Six Pack

Well it seems like a new iteration of the Soul Calibur series is headed this way. I know this because a trailer was recently unleashed on an unsuspecting world:

Original video located here. Accessed 9th December 2017

This is interesting to me as it features two of my favorites: Sophitia and Mitsurugi. Also of particular note is that Sophitia is sporting her original outfit.Which is interesting to me because I remember being turned off by Soul Calibur's post-3 that I was put off by her increasing sexualisation (of course, that reason was one of numerous but still....).
So is like a reboot or something? In any case, it's great to see Sophitia in her original outfit and looking great in the Unreal4 Engine.

But the trailer sure puts a lot of emphasis on her cleavage....

10 Best Intros of the 5th Generation

And here we are with this blog’s 600th post! Woot!
Well I did promise I’ll do a better job with my 600th post than I did with my 500th post so what do I have in store for today? Well I decided I’d do a follow up on one of my favorite posts in this blog. Remember the best intros of the fourth generation post I did? Well today we’ll be doing the best intros of the fifth generation!

To do a post like this presents a challenge and a half: My previous post lauded intros from the fourth generation largely through their ability establish mood, drama and intent largely through the limitations of the day – and having a particular attachment to that generation helped too. Not so with the fifth generation – with the increase of technology, more restrictions were broken down and the palette the game designers could work from grew bigger. But the removal of restrictions doesn’t always mean an increase in creativity. As such, I often find myself having little to no attachment to the games of fifth generation like I have to the games both before and once.

Nevertheless, a challenge has been set and it’s one worthy to rise up to. So here are my eleven best intros of the fifth generation.


11. Independence War (PC)

Let’s start this list with a game I’ve never actually played – hence it’s lowly positon on this list. It does seem unfair true but somehow I could not go past this intro.
And could I not? It may run for fifteen minutes making it easily the longest on this list but somehow it never feels like a chore to get through. Instead, a lot is established about the game and the universe it is set in. We see multiple planets. We see a conflict being set up. We see a background and history brought forth. We see political intrigue and the desperation with fighting a war. Indeed, I’ll go so far to say that this video does the whole establishing of its own universe so well that it puts a lot of modern games to shame.
Also pleasing is the look of this universe: It has a gritty look to it and some great lighting effects that really go a long way in establishing the mood of the game. This isn’t some gung-ho idealist space opera, this is a war being fought. Its more Babylon 5 than Star Trek and is all the better for it.
Actually, now that I watch this intro, maybe this game should be worth a look…


10. Lunar: Eternal Blue (Sega CD)

Okay so I’m cheating again here seeing as this game was originally released for the Sega CD but it was also released for the PS1 so it still counts!
Anywho, what I particularly like about this intro is the art direction: I ‘m impressed by the anime-esque character designs and the horrific image of a planet being bloodily destroyed by some demonic hands. But what really makes the intro for me is the place that Lucia is wandering through: We see wall carvings describing a story that is appears to be a mixture of both history and mythology. We see wars being fought, demonic beasts wracking destruction and instances of deities providing salvation.
Whilst I’m typing this from a relative newcomer (I’ve played both Silver Star and Eternal Blue but not long enough to complete them or form an idea about the game’s mythology), it is still impressive to see this ruined fortress and how it’s been abandoned by time. Also impressive is how it’s building on what appears to be clearly the game’s own mythology. Again, I haven’t the game enough but seeing this makes me feel inspired to play the game further and find out just what this mythology is. And that’s what a game’s meant to do right? Convince you to play the game it’s attached to? In this case it is a mission well and truly accomplished.

9. Metal Gear Solid (PlayStation)

If we could, for a moment, consider the landscape of gaming in a post-Sega CD world: Full Motion Video games have turned out to be a complete joke with pretentions to offering an experience akin to a movie – but instead presenting appalling acting and little to offer the ‘game’ side of things. CD storage suddenly looks significantly less appealing and the ‘movie experience’ looks best suited to staying with the movies.
That being said, Metal Gear Solid comes across as being a revelation. Finally, we have a game that actually has the look of a genuine movie (as opposed to something shot in someone’s backyard). The voice acting is superb. There are credits for both cast and staff members. And, most importantly, it still requires player participation – a balance that sounds absurd but works like a charm.
Unfortunately, with hindsight, it is sad that future Metal Gear Solid games continued going down the movie path with extended cutscenes that required little to no involvement from the player. But for one glorious moment, it all came together for the first Metal Gear Solid game.

8. Starcraft 2: Brood War (PC)

Whilst I may have shown some contempt for fifth generation graphics, I am somewhat lenient towards the PC crowd. Maybe it’s because I was using one at the time. Or maybe some of the graphics in that area hold up the best. Or maybe PC games have an ‘ageless’ quality to them largely due to the presence of the modding crowd.
But no matter: Let’s talk about this intro. Whilst I found the intro to the original Starcraft dull, this however is more compelling. It begins with the Terran marines fighting a losing battle through the Zerg and then goes onto to introduce two characters who become of key importance in the campaign ahead as well as their intent. So much of this works so well: The rain, the thunder and the mood of hopelessness that radiates throughout the intro. Also of particular note is the music that starts off with some rockin’ guitars, which had already been established as being tied to the Terran campaign in the original game, and then evolving into something operatic, as befit the UED campaign in Brood War. For any newcomer, seeing this intro makes one eager to have a shot at this campaign and find out who Alexei and Gerard are and just what they intend to do. Which is what any good intro should do.


