• 18Nov 09

  Happy Birthday GameCube!

  Eight years ago today Nintendo's Purple Purse that tried really hard was released.
  ----

  Warrior's Call

  Back in 2001 when the GameCube launched it lacked a definitive killer-app to go up against Microsoft's formidable Halo and Sony's excellent line-up. But the GameCube's savior wasn't too far off as a mere two weeks after its launch Super Smash Bros. Melee was released. Melee not only stands tall as the GameCube's best game released in 2001, but for some folks it may even be the best multiplayer game available even today.
  
  For most the real meat of the game comes through its insane multiplayer. The core gameplay is still based on the same model as the first game. Combat is relegated to two buttons and pressing the control stick in a different direction with that button will cause a different attack. There are other evasive moves and the combat requires a ton of strategy against skilled players but Melee is one of the best games of the 'easy to play hard to master' philosophy. There are twenty-five characters in all, and each set of characters has at least one level dedicated to them from their own universe. Add in items and the "oh snap, did you see that?" moments or only a second away.
  
  While there is clearly a refinement in gameplay from one game to another in the series, the first thing to notice about Melee is just how much stuff there is to do for those that can't play multiplayer. The same CIassic Mode is back where you'll select a character and go through the stages though things are mixed up with a team composed of Mario characters, fifteen Kirbys all running rampant, giant Donkey Kong and more and the best part is that it's different each time you play. The other new modes also include Adventure, where your character will run on a 2D world attacking enemies as you advance from fight to fight. It presents a wonderful homage to each of Nintendo's various series and is well thought out. The third and possibly best single player addition comes in the form of Event Mode where there are fifty-one events to go through, each with the odds stacked against you and going up in difficulty with each stage. Some memorable bouts are to be found here. There are other modes as well scattered throughout, Cruel Melee comes to mind as one of the crazier modes, and there's no doubt that folks will find a good time playing alone.
  
  The aesthetics in Melee hold up pretty well, they aren't quite as spectacular as Brawl or any recent titles, but it is easy on the eyes and the wonderful mishmash of levels from Nintendo history really help push the game forward. The music on the other hand is absolutely wonderful, coming with a few new tunes for Smash Bros. and a lot of remixed music from favorite franchises.
  
  Back in the early days of the GameCube, Super Smash Bros. Melee was the game to have, and for some it's still the best available game on Nintendo's Purple Purse. It's a fantastic self-homage to the company's glory and a total blast to play either alone or with some friends. Melee may not be as wild as Brawl, but it is just as good.

  Score

  "It's a Me.... Oh...."

  One of the major launch games for Nintendo's GameCube back in 2001 was Luigi's Mansion. Poor Luigi finally steps out of his brother's shadow to have an adventure of his own and while Luigi's Mansion may not be what you would expect, it is good old-fashioned fun!
  
  Luigi has just won a mansion and he's out to claim it. It turns out though that the mansion is haunted and big bro Mario has been captured. Suddenly, it's up to Luigi to jump into the fray and save his spotlight-stealing brother from harm. The game isn't a platformer, but something different entirely. As Luigi you carry a vacuum, ala GhostBusters, on your backside, a flashlight and a Gameboy Horror that serves as a map and scanner of sorts. You can't jump, but you can hunt ghosts.
  
  Combat can get pretty hectic against groups of ghosts since you will be in the dark and have to scare the ghosts with your flashlight before sucking them up with your vacuum. There are regular ghosts and Portrait Ghosts in the game, the latter of which were once trapped in paintings and are now running your mansion. Capturing them involves a puzzle and then taking them down. The real fun comes from the boss battles though, which are absolutely creative. You'll go from facing a giant baby as you run around in its crib while giant rocking horses are launched at you from every direction, to a giant shadow monster inside of a tombstone that spawns more giant shadow monsters. It all culminates in a very challenging and surprisingly epic final boss fight that really should be experienced by anyone that's into great ending battles.
  
  Luigi's Mansion is short though and it will take most around six hours to run through it. But Luigi's Mansion wasn't designed as a Mario game. This is like an old school arcade game where you keep on playing for the higher score. The better you are the more money you'll find in the mansions from ghosts. The money is like a high score tracker and at the end of each area the game lets you know how much money and treasure you found before moving on. I've played through the game over six times and it's always fresh and fun to get better and better at it.
  
