Informed Gaming

Final Fantasy 13

2010-04-21T18:41:22Z

The latest Final Fantasy and the first on this generation of consoles is excellent but not the be all end all RPG which I kind of thought it would be.

The overbearing linearity had me as well as others scratching my head. It actually takes a huge step back exploration wise from other RPGs on the system and other games in the series. The majority of the game is a string of corridors more or less tied together with some cut scenes and battles. The battle system also takes too long to unfold. We are given pieces of the battle system and item modification over the course of the first twenty hours or so which is far too long.

Now on the plus side, the linearity does give us a very focused experience with battles and story advancement. Not a whole lot of tedious level grinding and unnecessary map exploration that some games in the series had. Fortunately, ts definitely a Final Fantasy game as far as story and gameplay go. We get a very creative and epic storyline with a host of memorable characters that you really get attached too. And once the battle system unfolds completely its among the best in the series.

All in all, it’s undoubtedly a Final Fantasy game. Most of the trademark elements shine through despite the baffling linearity. We get a more focused experience story wise but the freedom of exploration and sandbox gameplay fun isn’t there. I completely forgot to mention the graphics, and yes they’re breathtaking and certainly up to par with what the systems capable of.

Aliens VS Predator

2010-04-21T18:18:36Z

Aliens vs Predator isn't anything revolutionary nor is it going turn any non fans into believers, but despite some derivative gameplay and some uninspired graphics I think it does a good enough job giving the die hard fans what they want. It represents both franchises admirably if not adding all that much new.

As far as the story goes, it actually kind of just rips off elements from the first AVP movie. But seeing as how it's a game I can forgive a story that's less than stellar. Gameplay wise we get three campaigns. A Marine, Alien, and Predator campaign. The Marine campaign was decent. It's fun getting to sleigh Aliens and the Predator boss fight was cool but having been spoiled with FPS perfection with Modern Warfare 2 this got stale after a while. Luckily what the Predator campaign lacks in technical prowess, it makes up for with some well implemented mechanics that truly make you feel like the beast who almost brought Arnold down. The Alien campaign was good as well, with some clever gameplay mechanics.

The Muliplayer again, although technically pretty far behind most of the bigger games on the system, it still to do a good job balancing the three species and making each fun to play as. Each species has different techniques and play styles to take down your opponents.

Budgeting without sacrificing

2010-02-26T21:37:35Z

Games are not cheap, that's not really news to anyone. Sixty dollars for a new game is pretty steep but luckily I have a few ways of reducing my budget and still getting the games I want.

Rule number one. SHOP ONLINE. Do not buy in stores because your going to be paying ten dollars more at least. Best case scenario you'll probably be paying half the price you would be at a store. Can't argue with that.

I just hoped on Ebay and found a copy of Modern Warfare 2 used for $36 which includes the shipping cost. If you went to Gamestop you would be paying $49.99 plus tax for the same product. If you prefer your games brand new I found a copy for $41.99 which also includes the shipping cost. But again if you went to Gamestop or even the supposedly cheaper stores like Walmart the price tag for it would be $59.99 plus tax. That's twenty bucks in your pocket and all you have to sacrifice is a few days while the game is shipped out to you. They say patience is a virtue.

Another way to keep more green in your wallet is to sell the game on Ebay after your done with it. If you buy the game for say $60 dollars the day it launches, you could probably sell it a month or two later for around $40 to $50. So that's pretty much like an extended rental where you get back the majority of what you paid for it. But if you plan to sell your game on Ebay be sure you keep the game disc, case, and manual in EXCELLENT CONDITION people are much more inclined to pay for a mint condition game than one that is scratched up obviously. And seriously, don't sell back to stores like Gamestop because they are rip off artists.

Lastly, if you prefer. You can just bypass everything I just told you and check out gamefly if you would prefer to go the rental route. This is also a viable option.

Final Fantasy XIII!

