Samus, it's sad that no one really loves you. Seriously, the other Nintendo series get more attention from Zelda and Mario's Peach, but then you're stuck with all the perv-y fan-base who have not gone out for ages. And when Nintendo doesn't know what to do with you, they scared you with a soft personality which doesn't really fit your character, a problem which even Lara Croft Reboot has been scared with since it started a annoying trend that everyone's adopting. Why do people confuse annoying characters with strong characters? ... Dammit, JRPGs....
Samus was at her prime during the GameCube days, where they manage to fuse Metroid-vania with a first-person shooter. This game series was the Metroid: Prime Series! While it was made to compete with Microsoft's Halo series, which was born on the PC, this game trilogy has left an impact within the Metroid franchise whenever anyone likes it or not. While the trilogy WAS rare, it has been re-released on the Nintendo eShop, And before anyone say anything, no, some old GameCube and Wii games do not emulate well.
While it is a good trilogy, these are some flaws within the game that threw the classic fans off guard.
The common issue is what I like to call The Power Amnesia, where the character has all of their abilities but then loses them because of current story occurrence. Within all the Metroid series and other metroid-vania games, this is meant to tease the player to their full potential so it would encourage plays to one hundred percent the game to help fulfill their power fantasy. When it's done right, it can help players feel entitled, the trope can wear out very fast to where it's not exciting anymore.
Another issue is the the dated motion controls, while it is prefect for shooting games and takes time to adjust to, It makes some parts in the games both easier and harder than originally intended. Take the opening part of Metroid Prime as you fight the mid-boss for regaining the missals. While they did added steps to easily keep you out of the acid, the boss quickly closes it mouth before Samus could get a few shots in. This causes inconsistency which can be jarring to returning players and newcomers alike.
Thankfully, most of the games are intact, dispute the issues with the ports and reports. While the game is annoying to scan with Samus, the lore within the game is somewhat fascinating. There is a ton of back-story within the game about the livelihood of the aliens of the past, from the enimies has somewhat of a story as they have ranks within their army to how an alien race met their end.
The graphics, while limited to 480p thanks to the Wii's limitations, managed to pull out nice graphical tricks to make itself look very nice. A reason Metroid Prime trilogy is good is because of how well the world was designed. While the lands are limited by metroid-vina's design, exploration always results in getting a health boost, new tools, or lore.
I would cautiously recommend this game since not everyone can get into a first-person shooter. However, this game trilogy is still fun! While the motion controls are dated as even Nintendo have left the trend somewhat behind, this is one trilogy I am glad that I have played as a teen. While this is a way that Nintendo can milk money from their fan-base, at least it's not their Youtube "union" they have formed on the Internet...
Thursday, February 5, 2015
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Grim Fandango Remastered; A tale of olde mexican lore
Bleh... I didn't feel like recalling the last year, as some games that was released this year was disappointing and somewhat glitched. The only developers that is actually doing work was Nintendo at the end of the year, especially when a few of high end that only ported old gen works to the new gen counsels. Pointless when you think about PC games since a good graphics card is all you need for a good time. Plus with all the "exclusives" becoming outrageous, and all the craziness of the world being just a giant baby that needs to be spanked...
Before I become weirder, lets move on to to Grim Fandango Remastered! For those who fallow me on Deviant Art knows, not only how laughable crazy the new logo is, but that Grim Fandango is one of my favorite games of all time. However, the man behind it, Tim Shafer, tends to be stuck in the past.He did make games like this game, Phyconaughts, and helped with cool games like Sam and Max: Hit the road... However, he also made a few "misses" that to his business practices like in Broken Age, which is unfinished dispute making millions, and a few failed kickstarter projects like SpaceBase DF-9. However, his games still influences today's companies like the German adventure company Daedalic Entertainment, as well as other developers, to fallow in his footsteps.
While the game now runs on all windows platforms now because of the engage over-hawl, it still have it's lazy patch jobs that is quite noticeable. While the game dose render some cutscenes very well, some of the original cutscenes are still there and are noticeable as they run in thirty frames per secant while the game's renders are at a full sixty.
For those running the game on the PC version though Steam or GoG running on HD Graphics, this is very noticeable, as some older graphics pop out like an old crumbled paper compared to a new one. There is also some animation hick-ups when one swears they almost T-pose for at least one moment. For those on the Playstation version, you can use the touch-screen to control the character, but we know tank controls are better on horror games than adventure game, especially when you count that 3D Monkey Island game and, the worst offence, Simon the Sourer 3D.
There's also the annoying small pet-peeve window boarders, which can be switched out with a stretched widescreen, which is somewhat annoying the least. I, personally, don't know why game re-releases, or remasters in this case, like those on Xbox-live games have the boarders like they're trying to compete with the Super Gameboy, which is easily defeated by modern emulators. However, this can be easily fixed if the patch-works aren't lazy on the steam version.
