerful the charged shot will be come. The barrel roll makes a return as well. All players have to do is draw a quick circle on the touchpad and away you go. Barrel rolling draws from the boost gauge, so it can only last for a little while, as doing the barrel roll is no longer just a single barrel roll. Barrel roll. A large majority of the game takes place on small arenas, as opposed to the rail that is the case with a majority of other Star Fox games. Switching to all range mode!
The story of Star Fox Command is one that you write out yourself. Players can make decisions on what happens next in the story in a sort of “choose your own adventure” kind of way. By doing this, players can drastically alter the events that transpire throughout the events of their play through. So much so, that it can even change who the players control in the coarse of the game. This feature alone warrants multiple play throughs, aside from it’s addicting and deep gameplay.
The sound and graphics are actually pretty good for a DS game. The detail and textures of the various environments look very good and make each environment distinguishable from the others, despite the occasional recycling of a few levels with different color pallet swaps. The soundtrack is that of traditional Star Fox games, same old songs, but I can’t really complain. The sound design is also the same as previous Star Fox games, but no complains. I love the classic sounds of Star Fox. Even the “voices” of the characters sound similar to the original Star Fox on Super Nintendo.
All in all, Star Fox Command is an instant classic and a necessary addition to your DS library. Addicting gameplay that’s familiar, easy to pick up, and gameplay that has lastability. It may just be a game to keep for the car trips, but it’s completely worth it. Pick it up if you can.
Yes. Quite a bit. The controls work very well, and are easy to understand. Steer with the touchpad, press any button to shoot. Al of the familiar mechanics are there from previous Star Fox games. They are just changed up to fit the game, and they fit like a glove. Bombs are no longer fired from the ship directly, in stead they are dropped in, like an air strike. On the touch pad, players have a view of a radar that tells them the locations of all the different enemies on the map. Player can pick up a bomb from their inventory and drop it anywhere on the grid. Players my predict where certain enemies will be so have the most effective strike. The charge shot is also there and works the same way, but this time around, the longer the player targets an enemy the more powerful the charged shot will be come. The barrel roll makes a return as well. All players have to do is draw a quick circle on the touchpad and away you go. Barrel rolling draws from the boost gauge, so it can only last for a little while, as doing the barrel roll is no longer just a single barrel roll. Barrel roll. A large majority of the game takes place on small arenas, as opposed to the rail that is the case with a majority of other Star Fox games. Switching to all range mode!
The story of Star Fox Command is one that you write out yourself. Players can make decisions on what happens next in the story in a sort of “choose your own adventure” kind of way. By doing this, players can drastically alter the events that transpire throughout the events of their play through. So much so, that it can even change who the players control in the coarse of the game. This feature alone warrants multiple play throughs, aside from it’s addicting and deep gameplay.
The sound and graphics are actually pretty good for a DS game. The detail and textures of the various environments look very good and make each environment distinguishable from the others, despite the occasional recycling of a few levels with different color pallet swaps. The soundtrack is that of traditional Star Fox games, same old songs, but I can’t really complain. The sound design is also the same as previous Star Fox games, but no complains. I love the classic sounds of Star Fox. Even the “voices” of the characters sound similar to the original Star Fox on Super Nintendo.
All in all, Star Fox Command is an instant classic and a necessary addition to your DS library. Addicting gameplay that’s familiar, easy to pick up, and gameplay that has lastability. It may just be a game to keep for the car trips, but it’s completely worth it. Pick it up if you can.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Halo
Halo is the game that made the xbox. Had it not been for this genre defining game, the xbox would not be what it is today.
Halo comes to us from Bungie, formally a PC game making company. The story of Halo follows Master Chief, a big brick of super powered armor, who is woken up from his cryogenic nap because the ship has come under attack by an alien group that call themselves The Covenant. After fighting through a few aliens here and there, Master Chief makes it o the lost ship and lands on an enormous ring structure called Halo. Chief, along with his smarmy AI companion Cortana, make their way all over the ring and try to regroup the marines and go on a reunion tour and kick the aliens ass.
