Batman: Arkham City Review

I'd like to start this of warning yes this may spoil the story for you if you have not played the game yet. I'm not trying to give any spoilers, but after finishing alot of the game I think I can give a rather direct and honest approach to this game.

      Arkham Asylum was in depth I will admit it slowly drew me in between takedowns and clever gadget approaches I was hooked. We now have Arkham City...... Which I will admit has drawn me in further..... between some clever gameplay and a story that I'm told will change when I finish everything I'm hooked. There's a bit of lookback to Arkham Asylum as you can see it from some of the rooftops and some characters you thought were dead well aren't. They hint at Killer Croc and to be honest after the last game I'm still a bit jumpy if they claim he's loose.

    There's a nice change of pace with this title as you get a play off with catwoman whom isn't that great to use especially with a group of well armed thugs but still quick and agile enought to get the job done. What impressed me honestly was appearances of Ras Al Ghul and Mr Freeze. Two Face doesn't get enough play, but they make it clear this story can continue. The thing that may lead to help or hurt this series though is their promising add on content. Bringing in both Robin and Nightwing as playable hero's with their own challenges.

    Overall I agree with alot of the supporters of this game an instant 10 of 10 this game is worth having between the side missions and story alone. They mix enough of the comic series in to keep you playing and between a "mysterious watcher" and some crafty tricks to keep you thinking Arkham city is a great gaming experience. Infact I'm going to simplify this further and give you a listing of the things I don't like about this game.

1.   sometimes off controls (but that may be my controller)
2. Catwomans defense scheme takes some getting used to

That's it.... Really..... normally I find a few flaws and some things that aggrivate me to no end, but once you get some of the tricks of the trade everything seems amazingly easy and you can't help but ponder what type of trap awaits you next.

Instant 10.

     Picked up "Batman - Arkham City" today ironically received Game Informer today and it got a ten already. From what I'm reading online it's an instant 10. I've played about an hour and a half in and I can just begin to see the depth of this game. So it should be an epic tale played out. I'm liking the improvements made already I'll go in further depth with my own review later. Honestly wanted to share that instant 10 moment.

Review: Spyro's Skylanders Adventures

ESRB Rating - E for everyone
Accesories - Portal pad and figures

     I'll admit this I saw the commercials alone and wanted to try it. I think almost everyone has seen the commercials for this game but never realize it's a console game that is powered by action figurines.

Gameplay: It's your basic bash and shoot em up simple enough for the kids to play in depth enough that some of the grown ups will want to play with it too.

Storyline: You are the portal master and in charge of bringing back the skylanders to defend the peace from Darkness and Chaos.

     This one actually amazed me shortly after set up. The game is simplistic, but there is enough challange at points and amusement of the cartoony characters to appeal to almost anyone. It plays simple enough the game advises you to choose your skylander and place him upon the portal. Just about instantly the character you chose appears in game. Granted they chose characters that deal with different elements and abilities making you require more than the base pack to get everything first playthrough. There are at current a total of 30 figures and your starter pack comes with 3.  The huge thing that might affect actual success of this game is the fact of buying figures to play further. single figures are $7 (us) and 3 packs as well as expansions are $20 (us). I bought a figure of each element type  and an expansion. I can honestly say beyond the pricetag it's worth it to have a variety and each stage has a beneficial area made for a character of each element. This makes changing figures on the portal a bit tedious, but since they transfer rapidly and just about instantly it's not really that much of a bother.

      There's also webplay which at time of post I've not played with yet. For the price you do get alot of collectable stuff like stickers and posters as well as the figures and gameplay from the figures. The game also is multiplayer that simply turn on another controller and place another figure on the portal when prompted and you and a friend can battle forth.

    The game holds some adult humor like cartoons of past where it's subtle enough to pass by the kids. As well you have some talented voice acting like Richard Horvitz (Billy from The Grim adventures of Billy and Mandy, Invader Zim) and Patrick Warburton (Joe from Family guy, Kronk from Emperors New Groove). Simply you may find this game an expensive hobby or collectable for your kids but for the price there is actually hours upon hours of playtime that in my opinion may nullify the price.