However, there is a lot of good with the game! The story is just as awesome as ever! The player stars as Manny, a salesman of the dead, who is after redemtion and revenge on the corrupted Department of the Dead while looking for a runaway woman named Mechie who he felt he let down. Meeting all sorts of characters within the main game, which last up to seven to twelve hours, Manny find the truth behind all the conspiracy and redeems himself at the end.
Another new feature is the controls! While the original tank controls are still here, they can be moved with the comfy 360 controller, or best yet, point-and-click controls. Where has that been so far? Ever since telltale went with their controller setting at Sam and Max: The devil's playhouse, the mouse controls went with the inde-games! I know they threw mouse controls out just to sell on the new gen counsels and to spam the Quick-time Events, but one should never throw out an mechanic that actually survived the passing of time. Something that Sega should have learned with Sonic...
For those who have a hard time emulating the old version of the game, I would actually recommend this game as this game is a classic that should be played for the great story within the game. For the viewers, they can tell if they will like the game by the gameplay alone. Knowing my friend, Orewaussop, he's going to try let's playing the game soon. So let me sell out to my old friend so it would help thy viewer decide to either watch or buy the game.
...No, I'm serious.... Watch his upcoming let's play when it's out...Or at least I hope he got all the kinks out... Seriously, Chris!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Also, thanks for the one thousand views!!~ I am planning to do a group Let's play on this one game that I have in mind. I would update on my youtube, but since of my computer HDD burning out, this could take awhile. I'm also doing graphics and other works on my Patreon. Donate and I'll make some logos, twitch goods, and other graphical goodies. I will try to make a special for the one thousand plus views, so please stay tuned. Thank you and goodnight...
Before I become weirder, lets move on to to Grim Fandango Remastered! For those who fallow me on Deviant Art knows, not only how laughable crazy the new logo is, but that Grim Fandango is one of my favorite games of all time. However, the man behind it, Tim Shafer, tends to be stuck in the past.He did make games like this game, Phyconaughts, and helped with cool games like Sam and Max: Hit the road... However, he also made a few "misses" that to his business practices like in Broken Age, which is unfinished dispute making millions, and a few failed kickstarter projects like SpaceBase DF-9. However, his games still influences today's companies like the German adventure company Daedalic Entertainment, as well as other developers, to fallow in his footsteps.
While the game now runs on all windows platforms now because of the engage over-hawl, it still have it's lazy patch jobs that is quite noticeable. While the game dose render some cutscenes very well, some of the original cutscenes are still there and are noticeable as they run in thirty frames per secant while the game's renders are at a full sixty.
For those running the game on the PC version though Steam or GoG running on HD Graphics, this is very noticeable, as some older graphics pop out like an old crumbled paper compared to a new one. There is also some animation hick-ups when one swears they almost T-pose for at least one moment. For those on the Playstation version, you can use the touch-screen to control the character, but we know tank controls are better on horror games than adventure game, especially when you count that 3D Monkey Island game and, the worst offence, Simon the Sourer 3D.
There's also the annoying small pet-peeve window boarders, which can be switched out with a stretched widescreen, which is somewhat annoying the least. I, personally, don't know why game re-releases, or remasters in this case, like those on Xbox-live games have the boarders like they're trying to compete with the Super Gameboy, which is easily defeated by modern emulators. However, this can be easily fixed if the patch-works aren't lazy on the steam version.
However, there is a lot of good with the game! The story is just as awesome as ever! The player stars as Manny, a salesman of the dead, who is after redemtion and revenge on the corrupted Department of the Dead while looking for a runaway woman named Mechie who he felt he let down. Meeting all sorts of characters within the main game, which last up to seven to twelve hours, Manny find the truth behind all the conspiracy and redeems himself at the end.
Another new feature is the controls! While the original tank controls are still here, they can be moved with the comfy 360 controller, or best yet, point-and-click controls. Where has that been so far? Ever since telltale went with their controller setting at Sam and Max: The devil's playhouse, the mouse controls went with the inde-games! I know they threw mouse controls out just to sell on the new gen counsels and to spam the Quick-time Events, but one should never throw out an mechanic that actually survived the passing of time. Something that Sega should have learned with Sonic...
For those who have a hard time emulating the old version of the game, I would actually recommend this game as this game is a classic that should be played for the great story within the game. For the viewers, they can tell if they will like the game by the gameplay alone. Knowing my friend, Orewaussop, he's going to try let's playing the game soon. So let me sell out to my old friend so it would help thy viewer decide to either watch or buy the game.
...No, I'm serious.... Watch his upcoming let's play when it's out...Or at least I hope he got all the kinks out... Seriously, Chris!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Also, thanks for the one thousand views!!~ I am planning to do a group Let's play on this one game that I have in mind. I would update on my youtube, but since of my computer HDD burning out, this could take awhile. I'm also doing graphics and other works on my Patreon. Donate and I'll make some logos, twitch goods, and other graphical goodies. I will try to make a special for the one thousand plus views, so please stay tuned. Thank you and goodnight...
