Lets talk about Sport games.
I don't play them.
Okay seriously, I'm not into sport games but I don't disregard them completely: they fulfill a function and I have played sports games (to mixed results). But sport games aren't something I go out of my way to try. Maybe it's me but there's something about doing something on a computer that can easily be done outside is off-putting: You want to kick a soccer ball? Then go outside and kick a soccer ball!
But here's something I've been pondering recently: What is the place sport games occupy?
Whenever someone discusses the greatest games there a number of usual suspects each from a particular genre. Everyone has an idea as to what makes a collective of the greatest games EVAH and most often than not, such a collective is represented with RPGs, Shooters, RTS, platformers and driving games. But where do sporting games fit in?
I can imagine whenever it comes to, say, best RPGs, people will point to Skyrim, Planescape Torment, Baldurs Gate 2, Secret of Mana or Final Fantasy 6. But ask someone to mention the greatest sporting games ever made and what would they say? A far less passionate response maybe?
Have some great, era-defining games come from the sport genre? I recall Tecmo Super Bowl, NHL 94, NBA Jam, Punch out, Virtua Tennis, Baseball Stars, the Madden series, and the Tony Hawk series all being big in their day but no one seems to talk about them with the fondness and passion of, say, Half-Life or Starcraft. Why is this so?
I guess gaming has, until recently, always been considered a 'geeky' activity. And as is the case with geeks, anything related to sports is territory both foreign and forbidden. Speaking from experience, I have seen very few instances where both the sport and the geek camps intersect. Sure I've meet geeks who've also been interested in sports but they're very few and far between.
And of course, this mentality seeps into gaming. Yes gaming offers a form of escapism but somehow playing cricket for Australia seems slim pickings when compared to saving the universe from a massive, army of aliens armed to the teeth and blinded with hatred. And those who are interested in sports will have little patience for sporting games because, as stated above, they're already playing the sport in question for real!
But then again it is also possible that everyone grew sick of sport games largely due to EA's policy of releasing a new iteration of their franchises on an annual basis. Yeah lets go with that
Friday, January 31, 2014
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
No Effect
I've still yet to play Mass Effect 3. I could say that I'm waiting to have enough money to obtain all the DLC but truth be told, the controversy over the ending still lingers. It does indeed cast an intimidating shadow behind Mass Effect 3 and looks like it won't be going away anytime soon - thus greatly hindering my plans to 'wait until this blows over'.
But then again, what need do I have for Mass Effect 3 as a game when the fan backlash proves to be more compelling and entertaining?
It's simply amazing to see such outrage that makes the Star Wars fans look like a bunch of wimps in comparison. For example I found this some months ago, being a document listing all the things wrong with the infamous ending. The amount of detail gone into this is astonishing - more so when one considers the level of passion to Mass Effect and fan rage. True fan rage is nothing new but to see such effort being invested is indeed enough to stop this being dismissed as people being angry for the sake of being angry.
More recently there's this that makes the effort gone into the previous link seem pitiful by comparison. It may seem like a fanfic - and there are certainly no shortage of attempts to fix the ending to Mass Effect 3 - but to bash out a 500+ page document? And to disguise it as a genuine planning document? Now this guy has really put in the effort and to that end he's got balls.
They say history is something that can never be re-written (or something like that) but gaming culture is the only culture I can see where it's supporters think they can. Books and movies are more or less untouchable but anyone with passion, as well as some knowledge in modding, seems convinced they can fix the mistakes made by the creators of the original product.
But this is Mass Effect 3 we're talking about, a game which had it's creators generate a new ending to placate the angry horde of fans -and even that wasn't enough to silence the angry horde who went ahead and still embraced a different, fan-made ending anyway. But will it ever be the end of this? Will everyone be convinced of Bioware's vision (if you can call it that)? Will Bioware admit they made a mistake and fix it come a tenth anniversary (or something) release? Will there be a resolution that satisfies both parties?
Probably not.
But then again, what need do I have for Mass Effect 3 as a game when the fan backlash proves to be more compelling and entertaining?
It's simply amazing to see such outrage that makes the Star Wars fans look like a bunch of wimps in comparison. For example I found this some months ago, being a document listing all the things wrong with the infamous ending. The amount of detail gone into this is astonishing - more so when one considers the level of passion to Mass Effect and fan rage. True fan rage is nothing new but to see such effort being invested is indeed enough to stop this being dismissed as people being angry for the sake of being angry.
