The blog, without it's boy.

This is the third day I've spent on my mac doing entirely nothing, except for scouring facebook. Normally I would hop on my PS3 and start playing a game I've been loving, but not this time.

I said a few posts ago that I had a tonne of games that were certainly worth my time, only that I questioned as to why I had lacked the drive to play it. I can't remember if I answered the question, maybe the games weren't just that interesting. Maybe they didn't interest me. What not even Super Street Fighter IV?

Maybe now I realise that it isn't the games that aren't interesting. As humans we are always quick to blame other things bar ourselves, it's just human nature, it's just who we are. Maybe I tried to pin the blame on the games, that 2010 just wasn't a very interesting year for games. But logical thinking took over, and I realised that we had Red Dead Redemption, God of War 3, Mass Effect 2, Heavy Rain and so and so forth. Yes very interesting games, and certainly one of the most interesting years of gaming in recent memory,

"Rita's inside. It was me"

Like Dexter at the beginning of the fifth season, I'm blaming myself, not the games, for not being interesting. I once had a drive to play games, a passion to see games on a deeper level and talk about them with vigour. I can't explain what happened, and contrary to the rest of this post, I won't speculate on the cause. I have faith that my passion will reemerge once more, but for now, it's all gone.

For now that is...

Now for some bragging...

So I broke my longest win streak in ranked matches in Super Street Fighter IV today with none other than Guile! The previous record was 7, which has been beaten by 11, and in the process earning me the Tenpeat trophy (for 10 ranked match wins in a row)!

There were some matches I came close to losing, such as the Makoto match where I was down a round and pretty had a sliver of health left in the second. Luckily for me my sonic hurricane managed to connect and got me back in the match which was taken to a third and final round. Starting off the round bad, I somehow managed to get back in it with some lucky trips and finished my opponent off with some sonic boom - air throw baiting tactics. WOO yeah!

If I can I will upload a video of it. But for now, let's enjoy this picture...

What's it to you?

I've got a copy of FIFA 11 next to me, and Fallout 3 Game of the Year Edition , Super Street Fighter IV and a whole lot of other games sitting underneath my 40gb PS3. To the right of the aforementioned games, I've got a Wii (unplugged) and a couple of PS3 controllers next to it. I may not have the best entertainment system (hello 1994 Panasonic model tv) but it gets the job done. My rockband drums and guitar are upstairs in my messy room, along with an arcade stick that I've always wanted. I've got games that will last me a good year, or even more. So why can't I bring myself to play these games? Am I slowly being consumed by casual gameritis?

I don't fear I've become a casual gamer, despite the fact that I spend less amounts on games than I used to, because what's there to fear about being casual gamer? Aren't I still a gamer at heart?

Looking over my blog that has collected the metaphorical dust, I know I've spent less and less amounts of my time on my most beloved hobby, compared to even the beginning of the year. I refrain from saying that I've lost interest in gaming, or even that my interest is waning, because I know at heart I'm still a gamer.

Yeah I'm still a gamer. I might not spend 40+ hours 'shooting noobs in da face' in Black Ops, or rushing out to midnight launches for the signature edition of Gran Turismo 5, but I'm not any different to those who would anyway. I'm as much a gamer as those Korean Starcraft Superstars, or the old granny who decided to spend $250 + on Wii Fit instead of taking a walk outside.

What's a gamer nowadays? To me a gamer is someone who has ever actively participated in playing video games, and it's as simple as that. Why shun the casuals when we can welcome them with open arms, hand them a controller and let them have a go? Why give disgusted looks to those who toil away in front of their computers, engaging in dungeon raids with their guilds?

Yeah I'm still a gamer at heart. What's it to you? What's a gamer to you?

It's been a long time...

Hello people who like games! I haven't updated in a while, but that doesn't mean I've stopped playing games full stop. In fact, I think the reason why I've stopped updating is because I have been preoccupied with too much games. Ok well not too much games, more like three games, but three of probably the best games I've played in a long time. So here's a review of the three games I've been playing.

Red Dead Redemption:

You know playing Red Dead Redemption is akin to travelling to the countryside after living a long time in the city. It's a breath of fresh air, an escape from the hustle and bustle of city life and the stars at night are a lot more prominent. Not just in a literal sense, but it's wholly refreshing to see the tried and true formula set in an entirely different setting, so points for Rockstar for trying something new. And it's through this that Red Dead Redemption feels a lot more involving than Grand Theft Auto. Where long trips to missions in GTA sometimes felt like a bit of a grind, Red Dead Redemption invites the player to hop on their horse and explore a western, and indeed, entirely new setting. The sun is bright and often the land is often barren, save for random events such as an escaped convict or a fire fight between the authority and bandits. But through this, it allows the player to take in the world around them, making it, in my eyes, a true 'open world game', where you whistle for your horse, hop on and ride off into the sunset. Brilliant stuff.

Valkyria Chronicles

I have nothing but praise for this game. Thanks to my co-op partner Selina for letting me borrow the game, for letting me experience this game because it is awesome. Set in a sort of steampunk setting, gameplay is a hybrid between third person shooter and turn based strategy which results in a load of fun. Depth is evident as well, with different classes of soldiers in order to combat different types of situations. Throw in some awesome cel shaded-water painting graphics and it's the formula for awesomesauce! LOVE IT!!

Super Street Fighter IV

Just a bit of a story before I start. When my family came to Australia in the summer of 1993, they had to live with my cousins for a while until they found their own home. My cousins were addicted to Street Fighter II: The World Warrior, and my dad was always exposed to the soundbites of Hadouken, Shoryuken, Yoga fires and the points noise whenever you won a battle. He always recounts this memory, and adds that 'You (myself Jared) were still in your mother's stomach'. With that in mind, here's Super Street Fighter IV

Super Street Fighter IV, the game which has ignited a passion in me that will never ever be rivalled again. So let's start with the game itself. Online has been fixed somewhat to add new modes, and lag is less present, so playing with Americans halfway across the world isn't something problematic. The addition of ten new characters looked to fix the problem of the usual ryu/ken/sagat matchup but it seems people have been sticking with their guns. Never gets old focus attack dash cancelling through their fireball spams to get in their face and unload a bread and butter crouching medium punch into flash kick. Sweetness!

It may be the same game, but Super Street Fighter IV has grabbed me like no other game has grabbed me before. The day I decided to do a search on guile strategy guides is the day my street fighter experience changed forever. A whole competitive street fighter scene, where an alien like language has now managed to infuse itself into my everyday talk. Let this be a reminder, flash kick has no priority, but linking it from a crouching medium punch makes it all the more safer.

And the scene itself. Names like Daigo Umehara, Justin Wong, Gamerbee and John Choi, players with awesome skills, who for me, are the gaming parallels of sporting legends such as Roger Federer and Michael Jordan. All this would've never been possible, if I didn't decide to pick up Super Street Fighter IV on that day, and expose myself to something that has changed my gaming world perhaps forever. It is for this reason, that Super Street Fighter IV is one of the best games of the year.

Before I end this post however, I'd like to say that my once partner in crime Selina has now become my co-op partner. With this, I hope that our escapades such as fighting mass armies during the three kingdoms era, hopping around the Mushroom Kingdom trying to save Princess Peach, or simply just rocking out to some tunes in Rock Band brings many many joyous times. Thanks a bunch Selina for being my co-op partner!

Jared

Sometimes I wished...

that the world ended with me. And that I still had my copy of The World Ends With You. What a great game.

Germany Vs Australia

After a performance that sent shockwaves throughout the Footballing World, Australia come up against much stronger opponents in the form of Germany. A top of the table clash that will be a telling tale in where both sides are in terms of form and more importantly, their chances in winning the World Cup. Stay tuned...

KICK OFF

4th minute - GOAL for Mario Gomez. Disastrous start for Australia, after Gomez slots in a rebounded shot from Schwarzer. 1-0 Germany

13th minute GOAL for Tim Cahill. Equalizer! Tim Cahill has four for the tournament after he volleys a cross from Bresciano into the goal. 1-1.

24th minute - Header by a German forward fizzes past the post. Still 1-1.

38th minute - A chance for Kennedy to add to his goals for the tournament after a breakaway. Shoots straight at the keeper which results in a corner...1-1

HALF TIME

Australia starting to take control towards the end of the half. Both sides with chances to take the lead but a combination of good defending and poor finishing leaves the scores deadlocked. Stay tuned...

