Face Facts

Well Red Dead Redemption 2 has been out for a while now.
Thus the excitement and anticipation in the lead-up to it's release now seems a distant memory. ]
I suppsoe that's to be expected with any game relased, but there's something i wnat answered.

Has anyone correctly identified the characters in the promo art?

 Original image located here. Accessed 21st January 2018

I remember this being a big deal, with people trying to match names to the faces (I tried it myself) but now we've had the time to get to know these characters, with recognizing famailiar faces and being introduced to new ones. So has anyone put names to the faces?

Caving into the Dutch

So this is Dutch in his Red Dead Redemption 2 incarnation:

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....

Lost Weekend

This weekend I've spent a large amount of time on the Xbox One Scorpio (and yes I will keep referring to it as Scorpio).

A lot of it has been playing Red Dead Redemption 2 and...

.....ha ha, just messing with you. I've been using it to revisit games I'd got off of XBLA.

Granted this way of doing things may not be what Microsoft want me to do as a consumer but hey, I know what I want to play.

You're the One that I Want

So, this happened:

Yep, it finally happened. I shelled out for an eighth generation console having resisted for so long. I picked up an Xbox One S(corpio). One could say that is just in time for Red Dead Redemption 2 but more likely it was the necessity to keep up with a tech race that is forever ten steps ahead.

Grumbling aside, I have so far been fiddling around with the console, learning how the apps work and uploading all my saved games off the 360 and onto the cloud storage. A slow starter yes but this does begin a new chapter in my gaming history.

Whether that is a good thing or not, however, remains to be seen....

Back in the Saddle

So this has been doing the rounds recently:

Original video located here. Accessed 2nd October 2017

It's the first real taster we've been given of this game. And, unsurprisingly, the rumor mill is in full flight. Is that guy towards the end Dutch? Is that guy in front of the burning building Bill? Who is this Arthur Morgan? Is he the PC? And where is John in all of this?

I, however, am having my reservations: Aside from the fact that this is too early to call and speculation can only last until the game is, y'know, actually released,the thing is that this game looks to be well and truly a prequel. And the only problem with prequels, is you know how it's going to end. It doesn't matter how big a role Jon, Dutch, Bill and Javier will play in this new game because, as we all know, they will appear in the RDR1. And if Arthur Morgan is indeed a previously unnamed member of this outlaw gang, then somehow his fate is already sealed.

Still, for the moment, call me curious....

The Magnificent Seven Ride

As was promised earlier in the week, the trailer to the sequel of Red Dead Redemption:

Original video located here. Accessed 21st October 2016

Well, like pretty much every teaser trailer ever made, this trailer doesn't say a lot about the game. It just has enough scenery shots and brand recognition to generate buzz. Sure Rockstar could do with the buzz but buzz won't mean a lot if there isn't a game to go with it.

At the present time, popular opinion suggests that this game will be a prequel and focus on John's days as a member of Dutch's outlaw gang. All I can say is that I hope this does turn out to be true as a) that's pretty much the only direction you can go with this sequel and b) with everyone favoring this option it would a disappointment not go down that path.

One last shot at redemption

Well it's official: there is a sequel to Red Dead Redemption on it's way.
I'm actually surprised that Rockstar actually manged to get a sequel out of the original seeing as the original was about the end of the Old West. Unless of course, this game turns out to be prequel - which is pretty much the only route Rockstar can take with this new game. And the notion of a prequel seems suggestive in this image:

 Original image located here. Accessed 19th October 2016

From the looks of it, this new game does seem to resemble a prequel and it looks like it will focus on Dutch's gang. The four men from the left resemble, in order, John Marston, Javier Escuella, Bill Williamson and Dutch.
I like the idea of a 'Magnificent Seven' vibe Rockstar have got going here and it would be interesting to see the background of these characters (not to mention the three newcomers) but would it be enough to sway me back to the console camp........?

But of course, all of this is speculative. As always, once the trailer is revealed details may become a little clearer. But knowing what trailers are like, they might not.

30 Years of Zelda

This year marks a significant gaming milestone: It is the thirtieth anniversary of the Legend of Zelda franchise! Yes, way back in 1986, a game called Legend of Zelda touched down on the NES and introduced us all to a character who isn't the one in the title.

I myself am delighted by this. Whilst I may have been late to the Legend of Zelda party I still have many fond memories of playing Link to the Past (you never forget your first Zelda game!) and I still acknowledge it as a personal fav. I may have gone off Zelda in recent years but I still hold the series in high regard.

