30 June 2007

Podcast #016

Nick & I had to do the show early this week because he's going to be incapacitated this weekend. We talk about What we're playing, Rainbow Six, GTA IV, and what we're excited about. So here's this weeks show, thanks again for listening.

Show #016

29 June 2007

The Importance of Cutscenes

This post will hopefully compliment a discussion that I will be having on tommorrow's(June 29, 2007) podcast. Alright, so heres the thing. I became a gamer really late in the game and because of this, I was introduced to games at a time when they were starting to really become more and more cinematic. They were no longer simple, 2-d side scrollers with a single objective. Instead, they had opted to start involving character depth and story. In fact, the game that got me hooked in the first place was Goldeneye 64. You all remember that dont you? Story is a totally different animal that I will be discussing the near future. Right now, I want to discuss what I feel to be a very important part of a games presentation: the cutscenes.

Cutscenes started rather simplistic with games like the original Resident Evil and the turok franchise and have now blossomed into beautifully choreographed scenes full of depth and drama. The first Resident Evil is infamous for it's incredibly corny voice acting and live action actors but it did something that few games before it had done, it added depth and a sense of real purpose to the game as you played. This is one of the aspects of gaming that quickly drew me in and made me the gamer that I am today. I would actually go as far as to say that cutscenes and story presentation have really been the two main factors that have shaped my tastes and personal preferences when it comes to what games I play. I very rarely pick up or play a game if it doesnt have a story that is presented with cutscenes. I love the gameplay in every one of the games that I play but I can almost never play a game in which the gameplay isn't drivin by an underlying story or narrative. It is for this reason, that I am not big into puzzle or fighting games. Video games just happen to be a medium that can incorporate cinematography and essentially kill two birds with one stone by allowing gamers to experience a satisfying story told through animated cutscenes while connecting the major plot points in between with gameplay. It basically makes video games nowadays an interactive movie which is what I think appeals to a lot of people, including myself. For me, I look forward every year to seeing what new stories, game developers will tell and what amazing cutscenes will be created in order to tell these stories. I hope that there are others out there who agree with me and I pray that game designers of the future will continue to carry on this trend. Below I have listed a few of my favorite titles that have incorporated some amazing cutscenes as well as a few upcoming titles that I believe will be truly memorable cinematic/gaming experiences. Peace!

Wanna see some awesome cutscenes, check out these titles:
1.) Final Fantasy X (ps2)
2.) Devil May Cry 1 or 3
3.) Resident Evil 4 (Gamecube, PS2, Wii)
4.) Resident Evil 1 Remake
5.) Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess (Gamecube, Wii)
6.) Silent Hill 2 (PS2)
7.) Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (PS2)

Upcoming Titles:
1.) Bioshock (XBOX360)
2.) Lair (PS3)
3.) Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PS3)
4.) Resident Evil 5 (PS3, XBOX 360)

28 June 2007

Change of Plans

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

27 June 2007

What Should I Do?

I've been left in a situation I've never been in before. I traveled home to Houston yesterday afternoon. Of course I brought my Nintendo DS Lite along for the ride and when I had a couple hours before going to sleep, I pulled out my little white sidekick and did come catching up with Phoenix Wright. In my rush to leave early this morning and make it back for my 10 am class, it seems that I have misplaced my DS somewhere in my house in Houston. I've got Kuru Kururin Paradise on the way and no DS for what seems to be at least a week. What should I do?

BINGO! BINGO!
Game Boy Micro to the rescue!!

26 June 2007

"My Halo"

Hey everyone, this week I have finally discovered something that I have been in search of for a long time. First let me say this because many of you might cut me down after reading this. So let me just say that I really enjoy Halo. I think that it is an all around solid game that is a ton of fun at party's or playing online. However, if I play Halo or Halo 2 for more than an hour online, I simply get bored. It has been this way since the release of the xbox original. If you have listened to our podcast, then you already know that for the most part, we believe that the Halo franchise is generally overrated. Personally I think the game is fun but lacks certain qualities that could make it a GREAT game. The only online shooters that I have found to be worthy of truly high praise have been the original Socom for the ps2 and Counter Strike. I understand that this is an opinion and I really do respect the opinion of all the Halo fans out there. But this week I tried something new and I have found the online game that I believe will be dubbed "my halo".

