Now before the anti-hype train comes crashing down on this blog, I am aware of some of the issues from this years E3. There where some games that suffered from frame-rate issues, some games that we where hoping to be playable weren't, EA just posting the same game again and again, into our faces, and Sonic is just as mediocre as ever, now just as bad as Nickelodeon shovel-wear! However, there was some actually good. Games had more fun and humor in their trailers, Xbone finally had some games, Sony is Sony, and Nintendo streamed their games and got secant part support for their games.
In fact, Nintendo, like it or not, is actually the most humane of the companies at E3. While even I must admit that their steams where a bit annoying since the hands-on people where more for Public Relations (PR) than actual game-play, they where light-hearted and understood most of their issues and even made fun of themselves with silliness like Adult-Swim's toy-mations from Robot chicken. It's good that companies listen to their fan-base.
However, not all companies learn from the experiences that companies like Nintendo. While they do play Nintendo games just to figure out how to make their own games like Sega, they don't learn the ethics that Nintendo fallows. For example, Nintendo dose have issues like their automated copyright strikes, but these aren't exactly for money, more of deference of their licences. Sega, On the other hand, did strikes on Shining Force, causing damages upon many Youtube channels. They did apologize and reopen some channels, but many other channels had to start all over again because of these copyright attacks. This is why many companies end up being boycotted by channels like Polaris...
In fact, Sega has been really messing up to the point they are looking twords Nintendo again to save them like in the Gamecube era. From the cartoon shovel-wear tie-in Sonic Boom and the awesome Bayonetta 2, package with the first game with extra content. It's nice that they help Sega live-On somewhat, but even they have Tea-time with the company about their issues. While there are people that will defend Sonic Boom, their first-look at E3 did now revive hope as many critics point out. While the new Aliens horror game is an awesome way to bring horror back to the main-stream, they still need help work-wise.
Nintendo has always been the seen as the good-old grandpa within the gaming industry which saved the game industry multiple times, especially from the game crash in the 1980's because of crappy shovel-wear within the industry. While they have done bad in the past as well, they at least made a gaming counsel instead of a PC-like social-bait system like Xbox-One or the Playstation 4. Companies had to sell their IPs, like the recent Capcom, because they have no clue what to do with them besides making DLCs which is costing them a fortune. Creators to even developers like Mega-man's founder, the creator of Metroidvania, or a Sonic Adventure left the company because they feel that they couldn't do anything about, nor for, their companies and either retire or make new companies.
Have any of their companies learned from their mistakes within the gaming industry? The answer to that question would be both yes AND no. Yes, because companies like Nintendo and somewhat of Sega has started to port games to other counties, removing DRM to a majority of their games like Gears of Gaming opposing on Steam, the annoying part, trying to be like steam and allow sales on their servers, which anyone's smart better off on Amazon.com. No because the Bold-face lies companies give to both gamers and employees, DRM still existing on some games, shovel-wear copy-cats of popular games done poorly, Reagan-locks and uninspired 4chan'd ports of game which remove past game references with bad dubbing and censors, and the fat-cat greed of the company just wanting to just make profit instead of making everyone happy.
All and all, E3 did shine on a new source of hope, which could be either true or false within the end of the development hell of the game's life-time. Life is about learning from both mistakes and failures and this applies to EVERYTHING. Now excuse me as I draw on passed-out critics and business people's faces and run laughing down the hallway. Tee hee...
Sunday, June 29, 2014
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
Tomogachi Life: Nintendo's Fanfic Game
There is a major withdraw within the Simulation genre, as game series like Animal Crossing and The Sims have became more about how one slaves the player into their own personal debts. While they are often used to answer the question "How is it like on the other side?" or "How dose being a god is like?" Sadly, they tend to be a quick cash grab so they could start their company like the creators of Goat Simulator, or to remind you that THE SIMS still exist under a company that is a shell of their former self.
Then there is Tomogachi life: a game that is not about the player, but about the Miis that live upon an island. This game helps brings one thing that the Miis lacked after all these years - Their own personality and their own will. One can import any Mii from the Mii maker onto the island as they do their own thing. The game is more of a small game experience instead of an over-whelming slave simulator.
Then there is Tomogachi life: a game that is not about the player, but about the Miis that live upon an island. This game helps brings one thing that the Miis lacked after all these years - Their own personality and their own will. One can import any Mii from the Mii maker onto the island as they do their own thing. The game is more of a small game experience instead of an over-whelming slave simulator.
