First thing you always have to remember when you are playing beta trials is that they are in their beta phase so you got to expect a few bugs. These are from titles that are still in development so you got to have the patience of a zealot monk when dealing with then and it's for this reason why I've laid off popping up a post on the Uncharted 3 beta as the first day or so were far from enjoyable. However, the issues with connecting and staying connected to matches have been resolved and I can dive right into the fray with Naughty Dog's latest entry.
Naughty Dog have claimed that they want to bring the cinematic feel of the single player into the multiplayer and it really shows in the beta. Two maps are currently on offer at the time of righting this, chateau and airstrip, which will be familiar settings for those of us who have been following and watching Uncharted's development, each displaying it's own unique insight into Uncharted's cinematic multiplayer.
Airstrip is by far the most impressive as it covers two seperate settings as whilst chateau is an extremely varied and more interesting map to play on, airstrip offers a higher sense of drama and cinema. You start off travelling at breakneck speed on an airstrip with a huge cargo plane and a number of jeeps. It's amazing to view and the general idea of the level is to get on the plane before it takes off. Jeeps move very intelligently towards one another as you try to leap from vehicle to vehicle and not make a red smear of yourself across the speeding tarmac. After a couple minutes, a cinematic shows the plane taking off and the action moves towards a more traditional enclosed box map and start playing Uncharted's actual multiplayer. The gametypes are the same as those in the previous game although the newer gametypes will probably make an appearance whilst the beta is on so let's focus on how it all plays out in competitively.
The actual gameplay of the multiplayer itself has changed up notably since the first offering from Among Thieves. Taking note of both Call of Duty and Killzone, killstreaks and interchangable match types are on offer, albeit they are referred to as kickbacks and power plays respectively. Kickbacks are little pick me up for players who do well collecting medals through good gameplay. they rarely benefit the team as a unit but are good for giving you an edge on the enemy. Power plays change what the objective of the match is and offer cash incentives to players for completing them. You could be asked to take down a particular player, protect one of your own or even, more interestingly, be cursed with viewing both friend and foe as one in the same , resulting in a mad blood lust as you scamble to build up your cash.
The cash system is back and sticking to the same formula of buying boosters and gun mods that we all know and love although character customisation is not dependant on how much cash you are willing to part with. This aspect is now down what treasure you pick up. By completing sets of treasure, you will be able to unlock various items that will make you version of Nathan Drake/Sully/Genero treasure man/whoever, unique. Uncharted's buddy system kicks in particularly well here where if you and your partner in crime take down a player, a treasure will appear to you both, a system which will no doubt encourage good team play.
So, thus far, the beta is a brief promising glimpse to what we can look forward to in November. Lots to look forward to as it tries to set itself apart from the other big hitters that are coming in the winter, particularly in battle of the multiplayer that Modern Warfare 3 and Battlefield 3 are leading the charge on.
Tuesday, 5 July 2011
Sunday, 19 June 2011
Dragon-Blog Update- 19/05/11
Just a quick update, should be bringing you a complete review of inFamous 2 at some point over the next coming weeks, just trying to find the time to fit it as I unfortunately do maintain a life outside of gaming. Would of been done this weekend but I've had the, and excusing the pun here, "infamous" yellow light error and thus needed to get not only a replacement console but also need to sort out somehow having exceeded my console activation limit.
It's a little known fact that, unlike Microsoft, Sony allow you to download content using your PSN only 5 activated machines only, which are activated through your account, a lot like iTunes. Unlike iTunes, you can't remotely deactivate these machines yourself so you therefore need to actually call (you know, with a phone any everything) Sony to get them to sort it. Baffling but there we go.
Other bits of personal news, been back on LA Noire, cleaning up those cases and getting the new download cases, as well as having one final run at Mass Effect 2 before ME3 arrvies. Speaking of that, the idea of rumoured co-op online missions sound exciting but they aren't what Mass Effect is about for me, it's all about creating your own story and relationships with the characters. If they can find a way of incorporating this sense of immersion and maintain the branching dialogue options in the co-op, I'll be happy but just don't see it going that way.
A lot has been said post-E3 about whether this year was any good or not. From what I saw, a lot of the stuff that was discussed was stuff that we already knew about, Wii U being the obvious exception. I would not say it was disappointing, just predictable. Uncharted 3, Gears 3, Bioshock Infinite and Elder Scrolls: Skyrim were predictably the best on show as they were the games we expected to be good going in. I just wish that there was more unexpected annoucements. The most unexpected thing I could say about that week is that Duke Nukem Forver was released at long last, 14 years and I had nearly given up hope.
Next year will be different, I sense there will be some new hardware from MS discussed, they can't keep plugging Kinect as hard as they do, it just isn't a viable method of core game playing and I resent the tag line they plaster on the box saying "better with Kinect". No sir, no it is not. Sony might annouce something in this area too but hard to tell, depends on how much they have re-couped from developing and marketing the PS3 in the first place.