7. Shining Force 3: scenario 1 (Saturn)

Again I’m cheating because this is another game I’ve never played. Yes I’ve played Shining Force 1 and 2 but not 3 – this is instead another game I am relying upon purely on the intro (as well as game footage on YouTube). But what an intro! This is packed to the gills with some great imagery, with the most significant being at the end where two swordsmen face off against each other in a fire-ravaged city as a giant mech approaches. The music is fantastic, certain characters are introduced and a lot is packed into this video to convey that things do indeed happen in the game attached to it. And with the presence of elves, centaurs, winged demons, magic spells, statues that come alive and steampunk this certainly ticks all the boxes for any fantasy aficionado.
Whilst I could’ve done without the inclusion of the sound effects, this is intro, like any intro, is designed to grab the player and to that end it succeeds with flying colors. Could it be enough to hunt down a Saturn, all three installments of Shining Force 3 and learning Japanese to understand all the dialogue? Some people have so one could say that this intro may have done plenty enough.

6. Tekken 2 (PlayStation)

I recall seeing this back in the day and the first thing that sprung to mind was; “I gotta get this game”.
I could end the story right there and then as it would sound very familiar and such a reaction is the exact thing an intro is made to do. The thing is, however, I wasn’t really impressed with the original Tekken (both in the arcade and the PS1 version), but seeing this intro was a key step in convincing me that the PlayStation may be worth a damn.
So what makes this intro so special? Well, compared to it’s predecessor it looks great: The graphics look pretty good, they are devoid of the ‘blocks’ that plagued fifth generation gaming graphics (they look dumb then and still do today). The character designs are superb. And the lightening effects are also a stand out - which astonished me back in the day as I didn’t think that thing would’ve been possible. 
As for the intro itself, we’re introduced to the characters, both old faces and new, and we see enough to establish their character and their role in the game. It may not sound like much but this intro does it so well that I’ve seen similar intros done for other games but they come across a pale imitation. So whatever this intro does, it does it right. 
(and I’ll rather have this intro than the one with Heihachi’s screaming mug any day).

5. Nights Into Dreams (Saturn)

It may be a short intro but within the space of forty-three seconds, the game’s intentions are established with ease. Bright colorful graphics? Check. A mood that is both mischievous and heroic? Check. A setting both over-worldly and grandiose? Check. Visuals that support the claims made in the title? Check. Indeed, I recall seeing this intro in the mid-nineties and I was hooked. So much so, I waited for well over a decade before I downloaded the HD remake of the game on XBLA.
Okay seriously: I’m always impressed by how this intro establishes so much within such a short space of time. Some may say it’s the limitations of the Saturn hardware but I feel this is a holdover from the previous gaming generation where developers had limits as what they could do – and subsequently had to work hard and work smart to navigate around such limits. And this intro shows signs of the developers putting in the same kind of hard effort.
And the fact that this was on the Saturn, a console now notorious for having some failures of games and a mishandled PR campaign, makes such effort worth it’s weight in gold.

4. Ghost in the Shell (Playstation)

I’ve certainly talked up Sega a lot in this post – and even I can’t deny that the fifth generation was not a good time for Sega. So, for the sake of balance, let’s talk about PlayStation.
Let’s not beat around the bush: I love me some Ghost in the Shell. I thought the original movie was great, I found Stand Alone Complex superb so it was somewhat inevitable that I would eventually track down this lost treasure.
Whilst not the sequel that many people longed for it was however a follow up to the movie and, as this intro indicates, it was true to the spirit of both the movie and the original manga. Plus you get to blow shit up as a tachikoma long before Stand Alone Complex came about (clearly the game was ahead of its time).
Without a doubt, the most striking thing about this intro is the quality of animation. One thing I recall distinctly from the mid-nineties is that with the increase in storage space offered by the CD-ROM, many game developers attempted to incorporate animation into their game, in an attempt to replicate Disney or even Don Bluth. This however felt like a game that truly walked the walk. The animation is incredible, easily on par with the movie and certainly exciting to watch. Indeed, whilst I may find the blocky graphics of many PS1 games hard to take seriously this however is a delightful surprise.

3. Soul Edge (PlayStation)

Remember what I said about how every fighting game that has an intro introducing every character is a pale imitation of the one in Tekken 2? Well Soul Edge doesn’t do anything to change that opinion but it has enough clout to stand proudly on it’s own two feet.
So what we have here is one of the most rockin’ intros ever. So where do I start? The theme music kicks arse; the singer, Suzi Kim, sings with a conviction that is entertaining; each and every character gets plenty of screen time and they appear multiple times (which is more that can be said of similar intros to other fighting games). And it is absolutely glorious from start to finish.
Also of note is that this intro holds up really well years later. Yes I’ve been critical of the lasting power of fifth generation graphics but this is one intro I can watch again and again and still find entertaining. Whilst my own experience with the Soul series is with the Soulcalibur 1 and 2 – both of which have a graphical quality that still holds up today - it’s nice to know the progenitor of the series still has something of its own to say and it still works years later.

2. Final Fantasy VII (Playstation)
All right, I admit it: This intro is nothing short of impressive. Yes I’ve been critical of Final Fantasy 7, yes I think FF6 is better, yes I’m put off by the fandom this game inspired but at the end of the day, one can’t deny this is intro is incredible.
Years later, this is still jaw-dropping to watch. It must be the zoom out of Midgar. Or it could be the graphics which still look great seventeen years later.
And with hindsight, one can see how this game made many people excited and pretty much made a lot of people forget about the NES and SNES incarnations of Final Fantasy. And considering the strength of it, one can see how such a recognizable scene was used as tech demo (but the less said about that better).