But here's a thought: The twentieth anniversary of the Zelda series, 2006, gave us Twilight Princess - and, in the player guide I got (don't judge me!), it's revealed that the Princess Zelda in that game is  twenty years of age. A little meta joke to be sure but it does raise an interesting question: Would that make the Princess Zelda, in the upcoming WiiU game, thirty?

It may make for a bold idea for a Legend of Zelda game having a non-teenage/young adult Link and Zelda but that seems doubtful: After all, this is Nintendo and Nintendo aren't ones to readily challenge their 'family-friendly' image.
I mean, on one hand having an older Link and Zelda may make for a more 'adult' game (witness the star of Red Dead Redemption John Marston) that may address some issues well beyond what the Legend of Zelda series has tackled previously - but the series is, and always will be, one for kids.

A lost child

Today I was in a book store where I noticed a new edition to the book 1001 games you must before you die. It must've been new as they included more recent games like Limbo and Red Dead Redemption. However, much like the previous edition, Ico is still excluded.

Okay seriously guys, you really need to get with the program: Ico is the greatest game ever made and it's exclusion is beyond baffling. Come on, Peter Molyneux referenced it in his introduction! If Ico is being looked over then I seriously question the book's claims of being being selected by a range of respected critics

Best Gaming Romances

Well it's that time of the year: Valentine's Day! And what better way to acknowledge this event than to talk about some of my favorite gaming couples.
Some simple rules for this one: The only restriction is that I must write about the couples that somehow made an impression on me. Doesn't matter how big - If I remember a certain couple over any other than they shall be included in this list.

So here we go. In no particular order:

Hiro and Lucia (Lunar 2)

Original image located here. Accessed 14th February 2014

It seems unfair including these two in this list seeing I haven’t actually played all the way through this game but based on what I've played I actually found myself somehow invested in these two. On paper, this could be another couple that populate rom-com anime with Hiro being a cocky, devil-may-care type and Lucia could be another paperweight love interest  (Belldandy anyone?) but somehow I don't get that impression. I think it's largely due to Lucia being of considerable magical prowess. And hey, anyone who can decimate the baddies within seconds is fine by me!
But in all seriousness, I feel the pinnacle of this relationship is the fact that Hiro traveled all the way to the moon to be with Lucia. You can't beat going to such lengths like that.

Zidane and Garnet (Final Fantasy 9)

 

Original image located here. Accessed 14th February 2014 

There's no shortage of romances within the Final Fantasy series and the one between Zidane and Garnet could well be, to me, one of the best.
I think what makes this work the best for me is the idea that this is indeed a storybook romance. Now that could be a bad thing but it is told with enough heart and sincerity that any skepticism is tossed out the window. Yes it may take the same plot as Disney’s Aladdin with a thief hitting up with a princess who wants to see the world beyond her home palace, but you know what? I don’t really care.
What I do care however is seeing Zidane and Garnet’s romance play out. Aside from the familiar strengths as they both go on a massive world-spanning adventure and help each other out in combat, what really works for me is that they help each other in times of crisis. They become quite prepared to go to extraordinary lengths to help the other. And, as mentioned previously, I love in the ending cinematic Garnet throws her crown away before leaping into Zidane arms – sometimes little moments can count for so much.
But ultimately I think this relationship succeeds because it is completely devoid of any pretension.  It is not trying to be a grandiose, universe-shattering, in-your-face-Gone-With-The Wind, romance and, as a result, it is all the better for it. After all, if I remember Zidane and Garnet over some of the other Final fantasy romances then they must’ve done something right.

(warden) and Liliana (Dragon Age Origins)
 Of all the options for a romantic partner in Dragon Age Origins, Leliana strikes me as the strongest. Alistair’s awkwardness may endear him the female gamers but I’m not one of them. Zevran doesn’t appeal to me either as he comes across as wanting to bang anything with legs. And Morrigan is…well… yet another one of those snarky types that Claudia Black always seems to play.
This leaves us to the bard.
And for some reason the romance between Leliana and the warden was the one that stuck with me the most. Leliana’s confusing accent aside, what appealed to me was that actually seemed genuine. Compared to the other three romances, this romance actually seemed like two people who would see each other on a daily basis, fight back to back, and engage in activities in their down time. The two people may be a bunch of graphics accompanied by some voice acting but to me they seemed real enough and comparable to romances I have seen in real life. I like the acts of affection Leliana did and the words she said for my warden.
And at the end, both the warden and Leliana left together to see the world and somehow, it made me wonder what kind of adventures they would have – and special mention must go to this because rare is it that I complete game and find myself wondering what will happen next to the characters once the narrative in the game is wrapped up. After all, once the game ends so does the narrative it was trying to convey. But somehow what my Warden and Leliana had together somehow made enough impression to wonder what happened next – And something must’ve happened because Leliana showed up in Dragon Age 2! Needless to say, I am curious to see what happens next in the upcoming Inquisition…..