More recently there's this that makes the effort gone into the previous link seem pitiful by comparison. It may seem like a fanfic - and there are certainly no shortage of attempts to fix the ending to Mass Effect 3 - but to bash out a 500+ page document? And to disguise it as a genuine planning document? Now this guy has really put in the effort and to that end he's got balls.
They say history is something that can never be re-written (or something like that) but gaming culture is the only culture I can see where it's supporters think they can. Books and movies are more or less untouchable but anyone with passion, as well as some knowledge in modding, seems convinced they can fix the mistakes made by the creators of the original product.
But this is Mass Effect 3 we're talking about, a game which had it's creators generate a new ending to placate the angry horde of fans -and even that wasn't enough to silence the angry horde who went ahead and still embraced a different, fan-made ending anyway. But will it ever be the end of this? Will everyone be convinced of Bioware's vision (if you can call it that)? Will Bioware admit they made a mistake and fix it come a tenth anniversary (or something) release? Will there be a resolution that satisfies both parties?
Probably not.
Monday, January 27, 2014
Feel Good Hit of the Summer
At time of writing, it is summer time here in Australia. Meaning there is a lot of sunshine and warmth - something that means little to the average gamer as gaming is a (mostly) indoor activity. Still at least being inside keeps me from getting sunburn.
Anyway, I'm an adamant believer in the notion that certain games require a certain atmosphere. Certain games work in certain environments, that indeed add considerably to the experience, but others don't. By way of example, would anyone play a horror game like Amnesia the Dark Descent in a brightly lit room? I don't think so.
So what games do I like play/revisit during the summer months? Well, I like games that really fit the summer mood: There is no set criteria but bright colors certainly help and generally a mood of warmth and/or tropics.
With this in mind here's what I designate as Summer games:
Pharaoh
It's set in a desert and based around a civilisation building itself around a river. How can this not be a summer game? It's also in possession of a sense of warmth that has never been before or since.
Secret of Mana
More of a personal choice on my part: I played this during the summer of 2005 where my interest in gaming was subsequently rekindled. Somehow, with such bright graphics and glorious soundtrack, playing this game during the winter months seem pointless.
Secret of Monkey Island
It's got pirates, a well realised setting and a reggae soundtrack. Sounds like a great game to play during the summer months to me. It being chock full of hilarious moments doesn't hurt either
Skies of Arcadia
Once again, bright colours, a brilliant soundtrack and great environments. Throw in a great sense of exploration and it's little wonder why this is game that I keep finding myself returning to (not to mention a good enough reason to hang onto my Dreamcast).
Sonic the Hedgehog
I've fond memories playing this game during many a summer and I suspect I'll have more. I don't know why this game works so well as a summer game but it just does. And therein lies the thought that if I think about this too much it may be ruined.
World of Warcraft (Stanglethorn)
Blue skies, beaches, and perhaps the best-realised jungle environment I've ever seen in a game. Come for the questing, stay for the sunsets ;)
Anyway, I'm an adamant believer in the notion that certain games require a certain atmosphere. Certain games work in certain environments, that indeed add considerably to the experience, but others don't. By way of example, would anyone play a horror game like Amnesia the Dark Descent in a brightly lit room? I don't think so.
So what games do I like play/revisit during the summer months? Well, I like games that really fit the summer mood: There is no set criteria but bright colors certainly help and generally a mood of warmth and/or tropics.
With this in mind here's what I designate as Summer games:
Pharaoh
It's set in a desert and based around a civilisation building itself around a river. How can this not be a summer game? It's also in possession of a sense of warmth that has never been before or since.
Secret of Mana
More of a personal choice on my part: I played this during the summer of 2005 where my interest in gaming was subsequently rekindled. Somehow, with such bright graphics and glorious soundtrack, playing this game during the winter months seem pointless.
Secret of Monkey Island
It's got pirates, a well realised setting and a reggae soundtrack. Sounds like a great game to play during the summer months to me. It being chock full of hilarious moments doesn't hurt either
Skies of Arcadia
Once again, bright colours, a brilliant soundtrack and great environments. Throw in a great sense of exploration and it's little wonder why this is game that I keep finding myself returning to (not to mention a good enough reason to hang onto my Dreamcast).
