Prince of Persia looks WHOA (featuring a special guest post concerning one of the greatest game series of all time PART FOUR)

Prince of Persia is coming out this week, and I never spent time to talk about the game. I’m sure I’ll be posting plenty of impressions and such when it is finally released, but at this point in time, let me focus on one thing: the brilliant art style of the game. I love when games don’t go for a “realistic” look, and decide to be cartoony or stylized, and 90% of the time that style fits the game. I still consider The Wind Waker the best looking Zelda game because I felt that “cartoony” look fit Zelda more than the realistic look of a game like Twilight Princess. If I had a choice, I would make all future 3D Zelda games with that same art style.

Incredibly lazy birthday post: I’m celebrating with good game deals!

I’m lazy and it’s officially my birthday, so I just want to make a quick post to say that I bought a lot of great games on Amazon for cheap! Three specifics are Pure and The Last Remnant both for $30 (Yes, the same Last Remnant that came out only last week) and Far Cry 2 for $38. I also took my own advice and bought Dokapon Kingdom for $20, which isn’t a part of Amazon’s Black Friday deals, but it’s definitely worth checking out.

I wish someone could have made this for me.

What else is there to say? Happy birthday to me! I’m tired so I’m going to get some sleep now, but tomorrow (technically later today) I’ll have another full post including a guest post continuing a look at the Metal Gear Solid series. Until then, see ya!

Why I love Rock Band 2, and how developers can learn from Harmonix

Rock Band 2 is the king of music/rhythm games, there is absolutely no competition. The original offers more of a competition, in terms of good gameplay and content than Guitar Hero: World Tour ever will. But that’s something I already talked about. Why do I love Rock Band 2? There isn’t a single thing about it I would change, and although I’m sure there will be new features down the line, everything it already has is fine.

Just the sheer amount of songs available should be more than enough. Around 80 songs from the start isn’t enough? Try getting the code for twenty more downloadable tracks. That still not enough? Use your copy of the original Rock Band (or borrow a friend’s) and get the 50+ songs from that game for just $5! Plus any song you had downloaded for the original work as well. I feel like I’m trying to see the game to everyone who isn’t already convinced, but it’s just so much fun.

Why is Harmonix so good at what they do? Perhaps because a lot of them are musicians themselves, as you see numerous unknown bands have their music in the game, a lot of these bands may have or have had members from Harmonix in them. Freezepop is the best example; a band entirely made up of Harmonix team members. And why is this a good thing? When you have the crossing of two different mediums, in this case, video games and music, it’s good to have someone working on the product that has experience in both fields. This would probably help when it comes to video game based movies, or games based on movies; having a team made up of those who know how films work, and know how games work, and can easily incorporate the two mediums.

I’m getting off topic, yes, but I think it’s a good point to make. While it’s easier to do it for a music based video game, the transition from video games to movies, or movies to video games, could be handled at lot easier this way. See The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay. While the film itself wasn’t anything amazing, the game was brilliant, and Vin Diesel had his own game studio dedicated to making it, and making it good. Harmonix is good at what they do simply because they understand how music works, how games work, and how you can successfully blend the two together. Games like Frequency and Amplitude were just the start.

Guitar Hero may be in the hands of a developer that has no idea how what they are doing, Harmonix started it all. The first two Guitar Hero games, while not perfect, they worked. Guitar Hero II still is considered by many to be the best in the series, just because of how it corrected every problem with the first, had a much better track list, and still managed to be incredibly addictive. You get that same feel with Rock Band. Loyal Guitar Hero fans may still cling to the franchise, but it’s clear to just about everyone that Harmonix is where to go for the better music game experience.

What to expect in the first two months of 2009

2008 is almost over, can you believe it? With only a couple of big releases left, there is pretty much nothing to do for the last month but catch up on games we missed the past two months. (you know, when there were twenty good games coming out each week!) BUT I also like to focus on the future, on what to expect in the three months after this year ends, a period in which there is practically nothing released. Last year there wasn’t too much going on, aside from a couple of great surprises, such as the excellent No More Heroes. Maybe next year developers will start spreading more releases out throughout the year instead of bunching them all up in the last two/three months? Don’t count on it!