Link and Zelda (Legend of Zelda)


This is a couple that's already been covered in a previous post in this blog so there’s not much I can say that already hasn’t been said before.
This is indeed a challenging couple as there a few things working against them. Yes Nintendo won’t admit to this coupling. Yes it is a different Link and Zelda with each game. Yes the game time Link and Zelda share varies. But in the end, this couple is one that somehow doesn’t need questioning. Link is out to rescue Zelda. Is she worth it? Well she seems to be considering the amount of effort Link invests in his quest. And that is enough to make it engaging to me, the player.

Femshep and Thane (Mass Effect 2)
I’ve always felt that, in the terms of Mass Effect 2 romances, Femshep seems to get the best picks. That may sound strange coming from a heterosexual male but I felt that the romances Femshep has come across as more interesting and more engaging than those enjoyed by male Shepard. And Thane could well be the best of the lot.
So what makes the relationship between Thane and Femshep special? Most likely it is the tragic element: Thane after all has very limited time left which would make one think that pursing a romantic relationship would be the last of his concerns. Yet somehow, against the odds (and/or common sense) one can indeed blossom between him and Femshep.
The tragic nature of this relationship is thus perfectly illustrated at the subquest’s conclusion: Whereas Thane was facing death with an unbowed acceptance; he is now frightened by the prospect of losing Femshep. And like any relationship one needs to treasure every moment they spend together with the other person and such a notion is indeed at play here – with the added emphasis that the one of the people involved has a terminal condition.
And this is indeed the first time we actually see Thane not being his usual stoic self and it;s quite revealing. And of course it is only Femshep who sees it.  Guess she must've made quite the impression.
I haven’t gotten far enough in Mass Effect 3 to see how this relationship plays out afterward but I will always treasure that final moment Femshep and Thane share before the Omega Run.  No matter how many times I see it, it still kicks me right in the feels

John and Abigail (Red Dead Redemption)

Original image located here. Accessed 14th February 2014 

Funny thing about gaming couples: Traditionally, the romantic interest is usually the endpoint/reward for beating the game. It is therefore rare to see a couple whose relationship is already in progress and rarer still to see a couple actually married (Mr and Mrs Pacman anyone?). Thankfully, John and Abigail Marston is such an occurrence.
On paper this couple should not work: Abigail only appears in the last leg of the game – and whereas we, the players, had an entire game to get to know, and build a connection with, John, we have a very limited time to get to know Abigail. Indeed, much of the game, information on Abigail is based on both what other characters say about here and John’s determination to get his job done so he can return to her.
But however limited Abigail’s time is in the game, there is no doubt that she has a genuine bond with John. These are two people who have spent a long time together and get on like any other married couple – and I say that without any hint of sarcasm whatsoever (well as much as the typed text permits anyway). These are two people who have a working relationship and know each other better than anyone else. It is the kind of relationship that has been little seen in a game and one hopes to see more often - perhaps moreso now that gamers who grew up in the eighties are now most likely married?

Tidus and Yuna (Final Fantasy X)


This is another couple that has already been covered in another post in this blog.
Again, I certainly don’t want to repeat myself so there isn’t much else can say that hasn’t been said already. But I will say that in the years since playing FFX, this couple still resonates within my cold, jaded heart. It was a relationship compelling enough to follow through the entire game.
Also pleasing is that Tidus, the Player Character, isn’t the one going on a quest. It’s Yuna's quest instead. It’s a welcome change as, after other gaming romances, we now know what it’s like to walk in a partner’s shoes as they follow their beloved into hell and beyond. The things one does for love eh?