Finally, last piece to tlak about in, predictably, Uncharted 3 and the upcoming beta. Hopefully, there will be a lot to talk about as I loved Uncharted 2's multiplayer modes but I felt they still a few more game types unique to it as a game to the multiplayer truely stand head and shoulders above all else. I imagine we will see this and, with any luck, I will be able to download it. Please let me download it Sony :(
~ Naz Dragonheart
It's a little known fact that, unlike Microsoft, Sony allow you to download content using your PSN only 5 activated machines only, which are activated through your account, a lot like iTunes. Unlike iTunes, you can't remotely deactivate these machines yourself so you therefore need to actually call (you know, with a phone any everything) Sony to get them to sort it. Baffling but there we go.
Other bits of personal news, been back on LA Noire, cleaning up those cases and getting the new download cases, as well as having one final run at Mass Effect 2 before ME3 arrvies. Speaking of that, the idea of rumoured co-op online missions sound exciting but they aren't what Mass Effect is about for me, it's all about creating your own story and relationships with the characters. If they can find a way of incorporating this sense of immersion and maintain the branching dialogue options in the co-op, I'll be happy but just don't see it going that way.
A lot has been said post-E3 about whether this year was any good or not. From what I saw, a lot of the stuff that was discussed was stuff that we already knew about, Wii U being the obvious exception. I would not say it was disappointing, just predictable. Uncharted 3, Gears 3, Bioshock Infinite and Elder Scrolls: Skyrim were predictably the best on show as they were the games we expected to be good going in. I just wish that there was more unexpected annoucements. The most unexpected thing I could say about that week is that Duke Nukem Forver was released at long last, 14 years and I had nearly given up hope.
Next year will be different, I sense there will be some new hardware from MS discussed, they can't keep plugging Kinect as hard as they do, it just isn't a viable method of core game playing and I resent the tag line they plaster on the box saying "better with Kinect". No sir, no it is not. Sony might annouce something in this area too but hard to tell, depends on how much they have re-couped from developing and marketing the PS3 in the first place.
Finally, last piece to tlak about in, predictably, Uncharted 3 and the upcoming beta. Hopefully, there will be a lot to talk about as I loved Uncharted 2's multiplayer modes but I felt they still a few more game types unique to it as a game to the multiplayer truely stand head and shoulders above all else. I imagine we will see this and, with any luck, I will be able to download it. Please let me download it Sony :(
~ Naz Dragonheart
Wednesday, 8 June 2011
Nintendo E3 Conference Wrap Up
- For Wii and U: Wii U
Essentially, what that means, is that you have your powerful high definition console but if the parents want to watch The X Factor or whatever non-gamers watch these days, little Billy (or big Billy if your a 37 year old still living with your parents) can press a button on the new controller and switch the action on the lovely 6 inch display and keep on trucking.
Technologically, it's astounding although it's sort of been tried by the Dreamcast and indeed the PS3 but if anyone can pull it off with today's tech, Nintendo can.
- Link to the Past: 25th Anniversary of Zelda
They also have a huge bunch of stuff planned such as concerts, soundtracks and special preorder bonuses for the two incoming games for anyone who wants them. In short, this year is going to be a great celebration of a great franchise.
- 1st Party: 3DS
Same with Kid Icarus: Uprising, seeing Pit flying around was great and he came with Nintendo patent-pending trademark annoying voice. Luigi's Mansion has gotten a second wind on 3DS, which is great for fans of the first but that might be all to be fair to the first brother of gaming.
The best part about all these titles though? They will all be out by the end of the year. Big props Nintendo, big props.
Tuesday, 7 June 2011
Sony E3 Conference Wrap Up
- Re-Vita-Lising: PlayStation Vita
Ah yes, price. It's roughly hitting the 250 range in dollars and euros so expecting the same for sterling. Not entirely fair perhaps given the exchange rate but if you don't want it, don't buy it. Vita needs to be both affordable and accessible to all, making sure that there is a control system and a game to suit everyone.
- Support: Move and 3D
Much as in the same way, early PS3 adopters pushed the sales of blu ray, so will they again with 3D with a new affordable 24inch 3D monitor, cheaper multi-functional glasses and game (looks like Resistance 3 but not nailed down) for the low, low price of $500, which will probably translate into like for euros and pounds. Still not cheap but certainly cheaper.
Onto Move now and Sony made it a point to say that move was in both hardcore and casual games, showing off NBA 2K12 with basketball man, Kobe Bryant as well as the new Medieval Moves: Dead Man's Quest. Also, big Bioshock man Ken Levine popped up on stage and said they were supporting both Vita and Move so more on that later no doubt.
- Take to the skies: Starhawk and Bioshock Infinite
To have Starhawk finally annouced and teaser-fied is a relief as it has been rumoured for a couple of years now. So long as they stick to the same formula that made Warhawk great but make it in space, they can't go wrong.
- Exploring the familiar: Uncharted
A nice chunky demo of Uncharted: Drake's Deception was shown of Drake on a pleasure cruise ship, obviously looking for something but it's never stated. Every looked naturally fantastic, even the way the whole ship rocked back and forth in the storm. Obviosuly nothing goes to plan and Drake is left fighting for his life against the sinking ship. This was followed up by a lovely campaign trailer and to take Jack Tretton's words, "We're going to sell a few copies of that bad boy."
The Vita version of Uncharted, Uncharted: Golden Abyss, looked really good and seemed to play well too. Hopefully, Vita offers controls for all players, whether they want to use touch screen or not.