A few of the guys from the store decided to pick up "Rainbow Six Vegas" for Xbox 360 and start playing online. Well to make a long story short, we all have become extremely addicted in a short period of time. I think that several factors contribute to this view point. The main point to be made is that Rainbow Six Vegas has one very special feature that Halo does not. Rainbow Six has a strong emphasis on strategy and being tactical. Some might say that Halo has this component as well but lets be honest... Halo is not a game of tactics. Not only is the online versus incredibly addicting, it's co-op play is much more satisfying than anything that I ever experienced playing halo 2 co-op. There are plenty of modes to choose from that are all a ton of fun, my favorite being co-op terrorist hunt in which you and your buddies pull together to eliminate every terrorist on the chosen map. Anyways, I hope that you xbox 360 owners can give Master Chief a break and give Vegas a shot because I think many of you will find the same thing that I have, an incredibly addicting, tactical, and all around fun online game that knocks the online gameplay out of the park.

Peace!

24 June 2007

Cover Art Comparison #034

Hey Guys,

It's David again. I've got another cover for you this week.
I made use of my time machine, so I hope you like it.

This weeks cover art is......Space Channel 5 for the Dreamcast

23 June 2007

Ico...

Alright everyone, consider this the follow up to my last post called "pure magic". I just finished Ico on the PS2 and I am practically speechless. First, let me say "Thank you David for praising this game so much that it convinced me to go back and re-purchase it. It took some searching and some bidding (via ebay) on my part but I finally found a NEW copy and picked it up. The game is one of those games that may not seem like much at first but if you give it a chance, it can be one of the most memorable gaming experiences out there. So here it is...

The story of Ico is really quite simple and resembles a timeless fairytale. You play as a young boy who is banished or sacrificed by his village because he was born with horns. The reasons for his entombment and the reason why he was born with horns are never really revealed which is the one big disappointment about the story. Upon freeing yourself from your tomb (via some amazing luck), you stumble across a young girl who speaks a different language and attempt to escape from this massive castle full of puzzles. The enemies are shadow monsters that emerge everyonce in awhile and try to drag the girl into their portals. The main focus of the gameplay is on solving the puzzles and this aspect is really quite addicting. The puzzles are very unique and it never seems really repetitive. While there are some points in the game where you may become confused or stuck, these are usually overcome in a matter of minutes and never really manage to detract from the fun. The castle and environments are huge and beautiful. The sun shines through windows and onto lush gardens where small birds poke around before flying away as you approach them. The level of detail is amazing, especially considering that this game is several years old. The last thing I wanted to mention was the music. The music and sound effects are top notch and really create some great ambiance. If you played Shadow of the Colossus (which was the spiritual successor to Ico) then you have a general understanding and familiarity with the way that music and beautful environments are used to create a memorable experience. Unfortunately, Ico didnt get as much attention as Shadow of the Colossus so many gamers overlooked this title. This game is simply breathtaking and can be easily completed in a weekend. If you have the oppurtunity, please check this game out and give it the chance it deserves. I promise you won't regret it. Peace!

When Online Works

I've never been a hardcore advocate of the online component of gaming. When Nintendo said the Online Strategy wasn't the way to go, I agreed with them. I have had some of my fondest memories playing N64 with three childhood friends. For me, that was always most important. Friends and childhood bonds made over four player GoldenEye, Perfect Dark, Turok, and Smash Bros. Why would I ever want to leave that behind for playing online with random strangers?

It's not so much that I've left my friends behind. It's that we grow up. Life happens too fast. Friends move away. Time constraints and distance make it impossible for us to get together in such a carefree fashion like we once did. It's hard enough just to keep in touch let alone get four people together in the same room. In the last few months, I started playing online with a few friends from work and I have to admit, I've throughly enjoyed it. I picked Gears of War back up and even opened my copy of Rainbow Six: Vegas that I received for Christmas. I've never played a Rainbow Six game before last night so it was a very positive experience for me towards making online play and military shooters part of a regular video game diet.

So what's the big difference? Everything. I'm alone in my room. The controller and buttons are unfamiliar. The game doesn't play as smoothly as it should. My friends' voices are unclear and choppy. But with all things that are different, there's still one big similarity. I'm playing with my friends and I'm laughing. It's a familiar feeling that I haven't had since my high school days. It just sucks that it took me this long to find it again.

22 June 2007

Pure Magic...

