It would seem that this whole 'mini-retro-console' sensation is one that can't be under-estimated. Never mind the huge sales, it would seem that someone was busted for hacking into a Mini-SNES and added some more games to it.
Clearly the line up of games that came with it wasn't strong enough.
I suppose in this day and age it shouldn't come as a surprise that someone manged to hack a mini console (although I personally have never heard of anyone hacking a console that wasn't a Dreamcast) but I am surprised that someone felt that the games offered on the console mini needed some improvements (if any).
Wednesday, November 21, 2018
Monday, November 19, 2018
Caving into the Dutch
So this is Dutch in his Red Dead Redemption 2 incarnation:
Funny thing, the first time i saw this artwork I couldn't help but think he had some sort of Nick Cave vibe going....
Original image located here. Accessed 14th November 2018
Funny thing, the first time i saw this artwork I couldn't help but think he had some sort of Nick Cave vibe going....
Friday, November 16, 2018
World's Greatest Detective
So this is a thing apparently:
Ermmm................what?
I myself have no attachment to Pokemon but this is still perplexing to say the least. I suppose the crazy success of the Dead Pool movies has given Ryan Reynolds a free reign to do whatever he wants but it is odd to see Nintendo use one of their recognizable brands in such a manner.
Still, we can only wait and see....
Ermmm................what?
I myself have no attachment to Pokemon but this is still perplexing to say the least. I suppose the crazy success of the Dead Pool movies has given Ryan Reynolds a free reign to do whatever he wants but it is odd to see Nintendo use one of their recognizable brands in such a manner.
Still, we can only wait and see....
Wednesday, November 14, 2018
Monday, November 12, 2018
Colder than the coldest Blizzard was cold
I think it's fair to say that this moment is well and truly on it's way to gaming infamy:
Who would've guessed that silence could be so deafening?
Still, it is rare to see a big name, let alone Blizzard, make such a misstep. So it would be interesting to see how they will recover.
Original video located here. Accessed 12th November 2018
Who would've guessed that silence could be so deafening?
Still, it is rare to see a big name, let alone Blizzard, make such a misstep. So it would be interesting to see how they will recover.
Friday, November 9, 2018
Take the Pressure Down
What is the worst game I have ever played?
Everyone has one but for me, it's not a subject to dwell on. I've played a lot of games over the years across many systems. And I've found, with my experience, that the good ones stick in the mind whereas the bad ones tend to fade into the ether.
However I do make an exception: A game that came out on the Commodore Amiga by the name of Under Pressure.
So why does this game stand out? I guess it's largely because it was due to my collection of games on the Amiga: Abundant in one level demos but short in actual games.
Still, in order to talk about this game, may I direct your attention to the following play-through:
The first thing you'll notice is that the PC sprite is huge (yes that big ED-209 lookalike is the PC). And the publishers must've thought so too because they put the large sprite forward as a selling point. This, in turn, may account for what drew me to this game.
But watching that play-through, and thereby revisiting this game for the first time in over two decades, I am reminded of what worked against the game. Namely:
I mean, i can understand the desire to do something different from the norm and the potential of a big guy fighting little guys (thus reversing a usual shooter trope) but here, the execution leads a lot to be desired.
Watching the video however, one thing that strikes me is just how unfinished the game comes across. The first level has some degree of cohesion but ever level following it has a decline in level design. The fourth level (which i never progressed from) in particular has no sense of direction with dead ends and no proper direction in which to properly progress. Which in turn, gives off the impression that after the first level, the designers lost interest before ending on a half-arsed note.
Is that the reason for the tough difficulty? To hid the fact that wasn't a lot of game to speak of? (note the person behind the play-through was relying on cheats).
But the real slap in the face is the final level: After going through baddies (some of which look like they came from a completely different game), after traversing through dull levels of monstrous difficulty, you fight a boring boss and then the game ends with a 'To be Continued' message.
Just in case you need further convincing that the makers of this game gave up after the first level.
Still, it's just as well the music accompanying said message was kinda rockin; otherwise one would've thrown a controller through the screen.
It has been, at time of writing, twenty seven years and no sequel has shown itself.
It most likely will never show but here's hoping. After all, you can't be too careful...
Everyone has one but for me, it's not a subject to dwell on. I've played a lot of games over the years across many systems. And I've found, with my experience, that the good ones stick in the mind whereas the bad ones tend to fade into the ether.
However I do make an exception: A game that came out on the Commodore Amiga by the name of Under Pressure.
So why does this game stand out? I guess it's largely because it was due to my collection of games on the Amiga: Abundant in one level demos but short in actual games.
Still, in order to talk about this game, may I direct your attention to the following play-through:
Original video located here. Accessed 9th November 2018
The first thing you'll notice is that the PC sprite is huge (yes that big ED-209 lookalike is the PC). And the publishers must've thought so too because they put the large sprite forward as a selling point. This, in turn, may account for what drew me to this game.
