Wii Play. I haven't really done a review for the Wii, which is understandable, yet not. Wii is the system to be playing right now. One can download old NES, SNES, and 64 games while also being able to play Gamecube games, all on one system. A small fee is in order for the downloads, but all worth it as one starts up the system and doesn't have a freeze while on the last world of Super Mario Bros. Or playing Legend of Zelda for two hours without saving, only to lose everything as the same note is held until you turn the system off, haunting you in your dreams forever.
Did I mention Twilight Princess is worth it?
Anyways, the main point of the Wii at this point is that anyone and everyone can play it. My father asks casually if I'm bringing the system home, my friends drool when they come to my house and even grandparentals take an interest when it's spoken of.
The system itself comes with Wii Sports, which has now expanded to Wii Play.
Wii Play comes with a Wii-mote, which is fantastic for those who are first buying the system. You'll have five games from Wii Sports, then an additional nine games from Wii Play.
So, one can look at it as, "I got a free Wii-mote!" or "I got nine games for the Wii for only ten bucks!" Either way, who cares? I love these things.
My favorite of the Wii Play is Find The Mii. Basically, one has a time limit in which to reach a goal the game will as of you--when you reach the goal, you win ten extra seconds. The goals of the game are quite simple, such as finding the Mii you're using or finding two Miis that "look alike".
A Mii, for those that don't know, is one of the first things to do when owning the system. Almost like Mr. Potatoe, one places the facial features onto a character to make it look like you--thus, a Mii. The interesting part is that one can save their Mii to their Wii-mote and bring it around to another's Wii so they can play with those characters. One can also send Mii's through the internet when the system is hooked up. One of the more popular things to do is to create celebrity Miis; on my own, thanks to some friends, they created Jesus, Jack Black and even Micheal Jackson (I actually deleted that character... too creepy for my liking).
So, within the Wii Play game, one has to find the Miis... but even the ones you create! The more you create, the more you see them in the game! Of course, this makes it easier for you than the friends because they don't see you make the Miis, but that just means they should play with you more often, am I right?
Another favorite of mine is Pose Mii, and is a bit more difficult. Most of the games created for Wii Sports or Wii Play is not just for fun--it's made to show what the Wii-motes are made to do, their potential and hopeful future. This game does just that by making the person twist the Wii-mote to the right or left to place the Mii correctly into the bubble. However, there are also three different poses the Mii can be placed into by pressing 'A' or 'B' to make things slightly harder than thought. As the levels move on upward, you'll see that you'll eventually have to have the Mii upside down while the bubble sail across the screen to hit the bottom (which can only happen three times--or you're out). I think what really makes it for me is the music. It's light and feels like plucking strings.
I'll finally decide upon Tank as my last favorite, if only because it frusrates me the most, but you also get to use the Nunchuck. By using the joystick, you move the tank around to shoot other tanks, which increasingly become "smarter" and have more moves. You can only shoot five bullets at a time, which bounce off of the wall once, then explode on the next wall impact. You can accidentally blow yourself up because of this, but also because you can use mines. It's fun, but also challenging. Especially against your friends; you can blow each other up to give yourself more of a chance to get more tanks, but if both of you blow up, then the game is over.
There is also Fishing, Cow Racing, Target Shooting (I love this one, too... Just like when I was a kid with Duck Hunt!), Laser Hockey, Ping Pong and Billiards. All of them show the capabilities the Wii-mote has, and it's extremely fun for everyone--I myself have converted grandparents, friends, little ones and at least ten skeptics at work (customers and employee).
I highly suggest picking this system up--it's amazing, fantastic and will cause World Peace!
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Galaxy of Hell
Rogue Galaxy.
I'm going to say that, thus far, I have only played about thirty minutes of the game. More if you count a few times I've died.
This game is an RPG. And it's in real time, though one does only have a certain amount of hits until one has to wait for the "attack" meter to get back up. It plays like Kingdom Hearts as for real time, except that you actually feel the need to block at times because everything is very much so powerful than you.