The selling points for Tomogachi life is that ANYONE can be in the game from celebrities to even your friends, neighbors, and even the creepy-looking people that you run into within street-pass, if granted. The thing is that the player can only INFLUENCE the characters but cannot control the character hands-on. The experience is more kin to keeping an eye on the Miis, feeding them food, giving clothes, and watching all the randomness occur. Thankfully, the game is NOT as demanding as most sim games, meaning you can leave the game alone for a long time and not be punish by the angry neighbors or town people.
But the problem with the game is that Tomogachi Life feels like an expensive application with little content as this game is a full priced tittle. This may not seem to be an issue, however, it depends if people will buy it or not. This game is a "miles-will-vary" type of Free-flowing simulation app, meaning there is only a few things to do and so little control. While the game can have it's own random shenanigans, the key word is random as in random numbers, as some events tend to repeat itself more than once. The game can be boring at time, even if it is easy to pick up and put down. Bringing new Miis could help bring new life to the island, however, the results still remains the same.
However, the most frustrating part of the game is trying to help Miis married. Dear lord, the mini-game for that event is too luck based. I know luck can play a key part in a relationship, but NOT to this extreme! You have to tap his or her toughs are on the person's mind, but the mind is so jumpy, it's like trying to get you attention of a child who's diet is coffee and sweet treats! I know ones mind could be racing and spinning on some key moments of a person's life, but setting it up like a classic Mario Party mini-game is just unforgiving. The system is there just for the Miis can own their own home and can generate new Mii children. It can be offensive to some people, so I can understand the frustration.
If anyone had an issue with Animal Crossing but want a game that is easy to get into or get out of, this is a game for them. However, it depends if a thirty five dollar application will hold anyone off. While it did hold me over personally for a time, the flaws of this game can be seen by almost anyone. While some people can value of this game, it can wear-out very quickly. I recommend having a friend give you the trail version before picking up the game... Or just barrow it....Or just keep away... yes...
But the problem with the game is that Tomogachi Life feels like an expensive application with little content as this game is a full priced tittle. This may not seem to be an issue, however, it depends if people will buy it or not. This game is a "miles-will-vary" type of Free-flowing simulation app, meaning there is only a few things to do and so little control. While the game can have it's own random shenanigans, the key word is random as in random numbers, as some events tend to repeat itself more than once. The game can be boring at time, even if it is easy to pick up and put down. Bringing new Miis could help bring new life to the island, however, the results still remains the same.
However, the most frustrating part of the game is trying to help Miis married. Dear lord, the mini-game for that event is too luck based. I know luck can play a key part in a relationship, but NOT to this extreme! You have to tap his or her toughs are on the person's mind, but the mind is so jumpy, it's like trying to get you attention of a child who's diet is coffee and sweet treats! I know ones mind could be racing and spinning on some key moments of a person's life, but setting it up like a classic Mario Party mini-game is just unforgiving. The system is there just for the Miis can own their own home and can generate new Mii children. It can be offensive to some people, so I can understand the frustration.
If anyone had an issue with Animal Crossing but want a game that is easy to get into or get out of, this is a game for them. However, it depends if a thirty five dollar application will hold anyone off. While it did hold me over personally for a time, the flaws of this game can be seen by almost anyone. While some people can value of this game, it can wear-out very quickly. I recommend having a friend give you the trail version before picking up the game... Or just barrow it....Or just keep away... yes...
Battle Block Theater: Good use of recycled assets from Newgrounds
For those who where unlucky or lucky to watch my friend's Let's play of Castle Crashers as past-me with a bad PC Microphone, I do have to apologist as my past-me who is a troll-full idiot. I cannot harm him but yet he can harm me as he leave me mental scars as well as the physical scars on my body. The game suffered lags, disconnects, color contrast issues which makes players confused on who they are, and all around better on the xbox since most of the Steam port was Copy-&-Paste laziness. I just couldn't recommend the game on PC for anyone.
Now onward twords their new game Battle Block Theater. I am reviewing the steam version since it's the easiest version to get your hands one since the Xbox is dead and has a Steam-Workshop Community. The game has more replay-ability as you can make your own head decal or even make your own Level-sets and share them within the steam network. I originally got it to help with my friend's let's play, but since he prefers to have a younger cat to help him, I can't help but to feel like to bring out my old friendly machete out for a walk.
Where was I? Oh yes, the story. You where out with Mr. Hatty having a party when he and his friends on is ship which then became shipwrecked on an isle of cats. Hatty was then catnapped and was forced to wear an evil top-hat, which forced him to enslave the players as they are forced to entertain cats by running though platform-based levels. While playing, the player(s) get to over-hear the witty narrator, who's remained unnamed though-out the wacky adventure, as he babbles as one progress though the game.