Sonic the Hedgehog
I've fond memories playing this game during many a summer and I suspect I'll have more. I don't know why this game works so well as a summer game but it just does. And therein lies the thought that if I think about this too much it may be ruined.
World of Warcraft (Stanglethorn)
Blue skies, beaches, and perhaps the best-realised jungle environment I've ever seen in a game. Come for the questing, stay for the sunsets ;)
Friday, January 24, 2014
Refutations to a Final Fantasy 7 remake
My crusade against a Final Fantasy 7 remake continues. It may not make a difference nor will it be heeded (or read) by the pro-camp but I will not be swayed otherwise. If the pro-camp won't shut up than neither will I. Hell, I'd sooner give SqueeEnix my money so they don't make make one.
But I'm not saying this just to be troll or anything: I genuinely don't want a remake of Final Fantasy 7. Yes I've played it. Yes I've enjoyed it. But the near tunnel-vision insistence that there should be a Final Fantasy 7 remake comes across, at least to me, like a mass of weak reasons and an insistence that it should be done thus it must be don.
So here is my attempt to refute a lot of the reasons why there should be a FF7 remake:
There was a tech demo...
And we'll stop right there.That infamous tech demo was made to show off the capabilities of the PS3 by running off some familiar footage in seventh generation graphics - and a now obsolete console at that! Just because there was a tech demo doesn't automatically mean there will be a new game ready in the wings.
In addition, if we go by the logic that a tech demo = new game, then where the hell is the Final Fantasy 6 Interactive CG game eh?
We have the tech!
If only it were that simple: Gaming tech has come a long way in seventeen years, even to a point where motion capture and fully voiced scripts are required. New gaming engines are bewing built and rebuilt on a regular basis. Obsolescence happens quickly in gaming. Simply put: The technology of 1997 simply can't be used to build a game of today. You'd need to start over from scratch.
True the release of FF7 on Steam now means access to a modern graphical revamp courtesy of the modders but such a prospect isn't really that simple: It can be done yes but, with the mod I saw, the files required totals to a colossal 20+ gig. And it will disable the Steam achievements and Cloud saves. This in turn proves that just because it can be done doesn't mean there won't be sacrifices - and suddenly SqueeEnix's use of the 'we don't have the technology' card seems to carry more weight than anyone is willing to give them credit for.
And while we're on the topic of modding, I recently saw a mod that could resurrect Aerith but the effect there means her standing around, little to no dialogue and her limit breaks reducing much of the game's challenge. Again: Is such a sacrifice worth the trouble?
Advent Children
Some say that this movie is indeed well-removed from the source material and I proudly consider myself part of this camp. Yes it was nice to see these familiar faces and seeing them with proper rendering, but that doesn't excuse the disconnect: The film lacks the much of the humour found within the game itself and seems intent on being nothing more than caving into fan demand. Even Cloud is an emo whinger & comes across as if the character arc/resurrection he went through in the game were all for nothing. It begs the question: Do you want a remake of FF7 or a game based on Advent Children? Because I'm seeing a lot of distance between the two.
SquareEnix are in trouble and they could do with the help...
Okay I will concede that this argument actually has some weight behind it but here's the thing: FFXIII was conceived as an attempt to recapture the magic that was FF7 and what happened? The game was disaster and split opinion like no other. In fact pretty much every FF game that has followed FF7 has split opinion inspiring both denounces and defenders in equal amounts.
So somehow using the 'SquareEnix is in trouble' card doesn't really work: They try to redo FF7 under a different name and the punters call foul. And when they try to make something different, the demand for the FF7 remake continues to persist!
Gamers certainly are a hard mob to please.....
It still holds up!
Funny, I recall FF7 had instances of humor and nonsense (Cloud breaking the fourth wall, the Cloud and Barrett date) that many people, and Advent Children, seem eager to forget. I recall the Honeybee mansion sequence that people seem REALLY eager to overlook. I recall minigames that seem both pointless and puzzling in their inclusion. And I recall Avalanche begin a terrorist group - something that would come across very awkward in these modern, post-9/11 times.
