Summary: Most violent game...EVER!
If you have kids, are thinking about having kids or ever have kids at your house DO. NOT. GET. THIS. GAME! It's as violent as I could possibly stand to watch.
Aside from that, it's every bit as good as the first game & the storyline doesn't disappoint. Battles are fast, furious & overly bloody - which is frighteningly realistic with the spectacular graphics. Controls are tighter than that pair of jeans from college you tried to squeeze into last week.
Given all the options (tons of weapons, combos, unlockables, etc.) there's very little chance you could ever get bored with this game. Heck, the nightmares you'll have as a result of the overkill will allow you (unfortunately) take it into your sleep time.
Difficulty. How do I sum this up? Well, the only thing possibly more brutal than the images in this game is the difficulty. These enemies will mess you up. Bad. They don't pull punches, they do a lot of damage & they fight dirtier than a democrat at election time. There's even an "Achievement" awarded for your 100th continue. Yeah, it's that tough.
The camera can mess with you a bit in battles, but it's a minimal issue. I've never had problems when scaling walls or getting around tough obstacles - which is where a camera needs to work. I haven't lost a battle as a result of camera crappiness. I do miss how Ninja Gaiden would let you lock on in the last game. That would help, maybe. Then again, with the sheer number of enemies on screen, it might get you killed that much faster.
Anyway, I do think it's a great game. Nothing, on paper, says it's less-than-perfect. However, the violence will probably be a big turnoff for most people. If it were a movie, I can bet you'd see an NC-17 rating for how retchingly horrific some of the images are.
Showing posts with label Games. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Games. Show all posts
6/5/08
10/7/07
Halo 3
I had a short online gaming time with a buddy tonight on this new game & it was a blast.
I only have one headset & he's the better trash-talker, so he was on the mike. Needless to say, our first few outings were about as trashy as the talk...terrible. Yeah, we got better but there are some people out there who help me realize having a full time job does not a good gamer make!
I'm probably going to lose more than a few precious hours of my life on this game (One of the benefits of being perpetually single). Since I can only make class on certain nights because of my schedule, I may as well get virtual exercise! ha ha
I only have one headset & he's the better trash-talker, so he was on the mike. Needless to say, our first few outings were about as trashy as the talk...terrible. Yeah, we got better but there are some people out there who help me realize having a full time job does not a good gamer make!
I'm probably going to lose more than a few precious hours of my life on this game (One of the benefits of being perpetually single). Since I can only make class on certain nights because of my schedule, I may as well get virtual exercise! ha ha
6/7/07
Wiiitis
Doctors have labeled a new ailment for those of us (me, too) who have a Nintendo Wii & use it a bit too much.
The new disorder, called Wiiitis (defined as affecting the shoulder from repetitive motion), is not only the newest fad in medicine...but also the only time I've ever seen the letter "i" used three times in a row.
I predict this won't be the end of the new "itis" phase. With everything being a disease - from obesity to criminal behavior - there's a plethora of opportunities forrip-off artists, doctors, insurance companies to make money by naming even more.
I own a Wii. I enjoy my Wii. I don't have "Wiiitis" because I don't spend all day with my Wii. If you're starting to feel a twinge in your shoulder STOP. PLAYING.
The new disorder, called Wiiitis (defined as affecting the shoulder from repetitive motion), is not only the newest fad in medicine...but also the only time I've ever seen the letter "i" used three times in a row.
I predict this won't be the end of the new "itis" phase. With everything being a disease - from obesity to criminal behavior - there's a plethora of opportunities for
I own a Wii. I enjoy my Wii. I don't have "Wiiitis" because I don't spend all day with my Wii. If you're starting to feel a twinge in your shoulder STOP. PLAYING.
5/16/07
Video Game Violence
A few of us are having a debate on video game violence & what should be done. For the most part, we agree it's a form of "protected speech" but one that should be restricted to minors based on rating.
I, for one, don't think the rating system is fair. In movies, you can show brief nudity & get a PG-13 rating while doing that in a video game would definitely get a Mature ranking. If there's going to be a comparison to movies, shouldn't the system be universal?
Basically, my argument is that it's OK for the product to be out there but the parents need to be sure little Johnny doesn't have access. Yes, he may try to buy the product himself...but honestly, he/she should fear, yes F-E-A-R, the discipline that's coming when they're caught. IMO, parents who are involved in their kids' lives will be able to credibly control the content to which those kids have access.