Monday, 6 June 2011
Microsoft E3 Conference Wrap Up
- Halo, Halo: Anniversary and 4
- Encore: Dance Central
- Power of 3: Mass Effect and Gears of War
The voice recognition functions in ME3 seems solid and will add to the immersion. Surprised that Microsoft didn't showcase any exclusive 360 content for this title but the draw of playing as the same Shepard as in the previous two games will keep this one in the family.
Gears 3 is going to be unremarkably different but doesn't matter as Gears is a lot of fun regardless. The beta has shown that they have upped the multiplayer so fingers crossed for the finished product.
- Kinect to the hardcore: Star Wars and Fable
The Importance of Seeing E3
So, E3 kicks off officially tomorrow and, with any luck, this year will be a good one, particularly for hardware, with Nintendo and Sony looking to show off some of their new funky hardware not to mention Microsoft no doubt having some good things for the core gamers on Kinect. Many gamers hard at work where ever they may be will be following along to the events that will unfold over the next couple days.
And they honestly should because as an event, it is as important to gamers as the G8 is to the planet Earth and The X Factor is to Simon Cowell. Sound like too much? Not so, as the future of games will be displayed to the world here and, as long as most of use are paying attention, we get to "vote" on that future with our cash.
E3 is so important to the industry globally, as is the Tokyo Games Show although that lacks the pizzaz and global prominence that only the LA show can provide. It's not just an event to gamers but something to hang their hats on and unite around.
So much of the industry is deeply involved with in fighting, with publishers, developers and console manufacturers alike always looking for the various "killers" in their field and although that sense of warfare is magnified at E3, it's perhaps a rare chance for loyalists to take but a passing glance of how the other half are going to be enjoying their hobby in the future.
More to the point, E3 acts an icon to all gamers. We have so few "superstar" developers in the industry and those names that we do have are strongly affliated with one side as opposed to another. Nintendo have Miyamoto, Microsoft have Peter Molyenux and Sony, well, I guess they have Kevin Butler. Point being, it's hard to unite gamers all under one banner and that's what having the big show is: uniting all gamers and celebrating the future of the industry.
So, in those immortal words of Kevin Butler himself at last years show, we say, "Gaming, forever may he reign."
And they honestly should because as an event, it is as important to gamers as the G8 is to the planet Earth and The X Factor is to Simon Cowell. Sound like too much? Not so, as the future of games will be displayed to the world here and, as long as most of use are paying attention, we get to "vote" on that future with our cash.
E3 is so important to the industry globally, as is the Tokyo Games Show although that lacks the pizzaz and global prominence that only the LA show can provide. It's not just an event to gamers but something to hang their hats on and unite around.
So much of the industry is deeply involved with in fighting, with publishers, developers and console manufacturers alike always looking for the various "killers" in their field and although that sense of warfare is magnified at E3, it's perhaps a rare chance for loyalists to take but a passing glance of how the other half are going to be enjoying their hobby in the future.
More to the point, E3 acts an icon to all gamers. We have so few "superstar" developers in the industry and those names that we do have are strongly affliated with one side as opposed to another. Nintendo have Miyamoto, Microsoft have Peter Molyenux and Sony, well, I guess they have Kevin Butler. Point being, it's hard to unite gamers all under one banner and that's what having the big show is: uniting all gamers and celebrating the future of the industry.
So, in those immortal words of Kevin Butler himself at last years show, we say, "Gaming, forever may he reign."
Wednesday, 25 May 2011
The LA Noire Verdict
Another day in LA, another grizzly murder. Called on to the scene with my partner, we step over the tape and talk to the corener to get his opinion. Leaning over the poor victim's body and examine it for any distinguishing marks and important clues as to motive. After searching the area for anything else that could provide me with additonal clues, I get to the business of interviewing the witnesses. With all this in hand, we head off to crack the case.
This is LA Noire and how every case starts off. And why shouldn't it, you would expect my local bobbies to kick off a case by covering all this details. You'll repeat this same start point about 20 times and for some reason, each crime scene still feels as fresh as the first one.
This is all because of LA Noire's greatest trick- detail. So, let's get the much lauded facial motion capture technology out of the way. To sum it up very quickly, it's beautifully detailed, you can . If an interviewee is holding something back, so long as you pay attention to their movements and quirks before and after you ask your questions, you'll root out the wrong 'uns . Perhaps if more games use this tech, it could be a defining feature of this generation, as is the case with third person cover mechanics.
But it's not just the faces that have detail. LA itself has been meticiously crafted, assembled and put together ala '40s style, as we often now expect with games these days, but it is always good to appreciate and admire the level of work and attention to detail the blocks and buildings have. Internal locations also have significant levels of details, particularly with the clues that you find in them
The story itself is pretty standard. You play with the role of Cole Phelps, former lieutant in the US Army and LAPD beat officer who becomes a detective for the force after showing great potential and promise. You go around solving cases and stopping crime quicker than Scooby Doo. Phelps usually has a partner with him who accompanies him on cases. They all have their own personalities and can be fun to talk to but never so much that you miss them when they are replaced by your next partner. Same situation with Phelps unfortunately, he's not particularly well developed as a character and some of the plot points involving him aren't conveyed well, particularly in the game's final third.