I am 8 bit

        So for something new to look at I started looking further at I am 8 bit. (yeah I know this time and date stamps my history pretty well) Which is a gallery of artwork based on classic 8 bit games from the era of NES. For anyone like me it's a trip down memory lane sort of .... It's a clever and crafty approach to show how videogames can influence an artist. Some of the pieces are an easy call of being able to say "Oh wow that's a cool approach of Link from Legend of Zelda" or "Cool a piece done about Contra or Castlevania" some as with all art... I just don't get until I read the title.

check out here for more information:
http://iam8bit.com/

ESRB Ratings are they affecting how game developers design our games too much?

     I've noticed a trend lately you get a decently moderate game with a mature rating and compared to games put out about a year ago they're actually not as graphic or mature. I understand the game developers don't want to be scarred with the Adult Rating kiss of death but has fear of this started ruining the gaming industry. Sure some titles still prevail with the Mature rating and I agree with the rating but some titles seem like their bumped up for a game that really  should probably be targeting a younger demographic.

Example: X- Men Destiny
ESRB Rating: Teen
time it takes to complete the game: 8 hours or less

      Now I partially understand the rating here you have a rally of peace be attacked and a people vs mutants war going on so I understand that some children might not be able to follow the story of this game much. But the game play mechanics start out super easy and go as far as frustrating on a single part towards the end. Maybe I've played too many games like it, but I feel like at moments the game isn't trying to challenge me but overwhelm me which cause instant glitching. Something along the lines of what alot of the Super Nintendo era games did.

Example: Dante's Inferno
ESRB Rating: Mature
Time it takes to complete game 6-10 hours

     Now I understand this rating you have nudity, heaven, hell, demons, lust, mutant dead babies trying to eat you etc... The gameplay mechanics on this are a bit more elaborate and honestly made for a story I played through several times and occasionally return to just for the fun.

Now if you put these two examples side by side it's actually the same game mechanics on one level you fight foward but Dante's Inferno actually apprroached the game mechanics smartly there's a more fluid play foward. There's challenge and it doesn't try to toy with you, then give you a rather difficult jumping segment for 3 seconds and then throw a boss at you that really is difficult to attack without going overboard.

Lets look at a series to see if I can give a better example
Series: Resistance
Rating for all titles in series : Mature

Game 1
Resistance Fall of Man

     It took me a while to get ahold of what was coming at me next in this game with the mature rating I was understanding since my job was to kill chimeran forces that were hunting man and kill them. The story followed one man who somehow survived and became a fighting force foward in the name of man. There were a variety of enemy machinery and gunners they even had odd mutations that I went "OH SHIT" when I first saw because I had no Idea how to approach such a creature. The game was creative and honestly one of the best PS3 Release titles ever made.

Game 2
Resistance 2

     This one went more smoothly as I had an Idea of what to expect from the first game. They still threw curveballs at me that I literally jumped at because it threw me off guard. The bosses that you came across really seemed more like ok how do I tackle this creature and oh my god where is going to come from next. The mechanics seemed to anticipate your playing to try and keep you on your toes and with some new weapons at your disposal it was worth playing.

Game 3
Resistance 3

    After the first two I was ready again for war but annoyed as they end of two killed the man who was fighting for man kind because he was about to turn against us and his killer was now the hero? I decided to hold back my judgement and take on the waves of monsters and with further new toys I thought this should make life interesting. This is where either Insomniac games got lazy or they held back due to fear of a higher ESRB rating and since we are already at mature next is the dreaded ADULT. I really want an answer here. Yes new bosses, yes it's a challenge and yes I played through like a man on a mission but storywise it went really cliche and you don't feel as in depth and caring for the hero, nor do you come across anything that should keep this in the Mature rating as much as previous games. Enemies fall over when you shoot them not explode (except from headshots and a cheat from beating the game) you're not being hunted your holding a position and trying to make sure you can hold them off for 10 minutes so someone can decide where you go next. There was NO last boss but a falling to your doom minigame that was difficult to fail. Then it seems like everything in this hero's life goes back to normal.