And of course, remove such instances will, of course, inspire outage by purists and arguments from revisionists. Indeed, it ultimately comes back to that question: is this the game you want?
It's the greatest RPG ever made.
That is, of course, a matter of opinion but, out of interest, have you played Planescape Torment? Baldur's Gate 2? Final Fantasy 6? Skyrim?.....
But I'm not saying this just to be troll or anything: I genuinely don't want a remake of Final Fantasy 7. Yes I've played it. Yes I've enjoyed it. But the near tunnel-vision insistence that there should be a Final Fantasy 7 remake comes across, at least to me, like a mass of weak reasons and an insistence that it should be done thus it must be don.
So here is my attempt to refute a lot of the reasons why there should be a FF7 remake:
There was a tech demo...
And we'll stop right there.That infamous tech demo was made to show off the capabilities of the PS3 by running off some familiar footage in seventh generation graphics - and a now obsolete console at that! Just because there was a tech demo doesn't automatically mean there will be a new game ready in the wings.
In addition, if we go by the logic that a tech demo = new game, then where the hell is the Final Fantasy 6 Interactive CG game eh?
We have the tech!
If only it were that simple: Gaming tech has come a long way in seventeen years, even to a point where motion capture and fully voiced scripts are required. New gaming engines are bewing built and rebuilt on a regular basis. Obsolescence happens quickly in gaming. Simply put: The technology of 1997 simply can't be used to build a game of today. You'd need to start over from scratch.
True the release of FF7 on Steam now means access to a modern graphical revamp courtesy of the modders but such a prospect isn't really that simple: It can be done yes but, with the mod I saw, the files required totals to a colossal 20+ gig. And it will disable the Steam achievements and Cloud saves. This in turn proves that just because it can be done doesn't mean there won't be sacrifices - and suddenly SqueeEnix's use of the 'we don't have the technology' card seems to carry more weight than anyone is willing to give them credit for.
And while we're on the topic of modding, I recently saw a mod that could resurrect Aerith but the effect there means her standing around, little to no dialogue and her limit breaks reducing much of the game's challenge. Again: Is such a sacrifice worth the trouble?
Advent Children
Some say that this movie is indeed well-removed from the source material and I proudly consider myself part of this camp. Yes it was nice to see these familiar faces and seeing them with proper rendering, but that doesn't excuse the disconnect: The film lacks the much of the humour found within the game itself and seems intent on being nothing more than caving into fan demand. Even Cloud is an emo whinger & comes across as if the character arc/resurrection he went through in the game were all for nothing. It begs the question: Do you want a remake of FF7 or a game based on Advent Children? Because I'm seeing a lot of distance between the two.
SquareEnix are in trouble and they could do with the help...
Okay I will concede that this argument actually has some weight behind it but here's the thing: FFXIII was conceived as an attempt to recapture the magic that was FF7 and what happened? The game was disaster and split opinion like no other. In fact pretty much every FF game that has followed FF7 has split opinion inspiring both denounces and defenders in equal amounts.
So somehow using the 'SquareEnix is in trouble' card doesn't really work: They try to redo FF7 under a different name and the punters call foul. And when they try to make something different, the demand for the FF7 remake continues to persist!
Gamers certainly are a hard mob to please.....
It still holds up!
Funny, I recall FF7 had instances of humor and nonsense (Cloud breaking the fourth wall, the Cloud and Barrett date) that many people, and Advent Children, seem eager to forget. I recall the Honeybee mansion sequence that people seem REALLY eager to overlook. I recall minigames that seem both pointless and puzzling in their inclusion. And I recall Avalanche begin a terrorist group - something that would come across very awkward in these modern, post-9/11 times.
And of course, remove such instances will, of course, inspire outage by purists and arguments from revisionists. Indeed, it ultimately comes back to that question: is this the game you want?
It's the greatest RPG ever made.
That is, of course, a matter of opinion but, out of interest, have you played Planescape Torment? Baldur's Gate 2? Final Fantasy 6? Skyrim?.....
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Nothing to complain about here!
Another post, another game struck down from my Hall of Shame.
Yep, I beat another game during my Christmas break, this one being Planescape Torment:
This is not an easy game for me to assess because so much has been written about it already - so much so it is hard for me to find something new to say. An RPG that's strange and smart in equal measures? A deliberate breaking of RPG conventions? Probably the finest voice talent ever assembled in a game? Writing to die for? Criminally underrated? Now available on GoG for ten bucks so there's no excuse not to have played it?
