(April 5) Retrovirus
After several years in remission, the infection has returned in full force
and is spreading rapidly. Its re-emergence isn’t entirely surprising and
can usually be traced as the resistant strain of new console introduction,
which begins life as a strong antiviral, gradually becomes less potent.
After several years, the underlying condition returns in new strains
manifesting as new obsessions. The novelty of motion controls and high
definition visuals acts as a placebo, masking the symptoms for a short
time. However, genetic structures present since birth have consistently
proven resilient and the subject cannot escape the underlying condition.
A battery of tests has
been performed, results have been analyzed, the diagnosis was quite
simple. There is a human need and desire to relive fond memories of the
past, regardless of the constant pushing and pulling affecting the cranial
area. To be sure, some complications may arise. You may experience strong
emotions triggered by flashbacks of being chased around a maze by ghosts,
which is actually a rather common side effect. You may have nightmares
about guided missiles aimed at your cities with limited defenses.
Your prescription to ease this sense of ennui is quite simple but highly
effective. Time spent away from the tedious, life-sucking, largely
inconsequential console battles is always a good idea. The overall
prognosis is fairly positive, but as one ages, worry about becoming
fossilized becomes more apparent. That said, striking the right balance
between old and new makes a lot of sense. A bit of time away from the war
is a good idea, since it will refresh your energy and give strength for
the battles ahead.
(March 22) The
Contenders
While I was away for the past few weeks,
I decided that the best use of the voice module blog would be to focus on
reviews for older systems and leave the industry commentary to the
experts. It's not that I don't enjoy regaling you with master of the
obvious readings on the NPD numbers, its just that I'd prefer not to be on
that merry-go-round every month. Looking on the search engines, there's
enough commentary on Playstation Move and Project Natal to fill an
encyclopedia - and they aren't even on the shelves yet. It's probably
getting a bit late for me to try and keep up with the bloggers on the
latest news, and also kind of embarrassing since I'm almost 40 now. The
bright side about this approach is that I can concentrate on other
interests - which currently involves returning to my roots as a classic
gamer. You know its kind of time to do this when you're more excited about
homebrews than the latest titles at Gamestop. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed
my recent series on the Sega Saturn, but I'm kind of stuck. I enjoyed the
Saturn 'shmups series so much, but I haven't yet decided which older
console to focus on for my next wave of reviews. I have several candidates
in mind, so let's go over them. I should decide by the end of the week,
and hopefully be back in the swing of things soon.
(Intellivision) This was a very cool
system which had a very unique visual spirit that rendered the games in
its own distinctive style. Those who remember the early 80s will know that
the console was famous for its sports games and sophisticated sims like
Utopia. The console also had some very good arcade translations, which
don't get enough attention these days. Additionally, third party
developers like Imagic made some truly outstanding exclusive games for the
system. This is definitely a strong contender since it hasn't gotten as
much respect as it deserves for being so far ahead of its time.
(Atari 5200) The Atari has long been one
of my favorite consoles, despite its occasionally flaky controllers. The
arcade-quality conversions were the system's hallmark and there were loads
of very cool games that only came out for this system. Some of my all-time
favorite classic games were on the system, with superb visuals and
excellent gameplay throughout its surprisingly consistent library.
Unfairly maligned, this system deserves a fair shake. Of course, to truly
appreciate the 5200, you need to grab a multicart and a joystick adaptor
and this console delivers on its potential.
(Colecovision) Its been a long time
since I picked up and played the system. I guess you can say that it's
been sitting around unappreciated for too long. Now, that I have finally
rediscovered it, I think its safe to say I've fallen back into it. The
console's famous arcade translations were the highlights, and there were
also several innovative titles that really made the system shine. The
Colecovision had a broad library of interesting titles and, like the 5200
was a very consistent platform in terms of quality. There are several
games that I would like to explore that I haven't had time to do, so this
might be a good choice as well.
In closing, I'm looking to focus on one
of these three classic system for a week or two of focused reviewing. I'd
like you to give me some advice, so I can start on the next series soon,
so please let me know if you have any preferences out there.
