Non-Stop Gaming
Added a few new titles to the video game library this past week. A couple for the Wii, three for the DS, and a future title was reserved for the PS2. (Perhaps the last great release for the console!)
First off, a few weeks ago, I was able to trade a few games in for a little in-store credit at ye olde Gamestop. Feeling a wii bit generous, and wanting to score some points for whatever future slip-up I might commit, I decided to hand the credit over to my lovely girlfriend. Being a newbie to the world of gaming, she is into lighter, more girl-oriented, fare. She ultimately settled on the DS 3-game pack of Uno/Skip-Bo/Uno Free-Fall. Okay, I'll admit that I was a bit hesistant at first, a little apprehensive, about her picking this game up. I was afraid that she would be headed for a major disappointment. To my surprise, she has come to totally enjoy, perhaps love, the game. So much so that she insisted on buying me a copy as well. (Single-Card download is unfortunately lacking from this title!) After about a week of playing it, I've come to enjoy myself, and the classic Uno gameplay that we've all come to know and love is very much intact. I'm still a little confuses on Skip-Bo, and Uno Free-Fall is like Tetris/Bejewled/Meteos, which is fun. It's a quick fun way to pass the time, which is ultimately what the DS is all about.
Next up we have WarioWare Touched for the DS. As Nintendo games go, the WarioWare title has come to take advantage of the latest technologies that Nintendo might be offering at the time. WarioWare Twisted for the Game Boy Advance took advantage of an in-cartridge motion sensor to incorporate movement into the game. As we've already seen, WarioWare Smooth Moves does the same with the Wii-mote and Nunchuk attachment. So, obviously, WarioWare Touched does the same with the DS and the dual-scree/touchscreen technology. The main theme of the game varies very little from it's previous incarnations. It's still a series of fast-paced microgames designed to keep you on your toes and test your reflexes. WarioWare touched utilizes the DS's stylus, touchscreen, and even the microphone to accomplish your tasks. The animation and the music is as wacky and colorful as ever, making this game truly enjoyable. Anyone with a DS should make this part of their collection.
Next, we have Diddy Kong Racing DS. After countless hours of burning rubber in Mario Kart DS, I was eagerly anticipating the release of another racing game in the same vain. I picked up a copy for both myself and my girlfriend, anxious for some multiplayer action. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed a bit with this title. Perhaps my expectations were too high, basing experience solely on playing Mario Kart. (I never played Diddy Kong Racing for the N64). The game plays a little awkwardly, lacking that sense of urgency that Mario Kart has. But that's not to say that it is a bad game. It's just not the same game as Mario Kart. Diddy Kong Racing tries to incorporate a story into the mix, very loosely so. In order to unlock tracks and races, you must collect ballons. How do you get balloons? By completing missions and coming in 1st in races that are already available to you. One thing I do like about the game is it's vehicle options. There are 3 types of vehicles you can race with: Karts, Planes, and Hoovercrafts. The karts I'm used to, the hovercrafts need so major getting used to, but the planes kick so much ass!! Of all the vehicles, those are my favorite. And, admittedly, the races get progressively more difficult and better as you unlock more and more of them. I've yet to try the Wi-Fi gameplay, but I'm slowly coming around on this one. It's not what I expected, but it is a decent way to pass the time. I'm sure that the further I get along in it, the better it will be. Now, on to the Wii.
Last week Nintendo released Wii Play for the Wii. Billed as a follow up to the in-packaged Wii Sports, Wii Play is a collection of 9 new mini games that are meant to be enjoyed in large groups. This new batch includes: Table Tennis, Nine Ball, Target Shooting, Laser Hockey, Fishing, Tanks, Charge, Pose Mii, and Find Mii. To date, it is the game that utilizes the Mii feature the most. All the little Mii characters that you have created in the console are brought into this game, so you could be playing with very familiar faces. The best game is perhaps the Nine Ball. It utilizes the Wii-mote in a very realistic manner, and it responds quite accurately. I also enjoyed the Target Shooting game, which is a slight twist on the old Duck Hunt. Laser Hockey was a little difficult to control, as was Tanks (Basically you hunt each other with tanks). Fishing was fun, and Charge (Racing while riding a cow! Yes, a cow!) was just silly, but fun. The Mii games were quite entertaining as well. In Pose Mii, you have to pose your Mii character in certain poses to pop bubbles before they reach the ground. In Find Mii, you are given a task, such as "Find the Mii You Are Using", and it is up to you to pick them out of a crowd of Miis before your opponent. The real appeal of this game is that it includes an extra Wii-mote in the cost. (Wii-motes cost $39.99, Wii Play costs $49.99). So basically, you are buying a Wii-mote, and paying $10 extra for a game, which is not bad seeing how scarce it is to find a Wii-mote in stores all by itself. The game is good for what it is, a series of mini games that show off the Wii-motes capabilites. Also, it's a fun time for a group of friends. Not as good as Wii-Sports, but worth the $10 you actually pay for it.