Well there is something that can be said that hasn't been said before: My own personal experience with this game.
Firstly, yes the combat is stupid but that's not the point: This is a game where the player must discover things through dialogue and interaction. In addition I wouldn't dismiss Planescape Torment as an interactive storybook: Calling it that would insists the player's participation is minimal but here the player has a strong influence in how things shape out.
But it is ultimately the journey through the game itself: Staggering in the life (lives?) of the Nameless One, hilarious in the dialogue and characters encountered, and...no wait I'm getting sidetracked. Personal experience!
Okay start again: I played a game where I saw one's man life play out. I saw a universe where a thought can be given solid form. I saw a story unfold that kept me in it's siren call and refused to let me walk away. I saw truths revealed with sense of poignancy and revelation. I saw moves to go against the grain of RPGs and never once did I question it. I saw genius that has never been seen in any other game.
So is Planescape Torment any good? Damn right it is.
In fact I may have to reconsider my list of best games ever just for the sake of including Planescape Torment. I mean this game made me pay attention to so many lines of dialogue and presented a big-bad that could be overcome without raising a fist. That may sound completely stupid but here it works: and then that surely would be enough to make Planescape Torment one of if not the greatest game ever made. And I've since gone back and played through the climax several times - something that very few games can claim.
Indeed it is a crying shame that this game never got as big as it should've. Sure Portal may have made many laugh but I'll have "What can change the nature of a man?" over "The cake is a lie" any day.
Nothing more I can add except that playing this was a long time coming and a journey I was glad to have made. There is nothing like it before or since.
Go to GoG, buy it and play it. NOW.
Yep, I beat another game during my Christmas break, this one being Planescape Torment:
This is not an easy game for me to assess because so much has been written about it already - so much so it is hard for me to find something new to say. An RPG that's strange and smart in equal measures? A deliberate breaking of RPG conventions? Probably the finest voice talent ever assembled in a game? Writing to die for? Criminally underrated? Now available on GoG for ten bucks so there's no excuse not to have played it?
Well there is something that can be said that hasn't been said before: My own personal experience with this game.
Firstly, yes the combat is stupid but that's not the point: This is a game where the player must discover things through dialogue and interaction. In addition I wouldn't dismiss Planescape Torment as an interactive storybook: Calling it that would insists the player's participation is minimal but here the player has a strong influence in how things shape out.
But it is ultimately the journey through the game itself: Staggering in the life (lives?) of the Nameless One, hilarious in the dialogue and characters encountered, and...no wait I'm getting sidetracked. Personal experience!
Okay start again: I played a game where I saw one's man life play out. I saw a universe where a thought can be given solid form. I saw a story unfold that kept me in it's siren call and refused to let me walk away. I saw truths revealed with sense of poignancy and revelation. I saw moves to go against the grain of RPGs and never once did I question it. I saw genius that has never been seen in any other game.
So is Planescape Torment any good? Damn right it is.
In fact I may have to reconsider my list of best games ever just for the sake of including Planescape Torment. I mean this game made me pay attention to so many lines of dialogue and presented a big-bad that could be overcome without raising a fist. That may sound completely stupid but here it works: and then that surely would be enough to make Planescape Torment one of if not the greatest game ever made. And I've since gone back and played through the climax several times - something that very few games can claim.
Indeed it is a crying shame that this game never got as big as it should've. Sure Portal may have made many laugh but I'll have "What can change the nature of a man?" over "The cake is a lie" any day.
Nothing more I can add except that playing this was a long time coming and a journey I was glad to have made. There is nothing like it before or since.
Go to GoG, buy it and play it. NOW.
Monday, January 20, 2014
Not the best example to follow
Perhaps the only time in the history of D&D we'll ever see a Lawful Good thief:
Friday, January 17, 2014
The Princess was indeed in another castle.
Another bizarre image that came with the announcement of Princess Zelda being a selectable character in the new Super Smash bros game
I think you've got the wrong princess there, mate.
I think you've got the wrong princess there, mate.
Original image located here. Accessed 17th January 2014
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Miss Chevious
Another thing that happened during the Christmas break was the announcement that Princess Zelda will be a selectable character in the upcoming iteration of the Super Smash bros franchise.