(February
10) Konami Classics review
While it's usually a welcome sight to see game companies honoring their
heritage, compilations of classic games can sometimes fail to meet
expectations. Such is the case with Konami Classics Vol. 1 & 2. This
consists of a two separate releases recently available for Xbox 360. Each
disc contains three games, all of which have been previously released on
Xbox Live over the past few years. Volume 1 includes Castlevania: Symphony
of the Night, Super Contra and Frogger. The second volume features Track
& Field, Rush N’ Attack and the original arcade Contra. Most of
these titles should be familiar to classic gamers out there, and the
selection is somewhat varied in terms of style and genre. That’s six
games total between both discs. The emulation of each title hews quite
close to the original release. None of these games are HD specific, and
many are played in letter-boxed form. To add some small concession to
today’s world, each game is represented in two basic styles, either in
classic style with the original graphics. Players can also change the
screen parameters in some of the games to stretch the image out and make
it fill the screen. The games themselves are fairly decent, and most
players will probably spend the most time on Symphony of the Night, the
classic title that set the series in a new direction. The Xbox port is
fairly faithful to the original game and has all the elements that made it
such a legendary installment in the franchise. While the enhanced graphics
add some minimal changes, they really don’t add much to the game
visually, and feel more like an added coat of paint than a complete
overhaul. The changes in Frogger and Super Contra are likewise minimal,
and both games play and look exactly as you’d expect them to.
The
second disc contains a lesser selection of games with several titles that
haven’t held up that well. Rush N’ Attack plays like a bad version of
Contra and its gameplay doesn’t hold up in comparison – to a game
that’s also on the same disc. Track & Field has some nostalgic
appeal, but its button mashing gameplay doesn’t give it much long term
play value. Emulations of these classic games are fine and they recreate
the play-experience fairly accurately. Unfortunately, you’ll find little
else on these discs, they only contain the original games, there are no
extras such as arcade artwork or instruction manuals included. This is
extremely disappointing, and the threadbare presentation makes the
releases feel a bit compromised at best. Those who missed these titles
when the appeared on Xbox Live might find it convenient to have these
compiled on disc. While it’s good too see that Castlevania SOTN is
available in cheaper form than the outrageous prices the original
commands, its hard not to feel at least a little bit cheated by the
release. Despite its inclusion of an otherwise rare and expensive game,
the selection of title probably could have gone on a single release, not
two. You’re basically paying twice as much as you should, making these
discs something of an expensive item that should appeal mainly to hardcore
classic game collectors and retro players.
(February 8) Bioshock
sinks false truths
Like a lot of gamers out there, we've
been counting down the days to the release of Bioshock 2. The original
game is probably one of the best of the next-gen titles that have come out
for the current consoles. It's incredible depth, amazing storyline and
immersive game world made this an amazing and unforgettable experience.
All of this was topped out by the unique gameplay mechanics called
Plasmids that enabled players to enhance themselves with special abilities
that allowed them to perform some wicked moves. Add in some of the most
ingenious gameplay story line twists involving the Little Sisters and Big
Daddies and you had a game that nearly transcended the medium's usual
clichés and formalities. Unfortunately, a lot of this was lost on many
gamers who still retained their usual inferiority complex as it comes to
mainstream acceptance of their pastime. It is considered socially
acceptable to go home each night and sit on the couch watching three hours
of prime time television, with the most critically-acclaimed series such
as House or Lost largely consisting of actors playing fictional characters
who don't exist. Spend the same three hours engaging with the likewise
nonexistent virtual characters in Bioshock, Assassin's Creed or Mass
Effect and you're locked into a stereotype where you're immediately
considered an anti-social nerd wasting your time.