SECOND HALF

47th minute - Early in the second half and Kennedy rises high for a header. Past the keeper but past the post too.

57th minute - GOAL for Scott Chipperfield. Contentious penalty after Kewell breaks into the box and is brought down as he attempts to score. Chipperfield sends the keeper the wrong way. 2-1 Australia.

65th minute - Australian defense almost made to pay for laziness. Gomez' shot bounces off the crossbar, oh so close.

76th minute - GOAL for Harry Kewell. Quick counterattack by Australia and there is no one defending for Germany. One on One with the keeper and Kewell has his first goal for the tournament. 3-1.

89th Minute - Germany still desperate to salvage a goal. Gomez comes up with another shot but once again it bounces off the post.

FULL TIME Australia 3 - 1 Germany

Both sides in it until the penalty was given. From that point it looked like the Germans were playing catch up. Another goal to Australia and it looked clear from that point. Germany also guilty of not taking their chances when it counted. The Australians clear at the top of Group D and guaranteed a spot in the round of 16! Celebrations ahead!

Australia Vs Scotland

Jared Araniego here providing updates on Australia's first match in the 2010 FIFA (Virtual) World Cup. Can Australia build some confidence with a good performance against Scotland? They're gonna need it in their next games against Germany and Croatia. Stay here to find out...

THE MATCH STARTS!

9th minute - GOAL to Tim Cahill after a quick breakaway. 1-0

19th minute - GOAL to Tim Cahill. Exchange of passes, Cahill takes a shot just outside the box, keeper can get a finger to it but not enough and it goes in. 2-0

23rd min - yellow for C.Moore

27th min - GOAL for Mark Bresciano after a combination of good passing and lacklustre defence allows him to calmly a slot a goal into the bottom left corner. 3-0

35th min - GOAL for Josh Kennedy. Bad marking and defending allows Kennedy to get into some space, shoots pass the keeper into the goal. 4-0

40th min - GOAL for Josh Kennedy. Counterattack catches Scotland off guard, no reply to quick passing and Kennedy scores. 5-0

44th min - Australian defence caught napping with McFadden latching onto a cross from Miller, providing the first real test for Schwarzer. Rebounds off the post and tipped away by the Australian Goal keeper. Corner.

45th min - A red card for Naysmith caps off a horror first half for Scotland. Australia with a chance to score another goal going into halftime.

45th min - GOAL for Mark Bresciano. A free kick for Bresciano pays dividends with the aussie scoring a spectacular goal. 6-0

45th min - Own Goal for Scotland. Can it get any worse? A mix up at the back ends with Caldwell kicking it into his goal. Oh dear..7-0

HALF TIME 7-0 to Australia.

Well the scoreline tells the story. 7-0 to Australia. One side completely dominating while the other side is playing the worst football imaginable. No way back for Scotland from here...

SECOND HALF STARTS

46th min - GOAL for Josh Kennedy. HAT-TRICK! Again bad defending from Scotland and quick passing from Australia results in yet another goal. 8-0

57th min - GOAL for Josh Kennedy. Four!! It's Arshavin all over again. Martin Tyler thinks the game is over after that goal. I thought it was over in the first half. Each to their own I guess. 9-0

68th minute - Rare chance for Scotland as Schwarzer tips away a header from one of the forwards. Corner…

74th minute - GOAL for Fletcher. FINALLY Scotland gets on the board after a mix up between goalie and defender. Thrown straight to one of the forwards, passed to Fletcher and he takes the chance. Any hope of a comeback though? 9-1

75th minute - GOAL for Josh Kennedy. Right from the kick off, Australia catch Scotland napping and a few passes later, Kennedy's in for his fifth. 10-1.

89th minute - GOAL for Tim Cahill. Him and Josh Kennedy will be fighting for the match ball, because they've both got Hat-Tricks. 11-1

FULL TIME AUSTRALIA 11 - 1 SCOTLAND

I don't think anyone expected such a smashing performance from Australia. Dominating a lackluster Scottish side that didn't have any answers.

Can Paul the Octopus predict this result?

So what do you do when you don't have the official FIFA 2010 World Cup game? You attempt to make the World Cup in the next best thing, which in my case is FIFA 10.

Yes I know Japan isn't there along with some other teams, so I'm gonna have to make do with what I have. Of course I'll be playing as Australia, cause there isn't a Filipino team. C'mon guys! Make yourself a powerhouse of Football!!

Wish me luck!

First Impressions: Portal

Whenever I get a new game, I'll post up my initial thoughts of it, and will reflect on it by the time I finish the game. Will my opinion of the game change? Who knows.

You know what they say, better late than never! Almost three years after it captivated gamers across the world, I have finally jumped onto the Portal bandwagon. And it's not hard to see why it was one of the games of 2007; Portal is awesome in the face.

Most games force you to sit down for extended hours without breaks, punishing you for taking a minute time out. But not Portal, here is a nifty mod of Half Life 2 which is full of physics puzzles that gradually stretches the brain with each passing level. It doesn't punish you for taking a break, and I already get the feeling that I'll return to the game to try a new solution. And it's really smart and fun! The gradual progression eases you into the idea of shooting portals to move cubes onto pedestals to open doors and manipulating the path of rays to hit the intended target. IT'S GENIUS!

glaDos, the computer who directs you throughout the game, is quite eerie! While attempting to be comforting, she comes off as a robot's attempt at being a mother, not being able to comprehend the fine line between loving and creepiness

"Well done. Remember, the Aperture Science 'Bring your daughter to work' day is the perfect time to have her tested"

So yeah, Portal so far = awesome awesome awesome!

Music, emotion and Final Fantasy VII

Part of the appeal of Final Fantasy VII is the way it manages to tug onto those emotional chords deep within the gamer. Mind you this was in 1997, when the Playstation was beginning to hit its stride, 3D graphics were all the rage and the Virtual Boy had bitten the dust. Most games nowadays still fail to achieve the same powerful effect it's bigger brothers film and TV achieve, while 13 years ago FFVII made gamers across the world reach for their supply of tissues, gushing over the SPOILER ALERT death of Aerith.

But how? How did then Squaresoft manage to achieve what was almost the impossible in video games, that is, evoke feelings of joy, sadness and anger in a player from a game? Was it the graphics? Sure it was cutting edge for the time, but look at the game now; one could make the argument that Cloud and co. are the long lost brothers of lego men.

It was the music. Here I am, at 12:14 in the morning listening to the OST and remembering all the great moments from the game. Show me a cutscene of the game sans the soundtrack and it'll fail to have the same impact.

I've never been good at describing music. If I were to attempt to talk about time signature, pitch and tone, it probably wouldn't make much sense. The music of Final Fantasy VII doesn't require me to describe it though. It sings a melody, striking deep emotional chords in me that most gaming soundtracks nowadays fail to achieve.

Remember the meeting with Aerith in the church? It's a sentimental scene not because of the graphics, but because of the music. Every other element; story, graphics is conducted by 'Flowers blooming in the church'. It evokes a sense of tenderness between Cloud and Aerith, and the rest of the game design elements follow.

What Squaresoft (now Square Enix) do really well however, is manage to manipulate the choice of music and its intended meaning in FFVII. It's one thing to go and make a beautiful song for a touching scene, but to use that beautiful song and place it in a scene of absolute despair and sadness. Let's take the obvious example of Aerith again. As I said before, I'm no good at describing music, but 'Aerith's theme' is perfect for the character; going in tandem with the sweet, serene nature of the flower lady.

And then the infamous death scene. Sephiroth rains down from above and stabs her. In the moments before, a dark, foreboding song is in the background. Silence ensues, then 'Aerith's theme' plays. This theme, evoking emotions of calmness and serenity, clashes with what the gamer sees: death, sadness and loss of hope. To further iterate my point, there's a clash of the ears and eyes, with a song that's so beautiful, so touching, used in a scene that's of utter shock and sadness. Through this clever, and almost sinister manipulation of song meaning, Squaresoft had created one of the most powerful moments in video game history.

Do games nowadays fail to use their soundtracks effectively? No, game soundtracks have progressed far beyond the midi file, with large scale orchestras being the norm for triple A games. It's just the use of music in games is far too conventional, often getting left behind in favour of other aspects of game design. Music in Final Fantasy VII is different though; while managing to create an already perfect soundtrack, it didn't just use it as music for the game, but something that is integral to the game itself. The end result? A 13 year old game that still manages to make gamers across the world cry, cry and cry again.

