Afro Samurai: A fine example of an action game done right

Yesterday I purchased Afro Samurai, a game based on an amazing anime series, and also a game that has been receiving a ton of negative reviews based on what I consider small problems. The year has barely begun and I’m declaring Afro Samurai as the most underrated game of 2009. Oh yes, let’s just get the ball rolling here.

Fallout 3 DLC #1: Operation: Anchorage

This week we saw the release of the first of three Fallout 3 downloadable content packs. This pack, titled Operation: Anchorage, contained four new side missions that all connected within going into a virtual simulation of one of the largest battles from the Fallout universe, or so the developers say. It has been receiving a ton of negative feedback from the fans ever since it was released, but I don’t care, I wasn’t going to let that stop me. So, ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Operation: Anchorage.

Head to head: Real time inventory vs. static inventory (New school vs. old school)

No, really, this is something that is pretty insignificant, but I feel like it’s necessary to address. With the release of the Resident Evil 5 demo (my impressions of which you can read EXCLUSIVELY at Press X to Win. Yeah, go there now…now. NOW) and I think it’s something that may bother a lot of people. A real time inventory. Okay, yeah, what’s the big deal? As I said, insignificant, but an interesting topic of discussion.

A Look Back #4: Tiny Tank

Ar Tonelico 2 is actually…not bad.

You may remember an earlier post that discussed the original Ar Tonelico for the PS2. I can safely say I still consider it the worst RPG I’ve ever played, with a close second being Beyond the Beyond (which is a tale for another day.) “Thankfully” I have had the chance today to play two full hours of Ar Tonelico 2, giving me a good idea of the basics of everything the game has to offer. Hell, it only took me one hour to realize how bad the original was, despite the fact that I decided to keep playing with my friend (who is clearly a glutton for punishment seeing as he hated the original as well, finished it, and decided to rent the sequel from Gamefly.)

Just excuse my lazy post: Releases this week

My mind is so fried right now, so I have no reason to update this, but I feel as if I should anyway. I could explain what’s going on, but that would mean I would need to go into detail about my “real life” and that’s stuff I don’t need to do when it comes to this blog. We’re gamers! We don’t need a life. Anyway, enough of that, I might as well talk about something gaming related, so here are two things being released this week that I’ll be getting.

Why ICO and Shadow of the Colossus are the most overrated games of all time.

Oh yes, there will be controversy. I am prepared for anything at this point. All I can say is BRING IT ON. Let me also begin by saying that Team ICO, as they are called, the ones behind these two games, are very good at creating art. They would work well with the developers of things such as Linger in Shadows, because they certainly know how to make some interesting things with gaming technology. The problem? They don’t know how to make fun things with gaming technology, which is sadly what games are generally about.

What’s so funny?: The humor in video games

Video games have generally never been high on humor or comedy, and I feel that this is a bit disappointing. The early days of gaming, it was hard to find a funny game outside of a point-and-click adventure title or, even farther back, a text-based adventure title. You just don’t see that many games with comedic moments in them anymore, and most games that attempt this generally fall flat on their face. Here’s a little dedication to humor in games, discussions some of my favorite funny games and why the industry needs to just lighten up a little.

F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin demo: Is this the first great shooter of 2009?

The original F.E.A.R. was a fantastic game when it was released back on the PC in 2005. Playing it once again on my Xbox 360 made me relive those moments of pure adrenaline and fright I had while plodding through the dark and always intense world of Alma. F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin looks to intensify the experience more so, and give us more weapons, more areas to explore, and even more “edge of your seat” action moments mixed in with some excellent horror set pieces.

The Maw: This game is DELICIOUS!

It’s the perfect recipe. An original concept, a cute main character, some basic platforming elements, mix it with a dash of Kirby, and you get The Maw. It’s a little independent game that is well worth your $10, and it is in the vein of Braid and World of Goo; not just in terms of the pedigree, but the quality of the experience itself.