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Christmas Guide 2014
Well now, it's about time for Christmas and it's almost about one thousand views in my blogg, which I'm thankful for past thanksgiving. With that, also comes games that have been released and a prices go down to sucker parents to buy shovel-were. This is where the buyers guide comes in, unless it recommends another Sonic game. You're better off playing the lotto when it comes with sonic, since Sega started off as a rival to Nintendo since the creator was kicked out from their casino.
Super Smash Bros for Wii U
For anyone who a BIG fan of Sakuri's party fighting game, this is the game for you. While the 3DS version is an ok single player experience, I personally do NOT see why anyone would go back to that port of the game. However, the Ethernet battles add replayiblity, especially when all of your friends are distant from one another. While this game may have it useless modes, it's not as pointless as the modes found in the 3DS version. And as this will be the last smash bros game Sakuri will be working on, this COULD be the last good game of the franchise, Ala Mario Party, as the games after the forth installment became mediocre. I recommend getting this over the 3DS port since Mewtwo is the only DLC character. Should have used the DLC cost idea from Skullgirls, Sakuri. Better than ripping off Angry Birds, I will tell you that...
Shadows of Maldor
This game is Sandbox game of the year for a good reason: it ups Assassin's Creed games very easily with it worked-in Arkham fighting system. Also when the player falls by one of the monsters in the game, time passes as the monsters actually get promoted, making the game fairly harder. Whenever the gamer is a fan of the Lord of the rings books/movies or not, this game is a nice experience. Later on, they can branded to force the creatures on the player's side, so the game gets very tactical in the middle of the game. The player can work up sleeper agents to take over and take out the line of commands within their own system. While some parts of the game can be repetitive, I recommend this game, but for PC users on steam, make sure your system can run the game.
Pokemon X/Y OR Pokemon AlphaRuby/OmegaSaphire
Pokemon Remakes can be either a hit or miss. For example FireRed/LeafGreen ended up a disappointing remake, as while it did fix the glitches in the gameplay and adds balances, it is disappointing in the end as its added unwanted difficulty as some Pokemon where nerfed thanks to the special status. Meanwhile Pokemon Soul Silver and Heart Gold is the best remakes as it adds the last gen Pokemon plus the ones in current,and keeps the huge after game proton of the past. Where dose Alpha Ruby and Omega Saphire stand? In between the two games, of course. While it doesn't change some of it's past problems, it adds elements from X and Y with Mega-Evolutions with new ones as well. It may not be as an awesome remake as HG/SS, but if the player has already got Pokemon X/Y, get this game. However, there are some disappointing elements like no more red head in the game. Sadness...
Shovel Knight
For those hardcore players who didn't get enough hard gameplays of the past, this Inde-delight is the game for you. It mixes up elements from past games like Mega-man, Zelda 2, and Ducktales puts them into this tittle. But even without the nostalgia, this game can be great for those who need that platforming itch. It dose abandon the annoying and dated life system and instead stabs shovel knight right in the wallet with a Dark Souls like system, where the players have to get their money back when they die. While it can be frustrating at points, this is a game for hardcore players. The cgame is also available for every system, so pick their poison.
The Nintendo Wii U
Yes, it's been two years sine the game system has been released and since some of the games have been sliced to 30 bucks, including the wonderful 101, now is the perfect time to buy a Wii U. There's also games for the system now unlike the Xbone games which ended up being disappointing. If you're too poor to buy the bundle, anyone can buy a refurbished Wii U for only two hundred dollars, saving around one hundred dollars so you can buy the accessories and perhaps two thirty dollar games. And since the Wii U is backward-compatible with Wii games, The choice is never been better....
Aliens Issolation
While Colonial Marines ended up to be one of the worst games ever behind other bad games, this game decided to wipe the slate clean by making it close to Amneisa than an actual shooting stupid game. Thanks to Creative Assembly who also remade Strider and Killer Instinct, this game is a horror hit. While the game is horribly padded with ice breakers within the story like bioschock, it is a experience that both the gamer fans and the horror fans both been itching for from the series. Available for most system platforms.
Well, those are my recommendations, however, I personally know that I probably missed something along the lines of Xbone and the Playstation 4. Some of the games are just simple reports of hit games like Sleeping Dogs or the last of us. And for the last time, do not get Sonic Boom! You would be the worst parent of all time. There are tons of reviewers AND critics that has panned the game:
-- Brutal Moose
-- Nintendo Fan FTW
-- Projared
-- SomeCalledMeJohnny
Excuse me while I blacklist the annoying deviant-Art fan-boys...