2010-02-24T21:23:53Z

I can't believe I've been sleeping on the release of Final Fantasy XIII, which just happens to be right around the corner, March 9th to be exact. I've been so caught up in my Modern Warfare 2 bubble that I kind of lost track of the fact that there are still other great games coming down the pipe.

Me and I'm sure scores of other game connoisseurs have had a long and pleasant history with the Final Fantasy series. It's been a few years since I've played an RPGs but from Final Fantasy 7 to Final Fantasy 12 I was an addict. Squaresoft is the Bottomline when it comes to Role Playing Games. You can't find anyone better at merging hours upon hours of addicting and deep gameplay with a fantastic story. Typically when you play a game the story is besides the point and is pretty much just a minor diversion from the gameplay. But when it came to the Final Fantasy games, this was a rare case of me actually being just as interested in the story progression.

So like an unexpected visit from an old friend, I'm looking forward to revisiting the Final Fantasy series. I embarrassingly admit that I know next to nothing about this game story wise or gameply wise. But I actually think it will be fun diving into a game blind for a change.

Bioshock 2

2010-02-19T20:47:00Z

Bioshock 2 takes place ten years after the events of the original Bioshock and in a cool plot twist, you get to play as one of The Big Daddy's. You're on the hunt for your little sister who has been taken by Rapture's new ruler Sophia Lamb. Sophia Lamb is the foil to Andrew Ryan's twisted idea of the perfect society. He believed in a capitalistic society for Rapture and she is now trying to organize a communist type movement where equality rules. Different values, but they're both equally out of their freaking minds.

In a few of the reviews I've read, many believed that the new game seemed overly familiar and I'm going to have to agree whole heartedly. The first game worked out so well because rapture was such a bizarre and wonderfully twisted/completely unique setting shrouded in mystery. Half the fun of the first game was unraveling Rapture and figuring out exactly what the hell it was all about and what made it tick. Now most of that has been unearthed so the mystique that was so effective in the first game is largely absent.

Now the story is inferior to the first one, but the combat has been tightened and features added to make the gameplay better. The ability to dual wield a plasmid as well as a firearm is a welcome addition and makes the combat flow smoother. As in the first one, I thought The Big Daddy's and now Big Sister's were more a pain in the ass than fun to fight. Sure bounty is plentiful after taking one down, but it just seems more like a chore than a fun strategic boss battle. The morality system is whatever. You can get an evil ending, a good ending, or a neutral ending. You get more Adam from a little sister if you harvest her rather than saving her, so you tell me what most people are going to do.

So I can definitely recommend this game if with some disappointment. The combat has been tightened and made a good deal better. More weapons, plasmids, dual wielding ability, etc. On the story/plot end of things a lot of Rapture feels old hat. You feel like your going through a slightly modified version of the first game's environments with a story thats not nearly as exciting.

*I haven't played the multiplayer so that's the reason I didn't mention that.

Battlefield Bad Company 2 vs. Modern Warfare 2

2010-02-12T19:32:36Z

The throne for most popular/best online FPS is already being contested just a few short months after Modern Warfare 2 claimed it. Now you have MW fanboys who wouldn't touch this game with a ten foot pole because it is Modern Warfare Two's "competition" but I'm not gonna be that guy. And then on the other hand you have those just as annoying trolls who will buy and brag about this game strictly because it is Modern Warfare's competition. They need to hate on anything that gets too popular. Not gonna be that guy either. The more popular something is the more your gonna see that wicked bias either at one end of the spectrum or the other.

I'm doing my darnedest not to fall into either one of those traps. I love Modern Warfare but if someone thinks they can make a better game then I'll humor them with a completely unbiased opinion. Competition is good for business and in the long run we get better products as a result. Madden still sells like hot cakes regardless of the fact that they've been releasing essentially the same game for years now because of the lack of competition. You see what I'm getting at here. But I digress, let's get back to talking about the actual game.