PC and Jahiera (Baldurs Gate 2)
And we save the best for last.
Yes I said this was in no particular order but honestly? I think the relationship between Jahiera and the PC in Baldurs Gate 2 could well be the best relationship ever conceived for gaming.
Firstly, the length. This romantic subquest is indeed the longest of those available in BG2 and so it should be. Like any relationship, it takes time and effort to make it work. I don't think any other game has actually dared to take such a serious look at in-game relationships ever since. It seems that any romantic relationship would consist of a handful of conversations and boom! Romance. But not BG2 and such gall to tell any romance like it really is indeed a ballsy one.
Secondly, it is fascinating to see Jahiera slowly open up to the player. We see her get over the death of her first husband and reveal a more empathetic and trusting companion hiding behind the mask of a grumpy tough-chick. It's a 'project' in other words and one that is indeed worth the effort.
Finally, this relationship is more interesting on a realistic level. Viconia's may be beset with tragedy, Aerie's may be idealistic, but the relationship with Jahiera strikes me more as a weathered tree. It may endure hardships, periods of separation and so many obstacles but it still endures. And if nothing on earth can end such a union then it surely must be as strong as steel.
Indee,d with such an approach to a relationship, one can only wonder why no one has tried to replicate it. But then again, perhaps they don't need to.

And that is my take on Gaming's Greatest Romances. Of course, my idea of what is the greatest gaming romances may be completely different from someone else's but this is my opinion and my blog so you just read it whether you like it or not XD

Anywho, I hope you've enjoyed this post and you all have a fun Valentine's day spent in the company of loved ones.

Seventh Heaven

And so the seventh generation of console gaming has well and truly rode off into the sunset. So where does this leave us? Well for me this may as a good a time as any to do a retrospective on this generation outgoing.

At first I had no interest in the seventh generation. At the time the seventh generation was dawning, I got off my arse and got a PS2. A bit late to the party true but I didn't care: I merely wanted to find out what the PS2 had to offer - as well as what I'd missed out on with the PS1. And the shaky start of the Xbox 360 confirmed the wiseness of this decision.
True I did eventually obtain a Wii but that was more for the Virtual Console than the actual games the Wii had to offer.

But it didn't take long before something came along that really piqued my interest. The game was Dragon Age Origins - and somehow it being marketed as a successor to the mighty Baldur's Gate  was enough to warrant more investigation. And then, seeing a friend play Mass Effect 2 furthered my decision to fork out for a 360. It seemed a dumb decision to get yet another console when I had a PC, PS2 and a Wii but I don't regret it one bit.

Now. Do I have any favorite games from this last generation. Funny you should say that: I've got a top ten list prepared!
So here's my favorite games of the last generation all arranged in order of preference. All of these games I may have, at one stage or another, already talked about at length on this blog so I'll try and keep this brief.

10. Cave Story
It was made by one guy but damn what a labor of love this was. True the last boss may have prevented me for beating the game (otherwise this will be ranked much higher) but Cave Story has plenty of charm that puts a lot of triple A games to shame.

9. Braid 
I found Braid bogged down by the pretensions towards artiness this game had. But then I remembered this game had fun puzzles, clever mechanics and a lovely art direction. Enough to save it? Damn right.

8. Dragon Age Origins
Say what you like about Bioware but somehow Dragon Age Origins feels like one of their last watermarks. True it is more enjoyable on the PC, with mods, than the Xbox, but there is still a lot going for this game with it's art direction, gripping plot and solid writing.

7. Bioshock
Before I played Bioshock I was feeling somewhat unhappy with gaming - but by playing Bioshock I got the kick up the arse I was needing. Compelling in it's narrative, inventive in it's ideas and a great game all round, Bioshock was all this and more. Now about System Shock 2....

6. Bastion
A lot of games seem to rely on spectacle and explosions - so any game that attempts the 'Less is More' approach is worth nothing less than my interest. Four characters, a glorious narration, and an art direction to die for, Bastion is nothing short of brilliant.

5. Spec Ops the Line
The slap in the face that military shooters needed. It's not a game I'd play for enjoyment but it's a game that is indeed worthy of my respect. It takes balls for a game to critique it's audiences and Spec Ops The Line has the biggest balls of them all.

4. Thomas Was Alone
If the seventh generation proved anything it's the time that indie games truly flexed their muscles. And Thomas Was Alone could well have been the best of the lot. It may have won me over on sheer personality alone but being a great game certainly didn't hurt either.