Except that I cannot for the life of me like the game! For the gods' sake, after just beating the first main boss, I ended up crying out in frustration at the damn thing because I wasn't paying attention to my health, in which, in usual RPG tastes, the designers tend to have some cut scene that allows the "company" to recover and you don't have to worry about the cuts and bruises and whatever else had occurred, and I died! Basically, all in all, one doesn't have to worry if they were on the brink of death by the next battle after a huge battle like that one.
But, apparently, you do in this one.
I think I was just used to God of War II, in which, after dying, it has a checkpoint that places you nearby the last place you were at, rather than restarting the game and going through a whole bunch of loading sessions.
But this was definitely not like that. For something that is so new with game play, you'd figure they'd allow one to figure things out.
Okay, okay, maybe I should give it more of a chance. I'm mainly irritated because I haven't died in the beginning of a game for years. I mean, it's training you in, not placing one in the midst of the main battle. The last time I died so early was when I played Halo for the first time, and that was simply because I don't play the XBox/XBox 360. I don't have one.
So, after long cut scenes of graphics I'm still debating on whether or not I like, and between catching on to the storyline rather quickly (and dying so easily), I have to say that it's getting a very small, scum-filled yeti from me.
I love sky-pirates. But I'll just play Final Fantasy XII, thank you very much.
I promise to update when I feel the need to be pwned. But I hate being pwned. I have my pride. (And somewhere is my dignity).
I'm going to say that, thus far, I have only played about thirty minutes of the game. More if you count a few times I've died.
This game is an RPG. And it's in real time, though one does only have a certain amount of hits until one has to wait for the "attack" meter to get back up. It plays like Kingdom Hearts as for real time, except that you actually feel the need to block at times because everything is very much so powerful than you.
Except that I cannot for the life of me like the game! For the gods' sake, after just beating the first main boss, I ended up crying out in frustration at the damn thing because I wasn't paying attention to my health, in which, in usual RPG tastes, the designers tend to have some cut scene that allows the "company" to recover and you don't have to worry about the cuts and bruises and whatever else had occurred, and I died! Basically, all in all, one doesn't have to worry if they were on the brink of death by the next battle after a huge battle like that one.
But, apparently, you do in this one.
I think I was just used to God of War II, in which, after dying, it has a checkpoint that places you nearby the last place you were at, rather than restarting the game and going through a whole bunch of loading sessions.
But this was definitely not like that. For something that is so new with game play, you'd figure they'd allow one to figure things out.
Okay, okay, maybe I should give it more of a chance. I'm mainly irritated because I haven't died in the beginning of a game for years. I mean, it's training you in, not placing one in the midst of the main battle. The last time I died so early was when I played Halo for the first time, and that was simply because I don't play the XBox/XBox 360. I don't have one.
So, after long cut scenes of graphics I'm still debating on whether or not I like, and between catching on to the storyline rather quickly (and dying so easily), I have to say that it's getting a very small, scum-filled yeti from me.
I love sky-pirates. But I'll just play Final Fantasy XII, thank you very much.
I promise to update when I feel the need to be pwned. But I hate being pwned. I have my pride. (And somewhere is my dignity).
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Spartans and Gore
After seeing 300, the next step is to become a Spartan.
God of War II. Rated Mature. For a damn good reason (the best reason of all).
I'm going to say this right now to get it out of the way: If you haven't played God of War II yet, and plan on it, then I suggest not reading this. Just in case I accidentally "spoil" something. I try not to, but I may just let slip some things that are rather enjoyable about the game.
All right, now that it's just those who don't care, I'll start.
If you haven't even played God of War (the first one), let's give a brief talk about. In the original game, you play Kratos, who you find out is after Ares (thus, the name). With flashbacks and ripping people's torsos apart, you find that the reason why Kratos was ready to take down a god because he had asked Ares to help him win a battle in place of his life being entirely in the god's hands. Kratos receives the Blades of Chaos, which are burned into his flesh, forever attached and able to fling out in such a way that no one could have ever found something more satisfying (or brutal). Athena helps Kratos on his quest, showing him the way to Pandora's box and using him to stop her brother from destroying her city (by Zeus' law, the gods cannot fight amongst themselves). The game is filled with many of the mythological aspects, such as Sirens, Hydra and the use of the magical attributes (named from the gods who wish to help him along the way).