Gaming discussions with Jared and Selina #1

This gaming discussion will kick off a series of discussions between Selina and Jared on gaming issues that are prevalent within the industry. This discussion was in response to an excellent digital gaming essay by Bajo of Good Game.

Selina: (Talking about how she can't go back to playing FF12 despite near completion) but im so far ahead in the story that im not bothered starting and using up so much time to level agains to reach where i am.

Jared: yeah. i guess it boils down to a question of whether the game failed to keep your attention or something came up which took you away from it? but even in that case if the game in question was good, it should've lured you back despite the interruption

S: yeahs erm...no i think all games are good. its just that life calls then theres no time and then you're willing to put time aside for the game but when you start playing agains it might just be past its 'play phrase'

J: hmm...fair point

S: cause all games are good, when they're released which brings along the hype and sensation of a new game

J: yeah but then you get those games which don't have a play phrase. i was still playing fifa 09 a year on from when it was released. fifa 10 is what stopped me playing fifa 09. So again we're taken back to the whole argument as to whether the game was good enough in the first place to keep your attention.

S: well it would have been great to have caught your attention to buy it in the first place

J: and it should keep that going despite any interruptions. i dunno maybe it works on different levels for different games. rpgs it's a bit more understandable because they require so much investment but it's not one of those games you can just pick up again after 3 years of not playing it...i think the fact that we're discussing this shows the quality of that gaming essay!

S: hahas yeahs that it allows gamers to to think behind the reason why they play games and what makes em alluring

HAPPY 51st POST, A BOY AND HIS BLOG!!

In the haste of my Daigo Umehara fanboy-loving I completely missed the fact that it was my fiftieth post. Partner in crime Selina then told me it was, so not to miss out on the fanfare, I shall celebrate 51 posts in A Boy and His Blog: Adventures into Blogolonia.

So why make a blog? Well blogs are cheap and efficient. As a wise man said:

"Talk is cheap, and everyone wants to be heard."

Actually they cost nothing, and it's a good area to post up opinions about issues and stuff, like gaming. I like gaming, and I like voicing my opinion, and blogs are cheap, and I like things for free, so it was the perfect match.

What was the first post in A boy and his blog? Well the very first post was just me introducing myself to the internet, it wasn't very interesting. But my 2nd post detailed my gaming life up until December 26th 2009, which I guess was a lot more interesting.

So what has happened in 51 posts in this blog? Well there's been numerous opinion posts on issues that have plagued the gaming industry, some reviews, some previews with Colin Firth (he's alright) and even the inclusion of a second member: Selina, who provides a second opinion to gaming in general. She also made me jealous when she got the Phoenix Wright Artbook.

And has anything changed in 51 posts in mine or Selina's gaming life?

Well since the inception of this blog, I've realised that the industry is full of surprises, sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse. I hyped God of War 3 like a motherfunker but failed to really grab me the way I thought it would (still a good game though). On the other hand, I played through The World Ends With You for the first time, and heard it was really good, but didn't think it would be THAT good! How good you ask? One of the best games I've ever played-good. I've also realised that I'm missing out on computer gaming, because my internets/computer sucks. Well that's not really a change more

And what about Selina? Well here's what she has to say:

Well yeahs i guess you could say that i sorta inched myself into arcade gaming, now that a lot of moolahs into it...got the ps3 which is like a new gen console addition for us. I've also had to give up my online gaming because of school commitments. And just the level of gaming design has changed i guess...like its 2010 nows...compare it back to 2000 and our era then yeahs a LOT!

So where to now? Well we continue of course! If we can do 51 blog posts, who says we can't do another 51? Or 101? A Boy and His Blog isn't going anywhere, we're loving it too much.

If Street Fighter was a Religion, Daigo Umehara would be God

Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to direct your attention to Daigo Umehara.

Daigo Umehara plays Street Fighter as a profession. And he's really good at it.

Check out this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7cW2nMf1gk&feature=related

This is devotion and this is skill. Watch it. Be amazed.

Gaming addiction discussion

A few days ago, my school held a Pastoral Day for Year 11. They sat us down and talked to us about some issues involving adolescents. One of these issues was Gaming Addiction, and with a hall which was nearly full of students calling themselves gamers, it was probably the most involving topic of the day.

It was clear from the outset that the teacher's knowledge of gaming was quite limited, with her only sources of information probably coming from a 7pm Project report about addiction a few days earlier and numerous COD groups on facebook.

She showed us two reports about gaming addiction. The first one was horribly narrow minded in it's documentation, only showing the stereotyped gamer of today, that is a person who is 'fat, wears glasses and spends their time infront of a computer in a dark room'. The second report was one recently shown on the 7 pm project, which was better in its research; interviewing gamers and professionals in the field of addiction.

She then opened up the discussion to the students; asking us some signs of addiction. Here are two telltale signs of addiction to video games courtesy of some students:

1. When you can't live without it.
2. When you start talking in real life like you would in the internet.

Really? When I can't live without it? Now I can't live without food, am I addicted to food? I can't live without breathing, am I addicted to breathing?

It made me angry, because some of the apparent signs of addiction were just absurd generalisations. At the end of the discussion she said put up your hand if you answered yes to any of these signs mentioned. At this point I had to object, saying that some of the signs mentioned in the discussion were not indicative of what addiction is.

Is addiction a bad thing? My computer defines addiction as 'great interest in a particular thing, to which a lot of time is devoted'.

So by this definition, Roger Federer is addicted to tennis. He has a great interest in it and has devoted a lot of time to the sport. Look where it's got him, it hasn't ruined his life in any way, but he is now the greatest tennis player of all time. Because he was 'addicted' to tennis.

The biggest mistake the teacher made was that she failed to define 'addiction', and through this, everyone automatically got the perception that 'addiction' is a bad thing. The excerpts she showed us only depicted the bad side of 'addiction', when in fact, the term probably belongs in a gray area.

What's my view of the whole thing? Addiction takes a turn for the worse when it leads to negative things.

Addicted to gaming? Fine. Addicted to gaming and it's destroying your social life? That's when it gets bad. I think I am addicted to gaming, but as with anything else, it's obviously detrimental to other aspects in your life when in excess.

YAY!

Well I'm pretty happy because my Bayonetta review on Kotaku got published haha yay! I really don't mind if I don't win, it's just something to add to my portfolio when the time comes. IM TAKING THE INITIATIVE!!

http://www.kotaku.com.au/2010/05/reader-review-bayonetta-2/

And that's about it for today!

When Kratos taught me a thing or two...

March 20th 2010, a date that I had been waiting for nearly three years. Ever since Kratos pronounced his revenge on Zeus and the rest of Mount Olympus in the climax ending of God of War 2, I’d waited for three years to find out how this trilogy would end. Hanging on every announcement, watching every video, the hype and anticipation was there. I told myself God of War 3 would be the game to wait for, possibly even better than Metal Gear Solid 4. This was the reason to buy a PS3.

March 20th – Arriving home with a new haircut and God of War 3, I pop the game into my PS3. Holding the controller in anticipation, three years of waiting had boiled down to this moment. The third and final part in this trilogy which had given me so many great gaming memories. Flashing on screen in his next gen form, I gasp for a moment. Choosing new game, Kratos states

“My vengeance ends now.”

Flash forward a couple of minutes and Kratos is riding a top Gaia as they ascend Mount Olympus. It’s the perfect opening for a game, picking up off right where the last God of War left off. Gaia is attacked throughout the opening, constantly shifting the movement mode for Kratos. He defends Gaia from repeated attacks by Poseidon, coming in the form of some horse-scorpion hybrid. It looks wonderful, even on my analogue television, and more importantly, plays like every God of War should. Without spoiling it, the end of the opening sequence is almost the perfect summary of what God of War is: complete destruction on the largest scale.

But then something happens, and Kratos is once again stripped of all his powers. Everything that God of War 2 built up to is somewhat lost in this event; Kratos doesn’t feel like the almighty powerhouse that he was in the opening sequence.