The gameplay of Halo makes the FPS for the console feasible. It’s reminiscent of the keyboard and mouse controls of a computer game. The controls are tight, and effective. While it does take a while to get used to them. Most shooters in this day and age follow the control scheme of Halo because of it’s simplicity. Halo sets itself apart from these shooters, even those that came after it, with it’s incredibly fierce AI.
Halo does allow for different difficulty levels, the most advanced called Legendary. It is indeed the stuff of Legend as it is still talked about with pride, or fear, among gamers today. Halo also makes itself known with expertly crafted levels, both in multiplayer and single player.
The single player campaign is one for the books, as it maintains some of the most memorable moments in game. Most of that comes from the imaginative and superb level design. Whether it’s storming the beach of an island, to fighting your way through a bridge while being harassed from another bridge that runs along side it all while being attacked by a Banshee. The character design is also easily recognizable, and simple. Players are immediately filled with a sense of horror as they come across an Elite, clad in golden armor as he charges toward them with energy sword drawn. This desperate struggle between player and energy sword guy is accompanied by an incredible soundtrack.
People throughout the world recognize the Halo melody as it has become that of household importance. The main Halo theme along with the rest of the score that complete the soundtrack, makes for welcome accompaniment. Like a buddy that you can play through the entire campaign with.
Speaking of….
Halo has a plethora of multiplayer options, including cooperative mode, where you can play split screen with a friend through the entire campaign mode and on any difficulty level. The multiplayer, however, does not have xbox live support, which is a bit of a let down as the game types and maps to play on with Halo are so much fun. Good thing they introduced that, along with some other features in the second game.
All in all, Halo is a fantastic game that is easy to pick up for the hardcore audience, and a good place to start for those looking to become hardcore. Halo combines all the things we really like about games like these. Action, adventure, tough AI, a host of impressive and interesting weaponry, and a sense of mystery and the unknown. If you don’t have this game, you probably don’t own an original xbox. Good news though, as at this years E3 during Microsoft’s press conference, they announced that the original Halo would be remade in HD, and with updated graphics. How about that?
Ten years? Wow!
Halo comes to us from Bungie, formally a PC game making company. The story of Halo follows Master Chief, a big brick of super powered armor, who is woken up from his cryogenic nap because the ship has come under attack by an alien group that call themselves The Covenant. After fighting through a few aliens here and there, Master Chief makes it o the lost ship and lands on an enormous ring structure called Halo. Chief, along with his smarmy AI companion Cortana, make their way all over the ring and try to regroup the marines and go on a reunion tour and kick the aliens ass.
The gameplay of Halo makes the FPS for the console feasible. It’s reminiscent of the keyboard and mouse controls of a computer game. The controls are tight, and effective. While it does take a while to get used to them. Most shooters in this day and age follow the control scheme of Halo because of it’s simplicity. Halo sets itself apart from these shooters, even those that came after it, with it’s incredibly fierce AI.
Halo does allow for different difficulty levels, the most advanced called Legendary. It is indeed the stuff of Legend as it is still talked about with pride, or fear, among gamers today. Halo also makes itself known with expertly crafted levels, both in multiplayer and single player.
The single player campaign is one for the books, as it maintains some of the most memorable moments in game. Most of that comes from the imaginative and superb level design. Whether it’s storming the beach of an island, to fighting your way through a bridge while being harassed from another bridge that runs along side it all while being attacked by a Banshee. The character design is also easily recognizable, and simple. Players are immediately filled with a sense of horror as they come across an Elite, clad in golden armor as he charges toward them with energy sword drawn. This desperate struggle between player and energy sword guy is accompanied by an incredible soundtrack.
People throughout the world recognize the Halo melody as it has become that of household importance. The main Halo theme along with the rest of the score that complete the soundtrack, makes for welcome accompaniment. Like a buddy that you can play through the entire campaign with.