And my favorite intro of the fifth generation is…

1. Planescape Torment (PC)

In coming up with this list I had something of specific criteria: The success of an intro depended on a combination of how well it established the game in-universe, how it made me interested in a game, how it worked with the technology of the day, and how many times it made me rewatch it on YouTube (as you might imagine that last one may have been the deciding factor.
Thus, the video you see above this passage of text is the intro I felt fulfilled all these criteria.
Within this video a lot is established about the game and its universe. We are introduced to both the Nameless One and Deionarra. We also see locations that later prove to be of importance –and, as players of this game would know, it pays to pay attention.  We see key themes within the game being raised with the image of the Torment insignia and the army of zombies with fingers raised in accusation.
However, what I find most interesting about this video is what is known with hindsight because (SPOILERS) as anyone who’s beaten the game would know, it is never actually revealed what the first incarnation did that inspired him to seek atonement through immortality. Thus this video is pretty much the only clues we get. We see a woman (who clearly doesn’t share Deionarra’s appearance), a guy drowning, battles being fought and a glimpse of the Nameless One as a human. What does it all mean? We’ll never know and that, in turn, is a tantalizing detail that adds to this video’s mystique.
This intro adds so much to the game. Even after I’ve beaten the game, I’m still finding things if interest in the intro and seeing how it connects with the rest of this game – which is more than many other games can claim. It’s a unique intro and here at Game Tumour we celebrate the unique. So it gets the gold star from me.

So that’s it for the 600^th post! Thank you for taking the time reading it and here’s to the next 100 posts!
 

To be this good takes Ages

Following on from an earlier post, today I downloaded Radiant Silvergun and had a bash at it. I didn’t last long, which is unsurprising for an arcade shooter, but I was impressed with the number of shooting abilities on offer. Needless to say, this warrants further investigation.

What is of particular note is that with the purchase of Radiant Silvergun, the number of Sega games (as in either made by Sega or originated on a Sega console) on my XBLA account now reaches eight. It joins the likes of Sonic Adventure, Sonic CD, Ikagura, Soul Calibur, Daytona USA, Nights into Dreams and Guardian Heroes. Now whilst it may not sound like much it still represents a third of the games I have downloaded from XBLA.

I suppose having a particular empathy for the Sega games is a holdover from my days as a Sega fanboy. I guess once you’re a fanboy you’re one for life and you can never truly escape such a fate. However other reasons behind such an empathy exist in the form of:

• Perhaps playing Sega games on the Xbox it is a firm indication of Microsoft's replacing of Sega in the Console race
• Or maybe it is more of a case of finally playing games that I have previously only been able to admire from afar.

But most likely there is still the faint glimmer of hope that if Sega games are being brought maybe a miracle may happen and we’ll finally see a re-release of Panzer Dragoon Saga and Shining Force 3.

But what are the odds of the happening, amIrite?

Don't look now

On the weekend, I was talking to someone who turned out to be something of connoisseur when it came to horror games. He spoke highly of Outlast, was aware of Slender: The Eight Pages and showed me Eyes upon his ipad. The latter was of particular note: It was claimed it was done by the same people who made Slender and, through a demonstration, Eyes revealed itself to be following the same formula of ‘run from a freaky creature with murderous intent’.

I myself am not into horror games – I myself play games to relax and it’s hard to relax when your Player Character is being chased by a psychotic with murderous intent. However I can see something of a formula begin to emerge through the games mentioned above.  Tell me if the following doesn’t sound familiar: Trapped in a confined space with limited lighting? Threats in the form of antagonists that are of a mysterious nature? Constant danger that is practically relentless? The only action a player can do is running? Little to no chance of victory? Indeed, once one realizes there seems to be a formula to the recent wave of horror games it now becomes impossible to ignore.

I suppose the source of this wave can be traced back to Amnesia: the Dark Descent. Whilst it is kinda nice that that game was a success (for an indy game) and showed up the posers of the survival horror genre, one gets the sense that everyone else has since been looking over Amnesia: the Dark Descent’s shoulder and copying their answers. It would be nice to think that an indy game has become the benchmark for other horror games to follow but I think it more a race to see who can freak out players the most.
But suppose Amnesia: the Dark Descent is the new benchmark. It raises a question: Where can we go from here? Gaming history is littered with games becoming big hits only to inspire clones in their wake. – two such examples being Street Fighter 2 and Final Fantasy 7. Both are regarded as the finest of their genre and nothing that has followed has really matched it (although Virtua Fighter and Soul Calibur may have a solid claim against Street Fighter 2). So if everyone seems intent on replicating Amnesia: the Dark Descent, does this mean the horror genre has nothing left to say?

Personally I think horror games work best when they sneak up from behind, pull the rug from underneath the player and gradually break the player’s will. Isn’t that right Eversion?

Wrestling an idea out of my mind

I've never been big on wrestling games. Sure they're good to have when you have some friends around and keen to have one-on-one punch ups but that's a niche that is easily filled with the fighting game genre. Thus there isn't anything wrestling games can offer that can't be fulfilled by the likes of Streetfighter or Soul Calibur.

But, in my book, if there is gaming genre that's not going anywhere then it is ripe for some reinvention. So how would I do a wrestling game?
Simple: I'd embrace the sheer absurdity of ti all. Now we all know that wrestling is all fake and the wrestlers are merely running through a series of staged movements. So why not build a game around that? Seriously, I'd like to play a wrestling game where it's the players role to build up a list of staged actions and then watch them all play out! It'll be like the Opening Direction option in Soul Calibur expanded into a full blown game!

Of course it may sound limiting but with some thought it can work: The player starts out with a small time wrestling stage but, through careful planning, can build up a staged wrestling match. Success is determined through audience reaction and generates money which can lead to bigger audiences and more elaborate matches.