It's a good thing then that the cases themselves remain the focal point of the game as they are incredibly interesting and highly addictive. Picking from one of the four desks; Traffic, Homicide, Vice and Arson, you got across LA picking up clues and interviewing suspects. There's no QTE rubbish here, if you pick up a ledger to search for a name, your damn sure going to have to find it yourself.
Each desk has it's own micro-plot that spans across all the cases, linking them together. Homicide is by far the most involved as it deals with LA's infamous Black Dahlia murder but Traffic has some of the more interesting cases, tackling some of the tough issues of the time, everything from anti-semitism and communism to paedophilia and fame.
However, herein lies the main problem that LA Noire has in that you don't ever feel that you're driving the story forward, that anything that you do actually creates a change in the direction of the story. After completing one case where I have to pick between two suspects: a neglected husband and a creepy paedophile. Either one could of done it so I send the creep to the gas chamber. Fast forward two cases later, the topic of the case comes up and it's made out that the husband was sent down and, for those keeping score, that wasn't my choice.
It feels more like your a back seat passenger in a car, yeah you can fiddle about in the back, wind the windows down and get told off for smearing chocolate all over the back seat, but it's not as though it affects the journey.
This quibble aside, definetly a worthwhile purchase, a throughly enjoyable ride from start to finish with plenty twists and turns to keep you guessing as to where it's all going. More downloadable cases please Rockstar.
This is LA Noire and how every case starts off. And why shouldn't it, you would expect my local bobbies to kick off a case by covering all this details. You'll repeat this same start point about 20 times and for some reason, each crime scene still feels as fresh as the first one.
This is all because of LA Noire's greatest trick- detail. So, let's get the much lauded facial motion capture technology out of the way. To sum it up very quickly, it's beautifully detailed, you can . If an interviewee is holding something back, so long as you pay attention to their movements and quirks before and after you ask your questions, you'll root out the wrong 'uns . Perhaps if more games use this tech, it could be a defining feature of this generation, as is the case with third person cover mechanics.
But it's not just the faces that have detail. LA itself has been meticiously crafted, assembled and put together ala '40s style, as we often now expect with games these days, but it is always good to appreciate and admire the level of work and attention to detail the blocks and buildings have. Internal locations also have significant levels of details, particularly with the clues that you find in them
The story itself is pretty standard. You play with the role of Cole Phelps, former lieutant in the US Army and LAPD beat officer who becomes a detective for the force after showing great potential and promise. You go around solving cases and stopping crime quicker than Scooby Doo. Phelps usually has a partner with him who accompanies him on cases. They all have their own personalities and can be fun to talk to but never so much that you miss them when they are replaced by your next partner. Same situation with Phelps unfortunately, he's not particularly well developed as a character and some of the plot points involving him aren't conveyed well, particularly in the game's final third.
It's a good thing then that the cases themselves remain the focal point of the game as they are incredibly interesting and highly addictive. Picking from one of the four desks; Traffic, Homicide, Vice and Arson, you got across LA picking up clues and interviewing suspects. There's no QTE rubbish here, if you pick up a ledger to search for a name, your damn sure going to have to find it yourself.
Each desk has it's own micro-plot that spans across all the cases, linking them together. Homicide is by far the most involved as it deals with LA's infamous Black Dahlia murder but Traffic has some of the more interesting cases, tackling some of the tough issues of the time, everything from anti-semitism and communism to paedophilia and fame.
However, herein lies the main problem that LA Noire has in that you don't ever feel that you're driving the story forward, that anything that you do actually creates a change in the direction of the story. After completing one case where I have to pick between two suspects: a neglected husband and a creepy paedophile. Either one could of done it so I send the creep to the gas chamber. Fast forward two cases later, the topic of the case comes up and it's made out that the husband was sent down and, for those keeping score, that wasn't my choice.
It feels more like your a back seat passenger in a car, yeah you can fiddle about in the back, wind the windows down and get told off for smearing chocolate all over the back seat, but it's not as though it affects the journey.
This quibble aside, definetly a worthwhile purchase, a throughly enjoyable ride from start to finish with plenty twists and turns to keep you guessing as to where it's all going. More downloadable cases please Rockstar.
Thursday, 19 May 2011
Bringing it Back
It's been so long, nay, too long since I last blogged anything but starting right back up again. Hope I can get across some important views and make some interesting posts to make you think. I hope to be picking up LA Noire on Friday and playing it all weekend, so I hope to post some sort of a review of that. i'm also doing the Twitter thing these days so feel free to follow that too, you can link through to it via the blog.
That's all I got for you right now, hope I have some more interesting stuff to write about over the coming days/weeks/months that I manage to update and maintain this blog. Fingers crossed that I stick at it but who knows what the future holds.
~ N.D.
Edit Note: Let me know if there is anything you would like to see my blog about, else I'll just self indulge in games, sitcoms and films.
That's all I got for you right now, hope I have some more interesting stuff to write about over the coming days/weeks/months that I manage to update and maintain this blog. Fingers crossed that I stick at it but who knows what the future holds.
~ N.D.
Edit Note: Let me know if there is anything you would like to see my blog about, else I'll just self indulge in games, sitcoms and films.
Tuesday, 2 September 2008
Games to be declared M.I.A.