The biggest issue with the game is that it runs ENTIRELY in flash, an out-dated service that even Adobe has abandoned for the past few years. The reason for this is cost efficiency since Newground's creators have been working with this for years. The problem is Flash is uncompressed, meaning even with good specs, it can have performance issues and sometimes lags. Also, if anyone with a low connection tends to lag behind. I only had that issue once since I recently moved, but once the modem was changed, no problems.
As I mentioned in the tittle, the game straight out reuse assets from their older flash cartoons and games, which isn't too bad in some way, but it makes the game feel cheap in the audio areas of the game, as the music gets repetitive to make you chew your own friend's ears off just to save them from the pain. If you played Castle Crashers, you also get free cameo gears from the game. This is good, but it's also a cheap way to advertise Castle Crashers, as they give you Hatty if you own both games. Even if I warn players not to get it, they tend to be lead like fatty wales to the slaughter.
However, this is a better game than Castle Crashers. The servers are better optimized, meaning if everyone's connections is fine, then the game should run well if Flash doesn't have it's random moments. Co-op is Co-optional, as you can even finish the game Solo and jump in or out at any time within a game. While some community levels are better with a buddy, most can be completed by single player. Weapons can be utilized to help or hurt your co-op players, help "tame" the feral cats, and even reach areas that cannot be normally obtained.
IS it worth completing 100%? Only for achievements, maybe. Weapons have to be bought with yarn collected from levels, but after you get the last weapons, there's not real need to collect the last bits of yarn. They are needed to get A++, but they do collect up after awhile. The Gems, on the other hands, are used to buy new character designs and there are a lot of them. While they are nice to collect, they come randomly, so once you fine the one liked prisoner character, it feels like a completionist nightmare. Now you know how the Sonic fan base feels.
Still, Battle block Theater is a good game. Is it worth murdering your ex-friends? Maybe not, but it's something to talk about within the nut-house since it's one of those water cooler games. Different experiences, different ways to solve a problem, and many other hints on how to kill your friends, intentional or not. Now excuse me, my ride is here...
Now onward twords their new game Battle Block Theater. I am reviewing the steam version since it's the easiest version to get your hands one since the Xbox is dead and has a Steam-Workshop Community. The game has more replay-ability as you can make your own head decal or even make your own Level-sets and share them within the steam network. I originally got it to help with my friend's let's play, but since he prefers to have a younger cat to help him, I can't help but to feel like to bring out my old friendly machete out for a walk.
Where was I? Oh yes, the story. You where out with Mr. Hatty having a party when he and his friends on is ship which then became shipwrecked on an isle of cats. Hatty was then catnapped and was forced to wear an evil top-hat, which forced him to enslave the players as they are forced to entertain cats by running though platform-based levels. While playing, the player(s) get to over-hear the witty narrator, who's remained unnamed though-out the wacky adventure, as he babbles as one progress though the game.
The biggest issue with the game is that it runs ENTIRELY in flash, an out-dated service that even Adobe has abandoned for the past few years. The reason for this is cost efficiency since Newground's creators have been working with this for years. The problem is Flash is uncompressed, meaning even with good specs, it can have performance issues and sometimes lags. Also, if anyone with a low connection tends to lag behind. I only had that issue once since I recently moved, but once the modem was changed, no problems.
As I mentioned in the tittle, the game straight out reuse assets from their older flash cartoons and games, which isn't too bad in some way, but it makes the game feel cheap in the audio areas of the game, as the music gets repetitive to make you chew your own friend's ears off just to save them from the pain. If you played Castle Crashers, you also get free cameo gears from the game. This is good, but it's also a cheap way to advertise Castle Crashers, as they give you Hatty if you own both games. Even if I warn players not to get it, they tend to be lead like fatty wales to the slaughter.
However, this is a better game than Castle Crashers. The servers are better optimized, meaning if everyone's connections is fine, then the game should run well if Flash doesn't have it's random moments. Co-op is Co-optional, as you can even finish the game Solo and jump in or out at any time within a game. While some community levels are better with a buddy, most can be completed by single player. Weapons can be utilized to help or hurt your co-op players, help "tame" the feral cats, and even reach areas that cannot be normally obtained.
IS it worth completing 100%? Only for achievements, maybe. Weapons have to be bought with yarn collected from levels, but after you get the last weapons, there's not real need to collect the last bits of yarn. They are needed to get A++, but they do collect up after awhile. The Gems, on the other hands, are used to buy new character designs and there are a lot of them. While they are nice to collect, they come randomly, so once you fine the one liked prisoner character, it feels like a completionist nightmare. Now you know how the Sonic fan base feels.
Still, Battle block Theater is a good game. Is it worth murdering your ex-friends? Maybe not, but it's something to talk about within the nut-house since it's one of those water cooler games. Different experiences, different ways to solve a problem, and many other hints on how to kill your friends, intentional or not. Now excuse me, my ride is here...