But watching that play-through, and thereby revisiting this game for the first time in over two decades, I am reminded of what worked against the game. Namely:
- The sprite may be big but it moves slowly and in a ponderous fashion, making the game's progression a monotonous experience.
- The size of the PC spite also makes quick actions and jumping horrendously difficult.
- Again, the size of PC sprite restricts the playing area which, most often than not, results in both unwittingly heading into danger and 'leap of faith' gameplay
- This game is difficult - difficult to the point of being unfair. I especially hated those 'drills' that appeared out of the ground and without warning.
I mean, i can understand the desire to do something different from the norm and the potential of a big guy fighting little guys (thus reversing a usual shooter trope) but here, the execution leads a lot to be desired.
Watching the video however, one thing that strikes me is just how unfinished the game comes across. The first level has some degree of cohesion but ever level following it has a decline in level design. The fourth level (which i never progressed from) in particular has no sense of direction with dead ends and no proper direction in which to properly progress. Which in turn, gives off the impression that after the first level, the designers lost interest before ending on a half-arsed note.
Is that the reason for the tough difficulty? To hid the fact that wasn't a lot of game to speak of? (note the person behind the play-through was relying on cheats).
But the real slap in the face is the final level: After going through baddies (some of which look like they came from a completely different game), after traversing through dull levels of monstrous difficulty, you fight a boring boss and then the game ends with a 'To be Continued' message.
Just in case you need further convincing that the makers of this game gave up after the first level.
Still, it's just as well the music accompanying said message was kinda rockin; otherwise one would've thrown a controller through the screen.
It has been, at time of writing, twenty seven years and no sequel has shown itself.
It most likely will never show but here's hoping. After all, you can't be too careful...
Wednesday, November 7, 2018
Monday, November 5, 2018
Friday, November 2, 2018
Getting the band back together
Lately I've been having a bash at the latest iteration of the Rock Band Franchise. Rock Band 4.
I will maintain that the second game in the franchise is the best. Oh sure, RB3 introduced the Music Library but it lacked the spark that made RB2 so special. matters aren't helped with the difficulty and the ugly character models.
So does RB4 bring anything new to the table?
So far i am liking the RPG-nature of the main campaign. I really like the choices one has to make - opting for either song selections or something random for the sake of cosmetic differences. Naturally, I gravitated towards the former option - there's no way I was going to play against something unfamiliar. Or lousy. Or hard. Clearly this game is built around having a substantial music library - perhaps more than ever before.
On the downside, the in-game store store seems limiting. The selection of guitars on sale seem smaller and the clothes on offer seem scant on 'sensible' options - but wide on the 'sillier' options. Mean if you, like me, want your band not looking like a bunch of idiots then you're out of luck.
Also, it seems the numbers of selections are restricted to the point of horrendous: I can't choose individual things for my band members, like shoes, earrings, t-shirt designs, and gloves. Instead a lot of these are lumped in together as accessories. And even the options that are already available seem paltry compared to previous Rock Band games. One would think that the more powerful hardware would lead to more customizing options but, strangely enough, the opposite is true.
I did like how the same cosmetic options were carried over from RB2 to RB3 - meaning that it was possible to recreate the same band members (even if the results weren't entirely successful). But to see such limiting cosmetic options in RB4 is disheartening at least. I suppose there is something to be said of making a new band instead of replicating previous members but that doesn't change the feeling of being, as a creator, hamstrung.
Still, it would be interesting to see what waits once the campaign is done....
I will maintain that the second game in the franchise is the best. Oh sure, RB3 introduced the Music Library but it lacked the spark that made RB2 so special. matters aren't helped with the difficulty and the ugly character models.
So does RB4 bring anything new to the table?
So far i am liking the RPG-nature of the main campaign. I really like the choices one has to make - opting for either song selections or something random for the sake of cosmetic differences. Naturally, I gravitated towards the former option - there's no way I was going to play against something unfamiliar. Or lousy. Or hard. Clearly this game is built around having a substantial music library - perhaps more than ever before.
On the downside, the in-game store store seems limiting. The selection of guitars on sale seem smaller and the clothes on offer seem scant on 'sensible' options - but wide on the 'sillier' options. Mean if you, like me, want your band not looking like a bunch of idiots then you're out of luck.
Also, it seems the numbers of selections are restricted to the point of horrendous: I can't choose individual things for my band members, like shoes, earrings, t-shirt designs, and gloves. Instead a lot of these are lumped in together as accessories. And even the options that are already available seem paltry compared to previous Rock Band games. One would think that the more powerful hardware would lead to more customizing options but, strangely enough, the opposite is true.
I did like how the same cosmetic options were carried over from RB2 to RB3 - meaning that it was possible to recreate the same band members (even if the results weren't entirely successful). But to see such limiting cosmetic options in RB4 is disheartening at least. I suppose there is something to be said of making a new band instead of replicating previous members but that doesn't change the feeling of being, as a creator, hamstrung.
Still, it would be interesting to see what waits once the campaign is done....
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