We're coming up and out of the slump called summer and into this wonderful thing called the "Holiday Season" aka, Autumn and Winter. If there is a worthwhile purchase to be made, it will be done here. Now, we KNOW what is coming out for these months, these dates have been nailed down but, a more interesting question is what WON'T we be seeing any time soon and try to establish where they are at currently. Duke Duken forever (and ever and ever and ever...) aside, what's hot products are frozen in time:
Splinter Cell: Convinction
Ah, Splinter Cell. You're black-and-white stealth mechanics made for a brilliant experience for those blessed with the gift of patience and you were fortunate enough to notice them becoming stale, unlike other developers in the past (read as EA). Light and dark is released to crowd blending mechanics and Sam Fisher, no longer an NSA agent or even a Double Agent, on the run for one reason or another. Like the brilliant Hitman series. However, SC:C has now become like a girlfriend who really doesn't care about you. You had those really great times together, stuck together through the smooth and the rough gradually before the calls just stopped coming and you were left wondering how you ended up at this point.
Current Status: A few claims of a Q2 2009 release from a while back is about it. It's worrying that such a high profile game, nah, franchise like SC is getting so little time in the sun. Apparently they've had to go back to the drawing board so you can expect that date to shift. I'm now less worried about when the game is come but what state it's in. Advice to Ubisoft? Get in touch with the boys at IO. Sure, they screwed up Kane and Lynch but the mechanics in Hitman are exactly what you should be aiming for but on a bigger scale.
Alan Wake
Challenging Splinter Cell for "New Biggest Joke in Games" crown, or maybe even the current holder, Mr. A. Wake (for those who have spent the last 3 years trying to work out the pun) has been absent from just about every gaming event since TGS... 2006. Not to say that we have not been without information there's been more than one apology over the delay. I think we're at a six count here. From what footage and other information has been revealed, none of which tells us how it will be playable, is saying that it's Silent Hill meets the Shining.
Is it time to get up: No. Quite simply. This one isn't getting started in any way. Promo flyers told us that we could be seeing it at TGS 08 ended up being flyers from a year ago. That's how bad things have gotten with this game. In April we were told the media blackout wouldn't be much longer and there have been some mag features but other than that, nothing. It's even having a knock on effect with Max Payne 3, originally a Remedy product, rumoured to be shifting back to Rockstar due to the work being done on Alan. To Remedy, I hope if and when this is released it was worth it and end up with a product you're proud to have worked for so damn long on.
White Knight Chronicles
It's not all about Xbox MIA's, oh no, there are some PS3 ones too. White Knight, or "Shirokishi Monogatari" for you Japanophiles out there, was annouced back when the PS3 hype was at it's peak. That's right, before it's, and the Wii's, launch. Since then, we've not nessacrily been drip fed more than scrounged like hungry hyenas for information on what could be an FF beating title. Result- uuuhhhh, not much. It's worrying when the official website hasn't been updated since July, 2007. There have been some shots of a town upon the back of a turtle and other equally impressive visuals but not alot else. No footage since TGS07 either
When's levelling up: Another grey date of the end of Q4 08 (that's March to us common people). It's also rumoured to be at this year's TGS (which makes sense as that as that was when it was last spotted). Seriously Sony, why aren't you getting behind this? It's an exclusive game that looks freakin' fantastic and has the potential to actually show what you're machine does! Finger out, now!
Ghostbusters
Upon searching for big Wii titles to hit delays (and moving through the mountains of shovelware to include Wii Fitness and Wii Excercise. No joke, they're there... disturbingly), I decided that there were no already annouced future big titles, which swings both ways in the fan boy war, and will instead talk about Ghostbusters.
Why? Well, with Activision/Vivendi merger, this game has been dropped by the publisher. To which I mentally and verbally said, "Waht?!" This is a fully licensed game from one of the biggest movie franchises of the late '80s - early '90s. Dan Akyroyd and Harold Ramis writing. Bill Murray's likeness and voice. You've been given a license to essentially print money if it's done right. So you drop it? It didn't meet the Acti-Blizz standards along with a number of other sierra products including Brutal Legend (Jack Black in alternate Psychonauts inspired rock-iverse = surely win?) and left with dying stars, Crash and Spyro and promising Prototype. My main punt at why these games have survived is the potential sequels.
When's it gonna call: 2009? Maybe? To be fair, it's been having good coverage up until recently and it looks half decent, with the prospect of wielding a proton pack with the Wiimote too tantalising to bear. Sony are rumoured, a word I use bluntly, to be publishing this as they have the movie rights but, luckily Sony Pictures (and not SCE) are looking for a publisher. With the anniversary coming up, blu ray movie special editon? Again, it's on you Sony.
These are just 4 big ones that stick in the fore front of my mind. I'm certain there are plenty more where those game from. If I missed out any important ones you want me to cover, I am more than happy to revisit this topic.
Splinter Cell: Convinction
Ah, Splinter Cell. You're black-and-white stealth mechanics made for a brilliant experience for those blessed with the gift of patience and you were fortunate enough to notice them becoming stale, unlike other developers in the past (read as EA). Light and dark is released to crowd blending mechanics and Sam Fisher, no longer an NSA agent or even a Double Agent, on the run for one reason or another. Like the brilliant Hitman series. However, SC:C has now become like a girlfriend who really doesn't care about you. You had those really great times together, stuck together through the smooth and the rough gradually before the calls just stopped coming and you were left wondering how you ended up at this point.