After having played the multiplayer demo for Bad Company 2 I realized that they're really two different types of games. They look similar on paper but when you dive into both you realize they're going for two different styles, so comparisons are largely irrelevant. This game is throwing you headfirst into massive war scenarios complete with all sorts of vehicles of destruction. The graphics aren't as impressive as MW2 but the huge scope of the maps and all the carnage that ensues is a site to behold. Strategizing with the rest of your team is a must because with four very unique but all very useful classes your really can't rely to much on one without feeling the repercussions of not having the other. You definitely get a small fish in a big pond feeling which is awesome most of the time, but frustrating at others. You feel like you have less of an impact on the outcome and when your teammates have their collective heads up their arses that will have you pulling your hair out. On the other hand if you have that mojo going on you'll feel like John Rambo taking people out left and right either with a firearm or a vehicle such as a tank or helicopter.

Modern Warfare 2 on the other hand is a more intimate experience with much smaller maps and skirmishes. You can kind of just do your own thing and as long as your watch your own hide, and your team does the same, thats enough to lead you to victory. Communication with your team certainly makes things go smoother but its not vital for success like Bad Company 2. Killstreaks rewards are also a love it or hate it thing. If your not very good at the game it adds insult to injury when the best guy on the other team Nuke your ass as if he wasn't giving you a proper flogging before hand. But hey, if your good then you really get to show off.

So both games have the same basic concept but I don't think you can really declare one superior over the other. It all depends on what your looking for. I for one can see myself bouncing between both games and enjoying them equally. It's a little premature to say for sure, but I think Bad Company 2 and Modern Warfare 2 will both be online giants for the foreseeable future without to much influence from the other.

FreedroidRPG

2010-01-24T11:42:35Z

This game looks quite good! I haven't played it yet, but I'm installing it now.

http://freedroid.sourceforge.net/

BioShock 2

2010-01-16T20:50:40Z

I went by the shopping center today and noticed that Game Stop is promoting BioShock2 which is set to be released next month.

Bayonetta

2010-01-15T22:11:31Z

When Bayonetta hit stores I knew nothing about it. After bringing it home from Blockbuster all I knew at that point was that it had gotten a few good reviews and it was directed by the same guy who made the Devil May Cry Series.

So yeah, I was really going out on a limb grabbing this one on sheer faith. I'm not one to buy or even rent a game on whim. Typically I like to do my research first. Scope out some reviews and figure out exactly what I'm getting myself into. But I was bored on a Thursday so I got a little crazy.

I wasn't totally disappointed and it wasn't a bad rental but I already think its overrated compared to the scores the game has been receiving. I think I enjoyed the last Devil May Cry Game a bit more.

The combat system is very deep almost to the point of fault if you ask me. There are a lot of flashy attacks and weapon combinations for sure, but I often felt like a lot of the moves were strictly for show. Maybe I just never got the hang of it, but I usually just resorted to mashing different combinations of Y and B and then rolling to avoid enemy attacks. The dodging system was frustrating as hell at points leaving me feeling like I was constantly being hit by unavoidable, cheap enemy attacks. The missions also seemed pretty repetitive.

On the up side, I did have fun with the combat. I found it to be overly complicated like I said, but it was still fun to play around with. The story, enemies and environments were some of the most imaginative I've seen in ages. Like The Matrix mixed with Alice In Wonderland mixed with Constantine with a whole hell of lot of its own personality thrown in. Some of the story elements were a bit to over the top for my liking, but the designer get huge points for the creativity factor. The game never took itself to seriously which was something that Devil May Cry did to much at points.

Soo all in all, I thought it was good but not great. The combat was fun but a lot of the moves seemed like unnecessary filler. The story and characters are cool in a very over the top but amazingly creative way. If you enjoy The Devil May Cry series then you should at least rent this because the combat elements are similar.

Enter Your Date of Birth

2010-01-14T19:33:59Z

I've been surfing a few video game related websites and was surprised to find that they prompt visitors for their date of birth before letting them in.

Although its a simple hurdle for younger kids to jump, this would lead me to believe that the video game industry is taking the concerns of parents quite seriously.