God of War II fulfills this, and more. After beating the first game, you can watch the many characters and ideas that had to be left behind because there just wasn't enough time to add everything they wanted in--and for those of you who were disappointed, no worries; they're here. Wish one could fight skeletons? Wish there was a point where Kratos would fly with wings? Want to rip an orges eye out?
It's all there. And better than ever.
If there's one things that everyone will agree on (because, let's face it... though it's beautiful, glorious and satisfies the bloodlust you never knew you had, there happen to be better graphics and camera angles), it's that this game challenges the knowledge of the PS2 controller.
Throughout the game, you need to use everything. The d-pad is used to choose what magic you want to use (in which you use the L2 button to actually use it). By pressing both analog sticks, the "Rage of the Titans" (originally named "Rage of the Gods"... they weren't pleased with Ares either) comes out, enabling you to fight with more vigor and aren't smashed back when hit. The R2 button changes the type of weapon to use besides Athena's Blades (not Blades of Chaos anymore). You use the 'X', 'O', square and triangle for attacking and jumping, hold the L1 button to do special attacks and block... And it's also used constantly for combo attacks. You use the buttons so much, by the end of the game, you'll feel like a god yourself.
However, the combination feature is really what makes the game fun and nerve wrecking. Key to why I personally play the game, one may use the 'O' button to grab the enemy and choose what one will do:
1) Press circle again and stab that SOB!
2) Press triangle and rip them apart from the waist to hear that satisfying grunt and squish of blood
3) Press square to fling that enemy like a weapon at another enemy nearby
One of my favorite GoW pastimes is to rip the wings off of Harpies. Ah, the satisfying screech of protest along with a sound of brittle bone breaking.
Wow. Now I'm just sounding like a serial killer.
But the combinations get even better; when one is finishing off a semi-boss, or a little harder type of enemy (such as wraiths), you have to wait to press the circle button. I like to think this is because those enemies are a little more knowledgeable about the ways of fighting. However, sometimes it requires complete attention because you just may screw something up, creating frustration and throwing of the controller, Wii Style. In order to completely obliterate the boss, you have to press the right buttons when prompted, and even move the analog stick at times. Talk about knowing the controller.
Another aspect of the game is that it really plays out like a movie; the angles shown (thought slightly annoying at times, does prove to be part of the gaming challenge as well), the way it pans out and the rare loading times gives the game life. The soundtrack is amazing as usual, and goes really well with whatever is going on around Kratos.
Of course, there's more to this game than discovering your inner Spartan. In this game, Kratos is still bothered (understated, if you ask me) by the memories ailing him in the first game. Though the gods made him the next God of War, he goes on a rampage with the Spartans, in which Zeus decides he's gone too far and strips him of his powers, leaving him to die. However, Gaia decides to take a different turn, whom you find out is the narrator of the first game, including this one. With her help, you take your toll on the islands where the three witches of fate live to turn back time and get your powers back.
Needless to say, there are some parts of the game that just seem rather brutal (and this is besides the fact that you get more power when you get a certain amount of hits, the game cheering you on with "Brutal! +5" or "Ruthless! +20" or "Use this attack to kill the young women and children and feel okay about it!").
Remember the time when you needed a human sacrifice so you took a live, helpless man in a cage, dragged him up a hill to place on an altar where you pressed a button to incinerate him just to open a door? Now you get to pull a Kill Bill, smashing a man's head repeated with a door so you can have his key.
Remember that time when you could have saved that man hanging in the hydra's mouth, but instead you took his key and threw him down to die, then met him again only to use him as a climbing wall with your Blades of Chaos to get out of Hades? Good, because you'll see him, too.
Remember that one time when you said kicking puppies was cruel and disgusting? You'll kind of forget that.
If anything, this game has become smoother, wittier and proves that anything in your past will come back to kick your ass (or at least try). It also gives one a brief knowledge about myths and legends; and who doesn't like to know more about the Greek past?