Alright everyone, real quick post. I started playing Ico (PS2) last night and i'm about half way through the game and I just wanted to say that this game is amazing. Every once in awhile there is a game that is not just an amazing video game but also a beautiful work of art. Ico is one of these titles. The "non-action" style gameplay may only appeal to hardcore gamers but if you can enjoy the puzzle element of the gameplay, you will also treat yourself to some amazing eye candy. The game design is absolutely gorgeous and the story is nothing short of the pure magic, very similar to classic fairy tales. Well I am going to hopefully finish the game tommorrow so I will let everyone know my final verdict. Everyone take care, and if you can find a copy, do yourself a favor and pick this game up.

Understanding Game Delays

So I just recieved the email that I have been dreading. I have just been notified that one of my most anticipated titles of 2007 has been pushed back from August 6th to sometime in November! I am talking about "Silent Hill Origins" which is the next official title in the incredibly creepy survival horror franchise; a franchise that just so happens to be my favorite. Anyways, i'll use this oppurtunity to speak my mind about game delays. Working in a video game store, I have heard countless complaints about big titles being pushed back. This has even resulted in some people cancelling reserves or boycotting the game completely. Well this may be harsh but I would LOVE for EVERYONE to try and understand the following:

Game delays are always done for a reason- Developers don't just wake up in the morning and say "wow... I would love to piss off all of those lovely gamers that help pay my bills". In fact it's quite the opposite. Game developers strive to make games perfect and enjoyable to everyone. They want people to play and buy their games. They want a cash cow that will eventually birth an inevitable sequel. Now, I know a lot of times, they fall short of that goal. Licenced titles are probably most notorious for this. For some reason, developers believe that a licenced game must be released the same day as its film counterpart! If they would take their time and perfect the game and release a couple months later, licenced titles wouldn't have the horrible rep that they do. Think about it, how do you think amazing games like Twilight Princess, Warcraft III, or Gears of War would have been if the developers didn't delay them in order to make them better.


Okay, well i'll get off my soap box now. I hope you may think of this next time this happens... because trust me.... it's going to happen. With that said, lemme also say.... "crap, Silent Hill Origins was pushed back.... THANKS KONAMI!" Peace!

21 June 2007

Have You Played...

...Psi Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy?

You know how at its core, the Spiderman Movie game series is seemingly terrible? Poor implementation of the “sandbox” genre at its worst. Lame graphics, repetitive missions, stupid boss fights, uninspired city design, sad combat and AI, empty world, and the list goes on. So why do so many people enjoy playing it? Why do I love the series and recommend it often? Because it does one thing so well that it transcends all the faults of the genre it failed to emulate; and at the end of the day (or the few hours it takes to beat the game)... I remain pleased.

Like the web-slinging in the Spiderman game or a grenade toss in Halo, Psi Ops implements an effect so fun that it transcends the weak shell of an action game that surrounds it. Playing with telekinesis in Psi Ops is some of the most fun I've had with a video game all of last generation. Combine intuitive control, rag-doll bodies, and the Havok physics engine, and now you have some of the most innovative design in an action game to date. Throwing objects at the enemy Half Life 2 style is hardly the end of the fun in this game.


A typical encounter with a pack of enemies may go like this: I levitate one guy and immediately smack him against the wall. He takes damage but is still alive so I quickly toss him into a furnace he regrettably stood too close to. The guy next to him I lift up, and as he struggles to get free of my telekinesis, I unload a few rounds into him. Now I throw the still floating carcass into a pack of enemies coming up behind him. They all tumble into a wall and I pick up the pieces with my pyrokinesis ability. I grin as my character walks past the flaming bodies and into the next area. Violence has become fun again... something I forgot playing the Gran Theft Auto games of recent years. The faults of the game are many... most notably some really terrible boss fights. ...Well except for one. Let's just say that an encounter in a train yard verses an adversary with a much stronger telekinesis power than yours is a scary sight.


If you haven't played this game, you need to give it a try. It can be found dirt cheap at a used game store. This won't be the best game you will ever play, but you might have a lot of fun. I hope the guys who worked on this title are around somewhere working on a next-gen sequel, because they have created something cool here.


If you have played and enjoyed the game, post a comment. Help me spread the word.


20 June 2007

Podcast #015

Hey guys,

I know it's been a while and sorry it took so long. Here's the new podcast
for this week.