Of course is this but a germ of an idea but with the right amount of polish it can work.
Any takers?

PS2 Hearts Beat as One

The big news of recent weeks is Sony ceasing production of the PlayStation 2. Yep after twelve years, the PS2 has been retired leaving behind a library of highly-regarded games and the status of the great selling console ever. Admittedly, it is a disappointment that the PS2 few short (of two years) of claiming the title of longest lasting console from the Atari 2600 but ya can’t have everything.

I purchased my PlayStation 2 in early 2006. I still remember the moment quite accurately: Going into Target and handing over so much money for a silver streamlined PS2 console and three games (Final Fantasy X, Gran Turismo 3 and Grand Theft Auto 3). In the time since, my PS2 was a loyal companion – it inspired many nights of late gaming (due to day spent with my University studies at the time).
It showed me many a game, many of which I was unaware existed.
It woke my interest in gaming up from a coma.
It inspired me to seek out games on the PS1 that I’d longed to play but was unable to at the time.
It introduced me to friends such as Ico, Kratos, Amaterasu, Solid Snake and Zidane.
It went with me to LANs and was the basis of many a Soul Caliber 3 bash.
It even followed me to Melbourne.
It was used extensively by both myself and Kathleen in our apartment.
It even got use when faced by stiff competition in the form of a Wii and an Xbox 360.
It came to represent the sixth generation for me – which has since proven to be a tough act to follow

Although my PS2 has been rather dormant in recent months, I can safely say there is still life in the old dog yet: It still works fine, I still have some games to complete and the occasional use of the Sonic collection is always fun.
Still even if the PS2 has been discontinued, the damn thing has done much to contribute to my interest in gaming and a permanent place in my gaming history is assured. It’s time may have ended but it’s existence will forever be appreciated.

R.I.P. Sony PlayStation 2

You. Me. Outside. Now

Some gaming deathmatches I would like to see:

Kratos (God of War) vs Amaterasui (Okami)

Sephiroth (Final Fantasy 7) vs Kefka (Final Fantasy 6)

Samus Aran (Metroid) vs Femshep (Mass Effect)

Lara Croft (Tomb Raider) vs Nathan Drake (Uncharted)

Kratos (God of War) vs The Master (Actraiser)

Morrigan (Dragon Age Origins) vs Morrigan Aensland (Darkstalkers)

Shodan (System Shock 2) vs GlaDOS (Portal)

Wander (Shadow of the Colossus) vs. James Sutherland (Silent Hill 2)

Vaan (Final Fantasy XII) vs. Vyse (Skies of Arcadia)

Aerith (Final Fantasy 7) vs. Nei (Phantasy Star 2)

Tifa Lockhart (Final Fantasy 7) vs. Taki (Soul Calibur 3)

Duke Nukem vs. Sonic the Hedgehog

Soul Calibur retrospective

I've made mention of the Soul Calibur series in the past and with Soul Calibur 5 just been released, now would be a good time as any to sit down and talk about my experiences with this franchise.

I first became aware of the Soul Calibur in the mid-nineties through the arcade game Soul Edge. I just happened to wandering through my local arcade when I noticed a 3d fighting game wherein the combatants were fighting with weapons. At the time, I wasn't too keen on fighting games: During the early to mid-nineties I recall so many of them around - no doubt made by people hoping to cash in on the success of the untouchable Street Fighter 2. Needless to say, seeing yet another fighting game didn;t really appeal to me.
Nevertheless I think I might have tried Soul Edge once but somehow it didn't make that much of impression - in retrospect this may have been attributed to graphics that looked unappealing and an announcer speaking in a very muffled voice. I tried the first character I saw, Sophitia, and proceeded with my usual fighting game tactic (ie button mashing) but somehow this game didn't set my world alight. Later I heard a friend say that one of combatants (either Sophitia or Seong Mi-na) apparently didn't have an arse - although how he noticed I don't know.

Nevertheless I came the recognise the brand of Soul and the character of Sophitia. This would come in handy years later when I would discover the Playstation conversion Soul Blade and that fantastically rockin' intro:



Around the same time as I saw that intro for the first time (2000) I was aware of the game Soul Calibur. At the time, I was aware this was a big deal for the Dreamcast and enough to achieve the rare gaming distinction of being a system seller. I'd seen the intro and recognised some faces - even if I was puzzled by the name change.
It was only years later that I actually got to play the game in question: First on the Dreamcast and then on the XBLA. I recall being impressed by the graphics, the 3d nature and the music. Plus the fights were both intense & fun and I loved the Mission Mode as well. Indeed, everything about the game came across as being a labour of love and it really showed with the replay value and inclusion of extra features like the art galleries and the opening direction.
And even now, Soul Calibur would have to be one of the few games that have actually age well: when I play Soul Calibur on the XBLA I'm still impressed by how well it holds up against more recent titles and how beautiful it all looks.