Thursday, June 12, 2014
Mario Kart 8
Nintendo has managed to pull up to secant place thanks to the advantage created by Mario Kart 8, making over one million within it's first release week to the point in the United Kingdom to make a BEAST of a sale. Yea, yea, The joke wrights itself as they sold around 666%. Looks like the church is working over-time, trying to purify the UK. Good luck with that. Anyways, how dose Mario Kart 8 hold up to the rest of the series? Let's find out!
The major feature of the game is the new driving mechanics. You can drive up walls with the new anti-gravity sections in the race tracks. This can be used to reach short-cuts and boost panels in certain places. This is an interesting mechanic which is felt very underutilized. They did balance the gameplay for multi-player, but some of the changes takes time to adjust to. The biggest thing is that you cannot hold your item out to grab another item. It's fair within online gameplay, but it feels cheap within single player, as it's hard to actually defend yourself in situations.
However, the strongest part of Mario Kart 8 is it's online as it has been refined for the best multiplayer experience for the Wii U. They also added a service called Mario Kart TV, which saves footage of your races and saves them so they can be uploaded upon youtube. However, it lacks an editing feature, causing limited creativity to their owner. While Riding Dirty Luigi gives everyone the death stare it a strong new internet meme, it would be nice if it was in better quality. Plus lets face it, it's there mostly so Nintendo can put their ads to earn revenue. That's just dirty, Nintendo...
However, the worst change within the game has to be the drastic change within battle mode -- while you can take the battle to all the raceways and online, they REMOVED ALL of the classic battle maps that we know and loved. While some can get use to the change within this mode, most are disappointing to the point that they had to go back into Mario Kart 7 for the better tracks and battle mode. Compared to Mario Kart 7, Mario Kart 8 is disappointing because of the selection of access within the game. That and some parts of the game is incomplete. That means one thing: incoming download content..or is it Disk-Locked content? A reason I boycott Capcom products from my reviews.
The reason for the sale is because of how good the market is within the United Kingdom as the selection of free games for the Wii U. The US market is suffering because of it's economy issues because how bad corporate companies like to milk money out of good people to the point they would run for government jobs. We know what you're doing, COMCAST. That's just dirty.
Would I recommend Mario Kart 8 as it is? Sadly, not now. I would wait until they give us a better offer of free games like they did with the UK, or better yet, a complete pack with all the DLC characters. It's nice to see Nintendo getting it's wind in its sails, but when they have to get us with dishonesty as the so called "good guys" of the industry , stick with Mario Kart 7. And for god sake, switch to decaff...
The major feature of the game is the new driving mechanics. You can drive up walls with the new anti-gravity sections in the race tracks. This can be used to reach short-cuts and boost panels in certain places. This is an interesting mechanic which is felt very underutilized. They did balance the gameplay for multi-player, but some of the changes takes time to adjust to. The biggest thing is that you cannot hold your item out to grab another item. It's fair within online gameplay, but it feels cheap within single player, as it's hard to actually defend yourself in situations.
However, the strongest part of Mario Kart 8 is it's online as it has been refined for the best multiplayer experience for the Wii U. They also added a service called Mario Kart TV, which saves footage of your races and saves them so they can be uploaded upon youtube. However, it lacks an editing feature, causing limited creativity to their owner. While Riding Dirty Luigi gives everyone the death stare it a strong new internet meme, it would be nice if it was in better quality. Plus lets face it, it's there mostly so Nintendo can put their ads to earn revenue. That's just dirty, Nintendo...
However, the worst change within the game has to be the drastic change within battle mode -- while you can take the battle to all the raceways and online, they REMOVED ALL of the classic battle maps that we know and loved. While some can get use to the change within this mode, most are disappointing to the point that they had to go back into Mario Kart 7 for the better tracks and battle mode. Compared to Mario Kart 7, Mario Kart 8 is disappointing because of the selection of access within the game. That and some parts of the game is incomplete. That means one thing: incoming download content..or is it Disk-Locked content? A reason I boycott Capcom products from my reviews.
The reason for the sale is because of how good the market is within the United Kingdom as the selection of free games for the Wii U. The US market is suffering because of it's economy issues because how bad corporate companies like to milk money out of good people to the point they would run for government jobs. We know what you're doing, COMCAST. That's just dirty.
Would I recommend Mario Kart 8 as it is? Sadly, not now. I would wait until they give us a better offer of free games like they did with the UK, or better yet, a complete pack with all the DLC characters. It's nice to see Nintendo getting it's wind in its sails, but when they have to get us with dishonesty as the so called "good guys" of the industry , stick with Mario Kart 7. And for god sake, switch to decaff...
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