Speaking of….
Halo has a plethora of multiplayer options, including cooperative mode, where you can play split screen with a friend through the entire campaign mode and on any difficulty level. The multiplayer, however, does not have xbox live support, which is a bit of a let down as the game types and maps to play on with Halo are so much fun. Good thing they introduced that, along with some other features in the second game.
All in all, Halo is a fantastic game that is easy to pick up for the hardcore audience, and a good place to start for those looking to become hardcore. Halo combines all the things we really like about games like these. Action, adventure, tough AI, a host of impressive and interesting weaponry, and a sense of mystery and the unknown. If you don’t have this game, you probably don’t own an original xbox. Good news though, as at this years E3 during Microsoft’s press conference, they announced that the original Halo would be remade in HD, and with updated graphics. How about that?
Ten years? Wow!
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Flower
Flower is a PSN downloadable game that I believe that everybody can, and should play. It’s simple, it’s fun, it’s easy, and it’s gorgeous.
Flower has no story, it has no characters. It only seems to make a statement. Go outside, and make the world a better place. Flower touches on the tones of the big city destroying our naturally beautiful world with it’s big buildings, and ugly construction sites…. I think. This game can truly be considered art. It’s left up to the interpretation of its audience. All video games are art, but that’s for another Monday.
The gameplay is simple: hold button, steer controller. The objective is simple, fly over other flowers, make them grow, bring the place back to live. And boy does it ever come back to life. The environment turns from a dull gray to lively greens, blues, reds, whites, and a plethora of many other colors that send you into a shock of awe. It’s a game that you can sit back and admire. Te game can be beaten, or rather completed, in about 45 minutes to an hour. It’s not supposed to be a long game, but it’s fun and pretty and you should play it.
That Game Company, the developers of Flower, have a brilliant team of folks at their studio and who can make a game that is simple and enjoyable. They were also at this years E3, showing off their up and coming game, Journey. While it has nothing to do with the band of the same name, it still looks amazing. It maintains the feel of a game by That Game Company while being something else all together. Be sure to keep track of That Game Company and all that they are doing at http://thatgamecompany.com/
Flower has no story, it has no characters. It only seems to make a statement. Go outside, and make the world a better place. Flower touches on the tones of the big city destroying our naturally beautiful world with it’s big buildings, and ugly construction sites…. I think. This game can truly be considered art. It’s left up to the interpretation of its audience. All video games are art, but that’s for another Monday.
The gameplay is simple: hold button, steer controller. The objective is simple, fly over other flowers, make them grow, bring the place back to live. And boy does it ever come back to life. The environment turns from a dull gray to lively greens, blues, reds, whites, and a plethora of many other colors that send you into a shock of awe. It’s a game that you can sit back and admire. Te game can be beaten, or rather completed, in about 45 minutes to an hour. It’s not supposed to be a long game, but it’s fun and pretty and you should play it.
That Game Company, the developers of Flower, have a brilliant team of folks at their studio and who can make a game that is simple and enjoyable. They were also at this years E3, showing off their up and coming game, Journey. While it has nothing to do with the band of the same name, it still looks amazing. It maintains the feel of a game by That Game Company while being something else all together. Be sure to keep track of That Game Company and all that they are doing at http://thatgamecompany.com/
Case of the Mondays: NO YOU'RE NOT HARDCORE
This years E3 showed off a lot of game3s for the “hardcore” audience. Every single one of these games were, violent, bloody, had realistic graphics, and will be rated M for mature. This is not hardcore! This is just senseless violence, and it doesn’t help the medium progress to being considered an art form, or to be taken seriously.
What always bothers me about people talking about hardcore games, is that they always have to be violent, realistic, have guns, and has to be described with the words “visceral”, “action” and “intense”. Why can’t a hardcore game just be good? Don’t get me wrong, some of these violent games are good. However, it seems they’ve all been done, they’re all the same, they all feel expected. Call of Duty, Halo, Gears of War, Ninja Gaiden, and several others were showcased at E3 and they were all presented for the “hardcore” audience.