But I'm getting ahead of myself: Around 2006 I got a PS2 and eventually I came to Soul Calibur 3. There was no plan to get it: i saw it selling for cheap and I recognized the name. And although I was baffled to see so many unfamiliar faces, I still strapped myself in and invested many hours into the game.
This was more or less my true beginning with the Soul Calibur series. True, it was indeed strange to come into the series when so much has happened and I lacked the prior knowledge, but I eventually picked it all up. It was also kind of interesting to go back through the series and see faces I grew accustomed to in an earlier guise.
So yes, I played through with everyone and built up some favourites with Misturugi, Setsuka, Astaroth, Cassandra, Kilik, Voldo, Nightmare, Xianghua, Raphael and, of course, Sophitia. It did indeed seem odd to see such a seemingly epically story in a fighting game - one kind of got the impression it came from a different game and was shoe-horned into Soul Calibur for some inexplicable reason. Nevertheless, I followed it all - somehow!!! - and even looked back over previous games to pick up what I'd missed.
Also, I found Soul Calibur 3 to really good for social element. I found it a great excuse to sit down with a bunch of friends and crack some heads together: It was fun to see two people duke it out with an attentive audience and even do a tournament.
So yeah, Soul Calibur 3 was great fun to play and enough to win me over. I may not be a big fan of fighting games but Soul Calibur 3 was enough to show me there were some diamonds in the rough. And that is an impressive feat indeed.

And then there was Soul Calibur 4. This was a game I avoided. Yes I saw other people play it and yes I eventually ended up playing it at a friend's place but somehow, this just didn't hold any appeal for me. I could say that from what I saw, there didn't seem to be much different from the previous iterations(s) but I think the main reason was what had happened to the characters.
Most of the problems can come down to the designs. Now I can imagine the more powerful hardware of the PS3 and 360 may make for a bigger canvas upon which to work from and yes indeed the character models in Soul Calibur 3 look light years better than their Soul Edge counter parts but I didn't like the character designs in Soul Calibur 4. I enjoyed those in Soul Calibur 3 so to see them in Soul Calibur 4 made them look completely different in comparison - but the changes weren't for the better. Some of them looked silly and, in the case of the female fighters, sexed up to the point of ridiculous. In particular, Setsuka: I liked Setsuka in Soul Calibur 3 and there wasn't anything wrong with her design but to see her in Soul Calibur 4 looking completely different makes me wonder: 'Who are you and what have you done with the real Setsuka?'!
Also I think the character design of Sophitia in Soul Calibur 1 is far better than those in Soul Calibur 4 AND Soul Calibur 3.
And Kilik! What did they do to you man?! I loved Kilik for his heroic integrity so to see him, in the cut scenes, acting like an emo was indeed painful to watch.
In addition, the inclusion of characters from the Star Wars universe was, to me intrusive and enough for a deal-breaker.

So with a new Soul Calibur game now available, what do I make of it? Well I like the idea that the game is set seventeen years after no.4 and as a result many of the returning characters have aged to some degree. But I don't know: I enjoyed Soul Calibur 1 and 3 so maybe that is enough for me.

Degeneration (no.6)

And this serial continues.
As stated at the end of the previous installment, my interest in video gaming was waning – but it was not out of spite or anything. No: It was a natural progression of life. Other things were demanding attention, not least of which the real world, and I wasn’t in a position to ignore any of them.
But that’s not to say that I was completely ignorant of developments in the gaming world. I knew about the Dreamcast being the last hurrah for Sega. I knew the PS2 got off to a rocky start and I knew about Microsoft bringing a console of their own, the Xbox, to the table. I even had an Atari Lynx during this stage: Hey, it was cheap and, as befit this blog, I wanted to see if the grass was indeed greener on the other side.
But ultimately, the period of 2000-2005 was one where I parted ways with gaming. But little did I know that gaming wasn’t prepared to let me go. The connection was there and there was some potential for us to continue. All it needed was a catalyst.

And one such came: In late 2005, I stumbled across a list made by IGN on the Best 100 Games Ever Made. Through reading it, I saw a mixture of the recognised and the unfamiliar. I saw some titles I played and some that escaped my notice previously. And most of all, I was impressed that someone had sat down and fashioned such an official-looking list, providing substantial reasoning of each games’ selection and saluting the efforts of various pioneers.

Needless to say I was blown away – so much so, I actually made it my goal to track down every last one of them and play them. And thus, dreams were dusted off and raised from their slumber, opportunities that had passed me by the first time were now possible, and a world of brand new discoveries waiting to be found beckoned. A trigger had been set off and I plunged headlong into the sixth generation.
True it may have been at the tail end, when the seventh generation dawned but who the hell cares? I had returned to gaming and was prepared to savor every last moment. And what better why to kick it off was to return my gaze to a voice that called once before….

Playstation 2
As mentioned before, I knew the PS2 got off to a rocky start and wasn’t really that big of a hit. Funny how this baby is now recognised as the highest selling console ever.
As mentioned above, I finally made a goal in mind. This now presented the new problem of deciding which console, out of Playstation, Xbox and Gamecube, to get. With it’s extensive library, certain exclusives and it’s access to the PS1 catalogue, the winner was the PS2.
I recall the first game I placed into the system: Final Fantasy X. This was pretty much a return to console gaming after nearly a decade of absence. To be honest I had been away for so long I really had no idea what to expect – I had no idea what the graphics would be like (seriously!) or what advances had been made since the days of the fifth generation. Needless to say, what I saw was more akin to waking up from a coma. I was astonished that graphics had grown so spectacular. I was surprised that 3D gaming was actually playable and fun. Okay so maybe Final Fantasy X isn’t quite the best in the series but in any case, it was what got me back to gaming and, eventually encouraged me to seek out other entrants in the series (one has to start somewhere I guess).