Super Smash Bros for Wii U
For anyone who a BIG fan of Sakuri's party fighting game, this is the game for you. While the 3DS version is an ok single player experience, I personally do NOT see why anyone would go back to that port of the game. However, the Ethernet battles add replayiblity, especially when all of your friends are distant from one another. While this game may have it useless modes, it's not as pointless as the modes found in the 3DS version. And as this will be the last smash bros game Sakuri will be working on, this COULD be the last good game of the franchise, Ala Mario Party, as the games after the forth installment became mediocre. I recommend getting this over the 3DS port since Mewtwo is the only DLC character. Should have used the DLC cost idea from Skullgirls, Sakuri. Better than ripping off Angry Birds, I will tell you that...
Shadows of Maldor
This game is Sandbox game of the year for a good reason: it ups Assassin's Creed games very easily with it worked-in Arkham fighting system. Also when the player falls by one of the monsters in the game, time passes as the monsters actually get promoted, making the game fairly harder. Whenever the gamer is a fan of the Lord of the rings books/movies or not, this game is a nice experience. Later on, they can branded to force the creatures on the player's side, so the game gets very tactical in the middle of the game. The player can work up sleeper agents to take over and take out the line of commands within their own system. While some parts of the game can be repetitive, I recommend this game, but for PC users on steam, make sure your system can run the game.
Pokemon X/Y OR Pokemon AlphaRuby/OmegaSaphire
Pokemon Remakes can be either a hit or miss. For example FireRed/LeafGreen ended up a disappointing remake, as while it did fix the glitches in the gameplay and adds balances, it is disappointing in the end as its added unwanted difficulty as some Pokemon where nerfed thanks to the special status. Meanwhile Pokemon Soul Silver and Heart Gold is the best remakes as it adds the last gen Pokemon plus the ones in current,and keeps the huge after game proton of the past. Where dose Alpha Ruby and Omega Saphire stand? In between the two games, of course. While it doesn't change some of it's past problems, it adds elements from X and Y with Mega-Evolutions with new ones as well. It may not be as an awesome remake as HG/SS, but if the player has already got Pokemon X/Y, get this game. However, there are some disappointing elements like no more red head in the game. Sadness...
Shovel Knight
For those hardcore players who didn't get enough hard gameplays of the past, this Inde-delight is the game for you. It mixes up elements from past games like Mega-man, Zelda 2, and Ducktales puts them into this tittle. But even without the nostalgia, this game can be great for those who need that platforming itch. It dose abandon the annoying and dated life system and instead stabs shovel knight right in the wallet with a Dark Souls like system, where the players have to get their money back when they die. While it can be frustrating at points, this is a game for hardcore players. The cgame is also available for every system, so pick their poison.
The Nintendo Wii U
Yes, it's been two years sine the game system has been released and since some of the games have been sliced to 30 bucks, including the wonderful 101, now is the perfect time to buy a Wii U. There's also games for the system now unlike the Xbone games which ended up being disappointing. If you're too poor to buy the bundle, anyone can buy a refurbished Wii U for only two hundred dollars, saving around one hundred dollars so you can buy the accessories and perhaps two thirty dollar games. And since the Wii U is backward-compatible with Wii games, The choice is never been better....
Aliens Issolation
While Colonial Marines ended up to be one of the worst games ever behind other bad games, this game decided to wipe the slate clean by making it close to Amneisa than an actual shooting stupid game. Thanks to Creative Assembly who also remade Strider and Killer Instinct, this game is a horror hit. While the game is horribly padded with ice breakers within the story like bioschock, it is a experience that both the gamer fans and the horror fans both been itching for from the series. Available for most system platforms.
Well, those are my recommendations, however, I personally know that I probably missed something along the lines of Xbone and the Playstation 4. Some of the games are just simple reports of hit games like Sleeping Dogs or the last of us. And for the last time, do not get Sonic Boom! You would be the worst parent of all time. There are tons of reviewers AND critics that has panned the game:
-- Brutal Moose
-- Nintendo Fan FTW
-- Projared
-- SomeCalledMeJohnny
Excuse me while I blacklist the annoying deviant-Art fan-boys...
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Binding of Isaac: Rebirth; Sequel and Remake
Before reading, note that The binding of Isaac, as well as it's reboot Rebirth, is a game based on one of the developer's traumatic experience within his cathloc family. This game was made to be dark! Those who are easily offended by graphic imagery or parody of christian characters, this game is not for those people. Also, I personally couldn't get into the first game because of how random the game can be sometimes. The original game has the same issue of Dark Souls, where you cannot play the game blind. On to the review....
The game starts as Isaac and her mother are having a normal day, as his mother watches christian television. One day, she believes that god called upon her and tells her that her son has fallen to evil. Isaac's mother then locks him into his room and removes him from his items ...and clothes. Ew. Then "God" ask for Isaac's mother to sacrifice him to prove to hhim her faith. It's implied that Isaac's mother has gone insane after Isaac's father's "death" as she wanted a daughter instead of a son. The problem with light, is not that it's holy, but it also blinds with pride.
