Hideo Kojima has done it again. MGS4 is the most detailed, convincing, and well-researched game I have ever played. It offers a compelling and imaginative glimpse into the future of high-tech warfare, a nuanced, intelligent storyline, vastly improved gameplay, and incredible graphics.
The metal gear franchise has always pushed the boundaries of what a game could be, and challenged the preconceptions of the audience. MGS4 starts out with, of all things, a short live action film about marine fauna. The in-game store discounts weapons (in real time) on wednesdays and sundays. These are just a few examples, but there are many more. The story has both the philosophical and political musings as well as the bizarre humor and one of a kind characters that fans expect.
The gameplay is more open and the action is more intense than in prior games. The environments seem much bigger and are bustling with npcs engaged in building to building warfare. Snake can join either side in the conflict or ignore them and sneak by. He has a ton of new weapons and gadgets as well.
The graphics are among the most impressive I have seen in a game. The characters are solid physical presences with subtle, lifelike facial expressions. The mechs move with an animal grace and hunt with a keen intelligence that belies their artificial construction.
Overall, the game is an experience that should not be missed by anyone with a PS3. If you don't already own a PS3, this game alone would justify its purchase. It is by far the most creative, original, and technically polished game to appear on the system to date.
Wednesday, July 19, 2000
Tuesday, July 18, 2000
Diseaga 4 - A Promise Forgotten - 8.5
When the
Disgaea series debuted way back in 2003 it had a unique appeal. It was
something that you just simply didn't see a whole lot of. It was funny
and was charming in a way. But what made it stand above all else was by
far the interesting concepts put forth in the battle system. Since
then, however, Disgaea hasn't really changed much. Disgaea 4 is the
same way. If you didn't get into Disgaea before, Disgaea 4 isn't going
to change your mind. But if you've stuck with Disgaea since the
beginning, you may find something in Disgaea 4.
As usual for a Disgaea game, it takes place in the netherworld where you'll likely control demons. Valvatorez was once a powerful tyrant but after losing his powers he has been reduced to being the guy who trains the new Prinnies. Unfortunately he may soon be out of the job when the corrupt government of the Netherworld decides that they need to exterminate every last Prinny. It is up to Valvatorez to save the Prinnies. Compared to the last couple of entries, Disgaea 4's story is actually quite political. This doesn't mean it forsakes its characters, but those not too big on political humor or satire, may not find Disgaea 4 to be that enjoyable. There are a lot of ridiculous jokes weaved into the tale along with some clever parodies and satirical observations. You'll find bigger and better stories in several other JRPG's but at least it's enjoyable to a degree. The characters are likable and charming and some of the dialog is funny. What you may not appreciate right off hand is the voice acting itself. Disgaea has always gone for over the top voice acting and at times it has been annoying. You can opt to listen to the dialog in Japanese if you wish, or you can turn it off all together. The story is still told through, for the most part, small skits that involve character portraits standing across from each other. A charm of Disgaea that has yet to actually grow tiresome or old. All told the story might not keep your attention but some of the funny lines will. But nothing will hold your attention like the gameplay.
Disgaea has always been known for it's unique gameplay structure. And if you've played previous games in the series you won't find too many additions here. Like your typical strategy RPG Disgaea has you sending characters into the field of battle where you battle your enemies in phases. The game is much more complex than most Strategy RPGs, even today. As I said, if you've played the series before you'll have no trouble slipping right in, but newcomers will find themselves lost. The game slowly piles on new concepts for you to grasp. First introducing you to the basics of attacks before slowly introducing you to special moves and defending. It then jumps into some of the more interesting concepts of the gameplay, such as the Geo Symbols. The Geo Symbols have always been what separates Disgaea from other games. When in battle you'll no doubt notice that certain tiles are certain colors and blocks on them. Each Geo Symbol will give any color tile it sits on a specific buff or debuff. It can be something as simple as "Recovery 40%" or something as damaging as "Ally Damage 20%". It might even be something different such as providing you with 50% more experience. This aspect of the Geo Panels has often made some of Disgaea's battles feel a little puzzle based. The enemies are not always something to worry about. So are the different tiles in battle. And Disgaea 4 is relentless at times. If you go rushing off into too many battles it isn't shy about punishing you. If you don't take time to meticulously learn some of the gameplay mechanics the game is likely to be much more challenging than it has to be.