I may have been a latecomer to the Playstation but I have many fond memories of playing my PS2: Appreciating the creativity that went into Resident Evil 4, being impressed with the inventiveness and brutality that went into God of War, the satisfaction of coming back to a boss in Final Fantasy X having levelled up extensively and knocking him flat, and, of course, completing Ico for the first time and, much to my surprise, having an emotional response.
I even hunted down some old PS1 games, granting me the chance to dust off some old favourites (Loaded, Darkstalkers, Raiden Project, Return Fire) and the opportunity to hunt some games that escaped me the first time around (Castlevania Symphony of the Night, Metal Gear Solid and Final Fantasy 7).
Interestingly enough, I also discovered how the PS2 could work as a social device. True going round to a friends place to play games is nothing new but when you’re the one who owns the console, you really see how it the social aspect works. Indeed, I remember when I went to a small LAN with my PS2: It was with a small group of people who had far better computers than my POS computer so I brought along the PS2 so I could be part of the fun. And indeed it worked a treat to have the other people queue up to fight each other on Soul Calibur 3. And was indeed gratifying to hear someone else see my playing through the inverted library in Castlevania Symphony of the Night and thinking the music was pretty cool. And finally, there has indeed great fun to have a bunch of friends around for an evening to have a bash at Singstar.

In a way, PS2 represented the destination of a journey: After leeching off other people, I finally had a console to call my own. I had discovered new wonders in a field I’d been away from for so long. And I discovered the power of the social element that can lie with owning a console. After years of having an interest in video gaming, a breakthrough had come like no other. Perhaps it was fitting that I should get my first console when I was well and truly into my adult years – and that console should be a Playstation.
So yes, the sixth generation was more or less the second coming with my gaming career. And as one journey ended another began….

Dreamcast
Remember in the introduction how I made mention of having an Atari Lynx? Maybe it’s the Australian in me, but I’ve always had a fascination for the underdog. You know, the guy who has a go. That, coupled with my previously-established love for Sega, may have counted for me owning a Sega Dreamcast.



I’m still not entirely sure why I got a Dreamcast. Maybe it was indeed favouring the underdog. Or maybe it was a last gesture for years of loyalty to Sega. Maybe it was case of going out and exploring in the hope of finding some hidden treasure. Or maybe it was, at that point in time, case of having far too much money and not enough common sense.

Say what you like about the Sega Dreamcast but there’s no denying that there was a time when Soul Calibur looked mind-blowing (even now) and Sega looked likely to recover from the disasters from the past. But, as we all know, it was not to be and Sega’s reign as a console developer had come to an end.

In retrospect, we can all whinge about the faults of the system (no third party games, too many arcade conversions, no DVD capabilities, online features being overlooked, poor marketing and the impending arrival of PS2) but in the end, there was no denying the Dreamcast was a potent game machine and the potential to be great. Sure that potential wasn't truly realised but at least Sega were trying new things. Sure there was no third party support but at least Sega were trying to build up new IP and doing things that messed with the formula. Sure the Dreamcast wasn’t the hit it should’ve been but nowadays people treat it a reverence not seen for other failed consoles (maybe having no one to blame for the console’s shortcomings helps considerably). True the Dreamcast may have been the death-knell for the once glorious console giant but I still have mine and it still gets used.

But let’s drop the pretences: At the end of the day was buying a Dreamcast worth it just to play Skies of Arcadia?
Damn right it was.

Xbox
As with the other entrants in the sixth generation, I came to the Xbox at a rather late point in the console’s life. For a long time I got a lot of mileage out of my PS2 (and Dreamcast) but I didn’t care much for the seventh generation as it happened around me.
Then, in 2009 I moved into a flat with my girlfriend, Kathleen, and she brought along her Xbox. Curious, I decided to buy some games to use on it.



Of course at the time, I was still giving my PS2 a lot of attention so time on the Xbox was limited. But that’s not to say it was enjoyable: I have many fond memories playing Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic and Sid Meier’s Pirates. It was also fun to have someone watch me play my games – sure gaming has long been a solitary experience so to have a second person paying undivided attention to my progression through a game is indeed a welcome change (of course I had no idea how Kathleen really felt about my constant swearing through Burnout 3 but still….)

And I think that what I got the most out of the Xbox: After years of playing games in my room by myself, I finally felt that gaming had finally become a social event. Previously, I’d played games against other people on consoles but the game, so to speak, had now changed. The PS2 may have made me aware of the fun involved with playing games in the presence of other people but the Xbox expanded upon it. Indeed, it is fun to see someone else show an interest in the game you're playing and suddenly you don't feel like you're the only person in the universe who's enjoying it.

When I jumped on the PS2 bandwagon, it was after years of absence – and coming back from that time away I’d grown astonished by what games were accomplishing from the days of the 2nd and 3rd Generations. Games were now being marketed as experiences, offering social commentary, challenges of the relationship between the game & the gamer and triggering emotional effects one never would’ve thought possible.
And I got all that and surprised that gaming could do that. But that was all by my own in my bedroom – so to have someone else along for the ride playing just as much attention as you (the gamer) is particularly sweet.
And to have gaming be a contributing factor to a romance is also kinda cool too.

So that’s my thoughts on the sixth generation. In the terms of my gaming career it was more or less a Second Coming – the return after years of wandering in the desert. And when I came back, I’d seen how gaming had evolved beyond entertainment value. I had seen how gaming had now grown as a social event and more importantly, I see gaming from the perspective of an adult: Indeed, it’s great spending your own money on consoles and games without having to badger/explain to one’s parents. It is fascinating how something you liked as a kid can evolve to a point where you can enjoy it as an adult and not look silly (and having a partner who thinks the same is also pretty cool too). And I’m always amazed just how many people have played the same games I have – even when I thought I was the only on Earth who’d heard of the game in question. I even loved striking up conversations over games and sharing both opinions and solutions.

If anything, sixth generation got me wrapped up in the gaming culture like never before. Gaming had finally become the norm and was now taken seriously.
So where do we go from here?
Towards the next generation one would think….