I always end up referencing the game Pikmin, because I was a doubter of the games capability to be a challenge and to hook me. I was dead wrong. Pikmin is extremely challenging as well as addictive. While the graphics come off as childish, they are charming and give the player of being tiny and insignificant. But with the power of your regiment of Pikmin, you can overcome almost any obstacle. It’s a tremendous sense of accomplishment when you take down a monster that’s a hundred times your size. I know that Shadow of the Colossus does this as well, and it does it very very well. However, let me put on my hipster glasses and say that Pikmin did it first.
I have no qualms about the showcasing of violent video games. But it bothers me to say that the hardcore audience, the ones who not only play nonstop, but play a variety of games, get angry at games that look “childish” or “cartoony” and cast them off to the side.
Originality was a rare find at E3 as well. Most games were sequels or ports. I was excited for these sequels and ports as well, but come on fellas! Show me something original! I know it’s tough coming up with something new, and it’s probably too much to ask for as making a game is a lot of work. E3 is one giant commercial and producers and developers want to make money so that they can continue to make new, exciting, and original IPs. So perhaps, I, and everyone else, should just be patient. But at least let us know that when you’re done with your visceral, epic, action intense trilogy, that you’re thinking ahead to the future and we will see something new.
Nintendo.
Everybody always seems to get on Nintendos back about not having anything new or original, and how they rely on their new peripherals and gadgets to see them through ad make them money. While it may seem that way, I honestly don’t care. I love The Legend of Zelda, and you do to! You love the idea that you can play The Ocarina of Time on your 3DS and take it wherever you go. You love these games because they are they reason you became hardcore gamers. You love these games because they are the reason you got into games. You love these games because they are good.
What always bothers me about people talking about hardcore games, is that they always have to be violent, realistic, have guns, and has to be described with the words “visceral”, “action” and “intense”. Why can’t a hardcore game just be good? Don’t get me wrong, some of these violent games are good. However, it seems they’ve all been done, they’re all the same, they all feel expected. Call of Duty, Halo, Gears of War, Ninja Gaiden, and several others were showcased at E3 and they were all presented for the “hardcore” audience.
I always end up referencing the game Pikmin, because I was a doubter of the games capability to be a challenge and to hook me. I was dead wrong. Pikmin is extremely challenging as well as addictive. While the graphics come off as childish, they are charming and give the player of being tiny and insignificant. But with the power of your regiment of Pikmin, you can overcome almost any obstacle. It’s a tremendous sense of accomplishment when you take down a monster that’s a hundred times your size. I know that Shadow of the Colossus does this as well, and it does it very very well. However, let me put on my hipster glasses and say that Pikmin did it first.
I have no qualms about the showcasing of violent video games. But it bothers me to say that the hardcore audience, the ones who not only play nonstop, but play a variety of games, get angry at games that look “childish” or “cartoony” and cast them off to the side.
Originality was a rare find at E3 as well. Most games were sequels or ports. I was excited for these sequels and ports as well, but come on fellas! Show me something original! I know it’s tough coming up with something new, and it’s probably too much to ask for as making a game is a lot of work. E3 is one giant commercial and producers and developers want to make money so that they can continue to make new, exciting, and original IPs. So perhaps, I, and everyone else, should just be patient. But at least let us know that when you’re done with your visceral, epic, action intense trilogy, that you’re thinking ahead to the future and we will see something new.
Nintendo.
Everybody always seems to get on Nintendos back about not having anything new or original, and how they rely on their new peripherals and gadgets to see them through ad make them money. While it may seem that way, I honestly don’t care. I love The Legend of Zelda, and you do to! You love the idea that you can play The Ocarina of Time on your 3DS and take it wherever you go. You love these games because they are they reason you became hardcore gamers. You love these games because they are the reason you got into games. You love these games because they are good.
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