First up is The Lord of the Rings: Conquest, which is pretty much Star Wars: Battlefront for those more partial to the elves and dwarfs of Middle Earth. This is being developed by Pandemic, and it was supposed to be released this month, but luckily (and I only say this because now I’ll actually have a chance to play it when it first comes out) it was pushed back a couple of months. Maybe they realized releasing it now would pretty much cause it to get passed up over bigger titles? Could be!

And yes, you can play as an Ent.

As I said, it’s the same structure as Star Wars: Battlefront. You play as a single soldier in one of the two waging armies during many different battles in the Lord of the Rings saga, and when you die, you can re-spawn. Sometimes you can play as one of the “hero” characters, such as Gandalf or Aragorn, which gives you an even bigger advantage. You also have the option to play as the villains, which is a nice change of pace, and there will also be online play. Battle over the fate of Middle Earth…with friends! As a huge Lord of the Rings fan, this game looks like it could potentially be the best of them all.

Next we have Afro Samurai, the game based on the anime of the same name, which (at least in the English dub) stars Samuel L. Jackson himself. The anime was great, but let’s talk about the game. First of all, what is with anime games now? First Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm, and now this! It looks VERY good, and just from the look of the game alone, I considered purchasing it. But I wasn’t truly convinced until I saw this.

I heard from those who played it at Comic Con that the combat system is very fluid, very easy to control, and the game is a lot of fun to play. Which is good, since this is a game that will either turn out great, or disappoint everyone big time. I can only hope it’s the former, because it has a very beautiful look to it, and it seems very faithful to the anime. Whether or not you are a fan of the series, you may still find this game worth checking out.

The final big game I’m going to be talking about is F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin, which is the sequel to F.E.A.R. released back in 2004. The original was a truly amazing action game that moved fast and had some great atmospheric horror sequences. It is one of my favorite shooters to come out in a long time, and although it doesn’t have the same groundbreaking story (or story telling) as a game such as Half-Life 2, the gameplay itself and just how scary it could be were why it was remembered by many.

The original was a great looking game, but Project Origin just looks so much better

Project Origin, now called F.E.A.R. 2, pretty much picks up right where the first left off. But that’s related to the story, and I couldn’t care less about that. What I do care about is the fast paced action that we saw in the original, but now it’s amplified and made so much better. There will be a greater variety of enemies, bigger environments, (you can shoot…outside?) and more weapons that will end your foes’ lives in a great many different and violent ways. Plus, the old fashioned slow motion is back; F.E.A.R. actually managed to handle this overused game mechanic with style, and Project Origin looks to continue this tradition. Overall, it’s one game to look out for in February of next year.

There are so many more games I could have talked about, but these are the three I’m personally most looking forward to. I will have more posts like this talking about more 2009 releases as time goes on, but I figured I’d stick with the first two months of next year first. Have a Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Dead Space demo and Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix Ultra Special Awesome Mega Edition Plus Bonus Amazing Content With Online

I promise, for the three people who actually read this every day, I will have a better post next time! And not some “oh crap I need to write something real quick” kind of posts that I’ve been doing the past few days. I’ll feel weird if I don’t update this at least once a day, although the times I’ve been updating, it feels like I probably have missed a couple of days.

Ah well, enough of that rant, let’s talk about Dead Space, and more specifically, the Dead Space demo that was released today. I knew I was most likely going to buy it soon, but this demo pretty much convinced me to make it one of my next purchases. Right off the bat, the atmosphere is haunting, and and I love the sci-fi feel everything has. From the health meter being right on the character’s suit, to everything being interactive holograms, to the weapons themselves. It’s the perfect blend of sci-fi action and survival horror that hasn’t been seen in a game yet, and I’m getting all of this just from a ten minute long demo.