Mother's Day

I recently had a bash at Ms Pacman on XBLA. Still a great game that has emerged unscathed from the ravages of time. Plus you have give credit to the game's protagonist for pioneering female leads.
As mentioned in my list of 10 best gaming heroines there is a lot going for Ms Pacman, being a loving wife and a devoted mother. And now that I think of it, it does raise a question: Have there been any decent mother figures in gaming?

I honestly think a mother being a player character is an idea that has potential. This is not somebody who's saving the world or blowing shit up just for the sake of it: This is someone who's acting out of fear of their children and would do anything to keep any threat away. With games now having large scripts and attention to characterization, I can imagine a forty something who's not afraid to pick up a shotgun to save her teenaged daughter/son. Those familiar with anime would note the title Witchblade, wherein the main protagonist is super-heroine but, at the same time, a mother who wants to look after her daughter and make sure she doesn't grow up to have a miserable life. A scenario like that can work if handled right so why not apply it to games?
Indeed, I can imagine many game developers are people who grew up playing games and no doubt have children of their own. So why not?

Sadly, it seems nearly essential for a lot of female protagonists must have a) looks to draw in a male audience and b) fiery independent spirit to draw a female audience. Which such prerequisites, having a mother character is suicide. I mean can anyone imagine Lara Croft having kids? Of course not.
Indeed, I can only think of one other mother character and that would be Sophitia from the Soul Calibur games. Alas, I think Namco must've been frightened that making her embrace motherhood would turn a lot of players away so the poor gal has been sexed up with each passing game in the series. A move which, I feel, detracts from the more noble aspects of Sophitia's character.
Similarly, I've heard Tifa Lockhart from Final Fantasy 7 being the embodiment of a 'motherly' role but there is a part of me (the cynical one) that the only way SqueeEnix could've gotten away with it is to make her a) young and beautiful b) hopeless the minute Cloud leaves the room and c) in possession of a rack big enough to land stealth bombers on.
What is this meant to prove? You can only be a mother in gaming if you're hot? I know some women who are mothers and I can tell you it's near impossible to maintain an attractive appearance despite living with the various pressures motherhood brings.



Another such example of such mishandling is Wynne from Dragon Age Origins. She certainly passes for a motherly role with her wisdom, dispensing advice and making sure the [Grey Warden] stays on track (her healing prowess is also welcome). But whilst there are noble qualities, there is a part of me that makes me think that only a woman of an elderly disposition could do it. Granted an aged/experienced character is a familiar archetype but there's no reason to work against the grain: Personally, I wold like to see wisdom and experience put to work for a 'big sister' type character.
But it seems that wisdom and good looks don't walk hand in hand - but at the same time it places the likes of Wynne in the awkward position of both being wise and a nag - a real catch 22 (of course we could go with MY idea but still.....)

In fact I think the only parental player character that is both taken seriously and actually works would be John Marston from Red Dead Redemption. Whilst the player can do what they like with John, there is still no escaping the main plot of the game where John's actions are based on wanting to bury his past as an outlaw and ensure his son Jack lives in a better world.
A noble deed that could only be done by a father. Can a mother character do the same?

But you know maybe there is no need for a mother protagonist. Why? Because both Ellen Ripley and Sarah Connor did the job and they did it so well.

Director's Cut

Recently I got picked up the original Soul Calibur on XBLA. I played the original when it was on the Sega Dreamcast (SHUT UP) and thought it was quite impressive - even when stacked up against it's then little brother SC3. So how does it look now being played on the 360?

In all honesty? I have no idea.
Well, lets go with the good: This is definitely a game that has aged well - which is an impressive feat as video-games are a medium wherein things seem to age quicker than a Mayfly. The graphics hold up really well, even for a sixth generation console, and, dare I say it, looks more attractive than Soul Calibur's recent incarnations. And having these gorgeous visuals in HD is even more sweeter.

But there are problems too: Firstly the lack of online play is an exclusion that leans on the near-crippling. And whilst having everything unlocked was a nice idea at first (particularly someone like me who couldn't get those last pieces of artwork), it does make it clear that repeated plays are now redundant. And the Mission Mode has been thrown out for no better reason - all of which makes one wonder why XBLA even bothered to dust off this game for inclusion.

But I'm annoyed that the Opening Direction was taken out. I'm sorry but I would like to defend the Opening Direction and say it was one of my favorite inclusions in the Dreamcast incarnation.
What did I like about it? Simple: for the first time,l the player actually had a say in what had previously been off limits. As I mentioned previously in my post on the best intros of the 16-bit era, an intro to a videogame has the unenviable task of grabbing the gamer's attention and make them want to play the game in question. It's a tall order considering gamer attentions has been forged over the years to have a capacity greater than five minutes - Indeed, many impressive intros have given way to lousy games that suckered many a gamer in long enough before they realised they got screwed.
But what made Soul Calibur's opening special was that for once the gamer actually had a say as to what happens in the opening. Sure it was a case of placing characters at particular points for their portraits and/or to pose with their weapons but to be granted that freedom in an area where the player just and to sit and enjoy the lovely cinematic was indeed a privilege worth grasping with both hands. As such I made many intros with this feature and it never got dull.

It is indeed odd that this unique feature got removed - particularly at a point when games these days are offering a lot more freedoms to the player that were previously unattainable. Indeed, it makes me wonder why I bothered with this XBLA downloaded particularly when I still have a working Dreamcast and the original Soul Calibur.