Between Gorgon eyes, ripping off griffin wings and finally meeting Atlas (and also ripping the wings off of Icarus... and also using an enemies sword to kill it either by yanking it into it or twisting the arm back in such a way that gives a new meaning to "stop hitting yourself"), I give this game Infinity out of the blue-green gelatinous Yeti.
Also, go see 300. In the IMAX. Well worth it.
God of War II. Rated Mature. For a damn good reason (the best reason of all).
I'm going to say this right now to get it out of the way: If you haven't played God of War II yet, and plan on it, then I suggest not reading this. Just in case I accidentally "spoil" something. I try not to, but I may just let slip some things that are rather enjoyable about the game.
All right, now that it's just those who don't care, I'll start.
If you haven't even played God of War (the first one), let's give a brief talk about. In the original game, you play Kratos, who you find out is after Ares (thus, the name). With flashbacks and ripping people's torsos apart, you find that the reason why Kratos was ready to take down a god because he had asked Ares to help him win a battle in place of his life being entirely in the god's hands. Kratos receives the Blades of Chaos, which are burned into his flesh, forever attached and able to fling out in such a way that no one could have ever found something more satisfying (or brutal). Athena helps Kratos on his quest, showing him the way to Pandora's box and using him to stop her brother from destroying her city (by Zeus' law, the gods cannot fight amongst themselves). The game is filled with many of the mythological aspects, such as Sirens, Hydra and the use of the magical attributes (named from the gods who wish to help him along the way).
God of War II fulfills this, and more. After beating the first game, you can watch the many characters and ideas that had to be left behind because there just wasn't enough time to add everything they wanted in--and for those of you who were disappointed, no worries; they're here. Wish one could fight skeletons? Wish there was a point where Kratos would fly with wings? Want to rip an orges eye out?
It's all there. And better than ever.
If there's one things that everyone will agree on (because, let's face it... though it's beautiful, glorious and satisfies the bloodlust you never knew you had, there happen to be better graphics and camera angles), it's that this game challenges the knowledge of the PS2 controller.
Throughout the game, you need to use everything. The d-pad is used to choose what magic you want to use (in which you use the L2 button to actually use it). By pressing both analog sticks, the "Rage of the Titans" (originally named "Rage of the Gods"... they weren't pleased with Ares either) comes out, enabling you to fight with more vigor and aren't smashed back when hit. The R2 button changes the type of weapon to use besides Athena's Blades (not Blades of Chaos anymore). You use the 'X', 'O', square and triangle for attacking and jumping, hold the L1 button to do special attacks and block... And it's also used constantly for combo attacks. You use the buttons so much, by the end of the game, you'll feel like a god yourself.
However, the combination feature is really what makes the game fun and nerve wrecking. Key to why I personally play the game, one may use the 'O' button to grab the enemy and choose what one will do:
1) Press circle again and stab that SOB!
2) Press triangle and rip them apart from the waist to hear that satisfying grunt and squish of blood
3) Press square to fling that enemy like a weapon at another enemy nearby
One of my favorite GoW pastimes is to rip the wings off of Harpies. Ah, the satisfying screech of protest along with a sound of brittle bone breaking.
Wow. Now I'm just sounding like a serial killer.
But the combinations get even better; when one is finishing off a semi-boss, or a little harder type of enemy (such as wraiths), you have to wait to press the circle button. I like to think this is because those enemies are a little more knowledgeable about the ways of fighting. However, sometimes it requires complete attention because you just may screw something up, creating frustration and throwing of the controller, Wii Style. In order to completely obliterate the boss, you have to press the right buttons when prompted, and even move the analog stick at times. Talk about knowing the controller.
Another aspect of the game is that it really plays out like a movie; the angles shown (thought slightly annoying at times, does prove to be part of the gaming challenge as well), the way it pans out and the rare loading times gives the game life. The soundtrack is amazing as usual, and goes really well with whatever is going on around Kratos.
Of course, there's more to this game than discovering your inner Spartan. In this game, Kratos is still bothered (understated, if you ask me) by the memories ailing him in the first game. Though the gods made him the next God of War, he goes on a rampage with the Spartans, in which Zeus decides he's gone too far and strips him of his powers, leaving him to die. However, Gaia decides to take a different turn, whom you find out is the narrator of the first game, including this one. With her help, you take your toll on the islands where the three witches of fate live to turn back time and get your powers back.