Show #015 - The Wayback Wednesday Show

Hope you guys like it **^_____^**

Random Thoughts

So it's been really hard for me to find something to get excited about. I'm quite picky when it comes to...well a lot of things, but with games being one of them, I've kind of been in a rut when trying to find something to get really excited about. Something that you can't put down. Something you have dreams about playing and can't wait to get off work/school to get your hands on. Most times a game like this for me are extremely unique. I think I've finally found my game.

1. I ordered a copy of Kuru Kururin Paradise from PlayAsia.com for 10 bucks.
(Here's the official Nintendo website, click on the pink bird for game play videos)

2. Apparently the US GameCube release of Radio Allergy has been cancelled.
(Add Radirgy Japanese Dreamcast to wish list)

3. Bass Fishing games are boring, even if you add online versus Battles.
(Unless you live in Japan and hire a Race Queen as your spokesperson, click here)

4. So Spore has been pushed back until fiscal 2009, which is around April 2008?
(Great, so now I care even less about the game)

19 June 2007

The Difference A Week Makes

So last week, I was on this high about DDR and how accepting a game it is. I still feel strongly about the dancing with arrows, but this week I'm more confused and partially saddened by the direction one of my favorite games went.

So this week's Main Event trip was cut down by some sort of fire alarm malfunction. I arrived up north to find the parking lot pitch black and employees walking to their cars. I was left in a situation I hadn't been in since I picked up DDR again. I really was in the mood to play and didn't want to just let the night go to waste. I came home and made my way to the local arcade on campus, the place where I had spent many quarters and late nights educating my feet. At it's height, the DDR machine was surrounded by people. Sometimes you'd have to wait for three or four groups of people to finish before you got a turn. But since I left school the first time, I've never seen more than two or three people at a time.

This was the case tonight. There were three guys I immediately recognized when I walked in. They were regulars and frequented the arcade. From my experience, I wouldn't say they're especially sociable. The mostly keep to themselves but won't mind to talk to you if you offer them praise. They were huddled around the In the Groove machine, each cheering on the next. In the Groove is sort of the cousin to DDR. Konami let support for DDR wane and since there were still players still craving more, in came RedOctane to make a half-clone of the four direction dance game. I observed them for about an hour and watched them do some of the most difficult songs I've ever seen. I became disgusted at what DDR had mutated into. It has become this creature composed of unfamiliar pauses, hand presses, and ridiculous streams of notes that cannot be passed without bar hugging. And while this isn't necessarily what In the Groove is completely about, it is what the fans and hardcore players have made it. The game is too easy for them so they try to make it ridiculously difficult. It is my personal opinion that no matter how hard you make a game, there should always be certain rules or guidelines to follow. The game should be available to all players and no one should be left out.

I could sit here are argue my point all night. Some would agree while others completely disagree. I've run through the scenarios in my mind and there's no real right or wrong answer. I think that's what makes this game and life completely worth it. Make up your own mind and then run with it as completely as you like.

18 June 2007

Better Late Than Never


Well everybody, it took a long time but it finally happened. I finished Final Fantasy XII. It took me a surprisingly long time to finish this game but I did so I thought I would post a mini review for it. I've created a format that I intend to use for these reviews that will allow me to keep it short and to the point for the purposes of this blog. So, I present to you my first official "mini-review" of Final Fantasy XII:

Story: This is the category that dropped the games quality a couple notches in my opinion. Previous Final Fantasies have been relatively easy to follow and understand while still managing to keep it deep and interesting. In XII, the characters are not that memorable and the overall story is very complicated and bogged down with political mumbo jumbo. It still retains the depth and maturity as its predecessors, however it simply stumbles a bit as it tries to keep it interesting. (I will go more into depth in an upcoming Final Fantasy XII podcast)
Music: The music has always been memorable in Final Fantasy games and this title is no different. The composition is excellent and the atmosphere that it creates, fits the game perfectly. My only complaint is that not many of the tunes stand out. If you were to ask me what my favorite tune is from Final Fantasy IX, I would tell you the "South Gate Theme" or "Over the Hill" but there was no specific song that stood out to me in Final Fantasy XII.
Gameplay: This is hands down, the strongest aspect of XII. The new free roaming, non random battle system is flawless in my opinion. Getting rid of random battles was strange to me at first but this game has simply made a believer out of me. The Licence Point system works a little bit like the Sphere Grid system from Final Fantasy X but improves on it a bit. In addition to earning exp, players earn Licence Points which can be used to buy each characters the right to use magick and weapons. The core FF gameplay remains intact with its heavy emphasis on exploration and side quests. No complaints there.
Graphics/Design: This game shines as one of the prettiest games on the PS2 and rivals some early next gen titles in terms of the level of detail. My only complaint is that I dont think the world is quite as diverse as the worlds in previous titles. Don't get me wrong though, the world is a blast to explore and it all looks amazing. Character models look fantastic and all are quite realistic. (I would also like to add that Square Enix has once again set the standard for quality voice acting).
Overall: While Final Fantasy XII is probably my least favorite 3-D FF, it still holds a special place on my shelf. It may be a little bit flawed, but it accomplishes what all FF's set out to do: tell an intriguing story with a fun and nearly flawless presentation.