And as the game progresses, little evidence of this ‘almighty powerhouse’ Kratos should be is shown ever again. He chases a certain God at one point, and engages in some sort of rhythm mini game in another section. The last third of the game has Kratos escorting a little girl that reminds him of his daughter, and in the process is put through endless battle after battle. Rarely did I ever feel this sense of empowerment that God of War 2 spent a whole goddamn game building towards. Instead of jamming a bridge through a Kraken’s mouth, I was chasing the arse of some God who would repeatedly taunt me like a 6 year old child.

By the end of the game I realised that I was trying to make myself enjoy the game. I told myself and friends it was a great game, but in reality I thought differently. Why, deep down inside, did I not enjoy the game as I did with the previous two? Moreover, why did I try to convince myself that it was a really good game? I tried playing through it again, and haven’t finished it since. I racked my brain as to why it was like this.

Then I realised, there wasn’t anything wrong with God of War 3, there was something wrong with me. I built up this game to be so damn good, I would rant to my friends at recess and lunch at how awesome the ending of the God of War 2 was, and how God of War 3 would continue this trend. But it didn’t, expectation made it to be a better game than what it really was.

In truth it was the high expectation I had for God of War 3. There was no chance in the world this game would disappoint me, and somehow it did. But in reality, God of War 3 is a decent game; the only reason I complained a few paragraphs before is because those were the reasons I used to try to convince myself as to why it was a bad game. I couldn’t accept the truth that I had set my expectations too high, and with three years of expectations suddenly shot down, it’s kind of hard to accept the truth.

But accept the truth I did. I’ve left that experience behind me, admitting that my expectations ruined a game that wasn’t so bad. I’ve learnt to not get my hopes up too high and for that, I thank God of War 3 not for being a game but for being a worthy lesson in life.

For the rest of my life, I can safely say that I have been published in Hyper! Thanks to Selina's artistic input as well as her 1337 photography skillz, we were published in Hyper's 200th issue.

Readers were required to send in a collection of their Hyper magazine collection, along with a short bio about themselves. Selina and I rose to the challenge and sent a photo of me and my hyper collection. And to our surprise, WE WERE PUBLISHED!!



There it is! WE WERE PUBLISHED!!! IN HYPER!! YAAY!!!

The World Ends With You review

The World Ends with You starts off with unlikely hero Neku waking up in the iconic Shibuya crossing. With no memory of how he got there, it’s made pretty clear that from the outset that Neku is an individual who doesn’t want to anything to do with the world around him. However his unwanted entry into ‘The Reapers game’ forces him to join with other player or face erasure. You’ll be glad Neku was forced into this do or die game, because it results in a gaming experience that is immensely deep and satisfying; The World Ends with You is an experience like no other.

And it’s what the RPG market needs, all those turn based battles and random encounters were starting to feel stale. TWEWY avoids the same old game play by introducing a new battle system that is, while daunting at first, turns out to be one of the most rewarding systems to play in a long time. As Neku is partnered with another individual, a battle takes place on the two DS screens; partner at the top and Neku at the bottom. Neku is given pins with special abilities, and the player must perform different manoeuvres with the stylus to activate these abilities, from drawing horizontal and vertical lines on the enemies to tapping the screen repeatedly to fire projectiles. Later pins may also require the player to shout into the mic to activate a soundwave in game, the louder the shout, the more damaging the soundwave.

So while all this is happening on the bottom screen, Neku’s partner is busy attacking at the top of the screen. The player is required to use either the directional pad or face buttons in order to attack. Take into account that there’s already a fair amount of action going on in Neku’s screen and it makes for a pretty hectic battle. While a bit overwhelming at first, it soon becomes a frantic battle to defeat the ‘noise’ quickly and with as much efficiency as possible, the player given a rating at the end of each battle that determines the amount of experience they gain for Neku’s pins. It’s a refreshing change from the usual turn based battle seen in JRPGS, and makes grinding a lot of fun. Yes, grinding a lot of fun. In fact it won’t even feel like grinding, you’ll feel like repeatedly scanning for enemies to level up your pins to its maximum capabilities.

It’s important I spend two paragraphs on the battle system, because it is one of the most unique and enriching systems seen in RPGs. Why should such a crucial element of this genre be such a bore? If it’s integral to the experience, make it interesting and fun to play. TWEWY passes the test with flying colours.

The game also takes its setting and heavily integrates it into the gameplay. Set in Shibuya, the ‘trend capital’ of Japan, TWEWY takes the tried and true factor of armour in RPGS and not only modernizes it, but makes it a crucial element to success. As Neku and co. pass through several districts, the popular trends in clothing changes accordingly and directly impacts on the effect it has when entering a battle. Wear clothing that is popular with the district and you’ll be guaranteed an attack boost, conversely, wear something that is ‘not in fashion’ and expect to do less damage. It also applies with pins too, so there is much more planning required when facing a large scale battle. Thankfully, there are plenty of shops spread around Shibuya so there is never a shortage of what to wear. In short, it’s a system that goes beyond the normal ‘armour and weapons’ used in other RPGS, rather it takes into account it’s setting and story.

Speaking of which, the story in TWEWY is simply put, amazing. As mentioned before, Neku is not one to associate with the world around with him. Playing in a game that forces him to make pacts with other players in order to survive presents an interesting theme about trust and reliance on others into the game. It also deals with identity and the dichotomy between individuality and conforming to social stands in order to survive, evident with the aspect of wearing clothes that are ‘popular’ to gain an advantage. While Neku may appear to be the same amnesiac, emo grouch used in the last 50 RPG games, he slowly grows into an enjoyable character, one that you won’t resent for his qualities, but rather admire for the way he is portrayed as the game progresses. His allies and enemies are also central to the story, representing parts of the themes mentioned above, and subsequently making the story all the more involving. And while the title of the game may sound cryptic at first, it slowly becomes that it is the most fitting title for such a deep and involving game.

I haven’t even talked about the art and sound design in this game, which along with the rest of the game, is amazing. Art design takes its cues from an influence of Anime/Manga and graffiti culture, resulting in a highly stylised game that fits in with the Shibuya setting. Districts differ greatly from this style, from the skyscrapers of the 104 building to the rich greys of the Station underpass to the tagged walls of Udagawa. They all help to avoid the game ever feeling boring or stale; it almost feels like each district in Shibuya has its own character and emotions, with the only similarities being the same animation sprites used for the commuters of the city. The music is also quite memorable as well, with tunes ranging from pop to rock to rap all crammed into the game. And they sound great, with each song that plays throughout the game never growing old. The great thing is that the songs can be bought from various shops in the game and listened to in the menu.

There’s a lot of passion put in this game. From the unique art design to the battle system to the deep and enriching story and beyond, The World Ends with You speaks of devotion and dedication from a team that attempted to make their game stand out in a genre that is growing a bit stale. The end result is one of the best DS titles out there, and possibly one of the best RPGS in recent memory. In short, don’t miss it for the world.

PROS
- Deep, involving story
- Gameplay with plenty of depth
- Unique and fitting art and music

CONS
- Text can get a tad repetitive when repeated game overs are experienced

Resulting in a score of:

9.5/10

Number 9 on top ten games of all time

Taken from my top ten gaming column that I did last year on facebook, I've altered this one slightly as I realised every FIFA since FIFA 07 has been pretty amazing. Check it out!

9. FIFA Series (PS3, 360)




Soccer games, who doesn't love them? There's something about the FIFA seriesthough, that makes it special. Perhaps it's the way it reflects the 'beautiful' game almost perfectly, or maybe it's just the license that EA has that puts it above the rest of the competition. In any case, there is one thing I'm certain of that has made me continually purchase a FIFA every year for a very long time (and very reluctant to let anyone borrow it). That is, the countless epic matches I've been involved in. Example: Newcastle United (thats me) VS Chelsea in the F.A. Cup Final. Locked in an intense battle for supremacy, Chelsea gains the upper hand in the 86th minute with a goal from Lampard. Fearing the worst, I try my best to level the match, resulting in three consecutive corners in stoppage time. First and second corner attempt don't work out, but the third's a charm, with the ball being knocked around, until Barton comes from nowhere and blasts it past Cech and into the goal, leveling it at 1 all. And in the moment after Barton scores, I jump off my chair and punch the air in delight, so much emotion being released in a singular moment. After that, no one scores in extra time and the game is sent into penalties. With the confidence riding sky high, I manage to save one of Chelsea's attempts and on my attempt, send it into the top right corner, capping off a remarkable match. For a game to cause so much tension, excitement and successfully recreate the highs and lows of the real thing, it certainly deserves a place on my top 10 games.