  The graphics for Luigi's Mansion are beautiful. The mansion itself plays a major role as a character in the game, being suitably dark yet still wonderfully charming so that even a child can enjoy the action on hand. The ghost designs are silly and the boss fights are in worlds outside of the Mansion providing a trippy backdrop for everything. The music holds a suitable amount of wonder too, as the game has the ominous, haunting feeling, but when you find a Toad to save at the music becomes wonderfully upbeat and will only put a smile on your face. Another adorable aspect comes from Luigi himself as he runs through the Mansion his feet leaving dust behind him as he calls out Mario's name.
  
  Luigi's Mansion is a wonderful and readily replayable game. The aesthetics are well done and lend the game some much-needed charm. It may not have been the next big Mario game, but it sure was nice to see Luigi in a starring role for once. Here's hoping for a sequel soon enough.

  Score

  Real Fantasy!

  The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker turned quite a few heads with its cel-shaded graphics and many fans were outraged that their favorite franchise could a take turn like this. Regardless of what side of the fence you were on for the graphics argument, Wind Waker is easily the best and most creative of the 3D Zelda games.
  
  Wind Waker uses the same Zelda gameplay formula as seen before, but it mixes it up with creativity and fresh ideas. The most noticeable of these is that the overworld is on the ocean. Sailing is a big part of Wind Waker and you will spend a lot of time on the sea. But each new area provides that much more excitement as there is more and more hidden places and treasure to find. The game captures a sense of discovery not seen since first running through Hyrule Field in Ocarine of Time.
  
  The combat is deeper as well compared to other titles in the series as certain moves will let you rip the armor straight off of your foes, something that other games in the series do not possess. It also stays away from Hyrule as the game is far into the future. You are merely a young boy who must dress as the legendary Hero of Time when children reach a certain age. Of course, you hate the clothing, but what young man would want to wear white tights anyway?
  
  The dungeons are particularly exciting and in many cases the game doesn't even let you know that you are in a dungeon until it finally dawns on you. Wind Waker is such a well-realized and cohesive experience that it's hard to imagine any other game trying to match its splendor. The boss fights are suitably epic and take up the entire screen at times. The game's visuals allow these monsters to be even craftier than if Wind Waker went with a realistic look.
  
  Wind Waker captures a sense of light-hearted adventure that the other Zelda titles do not match. In the other games you are usually out to save the world. In this game you just want to rescue your sister and hang out with a few pirates in the process. But when the story takes a turn for the dramatic you feel it more than in the previous games. The final area as well as the final showdown with Ganondorf not only exemplifies this fact but they have yet to be bested by any other game in the genre. Twilight Princess and Okami's endgames simply can't match up to Wind Waker's finale and that is a testament to its greatness.
  
  Wind Waker's visuals stand as one of the best parts of the game. They convey emotion and that's something few games can do. Link's animated eyes scan ahead for enemies and you notice it. Other characters beam with gratitude and you can tell they mean it. The game is very well designed in this regard. Every area feels unique and exciting to explore because of the visuals. The sound is also well done with an at times light-hearted and at other times epic soundtrack that really captures the feel of the game.
  
  Wind Waker is a testament to how great games are made. Not only is it one of the best games released on the GameCube but it also manages to be even better than the other games in the series. It has heart and ambition, two of the key ingredients for a great game, and Wind Waker succeeds on all fronts. Don't miss this creative and heart-warming adventure.

  Score

  I totally did this all on a whim.

  • Posted Nov 18, 2009 10:30 pm PT
  • Category: Games
  • 17 Comments
  • Tag
  • Print
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Digg
  • Tweet
• 17Nov 09

  She'll take you for a ride, but only if you commit to her.

  Depending on your interest and overall skill in fighting games, Marvel VS Capcom 2 will be one of the best fighting games released on the Xbox Live Arcade or one of the most difficult, manic and absolutely insane games ever made. Either way, the game is enjoyable, but if you are a casual fight fan then don't expect to make it too far into this game if you aren't willing to commit to it.
  