The game has gone though it's changes and balances, which can be both good and bad to classic Isaac fans. For one, they decided to change the graphics to more of a Pixel Game-boy Advance graphics over it's hand-drawn animation. However, they including improvements which includes controller support, which is actually very smooth and works well for those who are playing the port on the PlayStation Network. That's right, the game is also ported to both the PlayStation 4 and the PS-Vita, so Rebirth is now multi-platform. However, it would have benefited if the game was also on the 3DS and Wii U, but Nintendo's limits prevent good games from being ported sometimes. Mortal Kombat, anyone?
Another change that will disappoint the fans is that the original music artist didn't compose the music within Rebirth. While the new music is fitting, the original music from Danny, the original game's inde music developer, had charm on it's own merits. The problem is that the fans will have to adjust to the change, therefor, it might turn the original fans off while getting new fans because of the changes. Personally, the changes actually brings me to the game, thanks to the smoother controls.
One of the biggest changes is the difficulty has been adjusted greatly, as bosses have gotten a boost but the opening part of the game has a better starting curve. There is also new items, sixteen ending over the original 12 plus endings, and co-op that actually adds challenge as it subtracts health as your partner dies with only one heart. There are bigger and new rooms for the players to explore and more hidden rooms as well. However, the game is still not optimized very well as it still runs on windows mode. While it dose stretch to any size, the zoom dose seem like a lazy way to optimize the game.
However, if anyone has skipped the first game, this game is for them. While there has been some changes within the game, they are not too jarring for anyone to dislike the game. And while it is around fifteen dollars, it feels like it benefits the game as it pays for the improvements made twords the game in higher quality! In the end, I personally reccomend the game, as it improves the original formula to new highs. Now if you excuse me, I'm going to pray to the random number so I can get the right items in the end of my run!
The game starts as Isaac and her mother are having a normal day, as his mother watches christian television. One day, she believes that god called upon her and tells her that her son has fallen to evil. Isaac's mother then locks him into his room and removes him from his items ...and clothes. Ew. Then "God" ask for Isaac's mother to sacrifice him to prove to hhim her faith. It's implied that Isaac's mother has gone insane after Isaac's father's "death" as she wanted a daughter instead of a son. The problem with light, is not that it's holy, but it also blinds with pride.
The game has gone though it's changes and balances, which can be both good and bad to classic Isaac fans. For one, they decided to change the graphics to more of a Pixel Game-boy Advance graphics over it's hand-drawn animation. However, they including improvements which includes controller support, which is actually very smooth and works well for those who are playing the port on the PlayStation Network. That's right, the game is also ported to both the PlayStation 4 and the PS-Vita, so Rebirth is now multi-platform. However, it would have benefited if the game was also on the 3DS and Wii U, but Nintendo's limits prevent good games from being ported sometimes. Mortal Kombat, anyone?
Another change that will disappoint the fans is that the original music artist didn't compose the music within Rebirth. While the new music is fitting, the original music from Danny, the original game's inde music developer, had charm on it's own merits. The problem is that the fans will have to adjust to the change, therefor, it might turn the original fans off while getting new fans because of the changes. Personally, the changes actually brings me to the game, thanks to the smoother controls.
One of the biggest changes is the difficulty has been adjusted greatly, as bosses have gotten a boost but the opening part of the game has a better starting curve. There is also new items, sixteen ending over the original 12 plus endings, and co-op that actually adds challenge as it subtracts health as your partner dies with only one heart. There are bigger and new rooms for the players to explore and more hidden rooms as well. However, the game is still not optimized very well as it still runs on windows mode. While it dose stretch to any size, the zoom dose seem like a lazy way to optimize the game.
However, if anyone has skipped the first game, this game is for them. While there has been some changes within the game, they are not too jarring for anyone to dislike the game. And while it is around fifteen dollars, it feels like it benefits the game as it pays for the improvements made twords the game in higher quality! In the end, I personally reccomend the game, as it improves the original formula to new highs. Now if you excuse me, I'm going to pray to the random number so I can get the right items in the end of my run!
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
A Machine for Pigs: That's no game!
And now a game that I was dreading that I have to review for the month of Halloween. And yes, I do mean Amnesia: a Machine for pigs, but I had to cut Amnesia out of fear of the infection of spreading, as this occurrence did happen to Silent Hill, just the original developers WEREN'T around for the so-called sequel. The developers for the game where the same ones that made the "Walking Simulator" Dear Ester, But that will be explained later.
The player stars as Oswald, the wealthy industrialist and explorer, , He awake in the room with Amnesia, which is a running thing with the Amnesia series, and receives a call from someone who informs him that a machine that he helped build is sabotaged and is risk of exploding, that would risk his twin sons' life. On the way to fix the machine, you find Man-pigs (or pigmen? OR MAN-BEAR-PIGS!?) beings which chase after him.