Along with the Geo Symbols, Disgaea 4 brings back other familiar things. The item world is back, allowing you to dive in and go deep to raise the level of your weapons. The item world has been expanded upon a bit. Every five floors you now get to branch off and explore more than you otherwise would. There are still mystery rooms filled with goodies and surprises too. The item world pretty much showcases another thing Disgaea is about: Grinding. If you've been coddled by RPGs where you can pretty much do anything, Disgaea 4 will change that quickly. This is a game that actually expects you to grind. And if you don't, it WILL punish you for it. The good news is, the gameplay is engaging enough that grinding doesn't feel like a chore. Especially because going into the item world presents a unique experience each time. You won't find a lot of floors the same and the Geo Panels and Symbols are randomly generated.
Disgaea 4 hasn't changed much from its predecessors at all. Much of it will be familiar to fans. At times its more like putting on a pair of old gloves and finding they still fit perfectly. If you haven't been much of a Disgaea fan, there isn't anything here that will likely turn you into one. Disgaea probably isn't going to reach much higher. It's still unique in its own way, but at some point it may have to do more than just add on small tidbits to its gameplay.
There is one area where perhaps it wouldn't have been so bad for Disgaea to progress just a little. The presentation. The sprites here are perfectly redone in HD, but it doesn't look all that different from what you've already seen. All the artwork is pretty much exactly the same. It is definitely noticeable, however. The game gives you the option to toggle between HD and SD sprite settings. Needless to say if you're playing on an HD TV then the difference is obvious. Still, it's hard to shake the fact that even in HD Disgaea 4 looks exactly like the three games which came before it. More so than the graphics, however, Disgaea still uses isometric maps where you can only shift the perspective left or right. But you can't zoom in or zoom out or tilt the perspective. On some maps its fine but on others you might lose track of your characters or some of the enemies this way.
The music on the other hand, actually sounds really good. The voice acting may, at times, grate on your nerves, but the soundtrack isn't likely to. It fits the game perfectly. You will also hear a couple of remixed tracks from previous entries.
If you've enjoyed previous Disgaea outings then there is no harm in giving Disgaea 4 a try. The change in the story's themes may not be for everyone at first, but it still maintains a lot of its humor to make it easier to swallow. Either way, in regards to its storytelling it is certainly a step up from Disgaea 3. If you've never been into Disgaea you're not going to change your mind with this.
As usual for a Disgaea game, it takes place in the netherworld where you'll likely control demons. Valvatorez was once a powerful tyrant but after losing his powers he has been reduced to being the guy who trains the new Prinnies. Unfortunately he may soon be out of the job when the corrupt government of the Netherworld decides that they need to exterminate every last Prinny. It is up to Valvatorez to save the Prinnies. Compared to the last couple of entries, Disgaea 4's story is actually quite political. This doesn't mean it forsakes its characters, but those not too big on political humor or satire, may not find Disgaea 4 to be that enjoyable. There are a lot of ridiculous jokes weaved into the tale along with some clever parodies and satirical observations. You'll find bigger and better stories in several other JRPG's but at least it's enjoyable to a degree. The characters are likable and charming and some of the dialog is funny. What you may not appreciate right off hand is the voice acting itself. Disgaea has always gone for over the top voice acting and at times it has been annoying. You can opt to listen to the dialog in Japanese if you wish, or you can turn it off all together. The story is still told through, for the most part, small skits that involve character portraits standing across from each other. A charm of Disgaea that has yet to actually grow tiresome or old. All told the story might not keep your attention but some of the funny lines will. But nothing will hold your attention like the gameplay.