This societal bias seems to be the main
culprit behind an epidemic that seems to spread like Adam-crazed Splicers
in the media about once or twice a year. It usually arrives in the slow
post-holiday months, coinciding with the Oscars and other Hollywood awards
shows. This is the dreaded point in the year when journalists start
writing editorials complaining that games don't get the respect they
deserve from external sources. As someone who's sat through their fair
share of awful films and television over the years, it's mystifying why
gamers aren't too busy celebrating their freedom from completely linear,
non-interactive forms to care what a haughty film critic thinks about
electronic games. Electronic games have the potential, in the right hands,
to deliver an incredibly rich and fulfilling experience that succeeds on
their own terms giving players freedom from excessive narrative while
stimulating completely different areas of thought and imagination. You
really need look no further than Bioshock to see that this is true. Why so
many have the need for external critics to tell them what they already
know themselves is a sad commentary on the lack of confidence this
billion-dollar industry has in itself.
Make no mistake, it is a pretty sad
phenomenon that so many gamers suffer from this unbecoming inferiority
complex. They have an inexplicable need for validation from establishment
critics who themselves have minimal exposure to games, and only give the
occasional backhanded, begrudging compliments when prodded. Why not focus
instead, on the game critics who actually understand the medium,
appreciate its strengths and, don't feel the need to constantly compare
games to other entertainment forms. This is especially true, when you
realize that the video game itself has evolved over the past 25 years or
so to become such an amazing example of creativity and innovation. This
evolution has resulted in games that can deliver an interactive experience
like no others can. Bioshock is a prime example of gaming at its finest -
a title that deserved the awards and praise it received. You can point to
films that may have been better in points, but since most films are
limited to two hours or so of entertainment, you compare this to how long
Bioshock runs and its accomplishment is all the more impressive. A great
video game sustains your interest for such a long period in comparison to
a film or sitcom, which should alone validate the experience. The main
difference here is the interaction itself. Active involvement makes for a
much more stimulating experience for gamers, and this is the most
important distinction between electronic games and their more passive
rivals. This is quite a huge difference that explains to a large extent
why gaming has attracted such a large, passionate and, devoted following.
Bioshock is the perfect example of
gaming's constant evolution in design, maturity and depth. We recently
went back and replayed a large portion of the original game and its
coherent design has held up quite will. The novel-length storyline in the
original is beautifully executed and rarely loses its momentum. The first
Bioshock is a triumph that should not be underestimated. Sure,
expectations are very different, but looking at film and games in an
aesthetic sense, and from the sense of the ideas they present and how
easily the good ones are able to sustain themselves through epic lengths
of time, shows the very strengths of the gaming medium. There are many who
sit there moping around, constantly bemoaning the lack of peer-respect
their hobby receives. On the other hand, the gamers out there will
continue to play, enjoy the medium and, appreciate its strengths,
regardless of whether it meets others' approval.
(February
6) Weekend Warrior
I
wanted to share a few photos of my recent Dreamcast collection additions,
here's some of the cooler shooting games including Under Defeat, Trigger
Hearts Exelica, and Dux. Other recent rarities acquired over the past
month include Border Down, Psyvariar, and Trizeal. Border Down is the
limited edition which includes a bonus soundtrack CD. Not sure if I like
the DVD cases for Dreamcast games, but it's no big deal since the games
themselves are awesome.
The
second part of the Dreamcast haul includes some really good ones including
Last Hope, Rez, Ikargua and Zero Gunner 2. Some KOF titles are also here
as well. Guilty Gear X and Fighting Vipers 2 are a pair of excellent
fighting games that only came out in Japan for the Dreamcast. The best
piece is Vampire Chronicles, a cool edition that compiles the Darkstalkers
series on a single disc. It's great and unfortunately, as you might have
guessed by now, only released in Japan. No wonder Sega didn't do as well
as they could have in 1999.
And
for part three, the rest of the games include Karous, Chaos Field and
Radirgy, three Milestone shooters that also came out on Wii. It might seem
redundant but, as a collector, I prefer playing the original releases on a
real Dreamcast console instead of emulated games. Other games include
Capcom vs. SNK 2 and Japan-exclusive DC releases Marionette Handler, Buggy
Heat and, J-League Spectacle Soccer. There's also the original Japanese
release of Jet Set Radio. Suffice to say, it's been fairly busy month for
the Laser Archive's Dreamcast section...