This doesn't change my stance on not getting a Wii-U but I am delighted to hear that my favorite Nintendo princess will be present in the new Super Smash bros - Zelda is after all, the representation of the Legend of Zelda what with her name being in the title and her being smart enough to get Link to do all the work (she's the representation of the Triforce of Wisdom for a reason!).
However I am puzzled by some of the images that have accompanied this announcement. Particularly this one:
What is going on here? Is Link knocked out? Or is he sleeping? Is Zelda going to cast some healing spell? Is she going to wake him up? Or is Zelda going to smack Link on the side of the head for not doing a good job?
Personally, this looks to me like Zelda is going to play a joke on Link - like she's going to place a toy spider on his shoulder to give him a shock. In fact I hope that is what's going to happen because it would be nice to see the Princess of Hyrule / Embodiment of Wisdom having a mischevious side that is never seen in the Zelda games.
This doesn't change my stance on not getting a Wii-U but I am delighted to hear that my favorite Nintendo princess will be present in the new Super Smash bros - Zelda is after all, the representation of the Legend of Zelda what with her name being in the title and her being smart enough to get Link to do all the work (she's the representation of the Triforce of Wisdom for a reason!).
However I am puzzled by some of the images that have accompanied this announcement. Particularly this one:
Original image located here. Accessed 17th January 2014
What is going on here? Is Link knocked out? Or is he sleeping? Is Zelda going to cast some healing spell? Is she going to wake him up? Or is Zelda going to smack Link on the side of the head for not doing a good job?
Personally, this looks to me like Zelda is going to play a joke on Link - like she's going to place a toy spider on his shoulder to give him a shock. In fact I hope that is what's going to happen because it would be nice to see the Princess of Hyrule / Embodiment of Wisdom having a mischevious side that is never seen in the Zelda games.
Monday, January 13, 2014
Taking Stock
I've got a lot to get through in the weeks ahead but there's always time to write another article for Muse culture:
Nintendo's stock is on the rise
Friday, January 10, 2014
Staring aGoG
Here's something that came to my attention recently - a video acknowledging five years of GoG:
Original video located here. Accessed 10th January 2014
There's not a lot else I can add to this: I've singing the praises of GoG in this blog for a long time. I've been astonished by the effort that the people behind GoG put into their service (I'm personally convinced they must have an army of lawyers at their beck and call). And it is a real surprise (an welcome one at that) that in a profit driven industry such as this one there does exist a company that actually gives a shit about their product and their customer base.
The real surprise of this video are the statistics presented - they're astonishing to say the least. And as one of the many who have frequented GoG, i have paid up many dollars for many great games - many of which I've never played before. I hope that GoG keeps going and keep delivering classic games for future gamers to discover, relieve and enjoy
Here's to the next five years!
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Parting ways
Here's something I chanced upon during my Christmas break: the Japanese commercial for the Final Fantasy X/2 revamp.
For the curious, the text in the beginning of the commercial says, "We are fated to someday part with the person we hold most precious", and the narration at the end of the commercial says, "The world is full of partings and farewells. So I'd want to cherish someone who is next to me now."
I have no idea how I should be reacting to this ad: At first, I was snickering at the cheesiness of this ad and then it occurred to me that in amongst all that cheesiness there was a sense of sincerity.
I know some ads can provoke an emotional response but.....no wait this isn't one of them at all! Too much cheese and making no effort whatsoever to hide it.
But what I got the most from this ad is a sense that I'm still not in any way convinced to buy this new version of FFX. For, if anything, my one and only playthrough involved some careful use and intricate planning with the sphere grid and I'M NOT GOING BACK!!!!!
For the curious, the text in the beginning of the commercial says, "We are fated to someday part with the person we hold most precious", and the narration at the end of the commercial says, "The world is full of partings and farewells. So I'd want to cherish someone who is next to me now."
I have no idea how I should be reacting to this ad: At first, I was snickering at the cheesiness of this ad and then it occurred to me that in amongst all that cheesiness there was a sense of sincerity.
I know some ads can provoke an emotional response but.....no wait this isn't one of them at all! Too much cheese and making no effort whatsoever to hide it.