The demo was also pretty tough, I died at least three times before I made it to the end. This game blows Silent Hill: Homecoming and a few other terrible survival horror games that have come out recently away, and does so in style. I suggest, either if you are a PS3 or an Xbox 360 owner, that you check this game out. If what you have read (or have seen from other videos/screenshots) looks at all interesting to you, chances are you will love Dead Space. I can’t wait to truly sink my teeth into it, and I regret not checking it out when it was first released. I have such a huge list of games I’ve missed, but this is at the top.

Now let’s briefly talk about Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix. It’s Street Fighter II, but with HD graphics, online play, and some tweaks and changes that only real Street Fighter II fans will notice. And it’s $15 for a game I’ve played so many times already. The HD looks great, and the online supposedly works well, but it’s not enough to convince me. Now, if it were Street Fighter III, I would probably get it in a heartbeat. Not only is SFIII much better than II, it’s also a lot more fun to play, and one of my favorite fighting games of all time. Give me that any day, but as for this remake of a remake of a sequel, I’ll pass.

It looks nice, but it plays exactly the same. Woo...hoo?

Lazy post: I’VE DONE IT!

Lazy post time! I’ll be surprised if this is even 100 words. But finally, after a few grueling days, my friend and I were able to finish Gears of War 2 on insane. It’s something not for the truly impatient…at all. I guarantee, whatever you do, do not jump from casual to insane. Hell, even normal to insane can be too much. You’ll be stuck on parts in the game you had absolutely no troubles with the first time around.

PLUS we were able to get all 41 of the collectibles! The game’s War Journal tells you in which act and chapter of the game each one is, making it easier to figure out where those last few are you missed. I could never find that last COG Tag in the original Gears simply because I had no idea where to look. It was not a fun time trying to find that. I’m glad they decided to make it a bit easier for everyone, although a lot of them are still in very tricky spots, and since the chapters are much longer overall, it can still be tough to find them all.

This is the last post I’ll make (for a while anyway) about Gears of War 2. If the game didn’t have co-op, I wouldn’t even attempt insane, to be completely honest. I can’t imagine trying that by yourself, because the A.I. can be a bit dumb sometimes and once you get downed, you’re dead for good. Having someone to revive you made things so much easier, but the challenge was still great. AND WE DID IT!

Ahahahaha...DIE DIE...ahahahahaha!

My Favorite Games of All Time: 10-8

TOP TEN TIME! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOO! I know you’re excited, and I’m excited, WE’RE ALL EXCITED! Excitement! Ahem, anyway, these are the best of the best…OF THE BEST! Let’s begin with a game that became an instant classic, one that improved on the original in every way and managed to become one of the most groundbreaking shooters of all time.

#10: Half-Life 2 (PC)

Wake up...Mr. Freeman. Wake up...and smell the ashes.

As I just stated, this is the sequel to one of the best shooters of all time, Half-Life. It would probably be in my top thirty, if I had one. BUT I DON’T! So, here we are, Half-Life 2, a game that took at least a few hundred years to finally come be released and enjoyed by all. It not only shattered everyone’s already high expectations, it became one of the most influential games of all time. And not because of the great story telling or the intense gameplay: because of the engine, more specifically the physics engine. The gravity gun opened new possibilities that had never been explored in a shooter before, and it still remains as one of the best weapons in any game.

The story doesn’t actually pick up right where the first left off, but ten years after it. And while the first game covered the events in Black Mesa that turned the entire planet upside-down, this is the story of how the last remaining humans survive: by either joining forces with the malicious aliens known as the Combine, or fighting against them. And as you may expect, our main hero, Gordon Freeman, trusty crowbar in hand, helps to fight against the alien menace.

The story is gripping and intelligent, all of the characters have…well, character, and their own motivations for doing what they are doing, and the gameplay is top notch. And it still looks amazing, even today, with all of the Crysis and Far Cry type games around. It’s an immersive world, and even if you have never experienced the original, it’s worth giving a try. I suggest getting The Orange Box, so you can get both “sequels” as well, Episode One and Episode Two.

