With the announcement of Persona 4’s North American release date(12/9/08), it has me contemplating if I should first tackle P3: FES before I dive into this next chapter in the series. I’ve spent so much time going back and fourth whether or not to play it that it’s gotten to the point where I need to just pony up and track down a copy to see if it’s worthy of my time.
The high school simulator is what’s drawing me most to this game. Cause really, in this day in age that’s what games need more of, some good ol’ relationship development mechanics! To be honest if it wasn’t for this aspect of gameplay(and the art design), I wouldn’t be too interested in this title. I’d have passed it off as another 60+ hour grind fest. Maybe I need to just learn Japanese and play me some Tokimeki Memorial for some high school simulating goodness.
Ahhhhh, spending time cultivating electronic relationships rather than keep up actual ones based in reality. There’s something wrong there.
If I could go back in time, I would keep reliving the joyous moment I found out that Chrono Trigger was coming to the Nintendo DS. Well, that or go back to when the actual “Dream Team” came up with the idea for this legendary game and somehow make it so that I was known as the one who named it or some shit like that.
I’m afraid though that during one of my many visits back, I would fuck something up and accidentally create a time paradox which would disrupt the space/time continuum and all existence would then cease to exist. Then sadly along with all of humanity non existent, we wouldn’t have Chrono Trigger for the DS, and that would be bad. So what did we learn today kids? Just say “no” to time travel.
“Hey Frog, let’s take it back, waaaaay back. Back into time.”
Here you go fans of horrible gameplay. This is the moment you’ve been waiting for. A new Kid Icarus game confirmed for E3! Wheeeeee! I’m sure this game will be better than the original. In fact, if there was a video game where you control a piece of shit against a blank white background and roll it around the screen leaving shit trails wherever you roll, it would still be 30 times better than the original Kid Icarus. You know what? I hope they make it so that when you press down you fall through the fucking floor like in the original just to piss fans of the original game off and to serve as a sweet reminder that nostaglia corrupts memories.
With the news of Mega Man 9 coming out on Wii-Ware, it got me thinking of memories past. It got me salivating, thinking of the pure uncut 2D goodness. It also got me thinking of what I would love to see in a new 2D Mega Man game. One word: Metroidvania.
A 2D Metroidvania styled Mega Man game should’ve been been done a long time ago. It’s perfectly tailor made for a Mega Man game. Obtaining new powers from bosses you defeat can allow you access to new areas. The downside is knowing ahead of time what power to use to easily beat the boss of said level. I mean the cool part of old Mega Man games was finding the right weapon to use to beat a boss with a few hits and well, it only figures that the weapon you use to gain access to a new area will be the very weapon used to beat the boss of said level. Oh the thought of Mega Metroidvania Man has me swooning. Get on it Capcom.
I’ve been thinking about how incredibly picky I am when it comes to which games I buy. I hardly have enough time to even play games. On top of that, I don’t buy as many games as your average gamer. This has lead me to the conclusion that at the current prices for this generations consoles(even the Wii), that it is still not worth it for me to go out and buy one just yet.
I have to say, MGS4 really pushed me to my limit though. I literally was there in the store cash in hand and the only thing that stopped me was that they were out of stock of PS3’s on that particular day and the deal I wanted to take advantage of ended on that day. I know it’s gonna be tough everytime a new Hot Shots Golf comes out or when Final Fantasy XIII, Little Big Planet and White Knight Story all make their way into the gaming publics hands. I feel I can withstand those releases considering MGS4 was the biggest hurdle I had to overcome thus far. It was the crack rock in the pipe and I withstood it and held my ground.
All this being said, mark my words right now. I will purchase a PS3 when the next Team Ico game is released. I repeat, I WILL PURCHASE A PS3 WHEN THE NEXT TEAM ICO GAME IS RELEASED. There will be no possible way I’ll be able to resist. Team Ico games are like heroin to me. I love both Ico and Shadow of the Colossus so much if I could I would melt them down and inject them directly into my veins.
Ever since Metal Gear Solid on the PS1, it has been my favorite gaming franchise. With the release of Metal Gear Solid 4, sadly this will be the first time I will have not bought and played a Metal Gear Solid game on release day. I’m going through withdrawals. Replaying Snake Eater has eased my addiction somewhat but as I’m almost nearing the end of that, I feel the itch coming back.
After reading rave reviews and multiple perfect scores from Famitsu, Game Informer, Gamepro, Gamespot, OPM(duh) and most recently IGN. It’s taking every ounce of willpower of my being to stop myself from running to the store right now and spending $500 on “stealth” gaming nirvana. Fortunately paying my property tax, a Canon G9 and a future trip to Japan is keeping my current spending habits in check despite my desperate need to “octo camo” in front of a soda machine moments before I snap the neck of a PMC soldier wandering by.
I really need to do something to take the edge off of not having MGS4 in my possession. Maybe I’ll go and hide under a cardboard box for a couple of hours.
Everytime the thought of the 1994 Street Fighter live action movie crosses my mind, I can’t help but shudder in a panic fright. Sometimes the attacks gets so bad, I find myself curled up in the corner in a fetal position covering my ears screaming. Quite possibly THE game of my youth, ruined in a 104 minute epic of shit. Fortunately, I’m much older now and have grown a tougher skin and have come to expect the eventuality of some of my favorite childhood intellectual properties getting the unfaithful, dumb-it-down Hollywood treatment.
What the 1994 Street Fighter live action movie starring Jean-Claude Van Damme has taught me is to look at the brighter side of things. To recognize the poistive not the negative, in essence to see the silver lining. I mean, at the very least I got to see real life manifestations(albiet shitty) of beloved characters, right? So as god awful as the new Street Fighter movie(I’m sure) WILL be, I have to admit, it can’t be all bad. I mean…
Now all they have to do is recreate the famous scene from Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie where Chun Li fights Vega shot for shot. Shot…for…shot.
“Metroidvania” is a term I feel more gamers should be aware of. Here Jeremy Parish, Scott Sharkey and Chris Kohler of 1up and Retronauts fame discuss a sub genre that is pretty much obsolete in our current state of gaming. “Metroidvania” is basically a free roaming, back tracking 2D game where your exploration relied on obtaining certain items which allowed you to continue to unlock and explore new areas. What’s funny is that the first Castlevania had definite level divisions with no back tracking whatsoever. That’s easily overlooked considering Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is probably THE pinnacle of all 2D “Metroidvania” games. It’s the gold standard in which all other games in this odd sub genre are compared to.
A totally interesting yet completely hilarious podcast. It made me realize how important and revolutionary both the Metroid and Castlevania series are. I appreciate them even more than I already did.