Needless to say, there are some parts of the game that just seem rather brutal (and this is besides the fact that you get more power when you get a certain amount of hits, the game cheering you on with "Brutal! +5" or "Ruthless! +20" or "Use this attack to kill the young women and children and feel okay about it!").
Remember the time when you needed a human sacrifice so you took a live, helpless man in a cage, dragged him up a hill to place on an altar where you pressed a button to incinerate him just to open a door? Now you get to pull a Kill Bill, smashing a man's head repeated with a door so you can have his key.
Remember that time when you could have saved that man hanging in the hydra's mouth, but instead you took his key and threw him down to die, then met him again only to use him as a climbing wall with your Blades of Chaos to get out of Hades? Good, because you'll see him, too.
Remember that one time when you said kicking puppies was cruel and disgusting? You'll kind of forget that.
If anything, this game has become smoother, wittier and proves that anything in your past will come back to kick your ass (or at least try). It also gives one a brief knowledge about myths and legends; and who doesn't like to know more about the Greek past?
Between Gorgon eyes, ripping off griffin wings and finally meeting Atlas (and also ripping the wings off of Icarus... and also using an enemies sword to kill it either by yanking it into it or twisting the arm back in such a way that gives a new meaning to "stop hitting yourself"), I give this game Infinity out of the blue-green gelatinous Yeti.
Also, go see 300. In the IMAX. Well worth it.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
It'sa me! Mario!
Super Mario RPG K-A (kids to adults)
Ah, the good ol' Super Nintendo. Who doesn't love the system that came out with many a good game? Legend of Zelda? Super Mario Worlds? And, although I was hard for me to play again after playing Mario Kart 64, Mario Kart.
But let's just get one thing straight: Mario RPG is basically one of the best RPGs ever.
For those of you who aren't especially knowledgeable about RPGs, RPG=Role Playing Game. This means that you play one character and work through a storyline plotted out; sometimes, one can choose the path of the protagonist, but usually the choices one makes has little to do with the rest of the game. You sometimes get different responses, a surprised look or, if you're lucky, a different scene than normal (if you're consistant enough).
The games that are made for storyline changing depending on what you choose are usually well known for it. Fable, Elder Scrolls: Morrowind (choosing which side to be on changes who's nice to one when entering villages), and Shadow of Destiny are a few examples.
Those kinds of games remind me of those Choose Your Own Adventure novels; at the end of every few pages, you get to go to another page that will determine what happens to you the rest of the novel. Except that I'd usually die the first time through because I'd want to take the "safe route". Good tips for you guys: by taking the tough route, you usually wind up doing something right in the mess, allowing oneself to live.
So, what's so different about this RPG? What makes this game stand out from Final Fantasy games and anything else that screams "I'm a male main character! I only look like a girl! I swear!"? Well, besides the fact that it's Mario, I suppose it's time for...
A CLOSER LOOK!
First things first, it's to be remembered that this is on the old school:
Perfect fit for hand, really. Anyway, it's noticeable that it doesn't look so different from the PS2 controller. Easy to say that, indeed, it's a good controller. Enough buttons to make one have fun and go crazy.
Instead of getting into the mechanics, I believe that I'll get into what makes this so different: Usually, in an RPG that's turnbased (which means that one takes turns before hitting the other. I hit, but I have to wait a while before being able to hit again), you press a button on "hit", "magic", "special" or "item" (or whatever they have on the plate). Some have time limits, some don't.
But Super Mario RPG keeps you involved. By timing, one presses the button at the right time to make a double hit, which causes more damage, which every character and every move. In fact, to get the right amount of moves on special moves, one has to do the timing correctly. Mario, noticed throughout the game as famous and known for his high jumping, has an ability that can allow you to jump on an enemy more than fifty times (I'd done well at times).
I've yet to find a game with this much of a difference.
You don't wait for fancy moves because you're a part of it.
But it's also Mario. And Bowser and Princess Peach. One doesn't normally get to play with Princess Peach (unless it's Mario Kart).