Disgaea has always been known for it's unique gameplay structure. And if you've played previous games in the series you won't find too many additions here. Like your typical strategy RPG Disgaea has you sending characters into the field of battle where you battle your enemies in phases. The game is much more complex than most Strategy RPGs, even today. As I said, if you've played the series before you'll have no trouble slipping right in, but newcomers will find themselves lost. The game slowly piles on new concepts for you to grasp. First introducing you to the basics of attacks before slowly introducing you to special moves and defending. It then jumps into some of the more interesting concepts of the gameplay, such as the Geo Symbols. The Geo Symbols have always been what separates Disgaea from other games. When in battle you'll no doubt notice that certain tiles are certain colors and blocks on them. Each Geo Symbol will give any color tile it sits on a specific buff or debuff. It can be something as simple as "Recovery 40%" or something as damaging as "Ally Damage 20%". It might even be something different such as providing you with 50% more experience. This aspect of the Geo Panels has often made some of Disgaea's battles feel a little puzzle based. The enemies are not always something to worry about. So are the different tiles in battle. And Disgaea 4 is relentless at times. If you go rushing off into too many battles it isn't shy about punishing you. If you don't take time to meticulously learn some of the gameplay mechanics the game is likely to be much more challenging than it has to be.
Along with the Geo Symbols, Disgaea 4 brings back other familiar things. The item world is back, allowing you to dive in and go deep to raise the level of your weapons. The item world has been expanded upon a bit. Every five floors you now get to branch off and explore more than you otherwise would. There are still mystery rooms filled with goodies and surprises too. The item world pretty much showcases another thing Disgaea is about: Grinding. If you've been coddled by RPGs where you can pretty much do anything, Disgaea 4 will change that quickly. This is a game that actually expects you to grind. And if you don't, it WILL punish you for it. The good news is, the gameplay is engaging enough that grinding doesn't feel like a chore. Especially because going into the item world presents a unique experience each time. You won't find a lot of floors the same and the Geo Panels and Symbols are randomly generated.
Disgaea 4 hasn't changed much from its predecessors at all. Much of it will be familiar to fans. At times its more like putting on a pair of old gloves and finding they still fit perfectly. If you haven't been much of a Disgaea fan, there isn't anything here that will likely turn you into one. Disgaea probably isn't going to reach much higher. It's still unique in its own way, but at some point it may have to do more than just add on small tidbits to its gameplay.
There is one area where perhaps it wouldn't have been so bad for Disgaea to progress just a little. The presentation. The sprites here are perfectly redone in HD, but it doesn't look all that different from what you've already seen. All the artwork is pretty much exactly the same. It is definitely noticeable, however. The game gives you the option to toggle between HD and SD sprite settings. Needless to say if you're playing on an HD TV then the difference is obvious. Still, it's hard to shake the fact that even in HD Disgaea 4 looks exactly like the three games which came before it. More so than the graphics, however, Disgaea still uses isometric maps where you can only shift the perspective left or right. But you can't zoom in or zoom out or tilt the perspective. On some maps its fine but on others you might lose track of your characters or some of the enemies this way.
The music on the other hand, actually sounds really good. The voice acting may, at times, grate on your nerves, but the soundtrack isn't likely to. It fits the game perfectly. You will also hear a couple of remixed tracks from previous entries.
If you've enjoyed previous Disgaea outings then there is no harm in giving Disgaea 4 a try. The change in the story's themes may not be for everyone at first, but it still maintains a lot of its humor to make it easier to swallow. Either way, in regards to its storytelling it is certainly a step up from Disgaea 3. If you've never been into Disgaea you're not going to change your mind with this.
Mass Effect 2 PC review 9.5
I never played this game on XBOX 360 before so I read some reviews before I brought it. All the reviews I read stated this game was amazing. With that being said, I went into this game with high hopes....
You know how when you go into a movie with high hopes you often leave thinking, "Well that was kind of a letdown.. I thought you said it as AMAZING!" Mass Effect 2 for the PS3 actually met my high standards. I have been playing this game for 2 days straight and I can't get enough of it. It combines two of my favorite gaming genres: FPS (technically, it's third person) and RPG. If you love the Uncharted Series... I think you would love this game too.
PROS:
- Great Storyline (it's like you're watching a movie... there is character development)
- Beautiful graphics (The worlds you travel you are gorgeous... too bad the game is only in 720p and not 1080p resolution. But it's ok, it still looks great!)
- Customizable player (You can make the main character look just like you. Before you start the game, you get to customize the face of the main character)
- Upgradeable weapons, equipment, skills, teammates, etc.