3. Rock Band 2
I hate to think how many hours i may have sunk into Rock Band 2 but I honestly loved every minute of it. The implementation of the music library was a masterstroke and I've gained a new appreciation for music I wouldn't have otherwise been aware of.

2. Mass Effect 2
Dragon Age Origins may have proven that the seventh generation my be worth my time but Mass Effect 2 truly sealed the deal. It seems to me that Bioware were taking the concept of the Dirty Dozen and putting into game form for the first time. And I personally wouldn't have it any other way, 

1. Red Dead Redemption
Game of the generation? Hell yes. Beyond that I can't really think of much else to say about Red Dead Redemption. It's the game I got the most out of in the entire generation and it looks set to be a favorite in the years to come. Can something top it? Now there's a challenge to rise up to.....

So where am I at the beginning of the eighth generation? Anything but confident.
I'm serious: Nothing has come along that has really grabbed my attention. Indeed I have found, like most people, the seventh generation being truly defined by the presence of indie games on XBLA & Steam. And in particular I've found, much to my surprise, that many of them are more substantial than the games available on the shelves of EB Games. It is indeed telling that the only game I've truly gotten excited over in the past twelve months is The Stanley Parable.

But then again I have no patience for the eighth generation - not while my Hall of Shame continues to exist anyway.

Sex Pistols

A punk rock version of the Red Dead Redemption closing theme Dead Man's Gun.

Original video located here. Accessed 16th September 2013

I'm sorry, what?

You can't please everyone

Recently I’ve been doing another playthrough of the mighty Baldur’s Gate 2. Yep, it still keeps calling to me with an eternal siren’s song – which is indeed a rare thing for many games to do when one has so many of them to keep track.
This time, however, this playthrough is different as I’ve included mods – not least is the one that combines BG1, ToSC and BG2 in one game. This is great for me – not only am I using ToSC for the first time but it’s fun to see a character grow over the course of a super-huge game. A time of writing I’m in the middle of the BG1 portion and, having conquered the ToSC regions, have made it to Baldur’s Gate itself.
Another one of the mods I’m using is one called ‘Virtue’ which takes into account the actions of the party and reputation. However having implemented the mod in the question, it effected the game already in progress. And suddenly, half my party members ended up walking out on me.

The members in question were Safina, Branwen and Khalid. The latter may come across as being surprising but the absence of Jahiera in my party may have something to do with it (but I’m not worried – if, of course, you know what happens to Khalid in BG2). But the departure of both Safina and Branwen is the accumulation of their disappointment over my actions. Being of neutral alignment, they did grumble a lot over my actions and the mod I installed gave them the excuse they were after to leave.
This in turn, is a good excuse for me to rant about the Good/Bad choices in game.

When it comes to gaming I’m far too used to be the good guy – As a child of the eighties I’ve played many games over many years where I’ve been presented with a problem and I must solve it. Such problem included saving the world/girlfriend or overcoming some antagonist. It’s a trope that was done to death in the sixteen bit era and having been exposed to it so often it’s now more like a programmed response.
And it’s still lasted long into my adulthood. As such I play a game now I expect to play the role of the hero - in fact, when presented with the option, I honestly can’t bring myself to be a baddie and do nasty things. So much so that whilst I’ve been a bad guy in games before like Mass Effect, Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic and, to lesser extent Starcraft, I’ve felt like shit afterwards. And if the game stops being fun and enjoyable then that’s a danger sign if ever there was one.
I guess it comes with the freedom of choice – if you give the player the freedom they will do what they choose along with living with the consequences. It does indeed make a difference than a game that presents little choice alongside an emphasis on consequence (Spec Ops the Line anyone?). But at the same time there is little point in being a prick for the sake of being prick – by of comparison consider Red Dead Redemption: Yes you can become a Desperado but doing so makes John Marston’s insistence of putting his violent past behind him as somewhat insincere.

Yet with age comes experience and in my experience there is no such thing as a ‘pure’ hero. You simply can’t tell me that anyone can do so many heroic things with little effort and not have a single black spot to their name. Okay yes there is Superman but if someone has to Superman it may as well be Kal-El himself. No for me, the more realistic hero is the type that does the right thing but isn’t afraid to do something unorthodox and eschew falling over backwards to be an example for everyone to follow. Indeed, it is, to me, satisfying in the Avengers movie to have the irresponsible hero, Tony Stark/Iron Man, as the leader instead of the responsible one, Captain America.
Thus I like to play heroes that save the day but aren’t the type to take shit from anyone. By way of example when I play Mass Effect I take the Paragon path but I take Renegade choices whenever possible. For, as is often the case, there is no black or white, only shades of grey.