17 June 2007

Cover Art Comparison #033

Hey guys,

It's been a while since the last post, and we apologize for that.
Nick's out of town and Brad's probably been busy playing
with his card based games. Hopefully this will make up for
it somewhat.

This weeks comparison is.....[Crash Bandicoot]

14 June 2007

Web Gamers Update 1

Hey everyone, Nick here. I've really admired some of the things that both David and Brad have contributed to this little operation of ours. David's cover art comparison comes to mind as well as the many sections that they came up with for the podcast such as the shameful secrets and japanese spotlight sections. So for the past few days, I have been trying to come up with some cool ideas of my own. First off, consider this my first update for a section I plan to title "Web Gamers". Basically, I intend to locate an interesting website that is created by fans that is unique or just really well done and post it on the blog. A friend and coworker of mine helped me come up with this idea by telling me about this website I am going to mention today. So here goes nothing.....


In the spirit of our last podcast, todays website is a fan made, unoffical card game based on Fatal Frame: Crimson Butterfly which was released on Playstation 2 and Xbox several years back. I wanted to post this because it is a great example of the sheer devotion that gamers can have to their favorite game titles. This proves that even after you have completed a game, the experience doesn't necessarily have to end there. The website is very well organized, easy on the eyes and explains the rules of the game as well as offers the pdf files where you can print out the cards yourself. It is a creative idea that is executed well in my opinion. If anyone would like to check it out, the link can be found below. Check back in about 2 weeks and I will be posting my second update.

http://www.fourhman.com/fatalframe/

13 June 2007

Finally a reason to get a PS3! Right?

Don't screw this up Namco. This is important.

Found out today they will be adding online play to Tekken 5 Dark Ressurection on the PS3. Namco has stated several times in the past that they won't take this series online because of potential lag issues messing up gameplay. They seemed dedicated to waiting until they can have lag free play before they put it online.

So this means 1 of 2 things:
1) Namco has done it. They have found a way to finally provide perfect online play and I will now purchase a PS3 upon release of this game.
or
2) Namco doesn't care about their previous statement any more. This could be for a multitude of reasons. Maybe the merger with Bandai? Look what a merger has done to Square. Maybe they lost their edge? Soul Calibur 3 is generally considered a failure according to most of the competitive community. Maybe since T5: DR is just a test run for online play and they will fine tune it for Tekken 6. Lag might be tollerable in this case. It is a download game after all.

Bottom line is that if this game does have lag free play, I will happily throw down however much a PS3 costs at the time the game comes out.

A word of warning though. If this does work out like I hope, I may not be playing many other games for a long time.

12 June 2007

Following the Arrows

Last Night, I passed Max 300 for the first time ever, and although it was as a first song where the grading is more lenient, I still had a sense of accomplishment. Passing that song made me reflect back on my experience with Dance Dance Revolution. I think back to all the friendships and experiences that I have had just because of I started following arrows on a screen.

DDR
really is a revolutionary game. It combines so many more aspects of life and incorporates parts outside of the genre of video games. Right off the bat, it automatically differentiates itself from any other video game in that it is exercise. A lot of people first glance at DDR and think that it's a cake walk. I've seen many a person jump on a machine think they're going to be great at it and then embarrass themselves by acting like an idiot on the machine. Dance Dance takes practice and a lot of effort. It can be physically taxing and there is also skill involved with being able to read the arrows. Outside those criteria, there is also an amazing social aspect that I think lots of times is overlooked. One of the first hurdles a player must overcome is playing the game in front of other people, most times strangers. One must be confident enough to overcome the fear of being ridiculed and also failing in public. Then there are also times where you have to deal with being socially accepted by your peers. Many times you'll run into players better than you, generally those players are accepting and very willing to pass their knowledge along. Sometimes though, there are players who will try to present you as an inferior player in front of others. Ridicule and competition are both dealt with by everyone who has stepped on a Dance Dance Revolution machine.