- There are so much to do. Basically you aren't just going through a level... picking up ammo, collecting money, shooting everything that moves, everything is predetermined, etc., etc. You actually get to choose what to do and say. For example, when you are in a interacting with another character, there are multiple responses you can select. Saying one thing will give affect you one way and saying the other will affect you differently.
CONS:
- So far, there is really nothing I can think of.
As for glitches.... I had to restart on PS3 system only ONCE because during one of the loading windows the game got stuck. But after that... everything was fine. So far it hasn't happened again.
You know how when you go into a movie with high hopes you often leave thinking, "Well that was kind of a letdown.. I thought you said it as AMAZING!" Mass Effect 2 for the PS3 actually met my high standards. I have been playing this game for 2 days straight and I can't get enough of it. It combines two of my favorite gaming genres: FPS (technically, it's third person) and RPG. If you love the Uncharted Series... I think you would love this game too.
PROS:
- Great Storyline (it's like you're watching a movie... there is character development)
- Beautiful graphics (The worlds you travel you are gorgeous... too bad the game is only in 720p and not 1080p resolution. But it's ok, it still looks great!)
- Customizable player (You can make the main character look just like you. Before you start the game, you get to customize the face of the main character)
- Upgradeable weapons, equipment, skills, teammates, etc.
- There are so much to do. Basically you aren't just going through a level... picking up ammo, collecting money, shooting everything that moves, everything is predetermined, etc., etc. You actually get to choose what to do and say. For example, when you are in a interacting with another character, there are multiple responses you can select. Saying one thing will give affect you one way and saying the other will affect you differently.
CONS:
- So far, there is really nothing I can think of.
As for glitches.... I had to restart on PS3 system only ONCE because during one of the loading windows the game got stuck. But after that... everything was fine. So far it hasn't happened again.
Monday, July 17, 2000
Gran Turismo 5 | 9.0
*** As I've updated my thoughts on various aspects of this game, I've wound up writing an extremely long and complex review. My apologies, though it's pretty amusing considering the game I'm discussing. Long story short: the game isn't perfect, but it's awesome and a huge step forward.
This game lives up to expectations as a major leap forward from GT4 and a cutting edge PS3 experience, so long as you're realistic and actually wanted a Gran Turismo style game. If you're expecting a game that is fully accessible quickly, instead of demanding patience and repeated accomplishment, or a game where you're forgiven for a lack of finesse, this may not be what you're looking for.
How to play: I've been a fan of this series since the original Playstation edition. I've generally played all Gran Turismo games by acquiring a cheap car (a used Mazda MX-5 in this game), beating a few license tests, racing for money to upgrade my car, and then buying a faster car and yet more upgrades for it. As this goes along, I wind up building a racing empire, beating all the license tests (which open up access to harder races), and having a great time.
In GT5, there's a new element that changes this. You gain A-Spec exp for various accomplishments and have a level for A Spec and B Spec (B Spec refers to the AI driving your car for you). Every race and car and special event has a level (some are level 0) you must reach before accessing. If you hate the licenses, you can see the rest of the game without them by gaining levels (such as by winning races). Personally, I'm still beating the licenses (and you gain levels very fast this way), and playing through as I always have.
Graphics: The graphics are stunning. I was expecting the quality to equal Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, but they are improved somewhat, particularly with regard to anti aliasing. Tracks look lovely, and even the notorious 800 'non-premium' cars look excellent. If these were the best the game had to offer, GT5 would be the prettiest racer yet. And yet the 200 premium cars take that to the next level. Tracks are astonishing. Nurburgring is stunning, as the shadows from trees reflect off the suede interior of my Aston Martin DBS, and the sun sets, the line from 'uncanny valley' to simply 'you're really there' is crossed. I don't see how graphics can improve from this point and my eyes be able to detect it. One neat addition is how lights reflect off mist, other cars, gleam onto things, etc. The shadows are not as well done as I like, leaving some jagged edges, but otherwise the game looks amazing.