OK, now say the store sells the kid something. Well, that's entirely different, right? Wrong. The parents need to return the product, talk to the manager & promise swift action if this sort of thing happens again. Legislation isn't the answer, parenting is.
There's already a system in place that prohibits children from buying games of a certain rating. However, much like gun-control laws, it's all worthless paper if nothing is done to give it teeth. In the case of games, the parents need to enforce the law. If the kids think mommy & daddy don't care, they probably don't either.
Overall, I think it comes down to a parenting issue. C'mon, we have lots of laws out there but if we don't teach our children to respect them, who's really to blame when they find themselves on the wrong side of it?
I, for one, don't think the rating system is fair. In movies, you can show brief nudity & get a PG-13 rating while doing that in a video game would definitely get a Mature ranking. If there's going to be a comparison to movies, shouldn't the system be universal?
Basically, my argument is that it's OK for the product to be out there but the parents need to be sure little Johnny doesn't have access. Yes, he may try to buy the product himself...but honestly, he/she should fear, yes F-E-A-R, the discipline that's coming when they're caught. IMO, parents who are involved in their kids' lives will be able to credibly control the content to which those kids have access.
OK, now say the store sells the kid something. Well, that's entirely different, right? Wrong. The parents need to return the product, talk to the manager & promise swift action if this sort of thing happens again. Legislation isn't the answer, parenting is.
There's already a system in place that prohibits children from buying games of a certain rating. However, much like gun-control laws, it's all worthless paper if nothing is done to give it teeth. In the case of games, the parents need to enforce the law. If the kids think mommy & daddy don't care, they probably don't either.
Overall, I think it comes down to a parenting issue. C'mon, we have lots of laws out there but if we don't teach our children to respect them, who's really to blame when they find themselves on the wrong side of it?
4/6/07
God of War II
Platform: PS2
Cost: $49.99
Rating: M
Purchased At: Gamestop
A very fun game that controls better than the first. Reviews indicated the story was weak compared to the original & I have to disagree. This game takes the, admittedly overdone, revenge story to new heights - confronting the Greek gods themselves.
Kratos is betrayed by Zeus (there's a good reason for it) & stripped of his godhood. Stabbed through the heart - literally - by this betrayal, the hero embarks on a journey to defy fate itself.
The game play is every bit as excellent as the story. In the first game the gods of Olympus aided you. The second involves the Titans, who were cast down by the Olympians in the Titan war. The powers & attacks are varied with better control & the ability to switch tactics with ease.
The normal setting is easy enough. There is a moderate challenge in some stages but most of that involves puzzles, not fighting. Don't expect it to run you over.
As in the previous installment there are tons of extras. The Challenge of the Titans replaces the Challenge of the gods & new special items & armor can be unlocked. In short, there's no lack of replay value here.
Pick this one up. You'll be glad you did.
Cost: $49.99
Rating: M
Purchased At: Gamestop
A very fun game that controls better than the first. Reviews indicated the story was weak compared to the original & I have to disagree. This game takes the, admittedly overdone, revenge story to new heights - confronting the Greek gods themselves.
Kratos is betrayed by Zeus (there's a good reason for it) & stripped of his godhood. Stabbed through the heart - literally - by this betrayal, the hero embarks on a journey to defy fate itself.
The game play is every bit as excellent as the story. In the first game the gods of Olympus aided you. The second involves the Titans, who were cast down by the Olympians in the Titan war. The powers & attacks are varied with better control & the ability to switch tactics with ease.
The normal setting is easy enough. There is a moderate challenge in some stages but most of that involves puzzles, not fighting. Don't expect it to run you over.
As in the previous installment there are tons of extras. The Challenge of the Titans replaces the Challenge of the gods & new special items & armor can be unlocked. In short, there's no lack of replay value here.
Pick this one up. You'll be glad you did.
3/27/07
Crackdown
Platform: X-Box 360
Rating: M (violence, language)
Cost: $59.99
Purchased At: Gamestop
This game is in the "sandbox" - meaning free roaming world - style. Your role is a genetically-engineered "Agent" who is charged with clearing the city of three major gangs.
Throughout the title, you'll focus the largest part of your efforts on leveling up your five key abilities: Agility, Driving, Explosives, Strength & Weapons. Each level grants significant improvement for tackling your challenges. Strength, for example, allows you to lift up to 10 tons at maximum level. Needless to say the abilities are off the chart with regards to your typical "GTA"-style game.