  Marvel VS Capcom 2's first console appearance was on the Dreamcast and later there were Xbox and PS2 ports as well. The presentation has received no noticeable upgrade, so the graphics and sound are about the same as they were before. These are Dreamcast level sprites fighting and the same horrendous soundtrack, backed by the usual battle cries of each individual fighter. The main difference between those three versions and the new XBLA and PSN versions is online play.
  
  Depending on your skill level though, you may not even have the guts to step online, and that's the biggest fault with this game. Marvel VS Capcom 2 is hard to grasp because it's a three on three fighting game that can have any of your three characters on-screen at once filling the screen with a brightly colored attack that can combo enemies for sometimes hundreds of times. But the game makes no concessions to beginners: if you don't know how to play this game then it's all trial and error until you figure it out.
  
  The original version enticed gamers to enter the training mode and learn the game's mechanics by unlocking the roster of 56 available fighters. In the new version the 56 fighters are all unlocked, and this is definitely good news for those who adore the game and simply want to test their skill online against other skilled opponents, but it essentially eliminates the chances of a newcomer to feel motivated to learn the ropes. It helps that all of the characters only really have around four or so move sets to learn, but with 56 characters and a lack of overall balance in the roster it will take a lot of time and dedication to figure out who your favorites are, how to string their moves together for massive combos and how to read your opponents' moves.
  
  The game's multiplayer is pretty much the focus of it all with online play. Otherwise there is Arcade mode, which allows you to go through the game's seven stages with as many continues as necessary, Score Attack is the same idea only with one life and Training Mode, which is very bare bones and explains almost nothing to the player. On the multiplayer side you have local matches and online matches.
  
  The difficulty of the game's single player again depends on the skill level of the person playing the game. If you have never touched Marvel VS Capcom 2 before then don't expect to even finish the game on Easy. It takes time and practice to become good enough to complete the game on the easiest mode and most folks simply won't have anything to do with that. Basically you will have to spend a lot of time in Training Mode, the problem is that it doesn't really teach you much and there's no real incentive to get into it. Chances are that if you can't even complete the game on Easy that you won't have anything to do with the online mode either, and that creates a problem for newcomers.
  
  There is one major caveat though: Marvel VS Capcom 2 is good. In fact, it's really good. The core gameplay is just downright fun and the manic action is a blast to see on-screen. The 23 available characters from each universe make a diverse cast that makes the game really exciting to play, especially for fans of either universe. Well-known and relatively obscure characters are all here and your favorites, either by the character designs or simply their execution in fighting will be a tough task since the game's roster can range from badasses like Cable to laughable yet adorable additions like Servbot. For many beginners the Local Matches will be their go to destination if they have friends around. The game's quality mechanics will take up hours out of each time it's booted up for play.
  
  Marvel VS Capcom 2 was designed with long-term fans in mind. If you loved the game before than the $15 asking price for this game with online play is a no-brainer. It's just a shame to see Capcom and Backbone not flesh out the Training Mode for newcomers because it does effectively limit the appeal of the game to many. However, if you have local competition around then expect to put dozens of hours into this game's multiplayer. You can go on through the whole thing without touching the Arcade Mode or Online simply because going head to head with others is just that much fun. Marvel VS Capcom 2 may not be the best at teaching gamers how to learn the game's mechanics, but it is ridiculously fun right from the outset.

  Score

  I haven't beaten Arcade or unlocked a single achievement. But this game is just so fun to play in local matches with people I know that it's great to just bust it out and kill a few hours!

  • Posted Nov 17, 2009 2:18 pm PT
  • Category: Games
  • 14 Comments
  • Tag
  • Print
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Digg
  • Tweet
• 15Nov 09

  Mutha@(#$&#!!! I'll #)&%$)#& and then #(&$)_#&*_@&! %)&a

  A stripper with a Wii remote pointed straight at your heart: when a game starts like that you know you're in for a treat and that's simply what The House of the Dead: Overkill is. This hilarious, brutal, gory and sometimes sexy (if that's your thing) game is like a welcome treat for the Nintendo Wii as it reinvents the series and embraces its new 1970's pulp horror themes.
  
  Overkill, like its predecessors, is an on-rails light gun game. You have no control over your character's motions; the game guides you through the levels. You do have control over aiming and peripheral vision, and as swarms of mutants gang up on you, you simply point and shoot. The Wii remote is a perfect fit for this kind of gameplay, eliminating the need to purchase another plastic gun.
  