Another side of the coin...

Selina brings up an interesting topic about gaming in her last post. She talks about how games (and subsequently developers and companies) are now charging for things that essentially give an advantage to those who can afford it in an MMORPG, namely gear, statistics, weapons etc. What we have here is an advantage to those who have money to burn, and not everyone has the money to drop on gold mansions and rocket cars. It's not a level playing field once the game asks real money for an advantage, just look at FIFA 09 Ultimate Team.

But there's another side to this issue. In a genre which is absolutely dominated by World of Warcraft, any other MMO is gonna be desperate to make an impact on its players. It's gotta do what it's gotta do, and if it means charging real money and stuff, well that's too bad. How else do you expect the game to survive?

Selina also brought up loyalty as an issue. Fair enough, but these game companies will just have to have faith in their long time fans that they will dish out the money for the game that they love. Some players will, and some players won't, but again, it's necessary for the survival of the game. If keeping the game alive means shelling out extra dollars, then I'm sure some will be willing to do that.

So there's my side of the argument. The impact of spending real money for an advantage still hurts, but as I said, it's a dog eat dog world out there, and gaming companies gotta do what they have to do to survive.

It's time for..time for...a gaming update!

Why hello there readers of Jared's blog~ His female-gamer-counterpart Selina here again! What am I here for?...That's right, something on the oh so addictive Ds game Rhythm Heaven, Online gaming, my stance with gaming now (maybe?) annnndd...that should be it I suppose. Oh! and whatever else decides to pop up randomly into my mind while typing this up. Let's get started shall we? *I apologize in advance for my paragraphing-ness*

This bastard here should die!...Ok, well maybe shut his trap.


Now... to start off, Rhythm Heaven is unlike any ordinary music game I've played. Well maybe it's for extraordinary people who can actually tune into the game and get the beats right (Jokes, jokes!). It's not that hard of a game to play though, considering it's on the Ds. All's that required of you, is to simply tap! the screen( and scratch it, like mine). Yes...tapping, with the beat mind you. The beat would depend with whichever mini-game you decide to play, so as to provide much entertainment with different types throughout the whole game. I won't give any spoilers here as to what mini-games they offer (since I've finished the game...and I'm sure someone here hasn't :P) but you'll be able to find Rhythm rally (table tennis...but with st-st-st-sttttyllle!), Lockstep, Karate man...and plenty more. You guys just have to find them out yourselves :D

But yeahs...overall the game is worth having to swear at (..whut? hahahahs I mean be frustrated at) It's an innovative game that brings across music to gaming in a whole new level. I've enjoyed it for the countless hours it offers( and keeps offering, even though my save data is wrecked), since its replay value is quite high....maybe just play it yourself to hear this awesome game called Rhythm Heaven. I give it a 'Superb!' rating.


The old Dofus, back when I LOVED playing you.Now you've turned to version 2.0.Crap as.
Well maybe not, with all the new improved graphics but I miss the old style of Dofus!


Dofus. Nooooo, not you silly! It's the game! A MMORPG to be exact. One that I used to play( do I still play it?...yeeeeahs..maybe) Created by Ankama ages ago ( I played this game when it was in BETA mode, which technically is the beginning of sorts.. yoinks ago) I also believe that Ankama is a french company, so that's some gaming revelation to you; Europeans can game as much as Asians can. What brought this game up again was this; * plays situation from earlier today* I walked into the newagency, looked into the gaming/hobbies magazine section, pick up an anime magazine (which I woulda bought if I wasn't lazy), flick through..and HEY WAIT A SECOND! IT'S AN ACTUAL AD FOR DOFUS!phhhwwwwwooooaar! ( To be realistic, the magazine was a UK one, so it wasn't as strange to find that there)

But it's got me thinking...why haven't I played it again? The answer really is as common with every online game you stumble upon now: money. I think I stopped playing cause Ankama asked for money subscriptions; this would you give that person higher power (for how many months they paid for) over normal players like me. And when I say higher power I mean as in accessible stuff, maps, weapons and monsters you can fight...you know, all these meaningless things you ought to think that they were free for ALL gamers of the community. But nooooo they decide on giving payers with the moolahs the good stuff! It just pisses me off seriously. I, who for one has been playing their game the longest ( SINCE THE DAMN BETA BEGINNING) is pressured to spend EUROS on becoming a premium member! No! I won't become one! I'll continue playing for free! HAH! == When I look at all the online games I occupy many hours of my intarwebz with... they're all money-hungry-greedy-guts. You get more powerful with the added benefit of better clothing/stats but really now, it all depends on your skills. SKILLZ! AND ITS NOT LIKE YOU NOOBS HAVE ANY!

/end raging rant.


Hmm...now that I got that off my chest, I reckon I should reflect on how I stand with gaming now that school's started for the term. During school term, I'm not allowed to play games. Simple as that, and I don't even touch my consoles until the next holidays come rolling around. So that issue is settled..Although I do still think about gaming and update myself whenever the opportunity presents itself, arcade...I just try and fit gaming into my life wherever possible during school term. The hardcore stuff comes within the holidays. Other than that, on the first week of the holidays I helped Jared here with a Hyper photo shoot to celebrate their 200th issue. The following pictures taken for that will be up after the magazine is sold... so as to not reveal anything just yet. When? Next Wednesday. I'll be jumping for joy to see my photography in there. If not, then screw you Hyper.

And that's all folks! See my blog http://tofurbii.blogspot.com/ for another post of my normal life (nothing interesting...*shifty eyes*) But yeahs, gaming... does a lot to you :D But in good ways...nothing bad I assure you.

Around the World in 7 Days: Gaming revelations

School tomorrow LAME! Oh well I've played a fair bit of games during the holidays. I tried to play through God of War 3 again, but I just can't. I've always found myself going back to FIFA 10...is something wrong with me? Or is something wrong with God of War 3? I have my reasons, look for a post about it later...

Funnily enough, the two games that I've really dug my gaming heels into were The World Ends With You and Silent Hill 2, both for different reasons. I've had a copy of The World Ends With You for about a year now, but it never used to work. That was until Friday, where I scoured forums to look for a fix that didn't force me to download a patch. I found one where I had to repeatedly close my ds, and guess what? IT WORKED! So I've been addicted to that, in all it's pin collecting, mind scanning, smart innovated touch screen using ways. IT.IS.SO.GOOD!

Ok now onto Silent Hill 2...Silent Hill 2 is the reason I continue to play games. For every generic FPS, every Peter Molyneux 'revolution', there's a gem that stands heads and shoulders above the rest. Silent Hill 2 is that gem. At it's core, it's a twisted and at times, depressing love story. On the surface it's a wonderfully crafted horror game, each and every little detail jangling the nerves. Just try playing that Hospital level at night with headphones. It's a spectacular gaming feat.

So yeah. There's a lot more I could say...but I've got school. BLURGH SCHOOL! Expect a post from Selina about Rhythm Heaven haha IT'S AN AWESOME GAME! It's like Warioware and Bishi Bashi with rhythm used. Play it and become addicted.

CIAO!

Around the World in 7 Days: Gaming update

Welly welly well! Around in the world in 7 days and we're on our eighth day? What have I got accomplished in the past week? Well I put up one poster thanks to my partner in crime, taken a photo of my hyper collection for their 200th issue (thanks again to Selina for providing photos, artistic vision and extra hypers) and got
kicked in the arse...less said about that the better! NOW!

I've also started playing Rock Band 2 again, which is always a lot of fun. I stand by my point that Rock Band is the definitive band experience, compared to Guitar hero which just slapped on drums and mic for the hell of it. Bobby Kotick and co can go get stuffed.

Also gotten back into Miles Edgeworth Investigations, which is a welcome change from the courtroom dramas that previous games have followed. Gameplay is primarily based around investigations now, with the 'cross examinations' in form of the rebuttals. Logic is also a welcome addition to the game, and it requires less of the 'trial and error' gameplay that previous games had resorted to. Thank god for that.

And usual FIFA 10 and God of War 3 thrown into the mix. Chock a block full of gaming, gotta make the most of it while I can, cause school is in a week, and there will be no more time for plastic guitaring and hadoukens. Which reminds me, Super Street Fighter IV is on the horizon...

Around the world in..ah stuff it. I BOUGHT THE PHOENIX WRIGHT ART BOOK!