#9: Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne (PS2)

Weird title, amazing game

Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne is the first game in the series to truly gain cult status here in the States, and it’s the first that truly opened my eyes to the world of Shin Megami Tensei (Or Megaten), my personal favorite RPG series and one of my favorite game series of all time. This is an incredibly engrossing, deep, and truly difficult RPG that could steal 80+ hours of your life even if you aren’t trying to finish the entire game. And with so much to do and explore here, it’s no wonder that Nocturne is the best of the best when it comes to PS2 RPGs.

People claim that RPGs require no real skill, they are just grinding, and anybody with even some basic intelligence can breeze through the “best” of them, such as games found in the Final Fantasy series. These people haven’t played Nocturne, as this game requires more strategy than any other turn based RPG around. You do have to level up your own character, sure, but you also have to worry about the different Magatama (basically demons that join your party), which battle/situation each is good for, and which you can fuse together to get to the end of the game. Believe it or not, you can play through the entire game (or at least 90% of it) without using any Magatama in your party, but if you try it, you won’t make it past the first boss, much less the first real dungeon.

The game has an insane amount of depth, a story that is nothing outstanding, but serves its purpose well, and an overall much darker theme than one you’d find in a fun and friendly Final Fantasy title. This isn’t a knock against the Final Fantasy series, but when I think of the best RPG series around, I think of Shin Megami Tensei. And Nocturne is easily the best example of this. And while it may seem dated by today’s standards, even by PS2 standards, it’s an excellent game that is worth hunting down, no matter what the price.

#8: Metal Gear Solid (PS1)

WHAT?! SOME BOX ART?! I wonder how many times I can make this joke.

Is this really surprising? Metal Gear Solid, the game that didn’t really start it all, but it definitely started it all. What I’m trying to say is, it wasn’t the first Metal Gear, but it was the first 3D Metal Gear, and one of the best looking games on the PS1. Yes, it’s not so great looking today, but man, back in the day, this game was very easy on the eyes. Seems strange to say now, but a few years from now I’m sure Gears of War 2 will look terrible and we’ll be inside of the game, and not like Virtual Boy.

Okay, that’s enough of that, Metal Gear Solid. Where do I begin? FANTASTIC story, one of the best (if not the best) in gaming history. Amazing gameplay with a nice challenge, and it moved at a brisk pace. The boss battles, as well as the battles through this series, still stand out in my mind as some of the best you’ll find in any game. And damn, it’s just Metal Gear Solid, if the first two posts about it earlier on didn’t make it clear enough, I love this series.

Let’s get something out of the way first: I like Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes better overall. While it isn’t nearly as challenging as the original, it makes up for it with better controls, a better look, overall better voice acting (a lot is the same, but the actors that are different work much better) and…it’s just a better game. I don’t let the nostalgia of the original get in my way. I’m not going to get into this here, but I just thought I would share that. Feel free to yell at me in the comments!

So if I were to really put a game here, it would be Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes, but it’s alright…I feel the original deserves a spot here. I guess technically I would put both the original and The Twin Snakes here in the same spot, but I’m too lazy for that. Well, the list is almost finished, just seven more games and three more posts to go!

Some games you may have passed up

I’m going to spend my time here talking about games that you may have missed throughout the holiday season, including some that have not yet been released that I see have potential both to be good and to be most likely overlooked. I’m going to specifically talk about three of them, one of which hasn’t been released, and explain why they deserve at least a rent from most gamers.

First, let’s talk about Far Cry 2. In a holiday season that is absolutely jam packed with shooters, the biggest ones such as Gears of War 2, Call of Duty: World at War, and Resistance 2 will come out on top. But while it may be a bit surprising to you, console owners have mostly overlooked Far Cry 2 as just another shooter. The PC version is finding a home, as it is selling pretty well, but sadly the console versions is being overlooked; something that is a real shame.