I'm going to wait to do a full review, after I beat the game "officially"; surprisingly enough, the ending is rather hard. It requires thinking, beating and skill. Another different aspect of the RPG. Usually, one just beats the end guy with brute force.
Nintendo, I love you so much.
Ah, the good ol' Super Nintendo. Who doesn't love the system that came out with many a good game? Legend of Zelda? Super Mario Worlds? And, although I was hard for me to play again after playing Mario Kart 64, Mario Kart.
But let's just get one thing straight: Mario RPG is basically one of the best RPGs ever.
For those of you who aren't especially knowledgeable about RPGs, RPG=Role Playing Game. This means that you play one character and work through a storyline plotted out; sometimes, one can choose the path of the protagonist, but usually the choices one makes has little to do with the rest of the game. You sometimes get different responses, a surprised look or, if you're lucky, a different scene than normal (if you're consistant enough).
The games that are made for storyline changing depending on what you choose are usually well known for it. Fable, Elder Scrolls: Morrowind (choosing which side to be on changes who's nice to one when entering villages), and Shadow of Destiny are a few examples.
Those kinds of games remind me of those Choose Your Own Adventure novels; at the end of every few pages, you get to go to another page that will determine what happens to you the rest of the novel. Except that I'd usually die the first time through because I'd want to take the "safe route". Good tips for you guys: by taking the tough route, you usually wind up doing something right in the mess, allowing oneself to live.
So, what's so different about this RPG? What makes this game stand out from Final Fantasy games and anything else that screams "I'm a male main character! I only look like a girl! I swear!"? Well, besides the fact that it's Mario, I suppose it's time for...
A CLOSER LOOK!
First things first, it's to be remembered that this is on the old school:
Perfect fit for hand, really. Anyway, it's noticeable that it doesn't look so different from the PS2 controller. Easy to say that, indeed, it's a good controller. Enough buttons to make one have fun and go crazy.
Instead of getting into the mechanics, I believe that I'll get into what makes this so different: Usually, in an RPG that's turnbased (which means that one takes turns before hitting the other. I hit, but I have to wait a while before being able to hit again), you press a button on "hit", "magic", "special" or "item" (or whatever they have on the plate). Some have time limits, some don't.
But Super Mario RPG keeps you involved. By timing, one presses the button at the right time to make a double hit, which causes more damage, which every character and every move. In fact, to get the right amount of moves on special moves, one has to do the timing correctly. Mario, noticed throughout the game as famous and known for his high jumping, has an ability that can allow you to jump on an enemy more than fifty times (I'd done well at times).
I've yet to find a game with this much of a difference.
You don't wait for fancy moves because you're a part of it.
But it's also Mario. And Bowser and Princess Peach. One doesn't normally get to play with Princess Peach (unless it's Mario Kart).
I'm going to wait to do a full review, after I beat the game "officially"; surprisingly enough, the ending is rather hard. It requires thinking, beating and skill. Another different aspect of the RPG. Usually, one just beats the end guy with brute force.
Nintendo, I love you so much.
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Ripping Torsos
I won't be doing that for quite some time.
God of War II, as so many of you should know, is coming out on the fourteenth.
I'm not able to pick up my copy because I'm at home, rather than at the place I've had it reserved at for so many days/months.
*sighs*
Wait for me, beautiful. Just... wait....
God of War II, as so many of you should know, is coming out on the fourteenth.
I'm not able to pick up my copy because I'm at home, rather than at the place I've had it reserved at for so many days/months.
*sighs*
Wait for me, beautiful. Just... wait....
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Psycho....nauts
Psychonauts. Rated T.
What can I say about this game? Besides the fact that I basically screamed for joy when I found out that I would have Pyrokinesis. And that Levitation was to come. I can't tell you I wasn't particularly pleased. It's like Harry Potter; all the benefits without all those incantations.
Let's back up here as I explain the main things needed to know. You play Razputin, a very powerful psychic who has yet to harness his powers. He's not supposed to be at the Summer Camp (which is actually a place for the children to train), but he still wants to train. Unfortunately, they inform Raz that they're contacting his parents and he'll be taken home. So, Raz decides to learn as much as he can. However, the plot thickens.
