It's Time to Throw my DS Out The Window!
Just to give you a taster of some of the prominent releases -
Jasper Carrot's Golden Balls
Baby Life
Ellen Whitaker's Horse Life
Are You Smarter Than a 10 Year Old?
Who buys these titles?
Im getting a headache.
Gaming in 2008 - Fallout 3
Fallout 3 is another game that has featured heavily in "best of 2008" discussions. A massive action RPG set in a post apocalyptic America, Fallout 3 is a very open ended adventure.
I had never intended to pick up this title. However, one day I saw a discounted copy in Akihabara, and with it's impressive reviews in mind, I decided to give it a go.
My Fallout 3 experience lasted a a little over 10 hours, at which point I gave up. This was partly out of frustration, as I had managed to wander far from where I was supposed to be going. But, more importantly, its was due to a general disinterest in the game.
I found the combat system somewhat dull. The VATS system was fun at first, allowing you to target and execute weapon attacks in slow motion, but it quickly wore off. Although I only really scratched the surface of the game, I had already become disappointed with the lack of variety of enemies.
The Fallout world is huge, and you are free to wander and converse as you please. However, the post apocalyptic setting results in a very dreary looking environment, and not one that I had any overwhelming desire to explore.
It wasn't all doom and gloom. I really liked many of the stylistic elements of the game such as the Jazz soundtrack and the 1950's presentation. The voice acting was also impressive, provided by well known actors such as Liam Neeson and Ron Perlman.
I also savoured the level of character customization and the Karma System added an interesting spin to the game.
Ultimately, I found it very difficult to get into Fallout 3 and discarded it well before I would have liked. My opinion of this game should of course be taken with a grain of salt, as 10 hours only enabled me to scratch the surface of a huge and complex game. Still, what I did see didn't particularly endear me to Fallout 3, though I saw enough promise to keep me interested in having another go in the future.
Gaming in 2008 - Dead Space
SPOILERS
Dead Space is an absolute nightmare. And I mean that in the best possible sense.
Dripping with atmosphere and containing more jump-out-of-your-seat moments than you can shake a mechanical mining saw at, Dead Space is well worth playing. But be warned, as you would expect from a game that features a dismemberment combat system, its a bloody experience.
There is a real feeling of dread when you guide the main protagonist, Isaac Clarke into a dimly lit room, never knowing what form of monstrosity is going to wander in. The audio is suitably unnerving and you will be constantly listening out for any sounds that may give away the approach of the necromorphs.
Dead Space also features a refreshing new way of displaying your characters health and attributes. You only need to glance at the display on Isaac's back to see if he needs medical attention. This avoids the need to pause the game, leaving the atmosphere undisturbed. In fact, when you do need to enter a menu, to swap weapons etc, the game does not pause, meaning you are still susceptible to attack. 
The lack of breathers keep you constantly on edge. This does wonders for the atmosphere, but also contributes to one of my few gripes. I never played this game for particularly long sessions. I would play for 30 minutes, then move onto something more relaxing. While this is indeed a credit to the games design and atmosphere, it would also suggest that the story and or gameplay was never so engrossing that I couldnt bear to put it down.
Dead Space is also a little repetitive. The levels all look remarkably similar and the mission objectives are far from awe inspiring. The ending didnt really satisfy, but each to their own.
Aside form these small points, Dead Space is an easy game to recommend, especially if you enjoy the survival horror genre. While never quite reaching the heights of Resident Evil 4, its still one of the best games of 2008.
Gaming In 2008
2008 has been a great year for gamers. We have been treated to superior sequels, original titles and updates of classics.
As the year comes to an end, there is no shortage of articles concerning "best of..." awards. Its my intention to make some comments on the big titles which have constantly been mentioned in those conversations, while refraining from ranking my own personal favourites.
This will be by no means be an exhaustive list. The vast majority of the games will be Playsation 3, as I dont (yet) own a Xbox 360 and I rarely play my Wii. I hope to add some comments about portable gaming in 2008 also. I have played and own all the games that I comment on
I will refrain from including Sega Saturn games.