And,
finally here's a nice selection of a dozen Arcadia magazines from 2008 or
so. Some have DVDs and mini-strategy guides, plus the SF IV covers are
especially cool. Other games like Lord of Vermillion and Tekken 6 get the
cover treatment as well. These Japanese magazines are very tough to find,
so I was happy to get this lot in one shot.
(February
5) Contra Rebirth review
For the final part of our spotlight on recent Wiiware titles, we’re
going to take a look at another Konami revival. This time it’s obviously
going to be Contra Rebirth. Based on the classic side-scrolling action
title, Rebirth lives up to its name since it’s a continuation of the
16-bit era titles like Contra III and Hard Corps. As in the other Konami
revivals, it takes a retro approach to its visuals and soundtrack, with a
strictly 2D viewpoint throughout. The level designs and enemies are
sprite-based and you won’t find any polygonal renderings here. Contra
Rebirth’s gameplay is also remarkably pure, the classic power-ups and
enemy patterns remain unchanged and the game design should please retro
gamers. Like the previous Contras, the game is far from a cakewalk and
you’ll need plenty of skill to survive. A single bullet is enough to put
the player off the screen and its difficult to avoid shots at the harder
difficulty levels, but you can do so if you have the skills. The pace of
the game is incredibly fast and frenetic and at points, there are so many
bullets on screen that Contra Rebirth feels closer to a shmup than a
side-scrolling action game. The level designs themselves can prove tricky
at points since the enemies can attack from all directions. This requires
a higher level of concentration to play through but its hard not to be
impressed by the creativity of some of the levels and its unpredictable
boss attack patterns.
While most games save their biggest challenge for their bosses, even
Contra Rebirth’s standard enemies put up quite a bit of challenge, but
it’s these end-level encounters that should pose the most difficult
challenge for players. Defeating these end-level creatures takes plenty of
timing, persistence and skill. You’ll need to memorize their attack
patterns before you can defeat them consistently. This is especially true
if you play Contra Rebirth alone, but you can call in a friend in co-op
mode and try to win together. Its not the easiest game to defeat, but you
can eventually come to its conclusion if you try hard enough. However, be
warned – this isn’t the easiest game, and even its lowest levels can
seem deceptively simple. While you have plenty of continues, you pay a
steep price in terms of backtracking if you do. Working in your favor is
the fact that each level is broken into two parts, where you reach a
checkpoint around half way through. You can also get through using the
basic continue structure allowing for progression at a steady pace if you
have the skills and persistence. However, those who are easily frustrated
probably won’t enjoy the game’s high level of difficulty and demanding
play mechanics.
Like
Gradius Rebirth, the game’s smooth controls are what makes it such a joy
to play. Players can use either the standard Wiimote, which offers pretty
decent performance, or play with the classic controller for a superior
retro feel. We stated earlier that the game’s visuals were decidedly
retro in appearance and this is true but, they are quite crisp and vivid
with plenty of action and little slowdown. Its 16-bit era soundtrack is
another pleasant throwback to the original games in the Contra series and
most older players will probably get a kick out of hearing this type of
music again. While these elements are all relatively solid, the gameplay
is probably going to intimidate some of the more casual players out there.
It’s very difficult even on the easiest settings, but the challenge is
there for the Contra fan. This is a surprisingly elaborate and deeply
satisfying title that impresses mostly for staying true to the series’
roots without compromising its appealing gameplay. The series hasn’t
been watered down by any means, and Contra Rebirth is a solidly
entertaining title that delivers challenge and fun, making it well worth
downloading.
(February
4) Gradius Rebirth review
Yesterday, we wrote about Excitebike on Wiiware, and today we’re
continuing the trend. We’re going to take a closer look at one of
Konami’s excellent revivals that appeared on the service. This is a
great restorations of classic NES era titles that stay surprisingly true
to their original releases. First up is Gradius Rebirth, a nostalgic
remake of the seminal horizontal shooter where you once again pilot the
legendary Vic Viper and battle the evil Bacterions. One of the first
things players are likely to notice about the new version are its
distinctly 8-bit graphics, right down to the throwback cinemas that open
up the game. When you begin, you won’t see the elaborate visuals or
bullet-hell overkill that plague modern shmups, but instead the game takes
a simpler approach that should make older gamers happy. You can select
from three different power-up configurations before each game, which gives
the game some versatility.