I BOUGHT IT! I BOUGHT IT! I BOUGHT IT! I BOUGHT IT! I BOUGHT IT! I BOUGHT IT! I BOUGHT IT! I BOUGHT IT! I BOUGHT IT! I BOUGHT IT! I BOUGHT IT! I BOUGHT IT! I BOUGHT IT! I BOUGHT IT! I BOUGHT IT! I BOUGHT IT! I BOUGHT IT! I BOUGHT IT! I BOUGHT IT! I BOUGHT IT! I BOUGHT IT! I BOUGHT IT! I BOUGHT IT! I BOUGHT IT! I BOUGHT IT! I BOUGHT IT! I BOUGHT IT! I BOUGHT IT! I BOUGHT IT! I BOUGHT IT! I BOUGHT IT! I BOUGHT IT! I BOUGHT IT! I BOUGHT IT!.... Anyways. *sorry for the spam*

Yesterday when I went out to the city, I purchased at Kinokuniya "The art of Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney" for a good $63.75. Why? Well, I'm a huge fan of the phoenix wright series since game one( maybe not the games on advance). Plus I'll also be cosplaying Maggey Byrde later on this year at Animania, so it'll be a good vice to have the book on hand for reference.

So what can you expect from this monstrosity of a book? Nearly everything really(besides the new Miles Edgeworth game) You got illustrations, character art with an included memo even the animation sequence! It didn't let me down, that's for sure.

Any fan obssesed with Phoenix Wright would be crazy not to own this book..it's just too awesome. Every single page dedicated to each individual character ( some characters such as Apollo has more, but hey who's complaining?) displays the hard work went into designing the characters. I'm a big fan of the games, having finished Trials and tribulation first then going back to game one to start the story all over. The Phoenix Wright series has captivated me so much; reduced me to tears, raged at the ds, relating to the characters...even having heated debates with friends over the games.

It's more in-depth than merely being pictures.It may not be a complete guide. But I bought the book nonetheless..because I'm a true fan . That is all. xD

Selina out! *Jared come back here!*

Around the World in 7 days according to Selina and Jared with friends: Day One

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*flicks hair*...tsk, tsk, tsk Jared. Putting off games...
Wait, who am I to talk?!

Selina here! Once again I have ventured forth into this
foreign land called
"A boy and His blog: Adventures into Blogolonia".
Why? Well, let's see here... To update you guys on my
gaming status of course!
Yesterday, I have been busily playing God of war 1.
The sad news is that I left the ps2 on for tv and then at
 the end of it all,
my dad switched off the entire power component.NOOOOOO!
That just basically means that the part I'm up to isn't
saved, so it's a little
frustrating that I'm going to have to start all over...
and I was at the good part toos! *Sigh*

I happen to have a list of games to play this holiday but
 I'm pretty sure someone
here would like to list them.
Instead, maybe I'll just update you guys with whichever
games I've played throughout
the days gone by.
Sounds cool? Alrighty thens.Until tomorrow (at this
person's house), YAH!

~Selina.

Around the World in 7 days according to Selina and Jared with friends: Day 1

Alright the first official day of the holidays! Hope everyone's enjoying their
Easter Monday, I know I have, with a brand new Hyper to read. Cause a new issue of Hyper makes the day so much better.

So what do I have in store for today gaming wise? Probably some FIFA 10, God of War 3if I'm feeling up to it. Might also try playing some Pokemon Platinum if I feel like some grinding. Griiiiiiiiiiinding.

Maybe some Bayonetta too? As I said before I'd like to experience the game without any lag, cause Sony is cool and sega are a bunch of losers...massive losers.

Anyway, expect a post from Selina about her first day of the holidays in relation to gamings and stuff. SELINAAA!!!

Till then Jared out!

Howdy all! There's a female presence now...

Selina here, the brand new member for Jared's den of gaming. So why am I here you ask? This here is a girl dedicated to gaming. Dedicated to the point of going on a money-wasting pilgrimage just to get the Devil May Cry 4 ps3 game she forgot to obtain from a treasure box. Besides that point, me and Jared are also collaborating together this holiday's for...wait for it...drumroll please! *beats the table till an indent is visible*...'Around the World in 7 days according to Selina and Jared with friends!'

So what will i post here? I don't know exactly. But lemme tell you that today I started my holiday of gaming by playing Crisis core on the psp. Just because I went Easter show.

~Selina. http://tofurbii.blogspot.com/ <---- visit me! you know you want to.

P.S thanks Jaaaaaaaaaareeed! ^^

Hooray Holidays!!

Ahh yeah Holidays I've missed you. During the first term of school, I've found myself not having much time to play games, with probably the most time being spent on God of War 2 (six hour gaming session), and then God of War 3. Other than that, I'd find myself playing Rock Band occasionaly, and having 16 people participate in a gaming experiment for my Society and Culture assignment.

So what's on the gaming plate for these holidays? Well after I finish God of War 3 again, I think I might play through Bayonetta again. My experience was slightly ruined last time due to the long load times but after Sony fixed up the problem (Sony. Not Sega), then the game started to run much faster. There are also some hardcore gaming sessions planned at people's houses which I'm pretty pumped about. Other than that, I think I might play Silent Hill 2 again, it's a game that will probably never age. OH and FIFA 10 woohoo!

I would also like this opportunity to introduce a brand new team member for my blog. Selina, a good friend and fellow gamer will be posting some of her gaming experiences, thoughts and issues on A Boy and His Blog, which will definitely be interesting to read. Definitely something to look forward to!

Cyaaaa!

Change to disk 2

In my last post I talked about developers unable to utilise the game mechanics at their disposal in order to create a truly moving experience. After posting it, I quickly told my friend about my new blog post. She then mentioned FFXIII, and it clicked.

One game, one singular moment, brings together the defining qualities of a genre and mixes it with story telling. In one moment, the gamer bawls tears of sadness because of the actual gaming qualities. In one moment, a game managed to take this emotional depth and turn it up to 11.

I'm talking about Final Fantasy VII and surely by now you all know what I'm talking about. The moment of Aerith's death.

Cloud losing arguably, the love of his life, was pretty hard for gamers. If you were just watching, you could sympathise with Cloud, a stone cold character finally showing some raw emotion. But for gamers, this was a defining moment in time where they could empathise with him. The death of Aerith was as hard for gamers as it was for Cloud. That's the difference. Empathy and Sympathy.

It was due to attachment. Yeah you could be attached to Aerith because of her angelic qualities, but in the end, the attachment wasn't caused purely and simply because of the graphics, or her own theme song. No it's because you levelled her up. Organised her armor, her weapons and her materia. Countless hours spent grinding, getting her to a suitable level. For once, the attachment was based on gaming attributes.

Then she was cruely taken away from you. As I said to my friend "the pain of losing her is 10 times more because you've grown attached to her, not through her qualities as a character for storytelling, but her qualities she's grown as a part of the video game..."

At the end of the first disk, the game asked countless gamers across the world to change disks. But I'm guessing they were all too shaken up to even reach for the gaming case. A singular moment, where gaming had evolved.

Speak to me in a language I can hear

Going on 17 years and I've played a lot of games. Waited for a lot of big releases, bought consoles for just one game and generally always been excited about what the industry has to offer. Dreamt about saying 'I write about video games' when someone asks me what my occupation is. It's been 17 good years.

17 good years. It hasn't been spectacular, and there have been times where a game has failed to reach my expectations, where a game has made me frustrated purely because of bad design. Who am I to complain though? Developers probably thought it sounded good at the time...

Anyway this is me beating around the bush. As I said before I've played games, played through them, reflected on the good and bad points. I've played games that I've been moved, by the characters, and the cinematics, the rich dialogue. But rarely because of the actual game design.

There's the difference. It's been decades since the inception of video games, countless technological upgrades. Yet a game has ever rarely moved me because of it's game design. Playing through God of War 3, I can be moved by the trials and tribulations of what Kratos has faced, the mammoth goals he's been tasked with. But when it comes to what makes a video game, a video game, God of War 3 more or less has me mashing buttons, square, square, triangle, triangle etc. I'm not moved by pushing buttons.

And even though my friends will know about how I rag on about Silent Hill 2 had sheer emotional depth, it wasn't because of the clunky combat system, or the awkward control mechanics. It was because of the dialogue, the graphics, the haunting soundtrack, the tale it told about a tortured soul. Something that any movie can achieve.

