Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Thoughts: Impact of the Playstation
I've been meaning to compare the quality exclusives for each console by generation , and this is a very interesting read and a very good look at how Sony changed video games and video game consoles. After reading it, I'm almost certain that I would not still be a gamer if it wasn't for the Playstation. Thanks Sony.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Points Addict: 26,000 and 1 Year of Addiction
After one year of owning a 360 and chasing achievement points, I'm sitting at 26,080 points (for and average of 2173.3 points per month). My initial goal was 20,000 in one year, then 24,000, and then it became 25,000. That's kind of a lot of points in one year...
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Friday, February 6, 2009
2008 Game(s) of the Year
Here my top 10 games for 2008:
10. Mega Man 9 (Wii)
Yes, it's hard, but this game single-handedly proves that interesting gameplay and tight controls trump great presentation. It's odd that a game straight outta 1988 was the best downloadable game of the year, but that's exactly what this was. A masterful effort, and I hope Capcom makes another one.
9. No More Heroes (Wii)
Really the only reason to play a disc-based Wii game all year, but an outstanding reason nonetheless. Brilliantly unique from start to finish. This game is $20 new at this point, which is the best value on the Wii. There is a reason they've announced a sequel in 2010: this game is awesome.
8. Prince of Persia (360 and P23)
Action/Adventures of somewhat of a dying breed, but not because of Ubisoft. This game has pretty much everything you want in the genre: incredibly atmospheric music and graphic style, interesting characters and story, and tight gameplay. Another outstanding effort, and a shining example as to why Ubisoft is one of the best 3rd party publishers/developers out there.
7. LittleBigPlanet (PS3)
The controls could be tighter, the launch could've been smoother, and I'm not quite as compelled to create levels as I originally thought. All that said, this is one of the most innovative games of the year and is great fun.
6. Rock Band 2 (All Platforms)
Not a huge upgrade from last year's game, but worth every penny and then some. The online challenges in particular will ensure that this remains fun for at least another year or two. This is still the class of the rhythm genre, and still one of the funnest games ever made.
5. Burnout Paradise (360 and PS3)
I haven't really enjoyed a racing game since the NES days (Super Off-Road and RC Pro-Am!). A ridiculous value at $60 before all the free DLC (and it's now $30) this game has the most content of the year and is still fun after nearly 100 hours of gameplay. Probably one of the best vehicle based games ever (certainly one of the most enjoyable).
4. Resistance 2 (PS3)
Best exclusive FPS on the PS3 yet. This game has fantastic multiplayer (both Co-op and competitive) and the Campaign mode has been unfairly criticized. Also, some of the most original FPS weapons of the year.
3. Gears of War 2 (360)
It's too bad the multiplayer had (actually still having after 2 patches) so many issues. This game, while not having my favorite story of all time, is simply incredible. Even better graphics and gameplay than the first one.
2. Fable 2 (360)
I didn't see this game coming at all. Thank God I rented this when I had a week off. This game gave me pinched nerves in my right hand from so being played for so many consecutive hours. One of my favorite games ever.
1. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PS3)
BEST. GAME. EVER.
Also, the best movie of the year.
{Edit}: Looking back, there are some obviously glaring omissions from this list:
-GTA IV probably would be #11. Frustrating play control and lack of mission checkpoints kept it out of my Top 10.
-Left 4 Dead is a great game to play here and there over a long period of time, but my zest for story-driven games kept it of my list (the lack of content is being addressed, so this is one that could very well be better in 2009 than it was it 2008)
-Fallout 3 is an extremely popular game that bored the hell out of me most of the time.
10. Mega Man 9 (Wii)
Yes, it's hard, but this game single-handedly proves that interesting gameplay and tight controls trump great presentation. It's odd that a game straight outta 1988 was the best downloadable game of the year, but that's exactly what this was. A masterful effort, and I hope Capcom makes another one.
9. No More Heroes (Wii)
Really the only reason to play a disc-based Wii game all year, but an outstanding reason nonetheless. Brilliantly unique from start to finish. This game is $20 new at this point, which is the best value on the Wii. There is a reason they've announced a sequel in 2010: this game is awesome.
8. Prince of Persia (360 and P23)
Action/Adventures of somewhat of a dying breed, but not because of Ubisoft. This game has pretty much everything you want in the genre: incredibly atmospheric music and graphic style, interesting characters and story, and tight gameplay. Another outstanding effort, and a shining example as to why Ubisoft is one of the best 3rd party publishers/developers out there.
7. LittleBigPlanet (PS3)
The controls could be tighter, the launch could've been smoother, and I'm not quite as compelled to create levels as I originally thought. All that said, this is one of the most innovative games of the year and is great fun.
