A Preemptive Look at 2011′s Games

By Riss

There’s normally this strange disconnect that happens in calendar years with games. Once the release drought happens during the summer, we tend to start to forget that things came out the previous year. I myself am particularly bad about this; if you told me that that Pokemon: Black and White released back in March I would have scoffed and told you that was last year. This has led me to feel like I’ve barely played anything that release this year, and that’s probably true in comparison to many of my peers. I’ve still managed to play at least a little of about twelve of 2011’s releases, and have a few more coming before the year’s end. It’s a little early to be thinking about Game of the Year or it’s sub-categories due to games being unfinished (or that I have yet to play The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword!) but I felt like I’d cover some of the ones I have so far, barring two that I cannot disclose for reasons related to Christmas.

The Color of Landscapes #1: Lake Bresha

By Riss

There are a lot of aspects of games people tend to fixate on when playing them; be it the character’s behaviors, the story, the voices. Those are some of the common ones people like to talk about. My artist tendencies kind of show when I myself enjoy looking at games based on the weird things I tend to enjoy looking at in games. An example is how recently, when playing Bioshock 2, I spent almost an embarrassingly long time watching the shadow of a fan on the wall of the first area, Adonis Luxury Resort. The hard light behind the fan cast long shadows across the wall, slowly moving rhythmically in time with the fan. It’s probably not something most people would give a second thought, but I love those sort of things. Those little touches that the level designers add to breathe life into the environments the games take place in.

This is sort of the inspiration for a new series of posts I’d like to start doing more often: “The Color of Landscapes.” These posts will be about anything from specific areas in games, favorite features of game environments, or even favorite types of game environments. Infamous water levels, I’m looking at you! So let’s kick this thing off!

Video Games: Could You Quit?

by admiralsandwich

I was sort of spurred into this by seeing someone I barely know decide to “quit” gaming completely. I don’t really feel any particular way about it because it’s their life, but it just reminded me of so many conversations I’ve had so many times before – mostly with people who just don’t ‘understand gaming.’

I can’t quit.

A Piece of Riss: Early Impressions of Final Fantasy XIII

by admiralsandwich

…and by early, I mean 16 hours, 28 minutes, and 14 seconds. I’ve been through about eight full areas of play, countless battles and a decent amount of game overs. I’ve had so many thoughts about this game so far it’s sort of hard to compile them, but I’ll do my best. For an easy preface to answer what is people’s first question: YES. I am very much loving the game and have enjoying these past sixteen-plus hours.

A Piece of Riss: My History with Samus Aran

It’s no secret that I am a huge fan of Samus Aran and the Metroid series, and have been for quite some time. I could probably even be considered a “fangirl” almost – it’s no doubt that Samus is hands down one of my favorite game characters and my favorite female game character in any game series, ever. It’s also no secret that many people have some strong feelings, whether positive or negative, about the upcoming “Metroid: Other M” for Nintendo Wii.

Some are excited for the return to a more classic style gameplay for Other M, akin to a modern take on the sidescrolling gameplay that has been featured in the majority of the Metroid games. Others are worried about Team Ninja’s participation in this game and that aspects of their game series, most notably the Ninja Gaiden game. I myself, while I have my doubts and a lack of fondness for Team Ninja’s prominent game series, I remain cautiously optimistic and am interested to give this game a try.

That’s not really what this blog post is about – it’s about a woman. Her name is Samus Aran and soon we will be learning more about her backstory, history, and personality than ever before and how that makes me more cautious than anything else about Other M.

A Piece of Riss: Okamiden

That pun in the title only works if you realize my name rhymes with piece. Heh.

ANYWAYS, the internet is all abuzz about the new Okamiden gameplay trailer. I’m a huge fan of the first game and even managed to live (mostly intact) through the epic waggle-fest that was the Wii port. I’ve put quite a few hours into that game, and plan on putting quite a few hours more when I decide to hunker down and do 100% completion.

This is why I have mixed thoughts on a sequel, even if it’s on handheld.