• 28Nov 09

  More fun with the collection ...

  Well, once again I dug into my rather extensive library of games to find a couple of titles I played for a bit, but then they got pushed aside as new games (and, at times, new hardware) came along. Thanks to the Wii's backwards-compatibility, I've been able to get back into my Gamecube library, starting with the two "Star Wars Rogue Squadron" games for the system, the launch title "Rogue Leader" and its sequel, "Rebel Strike." It's fun to see things that, believe it or not, I never got around to seeing before, such as finding out that "Rebel Strike" has all three Atari "Star Wars" arcade games hidden away in it (no, I didn't read that deep into the review).

  Another duo of games I've rediscovered are the last two "Super Mario" titles ... "Sunshine" on the Gamecube and "Galaxy" on the Wii. In both cases, instead of picking up where I left off, I decided to restart my campaigns from the opening scenes. I have to admit, my impressions of both games were harmed somewhat by the repetitive nature of returning to the same game worlds over and over, each time with different conditions, a format that debuted with "Super Mario 64" (another one I haven't finished ... see aforementioned reason). "Sunshine" seems to suffer from this more than "Galaxy," with upwards of 8 episodes in some worlds, although thankfully some are very short. "Galaxy" made a very fair swap, trading out repetition for a larger number of one-shot levels that use the Wii's control scheme in some fun ways. I also have to admit I like the comet levels, which add some challenging parameters to some levels.

  Considering just how many games (and systems) I have, there's a lot more to see again for the first time. Happy Turkey Day, y'all!

  • Posted Nov 28, 2009 4:38 pm PT
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• 25Jul 09

  Another classic completed ...

  I continue to play classic games I've had for a while but, for some reason, I haven't gotten around to finishing them. A couple of Black Fridays ago, I impulsively picked up a new Nintendo DS Lite ... the gold "Legend of Zelda" edition that came packed with the then-new "Phantom Hourglass." Well, as I was getting into the game (a fun title, by the by, if you don't have it), story points kept popping up that referenced the first title in this continuity, "The Wind Waker" on GameCube. Since I prefer to play games in order (see previous posts regarding "God of War"), I decided to fire up the old WayBack machine (in this case, the Wii) and delve into this merger of Zelda and "Waterworld."

  As I looked at my original game save on my old reliable Memory Card 251--why the GCN memory cards used such oddball numbers is beyond me--it was last saved over six years ago. So I started anew ... and this time I couldn't put it down. I just finished it today, and now the story in "Phantom Hourglass" makes more sense. What I like the best about these games is that they are separate and independant from the classic Zelda games (up to and including "Twilight Princess"), and as such they can keep up both continuities at the same time. It appears that the next DS iteration, "Spirit Tracks," will be in the new universe, and while little has been said about the next Wii version, I'd wager it will be in the classic universe.

  As to what game I pick up next ... not sure at the moment. Probably will continue with "Phantom Hourglass," if I were to guess, or maybe return to the Ace Attorney series (still working on "And Justice For All").

  • Posted Jul 25, 2009 6:39 pm PT
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• 9Jun 09

  God of War Complete

  Admittedly, that didn't take too long. I just now finished the game on Normal difficulty, and I'm quite satisfied with the ending, although it does make me wonder just how "God of War II" starts. Based on my early reading, the PSP's "Chains of Olympus" is a prequel to "God of War," and what I've learned so far definitely has me curious as to how the game's story unfolded to this point. I'm trying to be cautious about just what I read, lest I spoil the events of GoW2 and CoO.

  I'm very story-oriented. I've never been a huge fan of first-person shooters, like Quake and Doom, because they came across as, well, like an X-rated movie: all action with no plot. Then came "Halo" ... there was a game with exceptional graphics *and* superb story-telling. "Metroid Prime" was also a winner, combining top-notch gameplay with a riveting story. Now, "God of War" joins that same pantheon.

  Next up, "God of War II" ... and maybe my first crack at GoW's God Mode, to see if I can get the other unlockable items.

  • Posted Jun 9, 2009 4:54 pm PT
  • Category: Games
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