don’t tell me the ending to: Bleach
This anime suffers from DBZ syndrome. But it’s still entertaining. I’ve watched through the end of the Soul Society arc, and hit the first section where they are probably just adding in filler. The filler section is what stopped my Naruto watching dead cold, so we’ll see if this has the same effect.
don’t tell me the ending to: Phoenix Wright – Ace Attorney
Sometimes, I’m not in front of my TV playing games. Perhaps I’m on a bus, or a car trip, or on the toilet. In these situations, I may be playing either my PSP or DS. Lately, it’s been the DS and the cult title: Phoenix Wright – Ace Attorney.
Originally a port of an old GBA title that was never released outside Japan, the DS version takes little advantage of the touch screen to improve the interface. The game does ooze personality, however, in its cast of eclectic characters. Can a crappy port still be enjoyable if the base game was initially good (but not worth exporting)?
I think so.
don’t tell me the ending to: Superman Returns
I’ve seen the movie. I wish they had taken the last 45 minutes and left it on the cutting room floor. But that’s not what this post is about. It is about a Superman video game that doesn’t suck.
That doesn’t mean it is good. It means it may be ok, or a little bad. But it doesn’t suck. And that hasn’t happened. Almost Ever. I liked Blizzard’s Death and Return of Superman, but that game was hard and had no co-op, and no way to save your progress. It was like 1player Battle Toads.
This game is like Spiderman 2 (great game), but instead of swinging, you just fly everywhere. In a way that isn’t like driving a semi-truck drunk with a locked steering column through the air. And no, I don’t mean a flying semi-truck through the air; I mean a flying a normal, average semi-truck (see: Superman 64). Continue reading
don’t tell me the ending to: The Simpson’s Game
Player 2 doesn’t get achievements. This game is fun, but I can’t imagine playing it single player. Combined, these two facts can kill this game for many of you. I, however, have a couple friends who don’t have 360’s and couldn’t give two shits about achievements. Lucky me.
The game itself is cartoony, but hardly pretty. I haven’t had a chance to try it, but from the game trailers the Naruto game does better cell shading. The game does contain animated cartoon clips for cinematics, which are in all their hd glory. Combined with the humor (and the graphics certainly aren’t bad), the game has a charming presentation. Nothing like running through the “Game Engine” level, where video games are made, passing posters of EA’s Bite Night 2004 (Tyson on the cover), and a skeleton’s in EA’s QA Dept.
It also has made me laugh. I know. I haven’t seen the Simpson’s movie yet, but the show certainly hasn’t done that in awhile. We, the gamers, are certainly the target audience. One of the many level collectibles are “Cliches.” These include things like “Swimming: you can’t swim until the sequel.” or “Exploding Barrels” and “Invisible Barriers.” Each time you find one Comic Book Guy comes up and delivers a clever line of dialog. Greatest gaming references. Ever.
I’ve been having fun with it. The running around Springfield section they brought over from Hit and Run is fairly useless, and completely unfun from a gameplay standpoint. But, the actual levels are classic brawler/platformer levels. It is Lego Star Wars fun without being Lego Star Wars. And we all know we’ve played that game pretty much to death already (released 3 times now?).
Don’t tell me the ending to: Berserk
Berserk is an old, still on going manga. The basic premise is a demon hunting tale of revenge. The TV Series that aired (also quite good) consists entirely of a flashback that occurs mid-series in the manga (vol 4-12 roughly). It has one of the most badass main character in any medium (see: the Lost Children story arc). The story is well done and involved. It is a fun, action-filled read.
Don’t tell me the ending to: The Walking Dead
“Generic.”
This zombie story is as cliche as they get. It also in a very well done way. I’ve finished reading Book 1, and cannot wait to see what happens next.
The story centers on the characters, and what they go through, rather than trying to scare or show off interesting zombie designs. As old characters go crazy under the circumstances or are eaten by zombies, new and interesting characters are brought into the story. When surprises are used, they always appear on the left page, so you have turn the page in order to see them. The Art style is well done and while on the unrealistic or cartoon side still makes the characters feel more real and grounded with costume design and expression. One other word can be used to describe The Walking Dead:
“Great.”
Bioshock Progress Report #1
I got past the Vegas sequence. That lasted a bit longer than I would have liked, but at least I was collecting something more interesting than chemicals. My character’s wrench is a bit too powerful. With stacking plasmids, my wrench does far more damage than my fully upgraded shotgun at close range. I don’t even have to use any shock+smack combo; the smack kills them in 1-3 hits. The game’s plot is picking up again, but I know I can’t be that close to the end yet.
Don’t tell me the ending to: CoD4
I know. I’m supposed to be playing Bioshock. But I picked up CoD4 for $37 recently and one of my friends wanted to know if he, too, should pick it up. Well, there is only one way to find out: I put the disc in and boot up the game on the hardest difficulty.
It is definitely worthy of the Game Of the Year Runner-up moniker… Continue reading
don’t tell me the ending to: No Country for Old Men
My friends have all seen No Country for Old Men. Some recommend it, some do not. I still need to see it.
I know very little about the movie going into it, but it is apparently hard to follow without some previous knowledge. I’ve found that the lower my expectations and the less I know of the movie, the more I can enjoy watching it. I have also learned that a certain base knowledge, or non-spoilers, can help understand scenes and dialog that might otherwise have lost its meaning. So how much should I learn before I go into this one?
Below are some non-spoilers, but knowledge that people have passed on to me so that I may enjoy/understand the movie during my first viewing: Continue reading
don’t tell me the ending to: Bioshock
I’m part way through Bioshock. It is starting to get a little dull with some fetch quests. At the same time, it is becoming a bit too easy.
This is a problem many RPGs face. In order to give a sense of progression, your character must gain new abilities and become more powerful. Despite new trials arising to challenge you, your character steadily becomes better than these enemies to instill that sense of progression. This leads to the game becoming easier the longer you play, without needing to increase skill. Combined with learning a combat systems patterns, this can turn a game into almost an automated process. Most great RPGs make this progression very slight, almost unnoticeable. They also have excellent presentation, to make sure that as the experience transitions from a game you play to a game you watch, it becomes more interesting to watch.
Bioshock so far lacks the extra “umph” other RPGs express by making you look extremely cool while you bowl over the average bad guy. The extra abilities are fun to use, but are not exciting to behold. Instead, it is exploring the exquisite, changing environment and engaging characters propel you forward. While that is certainly enough, I have played RPGs that have gotten all of these aspects correct <cough>Baldur’s Gate (2, especially)</cough>. Missing any particular part of this equation (exploration/environment + story/characters + progression/combat) will stick out.
One aspect I should mention is I love the steampunk influence on weapon upgrades. A new weapon upgrade sufficiently increases its visual appeal even if its actual use does not. I find it fun to simply look at a recent upgrade’s idle animation awhile.