Which brings me back to Baldur’s Gate: My character is a paladin but taking this class has little to do with background or roleplay but more with the ruleset – fighters that can heal? What’s not to like? (The high charisma doesn’t hurt either)  But to be a paladin means you’re confined to being Lawful Good and can’t really break from it. Of course, my choices are me going through the motions of being a gaming hero but, as it would seem, such choices don’t seem to sit well with the people around me – God only knows what would happen when I reach BG2 and am presented with the opportunity to romance Jahiera.
Still though, I do strongly believe that the Good/Bad paths are ultimately futile: There is no such thing as a 100% White and a 100% Black – for being somewhere in the middle is both realistic and far more plausible.
But of course, being a paladin means you can’t sip up even once. Oh well….

Aging Disgracefully

Here's something I never noticed before: The combatants in Virtua Fighter 4 all have birth-dates! So taking that into consideration, in the year 2012, Akira is 44, Pai is 37, Lau is 72, Wolf is 46, Jeffry is 55, Kage is 42, Sarah is 39, Jackie is 42, Shun is 100(!!), Lion is 33, Aoi is 33, Le-Fei is 37, Vanessa is 43, Brad is 40 and Goh is 34.
It's funny thing about adding a birth-date to a video game character. It gives them a sense of history, more so with each iteration of the Virtua Fighter series, and it suggests that these characters have been around a long time, and are still able to get back up on their feet after being knocked around numerous times - which, coming from a fighting game series, is hardly surprising.
But at the same time, it does suggest that these characters are aging - and as this is a fighting series we're talking about, it won't be long before the blows render them unable to get back up again.

To be honest I've never been a fan of 'floating timelines'. I personally like to see characters age and grow wiser with experience. Therefore I find it kinda silly that Bart Simpson is forever a ten year old even when his birth-date was established as April 1st 1980 (which would make him in early thirties by now). That being said, one would think a hero who ages would be an interesting concept for a game hero.
Think about it! Each game hero goes on a journey and by the end of it, they come out the other side wiser and/or have killed lots of dudes. Thus it would make an interesting series concept to have a hero who goes on multiple journeys - and as he does so, his appearance changes, injuries and scars he suffers are there for good and the experiences he gains are there with him for ever after. And after all, what is a video game character when they're without dudes to slay eh?
I mean similar things have been done before with game characters aging: Red Dead Redemption featured a player character who is a grizzled, scarred veteran, Donkey Kong Country presented the character of Cranky Kong and even Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess had a little meta joke through Princess Zelda being of twenty years of age.

But alas, I doubt it would take off: As is often the case, a game without a young vital, pretty face will never sell as it's the youth portion of the market will balk out at playing an aging hero. I mean can anyone imagine a wrinkly, decrepit, Kratos still marching to battle insisting on having his vengeance?


Didn't think so.

Republic Relations

I haven’t had much to do with Star Wars: The Old Republic. I saw the intro video and thought it looked silly largely due to a) one character looking too much like John Marston and therefore very out of place and b) showing a lot of ‘characters being improbably awesome’ sequences that plagued the prequel trilogy. Besides, attempting to usurp World of Warcraft on the untouchable throne of MMORPG? You would have to extremely insane or extremely confident - to the point of being extremely insane.

Nevertheless, earlier this week I had my real first exposure to Star Wars: The Old Republic in the form of a friend showing me some videos showcasing some of the classes available. Thus I got to see the Imperial Agent, Bounty Hunter and the Smuggler. And from what I’ve seen there is some degree of appeal – I like how the Imperial Agent offered the role of a sniper. I love how the bounty hunter seemed the offer both the tank role and gunning down dudes with a second thought. And even the smuggler looked interesting with the offer of ranged combat (even if, at one point, they end up looking like that out-of-place John Marston clone).