Once you begin, Gradius’ familiar rhythms take over and anyone who
played the older game should be able to jump right in. As usual, you can
collect tons of power-up devices as you shoot the Gradius invaders,
building them up until you have the right ones. This strategic power-up
system is what makes Gradius such a cool shmup and players will find many
of their favorites such as the speed-ups, missiles, force fields and
ripple lasers that of course the legendary Option pods, which makes the
game awesome to play. With all the traditional elements in place,
Rebirth’s structure stays very true to the original game. The levels
begin with a bit of target practice and flow from standard shooting
sections with multiple enemies that attack from all sides. Survive this
and its on to the end bosses, which can be surprisingly tough to defeat
until you learn their patterns. It’s a very good shooter and fits in
nicely with the older games in the series, you won’t find very many
surprises and many old ‘friends’ make return appearances throughout
the levels. The game mechanics a very much in line with the older games,
and as usual, you have to be careful about which power-ups you want to
use, and avoid making mistakes such as collecting too many speed-ups which
make navigating tight sections very difficult.
Despite
this familiarity, Gradius Rebirth has a few surprising elements and offers
a very solid gameplay experience, overall. The enemies put up quite a
fight and attack in some rather devious patterns, so you’ll definitely
need the skills to defeat the game. In addition to the standard gameplay
mode, Gradius Rebirth adds some replay value with its score attack mode.
This is quite challenging since you have only a single ship and have to
survive as long as possible to get a high score. The production values are
superb with excellent music, which are updated versions of the original
tracks, adding to the nostalgic flair. The game’s solid visuals stay
true to the classic game’s aesthetic with some very cool throwback
stages and many of the classic enemies are here as well. As you might
expect, the game plays smoothly with the standard wiimote, but using the
classic controller makes it truly come alive. It’s not terribly
difficult to beat the game’s stages, but its quite enjoyable if you want
something that offers immediate challenge. While its not an official
sequel in the legendary series’ timeline, Gradius Rebirth is a
surprisingly robust version of the game, considering it’s a downloadable
title and well worth the low price.
(February 3) ExciteBike World Tour review
One of the less talked-about things
about the Wii has been the emergence of the virtual console and Wiiware as
a treasure trove for classic gamers. Last year saw some very impressive
releases including Konami's Contra and Gradius remakes, and Capcom's new
Mega Man 9, all of which retraced the series back to their 8-bit roots.
However, one of the more impressive remakes on the console was probably
ExciteBike: World Tour, a complete remake of the original NES game that
did the series proud. Coming from the same developers that make spin-offs
ExciteTruck and ExciteBots, (two of the most under-rated Wii titles),
World Tour stays quite faithful to the original. It has the same side-view
presentation as the original, similar course layouts and most of the same
mechanics. As in the first game, players have the choice of running at
slow or fast speed and can change these at will. The faster speed
increases your velocity but you have to watch out for your engine
overheating. You can perform stunts and jumps just as in the original, but
in a motion control twist, you have to shake your controller when the
vehicle overheats or face a demerit while you wait at the side of the
track. As in the classic NES ExciteBike, you battle not only the on-screen
racers, but the clock as well. There's a time limit for each track and you
have to make it to the top three in order to advance. After each race,
your time is noted and you earn a grade based on your performance. The
game has approximately 12 new tracks and each is set in a variety of
locations, making for some nice scenery along the way. The visuals aren't
terribly elaborate, but this allows you to focus on its simple,
straightforward fun.
There's a slightly more advanced
progression system in the new version, each level consists of four stages
and you have to earn at least a B grade to unlock the next series. The
first two stages are relatively easy, but the later ones prove more
difficult. One of the more impressive aspects of the new game is the
ability to create and share tracks online with other players, which is
very cool. Many of the familiar ExciteBike obstacles like ramps and hills
are present, and the new game plays very much like the original title did.