However, while it dose have the Amnesia name, the game itself is more of a visual novel than an actual game, even though the player can mess with the dressing at times. Oswald tends to get pushed down a hallway more than exploring, which was the same problem with Dear Ester. While the puzzles have been watered down as well as the sanity effects, the sanity effects are used to at least try to cover the look of the menpigs, which are sadly copy-and-pasted all over the place. The pigmen loose their credibility, or CREEPiblity, in this case, and becomes less creepy as time moves on.
If the game would have been called A Machine For Pigs as it's main tittle just with the note on the box-art "Made by the developers of Dear Ester!" then the game would have done well for itself. The story, while it dose have it's issue shoehorning bits of Amnesia like The Room shoehorned bits of Silent Hill, is actually very creepy in it's own right. However, the company wanted to make a sequel to the game, but they couldn't get the original developers, as they moved on from the company.
Sadly, the game missed it's mark, as many fans and critics bashed the game for not being a true amnesia sequel. This caused a huge back-lash as The Chinese Room attacked back, giving the company bad repetation within the gaming community. While people do see some people will defend the game, it STILL dose not make it a game, as there is no replay value and feels like a paid for a custom story. Speaking of custom story, this game dose not have a custom story mode.
Sadly, I personally do not recommend this game. If anyone want to get the game on a sale, they are free to buy the game. Is it an Amnesia game? No, but it's a interesting interactive story on it's own. The game is easier to complete, but the name betrays itself, as it could never reach it's expectation caused by it's hype. In the end, the game should have been it's own thing...Instead, it's just a thing.
With this review, this ends Horror game mouth. Thanks twords those who read my reviews. I do have a one thousand view special in mind, so please continue to read on. For those wondering about my Youtube, it's on hiatus until later as there are too many factors holding me back from family issues to moving to another town to build my own home. I hope to evolve Beastly Bash and even renaming it as the name is also currently used by Halloween party group. Until then....
The player stars as Oswald, the wealthy industrialist and explorer, , He awake in the room with Amnesia, which is a running thing with the Amnesia series, and receives a call from someone who informs him that a machine that he helped build is sabotaged and is risk of exploding, that would risk his twin sons' life. On the way to fix the machine, you find Man-pigs (or pigmen? OR MAN-BEAR-PIGS!?) beings which chase after him.
However, while it dose have the Amnesia name, the game itself is more of a visual novel than an actual game, even though the player can mess with the dressing at times. Oswald tends to get pushed down a hallway more than exploring, which was the same problem with Dear Ester. While the puzzles have been watered down as well as the sanity effects, the sanity effects are used to at least try to cover the look of the menpigs, which are sadly copy-and-pasted all over the place. The pigmen loose their credibility, or CREEPiblity, in this case, and becomes less creepy as time moves on.
If the game would have been called A Machine For Pigs as it's main tittle just with the note on the box-art "Made by the developers of Dear Ester!" then the game would have done well for itself. The story, while it dose have it's issue shoehorning bits of Amnesia like The Room shoehorned bits of Silent Hill, is actually very creepy in it's own right. However, the company wanted to make a sequel to the game, but they couldn't get the original developers, as they moved on from the company.
Sadly, the game missed it's mark, as many fans and critics bashed the game for not being a true amnesia sequel. This caused a huge back-lash as The Chinese Room attacked back, giving the company bad repetation within the gaming community. While people do see some people will defend the game, it STILL dose not make it a game, as there is no replay value and feels like a paid for a custom story. Speaking of custom story, this game dose not have a custom story mode.
Sadly, I personally do not recommend this game. If anyone want to get the game on a sale, they are free to buy the game. Is it an Amnesia game? No, but it's a interesting interactive story on it's own. The game is easier to complete, but the name betrays itself, as it could never reach it's expectation caused by it's hype. In the end, the game should have been it's own thing...Instead, it's just a thing.
With this review, this ends Horror game mouth. Thanks twords those who read my reviews. I do have a one thousand view special in mind, so please continue to read on. For those wondering about my Youtube, it's on hiatus until later as there are too many factors holding me back from family issues to moving to another town to build my own home. I hope to evolve Beastly Bash and even renaming it as the name is also currently used by Halloween party group. Until then....
Saturday, October 25, 2014
Amnesia: The Dark Decent
Horror games used to be an ignored franchise since the Xbox 360 launched, because during the time, shooters like Halo, and Call of Duty over-shadowed horror while gamers new to the gaming industry doesn't know what true horror is in games anymore. Back then in the PlayStation era, gamers where flooded with games Like Silent Hill, Resident Evil, and other horror games. While there was some horror themed games, action has always been the main focus, whenever it's a shooter, brawler, or even to plat-formers...somehow...
This brings us to Amnesia: The Dark Decent. From the same makers of penumbra. While it might not be the game that helped pushed horror back upon the market, it was the final push that helped Amnesia to be one of the most loved horror games of all time. This game is all over youtube and helped many youtubers find their first start as lets players for better or for worst. Dispute being an old PC game, it still holds up to the test of time.