Sound: I have always complained that Gran Turismo's sounds are too synthetic and unrealistic. GT5 has made a huge leap forward. Change your exhaust system and you actually can hear it. I can tell if a car is a V8 or a V6. That magestic sound of a Ferrari's 12 cylinders is actually represented. I still hope the game moves forward with a few details. You don't get the throaty idle of an old pony car [edit: I stand corrected... the Cobra 427 has a raspy idle and sounds great)... but then you shouldn't be standing still in the first place. It sounds amazing on my 5.1 system. Lots of car sims support 5.1, but the doppler effect and different engine noises show incredible realism here. I really like the long list of BGM songs and menu music, but the game supports your own mp3s, which is wonderful because I will be playing this game long enough to want new tunes. The audio improvements also make the replays much more exciting. You will know what I mean when you watch some (or play B-Spec, where you command the computer to drive for you), though it's hard to really describe. You feel much more like you're at the race.
AI: It's great. I could swear that a car retaliated against me. GT has tended to have weak AI that drives in a row, and that is thankfully not the problem. In B-Spec you can monitor the mental fatigue and attitude of the AI competitors, and that kind of thing appears to be tracked in the other cars. The AI gets stronger as you progress to harder races (as do their cars).
Physics: Some will not enjoy racing this series on its full realism settings. If you're not talented, this game's maximum realism settings are simply very hard. The game makes some effort to accomodate the rest of us mere mortals with a lot of aids and settings, but actually being competitive with this game takes work. I think the physics scratch that realism itch many PC gamers have been demanding for years. You have to develop some skills before the game can really be appreciated. There don't seem to be mechanical breakdowns (IE: overheating when you damage your radiator), something I've always wanted to see in this series, but otherwise the realism is excellent. I think most gamers can jump into Arcade Mode on beginner pick the F40, and win a race.
Content: I wish there were a few additional car models and that all of them were premium (you get used to the awesome cockpits quickly!). I think the problem is that GT5 has so many cars included that people get the illusion they should have every single car they can think of. It's so comprehensive that you actually are surprised when something isn't there (ahem, Porsche). In other words, it's easy to be unrealistic and hope for everything... that's how much content you have here. There are so many historic and amazing racing cars in this game that it seems unfair to feel this way. Upgrade parts and fine tuning settings are comprehensive and yet easy for anyone to fiddle with. There are many tracks in this game, though my favorite test track from GT4 is missing. Some of the weather and nighttime settings only work for some tracks, but when they do they are absolutely awesome. There are lots of things like photo album and setting up your personal area that just don't appeal to me personally. Online features are fully fleshed out, though, with very large fields of racers, chat, etc.
I think the game is so large that the menu system, for example, the GT World home's dozen+ things to choose from, seems daunting at first. Just remember this is a game many will play for hundreds of hours. Expect to find the menus a little daunting at first, but I'm already finding them very easy to get around after a few days.
I'm surprised by the track editor. It's easy to use, though you can't design each turn exactly as you'd like. But you'll never run out of tracks! The special events are practically entire games to themselves with a real diversity ranging from Nascar to Top Gear to WRC.
Fun Factor: I think a lot of people are going to complain about this. As gaming has become more and more popular as a form of entertainment, games have accomodated more players by being easy. I am not saying this is right or wrong: but understand this product is not an arcade game. You will have to have patience and practice to fully enjoy a more subtle experience. The fun comes from mastery. I think that's a lot of fun, but some people do not. The Kart racing, Drift, and to be honest, Nascar, present some cheaper thrills. You can also dial up the driving aids and have a very easy experience, but if you're looking for Blur or Need for Speed, this game just doesn't offer that experience. I do have one complaint: the game requires a substantial loading time, and the loading of new tracks took longer than expected the first time. Once it's loaded something the first time, it seems to save some of the content on the HDD, and it's much faster to load that thing in the future. I have a huge HDD, but people who have smaller ones should be aware this game will need eight GBs (or perhaps a bit more).
Value: I am stunned at just how much game is here. It is ridiculous. They could cut the content, tracks, and types of racing by half and you would still have two games worth much more than $60. I've only really scratched the surface, but I already can see this is going to be my favorite PS3 game.
My final thought on this: it's the comprehensive game for people who love cars. Old cars, new cars, fast cars, average cars. It's almost like am interactive museum experience for cars (not to mention the actual interactive museum feature). It's also a comprehensive way to race with depth. Setup, driving styles, etc. It's like a racing school in your living room. The quality has exceeded my expectations. This game will impress you, and you will have fun playing it if you have the patience to advance through the levels.