6. Rock Band 2 (All Platforms)
Not a huge upgrade from last year's game, but worth every penny and then some. The online challenges in particular will ensure that this remains fun for at least another year or two. This is still the class of the rhythm genre, and still one of the funnest games ever made.
5. Burnout Paradise (360 and PS3)
I haven't really enjoyed a racing game since the NES days (Super Off-Road and RC Pro-Am!). A ridiculous value at $60 before all the free DLC (and it's now $30) this game has the most content of the year and is still fun after nearly 100 hours of gameplay. Probably one of the best vehicle based games ever (certainly one of the most enjoyable).
4. Resistance 2 (PS3)
Best exclusive FPS on the PS3 yet. This game has fantastic multiplayer (both Co-op and competitive) and the Campaign mode has been unfairly criticized. Also, some of the most original FPS weapons of the year.
3. Gears of War 2 (360)
It's too bad the multiplayer had (actually still having after 2 patches) so many issues. This game, while not having my favorite story of all time, is simply incredible. Even better graphics and gameplay than the first one.
2. Fable 2 (360)
I didn't see this game coming at all. Thank God I rented this when I had a week off. This game gave me pinched nerves in my right hand from so being played for so many consecutive hours. One of my favorite games ever.
1. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PS3)
BEST. GAME. EVER.
Also, the best movie of the year.
{Edit}: Looking back, there are some obviously glaring omissions from this list:
-GTA IV probably would be #11. Frustrating play control and lack of mission checkpoints kept it out of my Top 10.
-Left 4 Dead is a great game to play here and there over a long period of time, but my zest for story-driven games kept it of my list (the lack of content is being addressed, so this is one that could very well be better in 2009 than it was it 2008)
-Fallout 3 is an extremely popular game that bored the hell out of me most of the time.
Non-Review: F.E.A.R.
+'s
-outstanding enemy AI (especially considering the games age)
-'s
-horrid animation/movement style makes me sick (literally makes me a sense of motion sickness and gives me a headache)
-terrible graphics and sound (the player sounds like a galloping horse when he walks/runs and the game looks like an obvious original Xbox port)
-worst points game I've ever seen (I'm annoyed I got 5 points and can't delete this game off my gamertag)
-confusing/convoluted story. I'm on Chapter 3 of 7 (I think) and there is literally no motivation to keep playing.
-repetitive and uninteresting levels
-poor use of "Bullet time" (even with all it's faults, Max Payne pulled this off extremely well and did so several years before this game came out)
I rented this heaping pile of horse manure because the trailer for F.EA.R 2 looks like potential greatness. This game is very much not great. I've made it through King Kong and TMNT. I even made it through most of the Subspace Emissary mode in Super Smash Bros Brawl. I can not, however, continue playing this garbage. Metacritic game has this game at an 8.5, and this is perhaps the best example yet of the early Xbox 360 releases ridiculously inflated scores.
This game is horrible. Monolith Studios should pay me for the rental and the 3-4 hours I've played this disaster. Perhaps one of the worst games I've ever played. DO NOT PLAY IT!
NOTE: I didn't even bother with the multiplayer. It's a couple years old, and I just don't have it in me.
Score: 5.0/10
-outstanding enemy AI (especially considering the games age)
-'s
-horrid animation/movement style makes me sick (literally makes me a sense of motion sickness and gives me a headache)
-terrible graphics and sound (the player sounds like a galloping horse when he walks/runs and the game looks like an obvious original Xbox port)
-worst points game I've ever seen (I'm annoyed I got 5 points and can't delete this game off my gamertag)
-confusing/convoluted story. I'm on Chapter 3 of 7 (I think) and there is literally no motivation to keep playing.
-repetitive and uninteresting levels
-poor use of "Bullet time" (even with all it's faults, Max Payne pulled this off extremely well and did so several years before this game came out)
I rented this heaping pile of horse manure because the trailer for F.EA.R 2 looks like potential greatness. This game is very much not great. I've made it through King Kong and TMNT. I even made it through most of the Subspace Emissary mode in Super Smash Bros Brawl. I can not, however, continue playing this garbage. Metacritic game has this game at an 8.5, and this is perhaps the best example yet of the early Xbox 360 releases ridiculously inflated scores.
This game is horrible. Monolith Studios should pay me for the rental and the 3-4 hours I've played this disaster. Perhaps one of the worst games I've ever played. DO NOT PLAY IT!
NOTE: I didn't even bother with the multiplayer. It's a couple years old, and I just don't have it in me.
Score: 5.0/10
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