  The characters in this game are absolutely aces and include the odd couple duo of Agent G and the ladies' man Detective Isaac Washington who are both out to hunt down the nefarious Papa Caesar. These men will also cross paths with Varla Guns, an ex-stripper who has her own vendetta. The scenarios are absolutely funny, the profanity is over-the-top, and the cutscenes are intentionally done in a cheesy manner, and poorly edited at that. But it all makes the game feel like a unique experience that really should be played through as Agent G and Isaac are constantly at odds with one another as they travel through the game's areas and form one of the weirdest friendships seen.
  
  The mutants you encounter in the game can be any sorts of person really, from rednecks, nurses, doctors, and of course hobos! The boss battles are fairly disgusting in their own right, as each boss is far mutated beyond any normal foe. The game does show you the weak spots though, so the battles can be pretty easy. The final boss battle on the other hand, in fact, the final sequence as a whole, is so well done, so grand in scope, brutally sexual in a way that only Oedipus could love, and so disgusting that it can't help but go down as one of the best finales ever put in a game.
  
  The graphics in Overkill on a technical level are fairly plain, but artistically are quite wonderful. You'll go from each level to the other and none of them look alike. They are all based on B-quality horror films and your locales will be a mansion, a hospital, a swamp, etc. Each level is presented with a movie poster showing the names of the actors (the game's characters) and what the story will be about in that level in a cheesy catchline.
  
  The soundtrack on the other hand is just downright ridiculous and you might just find yourself staying in the menus to hear the bizarre lyrics play out. It has a 1970's feel to it, much like the rest of the game, and it really helps push the feel that Overkill is trying to capture. The voice acting is wonderfully done, even if all of it is profanity. Agent G and Isaac will constantly be chattering as they run through the levels and it only further adds to this humorous game. The characters really are cheesy, but they work out so well, just like Gears of War's Delta Squad, they are endearing even though they shouldn't be taken seriously. The sound effects on the other hand are about average, mutants won't send chills down your spine, guns don't sound powerful, but then again, that isn't necessarily what should be expected from a game like Overkill.
  
  Overkill is a brief experience. For those that want to simply run through the game's story it will take them about three hours. Replayability is the key though. On my first few nights playing Overkill I stayed only on the first three levels, replaying them to aim for a higher score and a higher overall grade. After about six hours spread across many nights I finally continued into other levels and repeated the same thing. It isn't necessary to play the game that way, but constantly striving to better yourself and being replayable are essential to gaining full enjoyment out of the game. Once the story mode is completed, the much more challenging and lengthier Director's Cut is unlocked providing more on-rails shooting action, just with a more traditional life system that makes the game a bit more challenging than the regular mode. Coop is an essential part of the multiplayer and any portion of Overkill can be played with another person. There are also some mini-games available to play as well, though chances are most folks will stay with the story.
  
  Overkill also earns its M rating. Don't be fooled by this game being on the Wii that somehow it's less mature than other M rated games. Some folks may be so appalled by this game that they may not agree with the M rating, especially for the finale. Overkill is filled with blood and gore, profanity and has a thing about strippers. This game is definitely not for the sensitive folks, nor should it ever be played in front of any child regardless of their maturity or age. Playing Dead Space or Grand Theft Auto in front of a child is more appropriate than playing Overkill.
  
  The House of the Dead: Overkill is one of the best light gun games around. It has a wonderfully unique and cheesy atmosphere. The game is brutal, intense and funny. Any of age gamers that own a Wii should definitely look into this game, as it is one of the year's best. There aren't many games quite as risqué as The House of the Dead: Overkill, which may explain why there aren't many games that are this funny and absolutely inappropriate: basically, show it off to everyone you know.

  Score

  HAPPY BIRTHDAY HALO! YOU'RE EIGHT YEARS OLD YOU SEXY OLD DOG! Cortana, you get hotter every year, my lovely peach.

  • Posted Nov 15, 2009 11:15 pm PT
  • Category: Games
  • 16 Comments
  • Tag
  • Print
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Digg
  • Tweet

See Previous Blog Posts »