This game lives up to expectations as a major leap forward from GT4 and a cutting edge PS3 experience, so long as you're realistic and actually wanted a Gran Turismo style game. If you're expecting a game that is fully accessible quickly, instead of demanding patience and repeated accomplishment, or a game where you're forgiven for a lack of finesse, this may not be what you're looking for.
How to play: I've been a fan of this series since the original Playstation edition. I've generally played all Gran Turismo games by acquiring a cheap car (a used Mazda MX-5 in this game), beating a few license tests, racing for money to upgrade my car, and then buying a faster car and yet more upgrades for it. As this goes along, I wind up building a racing empire, beating all the license tests (which open up access to harder races), and having a great time.
In GT5, there's a new element that changes this. You gain A-Spec exp for various accomplishments and have a level for A Spec and B Spec (B Spec refers to the AI driving your car for you). Every race and car and special event has a level (some are level 0) you must reach before accessing. If you hate the licenses, you can see the rest of the game without them by gaining levels (such as by winning races). Personally, I'm still beating the licenses (and you gain levels very fast this way), and playing through as I always have.
Graphics: The graphics are stunning. I was expecting the quality to equal Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, but they are improved somewhat, particularly with regard to anti aliasing. Tracks look lovely, and even the notorious 800 'non-premium' cars look excellent. If these were the best the game had to offer, GT5 would be the prettiest racer yet. And yet the 200 premium cars take that to the next level. Tracks are astonishing. Nurburgring is stunning, as the shadows from trees reflect off the suede interior of my Aston Martin DBS, and the sun sets, the line from 'uncanny valley' to simply 'you're really there' is crossed. I don't see how graphics can improve from this point and my eyes be able to detect it. One neat addition is how lights reflect off mist, other cars, gleam onto things, etc. The shadows are not as well done as I like, leaving some jagged edges, but otherwise the game looks amazing.
Sound: I have always complained that Gran Turismo's sounds are too synthetic and unrealistic. GT5 has made a huge leap forward. Change your exhaust system and you actually can hear it. I can tell if a car is a V8 or a V6. That magestic sound of a Ferrari's 12 cylinders is actually represented. I still hope the game moves forward with a few details. You don't get the throaty idle of an old pony car [edit: I stand corrected... the Cobra 427 has a raspy idle and sounds great)... but then you shouldn't be standing still in the first place. It sounds amazing on my 5.1 system. Lots of car sims support 5.1, but the doppler effect and different engine noises show incredible realism here. I really like the long list of BGM songs and menu music, but the game supports your own mp3s, which is wonderful because I will be playing this game long enough to want new tunes. The audio improvements also make the replays much more exciting. You will know what I mean when you watch some (or play B-Spec, where you command the computer to drive for you), though it's hard to really describe. You feel much more like you're at the race.
AI: It's great. I could swear that a car retaliated against me. GT has tended to have weak AI that drives in a row, and that is thankfully not the problem. In B-Spec you can monitor the mental fatigue and attitude of the AI competitors, and that kind of thing appears to be tracked in the other cars. The AI gets stronger as you progress to harder races (as do their cars).
Physics: Some will not enjoy racing this series on its full realism settings. If you're not talented, this game's maximum realism settings are simply very hard. The game makes some effort to accomodate the rest of us mere mortals with a lot of aids and settings, but actually being competitive with this game takes work. I think the physics scratch that realism itch many PC gamers have been demanding for years. You have to develop some skills before the game can really be appreciated. There don't seem to be mechanical breakdowns (IE: overheating when you damage your radiator), something I've always wanted to see in this series, but otherwise the realism is excellent. I think most gamers can jump into Arcade Mode on beginner pick the F40, and win a race.
Content: I wish there were a few additional car models and that all of them were premium (you get used to the awesome cockpits quickly!). I think the problem is that GT5 has so many cars included that people get the illusion they should have every single car they can think of. It's so comprehensive that you actually are surprised when something isn't there (ahem, Porsche). In other words, it's easy to be unrealistic and hope for everything... that's how much content you have here. There are so many historic and amazing racing cars in this game that it seems unfair to feel this way. Upgrade parts and fine tuning settings are comprehensive and yet easy for anyone to fiddle with. There are many tracks in this game, though my favorite test track from GT4 is missing. Some of the weather and nighttime settings only work for some tracks, but when they do they are absolutely awesome. There are lots of things like photo album and setting up your personal area that just don't appeal to me personally. Online features are fully fleshed out, though, with very large fields of racers, chat, etc.