Just yesterday I swung by my local Gamestop and picked up the latest Sonic the Hedgehog game, Sonic and the Secret Rings. Now, my last foray into the world of Sonic was with the Sega Dreamcast, with Sonic Adventures. One of the first games we got for that ill-fated console, I believed it to be graphically captivating. The racing courses were beautifully rendered, and the music was quick and upbeat, very appropriate to the game. There was some elements of an adventure game thrown into the mix, but what Sonic has always been about is speed and racing. So those are the elements that appeal to me the most. There hasn't been a game since the first Sonic for the Sega Genesis that has even come close. Now, this new game for the Wii is being billed as a return to Sonic's roots...his speed. Originally proposed as a rehash of the Sonic game released for both the Xbox 360 and the PS3 (Very poorly received and rated!), the Sonic team instead opted for an original idea. (Thank God!) The central theme that all game developers for the Wii must take into consideration is the Wii-mote. It's innovative design and function are to be taken full advantage off, and as such, an entirely new feel of gameplay is created. Just like Excite Truck, you hold the Wii-mote horizontally to control Sonic, and to move him, you simply tilt the controller left or right. A quick thrust forward allows you to attack enemies. Other than that, Sonic is left freely to do what he does best...RUN! The scenery is beautiful, the music is pumping (If somewhat repetitive and annoying at times), the controls are not as responsive as I would have hoped. But still, this is a vast improvement on those Sonic Adventure games, and a welcome return to the format of the very first Sonic game.
So, while at the Gamestop, I decided to kill two birds with one stone. As I picked up my copy of Sonic, I also plopped down $5 to reserve God of War II for the PS2. God of War was perhaps one of THE biggest and best games to come out of 2006 (Shadow of the Colossus still takes the cake for me, but whatever!). Bloody, action packed, epic, and very mythical, what more could you ask for in a game. You play as Kratos, a warlord who takes on the Olympian Gods themselves, in the ultimate quest to dethrone Ares, and take his place as the new God of War. Having succeeded in that endeavor in part 1, part 2 finds Kratos, even more bloodthirsty than ever, losing favor with the Olympian Gods, and even losing the protection of the Goddess Athena, whom had nurtured and encouraged Kratos in his initial quest. Ultimately shunned and cast back down to Earth, Kratos must now fight to survive, and re-establish his supremacy and his divinity. (Perhaps by taking down Zeus himself?? Who knows!) Come March 13th, the new adventure begins. But to tide us over, we got a free demo with our reservation. It allows you to play most of the initial battle in the game where Kratos takes on a Colossus. The game looks awesome, and Kratos is still the same old bald blood-thirsty motherfu...What, I'm just talking about Kratos! (SHAFT! Can you dig it?) And the upcoming line of action figures look pretty badass as well. 
Added a few new titles to the video game library this past week. A couple for the Wii, three for the DS, and a future title was reserved for the PS2. (Perhaps the last great release for the console!)
First off, a few weeks ago, I was able to trade a few games in for a little in-store credit at ye olde Gamestop. Feeling a wii bit generous, and wanting to score some points for whatever future slip-up I might commit, I decided to hand the credit over to my lovely girlfriend. Being a newbie to the world of gaming, she is into lighter, more girl-oriented, fare. She ultimately settled on the DS 3-game pack of Uno/Skip-Bo/Uno Free-Fall. Okay, I'll admit that I was a bit hesistant at first, a little apprehensive, about her picking this game up. I was afraid that she would be headed for a major disappointment. To my surprise, she has come to totally enjoy, perhaps love, the game. So much so that she insisted on buying me a copy as well. (Single-Card download is unfortunately lacking from this title!) After about a week of playing it, I've come to enjoy myself, and the classic Uno gameplay that we've all come to know and love is very much intact. I'm still a little confuses on Skip-Bo, and Uno Free-Fall is like Tetris/Bejewled/Meteos, which is fun. It's a quick fun way to pass the time, which is ultimately what the DS is all about.
Next up we have WarioWare Touched for the DS. As Nintendo games go, the WarioWare title has come to take advantage of the latest technologies that Nintendo might be offering at the time. WarioWare Twisted for the Game Boy Advance took advantage of an in-cartridge motion sensor to incorporate movement into the game. As we've already seen, WarioWare Smooth Moves does the same with the Wii-mote and Nunchuk attachment. So, obviously, WarioWare Touched does the same with the DS and the dual-scree/touchscreen technology. The main theme of the game varies very little from it's previous incarnations. It's still a series of fast-paced microgames designed to keep you on your toes and test your reflexes. WarioWare touched utilizes the DS's stylus, touchscreen, and even the microphone to accomplish your tasks. The animation and the music is as wacky and colorful as ever, making this game truly enjoyable. Anyone with a DS should make this part of their collection.