WTF!?

I battled foward and even bragged about rankings amongst freinds for ingame and online play and the final story is everything appears to be going back to normal. In the first one I killed and Angel who almost ripped me to shreads, then I fought Daedelus who was far more mutated than where I was heading to obtain some power from him to be shot in the head by some annoying asshole who you made the hero and then life goes normal for this loser?

Is this ESRB threats of and Adult rating scar or are game designers getting lazy?

Gamer Tags:

To the right side of the screen you'll see mine as an example of these online bragging rights graphics.

     Ironically the only one that hasn't kept up with my gaming has been the official Sony one each and every otherone I've seen has kept up with my game playing. If you notice It''s just about 2 level's behind and 1000 ish trophy's late.

     Now I normally don't nit pick, but having been on some of the game forums lately I've been noticing just about no one has the Sony one yet they boast millions of different tags that either stick to their gaming or show of some specified acheivements players have made in game. For example the following:

     Insomniac Games actually allows you to set these up for Resistance 3 now this doesn't get too into what I've pulled off like headshots, assists, kills or the usual etc... but if you know your layout it does allow you to give people an Idea of how far you've made it in the multiplayer warfare. Please if you find any more of these that I can display and share please let me know.

What's your genre?

     If you play as many games as I do you tend to find a genre that works for you, be it action adventure, Rpg, Fps, Racing or the what not. Almost all games now seem to cross genre a bit. So my question to the world is what's your genre?

X-Men Destiny

So I picked up X Men Destiny today at gamestop and was advised by the clerks they didn't care for it. As usual I become suspicious as to why?

So Why didn't they like this game.... Lets go to a breakdown -

Pro's -

• Selectable mutant powers and choices between good and evil
• Battle system is your usual Action Adventure with the X Men twist
• Suits and Xgene's will give you additional abilites that will boost your battle abilities
• a decent mix of the X Men cast and characters taking place after the death of Professor X
• Power up system of experience is similar to God of War

Con's -

• System plays out glitchy at moments I was actually unable to pause in parts due to a bit of over clutter.
• Your choices of characters to play are not X Men or Part of the Brotherhood of evil mutants. They're teenagers whom recently discovered their powers.
• Camera Angles are a bit off especially for boss fights
• Some of the "quest" actions needed are either too easy or just off

So in comparison I'm still not seeing what they didn't like except that maybe they expected to play as an X Men or member of the Brotherhood. There are moments of glitchyness but with any game after it comes out there a moments that it goes a little glitchy. I'm a little disappointed in some of the camera angles but I've played alot of Genji Dawn of the Samurai and other games where they pushed the camera on angles that weren't so easy to work with.

     Then again from my own personal angle I've usually like either the games no one else liked or that I was told wasn't that great. From my personal standpoint this game was not truly the worst game ever and No guys at Gamestop I will not be back tomorrow to return it.

DLC bonus or not worth it.

    With the new formats of computers and game consoles alot are now using DLC to expand current games or make creative changes. My question to the world is are they worth it? I'll admit I've spent a good deal of money for extra stages, characters, game modes, abilities and options. Now considering that everything I bought I've enjoyed I think some of it is worth it, but I want a more public opinion.

    So let's keep this interesting If you think it's worth it I want examples of what you purchased what it does for your game and was it worth it?

Resistance 3: Aftermath Game beaten and online madness

     Insomniac Games has been pushing alot of promotion for this the third incarnation of the Resistance Saga (for PS3 that is). I've finally beaten the story mode and have been continuing the war online in multiplayer. I've found that some things are lacking but the multiplayer is become just as big of a monster as the previous incarnations. Here's the breakdown -

Story Mode:

• The story is a whimper compared to the previous roars of Nathan Hale
• Trophies are not impossible, but some seem redundant.
• Joe Capelli is not a man remade he seems like a reluctant hero relying on chiche's to save the day

Online Play:

• Global Resistance has done wonders to bring the online gameplay some added extra's
• The system of leveling is similar to an RPG but workable with the gameplay
• Unlockable abilities per level keep the gameplay upgraded and moving
• battlefield tactics are usefull but some are repetitive.