But what I got the most from this ad is a sense that I'm still not in any way convinced to buy this new version of FFX. For, if anything, my one and only playthrough involved some careful use and intricate planning with the sphere grid and I'M NOT GOING BACK!!!!!
Monday, January 6, 2014
Mega Drive
And we're back. Welcome to 2014 folks. And what better way to kick off the new year than with the announcement of another game struck down from my Hall of Shame!
And who's the lucky candidate this time? Why, Mega Man 2!
Well first off the bat, this would have to be one of, if not the most technically impressive game I've seen on an 8-bit system. Having grown up in the Commodore 64 era I was thoroughly impressed with this quality of the graphics: the sprites have loads of personality that I wouldn't have previously thought possible.
I also enjoyed the use of weapon upgrades and the level selection: As I've come into Mega Man blind (like all games should be approached), I was thought this was quite a neat feature and surprised that this type of thing was being implemented in it's day - particularly when player-determined paths are commonplace in games of today.
But then there is the difficulty: My God, is this game a challenge and a half. I hate how games offer cheap deaths (yes Burnout 3, I am looking at you) and I do feel that mega Man 2 belongs in this category. I've lost count how many times I yelled at the TV screen, ground my teeth in frustration and faced my will being broken.
If anything Mega Man 2 comes across as more a battle of wits between the player and the game itself with neither willing to back down to the other. And that's the thing: A game should be fun to play. And if a game is making me frustrated, angry and anything but having fun, then something has gone seriously wrong. Thus to hear people laud Mega Man 2 as one of the greatest games ever made is confusing to me.
Okay true Mega Man 2 is a product of a bygone era when games were allowed to be as nasty as they choose and anyone will go along with it. And I will admit that games of today being much easier may allow for complacency in gamers, but if a game leaves me yelling "BULLSHIT!" on several occasions then perhaps it may be better to move onto something else.
Ultimately I did find a lot to be impressed with Mega Man 2 but it hasn't really sold me on the rest of the series. I do respect Mega Man 2 for both it;s own merits and being the best in the series but I'm not in any rush to go and explore some more.
Oh well, easy come easy go I guess....
And who's the lucky candidate this time? Why, Mega Man 2!
(yeah the PAL box art isn't that crash hot but its lameness is still worth a chuckle)
I never played any of the Mega Man games during the 8bit era. That still didn't stop me admiring it from afar. And as far as I was concerned controlling a robot guy with a cannon for an arm sounded pretty sweet to me.
This in turn placed me in a unique position when I finally got around to play it on the Virtual Console: I've never played this game and I don't have any memories playing it to influence my opinion So what did I think?
Well first off the bat, this would have to be one of, if not the most technically impressive game I've seen on an 8-bit system. Having grown up in the Commodore 64 era I was thoroughly impressed with this quality of the graphics: the sprites have loads of personality that I wouldn't have previously thought possible.
I also enjoyed the use of weapon upgrades and the level selection: As I've come into Mega Man blind (like all games should be approached), I was thought this was quite a neat feature and surprised that this type of thing was being implemented in it's day - particularly when player-determined paths are commonplace in games of today.
But then there is the difficulty: My God, is this game a challenge and a half. I hate how games offer cheap deaths (yes Burnout 3, I am looking at you) and I do feel that mega Man 2 belongs in this category. I've lost count how many times I yelled at the TV screen, ground my teeth in frustration and faced my will being broken.
If anything Mega Man 2 comes across as more a battle of wits between the player and the game itself with neither willing to back down to the other. And that's the thing: A game should be fun to play. And if a game is making me frustrated, angry and anything but having fun, then something has gone seriously wrong. Thus to hear people laud Mega Man 2 as one of the greatest games ever made is confusing to me.
Okay true Mega Man 2 is a product of a bygone era when games were allowed to be as nasty as they choose and anyone will go along with it. And I will admit that games of today being much easier may allow for complacency in gamers, but if a game leaves me yelling "BULLSHIT!" on several occasions then perhaps it may be better to move onto something else.
Ultimately I did find a lot to be impressed with Mega Man 2 but it hasn't really sold me on the rest of the series. I do respect Mega Man 2 for both it;s own merits and being the best in the series but I'm not in any rush to go and explore some more.
Oh well, easy come easy go I guess....
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