Current Status: A few claims of a Q2 2009 release from a while back is about it. It's worrying that such a high profile game, nah, franchise like SC is getting so little time in the sun. Apparently they've had to go back to the drawing board so you can expect that date to shift. I'm now less worried about when the game is come but what state it's in. Advice to Ubisoft? Get in touch with the boys at IO. Sure, they screwed up Kane and Lynch but the mechanics in Hitman are exactly what you should be aiming for but on a bigger scale.
Alan Wake
Challenging Splinter Cell for "New Biggest Joke in Games" crown, or maybe even the current holder, Mr. A. Wake (for those who have spent the last 3 years trying to work out the pun) has been absent from just about every gaming event since TGS... 2006. Not to say that we have not been without information there's been more than one apology over the delay. I think we're at a six count here. From what footage and other information has been revealed, none of which tells us how it will be playable, is saying that it's Silent Hill meets the Shining.
Is it time to get up: No. Quite simply. This one isn't getting started in any way. Promo flyers told us that we could be seeing it at TGS 08 ended up being flyers from a year ago. That's how bad things have gotten with this game. In April we were told the media blackout wouldn't be much longer and there have been some mag features but other than that, nothing. It's even having a knock on effect with Max Payne 3, originally a Remedy product, rumoured to be shifting back to Rockstar due to the work being done on Alan. To Remedy, I hope if and when this is released it was worth it and end up with a product you're proud to have worked for so damn long on.
White Knight Chronicles
It's not all about Xbox MIA's, oh no, there are some PS3 ones too. White Knight, or "Shirokishi Monogatari" for you Japanophiles out there, was annouced back when the PS3 hype was at it's peak. That's right, before it's, and the Wii's, launch. Since then, we've not nessacrily been drip fed more than scrounged like hungry hyenas for information on what could be an FF beating title. Result- uuuhhhh, not much. It's worrying when the official website hasn't been updated since July, 2007. There have been some shots of a town upon the back of a turtle and other equally impressive visuals but not alot else. No footage since TGS07 either
When's levelling up: Another grey date of the end of Q4 08 (that's March to us common people). It's also rumoured to be at this year's TGS (which makes sense as that as that was when it was last spotted). Seriously Sony, why aren't you getting behind this? It's an exclusive game that looks freakin' fantastic and has the potential to actually show what you're machine does! Finger out, now!
Ghostbusters
Upon searching for big Wii titles to hit delays (and moving through the mountains of shovelware to include Wii Fitness and Wii Excercise. No joke, they're there... disturbingly), I decided that there were no already annouced future big titles, which swings both ways in the fan boy war, and will instead talk about Ghostbusters.
Why? Well, with Activision/Vivendi merger, this game has been dropped by the publisher. To which I mentally and verbally said, "Waht?!" This is a fully licensed game from one of the biggest movie franchises of the late '80s - early '90s. Dan Akyroyd and Harold Ramis writing. Bill Murray's likeness and voice. You've been given a license to essentially print money if it's done right. So you drop it? It didn't meet the Acti-Blizz standards along with a number of other sierra products including Brutal Legend (Jack Black in alternate Psychonauts inspired rock-iverse = surely win?) and left with dying stars, Crash and Spyro and promising Prototype. My main punt at why these games have survived is the potential sequels.
When's it gonna call: 2009? Maybe? To be fair, it's been having good coverage up until recently and it looks half decent, with the prospect of wielding a proton pack with the Wiimote too tantalising to bear. Sony are rumoured, a word I use bluntly, to be publishing this as they have the movie rights but, luckily Sony Pictures (and not SCE) are looking for a publisher. With the anniversary coming up, blu ray movie special editon? Again, it's on you Sony.
These are just 4 big ones that stick in the fore front of my mind. I'm certain there are plenty more where those game from. If I missed out any important ones you want me to cover, I am more than happy to revisit this topic.
Are the dice finally in Sony's hands
After a solid 2 years of the Internet telling Sony how much it's having it's ass handed to it by Microsoft's hardcore crowd and Nintendo's mainstream assault, Sony have the chance to strike back come October and it's all down two 3 words. Or is it one?
Littlebigplanet.
The game has probably seen more hype shoved behind it than Halo 3 and more potential than Portal. We've all heard the talk; Littlebig for the win, Sackboy for president and even as an entertaining way to rally off Sony stats but these last two months, Sony and Media Molecule need to get their heads down and shut the hell up.The best way to kill any game is over hyping, particularly with the critics.
Metal Gear Solid 4* is the great example with the concept of nowhere to hide, giving us visions of fully destructable environements, being quickly reduced to hiding in plain sight, merely a (technically sound) reworking of MGS3's camo system and a team mechanic which was dropped for latter stages. Or, if you want a better example of hype over kill, Haze.
Lesson for today? It's fine to say that you're game is great and show it off because if you don't, you'll get another Okami but hold off one saturating the market with promos until those precious sales figures get in.
*Note: Love MGS4, honest :)
Littlebigplanet.
The game has probably seen more hype shoved behind it than Halo 3 and more potential than Portal. We've all heard the talk; Littlebig for the win, Sackboy for president and even as an entertaining way to rally off Sony stats but these last two months, Sony and Media Molecule need to get their heads down and shut the hell up.The best way to kill any game is over hyping, particularly with the critics.