While the above video isn’t the most exciting Far Cry 2 video i could use, it shows that just about anything can happen in the game, and there are many different ways to deal with these situations, and the game deals with realism above all else. Your guns will jam and break, you will have to deal with driving around the vast African environment, and fire is the most important weapon in the game. I can’t say I’ve played a lot of the game myself, but I have played enough to realize just how much fun and immersing it can be. Don’t let this one pass you by as “just another shooter”, because it’s one of the better games of the year, and one I will need to be picking up myself very soon.

Second is Dokapon Kingdom, which is a strange mix of an RPG and a board/party game. Doesn’t sound like your thing? Well, I think it’s one that some people shouldn’t just judge based on the look of the game, and they should play it with a few friends before they can really make any opinions on it. It’s addictive and, with the right group of people, can become a party game that beats any Mario Party game.

Yes, I would have guessed that if it is published by Atlus, it is almost guaranteed to get overlooked. It’s out for both the PS2 and the Wii, but there are no real differences between the two versions. No matter which you play, you’ll find the same mix of old school RPG action and a fun board game, with an interesting single player and some of the best multiplayer you’ll find on either system. So, grab a few friends, kick back, and enjoy a round or two of Dokapon Kingdom; it may become a nice alternative to something like Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, or even Rock Band if you let it.

The final game is one that hasn’t yet been released, but it has great potential. The current release date is December 16th, but Rise of the Argonauts has been rumored to be delayed until January. I guess we’ll find out when the time comes, but until then, let me tell you why I think this game will please both RPG fans and action game fans alike.

The game features a great story and an interesting cast of characters based on the ancient myth of Jason and the Argonauts. The story is more expansive, and it is shown in the gameplay, which has some elements from action games such as God of War, but with RPG and stat-building elements, as well as some choices that will affect your character and the story of the game overall; stuff you would find in Mass Effect. It’s being released at a bad time, and I doubt it will sell all that well, but I think it’ll be a game worth looking out for when the time comes.

Let's hope this one grabs some attention

There are a few more I could name, but these three are some of the best, and may have passed under even my radar if I didn’t feel compelled to give every game that even slightly peaks my interest a chance. Luckily, I have, and these three are some of the best examples of games that are (or could end up being) great games that just never reach the audiences they deserve. Check them out, if you ever get a chance, and maybe you’ll find a new favorite game of the year.

Gears of War 2…are you INSANE?

Today, I decided to do the impossible: finish Gears of War 2’s campaign on insane difficulty? Yes, I know just how much more difficult it is than the first game, but I’m not alone. I would never attempt to play through it on my own, I’m not that crazy. But I just was never truly prepared for what I was about to get myself into. First and foremost, the first (well, second) chapter of the first act alone was more difficult than ANY part of the game on normal difficulty. If that wasn’t any indication of what was to come, then I truly wouldn’t be prepared.

Left 4 Dead vs. Other Zombie Games

This is yet another one of my lazy posts, where I realize that while the day isn’t quite over for me, it has been over 24 hours since my last post and I haven’t updated, so I’m a bit late! So I’m going to very briefly talk about Left 4 Dead, and why it’s the best of its kind.

The one thing other zombie games may have above Left 4 Dead is the length; Left 4 Dead can be beaten in four hours, maybe more or less, depending on your difficulty. But it has a massive amount of replayability, being co-op, which has never really been seen in a game like this…well, not including the terrible Resident Evil: Outbreak games. And yes, Resident Evil 5 will have co-op, but until then, Left 4 Dead will reign supreme.

Let’s not forget the amaaaaaaaazing versus mode, which lets you play as either the survivors in one of the campaigns, or one of the special zombies. And playing as the zombies themselves is a blast; you never know just how fun it is until you play as a Tank and are able to knock down all four survivors in a single attack. Left 4 Dead is the best multiplayer experience you can have all year, and definitely the best “oh my god what the hell was that” games of all time. Yes, that is a game category, and you’ve never experienced it until you’re fighting off the zombie horde with three friends in this amazing game.

So, Left 4 Dead is the clear winner here, adding a co-op, a versus mode, and more replayability than any other game of its kind. I suggest you buy it, if you have a good PC or a 360, and enjoy countless sleepless nights killing the endless streams of zombies with your friends.