Gaming in 2008 - Metal Gear Solid 4
SPOILERS ALERT
I always intended to buy a Playstation 3. However, I decided to wait until the release of Metal Gear Solid 4 before I shelled out. Metal Gear Solid is also my favourite gaming series, alongside Final Fantasy. So, I was really anxious to play hands down my most anticipated title of the year.
From the get-go, the game is beautiful. It looks and plays like a dream. Whether a grizzled vet or a newcomer to the series, MGS4 is easy to get into and near impossible to put down. The enemy AI is also very impressive, providing a constant challenge. Soldiers will interact with each other, and if they uncover your presence, they will work together to flush you out.
Old Snake is of course the star, and you really feel for him and his deteriorating condition. Sticking himself with serums to delay his rapidly encroaching demise, panting and wheezing his way through levels, being burnt, stabbed, fried and shot at every turn, you find yourself completely invested in his well being. David Hayter continues his stellar turn as the voice of Snake, sounding suitably gruffer than ever. The supporting cast are also worthy of praise. Liquid Ocelot is a great villan and Raiden provides a pleasant surprise.
MGS4 also strives, and largely succeeds in tying together the MGS saga. There are numerous fan boy references which further enrich the experience. But dont worry if you miss them, it wont impede your enjoyment. The intricate story maintains your interest throughout and there are twists galore, which although a little over the top, never seem forced and remain in -keeping with the style of the series.
The Debin Points system and the option to play the game guns blazing or by utilizing stealth, really adds a great measure of replayability ( is that a word?). Most of the levels can be tackled however you see fit and each offers different rewards.
However, this is not a perfect game, as some prominant pulications make out There are issues, which if resolved, would have improved upon what is already an outstanding game.
The Psyche metre is a source of frustration. As your metre decreases, you become incapable of certain actions, eventually resulting in collapse. However, its not always clear what exactly is causing this depletion. I really didnt feel that it added anything to the game, except a good marketing opportunity for energy drinks!
The "Beauty and The Beast" bosses, were at times a little disappointing, as they didnt really hold my interest like the bosses in previous incarnations. When you kill one of the aforementioned beasts, Drebin, your trusty arms dealer, fills you in on their tortured past. However, these tales are somewhat over the top, even for MGS, and are at times unintentionally funny.
Now onto the real sticking point: the cut scenes. More precisely, the balance between cut scenes and actual gameplay. In my opinion, the length of gameplay is not the issue. In fact, there is a lot to be had. The concern is the balance between the cut scenes and the gameplay. But first, lets concentrate on the good things. The scenes look beautiful, and for the most part add vital details to the plot. A pause option is also included. Some of the scenes are also interactive, allowing you to collect new items etc. However, some of the scenes were painfully long, in particular the mission briefings, which at times felt like a chore. The frustration I felt during these long periods of relative inactivity was compounded by the breathtaking quality of the gameplay which I desperately wanted to return to.
Its worth mentioning, that I have played the game through twice. On my second playthrough, on Big Boss Hard, I enjoyed the freedom to skip some of the overly long cut scenes, keeping me much more immersed in the gameplay.
But this is nitpicking. MGS4 is a revolutionary game and one that will stay with you long after you finally put it down. Its is a welcome addition to the rich tapestry created by its predecessors. The return to Shadow Moses stands out as perhaps my favourite gaming moment of the year, and the motorbike and microwave set scenes are two of the most cinematic and enjoyable gaming experiences in recent memory.
While not without its imperfections, It is still an instant classic, and an experience that I am likely to revisit again and again. Its deserving of all the "Best of" awards that its currently receiving. If you have a PS3, you need this game. If you dont have a PS3, you need one, and this game.
NBA Live
EA Sport's NBA Live series has eaten up a great deal of my spare time. And cash.
The series has been around for a few years now, and was preceeded by games such as Bulls Versus Lakers. My introduction to the series came with NBA LIVE 97 on the Sega Saturn. Since then, I have tended to buy an istallment every other year.