So that's what I'm saying here. The difference between movies and games is that I'm in control. This control is what makes games so appealing. Yet developers have hardly found a way to make game design a way to move the player emotionally.

There's two games in which I can think of that incorporate game design to move the gamer in some emotional way. The first is Batman Arkham Asylum, in which one scene inspires fear into the gamer. Yes actual fear, not because of some lurching monster in the distance, but raw fear that would make any gamer freeze in terror. The other is Metal Gear Solid 4, right near the end, where through mashing triangle, you can feel Snake's pain. The first example is better, and ironically enough, it doesn't require any sort of control, but still manages to tap into the gamer's heart and draw fear.

So that's what I'm saying. Games have the ability to move players, but rarely because of their actual game design. Developers spend truckloads of money on pimping out the graphics abd getting large orchestras, when really they should be focusing on what makes games so different; game design. Games attract me because they have attribute that makes it so appealing. They turn me off when they rely on generic attributes that aren't so different to other art forms.

Surprise me. Move me.

Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers: The Fighting Edition

Hooray! I haven't posted in a while, so I'll make up for it with not one but TWO posts. Here's the first one, I wrote this up about last year and recently I've hit a maaad Power Rangers faze (thanks SELINA!!). Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers that is. Not any of the new ones, ew who do you think I am?


Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers: The Fighting Edition

If you want to put an everlasting connection between video games, movies and TV series, that connection would have to be video game versions of those movies and tv series (and vice versa...to an extent). And most, if not all the time, the end product ends up screaming "I'm made for money and that's it". And in turn, this means that the game is a steaming pile of dog droppings. That's the kindest way to put it.

So it's a bit of a mystery as to what exactly transpired when Bandai and Natsume got together. Sure money was the main player in the game, but did they discuss anything about 'loyalty' or 'good game play'? Something that is so often severely lacking when a movie/television series to game conversion is released.

In short, probably not.

The most surprising thing that gamers will notice when first loading up Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Fighting Edition (MMPR: TFE because it's too long to type) is that the rangers aren't going to be used. Nope, you'll be in control of various Zords and monsters, spanning the three seasons and the movie. And they don't look too bad, with the whole anime feel certainly being seen as an influence. It works a treat here, because simply put, Robots and Zany monsters, combined with anime style drawings is a match made in heaven.

You can see that Bandai and Natsume paid some sort of reverence to the series, something that is never really seen in licensed games. Instead of throwing a few putties, the rangers themselves and Rita into the mix, they've decided to utilise the zords and some instantly recognisable monsters within the game. Except for the original Megazord, all the other major Zords are present within the game ranging from the Thunder Megazord to the Shogun Megazord. On top of this, they also have the Lipstick Syncher as a playable character, a monster that was so outrageous in the series, it became in an instant fan favourite. While all this may not mean much to the uninitiated, for a Ranger fan (i.e. ME!) , it's a sign of respect from the creators, and is certainly a treat. Combined with the wonderful theme music and the awesome zord transformation scenes, it shows that Bandai and Natsume discussed some sort of reverence towards when designing the game, something that I stress, is never seen in a movie/tv series to game conversion.



But for the untutored this probably means absolutely nothing. It isn't an entire shame, but the rest of the game isn't any different to what was on the market at the time. It's a fighting game, and unless it rivals the Street Fighter series for gameplay and originality, it'll probably fade into obscurity, which happened to MMPR: TFE. Unfortunately for the story mode, only the Thunder Megazord and Mega Tigerzord are available for use. And there really isn't any story to be seen, you'll fight the Thunder Megazord/Mega Tigerzord (depending on which one you use), then fight the Lipstick Syncher, then fight all the other zords, then Lord Zedd, followed by Ivan Ooze. But wait? Ivan Ooze wasn't in the series? Why am I fighting another Zord in the command centre? Why isn't Zordon stopping this? These questions really add to the lack of any coherency in the story mode. Of course, it works both ways, for the uneducated, it shouldn't really matter, but for the fans, it's a real kick in the nuts from Bandai and Natsume. It could've been an opportunity to use the evil characters and change the whole Power Ranger time line. Unfortunately, this is probably where 'respect' was forgotten and 'money' started creeping into the picture.

Other than the lackluster story mode, you've got the regular two player fighting mode (which allows players to use the other zords and monsters) and the time trial mode. Sadly that's pretty much the rest of the game, and unless you and your mate are a) Massive fans and b) have played the game long enough to work out all the nooks and crannies of the game, there isn't much replayability in this game.

You feel that MMPR:TFE was teetering on the edge of good and complete mediocrity. Unfortunately, with the lack of decent game modes and something different in the fighting engine, it doesn't do enough to bring in the unknowledgeable of the whole Mighty Morphin' Power Ranger universe. Likewise, the lack of a coherent story mode is a real disappointment to those who constantly watched the series in it's heydays, and can still remember all the things that made Power Rangers great. Sure, you get the feeling that Bandai and Natsume did try to pay some reverence to the fans, but sadly, the allure of money, money, money got to their head and ultimately made this a cash cow of a game. Nothing more.

6/10 (cause I'm a fan of Power Rangers).

UPDATE!

Update on my gaming life! It's been too long since I last had an entry into this blog so let's roll!!

Well what has happened since I last blogged? Whole lot of games came out, notably the previously banned Alien Vs Predator (which is odd considering it gets released without any edits to the game) and HEAVY RAIN which attempts to take storytelling in video games to a whole new level (scuse the pun). First reviews say great things, is it another must have title for the PS3? Time will tell...

And what about me? Well in the span of a week I acquired Rock Band 2, the new Miles Edgeworth game and God of War Collection YEAH!!!! Although I still go back to Rock Band 1 due to 'maps' being on it haha yay! God of War Collection is God of War 1 and 2 on the same disc with a few graphical fixes here and there! It's God of War so there isn't much to complain about. AND MILES EDGEWORTH! Which really surprised me, they've definitely added some new stuff, like being able to control Miles Edgeworth and investigate your own crime scenes and stuff. Pretty wicked!

I need a release

Over the past week...well it hasn't been the best of weeks thats for sure. School's being a bastard and since I attend school 5 days a week now, it feels like my life is centered around the idea of work, teachers and all the other stuff that is associated with school.

But wait! Before you think A Boy and His Blog: Adventures into Blogolonia has turned into a personal reflection site, recording the day to day activities of Jared Araniego and his subsequent moaning/joy and as a result really really long run on sentences that don't seem to go anywhere, no this is still a blog site that talks about games. Bear with me.

So going back to the first paragraph. It hasn't been the greatest of weeks, and more often than not I'd find myself on my bed just staring at the ceiling, thinking of what's happening. I needed relief, and no surprise, I turned on my PS3 and started playing Rock Band. Suddenly all the negative emotion had disappeared, if only for a few runs on 'Maps' on expert. I wasn't frustrated about school about anymore, I was in my own little bubble of concentration, trying to coordinate my hands and legs in a furore of smashing the drums while listening to the wonderful voice of Karen O. School didn't cross my mind, and that was a good thing.

So what am I getting at here? Well for one that games have the power to take you out of your worst moments and immerse you in a world where the only thing that matters is the game (assuming that the game is good). There is some sort of wonderful science behind it, several techniques game developers use to maximize immersion (can be read about in one of the previous issues of Hyper, Eleanor Eiffe has an excellent column called 'Games Wank').

But of course the last paragraph might just apply to me. I guess what I'm trying to get at is that whenever you, the fine reader, find yourself in a hole that makes you mope like the world's gonna end, do something you love to do. More often than not it'll take you out of whatever horrid moment you're in, and just take you into another world. I know it did for me.

A new Hyper Magazine makes my day so much better. Even if it's raining cats and dogs*, and my umbrella is more or less broken, the sight of that familiar font with a promise of an australian exclusive makes the day slightly less dreary. Dreary....

I also started playing Darksiders today. It is good. That is all that needs to be said.

*no cats and/or dogs were harmed in the making of this blog...or at least I think none were harmed.

End of week ranting and babbling

It's Friday, and it's a chance for Jared to put up his feet and get some sort of gaming issue off his chest. YAYSORS!

So it's my first english extension class, and my teacher first tells us that this is a class where we 'must think for ourselves'. Which is actually pretty good for all the free thinkers, and bad for all those who like maths (damn straight thinkers). Anyway, he said something along the lines of 'shedding too much light can something something' and basically it meant that it's ultimately more rewarding to develop our own ideas rather than find a fixed meaning. Or something like that.