It took about a good two hours or so until the plot fully came out: someone is stealing Raz's friend's brains--not only that, but he sees these events happen when he goes into his concious. He decides to take it upon himself to see what happens.
Did I also mention that he was part of the circus? Oh, oops. My bad.
That's as far as I've played so far, so I'm sure I'll be writing more about all those "gasping" moments, and when I finally get my Levitation and who knows what else.
I suppose I should mention I'm playing my version of Psychonauts on the Playstation 2, rather than the XBox. My choice was purposeful: I don't own an XBox yet. But that can make the controls different, though they were hard enough for me to memorize. Usually, I find that 'X' is the button to press for fighting, 'O' for jumping. Now, read closely: 'X' for jump (press it again for a double jump), 'O' for stop, 'square' for fight and the 'triangle' for talk. Though I could change this controls to whichever I please, I like to play on their controls, if only to use what they originally want me to play with. Also, it changes the way these games are played; not the same old, same old.
After getting used to these controls (any game asks for this), it was time to really get into the game's qualities. Fancy ideas like, "excess baggage" can be found and taken care of by finding the keys floating around random areas. You pick up "figments of the imagination" as well, which increases your level. You also use arrowheads as currency.
Things I Liked About Gameplay:
*You can skip talk you hear all the time by pressing 'X'! Very nice when you accidentally talk to them or are killed and have to see a sequence once again.
*Witty script! When asked about what Raz has learned, he replies, "That shooting things is fun and awesome!"
*Originality. Everything is kid of based of something else, but this really gives off something new and never done before. The graphics aren't an everyday use and the odd vibes that radiate from the case are the good kind.
*Character voices. They did well, and even their development is pretty fancy, and unique. Who would have thought to have a main character from a circus who has a dad that detests psychics?
Things That I Dislike About Gameplay (and maybe more than dislike):
*Loading times take forever. It's come to a point that I actually wish they were longer so I could read the full paragraph of a book I keep nearby for those long scene changes--because, well, that's what it feels like. The scene changes of a play. Most everyone will roll their eyes if it takes longer than ten seconds.
*The bouncing of the items. Let me explain this further. When you "defeat an enemy", usually, something will "burst forth" from their diappearing existance and, usually, those things are A) currency B) life or C) something else that fills a gauge you have (such as for the PSI blast). However, usually, those things don't bounce around in circles, flirting with the idea of being captured. I'm not good at dancing in real life, so who's to say I'd want to do it in a game? Just give me my reward for dominating evil!
*For some odd reason, I feel like I'm doing things out of order. It's nice for them to have cut scenes for telling me what I need to do next, but I sometimes get the feeling that the game is mocking me for not already having what I need to do next done. This is an obvious "possible" dislike, considering I tend to think inadament objects mock me all the time.
Since I'm still involved in the game, I think I'll wait to fully rate this. But at this time, it's at least 4 yetis. Out of what, you ask? I still haven't decided yet.
What can I say about this game? Besides the fact that I basically screamed for joy when I found out that I would have Pyrokinesis. And that Levitation was to come. I can't tell you I wasn't particularly pleased. It's like Harry Potter; all the benefits without all those incantations.
Let's back up here as I explain the main things needed to know. You play Razputin, a very powerful psychic who has yet to harness his powers. He's not supposed to be at the Summer Camp (which is actually a place for the children to train), but he still wants to train. Unfortunately, they inform Raz that they're contacting his parents and he'll be taken home. So, Raz decides to learn as much as he can. However, the plot thickens.
It took about a good two hours or so until the plot fully came out: someone is stealing Raz's friend's brains--not only that, but he sees these events happen when he goes into his concious. He decides to take it upon himself to see what happens.
Did I also mention that he was part of the circus? Oh, oops. My bad.
That's as far as I've played so far, so I'm sure I'll be writing more about all those "gasping" moments, and when I finally get my Levitation and who knows what else.