The player starts as Danial , a Amnesia stricken protagonist (who is found either bleeding or leaking potion all over the place) then finds a letter from himself to kill a man name Alexander, the cause of all the troubles within the manor he's stuck in. While trying to uncover the past, Danial runs into horrible monsters as well as horrible torture machines, hinting that Daniel gone too deep within the story as he question his own roll within the game.
The gameplay itself is what makes the game, however, it first all started with the same gameplay as penumbra but with improvements, like removing the annoying combat mechanics with the awkward controls. While a game without combat could sound like a nightmare to call of duty fans, this helps magnify the horror within the game. While the player could stall the monsters by trowing chairs and objects, they cannot be killed upright. The only way is to run and hide, to prevent from getting killed from the beast within the game.
While other games handles sanity as an on-and-off effect, Sanity doesn't exactly tie into the health, but rather make Daniel's sight and hearing, which goes crazy as it shrinks lower. When your sanity drops, Daniel goes crazy and falls to the floor, preventing him from temporally moving. To prevent this, the player must stay in the light to raise the sanity back up, but this can lead to situations where the player is spotted by the monster. Thus, the player must choose his play-style carefully...
However, this game dose have it's hiccups. For one, it is EASY to get lost within the game. While some items are easy to find, there is no real map within the game. While it was intentional for online guides and walkthoughs, it's padding in the worst possible way. Sanity also gets annoying later on as it can lead into deaths feeling cheap.
The best part about Amnesia is the mods! There are literally hundred of thousands of mods for Amnesia as much as their is mods for the original Doom games. Some range from silly and sad stories to creepy and horrifying experiences. Some of the mods change the game and even lead up into other games like most mods in Garry's Mod for Steam...for both better and worst.
Overall, I recommend Amnesia, while not as anyone's first horror game, but as a game that everyone needs to at least play once as a good experience to horror. However, I cannot recommend to play this blind as it can lead into frustration. That and the reactions on youtube is always hilarious.
This brings us to Amnesia: The Dark Decent. From the same makers of penumbra. While it might not be the game that helped pushed horror back upon the market, it was the final push that helped Amnesia to be one of the most loved horror games of all time. This game is all over youtube and helped many youtubers find their first start as lets players for better or for worst. Dispute being an old PC game, it still holds up to the test of time.
The player starts as Danial , a Amnesia stricken protagonist (who is found either bleeding or leaking potion all over the place) then finds a letter from himself to kill a man name Alexander, the cause of all the troubles within the manor he's stuck in. While trying to uncover the past, Danial runs into horrible monsters as well as horrible torture machines, hinting that Daniel gone too deep within the story as he question his own roll within the game.
The gameplay itself is what makes the game, however, it first all started with the same gameplay as penumbra but with improvements, like removing the annoying combat mechanics with the awkward controls. While a game without combat could sound like a nightmare to call of duty fans, this helps magnify the horror within the game. While the player could stall the monsters by trowing chairs and objects, they cannot be killed upright. The only way is to run and hide, to prevent from getting killed from the beast within the game.
While other games handles sanity as an on-and-off effect, Sanity doesn't exactly tie into the health, but rather make Daniel's sight and hearing, which goes crazy as it shrinks lower. When your sanity drops, Daniel goes crazy and falls to the floor, preventing him from temporally moving. To prevent this, the player must stay in the light to raise the sanity back up, but this can lead to situations where the player is spotted by the monster. Thus, the player must choose his play-style carefully...
However, this game dose have it's hiccups. For one, it is EASY to get lost within the game. While some items are easy to find, there is no real map within the game. While it was intentional for online guides and walkthoughs, it's padding in the worst possible way. Sanity also gets annoying later on as it can lead into deaths feeling cheap.
The best part about Amnesia is the mods! There are literally hundred of thousands of mods for Amnesia as much as their is mods for the original Doom games. Some range from silly and sad stories to creepy and horrifying experiences. Some of the mods change the game and even lead up into other games like most mods in Garry's Mod for Steam...for both better and worst.
Overall, I recommend Amnesia, while not as anyone's first horror game, but as a game that everyone needs to at least play once as a good experience to horror. However, I cannot recommend to play this blind as it can lead into frustration. That and the reactions on youtube is always hilarious.
Saturday, October 18, 2014
Eternal Darkness: Gotta slay them all?
This time for a horror game review, we're focusing on a GameCube gem that was successful unlike it's kick-starter sequel since the company in question fell from grace after Microsoft bought Silicon Knights. To be fair, like Rare-ware, they chose to be bought for the money sake, though they did embrace the dark side of game development. However, this game will always be their crowning achievement in life, as well as the Metal Gear Solid remake.
The player starts off as Alex, the last-in-the-line of the Roivas family line who's grand-father was murdered within his manor. While investigating, she comes upon the tomb of eternal darkness, a book inspired by the Evil Dead series. The book holds the stories by those who has ran into the darkness, including the main antagonist, where the player can choose which dark god they can face. Think reverse Pokemon meets horror , except you can choose your rival's Pokemon and only four elements. This actually add repeatability, but it can be a completion nightmare as they have to replay the game three times to get the true ending.