Next, we have Diddy Kong Racing DS. After countless hours of burning rubber in Mario Kart DS, I was eagerly anticipating the release of another racing game in the same vain. I picked up a copy for both myself and my girlfriend, anxious for some multiplayer action. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed a bit with this title. Perhaps my expectations were too high, basing experience solely on playing Mario Kart. (I never played Diddy Kong Racing for the N64). The game plays a little awkwardly, lacking that sense of urgency that Mario Kart has. But that's not to say that it is a bad game. It's just not the same game as Mario Kart. Diddy Kong Racing tries to incorporate a story into the mix, very loosely so. In order to unlock tracks and races, you must collect ballons. How do you get balloons? By completing missions and coming in 1st in races that are already available to you. One thing I do like about the game is it's vehicle options. There are 3 types of vehicles you can race with: Karts, Planes, and Hoovercrafts. The karts I'm used to, the hovercrafts need so major getting used to, but the planes kick so much ass!! Of all the vehicles, those are my favorite. And, admittedly, the races get progressively more difficult and better as you unlock more and more of them. I've yet to try the Wi-Fi gameplay, but I'm slowly coming around on this one. It's not what I expected, but it is a decent way to pass the time. I'm sure that the further I get along in it, the better it will be. Now, on to the Wii.
Last week Nintendo released Wii Play for the Wii. Billed as a follow up to the in-packaged Wii Sports, Wii Play is a collection of 9 new mini games that are meant to be enjoyed in large groups. This new batch includes: Table Tennis, Nine Ball, Target Shooting, Laser Hockey, Fishing, Tanks, Charge, Pose Mii, and Find Mii. To date, it is the game that utilizes the Mii feature the most. All the little Mii characters that you have created in the console are brought into this game, so you could be playing with very familiar faces. The best game is perhaps the Nine Ball. It utilizes the Wii-mote in a very realistic manner, and it responds quite accurately. I also enjoyed the Target Shooting game, which is a slight twist on the old Duck Hunt. Laser Hockey was a little difficult to control, as was Tanks (Basically you hunt each other with tanks). Fishing was fun, and Charge (Racing while riding a cow! Yes, a cow!) was just silly, but fun. The Mii games were quite entertaining as well. In Pose Mii, you have to pose your Mii character in certain poses to pop bubbles before they reach the ground. In Find Mii, you are given a task, such as "Find the Mii You Are Using", and it is up to you to pick them out of a crowd of Miis before your opponent. The real appeal of this game is that it includes an extra Wii-mote in the cost. (Wii-motes cost $39.99, Wii Play costs $49.99). So basically, you are buying a Wii-mote, and paying $10 extra for a game, which is not bad seeing how scarce it is to find a Wii-mote in stores all by itself. The game is good for what it is, a series of mini games that show off the Wii-motes capabilites. Also, it's a fun time for a group of friends. Not as good as Wii-Sports, but worth the $10 you actually pay for it.
Just yesterday I swung by my local Gamestop and picked up the latest Sonic the Hedgehog game, Sonic and the Secret Rings. Now, my last foray into the world of Sonic was with the Sega Dreamcast, with Sonic Adventures. One of the first games we got for that ill-fated console, I believed it to be graphically captivating. The racing courses were beautifully rendered, and the music was quick and upbeat, very appropriate to the game. There was some elements of an adventure game thrown into the mix, but what Sonic has always been about is speed and racing. So those are the elements that appeal to me the most. There hasn't been a game since the first Sonic for the Sega Genesis that has even come close. Now, this new game for the Wii is being billed as a return to Sonic's roots...his speed. Originally proposed as a rehash of the Sonic game released for both the Xbox 360 and the PS3 (Very poorly received and rated!), the Sonic team instead opted for an original idea. (Thank God!) The central theme that all game developers for the Wii must take into consideration is the Wii-mote. It's innovative design and function are to be taken full advantage off, and as such, an entirely new feel of gameplay is created. Just like Excite Truck, you hold the Wii-mote horizontally to control Sonic, and to move him, you simply tilt the controller left or right. A quick thrust forward allows you to attack enemies. Other than that, Sonic is left freely to do what he does best...RUN! The scenery is beautiful, the music is pumping (If somewhat repetitive and annoying at times), the controls are not as responsive as I would have hoped. But still, this is a vast improvement on those Sonic Adventure games, and a welcome return to the format of the very first Sonic game.
So, while at the Gamestop, I decided to kill two birds with one stone. As I picked up my copy of Sonic, I also plopped down $5 to reserve God of War II for the PS2. God of War was perhaps one of THE biggest and best games to come out of 2006 (Shadow of the Colossus still takes the cake for me, but whatever!). Bloody, action packed, epic, and very mythical, what more could you ask for in a game. You play as Kratos, a warlord who takes on the Olympian Gods themselves, in the ultimate quest to dethrone Ares, and take his place as the new God of War. Having succeeded in that endeavor in part 1, part 2 finds Kratos, even more bloodthirsty than ever, losing favor with the Olympian Gods, and even losing the protection of the Goddess Athena, whom had nurtured and encouraged Kratos in his initial quest. Ultimately shunned and cast back down to Earth, Kratos must now fight to survive, and re-establish his supremacy and his divinity. (Perhaps by taking down Zeus himself?? Who knows!) Come March 13th, the new adventure begins. But to tide us over, we got a free demo with our reservation. It allows you to play most of the initial battle in the game where Kratos takes on a Colossus. The game looks awesome, and Kratos is still the same old bald blood-thirsty motherfu...What, I'm just talking about Kratos! (SHAFT! Can you dig it?) And the upcoming line of action figures look pretty badass as well. 
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