I looked around last night at everyone who was at the arcade. I could only smile at how everyone got along. People of different ages, backgrounds, ethnicities, jobs, goals, hobbies, fashion sense and playing styles all joined together by one interest. It gives me hope to find something that brings people together like this. I have my own opinions on how DDR should be played. I have my rules and code of conduct that I follow. There are those that share the same values and there are others that ignore them completely, but no matter what, I'll always have something in common with those brave enough to step onto a Dance Dance Revolution machine. And for those who aren't.....
the player 2 pad is always open if you'd like to join me for a game.

11 June 2007

Would 1st Person "out scare" 3rd Person perspective?

I was listening to the last podcast the David and I recorded and something that David said made me think. Im a huge survival horror gamer and as I think back over the years and all the horror titles that I have played, I can't recall many (if any) titles that used the first person perspective. Most of the games, especially the big franchises like Resident Evil, Silent Hill, and Fatal Frame, didn't choose to use the first person perspective but have opted for a third person perspective instead (Im not including Resident Evil Dead Aim because im talking about SCARY games). So I just wanted to pose the question, "why do game developers usually opt for a third person perspective when the main strategy used for scaring the player is to try and put YOU in the character's shoes?" If for no other reason but to see if it works, I would love to see a game developer create a brand new survival horror game that uses first person 100% of the game. Just thought I would throw that out there. Later.

Cover Art Comparison #032

Hey guys,

One of my favorite things in gaming is looking at cover art. I've
bought many a game just on cover art alone. I'm not an art major
and I also do not have any artistic talent but I do know what I like.
I enjoy looking at box art. I also enjoy comparing box art from one
region with cover art from another. Often times I find the comparisons
interesting and other times humorous. I've been working on cover
art comparisons for a while now and I'm now at a point where I'm
comfortable enough getting it out every week.

So here's this week's comparison.....[Fatal Frame]

Podcast #014

Hey Guys,

So there's a new podcast up.

Here's the link to the archive.

Click Here

Hope you like it

10 June 2007

Damn You David

You should have told me!

I was listening to the podcast 'Retronauts' the other day (here: http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3156908). It's a podcast on the 1up network where they discuss older games. At first I thought it would only focus only really old Atari crap or something or other, but then I looked at show descriptions. Apparently I'm older than I thought because a lot of the games they discuss are games I grew up playing. Anyways, I was listening to a dedicated Mega Man episode and heard several of them throwing praise toward the early part of the Battle Network series. I've had Battle Network 2 for almost a year but never tried it because I told myself to wait and get the 1st one. After listening, I decided to try it out.

Damn you David. Dude the game is friggen awesome... David knows how much I love card collecting/deck building type games. (my first child will be named PhantomDust) I had no idea this was a central part of the game. He had played the series in the past and never mentioned this element of the game to me. *shakes fist*

Not only is the game "deck build" based, but the real time combat is awesome. I'm not very far yet but I already love this game. Just wish I had tried it earlier.


PS The episode on Castlevania is awesome.

09 June 2007

Halo 3 Box Art Revealed

This post is for those of you who listened to this weeks podcast and heard David and I mention the official Halo 3 box art. I just thought I would post it so that you can all bask in its glory. Let us know what you think by posting a response. Peace.


The End of XII Approaches

Hello everybody, this will be my first official post on "East vs. West" and tommorrow will mark my fourth podcast recording. Im excited to be a part of this and cant wait to see some feedback and see what topics come up in the future. Anyways, after about 9 months of playing this game off and on, I am finally approaching the end and I cant wait to see the credits role so that I can set down my controller and reflect on the experience. I am talking about non other than SquareEnix's most recent addition to their most famous RPG franchise, Final Fantasy XII. This is a game that was released on Halloween of 2006 but its conclusion has eluded me due to the restrictions of my schedule but now that summer has finally arrived, I can finally bring it to a close.