....And stop laughing

Fighting Fantasy

Well, Final Fantasy Dissidia no.2 is finally upon us – and once again, everyone is more than willing to bring the knives out and into the fighting roster. Great to see Yuna and Laguna present but I grumble at the lack of Cid Highwind, Freya Crescent and anyone from FF6. It would’ve been nice if SqueeEnix had stuck to the spirit of the game and had more selections based on the long-standing Job System (like having a Ninja character or a Red Mage character) but they blotched that the first time around with the over-abundance of paladin characters.
Ideally this could present a perfect opportunity to introduce some DLC characters: That way fans can have their favourite characters to download and really build a dream fighting roster. True a large roster may be unwieldy but, should enough effort be put in to character development, it can work - One only needs to look at the Soul Calibur series – or even Marvel vs Capcom - for proof.
But ultimately, I won’t hold my breath waiting for such an opportunity to be realised. Damn…

And then there’s the ever contentious issue of Aerith Gainsborough – only present as DLC and even then as an assist character as opposed to a fully-fledged one. I can imagine some fans are annoyed by this but me, I’m not sure what this is meant to represent.
You see, on one hand, at least SqueeEnix are sticking to their guns and not caving into a decade+ for fan demands to see a resurrection of the Flower Girl. It’s a rare thing to do in a profit-driven industry such as gaming. HOWEVER! On the other hand, if the Dissidia series is meant to be some kind of tribute to the fans (never a good sign), you think SqueeEnix would’ve given in and made Aerith a playable character? By not doing so, it seems a big FUCK YOU to the fanbase who buy their games (which is never a good business move). I mean, if SqueeEnix are willing the milk the FF7 cash cow for every last drop then they could’ve at least made Aerith a playable character. Still one can only how much money SqueeEnix would’ve made if they did (particularly as they seem to so love selling out).

Personally, the thinking of Dissidia is a good one: A tribute to the series in the form of a fighting game. Yes that idea has potential but in the end, anyone can have an idea: A good idea can be screwed around with just as easily as it can be made to work.
And if SqueeEnix's recent efforts to the Final Fantasy franchise are anything to go by, they show glimpses of promise squashed by timidness to do something radical. Time to pack it in perhaps?

Ogre Kingdom

I live in Australia - a country that apparently doesn't matter. Thus, when the US gets Chrono Trigger, we instead get Terranigma. And when Final Fantasy Tactics comes the the PS1 and the PS3, we get snubbed. Thus in order to fill a hole, one has to look elsewhere.

Thus I've been playing Ogre Battle 64 recently. It may not be the first SRPG I've played (Shining Force 2 instead has that distinction) but it certainly is a lot of fun. I have a liking for RPGs and Strategic games so a hybrid is a welcome one to say the least. I mean what have you got? Sure there's Shining Force 2 and even Chronicle of the Sword (Urghh!) from Soul Calibur 3. Still at least what little there is, is of very high quality.

Initial impressions were crummy with the controls and menu systems taking some getting used to (I've played RPGs that are easier to get into than this!) but once you get the hang of it, it is actually heaps of fun. Indeed, it is interesting to see the fingerprints of Ogre Battle 64 on the afore-mentioned Chronicles of the Sword.

All in all, Ogre Battle 64 is lot's of fun and I look forward to playing more of it.

End of a Legend

Following on from an earlier post, I managed to level up a singular character in Soul Calibur Legends in order to take on Barbarossa. Using one of my SC favorites Sophitia nearly exclusively, along with another favorite Mitsurugi, I leveled Sophitia all the way and ready to pound Barbarossa into the dust.

Only to fail like before.

Now I'm beginning to wonder if this plan of mine made any difference whatsoever....

Oh well, I suppose I wouldn't be gamer if I didn't spend so much time doing something completely pointless.

Party at my place

On Friday I celebrated my twenty-eighth birthday. One of the presents I received was Soul Calibur Legends. Dismissed by critics, I actually found it not bad a game. Repetitive maybe, straining on the arm with use the Wii-mote perhaps, annoying lock on system glaring, but all in all, it's been a fun little diversion.

Yet I noticed, as I went further and further, that the computer keeps track of my use of the characters with a progress bar showing their usage with the completion of a quest. In a way, it seemed expected of me to use one or two characters almost exclusively, thus creating a 'super' character, capable of wiping the floor with the opposition within minutes.
But I don't play like that: I like to invest time and effort with the characters in my control, building up a well-oiled machine capable of taking any challenge head on. When given a group of characters, I expect them to function as a unit and for each of them to contribute something that the others cannot - and, in some cases, provide a back up for someone else's talents.
It is a good philosophy: like any true army commander, being all too aware of getting the best out of the most seemingly ordinary underling. I think this philosophy is best utilized in the customization process of Final Fantasy X. Now you often hear RPG's being criticized for having useless characters and the FF series is no exception. Yet, I really enjoyed FFX's party customization and with some clever use of the Sphere Grid, as well as the ability to switch combatants in the middle of battles, I made sure Tidus, Yuna, Auron, Lulu, Wakka, Kimahri and Rikku each had a role to fill and brought something to the table. And indeed, this varied approach sure provided a fresh perspective on the game.

But that is only one game: Some times this philosophy doesn't work. I've building up all the characters handed to me in SCL, in this quest to have no useless characters, but in the end it's a fairly useless exercise as, the game appears to want me to produce a singular, crush-anything super-dude. Well that's nice the game thinks that way but then what's the point of handing me all these other people then? If I can only bring two characters into a battle (in particular the confrontation with the enormous Barbaros) why should I bother with the other four?
It should be also noted that I encountered the same problem with the Chronicles of the Sword feature in Soul Calibur 3.

So sorry Namco for my preferred way of solving a problem not being the way that you want me to