Severe Downsides to Multiplayer

• I'd like to say it's perfect except for the usage of clans vs. a few as sometimes the unbalanced gamepay does ruin a fun gaming experience
• Beserks for kill streaks have moments of Redundancy
• Spawnkillers. There is an imbalance infrastructure that can easily turn a war into shooting monkey's in a barrel.

     Now overall the gameplay  of the story isn't horrible but the story just leave's you hanging. I question the whole responsibility of returning home at the loss of a single chimeran tower. The war isn't over as far as I can tell yeah the US is warming up, but that doesn't mean immediate victory. As well previous titles had more variety of enemies that hunted you, yeah the AI got a bit smarter but it's still limited as previously there were new mutations and creatures coming out of the shadows that no one really expected.

     Online Play is unbalanced not like the previous ones weren't, but it's a bit buggy how they end up spawning you in a room where 5-6 guys have surrounded it with Augers and you just come to life and go to defend or escape a nasty situation and immediately you're dead again. What I wouldn't give for an Appeture Science Portal Device at those moments. Also the Clan Warfare has actually locked some players into a loss nightmare that you just can't seem to escape. I played 5 different games tonight each one had at least 4-6 players who were all in the same clan against me and a few people who just couldn't overcome the odds.

     I loved the online gameplay previously even though winning wasn't always possible in any way shape or form due to lag cheating. Guess what it's still around I'm actually finding myself wanting a chance to lag cheat some of these people than play fair. Which honestly isn't fair to anyone.

Insomniac - Please take some of this as criticism and give some of us players who stick by the rules a chance to play fair. I understand online always leads to open ended chances that someone will find a way to cheat and you can't stop them all, but sometimes this just seems to go too far for a group and some of the games self proclaimed gods aren't anything more than cheaters.

Same Team player hate

I try to stay away from a microphone when playing online. Not because I don't want to be social with my fellow gamers, but because I do alot of trash and silly talk while playing which may be hilarious to me and my friends but may irritate others. I wish other people would take this as advice. As in playing a game online I came to the realization that when people trash talk between teams it's ok, and can just give a game and umph. What I found I really despise though is when you join into a game in progress that I happen to be playing with limited abilities or as a beginner and you trash talk me because I was doing lousy and now you have a lost because you joined in to my team as I am losing and the round is ending. Two words for you people that do this shit FUCK YOU!!! you didn't play the whole round with me you didn't get any kills you joined in last second and you decide to bitch me out on an unbalanced circumstance? WTF? I don't mind if we lost and I did something that threw the game fine then you can call me on it. If I'm busting my ass in a 8v3 team match and I'm on the team of 3 give me some credit, yeah I lost but you didn't do any better.

      Also what bothers me is stat-crazy maniacs bitching me out because I got a loss.....My fucking god are people so lost that they have to waste time focusing on my stats instead of your own. You don't like the way I play leave. I didn't ask you to be on my team I'm not requiring you to work with me if you wanna play, play and enjoy that. I've gone to muting and reporting people for bitching me out because I'm a higher level than they are and lost more times than they did but I've got the experience in working to get this far. I apologize as this is going into a rant but this just ruins a fun game. They make the reporting feature for this alone. I'm not talking shit on you why bother me?

     I wanted to honestly hook up my mic and play and endless loop of Europes - The Final Countdown for a few hours straight. Just to see if it would get a different response than the nonsense I'm hearing. Look I know I don't like it, I don't have to play, but if I'm playing already and you jump into my game and bitch because I don't play the game the way you want I was here first FUCK OFF!!!!.

Now for any of you reading that this has nothing to do with don't think I'm trying to get everyone to play the same way or do the same thing all I'm asking for is some decency. Simply this if you're worried about stats or how other people play to the point it's obsessive leave join another room. But if you're here to help me and give me a hand at a task I may be having difficulty with I welcome you.