Now I may be babbling, but I'd like to take that half quote and find a new meaning that can relate to gaming. Shedding too much light can be unrewarding. Yeah, like 'hand holding'. Shed too much light on a game and it can be unrewarding

'Hand holding' is known to us gamers as the act of providing copious amounts of help that it eventually feels like the developers would've been better off cramming a walkthrough into the game. It feels patronising and ultimately unrewarding.

We as gamers like to feel a sense of accomplishment. Whether it be finding a method to defeat the boss, reading through cryptic clues that the Silent Hill games are notorious for, or just finding the right piece of evidence to present in Phoenix Wright, there's this feeling of mightiness when we eventually figure it out. And it's a damn good feeling.

But alas, some games are more than happy to grab your hand and pull you the whole way through without giving you a chance to object. Now a game like Super Mario Bros Wii. which was heavily advertised as a family experience, is excused for having a function which allows the computer to take over and show it's 1337 skills, but a game like A Boy and His Blob, which was well known for it's extreme difficulty has no excuse to give you a clear cut sign on what to transform your blob into.

I know there's a cliff that the boy can't jump to, I know that I must feed my blob a bean to transform into a trampoline. Don't doubt my intelligence and assume that I don't know what to do. It's patronising, and the sense of accomplishment is lost.

And yeah, you might say that A Boy and His Blob is a kiddish kinda looking game, but even some more adult (or hardcore, meh) titles are quite content with dragging you throughout the whole game without a say. Batman Arkham Asylum, for all it's awesomeness and super cool Scarecrow, automatically assumes that once you're dead, you're in dire need of help. Like I didn't know that I had to keep quiet while killer croc is lurking beneath.

A tutorial or two is fine, but developers oughta know that we can think for ourselves too. Maybe a little more subtle, such as the excellent Uncharted 2, which ended up telling you what to do when you were stuck in a certain section for a looong time, or like how Nate leans towards where he needs to jump to. It's still help, but not as blatant, and there's still that sense of reward.

So the equation should be less handholding = more rewarding. Developers, take note, we have a brain too!

School

School's started. That means my gaming habits take a backseat towards more important stuff like...homework and assignments and crap like that. URK. So there won't be much updates coming, although I'll try my absolute hardest to post my views about everything games as much as I can. Why school, WHY?!!!!

First Impressions: A Boy and His Blob

Whenever I get a new game, I'll post up my initial thoughts of it, and will reflect on it by the time I finish the game. Will my opinion of the game change? Who knows.

A Boy and his Blob
There's a 'hug' button in A Boy and His Blob, that serves no purpose other than to show some affection to your blob companion. I thought I'd start out this first impressions blog with this opening, because from that, you could easily figure out this game for yourself. But I'm not so mean, so I'll expand further on my initial thoughts of the game.

First up, the graphics are gorgeous. I'd even go as far to say it's the best on the wii. And it isn't because the Wii is pushed to it's overheating limits, it's because of the art design that the developers took. It's perfect, from the lush green fields to the night stages were the sky is illuminated by stars, A Boy and His Blob is real easy on the eyes. Really easy.

What to make of the game play though? It has the potential to attain that status of 'simple to understand, hard to master', with beans being used to transform the blob into objects to achieve objectives. Right now, beans are automatically chosen for each stage, and there are signs that direct the player towards what bean to use. So it helps the player ease into the game which is always good. Hopefully later there won't be any hand holding and the game just really tests the player's mind capabilities.

A Boy and his Blog

I've been deprived of games for the past 2 days...ok that's not true at all. I was playing Street Fighter Turbo II and that was fun, plus a bit of Phoenix Wright on the side. When I get home, Bayonetta's gonna meet my PS3 and I plan some long night gaming sessions. OH! And A Boy and His Blob gives my wii a thorough workout! Not such good timing, since school is nearing each and every day..AAH!

Cya later alligators.

I'll count it off. One-one-two-three-GO!

Can the Scarecrow trip out scene in Batman Arkham Asylum go down as one of the best scenes in video gaming of all time? I remember the first time I played through that scene, my sister and I were just like DAMN WHY'D IT HAVE TO STUFF UP?!!!! Then it reverted back to the beginning cinematic and I was sure my progress was lost. Then I saw Joker in the front seat of the batmobile and I'm like: awwwww genius!!!

Yeah well that's my post for the day. In short: Batman Arkham Asylum ruules!!!3

P.S. Use the middle stick to dodge gunfire

Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney review

There’s a certain amount of cynicism that lingers in the air when a new Ace Attorney is announced. Sure that there’ll be four (five if you’re lucky) new cases and a few new over the top characters, but the core mechanics of the game remains the same. Investigate, point and click, present random evidence and hope for the best. It’ll probably still suffer from TMTS (Too much text syndrome), and that trial and error aspect still forms a large part of the game. *sigh

So the very fact that Apollo Justice is exclusive to the Nintendo DS, brings a certain amount of hope to those who have stuck by the series. Revamped gameplay maybe? Possibly FMVs. Remember, the first 3 games were merely ports of the original GBA games, so the allure of just sticking the same game on a newer portable with a few added features (although shouting Objection on a crowded bus never gets old), was too tempting for Capcom and co. New characters, new scenarios and possibly new game play? Is it all too much to ask?

Apparently yes. Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney is, essentially the same game. Sure you’ve got your new characters (and there’s plenty of them, plus a few old faces here and there), and new scenarios, and the compulsory new mechanic to play with, but you’ll still be hopping around from scenery to scenery, questioning ridiculous characters and presenting random pieces of evidence in the hope that you’ll make some sort of progress, any progress! Then you’ll arrive at the trial, where the shi* goes down, and you’ll be forced to cross examine witnesses in order to determine whodunit. Never mind the fresh coat of paint; it’s still the same old wagon.

I might be sounding cynical, but it’s hard not to lament the missed opportunity Capcom had. Instead of utilising the strength of the DS, they merely stuck with what they knew best, and hoped that fans would rush out and stomp over store clerks in order to secure their copy. Same old investigation techniques, same old trial and error, same old...well trial! The only noticeable change in gameplay is the ‘perceive’ function, in which Apollo Justice has the mysterious ability to sense when someone’s lying or nervous through minute body details. While new, it isn’t anything game changing, and soon enough it becomes old searching and searching for the smallest amount of detail that changes within a witness. Six months it took me before I decided to look under the guy’s armpit and notice a small amount of sweat. C’mon capcom.

And yet, I tried, for six months to look for it. If this game wasn’t worth playing I’d put it down long before that. But six months I tried, because of one thing. The story. As with every other Ace Attorney game, the one thing that pushes the player through the tirade of trial and error, is to experience the plot that goes into each case. Sure the plot is over the top, and likewise with the characters, but they’re all so interesting and endearing in their own way. Apollo Justice may be clueless and rash at times, but by the same measure, it’s also what makes him so lovable. When he makes an error you’ll forgive him, when he succeeds, you cheer for him. New Prosecutor Klavier Gavin, is nothing like your typical, cold, steely eyed prosecutor. He’s calm, relaxed and plays air guitar in the middle of a trial, a refreshing break from the harsh, mysterious prosecutors of past ace attorney games. Along with a few old favourites, it’s a trend that Capcom hasn’t disappointed on.

Likewise with each plot as all four manage to be fresh and unique. Each is filled with enough humour, mystery and deep theme to make it exciting to play. There are the usual twists that occur somewhere in the middle, and each character always feels like they’re given enough game time to feel like they’re important to the plot. There might be a Berlin wall full of text, but if you can tear it down and be bothered to read it, it’s really quite rewarding. The last case in particular, is one of the best of the series, due to the ONE risk Capcom took in mixing up the usual structure of the game play. Adding this to the already absorbing story which ties up all the loose ends of the game, and it results in one of the best cases of the series.

So in the end, Apollo Justice really comes down to patience. Patience to weather the same old game play, and become engrossed in the aspect that Capcom has thankfully not disappointed on: the story. Some might call the game a lazy effort, and that’s correct certain to do a degree. But in the end, Capcom has retained what makes the Ace Attorney series so appealing, the engaging plot and over the top but lovable characters. Be thankful that Capcom has done justice to that.