I think the game is so large that the menu system, for example, the GT World home's dozen+ things to choose from, seems daunting at first. Just remember this is a game many will play for hundreds of hours. Expect to find the menus a little daunting at first, but I'm already finding them very easy to get around after a few days.
I'm surprised by the track editor. It's easy to use, though you can't design each turn exactly as you'd like. But you'll never run out of tracks! The special events are practically entire games to themselves with a real diversity ranging from Nascar to Top Gear to WRC.
Fun Factor: I think a lot of people are going to complain about this. As gaming has become more and more popular as a form of entertainment, games have accomodated more players by being easy. I am not saying this is right or wrong: but understand this product is not an arcade game. You will have to have patience and practice to fully enjoy a more subtle experience. The fun comes from mastery. I think that's a lot of fun, but some people do not. The Kart racing, Drift, and to be honest, Nascar, present some cheaper thrills. You can also dial up the driving aids and have a very easy experience, but if you're looking for Blur or Need for Speed, this game just doesn't offer that experience. I do have one complaint: the game requires a substantial loading time, and the loading of new tracks took longer than expected the first time. Once it's loaded something the first time, it seems to save some of the content on the HDD, and it's much faster to load that thing in the future. I have a huge HDD, but people who have smaller ones should be aware this game will need eight GBs (or perhaps a bit more).
Value: I am stunned at just how much game is here. It is ridiculous. They could cut the content, tracks, and types of racing by half and you would still have two games worth much more than $60. I've only really scratched the surface, but I already can see this is going to be my favorite PS3 game.
My final thought on this: it's the comprehensive game for people who love cars. Old cars, new cars, fast cars, average cars. It's almost like am interactive museum experience for cars (not to mention the actual interactive museum feature). It's also a comprehensive way to race with depth. Setup, driving styles, etc. It's like a racing school in your living room. The quality has exceeded my expectations. This game will impress you, and you will have fun playing it if you have the patience to advance through the levels.
Sunday, July 16, 2000
Super Smash Bros. Brawl | 10
Super Smash Bros. Brawl is the third in the franchise, a franchise in which the most popular characters from other Nintendo games collide and fight. The fighting is quick, fun, and easy to learn, but has the most miniscule amount of violence, the game has no blood, the worst thing one my see in the game are cartoon weapons flashing (to signify a hit). The game could and probably should be in every house in America.
The game also has a story mode, with side-scrolling missions. The mode is quite lenghty for a game that specializes in Multiplayer, and is visually stunning.
Again i must stress that the game is meant for multiplayer, 1-4 can play, so i suggest to families with multiple children, yet Nintendo has also included a free internet mode for single players as well.
The sound track, while typically not worthy of mention in a video game, is the most amazing music i have yet to hear anywhere else. The game had dozens of famous composers, the opening intro is so powerful (an opera in latin) the game has based its self on the translated latin, BROTHERS WHO FIGHT AS ONE AGAINST EVIL. In which evil translates to a character threatening thier world, in an nonviolent but awe-inspiring means.
Nintendo's Wii Reveiw Channel has researched those who play the game, its has been the most sold game of all time, and players world wide average about 1000+ Hours on it!
The game also has a story mode, with side-scrolling missions. The mode is quite lenghty for a game that specializes in Multiplayer, and is visually stunning.
Again i must stress that the game is meant for multiplayer, 1-4 can play, so i suggest to families with multiple children, yet Nintendo has also included a free internet mode for single players as well.
The sound track, while typically not worthy of mention in a video game, is the most amazing music i have yet to hear anywhere else. The game had dozens of famous composers, the opening intro is so powerful (an opera in latin) the game has based its self on the translated latin, BROTHERS WHO FIGHT AS ONE AGAINST EVIL. In which evil translates to a character threatening thier world, in an nonviolent but awe-inspiring means.
Nintendo's Wii Reveiw Channel has researched those who play the game, its has been the most sold game of all time, and players world wide average about 1000+ Hours on it!
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