Metal Gear Solid 4* is the great example with the concept of nowhere to hide, giving us visions of fully destructable environements, being quickly reduced to hiding in plain sight, merely a (technically sound) reworking of MGS3's camo system and a team mechanic which was dropped for latter stages. Or, if you want a better example of hype over kill, Haze.
Lesson for today? It's fine to say that you're game is great and show it off because if you don't, you'll get another Okami but hold off one saturating the market with promos until those precious sales figures get in.
*Note: Love MGS4, honest :)
Saturday, 7 June 2008
Do Wii still care about Nintendo's all conquering machine?
The Wii. You love it, the ladies love it, the media love it and, hell, even politicians love it. But after been out on the market for nearly 2 years now, the question has to be asked, does it really deserve are love? For the Wii, in spite of all it's brilliance, has been failing to aspire of late although they are still harder to get a hold of than a greased up monkey.
Alright, now compare the brilliant thrid party games: Zak and Wiki, Rayman: Raving Rabbids, No More Heroes, Resident Evil 4 and Boom Blox.
So, why the disappointment? The main reason is that of the much lauded Wiimote motion sensing technology. Since it burst onto the scene, it's changed the way that we think of playing games and Wii Sports, bundled with the Wii as almost a tech demo, has provided hours of fun for, if they adverts are to be believed, grannies and young sex women the world over.
And then what happened? No seriously, what happened? Copies of Wii Sports have gone dusty and the number of titles that use the motion sensing as a pivotal gameplay mechanic has severly dropped off. Who's to "blame" for this? Nintendo. No, seriously, it's been rather interesting when you have a good look at the Wii's titles up close, particularly when comparing first and thrid party games.
Look at what awesome games have been released on it so far by Nintendo: Zelda: Twilight Princess, Super Mario Galaxy, Meteroid Prime 3, Mario Kart Wii and Super Smash Bros Brawl.
Alright, now compare the brilliant thrid party games: Zak and Wiki, Rayman: Raving Rabbids, No More Heroes, Resident Evil 4 and Boom Blox.
Now, with a few exceptions to the rule, it seems that in a weird twist of fate, the notorious 3rd party Nintendo titles have tried to do something fresh, innoative and exciting with the Wiimote's technology rather than having it require extra bits to play it "properly" or even just optional use. Even Wii Fit needs to have a balance board attached with it and MKW has the Wii Wheel.
As for optional use, it's alright with Mario Kart and it works well with Zelda but many reviews of Smash Bros have gone as far as telling you to not even bother using the Wiimote itself with Official Nintendo Magazine stating, "Quite simply, no" with the controls of the 'mote-nunchuk combo all over the place.
Now, certainly there ARE good titles by Nintendo that make full use of the Wiimote's capabilities and there are (a HELL of a lot of) bad ones by thrid parties but I just feel that despite Nintendo creating the motion sensing Wii, that they aren't taking complete advantage of making fresh titles, leading the way in it's development and instead using the motion sensing as a little add on to big games, making it as useful as Sixaxis, with this article also a relevance to Sony and their DIRE support of Sixaxis.
Let's hope Nintendo prove me wrong and I really do invite them to do so make the TECHNOLOGY, not the IDEA of the Wii as sucessful as the DS. Hopefully, upcoming Sam and Max, Okami and whatever hidden Nintedo title Reggie has hidden away continue with the Wiimote's brilliance.
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HTG Out
Monday, 2 June 2008
Why Metal Gear Solid 4 must succeed
It may seem a hollow statement on the surface considering early reviews are falling over themselves to praise the brilliance of Kojima and Konami but Metal Gear Solid 4 is about to make a bold statement, whether it knows it or not.This is not about "saving" the PlayStation brand with the triple A, killer app title that the PS3 so desperately needs, this is going to be a statement about gaming. This isn't even going to be about fresh ideas in gaming because, despite MGS4's new innovations, it is merely building on a winning formula set out by it's predessors.
This, is about preserving the hardcore gaming market. Ever since the Wii and DS consoles have burst onto the scene, the casual gaming market has boomed. Wii Fit, Wii Sports and Brain Training are just a few names you can throw down of casual games and, don't get me wrong, they're great.
However, game developers have been long instilled with the bad habit of seeing a great unique idea and coping it, usually badly, and beating to death. Two easy examples are Resident Evil 4 and Grand Theft Auto 3. Honestly, how many more over-the-shoulder view games are we going to see? As for GTA, well, let's just say that there will be more clones to come.
Now, taking this into consideration, we need to look at the impact of the casual game. The brilliant Nintendogs has spawned.... Dogz (yes, there IS a "Z" there), Buzz gave birth to Chegger's Party Quiz (how did they think of that?) and, of course, Wii Sports gave way to Brunswick Pro Bowling. Not exactly stellar spawning compared to Resident Evil 4 begating Gears of War and Grand Theft Auto begating almost everything that has a sandbox environment.Of course there have been some bad clones of hardcore games and some good clones of casual games but there is a balancing act in place between the two markets and either must tipped the other off the edge.