The difficulty ramps up at a smooth level for the first gang & quickly escalates after their defeat. Enemies don't react foolishly & will use numbers to overwhelm you when possible. Cover & agility are your friends in these cases.
I'd recommend this (for the 18 & older crowd) if you like the GTA concept but can't stand the "Mission Failed" screen that pops up all too often with this kind of game. In actuality, you have one mission: to clean up the city. To do so you have to get your hands dirty...but you'll find being on the supply side of Justice is more fun than a life of crime.
Rating: M (violence, language)
Cost: $59.99
Purchased At: Gamestop
This game is in the "sandbox" - meaning free roaming world - style. Your role is a genetically-engineered "Agent" who is charged with clearing the city of three major gangs.
Throughout the title, you'll focus the largest part of your efforts on leveling up your five key abilities: Agility, Driving, Explosives, Strength & Weapons. Each level grants significant improvement for tackling your challenges. Strength, for example, allows you to lift up to 10 tons at maximum level. Needless to say the abilities are off the chart with regards to your typical "GTA"-style game.
The difficulty ramps up at a smooth level for the first gang & quickly escalates after their defeat. Enemies don't react foolishly & will use numbers to overwhelm you when possible. Cover & agility are your friends in these cases.
I'd recommend this (for the 18 & older crowd) if you like the GTA concept but can't stand the "Mission Failed" screen that pops up all too often with this kind of game. In actuality, you have one mission: to clean up the city. To do so you have to get your hands dirty...but you'll find being on the supply side of Justice is more fun than a life of crime.
1/30/07
Wii Virtual Console
Nintendo's come up with a real winner! They're offering lots of older (NES, Super NES, Genesis, N64) games online you can play on the console.
Most of the games will run you from $8 to $10, but the NES titles only cost $5. They introducing three or four "new" games online every week. The latest of which is Mario Kart 64 - one of the funnest games for the N64. At $10, it's worth the cost for a game that's hard to find.
It's a shame the other console makers couldn't offer this kind of service. Being able to download your games onto a small SD memory card & not having to worry about storage of cartridges is a brilliant idea.
Right now, I've got to get back to Super Castlevania IV - another classic among classics! Have a good day everyone.
Most of the games will run you from $8 to $10, but the NES titles only cost $5. They introducing three or four "new" games online every week. The latest of which is Mario Kart 64 - one of the funnest games for the N64. At $10, it's worth the cost for a game that's hard to find.
It's a shame the other console makers couldn't offer this kind of service. Being able to download your games onto a small SD memory card & not having to worry about storage of cartridges is a brilliant idea.
Right now, I've got to get back to Super Castlevania IV - another classic among classics! Have a good day everyone.
12/28/06
Gears Of War
I got this one for Christmas this year. It's a very intense 3rd-person shooter that involves you being freed from a prison to fight in a world where subterranean monsters are taking over. Not exactly the time where you want to be granted parole, but at least it's an opening premise...
Let me just say this game is HARD! The only break you really get - strangely enough - is during boss fights. Most of the bosses are simple enough to figure out quickly & they don't pound on you too hard if you're careful. The rest of the game has a fervent intensity that won't allow your guard to drop for even a moment.
The basic enemies are really well-adapted to the environment & the AI performs brilliantly even when your tactics border on perfection. Rarely do you get an easy, open target. Most of your success is dependent on out-maneuvering or out-smarting your enemies. Even then you may not survive.
One of the worst creatures are the Kryll. These bat-like monstrosities will rip you to shreds if you go out of the light. Folks who have seen Pitch Black will see a striking resemblance.
The game makes you pay for your mistakes & keeps the pace going constantly. It's been a long wait for this title & it's been well worth it.
Let me just say this game is HARD! The only break you really get - strangely enough - is during boss fights. Most of the bosses are simple enough to figure out quickly & they don't pound on you too hard if you're careful. The rest of the game has a fervent intensity that won't allow your guard to drop for even a moment.
The basic enemies are really well-adapted to the environment & the AI performs brilliantly even when your tactics border on perfection. Rarely do you get an easy, open target. Most of your success is dependent on out-maneuvering or out-smarting your enemies. Even then you may not survive.