But I don’t know about a Star Wars MMORPG. It’s not just the idea that the only thing to usurp WoW is to utilize an even bigger geek franchise. No – you see SWOTR is ultimately following the lead of the KOTOR in that it’s set some time before the original trilogy of movies. I see some problems in that a) how will this fit in with KOTOR? b) it is yet another reminder that the prequels exist no matter how many people try to deny it and c) whereas WoW had the Alliance and the Horde locked in an eternal stalemate, setting a Star Wars MMORPG in the prequel universe doesn’t seem like a good idea to me. I mean we all know what’s going to happen: The Republic will fall, the Empire will take over and eventually the Rebel Alliance will rise up – hardly a set up that invites some degree of longevity (as WoW’s continued existence has proven). 

 In fact, now that I think of it, I wonder why Bioware didn’t set it after the original trilogy? I don’t know about the rest of you but I would like to see the Star Wars universe once the tables have turned. I mean who wouldn’t want to see the Alliance in power and how they handle it? Who wouldn’t want to see the Imperial forces attempt to regroup and rebuild following the end of Emperor Palpatine?

Still, despite my cynicism, I have to admit there is some appeal to Star Wars The Old Republic so it may be worth a look.....

Chronicles of a Gamer (Michael Revisited)

Here's a little something I bashed out - inspired by the legendary Michael ad:

I’m the one who walked with Link on his journey
The one Princess Zelda calls when danger nears
To Ganondorf I’m his constant enemy

I told Snake how to destroy the Metal Gears
Through me he found a sense of meaning in life
And we still meet regularly to drink some beers

I showed John Marston how to kill with a knife
With me he became a Legend of the West
And I got him back with his son and wife

I went with Commander Shepard – he’ll attest
I was with him through the Omega Relay
As everyone ‘round us gave their very best

I walked with Yuna every step of the way!
Got Ico and Yorda out of the fortress!
I’m that which makes Cyberdemons run away!

I got Samus Arun through planet Zebes!
Kefka, Loughain, M Bison, I did fracture!
Even Morrigan Aensland I did impress!

I got the Little Sisters out of Rapture!
I’ve faced down lines of relentless invaders!
Made friends with a wolf god and a space hamster!

I’ve been with Avalanche and Raynor’s Raiders!
When all’s gone to hell I’m the one they rely!
And I’m a friend of many a gun trader!

I’ve fought sand demons, zombies and colossi!
For I am the gamer and I’ve done it all
And in the eyes of my comrades, I’m their guy

That was the year it was: 2011

So this will be my last post for 2011 - Because the festive season is here and there are people who I should spend some time with. And besides, this past week has been rather barren with things to say.
So to wrap this year up, some quick thoughts about the games I played this year. Sure not all of them were released this year but still:

Bioshock
Intimidating at first but this won me over with it's compelling plot, great use of ideas and it's well-realised setting and imagination behind it. The praise lauded on it may have left me reluctant to play it but, much to my surprise, it turned out great.

Dragon Age 2
Why didn't Bioware keep the pattern established with Origins and Awakening and give this game a subtitle? This game had some good ideas true but they were bogged down with dull environments, stupid combat and no proper goal. Still it would be interesting to see what Bioware will do now with Dragon Age 3....

Green Day Rock Band
Dookie was a welcome addition to My Rock Band Library - not sure about the other two albums though.....

Iron Brigade
I became aware of this game through a positive review on Good Game. I've enjoyed playing Mechwarrior 2 in the past so the idea of stomping around in a huge mech had some appeal. Can't say I'm a big fan of Tower Defense games but this was good fun.

Lego Rock Band
Something of a surprise: I originally got for the games for the songs but somehow, it won me over. Juvenile yes but with some a charm of it's own.

Oblivion
Another long time coming but I enjoyed this game purely for wandering around and checking the well-realised world out. But as this game is an action RPG, one would think I'd missed the point...

Portal
Somehow the memes based around this game made actually playing the damn thing redundant. Oh well...

Red Dead Redemption
I've heard some less than praising comments for this game. Can't imagine why....

Rock band 3
Well what can i say that hasn't been said before? Some changes were nice others weren't. Music Library good, stupid difficulty not.

And that's the end of Game Tumour for 2011. Thank you for reading and I'll see you on the other side of 2012
So what will the new year bring? That's a very good question...