The retro feel of the game's controls and presentation were very much
appreciated. The appeal of the original game's simplicity definitely
weren't lost on the developers. It was nice to be back into the old series
again and even the familiar themes remained, which is a cool throwback to
the NES days. While it's relatively superficial gameplay mechanics and
simple presentation might be off-putting to players used to more elaborate
titles, we think ExciteBike: World Tour is one of the more enjoyable
titles released on WiiWare to date. It's retro-NES feel makes it the
perfect compliment to the enormously popular New Super Mario Bros Wii and
at only ten dollars, makes ExciteBike World Tour a great addition to your
Wiiware downloads.
(February 2) Game
over for PSP?
It's easy to get sucked into the monthly
sales figures, jump to radical conclusions and make sweeping statements
that aren't true based on closer inspection. Take for example the PSP. If
you look at the sales figures for the last few months in isolation, things
look bleak for Sony's handheld. However, a closer look proves there's more
than a little bit of life left in the system. It might be tempting to sell
it and wait for the next thing to come along. However, the more cynical
observers should realize this is a five year old console, and that second
place doesn't always mean something is a failure. The standard systems are
very solid in our experience and while sales of the PSP Go download-only
mini system haven't exactly taken off its still an interesting experiment.
The PSP Go will probably be remembered as a landmark, as the first
completely online console, not the last of its kind. Nintendo gets all the
credit, but this is an innovative approach in the gaming space which has
relied almost exclusively on packaged physical games for more than 20
years. However, because of a slow initial start and the mindless need to
bash the currently 'out' company, Sony's PSP doesn't get nearly the credit
it deserves or the buzz generated by the rival DS. However, if you take
into account the console's very good sales in Japan, things look a lot
brighter for the system. It's definitely doing good in the East, and while
it may be neglected here, the good news is that the console has plenty of
excellent games available for it that you might not have played yet or are
on the way.
In our opinion, the main reason why you
shouldn't sell your PSP yet is the coming release of Metal Gear Solid:
Peace Walker. Developed by Hideo Kojima himself, the game promises to
deliver the high quality experience that players have come to expect from
the series. While it's not exactly going to be the killer-app that saves
the console, it's definitely something worth considering. Other recent
high profile releases show a high degree of polish and execution. Jak
& Daxter: The Lost Frontier was a title that came out late last year
and received very little attention, but delivered the solid gameplay
mechanics and excellent gameplay you've come to expect from the series.
Rockstar Games also released Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, an enhanced
version of the DS title that once again wowed gamers who played it.
Namco's Tekken 6 also made a recent and highly regarded appearance on the
PSP, as did Motorstorm, Gran Turismo to name a few. That's plenty of high
profile support right there and many fine reasons why you shouldn't give
up on the system yet. There's also an extensive list of niche titles
coming out including handheld versions of Metal Slug and BlazBlue, so
that's a lot to look forward to. After you get beyond numbers that only
matter to corporate accountants and stop relying on the superficial
judgments of others, a different picture emerges. Once you actually play
the games that have been coming out, you'll find many solidly satisfying
releases and a decent value proposition that has plenty of life left in it
yet.
(February
1) A Novel Approach
Instead of our usual longer pieces, here’s some notes and comments on
recent news in the gaming world. Sony has revealed plans to launch a PSN
exclusive reality show called ‘the Tester.’ If the accusations against
other reality shows are to be believed, maybe they should call it a
‘virtual reality’ show. Many people are wondering about what’s going
on with Sony’s motion controller, and reports indicate the delayed
device might have as many as ten games when it launches. We personally
can’t wait, but we’re hoping the line-up is more imaginative than the
usual mini-games the usually plague motion control game consoles.
Speaking of motion control, we’ve seen a couple of these lame Wii
knock-offs at drug stores and a quick play test of them shows they’re
probably not worth the money. In fact, these ‘entertainment’ consoles
are something that you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy. Sadly, it
looks like Sega is lending their name to one of these rip-off devices from
Zone, apparently in an attempt to dislodge the 32X as the worst
Sega-branded console in history. Its embarrassing to see how far the
once-proud company has fallen since the last Dreamcast game released
nearly a decade ago. This should be a lesson for other companies out
there, especially the current leaders - you never know when your reign at
the top will end.