I have been a dedicated fan of Final Fantasy since Final Fantasy VII became a greatest hits title on the playstation one. This may shock and disgust some but I cant bring myself to play the earlier games in the franchise because for some reason or another, I dont get the same amount of enjoyment as these later 3-D entries. Upon completion of these later entries, I have always been filled with sheer disbelief and intrigue at how brilliant the stories were, how well the music was composed (I am actually listening to the Final Fantasy VIII OST as I type this), and how deep and addicting the gameplay was. As I quickly approach the end of XII, I cant help but feel that something is a bit different. I think to myself and wonder what has taken me so long to beat this game. The fact is that with any past entry in big franchises such as Final Fantasy, Zelda, and Resident Evil, I have been able to breeze through them and beat them in a matter of weeks no matter how filled my schedule became. I beat twilight princess in a matter of 2 weeks and that was a 50 hour game. Here I am 9 months after its release and I am about to hit the 70 hour mark! So what is the problem? Could it be the story is clearly more complex and serious than previous entries? Or perhaps that the soundtrack doesn't seem quite as polished as its predecessors? Or even that the gameplay mechanics are not as fun? To be honest, I wont know for sure until I complete the game this weekend and see how it all comes together. One things for sure, I have not been crazy addicted to this entry in the series like I have been in the past with such amazing entries as Final Fantasy IX and X. I will post my impressions and my full review in the upcoming weeks. Take care everyone.

07 June 2007

Random Thoughts

So C.R.U.S.H. has been helping me sort out some of the cobwebs in my mind. I thought this would be a good time to mention some of the thoughts that came up.

1. WHY DOES THE PSP LOAD SO SLOWLY?!?
(Makes me wanna play my DS)
2. Hmm, Brad picked up Planet Puzzle League
(I'll have to pick it up tomorrow so we can play online)
3. Front Mission 1st for the DS - 10/03/2007
(Guess I won't have to Import it)
4. I'm listening to the Killer7 OST
(I really wish they would remake Killer7 with Wii Controls)
5. It's really too bad that Clover Studios got shut down
(I can't wait for SEEDs first project)

Planet Puzzle League Woes

I had some store credit burning a hole in my pocket so I decided to head down to my local Gamestop yesterday. I picked up Planet Puzzle League because I have always been a fan of the Puzzle League/Tetris Attack puzzle game series.

The game is pretty great. The touch screen seems the most natural progression for the series at this point. The control is fast and responsive and I don't ever see myself ever going back to the old style. The "book" method of holding the DS is great for this game because it lets you see so much of the play field. The game has great music (I noticed some Advance Wars remixes), and a visual style reminiscent of Lumines. It seems though that all the stages, block styles, and the many game modes are available right from the start. And this is my one major problem with the game. It's as if the game is missing something important to its genre.

I've played quite a bit of Lumines and Meteos in recent months. For me the motivation to play those games single player modes was the satisfaction of unlocking new content as I got better at the core game. In Puzzle League I just select a mode, then a stage, and then a block style. And then I play till I die. Then I try a different stage style and repeat. It's hard for me to keep my interest.

This sounds a bit whiny I'm sure, but it is my only major problem with the game. I would love to see that there is unlockable content, so if anyone knows for sure, post a comment. I will keep playing the many game modes and definitely try out multiplayer soon. Expect further impressions or a full review on the site or an upcoming podcast.

Crush PSP Impressions

I'm throughly enjoying Crush for the PSP. It's definitely a completely different puzzle game. WhatI'm most surprised by is the story elements in the game. It's a puzzle game that actually puts the effort into explaining itself. You play as a character named Danny who is suffering from insomnia. In an effort to cure his condition, he goes to see a doctor who can clear his psychological demons with the help of a machine conveniently named C.R.U.S.H. So far, the game revolves you controlling Danny to collect the items in each level and making your way to the exit, while avoiding bottomless pits and giant roaches. It's interesting formula is a mix of Super Paper Mario meets Psychonauts and I can see how the game garnered such great reviews, but it is also immediately apparent how the difficulty will ramp up. When dealing with the world in 3-D and having the ability to rotate the camera towards multiple view points, it'll take a lot of time crushing, uncrushing, and experimenting to see how to reach certain areas and avoid traps. I expect much frustration in the future while trying to figure out some of these puzzles, but it's a challenge that I look forward to.

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Welcome to the new EvW Blog site.
We've decided to go with a Blog format for easy use.
We'll still have all the good stuff, but everything
will stem from this Blog site.