Oblivion Awaits

Recently I've been having at crack at Oblivion - it's been a long time coming but with Skyrim rumbling down towards us I guess now is as good as time as any.
And so far it seems to be much like every other RPG I've played in that I seem to lose hit-points more quickly than I can get them back >__<

Seriously though, so far things seem to be going well. Sure it's annoying that I keep dying too frequently - mostly after a long gap between saves - but I've been impressed by how well-rendered this world is. So much so I'm far more content to wander around and explore: seeing this place for myself and marking more locations on my map. But of course, doing so means I'm not doing any quests and/or dungeons and subsequently missing the point of the game completely but this is an actual world I want to explore - which is a first compared to other open world games I've played like Red Dead Redemption or any of the Zelda games. I'm not sure, maybe it's quite fun wandering around and exploring... that is until some prick comes along spoiling for a fight and interrupts the mood.

Still this is only the beginning - it's interesting what will come later on....

One Man Army

During my college and university years, I watched a lot a movies - in particular I was struck by the 'one man army' genre of action movie. You know the kind: One guy is up against a whole horde of baddies and spends the entire length of the movie taking them all out one by one.
Indeed, such is the strength of the concept that it has since provided the basis for many action games.

But here's something I've been pondering on for quite some time: In regards to this one-man-army scenario, what exactly is the correlation between action and motivation? Killing a bunch of guys by yourself is a mammoth undertaking - more so if the guys in question own and operate some kind of organization/corporation. To do so would take a motivation worth seeing through to the end.

That being said, I have, for the longest time, wanted to see someone take this formula and turn it on it's head. How about a one-man-army where the protagonist is someone who blundered his way into this mess by accident? And has to fight for his life against foes who are equally confused by his presence as he is? Or how about where the protagonist is someone who is doing this undertaking for something so, by comparison, small and insignificant?

Such scenarios have potential and I would like to see one played out - and what do you know I can see glimpses in he games I've played. When I was playing Bioshock I could see the scenario being put to use as the player controls an interloper to the city of Rapture and Andrew Ryan, through his video logs, is baffled as to who the player character is and what he's doing there. This set up is of course ruined with the confrontation with Andrew Ryan but then again 2K had their own story to tell but for me it's still a missed opportunity. How could it be for an average shlub to accidentally stumble across Rapture and explore it...only to have them fight for their life against a foe who's mistaking him for the CIA or some other organization?
As for the second scenario I can see traces of it in the Nuevo Paraiso portion of Red Dead Redemption. Throughout the portion John Marston gets caught up in a conflict against a corrupt president and idealistic revolutionary. Eventually Marston must pick a side and take part in the subsequent revolution. But it is interesting to note that all Marston wants is the location of Javier Escuella and Bill Williamson - thus Marston ends up doing odd jobs for the two opposing sides on the promise of telling where these men are. But most of the promises don't come through much to Marston's increasing annoyance. Thus there is something somewhat evocative with when the revolution comes and Marston is reacting to the mayhem around him by shouting: "WHERE'S JAVIER ESCUELLA?!?!?!?"

But in the end these examples are just fleeting glimpses - all it need is someone to take the first full step. And when I think about it, it is rather puzzling why this hasn't caught on seeing that video games rely on the 'one man army' concept and even cases of 'Who needs motivation when there are dudes to shoot.' I figured the scenarios I mentioned be more akin to a natural fit.
Still at least it's a start....

Redeemed

Another game has been cast down from my Hall of Shame: On your horse Red Dead Redemption, you're outta here!

Now what can I say about it? Well the ending was a kick in the teeth to say the least: Our protagonist John Marston is conned into helping the government clean up their dirty and he in turn is screwed over - Mind you, when I got round to playing through the final mission, the in-game weather took a turn for the worse and the entire thing occurred in the pouring rain. A coincidence but one that, IMHO, actually the scene better and more poignant.

But what of the game itself? Well I've never been a big fan of the open world games but here it works - Not sure why though: Maybe it has a lot to do with the setting as the Old West is a far more volatile and violent place than the cities of the present (the same could also be said for that other sandbox game I love Sid Meier's Pirates!). Maybe there is a lot to do and never once does the game get boring. Maybe the world, the setting and landscapes are so well realized to the point of jaw-dropping. Maybe it'd the influence of watching Unforgiven, the Wild Bunch and the Good the Bad and the Ugly during my college years. Maybe it's the implementation of an excellent morale system. Maybe it's the very well-written story and the fascinating character of John Marston.
Or maybe Red Dead Redemption is a damn good game. Yeah let's go with that.

You know I've heard people say bad things about this game but you know what? Fuck them. This game is great and I was glad to have played it. I invested over twenty hours in the game but it felt like much longer which to me is mark of something special.
Still have no idea what's the point of the Undead Nightmare though....