One of the worst creatures are the Kryll. These bat-like monstrosities will rip you to shreds if you go out of the light. Folks who have seen Pitch Black will see a striking resemblance.
The game makes you pay for your mistakes & keeps the pace going constantly. It's been a long wait for this title & it's been well worth it.
12/14/06
Bowling
These guys at Nintendo are flipping geniuses! The bowling game on Wii sports is incredible. Even how you rotate your wrist affects the spin on the ball.
My brother & I played the crap out of this to bring our scores up (Pro is at 1000). The training games involve picking up splits, working on rotation (by dodging barriers in the lane - very cool) & power rolls where you start at 10 pins & add a row each time to a max of 91.
My brother & I played the crap out of this to bring our scores up (Pro is at 1000). The training games involve picking up splits, working on rotation (by dodging barriers in the lane - very cool) & power rolls where you start at 10 pins & add a row each time to a max of 91.
11/25/06
Wiiiiiiiii!!!
I picked up one of those new Nintendo Wii's this week. Talk about an innovative system! The Wii Sports 5-in-1 game alone is worth it. Golf, Tennis, Baseball, Boxing, Bowling. I personally like golf & tennis the best. Very entertaining to see your actions duplicated exactly on the screen.
Then there's Red Steel - a launch title that's been much-hyped since the system release was announced. I can tell you this game walks the walk every step of the way. Not only are the controls intuitive, clean & responsive - the game has...unique features for AI. For example, not all, but most enemies will know when you have to reload. They'll tell their buddies, too. Nothing quite rattles you so much as facing down 3 or 4 guys with uzis & they rush you after firing your last shotgun blast. You can't take too many hits before you go down, either. Fortunately, health recovers automatically after a few seconds (This is great just because health items are an anathema to action in FPS games).
The mood of the game changes rapidly from calm to frantic when enemies appear onscreen. Not every one is an action hero & a small percent are just fodder. Most, however, are extremely coordinated with the others & do their best to flush you out of cover.
Duels are a major event in each level. You'll be confronted - often multiple times in a level - by various mid-level baddies intent on serving you up with tempura for dinner. The sword combat is smooth, allows for blocks, parries, dodges & counters. You can even cause damage to your opponent's weapon if your timing is good. Defeating an opponent gives you the option to kill or show mercy. Showing mercy gains respect...
The respect you have affects how your enemies respond to you. If it's high enough, then many low-level thugs will just cut & run (sort of like liberals, but better armed). This not only saves ammo, it also affords you more time in those timed parts of missions (those are rare).
Also, I have Need For Speed: Carbon. I'll get into that on a later post.
If you've been thinking about a Wii & aren't quite sure if it's worth the $$$, wonder no more - this system is easily worth the $250 price tag. Not only can you play it out of the box, but many companies are stepping up to use this new idea in gaming in just as creative ways.
Then there's Red Steel - a launch title that's been much-hyped since the system release was announced. I can tell you this game walks the walk every step of the way. Not only are the controls intuitive, clean & responsive - the game has...unique features for AI. For example, not all, but most enemies will know when you have to reload. They'll tell their buddies, too. Nothing quite rattles you so much as facing down 3 or 4 guys with uzis & they rush you after firing your last shotgun blast. You can't take too many hits before you go down, either. Fortunately, health recovers automatically after a few seconds (This is great just because health items are an anathema to action in FPS games).
The mood of the game changes rapidly from calm to frantic when enemies appear onscreen. Not every one is an action hero & a small percent are just fodder. Most, however, are extremely coordinated with the others & do their best to flush you out of cover.
Duels are a major event in each level. You'll be confronted - often multiple times in a level - by various mid-level baddies intent on serving you up with tempura for dinner. The sword combat is smooth, allows for blocks, parries, dodges & counters. You can even cause damage to your opponent's weapon if your timing is good. Defeating an opponent gives you the option to kill or show mercy. Showing mercy gains respect...
The respect you have affects how your enemies respond to you. If it's high enough, then many low-level thugs will just cut & run (sort of like liberals, but better armed). This not only saves ammo, it also affords you more time in those timed parts of missions (those are rare).
Also, I have Need For Speed: Carbon. I'll get into that on a later post.
If you've been thinking about a Wii & aren't quite sure if it's worth the $$$, wonder no more - this system is easily worth the $250 price tag. Not only can you play it out of the box, but many companies are stepping up to use this new idea in gaming in just as creative ways.
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