I suppose I should mention I'm playing my version of Psychonauts on the Playstation 2, rather than the XBox. My choice was purposeful: I don't own an XBox yet. But that can make the controls different, though they were hard enough for me to memorize. Usually, I find that 'X' is the button to press for fighting, 'O' for jumping. Now, read closely: 'X' for jump (press it again for a double jump), 'O' for stop, 'square' for fight and the 'triangle' for talk. Though I could change this controls to whichever I please, I like to play on their controls, if only to use what they originally want me to play with. Also, it changes the way these games are played; not the same old, same old.
After getting used to these controls (any game asks for this), it was time to really get into the game's qualities. Fancy ideas like, "excess baggage" can be found and taken care of by finding the keys floating around random areas. You pick up "figments of the imagination" as well, which increases your level. You also use arrowheads as currency.
Things I Liked About Gameplay:
*You can skip talk you hear all the time by pressing 'X'! Very nice when you accidentally talk to them or are killed and have to see a sequence once again.
*Witty script! When asked about what Raz has learned, he replies, "That shooting things is fun and awesome!"
*Originality. Everything is kid of based of something else, but this really gives off something new and never done before. The graphics aren't an everyday use and the odd vibes that radiate from the case are the good kind.
*Character voices. They did well, and even their development is pretty fancy, and unique. Who would have thought to have a main character from a circus who has a dad that detests psychics?
Things That I Dislike About Gameplay (and maybe more than dislike):
*Loading times take forever. It's come to a point that I actually wish they were longer so I could read the full paragraph of a book I keep nearby for those long scene changes--because, well, that's what it feels like. The scene changes of a play. Most everyone will roll their eyes if it takes longer than ten seconds.
*The bouncing of the items. Let me explain this further. When you "defeat an enemy", usually, something will "burst forth" from their diappearing existance and, usually, those things are A) currency B) life or C) something else that fills a gauge you have (such as for the PSI blast). However, usually, those things don't bounce around in circles, flirting with the idea of being captured. I'm not good at dancing in real life, so who's to say I'd want to do it in a game? Just give me my reward for dominating evil!
*For some odd reason, I feel like I'm doing things out of order. It's nice for them to have cut scenes for telling me what I need to do next, but I sometimes get the feeling that the game is mocking me for not already having what I need to do next done. This is an obvious "possible" dislike, considering I tend to think inadament objects mock me all the time.
Since I'm still involved in the game, I think I'll wait to fully rate this. But at this time, it's at least 4 yetis. Out of what, you ask? I still haven't decided yet.
Friday, March 2, 2007
Hopes, Dreams, Elephants...
Well, I believe that this will be more for my liking than yours--a post about what I will hope to achieve and may quite possibly continue doing depending on what comes of this: a place where I can write about my gaming experiences, my own thoughts of whether it's a good game or not, my own pictures rather than linking to five bajillion others and my own my own my own. Everything, that is.
What I'll be reviewing and taking into account: loading times, difficulty of levels and button schemes, material within the scripts and overall graphics. What characters I enjoy, whether they're developed, how the plot unfolds and try not to have any spoilers.
I'll mostly be doing games I haven't played yet, though I'll more than likely be posting things so I can refer back to them for later games, and also because I like to write about my previous games that I drool over anyway.
What I won't be doing, however, is getting into the personal life. I've already got a blog for that, and I think it'll be a different experience to keep that personal stuff out. Just like a job.
The hardest thing to achieve is writing enough on the subject and not repeating myself. I don't have internet at home right now, so I'll be taking notes while I play, then posting the "experiences" later.
Let's hope everything will unfurl correctly.
What I'll be reviewing and taking into account: loading times, difficulty of levels and button schemes, material within the scripts and overall graphics. What characters I enjoy, whether they're developed, how the plot unfolds and try not to have any spoilers.
I'll mostly be doing games I haven't played yet, though I'll more than likely be posting things so I can refer back to them for later games, and also because I like to write about my previous games that I drool over anyway.
What I won't be doing, however, is getting into the personal life. I've already got a blog for that, and I think it'll be a different experience to keep that personal stuff out. Just like a job.
The hardest thing to achieve is writing enough on the subject and not repeating myself. I don't have internet at home right now, so I'll be taking notes while I play, then posting the "experiences" later.
Let's hope everything will unfurl correctly.
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