As the years have progressed, new features have been added, such as Legend Teams, Franchise modes and All Star festivities. Personally, I have never really paid much attention to these additions. Its always been about the gameplay and the statistical presentation. I love NBA stats!!
The Live series has at times come under fire for a lack of innovation. But basketball is basketball, and there is only so much you can add to the formula without repetition. One thing is for sure though; it looks a hell of a lot prettier than it used to!
Christmas Memories - Sega Master System 2
As a kid, christmas always meant video games, or if I was lucky, a console. So today has got me thinking about my first ever console, the Sega Masters System 2.
I got my Master System one Christmas in the early 90s, around the age of 10. It came with a built-in copy of Alex Kid in Miracle World and was bundled with Sonic The Hedgehog, an extra controller and a smart looking plastic carry case. Although the system was already nearing the end of its shelf life, I still got plenty of fun out of it. It also began an ongoing loyalty to Sega consoles, which continued up until the Saturn, and a general, and utterly baseless disdain for all things Nintendo. But that's another story.
One thing that still stands out is the relative difficulty of some of the Master System games. I remember buying one of the Super Cartridge Series called "The Ninja" and never being able to get further than 5 minutes into the game!
Probably my favourite games for this system were Sonic The Hedgehog and Double Dragon. Sonic remains great fun to play and I still have the urge to go back and find all the chaos emeralds. Double Dragon was great fun multiplayer. My brother and I spent sometime trying to finish it, only to be pitted against each other in the finale. We didn't quite grasp that we had to fight each other, and in the end my brother just fell off the screen, awarding me the victory by default. He still disputes this.
Despite its age and relatively limited catalogue of games, the Master System is still worth checking out. Now go find those Chaos Emeralds.
Christmas Nights
If you want to get into the christmas spirit, you cant go wrong with Sega's Christmas Nights. A festive themed additon to the still popular Nights game, it's is still great fun to play. You can pick up a copy for less than 100yen and the special analogue controller is still pretty easy to find. Yet another reason to dust off your Saturn.
How Far Do You Trust Gaming Reviews?
Rise of the Argonauts is a game that caught my interest a few months back. It features three things that I really enjoy: Ancient mythology, RPG elements and a gameplay style somewhat similar to the God of War series.
So with the games release a few days past, I began looking for reviews. However, those that I have read have been far from positive, and the bigger sites (gamespot, ign etc) havent even featured a review yet, which is always a bad sign. Which brings me to my point, how far should we take into account other's reviews without actually trying the product ourselves?
Living in Japan means that renting is not an option for the time being and to buy the game (imported) is going to cost at least 8000yen (£59)*. So to shell out for a game that has so far recieved mixed reviews at best is a tough sell.
In general, I do tend to take reviews with a pinch of salt. They usually simply act to reinforce my existing opinion, as opposed to changing my mind. And it goes without saying that everyone has different preferences when it comes to gaming. In fact, I recently picked up a copy of Fallout 3 on the basis of its universally glowing reviews, but I abandoned the game about 10 hours in as it just wasnt for me.
I guess I will wait a couple more days, check the reviews and gameplay footage. Though I have the feeling that my wallet is about to get 8000yen lighter! When it comes to video games, I have little self control.
*Until I wrote that sentence, I didnt realise how terrible the exchange rate was. I really should send some money home.
Anyone want a set of Virtual On Sticks?
Why do I have two sets of Sega Saturn Virtual On Sticks?
I suppose the game is ok, though I doubt I have spent more than an hour playing it. So god knows why I have two of these bulky sets, complete with boxes, sitting in my living room. I actually tried to sell one a while back, but the postage to Europe was going to be so high that the buyer pulled out!
I think I might struggle to give them away.
Welcome.
In this blog I hope to share some of my thoughts and opinions on the games im playing, and if anyone bothers to read it, then all the better!
Right, im off to look for cheap Sega Saturn games.
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