Things seem to be levelling out, post Wii fallout, with a great, and I mean GRRREAT, summer of proper, hardcore games we've had. GTAIV leads the pack comfortably with Mario Kart Wii nipping at it's heels and with as more to look forward to with Metal Gear in 10 days and Smash Bros at the end of the month.
It's these games that need to keep the balance going on the sales charts because, if they don't, people will stop making these brilliant, high production games and end up with poor looking, poor playing games which last for mere hours and have a difficulty curve that looks like a flat line.
HTG Out
Sunday, 11 May 2008
Rediscovering Street Fighter II
Today, I was wondering about how Steet Fighter IV might be coming along. With previous comments made that it was going to head back to the fighting style of Street Fighter II, I felt it best to go back to, once again, reopen the box of tricks that is SFII. Well, Super Street Fighter II: The New Challengers on Wii's Virtual Console to be exact. And after playing it for a good couple of hours, I realise how long it's been since I last played it at depth.
SFII pretty much has the right to say that it has helped shape fighting games from over the past with his introduction of the combo system. Even after all this time, the core gameplay still feels as good to play as it ever did. The longer a round drags on, the more the tension builds.
Moves are pretty well defined, there's no weird grey area as in some games where you can get two outcomes for the same sequence on button presses but button mashing can be present none the less.
However, what made SFII brilliant was how it was balanced. I even dare to say some of the best balancing in videogames ever. The distinction between two characters was undenialbly apparent as a fight would develop. One of the most fustrating and tense battles I've had was against Sagat as Ryu.
He generally tends to be a weaker opponent at close range but he can do an energy range attack from both standing and crouching positions as well as his screen-crossing uppercut so getting close to him was going to be difficult. As the battle developed, I realised that if I stayed low to the ground and guarded for a few rounds of these range attacks, he would be open for me to attack with a well placed Hadoken to stun him and then be able to get in close to attack.
It took me 12 attempts to figure that out but it illustrates my point well. Battles could be won and lost by picking the right fighters and picking the right moves.
This has been refined and reworked in other franchises, most of note being Virtua Fighter which, in all fairness to it's hyper-defensive counter attack methods, is sort of like Streets Fighter (look at Akria, Pai and Jackie and tell me that they don't look like Ryu, Chun Li and Ken respectively).
Point being, Street Fighter has long since seen those days and we are yearning for more of the same action once more. With SFII HD Remix also in the works with SFIV, it will be interesting to see which game best recaptures or, better yet, improves upon it's ancestor's greatness.
HTG out!
Moves are pretty well defined, there's no weird grey area as in some games where you can get two outcomes for the same sequence on button presses but button mashing can be present none the less.
However, what made SFII brilliant was how it was balanced. I even dare to say some of the best balancing in videogames ever. The distinction between two characters was undenialbly apparent as a fight would develop. One of the most fustrating and tense battles I've had was against Sagat as Ryu.
He generally tends to be a weaker opponent at close range but he can do an energy range attack from both standing and crouching positions as well as his screen-crossing uppercut so getting close to him was going to be difficult. As the battle developed, I realised that if I stayed low to the ground and guarded for a few rounds of these range attacks, he would be open for me to attack with a well placed Hadoken to stun him and then be able to get in close to attack.
It took me 12 attempts to figure that out but it illustrates my point well. Battles could be won and lost by picking the right fighters and picking the right moves.
This has been refined and reworked in other franchises, most of note being Virtua Fighter which, in all fairness to it's hyper-defensive counter attack methods, is sort of like Streets Fighter (look at Akria, Pai and Jackie and tell me that they don't look like Ryu, Chun Li and Ken respectively).
Point being, Street Fighter has long since seen those days and we are yearning for more of the same action once more. With SFII HD Remix also in the works with SFIV, it will be interesting to see which game best recaptures or, better yet, improves upon it's ancestor's greatness.
HTG out!
Thursday, 8 May 2008
Welcome to House-Trained Gamer
Welcome to this, my new blog, House-Trained Gamer.
A bit of basic information about myself: My name's Tom Nally aka Naz Dragonheart over the wires and tubes on the Internet.
I've been gaming for over 15 years, seriously gaming for about 12 of them. Over the coming weeks and months, you'll get to find out what games I love and my various passions about the games industry.
Hopefully, I'll try to refrain from the crappy side of it but, it's inevitable that it will come up in conversation but I will promise to ensure obssesive fanboyism is kicked right out of here.
Hopefully, I'll be supplementing these blog posts with some YouTube videos, it'll be a mixed bag of things at first and I'll see what sticks.
Alright, that's a good enough introduction, I hope to here you're thoughts and comments on what kinds of things you would like to see in the blog.
HTG Out
A bit of basic information about myself: My name's Tom Nally aka Naz Dragonheart over the wires and tubes on the Internet.
I've been gaming for over 15 years, seriously gaming for about 12 of them. Over the coming weeks and months, you'll get to find out what games I love and my various passions about the games industry.
Hopefully, I'll try to refrain from the crappy side of it but, it's inevitable that it will come up in conversation but I will promise to ensure obssesive fanboyism is kicked right out of here.
Hopefully, I'll be supplementing these blog posts with some YouTube videos, it'll be a mixed bag of things at first and I'll see what sticks.
Alright, that's a good enough introduction, I hope to here you're thoughts and comments on what kinds of things you would like to see in the blog.
HTG Out
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