In the game, There are four main demonic gods known as The Ancients, specializing in different ways to torture the human race: Ulyaoth is the magic user jellyfish, Xel'lotath is the brains that drains the human's sanity with his lean arms, Chattur'gha the strong crab-like deity who crush humans with crushing force, and last and sadly least, Mantorok, a chaos entity who was rendered useless thanks to Augustus raiding his temple. The story becomes an epic as the player lives and die as the characters within the story as Alex learn from those who face the Eternal Darkness.
While the interface can be somewhat hard to learn but easy to master, the game could have explained itself much better, as most of the gameplay is learning from trail-and-error. While you don't need everything to beat the game, it is required since it makes the game easier. However, there is a hidden forth element based on the one fallen god within the story and if the player is not aware, it can easily be missed. In this game, it is recommended to replay just when figuring out everything
The icing of the cake, in this game, is the ever present sanity effects. And good lord, there are a lot of them within the game. When your character sees a monster, depending on one of the characters' condition, their sanity drains and they start losing their minds. Some of the sanity effect are creative, as some come as game bugs, oddities like loosing a head and then quoting Shapshere, to even forth-wall breaking as the game fakes deleting your saves! This game shattered the forth-wall as hilariously and creepily as it can get.
However, it dose have an annoyance: once the character looses all sanity, his OR her health starts to drain, meaning you will have to use spells (or items) to heal your sanity back up enough to see them all or just plan ignore the sanity effects by filling up the sanity meter all the way or even use cheats to keep the sanity in a certain spot. Not only that, but some of the effects often repeat themselfs, making it hard to see all the unique sanity effects in the game. It's very sad to see the sanity effects working agents themselves, often fighting for the screen.
Despite the flaws of the game, if anyone would love to enjoy a horror game without the annoying tank controls within past games like Resident Evil, this game is for that person. While it may not be anyone's game, anyone with experience with horror games will love this game. Even if it means emulating the game on your PC with HD graphic, it's an gripping experience for it's time. Just don't blame me when your computer gets possessed or you start having odd nightmares. Now excuse me as I take the pope to Best-Buy...
The player starts off as Alex, the last-in-the-line of the Roivas family line who's grand-father was murdered within his manor. While investigating, she comes upon the tomb of eternal darkness, a book inspired by the Evil Dead series. The book holds the stories by those who has ran into the darkness, including the main antagonist, where the player can choose which dark god they can face. Think reverse Pokemon meets horror , except you can choose your rival's Pokemon and only four elements. This actually add repeatability, but it can be a completion nightmare as they have to replay the game three times to get the true ending.
In the game, There are four main demonic gods known as The Ancients, specializing in different ways to torture the human race: Ulyaoth is the magic user jellyfish, Xel'lotath is the brains that drains the human's sanity with his lean arms, Chattur'gha the strong crab-like deity who crush humans with crushing force, and last and sadly least, Mantorok, a chaos entity who was rendered useless thanks to Augustus raiding his temple. The story becomes an epic as the player lives and die as the characters within the story as Alex learn from those who face the Eternal Darkness.
While the interface can be somewhat hard to learn but easy to master, the game could have explained itself much better, as most of the gameplay is learning from trail-and-error. While you don't need everything to beat the game, it is required since it makes the game easier. However, there is a hidden forth element based on the one fallen god within the story and if the player is not aware, it can easily be missed. In this game, it is recommended to replay just when figuring out everything
The icing of the cake, in this game, is the ever present sanity effects. And good lord, there are a lot of them within the game. When your character sees a monster, depending on one of the characters' condition, their sanity drains and they start losing their minds. Some of the sanity effect are creative, as some come as game bugs, oddities like loosing a head and then quoting Shapshere, to even forth-wall breaking as the game fakes deleting your saves! This game shattered the forth-wall as hilariously and creepily as it can get.
However, it dose have an annoyance: once the character looses all sanity, his OR her health starts to drain, meaning you will have to use spells (or items) to heal your sanity back up enough to see them all or just plan ignore the sanity effects by filling up the sanity meter all the way or even use cheats to keep the sanity in a certain spot. Not only that, but some of the effects often repeat themselfs, making it hard to see all the unique sanity effects in the game. It's very sad to see the sanity effects working agents themselves, often fighting for the screen.
Despite the flaws of the game, if anyone would love to enjoy a horror game without the annoying tank controls within past games like Resident Evil, this game is for that person. While it may not be anyone's game, anyone with experience with horror games will love this game. Even if it means emulating the game on your PC with HD graphic, it's an gripping experience for it's time. Just don't blame me when your computer gets possessed or you start having odd nightmares. Now excuse me as I take the pope to Best-Buy...
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