I'm curious if there are any products that parents can purchase that would inform their computer (respecting privacy of course) of their childrens' ages so that they would only be shown content for their age group. The concept is probably patented a million ways to Mars but no one is bothering to pursue it out of fear of getting sued by each other!

Tekken 6

2010-01-14T16:13:02Z

Amazon is running a special on Tekken 6 at the moment and they are selling it for around $35 depending on the platform and it ships for free.

I haven't played it but it is getting good reviews.

Aliens Vs Predator

2010-01-01T23:04:12Z

The Blood Thirsty Alien and Predator rivalry has spanned across games, comics, a few movies, and action figure series with varying success. As far as the initial concept goes, I am in love with the idea. I think the Aliens and Predators are still the coolest extra terrestrial villains pop culture has offered. And when you combine the two franchises well thats a fan boys dream come true.

It's been far too long since we've had good game based on the idea. I'm thinking back to Aliens versus Predator 2 back in 2001 for the PC. Finally the franchise is hopping onto this generation of a gaming consoles and is being released for the 360 as well as the PS3 on February 19th 2010.

From what I can gather the game has three campaigns each putting you in the role as either a Marine, an Alien, or a Predator. I don't know a whole lot about the game yet, but I know I'm going to give the game rental at the very least. I'm looking to man handle some fools as The Predator. Hopefully it will be good enough to warrant a purchase. The trailer looks promising.

Darksiders

2010-01-01T21:21:06Z

Darksiders puts you in the role of War, the first horseman of the Apocalypse. You're tricked by the forces of evil into igniting the beginning of the end of the world and stripped of your powers for your transgression. Now you're forced to right this wrong and punish those responsible.

Darksider's on the surface appears to be an attempt to cash in on the God of War success, I've even heard the word clone being thrown around.

Luckily although the game's concept has most likely been influenced by God of War, from the first review I've read it is very much its own gaming experience. Apparently its more comparable to the Legend of Zelda then to God of War. In gameplay style anyways.

I'm planning on renting this one and giving an in depth review. Now I haven't played any of The God of War games, so this review will be coming from someone who cant' really compare the two games. But here's a review from some people who can.

Gaming is the future

2009-12-09T20:25:57Z

The game industry is a cash cow through and through. The music and movie industries seem to be in a losing battle with piracy, but the game industry is flourishing like never before. For evidence of this you have to look no further than Modern Warfare 2. The game has set entertainment industry records that go even beyond the video game spectrum.

For those of you non gamers who think I may be overstating things a tad, you should check out this article I just read. Five hundred and fifty million dollars in revenue in five days. Modern Warfare 2 beat out rivals such as Halo 3 and Grand Theft Auto 4. It also smashed the movie industry record for a five day total held by "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," which tallied $394 million over its first five days.

The real kicker here in my eyes is the production cost in comparison to the revenue games bring in. Like I said, Modern Warfare 2 brought in $550 million and had a production cost of around $40-50 million. While certainly no small investment, look at that figure compared to the production costs of these hollywood blockbusters listed here.

This is certainly a milestone for the video game industry. I can see things getting a lot more competitive over the coming years as gaming attracts more investors and developers. As we see more competition that means better quality products and that is good news for us gamers.

Dead Rising 2

2009-12-09T20:01:18Z

This game has been a long time coming. The original Dead Rising was released on August 8th, 2006 and this one is slated to drop on August 31st, 2010. I'm not sure what the hold up was, but Dead Rising 2 is indeed a reality.

Dead Rising 2 is being developed by Blue Castle games and will be distributed by former developer Capcom. I'm assuming the delay was because the game, for whatever reason, switched developers. There's probably a lot of red tape and kinks to work out when you bring in a new creative team to work on something that was previously designed by someone else.

But whatever the case may be, I'm still eagerly anticipating this one. The first installment was a great sand box game that still holds up well almost four years later. I can't wait to see what great ideas the four year hiatus has given way to.