Ripe for Abuse

Let’s talk about an actual game for once: Abuse!

Has anyone heard of this? It was a game released on the PC in 1996 and came to us courtesy of a group called Crack dot Com. A bizarre name of a company to be sure – Abuse was their only game – but it did have some distinction by being founded by Dave Taylor, a programmer formerly of id software.

So what type of game was Abuse? Well you ran around and blew shit up! Seriously: You control a protagonist than around maze-like environment solving minor problems and blowing away a variety of enemies with a range of weapons.

One look at Abuse however and it’s quite clearly a product of the grimdark that proliferated throughout the early to mid-nineties: there is a cyberpunk theme running throughout; there are some varied backgrounds ranging from a desolate city to a truly alien environment; the weapons range from laser guns to rocket launchers; and the plot…actually no, let’s forget about the plot.

But the thing I find most striking about Abuse is that it is clearly taking inspiration from other games and trying to prove that the PC can do the same as well – or at least give something to satisfy the obvious gazes the PC gamers have towards their console-focused brethren. The most obvious clue is the player character resembles the monster from the Predator movies and the enemies resemble the monsters from the Alien movies. True it may be trying to ape Alien vs Predator but ti is funny to see (what could well be) the Predator use a range of weapons – what wasn’t his shoulder cannon good enough? Similarly it is mind-boggling to see the not-Aliens have in-built firearms (!) and, upon their demise, drop ammo to be collected (!!!).
 Gameplay wise the obvious inspiration is Metroid, with the platform action, the shooting and puzzles inviting comparisons. The difference however is that whereas Metroid thrives on mood and non-linearity, Abuse goes in the other direction with an action overload. Enemies attack frequently in swarms and it’s all too easy to get swamped by the critters.

Nevertheless, Abuse has something of a try-hard charm to it that I somehow find appealing. Yes they were trying so very hard to prove that PC games can be just as action packed as any game on the consoles and to that end they do succeed. Okay it’s nowhere near in the same league as the immortal Super Metroid but for an action game Abuse does its job of scratching an itch. The fact that Abuse has been made available in the public domain means it can keep doing its job.

Knackered

Is there anyone else out there, apart from me, who upon seeing this

....immediately thinks of this?:

Original video located here. Accessed 2nd February 2014

Surely not...

Its! My! Blaaaawwwwwwwwddddddd!!!

I once saw someone misread the title of the Starcraft expansion Brood War as Blood War

Some thoughts:
 - Well if it's war of course there's going to be blood spilt...
 - Its a war fought over blood? Hasn't the regular human being got enough of it?

The Great Masters

Today I would like to do something unusual: I want to defend the artwork for the Sega Master game library.
Yes, you heard right. Of course, this may sound completely absurd since the Sega Master System game library has copped years of derision by many gamers and no one has ever really done such a  thing before - not doubt for good reason.
But what the hey: I see a challenge worthy of rising up to so bring it on!

When I was a kid I recall the Sega Master System being pretty big deal - in fact at the time I knew more people who owned a Master System than I did people who owned a NES. Of course this is from the perspective of an Australian - you know, a resident of a country that doesn't matter - but for a country that doesn't matter, the Sega was a hit in both Australia and Europe. In fact I remember seeing racks of Master System games and the issue of dodgy cover art never once come to mind.
But the US didn't think so - and subsequently the Master System was a flop. And when it comes to why many point to the issue of the MS game's artwork, regarding the imagery which was both daft and minimalist. And then there was, of course, the grid. The infamous grid that is the cause of much of the hate.

So can I defend this?

Lets start with the grid: I don't mind it. It was theorized that the grid may be a lame attempt at trying to replicate the holodeck from Star Trek Next Generation but for an attempt to suggest some technological device it' at least partway successful. At the time, the 80s, I was well aware that gaming was a new thing and nothing like I had ever seen before. And in that sense, the grid suggests such an advancement.

More importantly though, what I see is an old design trick being put to use: The use of the white space. As any designer will tell you, placing something within a white background will automatically draw attention - the eye is drawn to a massive space of white. So pretty much anything can be placed within a white background and it will still draw attention. Indeed, it's a design trick that has been utilized many times through gaming history, most notably through the Final Fantasy series:

And then there is the clipart-esque imagery. I don't find it a problem - if anything I originally found it something of a curiosity. It is the same principle as the white grid: It's a minimalist approach where a simple image is presented. An image that provides a suggestion as to the game contents - this in turn makes me, the potential buyer, curious as to it's contents.

Some examples:

Well if you're going to call to call your game Ghost House you'd want appropriate imagery to go with it.How can you not see bats and think Haunted House?

A foot kicking something? Well, what else are you going to match to a game called Black Belt?

This game is a clone of Spy Hunter. And this image says it all: A road being viewed from within, what looks like, a magnifying glass. Driving and doing spy things? I'm sold!

If anything, I find the Sega Master System box art relying on generating curiosity. If you present the basic idea then the imagination of the gamer can fill in the gaps. Indeed, it is nice to see game developers actually treating their audience like they have an imagination. Come on, it's not like we gamers are completely brain dead.

Ultimately though, the first round of games on the Sega Master System weren't really that good. Sure there were some diamonds in the rough but even I will admit there was indeed some shlock and, sadly, mirrored by a minimalist art direction. It is therefore fitting that as Master System games improved, more attention was paid to the box art and began occupying more and more
Nevertheless, the Sega Master System was a big hit in Europe and Australia but not in the US. Was the box art the deciding factor? That is hard to say: It can't be refuted that a decent enough box art can be enough to persuade a potential buyer over. But even now, different games get different box art in different regions.
Does that notion alone say something about the audience?
Well all I can say is that I'm glad I got this...



...as opposed to this:

Not for you

The other day I went into my local EB where they were having a sale., And it was there I saw Duke Nukem Forever available for $4.

Oh the thoughts such a find can inspire:
 - An Xbox 360 game being sold for single digit figures? Never thought I['d see the day...
 - Wasn't this going for much more when it was finally released?
 - Look what a decade + development period can do for you!
 - I can find better games for slightly more on GoG! (and they had much shorter development spans!)
 - Hail the the King indeed.....

Flash of Lightning

And so the latest iteration of the Final Fantasy XIII has touched down.
Not that I care seeing as my interest in Final Fantasy has waned in recent years but still...

I will refrain from making any 'Lightning Strikes Twice' gags but I find it interesting to note that SqueeEnix are interested in giving Lightning cameo appearances in future Final Fantasy games.

One can't help but think that SqueeEnix are convinced that if they keep bringing this character back enough times, mass appeal may occur.
I'm afraid it doesn't work like that....

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.